The next morning Sandy helps JJ try on her wedding dress for a final time. Sandy had been there for the first and second fittings. Now she steps back, tears leaking down her cheeks.
"Oh, Jennifer…you are so…oh, so beautiful."
JJ smiles nervously. "Really? I look okay?"
"Oh, darling, you are well beyond okay. Emily's going to pass out when she sees you."
JJ turns and looks into the tri-fold mirror her mother had borrowed for the weekend. The dress is the one JJ had dreamed about. A form-fitted bodice with a sweetheart neckline and a flowing dress. Pearls have been used to accent a floral pattern in the bodice while Swarovski crystals line the hem of the dress and highlight lace appliqués. Before they had gone shopping, Elizabeth Prentiss had quizzed JJ on what she wanted. She then insisted on helping the Jareau's pay for the amazing gown.
"After all," Elizabeth had said, "it's not like I'm going to get to buy a dress like this for Emily."
JJ had laughed at the time. But now, staring into the mirror, she realized what a true gift Elizabeth had given her.
"Mom, out of curiosity, do I even want to know how much this dress cost?"
"Darling, Idon't even know. And I'm pretty sure I don't want to," Sandy says. "Elizabeth just asked what our budget for a dress was and that was all we were billed for. I have a feeling we may have bought the zipper."
JJ turns and looks at her mother. "Are you okay with that? I mean, that Emily's family…I don't know what I mean…"
Sandy takes her daughter by the shoulders. "All I want is for this to be the day of your dreams. You have the right woman. The rest is just decoration. I don't care what it costs or who paid for it. This is all about you and Emily being happy. And neither Elizabeth nor Emily has ever flaunted what they have. It's just a small part of who they are. And they have never, ever made us feel like we are less than them because of we aren't as well off."
JJ smiles, relieved. "I'm glad. Sometimes I forget Emily has money. It's just not something I think about. I just love her."
"And that's how it should be," Sandy states, kissing JJ's forehead.
Emily has tried on the tailor-made blouse and suit she would be wearing the next day. But she is completely baffled by the random square of gold cloth that had come with it.
"What the hell is this? It's not a scarf or a belt. What the hell?"
There is a knock at the door. She answers without looking.
"Come in…UNLESS YOU'RE JJ! THEN STAY OUT!" she amends nervously.
"Nope, not JJ," a voice responds as the door opens.
Emily spins around in shock. "Father! What are you doing here?"
Gerald Prentiss smiles at her. "Well, I happen to remember something about my daughter getting married tomorrow."
Emily blushes. "Right. I meant, here at the Jareau's house."
"I came up yesterday to meet them. They are wonderful people, Emily. I'm glad they think so much of you," he says sincerely.
Emily smiles. "The feeling is mutual."
Gerald steps closer. "Got a hug for the father of the, um, a bride."
She smiles. "Of course." She steps into his embrace. After a moment, she steps back. "Now that you're here maybe you can answer a very important question for me."
"Of course. Ask anything, Emily," he answers, assuming it's another question regarding the strained father-mother-daughter relationship triangle they share.
She lifts up the small gold cloth. "What the hell is this?"
He stares at it a moment, then bursts out laughing. He takes it from her, folds and flips it. He then tucks it into the breast pocket of her suit.
"It's your hankie, darling. Though I dare say it's for show only."
"Well, for fuck's sake," Emily mutters. "Why?"
He laughs. "Well, the men are all wearing maroon shirts to match your blouse. They are also wearing gold ties for the full 'Redskins Effect' as Alan called it. Since you're not wearing a tie, your mother asked for a pocket kerchief so you'd match your groomsmen."
"Oh. Smart idea. Jen will love it!"
Now completely dressed, Emily turns and looks into the mirror on the back of the closet door. "So, Father, what do you think?"
The suit hugs Emily's curves without being too sexy. It shows how fit and trim she is. The Egyptian cotton is lined with satin, which also appears on the lapels and in a stripe down the pant legs, which have a subtle flair. Her satin blouse is a deep maroon, with a wide-collar and buttons that stop just above her cleavage. The black Christian Louboutin heels she wears are a gift from her mother. Though not her normal style they really do look great with her wedding suit.
"Emily, I say this with absolutely no bias, you are going to be the most beautiful bride ever," he says honestly.
Emily tears up, "Yeah?"
He nods. "Oh, yeah. Definitely." He pulls her into a firm hug. "Thank you for letting me be a part of this."
"Thank you for wanting to be here, and I'm not just talking about the wedding," she says with love.
They pull apart after a few minutes. He smiles at her.
"Your mother wants to know if you need any alterations. Should I tell her no?"
"Tell her all is perfect. See you downstairs."
He heads out of the room. Emily turns and looks into the mirror once more. She looks herself over from her feet up to her head. She chuckles.
"Only a father would think a daughter whose face is half bruised could be beautiful." Her smile slowly fades as she realizes what she has said. "I have a father," she whispers aloud, realizing it is another amazing gift that she has been given since falling in love with Jennifer Jareau.