I own nothing.

Two weeks after the wedding...

Vicki had started staying at Henry's as a rule since the wedding. More and more, it seemed torturous to spend the night away from him. Sleeping days had it's advantages, but it was less than conducive to her work.

After the day took Henry, she carefully left the room using the blackout curtain, they had installed. She ambled around the semi darkness looking for his laptop. She went into his office, and spotted it on the table. Going around to retrieve it, she noticed something new on the desk. Flipping on the overhead light, she saw an 8x10 framed photo of a couple dancing. It took her a moment to realize that the woman was her. Henry cradled her protectively, and she was laughing at something he said, her head thrown back in mirth.

All in all a very good-looking couple if her opinion was to be believed. So, this is what I look like next to Henry, she thought. No wonder mom thinks we're the next to get married. I look so happy with him. I am so happy with him, at least when I think no one is watching, she joked to herself.

Snooping around the office, she noticed a few more prints of the wedding. A black and white of her alone, looking off to the right of the camera. She remembered the shot was taken with Henry beside the photographer egging her on. It explained the deeper color in her cheeks.

Another of them together, Henry looking at her as she looked at the camera. She wondered how he'd gotten a hold of all these pictures.

Making her way back to his bed, eager to be there when he woke, she noticed yet another frame. Smaller, a 4x6, on his bedside table. In the darkness, she hadn't even seen it, but she had to pick it up to get a closer look. It was another picture of them dancing, but this one was just of their shoulders and up. Looking intently into each other's eyes, she had placed her left hand on his cheek. The photographer was close enough to catch the sparkle of the diamond ring on her finger as well as the lovers' gaze. She thought for a moment, wondering why this picture and not another was given a place of honor in Henry's inner sanctum. And like a bolt of lightning, it made sense. This picture depicted his dreams of how it would be if they were man and wife. Together, in love, with her wearing the ring he chose for her. And even stranger than this look into Henry's mind, was the realization that she wanted this too. She put the picture back in place and dimmed the lights for Henry's comfort, awaiting the moment the sunset would release him.

She dozed until Henry's gasp of life woke her. Pulling her close, he kissed her jaw line.

"Get much done today?" he asked regarding her latest case.

"A little," she replied. "Henry, are you aware of how much I LOVE to prove you wrong?"

"This would be apropos of what?" Henry asked.

"Remember at the wedding, you said that you figured I'd never wear a dress again?"

"Of course, that was the rationale behind the pictures," Henry recalled.

"Well I was thinking that there was at least one more occasion that would warrant a dress," Vicki began.

"Do tell," Henry said, intrigued.

"Well," Vicki said slowly, "if you agreed to marry me, I'd probably have to wear a dress."

"Did you just ask me to marry you?" Henry demanded seriously.

"I think so, I mean if you want," she replied looking down.

At this Henry caught her up in his arms and kissed her soundly. Then, he sat her back down on the bed, and said, "I always figured I'd be the one to ask. But I consistently underestimate you. I'm sorry I don't have a ring to give you, but – "

"What are you talking about, you gave me a ring, two weeks ago, remember?" she said pointing toward the ring she still wore.

"Love, that was just a bauble, I always meant for you to have a ring that would make the royals envious," he said disappointed he had no token for her.

"I like this better than any other you could find. It has a story. Just like us," she said, smiling at it.

"That we do. How soon is too soon, to make you my wife?" he asked hopefully.

"Well, I leave everything to you. Since you're planning it, you just tell me when to show up. Except the dress. The dress is my secret, no interference! But I do need to find a dressmaker," she admitted.

"Really, newly rich and already too good for off the rack?" he chuckled.

"No, I just have something very specific in mind."

"So a month away, is sufficient?" he asked.

"Henry, get over yourself. Not even you could pull a wedding together that quick at the height of wedding season!" she said smirking. "At least not without Jedi-mind-tricking a couple into refusing to get married." At his laugh, she looked horrified, "You can't! That's cheating!"

"I won't, but the wedding will happen within the month. As soon as I'm sure of the date, I'll let you know, my blushing bride."

At this exchange, she did blush. "So, what are our wedding colors?"

"Why?" he asked.

"Because I have to know what color Coreen's dress is. She's been rooting for us more than anyone. She should be my bridesmaid," Vicki admitted.

"You better tell her, I'll go deaf from the shrieking. Are you opposed to red?"

"I might've guessed you'd pick red, seems logical being that you're a vampire." Vicki smiled, and said, "That's fine, Coreen will love it."

Two nights later

"Love," Henry said, peeking around the corner into his room. "How do you feel about Our Lady of Mercy, three weeks from Saturday?" He anticipated resistance, but he was Catholic, and he figured it was worth it.

"That sounds fine. Where's the reception?" she said, unwilling to fight over something she knew wasso important to him.

Shocked, he sputtered, "Old Court Manor. On West 57th. It's not too far from the ceremony site."

"Okay, how about the other plans? Anything exciting?" she asked.

He couldn't believe she was genuinely interested, but he continued and she gave him her undivided attention.

"So when's my appointment with the dressmaker?" she asked.

"Tomorrow, at ten. And take Coreen, you need to get her dress made as well."

"Okay," she replied, kissing him on the cheek.