Summary:
There is all kinds of sneaking around occurring to prepare for Daryl and Carol's big day.
Deanna was sitting at her desk in her pajamas when the group was shown into the library by Reg. They were all dressed except the Monroe's but nobody cared. They had important family business to attend to. The fact it was now 3:00 in the morning dispelled nobody's excitement.
Rick spoke first. "Deanna, I know you are planning on marrying Daryl and Carol tomorrow."
"Sure am. You could have knocked me over with a feather when they told me what they wanted."
"Here too." Said Glenn.
Maggie nodded emphatically. "Daryl has never been known to even show feelings of even a slightly romantic nature. He has always been closed off to that in our entire time together over the years. To see him this happy and this God help me 'in love' has been a shock to us all. Took us awhile to get our heads around it. Then tonight we figured we best get a move on things."
"I have it all taken care of -" Deanna started to say but was interrupted by Abraham.
"Listen here, boss lady. That man kept us alive and together out there. He never thought of himself even once. Saved all our asses in a multitude of fashions. Carol is 'bout the damn sweetest woman I've had the pleasure of meeting. Her world recently went to shit again. They found happiness in all that post Ed shit. Figure we owe them a proper wedding. We came to you for help. Will you help us?"
Deanna smiled. "Reg, go wake up Denise, Olivia, Spencer, Aiden, Tobin and anybody else you can think of that do not have little kids at home in bed. We got us a party to plan. Beth, I know Carol was helping you learn to sew. How well have you caught on?"
"Well enough to get what needs to be done looking presentable." said Beth.
"Good. I was one of those fools carting her wedding dress around when evacuations started. Carol is about my height. I think with some changes, we can get her a gown that she will be radiant in. Are you up to the challenge?"
"Yes Ma'am. I will get it done and Daryl will love it."
"Good. You can set up here, and I can help with the pinning."
Beth nooded gratefully.
"Maggie. You told me that you were responsible for most of the cooking when you were at the prison. I know it's not your favorite task, but maybe with some help from Glenn and Olivia you two could put together some semblance of a wedding cake. You up for that?"
"Anything for Carol and Daryl" she answered.
"Abraham. Grab Tobin, Aiden and Spencer and pull together any wood materials you can find. We need to make ourselves a bridal arch. Think you can do it?"
"Whatever you say boss lady."
"Reg. Go get Denise, Aaron and Eric immediately. I have something special for them to work on, and then I have something for you to do."
Reg took off.
"Rosita, as soon as it's light out, I want you to scour every house in the zone for any kind of dresses that would work for Sophia and Maggie."
"Sure."
"Rick, Michonne, Carl and Tara. I want you there with the happy couple as soon as they wake up. Make them breakfast, and then think of every trick in the book that you can think of to keep them in their home. We cannot let them see what we are doing until things are ready at noon."
Tara saluted, and the small group took their leave.
"Noah and Sasha. I want you working with Father Gabriel to get the Church ready for a wedding that will put those done before the world went to shit to shame."
Both left to go wake up Gabriel.
"We will meet back here at 10:00 am. That gives us 7 hours to get everything done right. They deserve the best. The best is what they are going to get."
Carol woke up to Daryl lightly tickling her ear and running his hands through her hair. She smiled sleepily up at him.
"Good morning."
"Mornin'. Was just layin' here thinkin' that this mornin' is gonna be the last one where we wake up together without being married."
"Well Daryl, I would be with you regardless, but I am so excited to be your wife today."
Daryl yawned. "Guess still a little sleepy from all the honeymoon practicin' we did last night" he said with a smirk.
After cuddling and kissing a while, they knew they needed to get ready for the day. Daryl had chosen a clean pair of black jeans and a blue button up shirt to wear. Carol was debating between the two sundresses that she owned. Deciding that decisions could wait until they woke Sophia and had breakfast, they left the sanctuary of their bedroom.
Carol knocked at Sophia's door. No response.
"She must already be downstairs" she said.
They walked hand in hand down the steps, but stopped half way.
"I smell bacon" said Daryl.
"I smell coffee" said Carol. "Would Sophia have tried to make us breakfast you think?"
They finished the trip down the stairs and entered the kitchen. There they found Rick, Carl, Michonne and Tara along with Sophia.
"Dejavu." said Carol.
"What are you lot doing here this early in the morning?" Daryl asked.
"What does it look like Dixon! Rick convinced me that we needed to make the soon to be married couple the best breakfast of their lives. Carl has to keep running back to Olivia for ingredients, and Tara is here to make sure we don't burn shit down." Michonne smiled.
"Sophia and I also have a surprise for you when you are done with your four course breakfast" Tara giddily informed them.
Aaron and Eric were busy. Aaron was able to make some adjustments to a dinner jacket and trousers so it would fit over Daryl's big arms easier. Eric was able to strip every nearby garden and flower bush of their beautiful colors without getting caught. First for the bridal bouquets for Carol, Maggie and Sophia, then Boutonnieres for Daryl and Glenn. The rest were stripped down to petals. Some of those petals would be used at the church. Others were for later. He was fully prepared for whining, but he was hoping to get finished before that happened.
Maggie, Glenn, and Olivia were struggling with the cake. It was going to be a three layer if Maggie had anything to say about it.
Beth was hitching her way through altering Deanna's dress. She was so happy that Deanna didn't mind the sleeves being removed. Her stitching was getting more and more confident as she went. She knew she was doing a good job.
Abraham had raided any available lumber he could. He also had pilfered some house latices with the promise of fixing them back the way they were or better later. He and the guys who had been enlisted were bust-building a damn fine bridal arch.
Reg and Denise were in the clinic.
"I only need a small piece of pure steel" said Reg.
Denise looked around at her medical instruments.
"Here. You can remove a bit from the handle of this."
She handed the instrument to Reg.
"What are you doing with it?"
"I have a torch and tools from a previous resident that I have played around with. I am going to do my best to make Daryl's ring. Carol has one, but he doesn't."
Rosita finally hit pay-dirt at a house lived in by a single mother named Becky. She was able to find a dress for Maggie, and a sundress for Sophia.
Noah and Sasha thought they had everything ready in Father Gabriel's church. They just needed to wait for the petals from Eric.
Across town Michonne and Rick were in the kitchen while Tara was talking to the betrothed couple.
"I just hope everything comes together." Rick said.
"When are you going to learn Grimes? It's us. Put us together, and we can do anything."
"We have an hour until we meet Deanna. Hope the others were able to pull everything off. We gotta put Tara's last distraction into action right now if this is going to work."
He nodded at Tara who understood this was her cue to get the last step underway.
She pulled Daryl and Carol up from their empty breakfast plates. Without explanation, she pulled them upstairs. She brought them up to their en-suite.
"There is a superstition in my family that has always led to great marriages. Trust me, my sister Lily didn't do it, and she ended up with the Governor. So lets not take any chances here. I am filling this tub with hot bubble water that is eucalyptus and lavender infused. You can both fit comfortably. Wash up, relax, engage in some pre-wedding lovin'. Just don't even THINK of getting out of that tub until 10:30. I will meet you back here then."
Tara then took her leave hoping the two most stubborn people in the apocalypse would listen.