Marisson Family (One Shot-Collection)

Just In Case

Alain's heart was thundering in his chest.

He paced the small closet of a room he was in, sweat forming along his brow. He hastily pulled the handkerchief Professor Sycamore had lent him out of his pocket, wiping away the perspiration. Already another bead of sweat as forming as he stuffed it back into his pocket, hurrying over to the small mirror that hung on the wall.

His worried reflection greeted him, his skin far paler than usual. His hair was combed and gelled to hold it in place. He was wearing a black tuxedo, a blue tie resting crooked around his neck. Alain gulped, swiftly going to straighten it, hands shaking as he did so. He silently tried to calm himself, telling his body to relax, but it just refused to listen.

"Oh Arceus," Alain whispered. "I'm not ready for this."

He glanced at the clock on the wall, hoping that by some miracle more time had passed. That he could finally leave this room, and participate in the moment he had been looking forward to, but yet was causing him so much dread. Blue eyes widened when he saw the time though– only four minutes having passed since he had last checked the time.

It felt like it had been an eternity.

"M-maybe..." Alain said slowly. "I should just go mingle...?"

His stomach did a somersault at the mere thought, throat tightening with fear. Being alone was bad enough, but seeing everyone else would be even worse. Asking him if he was ready, if he was excited, and the congratulations...

Didn't people understand that one got stressed on their wedding day?!

Alain leaned back against the wall, once again pulling out the handkerchief to wipe away his forming sweat. Now he understood why people used to always carry these around, it was kind of useful... not that he'd carry one in public. Why couldn't he calm down...? Last night he had been so excited for this moment, but now there was only fear.

He was marrying Mairin.

The smallest smile flickered onto his lips at the mere thought of his fiancee, the image of her sparkling eyes and brilliant smile filling his mind. The tension in his muscles seemed to flee, and he tried to envision her in a white gown. There was nothing to be afraid of, this had been the very thing he had wanted for so long... For her to truly be his, and him to truly be hers.

He glanced at the clock– each minute passing was a minute closer to when they would be officially married. His heart once again began racing, and he eyed the door. It wouldn't hurt to slip out and go find Mairin, knowing that simply seeing her would calm him. To hold her in his arms and let her know that it wouldn't be long until they could be so much more... Wife... Mairin was going to be his wife...

He still didn't understand how he had managed to have someone as wonderful as her.

It was one simple thought– but it was that thought that opened the floodgates and allowed all his doubts to come pouring back in. The groom stiffened up, blue eyes widening slightly as shivers ran through him. He spun around to face the wall, using his hands to brace himself.

"What am I doing...?" Alain muttered, stomach churning. "What on earth am I doing here?"

Did he truly think he even had the right to be at the altar when it would be her on the other side? Did he believe that simply having her walk down the aisle mean that he could have her? That he even had the right to be called the husband of someone as wonderful as Mairin? That she want someone like him?

"Don't be ridiculous," Alain said aloud. "She said yes– she wants this just as much as you do."

Then again he was the only person she had ever dated... she had never had the opportunity to see anyone but him in this light...