Author's note: Well, Adrian has a tux. If you're a fan of Darren Criss, you have seen the shoot he did for GQ and all the numerous suits he wore and looked amazing! I reblogged a photoset on my Tumblr (booksrockmyface) of it them with the one I picture him wearing. I also posted a picture of Jill's dress I found on the David's Bridal website. It's so her, I think. So pop on over and see for yourself and let me know.

Rose and Lissa make an appearance in this chapter, as well as Lissa's adorable daughter Andrea. I also failed to mention in the times it was said before that the wedding date of October 8th wasn't entirely a random number. That's my dad's birthday. And though he probably won't ever read this, I felt like honoring him anyway.

Happy reading!

Chapter Seventeen

"So the wedding is when?" Rose asked.

"A year from October." I said, bouncing Andrea on my knee. "Maybe this one can be our flower girl."

She giggled at me.

"I think she'd like that." Lissa said from beside me.

"And the one in there can do something too." I pointed to her bulbous stomach. "If Mommy and Daddy want him to, that is."

"He's not going to be very old. Probably barely crawling. He'll just sit on my lap and watch everything. But I thank you."

"Any time." I made a face at the baby on my lap and she laughed at me again. "She is just so cute."

"Isn't she? She looks more and more like her daddy every day." She smoothed her hand over her daughter's hair.

"Where is he, by the way?"

"Training. Both with his element and a little hand-to-hand combat. He's come a long way in the last few years."

"Is that where your guy is, too?" I asked Rose awkwardly.

"Yes." She smiled. "Jealous?"

"No. Why would I be? I don't have to know how to kick ass for someone to find me attractive." I took my phone out of my pocket. "Case in point." I showed off the picture Sydney sent me of her in my bed. "Amazingly beautiful and completely hot for me."

"Are you sure this is a picture you're supposed to be showing off?" Rose asked, giving me a hard, teasing look.

"It's fine. I've got more racy pictures of her on my camera. But not going to show anyone those."

"Naked?" Her voice was full of admiration.

"As model for a painting." I explained. "Nothing sexual. Well, she was giving me some bedroom eyes at one point, but I can't act on that just yet."

"Wait, run that by me again? You're not having sex?"

"Is there something about Sydney that that screams she'd just jump in the sack with anyone?"

"But you're engaged." She pointed out.

"Yes. And?"

"How do you stand it?"

I laughed. "I just do." I kissed Andrea's chubby cheek and handed her to Lissa. "I need to go. Jill and I are going shopping. And I've kept all of you up past your bedtime."

"Shopping?" Lissa and Rose said at the same time.

"She has to get a dress and she wants me to look at tuxes."

They looked at me expectantly.

"Would you like to come?"

"Yes, please!" Lissa said. "I'll have to gather my guard. As long as it's okay. I guess we should probably make sure Jill is okay with it."

"You have a lot of meetings tomorrow. You need your rest." Rose pointed out.

"Oh. Right." She sat back and thought for a while. "I've been working non-stop for months. I'm due for a bit of a break. And helping my sister find her dress for her best friend's wedding is equally as important as all these other matters. Rose, tell my assistant to move things around. Jill needs the guard anyway." She took out her cell and tapped on the screen. She pressed it to her ear. "Hello, Jill…Oh. Well, I should have known that…You don't mind do you?…" Her face was scrunched up in concern and then it softened. "Good, I'm glad. I didn't want to just invite myself…Well, thank you…Should be ready in about a half hour…Okay, see you then."

"All set?" I asked.

"On that side anyway. She was watching."

"Hey, it happens." Rose said with a grin. "All your meetings from earlier in the night will be moved to the next day. Any that can be shifted into later evening will be. And Christian is on his way in."

The door opened then and the man in question stepped in. "My ladies." He walked over to Lissa and wrapped her in a tight hug, one hand rested on her pregnant belly. "You're assistant said you're leaving."

"Dress shopping with Jill."

"And Andrea and I are staying?"

"Well, Andrea is. You don't have to."

"Let me think about that. Putting my daughter to bed and taking a well-deserved day of sleep myself or forgoing sleep and sitting in a dress shop all day? I think I choose the first." He kissed her hard on the mouth. "Have fun. Don't overdo it."

"I won't."

I watched with jealousy as the two smooched and whispered to each other for a while longer. I missed Sydney. And I wanted to know what it would be like to see her like Lissa was now. My phone rang, bringing me out of my daydream.

"Sorry, Jill." I said before she could berate me.

"Sydney's not going to have kids with you any time soon. She told me that. You have a long time before she lets you see her like that."

"Wait, she told you she wanted kids?"

"Forget I said that." She said quickly.

"No, no, no. She talked to you about this?"

She let out a huge sigh. "She did. And she said she didn't want to talk about it with you because she knew if you really talked about it, you'd make her set up a timeline. And she wants to do it when it feels right. Don't push her. Give her space. And forget I ever mentioned the conversation with you because I promised I wouldn't."

"Okay, fine. And it would be really great if you would stop sneaking into my head."

"I was just trying to check on everyone's progress. Tell Lissa and Rose to stop making out with their significant others if they want to go shopping."

"Rose isn't—" I cut myself off when I noticed something Jill had caught as I scanned the room: Rose and Dimitri standing as close as Lissa and Christian on the other side of the room. "I'll hurry them along. Head over this way."

"I am. Eddie just appeared at my door. Hi, Eddie."

I hurried everyone along and we were all headed out the door and into a fleet of special vans within minutes.

Jill scooted in next to Eddie in front of me and I leaned up to greet them. That's when I saw their fingers curled together in the seat between them. I cleared my throat and Jill simply smiled over her shoulder. Eddie jerked his hand away to rest on his lap. Jill's face fell.

I reached over the seat and took his hand and put it back on the seat between them. Jill gave me a grateful smile. Eddie nervously looked down between them. Jill curled their fingers together again.

"Hey, Eddie, I have a question." I said as I leaned close.

He turned his nervous look toward me. "What?"

I mumbled, "Do you think you could keep your eyes on the important festivities if you were a groomsman?"

"Y-yes, I think so."

"Good." I clapped him on the shoulder. "You get to try on a monkey suit today too."

He relaxed. "Thanks."

Those that had been prepared to go to bed about this time were nodding off. Most of the guard were daytime guardians, so they were alert. Eddie and Leah were already planning on going on this trip so they were prepared.

As soon as we walked through the doors of the bridal salon, the woman behind the counter rushed over. "Jill! I'm so glad you've arrived. And right on time." She looked over her shoulder. "And with your usual entourage." She looked to Adrian. "You're new."

"This is my brother, Adrian. He's the one who's getting married."

She held out her hand. "Right. Hello, Adrian. We have everything set up for you after your sister has picked out her dress."

"This is my sister, Lissa." Jill introduced almost as an afterthought.

"Hello, nice to meet you." She said in greeting, shaking the queen's hand.

We all followed the consultant. Guardians dropped off at random points. Eddie, Rose, and Leah were the only ones who followed us onto the floor. Jill disappeared into a dressing room.

She stepped out in a dress that stopped at her knees.
"Turn around right now." I demanded. "That one is a no."

"What? Don't you like it?" She asked, stepping up onto the podium. She turned and examined it in the mirror.

"I do. But not for my wedding. You have legs that go on forever and that's all the guests are going to be looking at when they should be looking at Sydney."

She sighed and walked away without asking what anyone else thought.

"Was I too harsh?" I asked the others.

They shook their heads.

Eddie said, "She did look good, but it's for a school dance or something. Not a wedding. At least not your wedding."

Jill emerged in another dress. This one was at least longer. But it had a slit up the side.

"Hmm." I said.

"You don't like this one either." She said, discouraged.

"I do. I'm trying to decide how much."

"I like the sweetheart neckline." Rose contributed.

"Me too." Lissa said. "Is it going to be that plum color?"

"No, amber. Golden brown." Jill said, twisting and turning in the mirror. "Isn't that what was decided, Adrian?"

"Yes. Sydney's bridal party has the emerald covered."

"Your colors are emerald and amber?" Lissa asked.

"Yes. My eyes and hers. My fiancée's idea. We're being a little romantic." I examined the dress as she turned some more. "I like this, but I'm worried about the slit. And it's a little stiff compared to Zoe and Carly's."

"I get your point." She chewed the inside of her cheek. "Can this still be a maybe?"

I smiled. "Sure. Why not?"

Her face split into a grin and she stepped down and to head back into the dressing room.

"Hey, wait, can I take a picture of that for my fiancée to see?"

The consultant nodded. "Yes. That's fine. I've been trying to get them to get a web cam in here. All the other shops have them, but we don't yet." She sighed. "Anyway, go ahead."

Jill, laughing, struck a pose and I snapped a picture. I sent it to Sydney as Jill walked away.

"She worships the ground you walk on." Lissa commented.

"I know she does. The best little sister a guy could have."

Lissa looked down and rubbed her stomach. "I need to keep trying."

I reached out and put a hand on her arm. "She knows you are. And she also knows you're busy. It's okay."

She nodded and patted my hand.

"I could start to move some things around. Spend more time with her."

"She'll like that."

My phone went off with a message from Sydney. "That's pretty."

"That's all you've got to say?"

"I don't like it that much."

"I don't really either. She's changing. New one in a minute."

As I sent off the last text, Jill stepped out. This dress had a similar neckline to the last one. It was satin and hugged her figure, flaring out at the bottom. There was an odd ruffle on the side. It was cute.

I nodded, "I like it."

"Really?" She gushed. "Because I just love it."

"Really. It's very much you."

"That's gorgeous." Lissa said.

"Yeah." Rose agreed. "It's cute."

I looked over to Eddie. I figured what he wanted to say by the lustful look on his face. I smiled.

"You look hot in this one, Jill." I said for him. "But I still wonder how well it will go with the others."

"Yeah, true." She chewed her lip again. "Take a picture for Sydney. I have one more."

I sent the picture to Sydney. Her response didn't come until Jill came out again.

"The skirt has the same flow. She needs to be a little different, though. I like it."

"This one is made from the same material as the bridesmaid dresses." Jill said as she stepped on the podium wearing a dress that was very much like the ones that had been chosen for Sydney's sisters, minus the strap.

I sat back and waited for everyone else's opinion.

"It's pretty." Leah said, speaking for the first time.

"Yeah, but the other one is better on you." Eddie pointed out.

"I like this one better." Lissa said.

"I think it's a toss-up." Rose contributed. "They both have good points."

Everyone was silent. They turned to me.

"Adrian?" Jill asked.

"You like the other one better, don't you?" I said.

"Yes. What does Sydney say?"

"She liked it. She said something about the flow of the skirt being the same."

"It's true. Send her a picture of this just to be sure and we can go look at the stuff I picked out for you."

"You already picked stuff out for me?" I held up my phone. "You are such a fashion nerd." I sent the picture to Sydney as Jill went off to change into her regular clothes.

"That's almost exactly like my sisters' dress. I think I like the last one better. But she has to wear it and represent you. You're choice."

"She's in love with the other one. I think that's it."

"Good."

"Going to get a suit on. And I'm not sending you pictures. No one is. You're going to be surprised like I am about your dress."

"That works for me."

"That other one, Jill." I said as she walked out.

"Huh?"

"The one you like. It's yours. Order it. I'll buy it."

She squealed and threw her arms around me. "Thank you, thank you, thank you." She kissed my cheek. "You're the best."

I chuckled and squeezed her. "You're pretty great yourself, Jailbait."

She laughed and let go of me. "They have all my measurements. We'll finish up the paperwork later." She grabbed my wrist and dragged me toward the other end of the store. "Okay, so I have some ideas. I see something sleek and modern and sexy. Something that will go well with Sydney's dress, which is very sleek and modern and sexy, but also classic. We'll start with this."

She handed over a pair of black pants with a bit of a shine to them. She also gave me a white shirt. "Do I need certain underwear for this?" I teased as I went into the dressing room. "Pick something out for your boyfriend, too." I laughed at the blush that crawled up her cheeks. I shut the door and changed into the clothes she picked out for me.

I stepped out and was met by a tailor with an amber bow tie and vest. "Do you know how to tie one of these?"

"No, actually."

He gave me a tutorial on tying a bow tie and made me do it myself. "Not so bad." He stepped up and fixed it. "I suggest you get one and practice often."

I put on the vest and then he put the coat on. The material had the same sheen as the pants. The lapel was thin and had a trim in a brighter shimmer.

"Hot." Rose said appreciatively.

"Thinking about what you're missing?" I asked smugly, looking in the mirror.

"I know what I'm missing. And you really have nothing I want personally. But Sydney is a very lucky woman."

"I thought this one would work best." Jill said, walking over as Eddie disappeared into the dressing room. She smoothed the front and arms of the coat down. "Especially now that I have mine. The material is the same, with the shimmer. And we can have this trim changed to the amber, if you want." She handed over a pair of shoes. "You don't need to try on anything else. I'm making an executive decision."

I laughed. "I think I like the trim as is. You have nothing else?"

"Do you really want to try on more clothes?"

"I don't know. All of you girls are drooling over me. I live for that." I smiled at the group.

She giggled. "You do look pretty amazing. Sydney is going to die."

"No pictures. I want her to be surprised." I looked in the mirror. "I do like this. I look good. What else do you have?"

She brought me over to a rack of clothes and showed them to me. None of them appealed to me in the way the one I wore looked.

"You're right. None of these compare. Give me those shoes." She handed them over.

Eddie stepped out of the dressing room. He was wearing the same style suit as me, but his was mat and the long tie he wore was tucked under the vest.

"I wish your dress was in the right color. We could all stand together and get a feel."

"We can still get a bit of a feel. Go stand next to Eddie." Jill commanded. "Wow, it's the Hot Twins." She said admiringly. "Tell me I'm good."

"You're good." Lissa said, wrapping an arm around her waist.

She smiled at her sister and then gave her a hug. "Thank you."

"You're going to be amazing when you do this professionally. And if you tell me you don't want that, then I'll tell you that you're insane for wanting anything different."

"I agree." I said, rushing to her and grabbing her up. I spun her around. "You are the greatest, little sister." I laughed and put her down. I grabbed her shoulders. "Jill, I'm getting married."

"You've still got a little over a year."

"Yeah, but I'm getting married."

She smiled. "Congratulations."

I laughed again. "Let's get this all sorted out." I stepped away and turned to the tailor. "Measure me, sir."