ARU DRAMATICALLY flung an arm around Mini and pretended to weep. "My child."

Brynne joined in, surprisingly, and went to the other side of Mini, flinging an arm around her too. "Is all grown up."

"Guys," Mini said, shrinking under the weight. "I'm not moving away or anything."

"But you're getting married!" Sheela exclaimed, throwing her arms around Mini's waist. "And I'm going to miss you."

"I'm not even changing my last name though," Mini protested, almost collapsing from the combined physical pressure of all of them. Nikita thought about it for a moment before wedging herself between Mini's arm and body. Mini put her arm more secured around Nikita's shoulder.

"It won't be the same," Nikita said, hugging Mini full on.

"You all will make me cry," Mini declared. "There is no use fighting it."

Aru squeezed her shoulder. "We love you."

"And if this is what you want..."Brynne rested her head on Mini's. "If you're sure you're ready for this..."

"You have to," Nikita butted in. "I worked on this dress for ten days. And you all are ruining it right now."

"You are too," Sheela pointed out and Nikki glared at her.

"I'd rather wear a dress ruined by you guys then wear a prim, clean and proper dress and not have you guys hug me right now," Mini said, thoughtfully. "I might fall apart though."

"You're ours," Aru announced, looking sideways at Mini. "Not his. Don't forget that."

"And we're never letting you go," Brynne added. "So don't even try to leave."

"Death exists," Mini remarked.

"Yeah, hon, but you aren't dying anytime soon. Not on my watch," Aru wagged a finger.

There was a knock on the door. Hira popped in. "Uhm, hope I'm not interrupting, but we need Aru and Brynne."

Aru groaned as she tore herself apart from Mini. Then she smoothed her sister's cheeks. "Love you, babe."

Brynne pinched Mini's cheek. "Have fun."

"I'll fix her dress," Nikki volunteered, wrinkling her nose at the ruined dress.

"And I'll fix your hair," Sheela told her enthusiastically.

Aru left them to that and followed Hira down the hall. "What's needed?"

"The decor's falling apart. And the cake is melting."

Aru didn't have enough time to comment on the decor before Brynne practically screamed, "The cake is what?!"

"Calm down, Bee," Aru put a hand on her arm. Brynne shrugged it off. "No!"

Brynne ran in the direction of the cake. Hira looked worriedly in that direction. "I better help her. Central four, Aru! And Aiden might need help in Central two!"

They'd split the hall into five parts. Even though it was comparatively small, they needed it organized. Well, Mini did. And no one was going to deny her.

Aru rushed to central four. Then she heard Aiden's velvety voice yell at her, "I fixed that! I need some help here, though,"

Aru turned. Rudy sat there, clearly distressed. She frowned, "And what happened to him?"

Aiden held up Rudy's arm. Aru's eyes widened and she almost gasped. Then, she felt annoyed.

"Okay. So you had one job. How the fuck did you tear your sleeve that bad?" Aru said, grappling for calm.

Rudy's full sleeve suit became a half sleeve suit on one side. Rudy looked at her, panicky, "I don't know! I was fixing the decoration then a sword—"

"Knife," supplied Aiden.

"—passed by and tore it off!"

"He passed by the knife and it tore off," Aiden translated. Rudy glared at him.

"Okay. Calm," Aru muttered to herself, looking at the sky. Really, Universe?

"This is not calm!"

"I know! I am trying to—"

Aiden pushed them apart. Well, he pushed Rudy away from her, at least.

"Favoritism!"

"Probably because he was protecting you from how I was gonna hit you," Aru rolled her eyes. Rudy glared up at Aru for a second before going back to dramatically swooning.

"Okay. Ideas. Where is the torn off fabric?"

Aiden held it up. "Here."

"Safety pins, anyone? Tell me you guys use pins on your ties."

She knew it was hopeless before they replied. Aru snapped her fingers. "Aiden, phone."

Aiden surfed out her phone and handed it back to her. Aru had given it to him for safekeeping. She called Nikita. "Nikki."

"I'm busy! Transferring you to Sheela."

Aru heard Sheela take the phone and a second later, her sister replied, "Aru?"

"Sheels! I need safety pins. Probably like five."

Aiden shook his head and held up both his hands. Aru added, "Or actually, ten."

"Coming right up! Nikki!"

Aru heard her other sister scoff, Safety pins? Whatever for?, and Sheela replying, Emergency!

"Can you come here right now? Or do I come give it?"

"I'll come."

Aiden took the phone from her hand, "I'm coming actually. Keep that ready, I'll be right there."

Aru frowned at him and sat next to Rudy. "Make it quick, snob. The princess is crying."

Rudy sniffled, "I'm a prince!"

Aiden put his hand on her shoulder for a moment. He kept it there before smiling at her and walking to the stairs.

"I know who's getting married next," Hira remarked, startling Aru.

Brynne squeezed Hira's shoulder and force fed her some food before leaving again. Aru raised an eyebrow. "Me too."

"Oh! I didn't see you there," Brynne circled back, forcefully opened Aru's mouth (almost unhinging her jaw), and forced half a cookie into her mouth. Aru struggled to chew it and not choke.

"How does it taste?"

"Awesome," Aru replied, but she still had the cookie in her mouth so it sounded like 'ah-um'.

"Any critiques?"

"None," Aru smiled as she swallowed the rest.

She thought Brynne would fight her on it but instead a slow smile spread across her face. "Great. Come on, Hira. Let's make more of these?"

Hira grinned. "Right behind you. Bye, Aru!"

As they left, Rudy groaned. "I got no cookies."

"You're the groom. You're not supposed to taste test."

"I'm a prince. I should get to taste test."

Just then, Aiden arrived with a bunch of safety pins. Aru raised an eyebrow. "One, that is a lot more than ten. Two, I was just getting to threatening Rudy if he hurts Mini and stuff."

Rudy looked bewildered but Aiden cut in before he could say anything. "One, Sheela shoved a bunch into my hands and sent me to go before I could get a word in. Two, I already did that but feel free to do it again, you're scarier anyway."

Aru grinned. "Thanks. For both. Now give me the safety pins."

"Say please."

A year ago, Aru would have scoffed right in his face and grabbed the safety pins and left. But now, she just rolled her eyes. "Magic word. Please."

"That...is not the magic word."

"Give me the safety pins, Acharya," Aru crossed her arms. She added, "Please."

Aiden gave it to her. She quickly patched up Rudy's sleeve and it didn't look good at all but it was better than nothing. Aru just advised him to keep it hidden most of the time.

"Crisis averted."

"Knew we could count on you," Aiden grinned at her.

"Thanks, Shah, you are a savior," Rudy side-hugged her before scurrying off to get everything settled.

Aiden squeezed her hand. "We should go too."

Aru looked around. There were flowers and skulls and it was so...enchanting, in a way.

"What's up?"

"I just...wonder if I'll see something like this again. So much work went into this and..it's happening."

"There's always Brynne and Hira's wedding," Aiden piped up. "And you know, you'll get married some day."

"If someone wants me enough," Aru rolled her eyes. "I'm a bit of a loser."

"Me too," Aiden said. "A loser, I mean. And you know, there's me. I definitely want you enough."

Before Aru could respond, Brynne hollered for them. Before running in front of her, Aiden frantically told her, "And I'll hope you'll get married to me, one day."

Aru stilled. "What?"

"Catch up!"

Aru chased after him, which was hard in her dress.

It made her giddy to think about that. Would that happen? Aru would bet she would be first. The thought set her on fire.

The chaotic mess of the day made it such a Potato planned wedding. And it wasn't so bad. Aru was so here for it.