Hey everybody, thank you all so much for your feedback.

"Ok," Sydney made a mark on the pad in front of her. "The reception venue is booked. I confirmed it today."

"I called and secured the gardens for the ceremony today." Vaughn added. "But we still need to organise seating, and if and how we'll be able to play music there."

"Alright. I'm calling the caterer's tomorrow with preliminary numbers." Sydney said, putting the pad down. "We'll have to get back to them with the specifics once the RSVP's are all in."

Vaughn leaned back into the couch, stretching his legs out. "Wow. Everything is really starting to come along."

"I know. I can't believe we're so organized." Sydney agreed, standing up and heading to the kitchen. "I'm in a slack mood tonight. How does spaghetti sound?"

"Fine with me?" Vaughn looked over. "Do you want some help?"

"No, I'll be fine—" Sydney stopped short, cut off by the front door slamming. Seconds later, an incensed looking Danielle burst in, muttering furiously in French. Sydney couldn't understand what she was saying, but judging by Vaughn's expression, it was extremely unpleasant.

"Danielle." Sydney started tentatively. "Are you ok?"

"Oh, I am fine!" Danielle exploded, sarcasm dripping off every word. "Just fine." Continuing with her French obscenities, she stalked off to her bedroom.

"What was that all about?" Vaughn asked, his face visibly shocked.

Sydney knew exactly. "I'll go speak to her. Can you take care of dinner?"

Danielle's door was closed. Tapping lightly, Sydney opened it a fraction. "Danielle?"

"Oui?" The word was punctuated by a loud sniff.

"Can I come in?" Sydney opened the door a little more.

"Oui."

Walking in, Sydney closed the door behind her. Danielle was sitting on her bed, knees up to her chest, leaning against the wall. Sydney placed herself on the edge of the bed. "Do you want to tell me what's going on?"

"He said that what we had had been great. Fun." Danielle replied bitterly. "Fun? I liked him a lot and thought that he liked me too!"

"Will?" Sydney pressed gently.

"Yes, Will. I feel so stupid. Like a child." Danielle looked up at Sydney. "It is not a nice feeling."

"I know." Sydney sympathised.

"This has been so hard for me." Danielle said quietly. "Leaving home, moving to a new country. Trying to make new friends. Will was so nice and when I was with him I did not miss maman and the rest of my family so much." She paused. "I've been trying to act happy, as if there was nothing wrong. Make it look like I was having so much fun here, but that is not the truth."

Sydney felt a surge of empathy. It had never occurred to her how homesick Danielle was. Her difficult and boisterous behaviour was suddenly understandable.

"How come you didn't speak to me or Vaughn about this homesickness?"

Danielle shrugged. "Because I wanted to appear capable. Moving here was my idea and it took me so long to convince maman to let me come. I did not want anybody to know that I was not doing so well." She looked at Sydney. "I was scared that Michael would tell maman and that she would make me go home."

"Danielle, you're an adult. Your parents can't make you do anything." Sydney moved closer to her. "And about this Will thing."

Danielle's face darkened slightly. "Yes?"

"Look, he is one of my best friends and I love him to bits and I would never speak harshly of him." Sydney took a breath. "But in this case, I think, you're better off without him."

"Huh?" Danielle's eyebrows flew up.

"I'm not saying he is a bad guy. But you and he are completely different people, who want completely different things and obviously have a bit of a communication problem." Sydney smiled at her. "Look, it won't be long before you're at uni and surrounded by a smorgasbord of guys to take your pick of."

Danielle's eyes brightened. "I never thought of it that way."

Twenty minutes later Sydney and a considerably much happier Danielle exited the bedroom. Danielle headed straight to the bathroom to freshen up before dinner and Sydney settled herself at the kitchen bench.

"Everything ok?" Vaughn asked, adjusting the heat on the stove.

"Yup." Sydney replied, picking a carrot out of the salad that he had prepared.

"So what was the problem?"

"Just girl stuff."

"Danielle got that worked up over 'girl stuff'?" Vaughn asked, dubiously. "Do you have any idea what she was saying when she came in? I would tell you, but it would probably give you grey hairs."

"Vaughn, are you implying that 'girl stuff' is trivial? That Danielle's reaction could never have been caused by 'girl stuff'?"

"Uh, no." Vaughn retracted very quickly. He was treading on dangerous ground. "So what exactly was wrong with her?"

Sydney just grinned. "It was nothing that a tub of ice cream and Dirty Dancing can't fix."

"Francie, you need to get out." Sydney said as she and Ainsley stood on Francie's doorstep Saturday morning.

"No, I don't. What I need to do is confirm numbers for the opening. What I need to do is go to the manufacturers to look at staff uniforms. What I need to do is call my builder and find out why the hell my bar is still incomplete!"

"See," Ainsley turned to Sydney. "This is what happens when your only human contact is a contractor or manufacturer or whatever. You mutate."

"Excuse me." Francie said, defensively. "But I am opening a restaurant in three weeks. Forgive me if I'm a little hesitant about going shopping."

"But you're not hesitant about coming out next weekend." Sydney pointed out, referring to the wedding gown and bridesmaid dress fittings they had scheduled.

"Because that's wedding stuff." Francie stated as if it were the most obvious fact in the world.

"Well," Ainsley looked at Sydney out of the corner of her eyes. "We weren't only going Chrissy shopping today. We were going to look at wedding stuff too."

Francie eyed them suspiciously. "Like what?"

"Like…" Sydney scrambled for a thought. "Like shoes. We'll need to get them as soon as possible so they're worn in by the wedding. And…jewellery. What if I see some earrings I love and you're not there to tell me that they look fabulous?"

"Yeah, Fran." Ainsley jumped in. "You have a real eye for that sort of stuff."

Francie let out a snort of laughter. "You two are completely transparent. But," she smiled, "I am also gullible and cannot resist such compliments. Just let me grab my bag."

"Now that is what I want for Christmas." Ainsley said, pointing across the shopping centre to where children could get their photo taken with Santa Claus.

"Ainsley, that is an elf." Sydney said her brow furrowed.

"I know, but look at the guy under the elf hat."

Both Sydney and Francie peered more closely and suddenly understood what Ainsley was talking about.

"Very nice," Francie agreed. "But what would Eric say if he heard you talking this way?"

"What way? I'm not doing anything wrong, am I?" Ainsley asked. "I am allowed to look, aren't I?"

"Well, since I am the only one here who is actually single, I call dibs." Francie shot back gleefully and made to head towards him.

"Francie!" Sydney hissed. "Don't you dare."

"I wasn't going to!" Francie protested as she turned towards a swanky jeweller's. "Come on, let's go drool and dream."

Inside, Sydney found herself engrossed by the necklaces. She needed one for the wedding, but was yet to find something that was, well, right.

"Oh Syd." Francie breathed. "Come look at this."

Sydney headed over to where Francie and Ainsley were gazing rapturously at some bracelets. "At what?" she asked.

"That." Francie pointed to a delicate white gold bracelet adorned with tiny diamonds and emeralds. "It would go perfect with your engagement ring…and look great up against a wedding gown."

"Yeah it would." Sydney agreed. "But I don't need a bracelet."

"So what are you going to wear then?" Ainsley asked.

"This." Sydney held up her right wrist, displaying the charm bracelet that Vaughn had given her. Over the years, the eclectic mix of charms had grown considerably, each with some significance or meaning behind them.

"But you wear that every day." Francie said, perturbed.

"Exactly. I've worn this every single day since Vaughn gave it to me. Why would I stop doing that on our wedding day?"

"But—"

"No buts, Francie." Sydney laughed. "The bracelet is not coming off."

"Ok, girls." Ainsley stepped in. "I don't think the manager would be impressed if you two start tussling in the middle of the store." She directed them to the door. "Me, I would love it."

"Shut up, Ainz." Francie laughed. "Or we'll turn on you." She turned to Sydney. "You are seriously going to wear that charm bracelet?"

"Yes." Sydney said firmly. "This bracelet is never coming off."

"What if you had to have surgery?" Ainsley mused. "I bet they wouldn't let you wear it in the operating theatre."

"Ok fine," Sydney relented. "It will come off if I ever have to have surgery."

"And what if it set off a metal detector in an airport?" Francie put in.

"Francie," Sydney said, "I have been in an airport with this bracelet and it didn't-"

"Would you take it off then?" Francie cut her off.

Sydney had to laugh. "Stop it. I will take off the bracelet only in dire situations when I have no choice. However, on my wedding day, I have a choice. I'm wearing the bracelet. Now, if it is ok with the two of you, how about we continue with our shopping."

As they walked off, Francie looked at Sydney. "Hey Syd."

"Yeah?"

"I actually really like your bracelet," she smiled. "It'll be perfect for the wedding."

Sydney grinned. "I know."