Annie groaned as she read Danielle's latest e-mail. She leaned back in her chair and pulled her foot up on the seat. "Oh, no, no, no."

"Something wrong?" Auggie asked from his place on the couch, where he was flipping through his latest delivery of anime books he'd received..

"You could say that," Annie said with a hollow laugh. "She's sent over another list for our wedding plans. This one deals with what overall theme we want. We have to pick our top five and get back to her."

"Top five?" Auggie asked. "How many did she send?"

"Fifteen," Annie said with a sigh, closing the e-mail. "She's gotta be kidding. How difficult could planning one wedding be? You invite a few people, get a minister, a license, and voila."

"Honey," Auggie said, walking up to her. He placed his hands on her shoulders and began kneading the tense muscles there. "Remember, you were the one who told her she could play wedding planner."

"No, she offered, and I said sure," Annie corrected. The feel of Auggie's hands on her began to ease her anxiety, and she closed her eyes. "Now I can't seem to stop her."

Bending down to her side, Auggie took her hand into his. "You don't have to – We don't have to do anything we don't want."

"But I don't want to disappointment her. She seems hellbent on making up for embarrassing you at dinner, remember?"

Auggie nodded. "Yes, I remember, but this is our wedding, our life together. Six months ago, I never even imagined finding someone to share my life with. Now that I have –" Auggie sighed and looked down at their entwined hands. "Whether we get married in front of a thousand people or just live together, like this, for the rest of our lives, it doesn't matter. You pulled me out of the little bubble of life I used to live in, Annie. As long as you're in my future, I don't care how we get there."

Had his eyes not been on their entwined hands, Auggie would've seen the tears welling up in Annie's eyes at his heartfelt confession. Never before had she heard anything so beautiful, and the words coming from someone she loved and directed to her would've brought her to her knees had she been standing.

"Auggie?"

"Hmm?"

"I don't want a big wedding."

Auggie looked back up to her, her big brown eyes shiny with tears. "You don't?"

Annie shook her head, "No, I don't. I'd want nothing more in the world than to stand on the highest mountaintop and proclaim my love for you, but the effort itself of pledging our lives to each other? I'd much rather do that in private."

"So what are you saying? You want to elope?" he asked, trying not to show his enthusiasm for the idea. Ever since Annie told him about Danielle's offer, his anxiety level had spiked. He really wanted no part of tuxedos and groomsmen and maids of honor and a church full of flowers.

Annie half-laughed and said, "Could we?"

"Now that Carl's Fall semester has ended, he's back at the shop. I'm sure he could watch the place for a couple of days."

"You've been thinking about this, haven't you?" she asked.

"The idea of whisking you away to Las Vegas has popped into my head a time or two," Auggie confessed. "And not just for their drive-thru wedding chapels. Remember, you said you'd never been there."

As the idea seeped into Annie's head, she began to think of how much easier it would be if they did elope and break the news to everyone later. All of the trappings of a wedding never really appealed to her – well, except for the final part of being announced as Mrs. Anderson.

Auggie could see the wheels spinning in Annie's head, and he nearly held his breath, waiting for her answer. "I know it's a couple of weeks before Christmas, and we probably couldn't have a proper honeymoon, but maybe after New Year's? My passport's just itching to be used."

Annie smiled at that, remembering one of Danielle's ideas of having a destination wedding. Annie had shot her down immediately. "It would be nice to get out of the cold weather for a few days," she said.

"I'm not sure what the weather is like in Nevada, but –"

"Let's do it."

"What? Really?"

Annie jumped out of her chair and stood, pulling Auggie up with her. "Yeah, I've got more than enough frequent flier miles to cover us both for a round trip."

Auggie wrapped his arms around her in a bear hug, and as the idea settled in that they're getting married in a matter of hours, if not a couple of days, he lifted her, swinging her around until she squealed.

"And do you, Anne Catherine Walker, take August William Anderson as your husband?"

Annie looked from the minister/Elvis impersonator to Auggie, who looked down at her with such love, devotion and happiness in her eyes, she couldn't help but say, "I do."

Auggie was sure his jaw would crack soon from smiling so much, but he couldn't help it. Here they were, in Vegas, getting married by a half-decent Elvis impersonator, yet he couldn't imagine things being anymore perfect.

"Then by the authority vested in me by the state of Nevada, I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may – well, I guess I don't have to tell you what to do next," 'Elvis' said with a chuckle as the well-dressed couple in front of him launched themselves at each other.

The couples waiting in the pews behind him began to hoot and holler as the blonde in a one-shouldered red skintight dress and the curly-haired man in a maroon silk shirt and black pants went clearly beyond the normal marital kiss and began pawing at each other.

Auggie became dimly aware of whistling and catcalls and pulled reluctantly away from Annie to see the other couples clapping and hooting. He looked back at Elvis and said, "Sorry."

"No problem, son. Good luck."

Auggie nodded and began to usher Annie back down the aisle when she stopped him.

"Wait a minute!" Annie said, pulling him back toward Elvis. She retrieved her cell from her purse. "I've gotta get a picture of this. Elvis, do you mind?"

"Not at all, darling."

Danielle was busy surfing wedding websites when her cell beeped, signifying the receipt of a new e-mail.

"God, it's about time, Annie," she murmured. "Been waiting for your list of choices."

Instead of an e-mail full of text, though, it seemed to be just a picture attached. She waited for it to download and screamed aloud when it came into view. Annie and Auggie, gold rings held aloft, smiling at her with – oh, my God, she thought. Was that Elvis standing between them?

Another ding signified an additional e-mail, and Danielle pulled it up immediately.

"Sorry, Danielle, but Auggie and I decided to elope. We'll be home soon. Love you!"

Another scream emanated from Danielle's lips, and she heard the sound of small feet running into the living room.

"Mom, what's wrong?" Katia said.

"Your Aunt Annie," Danielle said, holding the phone aloft to show her youngest, "has gotten married. Without me!"

"Yay!" Katia yelled. "That means we can call Auggie Uncle Auggie! Hey, Chloe!"

Danielle slumped into her chair as her daughter ran out of the room. Of course, she knew nothing about the hours Danielle had spent online researching wedding planning.

She was still brooding when another ding sounded. She picked her cell up half-heartedly to see another e-mail, this one from Auggie.

"Danielle, sorry for dropping this on you and ruining your plans. Annie and I just wanted to do this without all the hype and trappings of a big ceremony. We'll be home in a couple of days. Annie says to say she loves you. Auggie."

Danielle took a deep breath and began to compose a reply.

"Auggie and Annie, Congratulations! Though I am a bit disappointed, I can't stay mad, especially since you look so happy in the picture. Looking forward to your coming back home. Katia and Chloe can't wait to have their Aunt Annie and Uncle Auggie back. Love, Danielle."

THE END

A/N Now, that's a satisfying end. What do y'all think?