Chapter 25

Scarlett looked around at the interior of the building that Penelope had dragged her into this morning. She was already tired after only seeing two venues here in Chicago, and a bit irritated.

"Pens, really- I don't have time for this right now…" she told her friend, trying to be diplomatic. "I know you have all these ideas in your head for a wedding, and I'm sure my sisters will be more than happy to offer their input… but…"

Penelope scrunched up her face. "Just a few minutes more, please, Scarlett?" she begged. "I want to help you pick out the most perfect place for your wedding…"

Scarlett rolled her eyes. "I told you, the trappings don't matter much to me. As long as Reid is waiting for me at the end, the rest you and the girls can have fun with…"

Garcia beamed. "Well, I'm glad you feel that way… and don't kill the messenger…"

"Messenger?" she ground out, knowing something was up. "Messenger for what?"

Penelope opened a side room door, leading Scarlett inside. Norie stood along the one wall, Sarah and Desi alongside her. They turned as she entered the room.

"What did you do?" Scarlett's eyes widened, looking over at Penny.

"No, no- not me, not this time… I kept my promise!" she swore, crossing her heart. "This is all on your sister…" Penelope giggled. "I guess calling her 'mini-me' wasn't really a stretch," she teased, giving Norie a wink and a kiss on the cheek as she moved to stand beside her.

Scarlett frowned slightly. "Okay, so what is this then? A wedding intervention?" she asked, reaching over to tug Norie's hair.

Norie grinned. "I guess you could call it that…" she shrugged. "I thought Mama's feeling may have been hurt if she was left out… and I knew you didn't want that- but you didn't want to wait, and that was my fault, sort of, because of the adoption papers… and I thought maybe, with some help, I could pull this off, after all I had a week to plan… so anyway- here we are…"

Scarlett looked stunned. "Here we are, where?" she asked.

Sarah smiled softly. "We know about you and Spencer eloping. Norie filled us all in. And then she conspired with everyone, behind your back, to pull this off for you and him…"

Scarlett's eyes widened. "Seriously?"

Desi grinned. "Right down to the wedding dress, if you don't mind it being your 'something borrowed'," she said, pulling out her own dress from behind the chair.

Scarlett turned to Norie. "You planned out a wedding. For us. In a week…?" she said in shock.

Norie nodded, biting her lip. "I had a lot of help… especially from Uncle Dave," she blushed. "He has a lot of connections here in Chicago…"

"Rossi? Is everyone here? Really?" she looked at her sisters, amazed.

Penelope reached over and hugged Scarlett. "Everyone- including Reid's mom," Pens smiled. "Norie called her herself, explaining everything, and helped her fly in…"

Scarlett shook her head. "I just can't… process all this… I don't even know what to say!" she looked at Norie.

"Why? You didn't have to do all this, sweetie. Spencer and I where fine with the plans…"

Norie met her eyes. "I know you were- but you should have everyone you love beside you at your wedding, not be worried that someone's feelings would be hurt… so…"

"So, you pulled this off," Scarlett looked around.

"Yeah, well… lots of help…" Norie said again. "And I'm adopting Uncle Dave as my god father, just so you know…" she grinned.

Scarlett laughed. "I think I will too," she said looking around again. "I'm guessing this place was his doing?"

"Yes, he knows the owner… they gave us the use of the rooms for the ceremony and the reception. And we can stay until midnight, so it'll be a New Year's party, too," Desi told her. "He's really a dream planner- I didn't even really get a chance to sink my teeth into anything," she laughed.

"Oh, I am sure you found something to plan out for this," Scarlett teased.

"She took over the flowers and decorating," Sarah rolled her eyes. "Take a look…" she said, pushing Scarlett towards the door to look into the room next to them. They heard her drag in a shocked breath.

The space was decorated in cream and rose colors, including the calla lilies that adorned the walkway. At the end of the short aisle was a podium draped in lace. Scarlett felt her heart hitch as she gazed at it.

Norie moved closer, looking up at her. "So, you aren't mad?"

Scarlett shook her head, laughing. "Mad? I can't believe this, all of this…" she said, pulling Norie into her arms. "It feels like a dream… I'm not mad, sweetie- not at all. I'm in shock!"

"You did all this, just for us… for me… I can't believe it!" she said, hugging her sister tight.

Scarlett looked over at her other sisters and Penelope. "All of you, I can't begin to tell you what it means to have you all here… It makes the day so much more special…" she told them, as she felt her eyes begin tearing up.

Desi wiped at her own eyes. "Okay, then- let's get this party in started!" she nodded, resuming her position as planner and fighting against the emotional breakdown.

"We've still got to get you dressed," Sarah agreed, grabbing a tissue for herself. "And Penny… since we kept her as your bridesmaid…" she winked. "I'm on hair and make up duty…"

"Oh, as if you could have stopped me!" Penny rolled her eyes. Scarlett laughed.

"Alright then, let's get this rolling," Scarlett agreed, following her sisters into the dressing room.

"Mama will be along shortly," Norie told Scarlett as she moved over towards the dressing table. She met her eyes in the mirror.

"She helped me make it so Spencer's mom could be here. She flew out to Las Vegas to meet her and come back with her, since Mrs. Reid wasn't too keen on flying. Mama said bonded with her about me," she grinned. "She said she is calling me her 'instant granddaughter'," Norie laughed.

"Oh, my…" Scarlett pressed her fingers to her temples. "I hadn't even thought about all that… I'm so glad that she's feeling well enough to make the trip. It will mean so much for Spence, for her to be here."

Norie ran a brush through her hair as she sat beside Scarlett. "She's doing very good, actually," she told her. "Uncle Derek picked them up from the airport this morning and is bringing them here. Spencer's already here, I had to tell him what I was doing- I had to have him in on the plan to make this work…"

"Reid knew about all this?" Scarlett asked, thinking back over the previous week. Bits and pieces of the subterfuge started to come together in her memories.

Norie watched her sister's face. "He knew we were planning the wedding. I didn't mention about bringing in his mother, in case it couldn't happen…"

Scarlett closed her eyes, giving a soft sigh. "I'd love to see Spencer's face when his mom walks in the door…"

Desi winked. "I think we can make that happen," she told her sister.

Scarlett felt the tears threaten again. "Okay, geez, you guys are killing me emotionally today. I hope that eye goo you brought is water proof," she teased Sarah.

"Always," Sarah laughed, hugging her sister close. "After all I had to consider Penny- and she's always emotional," she grinned, handing a tissue to Garcia. Penelope sniffled and grabbed them into a bear hug.

Scarlett gave a teary laugh as she was gathered into their arms.

"I love you guys so much," she told them. "I don't even have words…"

Desi moved back from the group as her phone vibrated. She wiped at her own eyes to read the text that came in.

"Okay girls, time to start getting ready… the moms are here," she smiled.