Hook, Line & Sinker.
Chapter 20- When In France.
The first few days in France went by uneventful for Lauren and Joey. They just enjoyed time together...
"You know it's your birthday next week" Joey commented one morning as they sat on the balcony.
"Yes, I'm aware of when my birthday is thanks, babe" Lauren replied, rolling her eyes.
"But what are you doing for it? It is your 21st" He told her, raising an eyebrow.
"Well we are gonna be here still ain't we? So I just want to spend it with you. Which reminds me, I wanna take you somewhere today" She said, smiling.
"Oh aye? Anywhere I know?" He asked, as she stood up.
"Nope but I have a feeling you may thank me for taking you there" She replied, smiling, taking the back of his chair...
Q
"Babe, you brought me to church, why wou-" Joey stopped when he saw the look of Lauren's face "Wait, is this where..."
She nodded, looking down.
"But I didn't just bring you here for that. I have an idea. A good idea" She replied, beginning to smile a little.
"Go on" He said, narrowing his eyes a little, looking up at her.
"I thought we could get married here. Today. Now" She proclaimed, looking hopeful. He sighed, taking the wheels of his chair and started to pedal away when he stopped, turning back around. She looked at him worried. Number 1. Because of what she had just suggested Number 2. Because she was worried he would tired himself out.
"Why, Lauren? Why are you doing this now? Was this your sole intention of this trip? Because you feel sorry for me and you want to make me better?" He asked. She sighed, rubbing her forehead as she walked towards him.
"Because I love you? That's why?" She said, full of disbelieve at his reaction.
"Things have changed now, Lauren. We can't just get married" He proclaimed, sighing.
"Oh, so you don't actually want to get married? That's fine" She replied, turning around but he grabbed her arm, looking up at her intensely and straight in her eye.
"Of course I want to marry you, Lauren. I've wanted to marry you since the day I met you but I also want to be able to walk you up the aisle" Joey told her. She sighed loudly, pulling her arm away, exhaling deeply.
"It doesn't bother me!" She exclaimed. He stared at her, shocked. She walked towards him, taking his face in her hands "No, no, listen to me"
"It doesn't bother me like you think it bothers me. I'm still me and most importantly your still you and at the end of the day, I still love you and I don't think I could go through another day not being your wife. I just want to be married to you because I love you and I want to spend the rest of my life with you" Lauren told him, smiling a little. He sighed, looking down slightly then back up.
"You say that now but we don't even have a sex life anymore. We haven't done it since you came back from here. That was nearly 2 months ago!" He said, sighing.
"Look, I'm not gonna lie, I miss I do but if it comes down to not having you in my life or not having sex. I know what I'll choose. I'll choose you. In any shape or form" She replied, smiling little, gently caressing his face with the back of her thumbs.
"Okay. Deal but you need to promise me that we will try tonight and if it doesn't work, you need to let me do the next best thing" He said. She nodded.
"Okay, baby, we'll try. Lets get married then" Lauren told him, kissing him briefly.
"Ah, as amazing your legs look in them shorts, I can't let you marry me in them. You'll never forgive yourself" Joey replied, smiling a little.
"Your right and we need to get some rings anyways. I'll back in a second. I'll tell Father Caius we will be back later" She said, smiling, kissing him, briefly and ran into the church...
"Your getting married without your families? I knew there was a Cross deep down in you. I have just the dress for you!" Mary exclaimed, pulling Lauren upstairs with her...
"Aunt Mary, seriously, you don't need to do this" Lauren proclaimed, standing in the doorway.
"Nonsense! Your grandmother would never forgive me if I didn't give you this" Mary replied, walking into her walk in wardrobe. Lauren followed her after a moment as her aunt pull out a dress bag and handed it to Lauren who took it with a small smile and unzipped it, her mouth fell open.
"Aunt Mary, it's beautiful" She said, quietly, pulling it out of the bag and looked at the dress. It was white. Knee length with thick straps with lace detail. She felt the material, smiling at how perfect it was.
"Where did this come from?" Lauren then asked, still speechless, holding it up.
"I made it but I guess I never got around to wearing it so you should have it" Mary replied, walking towards her and around her, gently playfully with Lauren's hair.
"Help me get ready then?" She asked, smiling.
"Of course, sweetheart. I'm thinking your hair should be down and wavy because you have beautiful hair. You need it down" Mary replied. Lauren nodded, smiling as they went to get ready...
"Thanks, Aunt Mary. This is perfect" She said, an hour later, looking the mirror, carefully playing with her hair.
"You look beautiful. I'm sure your husband is gonna think the same" Mary replied, as she handed Lauren a pair of heals.
"Oh my god, I'm getting married! This is just crazy. But a good crazy" Lauren exclaimed, smiling.
"Yes good crazy, now come on, I'm driving you. Joey is already in the car. Your ready" Mary replied, squeezing Lauren's hand as they walked out of the house...
Joey was sat nervously in the car for Lauren. He couldn't believe that after everything that happened today was the day they would be married. His thoughts were broken by the sight of Lauren walking out of the house. She looked breathtakingly beautiful as she opened the car door. She laughed at his shocked face.
"Babe, you looking amazing" He told her as she stepped in.
"Don't I always?" She questioned, smirking, climbing in and fastening her seatbelt before leaning her head on his shoulder and he managed to put an arm around her.
"Are you sure your not doing this because you feel sorry for me?" He asked after a moment as the car started. She looked up at him, shaking her head before leaning up and kissed him gently.
"You make me the happiest girl in the world. End of" She told her, resting her head on his shoulder again. He smiled, briefly kissing her hair...
"You know Alice is gonna kill us" Joey commented as they pulled up to the church.
"And Abi. Possibly my mum now she knows the truth" Lauren replied, as she sat up.
"Are you sure you want to do this now?" He asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Yes I'm sure. Now I'm going to ask you nicely. Shut up and marry me please" She told him, smiling. He rolled his eyes and kissed her briefly.
"Since you put it so nicely I'm gonna have to ain't I?" He questioned, raising an eyebrow. She rolled her eyes and stepped out of the car to help him out and she took out his wheelchair, spinning it around to his door, opening it. She smiled at him as he reached out his hand and tucked a piece of hair behind her ear.
"I love you. You make me happy too" Joey told her, smiling.
"I love you too" Lauren said, kissing him before helping him out...
"Are you sure you want to do this here, Lauren?" Father Caius asked her as she stood at the top of the aisle.
"I think it's time I came full circle with this place. I do actually like it here" She replied, smiling a little.
"I knew you find yourself again. Right, lets get started" He told her, as Mary sat down and he walked down the aisle to his appointed place. Lauren followed him as she stood next to Joey.
"I want to try something. You might need to help me" He quickly said to her, smiling a little.
"Babe, what's wrong?" She asked, narrowing her eyes.
"Your Aunt was right. That physio is good. I just want to try something" He replied, holding out his hand. She took him as she gasped as he tried to stand up and she took his other hand, helping him to stand.
"I don't know how long I'm gonna be able to take but I want to stand next to you when we do this please" He said. She nodded and moved forward, brushing her lips against his.
"Okay. Don't push yourself, please" She replied, smiling a little.
"I won't. As long as your here" He said.
"Always"
AN: Don't hate me for leaving it there. Next chapter is the wedding & aftermath.
Lauren's Dress: .