Fifteen: A wedding to remember
Plot: A year and many preparation headaches later, among other things, it's Nell and Bobby Lee's wedding day.
"I can't believe I agreed to a public wedding."
It was a playful complaint but it was still something the blushing bride couldn't believe she compromised with Amber over.
"You know Amber. Bigger is better," Miranda smiled, helping Nell with her hair. "Besides, the last wedding at the castle was when Rollie and I got married."
"I remember when the news reached us. I'd never seen two four-year-olds gush over a newspaper clipping before then," Nell smiled nostalgically. "Since a certain princess convinced the Enchancia Times to come to mine and Bobby Lee's wedding, it'll happen again."
"Oh, yes, Amber loves the spotlight!" Miranda smirked. "But Sofia tried to convince her that this was not going to be an extravagant affair."
"And at least Amber tried to listen to her, and not make everything so fancy," Nell smirked. Miranda had told her about how Amber had taken over one of Sofia's tea parties, but she and James had gotten her back with "Sweetheart Pies", one of which had a terrible filling.
"That was an impressive idea they came up with, and disguised as a prank, but at least Amber learned her lesson," Miranda smiled.
"Indeed," Nell agreed. Her smile altered as Elena ran into the room crying with Gabby and Amber behind her. "Elena what's the matter?"
"Amber no want Kitty in wedding!" Elena sobbed.
"She can handle being without Kitty for one day," Amber tried to explain. "And she's going to be one of your flower girls. She can't hold Kitty and the basket too."
"Maybe so, but you know Kitty helps keep Elena calm," Nell replied. "When she starts to get frustrated or too excited, she turns to Kitty to help her."
"And there's no reason why Elena can't carry Kitty in her flower girl basket," Miranda agreed. "She can reach around Kitty to get to the flower petals she's going to scatter, can't she?"
"That's a good idea," Nell smiled.
"That way Kitty and the flowers can both be in your wedding," Miranda smiled before wiping Elena's runny nose with a tissue. "Now girls what do you think of Mommy's hair?"
"Mommy's hair look broke," Gabby frowned.
"Look broke," Elena echoed. "Queen broke it."
"No, I just made it prettier," Miranda smiled. "And now, we're going to do the same to you!"
"No!" Elena shouted.
"Oh, it'll be fun," Nell grinned. "You and Gabby like playing with your dollies and making them pretty; now you're going to be Miranda's and my dollies and we'll make you pretty!"
"Oh those poor dollies!" Lydia teased before putting a hand to her mouth. "Oh Nellie..."
"Don't cry Grand Mommy," Gabby muttered, hugging Lydia's legs.
"Miss Lydia's just surprised," Amber assured, putting a squirming Elena in Miranda's lap.
"And it's such a wonderful surprise too," Lydia smiled. "But if you think I'm going to cry right now, wait until Edward sees you!"
"Papa's going to love it, right?" Nell asked.
"And Bobby Lee?" Amber agreed.
"Yes, and yes," Lydia smiled. "Edward will say Heaven's missing an angel again, and Robert will be struck speechless."
"Daddy can't talk?" Gabby asked.
"He'll be too busy looking at Mommy and seeing how pretty she is to say anything," Lydia smiled.
Gabby giggled at the thought as Lydia placed her in Nell's lap.
"I wonder how Daddy and James are doing with the groom," Amber smiled.
"I'm sure Papa has him handled," Nell smirked, brushing Gabby's hair.
In a separate room, Edward, James, and Roland were helping Bobby Lee get ready. James had originally come in to get the music, since he was playing the piano for the ceremony, but Edward and Roland had asked him to help Bobby Lee get dressed.
"And you say you're going to sing when I make my grand entrance?" Bobby Lee grinned at James, who had begun singing in public again.
"Yes, Bobby Lee, we've been through this," James smirked. "You, Lydia, Nell, and Edward all suggested songs, and I'm going to play and sing them."
"And I heard that Elena asked for a kitty song," Roland smirked.
"Which I'll be playing at the reception," James agreed.
"You better. You know Elena doesn't like broken promises," Bobby Lee smirked playfully.
"Don't we all," Edward agreed, straightening Bobby Lee's bow tie. "Now who are you and what happened to the little boy that used to tease my Helenita?"
"He grew up," Roland teased.
Bobby Lee smirked as he remembered how he used to tease Nell when they were kids. Florence would talk to him about how it wasn't nice to tease others, but he still did it until they were eight years old. Then when Nell had been kidnapped, he spent every waking moment searching for new leads or clues on how to find her. Finally, after they had been reunited, Bobby Lee had vowed never to let her out of his sight again.
"Are you going to use those as your wedding vows, Bobby Lee?" James smirked.
"You'll just have to wait and see," Bobby Lee grinned.
"I have to wait?" James pouted.
"And so does everyone else," Roland smirked, musing his hair.
"Even the mother of the groom?" Florence smiled, coming into the room. "I know this is guy time but the bride has enough people getting her ready."
"We're just about ready, Florence," Edward smiled. "The groom's just got a case of pre-wedding jitters."
"That's normal," Florence smiled. "Robert, everything's going to be just fine. You know you've got lots of people here to support you. And you've got so many friends by your side. You and Helen were made for each other."
Bobby Lee smiled. Even when he was teasing Nell when they were kids, Florence always said that the two of them were made for each other and that they'd get married one day. Now he finally couldn't believe that her words were coming true today.
Florence gasped as Bobby Lee looked into the mirror. A strew full of memories coming back to her as he squeezed her hand.
"You're not my little guy anymore," She realized, gently stroking Bobby Lee's hand. "Robert, you look just like Richard."
"I've been told that before," Bobby Lee smirked playfully.
"You make me proud every day, Robert," Florence added.
"I've been told that before too," Bobby Lee's voice quivered.
"And I've always meant it," Florence smiled as she hugged him.
"Mommy ready!" Elena shouted, flapping her hands.
"Daddy come!" Gabby giggled.
"Look at my little flower girls," Bobby Lee cooed. "You two look very pretty."
"I tried to stop them," Amber smiled sheepishly. "But Miss Lydia said that Nell was ready so they ran to get Bobby Lee."
"They're just excited to have him see them," Miranda smiled. "And they should be. They look beautiful!"
"We got pretty hair too?" Elena asked, spinning around and letting everyone see the very pretty updo that Miranda had given her.
"It's very pretty," Bobby Lee smiled, admiring Gabby's fishtail braid. "You did a very nice job, Miranda, and so did Grand Mommy."
"I remember giving Sofia and her friends these same braided styles when they were little," Miranda smiled.
"And I've got magazines full of hair styles," Amber added. "My friends and I loved doing each other's hair when we had sleepovers."
"I think Elena and Gabby seen one before," Miranda recalled. "They had crawled off and went into your room."
"I still remember Hildegard's reaction," Amber smirked.
"You do?" Elena asked.
"Oh, yes," Amber smiled. "She was surprised to see you there, but she and Cleo were very welcoming and invited you to the tea party we were having. I also remember how you liked petting Hildy's pet mink too."
"Mink?" Elena asked.
"Hildy brought her pet mink with her, and as we did your and Gabby's hair, you were petting Lulu and said she was such a pretty kitty," Amber giggled at the memory.
"Oh, yes, and that's where I found them," Nell smiled. "It took a while to separate Elena from Lulu, and we had to find her a plush mink that resembled her the next day since she was still carrying her around."
"Where Daddy?" Elena asked.
"He play hide and seek!" Gabby giggled.
"Something like that Gab-Gab," Nell smirked. "Grooms can't see the brides before the wedding."
"Speaking of, shouldn't two little flower girls have their baskets ready?" Edward asked.
"I take Kitty to wedding!" Elena cheered, running out of the room.
"That's right; she'll be in your basket," Amber smiled, putting a hand on her shoulder so she could talk to her before she got too far. "I'm sorry I didn't want you to bring Kitty with you, Elena. Kitty deserves to see the wedding too."
"Kitty stays in my flower girl basket!" Elena smiled.
"That's right," Amber smiled. "Kitty can watch you from the basket. And later, the two of you and I can play with my plush kitty."
"Okay. I forgave you," Elena smiled, giving Amber a hug.
"We'll work on words with Prince James again one day," Florence assures, taking Elena in her arms."We'll see you and Princess Sofia at the wedding."
"I'll try not to go overboard," Amber promised.
"That's all we ask, Amber," Florence smiled. "This is Helen and Robert's special day, after all."
"I did offer some advice earlier about the decorations, but I didn't take over," Amber admitted, recalling how she had helped settle a minor dispute about the color scheme, and she had also helped make a few flower chains for decorations when Nell went down the aisle.
"I saw the flowers you used, and they were beautiful!" Miranda smiled. "It was nice of you to contribute them for the decorations. And you have a wonderful eye for design."
"I did help with Elena's flower girl dress. The last thing we needed was a fussy Elena at Nell's big day," Amber smiled. "Okay so maybe Sofia suggested the color but I did the rest."
"You did," Miranda smiled, kissing her on the forehead.
"How much longer until the wedding?" Amber wondered. "Because I'm really happy for Nell and Bobby Lee."
"Not much longer," Florence smiled, "Good things come to those who wait."
"And this was worth waiting for," Bobby Lee smiled.
"It only took a year," Sofia smiled, twirling in the new dress Florence had made just for the wedding. "Bobby Lee, you almost look like Cinderella's prince!"
"Then it's ironic that Nell picked So This Is Love as her song down the aisle!" Amber giggled. "Cinderella is one of her favorite princesses!"
"Elena and Gabby like her too," Sofia smiled. "I heard James singing that song to them when he helped put them down for their naps yesterday."
"And it was the first time he sang with his door open again," Bobby Lee grinned, recalling how he'd shouted for everyone to come to Elena and Gabby's room. At first, they thought something was wrong, but they soon saw that everything was just fine, and they all enjoyed hearing James sing the girls to sleep.
"It was wonderful to experience," Miranda smiled before squeezing Bobby Lee's hand. "You ready Robert?"
"I'm ready," Bobby Lee smiled.
"I'm sure Nell is too," Amber assured with a smile. "Mr. Edward is probably with her as we speak."
Edward looked Nell over for the hundredth time since she came out to him. "I have to call Heaven, my little Helenita," he murmured, "There's an angel missing."
"Oh, Papa," Nell smiled as she hugged him. "I could be wearing a plain dress down the aisle, and you'd still say that."
"You look beautiful no matter what," Edward smiled. "I'm so proud of you, Helenita."
"You are?" Nell asked.
"Look how much you've grown," Edward smiled. "From my little girl to a wonderful young woman. And today you're getting married."
"Papa," Nell sniffed, feeling tears in her eyes. "Please stop before I ruin the makeup Florence and Miranda worked so hard on."
"You won't ruin anything," Edward smiled. "You'll just look even prettier to everyone."
"Oh, Papa!" Nell tried to look disapproving, but she couldn't help but laugh a little as she hugged him.
He was going to walk her down the aisle after Elena and Gabby would scatter around the flowers.
"No! Big crowd!" Elena's voice was heard wailing as Edward placed a hand on Nell's shoulder.
"I got her," He assured, kissing her cheek. "Grandpa needs to give Mommy a break anyway."
"Papa!" Nell giggled, putting a hand to her lips.
Edward gave Nell a quick kiss before going over to Elena. "It's going to be alright, sweetheart," he murmured, taking her in his arms. "Everyone's here to see your mommy and daddy get married. Besides, everyone in the wedding party practiced what they were going to do yesterday. Now we all get to do it for real."
"And you got Kitty with you," Gabby smiled, patting Kitty's head from where she was poking out of Elena's flower girl basket.
"Don't forget, all of us are here with you too," Edward smiled. "And after the wedding, at the reception, James promised to play you a kitty song."
"Kitty song?" Elena asked as she blinked back tears.
"That's right," Edward smiled.
"Kitty song," Elena sniffed.
"Feel better?" Nell asked, wiping her nose with a tissue.
"Mommy marry Daddy right now!" Elena demanded, giving Nell puppy dog eyes.
"She's better!" Edward chuckled, patting Elena on the head.
When it was time, Elena took a deep breath, and with Gabby by her side and Kitty in her basket, she led the way down the aisle.
She suddenly got a surprise when she heard James start playing a song, and everyone sang softly, "Midnight, not a sound from the pavement. Has the moon lost her memory, she is smiling alone..."
"Kitty song!" Elena smiled, recognizing the song that Nell sometimes sang to her and Gabby. James had also told her that it was a kitty song.
"Surprise!" Bobby Lee grinned as she and Gabby approached.
"Thank you!" Elena smiled, being careful not to flap her hands in front of everyone.
"That was Mommy's idea," Bobby Lee whispered as she and Gabby took their places to the side.
Everyone turned their heads as Nell walked down the aisle with Edward by her side.
Elena gasped while she and Gabby looked at their mother. For a moment she looked just like a princess.
Nell smiled as So This is Love began playing. "James moves so easily from one song to another," she whispered.
"He's very talented, that's for sure," Edward smiled. "And it was a good idea to have him play that other song first. I know you said you didn't want a kitty song as you walked down the aisle, but this one really fits."
"It does?" Nell asked.
"Of course," Edward smiled, "You and Robert will make wonderful memories, won't you?"
"That's right," Nell smiled, getting how the song tied into the play on words. "You're as good as James when it comes to word play, Papa!"
"I learned from the best," Edward smiled.
He smiled softly as she began singing along to the music, remembering a time where the angelic voice before him had been a high pitched whine as a child.
For those who hadn't heard Nell sing before that moment were surprised as Amber nudged Sofia.
"Nell would put Cinderella to shame with her performance," She whispered with a smile.
"She'll have to sing with James one of these days too," Sofia smiled back.
"I've heard them sing together sometimes, and they sound wonderful!" Amber smiled. "And it was so nice of James to play Memory for Elena just now. I know Nell said she didn't want to go down the aisle to a kitty song, but that one's just so pretty!"
"And James said he's going to play another kitty song for Elena at the reception too," Sofia agreed.
"Hopefully one that won't get in our heads," Amber smirked playfully.
Amber and Sofia went back to their postures of the song ended, smiling warmly at Nell.
Nell kissed Edward's cheek as they reached Bobby Lee, and as she stood beside him, she whispered to James, "Thank you for the kitty song!"
"It's what I do best!" James whispered back.
As Nell turned to Bobby Lee, who was smirking at the whispered conversation. "That song was your idea, remember?" he whispered.
"I do," Nell whispered back.
"You're not supposed to say that yet, Helenita!" Edward chuckled.
A blush came to Nell's cheeks before Edward squeezed her hand.
"Who will be giving away the bride?" Baileywick, who had been personally requested to present the wedding, asked with a smile.
"I will," Edward muttered as Nell gently wiped away the tears in his eyes.
Everyone watched as Nell and Bobby Lee exchanged vows. Bobby Lee could scarcely keep from tearing up as he repeated what he'd said earlier as he recounted how he used to tease Nell, then did everything he could to find her when she was abducted, then how he promised to never let her out of his sight again.
"I don't think I'll be able to top his vows," Nell joked, causing small laughs to erupt from the crowd. She smiled warmly, fiddling with her necklace. "Robert, as children I didn't like you and as Mama and Papa know well enough, I rattled on you constantly. But at eight I stopped doing that because of a school trip and you helping me with my unknown at the time seasickness. You carried me all the way from our boat to the teacher because you were afraid I'd fall which started our friendship. While adducted you were on my mind and admittedly as more than just a best friend."
"It's true!" Madeline shouted from the crowd.
"Anyway..." Nell smirked over everyone's laughter, "When my sisters and I were rescued, you never once left our side. You waited on us hand and foot, and vowed to stay with me when we learned that I was pregnant. And you vowed to be the only daddy Elena and Gabby would ever know, and love them as if they were your own children."
"We love you, Daddy!" Elena shouted.
"Love you!" Gabby echoed.
"You better end now before their nap time Helen," Bobby Lee smirked.
"I will!" Nell pouted before smiling warmly. "Robert, it's going to be an honor being your wife. Who knows what the future will hold but if we have a boy in said future, we know a certain prince will be happy."
Everyone that knew what she meant snickered as James turned crimson.
"Watch yourself, Helen," Bobby Lee whispered, "If you're not careful, James, who I might add, has complete control over the music, might play something you don't like!"
"Or he might play kitty songs for the rest of the wedding!" Nell giggled.
"Yay! Kitty song!" Elena giggled.
"He wouldn't do that sweetie," Florence assured much to her disappointment. "Besides we have a wedding to finish."
"Kitty song later, okay, sweetheart?" Nell smiled.
"Okay," Elena sighed.
"It's not too much longer," Bobby Lee whispered.
"My turn! My turn!" Evanna sung with a smile as she carefully gave Baileywick the wedding rings.
"Thank you dear," The steward smiled as Aiden had lead her back to her seat. "Helen Genevieve O'Malley with the gathering of your family, friends, and children with you today, do you take Robert to be your wedded husband?"
Tears filled the young woman's eyes, having her lift her veil for a moment to wipe them away.
"Yes I do," Nell smiled. "And have been for ten years since Robert and I played wedding with Bianca's supervision. Of course it was a backyard and not a castle back then with our audience being dolls and toy knights."
"Practice does make perfect, my dear," Bianca smiled.
"Indeed it does," Baileywick smiled. He turned to Bobby Lee. "Robert Lee Johnson, with the gathering of your family, friends, and children with you today, do you take Helen to be your wedded wife?"
"Yes I do," Bobby Lee smiled. "I've known Helen would be the one I'd marry for a long time. And now that time is finally here."
"Then kiss her already!" Sabrina shouted.
"You may kiss the bride," Baileywick smiled, hiding his amusement at Sabrina's impatience. "If we don't have anymore interruptions."
Everyone shook their heads as Bobby Lee lifted Nell's veil and kissed her much to Elena's shrieks of excitement.
"That fast enough for you, Sabrina?" Bobby Lee grinned as they broke away.
Sabrina nodded with a giggle as Elena and Gabby ran to Nell and Bobby Lee, hugging their legs.
"Hello to you to Gab-Gab," Bobby Lee smiled.
"You always give the best hugs Love Bug," Nell smiled, taking Elena in her arms.
"Mommy and Daddy married now?" Elena asked.
"Yes they are," Baileywick smiled. "I now pronounce you man and wife. Ladies and gentlemen, I present Mr. and Mrs. Johnson...and their daughters."
Elena and Gabby shyly hid from the people they didn't know as Lydia held Elena's flower girl basket.
"Kitty's taking a nap nap," She smiled, putting an arm around Nell.
"I'll tell her sorry that the wedding took so long," Nell smirked.
"Nell! Bobby Lee! There you are!" Amber squealed with reporters from the Enchancia Times behind her.
"Congratulations, you two," one of the photographers said as he took some pictures of Nell and Bobby Lee, then one of Elena and Gabby.
"Thank you, sir," Bobby Lee smiled.
Elena reached for Kitty once the reporters left as Lydia took her in her arms.
"Why don't we leave Mommy and Daddy alone for a bit," She suggested with a smile.
"Why?" Elena frowned.
"There are a lot of people who want to congratulate them on getting married," Lydia explained. "They're going to be busy for a while."
"Can I get Kitty before we go?" Elena asked.
"I've got her right here," Lydia smiled as she handed Kitty over. "You, Gabby, and Kitty did a wonderful job during the ceremony!"
"Yay! Good job Kitty!" Elena cheered.
"How many people you think will congratulate us?" Nell smirked once Elena and Lydia had left.
"Hundreds maybe," Bobby Lee joked.
"Was it worth it? Getting married?" Nell asked.
"Of course it was," Bobby Lee smiled. "I love you, Helen, and I always have. I might not have shown it right away when we were kids, but I knew you were the one I wanted to spend my life with."
"I felt the same way during my first night of freedom," Nell smiled. "I wanted you by my side for the rest of my life."
"Nell! You and Bobby Lee just did your wedding vows!" Madeline called.
"Shouldn't you be with the others young lady?" Nell smirked.
"Can't I congratulate my big sister for getting married?" Madeline pouted. "While she still looks like a princess for a day?"
"I guess not," Nell smiled, musing her hair. "Now run along. We'll see you at the reception."
"Okay! Have fun!" Madeline smiled as she ran off to find Sabrina and the others.
"Oh, we certainly will," Bobby Lee grinned.