My turn:
"You look real pretty," Ellie smiled as she watched Trudy fiddle with the dress.
"Thank you," she said, flushing wildly, her smile huge. Her hands rose to her hair but Alice batted them away. "Don't touch! Took forever to get those braids to loop."
They'd pulled together a pretty good event in only two weeks. Trudy opened her mouth to comment on it but Patsy and Cloe clattered in, the second stopping short. "Oh, Trudy, you look so nice."
She nodded a thank you, she didn't think she looked too shabby either. The dress was ivory-colored, long and silky, a honest-to-goodness wedding dress. The sleeves were long and ended in points with tiny pearls at the tips, the skirt slightly full and the top reminiscent of a corset, fitting nicely over her, as yet, undisturbed belly. They'd found it in a stockroom, tucked in a box with a brand name that used to mean something. And she loved it. She. Was. Getting. Married!
She could hardly believe it, especially after the anxiety she'd been suffering when Lex purposed. But he'd been there to bat away her concerns every night. He'd lay in bed with her, a hand over her waist and . . . be there. For days after his proposal she'd look over and begin her thoughts on why she didn't want to tie him down, but he'd smile like she'd said the cutest joke or some kind of clever line. After a while she'd start her stop - and then smile herself. He'd usually stay until she started to drift off, then he'd slowly drag himself out of bed and to his own room to check on KC and fall to sleep. She never asked him to stay, maybe she was shy, but he didn't push, and eventually she started to reach out after he left - missing him.
But now he'd be there every night. And she got to marry her best friend, how great was that? She touched her hair that Alice worked so hard on. A few braids were in small loops as an imitation crown; the rest of her long hair was piled on her head, bits everywhere among the feathers that decorated it.
"Really pretty," Cloe echoed.
"Thanks, Cloe," Trudy smiled, she was a little nervous, it was her day after all . . . And so far it hadn't even occurred that there might be more involved in that wedding night. He was marrying her as a friend after all, why would he look at her that way? "So what've you got there?"
"Oh!" the younger girl laughed. "I almost forgot. See, I remembered my cousin's wedding, I was the flower girl so I got to be in the room when she dressed and they gave these kinds of things."
She walked forward and Trudy's eyes fell to Cloe's holding, a softly colored blue feather sticking out.
"Thank you, Cloe," Trudy smiled, hugging her through her clasped hands and then hugging Patsy.
Alice reached out, before announcing, "You forgot some. We need old, borrowed, and the new."
"My shoes are old. They've just been in a box, where would you wear white heels these days?" Trudy asked.
"Next comes the new."
"We've got it," Cloe said waving her hand.
"And blue," Patsy chimed in.
"Borrowed too?" Alice smiled.
"Yep, we took it from Lex's room," Cloe grinned proudly.
"You shouldn't be snooping in people's room," Ellie imposed lightly.
"We had to get a blue feather," Cloe defended.
"Besides, KC was driving him nuts so he didn't even notice us, and he said that the blue was too light and girlie to wear anyway. It was just setting there," Patsy shrugged.
"A grand job," Alice said taking the feather and putting it among the others in Trudy's hair. "Look's like you're all done."
Trudy smiled at her reflection genuinely. It felt good, knowing that she and Lex would be . . . bonded. She breathed out, ignoring the doubts in her mind. She couldn't wait.
**
"KC, if you put that thing in my face *ONE* MORE TIME!"
"You need something borrowed!" his younger brother protested, waving his 'evil eye' hat in Lex's face.
"I'm not wearing that, and only girl's do that stuff."
KC looked at the hat and tossed in on the bed. Stupid Patsy and Cloe. "When's Trudy's going to have her baby?"
"Not for months and months," Lex answered. "Least six."
A tap on the door made them turn and Ryan stood there, a bit off center, unsure he should be there since their fight.
"Hey," Ryan said, stepping a foot in. "Just came to see if you were doing all right."
"We're fine," Lex said dismissively.
Ryan stepped back but stopped. "I'm sorry. KC, I'm sorry to you too."
He turned to go and Lex looked to his brother who, shockingly, was giving him a nod in his friend's direction. Lex sighed raggedly.
"Ryan. Wait." His friend stopped and spun. Lex licked his lips and scanned the room before falling back to him. "KC thinks we should make up and, since I'm getting married in about half an hour, I'm in a pretty okay mood."
Ryan's mouth quirked up and he nodded. "Alright then."
"This is turning out to be a pretty good day," KC said as he watched. "Now maybe *you* can tell him to change his stupid shoes."
Ryan's gaze dropped to Lex's dress shoes. "What's wrong with them?"
"He'll never be able to fight in those," KC said disapprovingly.
"I'm not planning on fighting today, unless they ambush us or somethin'."
"And if they do?"
"KC!"
"Okay, okay. I'll go and see what Trudy's doing, but I'm *not* changing my boots."
He left and Lex sighed, sitting on his bed.
"Stressful?" Ryan asked.
"Not really," he answered, mostly he was tired. He'd spent most of last night with Bray, Amber, and Jack, something was coming and they weren't sure what. They'd been mounting their defense and the rumors of the Locos having new designs for the Mallrats were pouring in. Far as they knew, little was in motion, but the preparations were on. After the meeting he'd had barely any time to go to Trudy, she'd waited up for him, but as soon as he climbed into bed, she had dropped off. It took him ten minutes to pull himself away from her and to his own room. He never wanted to pressure her, she seemed a little sensitive since they found out she was pregnant and he didn't want her thinking he wanted to have sex with her - she was on edge enough.
Which was a good point.
The wedding night.
"Everybody was shocked when they found out," Ryan said, sitting next to him, and breaking his train of thought. "No one even knew you were together."
"In this place that's something to marvel at." Lex bitched not to let on that there was nothing to know anyway.
"You guys were spending a lot of time together, I guess no one thought that far ahead. Mostly everyone was thinking you were trying to have a roll with her."
"Nice thing to say about my future wife," Lex said tersely.
"Come on, you know I didn't mean anything."
"Other than my reputation is of ill repute?"
". . . Besides that," Ryan said with a little smile.
A curve drew over Lex's mouth. "Maybe that fact's accurate."
"Well, I better go, I've got to make sure the kids are ready."
"Right." Lex yawned and leaned his head in his hand.
In an hour he'd be a married man . . . in twenty minutes the ceremony would take place. Bray would be spouting the words, and probably looking for Amber since she would more than likely miss the wedding to scout for tips on the Locos next move. And he would say yes. Yes, he takes Trudy as his wife. . . The weird thing was that it didn't FEEL weird. He was looking forward to it.
He looked at his bed and blinked. Everything in the room was almost moved out, Alice had made sure they got moved into a bigger room, and decorated for her wedding gift. They'd be in one bed, all night.
He wasn't going to ask . . . so maybe he'd ask. . . If they were married . . .
He should have thought of this before.
**
"This had better work," Zoot growled.
"It will," Jaffa assured him. He'd be rubbed out otherwise, he knew it, and he was going to prevent it. He'd brought up a couple of their most innocent looking members, and some alluring; they would be the ticket.
"These are the best you could get?" the leader asked. This was his great plan to bring down his enemy group? Send in decoys of these washouts? . . . Their appearances may work to the advantage.
"They are very loyal." Jaffa looked at the group. "We know there are a lot of individuals in the Mallrats that want to take in the unfortunates, we send them in all pity and without pride and they can start planting the seeds of change. By the time we come around again they'll be clamoring to join us."
"Fine. Just two though, we don't want to be suspicious."
Jaffa nodded as Zoot walked down the line; he eyed a boy, young, maybe ten. His face was dirty and he looked convincing.
"His name is Martin. He's perfect," Jaffa spoke up, receiving a scathing look.
"I swear to do your duty, Sir," the boy said. Zoot looked carefully. A namesake. That should get his brother in a manipulative mood.
"You're going."
Martin stepped out of line and Zoot moved on, pausing when he came to a striking pair, Ebony's sisters. He had innocent, now he needed a seducer, and if they were anything like their sister . . . "Siva. You're going."
She seemed the meeker of the two and she looked to her sister before stepping away. Her match stepped forward, presumably to ask to go along but Zoot stopped her with a hand.
He only needed one.
He turned on heel and headed away, Jaffa started to skid off behind him, but whipped his head back to the group, knowing he had to put things in order there.
Zoot met his room, opening the door he was thankful Ebony wasn't there and he didn't have to go through her annoyed protests when he threw her out. He fell onto the bed, muscles tight, and nerves skittering at frantic paces. There was always something for him to do, useless underlings that couldn't do a thing without his help - not that he would have it any other way.
But this should go well. They would bide there time, slowly advancing so that their lack of motion infuriated his dear brother and tribe, and he would be able to slip a decoy under their noses for them to brush it off. He knew it would work it out. Those people often fell for a hard-luck story, his brother the best of the lot.
They hadn't fought for so long now, not since . . . a month after that night. He knew exactly because no other night held such a simple title. That night. *That* night.
It was something he'd wanted and could never have - even after the virus when she rebuffed him when he asked her to leave Bray behind and start a new tribe with him. But that night when she was brought to him . . . She startled him, the tired eyes and limp hair she possessed the last time he saw her were replaced by older, striking looks. She appeared almost strong- willed when they dragged her in. Then she saw him; he could feel that old flicker of the anxious boy he had been come back for a moment.
She seemed to soften for that second, even seemed to sadden. He recovered himself quickly, and ordered everyone away, stalking up to her and making a move. She looked down almost sad, and she let him kiss her neck.
When he woke to find her gone the gripping misery that seized him turned to anger - He wasn't sure what became of those guards that had been watching his tent. He'd given them to Jaffa to punish, and he knew Jaffa would want to please him. The question was what became of Trudy? He only heard murmurs; he would not stoop to ask his followers questions, to let them know he wanted for anything that he could not get. His last clue was from a skinny, gaunt boy that they'd gone to school with. He mentioned that she'd fought in the last battle that the Mallrats had been involved in, after that, it seemed no one even knew who she was.
**
He slipped the simple silver and sapphire ring on her finger and he felt the air of the breath she'd been holding slide over his own ringed finger. Lex looked at Trudy's face, her big smile greeting him. She laughed nervously and flexed her hand, grabbing his wrist.
"You may kiss," Bray added when they didn't move.
Lex looked at her, she flushed a little and he doubted now was the time to approach the kissing and/or sex question. He leaned in and Trudy met him eagerly, mashing her lips to his. Grabbing his hand she turned and headed down the small path flanked by the Mallrats. That was their first kiss, Lex seemed to notice this more than Trudy, she just seemed excited.
Lex glanced from side to side at everyone that flanked the isle of white fabric and flowers. Then he looked to his . wife. At the end of the isle he pulled her toward him again, surprising her with the soft peck that landed on her lips. Trudy looked at him, holding his hand, a slow smile covering over her face once more.
She was married.
KC clapped at the union, shoving Patsy to do the same, his eyes flickering over the crowd. Ever trying to ensure there weren't any attacks about to come.
"You look real pretty," Ellie smiled as she watched Trudy fiddle with the dress.
"Thank you," she said, flushing wildly, her smile huge. Her hands rose to her hair but Alice batted them away. "Don't touch! Took forever to get those braids to loop."
They'd pulled together a pretty good event in only two weeks. Trudy opened her mouth to comment on it but Patsy and Cloe clattered in, the second stopping short. "Oh, Trudy, you look so nice."
She nodded a thank you, she didn't think she looked too shabby either. The dress was ivory-colored, long and silky, a honest-to-goodness wedding dress. The sleeves were long and ended in points with tiny pearls at the tips, the skirt slightly full and the top reminiscent of a corset, fitting nicely over her, as yet, undisturbed belly. They'd found it in a stockroom, tucked in a box with a brand name that used to mean something. And she loved it. She. Was. Getting. Married!
She could hardly believe it, especially after the anxiety she'd been suffering when Lex purposed. But he'd been there to bat away her concerns every night. He'd lay in bed with her, a hand over her waist and . . . be there. For days after his proposal she'd look over and begin her thoughts on why she didn't want to tie him down, but he'd smile like she'd said the cutest joke or some kind of clever line. After a while she'd start her stop - and then smile herself. He'd usually stay until she started to drift off, then he'd slowly drag himself out of bed and to his own room to check on KC and fall to sleep. She never asked him to stay, maybe she was shy, but he didn't push, and eventually she started to reach out after he left - missing him.
But now he'd be there every night. And she got to marry her best friend, how great was that? She touched her hair that Alice worked so hard on. A few braids were in small loops as an imitation crown; the rest of her long hair was piled on her head, bits everywhere among the feathers that decorated it.
"Really pretty," Cloe echoed.
"Thanks, Cloe," Trudy smiled, she was a little nervous, it was her day after all . . . And so far it hadn't even occurred that there might be more involved in that wedding night. He was marrying her as a friend after all, why would he look at her that way? "So what've you got there?"
"Oh!" the younger girl laughed. "I almost forgot. See, I remembered my cousin's wedding, I was the flower girl so I got to be in the room when she dressed and they gave these kinds of things."
She walked forward and Trudy's eyes fell to Cloe's holding, a softly colored blue feather sticking out.
"Thank you, Cloe," Trudy smiled, hugging her through her clasped hands and then hugging Patsy.
Alice reached out, before announcing, "You forgot some. We need old, borrowed, and the new."
"My shoes are old. They've just been in a box, where would you wear white heels these days?" Trudy asked.
"Next comes the new."
"We've got it," Cloe said waving her hand.
"And blue," Patsy chimed in.
"Borrowed too?" Alice smiled.
"Yep, we took it from Lex's room," Cloe grinned proudly.
"You shouldn't be snooping in people's room," Ellie imposed lightly.
"We had to get a blue feather," Cloe defended.
"Besides, KC was driving him nuts so he didn't even notice us, and he said that the blue was too light and girlie to wear anyway. It was just setting there," Patsy shrugged.
"A grand job," Alice said taking the feather and putting it among the others in Trudy's hair. "Look's like you're all done."
Trudy smiled at her reflection genuinely. It felt good, knowing that she and Lex would be . . . bonded. She breathed out, ignoring the doubts in her mind. She couldn't wait.
**
"KC, if you put that thing in my face *ONE* MORE TIME!"
"You need something borrowed!" his younger brother protested, waving his 'evil eye' hat in Lex's face.
"I'm not wearing that, and only girl's do that stuff."
KC looked at the hat and tossed in on the bed. Stupid Patsy and Cloe. "When's Trudy's going to have her baby?"
"Not for months and months," Lex answered. "Least six."
A tap on the door made them turn and Ryan stood there, a bit off center, unsure he should be there since their fight.
"Hey," Ryan said, stepping a foot in. "Just came to see if you were doing all right."
"We're fine," Lex said dismissively.
Ryan stepped back but stopped. "I'm sorry. KC, I'm sorry to you too."
He turned to go and Lex looked to his brother who, shockingly, was giving him a nod in his friend's direction. Lex sighed raggedly.
"Ryan. Wait." His friend stopped and spun. Lex licked his lips and scanned the room before falling back to him. "KC thinks we should make up and, since I'm getting married in about half an hour, I'm in a pretty okay mood."
Ryan's mouth quirked up and he nodded. "Alright then."
"This is turning out to be a pretty good day," KC said as he watched. "Now maybe *you* can tell him to change his stupid shoes."
Ryan's gaze dropped to Lex's dress shoes. "What's wrong with them?"
"He'll never be able to fight in those," KC said disapprovingly.
"I'm not planning on fighting today, unless they ambush us or somethin'."
"And if they do?"
"KC!"
"Okay, okay. I'll go and see what Trudy's doing, but I'm *not* changing my boots."
He left and Lex sighed, sitting on his bed.
"Stressful?" Ryan asked.
"Not really," he answered, mostly he was tired. He'd spent most of last night with Bray, Amber, and Jack, something was coming and they weren't sure what. They'd been mounting their defense and the rumors of the Locos having new designs for the Mallrats were pouring in. Far as they knew, little was in motion, but the preparations were on. After the meeting he'd had barely any time to go to Trudy, she'd waited up for him, but as soon as he climbed into bed, she had dropped off. It took him ten minutes to pull himself away from her and to his own room. He never wanted to pressure her, she seemed a little sensitive since they found out she was pregnant and he didn't want her thinking he wanted to have sex with her - she was on edge enough.
Which was a good point.
The wedding night.
"Everybody was shocked when they found out," Ryan said, sitting next to him, and breaking his train of thought. "No one even knew you were together."
"In this place that's something to marvel at." Lex bitched not to let on that there was nothing to know anyway.
"You guys were spending a lot of time together, I guess no one thought that far ahead. Mostly everyone was thinking you were trying to have a roll with her."
"Nice thing to say about my future wife," Lex said tersely.
"Come on, you know I didn't mean anything."
"Other than my reputation is of ill repute?"
". . . Besides that," Ryan said with a little smile.
A curve drew over Lex's mouth. "Maybe that fact's accurate."
"Well, I better go, I've got to make sure the kids are ready."
"Right." Lex yawned and leaned his head in his hand.
In an hour he'd be a married man . . . in twenty minutes the ceremony would take place. Bray would be spouting the words, and probably looking for Amber since she would more than likely miss the wedding to scout for tips on the Locos next move. And he would say yes. Yes, he takes Trudy as his wife. . . The weird thing was that it didn't FEEL weird. He was looking forward to it.
He looked at his bed and blinked. Everything in the room was almost moved out, Alice had made sure they got moved into a bigger room, and decorated for her wedding gift. They'd be in one bed, all night.
He wasn't going to ask . . . so maybe he'd ask. . . If they were married . . .
He should have thought of this before.
**
"This had better work," Zoot growled.
"It will," Jaffa assured him. He'd be rubbed out otherwise, he knew it, and he was going to prevent it. He'd brought up a couple of their most innocent looking members, and some alluring; they would be the ticket.
"These are the best you could get?" the leader asked. This was his great plan to bring down his enemy group? Send in decoys of these washouts? . . . Their appearances may work to the advantage.
"They are very loyal." Jaffa looked at the group. "We know there are a lot of individuals in the Mallrats that want to take in the unfortunates, we send them in all pity and without pride and they can start planting the seeds of change. By the time we come around again they'll be clamoring to join us."
"Fine. Just two though, we don't want to be suspicious."
Jaffa nodded as Zoot walked down the line; he eyed a boy, young, maybe ten. His face was dirty and he looked convincing.
"His name is Martin. He's perfect," Jaffa spoke up, receiving a scathing look.
"I swear to do your duty, Sir," the boy said. Zoot looked carefully. A namesake. That should get his brother in a manipulative mood.
"You're going."
Martin stepped out of line and Zoot moved on, pausing when he came to a striking pair, Ebony's sisters. He had innocent, now he needed a seducer, and if they were anything like their sister . . . "Siva. You're going."
She seemed the meeker of the two and she looked to her sister before stepping away. Her match stepped forward, presumably to ask to go along but Zoot stopped her with a hand.
He only needed one.
He turned on heel and headed away, Jaffa started to skid off behind him, but whipped his head back to the group, knowing he had to put things in order there.
Zoot met his room, opening the door he was thankful Ebony wasn't there and he didn't have to go through her annoyed protests when he threw her out. He fell onto the bed, muscles tight, and nerves skittering at frantic paces. There was always something for him to do, useless underlings that couldn't do a thing without his help - not that he would have it any other way.
But this should go well. They would bide there time, slowly advancing so that their lack of motion infuriated his dear brother and tribe, and he would be able to slip a decoy under their noses for them to brush it off. He knew it would work it out. Those people often fell for a hard-luck story, his brother the best of the lot.
They hadn't fought for so long now, not since . . . a month after that night. He knew exactly because no other night held such a simple title. That night. *That* night.
It was something he'd wanted and could never have - even after the virus when she rebuffed him when he asked her to leave Bray behind and start a new tribe with him. But that night when she was brought to him . . . She startled him, the tired eyes and limp hair she possessed the last time he saw her were replaced by older, striking looks. She appeared almost strong- willed when they dragged her in. Then she saw him; he could feel that old flicker of the anxious boy he had been come back for a moment.
She seemed to soften for that second, even seemed to sadden. He recovered himself quickly, and ordered everyone away, stalking up to her and making a move. She looked down almost sad, and she let him kiss her neck.
When he woke to find her gone the gripping misery that seized him turned to anger - He wasn't sure what became of those guards that had been watching his tent. He'd given them to Jaffa to punish, and he knew Jaffa would want to please him. The question was what became of Trudy? He only heard murmurs; he would not stoop to ask his followers questions, to let them know he wanted for anything that he could not get. His last clue was from a skinny, gaunt boy that they'd gone to school with. He mentioned that she'd fought in the last battle that the Mallrats had been involved in, after that, it seemed no one even knew who she was.
**
He slipped the simple silver and sapphire ring on her finger and he felt the air of the breath she'd been holding slide over his own ringed finger. Lex looked at Trudy's face, her big smile greeting him. She laughed nervously and flexed her hand, grabbing his wrist.
"You may kiss," Bray added when they didn't move.
Lex looked at her, she flushed a little and he doubted now was the time to approach the kissing and/or sex question. He leaned in and Trudy met him eagerly, mashing her lips to his. Grabbing his hand she turned and headed down the small path flanked by the Mallrats. That was their first kiss, Lex seemed to notice this more than Trudy, she just seemed excited.
Lex glanced from side to side at everyone that flanked the isle of white fabric and flowers. Then he looked to his . wife. At the end of the isle he pulled her toward him again, surprising her with the soft peck that landed on her lips. Trudy looked at him, holding his hand, a slow smile covering over her face once more.
She was married.
KC clapped at the union, shoving Patsy to do the same, his eyes flickering over the crowd. Ever trying to ensure there weren't any attacks about to come.