Author's Note: So this is kind of the second part of the last chapter. Now a few things. Firstly, thank you as usual to all my reviewers, and people who favourite and alert. If it wasn't for you guys, I probably would never finish writing these stories, I'd just complete them in my head. So since my written version depends on you guys, I know some of you are keen for me to make my story M rated and since some of those potential moments have already passed, I'm thinking of doing a separate story with M rated outtakes. Thoughts? Secondly, my Rookie Blue rant; I'm a little concerned about where they're taking Sam and Andy's relationship after S03E04, I'm hoping that given they showed Sam relenting, it might be all good, I'd probably stop watching if they broke up. I went back to watch the couple of episodes of season 1 I missed recently, and the Andy/Luke storyline was almost painful to watch. I know, I'm a little bit too invested in the storyline, but better that than something worse I always say. Thirdly, about this chapter please note the chapel is fictional; it's pretty much my ideal Vegas chapel. Also given the amount of wedding description in this chapter, I decided to not essentially repeat myself at the end of the chapter (you'll see what I mean :P). Lastly words cannot describe the exquisite movement of Cirque do Soleil, it must be seen. And of course it's Canadian originally, so I thought I would be cool for our Canadian's to go see the spectacular. Please also note there are bold/italic flashbacks in this chapter.
Freedom-In-Fantasy
After a buffet lunch that satisfied even Oliver's appetite, they all returned to their rooms for an "afternoon nap" so they could party into the early hours. Sam grinned when he saw the Victoria Secret shopping bags upon their arrival to their room. "Got a treat for me McNally?" He teased.
Andy blushed. "What! No! Maybe! I don't know!"
"Is that a yes or a no McNally?" Sam taunted.
"What do you want it to be?" Andy raised her eyebrow daringly.
Sam gave a softer smile. "I want all that you'll give me McNally."
Andy sank down on the bed next to Sam. "I guess that's what we need to talk about. What we want and what we're ready to give."
"I want you McNally." Sam unblinkingly looked her in the eyes.
Andy tore her eyes away with a groan. "I want you too Sam, but that doesn't solve anything. Are we doing the dating thing where we hold hands and slowly work our way up? Or are we going straight to serious couple because we've known each other so long? Or are we factoring in the fact that legally we are married and seeing if we can live the married life?"
Sam got serious. "I don't think we're ready to go into a full force marriage, but I don't think slow is an option either, we're too far gone for that. So I think we be a very serious new couple and that will ease us into married life as well. I've waited this long for you McNally, I don't want to wait anymore."
"You don't have to." Andy mumbled against his lips before kissing him hard and pushing him down onto the bed as she did. After a few minutes Sam joked cheekily "you didn't model any of those new purchases." Giving Sam a sexy smirk, Andy picked up the bag with the green lace and black gown, then shut the bathroom door so Sam couldn't peek.
"Mean." Sam grumbled as he lay back on the bed.
He sat up when he heard the door open, to see Andy posing in the doorframe, a sheer back dress covering green lacy underwear. "Come here." He growled, grabbing her hips and pulling her onto his lap as soon as she was in reach. Andy squealed and Sam silenced her with a kiss. She kissed him back and pushed him back down onto the bed. Sitting on top of him, she pulled the gown over her head, then he pulled her down to kiss him again.
They were interrupted by Traci banging on the door. "Shit." Andy hissed. Sam looked down at their naked bodies. "Go get changed in the bathroom, I'll see who's at the door.
Traci banged on the door again. "Hello?"
"Just a sec." Sam yelled back. Andy ran to the bathroom forgetting her underwear so Sam stuffed it under her pillow as he threw on his shirt and jeans. "Nash." He greeted as he opened the door.
"Is Andy here?" Traci asked shamelessly.
"In the bathroom."
"Well do you mind if I wait?"
"Knock yourself out." Then Sam pretended to continue watching the TV show he had just turned on.
Andy had grabbed two going out dresses she had bought that day on her way to the bathroom and instead of changing back into her normal clothing, she threw on the dress and pulled her hair up, reapplied her lip gloss then exited the bathroom with "tell me Sam, as a straight sexually active male, which dress is more likely to score a guy? Oh, hey Trace."
It was a good cover up in Andy's opinion, she had a reason for taking longer in the bathroom than just going to the loo and she didn't need to look the same in her clothes as she had before. Not to mention Traci would think Andy was playing along with Traci's plan and she got an ego boost from watching Sam drool. "So this one?" She pointed to the one she was wearing, a black dress lined with red lace. "Or this one?" She held up a bright pink dress with a plummeting neckline and placed it over the black one.
"That one." Traci and Sam both said, Traci pointing to the pink and Sam to the black.
"Sorry Trace, but I'm gonna go with the guy's opinion on what guys will like." Andy gave Traci a wink which Traci interpreted as Andy picking Sam's choice because it was Sam she wanted to attract.
"Fair enough. Now get changed, we've got a girly afternoon in my room to get to. Later Swarek." Traci called over her shoulder.
"So I could only get us matinee tickets at short notice, so I guess we'll see the Cirque du Soleil first then have dinner and go to the casino's." Zoe said as she hung up on her cell phone.
"Works for me." Traci said. "So my intention for having this girly meeting was to help Andy pick a Swarek magnet outfit, but she's already gone ahead and got him to choose her outfit for her." This statement was met with a round of laughter.
Andy shook her head at them. "I thought it was logical. Ask the man you want what he likes, then wear it."
Noelle inclined her head. "It's a good idea in theory McNally, but knowing Sammy, are you sure he didn't pick the least attractive option so that other men wouldn't be as attracted to you?"
"Well in that case, Andy wouldn't need to attract Swarek because he'd already be interested." Gail pointed out.
"We all know he's interested alright, but he never does anything about it." Noelle said crossly. Andy wanted to giggle. The scene Traci had interrupted certainly wasn't part of her definition of nothing.
Gail watched her friends laughing as they choose fun, sexy outfits. She tried to smile and join in, she really was excited to see Cirque du Soleil. Last time she'd been in Vegas, Nick had promised to take her, but surprise, surprise, he'd fallen though on that promise too. God how she hoped Chris never turned out like Nick.
Jerry had escaped the girl's hen squawking by going next door to hang out with Sam. Much to Sam's disgust, he'd sprawled himself out on the bed with a bottle of beer from the mini fridge and kept talking over the game about Traci's devious plans. But when Jerry had stretched and touched something he wasn't supposed to, Sam was wishing for the moments before to return. At feeling something scratchy on the bed, Jerry had pulled it out, to find it was a lacy bra and a broken one at that. He raised an eyebrow at Sam. "So, sleeping with McNally are we?"
Sam schooled his expression. "Due to the schemes of your fiancée, we're sleeping in the same bed, but that all we're doing."
"So why does her bra look like it was ripped off her body?"
"Do I look like McNally?"
Jerry frowned at him. "I dunno, she was complaining about something she bought ripping. Too tight or something. The only things I saw were the clothes she was trying on when Traci arrived." There, he'd set up a story that still contained truth and witnesses. It made him crave undercover work, but he couldn't do that to McNally. "Anyway, shouldn't you be getting ready for that show? I know you take as long as a girl to get ready." Sam deflected the focus.
"I don't take that long." Jerry scowled. "Just for that I'll stay a little longer Sammy."
"Fine." Sam shrugged and got out his phone.
Jerry's eyes narrowed. He'd bet his year's salary that Sammy was texting McNally the story he'd just told him.
Just then, there was a knock on the door. '"Jerry you need to change." Traci called through the door.
"Yes dear." Jerry quickly answered.
Sam roared with laughter.
It was an enraptured Canadian crowd that watched the Cirque du Soleil that afternoon. Even the men couldn't deny their admiration for the inhuman contortions, lifts and airborne moves. Discreetly, Andy squeezed Sam's hand in excitement.
Afterwards, exclamations such as "spectacular"
"amazing."
"breathtaking."
And "crazy." Were thrown in every few sentences as the group excitedly chattered over their menus as they waited for dinner. It was during dinner that Traci bought up the topic of chapels. "Now guys, I know we were planning to go to the casino's, but I'd really like to see the chapels before we go and we are passing through the casino's tomorrow." Do you think you guys could come?"
"It's your trip sweetie." Zoe said. "We'll go wherever you take us."
Traci smiled gratefully at her.
Traci let out an excited giggle as she saw the chapels like maids in a row. "What do you think Jer, should we just get married now?" She teased.
Jerry looked amused, "sorry honey, but I value me life and I know your mother would kill me if I didn't give you a fairytale wedding."
Traci mock pouted.
Andy and Sam naturally felt a sense of déjà vu walking along. Each building bringing back more of the memories they had strained to remember.
Andy tripped along, stumbling into Sam every few seconds, then stealing a kiss as he held her steady. About halfway down the road, she sat down and when Sam turned to see where she'd gone, he was met with the sight of a tug-o-war, Andy against her shoes. She finally tugged them off then resumed walking, a little more steady. Even in their drunken state, they both still wanted to find the right place to get married. A fair way down they found the most beautiful chapel, with flowers instead of the usual lights around it.
"Omigosh" Andy gasped quietly. "That's where we got married." Sam nodded, gazing at the building as Andy took pictures.
"Epstein take a photo." Sam ordered suddenly, passing Dov Andy's camera and putting an arm around Andy's waist.
"Why would you want a photo in front of a chapel?" Dov asked confused.
"Because my sister will love it." Was Sam's only response.
Dov shrugged and took the photo.
"Your sister?" Andy raised a sceptical eyebrow.
"She will." Sam protested.
Going inside the chapel, they were greeted by an elderly couple. They quickly signed in and choose rings from the chapel's selection, then the old lady whisked Andy away to get dolled up and her husband took Sam to find a suit. The woman with Andy left her to select the dress she liked best whilst she went outside to make up a bouquet from the flowers Andy and Sam had seen before they had walked in. Even though this was a Vegas wedding and she was drunk, Andy still had enough mind to know she wanted something simple and classy. She found two dresses that fitted her criteria, a strapless dress and a halter neck one. Ever practical, she went for the halter neck that was less likely to fall down. The woman returned with a huge bouquet of whites and pale pinks. She then started curling Andy's hair, nattering as she went about how she believed even Vegas weddings should be proper weddings because love deserved s ceremony. She then continued to tell Andy how she had faith in the honesty of drunken confessions of love – that was how her and her husband Michael had met after all, as she pinned a few curls up. As she fixed Andy's make up she then went on to talk about why her and her husband has started the chapel. Here Andy finally learnt her name, Eve.
Finally Eve was done. She then had Andy look in the mirror and in her reflection Andy saw a bride. A concept that sent thrills down her spine. The white dress complemented the white flowers, likewise the pale pink flowers bought out the pale pinks Eve had used on her checks and lips. The curls cascaded down her back like she was a fairytale princess and her simple silver jewellery she had started the evening with happened to work perfectly. It was time.
She saw Sam waiting at the end of the aisle for her when she entered the room and nothing else mattered. She probably stumbled down the aisle, but she didn't notice or care. Then they were both standing there, with Michael in a cliché Elvis costume, saying vows said by so many before them. Soon it was time for a kiss which Eve quickly snapped and "I now pronounce you husband and wife" was declared to the empty room.
The rest of the chapels were the usual Vegas style, but Sam and Andy didn't notice anyway. They were just trying to process their memories.
Gail felt bitter as she looked at the chapels; there was no other way to describe it. Chris noticed her less than happy mood and hugging her close, he asked "hey, what's the matter?"
"Nothing." Gail lied.
"That's bullshit Gail. Come on, we promised to be honest with each other." Chris frowned.
"Fine." Gail relented. 'But not here."
"Alright, we can talk back in our room. But Gail, we will talk." Chris promised.
"Ok, so what had you in such an bad mood today." Chris asked almost the moment they got in the door.
Gail folded her arms from where she stood on the other side of the room. "I had an experience with Vegas weddings last time I was here."
"Oh." Chris stiffed slightly. "Why didn't you tell me?"
"I was hurt and ashamed." Gail quietly admitted.
"It wouldn't change what I thought of you." Chris protested.
"You're the first person I have told if it makes any difference."
Chris smiled slightly. "So what actually happened?"
"I was engaged to this guy and he left me at the alter in Vegas." Gail spat.
Chris held out his arms then hugged her tight. "I'm sorry." He whispered. A little while later he asked. "What was his name?"
Gail refused to answer.
"Gail, what was his name?" Chris asked firmly.
"Nick." She whispered.
"Nick from our division?"
Gail nodded.
"So that's why you hate him so much. I can't believe he even has the nerve to be near you after what he did. I can't believe I befriended the arsehole." Chris exploded.
"Chris!" Gail was slightly amused.
"And now it makes sense why you freeze up whenever I mention us getting married. It all makes sense now." Chris continued.
"I'm sorry." Gail mumbled into his neck.
"I'm just glad I finally know the truth."
"I hope this doesn't destroy us."
"It won't." Chris promised. "In fact, it's going to make us." Chris nodded decisively, then got down on his knee. "Gail Peck, will you marry me today in Vegas?"
"What?" Gail's hands flew to her mouth.
"What do you say Gail? Time to redo this Vegas memory?"
"Yes, gosh, yes!" Gail threw herself at Chris and kissed him hard. "You have no idea how much I love you."
Gail felt like she was in a dream as she and Chris went down the strip buying rings, a dress, and tux. He even found a veil for her. Her state of mind was so dreamy that inside the cute little chapel they had chosen, she almost missed the photo on the wall. She paused and looked at it closer. "Chris, come over here! Tell me, does that look like Andy and Swarek to you?"