.It's What's Inside That Counts

And on top of that, Best Man was sold the next day.  He, and the other Wedding Party figures overheard the purchaser explain why he wanted the Best Man.

"Because I'm my best friend's best man," he said.  "And I want the happy couple to remember me forever."

So Michael was actually going to be given at a real wedding!  He was attending the Real Thing!

A year ago, it would have been the crowning moment for the entire theme, a Wedding character at a Realio-Trulio weddin.

Now, ever the limited promotionals were saddened by his leaving.  They all said goodbye as he was boxed and wrapped.  Some would miss his good humor, some his passion, some his imagination.   And all would remember that he had literally included them in his prayers.

No one mentioned Peace Offering or the fact he'd never see her again.

He tried to be brave, he tried to be happy, he tried to remember that this was what he'd been created for. 

And he had been blessed beyond belief already.  He'd met Tiddly, bowed before Jesus and a beautiful love had turned his brains to lobster bisque.  He had no regrets, really.

He kept telling himself that.

-----------

The Bride's parents knew the proper gift tradition at a wedding. The gifts were unwrapped before the reception started and displayed along three long tables.

Best Man had a view of the cake cutting and the loving couple smearing icing on each other's noses. 

He saw their first dance, but missed the bouquet and the garter tosses.

He hoped he'd be displayed near a wedding album.  Maybe he'd see pictures now and then, remembering today.  Eventually, he hoped, he'd remember this as the high point of his career.  Not the sundering of all hopes…

The porcelain figures didn't DO a loss of hope. 

He kept telling himself that, too.

Towards the end of the evening, the couple was perusing their gifts. 

"Is that you?" the Bride asked.

"That's Terry," the Groom said, lifting Michael up.  "See, it's the Best Man.  Terry introduced us, Terry is both our friend, Terry's my best man-"

"Only because he looks stupid in a bridesmaid dress," the Bride laughed.

"Well, we owe everything to Terry.  So this guy gets to be put someplace special."

---------

Someplace special turned out to be the mantel over the fireplace.  The hearth looked every bit as toxic as Michael had ever imagined the floor to be.  But he was here to remind three people that they loved each other and he would bravely face the danger.

The first night on the job, a purple light flew in through the closed window.  "You're WELCOME!" Tiddly said as she landed next to him.

"Offer thanks," Michael said in his mind, porcelain speak.

"Wow, that's a lackluster response," Tiddly said.  Her brow furrowed.  She looked left and right.  "Wait, where is…?"

Just then the doorbell went off.  Bride and Groom came out, wrapped in their robes, confusion on their faces. 

Tiddly managed to hide behind the tiny figure of Best Man…somehow.

The real Best Man of the wedding was at the door.  He held a cardboard box.  He apologized about deliveries being mixed up and addresses confused and handed it over.  Then he ran.

A bemused couple opened the box.  "Wait for it," Tiddly whispered.

Michael would have held his breath if he took any.  They pulled Peace Offering out.

"This is the real Wedding Gift," Bride read from the card beside the figure.  "You two should remember each other and strive for harmony, forget about me.  Love, Terry."

"Aw, that's sweet," Groom said.

"Well, we can remember him AND love each other, right?" Bride asked.  He nodded, so they placed Peace Offering next to the Best Man.

Hand in hand, they went to bed.

"Offer THANKS!" Michel said.

"Yeah, got you guys a deal as talismans," Tiddly said.  "You two represent those two," she hooked a thumb towards the newly weds bedroom.  "As long as you two are happy, they'll be happy.  Okay?"

"The future belongs to us!" Michael said.  Then he found that he was saying it out loud.  His face showed amazement.

"Shhhh!" Peace said, finger to her lips.  Then she stopped and stared at her hand.  The hand that moved.

"Oh, yeah," Tiddly said offhandedly.  "And once a year, you get to come to life and, I dunno…  Settle your differences?  Dust each other off?  You'll figure something out."