/And all the roads that lead you there are winding

And all the lights that light the way are blinding

There are many things that I

Would like to say to you but I don't know how

I said maybe, you're gonna be the one that saves me

And after all, you're my wonderwall\\

-Oasis, "Wonderwall"

Veronica turned off the music coming from her phone after shooing everyone out of the lounge. She needed a few minutes to herself, to process what was happening, what was going to happen.

So much had led to this day, so much build up, so many fights and makeups and laughs and kisses and nights spent rolling around their bed.

It wasn't that she was really nervous or didn't want to go through with it-she absolutely did. It's just that now that it was here, and nothing had ruined it, she was terrified that something still would.

She'd been worrying about it for weeks, and even though everyone told that she was crazy, that everything was fine, she wasn't sure about that. She had this nagging feeling that something was going to ruin her plans, their plans.

Things had been going too well for too long, and she'd lived long enough to know that happiness wasn't something she ever got to count on.

Looking at her wedding dress hanging there, the Louboutin shoes that she'd been secretly thrilled to splurge on, and the gorgeous engagement ring on her finger, she thought about everything that had gone on over the last five years and how she'd gotten here in the first place.

She felt a slight urge to run, and when she realized it she started laughing hysterically. The soup can-sized curlers in her hair bounced against her head as she laughed. She grabbed her phone, snapped a selfie and sent it to her intended, telling him "This is what I look like when I realize the thought to run occured to me. I haven't thought about running in five years. What have you done to me?"

"Am I allowed to see you before the ceremony or does the whole bad-luck-you-don't-believe-in-anyway thing apply here?" was his reply.

"It's my head, I think you're safe."

"In that case I'll look at it."

"You haven't looked at it?"

"Okay, okay, I'll look," he replied, and then a minute later, added. "With those curlers, you remind me of my Aunt Irene."

"Is she the one who wore curlers to the shower?"

"Complete with a babushka tied over them. One of a kind, that one."

Veronica laughed. "I'll see you at the altar."

"Don't bring the curlers," he warned.

"No promises," she put her phone down and opened the door, telling her bridal party it was safe to come back in.

"How many times did you call him?" Mac asked.

"No calls, just a few texts."

"Cold feet?" Wallace asked.

Veronica grabbed an unused roller off the vanity and threw it at him. "Not here. I'm not really nervous about the ceremony either I just…."

Wallace's phone rung and he silenced it. "Go on."

"Who was that?" The PI in her knew there was something on his face.

"Same hang up you got when we were in the hall?" Mac asked.

Veronica gave him a side eye. "What gives, Fennel?"

"It's nothing."

Mac and Veronica exchanged a Look.

"Don't bother trying to hide anything from her," Mac warned him. "Especially not today."

Wallace sighed as his phone rang again.

"Who's calling you?" Veronica demanded.

Wallace looked from Veronica to Mac and back. "It's Piz."

Veronica fell onto the vanity stool, laughing hysterically. "Is…..he trying…...to…..stop my…..wedding?" She asked between laughs.

"He thinks you're being blinded by the money." Wallace shrugged.

"Text him back and tell him it's not Christian Grey's money, it's the REDROOMOFPAIN!" She laughed so hard the words all ran together and sounded squeaky.

"I'm just ignoring him," Wallace said. "Seems the best option."

Someone knocked on the door and Mac called out, "Who is it?"

"Me," Keith responded.

"Come in," Veronica said.

"Um, Veronica, there's someone here who's insisting on talking to you before the wedding."

Veronica tightened her robe around her and stood up, ready for battle. "I should've brought my gun."

"Your gun?" Keith asked incredulously. "Veronica-"

"We should've hired security," Mac said quietly.

"Don't you start, too," Veronica said. She turned to Wallace. "Give me something to hit Piz with!"

"Piz is here?" Keith asked.

Veronica put the curling iron she was about to brandish as a weapon down. "Isn't he?"

"It's not Piz that wants to talk to you before the ceremony. It's your mother."

Veronica let out a stream of curse words that made both her dad and Wallace wince. There was the dropped shoe, the final straw, the thing that threatened to ruin her happy day.

What the fuck was her mother doing here?

She threw open the door to the bridal lounge and found her mother standing there, looking terrified.

"Oh, Veronica," her eyes softened at the sight of her only daughter. "You already look beautiful and you're not even dressed." Lianne's eyes filled with tears and she reached to hug Veronica but she pulled back, her hands raised like a shield.

"Don't. Why are you here?"

Lianne took a deep breath. "Your groom called me."

AUTHOR'S NOTES:

*Thought I was gonna give stuff away in this chapter, didn't you? Keep reading :)*

**I'll list all the songs used/referenced at the end of the story!**