As soon as the last jar was given to the last Hargreeves, Astrid and Sloane split up and went to ask for some extra favors. As Luther pulled out the invitation from his hiding spot, Astrid walked up to him. "Hey, Luth? Can I talk to you for a second?" Astrid sat next to him. "Of course, Ast. What's up?" he replied. "First of all, thank you for sticking up for us, and secondly, I was hoping you could help me with the wedding?"

"Sure! What do you need?" Luther questioned. "Okay so, you know how it's always been us siblings taking care of each other since we were little?" Astrid mentioned. Luther nodded, encouraging her to go on. "You've been so supportive of me, and this wedding wouldn't be the same if you weren't a part of it. I was wondering if you would do me the honor of walking me down the aisle?" The Shadow Girl requested. Luther's eyes widened with surprise, but he smiled as he could feel happy tears form. "I'd be honored to, Ast," Luther agreed as he embraced her in possibly the tightest bear hug.

"Thank you," Astrid whispered. "Anything for my little sister," Luther assured. As they two pulled apart from their embrace, Luther told her he'd get the guys together for the bachelor party. Astrid grinned as she thanked him and walked over to where Viktor was sitting, examining the tiny jar. "Hey, Viktor. I need a favor. Well really, it's more of a request. It's totally last minute, and..." Astrid stuttered. Viktor politely cut in, asking her what the favor was. "Will you be my best man?" The blonde asked. "You don't have to do much. You just have to stand next to me and make sure I don't act like an idiot,"

A tiny and appreciative smile formed on Viktor's face. "I would love to," he agreed. Astrid's face lit up at his response, and she had to admit, she was a bit aback by all this. Everything was finally coming together to celebrate this wedding at the end of the world. "Great! So we're on a tight schedule. The bachelor party is in half an hour, and not everyone is invited-"

"What was that?" Ben squinted as he passed them, making the two awkwardly brush the comment off. "Nothing, man. It's all good," Astrid lied with a straight face as Ben rolled his eyes and continued on his way. But the second the Sparrow was out of their sight, Astrid shook her head, silently telling her brother there was no way Ben was invited. 

~~~~~~~~~

As Astrid expected, Luther turned out to be a great help. Not just with getting the bachelor party set up, but he proved to be useful when it came to deciding on her wedding dress. He may not have been an expert in what style would fit Astrid's body type, but his and Lila's feedback and the looks of awe or skepticism helped her choose the best dress. "Alright, last one. Tell me what you think," Astrid said as she slowly opened the curtain of the dress shop.

Luther and Lila looked up, and as Astrid stepped onto the wooden platform, their jaws dropped. "Holy shit..." Luther gasped. Astrid gave them a turn as she showed off the simple yet elegant dress of silk and delicate ivory flower netting. The skirt continued with the combination and was long enough to have a slight train. Astrid adjusted the simple gold bracelet on her right hand and the dainty single pearl necklace around her neck as her eyes locked on theirs. "So?" Astrid questioned. Luther stood up from his seat and embraced her. "You look amazing, Trid," He smiled. "Bloody hell..." Lila shook her head in surprise.

"You think this is the best one? Between the mermaid and this?" Astrid asked. "It's your call. Whichever you choose, I know Sloane is going to love it," Luther assured her. The Shadow Girl turned to the three-paneled mirror, looking at the dress from every angle. And as she pictured herself standing at the altar holding the love of her life's hand, she could already feel Sloane's joy radiating from within her soul. "I'm saying yes to this dress," Astrid grinned. Luther and Lila cheered and hugged her before she went back to the dressing room to change. And just as she finished, there was a knock on the wall.

"Ast, we just finished setting everything up for the bachelor party. You coming down?" Diego inquired. "Just a second!" Astrid promised. She handed Lila the dress as she offered to take it to Astrid's room. Luther and Astrid went downstairs to the bar where the karaoke machine was set up on a mini stage, along with several microphones, enough for all the Hargreeves that gathered. "Ah! There she is!" Klaus grinned as he took a sip from his glass of liquor. "I hope you like everything, considering this is last minute," Five said as Astrid walked to the bar. "Chet gave us free rein for this party," Luther mentioned.

Astrid grinned as she made herself a rum and coke, claiming that that was very nice of Chet. "Well then, who's gonna go first?" She looked to her brothers, excited to get this party started. "I'll go!" Luther volunteered, quickly flipping through the booklet of CDs and songs until he found the song he really liked. Now, the Hargreeves brothers were no sopranos by any means, but the fact that they were all having fun after spending the last two weeks arguing and dealing with their own problems was a nice change of pace.

As Astrid sipped on her drink, encouraging her big brother to go on, she couldn't help but overhear some of their brother's conversations. "Hey, Trid. Quick question, why didn't you ever tell me?" Klaus pouted. "Tell you about what?" Astrid quirked a brow. "You know what I mean. We could've crushed over the hot guys and girls together!" The junkie continued his pouting. "I'm sorry, I didn't know how to tell you guys," Astrid apologized.

"Bah, it's fine! I've got some questions though, if you don't mind spilling the tea," He poured himself another glass as he turned back to the blonde. "When did you... start getting the bi tendencies?" He asked. "Yeah, I'm quite curious myself," Five looked over his shoulder. Astrid chuckled lightly as she explained to them that fateful night at 19. "By then, Diego left then Viktor. Klaus, correct me if I'm wrong, but didn't Dad kick you out around that time?"

"He might've, but I don't remember. I was probably higher than a kite," Klaus laughed. The guys and Astrid's laughter echoed as the karaoke music played in the background. "But anyways, we support you and Sloane," Klaus patted her shoulder. "Truly happy for you, Triddy," Five slightly smiled. "You still alive there, Diego?" Astrid looked to the farthest end of the room, where Diego was quietly smoking a cigar. "Can't believe you're one of the first to get hitched," Diego muttered. "I can! I remember catching her in the playroom marrying the Barbie's in like third grade," Astrid buried her head in her free hand, shaking it with embarrassment. "I forgot all about that..."

"This isn't how I pictured our bachelor's party, you know?" Diego sighed. "Well, the world's running a little short on strippers and tea cakes right now," Klaus reasoned. Five set his glass on the coffee table. "Just surprised you didn't invite Daddy Dearest to come join us," Five mentioned to the junkie. "Oh, come on. He's such a kind and thoughtful soul. He's not like our Hargreeves. Au contraire," Klaus tried to persuade them. "But I'll admit I needed a break from the old dog,"

As Luther finished up the song, Astrid and the boys started clapping for him as he made his way back to the couch and plopped down next to the Shadow Girl. "What're you SOBs so down in the mouth about? This is a party!" he spoke, trying to keep the mood lighthearted. "I'm just so glad we got to go out with a big ol' bang while we still can!" Klaus responded. "Hey, here's to us!" Astrid and the boys stood up, and they clinked their glasses together in a toast. "We've had a hell of a run," Astrid smiled.

"Cheers to that," Five nodded before they all took their sips. "I think it's time you go next, Triddy," Luther gestured to the CD booklet. "Oh alright, why not?" Astrid shrugged. She didn't need to look through the booklet for the perfect song, she already had one picked out.

https://youtu.be/oxNLRqMJMZk

Ah-ah, ah
Ah-ah, ah

You were in college, working part-time, waiting tables
Left a small town, never looked back
I was a flight risk, with a fear of falling
Wondering why we bother with love, if it never lasts

I say, "Can you believe it?"
As we're lying on the couch
The moment, I can see it
Yes, yes, I can see it now

Do you remember we were sitting there by the water?
You put your arm around me for the first time
You made a rebel of a careless man's careful daughter
You are the best thing that's ever been mine!

"Come on, boys. I'm gonna need my backups!" Astrid called them over. Klaus and Luther eagerly joined her on the stage grabbing the mics. "Come on Vik, Five. Don't be shy!" Klaus joined in. Five took one last sip of his drink, and Viktor followed with a bit of a pep in his step.

Astrid: Flash forward, and we're taking on the world together
And there's a drawer of my things at your place
You learn my secrets, and you figure out why I'm guarded
You say we'll never make my father's mistakes

But we got bills to pay
We got nothing figured out
When it was hard to take
Yes, yes, this is what I thought about

All: Do you remember we were sitting there by the water?
You put your arm around me for the first time
You made a rebel of a careless man's careful daughter

Astrid: You are the best thing that's ever been mine!
Do you remember all the city lights on the water?
You saw me start to believe for the first time

All: You made a rebel of a careless man's careful daughter


Astrid: You are the best thing that's ever been mine!
Oh-oh, oh

Little did Astrid and the boys know that there was a certain someone in attendance who was watching just over the balcony. And while she didn't mean to eavesdrop on the party below her, Sloane couldn't help but be drawn to the sounds of fun, and she stopped at the balcony, hearing the siren-like voice of her beloved.

Astrid: And I remember that fight, 2:30 a.m
As everything was slipping right out of our hands
I ran out crying, and you followed me out into the street


Braced myself for the goodbye
'Cause that's all I've ever known
Then you took me by surprise
You said, "I'll never leave you alone"

"Trid, look!" Luther whispered, tapping her shoulder. Astrid followed where Luther was pointing, and she nearly stopped dead in the middle of the song at the glimpse of her fiancée watching them. Sloane's cheeks were glowing pink with the sight of her Astrid. The gravity girl ushered her to keep going and pretend she wasn't there. Astrid looked back to her brothers, who were ready whenever she was. And on the silent count of three, they carried on.

Astrid: You said, "I remember how we felt, sitting by the water
And every time I look at you, it's like the first time
I fell in love with a careless man's careful daughter
She is the best thing that's ever been mine!"

Guys: Hold on and make it last
Hold on, never turn back!


Astrid: You made a rebel of a careless man's careful daughter (Guys: Hold on)
You are the best thing that's ever been mine (Guys: Hold on)
Do you believe it?
We're gonna make it now
And I can see it (Guys: Yeah, yeah)

Astrid: I can see it now!

Sloane blew a kiss Astrid's way, and Astrid caught it and blew one back to her before Sloane walked back to her room to finish getting her dress ready. Unfortunately, Sloane wasn't the only one who had been watching them. And as she would later find out, Ben would have some strong words for her.