Disclaimer on chapter one.
AN: Tada! Ok here you go Chapter Twenty-Five! Hopefully chap 26 is followly close on the heels, but ugh, no promises! plus I may be without 'Net next week so it will depend on that as well!. Ok anyway, hope you enjoy, a bit short but acomplishes the next stage in the story! Enjoy. Let me know what you think. dark rolling sea.
Chapter Twenty-Five: Dressing
Kate and her four bridesmaids sat in the living room of Kate's parent's house laughing. Meg and Suzy were working on Kate's hair and Kate was trying to persuade Abby NOT to do her makeup for her. Abby was whining that it would be ok, and that Kate was simply being a baby about it. The grin on Abby's face made Kate leery of what the Goth lab rat might try.
"Come on, Kate!" Abby whined. "Don't you trust me?"
"Abby, it's not that I don't trust you, it's that I KNOW you," Kate countered with a smile.
"So?"
"Abby, do you really think Gibbs wants a Goth bride?"
"But can you imagine the look on his face? You have to admit it would be priceless!"
"No, Abby."
"You're no fun, Kate," Abby said in defeat as she slumped to the couch. The other three laughed.
"There, all done," Suzy said as she and Meg stepped away from Kate. Kate smiled up at them and went to the mirror. She looked over what they had done. Her hair hung loosely around her shoulders, curled out and fluffed. She turned to the others and grinned.
"Happy with it?" Megan asked.
"Yeah," Kate said with a nod.
"Good," Suzy and Meg said with a smile. They then set about putting makeup on. Abby continued to bug Kate about going Goth for the big day, but Kate could only laugh. When all was said and done, they went to the dresses.
Abby announced she was going to the bathroom and Kate absently waved her off. Suzy's dress was a deep purple in color, Megan's was a hunter green, while Melanie had a navy blue one. Abby was going to be in a dark red. The bridesmaids' dresses were very plain, full length with spaghetti straps over the shoulders. Each groomsman would wear the same color vest as the bridesmaid's dress they were escorting.
Kate looked up and smiled as Megan and Suzy were putting on their matching heels. It was then that Abby came out of the bathroom in a black mini skirt and a white blouse. She had a smile on her face as she came up behind Kate.
"Ok, I'm ready," Abby said bouncing, her pig tails swaying with the motion. Kate turned and her jaw dropped.
"Abby!" she whispered harshly. "That's NOT what I said…"
"Relax, Kate," Abby said with a smile as she produced a camera and took a candid shot.
Kate made a grab for the camera after Abby had finished, but Abby held it out of reach, laughing. Kate stopped, hands clamping firmly to her hips as she glared at her maid of honor. Abby was giggling.
"Abby," Kate said sternly.
"Oh relax, Kate, I'm changing. Besides Gibbs made me do it," Abby said as she turned and hurried to get her dress from the bathroom. She changed quickly and came out in what she was supposed to, the dark red blending nicely with the toned down Goth makeup. Kate nodded and took a deep breath.
"Gibbs said to do that?" Kate asked.
"Yep, even said to make sure I got a picture of your reaction," Abby said with a smile.
"I see," Kate said. She then went and began getting into her dress. It was a white, full length dress, with see through lace for sleeves. The sleeves went down her arms, fanning out at the wrist. The top was a low but moderate cut, as it hugged her at the waist before flowing out as it cascaded down her body. The veil was small and simple as it rested on the crown on her head the lace hanging loosely against her back for now.
The room was smiles as they stood dressed and ready. Kate's mom made an appearance and almost broke into tears, but managed to hang on for a little while longer. Kate looked at the clock it was almost time to go. The butterflies in her stomach began to whirl as she felt herself starting to tremble a bit.
"Too much caffeine last night," Abby said with a smile and a wink.
"What?" Kate asked.
"You're shaking a bit," Megan replied.
"Yeah, nerves," Kate replied with a small smile.
"Well all that coke you drank probly didn't help either," Abby said with a smile. "I'm surprised you don't have a headache after all that caffeine you put down last night."
"Well, I couldn't hardly drink alcohol and I had to keep up with you goofballs," Kate replied with a smile. "I'm surprised you guys aren't sick."
"Who says we aren't?" Megan said with a laugh. "I wonder how the boys are doing."
"Gibbs said DiNozzo got drunk and E. J. and Josh were…" Kate replied without thinking. The looks she got from the other three made her stop as she realized what she had said. She gave them an innocent smile. "What?"
"And just when did you talk to Gibbs?" Abby demanded, but the underlying smile was very evident.
"Ah, yeah. This morning," Kate replied with a shrug. "Oh look it's time to go."
With that they all headed down to the driveway. There was a limousine waiting for them and they piled into the back of it. They were headed to the church and the smile on Kate's face told the world there wasn't anything else she'd rather be doing.
Gibbs stood in front of the mirror in DiNozzo's hotel room as he stared at himself. DiNozzo was still asleep, snoring loudly. Gibbs smiled at his reflection as he reached behind for his white shirt. He put the long sleeve dress shirt on and buttoned it up, as he took a deep breath.
There was no doubt; this one was a lot more nerve wrecking then the last three. He knew now that he wasn't in love with his second through fourth wives. He was simply in love with the idea of being in love again. He pulled the powder blue vest over his white shirt and buttoned the few buttons on it and then stood in the mirror watching.
After a minute he pulled the black tux jacket over his shoulders and buttoned it closed. He ran his hands through his hair a couple times and smiled. He was insane trying this again. He wondered if he would ever learn his lesson, but he knew deep down that this was different, it was…right.
Once he was dressed he heard a knock on the door. He turned and headed towards it, smacking DiNozzo on the shoulder as he walked by. The younger man jumped and mumbled something inaudible as he sat up quickly.
"Get dressed. You miss my wedding and I'll shot you," Gibbs grumbled as he reached for the door. DiNozzo squinted and then nodded as the words sunk in. He got up and went for the bathroom. As Gibbs opened the door he saw Jeb and Hunter standing on the other side.
Jeb was dressed almost exactly like Gibbs only his vest was the same dark red as Abby's dress, as was Hunter with a silver vest, looking quite handsome, Gibbs thought.
"You ready?" Jeb asked with a smile. Gibbs grinned back and slowly nodded.
"Yeah."
"Nervous?"
"That's an understatement," Gibbs said as he reached down and scooped Hunter up.
"I'm ready, Papa," Hunter said, beaming up at his grandfather with a smile.
"Good."
"And I promise," he said holding up his left hand. "I won't lose the rings."
Gibbs chuckled as he nodded at his grandson. "First off, if you're going to promise, hold up that hand," Gibbs said in a whisper pointing towards Hunter's right hand. Hunter giggled and nodded. "And secondly you better not lose the rings," he finished in a gruff manor with a squint at the kid.
Hunter smiled again and giggled, making Gibbs smile at him. He set the boy down and saw Ducky and Donovan coming towards him. Ducky was dressed with dark blue vest, while Donovan wore the hunter green one. Gibbs ducked his head back into the hotel room.
"DiNozzo, now!" Gibbs barked before stepping out of the room.
"Yep, coming, Boss!" DiNozzo replied as he hurried from the bathroom, tucking his shirt and purple vest in as he went. When they were all ready to go, they headed for the church.
TBC…
