Disclaimer: I do not own Lost Girl or any of its characters, except the ones I created. The following story has been written for entertainment purposes only.
Chapter 2
Lauren smiled as she looked out the window from the passenger seat of Dyson's car. They were about thirty minutes away from the heart of the city and the significant change in the landscape was a welcome surprise. Her eyes gladly travelled along the majestic trees and imposing houses on both sides of the roadway and up to the glorious sunset sky with its unique tints of orange and pink.
"It's a beautiful day indeed," the blonde said softly.
Dyson glanced at her and smiled too, "Yes it is."
Ten minutes later, they found themselves going up a winding, narrow road that led them to a large expanse of high white walls and a magnificent wrought iron gate. Three security guards were standing outside and Dyson calmly reduced the vehicle's speed, stopping it in front of them. The taller one quickly stepped forward, approaching the driver's side.
"Weren't you supposed to be the fucking best man? You're kinda late, jackass," he said in a crude tone as soon as Dyson rolled down the window. "Oh, hello there, love," the man smirked as he bent forward, staring at Lauren. "You know, whatever you think he is, I'm ten times better. And bigger." He flashed her a predatory grin.
The blonde arched her eyebrows and looked at her partner. "A friend of yours?"
Dyson scratched his beard, "You could say that..." he answered awkwardly. Turning his attention to the security guard, he spoke in a serious tone, "This is Detective Lauren Lewis, my new partner."
"No kidding," the man laughed. "Well, it's a great pleasure to meet you, Detective Lewis. I'm Cayden MacBrennan, at your service," he said in a fake chivalrous manner, offering his hand through the window. Lauren shook it briefly with a tight smile.
"Enough with the pleasantries, Cayden. As you said yourself, we're not exactly on time here..." Dyson remarked with impatience.
"Sure. No problem, mate," he replied smirking. "Have fun you two," Cayden added before throwing a wink at Lauren. He straightened his body and tapped on the car's roof. The other security guards opened the large gate and Dyson immediately put the vehicle into motion again.
"Holy Clarice Starling..." Lauren muttered, as her eyes registered the resplendent estate for the first time. Right in the center of the grand motor court, there was a sumptuous fountain with a statue of Poseidon, the Greek god of the seas.
"What's that you said?" Dyson asked, chuckling while he killed the engine.
"Uh, nothing..." Lauren replied under her breath, as her gaze followed a young man walking towards them. She unbuckled her seatbelt and opened the door, getting out of the car first.
"Good evening, sir, ma'am. Welcome to Chateau Santiago," the valet said cordially as Dyson emerged from the driver's seat.
Lauren stepped away and smoothed out the floor length, sea breeze, spaghetti strap dress she was wearing. As the blonde scanned her surroundings, she took a deep, calming breath, suddenly feeling more out of place than ever before. "I'm at the Larrabee's fucking mansion," Lauren whispered to herself as a wave of panic started to wash over her. She had to bite her lip to prevent the nervous laugh that was threatening to escape her as she spotted a tennis court AND a basketball court, not too far away from them.
"Hey, Lewis," Dyson called as he approached her. "You ready?" He asked with a charming smirk, offering his left arm.
"Well... We're about to find out..." She exhaled deeply before taking the man's arm. They walked along a stone pathway that crossed the wide front lawn and moved in the direction of the back of the main house. "So," Lauren started as she glanced around, "you said this place was owned by Hale's uncle, right?"
"Yes, David Santiago. He's always been Hale's hero. I think Uncle Dave is the only relative that really cares about him, you know?" Dyson confided in a sad tone. "Well, besides Val, of course," he added with a smile.
"Val..." Lauren frowned in concentration. "Oh, right, Hale's sister," she shut her eyes tightly for a second, clearly admonishing herself for not remembering sooner. She had spent most of the previous night studying the notes she had made with every piece of information Dyson had given her.
"Relax, Lewis. I can almost smell your brains frying now," the man remarked with a chuckle.
Lauren rolled her eyes and opened her mouth to throw a suitable retort at Dyson, but all words died instantly in her throat when her gaze settled on the most beautiful scenery she had ever seen. If the front of the main house of Chateau Santiago seemed to have come out of a classic movie, the enormous garden now revealed to them, was definitely extracted from a dream.
Flowers and plants of different colors and shapes were spread out throughout the vast green area, forming patterns of rare beauty that literally glowed, thanks to the dozens of colored lamps strategically positioned amongst them.
However, it was the considerably large orchidarium situated at the center of the garden that ultimately melted Lauren's heart, bringing a shining smile to her face. Hundreds of fairy lights could be seen surrounding the exquisite flowers inside the glass construction, presenting the viewer with a magical and multicolored spectacle, worthy of a fairy tale. And it was there, in front of that enchanting setting, that the ceremony would take place.
"Come on, Lewis," Dyson gently pulled the blonde forward by the arm. "I can see Hale freaking out from here," he added with a little laugh, as he escorted the still stunned woman to the location where about eighty guests were sitting in a semicircle around the orchidarium.
Another smile immediately tugged at the corners of Lauren's lips when she saw the wedding aisle and its romantic decoration. Small paper lanterns similar to the Japanese chÅchin outlined the entire path with a delicate purple light, highlighting the numerous white rose petals that practically covered the stone pathway.
"I can't find Trick..." Dyson sighed as he continued to scan the two groups of people from their spot behind the last row of chairs on the left side.
"Trick?... Who is this Trick? I don't remember a Trick in my notes..." Lauren wondered with a frown.
The handsome detective couldn't help but laugh at his nervous partner. "Trick is not a relative of Hale or Kenzi, but a mutual friend," he explained. "I was hoping that he could keep an eye on you for me. During the ceremony, I mean..." Dyson added in a concerned tone.
"Hey," Lauren smiled as they turned to face each other, "I do appreciate the sentiment, but I'm a big girl, Thornwood. I'll be fine, I promise," the blonde said softly. She then raised her hands and adjusted Dyson's tie, bringing a faint blush to his cheeks. "Now go. Your best friend has just seen us standing here and he doesn't look very happy," Lauren smirked.
"Thanks, Lewis. See you later, partner," he grinned over his shoulder.
Lauren took a seat in one of the few empty chairs in the last row while her gaze remained focused on Dyson. The blonde smiled fondly when her partner approached Hale and pulled him into a strong hug, beaming with pride and happiness for his dear friend. As Dyson stepped back to take his place as the best man, Lauren's eyes diverted to the groom and she noticed that he was looking much more confident than before.
When Dyson had told Lauren that he was best friends with the youngest heir of the entertainment mogul Sturgis Santiago, she didn't quite believe him. The man had been the Midas of television and cinema industries for over twenty years, collecting record-breaking profits and critical acclaim for many of his productions. So yeah, she did have her doubts, but who could blame her? It's not every day that you see a regular guy that lives in an abandoned gym, hanging out with the son of a billionaire. The blonde smiled at the thought, instantly remembering the first and so far only time she had been at Dyson's peculiar home, right on their first week working together.
As her focus returned to her partner, Lauren took a moment to appreciate the lovely altar. It was smartly positioned at the wide open area in front of the orchidarium's double glass doors and was fully decorated with lilacs and white roses. Besides the groom, celebrant and best man, there was an older woman that seemed to have been transported from the golden age of Motown Records, standing elegantly a few steps away from Dyson, talking animatedly to a young woman sitting at a portable piano. That was when Lauren noticed a large tent erected not too far from the musician, perfectly camouflaged by the trees and bushes surrounding it. The bride must be in there, the blonde assumed with a smirk.
"Excuse me, is this seat taken?"
The low, hurried question startled Lauren a bit and when she turned her head, she saw a small older man motioning to the empty chair next to her. He was clearly out of breath, staring at her expectantly.
"No, it's not, " she answered politely.
"Thank you," he breathed out in relief. Not even a minute later, the woman at the piano started to play a soft tune and all guests raised from their seats. "Phew, that was close," the man muttered while he wiped away the sweat from his forehead. Lauren had to press her lips together to prevent herself from laughing.
As the classical melody progressed, the first bridesmaid to walk down the aisle, emerged from the natural curtain provided by the garden. A brief look at Hale and his bright smile was all Lauren needed to confirm her suspicion. The woman who was now practically floating along the pathway, was indeed his sister. Val Santiago was wearing a long, one shoulder purple dress with satin sash that naturally emphasized her statuesque beauty. Her curly dark hair was up in an intricate loose bun with tiny white flowers dotted in it and the smile painted on her face rivaled Hale's. When Val arrived at the altar, she leaned forward and kissed her brother's cheek before moving graciously to the empty area on the left.
The second bridesmaid appeared right after and Lauren couldn't help thinking that she was very cute. The woman was a little shorter and definitely more curvaceous than Val, wearing the same long purple dress but in a V neck style. The flower crown around her head was a lovely match for her smoothly curled, shoulder length golden hair, granting her an aura that was equally angelic and mischievous.
Finally the first notes of the wedding march were heard and Lauren's eyes instinctively searched for Dyson and Hale. She smiled tenderly when she saw her partner laying his hand upon the groom's shoulder, looking as affected as his friend was, by this unique moment. Then, out of the blue, the pianist started playing a totally different tune and the elegant lady next to her stepped forward with a microphone in hand.
With a dazzling smile and the attitude of a star, the older woman began to sing with her deep, velvety voice and Lauren couldn't hold back the grin at the lovely turn of events.
"La la la la la la, La la la la la la..."
The magical setting was complete and the awaited moment had arrived at last. There came the bride, as beautiful and graceful as a princess in her vintage lace dress and hip length beaded veil, walking down the aisle arm in arm with her maid of honor.
"Oh boy," Lauren whispered.
"My cherie amour, lovely as a summer day
My cherie amour, distant as the milky way
My cherie amour, pretty little one that I adore
You're the only girl my heart beats for
How I wish that you were mine"
Bo Dennis...
The name practically begged to fall from Lauren's partially open mouth, but the blonde didn't emit a sound. Instead, she allowed her eyes to register as much as they could of the woman that had been invading her thoughts since she'd stepped outside of the Dawning Cafe.
"In a cafe or sometimes on a crowded street
I've been near you, but you never noticed me
My cherie amour, won't you tell me how could you ignore
That behind that little smile I wore
How I wish that you were mine"
As if sensing the intense gaze on her, Bo's eyes locked on to Lauren's at the exact instant she was passing in front of the blonde's row. Lauren could swear that a small smile crept over the brunette's lips and she immediately attributed it with a sparkling grin.
"La la la la la la, La la la la la la
La la la la la la, La la la la la la
Maybe someday, you'll see my face among the crowd
Maybe someday, I'll share your little distant cloud
Oh, cherie amour, pretty little one that I adore
You're the only girl my heart beats for
How I wish that you were mine
La la la la la la, La la la la la la
La la la la la la, La la la la la la"
The blonde blinked rapidly a couple of times, realizing that Kenzi had not only reached the altar already, but that she was also the only guest still standing. Thankful that everyone else seemed oblivious to her presence, she hastily returned to her seat, glancing around nervously before her eyes met with the questioning stare of the small man sitting next to her. Lauren offered him an awkward tight-lipped smile and refocused her attention to the ongoing ceremony. The celebrant had just started his introductory speech about love and the responsibilities of a married couple.
As much as the blonde wanted to pay attention to what the man was saying, all she could do was sit there and gaze at Bo. Gradually all sounds began to fade and then, for Lauren, there was solely her. The brunette looked gorgeous with her hair half down in soft curls, as a delicate ornament of white flowers adorned the back of her head. The strapless purple dress she was wearing enhanced her Aphrodite body with heavenly precision, offering a glorious view of her cleavage. Lauren had no doubt that the smile Bo was giving the bride, as she stood at the altar holding her bouquet, could have lit up that entire garden alone. The Captain of the Dawning Cafe was indeed the most beautiful vision the blonde could have ever dreamed of and Lauren couldn't take her eyes off of her.
It was only when all guests raised up from their chairs, cheering in unison at the newlyweds' kiss, that Lauren snapped out of her trance. She immediately stood up herself and joined the chorus of clapping that followed Hale and Kenzi as they walked back down the aisle.
"It was a lovely ceremony, don't you think?" the small man next to her asked with a smile, his caring eyes never leaving the young couple as they walked hand in hand towards the main house.
"Yes, it was," Lauren answered as she glanced at Bo once more. The brunette was chatting and laughing with the other bridesmaids and the blond detective had to fight the urge to run to the altar and talk to her.
As soon as a well known techno song reverberated through the large open area, most of the guests began to leave the garden and walk in the direction of the pool located a little further ahead.
"Lewis!" Lauren heard Dyson calling her name as he jogged towards her. "I see you've found my partner, Trick," he smiled at the older man.
Lauren raised her eyebrows in surprise and looked between Trick and Dyson. "You mean..." She stared questioningly at her partner.
"Dyson," Trick's tone was serious. "How come you've never mentioned that your new partner was such an enchanting woman?" He smiled tenderly gazing at the blonde.
Dyson chuckled as he noticed a light shade of pink covering Lauren's cheeks. "Trick, this is Detective Lauren Lewis, my partner," he grinned with pride.
"It's a pleasure to meet you, Detective Lewis," Trick offered his hand.
"The pleasure is all mine, Trick," the blonde replied shaking his hand. "And please, call me Lauren," she added softly.
Suddenly, a loud yelp drew their attention to the altar and what Lauren saw literally ripped the smile completely from her face.
A very handsome man had scooped Bo up in his arms and was twirling her around as they laughed in delight, under the attentive eyes of Val and the other bridesmaid. When he finally stopped and put her down, his strong hands eagerly took hold of her delicate jaw, bringing their lips together for a slow, deep kiss.
Oh, I think you're holding
the heart of mine
Squeeze it apart, that's fine
Lauren hurriedly looked away, her heart beating painfully fast. She could feel her mouth getting dry and her hands mildly shaking. She closed her eyes for a few seconds, trying to swallow the lump in her throat.
"So," Trick started saying, "shall we go to the party? I'm sure Kenzi and Hale won't take long to join us," he continued good-naturedly.
Dyson said nothing, while his piercing blue eyes stared hard at the happy couple. "Yeah, sure. I could definitely use a drink now," he replied in a grumpy tone. "Come on, Lewis," he turned to the blonde with a half-smile, "I promised you a party, didn't I?" The detective offered his left arm again.
"Yeah..." Lauren's voice was weak at first, "that you did," she added apprehensively, her gaze still distant as she linked her arm with his.
"Hey, are you okay?" Dyson asked with a frown.
"Yes... Yes of course," she cleared her throat. "Let's get on to this fabulous party, then. Lead the way," the blonde said, forcing a smile.
And so they left the beautiful garden together and Lauren Lewis didn't look back even once.
- X -
Track list:
- "My Cherie Amour" - Stevie Wonder
- "Step On Me" - The Cardigans
Author's note: thank you so, so much for all the follows, favorites and kind words regarding "Can't Take My Eyes Off Of You". It means more than you'll ever know.
A special thanks to G and my PK for revising my work and helping me to make this little story better.