1783 Words this chapter

Chapter Twenty-Five

"Jess will be OK with it, won't she?" asked Meira.

"She is OK with it," said a happy voice as Jess skipped down the stairs. Right behind her was Becker.

"Oh, it's so pretty!" she cried. "I mean your side is, Abby and Em." She giggled. "Iris' side is naughty, but it's OK. Thank you for giving me a safe side."

Abby hugged her. "It's our pleasure."

"If you require a further sanctuary," said Emily. "We have designated this room."

She ushered Jess over to Ce Ce's break room. Inside the room had been further decorated in the rainbow wedding theme. They even placed fresh colorful roses on the tables.

Jess squealed. "Thank you! I have the best matrons of honor!"

Abby giggled. "I'm glad you like it. We put a bit of all the party food, drinks, and the more respectable party favors inside."

"Yes," said Emily. "In that way if you desire not to venture out, you shall be well supplied."

Jess giggled. "Thank you. I may not venture out: tv, video games, movies, rocking chairs, and if I have company, a love seat to cuddle on."

"Only if I approve of the company," Becker said, eyebrow raised.

"Duh," she said, standing on her tiptoes and stealing a kiss.

"You're really going through with it?" he asked. "You're going to stay in here and let Iris be the pretend bride?"

"Only while the guys are taking it off," said Iris.

"Yes, only then," said Jess. She walked over to a table and picked up a strawberry jam pastry iced with pink frosting flowers. "Hmm. I'm very happy," she said. Then she saw a plate of chocolate doves, roses, rings, and bells.

"Ooh, chocolate! Yay! They're wedding candies and not those naughty things I don't want to stick in my mouth."

Iris got a wicked smirk on her face and she looked at Becker, then Jess. "Are you sure about that, Jess? You never..."

"Iris!" Abby screamed.

Becker turned bright red. Jess nearly choked on her pasty.

Iris had broken into a laughing fit, gasping for breath as she pointed to the groom and bride. "Oh, God! Your faces!"

Abby smacked her. "Do you want to be exiled?"

"Sorry," said Iris, still gasping. "I'll behave."

"She will," said Meira. She walked to her best mate. "Iris, stop," she said firmly. "Sometimes you go too far. This is Jess and Becker's party. Please, be good."

Iris nodded. "You're right. I'm sorry, I get...excited."

"No kidding," said Abby.

"I'll behave."

"Thank you," said Jess.

"I say throw her out."

"Easy, Becker, it is a hen party," said Jess. "We're all here for fun, right?"

"Right, Jess," said Iris. She walked up and hugged her, a little to Jess' surprise. "You really are a sweetie," said the wild menagerie worker. Jess giggled.

"Jess! Becker!" cried Ce Ce, coming out of the office. "You're here!" She ran to them both and hugged them.

"Thanks for having us," said Becker.

Ce Ce shrugged. "Abby and Emily did all the work. I just opened my doors. Jess, I hope you'll be comfortable in the break room, if you choose not to watch the dancing."

"Comfortable? Ce Ce that room is nicer than my house!"

They all laughed.

"I do want to watch your dances, Ce Ce. Thank you." She looked around at all her friends. "You're all so considerate."

"It's the least we can do," said Meira, elbowing Iris. "Isn't it, since she's bending her sense of ethics for us?"

Iris chuckled. "Yeah, it is. You're right."

Jess giggled. "You know, this party looks very girly. It's supposed to be a bachelor party too. Where's all your stuff?"

Becker looked at Connor and Matt and they all smirked. They each nodded to the boxes of liquor and said in unison, "We're good."

Jess broke out into a giggle fit.

"Typical," said Abby.

"Well, we need strippers too," said Connor. "I'm relying on Ce Ce for that."

"Well, until then," said Jess. She walked up to one of the food tables and grabbed another pastry. "These are so good! Ooh, this one has chocolate cream! Delish!"

"Watch it, you have a dress to fit in, remember."

Jess stopped chewing and stared. She then walked over to the idiot who made the comment. "Excuse me, Groom, but I have been following some psycho's exercise regiment for years."

"Please, that regiment is so relaxed it could be for children," Becker said with a teasing grin.

"You do realize that I have been shopping up a storm with Debra in anticipation for the honeymoon," she said softly.

Becker's eyebrow raised up. "Debra? You mean...lingerie shopping?"

"Yep," she said, drawing out the 'p.' "Are you sure you want to make me angry, Becker? I mean, I was going to start wearing the lingerie I've decided not to save for the honeymoon."

Becker's eyes grew wide.

Jess walked closer and let her fingers run along his chest. "It would be a shame if I wasn't in the mood."

He gulped. "Yes, yes it would." She smiled seductively. "Go ahead, Jess. Have fun. Eat what you want."

"Thank you."

"But if you can't fit into the promised lingerie, Jess, there will be a revolt!"

She turned at the door of the break room, puckering her lips as she smiled. "Don't worry. I won't just fit, I'll look...sensual and alluring." She smiled again, then went inside.

Becker stood still looking at the now empty doorway.

"Well, that backfired, didn't it?" asked Connor. "You didn't get into her head, she got into yours."

"Shut up, Temple."

"So...when's the party start?" asked Meira.

"As soon as the strippers get here!" cried Iris. "I mean the manly ones!"

"Actually, they won't get here until about an hour in," said Abby. "The guests should be arriving any minute. Do you want to go upstairs and start hosting, or handle things down here?"

Emily eyed Iris. "I will remain down here."

Abby laughed. "No blood please."

Emily scoffed. "I can manage perfectly well without causing visible injuries of any kind, Abigail."

Abby shook her head. "Yeah, well, limit the damage. She works tomorrow night." She started to go upstairs but was prevented from doing so as several women swarmed down the staircase.

Ce Ce smiled. She opened the break room door. "Jess, could you come out please?"

As soon as she did the women saw her and started squealing. She ran to them and they collided, hugging Jess and giggling.

"Who are they?" asked Emily.

"They're Ce Ce's instructors," said Becker. "Jess and they have become good friends thanks to the classes here."

"Ooh, they're the strippers?" asked Connor.

Ce Ce nodded. "Jess kindly invited them early to join in the fun before the show."

"I'm going to say hello," said the groom. As he walked over they cried, "Becker!" and hugged him.

"Is Jess OK with that?" asked Iris.

Ce Ce laughed. "They're like his sisters. They've known him for years, as have I."

One of the dancers looked a lot like Jess. She was the same height, build, and had Jess' long brown hair.

Jess suddenly grabbed her bag.

"Jess, that's rude!"

The Jess clone just laughed. "It's alright, Becker. She knows what I carry in there."

Jess nodded. "Yep. Her brochures and she promised me new ones."

"I've got them."

Jess giggled, hugged her and ran for the break room.

Becker looked at the woman. "Brochures, Debra?"

She nodded, smirking at him. "Don't you want to go and...help?"

He suddenly got a goofy smile. "Indeed I do." He then left, went in the break room and shut the door.

A short time later, Jess was curled up on the sofa, trying to read the brochures. Becker was making it hard by nibbling on her neck.

She giggled. "Stop! I'm ticklish."

"Then put down the brochure," he whispered.

She turned bright red. "Our friends are right outside the door!"

"I'm willing to risk it."

"I'm not! Besides, I have...oh...um, outfits to look...ooh, right there," she said as he got to a sensitive spot. The brochure fell out of her fingers.

Then the door burst open. "Ew!"

"Temple!"

"You guys are worse than Iris! Well, no, she probably wouldn't be clothed still. Thanks for that."

Jess giggled and stood up.

"See what you did!" cried Becker.

"Sorry, Abby sent me in for a bag of favors she forgot," he said.

"Aren't we lucky," said Jess. She glared at Becker. "You get me in so much trouble."

"It would have been more if Temple hadn't burst in."

She giggled.

"Stop, I'm trying to find the favors as fast as I can, just spare me more icky stuff til I do, please!"

Becker laughed.

"Hello," said a fit, blond body. The man smiled, dazzling them with his white teeth.

"Oh, you showed."

Lieutenant Vale smirked. "Of course, I did, Cap." He looked at Jess. "I hope you're ready. We've got quite a show."

Jess shook her head. "I'm scared."

"You should be, honey," answered the groom.

She giggled. "You're with Ce Ce, right?"

"Oh, yeah, in fact I'm doing a special duet with Debra."

"Then I will watch, I guess," she said. "I don't like the idea of watching a guy I know strip. I don't suppose you'll be wearing long, long shorts, huh?"

He winked.

"That's a 'no,' Jess," said Becker. "You and Debra, huh?"

Vale nodded.

"Jess, you do know who she looks like, right?"

She looked at Becker, frowning. "Huh?"

Becker got up and walked to her. "I'm just saying...Vale, doing a dance with a girl who is a dead ringer for you...the mind reels at the disturbing images that come up. I'd be petrified if he didn't look so unlike me."

Vale scoffed. Actually, they were close in height and both being soldiers they were fit. Becker was a little more buff and older. Still, they weren't that far off.

"I could manage," said Vale. "Brown wigs are easy to fine." He smiled at them and left.

Jess' eyes grew wide. "He wouldn't. They wouldn't let him. Would they?"

Behind them they heard Connor laughing. "I think we might get a show equal or worse than the one I walked in on," he said, walking out.

"Oh, Lord! I'm not leaving this room!"

"Me either, Jess."

End of Chapter Twenty-Five