-- Part 1 --

“Nervous?” asked Miliardo, his blue eyes sparkling.

“Of course not,” his sister replied, adjusting her veil for the hundredth time. Catching his disbelieving look, she stopped and smiled.

“Okay, maybe a little,” she amended, blushing slightly.

“It’s only natural,” Noin stated, giving her husband a warning look. Then, with a smile, she handed the radiant bride her bouquet.

“Do you have something old?” Hilde asked, standing between Relena and the mirror to check her hair.

Without any warning, Dorothy yanked the other bridesmaid out of the way. Relena laughed, especially at Hilde’s glare and Dorothy’s smug indifference. Sobering, she sighed.

“It’s just a tradition,” she replied, busying herself with smoothing the flawless satin skirt of her gown.

“But traditions are important,” Miliardo said, pulling a small, oblong box from an inner pocket of his formal jacket. He placed it in her hands.

Relena gasped as she studied the beautiful diamond necklace inside. “Oh, Miliardo,” she whispered, still awed.

“It was our mother’s. She wore it on her wedding day.” He gently placed the necklace on her and fastened the clasp. “It looks lovely on you.”

Relena looked up at her brother, her eyes brimming with tears. “Thank you.”

“You’re welcome,” he replied, kissing her cheek.

“Well, something old has been taken care of,” Hilde stated, interrupting the mushy scene. “How about something new?”

“The dress is new,” Relena replied.

Dorothy shook her head. “I don’t think that counts, Miss Relena.”

“I think I can give you our gift now,” Noin said as her husband nodded. She handed Relena another jewelry box. “I hope you like it.

With slightly trembling hands, the bride opened the hinged lid. The diamond bracelet inside shimmered brightly against the dark blue velvet. “This is too much,” she whispered.

“Nonsense,” Noin said, putting the bracelet on Relena’s wrist. “We did try to match the necklace.”

“You were planning this?”

Noin laughed softly. “Somewhat.”

“What about something borrowed?” Sally asked, noticing that the ceremony would be starting soon.

“I’ve got it,” Catherine cried, forcing her way through the other bridesmaids. She stretched her palm open before Relena, offering a pair of earrings.

“I would be honored if you would wear them,” she said.

Relena hugged her. “Thank you.”

“Something blue?” Dorothy asked, as Relena put the earrings on.

“The garter’s blue,” Hilde volunteered loudly.

Relena’s cheeks flared, turning scarlet. To her further embarrassment, everyone noticed.
A huge smile was on each face.

“It will have to do,” Sally stated in a business-like tone. “It’s almost time.”

The announcement brought on a flurry of activity as the bridesmaids rushed to find their individual bouquets and check their appearances one last time. Sally ushered the younger women out of the room to line up, wishing the bride a final good luck. Noin hugged her and gave her husband a quick kiss before leaving to take her place as matron of honor.

Miliardo offered her his arm. With a soft smile, Relena took it and let him lead her to the door. By all outward appearances, Relena was perfectly composed. However, the hand on his arm trembled slightly.

With a reassuring smile, he placed his other hand over hers. “Everything will be fine, Relena,” he said.

Relena took a deep breath to calm herself. Releasing it slowly, she turned to face her brother with a genuine smile. “I’m ready.”

“Good. I would hate for you to leave your groom waiting at the altar.”

His comment was rewarded with a laugh. There was a knock on the door and Quatre entered the room. “It’s almost time,” he said.

He paused and studied Relena for a moment. “You look stunning,” he stated. “He’s one lucky guy.”

“Thank you, Quatre,” she replied. She turned to her brother. “I’m ready.”


Part I “Nervous?” asked Miliardo, his blue eyes sparkling. “Of course not,” his sister replied, adjusting her veil for the hundredth time. Catching his disbelieving look, she stopped and smiled. “Okay, maybe a little,” she amended, blushing slightly. “It’s only natural,” Noin stated, giving her husband a warning look. Then, with a smile, she handed the radiant bride her bouquet. “Do you have something old?” Hilde asked, standing between Relena and the mirror to check her hair. Without any warning, Dorothy yanked the other bridesmaid out of the way. Relena laughed, especially at Hilde’s glare and Dorothy’s smug indifference. Sobering, she sighed. “It’s just a tradition,” she replied, busying herself with smoothing the flawless satin skirt of her gown. “But traditions are important,” Miliardo said, pulling a small, oblong box from an inner pocket of his formal jacket. He placed it in her hands. Relena gasped as she studied the beautiful diamond necklace inside. “Oh, Miliardo,” she whispered, still awed. “It was our mother’s. She wore it on her wedding day.” He gently placed the necklace on her and fastened the clasp. “It looks lovely on you.” Relena looked up at her brother, her eyes brimming with tears. “Thank you.” “You’re welcome,” he replied, kissing her cheek. “Well, something old has been taken care of,” Hilde stated, interrupting the mushy scene. “How about something new?” “The dress is new,” Relena replied. Dorothy shook her head. “I don’t think that counts, Miss Relena.” “I think I can give you our gift now,” Noin said as her husband nodded. She handed Relena another jewelry box. “I hope you like it. With slightly trembling hands, the bride opened the hinged lid. The diamond bracelet inside shimmered brightly against the dark blue velvet. “This is too much,” she whispered. “Nonsense,” Noin said, putting the bracelet on Relena’s wrist. “We did try to match the necklace.” “You were planning this?” Noin laughed softly. “Somewhat.” “What about something borrowed?” Sally asked, noticing that the ceremony would be starting soon. “I’ve got it,” Catherine cried, forcing her way through the other bridesmaids. She stretched her palm open before Relena, offering a pair of earrings. “I would be honored if you would wear them,” she said. Relena hugged her. “Thank you.” “Something blue?” Dorothy asked, as Relena put the earrings on. “The garter’s blue,” Hilde volunteered loudly. Relena’s cheeks flared, turning scarlet. To her further embarrassment, everyone noticed. A huge smile was on each face. “It will have to do,” Sally stated in a business-like tone. “It’s almost time.” The announcement brought on a flurry of activity as the bridesmaids rushed to find their individual bouquets and check their appearances one last time. Sally ushered the younger women out of the room to line up, wishing the bride a final good luck. Noin hugged her and gave her husband a quick kiss before leaving to take her place as matron of honor. Miliardo offered her his arm. With a soft smile, Relena took it and let him lead her to the door. By all outward appearances, Relena was perfectly composed. However, the hand on his arm trembled slightly. With a reassuring smile, he placed his other hand over hers. “Everything will be fine, Relena,” he said. Relena took a deep breath to calm herself. Releasing it slowly, she turned to face her brother with a genuine smile. “I’m ready.” “Good. I would hate for you to leave your groom waiting at the altar.” His comment was rewarded with a laugh. There was a knock on the door and Quatre entered the room. “It’s almost time,” he said. He paused and studied Relena for a moment. “You look stunning,” he stated. “He’s one lucky guy.” “Thank you, Quatre,” she replied. She turned to her brother. “I’m ready.”


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