Hello - I will start with an I'm VERY VERY sorry for the delay - my boss seems to think she should be my priority... anyway. I hope you enjoy this story and I warn you ahead of time it has been a while since Charlotte and Bass had alone time, so this chapter DEFINATELY includes some of that. I would love to hear your thoughts! - B

Chapter 13: Wedding Day

Yelping Danni rolled over confused for a moment at the source of the kick. Smiling, she looked at the body next to her, softly snoring as the sunlight started to light the room. Stretching her arms above her, Danni repositioned herself against the backboard before gently tapping her sister's shoulder. "Claire – Wake up, Claire." Rolling her eyes, Danni decided that it was easier to share a bed with your twin when they were 5 and small. Watching her sister start to respond she said, "Does Robert know you snore and kick?"

"I don't know? Does John know you hog the covers and you like to sing in the bathtub?" came a snarky, sleepy voice.

Danni wrapped her arms around her sister and kissed the crown of her head, "Nope, but not for lack of trying on my part." She responded.

Claire shook her head and grinned, "Be careful, or dad will kill him before you can marry him." Quietly the twins watched as the sun continued to rise through the massive, east facing, floor to ceiling windows. Nearly 10 minutes had passed before either spoke. Without looking, Claire spoke softly, "I'm really glad we decided to have a night for just the two of us last night. You'll probably be married and settling into farm life before I return – I hate that I am going to miss your wedding."

Danni nearly rolled off the bed laughing, "Are you kidding? At the pace John moves you'll have visited Peru, come back, gone to London and Italy, and had 2 kids before he makes a move to speak to dad."

Rising from bed, Claire moved to the table that held the breakfast trays, "I doubt it – besides, Robert told me Dad already gave John his blessing before you two left for Lancaster… something about hating the idea of you married to Frank."

Chuckling Danni rose to join her sister at the table, "Frank? You have got to be kidding? Did Dad and Grandpa really think I was seriously considering Frank?"

Looking up into her sister's eyes, "We were all a little worried you might settle if John didn't wake up." Reaching toward the plates, Claire served herself half a baked peach filled with granola crumble and drizzled honey in a circular pattern across the top. She watched as Danni reached across the table and used a small, metal microplane to grate nutmeg and cinnamon atop the honeyed peach. "I love you big sis! And I swear that I will bring some amazing ingredient back for you to play with on that farm of yours."

Danni handed a skewer of melon wrapped prosciutto to her sister before serving herself a healthy helping of the summer vegetable frittata that she had instructed the kitchens to cook this morning. "So, I have baked and packed granola for your trip – it will hold up better than anything else I could make."

Claire grinned before standing up and hugging her sister from behind. "Remember, wherever I am you are with me."

- On the opposite end of the Hall –

Bass snuggled up behind Charlotte and nuzzled his lips at the base of her neck. "I was thinking…"

A gruff and sarcastic voice emanating from across the room spouted, "Well that must be a refreshing change of pace for you…"

Bass leapt out of bed, startled by Miles presence in his and Charlotte's room, "What the hell? I was having alone time with my wife!"

Shaking his head, Miles supposed he should be happy Bass had clothes on, "My daughter needs to get out of bed and go help your daughter get ready or no one is going to be ready to start this event on time."

From beneath the covers a mumbled, "Get out and I'll get up." Was Charlotte's response.

"Fine, fine, I was just trying to help." Miles added as he rose and walked out of the room.

Charlotte looked at Bass and said, "Ya know, he said those same words after I yelled at him when he offered to assassinate you on the morning of our wedding?"

Then through the closed door came a loud, "I still maintain assassinating Bass before you married him would have helped – it would have saved me years of torment."

Bass flopped down on the bed and scooped Charlotte up before rolling her on top of him, "Thanks for defending me that morning, and for putting up with me all these years."

Smiling down, she kissed his nose and replied, "Well, you had your uses; and it has been a good life."

Squeezing her tighter around the waist with one arm, Bass' other hand slid down and grabbed her ass, "I still have lots of uses and we still have many good years in our life."

With a devilish grin, she smiled and added, "I know. In fact, I arranged for the new president to take a little business trip to the Poconos – thought we could reenact our honeymoon…" Charlotte watched as Bass seemed to drift into the thoughts of their own wedding night.

- Charlotte and Bass' wedding day –

Bass stood along the side of the carriage door and grinned. It was mid-afternoon but they needed to leave now if they intended to make the trip to the cabin in the mountains for their weeklong honeymoon. Miles had hated the idea, hating spending Christmas away from his daughter, hated being left in charge, and most of all seemed intent on expressing his extreme hatred for the idea of what would happen on the honeymoon. Watching as Miles gave Charlotte a tight hug, Bass grinned broadly before feeling the slap up side the back of his head, "Hey, what the hell?"

Jeremy moved from behind his friend and said, "I just figured Miles might kill you if he saw that look, so I was saving you."

Bumping his shoulder, "Thanks so much." Bass added then reached out for Charlotte's hand as he helped her up into the covered coach. Turning Bass stuck his hand out to Miles, "Thank you for trusting me, for knowing me enough to know I will always put her first."

For going the hand shake, Miles pulled his best friend into a hug and whispered, "We've been best friends since we were 5. I know what family means to you and I know you love my little girl." Stepping away, Miles turned slightly to motion to the driver as Bass hopped up into the seat alongside his new wife. Miles watched as Bass adjusted the thick woolen blankets to keep he and Charlotte warm in the winter weather. Seconds later the door was closed and the carriage was pulling away, when a young enlisted man appeared with two missives before quickly saluting and departing.

Confused Jeremy looked at his envelope before asking, "When did they stop waiting to see if we had a response?"

Miles scanned the writing on the envelope and groaned, "When Bass instructed him to deliver and run." Tearing open the end, Miles yanked out the letter and unfolded it before silently scanning the page, 'I, Bass Monroe, being of sound mind and incredible body officially promote my drunk of a best friend to the office of president for the duration of my honeymoon.' "You better read yours." Miles added before crumpling up the paper and throwing it away.

Confused Jeremy opened his letter and unfolded the paper before seeing the looping scrawl; 'Congratulations! You are now commanding general of the Militia.' "God, I really hate that moron."

- 3 ½ hours later –

Bass peered out the carriage window as it slowed to a stop in front of the slope side condos at the long abandoned ski resort. Grinning he watched as the men that had been sent up the previous week to secure the location and ensure that the home was cleaned, stocked and warmed by fires scattered from view. Bass pushed open the carriage and dropped down before reaching up and scooping Charlotte into his arms. Swinging around, he marched toward the door of the unit directly in front of them.

Charlotte laughed when he kicked the door shut behind them and started directly up the stairs and into a large room with a king sized bed and a wall of windows facing the snow covered mountains. As he plopped her on the bed she noticed the glow of the massive fireplace that made the room feel quite toasty; and the incredibly soft and fluffy fur blanket. "Straight to bed… really?"

Growling Bass moved forward and reached for her; sliding her hips to the end of the bed he smiled a possessive and decidedly predatory grin, "I've waited a long time to make you my wife; naked week begins right now."

Unsure if he was serious, she questioned, "Naked week?"

Slipping the buttons out of the loops on the long cape, Bass kissed the side of neck just below her ear. Then in a soft whisper, "We have so little time alone that I am advocating we spend the entire week naked and in bed."

Smiling Charlotte responded, "How about a counter offer, 2 hikes in the snow, 1 meal each day clothed in the dining room, 1 snow ball fight and 1 happy snow family – snowman, snowwoman, snow baby and 2 snow cats."

Shaking his head, Bass moved on to unbuttoning the buttons down the back of her travel dress, "1 hike in the snow that includes the snowball fight and I let you eat wrapped in a blanket while I feed you…". Standing between her legs, Bass' words drifted off as he slowly unwrapped what he had come to think of as 'his best Christmas present ever.' He slid the fabric down her arms, leaving her enticing chest covered in a lacy camisole. Lifting her hips he slid the dress completely off her body and stepped back to gaze at his wife. Wow, she was his wife. She sat there in a tiny pair of cream colored panties that matched the silky top, white stocking held up by a very sexy garter belt, and a completely Charlotte pair of fur-lined, practical boots that made his smile broaden. Leaving her sitting there for a moment, Bass moved around and grabbed two large pillows that he propped against her back. Returning to his previous spot, he noticed she had kicked off her boots and was sliding off her stockings, "So nice of you to help; but I like the stockings." Bass said with a pout.

Rolling her eyes, "You would! But I hate wearing them and they itch."

Laughing at an answer that was so completely her, Bass kissed her nose, "I love you more than you could possibly imagine." Pushing her back so she was leaning against the pillows and could watch his actions, Bass finished removing the stocking and reached for the panties. She seemed hesitant and placed a hand on his, but Bass just looked up at her with his reassuring smile before responding, "I will never hurt you; I will love you and cherish you for the rest of my life. I need you to trust that, even if you don't understand, that I will make you feel amazing." He waited for her to nod and remove her hand before removing the little swatch of fabric and then sliding his hands up to grasp the bottom of the only remaining fabric. Bass slid it up, intentionally ghosting the sides of her heavy breasts as he lifted it up and off her body. Looking down he was amazed at her stunning, naked beauty – she was finally his. Bass took her in his arms and kissed her soundly. He continued to mold his lips to hers until he felt the moan escape her lips. Knowing she was responding to him, that she trusted him he moved a hand to cup her breast and stroked the pad of his roughened thumb across the tip. Bass grinned as her body bowed into his touch and her eyes closed at the unfamiliar sensations. He continued to manipulate the weight of her breast with his left hand as his right moved a path down the center of her body. His fingers gently slid between her curls and slowly he manipulated the nerve endings, sending her spiraling and clenching and calling out his name. Bass reveled in the feel of her body and the sight of her response to his touch. Hearing his name escape her lips, Bass shed his sweater and t-shirt and began unbuckling his belt, before dropping his pants. He leaned over her and whispered in her ear, "You need to know, I love you. I will try to move slowly, but I want… I need to make you mine." Bass felt her nod against his head as she continued to quake from the aftershocks of the orgasm. Slowly he stepped between her legs and pushed into her waiting core. He tried to remember baseball stats, or plays from his high school football team, anything to slow his desire to bury himself inside her, to thrust with abandon. "God, you are tighter than I could have imagined." His hands grasped at her hips and he continued to push, pausing only to bend forward and take her lips in his before fully embedding himself. Despite every desire inside him, Bass held still, allowing her to adjust to his size and intrusion, as he continued to kiss her – to engage her senses. When he felt her relax into him, Bass began thrusting. Keeping his eyes centered on her, waiting for her to respond to feel the pleasure build and her respond. Knowing he needed her to feel the explosion before he could finish, Bass moved a thumb around from her hip to flick and tease her until he felt her contract and then he thrust with abandon. Moments later, as he rode out her orgasm, Bass buried himself and found his own release in her warm body. Bass collapsed atop of Charlotte and suckled at her neck beneath her ear. "God, I love you and we are going to be doing a whole lot of that…"

- present day –

"BASS! Are you paying attention?" Charlotte yelled.

Startled, Bass looked away from where his thumb was teasing her nipple. He looked up with a grin, but didn't release her from his fingers. "Oh, yes! I am paying very close attention."

Slapping his had away, Charlotte stood and grabbed her robe, "Get dressed; I will meet you in front of Claire's room in two hours."

Grumbling Bass watched her leave the room, "This sucks! I want alone time with my wife." He yelled.

- Two hours later –

Eve, Sophia and Maddie laughed and danced around the room in their dresses while Nora and Charlotte continued to work to tie the laces down the back on Claire's wedding dress into the small bow. Nora banged her shoulder into Charlotte's and whispered, "This bow is far more tasteful than the one you stuck on my ass."

Charlotte laughed, but acknowledged, "I think I owe you an apology…"

"No." responded Nora, "without that bow drawing attention to my ass and your father's preference for a nicely rounded butt, I might never have gotten him to notice me – I owe you a thank you."

Shuddering Charlotte added, "You can thank me by never discussing my father's 'interests' again."

"I wouldn't mind never hearing about grandpa's 'interests' either" added Claire. Holding the high back of the chair that sat in front of the fire, Claire tried to be patient as they worked on her dress. The layers of flowing fabric made her think of a scarf flowing in the wind along the beach. "Are we ready? Because, I really want to get married!"

Giggling Danni tossed a buttercream into her mouth and smiled, "Mom, I thought we agreed during your lunch talk that we would not over share. Clearly grandma is over sharing…"

Groaning, Charlotte actually thanked God, when the knock came at the door before the conversation could continue. From the other side of the heavy wooden door she heard her husband call out, "Are you ready for us?"

Smiling Danni popped up and threw open the door to greet her father and grandfather. "Daddy! Can I have a big wedding with lots of guests? I mean a small wedding is so 10 minutes from now and I just love the idea of a wedding in the same church as you and mom."

Miles laughed and at the green look on his brother's face and he slapped his back. "She is so your daughter."

Bass grumbled and looked between Miles and Danni, "We will discuss your wedding when someone proposes, until then I am here to see your sister."

Charlotte stepped around the side of the door and shooed everyone out passed her father and husband. Before Bass could move, she patted his chest and softly said, "Honey, enjoy the moment with your little girl."

Bass remained standing in the door, as he watched Miles escort the women and girls that filled his world down the hall to wait. Turning, Bass stepped around the door and gulped, he couldn't remember seeing anything so perfect as his little girl. "You, I… WOW! You look so perfect, so grown up. It's like you became this amazing grown up version of your mother, from my little girl…". Moving toward her and smiling, Bass smiled broadly, "You are an amazing woman; you're beautiful and smart and brave. And today is the first day of an amazing adventure, but… I hope…" Bass' voice trailed off and Claire waited before she took his hands and waited. Long moments later he continued, "…family can be an adventure; I hope someday you come back – you decide to stay here. I think running the Monroe Republic could be an adventure for you, if you wanted it to be…"

Leaning in, Claire kissed her father's cheek, "I love you, daddy."

For a long time Bass held his little girl, "Let's get you down to that man of yours before I change my mind."

Starting into the hallway Claire watched as Danni flirted with John and Ross entertained Maddie, Eve and Sophia, while it appeared her mother, grandmother and grandfather were attempting to get the twins and her uncles to stop fooling around and line up. Squeezing her father's hand she smile up at him, "I'm gonna miss all this, daddy. I'm gonna miss Ross and Maddie and Eve at dinner, and the boys when they come home from school. I don't even want to think about being away from Danni, but more than anything… I am going to miss you and mom and how much you always loved me and made me feel special and safe."

Bass hugged her tightly, "Now it is someone else's turn to make you feel special and safe, and always love you… and I am confident he is up to the job." Turning to the mass of chaos, Bass called out, "ALRIGHT! LINE UP." Miles smiled at him as he moved a teary eyed Charlotte and Nora toward the stairs, while the children took their places. When the music started a few minutes later, he watched John whisper something in Danni's ear and kiss her forehead before proceeding down the stairs.

Leaning into her father's shoulder as she watched her siblings, uncles and aunt head down the stairs, "He loves her."

Petulantly, Bass mumbled, "fine"; but then started down the steps himself. He could do this, all he had to do was smile and keep walking. As they reached the bottom of the stairs a few minutes later Bass was jolted to a stop when Claire stopped moving. He turned and looked at her, she looked scared and in that moment he remembered Miles' words; "Claire, you look stunning and your mother and I have had a wonderful marriage, so I know what I am talking about when I say this… He's the one, he loves you and you love him, you will make each other happy the same way your mother and you kids have made me happy. Now, let's go marry you off." Bass moved into the doorway to the family room and looked once more at the woman his little girl had become, he remembered holding her wrapped in a blanket on the day she was born, he remembered playing with her in the snow and reading her stories and most of all he remembered being her prince charming when they played princess. Looking up he saw Robert standing next to the priest in front of the fireplace, he remembered that stupid, happy grin, he remembered that first look from across the room at Charlotte and that was how he knew he could do this – he could trust Robert. Stepping forward Bass quietly walked toward the opposite side of the room wishing the aisle of chairs was longer. When he reached the wedding party he looked at the young man that was stealing his little princess. "I'll always love her, and someday you will know what this moment feels like from my side – take care of her always." Bass turned and kissed Claire before taking his seat next to Charlotte.

She leaned into him and took his hand, "I love you. You are an amazing father and perfect husband – and, I… love… you! Now, let's enjoy watching our daughter get married."