Wedding Bell Hell

Stanford, California- October 1997

"I mean if I had known that it was going to be your last night in America I would have planned a party or something. I mean we can leave the wedding after I sing and do anything you want," said Jenna. Roberto was sitting on her desk and they were talking about the Roberto leaving the country after Marv and Laura's wedding. He shook his head.

"I want to see if American weddings are anything like the movies."

"They're not."

"You're a kill joy you know that." Jenna glared.

"Greg, Roberto called me a kill joy."

"Roberto, don't call Jen a kill joy," said Greg from his desk.

"How about we all go out has a group after the wedding. Me, you, Greg and Dana," suggest Roberto. Greg shrugged.

"Dana's not coming with me to the wedding; she's going with her sister to L.A. this weekend."

"Well we can still go out?" asked Jenna.

"I'll feel like a third wheel, besides it's the man's last night in America, shouldn't you two be doing couple like things?" asked Greg. Jenna threw a paper ball at him.

"We'll do whatever Roberto wants to do. So what do you want to do?"

"I wanna go to the wedding and stay till the bride and groom kick us out." Jenna let her head hit the desk.

"Fine…siete facili a prego." Roberto kissed the top of her head.

"Grazie inamorato." Roberto walked back to his desk and Jenna started working again.

"What were you two going on about?" asked Greg.

"I told him he was easy to please and he told me thank you sweetheart. I could teach you Italian and then we can speak in it all day and annoy Barb."

"It sound complicated. I'll stick with the French, Norwegian and random Spanish I pick up."

"You speak Norwegian?"

"My Papa and Nana Olaf speak Norwegian when the mood takes them and they taught me."

"Sure you don't wanna learn Italian, chicks dig it." Greg shook his head no, Jenna smirked "Don't know what you're missing." Greg just grinned at her and returned her paper ball with a paper clip that hit Jenna in the arm.

"I was going to ask you for a super huge favor, but I don't think I can trust you, due to your disrespect of the office supplies," said Jenna.

"Depending on what the favor is you might fine I'm very trustworthy."

"My mom wants a video of me singing at the ceremony and the reception, but Roberto is technology handicapped and I was wondering if you could video tape it for me?"

"Sure, I'll even use the brand new camera I got as an early Christmas present." Jenna smiled.

"You're the best." She turned back to her PC and Greg sat there a few moments looking at her than he realized he was staring at her and got back to work.

Saturday morning Greg walked into the church holding his camera and trying to find a seat. He spotted Roberto and made his way over the pew.

"Oh thank god, I didn't bring my camera and I was worried that Jenna wouldn't get the video she wanted for her mother."

"Where is the little starlet anyway?" Roberto pointed to the stage.

"Right their next to the lady with the violin." Greg turned and his jaw almost dropped. For the most part, Jenna dressed real professional for work. Dress pants, maybe a skirt and a nice shirt was her attire and she normally either wore her hair straight down or in a ponytail. To see her in a formal dress was a kick in the head. It was a light blue silk dress that came to about her knees and was spaghetti strapped, but she was wearing a light blue shawl over it, however it did nothing to hide her figure which looked incredible in that dress. She had pulled her hair back in a bun with a few strands around her neck and she was wearing a pearl choker. Greg had to blink to make sure that it was Jenna he was really seeing.

"Holy shit, your best friend is a closet hottie."

"I know the feeling is mutual," said Roberto noticing Greg's face.

"Sorry." Greg started fumbling with the camera to cover the fact that was drooling over his best friend while her boyfriend was sitting next to him. Greg got the camera ready in time for the wedding march. Laura looked like she was glowing and if her father hadn't been making her walk in step, Greg had a feeling she would have ran down the aisle to meet Marv. Marv looked nervous, but happy and his eyes were only for Laura. Laura got the end of the aisle and kissed Marv.

"Normally I give the okay for that, but…" said the preacher shook his head to the laughter of the crowd. Laura and Marv both blushed and took their places and the crowd quieted. The preacher gave his blessings and Marv and Laura exchanged vows and rings and their second not approved kiss to the cheers of the crowd.

"I think we're holding the couple up, so here to sing the couple's wedding song Jenna Bianchi." The preacher stepped aside and Jenna took his place and Greg made sure the camera was on. The violin started and Jenna started to sing.

At last

My love has come along

My lonely days are over

And life is like a song

Ohh yeah yeah

At last

The skies above are blue

My heart was wrapped up in clover

The night I looked at you

I found a dream, that I could speak to

A dream that I can call my own

I found a dream to press my cheek to

A thrill that I have never known

Ohh yeah yeah?

You smiled, you smiled

Oh and then the spell was cast

And here we are in heaven

for you are mine...

At Last.

The violin ended and Jenna stepped down to the cheering of the church. The preacher stepped back up.

"By the power vested in me by the state of California, I now pronounce you man and wife…you may…carry on," said the preacher to the still kissing Marv and Laura. Jenna got off the stage as soon as the wedding party moved out the way and walked over to Greg and Roberto.

"She's you friend, remember that…your very hot friend and despite being around her for almost two years it never clicked how hot she was." Jenna gave Roberto a hug and a kiss on the check and looked at Greg.

"Sanders, could you please put your eyes back in your head, it's me," said Jenna.

"It's just a very nice dress," said Greg, Jenna patted his head.

"Such a bad lair," she turned and took Roberto's hand walked out the church with Roberto's other hand on her lower back.

"Lucky bastard," thought Greg.

"You really should eat something, you didn't eat breakfast," said Roberto at the table. Jenna rolled her eyes and pushed her dinner plate away.

"I still have one more song for them and if I eat I'm going to throw up and they'll tell their children horror stories about the vomiting wedding singer." Greg snickered.

"You can sing in the office, while on hold with customers, but you're nervous about singing in front of people, some of whom you'll never see again," said Greg.

"That's different, I don't care what you think of me and I started doing that to annoy Barb and it's worked so far. But, I mean this day is special for them and it's something they'll tell people about forever and I don't want to be the person who ruins it. I'll leave that the groomsmen and whatever toast they deal out. Or whatever drunk uncle makes a pass at the bridesmaid," Jenna took a sip of her water and handed her dinner to a passing waiter. Roberto shook his head and looked at Greg

"I should have let you argue with her, she's more likely to listen to you than me." She gave Roberto a look.

"Non allineare, ascolto voi." Roberto shook his head.

"Nessun lo ha sempre il vostri orecchio e volontà."

"Seriously, you two it's unfair to be sitting here with no clue about what you're babbling about. I mean really, I should start talking in French to someone just to throw you two off." Jenna smirked.

"Ce qui comme ceci... sucez sur celle les ponceuses." Greg's jaw dropped.

"No way."

"Four languages, French being the last of them. I know enough to at least understand when I'm being insulted in it." She stuck her tongue out and Greg had to laugh.

"So I should just speak Norwegian than."

"And carry on conversations with yourself. When you start answering yourself I'll know you've finally lost your mind and you'll have to be committed to a loony bin. And I won't be far behind you, because Barb will drive me crazy."

"Maybe we could be locked in the same rubber room." Jenna raised her glass.

"Here's hoping." He toasted her and he thought she was blushing slightly.

"Jenna, I think Marv and Laura are looking for you," said Roberto. Greg noticed she turned really red and she headed to Marv and Laura.

"I forgot he was here and from the look on Jenna's face she almost forgot too." Greg looked at Roberto and he was waiting for him to say something about the fact that not only had he been drooling all over his girlfriend, but he was flirting with her.

"Wait, I wasn't flirting, Jenna and I always joke like that and have been since day one. And I mean damn, you have to be blind or gay to not notice how cute she is. I dare him to say something." But nothing was said and Roberto turned his seat to face the dance floor. Marv and Laura took the center of the floor and Jenna was off to the side. Greg had to move his chair in order to get her in the camera. Marv and Laura started to swing dance and Jenna started singing.

There's a few things I haven't told you
And before you hear them from someone else
To clear up misconceptions
I'd rather tell you myself
There was a time

I rode a roller coaster
From Coney Island to Key West
I held on with one finger
So the other ten could rest
It may be hard to believe
Hard to comprehend
But baby, you didn't know me when

I played third chair trombone
In an out-of-work polka band
We looked for gigs on ships
In countries that had no land
It may be hard to believe
We hit the top ten
But baby, you didn't know me when

If you want a resume I'll put it in writing
It's only good for a day and the contents are frightening

I gave long-winded speeches
I was a head-of-state
I wrote an endless novel
Called See Jane Love And Hate
It may be hard to believe
I'm reticent
But baby, you didn't know me when

Jenna took her final bow for the night and the crowd was cheering Marv and Laura. Couples started heading to the open dance floor and shaking it to California Love by 2Pac and Dr. Dre. Jenna walked up to Roberto and pulled him on to the dance floor and they started dancing. Poor Roberto looked out of place on the dance floor, but Jenna soon got him into the swing of it. Greg turned off the camera and watched the couples dance for awhile. Mitch plopped himself in the empty seats left behind by Jenna and Roberto.

"Good day, huh?" asked Mitch sipping a drink.

"Yeah. Marv and Laura look really cute together." Greg spotted them on the dance floor, the song had changed to a slow number and they were dancing check to check. Jenna was next to them and was smiling at Roberto and talking very fast from the look on her face.

"Yep, Jenna looks really nice doesn't she?" Greg hadn't really talked to Mitch since Jenna had explained her former crush on him and Greg had been trying to avoid any awkwardness between them. Roberto pulled Jenna a little closer to him and she put her head on his chest.

"God I'm surprised to see her out there with him, she was so hung up on you." Greg knew where this was going and decided to nip it in the bud.

"Yeah, but it was a long time ago and we're cool." Mitch looked at him.

"It wasn't that long ago, it was at the beach party." Greg thought his brain had frozen and he could have sworn he heard Mitch wrong, he recalled Jenna's talk with him in the stairwell.

""I got a little tipsy at the beach party and I told Mitch…I told Mitch that I used to have a crush on you. Like when you first started here and before things with you and Dana got serious" The key word in her speech was used to, 'I used to have a crush on you'. Maybe he just misunderstood Mitch.

"Jenna told you about her crush on me on me at the beach party."

"No she had a crush on you at the beach party," Mitch corrected him. Greg blinked and he felt like the world had shifted and Mitch realized what he had done.

"Look forget I said anything, she's with someone, and you're with someone. You guys are good friends and you always will be friends." Mary sat down.

"What's going on?" she asked. Leo turned his chair around

"Mitch told him about the worst kept secret in the office."

"Ah Jenna's crush on cutie pie here." Greg blinked and his jaw dropped

"Did everyone know about this but me?"

"Jenna's my friend, my best friend. That's it."

"And that's why you two are always flirting and exchanging stares at each other when you think no one is looking?" asked Mary. Greg felt his face go red, he looked at Mitch.

"She told me she used to have a crush and I believe her. You can all think what you want, I don't care." He got up and went to the bathroom to cool off.

"She had or she used to have is a big difference in wording there. Jenna wouldn't lie to me, but why would Mitch rattle my cage like that. Hell, maybe Barb is finally playing a prank on me and Jenna for a change." He headed back to the table and slow music was still going and Roberto and Jenna were still dancing, he couldn't see Jenna's face, but he knew she was happy from the way Roberto was smiling at her. Roberto looked up and caught Greg looking at them. Greg quickly looked away and headed to the bar.

"That guy is going to kick my ass if I don't watch out."

"He was looking at you again," said Roberto quietly in Italian. Jenna shook her head.

"It's nothing," she answered back in the same language. Roberto looked sad, but understanding.

"I think he finally saw you for more than a friend, isn't that what you wanted? I know you care about me Jenna, but it's not the same way you care about him and it's not fair to anyone here. You're a wonderful person and I hope you know what you're doing."

"I don't know what's wrong with me. You're the kind of guy most girls would kill for and we're breaking up, I'm sure the office ladies will beat me up in the parking lot for keeping you away from them." Jenna looked at him. "You're going to leave now aren't you? I'm sorry I ruined your last night here."

"No you didn't. I've had a great time with you and thank you for showing me an American wedding." Jenna shook her head.

"Such a dork." They walked off the dance floor, got their stuff from the table and went out to the parking lot.

Greg came back to the table and noticed Jenna's and Roberto's stuff was gone. At first he thought someone had run off it, lots of people and no one paying attention made it an easy target, but his camera was still their. Than he looked to the dance floor and saw Jenna and Roberto gone.

"They probably went somewhere for a more private good bye." He couldn't stand being here another minute knowing that his friendship with Jenna was being documented by people who didn't know them at all. He got his camera and headed outside to his car. He noticed Jenna and Roberto talking in the middle of the lot.

"Grazie per tutto. Li mancherò," said Jenna.

"Li mancherò anche, ma dovete andare. Più lungo li guardo il più che desidero per gridare." She nodded and Roberto got in his car, Jenna stepped away and watched him drive off. She pulled her wrap around her trying to keep the chill away. She turned to walk back inside and spotted him standing their.

"Hey,' she called out and walked over to him. Greg fought the urge to run.

"She had or she has…"

"Hey, where is your boyfriend going?"

"To the airport, than he's getting on a plane and after flying for many hours he'll be home." Greg was confused.

"Well shouldn't you be going with him? For one last big send off," Jenna sighed.

"We agreed it was easier this way." Pieces fell into Greg head.

"You guys broke up didn't you?" "She had or she has?"

"It's more of a parting of way. Breaking up sounds harsh and it's not like we hate each other or anything, we just realized that this was not a long term thing." Greg nodded and Jenna let out a little shiver and pulled her wrap a little tighter. Greg mentally kicked himself and took off his jacket.

"Here."

"Than you'll be cold."

"I'm wearing more than you are." He draped over her shoulders and he felt a spark when he touched her.

"God you're being a moron, just ask her. It's simple she had or has a crush on you?"

"Hey can I ask you something?"

"You just did." They laughed and they turned to look at each other and it dawned on both them that they had never really been alone like this. No one watching, no one talking, no boyfriends or girlfriends, just them. Greg found himself at a lost for words.

"Why are you going to ask? She's your friend, whose word is better? Hers or there's?"

"I just wanted you to know that I got both times that you sung. Your mom won't kill you now."

"Thanks." Jenna's stomach started to growl and Greg had to laugh. "I'm starving and Laura gave me fifty. So I'm going to treat you for a change, sound good?"

"Sounds great." They headed for his car and he opened the door for her.

"Such a sweetie." He shut it behind her and went to his side of the car and found his door unlocked and opened. Jenna shrugged. "I was told a girl who didn't return the door opening favor was a bitch and should be thrown out on the spot. And I either get a ride home with you or Mitch. And you're not drunk, so." Greg got in the car and they drove off.

"Got any tunes?" asked Jenna. Greg handed her a cd case and she started flipping though it. "What's with all the pissy white kid in the suburbs music, Sanders?"

"Maybe I was a pissy white kid the suburbs." She laughed and finally settled on some Billy Idol. White Wedding soon filled the car, Jenna turned it up and began to sing off key and has loud as she could. Greg soon joined her and both were screaming at the top of their lungs and getting stares from people passing by. They pulled into a local IHOP laughing so hard their sides hurt and Greg was tearing up.

"You are a horrible influence on me," said Greg.

"I don't hear you complaining." Jenna skipped across the parking lot and into the IHOP. He followed her to a booth and were handed menus.

"So what's good here?" asked Jenna.

"You've never been to IHOP?" Greg asked shocked.

"I'm sorry I've never eaten pancakes at ten o'clock at night before."

"God, you've lived in California for almost two years and didn't see the ocean till four months ago and you've never ever eaten at IHOP. Why are we friends?"

"Because I make your life interesting and save you from boredom on a daily basis."

"Alright you have me their. Get the crepes with the cream cheese those are really good."

"They're called blintzes."

"What ever." They ordered and a silence fell between them that wasn't oppressive or awkward, it was nice, Greg always felt the need to keep talking when around Dana or she was always keeping up the talk. It was never a peaceful silence between them, unless they were sleeping. The waitress brought their food, Jenna ordered hers with blueberries and Greg was digging into a mess of strawberries.

"It's so damn good." She muttered with her mouth full.

"Didn't your mother teach you table manners? Like not talking with you mouth full." She looked at him.

"I don't think the guy who has whipped cream and strawberry on his chin should tell me about table manners." She pulled out a mini mirror and showed him. "Do you want me to wipe it off for you too?" Greg wiped it off himself and Jenna sighed.

"Sue me, I'm messy," said Greg.

"You're like a five year old sometimes."

"Good at least I still have a youthful spirit."

"Call it what you want, you're a giant child." The finished up their blintzes, paid and headed out. Jenna turned it to a rock station and they listened, occasionally bursting into song. They turned it down when they got to Jenna's apartment.

"Thanks for the ride," she told him.

"Thank you for the second breakfast." Jenna turned to get out of the car when a Pearl Jam song came on.

"Oh I love this song." She turned it up a little. She closed her eyes and start to bob her head to the beat and hum. Greg shook his head and started to hum with her.

I seem to recognize your face
haunting, familiar, yet I can't seem to place it
cannot find the candle of thought to light your name
lifetimes are catching up with me
all these changes taking place, I wish I'd seen the place
but no one's ever taken me

hearts and thoughts they fade, fade away...
hearts and thoughts they fade, fade away...

I swear I recognize your breath
memories like fingerprints are slowly raising
me, you wouldn't recall, for I'm not my former
it's hard when, you're stuck upon the shelf
I changed by not changing at all, small town predicts my fate
perhaps that's what no one wants to see

I just want to scream...hello...
my god its been so long, never dreamed you'd return
but now here you are, and here I am
hearts and thoughts they fade...away...
hearts and thoughts they fade...away...
hearts and thoughts they fade, fade away...
hearts and thoughts they fade...

The song ended and Greg almost wished it hadn't. She looked really beautiful in that moment and he found himself going back to the question he had been asking himself earlier.

"She has or she had."

"Sorry I really like that song. Here's your jacket," she took it off and handed it to him. There hands brushed and he felt that spark again.

"When was the last time you felt a spark for Dana?" asked some little voice in the back of his mind. Before he could say anything Jenna had opened the car door.

"Night Greg."

"Night." He watched her walk up the stairs and into her building and that same voice in the back of his mind came back.

"You know about her, her feelings. Does she know about your? Do you even know your feelings?" Greg put in some of his pissy white boy music and drove home.

"She called you a giant child? Wow, she hit the nail on head didn't she?" asked Sara. Greg smiled.

"She could always do that, you know. Just make me feel like I was the only one in the room or laugh till I cried. It's been a long time since I've done that or felt that." Sara patted his head.

"I bet you made her feel the same way, maybe that's why she wants you gone. Maybe the memories hurt her too."

"Can I ask you something and you'll be honest?"

"As honest as I can be."

"When did you and Grissom…you know…" Sara stopped him.

"It's private, like your relationship with Jenna. I promise to not tell anyone what you told me. Go home, get some sleep. Catherine probably sent Nick home too; you guys need a break from each other and a nap."

"Thanks for listening." Sara got out of the car.

"Anytime." She shut the door and headed back to the lab. Greg started the car and headed home. He realized that his feelings were Sara were friendship only, they flirted, and they shared things. But that feeling of being the only one in a crowded room, Jenna had been the first and the last person to cause that for him. He flipped on the radio and messed with the stations and found one that almost made his heart stop.

Finally I figured out
But it took a long, long time
But now there's a turnabout
Maybe 'cause I'm trying

There's been times, I'm so confused
All my roads, They lead to you
I just can't turn and walk away

They had been dancing to this song at an office Christmas party, right before everything they felt for each other had changed. He knew how he felt when it happened, but he had lied to her and she had lied to him.

"Maybe if we hadn't have lied to each other than, we wouldn't be in this mess now," thought Greg.

Writer's note- I couldn't sleep last night so I got up and finished up another chapter.

What was said- When Jenna and Roberto were at the table. Jenna told Roberto he was a liar and that she did listen to him. He told her that Greg had her ear and that he always would. When they were out in the parking lot- Jenna told him that she would miss him and thanked him for everything. Roberto told her that he would miss her too, but asked if she could leave, the longer he looked at her the more he wanted to cry.

What Jenna told Greg at the table in French- What like this...suck on that Sanders. God I love foreign languages they add flavor.

The great thing about writing this is going back to the 90's and looking into my music collection. The wedding songs were: At Last: By Etta James and You Didn't Know Me When: By Harry Connick Jr. The car song was Elderly Woman Behind the Counter in a Small Town. The last song that Greg heard was All for You: By Sister Hazel.

Love it, hate it, review it please.