Title: Going to the Chapel

Author: J.D. Rush

Series: Big Things; follows 'Going Postal'

Rating: mild PG for language

Pairing: Frohike/Scully

Summary: The big day has arrived.

Disclaimer: FOX, 1013, CC. . .I think we know the song by now.

GOING TO THE CHAPEL

Saturday, October 6, 2001

I watched as she approached, wearing a simple calf-length white linen dress and new white shoes--low heel. Very considerate. Her accessories were few and tasteful--a string of pearls and matching earrings--and she carried a small bouquet of white roses. No matter how unconventional this marriage, the ceremony was to be as traditional as she could make it. She saw me sitting on the wooden bench and gave a smile and I felt my heart flip. I stood on shaky legs as she drew near.

"Sorry I'm late," she apologized quickly. "I had to drop William off with mom, and the traffic was quite heavy."

"Don't worry. I'm just glad you're here." I was starting to think she had changed her mind. 

"Better late than never, huh?" she joked.

"Yeah. Jesus, you look lovely," I sighed, wanting to be more original, but finding my tongue tied in knots."

"So do you," she said, her smile growing bigger. 

Lovely? Surely she was being kind. I looked down at the navy blue suit I pulled out only for funerals, complimented with one of John's borrowed stripped ties, and shrugged. "I tried my best." Gesturing to the bench I was just sitting on, I asked, "Wanna have a seat? There's another couple in there already."

She settled herself primly on the bench, crossing her shapely legs at the ankles, very lady-like. Dana Scully was all class. I took a seat beside her as I felt my nerves kicking in. <Shit, Frohike--if you can't handle the ceremony, what the hell are you going to do when you move in?>

"Where are the guys?" she queried, looking around, as if noticing for the first time they weren't around.

"Didn't tell them," I confessed. "Figured they'd just say we were making a mistake and try to talk us out of it." I noticed the lack of witnesses on her side as well. "Where's Skinner?" <Or Doggett? Or Reyes, for that matter?>

She looked at me sheepishly. "Ditto."

So apparently I wasn't the only one who doubted our friends would approve of this union. "And what does mom think about all this?"

Dana laughed. God, I loved her laugh. "She thinks the cheese fell off my cracker, if you get my drift. But after everything I've done the last few years, I don't think anything surprises her anymore."

"Do you think they're right?" I asked, uncertainly.

Those clear blue eyes locked on mine. "No, but if you're having second thoughts about this, Frohike, now is the time to say it. Do you want to cancel this now--no hard feelings?"

"Do you?" I shot back.

"No fair. I asked you first," she giggled. And at that moment, my future was sealed. To think I would have the chance to experience that laughter every single day was too tempting a prospect.

I took her hand, feeling the tremors that matched the ones flowing though me. "Dana, it's the only thing I want in life," I told her honestly. "I just want to make you happy."

Her whole face softened, and the smile she bestowed upon me warmed me to my soul. "You do." She leaned over and gave me a quick kiss on the cheek, just as the door across the hall opened, and a happily married couple exited, followed closely behind by the Justice of the Peace.

"Mr. Melvin Fro-hike?" he addressed me, holding out his hand. 

I shook it nervously, even as I corrected him on the pronunciation, "Um, it's Fro-hickey." 

"I'm so sorry, Mr. Fro-hickey," he apologized, and beckoned to me and Dana to follow him. "We're ready for you both now."

The ceremony was short and sweet--and hell, I only stumbled over my own name twice. Not too shabby. The only real tense moment came when we were supposed to exchange rings. There really hadn't been time to shop for any, which was fine with me but I didn't think it was fair to Dana--a woman should have jewelry, you know? She was therefore quite stunned when I pulled an antique wedding band out of my coat pocket. "It belonged to gramma," I explained to her as I slipped it onto her finger. I really wish I could have had a picture of her face at that moment--her mouth open in surprise, her eyes brimming with unshed tears.

She was the most beautiful woman I had ever seen.

Five minutes later, after another round of handshakes, I walked proudly out of the room with a gorgeous new bride on my arm. . .and a pit in my stomach bigger than the Grand Canyon. Oh man, what the hell did we just do?

THE END