Annett's Bright Idea

Ch.1

At 6:00 Grace woke, by the sound of her alarm clock, she turned on her side and glared at it, she had forgotten to reset it last night, and after all there wouldn't be any work today- and that's when Grace remembered. The wedding was today! And almost immediately after this thought occurred, Grace was out of bed, grabbing the hair tie she began to automatically tie her long wavy brunette hair back in her typical bun. Then it seemed she remembered Annie's faithful words, and the first day of Mr. Warbuck's attention, and she dropped the hair tie back on her mahogany night-stand.

Then dashing to the bathroom, she preformed her daily rituals, and then turned to face her closet, this was a pressing problem. Although in actuality it didn't really matter what Grace wore, as long as she was there. She still couldn't bare the thought that she had no dress to wear. Nothing…she supposed she could call the dress designer and see if he could whip her up something lickidy-split but…Grace's face hardened. There was no way that one would be done before noon, and how in the world was she going to go buy one, with such a busy day and all…she couldn't just send someone else could she?

A knock on the door broke her from her musing's. Grace smiled, and hurried over to the white washed door, hoping that it was who she thought it was. "Coming," she said as the persistent person knocked again. Grace opened the door, her heart sank a little when she saw that it was just Annett on the other side, however, she smiled just as brightly at her.

"Is it true," the woman asked beaming at her as though she was about to burst with excitement.

"Umm..," said Grace not entirely sure if she was talking about the wedding, "What?" she asked innocently.

"What," the woman said back completely non-pulsed. "The wedding, Mr. Warbucks, said that you-" But Grace had thrown her hand up to stop her, smiling gently.

"I thought you might mean that, yes it's true, I am going to marry Mr. War-emmm Oliver." At this Annette practically squalled with joy, and rushed forward to throw her arms around Grace.

"I am so happy for you, I always knew that you two were mad about each other, I can't believe it, the whole house is in an uproar," She said still hugging Grace tightly who patted her friendly on the back awkwardly but smiling all the same. " Mr. Warbucks announced it to us all this morning, and was telling us all what to do, and what to get, and I say by the sound of it it's going to be quite expensive!" Annette finished all in one breath, finally releasing her. Grace was a bit startled about the expensive part, however. She had thought it was going to be a small wedding, so obviously this had surprised her.

"Expensive?" Grace asked her friend who looked now as if she was going to cry.

"uh-huh, He's got everything from Italian cotton to French chef's on the way, he even hired a dog trainer to come and train Sandy so he could walk down the isle too." Annette began to stroke Grace's hair, and then reached out and took her hand quickly, "But you'll see all that soon enough now I've been sent down here to get you ready and that's exactly was I intend to do."

Grace was stunned, she certainly had not expected all of this. Not that she minded but she really did wish that she could have had some part on the planning if it was going to be a blow out…as it truly sounded. Then another part of her was simply giddy with glee. She was getting married to the love of her life, and she would have the best daughter in the world, not to mention anything else her heart desired, and get to keep her job…it was unthinkable.

"Annette," said Grace finally as she let her lead her off down the hall, I don't have anything to wear and I-" But she was cut off by Annette's fierce giggling.

"Oh Ms. Farrell," Annette said in what sounded like almost pity, "Did you honestly think after all this, that Mr. Warbucks didn't think of that? Where do you think I am taking you?" Grace looked around, they were headed it seemed to the drawing room. " Mr. Warbucks has hired a fitter and a make-up and hair person, to get you ready. It seems he ordered a dress from Paris, and another one from London, and which ever one you like best… is obviously the one." Grace gaped at this, she was really not expecting, for all of this it was honestly a bit overwhelming. Paris and London? Wow, was all that Grace's mind seemed to able to think and she blushed slightly at Mr. Warbucks very obvious doting.

"What about Annie," She said wondering what Oliver had planned for her? But before Annette could answer the doors to the drawing room burst open and a red-headed little girl in a sparkling white dress, with pink lace and embroidery came running as fast as she could towards her.

"Ohh, Miss. Farrell, Miss. Farrell! The girl cried and ran running straight into Grace's arms. Grace smiled warmly and kissed the girl on the head.

"Annie! You look beautiful!" She said pulling back and observing the little girl loving care. Annie smiled and spun around.

"This is from Paris, Ms. Farrell, Paris! Leaping lizards! I never thought I'd have a dress from there. But you have one too. Are you really marring Daddy Warbucks?" Annie asked looking at her with hope and glee.

"Yes, Annie, I am," she said stroking her face lightly, as Annie beamed and hugged her tighter than ever around the waist.

"Your gonna be my new mother right? She asked looking up at Ms. Farrell, through her large warm brown eyes.

"Yes, Annie, and you will be my perfect, wonderful, daughter. So if you want, you don't have to call me Ms. Farrell anymore, you can call me mom, but if you don't want to, I, of course understand," Grace finished a little worried at what Annie might say.

"I think that's a swell idea, mom, I love you so much." And she hugged her again, Grace felt as if you might cry.

"Awww," Came a voice from the entrance of the drawing room. "Zis is of courze very un…how do you say…cute…but really, ve must get back to ze measuring, and fitting, and Annie you vill ruin zat beautiful drez, now! Come in here and letz get started with you mz. Farrell, darling."

"mz" Farrell could not have been happier…she was trying on beautiful gowns that she would wear to marry Oliver, and Annie was twirling around like a goddess her soon to be daughter. Nothing in the world could have been better.

Grace had to admit that when she saw the dress from Paris she was a little taken aback…but then again she had never much liked frills. The white gown was as tight as could be with more sequins and diamonds and frills than Grace ever new existed. However, thanks to Madame Blanc the dress had been thrown over her head before she even knew what was happening. Then the fitting and the "hmmming" from Madame Blanc had come and then some very fast French to her seamstress. The dress from London however, was hanging on the wall behind her, it was white as well, but it could almost have been crème colored, and it did not have the sequins and frills, but only a waist of diamonds and emeralds. The bottom puffed out a bit and the top was silk and flat. It was beautiful. Madame Blanc quickly caught her looking at it.

"Vat! Vou, like zis English dress I see," and she stuck up her nose a little while her assistant came a very distinguishable "HUH" but Madame Blanc through her a minesing look slinging her blonde hair slightly out of its precarious bun.

"Now, now, Chauvet, if mz. Farrell likes this…zis," and she inhaled deeply, "English dress zhen zat is vat she shall get." And she smiled sweetly at Grace, turning towards the dress with a very fast stride.

"Oh," Said Grace quickly hoping that she didn't cause a rift, " Oh, this is just fine, just fine." She said smiling and gesturing to the Paris dress she was wearing that was sticking to her body with lung crushing power.

"Non-sense! You should 'ave what you want, after all it is your wedding, is it not?" And with that she took the dress off of the wall and brought it back to Grace.

"It's so pretty," Annie said her eyes gleaming, Chauvet, was doing her make-up now, and Annie's already long lashes were breathtaking. She looked stunning. "Daddy Warbucks, will be so surprised, I'll be surprised if he will even be able to get through the ceremony because you'll look so beautiful mom." Annie said, smiling softly when she said mom. Grace blushed, and smiled back, making the mistake of turning her head when she did so which pulled out the barrette that Aviance had been working on and she popped her on the head slightly.

"No one will look more beautiful than you Annie." Said Grace, as she looked up at Aviance with a frown.

"Vat, do you expect me to get done, vhen you are slinging your head zis vay and zat!" And she gestured left and right roughly with the hairbrush in her left hand whacking Madame Blanc smartly in the chin as she brought over the English dress. Madame Blanc then said something fast in French and grabbed the hairbrush from her assistant angrily and took over the task of Grace's hair herself. Grace could already tell she was in for quite a morning.