Liz looked out nervously.
"I don't know if I'm ready for this," she said. "I don't even know half those people."
Maria gave her a hug.
"Hey, it'll be cool," she said. "We'll go in first and soften them up for you. Don't you worry."
"In fact, that sounds like my cue," Cassie said. "Meet you at the end."
Cassie stepped through the door and went into the slow walk to the alter.
Jessica
Jess followed Cassie, and then Julie, Isabel and Rachel, one by one. Maria kissed her best friend's cheek, and stepped onto the aisle. Finally, it was Liz's turn.
She looked down the Aisle, terrified. All these strangers, diplomats, presidents and royals? But at the far end, by the pulpit, she saw Max. Smiling to herself, she took her father's arm, and the stepped on the carpet.
Max and Liz
Max couldn't stop the smile from forming on his face as at last he saw his beautiful Liz come down the asile. She looked so amazing. Liz's father gave him a brief, searching look as he put Liz's hand into Max's, and he walked her the remaining steps to the alter.
The wedding as written by Joy
The wedding was long, long and long, but finally, they got to the end.
"You may now kiss the bride."
The wedding ended and everybody headed to the reception hall.
Max and Liz, as written by Michelle
Max, Liz and their attendants when through a photo session that seemed to take ages. Fortunately, Max refused to let the photographers go overboard, and they were done within half an hour. As they arrived at the reception hall, in pairs their attendants were annouced and sat down at the bridal table. And, of course, at last Max and Liz were announced.
"May I present, Max and Liz Evans, King and Queen of the Semirellians."
"Oh man," Liz thought to herself, "I'm royalty now!"
Max and Liz, as written by Joy
"Now it is time for the bridal waltz," the MC announced, as 98 Degrees' "I Do (Cherish You)" began to play.
Max took Liz's hand and led her to the dance floor. She couldn't take her eyes off his as they danced slowly.
Julie
"Aww," sniffed Maria, "It's just so beautiful."
"Pst!" Julie whispered to Michael, "isn't it traditional for the attendants to join the bridal waltz after a bit?"
Michael turned just enough so that she would see him glare.
Jessica
"Yes it is," Maria said, glaring pointedly at Michael. At that time, the emcee motioned for the bridal party to join the bride and groom on the dance floor. Jessi started poking Zac annoyingly.
"Dance with me?" she asked her brother.
Zac
Zac gave an exaggerated sigh.
"If I must," he said.
He took Jessi's arm and lead her out onto the dance floor, following the rest of the bridal party.
Jessica
Jess loved dancing with her brother. She decided to be cute, and put her feet on his.
Zac
Zac pulled a silly face at Jess when she put her feet on his.
The guests watched, but it should be noted that some of the less romantic (or just didn't know Max and Liz all that well), were starting to fall into conversations. The primary culprits beign the ones there for diplomatic reasons.
Liz as written by Joy
After the bridal waltz the food was served, and there were a lot of speeches, mostly by people Liz had never even met before. She was starting to get annoyed.
Tate and Zac
Max squeezed Liz's hand.
"I'll make it up to you," he whispered.
Tate was feeling edgy. For one thing, never having met the bride and groom, she hated being here. It was a wedding, not a diplomatic function, and it shouldn't be treated that way. Plus it didn't help that she was getting the telepathic and empathic wants of everyone in the room - some who were annoyed, and others who were being opportunistic. It wasn't their wedding to make speeches at! She found herself tapping the table in disgust.
Just as it was getting to the point where Zac just wanted to rip the mike out of the speakers hand, the MC declared it was eating time, and, starting with the Bridal table, the food was served.
Michael and Maria
After people were getting drowsy from too much food and alcohol, Michael stood up to make the Best Man's toast.
"Well, I've known Max since we came out of our pods in 1989. Then, after we met Nasedo I found out that I had been his best friend forever. It fits, we complimented each other. Max fell in love with Liz the first time he saw her getting off the school bus in the 3rd grade. He risked his own life for her, even to the point of exposing our secrets. But Liz was just as brave. SHe was willing to sacrifice her own happiness for our survival, she was willing to let Max go. But now, several years later, we're grownups now, and it's time for a new era. I'm still Max's right-hand man, but Liz will be by his side forever. Take care of him, Liz, he needs it." With that, Michael raised his glass signifying everyone to take a drink.
"To Max and Liz!" Then it was Maria's turn to make a toast.
"Liz and I were both born in Roswell. We've been together since we were in preschool. I've followed her every step of the way. Her stubbornness saved my life." Maria turned to look at Liz. "Liz taught me so much. She knew what she wanted, a degree in Physics, a teaching position, and a happy life with Max Evans. She's still working on school, but she's already a teacher. She taught me to never give up. When you want something, make it happen, don't leave it up to chance. I wish you both the greatest happinesses and a full life." Maria too lifted her glass in a toast.
Zac
Everyone took a sip of their drinks for Maria's toast. Then Max made a very heart warming speech about looking forward to spending the rest of his life with Liz, and how luck y he was to have her. And when he was done, Liz chickened out of making a speech and instead had asked Zac to sing a song.
Zac, grinning, got up and took the guitar he had brought for this purpose. He sang a song he had written a couple of days after he and Faith had married. (Hopefully theirs would last longer than his had!)
As written by Joy
After Zac's song, the guests started to mingle, and dance a bit while house music played in the bgackground.
Julie
"Hey, Cassie," Julie said. "Don't look now, but is that the President heading in our direction."
Cassie looked over.
"I told you not to look!"
"How am I supposed to answer your question if I don't? And I think it is."
Julie had no time to respond, because the President had reached them.
"Good day, ladies," he said.
"Good day, Mr President," Julie replied.
Rachel and Jessica
"Good afternoon, Mr. President," Rachel said, nervously.
"Hello," Jessi said, nervously fiddling with her nosering.
Julie
"So, if you don't mind my asking," the President said. "What are you? Humans? Mutants? Al - Dathrians or Semirellians?"
"Oh we don't mind," Julie said. "I'm human."
Normally she would have blatantly gone ahead and said that she had Dathrian and Mutant children, but for some reason she felt a little ashamed to admit it to the President of her country.
"None of the above," Cassie grinned. "I'm an Animorph. I'm human, but some alien technology - Andalite - gave me the ability to morph into any animal I touch."
"Andalite?"
Rachel and Jessica
"I'm an Animorphas well," Rachel said, "So are those two guys," she pointed to Jake and Marco, "But the blonde one's my cousin, and he's half mutant. Anyways, Andalites are another race of aliens that can't pass as human normally. They look something like blue centaurs with four eyes and a scorpion tail. They invented a new technology to help them fight another race called Yeerks- they're like these alien sluigs that take over peoples' bodies. Anyways, this technology allows the person to absorb the DNA pf any lifeform he or she touches, and then transform their body into that creature for up to 2 hours at a time," Rachel explained. "We used the powers to help defeat the Yeerks."
"I'm just a regular old Dathrian," Jess said, rolling her eyes at her friend's long-winded explanation./
Julie
The President looked perplexed.
"Yeerks? Are there many of you Animorphs?"
"Don't worry about the Yeerks, Mr President," Cassie said. "They've been taken care of years ago. And as for Animorphs... well, there was only five of us, and the fifth on - Tobias - is living with the Andalites now. The Andalites aren't all that interested in Earth. Well, except for cinnimun buns and cigarette butts. The sense of taste in general, actually, as they don't have one in their normal form. But with the mutants and stuff going on, they figured they were better off on their own planet where they don't have to worry about any more wars."
"Ahh," The President seemed to consider that point for a moment. "There seems to be rather a mixture of all types here, although, not so many mutants."
"Jake's a mutant," Cassie pointed.
"I have mutant children," Julie added, telling herself there was nothing to be ashamed about. "I have Dathrian children too."
"Yeah, that's right, Julie. You just admitted to the President of the United States that you're a slut."
Jessica and Rachel
"Some of our best friends are mutants," Jess said.
"I used to go to a mutant school," Rachel said.
"I went too, for one semester," Jess said. "You know, Mr. President, this country is a lot more diverse than you were probably aware. I know you made a big speech once about loving people who were different than you, and friendship being more than race," Jessi said, remembering. "But there have always been races you didn't know about."
"Like witches and magi and wizards," Rachel said, "ANd also dryads and merpeople."
"ANd one of my nephews is a godling," Jess pointed out.
"But don't worry, Mr. President," Rachel said. "Some of your closest friends throughout your life may not have been ordinary humans, but they're still good people."
The President
The President raised his eyebrows.
"Witches? Magi? Such things truly exist?" he questioned. "Well, that, I think is a discussion for another time. I've heard rumours of mutant schools. So that's a definite, is it? Interesting."
He nodded to Jessi.
"I've always been very interested in creating equal opportunities for all races. It's been a great blow to me that the previous talks were called off - I've looked through the - well, that's neither here nor there."
Jessica
"Mr President," Jessi piped up, a little embarassed. "Could I have your autograph?"
The President
"Sure," the President replied.
He pulled out a pen, looked for something to sign, and ended up picking up a clean napkin.
"And who shall I make it out to?"
Jessica and Rachel
"Jessica Hanson," she said, a little nervously. "When I was younger I told my parents that I was going to be the first woman president someday. But now I'm sure someone will beat me to it. I've always loved politics."
"Weirdo," Isabel said, moving over to them, "But that's why we love you so much," she kissed her friend on the cheek.
"Are you going to be a politician before or after you're a famous fashion designer?" Rachel asked.
"After, of course."
The President
The President chuckled as he signed the napkin with a flourish.
"Good to get some experience first," he said. "And good luck to you."
Jessica
Jess giggled as the president handed it back to her.
Max and Liz
The President then took his leave, and the girls chatted amongst themselves about the experience.
Finally the time came where everyone lined up for Max and Liz to say goodbye and thank them for coming. Liz had a serious problem with this as she didn't know most of them - and neither did Max!
At last they got through the line up, and they moved to the exit. Liz stood up on a chair.
"Okay girls," she said. "Get ready."
She turned her back and threw the bonquet.
Jessica
Surprisingly, it was Jessi who caught the bouquet. Of course, she made a face, having no intentions of getting married any time soon. She was itching to get home. Only a couple more days until Zac's annual huge New Years Evev Party, and she needed a couple days of [peace and Quiet with Diana before enduring more of Zac's insane household.