AUTHOR'S NOTE: I know, you're right; i'm a big sucky looser, but the update is here (finally!) Okay, i don't know why it came out as a songfic, but it did so it has the Hen night, Stag Do and Wedding day all rolled into one.
1 more chapter to go. And then this is the end of Café et fraises :(
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Café et fraises
Chapter twenty seven
Mr and Mrs Bovverington
We'll do it all
Everything
On our own
Libby handed the small pink bag to Lucy, a mischievous smile on her lips. 'Open it,' she demanded, with a bubble of laughter. The group of girls ready for the Hen Night were sat around the table in the Belgium hotel restaurant, ready to hand out the gifts. Lucy took the bag, eyeing it warily.
'Should I be scared?' she asked, raising an eyebrow.
'Very,' smirked Libby. Opening it up, Lucy dipped in her hand and pulled out a lacy bra. 'There's matching underwear,' Libs added with a wink.
'I have underwear for the wedding,' smiled Lucy, wondering what else she could use it for.
'This isn't for the wedding,' the dark haired girl replied, taking the frilled red knickers out the bag and putting them against her waist. 'This is for the wedding night.'
'I got you summing good!' burst out Lauren, chucking a bag that Lucy only just caught. She pulled out a West Ham dressing gown and nightie. 'Only just come out in club store,' she said with a knowing wink. 'I got it cheap, if you know what I mean.' Libby grinned at Lucy's cousin, sitting down beside her. Shannon moved towards the bride-to-be, passing her a small, silver embroided bag.
'The main gift is inside,' she said, 'from me and Steve.'
'Main gift?' snorted Lucy. 'I thought that would have been the TV… or perhaps the washing machine?' Shannon shrugged.
'We had some spare money,' she replied with a smile. 'Who better to spend it on?'
'We appreciate it, even if we weren't supposed to have them yet,' Lucy laughed. Shannon had got a little overeager, giving their wedding gifts two weeks before the set date; June 15th.
Opening the bag, she pulled out a cheque and almost dropped it in surprise. 'Shannon!'
'It's the least we could do… after everything you helped us with. You stuck by us when no one else would.'
'I can't take this,' the blonde shook her head, trying to give it back, but Shannon pushed her hands away.
'Please. We want you to have it.' Lucy felt tears in her eyes as she looked down at the cheque for £1,500. Shannon stepped forward, wrapping her arms around the younger woman. 'You deserve it,' she smiled. 'Just don't let Bovver spend it all at once.'
We don't need
Anything
Or anyone
'First round on the Bride-to-be, me thinks,' smiled Libby, talking over the sound of the music. Lucy, Libs, Shannon, Kate and Lauren were on cruise ship which had offered a four hour trip, disco and bar. What else could they want? Lucy handed over the money, laughing when Libby danced away, shaking her hips to the music. The room was dark, lights flashing and making swirling patterns to the music. She returned with five shot glasses and five bottles of blue vodka.
She unscrewed the top of the Jack Daniels bottle, putting generous amounts in the shot glasses. 'Ready?' she asked, as each grabbed a glass.
'Ready,' they chorused, before knocking back their heads and downing the burning alcohol. Lucy screwed up her face as it burnt her lips and made her throat and tummy hot.
'Again!' cheered Libby, downing it from the bottle.
'She actually is crazy,' commented Lauren. 'I think I'm really gunna like her.' They opened their vodka bottles. 'Let's get wasted,' laughed Kate, chinking bottles with the others. She pointed over into the corner where the DJ was working. 'He's mine.'
--
'This song…' slurred Libby down the microphone, '… is dedicated to my best friend in the whole wide world...! Lucy Dunham. She's getting married. She won't be a Dunham no more… oh no, no more!' she began to sing, before the music began to change. 'This is for you, gorgeous!' She cleared her throat, and burst into singing 'Gimme, Gimme, Gimme.' Lucy whooped and clapped with laughter. 'Half past twelve and I'm watching the late show….'
Lucy joined in, moving up to the stage; she was wearing a pink cowboy hat, with a banner across her body saying 'I'm gunna be married!' across it. 'Gimme, Gimme, Gimme, a man after midnight…is there a man out there? Someone to hear my prayer...'
--
Lucy stared up at the fireman who had a rather devilish look on his face. 'Hello,' she grinned.
'I hear someone's going to be married,' he said.
'That'll be me,' she blushed.
'Well, you'll have to have a little something to remind you of the single life.' He smirked down at her with those gorgeous navy blue eyes before he began to move his hips near her face. Lucy felt instantly red as the girls around her laughed and drank. The fireman slowly… teasingly… pulled off his yellow jacket and slung it in Kate's direction. Now, she was left with a well oiled man in tight white Speedo-like things. With a big package.
Putting his hands behind his head, he humped the air a little, before sliding his hands down his body and hooking the hem of his pants with his thumbs.
With a jerk of his arms, there was a tear and Lucy was left staring a monster in the face.
If I lay here
If I just lay here
Would you lie with me and just forget the world?
I don't quite know
How to say
How I feel
'So, where to first?' demanded Swill, staring around Irish pubs and the crowds moving around the street. It had just got dark and the night life had started already.
'We have all week, yet,' Dave reminded him. 'Let's not rush Bov's last days of being able to shag any bird, yeah?'
'Talking about shags…' grumbled Pete.
'Getting bored of your hand, son?' teased Dave, before winking. 'It happens to the best of us. Now, hurry up.' The group moved down the street.
'You know what,' said Swill, after a moment.
'What?'
'I think Dave just admitted to not being laid in a while. What 'appened to that bird… what was 'er name?'
'Abby?' replied Dave.
'Yeah, 'er. She still 'olding out?'
'Something like that,' Dave replied. 'Well…' he frowned, shifting uncomfortably.
'Well, what?' asked Pete.
'It's me 'olding out on 'er,' the dark haired man replied. 'She… she's… I don't even wanna go there, son!'
Those three words
Are said too much
They're not enough
'Seeing as you've been our best mate for a while,' said Swill, standing on one of the sofa's in the club. 'We wanted to get you summing special, dint we!' The others nodded with knowing smirks. Bov raised an eyebrow as he sat back on the chair.
'This is Kandy,' Pete said, stepping aside to let a 'nurse' through.
'I heard you were a little poorly,' the nurse said, sucking gently on a thermometer. She gazed at him with big brown eyes. 'Looks like I'll have to make you all better again.'
If I lay here
If I just lay here
Would you lie with me and just forget the world?
Forget what we're told
Before we get too old
Show me a garden that's bursting into life
Bovver looked down at Lucy, heart juddering erratically in his chest. 'I do,' he said strongly. The vicar repeated the words to Lucy, but he wasn't really hearing it. All he could see was her and all he could feel was… love. It was a weird feeling for Bovver. He wasn't quite used to it.
'I do,' she said, her glossed lips forming a broad smile. Pulling her close to him, his hand on the small of her back, Bov pressed his lips against hers.
'I now pronounce you husband and wife.' Pete whooped loudly as the bells began to ring through the church. It all seemed rather… cliché, but it was perfect and it was where Bovver wanted to be. With his son and the woman he loved. Libby moved over, handing Charlie over. Bovver lifted his son onto his shoulders, the young boy squealing in delight and kicking his legs against his dad's chest.
They led the guests out the church where it was all 'smile for the camera' and cheers and guests getting to know one another and family members trying to remember how many times removed their cousin was.
'Are we going yet? I'm starving,' Bov overheard Swill mumble. He turned to him, punching his shoulder lightly.
'The service wasn't that long ago, bruv. Didn't you 'ave any breakfast?'
'No,' Swill replied, sheepishly. 'I was too excited!'
Let's waste time
Chasing cars
Around our heads
I need your grace
To remind me
To find my own
The party was being held at West Ham Football Club in a room created for special occasions. The party was just getting started with all the guests having arrived.
'And now…' the DJ called over the mike. 'Would you all give a round of an applause for the newly weds first dance!' Lucy felt someone squeeze her hand and she looked up to see Bovver.
'Hey,' she smiled.
'Hey,' he replied, before leading his wife onto the dance floor. Snow Patrol's 'Chasing Cars' came on over the speakers. Lucy swallowed her nerves, putting her hands on his shoulders, his on her waist. And they danced.
--
'This food is fucking great,' Swill said as Lucy came off the dance floor with Libby giggling at her side.
'Stop eating and come dance,' Libby told him, slipping onto his lap. She took a seat beside them, picking up a bread stick and chomping on the end.
'Where's Charlie?' Lucy frowned.
'Oh, your mum kidnapped him,' her best friend replied. 'While you were dancing with your Uncle Bob.'
'Uncle Nobhead,' muttered Pete with a cheeky grin. Lucy rolled her eyes.
'Uncle Bob,' she corrected, getting to her feet. Lucy moved through the guests until she came to Maria, knelt down taking photos of Charlie.
'Who's a good boy?' she laughed. 'And so handsome in your little shirt and tie.' Charlie beamed when he saw Lucy, staggering towards her. Scooping him up, she smiled at her mum. 'Oh, darling, you look beautiful.'
'Thanks to you, of course,' she replied as her mother kissed her. Lucy did a small twirl. It was her mum who'd bought the dress and matched the tiara.
'How was Robert with the boys?' Uncle Bob was Maria's brother and a man of class and high regards. When Steve and Pete were in their teens, they'd had a huge argument at Christmas which involved a lot of fist throwing. The Dunham brothers hadn't spoken to their 'Uncle Nobhead' since.
'Avoiding each other as usual. Which is good; I don't want a fight on my big day,' Lucy laughed. She shifted Charlie to her other hip.
'Where's the lucky man, then?' Lucy cast an eye around the room, before laughing.
'In the middle of a drinking game with Swill.'
'We best leave them to it, then,' the older woman chuckled. She reached out to touch Charlie's cheek, her blue eyes meeting her daughter's. 'I'm so proud of you,' she smiled.
If I lay here
If I just lay here
Would you lie with me and just forget the world?
Forget what we're told
Before we get too old
Show me a garden that's bursting into life
The buffet table had been ransacked, the alcohol almost all gone and the helium sucked from all the balloons. Most of the guests were gone, except for a few who were taking advantage of the free guest room offer.
With a grin, Bovver stepped across the hotel bedroom, wrapping his arms around her waist, lips grazing her neck.
'Alright, gorgeous,' he murmured against her sweet smelling skin.
Lucy smiled. ''Ello.'
'So, what's the plan for tonight?' he asked, sucking lightly on her pulse point. She held back a moan, just managing to reply:
'Watch Eastenders omnibus, order a take-out and go to bed?'
'Or…' she laughed as he pushed her back on the bed. 'I have an idea that will put Libby's Fun Night Kit to use.' Luce giggled as he rolled her onto her belly and slowly began to undone the laces on the back of her dress. As he revealed the skin, he placed small kisses on it, until she was able to slip out of the gown. Catching her worried glance, Bov got to his feet and draped it over the back of the chair.
'Thanks,' she giggled, rolling onto her back and shifting to lean against the pillows. Bovver stood at the bottom of the bed; tie loose, top buttons undone, his dark gaze on her red laced body. Then, crawling up the bed, he hovered over her as he kissed her hard.
'I love you so much,' he muttered into her mouth as she tugged his hair.
All that I am
All that I ever was
Is here in your perfect eyes, they're all I can see
I don't know where
Confused about how as well
Just know that these things will never change for us at all
Lucy woke, blinking away sleep. Her head hurt and she felt a little sick from the amount of alcohol she'd consumed. At least she didn't have to deal with Charlie with a hang-over; Maria had taken him for the night.
She rolled onto her side, gazing adoringly at Bov who was still sleeping beside her. Snuggling up to him, her hands caressed his stomach, fingers running over the top of his boxers.
She was going to have a lifetime of this and hell, she was going to enjoy every moment of it.
If I lay here
If I just lay here
Would you lie with me and just forget the world?
