A/N Hey everyone. I'm back from holiday and just got the news about the show. I'm still in shock. I can't believe that they would give us the rubbish that was season 3 and then when the show was back and better than ever they decide to cancel it. I'm stunned.

I hope you still continue to read but if you have all lost interest then I guess that I'll stop posting. If you want me to continue then please just leave me a short review to let me know. Thanks

The arrangements

After getting off the phone from Summer … Marissa sat looking at her list. There were only two entries still not crossed off on the list of invitees.

She knew how lucky she was to have a friend like Summer. She had done as Kirsten asked and waited about 10 minutes and then she called back again and this time it was Summer who answered just as Kirsten had promised. Marissa had been concerned about what sort of reception she would receive from Summer but she needn't have worried. Her best friend was too excited about the thought of a surprise 2nd wedding to hold a grudge … although she had informed Marissa quite sternly that she was going to be a bridesmaid whether Marissa wanted her to or not. Marissa had laughed and assured Summer that that was exactly what she had been hoping for. They had then spent several minutes discussing just what Summer would wear … Marissa already knew what she would be wearing.

Summer had then wanted to help with the arrangements and so Marissa had delegated her with contacting Keith. She was hoping that Cheryl would be well enough to make the trip so that she and Emily could also come along. And Summer was going to get a dress for Emily that would tone in with hers so that Emily could be the flower girl.

Everything was going well. While she had been waiting to call Newport back she had rung Roger Anderson, the Englishman that Ryan was meeting with and asked him to do a favour for her. Fortunately she had gotten on to him just before he met up with Ryan. If he did as she asked then she was sure that Ryan would have no idea about what she was planning. It would all be a complete surprise.

The only entries left on the list were 'Julie and Dan' … which had a large question mark against it and at the very bottom was 'The Atwoods' also with a large question mark.

Marissa wasn't even sure just what she meant by that. She had no idea what had happened to Ryan's family. Since she'd been back with Ryan they had never come up in the conversation at all. And it wasn't as if Marissa was ever likely to bring them up ... especially after everything with Trey. She knew that she didn't want him there. She didn't want to see him ever again. But he was Ryan's brother. Would Ryan want him there? She didn't know what to do. Deciding that she would leave that decision to a later time because she had too much else left to do she moved to the second page which had the list of arrangements that needed to be made but she was again hoping to delegate these to a friend.

She picked up the phone and called Cathy. Cathy was an American who had travelled to Venice on holiday about 10 years ago and met Antonio (Tony), a local and had fallen in love, married and taken up residence. They now owned and managed a small boutique hotel just off the Grand Canal that Marissa stayed at whenever she was in Venice for work. And she had even spent the occasional holiday with them. Cathy had become a good friend over the last couple of years and Marissa knew that she would be happy to help. She had the list already made up of exactly what she wanted and she knew that Cathy would be able to fill in the gaps if there was anything that she had missed.

---

After getting off the phone with Cathy, Marissa knew that she was running short of time. Cathy had been so excited about Marissa's news that they had spent ages going over every little thing so that Cathy was sure that Marissa would get exactly the day she was hoping for. The wedding would not be in Venice but on the tiny island of Burano in the northern lagoon. Tony's family all lived there and his father and grandfather were both fishermen on the island while his aunt and uncle owned one of the marvellous seafood restaurants. Cathy and Marissa had spent many hours wandering the streets of colourful houses often commenting that they wouldn't have looked out of place in Disneyland and they had sat for hours watching the local women hand make the beautiful lace that the island was known for. The actual ceremony would be at the Chiesa di S. Martino (Church of S.Martino) which was built in the 6th century. It had a Latin cross layout, three naves and a vaulted ceiling and Marissa was sure that Ryan would love it. And after the ceremony they would go to Tony's aunt and uncle's restaurant for dinner. It would be perfect. Not a stranger in sight ... only family and good friends.

Glancing at the clock she realised that she had been day dreaming again but really needed to get her act in to gear. She had only about 15 minutes before James and Emma would arrive and she had to pack their bags before then.

Leaving anymore contemplation about her mother and the Atwood's to another time Marissa raced to the bathroom and gathered their toiletries and then quickly packed a few casual clothes for Ryan's first surprise. Managing to just get the last bag closed as the door buzzer rang.

James' excited voice rang through the apartment. "We're here and all set to go." He said.

"Okay. Give me 2 minutes and I'll be down." Marissa replied into the intercom. "Get Emma to drive around to the lane at the back and hopefully that way we'll miss a few of the prying eyes."

"Okay. You've got 2 minutes or we'll start without you."

Marissa laughed. "Don't you even think about it?"

James laughed. "What me? Think about spending a few private days with hunky Ryan far from the madding crowd? As if?" he laughed. "Just make sure you hurry or I'll be happy to fill in for you."

Marissa laughed. "Just know that I would hunt you down."

---

A few minutes later Marissa let herself out of the back door into the lane behind her apartment and jumped into the front seat of Emma's Mini Cooper S … throwing her bags in to the back seat on top of James as she did.

"Darn." He said as he moved the bags to the space beside him. "I thought with a bit of luck that you'd be held up and then I could have had Ryan all to myself." James laughed.

"I don't think that would work very well. I'm afraid that my poor husband doesn't know quite what to make of you and your advances." Marissa laughed.

"Listen to you … 'husband' …" Emma said. "It's sooo cute. I don't know why you didn't tell us in the first place?"

Marisa shook her head. "Long story. Maybe I should have. But we had been trying to keep it from everyone. But I guess with my meltdown that didn't work very well."

"You'll have to tell us what that was all about sometime." James said.

"I will. But not right now. Is everything set?" Marissa asked.

"Yeap. You just have to drop us back at my apartment before you go to pick up Ryan. We've been grocery shopping for you. It's all in the trunk." Emma said.

"I told her that you could live on love alone but she seemed to think otherwise." James commented.

"We do get hungry after a while." Marissa explained. "Plus … " she smiled "I do need to eat just to keep my strength up."

"I bet that Ryan can stay 'up' for quite some time …." James teased.

Marissa could feel her cheeks flush as she went bright red.

"What? I notice that you're not disagreeing. No wonder you had that glow when you came back from LA. I'm surprised that we didn't pick up on it earlier. Mind you a person can only stay post-coital for so long." James remarked.

"James. Do you mind?" Marissa asked fanning herself and hoping to change the subject.

"Only that I didn't get to him first." He teased.

"He's straight." Emma commented. "I'm the one who might have had a chance if only I could have found him before Marissa."

Marissa laughed. "Well you both missed out. He's mine. So hands off."

They all laughed.

"What about the keys?" Marissa asked.

"They're here." James said passing her a set of keys. "And I've printed off the directions of how to get there just in case you'd forgotten. I remember how clueless you are when it comes to reading maps. You got us lost the last time we went there."

"Well I can't be good at everything." Marissa commented.

"No and from the smile on Ryan's face at the Moulin Rouge the other night, I gather that you're good at the important things." James replied.

Marissa couldn't help but remember the cab ride on the way to the Moulin Rouge … with Ryan fingering her in the back of the cab. The blush that she'd just managed to bring under control flared back up again.

"Okay. Enough said." James commented watching Marissa's discomfit.

"And you're sure you don't mind me borrowing your car for a few days?" Marissa asked Emma.

"Consider it my wedding gift." Emma replied.

"Thanks. It's just that if I tried to hire one then I know that we'd end up with paparazzi trailing us. They're sure to have contacts working in the hire car companies." Marissa explained.

"It's fine. Jut make sure that you remember which side of the road you're driving on."

"I doubt that I'll drive further than to the restaurant to collect Ryan. He can drive. Your car will be much safer with him behind the wheel."

"Sounds good to me." Emma replied.

"And what about your uncle?" Marissa addressed James.

"He's fine. Quite excited actually that someone famous is going to be using his humble little weekender. It's not often that it is used at all so you shouldn't have any unwanted drop-ins." James replied.

"Well I haven't paid him yet." Marissa said.

"Consider it my wedding gift." James echoed Emma's words.

Marissa looked at her two friends and could feel the tears well in her eyes. "Thank you, you guys. I don't know what I'd do without you?"

"Well … you're never going to find out because we aren't going anywhere." James replied squeezing her shoulders from behind.

"Yes you are." Marissa said.

"What?" James and Emma said in unison.

"Next weekend you're going to Venice. I'm planning a surprise second wedding for Ryan. This time the real thing. In a church … with all our nearest and dearest and you two better be there." Marissa instructed.

Emma glanced at James in the rear view mirror and shrugged. "Sounds good to me."

"Me too." James said. "Any excuse to dress up. Plus it has the added advantage that I can spend the whole ceremony staring at Ryan and lusting after him and no one will think anything of it. Everybody stares at the bride and groom."

They all burst out laughing as Emma pulled up in front of her apartment. She and James got out and Marissa moved to sit behind the wheel. Emma handed over the keys and asked. "Is there anything that I can do for you for next weekend?"

"Thanks but I think that Cathy has it all under control. But maybe you could talk to her and see if she needs a hand with anything. I'll try to keep in contact with her when I get a minute to myself but I can't do anything that would raise Ryan's suspicions."

"Okay. I'll call Cathy. If we need to get a message to you urgently I could always call you and make up an excuse about the car."

"Okay that sounds good. Hopefully you won't need to. I'll see you on Thursday." Marissa said giving Emma a quick kiss on the cheek and then she hopped back into the car and started the engine. Waving to her two friends she pulled out into the traffic on her way to collect Ryan. She couldn't wipe the smile off her face. So far so good. Things were really coming together.