AN: I AM SO SO SORRY THIS TOOK ME SO LONG TO GET OUT :( Between writer's block, being very sick, and just busy it's been difficult. I made this chapter a bit longer to make up for it. Again, I'm sorry and please don't give up on me! I PROMISE this story will be finished.
The next couple weeks were even more exhausting and busy then the previous ones had been, for now in addition to running Three Roses, they scrambled about putting their wedding plans in action as well. They had agreed to postpone having a 'real' honeymoon until after their baby arrived-after all, Jessie had reasoned, she couldn't drink, and what fun was a honeymoon if they couldn't have champagne?
On that same line of thought, among the running around, they managed to obtain a first appointment for Jessie and their new team member. To their relief, she got a glowing bill of health, but also to her horror she learned much more about the full scale of what they, especially herself, were getting into. They left the doctor's office with a sheaf of pamphlets that Jessie was already reading furiously. Rounding the corner, they found Persian sunning himself on the low-hanging tree limb where he had decided to pass the time. Hearing them approach, he hopped down.
"Well? How'd tings go?" he asked.
Jessie glanced up from her papers, "Everything's fine, thank goodness. But I was right-we need to have this wedding soon, because if this is accurate, I've only got a few good weeks left before my figure is ruined!"
She sighed dramatically, lowering the pamphlet and James gave her a sympathetic hug.
"It's okay Jess, you'll always look beautiful!" he said.
Shooting him a glare she sniffed, "Easy for you to say-this is your fault after all!"
"Wha-hey! Excuse me!? If I recall correctly, you've always been an enthusiastic participant whenever we-"
"Aaaaand dat's enough!" Persian interrupted, "C'mon, let's go..."
With the venue and date decided, the guests were alerted in person-after all, they worked with them, and their reactions went as expected-giddy excitement with the exception of Victor and his stoic acceptance of the invite. Persian volunteered to secure the cake and flowers, to which Jessie begrudgingly agreed, on the condition he not make any final decisions without their approval. She spent several days dress-shopping, becoming more and more frustrated at not finding 'the one'. More than once, poor Rachael, having accompanied her, had to calm her and apologize to the shop employees for Jessie's bluntness.
"You call this top-of-the-line?! Who are you trying to fool?" Jessie sniffed to one shop girl, holding up the tenth dress she had been brought,"This is cheap junk! Look at the stitching! And this is certainly not genuine silk!"
"I-I'll see what else we have, miss..." the girl mumbled, shuffling away, Rachael mouthing 'I'm sorry' to her.
A few minutes later, the girl returned carrying a dress wrapped in plastic. Removing the wrap, she unfurled it and held it up. Jessie's eyes widened and she stood, rushing over and holding the train up to let the fabric shimmer in the light coming in from the window.
"There you are, my darling!" she joyfully cried, and then to the employee said resolutely, "I'll take it!"
Meanwhile, James wasn't fairing much better. While Jessie's problem had been knowing exactly what she wanted, James had far too many ideas.
"Well, since it's a summer wedding, I should wear a lighter color and fabric..." he held up a warm tan jacket in one hand and a cream one in the other, then looked at himself in the dressing room mirror, "But I must say, this charcoal get-up looks quite good on me, too. And then there's my tie-what color would be best? Or should I wear a bow-tie? Would a pocket square be too much? And what should I do with my hair?" his shoulders slumped, "Oh dear. Usually I know just what to wear but this time I'm at a loss!"
The older man that was assisting him stood patiently with a pile of jackets over his arm and said, "If I may sir, you've tried on nearly every suitable outfit we have. In my opinion, the ivory one you're holding would suit you quite well, although if it is to be a black-tie affair, obviously the one you're wearing would be better."
James smiled at him in the mirror, "Thank you. However," he tapped his chin, "I do believe I saw another lovely steel-gray ensemble near the counter. It had a unique cut that caught my eye. Could I try that one?"
"Of course, sir. I'll be back in a moment." said the employee, letting out an impatient sigh as he stepped out of the dressing area.
James hung up the two jackets he been holding on a nearby bar and looked back and forth at them.
"Which one?" he finally asked Persian despondently.
Persian looked around and walked over to another suit on display, "Didja see dis one?"
James looked up and suddenly grinned, "No, I didn't. But I think I'll take it!"
With all the major pieces of the puzzle finally assembled and secured, much of the strain of the past couple weeks lifted, allowing them to relax and enjoy the time before their 'big day'. Jessie, who had been on edge near constantly from the stress of planning, not to mention all the internal chaos she was going through, now found herself walking on air.
"Only four days to go!" she giggled one morning, marking the calendar, "I can't wait!"
James gripped his tea mug, heart racing, "M-me neither!"
She danced over, kissing his cheek before leaving the room, humming 'Here Comes the Bride'. Exhaling, he flopped into a chair, setting his mug down before he dropped it and lowered his head to the table, face in his hands. At first, he had felt only happiness; he had finally asked the woman he loved to marry him, he had made her dream come true as well as his...but then, as the days crept by, the fear and nervousness had begun to seep in. He felt stupid and ashamed, but he couldn't completely disassociate his real, upcoming nuptials from the ones he had escaped, and the nightmares that had haunted him for years.
Suddenly he felt a hand on his arm, "Jim?"
With a startled yelp he sat up to see it wasn't a hand, but Persian's paw.
"Whatsa matta?" the feline asked.
James quickly answered, "Nothing. I-I'm fine..."
"Ya don't look fine."
"I-I'm just, you know, I've got a lot on my mind, with our business and the baby and..." he swallowed loudly.
"De weddin'..?" Persian sighed, "Don't tell me ya got cold feet!"
"Fine! Yes!" wailed James, then slapped his hands over his mouth.
He paused to listen, and although he could hear the shower running and Jessie's sweet but off-key singing, he still kept his voice down to a fierce whisper, "You cannot breathe a word of this to anyone, especially Jessie!"
Persian patted him on the head, "Don't you worry dat pretty blue head-"
"Lavender."
"Dat pretty lavender head a' yours! Yer secret is safe wit me. But what's dis about? I thought dat wit askin' her and all you was over dat whole ting."
Again James hung his head, "...So did I. But the closer it gets, the more nervous I get. I'm supposed to be happy, and I am, but I can't rid myself of this anxiety," he swallowed hard to keep his voice steady, tears blurring his vision, "Jessie's been dreaming of this day for years and all I want is for everything to go perfectly. If she finds out how I'm feeling it'd break her heart...I'd rather jump into a pit of angry Ursuring than do that to her. I...don't know what to do."
Persian looked at him quietly as he wiped his face with a sleeve before saying, "Do ya love her?"
"With every fiber of my being." he answered firmly.
"In dat case, I don't tink ya got a ting to worry about!" Persian said with confidence.
James regarded him curiously, eventually asking, "And what brought you to that conclusion?"
"It's simple! You tink dat what you're worried about is everyting feelin' like yer gettin' hitched ta dat crazy lady ya got away from, but what's really botherin' ya is bein' nervous about bein' able ta make Jess happy! Ya said so yerself," Persian proudly puffed out his chest, "Don't worry Jim! I heard dat all human males get worried when dey get married! So for once, yer actually normal! And seein' as how I'm yer best man 'n all, I got yer back."
Unable to help himself and truly feeling better, James laughed and hugged the Pokemon, "And for once, I'll consider that a compliment! Thank you Persian. Maybe you're right. We'll see, I suppose..."
Four days later, the sun had just recently crept over the horizon, bathing the bedroom in pale, warm light. Jessie was snoring lightly, one hand under her head and the other subconsciously on her belly. James was already awake and had been for some time. Curled up against her back, arms around her, he gazed out the window at the breaking day and sighed.
"Here goes..." he mumbled.
She stirred then, murmuring in her half-awake state and rolled onto her back.
"Hmm. Good morning..." she yawned and rubbed her eyes.
"Good morning, beautiful."
Jessie pulled a face and rested her forearm across her eyes, "Ugh, please. I always look terrible when I first wake up and you know it."
"...Then I guess I've never known that." he answered gently.
She moved her arm to gazed back at him, his own hair all mussed and tangled, stubble showing across his jawline, that soft, sweet, slightly melancholy smile she loved so much on his face. A powerful and sudden pang caused her heart to clench; one of joy and just a deep instinct of rightness. She felt her vision swim with the tears that welled there and through them saw his expression change to one of concern.
"You okay?" he asked.
"Never been better," she answered, sitting up and blinking her eyes clear, "Now then, if I'm right, isn't it bad luck for the bride and groom to see each other before the wedding?"
He ignored the panic beginning to bubble in the back of his mind, instead cracking a joke, "Well, considering our history with luck, perhaps breaking the rules would end up working in our favor?"
Later, even though Three Roses was closed for the day, there was nevertheless a buzz of activity going on as they ran about, making sure they had everything and making last-minute phone calls to ensure everything was in order. Rachael had volunteered to come over and help Jessie get ready, and Charlie had happily done the same for James. Persian had gone on ahead to the Woodruff to get things ready and coordinate with the vendors, who had taken some time getting used to working with and taking commands from a talking Pokemon. Finally they had everything they needed and made their way to the hotel, pausing at the doors to glance at each other.
"Ready?" said Jessie, eyes glittering.
James nodded, wearing what he hoped was a confident smile.
"In that case, see you in a bit!"
Giggling, she pulled the door open and twirled inside, Rachel on her heels, who was precariously juggling several bags and boxes.
James hesitated before entering, raising his hand to the door then dropping it again. Charlie, who himself was carrying several items, frowned.
"You alright, James?"
"Oh, I'm fine!" he replied unconvincingly, "Y-you know, just nervous and all! Hahaha! Well, let's get t-this show on the road!"
He shoved open the doors and strode inside, Charlie right beside him as Robert greeted them excitedly and ushered them to a nearby, empty room.
In another room down the hall, Rachel had just helped Jessie into her dress and was lacing up the back.
"You look amazing! Like something straight from a fairy tale!" she sighed dreamily.
Jessie grinned into the large mirror propped in the corner of the room as she took out her usual green earrings and replaced them with delicate crystal drops, "Thank you! I knew as soon as I saw this dress it was the one! I was about to give up and make it myself..." she trailed off and layed her hands over her heart.
Rachel noted her suddenly stiff and quiet manner, "Ms. Jessie...?"
Jessie barely heard her, as she was lost in her own thoughts, staring at her reflection. Swathed in yards of shining silk, she stared, barely recognizing herself. Here she was, finally a bride after all the years of yearning, then bitterly crushing her own dreams and dismissing them as hopeless, then feeling them rekindle in these last few hectic months. And now here she stood, nearly ready for the wedding she feared would never happen. She swallowed back the tears that were forming-swollen red eyes were not something she needed right now.
"Um...Ms. Jessie? Hello?" said Rachel in another attempt to get her attention.
Snapping back to reality, Jessie swiftly composed herself, "Oh! Yes! Sorry, I was-just making sure I wasn't forgetting anything! After all-"
A knock at the door interrupted her and she yelled, "Who is it?!"
A muffled voice replied, and Rachel went to investigate. Cracking the door open, Francine poked her head in.
"Hello dear! I just wanted to drop by and see how you were doing and if you needed anything before I go and finish helping set up-oh!' she squealed and shuffled as fast as her legs could manage into the room, gazing admiringly at Jessie, "Why I'll be! Jessie dear you look simply stunning! Of course all brides are beautiful on their wedding day but I must say; you're exceptional."
Jessie grinned proudly and flipped a section of her hair, glancing at the neatly stacked pile near her, "Thank you Francine! I like to think so. And I do believe we're good here."
"Well then, time to get this party started!" cackling happily, Francine did a little jig on her way out the door.
Meanwhile, James had re-done his tie half a dozen times and couldn't decide which hair band to use.
"Does the white one look okay? Or should I go with the black for contrast?" he lamented to Persian and Charlie, the former of which had stopped by to make sure James wasn't having a full-blown panic attack.
Charlie tapped his chin, "Ummm..."
"Ah for heaven's sake Jim! Ain't no one gonna notice anyhow! Just wear da white one!"
"I'll notice! And Jessie definitely will. But I suppose you're right, Persian," James turned to the large mirror on the wall and swiftly tied his hair back, then spun back around and held his arms out, "Well...? What do you think?"
Pulling at the collar on his own suit, unaccustomed to such a garment, Charlie nodded, "I think you look awesome!"
"I hope so."
Hearing a knock, Charlie went to the door and asked, "Yes?"
On the other side, they could hear Robert saying, "Everything is all set up and ready to go! We're ready to get started whenever you are!" followed by a loud snuffling and a honking nose-blowing noise, "Sorry! I just love weddings!"
Charlie smiled excitedly at James, "Didja hear that? Let's go!"
For an instant, James wished he could melt into the carpet and disappear. This was it; no fleeing, no hiding, no turning back. That fear of entrapment, of being strangled by obligation and duty, was what had for so many years kept him running. Knowing he was completely free had many a time kept him warm on cold nights, held back the pangs of hunger, had been a soothing balm whenever they had failed. He briefly shook his head, shaming himself for even daring to compare his past with the present and the future he yearned for. Still, all the abuse he had endured had left it's scars that even now were difficult to erase.
Drawing a deep breath, he finally said, "I'm ready."