A Different Challenge

"I knew it! I KNEW IT!" Rain jumped from her seat and hugged her grandmother. "This is all too perfect. Can I be a bridesmaid?!"

"I wouldn't have it any other way," Lena kissed her granddaughter's cheek.

"Wait, does that mean we can call you Grandpa Julius for real?" Brock paused with his spoon in the air.

"If you like!" Julius chuckled. "You can call me anything you want."

"Grandpa Julius," Blaze confirmed. "Will we get to do anything special?"

The groom-to-be stroked his chin. "I am sure we can find a place for you, don't you think, Lena?"

"Absolutely." The grandmother nodded. "It would not be the same without any of you."

"Welcome to the family," Fort reached across the table and shook the other man's hand. 

"Thank you, son," Julius winced slightly but then his smile grew wider. "I guess that term is more appropriate than ever." 

"Yes, yes it is," Fort smiled. 

Unlike Noble, Fort hadn't had the luxury of knowing his father well. To hear Julius call him son filled a hole similar to when Lena doted on him. He sat a little straighter in his seat. 

Everyone's reactions confirmed to Noble that she had made the right choice. This was a reason to celebrate.

Noble raised her hot chocolate. "To Grandma and Grandpa Julius." 

The others around the table raised their drinks and ice cream respectively. While the cups could not clink like a proper toast, the laughter more than made up for the absent sound. 

"So, have you decided on a day?" Rain leaned forward as all the other drama of the day flew from her head. 

Now that Noble was past her own hesitation, she found that she was interested in the information as well. 

Lena and Julius looked at each other and nodded. 

The grey-headed woman cleared her throat lightly. "December 7."

"What?!" Noble nearly choked. "That's only about a month from now. Why so soon?" 

"When you are as old as we are, time takes on a different meaning. Now that we have told you, there is no real reason to wait and every reason to get married as soon as possible." Lena looked lovingly at Julius. 

"Every reason? What is that supposed to mean?" Noble caught herself before sarcastically asking her mother if she was pregnant. The joke would not have gone over well. 

The grandmother frowned, seeming to read Noble's thoughts. The professor looked away sheepishly. 

"I mean that every day is precious. Nothing is guaranteed. Julius wants to marry before the solstice so that a few of the Sleepers can attend." Lena explained. 

"Awakened Rock is set to leave the following week so he can challenge a Second Nightmare. He needs time to prepare before he goes, so the day makes sense. I told Rock to save the date but not why." Julius added the last part quickly. "I guess I can tell him the real reason now." 

"I see," Noble processed the information. 

"I am also going to see if we can get Master Sunless on the communicator for the ceremony. It would be nice to somehow make him a part of the day." Julius's expression became far off.

"Sunny? Have you heard from him recently?" Rain glanced toward the communicator in her pocket. 

"I rarely hear from him, but I believe that is due to the spotty Spelltech connection. Maybe you can call in a favor and get him a secure line?" Julius looked at his future step-son-in-law. 

"I can try!" Fort answered enthusiastically. 

"Alight, so you have guests and a date, but do you have a venue? I don't know if you have noticed, but things around here have become very crowded lately." Noble glanced outside of the humble ice cream parlor. 

While this particular park had not yet been overrun with tents and temporary buildings, many others had. Space was at a premium. 

"We are aware that there is an issue." Lena sighed. "I had considered doing it at my house and keeping things small, but the more we talked, the more we realized how many friends we wanted to have at the wedding." 

Julius squeezed her hand. "So I suggested we have it in the Academy's Auditorium. It isn't used for most of the day and we would pay to rent the space. Not exactly a flashy location, but it is big enough to do the job." 

"That's...actually a good idea," Noble conceded. "It seems like you have thought of everything." 

"I don't have a dress or decorations," Lena brought her hand to her temple. 

"We can help with that!" Rain pulled out her communicator. "Now for a woman of your..." the teen struggled for the words. 

Lena narrowed her gaze. "Grace and charm?" 

"Yeah, that." Rain nodded vehemently. "I think we can find something that will work for both the season and your personal taste..." 

"I want to be the ring bearer." 

"No, I want to be the ring bearer." 

The twin's silent bickering grew louder. 

"You are both too big to be ring bearers," Fort told them firmly. "Anyone taller than the bride is no longer qualified to bring the rings in on a pillow." 

"Nonsense," Julius came to the boys' aid. "We aren't a traditional bride and groom. Why should we have to follow what others do? If it's alright with your grandmother, I think you should come down the aisle each carrying one of the rings. Be co-bearers, if you will." 

"I think that is a lovely suggestion," Lena said before being pulled back to the communicator by her granddaughter. 

"And what if I want to be a ring bearer too?" Fort asked with a wink.

"I thought you might like to be my Best Man," Julius offered genuinely.

Fort was taken aback. "Are you sure?" 

"Do you want someone else to have the honor of walking me down the aisle," Noble arched her brow. 

"Never!" Fort answered a little too forcefully. He held out his hand to his future father-in-law. "Thank you for the honor." 

"The pleasure is all mine." Julius nodded. 

The conversation continued with both the bride and groom fielding questions and making plans. 

Noble looked at the little crowd in the ice cream shop. They were her people. Her family. 

Like a missing piece, Julius completed the puzzle that made them whole. 

Her love for these people ran unbreakably deep. 

Noble would protect the fragile world for as long as she could and at all costs. 

Today that cost was minimal. Instead of being a burden, it was a joy. 

'Who would have thought that I would have gone from worrying about my daughter's love life this morning to accepting my mother's plan for marriage this afternoon?' 

Life was funny often, and at least this time she wasn't falling through a gate and into a nightmare. 

Though in some respects this challenge was almost as daunting. 

While planning a wedding wasn't a bloodbath for survival, it was a gauntlet of challenges that was not for the faint of heart. 

But Noble had done it once before and she was confident that she could do it again. Most of the hard work had already been done. All that was left were the details. 

Really, how hard could that be?