A/N: A short one before what happens on Maybe Monday - which will be posted on Monday (I promise). Mouth shutting right now.

As always, enjoy x

Chapter 9: Monsoon

Saturday 3rd September 2016, 7.49pm, Aunt Tullie's house, South Carolina

With mother and son licking their respective wounds, CeCe was alarmed when her son skipped dinner especially when she poured her emotions into his favourite meal like the younger sister in Like water for Chocolate. Reggie was still crashed out on the bed from the after-effects of the night before and she didn't know what to do to make him – or herself – feel better. "I made the Mac and Cheese how you like it, with bacon and leeks." He grunted and rolled over, something Big Reggie did too. "The least you can do is show your face."

"I'm sick." He mustered a weak cough and wished she would disappear.

"I know you're mad at him. I am too."

"I'm not mad he left." Then he looked at her in a way he had never before. "I'm mad you let him in so he could." He forced another weak cough and she couldn't argue with him.

Sunday 4th September 2016, 2.22am, Aunt Tullie's house, Summerville, South Carolina

John knew Joss' habits by now; he knew she was a pacer and a compulsive cleaner when she was anxious, and that she tapped her foot when she was thinking too much about something. But he'd never seen her up at moonlight, staring out the window. Overnight, the skies had opened and it hadn't stopped raining down. He would've paid a shiny penny to know what she was thinking but instead, he settled for putting his arms around her from behind. Luckily, she was too tired to resist.

"What's on your mind?" He asked, sensitive to the alluring smell in her hair. She never told him what it was, all he knew was it wasn't jasmine.

"I'm thinking, there's no way we're getting married in that garden. Looks like a storm is coming."

"You still want to? Get married?"

She nodded. "How'd we get here, John?"

He didn't know if it was a literal or a philosophical question. "Well, an overly-ambitious woman flew too close to the sun. I know something about that."

"Would you still be here? If it wasn't for her?"

It was quite remarkable that the 'other woman' in their relationship was her mother. "I'd be wherever you need me."

Somehow, that was exactly what she needed to hear; that they were still a team. "Then let's get married."

9.11am, Aunt Tullie's house, Summerville, South Carolina

Cammelia and Hamilton Frasier were both on their third marriages, and unlike the saying goes; third time wasn't a charm as much as it was a tolerable state of being. Except for this particular Sunday morning, when it was cold on the surface and insufferable beneath. They were getting ready for church and she clipped her hair into a chignon bun and evaluated his outfit. "Can't you wear the grey tie?" She asked.

"What's wrong with green?"

"It clashes with your shirt."

He sighed and pulled it off at the knot. "Happy?"

Truth be told; she'd be happier pulling it tighter and tighter around his neck. "So what do you think about John?"

"What's to think?" He dabbed the cologne that she didn't like the smell of on his neck.

"The files, Hamilton. What do you think about the files?" He cleared his throat and smoothed down his shirt. "You haven't read them."

She couldn't help but notice his new green frog cufflinks which she thought were tacky. "No, I haven't."

"I ask you to do one thing-"

"You asked me to come for your niece's wedding, and I'm here."

She held up the teardrop and kidney earrings, trying to choose which looked best in the mirror. "A week late."

"I'm here." Hamilton repeated. "And I don't care about what's in those files. Come Monday evening, I'm going back to Charlotte." In that moment, Cammelia decided to attend the wedding because she couldn't bear the embarrassment of explaining why he'd left early after all that time he wasn't there.

9.37am, Aunt Tullie's house, Summerville, South Carolina

Despite the great strides the bride and groom had made, Evelyn's plans were falling apart and fast. Even though John had cooked eggs – his specialty – and Joss was glowing in that peach skater dress that needed a cardigan and a prayer cloth to be church-appropriate, she wasn't feeling her usual confident, controlling self. "Uhhhh, Jocelyn? The Lace Sheath Gown with the V Neckline you wanted got shipped to Columbia, Tennessee. But they have a back-up; the mermaid ball gown with a train."

Joss smiled because that mini-meringue was her mom's idea of compromise. "No." She said simply.

"Then what will you wear?" Evelyn asked.

"John, you still like me in blue?" She asked from across the table, making CeCe sick and jealous at this love-fest.

Evelyn spoke through gritted teeth. "Jocelyn Hope, you cannot wear a dress to your wedding everyone's already seen you in."

John sipped his cappuccino. "You mean Zeta's finest?"

"Blue dress for the win." Joss replied, looking away bashfully at their inside joke.

Evelyn didn't like this; this was her train; it wasn't fair for them to all-of-a-sudden start driving it. "And you, you're not wearing that navy Prince William suit, are you? Reggie and Taylor's waistcoats won't match. What about the colour scheme?"

Gregory weighed in, masking his grin with a newspaper. "Look on the bright side Ev, the last time he wore that suit the whole family still liked him." He changed subject before she could bite back at him. "There was a break in that police murder trial, remember Officer Rowlands? He was acquitted in that unlawful death in police custody trial last year. Two days after the verdict, he was killed in his home."

"Just awful." Evelyn replied, though she was referring to their wedding outfits not the story.

Gregory dropped another bomb, because it was one of those mornings. "Well, it says here Judge Winifred Brooks is presiding."

That got Evelyn's immediate attention. "Freddie? Nooooooooooooooo." She groaned.

"What, love?"

"Freddie's supposed to officiate the wedding, I bet she's in the chambers right now. How about a church wedding?" Evelyn tried, needing a quick win.

"Can't, Ma. It has to be somewhere John's comfortable." Joss sipped her juice, John sipped his coffee and CeCe wished they would stop eye-sexing and get a room. A different room; one that wasn't next to hers. With sound-proofing.

Evelyn threw one of her Samurai sword shades. "They don't do weddings at the gun range, the gym or the woods, Jocelyn."

Gregory shook his head; it's a shame she has to learn the hard way. "I'm sure they'll find somewhere."

9.51am, Aunt Tullie's house, Summerville, South Carolina

Since Taylor couldn't get Gregory's voice out his head, and he knew how it felt to have a dad who doubled as a phantom, he resolved to get his cousin out of bed by falling on the sword. "If you get out of bed, I'll call Bella."

Though Reggie was feeling better that morning, at least physically; he was intrigued. "What's in it for me?"

"You get to hear it."

And like a miracle Reggie was cured. "Bet."