Cress had been surprised (but ecstatic) when Cinder called to ask her if she needed any help as the bride-to-be wanted to be at least a bit more involved in the wedding planning process so close to the wedding date.

She had been less surprised when she saw Cinder's not so enthusiastic expression when she entered the apartment Cress currently occupied and saw the stacks of boxes that filled the living room. Boxes were on every surface except the couch table and were stacked like towers on the floor.

"I didn't thought this through, did I?" Cinder admitted with her forehead set in wrinkles.

Cress just laughed good-naturedly and pointed to the counter that led into the kitchen. "Take-out is on me. And I got us some wine."

That seemed to placate the bride-to-be a little. "So, what is all that stuff?"

Cress held out a carpet knife to Cinder. "The presents for your wedding guests. I already packed up the ones for the reception, but these are for the wedding."

"That much?"

With a shrug, Cress started to cut open the first box. "You have a lot of guests."

Cinder huffed. "Don't remind me."

Together they set out to open all the boxes and Cress compared the contents with the order list on her tablet. So far, it looked like it matched but Cress knew from experience that didn't mean much. The numbers of items could be wrong or there might be some scratches and broken pieces that would need to be replaced before the wedding.

"Careful with those. Those are the cups," Cress pointed out when Cinder took one box from the top of one stack. At Cinder's grimace as she set the box gingerly down, Cress had to laugh.

"Before we start-and you need to remind me again what we're doing-I'm all for the wine you mentioned."

"Sure." They made their way through the maze of boxes to the kitchen where Cinder opened the wine bottle and poured them both a glass. Cress took a quick sip. "Thorne and I discussed the wedding gifts for your guests, and we need to count them first. We have fans with your and Kai's names written on them, as well as the wedding date." Cress opened a folder on her tablet and showed Cinder the colorful fan they had picked out. It combined the color scheme (teal, green and orange) that was reminiscent of the dress Cinder would also wear for the reception the day before the wedding. "It's a beautiful and also practical gift as it might be quite hot. The weather reports look promising."

Rainy weddings were the number one concern for every wedding planner but the weather in California gave her way less to worry about than back in Vermont.

"Do we need to do anything else besides count?" Cinder asked, trying not to look to relieved about the news.

"Um, not for the fans, no. We also don't have to do anything with the cups, except count them." She scrolled to another pic of a delicate cup, again in the same colors that were ever-present in the wedding and a tiny gold rim and handle. "We'll place a little bag with green tea and lemon cookies in the cups while we redecorate the wedding venue and place the tables, tableware and such. But we need to check if they're intact or if we might have to replace a few."

"Okay, check and count cups and fans. Sounds good." Cinder downed her wine with newfound vigor and shook off the hoodie she was wearing, which Cress recognized as one of Kai's. That was so cute. Julian hardly let her borrow his shirts and Cress knew, even though he never told her, that he expected them back if he did lend one to her. He had his fixed wardrobe, especially for work so she understood.

"Um, and we also have to place the cups into the present boxes ... which we also need to fold," Cress added sheepishly.

"Oh. Okay."

"Cinder," Cress started. "I'm really happy you offered to help but if you don't want to, you don't have to. It's part of my job to do all of that, as the bride you don't-"

"No, Cress. I really want to help. Sorry, I'm ... this isn't really my scene, you know?"

"Counting? Or folding?" Cress teased with a smile.

Cinder laughed. "No, just ... delicate things. I hope I don't smash a cup. Or break the cookies or rip a fan." She scowled at all the possible ways she could screw up the gifts. "But I really want to help you. You know, Iko would enjoy it. She would probably make a drinking game out of it and make us sing songs to pass the time." She paused. "On second thought, maybe it's better she isn't here yet."

For Cress, that sounded like a lot of fun, but she could see that this wasn't really like Cinder. "It really is just one of the last things to go through. Thorne and I divided the last of the tasks, so I'll be responsible for the gifts and Thorne for the seating arrangements." What Cress didn't say was that it had been her idea.

It wasn't that she didn't like hanging out with Thorne anymore. On the contrary, Cress realized she liked hanging out with Thorne a bit too much. And it was strange and probably all sorts of wrong, so dividing their tasks made sense to Cress. It made her feel safer. She didn't dare think about why.

She focused on Cinder again. "I'm sure you won't smash anything. And even if you do, we can ask for a replacement. Don't worry. We're covered."

Cinder seemed relieved to hear that. "Great. So counting, here I come." She downed another glass of wine and went for the first box.

Cress hurried to follow her. She had a feeling that Cinder was more comfortable now and together, they started with the first box of fans.

"Ooh, that is pretty," Cinder marvelled when Cress opened the first one to check for any damage.

"You sound surprised?" She and Thorne made a great team in all things pretty, so of course the fan would be just as aesthetically pleasing as the rest. Also, she was pretty sure Cinder had already seen a photo of it.

"No, I just really like it. The colors are beautiful. I guess they're not traditionally wedding-like-" When Cress pursed her lips, she stopped. "What?"

"I just-" Cress sighed. "- I know you feel like weddings have to be traditional or all white with roses like that is what is expected of a wedding, and I guess that was the case for a long time. But now, weddings are a way for a couple to express themselves. To show their family and friends what they love together and what they love about each other. Weddings are a reflection of that, so everything you would like at your wedding will be 'wedding-like'." Cress said quietly, eyeing Cinder as she ticked of another box as complete.

Cinder had a forlorn look on her face. "You make it sound so amazing. And easy."

"It is amazing. And easy," Cress added with a grin.

"I just feel there are so many expectations with all these politicians and the friends of Kai's father coming to the wedding."

They should have opted for a smaller wedding, Cress thought not for the first time. Something with just close friends and family, so Cinder could feel comfortable with no expectations other than just having a wonderful wedding. It was too late for that now, though.

Hesitantly, she reached out to Cinder's hand which had been in the process of unfolding another fan for inspection. "Cinder, this is your day. And I promise you that when you think back on this day in the future, you won't remember any of those people. You'll remember your wedding vows, and your first dance, and the good time you had with the people you love."

Cinder squeezed her hand. "You really love this, do you?"

Cress didn't need to ask what she meant. "I do. I always have." Weddings were about people coming together, and for someone who had grown up as lonely and isolated as Cress had been, it was everything she had always wanted. Not the dress or the cake or anything (well, maybe the cake, she thought) - just knowing that she was surrounded by people who loved her. Knowing she wouldn't be lonely anymore.

A wedding meant that someone loved you so much they would always be there for you. In sickness and in health.

She uneasily grabbed at a strand of hair, twisting it between her fingers. Julian would be that man for her once she said yes to his proposal. Always be there for her. She would never have to be alone ever again.

She just had to say yes.

Shaking her head, she opted for a light tone. "This wedding will be beautiful. Just relax and enjoy the day." And pick the orange VW beetle as your bridal car, Cress wanted to scream. She bit the inside of her cheeks. "I know you think we do this wedding for your guests. But Thorne and I-" her heart raced up guiltily- " we do it for you. You and Kai. That's our focus for your wedding. Not your guests," she told Cinder.

"Thank you, Cress. Have I told you I'm glad you agreed to come and help with the wedding? Because if not-"

Cress laughed. "You did, no worries. And thank you. For letting me be part of it."

They continued working in amiable silence and slowly, they counted all the fans and cups which left them only with folding the boxes and placing the cups with the tea bag and cookies in them.

Suddenly, Cinder's stomach grumbled and as if needed the reminder, Cress's own chimed in. They laughed. "I guess it's time for dinner?"

"Yes, please." Cinder followed Cress into the kitchen and together they filled plates with Chinese food. "I'm starving," Cinder told Cress as she bit into an eggroll.

"Me too. But we already made a lot of progress. We're pretty much ahead timewise. Thank you for your help."

"Sure. It's actually nice. Just simple work, you can get out of your head for a while."

Cress chewed on her fried noodles, considering if she should inquire. Not as a wedding planner but as a friend. Where she and Cinder already friends? She swallowed. "Um, anything particular that is on your mind?"

"I miss Peony," Cinder said quietly.

Cress's heart reached out Cinder and to her little sister she had lost to the same illness that had taken so much from Cress too. "I'm sure she would have been so happy for you."

Cinder nodded. "She would have. The thing is, when I think of her at my wedding-" she sent a careful glance at Cress but continued-" I think of her as a flower girl. She was fourteen when she died. I keep forgetting that she would be an adult now too."

"How old were you when she...?"

"Sixteen. Just two years older but of course, two years seem a lot when you're a kid. Now she would be one of my bridesmaids. Probably fighting with Iko who should be my maid of honor." And then Cinder give her such a pained, heart-wrenching smile that it broke Cress's heart.

Without a second thought, she went and engulfed the other woman in a hug. There was no shaking, no sobbing, not even a tear that landed on Cress's shoulder, but Cinder hugged her tight. Cress didn't offer any words of comfort because she knew they would ring false.

She heard Cinder taking a deep breath before loosening the embrace with a bashful smile. "I don't know what came over me. I just feel she would love everything you're doing so much. With the colors and the music and just everything. And then she would have asked you to plan her wedding as well."

"Peony sounds like a great person."

"She was." Fixing her ponytail with a forceful tug, Cinder opened another bottle of wine and poured the both of them a glass. "Sorry, I don't know what came over me."

"Please, don't apologize."

"I just ... you always break down a wedding to the most important part. Friends and family. It just struck me that she wouldn't be there."

Nothing Cress arranged for Cinder's wedding would bring back Peony, Cress knew. Her fingers twisted the long strands of her hair into frizzy ends. There was nothing she could say but Cinder already blew her bangs and gave her a small grin.

"Gosh, I'm a mess."

Cress shook her head. "You're not. If I were to ... marry, I would be sad my dad couldn't be there." Or anyone for that matter. Her mother was God-knows-where and Cress wouldn't want to see her again anyway. For all her love for weddings, Cress never really saw herself as the bride. She didn't like the limelight, to be the center of attention. And she was also painfully aware that her own guest list would amount to a few acquaintances from evening school at best. Looking at her life right now, there was no one back home who would actually be there for her during her big day. Julian's sister would probably be the one to ask but still, she would still be part of Julian's family, not her own.

Suddenly, Cress felt very lonely at that thought. She shook her head to focus on the task at hand.

Weddings. Work. She would focus on what she was good at. She took a huge gulp of her wine.

Cinder cleared her throat. "I'm really not good at that girly talk but do you have someone back home? Someone serious?"

Cress choked a little on her wine, but before she had time to collect herself, the other woman cried in dismay. "Oh no, look at that bag of cookies, they're broken!"

Cress hid a relieved sigh and was back in full working mode. "Ah, no worries. Really, it's fine. The fans and the cups are fine, and we can always ask for more cookies." She took out the little bag with the three broken and crumples lemon cookies inside and opened it. She took one of the pieces and offered it to Cinder. "Also, that way we get to try one of these delicious cookies."

"Seriously?" Cinder eyed the offered cookie piece suspiciously.

"Sure. Really, you should try them, they're amazing." She popped some into her mouth, savoring the fresh and sour taste as it melted in buttery softness on her tongue.

Cinder followed suit, making a delighted sound. "These are amazing! I thought they were a nice idea when you told me about the cup and the tea and the cookies but now that I tasted them ..." She took another crumble from the bag. "I thought you would pick some fancy biscuits but they almost taste like ..." she trailed off, her forehead wrinkling in thought as she chewed.

Grinning, Cress waited, inspecting another cookie. They were simple round-shaped with a little white swirl on top that was just uneven enough to show they were homemade rather than store-bought. They might not look like much but they had an amazing taste. Cress was sad to see they had already emptied the bag. "They taste familiar?" She asked innocently.

Looking up, Cinder made an excited gasp. "Scarlet made them?!"

"And her grandma."

"I knew they tasted familiar. They always make the best cakes. And cookies. Gosh, I can't believe they baked all those cookies for our wedding." Cinder looked genuinely touched as she observed the heaps of bags.

"It was Thorne's idea," Cress felt the need to add. She heard bits and pieces from Kai about Scarlet and her amazing culinary skills and how, every Thanksgiving, the whole gang was invited to the Benoit farm. It had become a tradition and Thorne had mentioned the great food with enthusiasm.

It had sounded so amazing, Cress had always felt a pang of jealousy. She gave Cinder a quick smile. "Scarlet and her grandma were happy to help. We thought it would be a great gesture." That and Thorne also thought it was a good business opportunity for the Benoits. People were sure to ask about who made the cookies and if few opportunities came up for them to make some money, Thorne didn't see any harm. Cress hadn't thought twice before agreeing.

"Oh, but we should pay-," Cinder started.

"Already taken care of," Cress said with a wink.

"You and Thorne really think of anything, don't you?"

Cress shrugged. "What can I say? We make a great team."

And they did. And suddenly, Cress felt stupid for evading Thorne recently. There was no reason to. They were working together, they got along great. And they still had a few things to discuss.

She would go to him after she wrapped everything up with Cinder. Maybe he needed help with something as well and if not ... well, they could just hang out. She felt her cheeks warm at the thought. Probably the wine.

Cress liked hanging out with Thorne and she was going to leave in not even two weeks. It was hardly likely that they would meet again soon. She tried not to feel the pang at that thought and quickly emptied her glass of wine. It wasn't about Thorne, Cress thought to herself. She would miss Kai and Cinder as well.

She would go to him later. There was no reason not to, Cress told herself as she poured herself another glass.

A/N: I'm still in home office so I won't update frequently but I nevertheless hope you enjoyed this short update. I feel canon was lacking some bonding moments between all the girls. I mean Scarlet rooted for Cinder before even meeting her, Winter and Cinder grew up together for a little while and, from shell to cyborg, Cress could relate to being an outsider like Cinder. So, while I obviously write Cresswell-centered stories, I like to intersperse them here and there with some friendship moments. Next chapter will focus on Cress and Thorne once again.