(Really long chapter ahead. 3366 words long)

(3rd POV)

"Oh my gosh, do you look gorgeous or what?!"

Ashe blushed, giggling lightly as the four females in front of her picked their jaws off the floor. Her mother held a handkerchief up to her face, tears threatening to fall as she stared at her daughter in complete happiness.

"Oh my baby, all grown up!" She wailed, throwing her arms around the caramel haired woman. Ashe stumbled, but was able to regain her balance with help from Laura.

"Mom," She muttered with a tight grin "Watch the dress."

"I'M SORRY!" The middle aged woman cried "I can't help it, can you blame me?! My daughter's finally getting married!"

Hearthome city; Sinnoh. A special day for many- the day a grand ceremony would commence.

Luke Artemus and Ashley Song's wedding day.

In less than half an hour Ashe would walk down the aisle, say her vows, and finally seal her fate with the love of her life for all eternity.

She gulped nervously as she watched Lillie style her long caramel hair, her knee bobbing up and down under her dress as she thought about what was to come.

She felt a hand on her shoulder.

"Relax, will ya?" Laura told her with a reassuring smile "There's nothing to be nervous about, you're marrying my brother for Arceus' sake!"

"I know!" Ashe squeaked "It all seems so surreal, I feel like I'm dreaming! What if this is a dream, and- and when I wake up Luke doesn't want me anymore! Or- Or what if he leaves me during the ceremony, or--"

"Girl, breathe!" Rose commanded, walking up to her with Emilee cradled in her arms. Ashe glanced over to the short girl, noticing the confident smile on her face as she spoke "Luke loves you, trust me I can tell. He's not going to leave you for anybody, for any reason."

"Yeah and if he does bail," Lillie began, placing her hands on the woman's shoulders and bending down slightly so she was level with her head "He'll have to deal with us girls~"

The three bridesmaids 'whoop'ed in agreement, fisting the air with massive grins on their faces. Ashley watched them, a small smile tugging at her lips, before her eyes casted down to her legs.

"I just wish Megan was here to see her brother get married..."

The room fell silent, so silent you could hear a pin drop, Lillie, Rose and Laura's faces falling at the mention of the girl. Even Emilee seemed upset at her name, as her fist fell from her mouth to her side.

"It's already been three months..." Laura murmured, hands holding her upper arms as she furrowed her brows.

Lillie nodded "It's been tough... for all of us..."

Rose sniffled "I miss her..."

Ashe's mother watched the girls, a solemn look on her face as they talked about their friend.

.

.

.

They heard a knock on the door.

"I'll get it." Ashe's mom volunteered, leaving the room to greet whoever was knocking.

Lillie knelt down next to Ashe, taking her hands and giving her a sad smile.

"We gotta be strong, okay?" She whispered.

"Yeah, she wouldn't want us moping around on your wedding." Rose agreed, bouncing Emilee further up.

"She'd want this day to be as special as possible for you," Laura placed a hand on Ashe's shoulder "Even if she can't be part of it."

"Oh really? That totally doesn't sound like me."

The four girls gasped, before whipping their heads round to the arch connecting two rooms. Their eyes widened at who they saw, one hand holding a crutch while her other arm was being held by Ashley's mom.

"Did somebody order a maid of honour?" She asked with a smirk, holding up a peace sign.

"MEGAN!" Lillie, Rose, Laura and Ashley screamed, grabbing their skirts and running towards the girl. Before she knew it she was getting crushed by the four girls.

"Omygosh omygosh omygosh!" Rose chanted, rubbing her cheek against Megan's "I can't believe it- you're here!"

"Yup, I'm here."

"But how?" Laura asked as they all separated, though still holding her sister at arms length "I thought the doctors said you couldn't leave the hospital for another month, how the hell did you get to Sinnoh?!"

"Well..." Megan smirked, tapping her chin thoughtfully "I may have pulled a few strings."

"How?" Lillie raised an eyebrow.

Megan gave her the 'it's a secret' look, before glancing at all three of them and laughing "You should've seen your faces! I mean c'mon, did you seriously think I'd miss my brother's wedding?!"

"I suppose not," Ashe laughed, trying her best to hold back tears so her makeup didn't run "Sorry we underestimated you."

"Damn right!"

Okay I'm sure an explanation is due, and quite frankly I'm sure you'd be demanding one by now. So here it is. Three months ago Megan's dad, Benjamin Artemus was defeated. All was well, but then the gem inside Megan's heart began malfunctioning again, causing her heart to stop. Kinda like a heart attack. Anyway, Avory and Ein concluded that the only way to save her was to separate her body from Silvally. It was a long, painful process for Megan, and they almost lost her. But it succeeded, and both her and Silvally survived. How? Well, Gladion had pulled out a substance he had created, labelled M.S.C.O (bet you forgot about that) and demanded that they used it. Somehow it worked, but Gladion wouldn't tell them what the substance was or how he got it. Megan ended up hospitalised for three months, and had hardly ever been seen on her feet since then. This was the first time they've seen her outside her hospital room, hence the crutch I suppose. Oh by the way Silvally's fine, it recovered quickly and is now with Gladion.

Rose glanced down at Megan's attire, noticing she was wearing the maid of honour dress Ashley picked out. She frowned "Where'd you get that? I thought we cancelled the order."

Megan's eyes squinted, her smirk growing as she leaned towards the short girl "Like I said; I managed to pull a few strings..."

"..." Rose blinked "Sly bitch."

"Um, excuse me?" A woman with a clipboard entered the room "We'll be starting soon, so can I ask everyone to head down?"

"Of course." Everyone nodded, following her out of the room. Ashe gulped, hand on her heart as she held her bouquet at her side.

"You'll be fine," Megan whispered as she limped along next to her "You and Luke belong together."

---

Luke held his sweaty hands in front of him, his heart beating against his chest as he stared at the door his wife to-be would walk through in the next minute or so. Gladion, his best man nudged him lightly.

"Nervous?"

"Pfft, nervous?" Luke's voice was really high "Why would I be nervous?"

"Hmm, maybe because the woman you love is moments away from walking down the aisle?"

Luke glared at Gladion, who only smirked in return.

Yes, Gladion seemed happy right now, but that smile was only to mask the pain he felt inside his chest. It had been three months since he's had a true smile on his face. Three months since he had felt happiness...

Three months since he felt the touch of his love.

To be honest, those three months of Megan being in the hospital were more heart wrenching for him than when she was kidnapped. Perhaps it was because of the sight of her unresponsive body in that bed, hooked up to the heart monitor that made the horrid beeping noise. Perhaps it was because it happened so fast, and he was still in shock after she collapsed in his arms.

Perhaps it was because he knew he almost lost her, after only just getting her back...

He knew she was safe. He knew she was being taken care of back in Alola. He knew she was awake, and would still be there when he came back. But, call it selfish if you want, he wished she was there with him right now.

...

No. It wasn't the time to feel upset. Luke was sad enough about his sister not being able to attend his wedding, he didn't need any more reasons to feel--

The music started playing.

Everyone in the audience stood, and Gladion made his way down to stand with them too. He stood in between Sun and Hau, who offered him small smiles. He could only grimace in return.

The doors opened, signalling that the bridesmaids were about to walk in.

First it was Emilee, the flower girl, who skipped along the middle of the room flinging petals around. Then it was the ring boy, who apparently was Ashley's nephew, Antonio. And finally, Lillie, Rose and Laura walked down the aisle with small bouquets in their hands. Hau, Guzma and Avory blushed at the sight of the girls, though that was to be expected.

Gladion looked down. Everyone was here with someone. Luke had Ashley. Lillie had Hau. Guzma had Rose. It was obvious Laura and Avory liked each other. And even though they denied it, Sun and Ein definitely had something going on. And him... he didn't have anyone. Megan was back in Alola, recovering from a near death experience, while he was here celebrating. He wanted to stay behind and take care of her, but she insisted that he came.

There was a round of gasps around the room.

'Must be Ashley...' Gladion thought to himself. 'I bet she's beautiful.'

"Dude." Ein reached over from next to Sun, tapping Gladion on the shoulder "Look."

"Why--"

"Just look."

Gladion raised an eyebrow, expression still glum, but he turned his head to look anyway...

His breath caught in his throat, causing him to almost choke "Oh my God..."

It was her.

Megan was walking- well, limping down the aisle behind Laura, with help from Ashe's mom. She blushed slightly from all the shocked looks she was getting, but at the same time she had her 'I'm back, bitches' smirk on. She made eye contact with Gladion, who was obviously trying his damn hardest not to cry.

"What you guys gawping at me for?!" She yelled, her voice echoing around the hall "I'm not the one getting married!"

Gladion couldn't help but laugh. Typical Megan...

Once Megan was settled down in her seat, she made eye contact with Gladion once more. She offered him a gentle smile.

"We'll talk about this later..." he saw her mouth.

He smiled back, giving her a small nod.

Soon, a white dress was seen from the corner of his eye, making him turn his head again. There Ashley was, being lead by her dad, cheeks flushed as she walked down the aisle with a big smile. Luke watched her in awe, eyes watering slightly as she came closer to him. Any nerves he felt a few moments ago had melted away.

Ashley's father took her hand, handing it over to Luke before taking his seat next to her mother. Despite being a relatively buff man, he had tears gushing down his face. Ashe and Luke turned to each other, hand in hand, eyes filled with love and passion- as well as tears as they stared into one another's.

They had waited for this for so long...

"We are gathered here today, to witness the union of two young lovers." The vicar spoke, her voice echoing "Today there are no dead languages to solemnise vows, that are very much alive and will remain so for a lifetime. The rings that shall be exchanged, and the the words exchanged will not be enough to cover the love shared between the two standing before you today."

Megan watched, lips pursed together as she fought back her tears.

"Worth it..." She whispered to herself.

"Now, for the vows."

Ashley took a deep breath, signalling that she was going to speak first.

"Luke Artemus, you are the most mysterious person I've ever met. I remember the first day I met you clear as day. I was a student at the Pokemon school, studying to become a Pokemon doctor, while you... were a masked weirdo in winter clothes."

A few chuckles could be heard in the audience, and Luke grinned sheepishly as she continued.

"Some days I wonder, if I hadn't spilled that coffee on you in the cafe- if I hadn't been such a clumsy idiot-" She chuckled to herself "-Would I still have met the man who makes me feel whole? Love isn't just a word or a feeling, it's an action. It ranges anywhere from just standing up to those three bitches I did homework for, to literally pushing me away from a rogue Tauros to save my dumb ass. All the moments I spent with you, big and small... Like the times we battled just to prove points, the times we braided each others hair just because we were bored, the times you would laugh at me for re-checking the door to see if it was locked... The time you revealed your biggest secret ever to me..." Tears cascaded down her face "Every moment spent with you is a moment I could not live without."

She slid one hand out of Luke's, muffling her sobs and hicks that escaped her mouth. Luke watched, his eyes too filled with tears.

"That is why, I'm gonna stand by you until I die..." She sniffled "That is why I'm going to save your ass whenever you're in trouble. Through the laughter... Through the pain... I'm gonna be there... by your side the entire time. Supporting you. Loving you... laughing at you... I'll be there through everything; no matter what..."

Now both of them were crying, and they reached up to wipe each other's tears away. It was a beautiful moment...

"Luke?" The vicar called softly.

"Oh, right! U-Um... Oh God..." Luke cleared his throat, taking Ashe's hands again "Jeez how am I gonna say this now?! Babe you gotta remember we both have vows."

"Welp," Ashe shrugged "Sucks to suck..."

The room chuckled again.

Luke rolled his eyes, wiping a few fallen tears on his sleeve before looking down at their hands "Alright... Ashley Song, there are many words I can use to describe you. grumpy, arrogant, smug as--"

"Watch it, Matthew."

"...Impatient..." He chuckled "But you have so much more to you, and you should be proud of it. You are kind, you're selfless, you're an amazing mother and an even better lover" He swallowed thickly "You helped keep me going when no one else could. You didn't judge me for wearing a mask or... wearing a coat in the Alolan sun. You stuck by me, even after I revealed my background to you. You brought me out of the darkness- heck, you even helped save me from my crazy old man. I love you for your perks, and I love you for your flaws." He pursed his lips together, preventing a sob from escaping "I cannot imagine my life without you making fun of me. Your smile, your laugh, your eyes... Everything about you, I want to see it, hear it, feel it, have it all. You make me whole, Ashley..."

He let out a shaky breath, his long hair falling over his eyes as he looked down.

"The happy times, the sad times... the crazy times... I want you there with me throughout it all. So, Ashley Song, I hold in my hand my heart, and I will give it to you along with my very being. I will love you until the day I die, and beyond."

By now, everyone in the room was crying. Even Gladion was crying. Even Guzma was crying. Megan sniffled, wiping her nose on her arm before stealing a glance at Gladion. She smiled at the sight.

"May we have the rings?" The vicar spoke, and Antonio walked up the steps with the pillow. Ashe and Luke took the rings, facing each other again with tear filled smiles.

"Luke, do you take Ashley Marie Song to be your lawfully wedded wife, to cherish and care for her until death do you part?"

Luke slid the ring onto Ashe's finger "I do..."

"And Ashe, do you take Lucus Philip Artemus to be your lawfully wedded husband, to cherish and care for him until death do you part?"

Ashe scoffed as she slid on Luke's ring "Obviously."

"Then, by the power vested in me, I pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss the bride."

Without wasting a beat, Ashe pulled Luke forward, cupping his face in her hands and smashing her lips against his. Luke closed his eyes, wrapping his arms around her waist and returning not only the kiss- but the love they shared between them.

Applause escalated throughout the room, as well as the fangirlish screams coming from Lillie and Rose.

---

"So wait, you knew she was coming?!"

Luke smirked, wrapping an arm around Megan's shoulders "Yup, I knew."

"Why didn't you tell me?!" Ashe whined, punching her husband's arm.

"We both agreed it would be waaay more amusing to keep it a secret until the day," Megan shrugged "And it was true, your faces were fucking priceless!"

A dark aura surrounded Ashe, causing the two siblings' smirks to drop. Megan wriggled out of Luke's grasp "Yeeeeeah, not really digging the vibe here anymore... I'm out." And with that she hobbled away.

Gladion caught sight of her, which paused the conversation he was having with Sun and Lillie. His eyebrows furrowed, and he debated in his head on whether to follow her or not.

He felt someone lightly push him forward.

"Go," Lillie whispered with a smile "Talk to her."

His eyes widened for a moment, but he nodded and followed after the girl.

Megan stood on the balcony, her arms crossed on top of the railing as she stared up at the night sky. She let out a content sigh, enjoying the cool breeze against her face as her hair blew behind her. She needed this; a relaxing change of scenery after being stuck in that hospital for three months.

"So, is stealing the spotlight at weddings gonna become a habit for you, or was it only this once?"

She slowly turned her body, hands still on the railing, eyes meeting the ones of the man she had missed the most. She gave a smirk, lightly shrugging her shoulders "I dunno; it was pretty fun..."

Gladion chuckled lightly. He was leaning against the doorway, arms folded over his chest. The black suit he wore couldn't have fit him any better, and the red tie he had around his neck was loosened slightly and- oh my god how can someone look so edgy and so hot at the same time?!

"You know I really was shocked." He confessed "If Ein didn't snap me out of my sulking I wouldn't have seen you come in."

"Well..." Megan made a jazz hand motion "Surprise, here I am!"

"Here you are..."

They were silent for a moment, just staring at each other as if they had nothing more to to say. But then, Megan made a gesture with her head for him to approach "Come, join me."

He smirked, but pushed away from the door and walked towards her. She expected him to stop next to her to enjoy the scenery. But instead he stood behind her, snaking his arms under hers and wrapping them around her waist. He pulled her back against his chest, resting his chin on her shoulder and letting out a content sigh. She smiled slightly, leaning back against him and holding onto his hands.

"I've missed this..."

"Missed what?" Gladion teased.

"Us..." She turned her head to meet his eyes "There's been for too little of it as of late..."

"I couldn't agree more..." He whispered "This year's been seriously bonkers."

"Yup. From Lillie coming back, you finding out about my family name, 'Matt' and 'Liz' getting kidnapped, getting freaking pregnant, us nearly breaking up, me getting kidnapped, Me finding out the Zarack siblings are my siblings, finding out my parents are alive, all the way to me almost dying twice--"

Gladion's grip on her tightened. By a lot.

Megan's eyebrows arched downwards as his fists clenched under her hands "Gladion?"

"Hm...?"

"Did... Did I scare you...? When I collapsed?"

Gladion's breath hitched, the sorrow clear in Megan's voice as she asked that. His eyes narrowed.

"No... You didn't scare me..."

He suddenly turned her around to face him, his hands gripping her waist as he gazed down at her. Her face was filled with confusion, while his remained unchanged.

He leaned down, kissing her softly on the lips. She was surprised at first, but kissed back, enjoying the warmth of his lips against hers.

He pulled away first, but his lips still hovered by hers as they connected foreheads.

"The thought of losing you; that's what scared me..."