A/N: See intro for disclaimers. Trying very hard to get this back on track. The muse has been easily distracted by a red-headed detective from South Florida. And stray plot bunnies. I'm trying to swing her back to the matter at hand. Wish me luck. Please R & R.

Tess was staring at the window watching the reflected bustle of the restaurant. She tried focusing her mind on the task at hand and was failed miserably. Bette tapped her hand. Tess snapped her attention back to her best friend.

"Hey, if planning your wedding is so boring, let me know. We can stop."

"I'm sorry. Just thinking." Tess looked at the pictures spread out before them. "And I thought we had pretty much settled things. I mean it's not like I'm getting married at St. Patrick's Cathedral."

"It's still your wedding, Tess." Bette looked at Tess, who had gone back to staring at the window. Bette started to pick up the magazine, she set it back down. "You wanna talk about it?"

Tess looked back. "I just keep wondering who I'm doing this for. I could just go downtown, stand before a judge and be done with it. It's just a piece of paper."

"This isn't for you. It's for your family, Don's family. Me. I wanna party."

Tess rolled her eyes. "Then throw yourself one. Why should I be throwing you a party?"

Bette sighed, trying another tack. "Okay, Tess. Howabout yer dad wanting to walk you down the aisle?"

"He'll get to do that with Steph."

"If yer sister does manage to get married, I won't be the least surprised if she elopes."

"So, I've got to have the whole white wedding thing?"

Bette grinned. "Come on, Tessie. You know deep in your heart you wanna. Think of Don in a tux."

"He could wear a tux to the courthouse." Bette just stared at her. Tess finally looked away. "OK. But you know, in my dream wedding, I was not five months pregnant."

"So everything isn't perfect. You got that all out of the way. Everything else should go smoothly."

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Tess glanced up from the couch as Don came in, then went back to concentrating on the television. A stack of papers was on the end table next to her. Don kissed Tess' hair. She waved him off.

"Hallo to you too." He glanced at the TV. "And how are they doin'?"

Tess didn't look up from the TV. "Blackhawks don't stand a chance." Don loosened his tie, stopped to watch the game for a few moments and headed bedroom to change. He came back through the living room to find Tess in exactly the same position. He watched the game again for a bit then headed to the kitchen for a beer. He grabbed a bottle and opened it, tossing the cap on the counter. Don went back into the living room and dropped down next to Tess. He tugged on Tess' arm. Tess slid over next to Don and he wrapped his arm around her shoulder. Tess snuggled down next to him, her eyes never leaving the TV. A commercial came on and Tess finally looked at Don. She smiled and gave him a quick kiss.

"You're running pretty late."

Don rolled his head to stretch his neck. "Been a rough couple of days." He set his beer on the end table.

Tess nodded. She brought her hand up to the back of Don's neck and started rubbing the knots. Don let out a deep breath and lay his head back. Tess shifted and started using her other hand too. "Everyone's been letting me know they've seen you on TV. Krista said you looked hot."

"Krista?"

Tess raised an eyebrow. "Yes, Krista Burke. Classroom's two doors down from mine. Kept going on about how hot the dark-haired detective with the bright blue eyes was. Someone finally clued her in that the hot, dark-haired detective with the killer blue eyes was very taken and I probably wouldn't share."

"Isn't she the one with the short red hair, green eyes? That Krista?" Tess' eyes widened. Don' lips twitched. He ran a finger along Tess' jaw. "Someone else I know is getting' a little green eyed." Tess crossed her arms across her chest and turned back to the game with a huff. Don squeezed Tess' shoulders and kissed her temple. He slid his lips to Tess' ear. "I am very taken and even if you would share, I wouldn't."

Tess ran her hand up Don's leg. "You just remember that."

Don shifted a little. He nibbled at Tess' ear. "I thought yer watchin' the game."

"I am. But I can multi-task."

Don chuckled against her hair. "I really don't think ya can watch the game and play the game."

Tess grinned, her eyes never leaving the TV. "Oh, I might beg to differ, but you probably are right." Tess pulled her hand out of Don's lap. "Why don't we call delay of game?"

"I'd prefer you ta TiVo the Wings," Don growled into Tess' ear.

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Don pulled Tess closer with one arm and played with her hair with his other hand. Tess snuggled closer. Don started at the ceiling. The events of the day tumbled over in his mind.

"Had to rescue a lady from a water torture box."

Tess frowned. "What?" She rose up on an elbow so she could see Don's face.

"Ya know that Blade guy."

"The magician? Always creeped me out." Tess rubbed at her neck.

"Illusionist. Well good reason for him being creepy..." Tess' eyes widened. "Yeah. He did it. Completely off his rocker. Apparently Fetal Alcohol Syndrome. Well, that's his excuse."

"Oh," said Tess softly. She looked away and dropped back down to the mattress. Don frowned. He pulled Tess close and kissed her hair. He kneaded her shoulder.

"Yer not thinkin' that a few drinks before ya knew you were pregnant damaged our baby. Yer no alcoholic Tess."

"I know. It's just you sit there thinking about everything you might have done wrong."

"Ya didn't' do anything wrong, Sweetheart. And ever since you've known, you've been more than careful. So how did lunch with Bette go? Got everything all settled?"

Tess propped herself up again. "We made progress. I've got a tux fitting scheduled for you and Danny. Adam's going to come down when he can. Made reservations for the reception. Got Stash hooked up with the priest over by your parents'."

"You were busy today."

"Well, we are on kind of a tight schedule."

Don ran his hand down Tess' side and across her stomach. "I guess we are. Jus' let me know where I need to be." Don shifted so he could look Tess in the eyes. "You are gonna make a beautiful bride, Mrs. Flack."

"Not yet."

"Jus' testin' out how it sounds." He lay back again and pulled Tess back to his side. He kissed her temple. "Jus' testin' it out."

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