Chapter 6
They were both silent all the way back to the house. Otto kept one hand on the small of her back as they walked but he never said a word. As soon as they walked through the door, he took Toby and went down to the basement. Lenora didn't know what to do.
Her cover had been compromised. The story they had spent a month building had fallen apart in the mere seconds of conversation she had had with her sister. And all from one sentence, one phrase about Toby and Eli.
She went up to the room Otto was letting her stay in and held Eli against her shoulder as she paced back and forth. Her heart pounded. Should she pack up the few belongings her and her son had? Should she leave and see what the others had to say about her mistake? Her watch dinged, signaling that it was time for Eli's medications.
Taking a deep breath, she made her way back down to the living room and over to the stroller. She had packed his medications for their day out so they would have them. She peaked around the corner to make sure Otto was still in the basement and sat on the sofa to take care of her son. Just as she was finishing up, the basement door opened.
"Lenora?"
She barely dared to look up. Otto was standing in the open doorway. He had rolled up his sleeves. Toby was in a baby sling over his chest and one hand was tucked behind his back. He looked just as uncertain as she felt. Avoiding her eyes, he sat beside her on the sofa.
"VVill zis do?" He held out a deep blue crystal.
Lenora stared at it, "Do? F-For what?"
"VVell...I figured, if vve are going to pretend to be married, you'll be needing a ring. Zis is Dumortierite. It's not much but…" He trailed off, glancing down at the floor.
"But...what about the story we came up with before Eli came home? Doesn't this screw all that up?"
"Not all of it," Otto assured her, finally meeting her eyes, "It's a small matter of changing some of ze papervvork und adding some. Making a marriage certificate isn't much different from making a birz cartificate. Ze only real problem is...Eli..."
"We would have to put your name on the birth certificate. Wouldn't we."
"VVe can find some vvay to vvork around it if you vvould prefer. But, yes. Zat vvould be ze easiest."
Lenora looked down at the baby in her arms. It wouldn't be all that difficult to pull off. All three of them had black hair and it wasn't outside the realm of possibilities that two blue eyed people would have a brown eyed baby. Hell, having a father on Eli's birth certificate would deter Roland even more if he ever did find them.
"But would you be ok with it?" She finally asked.
"...Ja. I vvould be. But, vvould you be ok vviz having your name added to Toby's adoption papers?"
"Of course."
They were silent again. A strange silence hung over them.
"I'm just- I'm a little confused. What are we going to do when Eli and I move out? What about if one of us meets someone else before then?"
"I'll vvork out ze finer details vviz VValt und Nomura but vve should be able to have a fake devorece vvhen ze time comes. VVe can say vve split mutually und, if you are in agreement, zat vve split custody of ze boys."
Lenora nodded. She slumped against the back of the sofa and sighed. She was still shaking. The sofa shifted as Otto leaned back as well.
"So. Now what do we do?"
"VVell, vve still have to vvork out all ze kinks in zis plan," Otto stroked Toby's hair and looked down at his watch, "VVe could still do lunch vviz VValt und Barbara. I already told zem vvhat happened. VVe could use ze time to calm down und solidify ze plan. Maybe even design ze ring."
Lenora glanced down at the blue stone still clutched in Otto's hand.
"Ok. But what about your ring?"
Barbara waved them over when they walked into the cafe. Her, Walter and Jim were sitting in a large booth in the corner of the dining room. Otto and Lenora had opted to leave the stroller behind this time and took the car. They made their way over and situated the boys between them. Walt grinned and leaned forward.
"So I hear congratulations are in order."
Barbara elbowed her husband. He chuckled sheepishly but stopped when he saw the look on Lenora's face.
"I'm sorry. I didn't mean for this to happen."
Walter leaned forward and put a hand on her arm, "It's alright, Lenora. What exactly happened?"
"Maranda approached the boys and I while Otto was in one of the shops that the stroller wouldn't fit in. I told her I was out with 'my boys' and...she recognized Toby as Otto's son. She took that to mean I was Toby's mother and, therefore, Otto's wife. She left before I could explain anything."
"Then it isn't your fault."
"You can't be held responsible for your sister's misunderstanding."
Walt steepled his fingers, "All we can do now is work with what we have. And what we have is a bit of paperwork to fix. If we play our cards right, everyone should be able to keep their last names."
Barbara hunched over a napkin on the table, "Maybe fake some wedding pictures? Put them in the house to throw off prying eyes...How's this for a ring?"
Her design was simple but elegant. The dumorterite would work for the center stone with two smaller stones on either side.
"I have some rose quartz in ze basement zat vvill vvork for ze smaller stones. Dumorterite means calm und rose quartz means love. Und, since blue und pink make purple, it'll be able to represent your favorite color."
Lenora ducked her head and blushed. She had never really put much thought into weddings and rings. Not even when she was with him. She nodded.
"Did you all just dodge the 'names' topic?" Walt leaned forward, "The sooner we get that worked out the better. Paperwork needs to get done fast before anyone decides to check."
Barbara slid the napkin to Otto and picked up Jim, "Maranda's rumors have already reached the hospital. I can only keep the others from looking for Eli's files for so long."
"VVhy don't vve just hyphenate the boys's names?" Otto suggested.
"No."
Otto looked at Lenora.
"I had a friend in school whose parents hyphenated her name. She always hated it."
"Ok. That's a veto for hyphenation," Barbara chuckled, "But you just changed your name. I'd hate for you to have to change it again."
"I'm more worried about you, Otto. No one has really asked if you're ok with this."
Otto lifted an eyebrow and smiled, "You did. Back at ze house. Und, I said yes."
Lenora licked her lips and looked down at Eli. He and Toby were sleeping peacefully in their carriers.
"Change our names. I can always change it back later."
Walt squeezed her hand before pulling out his phone, "I'll call Nomura and have her get the paperwork started."
Otto reached over and laced their fingers together. Lenora took a deep breath and smiled.
"I think you two should share a bedroom."
"Barbara!" Walt hissed and turned to his wife, laughter coming from the phone.
"Not like that," She rolled her eyes and turned her attention back to Otto and Lenora, "You can 'I Love Lucy' it. Two beds and all that. But, if someone looks through the windows, they'll notice that you have separate bedrooms. How did a couple with separate bedrooms conceive a child?"
Lenora blushed deeply. Otto squeezed her hand again.
"VVe don't have to if you're not comfortable vviz zat," He assured her, "But ze master bedroom is big enough zat vve could put anozer bed in it und fit Eli's cot betvveen zem. Or vve can put Eli in ze nursery wiz Toby. It's up to you."
Lenora nodded. The waitress finally arrived to take their orders.
"Sorry about the delay. Are you ready to order?"
They ordered dinner and she left. Eli chose that moment to wake up. He started crying. Before Lenora could calm him down, Toby woke up and started crying. At the sound of his cousins's cries, Jim started crying. The four frantic parents were left to try and calm the wailing infants.
"Why did we think this was a good idea?" Barbara asked.
"Because vve all needed to get out of the house?" Otto shrugged.
Lenora chuckled and bounced Eli gently. None of the babies were wet and they all rejected the bottles. She was at a loss.
"Yes, yes. We hear you," Walt cooed to his son, accepting the infant from his wife, "You have such strong lungs."
Otto lay Toby against his shoulder and rubbed his back, singing quietly. Lenora tucked Eli closer and whispered to him. He cried and managed to grab a fistful of her dress. She reached into his carrier and grabbed his pacifier. Eli sucked on it quietly, slowly calming and nuzzling into his mother's breast.
Once all three babies were finally quiet, they could hear the whispers around the room. Lenora glanced around. People were staring.
"Could that be her? The one Mandy was telling us about?"
"It has to be. I just can't believe Herr Scaarbach has a wife, let alone a real son."
"If we're being honest, I thought he played for the other team."
Lenora stiffened.
"Ignore zem. People alvvays talk ze most about vvhat zey know ze leat about," Otto assured her, whispering, "Besides, zery're wrong. It's more like...nozing at all." (1)
Lenora smiled and tickled Toby gently. But the whispers continued. Walt shook his head. He shot his brother a sharp look and kissed his wife. Otto rolled his eyes and shook his head. He reached over and tickled Eli. The baby cooed quietly and grabbed his finger. Lenora took a deep breath and rest her temple against Otto's.
"You two are dorks," Barbara chuckled, plenty loud enough for the people around them to hear, "I'm glad you and Eli are finally home."
Even with the plans in order there was a lot to get done. There was paperwork to change, photos to fake, rooms to rearrange, babies to take care of and Christmas to prepare for. Lenora was working in the kitchen, Toby strapped to her back and Eli strapped to her chest, when Nomura burst through the back door.
"That better be the fake wedding stuff you're making because we got stuff to do."
She was carrying a black garbage bag over her shoulder and a red folder under her arm.
"Um, no. It's the Christmas ca-"
"No buts! Otto smuggled these dresses out of the costume room at the school. We have to figure out how to make it look like you actually wore one of these in a wedding. Oh! Red frosting flowers and green trim. Is that the Christmas cake you promised to make!"
"Yes. That's the plan. Nomura, how much coffee have you had?"
"A lot. I stayed up last night after work to try and salvage some of this crap."
Lenora didn't get a chance to say anything more before her fake- sister-in-law, pushed her out of the kitchen.
"The sooner we get this all worked out the less time there is for people to ask questions. Otto's doing the paperwork, Walt's going to doctor the photos, and Barbara will be around later to help us finish the dresses and decorate the backyard to make it passable in the photos. Remember, you two got married in Germany last year after meeting in New Jersey and traveling together."
"I know the story. Nomura! Slow down! Let me put the boys down first."
"Well, hurry up! Della's coming to take the pictures tomorrow and we need to have this all figured out before then. That doesn't leave a lot of room for sewing."
"I know. Trust me. I was the theater director for three years. I know all about last minute adjustments. Hell, I probably sewed some of the dresses in that bag."
"Oh, that's right. Then you know just how fast we have to-"
"Nomura!" Lenora grabbed Nomura's shoulders and turned her around, more serious than they had ever seen her, "I will let you do the pinning but there is no way I am letting you anywhere near a set of scissors or a sewing machine like this. Do the pinning and get some rest. It's about time for Eli and Toby's nap anyway. I'll do the sewing while you all sleep.
Nomura stared at her, dumbfounded. She nodded and turned back to the bag. She opened the folder. Lenora nodded firmly and untucked her boys from the twin carrier to lay them down in the playpen beside the sofa.
"So I made a few designs last night all based off of what we have. Personally? I'm leaning more towards the open back halter top. It's a simple cut that won't take too much time to alter from one of these dresses but will still look nice. And we won't have to worry about sewing in zippers or buttons or anything."
Lenora nodded, hunching over the folder, "Alright. We could use the sequin bodice from this dress and maybe put some flowers on the bottom hem so it's not so plain."
"Sounds good. You pull the dresses out and I'll call Barbara to tell her what we need from the craft store."
Lenora dug around in the bag until she found the dresses she was looking for. Considering they were made for students on a highschool stage, they weren't the best quality. Stitches were pulled in places, sequins were missing, the zipper of one had been pulled out (and not with a seam ripper).
"Oof. I had forgotten how rough some of these had gotten."
"Tell me about it. Those students are murder on the costume department. Otto said that, in the last school play, some kids's costumes were held on with safety pins."
"I'll believe it. I had students bringing in things from home for the play at times."
Lenora lay out the dresses they were going to work with and looked them over. The sequin dress was missing several buttons from the back. It was also from the dragon costume in Arcadia Oaks Highschool's Shrek the Musical performance so there were purple beads accenting it in places. She shuffled through the other dresses, hoping to find one that would have a skirt they could use.
"Hey! Idea!" Nomura grabbed a pen and started drawing on the back of one of her previous designs, "We'll use the sequin dress for the bodice, Right? We'll cut it here in a nice little point into the skirt. Barbara can pick up white tulle at Della's since she's always got some in stock and we can make the skirt and veil with that. And if we use purple flowers then we won't have to do anything with the beads on the dress!"
"Sh! Sleeping babies. But, yes. That does sound like a good idea."
LLB
"Ok." Otto said as he walked through the door, "I managed to get ze papervvork done during lunch und I asked Bruce to help move zings around upstairs. All zat's left it to do ze pictures und-Mein Gott!"
Lenora looked up, "I know, it's ridiculous. But we're working with what we have. It'll look better once we actually finish sewing it."
"Lenora! Stop moving!" Barbara said around a mouthful of pins, "I'm almost done."
The med student was kneeling behind Lenora, pinning a pale silver train onto the back of the dress. Nomura was passed out on the sofa, Toby nestled in her arms. Jim and Eli were napping in the playpen.
Otto shook himself, "It-it's wunderschon. You're going to look amazing in ze photos."
"And you'll look like a potato next to her," Nomura muttered.
"I zought you vvere asleep."
"It comes and goes."
Otto rolled his eyes. He took off his coat and put his briefcase to the side before approaching the playpen.
"How long have zey been sleeping?"
"We actually just got them back to sleep," Lenora fiddled with the flower crown and vail, sewing the white and silver tulle into place, "Good thing too because I don't think we'd finish this in time otherwize."
"Did you dig your tux out yet, Otto?" Barbara stepped back, " And the pictures of Ralf? Ok, Jay. Strip."
"I didn't have to dig anything out, Barbara," Otto wandered into the kitchen, pointedly not looking at Lenora as she took off her pinned dress, "Anyone vvant some tea?"
"Yes please," Lenora carefully slipped the dress off her shoulders and down, pulling her robe on in lue of her clothes. She would just be taking them off again to retry the dress, "Who's Ralf?"
"Ralf is Toby's first father. The one he actually shares DNA with," Barbara took the dress over to the sewing machine before picking up Jim, "They were best friends for years before the accident that took him and Shirly. Since you two supposedly got married a year ago, Ralf would have still been alive and absolutely would have been Otto's best man."
Lenora felt her smile slip off. She looked at the kitchen door and down to Toby on the sofa with his aunt.
"I didn't know they had been friends. It didn't even register that Otto had adopted him relatively quickly."
"Yeah," Barbara rocked Jim and studied the bouquets of fake flowers, "It's not really my story to tell but Otto was Toby's godfather first. And it's really because of Nana, Ralf's mom, that the adoption went through as fast as it did, even with pulling a few 'Janis Initiative' strings."
Lenora nodded and sat at the sewing machine, ready to get back to work. She heard one of the babies start to fuss behind her and found herself amazed that she recognized it as Toby.
"Oh! Ug! Diaper Duty!" Nomura groned, "Otto, you're home now. You get to change the kid."
"I'm coming. I'm coming." He scurried into the room and took his son from his sister, "Oh, Bärchen. Wie macht entwas so Kleines so ein Chaos?"
Lenora chuckled and carefully fed the pinned dress into the sewing machine. She pulled the pins out as she met them.
"I'm going to take Eli und get him changed, too," Otto said, "I really don't know how he sleeps zrew a dirty diaper."
Lenora froze, only barely keeping herself from misturning the dress. Otto put one hand on her shoulder.
"I'll bring him right back. Or I can bring ze diaper stuff in here if you would prefer."
"Yes, please."
Otto nodded and squeezed her shoulder before making his way back up the stairs to the nursery. Lenora took a deep breath and went back to work.
"Clingy much?" Nomura teased, "Ow! Hey!"
"It's ok, Barbara," she didn't look up, "I am a little overprotective. But I can't help it. For the first few weeks of his life he was hooked up to so many wires and, even now, he has so many medications. I'm just still scared I'm going to lose him."
One of them put a hand on her shoulder. They didn't say anything but Lenora knew she was there. It was only a few moments more before Otto returned and changed the boys's diapers.
"Thank you for helping us with all this, Bruce," Walt led the other man in, "We have to be as discreet as possible and as fast as possible. The faster this gets done the fewer questions will be asked."
"Hey, I get it. I remember how fast you guys worked to get dad off my back when I left. It's the least I can do to pay you back."
"Und vve told you, Bruce. Ze best vvay you can pay us back is by being good to Della."
"Like I could do any less for my queen," he laughed.
Lenora finished her seam and turned to thank the man herself. She stopped short. This Scandinavian giant was not what she expected from Della's boyfriend. The man was six foot five, at least. A stark contrast to Della's five foot two. His thick black hair stood out against his pale skin and his dark brown eyes sparked as he talked with Walter and Otto. He was dressed in a black leather jacket and faded blue jeans that would have looked completely out of place next to Della's violet sundress.
"You must be Lenora? It's nice to finally meet you. Della's told me about you," He held out his hand.
Lenora shook herself mentaly and took his hand, "It's nice to meet you, too. Otto's told me a lot about you."
Bruce laughed, "Yeah, I'll believe it. Let me guess: Della and I make 'quite ze pair'."
Lenora covered her mouth to stifle her laughter. Otto rolled his eyes and handed her Eli.
"I vvouln't say it if it vvasn't true. You're over a foot taller zan her und just jumped off your motorcycle. She looks like a shopkeeper from an Italian romcom."
"Say what you will," Bruce held his head up, "I love my tiny girlfriend."
Lenora laughed and turned back to her sewing, "I'll come out and help you as soon as I finish sewing this. I can work on this over night. We have to get everything outside done before it gets dark."
"Alright," Otto put a hand on her shoulder, "I'm going to take Toby vviz me for now."
"Ok."
The three men went outside and got to work. Lenora hastily finished sewing the dress together and threw her clothes back on.
"We can just finish this up when we get finished with everything outside," Barbara tucked Jim into a backpack style carrier as she spoke.
Nomura nodded, finished the flowers she was sewing onto the veil, and followed her sister-in-law out the door. Outside, Bruce and Walter were wrapping tulle around the archway while Otto riffled through a collection of background panels. Nomura set out a string of tea lights leading up to the archway. Lenora and Barbara set about draping tablecloths over the cheap folding tables and round card tables. Anyone who looked over the fence would think a real wedding was going to be taking place there. But, then again, that was the point.
"Hey, Jay? Do you need another tablecloth?"
"No. This is my last table."
"Ok. I gotta know," Bruce looked down at them, "Your name is Lenora. How the hell did you end up with a nickname like 'Jay'?"
"Ah. That was my doing," Barbara laughed, "It's because she's as flighty as a Blue Jay. You should have seen her when we started working on the dress. She was running back and forth, around the room, trying to work on all of this and take care of the babies at the same time."
"Barbara wanted to put feathers on the train of the dress but I had to remind her that it wasn't in the budget," Lenora cupped Eli's head as she stood up straight, "We're doing the silver train instead."
"It still looks like vvings," Otto assured them, "But like fairy vvings razer zan angel vvings. I zink it suits you better."
"I actually meant for it to look like a greek shawl. Kinda a subtle reference to her being from Greece," Nomura insisted, "But I guess fairy wings work, too."
Lenora ducked her head and went back in for the flowers. Otto was right behind her. He toyed with the purple, blue, and white flowers for a moment. They arranged the flowers on the various tables.
"Bruce, are you going to help move zings around upstairs, too?"
"I can. Della wants me home before dark though. She wants me to help her get her camera ready for tomorrow. If you know what I mean."
Otto rubbed his eyes, "I vvish I didn't."
"Bruce, please. Not in front of the babies."
"Sorry, Barb. It's just so much fun to watch them squirm."
Once they finished putting out the decorations and covering it all to keep it from prying eyes, they went back inside.
"Is everything ready to be moved, Lenora?" Walter looked at her, "If it is then we can get it all moved while you finish the dress."
"It should be. Eli's things are in his cot and mine is on the bed."
Walter nodded and waved for Otto to lead the way. They made their way up to the guest bedroom and stopped in the doorway.
"Did she already move some stuff into the other bedroom?" Bruce asked.
Otto shook his head sadly and took one of the dresser drawers from the bed, "I'm afraid not. All she had vvhen vve met vvas vone suitcase. She didn't have any money after Eli vvas born und she lost ze money she spent on her plane ticket. I helped her buy everyzing she needed for Eli but she refused to let me buy anyzing for herself."
The other two exchanged a look and picked up the other two drawers. They pushed Otto's bed against the far wall of his room to make room for Lenora's bed and dresser. Otto's clothes were in the closet. Then they put the dresser drawers on Otto's bed and went back for Lenora's bed. Of course, they had to disassemble the bed frame to move it and maneuver the mattress and boxspring down the hall to the other room. Once it was all moved over they opted to move Eli's cot into the nursery.
"Thirsty?" Barbara stood at the top of the stairs, tray of lemonade in her hands.
Walter leaned over the railing and took a glass, "You are an angel."
"Lenora and Nomura are finishing up the dress so I figured you three could use something to drink."
"Und vve are eturnaly grateful," Otto took one of the glasses.
"I bet. How much more do you have to finish?"
Bruce sat on the top step to drink his lemon aid, "Just got to put the bed back together and put everything away."
"Good thing, too. The boys need to go to bed here soon."
"Zen vve'll finish ze nursery first," Otto promised and drained his glass.
Barbara nodded and made his way back down to the living room. While Otto put Eli's things away, Walter and Bruce put the bed back together.
"And here is where I have to part ways," Bruce declared, "It's my turn to make dinner and I don't want to keep Della waiting."
"Zank you again, Bruce. Zere's no vvay vve could have finished it all vvizout your help."
"Eh. What are friends for? See you nerds tomorrow."
"Do you think you can handle the rest, Otto?" Walter stretched, "It's just making the bed that's left. Barbara already took Jim home so Nomura's the only one left."
"I zink I can handle it. Danke.
"Bitte, Bruderlein. See you bright and early tomorrow."
Otto chuckled and rubbed his eyes, "VVhat do zink our odds of getting ze boys to sleep zrew ze night are?"
"Not great."
Otto chuckled and followed his brother down the stairs.
"Nomura, I don't think there's anything more we can do to it! This is as good as it's going to get."
He stopped dead in his tracks. Lenora was in her dress and Nomura was still pulling at the hem and train.
"I know, I know. Ugh. Ok," Nomura stood up and rubbed her eyes, "We'll do your hair tomorrow. Barbara should be completely ready to go when she gets here so we shouldn't have to worry about her. I'll just have to put on my dress and-"
"Yes. I know the plan. Go home. Sleep!"
Nomura sighed and nodded, "Fine. Fine...What are you staring at?"
Otto shook his head, "Er, you look lovely."
Lenora ducked her head and blushed, "I'll change and help you get everything upstairs finished in just a moment."
Otto just nodded. Walter rolled his eyes and waved Nomura out the door with him. They fed the boys, changed their diapers, and tucked them into their cots. Then, they lay out his tux and her dress in the living room and collapsed in their bedroom.
"Can vve be done vviz today?"
"Almost. We need to eat or something. Shit! I forgot to finish the cake!"
"Rise and Shine!" Nomura burst through the bedroom door, "Today's the day and we got a lot to do!"
Lenora groaned and sat up, "What time is it?"
"Time to get a watch. Lets go."
Lenora found herself dragged out of bed as Otto was pulled down the stairs by Walter.
"Nomura, slow down. We have to take care of Eli and Toby first."
"No you don't. Barbara's covering baby duity while Walt and I get you and Otto ready for the pictures."
"I don't need help to put on my dress. It's not like it has a corset or anything like that."
"Oh yeah. That's not what I'm here for. I'm doing your makeup and hair."
She didn't get a chance to reply before Nomura forced her into a chair she had placed in the center of the bedroom. Nomura stared down at her, tapping her chin. Then, she opened her makeup organizer and ran a finger over her pallets. She held up an eyeliner tube. Lenora suddenly felt very afraid.
"Don't look at me like that. It's just eyeliner. Now take off your glasses."
Downstairs, Walter was helping his little brother with his tux. His hands shook as he tried to tie his bow tie.
"VVhy am I so nervous?"
Walter chuckled and tied the bow tie for him, "I think it's adorable. Besides, do you remember how nervous I was when I married Barbara?"
"You do remember zat Lenora und I are not really getting married, right?"
"Of course I do," Walter teased, "But that won't stop you from being nervous. And it's not completely unfounded. We don't really know what Della has in mind for all of us today."
Otto nodded and buttoned his cufflinks. Footsteps on the staircase made Walter look up. His jaw dropped.
"Was?" Otto turned and his heart dropped into his shoes.
Barbara, Nomura, and Lenora were making their way down, each holding one of the babies. Barbara and Nomura were both dressed in dark blue dresses. Half of Lenora's hair was pulled up into a rose braid, her flower crown veil draped down her back.
"Like what you see?" Barbara handed Jim to his father and kissed his cheek.
"I believe I do."
"You two sicken me," Nomura groused.
Lenora ducked her head, "How does it look?"
"Y-You look amazing."
She blushed and tucked Eli closer to her chest. A horn honked outside and Bruce ducked through the door, camera bag in hand.
"We're here. Where do I put this stuff?"
Just put it in the backyard. We just have to take the sheets down and it's all ready."
"Are we all ready?" Della asked as she entered, "Oh! Remind me to have you all plan my wedding! This is amazing."
Bruce blushed and made a beeline for the back door.
Della chuckled and looked at the 'bride', "Lenora, good to see you again. You look lovely."
"Thanks."
The rest of the party made their way to the backyard and finished getting it ready.
"Ok," Della got out her camera, "Walter, you said you'll doctor the group photos so the people who need to be there are there?"
"Yes."
"Good. I'm thinking of a morning wedding. So, we'll do the actual wedding shots now. Lenora and the girls walking down the aisle, exchanging the rings, the first kiss, all that good stuff. In the afternoon we'll do the post wedding stuff. Couples' photos, the bridal party, Otto and Lenora being dorks, the cute stuff. And in the evening, we'll do the reception. People dancing, half the tuxes missing, passing out in chairs, all that jazz. Any complaints?"
They all stared at her.
"You have put vvay too much zought into zis…"
"Perfect."
True to her word, Della started with Barbara and Walter walking down the aisle, then Nomura with her arm extended for Ralph to be photoshopped into. Then Lenora proceeded down the aisle, alone. Otto and Lenora stood under the tool lined archway, hand in hand, looking at an invisible preacher. Then the babies started crying. They took care of them while they waited for the time to pass for later pictures. Then Otto and Lenora were thrown back up on the 'altar' for the kiss.
"Less stiff, you two," Della ordered, "This is supposed to be your first kiss as husband and wife, not your first kiss at a middle school dance."
Lenora ducked her head and blushed, "I'm sorry."
Otto looked up, cheeks just as red. Walter pulled him back and whispered in his ear. Barbara pulled Lenora over and whispered to her. Then they were thrown on the altar again.
"Alright, Bruce, the line."
"Just kiss!"
Otto wrapped one hand around Lenora's neck and the other around her waist. He pulled her close as he kissed her. She wound her arms around his neck, bending back as he pulled her in.
"That works!" Della shouted, "Um. You two can stop now…"
They straightened up, faces just as red as before. The others snickered behind their hands. They took a break to check out the pictures and take care of the babies.
"Would anyone be opposed to doing some in the forest?" Della had a hopeful gleam in her eye.
Walter looked at the rest of the 'wedding party', "Otto's house in Germany was on the edge of a forest so it would make sense."
"But with the babies…" Lenora looked down at Eli.
Her baby was nursing on his bottle, one hand fisted around the violet necklace Barbara had lent her.
"I zink vve can handle it," Otto burped Toby, "VVe vvon't go far und zere is enough of us zat zere vvill alvvays be someone to hold zem."
Lenora bit her lip and nodded slowly.
"Don't worry, Lenora. We're going to do a few more at the house and I only have a couple that I want to do in the forest."
The babies were laid back in the playpen and they got back to work. The entire group, with a space for Ralph, stood by the altar. Lenora's train was elegantly draped down the aisle. Then they did one with just Otto and Lenora; just Lenora and the girls; just Otto and Walter; and one playful one with the babies. With the 'church' pictures out of the way, Della led the way into the trees behind the house. She held her camera against her chest and tapped her chin as she looked around.
"There will do," She pointed at one of the trees, "Otto, Lenora, stand against the tree."
They handed their babies to Nomura and Barbara and stood where she pointed. She gave them both a tired look.
"Otto, push Lenora against the tree."
They hesitated then turned around. Lenora leaned back against the tree and Otto put his hands on either side of her shoulders. They wait for Della to tell them what to do next.
"Hm...I don't like it...Switch places."
They wordlessly switched positions so that Otto's back was against the tree and Lenora was in front of him. He hummed and looked over his shoulder.
"I have an idea. Just don't ask me to talk after I do it, OK?"
Lenora nodded and leaned back. Otto took a deep breath and hooked his heels onto low hanging branches. He pushed himself up, leaning back against the tree, until his face was level with Lenora's. Della stared for a moment then lifted her camera.
"Otto, hold her neck. Lenora, put your hands under his arms and kiss him."
Lenora stepped forward, standing between his news, and braced herself on the tree under his arms. Otto wound his arms around her neck and kissed her gently. Della went around and took several pictures at different angles.
"Alright, let him down. He's starting to shake," Walter called.
Lenora stepped back and watched as Otto slid back down the tree and unhooked his heels. He immediately doubled over with his hands on his knees.
"It's been a vvhile since I've done somezing like zat," He gasped.
"How did you even do it?"
"Core muscles," Walter chuckled and handed her Eli, "You know his rock collection? He used to go rock climbing to find new ones in the mountains outside his home town."
"I'm a little out of practice," He groaned, "Oh. Zat hurt more zan I expected. Oof."
"Don't worry. You can lie down for the next couple," Della giggled, "Then we'll go back to the house."
It was well past dark by the time they finished all the pictures and disassembled the wedding scene. Otto and Lenora didn't bother to change before they flopped down on the sopha.
"If this is a fake wedding then I don't ever want a real wedding," Lenora began wiping off her makeup.
"Walter und Barbara's vvedding vvas more...fun...Ze ceremony vvas a lot of standing obviously, und zere vvere pictures after zat. But after all zat it vvas a lot more dancing und party zen posing und taking care of zree babies."
Otto took off his bowtie and sighed.
"Can we sleep here?"
"You vvon't hear me complain."
They were quiet for a moment longer, starting to doze off.
"Ze pictures should be done ze day after Christmas."
"Mhm…" She curled into the corner of the sopha, legs tucked under her dress.
Otto sighed and leaned back against the arm, one leg dangling off. Their shoes lay forgotten on the floor.
LLB
1) Asexual Otto Headcannon. Based off my actual response to my father when he asked me.