Chapter 1: Big News

Author's Note: Somehow the first author's note didn't save so I had to update this chapter and repost it. This story is inspired by the movie The Wedding Date. This story will most likely not follow the same storyline as the movie and I'll add my own different take on this romcom classic.

In her whirlpool bathtub Guinevere Degrance soaked and relaxed away the stress from a very long workday weekend. Her aroma therapy candles flickered silently and infused her bathroom with the calming scents of vanilla and lavender. After bathing and about thirty minutes of soaking she wrapped herself in a towel and dried her body off. Covering her self in her plush bathrobe she walked over to her vanity cabinet and began putting on deodorant when she iPhone buzzed and binged with a text message.

Lover Boy: What are you wearing?

She giggled at the message.

"He's been messing with my phone again. Lover Boy?"

Well she only wearing a bathrobe. Nothing. She texted back.

LB: I hope you're at home and not running around town nude. LOL

Of course not. I just got out of the tub.

LB: When are you coming over?

I need to get ready so about 30 minutes.

LB: I want 2 X you.

She smiles setting her phone down and applying her favorite flavored body powder and lotion, he loves this stuff she smiles to her self. She rushes to her massive walk-in closet trying to decide on what to wear. I need something nice. Something hot. She picks out a short peach cut out mini dress. Naw to slutty. She decides and replaces it with a black dress with a rhinestone embellishment and a seductive low plunging neckline, showing off just the right amount of cleavage. It's short and fits her body like a glove but it's not too revealing. She styles her beautiful mocha-colored curls high on her head letting a few spirals dangle down her neck. Afterwards she applies her makeup and pairs her dress with a pair of silver rhinestone t-strap stilettos.

Her phone rings this time." Someone's eager." She laughs and then she picks up the phone to see who's calling.

"Oh, it's Freya I wasn't expecting her." She hits the accept button on her phone." Hey sis."

"Gwennie hey. Listen I have some news I couldn't wait until morning can you buzz me up?"

Freya never calls me this late. God I hope nothings wrong. "Um yeah sure come on up."

"Okay thanks we'll be right there."

"We?"

Guinevere worried the time it took Freya and whoever she had brought with her up to her penthouse apartment. She had always worried about her little sister. Guinevere and Freya were not sisters by birth but, Guinevere had loved and looked after Freya almost like she was her own daughter since the day she came home. Her father Thomas died when she was just two years old her brother Elyan was five when it happened. Their father Thomas was killed by a drunk driver, Guinevere's mother Elaine, was so grief stricken she couldn't focus on taking care of Guinevere and Elyan. It wasn't until a few months later when she met a recent widower name Arnold and his infant daughter Freya that Elaine was able to put her and her young families life back together again.

There was a knock at the door and Guinevere opened the door to see her sister Freya and her boyfriend Merlin. They were both grinning like idiots so she assumed something amazing had happened. Breathing a sigh of relief that nothing awful had occurred.

"Come on in you guys." She hugs and kisses Freya and Merlin on the cheeks.

"Looking hot sis. Where are you going?" Freya asks.

"Gwen you look lovely." Merlin replies.

"Thank you, well I was headed out actually when you called. So what's going on?"

Freya is literally jumping up and down like a bunny when she lifts her hand and shows of the remarkable 10 carat diamond solitaire on her ring finger.

"OMG!" Guinevere screams. "You proposed, Merlin! Ahhhhhhh!

"Ahhhhhh!" Freya screams.

They are screaming and jumping around like obsessed fangirls. Merlin is watching their excited behavior with amusement. Once their screaming subsides the sisters are hugging each other laughing Freya and Guinevere grab Merlin bringing him into the group hug. Creating a nice Merlin sandwich as the two sisters scream and giggle like school girls.

"You gotta tell me all the details." Guinevere states as she heads to the kitchen. "We should celebrate. Oh I have champagne. I supposed you told mom and Arnie." Guinevere's nickname for Arnold.

"Yes we called them as soon as we were leaving the restaurant. I didn't get a chance to call Elyan yet. Do you know what time it is in Tokyo?"

"No I 'm sure of their time difference. Either way you know how hard it is to get in touch with E-Smoove these days."

Elyan their big brother was also known as E-Smoove to the entire world. He was a multi-grammy winning singer and R&B songwriter. He had won countless awards for his platinum winning albums. He was man of the year and one of the most desired men in the world. His sex appeal was increased when he announced to the world he was the first perpetual bachelor that he would never marry and settle down. Obviously driving every obsessed woman in the world insane trying to seduce him into bed or marry him, it was never the later.

"I would like him to sing at the wedding. Do you think he would?"

"Oh I'm sure he'd love that. What song did you have in mind?"

Merlin smiles as one of E-Smoove's songs pops into his head. "How about one of the songs from his new album?"

"What?" Both Guinevere and Freya ask simultaneously.

"Spread Em, Give you all my loving, Push into you?"

" No, there is no way my brother is singing that at my wedding. As a matter of fact he can't sing anything from him album."

Guinevere laughs. "Seriously Merlin I pretty sure none of Elyan hit songs are wedding appropriate."

Merlin shrugs. "Just a suggestion ladies. And by the way E-Smoove's Oral Penetration is a platinum hit all over the world."

She returns to the living room with three glasses and pours champagne for all of them. She takes a seat opposite her sister and her future brother in law.

"Hold on there's something I need to take care of first just a sec ok." She pulls out her cell phone and sends a text.

Freya and Merlin are here they just got engaged. This might take a little longer than I expected. I should be there within the hour.

Freya starts to tell her about how Merlin proposed and where they were and how romantic the proposal was. She even starts to tear up as she recalls her expression and the look in Merlin's eyes as he professed his love for her and that he never wanted to be apart from her. Freya and Merlin talk to her about what they their wedding to be like and that they want to get married in the Hampton's at Merlin's family summer home. They also ask Guinevere to be the Maid of honor and to plan everything. The wedding is set for a little over a year from now but they haven't set a concrete date yet.

Minutes later Guinevere's phone buzzes with a text message.

LB: Tell the happy couple congrats. And I want an invite!

She laughs reading his message.

"Is that him?" Freya asks.

"He has a name Freya and yes it's him as you put it. He wants to know if he gets and invite to the wedding?"

"Of course Merlin and him have been friends for years."

Guinevere opens her message icon and sends a reply text.

You're invited to the wedding.

LB: Yes I love weddings. I bet you'd look hot in a bridesmaid dress.

Laughs at his last text and puts her phone away.

Freya eyes her sister warily." Will you be coming to the wedding together?"

"I don't know you know how he loves weddings, probably not, why?"

"Well I just thought given you relationship and-" She stutters nervously.

"God Frey, were friends and we have a no strings attached relationship. You don't have to be so weird, it's 2013 afterall."

"Sorry I just feel like he using you."

"This relationship works for both of us. We both benefit from this, nobody's using anybody else."

"I know I just worry about you sometimes."

"Hey I'm the big sister I'm supposed to be worrying about you." She laughs sitting down on the sofa hugging her sister. They all chat a little while longer and Merlin and Freya leave.

Guinevere is about to head for the door when she remembers she left her purse up stairs. She sends another text.

I'm coming b there in 15.

LB: Not yet but u will b soon!

"Oh he's so nasty." She laughs as he reads his text.

She places her cell phone on the counter and heads up stairs to her bedroom. finding her purse on the night side table she picks it up grabs a light jacket out her closet and heads for the door. That's when she hears it. An ominus sound of warning and foreboding danger.

Dun dun.

"Shit."

Dun dun.

"Please no."

Dun dun, dun dun dun

"Oh crap, Jaw's theme! I really don't need this right now. Please just hand up."

The Jaw's theme song continues and with a loud sigh, Guinevere reluctantly answers her phone.

"Hi mom.'

"Gwen darling how are you I trust you've heard the news. Our little Freya is getting married."

"Yes mom I know Freya and Merlin were just here not to long ago.'

"Yes I am so happy for them but I am so worried about you. You should have been the one to get married first."

Oh here it comes. Guinevere thought glumly. This is what she wants to talk about why I'm not married yet.

"Listen mom I would love to chat but I have a date I need to go can we talk about this later?"

"Oh pushing your mother away so callously. You going to see that man again for sex aren't you?"

"Mother!" Guinevere switches her phone over to speaker phone and sends another text message.

On the phone with mommy dearest. Help!

LB: Ouch I feel for you, take a long as you need.

"Oh why Lord what I did do wrong? All I want is grandchildren but both my babies seem bent on never making that come true."

Oh here comes the guilt trip. This is why I ignore your calls. Gwen thinks.

"Mom listen Freya and Merlin are getting married I sure their quite capable of having you some grandchildren."

"Oh you know it's not the same. Now if I were Freya's real mother then you and Elyan could do whatever you wanted to do but, it doesn't work that way it seems. I would just like to know that your father's legacy will live on."

Oh that's a low blow mom. Guinevere thinks bitterly.

"Mom I really need to go. I don't want to argue okay I'm not doing this with you right now."

"Guinevere Esmerelda Degrance you need to think about your life and what you want. Your're 32 years old most of your friends are either married, engaged or dating someone serious. I just want my three babies to be happy and have all the love and joy in the world. Freya has found her happiness but you and Elyan seem intent on chasing empty dreams. Don't break your poor mother's heart."

Guinevere sighs. "Mother we can talk later okay."

"And I know it's been hard since Lance.."

She interrupts her mother. "Don't say his name please."

"Fine Gwen you know Arnold and I love you don't you?"

"Of course mom I love you both I gotta go. Bye."

"Bye sweetie."

The call disconnects. Guinevere sets her phone down and rubs the sides of her temples her head now throbbing from a mom induced migraine.

"What I am I doing? Is mom right, I am I wasting my time. I haven't consider getting back into another serious relationship. Am I even ready to put myself back out there? I don't know anymore."

She picks up her phone sliding off her high heels she clicks the contacts icon and dials the number she is looking for. The phone rings a few time and finally a male voice answers.

"Esmerelda!"

"Hey Gwaine." Guinevere says sadly.

Gwaine O'Connor. Gwen thinks as she answers the phone. The only person who insists on calling her by her middle name surely just to irritate her. Gwaine and Gwen meet about a year ago and hit it off instantly. He was attracted to her she was attracted to him, they became instant friends. After the Lance situation Gwen wasn't ready for another serious relationship, it turns out Gwaine was looking for a serious relationship either and so their friends with benefits relationship began.

"Oh that bad huh?"

"Worst. I got the whole marriage and grandchildren talk. Oh and not to mention a guilt trip about my father's legacy."

"Wow she really pulled out all the stops for this time."

She takes a deep breath and blows out softly. "Listen I don't think I can come over tonight."

"Oh should I come over there then?"

"No I just don't feel up to it tonight."

"Oh, okay well that's alright should we reschedule?"

"I don't know Gwaine, I just don't know. I mean what are we doing? Are you still gonna want me 5, 10 years from now? How long can we keep this up?"

Gwaine remains silent for a while then he finally speaks up. "Gwen our friendship is more important to me than anything. We agreed to be friends with benefits but we both knew it was only temporary."

"Yeah I don't want us to lose our friendship it's special to me." Gwen states.

"Me too. So I guess this is it? I am sad to close the chapter on this part of our relationship but you know I only want what's best for you. We agreed to stop whenever it didn't feel right. I am always here for you if you need anything. I mean anything."

"Gwaine." She says laughing.

"But in all seriousness we had fun though, I certainly enjoyed the rides."

"You mean you enjoyed the ride, Gwaine."

"Well I enjoyed the ride but, I enjoyed your rides."

"You're such a freak!"

"And that why you love me." He says laughing. "So are we still on for lunch in two weeks?"

"Yeah of course. I mean if you still want to."

"Gwen I told you this changes nothing between us we'll always be friends."

"Okay I'll see you later then."

"Yeah goodnight Gwen, unless you want to give it one more ride for old times."

"Goodnight Gwaine."

"Can't blame a guy for trying. Goodnight Gwen."

She ends the call and turns her phone off for the night. "I've made the right choice. I could never even consider a serious relationship while having casual sex with Gwaine. But what now there's so much to do my little sister is getting married. I've got a wedding to organise that should keep me occupied."