Nicolas did not get to go, it turned out. Monsieur Noel put his foot down and flat out forbade it. While Nicolas did have a rebellious streak in him, it was not enough to disobey a direct order. Richie was a bit let down when he heard he was to spend a week alone with two centuries old immortals, but could understand. He'd been forbidden to do things before and had yet to do them as much as he wanted.

The next morning, Duncan drug the teen out of bed and into the waiting taxi with the promise of breakfast on the train. With tired eyes and rumbling stomachs, they set off on their international journey.

"Oh, Odette!" Tessa laughed as she was led to a limo parked in the driveway. "Where are we going?"

"It is a surprise."

"Just a hint, please!" Before she could finish her begging, the back door opened and her best friend from college, Katia, smiled at her from inside. "AGH!" Tessa screamed and ran for her friend. Katia grinned broadly and met her on the driveway.

"I had to come! What sort of bridesmaid would I be if I waited until just before the wedding to come congratulate you?" They hugged and kissed each other on the cheeks.

"I can't believe you kept this from me!" Tessa laughed slapping Odette in the arm. "Oh no…" she looked from her sister to her friend. "What do you two have planned?"

"Since the men went away for a few days, we are kidnapping you."

"Where are we going?"

"If we told you, it wouldn't be a kidnapping, now would it?" Katia smiled wickedly.

Aftera train ride followed by a ferry trip across the English Channel, Richie was awake enough to engage in conversation.

"We're meeting Connor on the other side?" Richie asked, snuggling into his jacket as the cold wind tussled his hair and turned his ears red.

"Not yet. One more train until we see him."

The rest of the ferry ride and the next train ride were spent by Richie trying to coax embarrassing stories out of the immortal and Duncan trying to change the subject.

Almost as soon as the duo stepped onto the platform in London Charring Cross, Connor appeared out of the crowd. After quiet greetings, they waited for their train to arrive with just polite conversation passing between them. As they boarded the underground, Richie sighed and looked at his watch. "How much longer, Mac?"

"We'll be at the hotel for morning check in."

"Morning? How long is it to Scotland from here?"

Connor smiled. "You will be quite comfortable on the train," he promised. "I booked luxury compartments for us all."

"How comfortable can it be to sleep on a train?"

"Oh, you didn't!" Tessa gasped as she was let out of the limo. In front of her stood the most exclusive spa and resort in all of France. Tucked away among vineyards and hidden from the road, the spa not only gave off the feeling but really was secluded from the rest of the world.

"The men are gone and we will not return until after they do. They can be left to the details for a few days," Katia told her with a grin. "We have to properly pamper the bride before she can go off to cook and clean and slave for some man!"

Tessa laughed. "I may cook, but we have Richie to do the cleaning and the slaving."

Odette laughed. "Oh, he's such a sweet boy, you should really- -"

"No!" Katia interrupted. "We will not speak of any men while we are on the property. Unless Tessa wants to share some details with her best friend…"

She smiled and raised her eyebrows, eyes twinkling. "I suppose I may have a story or two…"

"I have to sleep on a train?" Richie mumbled dropping his duffle bag on the floor. "This is luxury? It's two holes in the wall!"

"You were expecting down mattresses and chandeliers?" Duncan teased him. "This is a train."

"Well, Connor did promise luxury compartments."

"That just means that we get more privacy than others."

"I'd hate to see what the kind of ticket I could afford would give me."

"We're just next door. Thought you might like some time alone." Duncan puttered in the compartment making sure Richie was comfortable. "If you want anything, just come tell us, alright?"

"Mac, I'm not a baby. I'll be fine."

In the next compartment, Connor and Duncan sat at the small table in the corner as they waited for coffee to be delivered.

"So, you are going through with this?"

"Not you, too, Connor," Duncan groaned. "I am sick of people second guessing what we're doing."

"Relax, cousin, I was only teasing you. If this is what you want, I give you my blessing and support."

Duncan sighed and rubbed at his forehead. "I'm sorry, Connor. I suppose Tessa's parents are just getting to me. Her mother can't approve of anything we plan. The church, the flowers, the gown, the ceremony, my hair…"

"Your hair?"

"She doesn't like men with long hair."

"The flowers?"

"Apparently roses are only allowed to be used in summer weddings."

"Duncan, this is your wedding, do as you please."

"It's not that easy."

"Yes, it is. You do not need to get their approval."

"Tessa wants it."

"If they want to give it, they'll give it. If not, they won't. There is nothing you can do to make them happy. If anything, conceding to their demands is giving them even more dominance, taking away what little power you have over your own wedding. This is for you and Tessa, not them."

There was a knock at their compartment door and a young man with a rolling cart delivered their coffee. Duncan lazily stirred in a bit of cream as he thought over what his elder kinsman had told him.

"You're right," he sighed. "We don't need them to approve our plans. We're adults."

"By a long shot."

"When we get back to France, I'll talk to Tessa. We will do things our way."

"What?" Katia laughed over her third glass of wine.

"Kilts!" Odette repeated pouring herself a bit more.

"Why?"

"He's Scottish," Tessa answered indignantly. "And he looks nice."

"He has good legs for a dress?"

"Yes," she answered. "Wait…" But it was too late, her sister and friend burst into giggles and she joined them.

"But I thought the bride was supposed to look the best of any of the wedding party?"

"Yes, and you will wear yellow felt togas." Again the women giggled, happily drinking down the last of their second bottle of wine. "Oh, no more!" Tessa begged when her sister reached to order another bottle from the spa kitchen.

"Only if you tell us a secret about Duncan," Odette bargained.

Tessa nodded. "Sometimes he likes to play games."

"Sex games?"

"No! You'd think it would all lead to something, but it doesn't. He gets so into playing that he looses his stamina!"

Odette and Katia giggled.

"Just when I think we're about to do something, he lies down and falls asleep! Like an old grandfather. Then on other nights there is no way to get him to slow down. I wish he would just give me a schedule, so I know what to prepare for."

"So?" Katia prompted.

"So?" Tessa repeated blankly.

"Is he any good, once you get him going?"

"Katia!" she slapped at her friend's shoulder. "Of course!" she added. She leaned back into the soft cushions of the couch and looked at the coffee table. "I would kill Richie if he ever drank this much."

"And what about this boy? Hum? What is he good for?"

"Slaving," Odette answered, remembering their earlier conversation.

"He is a sweet boy, a handful, but very sweet."

"What sort of handful?"

"Katia!" Tessa and Odette gasped at the same time.

"I was only joking. How is the wedding planning going?" she changed the topic, having obviously crossed some line.

"It depends on who you ask," Tessa sighed. "Mother is being impossible. I can't seem to do anything that she approves of. It's not even her wedding and she acts as if everything that is not her way is wrong. I wish she would just be supportive like she was for Gaston and Odette."

"She doesn't like that she can't control you," Odette told her. "You're too independent, too like her."

"I am not like Mother!"

"You are opinionated, strong, and self reliant. The difference is you are not set on world domination. Do things your way. It is your day."

"I'll do one better; I'm going to give that woman a piece of my mind next time she second guesses me."

"You will not!" Odette laughed. "You are too scared."

"I will," she promised. "Just you wait and see."