Prologue
After party
The party was a smash! Everyone had had a marvelous time, talking, laughing, and drinking to long life and good health. No one, however, was happier than Mr. Warbucks, Miss Farrell, and of course Annie. The three were completely inseperetable for the rest of the evening, after, of course, Mr. Warbucks very unexpected, and very noticed kiss.
After the fireworks display, Annie hugged Mr.-Daddy Warbucks as hard as she could, pressing her eye lids closed to keep back the threating tears. Then she turned to Miss. Farrell and hesitated only a second before giving her the same ignoramus hug. Miss. Farrell smiled lovingly down at Annie, tears feeling her own eyes, she glanced up at Oliver who was smiling just as lovingly back, only it was at herself. Miss Farrell blushed and turned back down to look at the red headed wonder. Annie started to let go, when Mr. Warbucks pulled both of the women he cared most for in the whole into his arms…much to the approval of the crowd, who clapped and cheered right along with them. Annie put her arms tight around both of them as if she would never let go, Mr. Warbucks slinked one arm around Miss Farrell and the other he used to wave to the crowd.
"I would just like to say, thank you so much for coming it has meant so much to Annie and-all of us. We hope you enjoyed yourself, and to see you all again soon. Now Goodnight, and go home." he smiled, and the three of them waved merrily as the crowd began to break apart and head back into the house and finally to the entrance hall. Annie saw Duffy go to her new mom and dad, that Mr. Warbucks had found for her, Duffy smiled as she hugged her mother tightly before turning to look back at Annie. Annie grinned and waved before heading off upstairs with her own parents in tow. Annie wondered did this mean that Miss. Ferrell was her mother, oh she hoped it did. Annie loved Miss. Ferrell just as much as she loved Mr. Warbucks and wanted nothing more than for her to be her mother. But after seeing the two of them tonight, it looked as if it were a done deal.
Duffy was being carried out the door by her father now, and Annie looked up at her own father, so proud and happy that he had even after the long day yesterday, not gone to bed until each and everyone of her friends had a good home and were properly adopted.
Mr. Warbucks stopped in front of the white washed door that led to Annie's large bedroom.
"Well, I'll let you tuck her in, Goodnight," Said Grace awkwardly, but before she could turn to leave Mr. Warbucks caught her arm.
"Grace," He said meaningfully, looking at her with an knowing expression. And he pulled lightly on her arm, pulling her into the bedroom. The door shut behind them with a light click, that seemed to knock all the noise and commotion that was happening in the entrance hall out of the room. Mr. Warbucks released Grace's arm, and she smiled sheepishly at him, before placing her hand on Annie's back and leading her gently to the curtain to change.
"Did you have a good time Annie?" Mr. Warbucks asked when she and Miss. Farrell had disappeared behind the curtain.
"Oh yes," Annie replied enthusiastically, " I have never seen anything as beautiful in my life, and Pepper, and Molly, and Duffy, and July, and everyone had a great time. I can't believe they've all got parents now!
Thank you so much Daddy Warbucks, it means so much to me." Annie said stepping out from behind the curtain with Miss. Farrell and once again running and hugging her father. Mr. Warbucks beamed,
"I know it did," He said stroking her hair lightly. "You better get in bed now, we will have a very restful day ahead of us." Annie and Grace both smiled. And Annie hopped up into the big bed, loving the feel of the satin on her skin, realizing that that feeling was hers forever now. Then a thought occurred to Annie.
"Miss Farrell," she began timidly as Grace bent down to kiss her goodnight, "Are you going to be my new mother now?" Annie had to ask it she couldn't help it she had to know.
Grace pulled back her cheeks red with embarrassment. She glanced at Oliver quickly, almost looking for help out of the situation, but to her astonishment he was equally embarrassed by the looks of it. Annie realized this and quickly added.
"But, I understand if you don't want to be, I'm sorry I mentioned it, I know that you will always be there for me, but I understand that you have other responsibilities." Annie said wisely, knowing full well what she was doing.
"Oh no Annie, don't think that I wouldn't want to be your mother, You are one of the most important things in my life right now."
"And the other is your job, right?" said Annie in a very innocent way.
"Uh-yes well my job is very important, It certainly doesn't compare to you though." Said Grace, stroking Annie's hair lightly, " Then will you be my mother, please," said Annie hopefully, But Mr. Warbuck's cough suddenly interrupted the moment.
"Annie, it is getting late, you should be getting to sleep."
Grace smiled sweetly at her, and finished tucking the covers around her before turning and heading for the door with Oliver, both of them saying their goodnights one last time.
On the other side of the door, Oliver turned to look at Grace.
"I hope that Annie didn't embarrass you, Miss Ferrell." Grace couldn't help but stiffen up, he had kissed her twice this evening and he was already back to referring to her as Miss Ferrell, it was like mockery.
"Embarrass me?" Said Grace, astonished, "I love Annie, as much as you do, I am honored that she would want me to be her mother." She retorted angrily. Mr. Warbucks paused for a moment with out knowing what to say, before he finally found his voice.
"Do you know just how beautiful you look, just know." He couldn't help himself, on the whole, people didn't argue with him, I mean who does argue with a billionaire right? But Grace did, and this stirred something in him, he loved seeing her like this, let loose, exposing her deep feelings. But Grace didn't fall for this line like before, instead she only grunted, and threw her arms in the air in exasperation.
"That is very kind, but changing the subject when-"
"No I agree."
"You agree?" Grace asked extremely confused now.
"Yes, I think you should be Annie's mother, you found Annie, you love Annie, and Annie loves you and I- well I…care for you too, a great deal." Oliver said stumbling all over his words and casting his eyes to the side quickly. Grace couldn't believe it, was he saying what she thought he was saying?
"What are you saying?" She thought-but she wasn't sure and had to clarify.
"We'll…what I'm saying," He looked at the door they were standing beside
or…Annie's door….and Mr. Warbucks took Grace's elbow lightly and lead her a few steps away from it, and lowering his voice considerably he continued. "I'm simply saying that I have began to err….have feelings for you, and I understand if you don't return them, but I wanted to ask you to…well to marry me…Annie needs you and so-so do I." He finished, It was a meek attempt, but he was obviously very nervous and that made it all the more perfect for Grace, for this was the man she had fallen in love with. But now she was blushing, and she knew it, her face was on fire, and suddenly she realized had she always been this close to him.
"I, I…I," She couldn't believe she was stuttering! I mean, she was stuttering! "That would be very…." And suddenly she just gave up… "yes." The last bit came out in a whisper that would have been barley audible to the passerby, but Oliver had heard in none the less. The two of them just stared at each other for a moment both wondering if this was real, could it be? In the end Mr. Warbucks came to his senses and leaned in to kiss Grace, but stopped shortly before,
"But, how could you want me, I mean, I'm not exactly handsome and I am grouchy, and I…" But Grace only smiled, and then feeling very brave leaned in and finished the kiss, practically have to grip Oliver's tux so that her weak knees didn't make her collapse.
"You are perfect, I love you dearly."
"Tomorrow!" Demanded Oliver
"What?" Said Grace startled.
"We shall be married tomorrow!"
"Tomorrow?" Said Grace amazed, I mean quite honestly it had been a very long day, and she had just admitted her love, and…well she wasn't a very spontaneous person.
"Yes tomorrow! Make note of that Miss-" and then he laughed, "No don't make note of that I will find a new secretary you never have to work a day again, although you will be hard to replace-"
"I don't mind still being your secretary." Grace interrupted hopefully, to be honest she did enjoy her job quite a lot. Oliver smiled.
"Alright then, Grace, please make note, that tomorrow precisely at noon we are to be married." Mr. Warbucks said matter-of-factly.
"Will there be anything else, sir?" Grace said teasingly
"Yes this," and with that he bent his head low and kissed her passionately.
"I see," Grace whispered, after the kiss, and then recollecting herself, remembered… "What about Annie?"
"We will tell her in the morning, let's let her sleep."
The two said there goodnights and then headed off to their beds, each very surprised and excited about the next days events.