Author's Note: I recently watched the movie again after hearing of Ms. Reinking's passing. That stirred up a lot of feelings I didn't really know I had, especially about Grace/Warbucks. This resulted. Please enjoy. :)
Annie awoke in a moment of surprise and amazement. She would never get used to sleeping in a room like this. It wasn't so long ago that she shared a room with twelve other girls in Miss Hannigan's orphanage. But, just about a year ago, Daddy Warbucks had signed paperwork to make it official. Annie was no longer an orphan.
And the news got even better: Warbucks had finally proposed to his loyal secretary, Grace. Today was the big day. Annie could hear the servants outside her door, scurrying to get everything ready in time. She saw that her dress was lying on a chair near her bed. Grace had asked her to be a bridesmaid. After all, she'd said, there might not even be a wedding if it hadn't been for Annie. As she put the dress on, Annie could hardly believe something like this belonged to her.
When she walked out of the room, she noticed Drake hurriedly walking by. "Well, good morning, Miss Annie. Don't you look beautiful?"
Annie blushed. She wasn't used to such compliments. "Thank you." She gave a small curtsy.
"Oh, the future Mrs. Warbucks told me to give you a message. She said she'll be here in about an hour to help with your hair and makeup. Then you and the master will make your way to the ceremony in the limousine."
Annie almost didn't think she'd heard right. Limousine?
Drake smiled at the surprise on her face. "You should know by now that Mr. Warbucks spares no expense, especially when it comes to his loved ones."
The fact that Drake had used the phrase loved ones, implying that she was of them, was unbelievable. But she quickly recovered. "Thank you. I'm going to go down and get some breakfast, and then I'll wait for Grace in my room."
"Very well, madam. I shall relay this to the masters of the house." He walked away. He obviously had a thousand things to do.
Annie went down to the kitchen. She was much too excited to eat, but of course the cook wouldn't hear it. She finally managed to eat something. She finished as fast as she could.
The entire staff was working to get ready for the reception. Some of New York's most influential people were coming. Warbucks had even called President Roosevelt to invite him as well as the First Lady. He'd done so at Annie's insistence. He was still opposed to much of Roosevelt's New Deal policy. The President was quite happy to hear of the engagement, but he was unable to attend. He'd given a gift to the couple, as well as a savings bond to Annie.
Annie went back up to her room. As she sat there, she recalled the events that had brought her here. She would always be grateful to Oliver Warbucks for giving her a forever home. He'd done the same for several of the girls from the orphanage. Many of his friends had decided to adopt, after a bit of persuasion. And he'd used his influence with the Board of Orphans to find someone new to run the orphanage. Miss Hannigan had decided to take a well-deserved vacation. Her brother, Rooster, and his girlfriend were in jail for various crimes, including attempted kidnapping. It was all a miracle Annie couldn't have even dreamed of.
Her thoughts were interrupted by a knock on the door. A moment later, Grace poked her head in. "Are you ready for a wedding?"
"Oh, yes," Annie said. She'd thought going to a movie was fun, but this was even better.
"Well, then, let's put our finishing touches on."
"Grace, you look wonderful! He won't be able to take his eyes off you!" Grace had traded in her usual work outfits for a simple, tasteful white dress and a small veil. It was another sign of how much things had changed around here.
"Thank you, Annie. You are quite pretty yourself." She took Annie by the hand, walking her over to the mirror. "Well, let's see what we can do….." Grace surveyed the many lipsticks, perfumes, and other things Annie had. She then chose the items she thought would most accentuate the beauty of her soon-to-be adopted daughter.
When she was finished, she stood back, observing her handiwork. "I think we've done it," Grace said. "Your father will be pleased." She grinned.
Once again, Grace's choice of words sent a thrill through Annie. She had a Daddy, and she was about to gain a mother!
They walked down the grand stairway. There, at the bottom, stood Oliver Warbucks. He hadn't seen his fiancée or his daughter since last night. He'd spent the morning in business meetings. But he'd ordered Grace to see that his calendar was empty for the next several weeks. He would take his new little family on a trip to visit several friends. He could hardly wait.
"Oh…." Oliver could barely speak as he watched them.
"Why thank you," Grace said, kissing him when she and Annie came down.
"Annie, my dear, you're even lovelier than usual!" Oliver kissed her hand.
Annie blushed harder than ever.
"Well, shall we go?" Oliver asked, pointing to the front door. The limo was waiting to take them to the ceremony.
"Let's go to a wedding." Grace winked at the little girl, reminding her of the movie they'd gone to a year ago. Grace would always remember that as the night she'd fallen in love. First with Annie, and then her boss.
Outside the church, there was a huge crowd. Reporters and photographers lined the sidewalk. The limo driver had to honk several times to get them to move. After a few moments, the onlookers got the message. He was able to park and let the three passengers out.
Annie walked hand in hand with the bride and groom. She couldn't believe how large the church was. "Leaping lizards!"
"When Oliver Warbucks does a thing, he does it right." Oliver smiled proudly.
The priest approached them. "Oh, good, you're here. I'm sure your schedule is quite full. And I must say, I don't enjoy having so many reporters out there."
Oliver nodded, understanding what the man was trying to say. "Yes. I think it's in everyone's best interest that this be done quickly."
"Where are my friends?" Annie asked. "The ones from the orphanage?"
"I called them several times," Grace said. "I was told they'd be here…." She looked around, every bit as confused as Annie.
Just then, the door to the chapel burst open, and a dozen young girls poured in.
"You're here!" Annie ran over. Immediately, the girls swarmed her, offering hugs and congratulations.
Grace watched the warm reunion for a moment, then decided to break it up. "Annie, I know you're happy to see your friends, but you'll have plenty of time to visit with them at the reception."
"Right," Annie agreed. She backed away from her friends. She let Grace lead her to the altar. Oliver stood opposite her. Grace went to the back of the room, as the orphans took seats in the front pews.
Once everyone was in their places, the priest gave his signal, and Grace proceeded down the aisle. Annie held her breath, unable to believe this was real.
Grace stood, facing Oliver. Her eyes filled with tears. None of this had seemed possible a year ago.
"Well, I know we want this ceremony to be quick, but Mr. Warbucks wants to say a few words. He is a millionaire, so I couldn't say no…." The priest gestured to the groom. Everyone chuckled.
"I used to think happiness was found in wealth. And then my very stubborn secretary told me that helping a poor orphan might be good for my image. Little did I know, that one decision would change my life forever." Oliver looked at Annie. She was always talking about how much he'd given her, but he saw it the other way around.
"Oh, Oliver…." Grace could see what was in his heart. It had always been there. It just took a little girl to bring it to the surface.
Oliver could only shrug. It was all true.
"Oliver, we've already spent a lifetime together. I've seen how you can build a business empire in almost no time. Though you haven't always done so by honest means, I know you aren't that man anymore. You've given Annie a new life, and you've won my heart. I don't think I could love you more."
"All right, on to the vows. Do you, Oliver Warbucks, take Grace Farrell as your lawful wife?"
"I do," Oliver said, looking straight at her.
"And do you promise to share your life and possessions with her, as long as you live?"
"Of course."
The priest turned to Grace. "Do you, Grace Farrell, take Oliver Warbucks to be your lawful husband?"
"I do," Grace answered.
"And do you promise to share your life and possessions with him, as long as you live?"
"Yes." The tears Grace had kept at bay finally came. The rings were exchanged, but she didn't see any of it. Everything was a blur.
No one heard the priest say, "You may kiss the bride" over the orphans' cheers. The kiss was not long, but it said everything.
Annie thought her heart might burst. She'd always believed, no matter what, that tomorrow would be better. But this was a tomorrow even she couldn't have imagined.
Before Annie could say or do anything, Oliver took her in his arms. "Well, Annie, what do you think now?"
She couldn't begin to put any of her feelings into words. She simply put her arms around Oliver's neck, hoping that would convey all that she felt.
Grace's tears had subsided some by now. But the sight of Oliver holding his daughter threatened to bring them all back. The only way she could think to stop them was to join the embrace. A year ago, she had helped Annie find a home, and now she'd found one, too.
The End