A/N: SURPRISE! Another chapter. After the end of the last one, I just couldn't help but continue. Which means…my muse is back! Hopefully for the rest of the summer! Yay! Oh, and please check out the profile for what the bridesmaids, flower girls, ring bearers, tuxes, and Tempe's dress look like. Yes, I found ones on the internet. Enjoy!
Three days later…they are having coffee in Tempe's kitchen…
"Seeley…I…don't want to wait."
"For what?"
"To get married. I love you too much to want to wait. And after all that has happened, that could happen, I'd rather not put it off."
"Honey, I know. Anything could happen to either of us at any time. Our partnership has shown that. When do you want to?"
"Well, we need at least a little time to plan. So…a month from now?"
"That sounds great. Do you…have a date?"
"Well, I was thinking October sixteenth."
"Hm…that sounds nice."
"Good. Because I booked the church."
"What?" He choked, almost spitting his coffee everywhere. She chuckled a little.
"I booked the church for that date. At two in the afternoon."
"Why would you do that? You're not religious."
"I know. But you are, and I know you would want our union sanctioned by God."
"You're incredible." He said, coming over and wrapping his arms around her waist, kissing her cheek.
"Thanks. But that's all I've done."
"Well, we can work out the rest. I'm sure Ange will want to do it all anyways."
"She does. She told me so the day after we got engaged."
"Well, then we just have to talk to her."
"Okay." Tempe said.
That evening…they had Ange and Jack over to discuss plans. They're all sitting in the living room. Tempe is curled up with Seeley on the couch and Ange and Jack are across from them in armchairs.
"Sweetie…what are you looking for?"
"Understated. Simple. But I do know that I want the three bridesmaids in red."
"And those three are?" Ange asked, pen poised to write down names.
"You, Cam, and Amy."
"Okay. Stud, who are your groomsmen?"
"Jack, Russ, and Sully."
"Sully?" Tempe asked, in surprise.
"Yeah. He's a good friend. I already asked him."
"Love you." Tempe said, and kissed his cheek.
"I'm thinking a red accent for the tuxes, to go with the girls dresses. Cream flowers. Not white, cream." Tempe said.
"Sounds fine by me. Jack and I will handle all the food." Ange said.
"My chef will prepare everything. We're having the reception in my ballroom."
"Jack, you don't-" Tempe began.
"No, I want to."
"Thanks, man." Seeley said.
"You're welcome." He replied.
"Sweetie, the sooner we go dress shopping, the better. How about this weekend?"
"That's fine. The guys can go tux shopping then too." She said. Seeley groaned.
"You know it has to be done. Just get it out of the way. I'll make it up to you later." She whispered in his ear and then kissed his cheek. He smiled and pulled her in for a soft kiss on the lips.
"And if you don't find your dress, we at least have to get the bridesmaids. We can try to find your dress next weekend if need be."
"That's fine."
"What does the guest list look like?"
"Cullen, Seeley's parents, Russ, Amy, the girls, Parker, Groomsmen, Bridesmaids, my editor, and I think that's it."
"A small wedding. That's perfect, Sweetie." Ange said with a smile.
"Well, what about the cake?"
"Poppyseed." Tempe said.
"Chocolate." Seeley said, at the same time. Angela laughed.
"Sweetie, what kind do you want?"
"Poppyseed with raspberry jam filling and white cream cheese frosting."
"Stud?"
"Yellow cake with chocolate frosting."
"Alright. We'll do both."
"Seeley, when we cut the cake, we have to cut both, and feed each other a piece of both. That is the only way I will have both."
"Fine." He huffed. She laughed.
"Oh, and the flower girls will be Hayley and Emma, right?"
"Yes. And ring bearer is Parker."
"Great. I think that's everything."
"Sounds good. See you Saturday? At noon?" Tempe asked.
"Great. I'll call Cam."
"And I'll call Amy."
"Okay. Bye sweetie." Ange said, and hugged her. Jack gave her a hug too.
"I'll start dinner." Tempe said. Seeley nodded.
"I'll walk you guys out." Seeley said. He grabbed Ange's arm just as she was about to leave.
"You noticed she didn't say Zach or her Dad, right?"
"Of course."
"Well, I want to try and pull some strings with Cullen. So plan for two more." He whispered. Ange's eyes welled up, and she embraced him.
"This is one of many reasons why you deserve each other." She whispered and left him standing there. He went in and enjoyed a peaceful dinner followed by gentle lovemaking.
On Saturday…Tempe and Amy meet up with Cam and Ange in front of a bridal store…
"Ready?" Ange asked, looping her arm through Tempe's.
"Yes." Tempe said, and they all traipsed in.
"Hello. How may I help you?" A woman asked.
"Yes, we're looking for three bridesmaid dresses and a dress for the bride."
"Which is the bride?" The woman asked with a smile. All three girls pointed at Tempe.
"She is." They said in unison. Tempe laughed.
"Alright. Do you have anything in mind?"
"The bridesmaids dresses are going to be red. And absolutely no poof." Tempe said, firmly. The lady just laughed.
"Simple it is. Justine!" She called. A young girl of about seventeen came out.
"This is my daughter, Justine. She can assist you with anything you need. I'm giving her to the bride, while I help the bridesmaids."
"Sounds good." Ange said, and they began looking.
"UGH!" Tempe said.
"Is there something wrong?" Justine asked.
"I'm just not finding anything that I like. I'm sorry." Tempe said, poking her head out.
"It's perfectly fine. Let me just see what else we have. Red is the bridesmaid dresses, correct?"
"Yes. I'm sorry, again."
"Really, it's fine. You want to find the perfect dress."
"Yes, I do." Tempe said from behind the curtain.
"Sweetie? Can you come out?"
"Hang on." Tempe said, and pulled on a robe. She then walked out.
"Oh my! That's perfect, Ange." Tempe said, taking in the dress. It's an apple red, but not too bright. It's strapless and flows easily to a little past the knees.
"That is the dress. That's it." She said, as Cam and Amy came out.
"Perfect. Take them off and get everything you need to go with them." She said, as Justine came back with a few more dresses.
"Okay." Ange said, and they dispersed. Tempe took the dresses and headed in.
"I understand that one has more fabric and is more ornate than you are looking for, but it has the red in it, as a nice accent." Justine said, sitting down and pulling out a book to read while waiting.
"Thank you." Tempe said. She tried on the other two and was not pleased with them, and then tried on the one Justine had mentioned.
"Justine, can you tie the back?" Tempe asked.
"Sure." The girl said, and came over.
"May I come in?"
"Yes." Tempe said. Justine entered, setting her book down and went over to Tempe. She saw the gaping back and Tempe's coincidentally red strapless bra. Justine tied up the dress and then stood back.
"Wow." Justine said. Tempe looked in the mirror and knew that is the dress. She'd let her hair down and in soft curls it framed her face. Justine brought the veil and it was perfect. Tears filled Tempe's eyes.
"This is it." Tempe said and turned around just as Justine picked up her book. Justine then looked from the back cover to Tempe and back again.
"You're…" She began, but Tempe held up her hand and Justine went silent.
"Yes, I am, sweetheart. Thank you for all of your help." Tempe said with a smile. She then walked out and Cam, Amy, and Ange froze.
"OH. MY. GOD." They said together, and ran over, hugging her.
"Temperance, you look absolutely stunning. Seeley will flip when he sees you on the day." Cam gushed. Tempe just smiled.
"It's perfect, isn't it?" Tempe asked.
"Far beyond perfect." Amy said.
"That's it. This is the one." Tempe said. The older lady came back then and got everything ready for them. Justine was trying to ring them up, but was distracted by Tempe.
"You guys take the stuff to the cars. I'll be out in a few." Tempe said. They nodded and did as she asked.
"Justine, there is no need to feel so awestruck." Tempe said.
"I…I…just love your books."
"Thank you." Tempe said.
"I never thought I'd actually meet you. I'm thinking about becoming an anthropologist too."
"Well, it takes a lot of hard work and dedication, but is totally worth it."
"I'm sure it is…I mean, all you've done in your life…and now you're getting married."
"Let me let you in on a secret…" Tempe said, leaning closer. "I don't believe in marriage and never wanted to get married. But I believe in the man I am marrying, and he proposed to me in a way that I couldn't say no. I hope you find that as well."
"Thank you." Justine said, blushing.
"You're welcome. Look, you're a nice girl." Tempe said. She pulled out two envelopes from her purse.
"Here." Tempe said, and then left the store. Justine's Mom came back out then.
"What did she give you?" Her Mom asked.
"I don't know yet." Justine said, and opened one of the envelopes.
"No way." She said, her eyes scanning the paper.
"What?"
"She invited us to her wedding."
"Wow. Do you want to go?"
"Of course!" Justine said, feeling like the luckiest girl in the world. She couldn't wait to tell her friends at school.
That night…
"Any luck?" Seeley asked as she came in.
"Plenty. You?"
"Yes. We're done."
"Me too." Tempe said, giving him a lingering kiss.
"Well, where is it?"
"You don't get to see it. Ange is keeping it for me."
"No fair."
"It's bad luck to see the bride in her dress before the wedding." Tempe said with a shrug. He just laughed and pulled her into a hug.
"We're getting married."
"Yes, we are."
"Love you."
"Love you too, Seeley."