With Richie away with Connor, Duncan and Tessa spent more nights together, eventually just taking up residence in the same room. After her week away, Tessa regained her independent attitude and stood up to her mother more.

She and Duncan had been cake shopping for a few days, trying to decide on flavor, size, decorations and how many. After two days of tasting and deliberation, they decided on one, three tier chocolate cake, with white icing and yellow sugar roses for decoration. That night at dinner, they announced their decision. Everyone seemed to like the idea. Everyone except, of course, Madame Noel.

"Yes, I know the traditions, Maman," she sighed one night at dinner. "But I want a chocolate cake at my reception."

"The groom's cake is chocolate," her mother insisted. "You need a white cake. The bride's cake must be white."

"It is too late; I have already ordered the cake. It will be made the way I want it to be made and that's the end of it."

"Tessa!" Her mother was shocked.

"Do not speak to your mother in that tone," her father chided.

Nicolas tried not to laugh too noticeably, but ended up choking on his water instead. Duncan thumped on his back a few times and flashed him an amused smile.

"And I would appreciate it if you did not speak to me in that tone," she replied calmly. "I am not a child. I thought you would be happy to be involved in my wedding, but if all you are going to do is tell me what to do and treat me as a child, then I regret telling you."

Madame Noel's jaw dropped. "How dare you!"

"I have every right to be angry with you," she insisted.

"Tessa, please," Odette tried to hush her older sister.

"She's right, Tessa," Gaston added. "Don't turn this into a fight."

Tessa took a deep breath and concentrated on her meal. She wasn't sure how much more of this she could take. She had never really realized how controlling her parents really were until this trip home. She had considered their world view to be conservative and old fashioned, but now she saw it for what it was: rude, controlling and elitist. But, she knew how to dig in her heals, too. This was her wedding, her once in a lifetime special day. It was going to be her way or no way.

"You would have never spoken that way to me before you ran off with… him," Madame Noel scoffed. "It's unthinkable what they've turned you into."

"They?" Tessa repeated.

"Yes, him and that stupid little orphan of his," she answered.

Odette gasped and Gaston braced for impact. Tessa's eyes grew wide and her face turned red.

"Tess," Duncan said softly. "Let it go. No one's hurt here, just let it slide."

"I will not!" she shouted standing up so quickly her chair was knocked over.

"Don't do something you'll regret, Tess…"

"They have names!" she yelled at her mother. "They are people and one of them happens to be sitting right here! Duncan is the best man I have ever met! He is kind, loving, decent, giving, accepting… He is the type of man I dreamed of marrying since I was a little girl! The kind that supports whatever you want to do, the kind that is himself in all situations, the kind that puts up with horrible people because he is too honorable!"

"Tessa Angeline…"

"You be quiet!" she shouted before her father could hush her. Flabbergasted, he sat back in his chair. "And that stupid little orphan of mine is the sweetest young man in this world! He has lived through more hardships than you could ever imagine and you can only hope that any children of yours turn out like him! He may not meet your standards, but he surpasses any of mine! You would be lucky to have a young man like him around to teach you what is truly important! And I will tell you what I told him before he met you.

"You do not have to like them. You do not have to respect them. But you will be polite and kind to them because they are family. Those are my rules and if you cannot follow them, if you will not follow them, then you may not come to my wedding. And I will not miss you if you are not there."

"Well, I never…"

"I believe," Tessa interrupted. "That we are through here. Duncan, I would like to get a hotel room." She turned and left. Duncan got up and followed her, leaving the Noel family in shocked silence, except for Nicolas who was coughing to cover his laugh.

"I can't believe you just did that," he said as he caught up with her.

"Neither can I," she admitted. "But if felt good."

After they packed up their things, they called a taxi. Madame Noel didn't make an appearance and they left with goodbyes from Tessa's siblings who wanted contact information as soon as they had it. They still planned on attending and participating in the ceremony. In the taxi, Duncan directed the driver to the hotel Connor and Richie were staying at. With any luck, there would be some rooms available there. As it turned out, luck was on their side and they ended up in a suite just one floor down from the others.

"I suppose we ought to go be neighborly," Duncan suggested once they had unpacked. They went to the elevator and up one floor. Not three feet out of the elevator, they heard thuds and muffled yells come from down the hall. On alert, Duncan started to room 2125, where it was all coming from. When his buzz hit whomever was in the room, the thud and yells stopped. A few seconds later, the door cautiously opened.

"Duncan!"

"Connor!" Duncan sighed in relief. "What's going on in here?"

"Hey, Mac!" Richie came out of the back bedroom, where presumably he had been told to wait. He was panting slightly, as was Connor, both were sweaty and disheveled.

"What have you two been up to?" Duncan asked with a smile, gesturing Tessa that it was all clear.

"I almost got it," he shrugged. "Hey, Tess!"

"I thought you weren't talking to them?" Connor reminded him.

Richie frowned for a second. "Oh yeah!" he remembered. "I'm not talking to you two; I'm mad at you." He folded his arms across his chest.

"What ever for?" Tessa asked as they sat down on the hotel couch. Richie just raised his eyebrows and turned his face away. Tessa smiled. "What have we done?" she asked Connor in exaggerated concern.

"He's mad cause you left him out," he hinted.

"What did we leave him out of?" Duncan wondered, laughing when Richie stuck his tongue out at him. "I wouldn't want that thing in my mouth either," he added, making a face back. Richie quirked a smile. "What did we do?" he asked.

"The cake," he reminded them. "The one thing I really really wanted to do."

"Oh," Tessa smiled. "I'm sorry. The appointment just fell into our laps; we weren't even thinking."

"Obviously."

Duncan laughed. "Sorry, partner."

"You guys suck."

"We'll make it up to you."

"How? How do you make up not getting to taste dozens of cakes? The one thing I wanted to be part of and I get forgotten. That's a low blow, guys."

"What brings you here?" Connor asked, changing the subject. "It was nice of you to call."

Duncan smiled. "It was a last minute thing."

"We've moved our base of operation," Tessa said.

"You left?" Connor assumed.

"Yes. It was time to get away."

"What happened?" Richie asked.

"The disagreements were too much to handle. So we left."

"You just packed up and left?"

Tessa faltered for a moment. "Pretty much."

He looked at her suspiciously. "I missed something, didn't I?"

"Sorry, Rich, it was good though," Duncan said.

"I missed it?"

"It just happened, Richie. I didn't plan it," Tessa insisted.

"Man!" he whined. "I miss all the good stuff."

"Speaking of good stuff," Connor interrupted. "There is one thing you know that they don't."

Richie face lit up. "Oh yeah!"

"What?" Tessa asked.

"One of Mac's friends is on their way here."

"Who?" Duncan asked.

"I'm not telling."

"Don't make me hurt you, Richie."

"I dare you," he challenged.

"They will be here for dinner," Connor played along. "You can find out who then."

Tessa smiled. "Will you tell me if I promise to keep it a secret?"

Connor looked at Richie who shook his head. "Nope, that's half the fun!"

"I guess you'll find out tonight," Connor smiled. "Go call and change the reservation," he told Richie. The teen got up and went into one of the bedrooms. "So what happened?" he asked Tessa.

She shook her head. "It's a long story. But I don't think my parents are going to be there for the wedding."

"Connor, who is it?" Duncan asked as Richie's muffled and slightly butchered French drifted through the closed doors.

"I have been sworn to secrecy."

"No, you haven't."

"My word is my bond."

"Fine, what were you two doing before we got here?"

"I was trying to get him to turn off one of those horrible movies they watch these days and go outside."

"Had to fight him for the remote," he translated.

"He has quite a grip."

"If you tickle him, he lets go," Tessa advised.

Connor nodded. "I'll take that under advisement."

"Done!" Richie announced coming back out. "I had to move the reservation back a bit, though."

"What time is it?"

"It's at seven 'stead of six forty five."

He reclaimed his spot on the couch and the three talked about what plans had been made, what was left to do and the update on RSVPs from the guest list until it was time for dinner. They were seated almost as soon as they arrived, with the mystery member of their party already seated. Duncan's eyes tracked the source of the buzz to a lone, dark haired woman, seated at the large table in a private corner.

"Down boy," Duncan said, taking Richie's arm as he tried to sneak past.

"I wanna sit next to her."

"We'll see."