"Nervous?" Derek asked, adjusting his tux slightly after it simply appeared on him. It was, of course, a perfect fit, but you know, it was still a tux.

Chris cocked his head at him. "Why would I be nervous?"

Derek frowned. "Chris, I don't care how weird you are, you can't feel nothing on your wedding day!"

Chris raised an eyebrow. "I'm happy, maybe a bit excited, but I'm not nervous. I've known I want to be with Beth for a while now, and I know she wants to be with me. This is just making something we already know official."

Derek rolled his eyes. "You're a freak. But seriously, I'm happy for you man." He gave him a pat on the back.

"Thanks." Chris smiled. "I'm glad you agreed to be my best man."

Derek snorted. "Who else was going to do it? Thad can't sign as a witness because he hasn't passed the Trial yet, and those three… whatever they are, they don't have official identities in the City, so if not me, then who? I just wish you'd given me more of a heads up… I barely had any time to write my speech!"

Chris frowned. "You don't have a speech."

Derek chuckled. "Oh trust me, I have a speech."

T'ka appeared next to them as Chris focused on her. "T'ka, does Derek have a speech?"

"After dinner, there is a period for guests to say a few words of support for the happy couple. It is expected that the best man will contribute." T'ka affirmed.

Chris scowled. Why was everyone so obsessed with speeches? "Is that really necessary?"

"It is." T'ka nodded seriously. "Beth insists."

Chris sighed. "Very well."

"Dude, come on, it isn't going to be like those graduation speeches. It's your friends and family congratulating you on one of the most significant events of your life!" Derek paused. "Well, most people's lives… not sure about your Multiversal ass. But still! We want to celebrate with you!"

"I suppose…" Chris muttered, before shrugging. "Honestly, as long as it makes Beth happy, I'll be happy."

Derek shook his head. "I guess that's something."

The two of them continued chatting for a bit while the guests settled in, until the clock hit four and Chris appeared in front of the officiant along with Derek. Music began to play as everyone settled down, turning to watch as the rest of the wedding party began to file in. First came Thad and Penny, then Ka'lypso and Dyrdek, and finally Jello bouncing down the aisle, tossing flower petals all over the place. As she settled in next to Ka'lypso, the music changed and everyone stood. Chris couldn't help but smile as Beth began her procession, walking arm and arm with David until they arrived in front of Chris.

"Take good care of her." David muttered under his breath, with a small smile and a bit of warning in his eyes.

"Dad!" Beth hissed.

"I'll do my best." Chris grinned.

"You better." David grinned back, patting Beth's arm as she flushed in embarrassment, before taking his seat along with the rest of the guests.

The officiant waited a moment for the two of them to get into position, before letting out a light cough. "We are gathered here today to celebrate the union of one Christopher Vincent and Bethany Klein and to support them in their future together. If there is anyone who does not support this union, please speak now, or forever hold your peace." Daniel twitched, but Belinda put a firm hand on his shoulder, giving him a warning look. Chris had been kind enough to extend an invitation to the both of them and she was not going to let him ruin this for them. "Then we shall proceed."

The officiant led Chris and Beth through their vows, but Chris barely paid attention, fully focused on the beautiful woman in front of him as she stared back at him, a bright smile pasted across her face, eyes watering slightly. Beth couldn't believe this was finally happening! It felt as if it was both a long time coming and entirely too quick. She didn't understand how she could love someone this much after just a handful of months! A part of her was freaking out a bit, thinking they were rushing into this, but… she couldn't imagine being with anyone other than Chris. It was fast, yes, but if there was anything that would convince her not to be with Chris, he definitely would have told her already. The man was honest to a fault, which in turn made her want to be honest. She couldn't think of anything she hadn't told him about herself by this point. No, this was fast, but… it was right, and she couldn't be happier.

"You may now kiss the bride." The officiant finished, and the guests clapped as Chris and Beth shared their first kiss as man and wife.

*

The guests moved to the reception while Chris, Beth, and the wedding party took a few pictures, which Chris found a bit unnecessary since he could literally recreate the entire wedding at any point, but Beth wanted pictures, so they got pictures. After the pictures, they joined everyone else at the reception. "Chris, congratulations!" Mrs. Richardson exclaimed, pulling him into a hug. "I'm so happy for you!"

"Thank you." Chris returned the hug.

Mrs. Richardson released him and turned to Beth, pulling her into a hug as well. "Thank you for making our Chris so happy! You can't imagine how much it means to me to see him thriving like this. I never thought- just thank you!"

A few others approached to give them their own congratulations. Derek's parents, Samuel and his wife, Belinda, and a few of Beth's relatives. Thankfully it didn't take that long since they'd kept the wedding small, and Chris's subordinates didn't quite have a handle on why weddings were important yet. They then sat down at the head table and food appeared in front of everyone.

"So… Do you know Beth or Chris?" A woman asked Andrew as they began to eat. The three of them weren't a part of the wedding, but they were obviously still invited. Beth had put them at a table with a few of her younger cousins.

"Chris." Andrew answered.

"Oh, are you from the orphanage or the Scouts?" She asked.

"Neither. We're… business partners?" Andrew replied hesitantly.

"We're helping with the restaurant." Greg interjected with a smile. "I'm Greg, by the way."

"Chelsea." She smiled back, before turning to Andrew. "And you?"

"Andrew. And she's Victoria." Andrew introduced.

"That's where I know you from!" Another cousin exclaimed, pointing at Greg. "You're the smoke dude!"

"That'd be me." Greg chuckled.

"So cool! Are you here in person or is this a smoke clone?" The man asked excitedly.

Greg paused. "Both? I'm a smoke person. All my bodies are me."

The man blinked. "Really? How-" He paused, glancing over at Chris. "Oh… you're like him?"

"Hey, you're quick!" Greg congratulated him. "Yeah, we're all related." He gestured to Andrew and Victoria as well.

"So you're Doppelgangers?" Chelsea asked. "Or children of Doppelgangers?"

"No, we're-" Greg cut off. "Well, it's kinda complicated. We're basically humans though."

"Basically?" Chelsea raised an eyebrow.

"Basically." Greg grinned.

"I- see." Chelsea frowned.

"So… Do you know Beth?" Andrew asked.

"Yeah, we're her cousins." Chelsea nodded. "This is my brother, Mark, that's our cousin Jessica-"

If you spot this story on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

Victoria's fork snapped, causing everyone to look at her. She coughed awkwardly, flushing slightly. "Sorry. Please continue."

Chelsea hesitated. "Uh, so that's Jessica, and then her brother Brian and sister Natalie."

"That was a metal fork." Mark muttered incredulously. "How did it snap?!? Shouldn't it bend?" He grabbed his own fork, bending it slightly.

Victoria hesitated. "Sudden, violent stress?"

"That's what makes me snap." Greg snickered. "Nah, I'm kidding. I don't feel stress."

"Why would my name make you that… stressed?" Jessica asked, giving Victoria a weird look.

Victoria's expression twisted. "I- lost someone with that name. I guess I still haven't completely gotten over it."

"Ah." Jessica nodded with a sigh. "The Trial? I lost one of my best friends in the last one." She commiserated with a twisted expression of her own.

"Actually, it-" Victoria began, before hesitating. "Yeah, the Trial is a menace." She shook her head. "We should really put a stop to it."

"If only." Natalie snorted. "The Trial is the only way to make humanity stronger. You won't be able to convince people to stop it if the alternative is being at the mercy of whatever the surface has to throw at us."

Victoria paused. "What if the Trial wasn't the only way to get stronger?"

Chelsea cocked her head. "You mean like joining Chris's world? I think that will work for some people, but not humanity as a whole."

"Chris isn't the only one of us who can help people get stronger." Victoria retorted.

"Yeah, but your method might get everyone killed." Andrew reminded her.

Victoria shook her head. "That's only when we make major changes to how… things work. This is just making people stronger. Shouldn't be an issue. My only concern would be if it spread out of the City." She paused. "I wonder if I can limit it to certain races… who am I kidding, of course I can."

"What are you talking about?" Jessica asked hesitantly.

"The system." Victoria replied. "Basically, it will let you do tasks to gain points, which you can use to strengthen your body and your ability."

Brian looked up from his phone, wide-eyed. "You have a system?!? Like, stats, levels, skills and all that!?!"

"Stats yes, levels no, skills yes, no classes or anything like that." Victoria explained, before pausing. "Though I suppose there's nothing that says I couldn't add that stuff… though it'd be more limiting than just throwing points at stats and skills."

"Wait, you control the system!?!" Brian exclaimed, eyes lighting up excitedly.

"I do. It's sort of an expression of my ability to control energy." Victoria explained.

"That is so cool!" Brian squealed slightly. "Can I- could- could you give it to me?" He asked tentatively.

"I could, but… well, we're trying not to do anything without thinking it over first. If we do start handing it out, feel free to come by the headquarters and I'll give it to you." Victoria sighed. Brian's expression fell in disappointment, but he nodded in understanding.

"How is that supposed to get people killed?" Chelsea asked with a frown.

"Some people don't like it when there's a system giving people the ability to change their lives. They prefer the status quo." Victoria growled.

"There are benefits to stability." Jessica muttered. "But stability that keeps people down isn't truly stability. That's why we have a Mayor instead of a Ruling Family. The Families kept people down for too long, and eventually… well, you know."

"Yeah…" Victoria agreed, not knowing anything, but assuming it was some sort of civil war. "Stability that relies on certain people remaining in power isn't stability, it's tyranny."

Jessica smiled. "I couldn't agree more."

*

“So, Sal- uh, Di- Diclonius?” David began, frowning slightly as he stumbled over his name. The two had been sat at the same table along with Jo, Beth's mom Abigail, Belinda, and Mr. and Mrs. Richardson.

“Dichonius.” Dichonius corrected with a smile.

“That's going to take some getting used to.” David muttered, shaking his head. “Anyway, how are you feeling? Our kids just got married! A bit sudden in my opinion, but… well, I can't deny they're good together.”

Dichonius frowned. “I- can't say I'm not proud of the boy, but… unfortunately our relationship hasn't developed to the point where I can completely share in the joy of the day. Seeing him find happiness like this is amazing, but I know I had little to do with it. You should probably direct your question to Mrs. Richardson here. She had more to do with it than I.”

Mrs. Richardson hesitated. “I- thank you, Dichonius, but I'm not sure how much of a hand I had in this either. I did my best to provide a nurturing environment, but- it would be impossible to be personally involved in all the children's lives. The orphanage can't replace a parent. I am happy to see him doing so well, though.” She smiled warmly as she glanced towards the head table.

“He should have been with the Monteros.” Belinda muttered. “My father failed in that duty.”

“Right, Chris said his mother was a Montero… Isabel, right?” David commented.

“Yes…” Dichonius nodded, glancing hesitantly at Belinda. This was actually their first meeting since Belinda had ended up being too busy to meet with them during the week. Something about the entire City falling into chaos due to some announcement. “We distanced ourselves from the Monteros, though, so I can't particularly blame them for not taking Chris in. By the time everything happened, we were family in name only. I would have hoped they could have given Chris a good life, but given the circumstances, I think him going to the orphanage was for the best.”

“Why couldn't you remain as his father?” Mrs. Richardson asked tentatively.

Dichonius grimaced. “I had… abandoned my position with the Doppelgangers to run away with Isabel, and the protection that entailed. I thought I could stay hidden, but… my enemies were closing in. It became a choice between returning to the Doppelgangers and abandoning Chris, or subjecting him to a life on the run, a life of constant stress and danger… I couldn't do that to him.”

“What enemies?” Belinda asked, her gaze sharpening.

“The other races that have infiltrated the City.” Dichonius replied. “The Doppelgangers have kept their presence and influence relatively minor, but it's impossible to completely root them out. Not without the cooperation of humanity.”

“Perhaps that's something we should look into, at a later date.” Belinda commented, eyeing him significantly as she sipped her drink.

“Is that a proposition?” Dichonius chuckled as Belinda choked on her drink. “I'm flattered, but I'm actually involved with Jo at the moment.”

Belinda glared at him as she recovered, before pausing and glancing at Jo. “You- two are together?” Belinda asked, her eyes narrowing. “Since when?”

“For a while now.” Jo replied, giving her a significant look.

Belinda nodded slowly. “I see…” Given Jo's ability… yes, she could be Chris's mother. The woman who replaced Isabel. Belinda let out a sigh. She wished they could talk somewhere more privately. She had so many questions that wouldn't be appropriate to ask in the middle of a wedding. Still… she could see about getting to know Jo herself better. They had technically been sisters for a bit.

*

Derek stood, a microphone appearing in his hand, surprising him slightly before he shot Chris a smile. "Could I get everyone's attention please? I'd like to say a few words about my good friend Chris here." Derek announced as everyone turned to look at him. "I've known Chris since grade school, and in all that time, I don't think I've ever seen him as happy as he is with Beth. It may not seem like it to those who don't know him, but that little smile on his face is a normal person's equivalent of… well, what Beth is doing right now." Derek chuckled, gesturing to the beaming, teary-eyed woman sitting next to Chris. "Chris, I can't even begin to express how happy I am for you. How happy I am to be here, experiencing this! To even still have you in my life, and to see you making so much of yours. You're my best friend. I could go on about how great a guy you are, how I know you're going to make Beth the happiest woman in any World, but I also know how much you hate speeches, so… to the happy couple!" He raised his glass in a toast as the crowd laughed, everyone joining him in the toast.

More people stood to say a few words, but with Derek's example, they all kept it fairly short and sweet. "Thanks." Chris patted Derek on the back.

Derek smiled. "Don't mention it, and again, congratulations. I wish you both a long and happy life together. A long, long life."

"I wouldn't want anything less." Beth agreed as she got up. "Come on, it's time for our first dance."

*

"Are you ready?" Chris asked.

"I- I think so." Beth replied hesitantly. "It- it isn't going to hurt, is it?"

"As long as you don't resist." Chris assured her.

Beth let out a nervous breath. "Okay, I'm ready." She closed her eyes, feeling a bit of pressure, opening herself up, and… the connection to Chris's world settled on her. "Huh… that was… kinda anticlimactic."

"I told you, it isn't that big a deal." Chris shrugged.

Beth nodded slowly, before a smile slowly spread across her face and she let out a squeal, jumping into his arms. "We're married! I can't believe it! We're freaking married!!!"

"Indeed we are." Chris grinned. "And you're officially immortal. Which… might be more exciting."

"Chris, I would take being with you over being immortal any day." Beth growled seriously.

"And I would rather see you alive and well than with me." Chris replied. "Obviously I prefer both, but… well, as long as you're safe and happy, I'm happy, even if that safety and happiness has nothing to do with me."

Beth frowned. "I- think that's sweet?"

Chris shrugged. "I wouldn't know. All I know is that it's true."

Beth sighed, resting her head against him. "I love you, but you are a frustrating man sometimes."

"Yeah, I know." Chris nodded. The two stood there, holding each other for a moment.

"So… to the bedro-" The two immediately disappeared. It was their wedding night after all.