The next day during the daily morning 'business meeting', as they and their few employees sat in the other spare downstairs office, they decided to relate their good news.

Jessie shuffled her papers back together, "And so, we're expecting more growth, but slower now that the initial 'newness' has worn off."

"People know we're here now, but dat doesn't mean we can stop tryin' ta bring 'em in. I'm workin' on some ideas for dat," said Persian, "If anyone else's got anyting, let us know."

"If I may," James cleared his throat, "I'm pleased to announce that's not all we're...expecting."

Rachael cocked her head, her pigtails flopping to one side. Charlie scratched his own head, catching Rachael's eye in a 'I-don't-get-it' glance. Victor crossed his arms and 'hmm'd in his throat per his usual manner. Only Marty felt he understood and jumped to his feet, his wide-brimmed hat bouncing on his head.

"Does this mean- a new member shall be joining our little enterprise?! My dear, dearest Jessie and my boss," he darted forward and took her hand, kissing it before looking up at her, eyes dancing, "Do you-do you mean to say that you are incubating a tiny merging of hearts?!"

Jessie flushed lightly and snapped her mouth shut that had been hanging open. His manner of speaking and choice of words could be confusing and disjointed at times, but in this case she could decipher it.

"Yes, I am."

"Woooooopeee!" cried Marty, throwing his hat in the air and doing a little jig around the room.

Rachael suddenly gasped and stood as well, "M-Ms Jessie! Are you 'expecting', expecting?!"

James put his arm around her and she said, "Yeah, we just found out-"

"Eeeeeek! Oh my goodness!" the red-haired girl squealed and ran up to Jessie, hugging her and then James, "Congratulations! Both of you! This is wonderful! Oh I'm so happy for you two! Aah, I hope to have children of my own someday..."

Charlie was the next to approach and offer his congratulations, flushing shyly himself as Jessie hugged him in thanks. He went to shake James' hand, but the man laughed and grabbed him in a hug as well as Persian crowed about never imaging he'd be an uncle.

Only Victor remained seated. Charlie caught the large man's gaze and smiled warmly, gesturing with his head to join them. Victor shook his head slightly, his expression remaining an unwavering, chiseled poker-face until he glanced at Jessie, who had subconsciously placed her hands over her belly as she happily chattered to her group of admirers. Slowly, his face softened and he even grinned, wiping several tears from his eye. Charlie gaped at him; he had never seen him show much emotion at all. Suddenly, Victor shot him a look that said 'you never saw that', yet with a tiny smile, and Charlie simply nodded, an understanding forming between them.

Later that day, Persian was walking along the sidewalk next to Francine in the afternoon sunshine, carrying a bag across his back and enjoying her stories of how the city used to be years ago.

"...but that place has been gone for ages! Goodness, I've been rambling today. How goes things at Three Roses, my dear Persian?"

"Well," the feline sneered, "Jim finally got up de nerve ta ask Jess ta marry him!"

"Oh ho now! Well, don't leave an old woman guessing! What did she say?!"

"She said yes, a' course! She's been itchin' ta get hitched fer a while."

Francine clapped her hands together and merrily swung her cane in a circle, nearly clipping a passerby, "Woo-hoo! I knew it! I saw how those two looked at each other! I'm so happy for them. Although," she elbowed Persian and winked mischievously, I have to say; I'm kinda disappointed that hunk is off the market, heh heh heh!"

Casually laying her arm across his neck as they walked, she continued, "So tell me, where and when is the main event?"

"Dey haven't figured dat out yet. Heh, ta biggest decision is probably gonna be Jess's dress!"

Francine got a twinkle in her eye, "Do you think they'd like to have it at the Woodruff? I do have a lovely ballroom after all, and that poor thing never gets enough use."

"Really?" Persian asked, "Tanks a bunch Franny! I'll have ta talk ta de bosses."

She chuckled, "It'd be my pleasure! Besides, it's been ages since I've been to a wedding! I'm itching to get out my dancing shoes again!"

As soon as he returned home, Persian told 'de bosses' of Francine's offer, and they immediately jumped at the idea.

"An elegant ballroom! Can you imagine it?!" Jessie almost swooned, and standing, twirled in a circle.

James smiled at her while asking, "Persian, did she say how much it'd be to rent...?"

"Come ta tink of it...no, she didn't."

James hummed, crossing his arms and leaning back in his chair, "Hmmm. We'll have to find that out," he ignored the pout Jessie was shooting him and said, "We need to head in that direction in the morning anyway, so we'll just stop in and ask."

The following day greeted them with rain and a fierce wind, making their trip an unpleasant one, nonetheless they made it to their destination relatively unscathed. As they darted inside the Woodruff's heavy oak doors and shut them behind them, shaking out their soaking ponchos, Robert and Francine, both working at the front desk, looked up.

"Well I'll be-! It's you three! Hello there!" said Robert with a wide grin.

"Oh ho now!" laughed the old woman, getting down from her ladder and shuffling closer to them, "The chicks have returned to the nest! Heh heh! Hey Robert, would you be a dear and get us all some hot tea?"

With a quick salute, Robert waddled off, "It'd be my pleasure, ma'am!"

Francine turned back to them, "Now, what can we do for you this lovely day?"

Persian rubbed his head against her out-stretched hand, "Mornin', Franny!"

"Yes, good morning!" added Jessie, "Well, first off, thank you for your generous offer of renting the ballroom to us...obviously Persian already told you the happy news."

"He did! I can offer my congratulations in person now. So, here's to you two! Heh heh, I knew it!" she winked, "I saw the looks on your faces when I mistook you for already being married! I told myself then and there it was only a matter of time."

James said warmly as he grasped Jessie's hand, "Thank you. Now, um, we had a question..."

"Yes?"

"How much would it cost to rent?"

Francine paused, her expression impossible to read before turning and starting to shuffle away, "Would you like to see it before you decide for sure?"

They agreed and followed her to a set of carved doors down the hall. Taking a key from her pocket, she unlocked it and effortlessly threw them open. The trio gaped, Jessie recovering her senses quickest as she darted into the vast space.

"This! Is! PERFECT!" she cried.

James and Persian stared. The room was stunningly opulent, with mirrored panels lining the walls, reflecting the light from several shimmering crystal chandeliers, the largest of which hung from the middle of the room above the center of the exotic, tropical-wood dance floor. Thick velvet drapes hung between the panels and from the corners, and the carpet encircling room up to the dance floor was marbled with an elaborate, delicate floral pattern.

"Dis place is somethin' else!" marveled Persian.

James had to take several deep breathes to calm himself; this space reminded him a bit too much of the stuffy ballrooms of his youth, and yet...

Francine smiled with amusement at Jessie twirling herself across the room, "Well, it seems as if the bride approves!"

Making it back to the group, Jessie pressed her hands over her heart and sighed, "It's perfect! magnificent! We'll take it!"

At that moment, seeing the shine and sheer happiness in her eyes, James didn't care anymore. Even if it was expensive, even if it felt too much like his past for comfort, he didn't care. It would make her happy, and it would make a memory that would last for the rest of their lives, and that was all that mattered.

"Agreed." he said.

"Good!" said Francine proudly, "I'll need to know how many people you plan on attending, and I'll need a date so I can make sure it's free, the sooner you know the better. Now, let's go have that tea!"

She began to make her way to the door when James asked, "Wait, um...we still need to know how much it'll cost."

Francine stopped, turning her head to peer at them over her shoulder, a kind, almost loving smile on her face, "If you'll allow it...consider it my wedding gift to you."

The group stared in disbelief, flabbergasted at her offer.

Jessie found her voice first, "Really?!"

"Are you certain?!" said James.

Persian looked at them, "Heh, why not? Afta all, she is offerin'!"

"But surely it's too much to ask!" insisted James.

"Let me put it this way," Francine said, taking a couple steps back toward them and looking up at the central chandelier, "When I was younger and my dear Arthur was alive, there used to be parties here often. Weddings, social events, fundraisers, you name it. It was a lot of work, but I loved it. One of my favorite parts was always seeing how happy everyone was. As the years wore on, and especially after he passed away, there were less and less parties," she glanced toward some unseen thing in her memory, her expression becoming bitter for a moment, "Newer, more 'modern' and 'chic' places were built, and people took their events to them instead of us."

She looked back to them, "It's been far too long since this space has seen a wedding. I'm getting on in years, and perhaps it's a little selfish, but it would truly mean a lot to me to see one here again, to see such happiness fill this place once more. Of course, ultimately it's up to you, but the offer is there," she winked, "And truthfully, I really like you three-even though I've got no chance with you, James, heh heh!"

"In that case-" said James.

"We'd love to!" Jessie giggled.

Francine grinned as they grabbed each other's hands and practically danced with excitement, rapid-fire chattering about their plans.

"This is incredible!" laughed Jessie.

"We have to start the invitations!" James grinned.

"And I need to start dress-shopping!"

"This will save us a bundle!"

"Mm-hm! Especially with the baby on the way, we'll need to-"

They froze, realizing what she had just revealed and that they still had an audience. Slowly, in unison, they looked at Francine, who was staring at them with a startled expression.

"Oh my..." she quipped.

Persian slapped his forehead with one paw, "Good job, ya numbskulls!"

Jessie and James quickly went into damage-control mode, waving their hands and Jessie stuttering, "W-well, what we mean is, we um-"

"W-We're planning on a baby! Not that she's already e-expecting or anything! N-no!" James added with a nervous, high-pitched laugh.

Francine gave them a wry smile, "Oh, hush! I may be older than dirt, but I'm not that old-fashioned. I don't care and I'm not going to judge you. In fact, let me offer you my second congratulations of today, heh heh! Now then," she turned away, "Let's have that tea before it gets cold."