Title: Moments in Time

Rating: T

Disclaimer: Still not mine, still Joss Stirling's.

A/N: Short and sweet is this chapter...they will get longer after 10...


Chapter Nine


Five Months Later

"I want to ask you something," Will says, fiddling around in his back pocket. The birds chirp around us, and the wind ruffles through my new hair, the brown strands falling unruly about my face.

May in the Wrickenridge woods is one of the prettiest times of the year; the sun is shining, the flowers are out, and the trees are green, with new growth.

"Shoot," I say, grinning at him. He's been claiming that I've caught the springtime madness bug that everyone's been suffering from, making me bouncy and giggly. That made me laugh at him, and cuff him gently over the head.

What he says next shocks me beyond all belief. "Marry me."

"What?" I say, shaking my head to clear it. "Marry…but Will, we're only twenty-one – we've got all the time in the world…"

"I know," he brings his face very close to mine, his warm breath on my face. "I know, Adrianne. But my brother married at eighteen, and I just think…you know, this is the right time for us, and you already know I love you and…"

"Shut up," I interrupt him, before kissing him till I'm breathless. "Yes, I will marry you, you crazy lovely boy."

He gives a shout before he's spinning me around again, kissing me and kissing me and kissing me until my lips ache and I'm dizzy from love and happiness.

My spine tingles and there are tears in my eyes as I smile up at him. I never want this moment to end.


"C'mon, Adrianne, you must have a preference," Phoenix, my sister-in-law to be stands in front of the rack of wedding dresses with her hands on her hips. Diamond sighs.

"Be nice to the poor girl, Phee," she says. "You were the one getting married once – and I bet you took even longer than this to pick out your dress."

"I have no idea," I say. "Honestly – I've never known what suits me and what doesn't."

"This one," Sky lovingly strokes the dress she likes the best, chiffon with a full skirt. "You'd look like a princess, Adrianne."

"Sky, that one doesn't suit Adrienne and you know it," Phee retorts. "This one on the other hand," she holds up a pale blue dress with darker blue detailing and thin straps, "would be perfect."

"No, I don't like that one," I say decisively. "I want a white or cream dress."

"How about this one?" Crystal holds out a cream dress with frills around the bottom.

"No," I say. "They just don't feel right, none of them do."

In the end, we leave that shop, walk down the main street, the sunshine shining brightly on the snowy caps of the mountains behind us.

"Wait, I have an idea," Crystal says suddenly as we pass a dingy little side-street. "I found this shop once…I think it's down here."

We turn down the street, pass dingy shops selling crystals and lengths of mirrored material, until we finally reach the one Crystal was looking for. It's window frame is painted in a chipping green paint, and the sign above the door says,

Fairytales.

Tears spring to my eyes. Displayed in the window is a dress so similar to the one my mother got married in. Cream silk with thin straps, and a sparkling lace back. A long silk skirt, gathered at the back.

"It's perfect," I whisper.