A wedding arch had been setup in the midst of a large garden on the Order of Light grounds. On one side, the Bride's family and most of the population of the slayer school. On the other side, the Groom's family and more of the population of the Order of Light.
It was fairly crowded, Illeanna observed. But Friday was fairly well known at the slayer school, and she supposed that the same was true for Eron at the paladin school. Illeanna could recognise Friday easily, but she doubted the older girl even knew who she was.
Then too, apparently the reception was going to be small. Relatively speaking.
Eron XV was up at the wedding arch with his groomsmen Tim, Billy and his brother Luke. Also with them was Father Bob. Although technically the priest was now retired, Father Bob often laughed and said that priests never retired, they just stopped conducting church services. In either case, he had been delighted when the two had asked him to conduct their wedding.
The music played and Eron XV's little sister Elaine started down the aisle. She was followed by Salena, and she by the maid of honour, Armelle.
Julie noted this with bitterness and told herself off severely for it. After all, Friday did ask her first and she declined. She almost didn't even come to the wedding. Hell, two weddings in three months? Why was the world conspiring against her?
Friday then came down the aisle. She had blatantly refused to be married in white and was in red instead, declaring that the traditional white was a fashion trend started by some Queen of England a few centruies ago, while red was the colour of passion. If you didn't like it, too bad, it was her wedding. She also refused to wear a veil (I'm anot chattel and everyone knows what I look like), instead having a silver tiara.
As she reached the arch, Friday smiled at Eron XV.
"Dearly beloved," said Father Bob. "We are gathered here today..."
Zac felt mildly awkward sitting in the front row with Friday's father and half siblings while Isaac, Nikki, Julie, Saku, Trina and Shannon were sitting in the row behind. However, Friday had been insistant about Elektra being there, and in the front row and decided that as her father (and the person Elektra was most familar with) Zac had to hold her. Elektra, at one and a half, was not the slighest bit interested in the proceedings and kept trying to wriggle out of Zac's arms.
"You may now kiss the bride."
Eron XV took Friday in his arms and kissed her gently. There were cheers, and wolf whistles, from the less mature in the audience. Mostly there was just applause. Eron then led his new wife back down the aisle for photos before thye would go to the reception.
Naturally everyone and their cousin were trying to have a chance to give congratulations to the bride and groom (especially those who hadn't been invited to the reception). Zac, however, by virtue of looking after Elektra actually go to speak to them. Mostly because Friday wanted Elektra in a couple of the photos.
"Congratulations," Zac said.
"Thankies," Friday grinned.
"Never would have pictured you getting married."
"Never would have pictured you going a year without annoucing another pregancy."
"May we continue to surprise people."
"Sounds like a plan. Hey... is Julie okay? I did ask her to be my maid of honour but she said no and... I don't know... Is it just me or is she been acting weird lately?"
"She's been depressed ever since she and Bobby broke up," Zac shrugged. "I'm doing what I can but... I'm afriad she's doing what I did... y'know... going after sex."
"Ahh. I suppose inviting her here today was probably salt in the wound?"
"Possibly."
Friday winced and sighed. She took Elektra into her arms for the photos and them returned him to Zac's keeping when they were done.
"Hey umm... I was half thinking of taking Elektra patrolling with us, but I think she'll be safer with you."
"Yeah sure," Zac nodded. "Besides, newlywed couples should get some no-children time together."
Friday chuckled.
"Thanks, Zac."
"No problem."
Zac wandered away at that point and came across Alexa.
"Hey," he greeted. "You going to the reception?"
Alexa shook her head.
"Who's this one?"
"Mine and Friday's. Elektra."
"Can I hold her?" asked Gywn, joining the discussion.
"Sure," Zac replied and carefully passed Elektra to Gwyn's open arms.
"Do you know what her power is yet?"
Zac shrugged.
"A few people decided to bless her at her birth. Wilow gave her wisdom, Orion immunity of hypnotism and Saku gave her something he calls 'fire fingers'. She's like, three quarters Dath so she definitely would have atom manipulation, but I have no idea what her speciality power is. It might be night vision or something because she has this uncanny knack for picking things up in the dark. But then... I thought I saw her do shape shifting at one point so I have no idea. I'm thinking I should get her tested or something."
Gwyn smiled and felt a sudden urge to bless Elektra herself.
"Why not?" she thought to herself. "Can't hurt."
Gwyn said a quiet prayer to herself over Elektra and kissed her cute little forehead.
The guests began to make their way to the reception and the photos finally finished.
"So, Nikki," said Saku at their table. "Your brain exploded yet?"
"You kidding?" Nikki replied. "It exploded roughly about the time Isaac said that vampires exist."
Saku chuckled.
"I understand your pain," Trina said solemnly.
"Actually this is interesting," said Zac. "Who's in the weirder situation? The girl dating the alien, or the girl dating the godling?"
"I do," Trina said the same time Nikki said "She does."
"Trina wins by general conscensous," Isaac chuckled.
"Yay, I'm the weird one!"
"Well, y'know, I just have extraterristrial DNA. You have an extraterrestrial DNA cocktail, potential seriously long life and are a heck of a lot younger than you appear."
"Only chronologically," Saku grinned.
Meanwhile, at the groom's family's table:
"But why not just change it to Hart?" Helan asked.
"I don't think Friday Hart has quite the same ring to it," Alena chuckled. "I think she's gotten used to having such a novel name and wants to keep it."
"But... but Friday Black-Hart? That just sounds so... wrong!"
"Well, this way she gives everyone a choice. She intends on continuing to use Black professionally, and she can use Hart for family. You know, this way we can address letters to 'Mr and Mrs Hart' as opposed to 'Mr Hart and Mrs Black," Alena explained.
"You have to admit, Friday Black isn't a half back name for a slayer," Eron XIV mused.
"But... Black-Hart? Does anyone else see anything wrong with that name?"
"I think it's funny," Luke said. "I'm going to call her that all the time. Friday Black-Hart."
Helen frowned at her grandson.
"It is a rather unfortunate combination isn't it?" Eron XVIII considered.
"But she does have her priorities right," Alena said decisively. "She's already established a name for herself as Friday Black, but she has also recogised the unity that having the same last name represents."
"Eron's not changing his name to Black-Hart too is he?" Helan asked, alarmed.
"No, no," Alena assured her mother-in-law. "Friday is simply hyphenating her last name so that any given person can use either lastname as they please. Family can call her Hart, the slayer community can call her Black, and everyone goes home happy."
Helen grunted.
At the bridal table, Friday squeezed Eron XVs hand.
"This is great," she said.
"Yes, yes it is," Eron XV agreed.
"I love you."
"I love you too."