Thank you to all those who reviewed! Please keep on doing so!
Lauren I will in future Chapters be going through Belle's birth but I haven't decided if I' am going to do a piece for Courtney's pregnancy (review and tell me if I should). I will do a chapter on what happened when Sonny found out, but later on because I want to age Belle when I do it.
Lucky thanks for correcting me on the use of toddler.
Chapter2: Preparations Galore
Jason watched as Belle played with her toys on the penthouse carpet content in having a tea party with her stuffed animals. Courtney walked in shivering slightly as she shook the snow of her jacket removing her gloves and scarf.
"Mommy" Belle ran into Courtney's arms hugging her tightly. Jason smiled at his wife placing a chaste kiss on her lips causing her smile to grow wider.
"Daddy and me were having a tea party" The little girl stated squirming slightly until Courtney set her back onto the ground.
"Were you" Courtney replied eyeing Jason with raised eyebrows, receiving a sheepish grin in response. Belle once again sat in the middle of her stuffed animal party, handing a teacup over to a stuffed hippo.
"Where were you? Carly said you only needed to be at the club for the beverage shipment" Jason said wrapping his arms around Courtney's waist tightly.
"I know but I had to run over and drop off some pictures of Belle at Emily's" She said taking seat on the couch, letting the warmth of the fire melt her frozen limbs. Belle hopped onto the chesterfield snuggling into her mothers' arms to help her get warm again also.
"Mommy whens Aunty Emily gonna baby-sit" Belle looked up at her mother expectantly, impatiently awaiting a response.
"Well your Aunt Carly is first in line on any babysitting opportunities, but I'm sure we can convince her to give one up to Aunty Emily" Courtney stroked her daughters' hair as she spoke watching the little girl become calm.
"Daddy, tell me about the day you said Mommy looked the prettiest ever" The little girl demanded softly, watching her father tense slightly, before taking a seat on the couch beside her. Courtney looked at Jason a grin spreading across her features, as she remembered the events of that day almost five years ago.
"Okay you want to hear the wedding story well it would probably be better if your mother started off the story and told you about all the girly stuff" Jason stated earning a playful slap on the chest from Courtney.
"Well it Christmas day when your aunt Carly and me started making arrangements….
Michael bounded down the stairs jumping up and down as he laid eyes on the load of gifts stuffed beneath the tree. Carly yawned wrapping her robe tighter around herself, trying to appear happy despite the early hour. Sonny took his place beside Michael, the pair looking through the gifts, like kids in a candy store. Carly smiled at the scene, making her way to the door as she heard the impatient knock. Courtney and Jason stood on the other side of the door dressed and wide-awake trying to balance the gifts in their arms. Carly ushered them in watching as Michael ran to the two latching himself to them, before they had a chance to unload their packages. Jason picked the red headed boy up taking him back towards the tree, the three men sifting through more gifts, while Carly cornered Courtney.
"So how was last night?" A smirk spread across Carly's features as she saw the blush start to creep up in Courtney's cheeks.
"Amazing Carly it was so beautiful, the candles, flowers, Rosie…. Everything"
"And the ring" Carly stated grabbing her sister in laws hand to observe the diamond.
"Oh and Carly thanks for the bridal magazine in my stocking" Courtney stated letting the dark blonde know she was onto her.
"So you knew it was me huh, who told?"
"Well the fact that Jason started stuttering and got all tense when I found it was my first clue" Courtney replied, chuckling softly as she recalled the few tense moments shared in the penthouse. The two women took a seat on the couch watching as Michael began to rip through gift after gift his excitement growing with each.
"Aunt Courtney this ones for you" The boy stated handing over an envelope wrapped in a simple silver ribbon. As the blonde opened the present, she glanced at Carly with a raised eyebrow.
"What is it?" Jason asked coming to sit beside his fiancé. After reading the card, he too looked up at Carly, while Sonny watched on puzzled.
"What did you do Carly?" Sonny asked sounding like Ricky Ricardo talking to Lucy.
"It's a dress fitting for tomorrow afternoon, at a boutique downtown" Courtney responded after Carly seemed to plead the fifth. Sonny shook his head, giving Carly one of his patented, "Why couldn't you stay out of it" looks. His wife only shrugged in response.
"It's never too early to start planning" Carly stated focusing her attention back on her son in hopes of ending the discussion.
"Carly we haven't even set a date yet" Courtney replied looking to Jason for support but he seemed more interested in Michaels new fire truck.
"I was thinking new years eve" Carly stated turning her attention back to Courtney, who when seeing the look in her eyes, wished that she too was down on the carpet playing with Michael's toys.
"Carly next New Years Eve sounds like a perfect date" Courtney responded accepting a cup of coffee from Sonny. Carly shook her head swallowing a sip of coffee before letting out a soft chuckle.
"No sweetie I meant this New Years Eve"
Courtney instructed herself to swallow, before she could spit out the steaming liquid, in surprise. She looked at Jason sending him a pleading gaze but to her surprise, he looked happy at the suggestion. This was the same man, who almost passed out in shock, when the bridal magazine appeared, thought Courtney.
"I don't know I mean Carly that's less than a week away there is so much to plan, florists, music, where the wedding is going to be held…" Carly raised her hand to stop her sister in law's rant.
"My club, I already know a great florist and I had a very nice band booked for the clubs' opening anyway" Carly recited smirking as the slight hesitation faded from Courtney's features.
"Fine, you proved your point Carly you have everything planned… sorta makes me think you've known Jason's plan for a while" Courtney stated, eying her fiancé and sister in law suspiciously, both were conveniently focusing their attention elsewhere.
After dinner
Courtney hugged Carly promising to meet her early the next day, so they could make their way towards the Bridal Boutique. Jason finally pulled her away and out into the hallway towards their penthouse.
"Are you sure about getting married in a week I mean… it's a little fast isn't it" Courtney asked biting her lip as she contemplated all the things that had happened in the past two days. Jason wrapped him arms around her waist meeting her gaze.
" I want to marry you as soon as I can" The simple statement reminded Courtney of all the reasons she fell in love with him, all the reasons she had said yes the night before. She pulled his face down letting his lips slowly descend upon hers, yelping in surprise when she was lifted off the ground and into his arms.
"I have to practice for our wedding night" Was Jason's response to the look of shock on her features, as he carried her towards their bedroom.
The next day
Courtney entered the boutique with Carly by her side. Both trying to keep awake, while their bodies reminded them of the early hour. Carly removed her jacket taking Courtney's', handing them both to a woman behind the main desk. The dark blonde attempted to take a sip of the coffee, she insisted she grab from Kelly's on the way, when a sales woman snatched it from her hands.
"No drinking in the store" The woman replied dumping the still steaming beverage in the garbage with a satisfied smile. Courtney placed a hand on Carly's arm, in an attempt to hold her back from attacking the sales woman, who dared to take away her sister in laws morning dose of caffeine. The woman did not seem to notice the ready to pounce position and ushered the women to the back of the store towards the fitting rooms.
Courtney knew hours of sifting through dresses lay before her, somehow not even the thought of all the time it would take, could damper her good mood.
2 hours later
Courtney glanced up from her magazine as Carly came out in one of the latest maid of honor dress options. It was light pink, strapless and barely touched the ground as Carly walked the length of the carpet showing it off.
"Pinks not really my color but hey I still pull it off better then anyone could" Carly stated smiling as she admired herself in the mirror.
"It's nice on you Carly, but it would probably look better on me" Carly raised her eyebrows at the brown-haired woman who walked further into the room. Courtney looked at the intruder, suspiciously. The blonde couldn't help the nagging feeling that she had seen the woman before
"Hi I'm Emily, Jason's sister" The woman stated, as Courtney shook her outstretched hand.
"Hi, I'm…"
"Courtney, I know when Jason picked me up at the airport he couldn't stop talking about you, I have never heard him talk for that long using complete sentences" Emily stated laughing slightly, as she let her eyes roam over Courtney and Carly.
"Jason didn't tell me you were going to be in town for the wedding" Courtney said looking at her sister in law to be, with a smile.
"I wasn't supposed to be but Carly called and asked if I would be a bridesmaid, of course that was after in forming me that she was the maid of honor" The brunette stated giving Courtney a smile.
"I'm really glad you could be here for me and Jason's wedding, I know it means a lot to him".
Emily nodded getting involved in the fittings, by taking the same type of dress Carly was sporting into the dressing room to try on.
Courtney looked up at Carly who busied herself with fussing over her hair and makeup.
"Thank you" Courtney said giving the woman a hug, which Carly returned happily.
Hours later, the only dress left to choose was Courtney's, one after the other the options were sifted through. Before she finally stepped out in, the "one".
Looking at herself in the mirror Courtney could not help but smile from ear to ear, it was beautiful, looking towards the other women in the room she knew they agreed. Taking a deep breath Courtney glanced in the mirror again imagining herself, in this dress walking towards Jason, walking towards her future.
"You know what it's time for dinner so why don't we finish the story at bedtime k?" Courtney asked looking down at her daughter. Belle hesitated before nodding and rushing off to wash up.
"Well are you preparing to tell your version of the wedding day?" The blonde stated observing the faraway look in Jason's eyes. He nodded, pulling her into his lap. Courtney laid her head against his chest, while Jason placed his chin on the top of her head. Both began to get lost in the memories, of the day that shaped where they were now.
