X-X-X-X-X ::: Chapter 12: Going to the Chapel
Liv knew as soon as Miley called her that there was going to be good news.
"Hey! I need you and Joe to come to dinner tomorrow night!" she had said excitedly. Liv laughed.
"Ok, I'm free and I assume he is. May I ask the occasion?" she said.
"Well...ok no, I can't tell you yet. But trust me, it's good stuff!" Miley insisted.
"Alright, we'll be there tomorrow." Liv replied.
She had gotten herself (and Joe) together, making it over there just in time. Dinner was slow and tedious, as everyone there knew that something was going on. Finally, after waiting for a painfully long time, Miley and Nick stood up.
"Ok, so we've asked you all to come here because we have some really good news." Nick said. He tried to pause for dramatic effect - but Miley was too excited.
"I'm pregnant!" she exclaimed, bouncing on her toes in excitement. The energy was passed around the table, everyone excited for the two. There were exclamations around the table as the group rushed up to hug them.
"Dang, looks like we need to catch up." Joe told Liv, winking and nudging her with his elbow.
"Uh...no we don't." Liv said, laughing. He rolled his eyes, shaking his head in a way that said "fiiiine." Olivia left him for a moment, going to give Miley a huge hug.
"See? I told you it would happen eventually." she said quietly in Miley's ear.
"Thanks so much for...taking care of me. Being there and all." Miley whispered back.
"Anytime." Olivia answered, giving her a final squeeze and going back to Joe while the others congratulated her.
A couple days later, the happy mood was shot as the brothers found out that their tour would be in the spring - right after the wedding, and right in the middle of Miley's pregnancy.
"I'm not saying I don't want you to go, I'm just saying I don't like that you're going." Olivia said, frustrated. She was pacing around her apartment in agitation.
"And you think I want to go?" Joe said from where he was sitting on the couch. "I mean, it wasn't my idea to have the freaking tour two weeks after we get married."
"I know it wasn't." she sighed, running her hand through her hair. She stopped pacing. "And there's absolutely no way to change any of it?" she asked quietly. Joe shook his head.
"I tried, but the dates are already set." Joe said, rubbing his face with his hands. "And you know I would change it if there was any way that I could, but Kevin is pretty adamant that I have to suck it up."
"Yea, I know." Liv said softly, dropping down beside him. "It's just...we can't seem to catch a break, you know? We're always getting torn apart by something."
"I know what you mean." he said, intertwining their fingers. "But the ends'll justify the means, yea?"
"I'm not sure that applies here, hon." Liv said, cocking her head to the side in thought.
"Well whatever. Either way, in a few months we're gonna be married, regardless!" he said excitedly. Liv smiled - he always knew how to cheer her up. "Plus, we've got two whole weeks to do whatever we want." his waggled his eyebrows suggestively. She laughed at the facial expression.
"At least one week for sure." she said. "Not to put a damper on your plans or anything."
"Nope, you've got two weeks! I called your boss and pulled a few strings." Joe said, looking quite pleased with himself. Liv looked at him out of the corner of her eyes.
"What did you do? I still have a job, right?" she asked suspiciously.
"Oh ye of little faith." Joe said, waving her off. "Let's just say that someone's granddaughter somewhere has some very good tickets to a concert. And perhaps an autograph."
Liv smiled, her heart bursting with happiness. She kissed him quickly. "I knew there was a reason I was marrying you." she said.
"Oh, you mean it wasn't for my manly charm and irresistable body?" he asked.
"Those don't hurt." she said, still smiling. Happy was the only word that could be used to describe her right now - I mean, how many couples still flirt with each other after being together for what seemed like forever?
"That's what I thought." Joe said, pushing her over so that they were laying on the couch. He wrapped his arms around her waist, using her chest as a pillow. "Now, let's take a nap." he said, readjusting his head on his "pillow" again. Liv laughed, trying to push his head away. He held on, steadfast.
"C'mon, Joe, we've still got a little bit of planning to do." she said, trying to get him off. His brow furrowed.
"Seriously? We haven't got the whole dern thing done yet?" he asked.
"We're almost done, I promise." she replied. He sighed, consenting and getting up.
"Fiiiiine." he groaned. "Bring it on." he added. Liv smiled, dropping a huge book of fabrics on the coffee table, which shook ominously. Joe stared at the book, his jaw slack.
"That's what I thought." Liv said, smiling.
A couple weeks later, Olivia was at work when Joe called her.
"Oh my gosh!" he said excitedly. "Guess what?"
"Honey, you know I don't do guessing games." Olivia said, teasing. He sighed dramatically.
"Fine, I mean, if you don't want to know..." he said.
"You know I want to know." she said shortly. "Now, what is it?"
"I've found us a house!" he exclaimed, almost yelling in his excitement.
"Really?" she asked, her hopes rising.
"Yes!" he insisted. "And it's like, the embodiment of perfection!"
"'Embodiment of perfection'? Goodness gracious!" she said, laughing.
"Yes! Now you have to come see it!" he said. "But you might want to hurry, cause I think my enthusiasm is scaring the realtor..."
"I wouldn't doubt it."
"Hey!"
"I love you!" she said quickly, her tone making it obvious that she was smiling.
"You're so making this up to me when you get here." he said darkly.
"I'm ok with that. Now, where are you?..." she asked. Joe gave her quick directions, and Olivia made a few phone calls so that she could take off the rest of the day. She drove over to the place he was, admiring the different houses. It wasn't a cookie-cutter neighborhood, which made her happy. She spotted the house that Joe had described, smiling immediately. It was relatively big, with white paneling and a big red door.
"Aw, it's cute!" she said, walking in the Big Red Front Door and greeting Joe with a kiss.
"It's well structured too." the realtor said with a cheesy smile. She led Joe and Olivia around the house once more so that Olivia could see it, emphasizing all the great points of it ("Look how many windows are in this room! And see, there's so much closet space..."). By the time they had finished their tour, Olivia was more than convinced.
"Good job, hun." Olivia said, giving Joe a high five. "You picked out a good one!"
"Shall I draw up the paper work then?" the realtor asked, looking a little more than excited. Olivia and Joe looked at each other, having a short telepathic conversation before turning back to her.
"Go for it!" Joe said, happily kissing Olivia as the realtor flitted away.
--
The remaining months flew by, and before Liv knew it, she was getting ready to get married. Miley quickly slipped in after checking with Nick and making sure that Joe was getting ready.
"Ok, ready for hair and makeup?" Miley asked, and Liv nodded. Miley gestured for Molly, Liv's brother's wife, to come and help.
"Sorry my mom's being completely useless." Liv whispered quietly. Linda was merely sitting in a chair off to the side, taking in the fact that her only daughter was getting married away today.
"I am not completely useless!" Linda said, trying to give a dark look. It turned out happy, no matter what she did.
"Mom, you've been sitting there reminiscing the entire time." Olivia said as Molly began gathering her feathery blonde hair.
"It's true." Molly said, making her reddish curls bounce as she nodded. Linda sighed, sitting back in her chair.
"Well, would you rather me be buzzing around trying to make everything absolutely perfect?" Linda asked, smiling. Liv laughed.
"I suppose not." she said. Miley grabbed Liv's chin suddenly, brandishing the makeup brush like a sword.
"Stop moving, unless you want to look like a clown on crack!" she said. Liv immediately quieted, allowing the two girls to make her perfect.
"Have you seen Joe? Is he okay?" she asked Miley.
"Nick said that Joe was practically dressed and insisting they have a rap-off before things got rolling." Miley said. Liv smiled, barely holding in the urge to shake her head.
"Sounds like Joe." she said, a loving tone in her voice. Miley and Molly smiled softly - it was great to see such pure love. "Oh, before I forget, I need you to take this to him..." Liv added, pausing the preparation to fish out a small box.
One floor up and three doors down, the Jonas boys were getting ready in a separate hotel room. Well, mentally at least.
"Nick. Beat." Joe said, gesturing to his brother. Nick gave a single nod, and began to throw down a beat for his brother. Mrs. Jonas shook her head, muttering something about checking on the catering before leaving.
"Oh, go Joe, go Joe, go Joe." Kevin said, and began to add in a baseline.
"I'm looking sharp, gonna hear a harp, as I walk down the aisle." Joe rapped. "My lady's waiting, so long we've been dating, since the first time I dialed...her number. Uh, oh, yea...Peace."
"YEA-YUH!" Kevin and Nick yelled, high fiving their brother. Suddenly, there was a knock at the door. Joe let out a girlish scream, earning odd looks from his brother.
"Don't judge me." Joe said, turning away and sitting down. Nick went to the door, opening it and spotting Miley on the other side.
"Hey, what are you doing here?" he asked, giving her a kiss.
"MILEY!" Joe leaped up, rushing to the door. "How's Liv? Is she okay? She isn't freaking out or anything, is she? Cause I mean, I'm not-"
"Joe, shut up." Miley said good naturedly. "Liv is completely fine and looking so beautiful. She wanted me to come and give this to you." she said, handing him the small box. He took it carefully.
"Thanks, Miles!" he said, turning back into the room and going off to the side to open it up by himself.
"No problem. Ok, so I better get back to helping her - be good." she said, giving Nick a kiss and turning to leave.
"Bye, dear." Nick said to her retreating back. He turned back to Joe, who was suddenly very subdued. "What'd she give him?" he asked Kevin.
"No idea." Kevin said. "He hasn't moved the entire time."
Nick creeped over to his brother as if he were approaching a wild animal. He quickly poked Joe in the shoulder, stepping back a few paces immediately. Joe didn't move.
"Dude," Nick said. "What could possibly have you so enraptured?"
Joe wordlessly handed over a piece of stationary where Liv's neat, loopy writing could be spotted. He played with a small silver object while Nick and Kevin crowded over the paper.
Love is patient, love is kind.
It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.
It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.
Love does not delight in evil but rejoices in the truth.
It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
Love never fails.
I love you. - Liv
"Whoa, that's intense." Kevin said after reading over Nick's shoulder. They looked to Joe, who was still playing with something small. Upon closer inspection, they realized that he was holding her silver ring that she always had on.
"Is that hers?" Nick asked. Joe nodded, squinting his eyes.
"Dude, what are you doing?" Kevin asked, considering how odd Joe looked.
"It's got an inscription and I can't read it!" Joe said. "Gah, I hate being blind!"
"Let me see it." Kevin said, holding out his hand. Joe slowly handed the ring over, and Kevin lifted it to eye level, looking closely. "It says...'True love waits.' Good stuff." Kevin said, handing the ring back to Joe, who did the sort of dance that you do when you have too much energy to stand still.
"My wife SO rocks!" he said, still moving. Kevin and Nick shook their heads at him, just glad that he was so excited. Soon enough, Mr. Jonas came into the room.
"Sons?" he said, gathering attention. "It's go time."
One floor down and three doors up, Molly and Miley were trying to put the finishing touches on Olivia, who was having quite a lot of trouble sitting still.
"Olivia! Please God I'm begging you..." Molly said, trying to put the finishing touches on the elegant bun that Liv's hair had been contorted into.
"I'm sorry!" Olivia exclaimed. "I'm just so excited!"
"Save it for tonight, darlin'." Miley said, giving her a wink. Olivia looked at her, open mouthed.
"I think that's the first dirty thing I've ever heard you say. Ever."
"It is not!" Miley objected, stepping back to admire her work.
"It is too." Olivia insisted.
"Girl, please. You've heard me talk dirty before." Miley sighed, touching up a bit on the eyes.
"Ok," Molly interrupted. "this conversation is quickly heading toward some awkward territory."
"My bad." Olivia said. "Are you done yet?"
"Turkeys are done, people are finished."
"Are you finished yet?"
"Yes, I am."
"That's what I thought." Liv said, getting up and putting the veil on. Molly, Miley, and Linda all sighed.
"You're really a bride now." Molly said quietly, hugging her sister-in-law. She then turned to Miley. "I'm going to go get Chris now - will you go make sure Nick and them are on their way out there?" she said, sensing that Linda wanted a moment alone with her daughter. Miley nodded, sensing it as well, and the two women left Linda and Olivia alone.
"Well, this is it, Mom." Olivia whispered quietly, taking her mom's hands. Linda nodded, her eyes starting to water.
"Your father would be so proud of you right now." she said shakily, the tears spilling over onto her pale cheeks.
"Oh, Mom, don't cry." Olivia said, wrapping her arms around her mother. Her mother took a shaky breath to steady herself.
"I don't mean to, it's just...I wish he could see you now." Linda said, sighing. She held Liv at arm's length, looking over her once more. "You look absolutely beautiful."
"Thanks, Mom." Olivia said, blushing. There was a knock at the door.
"Are you decent?" came Chris's voice through the wood.
"Yes!" Liv called back, rolling her eyes and hugging her mother once more. Chris opened the door, poking his head in.
"You ready to go?" he asked, smiling brightly.
"I was born ready, bro." she said, returning his smile.
--
The wedding and wedding supper went off without a hitch - alright, so there might have been a minor hitch or two, but considering the grace of the two getting married, it went off relatively without a hitch. After everyone had finished eating, Nick decided to start the toasts, just as Joe had done at his wedding.
"What can I say about these two?" he said. "I remember when Joe first told us about Olivia - he was so nervous then. And I'm proud to say that he hasn't really gotten over it, but she has, so it's ok. Happy times to the both of you." he finished, raising his glass and passing the baton on to Kevin.
"All I can say is...good luck, Olivia. Cheers." he said, earning a laugh from the group. Joe pouted at the fact that even Liv was laughing - wasn't she supposed to be on his side now? She kissed his cheek, bringing his smile back. It went around the table, skipping a few people (and cutting a crying Mrs. Haddocks short). The last person was Tyler, who looked rather uncomfortable as he stood up.
"Well..." he started. "Thanks for everything Olivia. And Joe, I'm sorry I threw a can of pineapple at your head that one time." he said, sitting back down quickly. Joe laughed, recalling the memory fondly. Olivia put one hand over her face, laughing as well. A few moments later, the cake was cut (Liv adamantly insists that Joe started the cake fight), and the couple shared their first dance (Mr. Jonas stepped in for the father-daughter dance, insisting that since she was now legally his daughter, it would only be right). The dancing afterwards was a little more on the exciting side than Nick and Miley's - but it's not Liv or Joe's fault that Ricky Martin was chosen over the slower rhythm music that Nick and Miley had chosen.
"Welcome to the family, darling." Mrs. Jonas said, coming up and giving Liv a kiss on the cheek.
"Thanks! I'm super excited about it!" Liv replied, hugging the woman tightly. Mrs. Jonas beckoned her a little closer.
"And just so you know, don't ever let Joseph cook unless he gets some lessons...you don't want to know the story." she whispered conspiratorily. Liv smiled, nodding.
"Good to know. Thank you." she whispered back just as Joe interrupted.
"What are you two whispering about?" he asked skeptically.
"Nothing dear." they both said at the same time. He looked at them for a moment longer before shrugging and turning to his brothers (plus wives), who had come to formally congratulate them.
"Joe, my man!" Kevin said, giving his brother a hug as Nick went to Olivia. The two boys talked animatedly with excitement.
"I think we're gonna head out - Miley's not feeling great." Nick said quietly to Olivia with an apologetic look. She nodded in agreement.
"Ok, that's cool." she said, waving it off. She turned to Miley. "Go home, babe, and take care of yourself." she said, giving her a hug.
"Thanks, Liv. And congratulations again." Miley said, mustering up some enthusiasm. Liv smiled an understanding smile, rubbing Miley's arm before moving on to Kevin.
"Word of advice - don't ever eat anything Joe cooked unless it came out of a pop-tart box." he said. Liv laughed as Jess nodded energetically.
"So I've been hearing. Should I ask?" Olivia asked. Kevin shook his head.
"All you need to know is that it didn't end well." Kevin said, giving his new sister-in-law a hug. When Olivia went to hug Jess, Joe came up.
"Jeeessss let me have my wiiiiife." he whined. Olivia rolled her eyes, hugging Jess anyway.
"You can wait for a couple seconds, goodness." Jess said, hugging the younger woman and holding on just a few seconds longer than normal, just to teach Joe a lesson. Needless to say, he was pouting by the time they finally let go.
The party continued into the night, but it reached a certain point where Joe and Olivia were ready for everyone to leave. Luckily that point was the point where the guests were beginning to tire out, so the party disbanded. Once they told all the guests goodbye, they were able to collapse in a limo and go home - their home. The moment they were out of the car and the limo drove off, Joe swept Liv up into his arms.
"Over the threshold!" he said gallantly as Olivia laughed. He turned his face toward her, looking at her with a mock-serious face. "And just what are you laughing at, young lady?"
"Well, for one, you act like going over the threshold is going to be some epic adventure." she said.
"Well it is." Joe said, wiggling his eyebrows suggestively. Olivia rolled her eyes, smiling.
"Ok, and beyond that 13 year old boy moment...I was once told that a prerequisite for any guy to marry me was that he had to be able to pick me up." she said, laughing at his odd facial expression.
"Who on earth told you that?" Joe asked incredulously.
"Doesn't matter, we're at the door!" she said, reaching down to open it for him. Joe smiled, kissing her for the millionth time that night before stepping into their new home. He lowered her to the ground with finesse and flourish, spreading his arms out and spinning in the open area of the entrance hall.
"Lucy, I'm home!" he said. Liv placed her hands on her hips, pretending to look offended.
"Who's Lucy?" she asked, perking an eyebrow. However, she was too happy to contain a smile.
"You are, m'dear!" Joe said, giving her another kiss. "Now, it's pretty late. I think we should go to bed now."
Olivia pretended to yawn and stretch. "I agree." she said, leading him up to the master bedroom. She loosened his tie and unbuttoned a few buttons of his shirt, kissing him slowly. "Now," she said, pulling back, earning a small pout from Joe. She released her hair from its hold, shaking the soft blonde curls over her shoulders. "I'm going to need a little bit of help with this dress. Could you perhaps offer me some assistance?" she asked, a smile playing on her lips.
"But of course. Wouldn't want to abandon a lady in need of assistance." Joe said as he slowly began to unbutton the back of her dress.
The next morning, the pair left for their honeymoon, planning to be gone the entire two weeks before the tour was supposed to kick off. They spent their days getting tan and "enjoying" the "married life," not thinking of the two months they were going to be apart. When the day came, they were laid back about it, continuously muttering things like "it's only for two months" and "I'll call so much it's like I'm right there." All three girls were a little unhappy about the tour, but there was nothing they could to about it - this was the life they married into, and what the men they love loved. At one point, Miley was able to fly out to where they were, which was when Joe was able to escape to a back room and call Olivia, the other two brothers being distracted. She didn't answer the house phone, so he called her cell.
"Hello?" she answered quietly.
"Hi! Did I wake you up?" he asked, speaking quietly as well. He quickly did the math in his head - it was about 7 in the morning back in California.
"No, I just don't want to wake Jess or the baby up. Hold on, let me go outside." she said. He was quiet for a couple seconds, hearing a sliding door open and close. "Ok, we're good to go. How are you?" she asked with normal volume.
"Everything's great. How are you? Why are you over at Jess's?" he asked, concerned. "Are you ok?"
"I'm perfectly fine, I'm just not a huge fan of staying in the house by myself." she explained, settling on the picnic table in Kevin's backyard. "I've been pretty much staying with Miley, helping her out with the whole pregnancy thing, but since she's over there I'm here with Jess and helping with the baby." she added. Joe sighed.
"I'm sorry I can't be there with you." He said sadly.
"No, don't worry about it! It's your job, after all." Olivia said, but Joe could tell that she wasn't happy about it either. "I mean, you get back in a few weeks, so it's all good. Oh, how's Miley? She ok?"
"She's fine." he said shortly, not wanting to talk about his sister-in-law to his wife. She paused.
"You didn't do anything to her, did you?" Olivia asked slowly.
"No, no I didn't...I'm just mad cause she gets to be here and you don't. That's why I'm calling now - they're sitting in there being all lovey dovey and together and such, and I don't quite dig it right now." Joe said, spilling his feelings out.
"I understand." Olivia said quietly. "I'm sorry I can't come out to you." she said, as it was now her turn to feel guilty.
"Don't fret, honey bunches." Joe said, trying to lighten the heavy tone they had acquired. "I mean, we were separated for two years at one point. What's another few weeks?" he said. Olivia laughed softly. "Oh, come on, that was fake." he said accusingly. "Do I need to tell you a joke? I heard a good one the other day..."
"Oh for the love..." Olivia said in a way that let Joe know she was smiling.
"No seriously! Ok, so two peanuts walked into a bar...one was assaulted!" he said excitedly. Olivia paused on the other end of the line. Joe huffed. "Shut up! It was funny!"
"I didn't say anything. It was quite helarious." Olivia said, trying to hold in a laugh.
"Whatever, you didn't laugh! You...unlaugher!" he said, smiling as she continued to hold in her laughter. "That's it, as soon as I get home I'm challenging you to a tickle fight!"
"But tickle fights lead to sex!" she said, acting appalled.
"That's the whole point, my dear." he said, pretending to be seductive. She finally let out a small laugh just as the tour bus was slowed to a stop and Kevin called for him to get going. He sighed. "I'm sorry to cut this short," he said. "but I'm being summoned."
"Ok. Text me when you get out? I may still be awake." she answered.
"Right-o." he responded. "I love you."
"Love you to. Have a great show tonight!" she said. They exchanged goodbyes until another time, and began counting down the moments. The weeks slowly trickled by, seemingly taking years before they were finally able to come home. Joe had the limo safely speed home, practically running up the front steps to a waiting Olivia. Her excitement was clear on her face as she went to him, jumping and wrapping her arms and legs around him. He immediately started walking upstairs.
"What? No proper hello?" she asked, looking to him.
"We've got some major time to make up for, darlin'!" he said, kissing her as she laughed.
X-X-X-X-X
well, this one was a little tough, and i feel like it wasn't as good as it could have been. however, i'm a little uninspired - plus, i've got about zero time with AP classes and softball. fantastic.
as per usual, if you've got anything that you'd like for me to see, let me know! or tell me what you like! or you don't like! just leave some sort of love.
oh, and a mondo thank you goes out to ClaireBear536 (my self proclaimed partner in crime) for using the force of a few blunt objects (yea, you wish i was kidding!) to finish this sucker. thanks!
peace out!