"We'll make it!" Zucca promised his longtime friend as they raced to the chapel, the old man steering the car with such reckless abandon that if he couldn't perceive an expanded bubble of time, Doc would swear he was going to die on the way to his wedding.

"Yeah, into an early grave if you're not-GODALMIGHTY!!"

"I've got it well in hand, just relax!" Zucca casually steered under a semi truck's trailer, their car low enough to the ground that it didn't make a difference as the wolf kept in perfect sync with the velocity of the truck before making for the exit.

"Can't get married if I'm dead, you damn fossil! Bah, there's a reason we don't let old people drive! Irresponsible!" Doc shouted.

Zucca just smiled. He knew Doc was just venting his nerves.

He didn't, after all, NEED to drive like a maniac and terrify his friend, but after inspecting several possible timelines, he realized that a life-threatening scare would help put things in perspective, since in a few possible timelines, Doc left Zahra at the altar out of an intense fear of being happy.

Sure enough, the first thing to pop into Doc's head as he watched the huge wheels of the semi, which could crush their vehicle and its occupants into jelly was Zahra's smiling faceplate and glowing eye analogues.

'She's counting on me...'

Zucca, sensing the change in the tailor and boxer's mind, smiled and returned some apparent sanity to his driving as they neared the chapel.

"Not but a few minutes late!" Zucca exclaimed as Pyrodox's military hovercraft settled into place, Gahtren's teleporter materialized him, Kolo's tank rolled up and at least three dozen Xerfantes arrived, including Accuz, who was on his best behavior.

'No global takeovers. I'm here for my sister.' He promised, and Xerfantes rarely promised because they always held themselves to it.

Pyrodox and the other groomsmen took their place, the Church of Skulls member still fussing with his tie. He had to piecemeal his tuxedo. "Knew I should've bought instead of rented..." He grumbled.

Aries was in the audience, sitting next to Leon Embers, who was fidgeting in his seat. He'd always been a bit trepidatious around Aries' former lovers and had come along, almost out of fear that the blue wolfess would leap up from her seat and declare her love for Doc.

Zucca had demonstrated what a silly idea that was and to trust the blue bombshell.

Sure enough, Aries' smile was that of a friend seeing a friend attain happiness, not of a yearning lover.

Since Zucca was in the wedding party, it fell to Harabec to walk Zahra down the aisle and as Doc gazed upon her, feeling the love radiating off of her as she closed the gap, Doc felt a chill roll down his back as the last of his self-doubt died.

'What does such a remarkable woman see in a lummox like me?'

'Shut up. She loves us and we love her. We're getting hitched and we're doing it right this time.'

The darkest part of his mind made on final bid to piss in the punch bowl. 'Bah. We're marrying a ragdoll.'

The brightest and warmest part of his mind countered. 'Beautiful Ragdoll she is. Good thing we're a tailor, eh?'

The part of Doc Mallory's mind responsible for torpedoing every happy relationship he'd ever had, had nothing to say after that.

Charlie Greenwall, Doc's friend and priest and the only one who could listen to Doc's confessionals without balking, smiled at them both as they came to stand side by side before the Altar.

"Dearly beloved..."

'First day of the rest of our lives, my love.' The thought was not native to Doc's mind. It was telepathically whispered with love from the musical prodigy beside him.

Aww, too sweet.
Fear of being happy needs to be overcome, like any fear.