Cal sat in the sun with his wife at his side, his son in his lap, and his ex wife on his other side. He wanted to whisper sweet nothings into Gillian's ear but in the presence of his ex, his new in-laws and his daughter getting married, he didn't think it would be entirely appropriate. It was at a wedding he had decided he wanted to marry Gillian and it was another one that reminded him just how much he loved his wife and how much he loved being married. He really loved it. It amazed him. His first marriage had been tumultuous. Certainly after five years the magic had died and they had moved into a comfortable friendship with the occasional hot sex. But with Gillian, every day was magic, comfortable friendship and hot sex. Wait, he should really not think about having sex with Gillian while his daughter was saying her wedding vows. Firstly, it would not be a good look. Secondly, Lewis was sitting on his lap. And thirdly, he should be paying attention. His daughter was saying her wedding vows.

She looked beautiful, so angelic, in her white dress (or as she had informed him so pointedly, 'it's slightly off white Dad'. She couldn't get away with wearing white on her wedding day when she had technically been living in sin with Ajay for several years now, could she? Not in a church. Or as she informed him so pointedly 'outside in the yard is not the same as actually being inside the church Dad'.) and Cal had felt that weird sense of pride and abject sadness that his baby girl was growing up and getting married today. He and Zoe both walked her down the aisle of family and friends. The guests numbered over a hundred. Ajay had insisted on having the wedding in Virginia so his family would stay away. He had miscalculated the lengths they would go to witness his marriage.

"Dad?" Lewis asked loudly.

"Yeah buddy?" Cal spoke to him in a soft voice. "Have to be quiet remember?" He made a signal for 'shush'. "Cos there are people talking." Talking was making circles with his index finger near his mouth.

"I was juss wondring."

"Yeah?" Cal prompted quietly.

"What they talking cos its verr hard to hear," he gave Cal an earnest expression. He pointed to his ear and tapped it twice, the sign for 'hear'. He often used it to mean he couldn't hear properly or what he was hearing wasn't clear.

"Well," Cal pulled Lewis closer. "They're telling each other that they love each other very much." Cal made the 'ILY' sign for 'I love you' and 'talking'.

"Oh," Lewis nodded.

"It's beautiful," Cal told him, with a sweeping encumbering gesture around his face for 'beautiful'.

"Bootiful," Lewis agreed making the sign. He leaned back against his father's chest with a sigh. "How longer is it?"

"Soon," Cal said and signed, making an 'F' hand and tapping it against his chin. Lewis turned his head to see.

Cal asked him to be quiet again, aware that Gillian was looking over. Lewis nodded his head against his chest to say he would be. There had been pre-emptive bribes of cake if he was good through all the boring bits. The boring bits included the ceremony, the photos and the speeches. Luckily for Cal and Gillian, Lewis seemed to accept the trade off for three good boy moments for just one reward. Cal wondered if he would figure out he had been had. He was already preparing to up the stakes. There was dessert, cake and... he hadn't thought of a third one yet but he was prepared to sit through 'The Wizard of Oz' yet again if he had to. As a last resort anyway.

After Emily and Ajay kissed and walked amongst their friends to receive congratulations and well wishes the photos began. Lewis's patience held out for a long time and that was probably because nibbles were circulated and he could eat. Also, Ajay's extended family had children his age and so he had someone to play with. Cal smiled until he face hurt. The photos with the parents were last so by the time they had finished, the sun was starting to set and long shadows were being cast across the lawn. Staff were packing away the outdoor setting and family had already gone ahead to the hotel where the reception was being held.

Cal put his arm around Gillian's waist as they walked. She turned to give him a smile. "Are you ok?" She asked softly.

"Yeah," Cal affirmed knowing she was asking if he was dealing with all the big life changing things that were going on today. She knew he didn't like change, so she was asking and yet still allowing him the chance to keep it to himself. "You look lovely," he told her sincerely.

"Thank you and should I take that as a deflection?"

"Not at all luv," he gave her waist a squeeze. "That was just me tryin' to guarantee my chances late-a tonight." She gave him a smirk as she turned to lower herself into the car waiting for them.

The hotel had been decorated in silvers and reds, the theme colours for the wedding. As the couple made their grand entrance as husband and wife Lewis raced over to crash into his father's legs. Gillian crouched to his level to tell him firstly to be careful and secondly to calm down. Lewis informed her excitedly that there had been 'fizzy' and had she seen the cake? It was huge. So were his eyes. Gillian took him over to their table, closest to where the happy couple were going to sit with their parents on either side and best man and bridesmaid. Gillian was relegated to a table with Zoe's partner, who had shown up for the reception, Ria and Karl, Eli and the woman he had been dating for over a year now, Jade.

Around the room Ajay's large family were taking their seats, grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, his sister, her husband and their children. At other tables friends were seated and waiting. Gillian turned her gaze to look over at her husband. He was murmuring something to Zoe. He looked happy and it made her smile. Lewis stood on his chair to lean over and ask her if he could have more 'fizzy'. "No," she told him. "You can have juice." She made a double 'J' sign in front of her mouth.

Lewis pouted at her and she hardened her expression into a slight glare, a warning to say he better not start. She meant what she said and him arguing or having a tantrum was not going to change her mind, but cause him more problems. "Sit down," she told him. 'Sit' was 'H' hands, with her right fingers curling slightly and coming down to clamp over the fingers of her left hand. "We'll eat soon ok?" She grouped her fingers together and brought them to her lips, like she was literally scooping food to her mouth.

Lewis sat himself and threw his head back against the chair. He brought a hand to his nose and pointed to the side, giving his hand a single twist. He looked over at his mother to check to see if she had been watching. Then he seemed defiant, challenging her to do something about it. Gillian signed 'patient' in return: putting her thumbnail on her chin and moving it down a few inches. Lewis narrowed his eyes slightly at her. Their exchange was interrupted by the MC gathering everyone's attention to let them know what was happening next. The buffet was going to be served and tables invited up one by one. Lewis looked over at his mother rapidly, searching for confirmation. She nodded. They were going to have 'dinner' now: the 'eat' sign coupled with 'night'.

Lewis's eyes lit up. But Gillian told him he had to wait again, just a little bit longer, until someone told them they could go and eat. Lewis looked at her like that was the dumbest thing he had ever heard. Gillian supposed if she was nearly four she would probably think the same. They were either eating, or they weren't, and who was anyone to tell them when they could do so? Anyone who wasn't mom or dad, she amended.

They were the first table to go up. Probably Emily's doing, favouritism and understanding a nearly four year old would struggle with waiting a moment longer when the offer of food was right in front of his face. The head table was plated. After speeches, in which Cal spoke very eloquently and was funny and teased just the right amount without embarrassing his daughter, Gillian let Lewis loose on the dessert buffet. He wanted one of everything but managed only a few mouthfuls before being so completely full he started to complain he felt sick. Gillian confiscated his bowl and told him it would be waiting for him when he had let his stomach settle again. He got down from the table to go and see his father. After that he raced around the room with his new brother-in-law's sister's children. No blood relation at all and yet he was the same age. Like they were cousins. But weren't. Complicated.

PJ

"Right, you and me," Cal approached where Gillian was sitting alone at her table. "Let's go."

"Go where?" She got to her feet when he pulled on her hand.

"Dance. Now that I can finally pry you away."

"I was thinking I might have to come and pry you away."

Cal's arm encircled her back as they reached the dance floor. He then let his hand drift down over her backside but before she could object, and she did, he had it in the small of her back again. He gave an innocent expression to her slight glare. The lights were dimmed now and the younger children had left. Eli had volunteered to take Lewis to the bathroom, leaving Gillian alone for two minutes. Cal pulled her closer than polite against his body. "Are you proud? No signals of rescue."

"Very," Gillian responded with a smile.

"I've been watchin' you," Cal told her in a murmur, his head pulled back slightly to see her face.

"That's stalking Cal."

"With Lewis," Cal finished. "You're so sweet with him."

"You spoke very well," Gillian told him.

Cal gave her a grin. "You look so lovely."

Gillian gazed into his eyes. "I love you Cal."

"Me too. And I love you."

Gillian giggled.

"Oh god and that laugh just kills me," Cal groaned slightly as they swayed gently.

"I'll have to leave soon. Are you going to stay?"

"Probably should. For a little while longa."

Gillian nodded. She said: 'I'll wait up', just as Cal said 'don't wait up.'

"All right," Cal quickly agreed. "I like your plan betta."

"What plan?" Gillian feigned.

"That one," Cal's finger shifted to wave in her face. She batted his hand away. Cal gave her a quick kiss on the lips. "I like that plan very much."