Dedicated to every DuMardle shipper because there are not enough of us at the moment.
Glancing across at the clock, Josie smiled to herself before she slid out of her bed and moved towards the door, wrapping her robe around her body. It was the early hours of the morning, on the day of her wedding, and she couldn't sleep. Moving down the stairs in silence, Josie quickly glanced in the direction of the room Agnes was currently asleep in before moving further down, almost reaching the hallway as she heard the front door unlock. Glancing across as the door opened, Josie watched as Florian silently step into the house, shock covering his face when he turned around from the doorway to see Josie standing on the bottom step in silence with a small smile decorating her face.
"What are you doing here Florian? It's early and you are supposed to be at Victor's," Josie whispered as she quickly moved towards him, her arms wrapping tightly around his body when she reached him. "It's apparently bad luck for you to see me before the actual wedding," she quickly stated, falling silent when he kissed her, his arms moving around her figure as she smiled against his lips. "Sneaking into the house at three in the morning, you really could be seen as a terrible person Mr Dupont. Someone might begin to think that you were doing something you shouldn't be," she smiled as he shrugged, both of them smiling at each other as she moved her hand to his cheek.
"I couldn't sleep Josie and I was just lying there and then I thought the love of my life is just down the road, why don't I visit her?" he said simply as she nodded in agreement, the musician leading her into the living room before they sat down on the sofa together, his arms pulling her onto his lap as her smile continued to grow. "Our last night apart," Florian smiled before she kissed him again, resting her forehead against his as her smile continued to grow. "Miss Mardle," he laughed against her lips as she shook her head.
"Only for a couple more hours Florian and then I will be Mrs Josie Dupont for the rest of my life," she grinned as his smile grew at her statement. "Your wife," she added, kissing him again as she laughed.
"Now that sounds perfect, Josie Dupont my wife. I can't wait for the opportunity to introduce you to someone as Mrs Dupont," he responded before he reached across and found a nearby blanket, pulling it over them as she rested her head against his shoulder. "I will have to leave early before Agnes wakes up and tells us about tradition and how I shouldn't be here," Florian explained into her hair as she groaned, shutting her eyes as he began to run his fingers up and down her back gently. "Why were you awake my love?" he asked as he glanced down at her.
"The bed was just too cold, too empty and I was too excited about the wedding to sleep. Sleep just seemed impossible to me tonight," Josie admitted onto his neck as he nodded, his eyes shutting as he relaxed into the corner of the sofa while she began to relax in his hold.
It felt like only moments later when she felt Florian shaking her awake. Moving his arms, Josie looked up to see Florian smiling at her before leaning down to kiss her gently. He was clearly about to leave and part of her wasn't ready to say goodbye to him just yet.
"I have to go now Josie, Agnes is already moving upstairs. I have heard her walking around and I know you won't want her to see me here yet," he explained as Josie nodded, climbing off his lap before he stood up and straightened his jacket, Josie smiling at the action. "That was not the most comfortable way of sleeping, I don't think we should do that again," Florian commented as she smiled weakly and moved towards him, wrapping her arms around his neck before kissing him.
"Good morning my love," Josie whispered against his lips as he brushed his fingers across her cheek.
"Good morning," he responded as she stared at him.
"Did you walk here without a coat and hat?" she asked as he nodded, her smile disappearing as she shook her head. "Florian, it was freezing last night," she moaned as he shrugged. "You should have at least worn a coat," she muttered as they moved towards the front door, both of them aware of Agnes' footsteps upstairs. "We will carry this on later," she commented as he laughed, kissing her quickly before he opened the front door and stepped outside. "I will see you at the aisle Mr Dupont," she smiled as he nodded, moving away from the front door as she continued to smile at him.
"Do not be late Josie, I will be waiting for you," he called out as she laughed, watching as he quickly disappeared from her vision, just as Josie heard Agnes walk down the stairs.
"Good morning Agnes," Josie smiled as she turned to look at Agnes who was standing on the stairs. "How did you sleep last night?" she asked as Agnes nodded, watching as Josie shut the front door and moved further into the house.
"Quite well thank you Josie," Agnes admitted quickly as they began to walk towards the dining room. "I did wake up at one point though, I actually came downstairs to get a glass of water," Agnes smiled as Josie felt her smile disappear. "It was quite amusing actually as I found the living room door slightly open and I was sure that I shut it," Agnes smirked as Josie bit into her lip to stop herself from laughing. "Sneaking your fiance in the night before your wedding," Agnes muttered, shaking her head as Josie laughed at the other woman.
"I'll make tea," Josie suggested as Agnes continued to shake her head.
"Josie Mardle sit down. It's your wedding day, you are not doing anything today except for getting married and enjoying your day," Agnes stated as Josie shook her head, sitting down moments later while Agnes moved towards the door. "I should have known that you two wouldn't listen to tradition," Agnes smiled as Josie shrugged.
"We never have Agnes and I don't think that we ever will," Josie responded as Agnes nodded and quickly disappeared to make breakfast.
XOXOXOXOXOXOXO
"I will get it," Agnes called out as she walked past Josie's bedroom, knowing that the other woman was currently getting into her wedding dress and was therefore unable to answer the knocking at the front door. Walking down the stairs, Agnes sighed as she reached the door and opened it, shocked at the sight of the man who was standing there with a small smile on his face. "Mr Grove?" Agnes asked quietly as Mr Grove nodded, removing the hat he was wearing as he stood silently on the doorstep for a moment.
"Mrs Colleano, I hoped to see Josie for a few moments, if possible. I want to talk to her about something," he admitted as Agnes looked back at the stairs.
"Mr Grove do you really think that's appropriate?" Agnes questioned as she watched him for a moment, Roger glancing down at his feet as he thought about what Agnes had just responded. "It is her wedding day, do you really think that it is fair?" she asked as Roger remained silent.
"Agnes, who is it?" Josie called out from within the house as Roger glanced into the house before looking at Agnes who had also turned to look into the house. "Agnes?" Josie asked again before appearing at the bottom of the stairs, shock covering her face as she looked at the two people who were standing at her front door while they stared at her in amazement.
"Oh Josie, you look beautiful," Agnes smiled as Josie blushed silently on the steps, the two others staring at her in her wedding dress.
"Mr Grove?" Josie questioned as he nodded silently. "Would you like to come in?" she asked quietly, the redhead nodding once again before Agnes stepped out of the way and allowed him into the house. "Agnes, why don't you go and get ready?" Josie suggested, smiling across at her friend who nodded and moved towards her.
"Are you sure?" Agnes asked quietly.
"Agnes, I'll be fine, please go and get dressed," Josie smiled as Agnes moved up the stairs, glaring across at Roger for a brief moment before disappearing from sight. "Would you like to sit down?" she asked Roger, who smiled at her before following her into the living room, Josie shutting the door after they had both entered the room. "What are you doing here Mr Grove?" she questioned, looking at him as he continued to watch her.
"You look beautiful," Roger stated as she shook her head at him. "I wanted to talk to you, before you got married," he explained as she groaned, shaking her head at him as she tried to keep calm. Why did he keep appearing at the most important moments of her life, when she was trying to move on? "It is nothing like you think Josie," Roger stated quickly as she remained silent.
"I'm getting married in just over an hour Roger," Josie stated as he nodded.
"I know and I am happy for you, unbelievably happy for you Josie, you deserve this," Roger declared as she remained silent. "I wanted to apologise to you Josie, before you got married," he stated as she stared at him. Roger wanted to apologise to her? "I have said some things to you recently that have been horrid, things that I should never have said because they were cruel and untrue," he declared as she remained silent, watching him in silence. She couldn't quite believe that he was doing this.
Roger," Josie said quietly.
"I have been horrid to you over the years Josie and you never deserve it and you will not believe me, probably, when I tell you that I am happy that you have found someone who loves you as much as you love them. He really is a lucky man and he clearly loves you more than anything," he admitted as she glanced down at her engagement ring again, a small smile decorating her face. "I wanted to ask you to forgive me Josie," he finally said.
"Roger," she whispered as he fell silent. "You really have been horrid at times," she admitted as he nodded, looking down at his feet as she watched him. "But you were once a good friend to me, even when I ignore everything else that happened between us," she continued as Roger glanced up at her. "I would like it if we could be friends again Roger, after everything that has happened."
"Josie," he smiled as she began to beam at him.
"We are both happy now," Josie declared as he watched her. "You have Doris and your children, I have Florian. That chapter of our lives, our relationship, is over now Roger and I would like it if we could still be friends. We have been very close and you were important to me, we went through a lot together over the years," Josie explained as she found his hand and squeezed it tightly while he smiled at her. "Come to my wedding," she smiled as he stared at her.
"Josie, are you sure? Will Florian mind?" he immediately questioned as she squeezed his hand.
"I want you to come to my wedding Roger, you are my friend and we have enough space. One person cancelled on us yesterday so we do have a seat for you," Josie explained as Roger stared at her for a moment. "Please Roger, I would like you to be at my wedding, if you are free," she stated as he nodded slowly, Josie squeezing his hand once again as they smiled at each other.
"You really are lucky Josie, he loves you so much. You deserve to have someone who can treat you," Roger smiled as she nodded, a knock at the door making her step away and let go of his hand before the door opened and Agnes stepped into the room, dressed for the day ahead. "I shall see you later than Josie," Roger declared as Josie nodded at him while Agnes watched in confusion, shock covering her face when Josie began to give him the details of where the church was. "I shall see myself out," he stated before walking out of the room, the sound of the front door opening and shutting making Agnes look at the older woman.
"Right, what just happened?" Agnes asked as Josie shrugged.
"He apologised for everything that has happened between us recently and asks for my forgiveness so I invited him to the wedding," Josie stated as Agnes' eyebrows rose at her statement.
"You invited your previous lover to your wedding Josie, to some it may seem like an odd situation," Agnes commented as Josie bit into her lip.
"It sounds awful when you say it like that but he is my friend, we were very close once and I do not want to lose his friendship. He is happy for Florian and I and I am happy for him and Doris, we have moved on with our lives now and we are just friends," Josie explained as Agnes nodded slowly. "Now I am getting married in under an hour Agnes, will you help me finish getting dressed?" she explained as Agnes nodded, the two women smiling at each other before they walked out of the living room together.
XOXOXOXOXO
"Florian your tie is perfectly straight, you look fine, please stop worrying," Victor smiled as he watched Florian straightened his waistcoat and tie while Victor shook his head at the other man. "Are you nervous Florian?" Victor asked as Florian shook his head at the newly married man, smiling across at his friend as he watched more people enter the church.
"Not at all," Florian stated. "I can't wait to be Josie's husband," he admitted, confusion covering his face as Roger Grove entered the church and moved to sit down at the back of the building.
"What is he doing here?" Victor asked as Florian shrugged before standing, clearly about to confront the man who had just entered the building. "Please don't do anything stupid Florian," he responded as Florian nodded before walking down the aisle, smiling at the people who were seated before he reached Mr Grove.
"Why are you here Mr Grove?" Florian asked as Roger stared up at him. "If you are here to upset Josie sir," he began as Roger shook his head immediately, knowing that the Belgian was unaware of Josie's invitation.
"I visited Josie this morning, she invited me actually," he stated as confusion covered Florian's face at his statement. "I am not here to upset anyone, I am here to congratulate my friend as she gets married and hopefully become better acquainted with her husband as I have been horrid to both of them recently and I am sorry for my behaviour. It was rude and unfair towards you both," he explained, standing up as Florian continued to remain silent. "I am glad she found you Mr Dupont, you make her extremely happy," he said quietly as Florian stared at him in silence. "You have no reason to forgive me for what I have said and done to Josie recently."
"I love Josie, she is extremely important to me," Florian stated as Roger nodded. "If you ever say anything to her again that hurts her, I will make sure you regret it," he declared, Roger taking in how protective Florian was about his fiance, shock however covering his face when Florian held his hand out. "But if Josie has forgiven you, then so can I," he smiled as Roger nodded, shaking Florian's hand quickly as his smile grew.
"You should return to your place, she will be here soon," Roger commented as Florian smiled, thanking him quickly before he began to walk down the aisle towards Victor.
"What just happened then?" Victor asked as Florian shook his head, smiling across at his friend before the organ began to play. "And soon you will be a married man," Victor whispered as Florian smiled, slowly turning around to see a beaming Josie walking down the aisle, Agnes following her with a large grin decorating her face as well. Continuing to smile as Josie finally reached him, Florian bit into his lip as he took hold of Josie's hand and squeezed it tightly.
"You look…" he began before shaking his head, knowing that nothing would be a good enough description of how beautiful she looked as she stared up at him, unable to remove the smile from her face. Responding as the pastor talked through the ceremony, the couple smiled as Florian squeezed Josie's hand tightly while they watched each other, unable to take their eyes off one another.
"Mr Dupont," the pastor stated quickly, his voice gaining Florian's attention as he looked across at the other man. "Repeat after me," he declared as Florian nodded, listening to everything the man said to him, repeating when necessary while Josie watched him in amazement before he finished his vows. "Miss Mardle," the pastor said quietly as she nodded, knowing her role now as she did the same as Florian, unable to remove the smile from her face as she reached the end. "The rings," he stated, Victor quickly standing as he approached the couple with the two rings. Reaching across for the ring, Florian smiled as he took Josie's hand and slowly slid the ring onto her finger.
"With this ring, I thee wed," Florian smiled as Josie watched the action, unable to stop the large smile that covered her face as she stared at her wedding ring. Taking the other ring, Josie bit into her lip for a moment before glancing up at Florian, her hand slowly sliding the ring onto his finger.
"With this ring, I thee wed," Josie said quietly, her fingers lacing with Florian's as they fell silent again, tears appearing in his eyes as he watched her. Reaching up, Florian gently brushed a stray tear from her cheek while she continued to smile at him.
"With the power invested in me, I now pronounce you man and wife. You may kiss the bride," the pastor stated as Josie smiled at her husband, Florian moving closer before he kissed her.
"Mrs Dupont," he whispered when he pulled away slightly, amazement covering her face before she laughed. "My wife."
XOXOXOXOXOXO
"Congratulations," Agnes practically squealed as she approached the newly married couple who were standing together, Florian's arm wrapped tightly around Josie's hips as she relaxed into his hold. "Mr and Mrs Dupont," she said quickly as Josie laughed, glancing up at Florian before she kissed him gently. "The ceremony was so perfect Josie, it couldn't have been anymore beautiful," she explained as Josie nodded, unable to remove the smile from her face as she remained close to her husband. She still couldn't believe that Florian was now her husband, part of her still couldn't believe that she was a married woman, that she was Mrs Josie Dupont. "I will see you both later," Agnes smiled as she nodded, moving further into the building where their reception was taking place while Josie looked at Florian once again.
"Hello husband," Josie smiled, kissing him again as his smile grew against her lips. "Can you believe it Florian? You're actually my husband," she explained, his smile continuing to grow as he nodded.
"Yes Josie, you are finally my wife," Florian stated quickly, turning to look at more guests who were approaching them. "I had a conversation with Mr Grove just before the wedding," he commented as Josie nodded. "I was rather surprised to see him there."
"I was surprised when he came to the house but he wanted to apologise my love and I do not want to lose him as a friend, however stupidly he has behaved recently," Josie stated as he nodded at her answer, both of them smiling as more guests approached them, congratulating them on their wedding before they disappeared inside the building. "Shall we join everyone now husband?" Josie asked, knowing that everyone had now arrived except for Roger who had returned home after the ceremony to spend time with Doris and his children.
"I think we should, wife," he declared, her arm wrapping around his as they stepped inside and moved to join their friends, who applauded loudly as they entered the room together.
XOXOXOXOXOXOXO
"Mrs Dupont, will you dance with me?" Florian asked, standing in front of his wife as a small smile appeared on her face before she took his hand and allowed him to lead her into the centre of the room, the two violinists they had hired starting to play as his arms moved around her body as the everyone else in the room fell silent. "Josie," he whispered as she glanced up at him.
"I've never heard this piece of music before," she commented, knowing that she had let Florian be in charge of what music was performed at their wedding.
"Do you like it Josie?" he asked quietly as she nodded, moving to rest her head forehead against his shoulder as they slowly danced to the music. "I wrote it," he admitted, shock covering her face as she glanced up at him. He had composed this piece of music? "For you, I wrote this for you, for today," he explained as her smile grew before she kissed him gently, still amazed that he had written a song for her.
"It's beautiful Florian," Josie whispered against his lips as they continued to dance, arms wrapped tightly around each other as she pressed another kiss to his lips. "You wrote it for me? You composed a piece of music for me?" she asked quietly as he nodded. "Will you play it for me tonight my love?" she whispered as he stared at her. "They play it wonderfully but you wrote it, it should be you who performs it too. I would love to hear you play it."
"Then I will perform it tonight for you Josie," he promised as she nodded. "Can you believe that we are actually married?" he asked quietly as she shook her head, laughing as he pressed another kiss to her forehead while she blushed. "This year I have moved to another country, fallen in love with the most wonderful woman, gained the musical career of my dreams and now I have married you."
"Well Mr Dupont, you are stuck with me forever now," she whispered as he smirked.
"Well then, Mrs Dupont, it is a good thing that I am completely and utterly in love with you then," he stated, the song reaching its end as he leant down and kissed her, her hands running through his hair as they deepened the kiss. "I love you, my wife," he whispered against her lips as she looked into his eyes in amazement.
"My husband," she responded, knowing that she was the happiest that she had ever been in her life, right now in his arms as his wife.
So this is the end and it has been a lot of fun writing this story and exploring two new characters.
You have all been wonderful in your reviews and I have adored reading every single one of them, they have been so kind and I hope this final chapter makes you all happy.
I will try and write my new story soon but I do need to concentrate on some actual uni work for a while so I'm not sure when it'll be- knowing me it will probably end up being started tomorrow. Watch this space, they'll be a story at some point as I'm very excited about my newest idea.
Please review.