"Cress, are you okay with this?" Kai asked her. He, Cinder and Thorne looked at her expectantly. Cress thought she saw a glimmer of nervousness in Thorne's eyes. She drew herself up, meeting his gaze.

"I am."

Truth was, she wasn't. She didn't quite know where to start. Thorne had already walked off, disappearing behind some aisle. She could still hear him whistling some cheery tune.

Kai and Cinder looked at her expectantly, probably thinking she would do the same (going off to find things, that is, not whistling). But just because Thorne had come up with this competition, didn't mean she had to play by his rules.

Looping her long hair into a make-shift bun, she approached the couple. There was no chair but she found a chest that was wide enough for her to sit on.

"I thought I would talk to you first, if that's okay with you." Cress rummaged through her purse but to her dismay she found that she had left her tablet at Thorne's apartment. She had neither pen nor paper with her, either, but more importantly, she couldn't show them her portfolio or open her spreadsheet which she needed in order to ask questions and take notes. She dropped her purse awkwardly to the floor. "Okay, no tablet, that's fine."

"You need a tablet? I have one with me." Cinder looked through her own well-worn shoulder bag and handed Cress a high-end model on par with Cress's own. In the background, she could see the design of a blueprint.

"Thank you." Careful not to drop or smudge it, Cress quickly opened the browser and found her website. She decided to not show the pictures of her latest projects just yet. But she opened her account and the questionnaire she always used for the first consultation. She knew she was wasting a bit of time and Thorne was already ahead of her, but she felt much safer going through her routine. It would help her getting a feel of what Kai and Cinder wanted.

Cress straightened her back and smiled at the couple. "So, I already know the general outline for your wedding but nothing about your own preferences. And I want your day to not just be an event for everyone but something special for the two of you."

Kai nodded with a thoughtful expression. "We haven't thought much about our own preferences. If it were up to us, we would have something simple just with our closest friends and family. As it stands, we have to invite my dad's business partners, donors of my campaign, our families and in my case, many of them are going to travel here from Japan and China for the wedding ..."

Cress made note of that in her document - guests from overseas would need hotel rooms, someone who could speak the language. There were also cultural differences to consider. She could brief Thorne on them later on, if he considered it important.

"It's now quite a huge party, so we're a bit overwhelmed. And since we knew that we would have two excellent wedding planners to ask for help, we ... didn't plan anything so far?" Kai finished with a bashful smile and Cinder nodded in agreement.

It struck Cress as odd that a couple would leave everything to their wedding planners. It was probably because this wasn't what they had initially imagined for their wedding but ... "A big wedding can be romantic too. Or anything you want it to be, basically. I'm sure there are ways for you to get a wedding that suits you and appeals to your guests."

Kai agreed but Cinder looked unconvinced, Cress noted. She decided against pushing it, though, and looked over her spreadsheet. She could skip over anything specific for now. Maybe Thorne would tell her what he already knew, apart from the venue and guest list. First and foremost, it was about developing a concept.

"Do you have a color scheme in mind?"

"No."

"Okay, but do you like one color as the focus or would you like to coordinate two?"

"Eh ... one?" Cinder answered while Kai simultaneously said, "Two?"

Cress deemed it safer to skip that question for now.

"Any preferences for flowers?"

Kai and Cinder looked at each other, then shook their heads.

Okay, this wasn't leading anywhere. Cress eyed Kai and Cinder for any clue. But neither Kai's gray hoodie nor Cinder's simple white blouse and jeans combination let on anything about their personal aesthetic. Cress didn't expect Cinder to wear her favorite flowers as a pattern on her blouse but there was nothing distinct about her looks that helped Cress figure out what Cinder would like for her wedding. Usually, Cress could tell a lot just by the choice of clothes or, when she was invited to the couple's home, by their furniture. Something always indicated what Cress needed although most of the time, the bride came prepared with ideas of her own.

"Hopeless, both of them," Thorne called from behind a nearby aisle.

No way was Cress agreeing with him though. No couple was hopeless. She tried something else.

"Tell me how you two met." She looked expectantly at Cinder since she already knew Kai's version.

Cinder blushed, though if from elation or embarrassment, Cress couldn't say. "We worked together. Or, not worked but we were part of the same charity project, building houses for people who can't afford one."

Cress knew that but it was such a great story nonetheless. She remembered her and Kai talking about that project and how he became tongue-tied over how amazing one particular woman was. He had tried to pass it off as just being impressed by her skills, the way she calculated and built the structure faster than most of the other guys. Many of them had previously made fun of the "girl trying to do a man's job." They hadn't laughed for long.

She hoped there was a part in the story she could use for inspiration. Cress leaned forward excitedly, her attention solely focused on Cinder when Thorne chimed in again, leaning so suddenly over Cress's shoulders that she gave a little squeal.

"Please. As if they talked more than ten words a day during their boring project." Thorne changed his voice into something more high-pitched. "Have you seen my blueprints? Oh, is that your hammer? Do you want the green smoothie or the red one? True love story right there ... not." He clucked his tongue in mock disappointment before winking at Cress. "If you want to have the real story you need to ask for for their fated meeting atone on my weddings." He nudged Cress conspiratorially and went on his way, leaving a few boxes on the table. Cress tried to sneak a peek but couldn't see anything that would give her a hint what he had planned to show.

As much as Cress didn't want to heed any of Thorne's advice at the moment, the fact that Kai and Cinder met at one of Thorne's weddings was news to her. Kai had simply told her that he and Cinder were now dating and, after Cress had prodded him for details, he only mentioned that they had met again and hit it off after the project was done for the summer. She raised an eyebrow at Kai, prompting him to speak.

"Yeah, the project was over before we got together."

"But you spent every day for an entire summer together?" Who spent so much time together with a person they were clearly attracted to and didn't ask each other out?

"I did ask her out." Kai gave Cinder a pointed look. "Several times."

Cinder shrugged. "I didn't think you were asking me out. It was more like you didn't want to go somewhere alone. I thought you wanted company, not a date." With a grin that lit up her features, Cinder asked Cress, "Was he always that hopeless around girls?"

"Um ..." As long as Cress could remember, it had been quite the opposite. Kai had been popular among girls since his early teens. He had always been well-mannered, kind and smart, and girls had always responded well to that. His good looks didn't hurt either. He was effortlessly charming and confident so Cress was surprised to learn that he hadn't been that way with Cinder. It made it just more romantic in her eyes though. Because Kai hadn't been one to be nervous around girls. Young, rich and undeniable handsome Kai always knew how to have a good time with women. Quite a few of them, if his party weekend photos were anything to go by. She chose not to voice what she was thinking, though. "I wouldn't know. I never heard him talk about any woman the way he talks about you," she said diplomatically. "So, you met again later, you said?"

Kai sent her a grateful wink as if they shared a secret. "Indeed. I got an invitation to a wedding which coincidentally Thorne had been consulting for. It was just when he was starting out. Apparently, something was wrong with the speakers and since Thorne didn't know anyone else he could have asked, he called Cinder, who fixed it."

She wasn't sure why but Cress asked, "Whose wedding was it?"

Kai scratched his ear, deep in thought. "It was one of the architects working on the project during that summer too. Jane?"

"Kate. Kate Fallow," Cinder supplied. "I talked to her a few times since we're almost in the same field. We did most of the calculations."

"She didn't invite you too, then?"

"No, but we didn't know each other all that well."

To Cress it sounded like Kai hadn't known Kate Fallow all that well either if he couldn't even remember her name. It seemed strange but she would ask about that later.

"So that's when you met again?"

Now Cinder was definitely blushing. "He constantly asked me to dance, despite me not wearing anything appropriate for a wedding. I came from work and just wanted to get home when Thorne called me. I looked awful."

"She looked beautiful."

Cinder shot him a deadpan look but Cress could see the small smile forming at the corner of her mouth.

"I agreed to dance with him for one song."

That could be important, Cress reckoned. "To which song?"

Cinder waved her hand at Cress. "Oh, who knows. One song or another," Cinder mumbled, clearly embarrassed. Cress wasn't one to judge. She knew her fair share of embarrassing songs. With a shudder, she remembered her drunk Nancy-Sinatra medley from yesterday. But since Cinder didn't want to mention it, Cress wanted to respect that.

"It was I Found Love by BeBe Winans."

Thorne had no such qualms apparently. He strolled back with a confident stride, skillfully balancing more boxes and vases and a variety of textiles.

"Thorne!"

"What? It was the song you danced to, wasn't it?" He wiggled his eyebrows at a clearly mortified Cinder. "Dancing if I'm being generous. I saw your tongues move more than your feet."

"Thorne!" Cinder seemed even more mortified, if that was possible. Kai sported a smug smile he wisely hid from Cinder. Cress was sure if she and Cinder weren't there at that moment, he and Thorne would fistbump.

"While you're walking down memory lane, I'm actually working for my money."

Cress raised an eyebrow at him. "I'm working for my money too." What did he think those questions were for? She didn't want to argue, though. Instead, she stood up with a fluid motion, thanked Kai and Cinder, and made her way through the store. She only had the faintest idea of what she was looking for but she needed to start somewhere. Maybe something in the shop would inspire her.

Rows upon rows with every imaginable piece of decoration in every color and style. Elaborate candelabras and mason jars, metallic pearls and glasses with flowery designs - Regolith Décor seemed to have everything a bride could wish for. She only needed to find something for the bride Cinder was going to be.

Cress took a deep breath.

She knew from an earlier conversation with Kai that Cinder was a technical draftswoman, so drawing was a big part of her live. Probably not in an artistic way, though, which made it a bit harder. But maybe she could combine it with something Kai was passionate about? He had taken calligraphy classes in his youth. Out of the corner of her eyes, she spotted some delicate paper flowers. Each was shaded in a different pastel color, tipped with a silver and gold sheen. Instead of a regular table cloth, she found one that imitated the texture of parchment, a text swirling around in ink. It was different but maybe she could turn it into something wonderful?

Cress grabbed a few more things, each in some way relating to the colors of the flowers, writing, or the texture of paper. If done right, it could be personalized with individual texts and elaborately-folded paper. She picked up some shimmering tableware and, on second thought, one in wooden design too. It was a stretch, but Kai and Cinder got to know each other building on houses ... there had to have been wood involved, right?

Her arms already overflowing with things she had picked, so she looked for a shopping basket, carefully putting everything in it. Cress wasn't done, though. She always presented at least two ideas. There were a few more aisles she hadn't looked through yet. She was acutely aware that she didn't have much time and she didn't want to make Kai and Cinder wait much longer. That's when she found a colorful oil-paper umbrella in an Asia-themed aisle.

Careful to pick authentic designs (instead of the Buddha-head candleholder or the cup that had 'soup' in Chinese spelled on it), Cress nevertheless found a beautiful garland with illuminated paper cranes and a set of plates, bowls and glasses displaying a delicate watercolor image. She wasn't sure about the selection but maybe she could just use it as an example. If Kai and Cinder liked the idea, if not the design, something similar could be found in another shop too for sure.

Cress so wished that Kai and Cinder would like her ideas. It wasn't even about the competition against Thorne anymore. It was to show that a wedding planner who cared, actually cared about their clients, should be more successful than someone who picked the profession as the most convenient option. It was about passion and being mindful of every detail. If her idea wasn't picked, was there really any need for her to be here in L.A. for several weeks?

Balancing everything she needed (which now amounted to an entire shopping cart and an extra box, which drew some weird looks from the other customers), she managed to get back to where Kai, Cinder and Thorne were already waiting for her.

Cress made a point not to look at what Thorne had already prepared. She had to focus on her own presentation.

Arranging everything on her half of the table, she motioned to Thorne, "You can already start."

"Nah, ladies first."

It was hard for Cress to resist rolling her eyes.

Now she had to move extra fast. Cress was acutely aware that, once again, everyone was waiting for her. Her hands shook slightly and whereas she would usually spend hours experimenting with a final design, she felt pressured to hurry.

She stepped back from the table and gave the two arrangements one last glance. She had this. She had done it plenty of times before. Although this was definitely a new scenario, talking about her ideas should be familiar.

Maybe.

To her relief, Kai and Cinder didn't appear to be impatient or bored. Kai even nodded at her encouragingly. Cress smoothed the wrinkles of her dress, noticing the clamminess of her hands. She clasped them together so she wouldn't be tempted to fidget.

"Thanks for your time." Cress called up the smile she had practiced for such occasions. "I came up with two ideas that I hope you will like."

"Here you can see a paper-themed wedding. It's something that can look quite special and be turned into something that suits a couple and their individual ideas." She cleared her throat "This is an idea that could offer endless possibilities. This is just an example but we could settle on different color schemes and arrangements. But I thought it would be something that would suit both your talents. Like"—Cress wanted to smack her head at the unprofessional choice of language and stumbled over her next words—"I mean, as you, as I know, Cinder is a draftswoman and while your way of drawing is probably more ... technical, I think, it would still show a connection. Especially since Kai had calligraphy lessons when he was younger..." Cress trailed off. Suddenly, the connection she made sounded weak to her own ears. Who cared if Kai had calligraphy lessons as a kid? But it was a good idea with so much room for improvement, she just had to sell it.

She stepped towards the table, pointing at the various things. "Instead of real flowers, we could use paper flowers. These are just the ones I found in this store and as you can see, they look like pale roses with a bit of gold and silver and some writing on it, but I'm sure we can find paper flowers in every shape and form if you want something else. Also," she said, holding up the little figure she had quickly folded together into a bishop's hat form, "you can use many folding techniques for the napkins or the decorations. Everything could be in any color you want and personalized with your names or penmanships. As for the lights, we could use paper lanterns. It would look all cohesive while still being very elegant." An idea popped into Cress's head. "Also, you could involve the guests with them writing their own best wishes or poems—or anything, really, for you to collect and cherish. It would add a personal touch, I'm sure."

Nodding at the couple, Cress indicated that her first pitch was over. She wouldn't continue with the second one right away. It was important to let people take in what they heard and saw, maybe ask questions or just voice their thoughts.

"You can take a closer look if you want."

Kai and Cinder approached, taking in the part of the decorated table. Cinder, in particular, examined the folded napkin as if to figure out how Cress had done it.

"It's a great idea," Kai told Cress with a smile, but Cress hadn't expected Kai to say anything negative. "I like how much one can do with it, as you said. You even remembered my calligraphy classes. Though you failed to mention that I was absolutely terrible at it," he reminded her with a wink.

"I like it too," Cinder chimed in. "Though the roses with the pink and silver and gold ..." She made a face. "But you said we could have other paper flowers, right?

Cress beamed. "Of course. I've seen every shade and form and can order them for you." Cress was relieved. It seemed like they really liked it.

"It is a nice idea." Thorne had come closer too and picked at one of the paper flowers. "I've seen a few weddings with a similar theme but haven't done anything like it myself."

He surely wasn't suggesting that the idea was beneath him, was he? Cress glanced at him from the corner of her eye but nothing suggested that Thorne was insulting the idea itself. He didn't seem too impressed either though.

"However—"

Cress pursed her lips in annoyance. She had no idea why had started voicing a criticism already but she couldn't say she was surprised.

"—I'm not sure if it works for the venue we picked."

"Why not?"

"Because it all seems very small in scale. The venue is huge. The whole room needs to be filled so it doesn't appear to be empty. I'm not sure that folding techniques and paper flowers are enough." He raised his hands. "No offense though because, as I said, it is a nice idea. It's just too delicate if you ask me. I see it working its full effect at a smaller venue rather than Artemisia Hall."

Cress wasn't sure how that could be an issue. The centerpiece she had on the table was small, sure, but she never expected it to be the final result. "I've seen stunning centerpieces made of paper flowers. There are companies who specialize in paper flowers and they can make them quite big. One could even decorate the walls or frame the head table."

Thorne shrugged. "Sure. I just think it misses some sparkle to catch the eye, that's all." He went back to his side of the table and Kai and Cinder took their seats too. They had been talking to each other and Cress was annoyed she had missed it. She had no idea what they thought of her idea now.

It missed some sparkle to catch the eye - please. Taking a look at Cinder, Cress couldn't see her as the typical sparkly bride. Cress didn't want to force an aesthetic onto her that ultimately wasn't her. But what if she was wrong? Her second idea wasn't sparkly either. Cress shook her head - now wasn't the time for self-doubt.

She guessed that was it for her first idea though. She took a step to the right, closer to Thorne and his half of the table. She still refused to look at it though.

"Okay, now for my second idea, I thought it would be nice to bring in something from your culture. Or cultures." Cress was painfully aware that she didn't know anything about Cinder's background and she wished she had asked before. If she was honest with herself, she also didn't like the selection she had picked all that much. Some of it related to Kai's heritage and it worked more or less but Cress was actually imagining something else.

After considering for another second, Cress decided to trust her gut and ditch the initial idea. "Nevermind what you see in front of you. It's really the only thing I could find in this store. It's just generic Asian decor but I would like to develop a wedding theme that includes parts from your cultures. As Kai said, his family from China will be present, so this would be inclusive for them too."

"We are not very traditional though, Cress," Kai interjected.

Cress nodded. "I know. It doesn't have to be the whole theme but a few touches here and there. Something that is familiar to you. May it be the food or some customs that mean something to you. Whatever it is, we could give it a twist that will make your wedding special. This umbrella, for example." Cress picked up the oil-paper umbrella that she hadn't found a place for on the table and opened it and turned it upside down. "We could take lots of them and hang them on the ceiling. Maybe illuminate it from inside or hang things down from it. String lights or paper cranes ... or something sparkly," she added with a defiant nod of her chin. "There are many ways to do a wedding that is inspired by your cultures that isn't so on the nose. And it would make it personal for you and your families."

She closed the umbrella again and set it aside. "It all depends on you and what you want. I can research into Chinese or Japanese wedding customs and look for inspiration. And I can do the same with your culture and what's important to your family, Cinder."

There was an uncomfortable silence. Cress felt like she had put her foot in her mouth except she didn't quite know why. She hoped she hadn't overstepped some boundary? But she had organized weddings where including customs was important to the couple so she at least wanted to suggest it to Kai and Cinder too.

Cinder squirmed in her seat as if she was put on the spot. Cress knew that feeling too well. She decided to continue as if nothing had happened.

"Or not. I just know from experience that some couples want to add some traditions from their culture that can be shared amongst the family. If you don't want that, the aesthetic alone could be approached minimalistically. Just a few touches here or there, maybe give it a modern twist."

"It's again a wonderful idea," Cinder started, though it wasn't as genuine as her response to the paper-theme wedding, Cress felt. "Very creative. I just–"she looked at Kai—"as Kai said, we're not very traditional. I mean Kai's family is but mine ..."

There was another long pause before Cinder shrugged and left it at, "It's complicated."

"Oh." Cress knew about complicated family relations so she didn't press on. She treaded on carefully. "Nevermind then. I just thought it could make your wedding both unique and meaningful. There are still ways to include some things you like even without going with the whole Asian theme. As I said, the food or specific flowers, like bamboo center pieces or peonies or —"

"No peonies!" Cinder interrupted her sharply. She instantly clapped her hand over her mouth.

An uncomfortable silence followed and Cress wondered what she had done wrong. Even Thorne, for once, kept quiet, scratching his neck.

Finally, Cinder looked up with a sad smile. "I'm sorry, Cress. Just ... no peonies."

Cress nodded. "No problem." She debated apologizing but then again, she didn't know for what. Kai reached over to Cinder's hand and rubbed it soothingly.

There wasn't much she could do now. Thanking Kai and Cinder, Cress stepped away from the table. It was time for Thorne's presentation.

Cress went to stand next to the couple and when she turned around, she saw for the first time what Thorne had prepared. Cress could only barely hold in a gasp.

It was spectacular.

Both his designs were grand, almost too grand for the little corner of the store. The centerpieces were stunning with a clear direction and color scheme. Cress didn't even know where he had found all that stuff.

Compared to his, Cress's side of the table looked poor and ill-thought out. She hadn't been happy with the second idea due to the lack of adequate decorations but even the paper flower idea she had loved so much now seemed bland.

Nothing like Thorne's.

"I, too, thought I would present you with two ideas. Let me start with this one." Thorne pointed to one of the arrangements with flourish. He looked like he stepped out of one of the bridal magazines - smart, charming and in control. There was no nervousness in his voice, as if he already knew that his idea would be the one to be picked.

Cress's mouth became dry.

"As you can see, the main color scheme is silver, white and, as the eye-catcher, petrol blue. The forms will be simple and sleek. Lots of square shapes." Cress saw that, indeed, the plates were square-shaped and the vase was a high, slim cylinder. The napkins, with the way everything was arranged, displayed clear square lines - if it had been possible, Cress was sure he would have picked square-shaped flowers too.

That's when Cress noticed that only a few plastic leaves were placed in the vase. "No flowers?"

"Good catch." Thorne looked through his phone and held up the picture of a white flower that was vaguely box-shaped, as far as Cress could tell. "Bouvardias in white. As long as they don't bloom, they look like tiny squares. Would work perfectly with the theme. It would all look very sleek, modern and chic." Thorne pocketed his phone again and leaned confidently over the back of a chair. "It would obviously work for the cake too. Or the way we arrange the tables. Simple, but effective."

"Cool." Cinder nodded approvingly. Cress noticed that she hadn't said anything like that about her ideas though she had been polite. Thorne knew Cinder for longer, though—knew her tastes better.

"Why the colors?" Cress couldn't help but ask. It didn't look very sparkly either, though the silver shimmered nicely.

Thorne shrugged. "Why not? It's the new trend of the year. Petrol goes well with a whole range of colors. It won't look horrible on the bridesmaids either, "he added with a wink.

Cress thought it was rather impersonal. She also followed current trends because many brides got inspired by them., but to pick a concept just because it was trendy would hardly work for every wedding.

Nevertheless, it looked great, she had to admit. A bit too cool for her tastes, as she would have gone with warm copper instead of silver. Antique candelabras, intricate swirls, keys as decorations ... lost in designing a wonderful new wedding scheme, Cress almost missed that Thorne had already started with his second idea.

"This one is obviously closer to a traditional wedding theme. I already brought a few things I prepared at home because I feel this could be the one that integrates best into the architecture and the grounds around Artemisia Hall."

Cress thought it was unfair that he already brought something with him, especially since he already knew the location. Cress would have liked to see it too, and not only from pictures off the Internet.

"The gardens outside, which we have also booked, have those wisteria trees. I suggest we bring the wisteria into the banquet hall too. Let the inside mirror the outside, so to speak. Decorate the whole ceiling with them so they hang over the guests. The purple would set off nicely with the light from chandeliers. On the tables, we could have an intricate candle-flower arrangement. String lights, crystals, the whole shebang."

Thorne looked rather proud of his second arrangement and Cress could see why. It had been her favorite out of the two right from the beginning. The main colors were purple and white, with crystals worked into the design - the sparkle Thorne had commented on before. It was a high centerpiece, wisterias on top and with delicate crystals, ornaments and glittering balls in many shapes and forms hanging around the slim base. White, long candles would illuminate the arrangement perfectly.

It was breathtaking.

Cress wasn't surprised when Kai and Cinder picked that one.

A/N: Finally, some wedding stuff! I hope you all enjoyed reading it. I had the worst writing block during this chapter and would appreciate if let me know if you liked it. Also, if you want you can visit my tumblr (my address/name is "moon-mirage") and see some moodboards for the fic. As always, a big thank you to lovelunarchron for betaing.