The Biggest Day

4. The Biggest Day

She would admit it to herself.  She was nervous.  The big day was finally here.  Starfire, Jinx, Argent and BumbleBee were back with her, helping her get into the white dress.

"Does...it have to be so tight?" she asked after a while.  She was lucky she was part demon.  It made it that much easier to breathe.

"It shouldn't have to be...but for some reason it always is," Bumblebee responded.  She and the others were in their bridesmaids dresses already, save Starfire, who wore traditional Tameranean garb for her role as the maid of honor.

"Relax, Raven," Jinx said, smiling at her.  "You'll do fine.  Nothing will go wrong."

"Have a little confidence, mate," Argent pipped up.  "You've got your man, now go claim him."

"Yeah, Mommy," Melvin pipped up, adorable in her flower girl dress.  "This is the happiest day of your life."

"...yeah..."  Raven looked at herself in the mirror.  She wasn't really interested in how she looked, but it was something to do to hide her nerves.  Then she got a shock as she saw someone else in the mirror.  "...mom?"

Arella stepped out of the mirror and enfolded Raven in a warm embrace.  "Hello, Raven.  SO the day's finally here."

Raven nodded dumbly.

"I'm glad you have better taste in men than I did," Arella said with a chuckle.  "Though I'm a little upset I didn't get an invitation."

"I'd have sent one if I knew where to, Mom," Raven said at last, hugging her mom back.  Melvin then reacted to this revelation.

"GRANDMA!" she said, hugging Arella around her legs.

"Don't muss your dress now, dear," Arella said with affection in her voice.  She gently stroked the top of Melvin's head.

There was a knock and the door, and Jinx opened it slightly before letting Cyborg enter.  "They're ready for you," he said simply, extending his arm to Raven before winking at Arella.  Robin was best man, and Cyborg was going to give away the bride.

Raven, catching the wink, laughed.  So that was how her mother got here so timely.  Placing her hand lightly on the offered metalic arm, she allowed him to lead her to her future.
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The church was packed.  Every Titan who could make it was there, along with a good portion of the Justice League and the Doom Patrol.  Several solo superheroes were also there as honored guests.  Raven stood up at the front of the church now, her nerves starting to catch up to her.  It wasn't that she had any regrets...it was just that she felt a little...exposed...in front of all these people without her cloak.

The priest stepped up, ready to begin the ceremony.  While it hadn't been hard to find priests willing to perform the wedding of superheroes, Raven's demonic heritage had caused some problems, and there were very few priests willing to accept.  Father Mulchahy (no relation to the MASH character, despite the resemblance in appearance and demeanor) had been the most good natured about the matter.

"Dearly Beloved," he began, "we are joined here, a group the likes of which few have ever born witness to, to bring together two people who have chosen to dedicate their lives to each other, after a lifetime of dedicating to others.  Once again we are reminded that superheroes are, at the bottom of it, still men and women, filled with all the same feelings, wants, needs, and desires as those they strive so hard to protect.  Through many trials and tribulations, these two proved their loyalty and willingness to sacrifice, and at long last, those years of trials are over, and their efforts are finally to be rewarded...in each other.  May their love be a beacon of hope for the future, for all of us.

"If there are any here who would gainsay these two the right to join, let them speak now, or forever hold their peace."

Near the back of the church, a few guests stirred restlessly.  While this union was more or less universally approved of, there were a few who had differing opinions on it.  One such individual prepared to speak her peace, but...

*CRASH*

The doors of the church were torn off there hinges and tossed backward, and a man in a large red exo-suit stepped through.  "Adonis has something to say about this-"

Melvin rounded on the interloper, giving him a glare that would have made her Mommy proud.  "Bobby doesn't like party crashers!"  All of a sudden, Adonis went flying backward out of the church.

He looked up as he landed in time to see Bobby appear from hiding.  His somewhat frightening visage was not at all tempered by his teddy-tux.  Slamming feet first into Adonis, he partially crushed the suit, then grabbed it and proceeded to flip Adonis like a flapjack.

CRASH!  CRASH!  CRASH!

Then Bobby began to spin rapidly, before releasing Adonis to fly off into the distance like a twinkling star.  He then stepped back into the church, grinning hugely.

Everyone was staring, then Beast Boy chuckled.  "And that's why she's the flower girl."  He ruffled Melvin's hair, and she blushed.

Timmy looked up, a somewhat confused expression on his face.  "But...I thoguht I was the ring bear."  Uproarious laughter followed.

"He's been spending too much time with you," Raven mumbled to her groom.  Teether was sitting nearby, clapping.

Father Mulchahy leaned in and asked, "Are these three yours?"  His eyebrows were raised inuisitively.

"Ah...well...uhm," Raven wasn't quite sure how to explain this.

"They're what brought us together," Beast Boy said simply.

"Ah!" Mulchahy responded, then continued.

"Garfield Mark Logan, do you take this woman to be your lawfully wedded wife, to have and to hold, for richer or poorer, in sickness and in health, till death do you part?"

"Always and forever," Beast Boy responded.

"And do you, Raven daughter of Arella, take this man to be your lawfully wedded husband, to have and to hold, for richer or poorer, in sickness and in health, till death do you part?"

"With all my heart and soul," Raven replied.

"Then by the power invested in me by God, Country, World, and this assemblage, I proclaim you man and wife.  You may kiss the bride."

Beast Boy took his wife into his arms and kissed her deeply, passionately.  They were one now, and as far as he was concerned, the world was perfect.

Raven couldn't argue.  She had her husband, her children, her family, her home.  Life was beautiful.

There was a resounding wave of cheers from the assembled, and Terra quietly left with only a single glance back, holding her peace.