The party that arrived on the beach was small, but certainly caught the eye of the other people on the beach. A little canvas hut was erected in which Julie made herself comfortable until there ceremony was ready to stay - she didn't want Bobby to see her in her wedding dress just yet. Not that she believed it was bad luck, more that she wanted it to be a surprise.
Friday "stood guard", dressed in a dress for the first time in years.
Kurt, who was going to be conducting the ceremony, stood aside, waiting for everything to be in readyness.
Annika made Julie's six children, and her own Brett, comfortable. A small pavillion had been put up to make sure they didn't get sunburnt or anything.
Bobby
Bobby stood next to Hank, almost holding onto him in anticipation.
"I can't believe I'm getting married. Oh my god."
Friday, Annika and Julie
Friday then waved to Annika, and she hit the play button on the stereo they had brought along. "I'm too sexy" began to play - a version that Julie took the liberty of cutting out the first two lines before burning to CD because she felt that was a bad confession to make at a wedding.
I'm too sexy for my shirt too sexy for my shirt
So sexy it hurts
And I'm too sexy for Milan too sexy for Milan
New York and Japan
Friday started walking towards Bobby, Hank and Kurt. She felt there were only two good things about the dress: it was Elektra-red and it saved her from having to find another dress for any other formal occasions that might come up in the future.
And I'm too sexy for your party
Too sexy for your party
No way I'm disco dancing
Julie stepped out of the little hut and started down the beach, walking almost provokatively to the music.
I'm a model you know what I mean
And I do my little turn on the catwalk
Yeah on the catwalk on the catwalk yeah
I do my little turn on the catwalk
Julie was wearing a silver shirt and skirt that revealed her stomach and lower back. The shirt fit snugly, and the skirt blew in the breeze.
I'm too sexy for my car too sexy for my car
Too sexy by far
And I'm too sexy for my hat
Too sexy for my hat what do you think about that
Friday and Julie reached the boys and Annika turned off the music.
First two lines:
I'm too sexy for my love too sexy for my love
Love's going to leave me
Bobby
Bobby glanced at Hank and grinned giddily at him. His eyes then went back to Julie and he winked at her, watching as she walked up the "aisle".
Julie and Annika
Julie winked back.
"We are gathered here today..." Kurt began.
From the 'audience', Annika pulled out a camera and started taking some photos.
Bobby
Bobby kept his eyes on Julie, but he felt Hank's paw rest gently on his back in support.
He supposed Hank knew that if he took his paw away, Bobby might just topple over in nervousness.
"The joining together of these two people..." Kurt went on, tail swishing.
Julie
Julie met Bobby's eyes and smiled.
"In Holy matrimony," Kurt continued. "Robert Drake, do you take Julie Rocks,"
Julie's smile turned into a grin.
"as your lawful wedded wife, to have and to hold, to love and to cherish, for richer or poorer, in sickness and in health till death do you part?"
Bobby
"I do," Bobby grinned.
He stifled the urge to giggle.
Serious moments always made him want to laugh.
Julie
"And do you, Julie Rocks, take Robert Drake to be your lawful wedded husband, to have and to hold, to love and to cherish, for richer or poorer, in sickness and in health till death do you part?" Kurt asked.
"I do," Julie replied.
"Could we have the rings, please?"
Bobby
Bobby glanced at the new ring sitting on Julie's finger. A white gold band with three diamonds atop it, nothing flashy, just tasteful and simple, with the words "Always, B" engraved on the inside. He then looked down at his own ringed finger and gave a little smile.
It was now official.
Hank patted his shoulder gently.
Julie, Friday and Annika
"You may now kiss the bride," Kurt declared, now that the vows and rings had been exchanged.
Julie wrapped her arms around Bobby's shoulders and moved forward to meet his lips.
"Aww," said Friday.
Annika took some photos.
Bobby
Bobby put his arms around Julie's waist and kissed her gently.
Hank wiped at his eye slightly.
Julie, Annika and Friday
After the excitement on the beach was over, they moved into a local restaurant for the reception. The group did get a few stares (there were six babies and two blue guys, one with fur and the other with a tail, after all), but fortunately, Julie had booked a private room, so the stares of fellow patrons didn't have long to marr the event.
Annika stared at the room, gaping with mouth wide open she saw it.
"Julie... you didn't..."
"Annika, you're blocking the doorway... Oooh! What a marvellous job they did!"
Annika moved from the doorway, still gaping at the mythical creatures decorations.
"Hey, awesome," Friday said. "I'm assuming that you and Bobby are sitting on the dragonified chairs?"
"Where else?"
Bobby
Bobby chuckled as he walked into the reception room.
"Awesome," he commented.
"And a good cover. Anyone who peers in will simply think Kurt and I are in costume," Hank remarked.
"My lady is a smart one," Bobby replied.
Julie and Friday
Julie beamed and sat down.
"Yes... and your lady also looks like some sort of exotic princess," Friday mused. "Now I understand this dress. Very medieval meets something designed by a male comic book artist. And here I was thinking it was just your taste in clothes."
"Aww, but it looks so sexy on you."
"I never said it didn't."
Bobby
Bobby wiggled his eyebrows at Friday as he sat down, Hank sitting on his other side.
"I'm sooo hungry," he moaned.
"Patience, my friend," Hank said, placing a blue furred paw on top of Bobby's hand.
Julie, Friday and Annika
Not long after everyone had settled, a couple of waiters arrived to take orders for drinks and to pass menus around.
"Umm, I'll have pineapple juice, thanks," Julie decided after much consideration.
Rogue and Annika also gave their requests, and went back to browsing the menu.
Bobby
"Can I get mango and passionfruit juice? Thanks!" Bobby told the waiter, before turning back to Hank to finish his conversation.
Hank ordered his drink and laughed at what his friend had said.
"Hey J?" Bobby suddenly turned to Julie and kissed her cheek. "You smell. I love you."
Julie
Julie giggled.
"I love you too," she replied. "And you smell even worse."
"Aww," Friday grinned. "You two so deserve each other."
Bobby
"I smell like sexy."
Bobby nodded.
"Mmmhmmm!"
Julie and Annika
"Exactly," Julie grinned.
One of the waitors reappeared then with everyone's drinks.
"So, has anyone decided what they having yet?" Annika asked.
Bobby
"Ummmmm," Bobby tapped on the table for a second.
"Chicken."
Julie, Friday and Annika
"Yeah," Julie nodded.
"I can take your order now, if you want," offered the waitor who had brought in their drinks.
"Okay, sure. I'll have the chicken also."
"Two chicken."
Friday, Annika and Kurt gave the waitor their orders.
Bobby
Hank gave the waitor his order, and then returned to his conversation with Kurt.
Bobby listened with half an ear, only understanding every few sentences.
He turned to Julie and kissed her cheek.
"I love the Bahamas. Let's move here. I love sunshine. And water. And being tanned and sexy."
Julie, Annika and Friday
"Sounds good to me," Julie replied cheerfully.
The waiter departed with everyone's orders.
"But what will you do about a free baby sitter?" Annika smirked.
"Well, we have discussed getting a nanny..."
"First Rogue and now Annika," Friday mused. "Good thing I live so far away - you're not going to get free baby sitting out of me."
"I'm sure I could think of some excuse to visit Cleveland," Julie then thought over what she said. "Actually.. it is Cleveland after all... I may be hardpressed to think of something after all."
Friday snickered.
"No, wait, I have thought of something," Julie went on in amazement. "I could visit the slayer school and meet real paladins and clerics and blacksmiths. Hmm... adding authenticity to my games..."
Friday groaned.
Bobby
"I'd love to train to be like a fighter..."
Bobby looked up thoughtfully, before Hank nudged him.
"Oh yeah... I am..."
Julie and Friday
Julie giggled.
"Now here's a question. Who would win? Bobby or one of them knights at the paladin school. Which, by the way, I think is weird that they refer to it as a paladin school when they don't even teach paladins."
"Well, the people they teach at medical school aren't doctors yet," Friday pointed out. "Lemme see... Bobby or a knight... I don't know. There are a couple of knights who are mutants. That would be interesting. Of course, first you have to convince them to actually fight you, and that's probably the hard part."
Bobby
Bobby made a face.
"I have to work on my hand to hand anyway. I was training with Faith and then she buggered off, but now that she's back in the States, I might track her down."
He paused.
"And Hanky here has been helping me learn power control and stuff."
Julie, Friday and Annika
The waitors reappeared then, food in hand. Or at least on hand. They began checking who had what, and placed the plates in front of the respective diner. Then they departed.
"How is Faith doing anyway?" Julie asked. "Haven't spoken to her in ages. Plus, y'know, I can't offer her a membership in the IGP2ZH Club if I can't contact her."
She nodded and Friday giggled. Annika smirked.
"The vat?" Kurt asked.
"Uhmm... oh... nothing really. Just a little club for, umm, the mothers of Zac Hanson's children," Julie replied, almost embarrassed to be admitting this to their resident priest.
Bobby
"Thank you," Hank said to the waiter, then returned his interest to the conversation at hand.
"Thanks," Bobby said absently. "Oh, she seems alright. I spoke to her for a bit at the dance, she's just been traveling and training in different countries, but says she might be back settling in the States."
Friday and Julie
"Nifty," Friday replied.
"I wanna travel around the world," Julie sighed.
Bobby
Bobby smiled and kissed her cheek, then returned to eating his dinner.
Hank looked quizzically at his friend, then shrugged slightly.
"So how have your studies been progressing?" he asked.
"Meh, same old."
Julie
"Well, not really," Julie teased. "You're actually doing your homework and assignments yourself now."
She waggled her eyebrows at him as she took a bite of her meal.
Bobby
"That's right, no Roguey to save me!" Bobby said dramatically.
"She loved me!"
Julie and Friday
"I think Rogue would struggle with your current work load," Julie pointed out.
"Where is Rogue anyway?" Friday asked.
"Ireland I think."
"Nifty."
"Everyone gets to travel except me. Rogue's on her own personal world tour. You come from Australia. I'm stuck being the mother of six."
"Aww. I'm sure you'll get to travel one day."
Bobby
Bobby hid his smile and took a sip of his drink.
"One day J, it'll happen."
Julie, Annika and Friday
"Yay," said Julie cheerfully.
"Better mother of six than father of eleven," Annika grinned.
"I dunno, Zac has it pretty good. He only has custody of four," Friday pointed out. "And he has a nanny to help out too. Plus, Saku is pratically a teenager, even though he was only born a couple of years ago. So it's only 3 children under, what, two? Whereas, Julie has double that with less help."
"Ahem."
"You're not a full-time nanny," Julie pointed out.
"I feel like it sometimes."
Bobby
"Plus, B'E and Tom are older now," Bobby said. "So it's not like we're looking after 6 babies. Well... like newborns."
Friday and Julie
"True, but what are you going to two with two children who can sneak around you and steal cookies without you being able to catch them?" Friday asked malciously.
"I can always send them to live with their father," Julie replied, a twinkle in her eye. "Actually, that's not a bad idea. I may do that if the prove troublesome. Imagine the trouble they'll have with them on tour. Y'know, assuming that Hanson ever does go back on tour."
Bobby
"Mmm, cookies. Let's get cookies tonight Jules, and we'll eat and eat."
He nodded.
"I'm going to get fat now that you've married me."
Julie
Julie giggled.
"Cookies are yummy. But don't you dare loose that manly physique on me," she replied, sticking out her bottom lip woefully.
Bobby
Bobby laughed.
"Would you divorce me if I got fat?"
Julie
Julie pretended to consider it, then leaned over and wrapped her arms around him.
"No, never," she said. "You're mine. All mine."
Bobby
"Yay!"
Bobby kissed her softly and then returned his attention to his dinner.
Julie and Friday
The group chatted together and finished eating their meal. Then there was more chatting, and laughing at silly jokes, and lame ones too. The watiors reappeared to removed their dirty plates. And then they returned again:
"Wedding cake!" Friday cheered.
It was in the shape of Dragon from Shrek, but instead of fire, she was breathing ice. Julie beamed as the cake was set down in front of her and Bobby, and she stood up.
Bobby
Bobby looked at the cake for a second then his face broke out into a huge smile.
He stood and kissed Julie.
"You're insane, woman, but I love you."
Julie and Annika
"Glad to hear it," Julie grinned.
She picked up the knife and smiled at Bobby.
"Cut with me?"
Annika stood as well, picked up the camera and took a couple of photos of the cake.
Bobby
Bobby put his hand over Julie's.
"Of course."
Hank was looking like he was trying not to cry.
Julie, Annika and Friday
Annika took a photo as the happy couple cut the cake.
"Yay!" Friday cheered with a clap.
Bobby
Bobby turned to Julie and kissed her again, once the cake was cut.
"Mmmm, cake."
Julie and Friday
Julie kissed Bobby back.
"Okay," Friday said, taking the knife away from them. "I'll just cut this up into piece before you two get carried away."
Thus, with slayer speed (and a trick picked up from domestic science teacher and slayer, Melaina's class), the cake was soon divided into enough pieces for everyone (with plenty still left over).
Julie, (who was still kissing Bobby), gave Friday a thumbs up, as she passed the pieces around.
Bobby
Bobby chuckled and pulled away from Julie.
"Awesome. Thanks D-Dawg."
Friday, Julie and Annika
"No problemo," Friday replied cheerfully.
Julie sat back down again and reached for her own piece of cake.
"I love chocolate," she sighed happily.
"Never would have guessed," Annika smiled. "Not like it's chocolate mud cake or anything."
Julie giggled.
Bobby
"So good," Bobby said, after finishing a bite of his cake.
"Hey Hanky, when we get back to NY, twinkie run!"
Hank's eyes twinkled merrily.
"Splendid."
Friday and Julie
"Twinkie run?" Friday repeated.
"You know what a twinkie is, right?" Julie asked.
"Little round cake with cream filling in the middle," Friday replied, dismissingly, and gestured to Bobby and Hank.
"Oh. They're addicted to twinkies. That's all you need to know."
Bobby
Bobby giggled in excitement.
"A twinkie run," he said, very seriously. "Is a thing of beauty. First, you steal a car. Preferably belonging to someone of high status, such as Professor Xavier or our personal favourite, Cyclops."
"Oh Fearless Leader!" Hank piped in.
"And for special occasions, you take the Jet," Bobby added. "Then you go into the city and you stock up on as many Twinkies as you possibly can before coming back and feasting!"
Friday and Julie
"Ahh," Friday nodded. "So is 'as you possibly can' defined as how many you can carry, how many the shop - or shops have in stock, how much money you have or how much you can fit in your vehicle of choice?"
Julie giggled.
"I think I'd like to see the Jet full to the point of bursting with Twinkies," she grinned.
Bobby
"That is, of course, where borrowing a credit card comes in handy," Bobby nodded.
"I am passing proficient in signing Scott's name these days. And we have half filled the Jet with Twinkies. That was our last Twinkie run with me as a student of Xavier's, reember Hanky?"
Hank bared his teeth in a grin.
"I do, my friend."
Julie, Annika and Friday
"Ahh, getting one on Scotty-boy..." Julie sighed contentedly. "How fun is that?"
"Very fun, I assume," Annika replied.
"You would not have heard Julie's list of issues with Scott," Friday grinned. "I have heard them all. Fortunately, online, as I imagine that offline there would have been much screaming and anguish."
Bobby
"The guy is an absolute tool," Bobby said.
"I can't believe what he said to Julie. If he weren't Xavier's golden boy, I'd kill him."
Annika, Friday and Julie
Annika opened her mouth to say something, only to find Friday's hand clamped over it.
"Don't ask. You'll get an answer."
"Isn't that the point of asking?" Julie mused.
"It is. But she doesn't want to hear the answer," Friday nodded, removing her hand. "C'mon, this is a happy occasion - your wedding. Do not marr it with recollections of past slights from someone who isn't here."
"Dis cake is good," Kurt put in helpfully.
Bobby
Hank patted his friend on the arm and Bobby smiled at him, then rested his head on Hank's large shoulder for a second.
"Ok, so I have Uni holidays coming up, which means twinkies," Bobby said, nodding gravely.
"Your studies come first," Hank reminded him.
"I've been studying all year," Bobby half whined.
Annika, Julie and Friday
"That's the point of being at Uni," Annika pointed out.
"Naw, the point of being at Uni is to develope a way of earning lots and lots of money," Friday replied. "Believe me, when I'm done at the slayer school, I'm going back to Australia, where waitresses can live off their wage and not their tips."
"Do you have a job?" Julie frowned.
"No. But I've met all these people in this country - they're called Americans - and they have interesting things to say about working in this country. And not to mention your lousy healthcare system. Argh. Thank goodness for slayer abilities meaning I don't have to deal with it. But one thing is certain, I am going to go to the various Disney, and Universal Studios theme parks, and any others I come across before I go. The nearest Disneyland to Australia is in Hong Kong, and I don't know about you, but I just don't speak mangolian, or whatever language it is that they speak there," Friday declared.
"You feel quite passionately about this, don't you?" Annika mused.
"Day generally rags on America, and Americans and can think of nothing good to say about us," Julie replied, giving Friday a pouting look.
"Yes. It's one of my endearing qualities. Unless, of course, you're American. But, hey, sucks to be you."
"Says Day, insulting everyone in this room - execpt Kurt - and not caring in the slightest."
"Like you're really insulted by anything I say."
Bobby
"Generally, a lot of us Americans rag on ourselves anyway. There's a whole club of them at Uni," Bobby offered.
"In any case, I am sexy."
Friday and Julie
"Really? If it weren't for American Dad and Family Guy I wouldn't think Americans were capable of ragging on themselves," Friday said. "You guys always take yourselves so seriously. And your country is paranoid."
"Yeah, well, Australians insist on putting unneccesary 'u's in your words. And you think a rubber is an eraser," Julie replied.
"It is an eraser."
"Nuh uh."
Bobby
"Guys, let's not generalise. That's like me saying all girls with short hair are lesbians. It's not true. Not all of us Americans take ourselves seriously, OR are paranoid. I, for example, do not take anything at all seriously," Bobby nodded.
"That, my friend, is not completely true." Hank smiled. "Although yoyou are fond of a joke here and there, when it counts, you do take the important issues seriously enough. Your marriage, for one, and your friends. Even lately, your scholarly pursuits have been taken seriously."
Julie and Friday
"Ah ha," Julie grinned. "Your deep dark secret has been revealed."
"Dun dun dun," Friday added for empahsis.
Bobby
"Hankyyyyyyyyyy," Bobby whined.
"I'm the least serious person you know!"
Hank considered that statement. "That is, however, very true."
Julie and Friday
Julie giggled.
Friday looked down at her now empty plate.
"Say, we haven't had any speeches yet," she said, and on that stood up. "As Maid of Honour - and sole bridesmaid for that matter, allow me to begin the speeching. Ahem. I first met Julie a number of years ago on the internet. We were both computer junkies. Then next thing I know, my powers start revealing themselves, and Julie's having Zac Hanson's baby - and he's also an alien. We just got closer from then on in. I even inadvertantly turned one of Julie's twins into the opposite sex while they were still in the womb, and how she has healthy, identical boy/girl twins, this is how close we've gotten. Anyway, so it's been apparent to me for a long time that Julie has had the hots for you, Bobby, and I'm glad that you two have finally made your relationship all official like."
Friday reached down for her glass.
"To Julie and Bobby, may your marriage be a happy one."
Bobby
Bobby giggled as they all toasted, then Hank stood.
"I met the young Mr Drake a little more than one year ago," Hank began, smiling down at his best friend. "Unlikely as it was, Bobby decided that I simply could not be locked away in the medlabs by myself and I needed a friend. And that he was just the person for the job. We've stood by each other through all of the insanity which has seemed to follow us around, and he's helped me to understand a lot of things about myself - and others - that books could never teach me. I've watched him fall head over heels in love with Julie... from the very first moment he saw her, until today, I know that he's remained constant in his feelings. I wish you both the very best of luck."
Julie
"Aww, look at me, I'm getting all teary eyed," Julie smiled.
And she stood up for her speech.
"Well, I want to thank all of you for coming and sharing this special day with us. As I'm sure you've all figured out by now, I adore Bobby, and I'm so very, very happy that we're going to be spending the rest of our lives together."
Julie smiled down at Bobby.
"He's the most wonderful person to ever enter my life. Ever."
Bobby
"I'm blushing!" Bobby said, grinning.
He stood and put his hand on Julie's shoulder.
"Thanks for coming guys, I know we made this difficult by picking a rather obscure location, but you know us, we love to be difficult. If you didn't already realise, I do love this woman here, and am going to spend the rest of my life proving it."
He kissed her cheek.
"I love you, J."
Julie
"I love you too, B," Julie replied, kissing him back.
The group enjoyed the rest of the reception, small though it was. It seemed to be over before anyone knew it, and everyone went home happy. Bobby and Julie happiest of all, of course.