Just a quick update for you all, I thought we could use some after the Shules... "Thing".
She waved at him. Shawn gave a wave and shut the door quickly behind her. He locked the bottom lock and returned to the bedroom, his arms rising up to stretch up. Shawn rolled his shoulders, and cracked his neck. He traipsed back into the bathroom, patting a random rhythm on his thighs as he walked. Setting his ringer on high, Shawn shed his boxers and stepped into the cool metal tub. He closed the curtain behind him and turned the knobs on the shower's wall.
Water spritzed out before a warm steady stream emerged. Shawn hummed a tune he couldn't place as the water rolled down his body, wetting his skin. He turned to face the small shelf and groaned at his choices. Today he could smell like lavender, or peaches. It had been so long since he'd used a body wash or shampoo meant for men. When you dated a girl who took showers at your house –or you hers- and loved to smell like a rainbow of fruits, your manly wash was thrown out to make room for fruity liquid. Shawn shook his head and grabbed the bottle of peach; Juliet had told him that she loved the peach smell best. He used this to his disposal every chance he got.
Shawn lathered his skin with the wash and dropped a glob into the palm of his hand. Shawn placed the closed bottle back onto the shelf and began to massage his scalp. He was getting excited as every moment passed by. Soon he'd be married to the love of his life and be able to start his future. The future was still a mystery in many ways to Shawn. He wasn't the type of guy to plan ahead. He lived in the present and rarely thought passed the now. That was going to have to change; Juliet was going to be needing his thoughts as well. They concerned her and Shawn could no longer choose what was best for him. But for them.
He smiled and stepped into the water, the wash flowing away as if it had never been there. His head titled and soap trailed down from his head. After making sure he was soap free, Shawn stepped out of the shower and grabbed a towel from the pantry. He wrapped it around his waist and grabbed his phone from the counter, walking into the bedroom. Shawn pulled on his boxers and clothes from yesterday. He'd have to run home and pull on some new clothes if he was going to go out in public today.
Once dressed Shawn walked into the living room, pushing Lloyd's phone into his pocket and grabbed Juliet's car keys. He put on his shoes and walked outside, making sure to lock the door behind him before walking down the lawn to her car. He shut his door and started the engine up, looking both ways before he pulled out and began to drive down the street. Shawn took his time and drove slowly to his apartment, wanting some quiet time. He parked in his spot and got out of the car, waving hello to his neighbor.
"Good morning Mrs. Benson." Shawn walked over to the small fence that separated their yards or the Benson's yard from Shawn's concrete.
"Hello Shawn, you're coming in rather early." She smiled at him and placed a green watering can onto the lawn.
"I'm just getting dressed; I'm going tuxedo shopping in a bit." He returned the smile. The Benson's were a nice elderly couple who was nothing but nice to both Shawn and Juliet. Barbara Benson was closing in on seventy-five and her husband was only three years older.
"A special occasion?" Barbara picked up the can she'd placed down and watered the roses in front of her.
"Actually yes. I proposed to Juliet a few days ago, we're getting married. And I need a suit." He chuckled lightly.
"How amazing!" Barbara's smile widened, "She's a lovely girl. The two of you are a beautiful couple."
"Thanks. I hope to see you?" Shawn shoved Juliet's car keys into his pockets.
"I hope to get a written invitation." Barbara fired back. "Walter and I will be happy to attend Shawn. Congratulations to you both."
"I must be going now, I'll see you later." Shawn waved and turned to walk to his door.
"Bye!" He closed the door behind him and kicked his shoes off. Shawn placed his phone and the keys onto his made bed and pulled off his clothes, replacing them with a clean outfit. He went into his bathroom and brushed his teeth quickly. Grinning into the mirror and stroking his face slowly. "Probably need a shave…" he mumbled as he phone's ringer blared.
"Yeah?" Shawn answered returning to the bathroom to work on his messy hair that was still damp from his shower.
"Did you not get my text?" An angry Gus yelled at him.
"Sorry Gus, I've been kind of busy. What's up?" Shawn combed his hair and applied a layer of gel where he thought it was needed.
"Nothing much. How did that dinner go with your parents?"
"It was alright. Some tension. Mostly between Lloyd and us." Shawn washed his hands and left the bathroom. "Hey Gus, I'm grabbing my dad in a bit and I'll come pick you up." Shawn locked his front door and waved to Mrs. Benson.
"For?" Shawn heard a loud clank.
"Uh Tux shopping Gus. You, Dad and Lassie are in my wedding party thing." Shawn shut the car door and started the engine.
"So, Lassiter's going to be there as well?"
"You know it. I'll see you in a bit." Shawn hung up and tossed his phone onto the passenger seat.
"I don't know." Juliet's nose wrinkled as her mom held up the white dress. "It's…." She trailed off not knowing how to finish her sentence.
"Fluffy." Maddie finished for her.
"Yes... fluffy. No offense mom but I don't want to look like a puffed up marshmallow." Juliet shook her head and turned towards the rack in front of her. Maryanne sighed loudly and hooked the dress back onto the rack.
"It wasn't fluffy."
"It was just as fluffy as Stitch." Karen piped up from behind Juliet. All women turned and stared at her, "Iris has been going through a Disney phase. Lilo and Stitch are her favorite." Karen looked out the window for a moment. "I'm getting tired of the blue fluff ball." Juliet laughed.
"Thank God Matthew is too young to be into movies," Marlowe sat down on the white couch over to the side of the room, "I think I'd pull my hair out."
"Shawn didn't get into movies until he was older. He couldn't sit through anything longer than ten minutes. Drove Henry nuts."
Juliet nodded, "I believe that. I don't remember really being into movies." Juliet glanced at her mother who had been silent for most of the trip.
"No, you weren't Julie. You were outside playing with your brothers." Maryanne puckered her lips and continued to look through the racks of white dresses.
"What color are the bridesmaids supposed to be?" Marlowe asked standing back up.
"Uh…" Juliet paused, "I have no idea. I guess anything you guys like. It doesn't matter much to me." Juliet shrugged it off.
"You're very casual about this Juliet." Karen said as she helped Marlowe pick up a long veil from the floor.
"Honestly, as long as everything goes perfect for the actual ceremony I'll be happy." Juliet confessed taking a deep breath.
"Everything will go according to plan sweetie," Maddie squeezed Juliet's arm with a smile. "And if anything goes wrong, Henry senior will rush everything along."
"Henry senior?" Marlowe looked at Maddie.
"Oh I forgot Henry was a junior." Karen nodded, "His father was a… security guard?"
Maddie nodded, "Started off as Sheriff but retired, then became a security guard, then retired again."
"Like father like son." Karen and Marlowe sat down onto the couch and Maddie sat beside them a few seconds later.
"I've never heard anything about Shawn's grandparents." Juliet sat across from Maddie.
"There's honestly not much to tell. My father died before Shawn was born, my mother when he was ten. Henry senior and his wife moved to Texas right before the divorce. They're not around much." Maddie stood up when her phone began to ring from her purse. "Hello?" Henry she mouthed to the girls and stepped out of the shop and stood outside.
"Don't be so nervous." Marlowe smiled and took Juliet's hands in her own.
"She's right, if you can deal with drug dealers and the stress of the job, you can get married." Karen nodded with a smile.
"I just want things to go perfectly." Juliet chuckled anxiously.
"They will." Maryanne placed a hand on Juliet's shoulder. "Oh Juliet look!" Marlowe pointed to a dress. Juliet stood up and carefully took it down from the hanger. "Try it on." Karen encouraged. Juliet turned and walked into the dressing room, pulling the curtain behind her.
"Everything alright?" Maryanne crossed her arms and took Juliet's empty seat.
"A small disagreement. Nothing to fret about." Maddie put her phone in her purse and joined the quiet as they waited for Juliet to come out.
"What do you guys think?" Juliet pushed open the curtains and stepped out. The dress was pure white silk. It flowed down her legs and broke off as part of the fabric trailed behind Juliet as she walked. Juliet stopped and looked at herself in a mirror.
"You look stunning." Maryanne commented covering her mouth. Juliet smiled and picked the end of the dress up.
"I think it's perfect." All of the woman nodded in agreement.
"Spencer I swear!" Carlton yelled trying to grab Shawn.
"Lassie stop! People are staring…" Shawn ran behind his father.
"Shawn! Detective Lassiter, knock it off before we get kicked out." Henry pushed Shawn away from him. Shawn rubbed his arm and glared at Carlton.
"I'd rather not be here right now." Gus looked slowly towards the manager who was watching the group closely.
"You and me both Guster." Henry moved over and grabbed Shawn. "Come here."
Shawn moved in front of his father and threw a tie at Lassiter, "Don't you dare buy that." Shawn stood still as his father fixed the fabric around Shawn's neck.
"I'll buy what I want Spencer." Carlton hissed placing the tie onto a shelf.
"Not if you want to be at my wedding." Shawn snapped back.
"Actually it's O'Hara's and yours. She wants me there." Shawn rolled his eyes.
"You know Lassie, Jules is taking my name. She'll be a Spencer too." Shawn pointed out as Henry finished knotting. He turned and looked at the suit he was wearing. Jet black with a white dress shirt underneath and a red tie hanging in the middle.
"She'll be the only Spencer I don't hate…" Carlton huffed.
"Watch it." Henry glared at Carlton and shoved past him, "Does everyone have their suits?"
"I can't decide between this black one or charcoal one." Gus held up two suits to his body.
"There's no difference buddy." Shawn began to undo his tie.
"Yes there is you idiot." Carlton sighed. Henry rolled his eyes and walked away from the arguing trio. He pulled out his phone and dialed a phone number. "Hello?" She answered in a few rings.
"Hey Maddie." Henry greeted.
"Henry? Is everything alright?" Maddie asked quickly.
"Everything's fine. We're going to leave the tailor's soon. I just wanted your opinion." Henry heard Maddie sigh in relief.
"On?"
"Shawn can't select a color. Red makes him look like its Christmas and blue just looks bad." Maddie hummed on the other end as she thought it out. "What color is the suit? Black?"
"Yes." Henry glanced in the direction of the fuming detective.
"Make him get a green one. Not too dark or light. And nothing that clashes with his eyes. He'll look weird if he matches too much."
"Thanks." He hung up without saying another word. As Henry made his way over to the other men he grabbed the perfect tie off a shelf. "Let's go." He tossed it to Shawn and made his way over to the cashier.
Shawn kicked his feet onto the table and threw a chip into his mouth. He munched it and put his hand in the bowl again. He lifted up a can of beer to his lips and took a sip. Behind him the door opened and shut a few seconds later.
"Jules?" Shawn rested his head against the back of the couch and looked for her.
"Hold on honey." Juliet passed Shawn and walked into the hallway with a large grey bag. Shawn turned back to the television and put the can of beer onto the coffee table. He rested back into the couch and waited for her to come back. Juliet entered the living room and swatted his legs. He lowered his legs and Juliet sat next him. She removed the bowl of chips and put it next to his beer can. She switched spots and sat on his lap. "How'd your day go?" Shawn wrapped his arms around her.
"It was alright. Lassie, Gus and I had some fun. Dad was helpful and such. We picked out suits and ties." Shawn kissed her cheek. "Did you find a dress?"
"Oh yes," She smiled and ran her fingers through his hair, "Its perfect baby. I love it so much." Juliet kissed his temple.
"What does it look like? Can I see it?" Shawn looked up at her.
"No. You have to wait until I'm walking down the aisle to see it." Juliet leaned in and kissed his lips. "Your mom and mine got along today." She stroked Shawn's cheek.
"That's good." Shawn kissed her hand.
"I agree." Shawn closed his eyes and stroked Juliet's hair. "Shawn don't fall asleep. We haven't had dinner yet." She tucked her head under his chin and sighed happily.
"Just a little rest Jules, I promise." Juliet nodded and drew shapes on Shawn's chest. Her body moved up and down with Shawn's breathing. She looked at the TV across from her and switched it off. "Shawn?" She sat up. Shawn's head had titled to the side and he was fast asleep. "Have a nice nap baby." She kissed the top of his head and got up slowly, walking into the kitchen to make dinner.
I hope you all enjoyed this. I'm already planning on a sequel to this story, and I'm actually looking forward to start writing it!
I also want to thank everyone for all the kind reviews and helpful notes. I enjoy reading all the reviews and I'm happy to know you're all enjoying this. I love hearing your thoughts and opinions- good or bad! Feel free to say whatever you like. Have a nice day everyone and thanks again. I couldn't do this without all of you. Thank you for your support.