While the girls went off in search of a wedding gown and bridesmaids dresses, Face and the rest of the guys headed to the large log cabin Carla had chosen for everyone to stay in. A lodge really, the massive gated estate came complete with a butler and cook, ten bedrooms, an indoor heated pool and hot tub. It was just the place he would have scammed for him and the guys back in their days on the run, he thought with a wistful grin as he looked around.
"What's on your mind, kid?" Hannibal said as Face smiled.
"Just thinking about how far we've come," he replied as Hannibal nodded.
"I know," Hannibal said toying with his cigar. "Murdock's married, has a kid and your about to be in the same exact situation. Now, if only BA would find himself a lady."
"What about you," Face teased as Hannibal smirked. "You know, Hannibal, a lady like Maggie isn't going to wait forever."
"I ain't the marrying type, Face," Hannibal said shaking his head.
"Why don't you let her decided that," Face said as Hannibal handed him a cigar.
"I'll think about it," he said with a laugh.
Carla, Maggie and Ellen all smiled at Gloria when she stepped out of the dressing room in the third dress she tried on. "That's it!" They squealed in unison as Gloria twirled around in the off white a line gown that accentuated her curves and the roundness of her belly.
"Isn't it beautiful?" Gloria said as Ellen nodded.
"My brother is going to love it," Ellen said giving her best friend and future sister in law a hug.
"I hope so," Gloria said looking at herself in the full length mirror. "I really can't wait to marry him!"
Face decided that it wasn't his place to try and persuade Hannibal into realizing what a mistake it would be to not make a commitment to Maggie. Instead, he wanted to focus on his plans for the wedding. He'd already implanted the thought into Hannibal's head, the rest was up to the Colonel.
When the girls had finished making they're purchases, they returned to the car to find the driver and the two ables accompanying them patiently waiting to bring them to the lodge.
Hannibal smiled when the girls walked in laden with packages from shopping. "Here, let me help," he said taking several of the bags.
Face came downstairs and laughed when Gloria rushed into his arms and kissed him passionately. "I love you so much," she said breaking the embrace. "Thank you for surprising me with our wedding like this!"
"I figured, you'd like it here," Face replied with a smirk.
"It's perfect," Gloria said with a nod as she looked at all their friends. "Absolutely perfect!"
"C'mon, Gloria," Ellen said taking her arm. "We need to go get you settled in my room!"
"Her room?" Face said with a laugh. "Why would she stay in your room?"
"You know," Ellen said looking at Gloria. "It's bad luck to see the bride before the wedding you goof!"
"Sorry, honey but you and the guys are on your own tonight," Gloria said with a broad smile. "Maggie and Carla, me and Ellen are taking over the top part of the cabin until the wedding tomorrow."
"Yeah," Ellen said kissing his cheek. "Have a good night brother dear!"
"Uh, okay," Face said quietly as he watched Gloria walk away.
"Don't worry, kid," Hannibal said patting the younger man on the back. "You still got us!"
"That's right," Murdock said making a face. "On this, your last night as a free man!"
"Right," Face replied with a broad smile. "So why are we going to spend it here! C'mon, guys! We are going out on the town!"
A short while later as the car went though the gate of the lodge carrying, Hannibal, Face, BA, Murdock and Stockwell away, another car was parked just down the street and the occupant sat inside patiently waiting.
"This was a really good idea," Gloria said as the girls watched a movie and munched on popcorn. "I hope the guys are having a good time."
"I'm wondering if Face is going to be sober enough for the wedding tomorrow," Ellen said with a laugh as Maggie smirked knowingly.
"He will be, John will see to that," she said with a grin.
"Templeton can be very impulsive, can't he?" Gloria said as the girls all started to laugh. "But, that's what I love about him!"
Maggie nodded as she got to her feet. "More popcorn, girls?"
"Yes!" they chorused as Maggie headed toward the kitchen.
Dumping the popcorn kernels into the oil, she placed it on the stove and waited for it to heat up and start popping. A noise from behind her made her freeze as a cold voice whispered in her ear. "Make a sound and I'll kill whoever comes down those stairs!"
"Why are you here?" Maggie hissed angrily. "I told you, I'd do what you wanted but you had to give me the time to do it!"
"Time is a commodity I don't have, Doctor," the disembodied voice replied harshly. "Take care of the General like you promised or I will follow though on my threat!"
"All right," Maggie said with a firm nod. "After the wedding, it'll be done!"
"It better be," the voice replied from a distance as Ellen came bounding down the stairs.
"Need some help?" she said as Maggie stepped away from locking the door leading to the outside.
"Yeah," she said handing the younger woman some soda before getting the popcorn. "Let's go back upstairs."