Aside from the wedding, this chapter is pretty iconic if I'd say so myself.

Chapter 141: The Bridal Experience

I Do Boutique - Upper East Side - 10:13 AM

When buying a wedding dress, they say not to bring people you wouldn't want in the delivery room with you but Emily would trust any of them to deliver her baby without an epidural. Thousands of designers wanted to make her dress and Daniel's suit, even if they said they could do it in the short time given, but Emily wanted the bridal shopping experience. Normally, brides are supposed to buy their dress five-to-eight months in advance, but she's Emily Stark getting married in two days and she wanted this moment.

Sigyn walks in with Freya behind her, both taking in the scent of fresh rosewater. They look inside and are immediately served chilled champagne as they see Angela, Iqadi, Emily, Pepper, and Betty getting an early browse at dresses. They were the only ones in the store since the fancy handwritten closed sign was on the door.

This is Emily Stark's only appointment and they wouldn't leave without the dress.

"Okay, sorry I'm late," Sigyn says as she walks up to Emily, "but Freya wanted to roam around Brooklyn and it was so nice this morning. Also, Em, I hope you don't mind that I brought her."

"Oh my god," Emily says, "I was hoping you or Angela would've brought her."

"Yeah, I was searching for her this morning," Angela adds. "She left with Apollo and James."

Iqadi puts her glass down on a coaster as she walks up to Freya. "I don't believe we've met but I've heard a lot about you."

Angela and Emily's jaws drop as they hold each other close. Sigyn turns around and mouths an oh my god to them. They never knew these stars haven't aligned but now the universe was coming together in this small bougie bridal boutique.

Freya purses her lips together before bowing her head. "Princess of Wakanda."

"Oh no, you don't have to bow."

"No, I must."

"I can't recover from this," Angela mutters, taking out her phone to record this meeting.

"This is the bridal experience I wanted," Emily whispers. "Thank you for recording it."

"It's for Merida too. She's missing out."

"Call her after this."

"Ladies…" Sigyn says, walking between Freya and Iqadi. "I'll do the honours. Freya Sorsdottir, this is Iqadi T'Challa. Iqadi, Freya."

The Asgardian and the Wakandan smile brightly at each other and Sigyn looks at Emily and Angela, whose souls (including her own) have left their bodies.

-o-

Merida's Apartment - Manhattan - 10:56 AM

Merida wakes up in a haze. She rubs her eyes and stretches her arms. As she yawns, she sits up in her bed. Looking beside her, she sees Blake asleep under her sheets and that sight wakes her up. At first, she saw that as normal but was confused, and then she remembered everything.

Merida stops herself from smiling. She sits up against her wall which is cold on her bare back but she holds up her sheets in fists near her neck. She can't believe anything that happened but, looking around, it did.

Merida grabs her phone which she found under her pillow when she scooted back. She turns it on and her eyes widen at the missed calls and messages pouring in.

That's when she remembers Emily's wedding dress appointment started an hour ago.

"Shit."

Merida jumps out of bed, ignoring that she's naked. She sees a mess of her clothes, Blake's clothes, and arrows all over the floor. Merida grabs her jeans and a white button-up, attempting to put them on at the same time and she ends up slipping on an arrow and falling to the ground.

It was louder than she thought.

"Shit," Merida curses as she zips up her jeans and works on buttoning her shirt.

Merida pauses when she hears Blake stirring, about to wake up.

"Shit."

Merida peers up from the floor at the foot of the bed, seeing him stare down at him with one brow up.

"Since we're at your place, wouldn't it make more sense for me to run away?" Blake asks.

Merida glares at him as she gets up and finishes buttoning her shirt. Screw wearing a bra. Her flat chest doesn't need one. "I'm late."

"You're pregnant?"

"No, you idiot, I'm late for a wedding dress appointment."

"You're engaged?"

Merida curses at not only him in Russian but at the buttons on her shirt when she realizes she did them crookedly. "You're irritating."

"You didn't think so last night."

Merida pauses, pointing at him. "We don't speak about last night."

"I almost hugged you in the middle of the night but your hair suffocated me. I think a curl wrapped around my neck like a noose. Has anyone ever said anything?"

"I've had nobody to complain."

Blake sits up once he pieces that together. "Wait, you were a v -"

"Vulnerable person when it comes to relationships? Not really. I never liked the whole dating game which you probably guessed. Never hooked up or had one-night stands in college, but with you, it was different and this isn't me running off but I'm late."

"That's not what I -"

"Bye!"

"Agent Mer -!"

But she's already out the door.

-o-

I Do Boutique - Upper East Side - 11:48 AM

Emily stands in front of a mirror with her back facing her entourage who sits on couches behind her. She adjusts the neckline of the simple halter mermaid dress. Emily was drawn to the simple lace, lace backing, and the beading but, as she adjusts it, she isn't that fond of it on her.

"This dress is constricting my ribcage but if I do throw up, it's a good thing … and don't get any baby ideas because I'm not pregnant," Emily states.

"Damn," Angela curses.

"I was pregnant with you at my wedding," Pepper says.

"I forgot your vows but I remember that," Betty comments.

As the mothers reminisce over their memories, the boutique's door swings open. All heads turn to see Merida finally arriving. She's wearing oversized sunglasses, an oversized white button-up, dark skinny jeans, her signature leather jacket, and combat boots. Merida tries to sneak in as if she was always here or just ten minutes late, which are both false and she knows that. She stops nearby Emily, removing her shades and looking at the bride-to-be, still not explaining anything. She always manages to look like she's preparing for a burglary.

To Merida's surprise, Emily hugs her for finally arriving. Merida accepts the embrace but then grows suspicious when Emily remains there.

"You're hugging me for way too long," Merida states.

"You smell like cologne," Emily says. Merida sniffs her sleeve and she notices Blake's cologne. Fuck, she's in his shirt. "Did you meet a boy?"

Merida shakes her head. "No."

Everyone knows that she's lying so they cheer. Merida doesn't even bother making up a story because she's already in this too deep. If only she risked being another minute late to make sure she put on the right shirt.

Merida looks at the two moms. "Don't tell my parents."

Pepper and Betty sip their grins, whispering to each other. Merida doesn't know if her secret will be kept.

"And you're wearing his shirt," Sigyn says.

"So?"

Sigyn nudges Merida's arm for being so coy at this point when everyone knows. "You so slept with him!"

The girls cheer again and Merida knows why. There are many reasons but Merida knows which one they're screaming about.

"So what if I lost my virginity?" Merida says.

Emily starts tearing up. "I forgive you for being late. First Iqadi and Freya locked eyes for the first time and you slept with someone. This is the bridal experience I needed and more."

Merida narrows her eyes and sits on a nearby chair. "For fuck's sake, just put on another dress."

"Only for you."

Emily taps her nose as she goes back to the change room. As she's putting on another dress, Merida can't drink her champagne in peace without Angela, Sigyn, Iqadi, and Freya ogling at her, wanting her to share details about her night, especially about who she was with. Merida slumps in her chair, waiting for Emily to come out in a dress that will distract everyone.

Which happens. For now.

Emily pulls back the curtain and walks out, all eyes including Merida turning to see. They're intrigued and Emily's smiling brightly. She stands before them in a champagne tulle dress with an illusion heckling and sheer lace long sleeves. The detailed lace fits and shapes her body, giving the dress more movement as she walks.

Emily twists her body in the mirror, looking at it from every angle before facing her entourage to see what they think.

"Okay, I only picked that out because I want that as my wedding dress," Angela says.

"This could be the champagne talking but I would love to cry for you and Daniel at your wedding," Merida adds.

Sigyn puts a hand on her arm. "Don't cry, you'll look ugly and nobody will let you live it down."

"Thanks for caring about my reputation."

"Sweetie, you have other things you'll never live down without telling us."

Merida narrows her eyes at Sigyn as she refills both of their champagne glasses.

Moments later, Emily walks out wearing a sheath off-the-shoulder chiffon wedding dress with a train. When her back faces her friends, their eyes go from the train to the jumper cables pinching the fabric.

"That one's nice…" Pepper mutters.

"You don't sound too convinced," Betty responds.

"I'm not convinced."

Emily nods. "It's a nice dress but not the dress."

"Why don't you keep the jumper cables?" Freya suggests. "They look like they'll come in handy."

Sigyn almost spits out her champagne but swallows it. "I'm telling Apollo."

Emily disregards them. "It looks like I'm wearing a cape. I have no powers and not nearly enough training but I'm doing this anyways. Being an agent on the field or even a superhero is amazing even if I don't know how to handle it."

"You need to make them think you're stronger than you actually are," Angela states.

"I'd ask if that's what you do but you're a super-soldier spawn."

"Angela's an illusion," Iqadi starts. "She could demolish us."

Emily can't argue that. Angela is a jack-of-all-trades. Instead, Emily heads back into the change room to put on the next dress. She walks back out wearing an off-the-shoulder princess gown with a lace corset and a sweep train. This dress gets mixed reactions since it's a style they never thought Emily would wear.

"I love that one," Freya says.

"It's so regal," Pepper adds.

Merida cringes. "You look like a history class."

Emily isn't even that amused by it. "I feel like a bride but not the bride."

"Has Daniel suggested what he would like you to wear?" Iqadi asks.

"No, but I could wear anything and Daniel would still marry me."

Angela scoffs. "Can't relate."

"I think I might love this dress more than Daniel…" Emily says, running her hands down the skirt. "Okay, time for a new one."

As Emily is off to try on another dress with her mom and Betty, the other girls decide to roam around the shop, seeing other options. From afar, they look like a sea of sparkling white but up close, the details come into the light. Different necklines, lengths, shades of white, everything. Everyone's browsing and even Merida's showing interest mostly because if Emily picks the wrong dress, she will never hear the end of it. She's about to move on to the next rack but stops when she notices Angela, Iqadi, Sigyn, and Freya are staring at her.

"What?" Merida asks.

"Don't what us," Angela responds.

"Tell us about him," Iqadi says.

Merida turns around. "No."

Sigyn gasps. "So there is a him."

"I thought you figured that part out already."

"I was gone for eight years. I'm catching up."

Angela laughs. "I was here for eight years and I'm catching up too."

"So it's new. Oh, Merida, now you have to tell us."

"She doesn't have to," Freya says. The other three give her weird looks for not wanting to know about this revelation.

"Thank you."

"Apollo said nothing about me and just brought me as his prom date."

Angela gasps. "So would he be your wedding date?"

"No!"

Before the girls could continue the interrogation, Emily walks out in another ballgown but this one has a ballerina neckline and skinny spaghetti straps. She steps in front of the mirror and puts her hands on her hips as everyone gathers behind her.

"My boobs don't fill this out," Emily says, pulling the neckline up.

Sigyn snorts a laugh. "Can't relate but I'm staring at your non-existent boobs."

Emily ignores the remark. "But this dress has pockets!"

That's a selling point since a dress with pockets sells itself, but when Merida looks at the price tag, she knows it won't be a sale for her. At least Emily's got way more money than she'll ever understand.

"That's like my rent for five years," Merida says, already feeling out of breath by looking at those numbers.

"Do you know what you can buy with that money?" Angela whispers.

"Lots of gifts for us."

Angela smiles, nodding. "Do you remember when we went wedding dress shopping for your mom?"

Merida nods, smiling a little. "I remember you and Emily getting yelled at for running around and touching all the dresses, veils, and tiaras."

"I remember you hating every dress your mom tried on."

"Yeah, well, she's not a dress type."

"True, but now look. We're browsing with Emily and she's getting married in two days. We're almost coming full circle."

Merida shrugs. "I guess."

It's still insane for her. Waiting for Emily and Daniel to date was agonizing. Their engagement came quick but dragged on, and now they're here. Despite seeing it all coming from when they were kids, it's still hard to believe.

"So, what was your dress like?" Freya asks Iqadi.

"Nothing in here," Iqadi responds. "It was more traditional with gold weaved in it."

"I'd go a more traditional route for mine too."

Sigyn almost spits out her champagne, coughing loudly at the thought of Apollo and Freya getting married. She pictures Freya in a big traditional Asgardian ballgown and Apollo just, there. Who cares about him when he's lucky enough to scare Freya as a bride? It's a perfect wedding daydream.

"Sigyn, would you want an Asgardian or Midgardian wedding?" Freya asks.

Sigyn continues coughing.

"What about a veil?" Pepper asks as she holds one up behind Emily's head to see what it'd look like.

"I don't want a veil," Emily responds. "They're too traditional and I see no point in covering my beautiful face."

"Can you just try one on for me?"

"And me," Betty adds.

"Fine. Clip it on."

Pepper inserts the veil in Emily's hair and she and Betty drapes it out. When they look up again, they see Emily crying at how beautiful and delicate it makes her look and they join along.

After hours of looking and trying on gowns, everyone knew Emily found her dress when it was silent when she walked out of the changing room. Her steps are delicate as if she was wearing sugar glass. She carefully steps on the podium and looks at herself in the mirror as everyone else carefully looks around her. The dress looks deceptively simple but the longer you stare at it reflecting in the light, the more you notice the small details: appliquéd traps, frosted lace, and medallions along the bodice that fade at the start but are spread out like continents on a map along the soft tulle skirt.

Nobody could say anything. There are no words.

"How do you feel?" Pepper asks.

Emily exhales and smiles brighter than she ever has. "Like I'm getting married."

You know, after writing a paper on diamonds, a lot of my ads have been for engagement rings. Now I've been googling wedding dresses … this'll be fun.