"You can't be serious..." Grace laughed. "...I thought you said you hadn't been together very long...why the rush?"
"That's just it though..." Connie tried to explain. "...it doesn't feel like we're rushing anything..." She pointed to the shop behind Grace. "...I need to pick a dress...I was hoping you would help and I'd be over the moon if you'd be my bridesmaid."
Grace turning around, taking in the sight of the bridal shop. "Of cause I will..." She smiled. "...but I still think it's crazy."
Breathing a sigh of relief Connie led Grace into the shop.
"So what do you have in mind...?" Wondered Grace scanning through the rails of white dresses. "...you need to look like a princess."
"Just something simple Grace..." Connie smiled politely but inside worrying at the figure hugging dresses her daughter was admiring. "...it's just going to be a few of us on the day...I don't want a fuss."
Grace peered at her mum through a rail of gowns. "You look nervous." She stated.
"I fine sweetheart..." Connie shuck her head at a dress Grace held up. "...your sure your okay with this?"
"I just don't see the rush..." Grace moved onto the next dress on the line. "...but if it's want you want...what's Jacob like?"
Connie's face brightened. "He's the most annoying man I've ever met..." She chuckled. "...he's kind and loyal...he's funny to...you'll like him Grace I'm certain of it...he knows how to push my buttons..." She gave a knowing look. "...just like you...Grace I went on holiday...can you believe it?"
"Your lying...I've never known you take a holiday!" Grace brushed her off.
"I've been and I want to go again...the three of us." Claimed Connie.
Grace was left stunned as her mum moved away to talk to the shop assistant.
Pushing their way through the front door, Connie and Grace made it home three hours later. Upon hearing the commotion Jacob went to see, instantly making eye contact with Connie.
"I thought I was going to have to send a search party out for the two of you." Joked Jacob only after seeing how happy they looked.
Sticking her tongue out at him Connie made straight for the stairs taking her bags with her.
"She's gone to hide her dress." Grace explained giving Jacob a shy smile.
"Is that right..." he nodded. "...and do you have a dress?"
Grace held up her bag but made no move, she stayed rooted to the spot.
"Can I see?" Ventured Jacob.
"Erm...I guess..." Grace gave him a suspicious look. "...mum let me pick it myself." She pulled out a pretty mint coloured dress from her bag.
"Wow..." said Jacob genuinely amazed. "...I think that's beautiful...you'll look like a princess for sure."
"Thanks." Grace blushed.
"I hope you got shoes to." Jacob tried to put her at ease.
"Yep..." She nodded proudly. "...and a matching bag." Grace let her eyes wander around the hallway unsure of the situation or what to say next to the stranger stood in front of her.
"So..." stalled Jacob. "...Erm...I...I was thinking of making Bolognese for dinner...your mum said its your favourite."
Grace nodded again before she asked. "You cook?"
"Of cause..." Jacob gave her a cheeky grin. "...I've needed to learn...have you not tasted your mum's cooking?"
Grace giggled. "Its pretty bad, isn't it?"
"Its the worst." Whispered Jacob laughing with her.
"What are you two laughing at?" Asked Connie descending the stairs.
"Nothing." Grace and Jacob sang out together.
"I can see I'm going to be out numbered with you two..." Connie smiled brightly as she hugged her daughter to her. "...why don't you take your dress up to your room."
Watching Grace disappear from view, Connie walked into Jacob's embrace. "Where's Kathryn and Chakotay?"
"They've gone for a walk to give us some space..." Jacob told her. "...was she okay?" He wondered.
"She thinks it's crazy..." Connie told him. "...and strange...don't forget she's never seen this side of me before."
"She'll get use to it..." Came Jacob's off handed comment. "...come on..." he tugged Connie into the kitchen. "...can I trust you to chop vegetables?"
Connie, Jacob and Grace sat together in the kitchen eating the food they had prepared sharing comfortable conversation. Grace remained weary, her gaze often falling to Jacob as she tried to weigh him up.
"How did I do?" Asked Jacob motioning to Grace's empty plate.
"It was good..." agreed Grace. "...thank you..." She remained subdued. "...can I watch a film in bed."
"Of cause you can..." Connie gave permission brightly. "...I'll come up and see you soon."
Jacob called after her retreating form. "Night Grace, see you in the morning."
"Night." Came her meek reply.
"I'll talk to her..." Connie spoke up noticing Jacob's worried look. "...I would have thought Kathryn and Chakotay would be back by now..." looking to Jacob. "...you don't think..."
"It's a possibility." Accepted Jacob thoughtfully.
The truth was if the crew on Voyager managed to open up a rift Kathryn and Chakotay could be gone without warning and the idea of that saddened the couple.
"I should go talk to Grace..." Connie kissed the corner of Jacob's mouth before pushing herself away from the table. "...I don't know if I should mention them to..." She never got chance to finish her sentence. The sound of the front door opening pricked their ears.
"Kathryn?" Called Connie leaving the kitchen.
"Its just us." The small red headed woman answered.
Connie sighed as relief washed over her. "Where have you been till now? It's dark out!"
"We're fine..." smiled Chakotay. "...we didn't mean to worry you."
"It's Not that..." Connie pulled Kathryn into a hug. "...it crossed our mind that you'd gone home."
"We just wanted to give you time with Grace..." explained Kathryn. "...how did it go?" She asked as the four of them moved back into the kitchen.
"She didn't shout and scream..." sighed Connie. "...She said she was fine...but...she's very quiet...I don't know which is worse."
"I'm a stranger in her home Connie...we're getting married and she doesn't even know me...she's going to need time." Said Jacob trying to understand and reassure Connie.
"Maybe it would be better if we found somewhere else to stay." Suggested Chakotay.
"No...please..." begged Connie. "...you should be here...I'm going up to talk to her now...I'll see you both in the morning."
Connie left Jacob with their visitors.
"Grace?" Connie knocked on her bedroom door. "Can I come in?" She asked peeping inside.
"Sure..." She mumbled. "...who's downstairs?"
"Some friends..." Connie sat down next to Grace at the head of the bed. "...they needed somewhere to stay while Kathryn's recovering from surgery...they live in America...and she's been unable to fly."
"What happened?" Queried Grace.
"She fell..." Connie recalled information they had all rehearsed. "...we met them on at the coast...She fell on some rocks...she's okay now...just unable to go home just yet..." moving her arm around Grace's shoulders and kissed the top of her head. "...I know it's not what you expected when you came home but...I promise things will settle down and Jacob...you'll give him a chance won't you?"
"I will...it's just...it's..." Grace looked down at her hands knotted together on her lap. "...I thought it would be just me and you...like before...I...you've changed..." She gazed at her mum. "...why couldn't you change for me?"
"Grace?" Connie asked, confusion written all over her face.
"Your not the same...Your..." Grace huffed, frustrated. "...Your getting married...you take time off work...you laugh and help cook meals...and its all because of Jacob...why couldn't you do things like that while I was living with you...why couldn't you change for me?"
"But I did..." stressed Connie. "...I changed because it was you that made me realize the way I was...I didn't mean to push you away...but after you went...it broke my heart sweetheart and it made me even more unbearable..." She chuckled. "...I know...you wouldn't think it was possible...I was just so sad that I'd lost you...and I was angry at myself for not seeing what I'd done...Jacob just gave me the opportunity to be the person I wanted to be for you."
Grace cuddled into her mum. "Shall we start over?"
"I'd like that." Connie sighed with relief but it was short lived.
"So your getting married and we have temporary house guests...is there any other news?" Laughed Grace happy that they'd cleared the air, but she got no reply. Looking up she saw the same anxious expression cross her mum's features. "Mum?"