A/N Sorry, this took a bit, but you can't expect three updates in one day every time. ;-) I'm really interested in the reception of this chapter, so input would be wonderful!
Wedding Planning
"I don't understand how you are so good at this," Nell said, exasperated. She and Eric were picking out flowers, invites, and general decorations for their wedding at a cute boutique Nell found advertised in the paper. Their wedding was in two months, so Nell was getting a bit frantic. People say that engagement is when you find out the most about a person, and while Nell already knew that Eric was less likely to succumb to stress in this type situation, she had no idea that he apparently had a knack for wedding planning. Not only has she gone with all of his suggestions, he has offered logical reasoning for why they make sense. Nell had never seen this trait in him before.
After he once again gave a valid option for the design of the bouquets and boutonnieres, Nell jokingly asked him if he was planning on getting married often. He responded sarcastically with, "No, I've just had a lot of practice."
Nell mock-glared at him, "Hardee-har. Anyways, white or off-white for the invitations?" she asked, picking up a few samples.
"What about that cream color that's sorta in between? We can get the gold embossing on that one, but gold wouldn't work on off-white," Eric said, grabbing the said sample and holding it up for approval.
"Okay, sounds good," Nell agreed, adding the number to their order sheet. A few minutes later, they were exiting the little boutique. Walking down the street hand-in-hand, they tried talking about other things, but their impending nuptials were what they kept coming back to. "Do we want candles, flowers, or candles and flowers in the chapel?" Nell asked.
"Um, what do you want?" Eric asked casually.
Nell snorted, "Are you practicing that for when we're married? I just want to know what you think."
"And I want you to make some decisions too! This is your wedding day and I want it to be special," Eric said, running his fingers through his hair.
"Uh, shouldn't it be special for you too? I'm pretty sure you're the guy I'm marrying."
"Well, yeah, but you're the bride, Nelly. I feel like you're not getting to decide anything, and that's kinda what the bride does. It's your big day."
"My big day? It's our big day! I thought we were doing a good job at compromising."
"Our 'compromises' are just you agreeing to all my suggestions!"
"They are good suggestions," Nell sighed, "So you're afraid that I'm upset because you're better at this than I am?"
Eric sighed, "I will be happy as long as I get to marry you, but—"
"But you think I won't be?" Nell broke in.
"No, I think that this should be just as special as you want it, and I feel like I'm taking over."
Nell laughed a little, "Eric, you're really good at all this. It's not envy—because I'm not jealous, Wolfram—but I wish I had an eye for these things like you do. Why else would I drag you along?" she added teasingly.
Eric smiled and took her hand again, his frustration diffused. "So, you wish you were more like me, but you're not jealous? How exactly does that work?"
"Shut it, Beale," Nell said, bumping him playfully.
"You know, pretty soon someone's going to say 'Beale' and be talking to you," Eric said.
"I can't wait."
