A/N: This I as just a quick chapter, before we get to some fun. Sorry it is short but you wouldn't believe the week I have had. Hope you enjoy. Love Maria Amore
Expediting!
Ted's POV:
"Mr Grey and Ms Hughes-Bailey, we are about to land in Seattle." Our pilot tells us. I look over at Lily who has been reading another book on pregnancy. How many can one person read?
"It will be fantastic to be home" I mention.
"I am just excited about having a decent shower at Escala. It has been so long." Lily declares.
"Me too. Do you remember our last shower at Escala?" Lily raises her eyebrows at me.
"Yes and I expect a repeat as soon as possible. We need to take every opportunity to do so in the shower before I get so big, and we won't be able to. We are going to have to make alternative arrangements then" Lily states.
"I am sure there are many other positions that we can implement. You haven't been the only one reading books you know" I say giving my fiancé a salacious grin.
"Theodore Raymond Grey" she scolds, then laughs before refocusing on her book.
We have been reassured that our parents are not aware that we are flying in early this morning, rather we are planning on surprising them. Taylor and Welch, the only people on the planet who can keep something from my father, have taken care of the paper work. My grandfather has also helped with our plan, to surprise everyone, by inviting my parents, sister and Gwen and Ros over for breakfast to discuss our wedding plans.
Three weeks ago we spoke to my extended family via Skype, at my parent's house, and surprised them all with our news. We told them that we were coming home early and that we were getting married earlier than expected. However, not even my parents or sister knew that we wanted our plans to be bought forward, again. Instead of us getting married four weeks after we arrived, we have decided to bring it two weeks forward. This meant that there are only five weeks to plan our day. Surprisingly my parents and Lily's parents were rather calm by the second change of our nuptial date, and we have promised them no more changes.
Therefore, with the aid of our parents, family and a rather expensive and talented wedding planner, everything has been going to plan. In fact everything is done, the dresses have arrived, and everything has been ordered to our specification. With little for us to do, we are both are even going back to work tomorrow until we get married. Lily will go for a week and a half, taking the Thursday and Friday off. I am intending on taking the day before off.
Neither of us are aware of the true cost of our wedding day as our parents are keeping it hidden from us as they intend to meet the entire costs. I have been taking care of the honeymoon plans, in conjunction with Taylor and my mother. She has been a god send and has offered me advice to make our two weeks away memorable.
We disembark the GEH jet, and for the first time, I welcome the sound of rain and sight of dark clouds.
"Welcome home Miss Hughes-Bailey" Lily looks at me curiously and even looks a little rattled.
"You haven't called me that in months." She is right of course. I pull her close to me and hold her tight.
"I know, but I wanted to just then. That will be the last time I ever say, 'welcome home Miss Hughes-Bailey' next time we come home it will be from our honeymoon and you will be Mrs Grey" I comment happily.
It is already 7:00am when we get into the car and decide go to straight to my grandparents. Lily leans against me as I wrap my arm around her to pull her close to me. Lily has just entered her second trimester, and the morning sickness seems to have been taken over by tiredness. With my spare hand, I rub her stomach gently. There is already a baby bump, which is one of the reasons why we decided to bring the wedding forward.
I get a little nostalgic as we drive up my grandparents driveway. Everything down to the perfectly manicured roses to the beautiful doorway makes me realise how much I missed Seattle. Crazy how a place, I didn't even call home until I was seventeen, and a place I was away from whilst at college, is now my home, and I couldn't imagine living anywhere else or raising my child elsewhere.
Taylor, who has been contacted by our CPO's of our proximity, walks out of my grandparents' house and greets us, so no one in our family is aware that we arrived.
"Taylor thank you. I hope you won't get into any trouble for helping us and keeping information for our families, especially my father" I convey my concern.
"I am rarely in trouble, and either way your return will act to ease my life also earlier than expected." Taylor informs us with a grin
"How so?" I ask curiously. Taylor doesn't answer my question, but gives me a knowledge smile. I nod, understanding that he means that my father has missed me, and as a result, is grumpier to work with.
Taylor opens the door to the colonial style home, and we walk quietly in hand in hand, into the large elegant dining room. My grandfather has positioned everyone perfectly around the table. My grandparents are on either side of the table at the end, whilst Gwen and Ros have their back to us. Lily didn't want to risk the chance of her parents seeing us, whilst I wanted my parents to see us as we walked in. I wanted to see their faces. Our parents and grandparents are so deep in conversation, over our where to put the Marquee, food etc, over our wedding that they don't notice us as first, rather it is my little sister who notices us first.
"Teddy and Lily," Phoebe says and points out before she bolts over to us. Everyone stops talking and look towards my sister and then to the doorway, where Phoebe has run to. I sweep Phoebe up in my arms and hug her tight. After our families have gotten over their short lived shock, they come close to hugging us to death.
"We thought you both weren't coming home till this evening." My mother states.
"They were, I even signed the paperwork for the jet and the arrival time was this evening" My father says wearily but then hugs me. As soon as possible, I pull Lily close to me.
"Well we thought we would surprise you all. Plus we had some help."
"Really now" My father lips form a hard line, but his eyes give away that he is happy to see us earlier than planned.
"Well now that you are both here, you can join us for breakfast and discuss your wedding. Maybe now you will tell us why the wedding was put forward earlier again" My mother asks.
We sit down at the table and commence breakfast before giving any further information.
"Okay you two, spill it. Why are we expediting the plans again?" Ros asks rather abruptly. She has worked too closely to my father for too long I suspect.
"It is silly, but I wanted to bring the date forward. I have started to show, and I don't want to be bigger on my wedding day than I need to be. I don't want my wedding photos to look horrible, and my child to see them" Lily explains. I know she feels silly about this as it is mainly due to vanity and it is also so exceedingly out of character.
"Oh Lily you are being silly. You're pregnant, so you are going to get bigger, but it isn't going to be that noticeable until later. Your frame is so small" Gwen says. Ros is glaring at me uncomfortably.
"Ros, I have told Lily over and over again that no matter what, she will look perfect and not to worry." I state.
"But Ted," Lily voice is strained but soft.
"But nothing. I don't care how big you are on our wedding day" I reply.
"I do." Lily states.
"There is only one thing that gets better when it gets bigger" Phoebe states.
"What is that?" My mother asks her. We are all focused on Phoebe after her strange statement.
"It is what Uncle Elliot said to daddy" she responds. My father narrow his eyes, and he is horribly displeased at Phoebe's statement.
"Phoebe, I don't understand what you are saying." My mother tells her. Gets on her knees and whispers something to my mother. My mother's facial expression says it all and she is glaring at my father.
"Anastasia, as our daughter said, it was Elliot who said it" my father says in his defence. We all work out what Phoebe has meant, and there is a tense silence in the air. My grandparents look appalled.
"Maybe you should talk to our supposed-to-be grown up children Carrick" My grandmother says.
"Not a bad idea" My grandfather states.
"Just keep Barbie and Ken out of it. It is Phoebe favourite toy right now" my dad mums quietly.
"Let's get back to our original conversation. Ted and Lily's wedding" My mother says to end the tension.
"Yes I agree. Lily what else aren't you telling us?" Ros analyses. Shit how does she do that? She can read her daughter as well as my father reads me.
"Tell them. We are in the second trimester, they should know." I urge Lily.
"I want to get married earlier because I am going to show a lot earlier and more so. We found out on our last scan that we aren't just pregnant with our first child, but are expecting twins." Lily states.
"What are twins?" Phoebe says confused amongst another series of congratulations.
"Twins? Who would have thought? Are you going to find out the gender?" My mother says excited. "Are you going to stay at Escala or will you move?" Gwen adds. "No, you both should both find a house. Kids need room to move" My grandmother advises. "But the babies won't need that much room. There is heaps of time." My grandfather adds. "But they grow so quickly. Ted was walking terribly early!" My other add.
Everyone starts to throw questions and advice that they soon aren't even talking to us. Rather they are debating whether we need to move or not. If we should find out the gender. They even start to discuss if we need a nanny. Far out they are discussing issues we haven't even addressed yet. They continue their discussions even after breakfast is over and are in the living room, though this now Lily has entered the conversation and is making it clear that she and I will make all the final decision when it comes to our children. I feel immense pride in Lily, she will always hold her own no matter what.
I head outside with Taylor and my father to go over a few facts for the actual wedding and reception. Phoebe having escaped from the living room, is practicing walking down the aisle and throwing flower petals, over and over again.
I instruct Taylor and my father that Lily, and I, are happy to have the reception marquee where it usually is placed for the 'Coping Together'; however, we want to get married by the water. We do realise that this will make it easier for the paparazzi to take photos.
"We might be able to block access to the water with the permission of the neighbours" Taylor suggests.
"My parents have always been on favourable terms with their neighbours. I am sure they will be agreeable, especially if we offer a monetary offering to ease their burden." My father and Taylor exchange a nod.
Taylor starts to head off before I stop him. "Also Taylor, has all the arrangements been made for the honeymoon?" I enquire.
"Yes. It is all set" He confirms. I take a deep breath in relief. One last thing to worry about.
# # # #
"Teddy wake up" I hear Phoebe call. I don't want to open my eyes but know that if I don't Phoebe will just keep calling my name and trying to wake me up.
"Fifi, it's still extremely early," I tell her a little annoyed.
"I know, but I have to go to Bellevue tonight, and soon everyone is going to want your attention. Plus I have something to give you" Phoebe says smiling.
"Okay Fifi, what is it?" I ask her.
"It's my wedding present to you and Lily," She says and passes me the package.
I will ensure the next chapter is longer and juicier, but this is the best I could do at the moment. Also happy birthday Susan!