"What do you think they're doing up there?" York asked leaning against the outcrop near the grill where Wash and North were removing the last bit of food. Doc and Donut had come out with plates and silverware and were currently trying to gather everyone. Grif was already waiting patiently having already scolded by Ally for not waiting for everyone.
"Could be any number of things," North shrugged.
"Someone should go tell them food is ready," York replied. He looked at North, "What'd you do anyway?"
"What do you mean 'what'd I do'?"
"Well I'm sure Wash didn't do anything to make her come stomping through the house," York chuckled.
"I'm not the only one that pisses her off thank you very much," North rolled his eyes. "Church did earlier and you yourself have done it on several occasions."
"Well yea, but you tend to get on her nerves more than the rest of us."
"Pretty sure you hold that spot."
"That's only since you started sleeping together."
"You both are idiots if you ask me," Wash commented walking by them with a plate of fish.
"Good thing we aren't," York stuck his tongue out.
"Real mature York," North chuckled following Wash over to the tables where everyone was now sitting. "Hey Ally, can you go get your mom and your aunt?"
"Sure!" Ally jumped up from where she had been sitting and ran towards the house.
"Pops, what are you doing?" York asked as he saw his father filling glasses.
"Toasting."
"Why are we toasting and what are we toasting with?" George gave his son a glare. York put his hands up, "Fine."
"And don't worry," George said as he finished pouring out the bottle into the last cup. "I gave Ally juice."
Everyone started dishing out their plates by the time Ally returned with Emma and Carolina. York narrowed his eyes when he saw they had both changed again.
"Why are you dressed up again?" York asked as Carolina sat next to him.
"Because we're still going out," Carolina replied.
"But-"
"Don't piss me off and maybe we'll let you know where we're going so when Ally goes to sleep you can come meet up with us," Carolina replied as she kissed the corner of his mouth.
"Oh alright," York chuckled. George cleared his throat. "Yes pops?"
"You going to make your announcement now so we can toast?"
York rolled his eye and looked at Carolina who motioned at him to go ahead. He stood up and cleared his throat. The crew stopped eating to look at him.
"So since you're all gathered so nice, Lina and I have something to tell you all," York said before pulling her up. She gave him a quiet growl but stood up anyway.
"You're pregnant, congrats," Grif said through a mouthful of food.
"No, definitely not," Carolina chuckled.
"Well you're already married so what else is there?" Tucker added. Carolina looked at York and raised an eyebrow.
"I swear I told no one," York put up his hands.
"How-"
"We just made it official this afternoon," York cut her off turning to look at everyone.
"You mean to tell us you weren't actually married before today?" Simmons asked.
"No we were not," Carolina chuckled sitting back down as York stood next to her.
"We just all kinda assumed you guys were already married," Tucker continued.
"Yea especially since you hated being called Mrs.," Caboose added.
"Nope, weren't married before today," Carolina smirked. She looked up at York, "You gonna sit down or stay standing?"
"Hold up," York replied. He looked at everyone, "You really all thought we were married already?" There was a chorus of yes's around the table except for North, Emma and Wash. Ally started giggling. He looked down at Carolina, "Were you aware they thought this?"
"Nope," Carolina shook her head.
"We would give you the ol' hurt her and we take you out speech, but I think the Mrs. can handle that part all on her own," Sarge chuckled. "Though you may borrow my shotgun if necessary."
"Thanks Sarge, but I'm sure we'll be fine."
"Well if you don't need if for him, you can use it on Grif."
"Uncle Sarge, what did I tell you about being nice to Uncle Grif," Ally giggled.
"I don't think he has it in him Ally," Wash chuckled. Carolina glanced at Emma who gave her a slight nod before she cleared her throat.
"If that didn't surprise you," Carolina smiled as Emma reached out for her glass with her left hand. Carolina held in a chuckled when she saw York notice the ring on his sister's finger. "Emma?"
"Well," Emma grinned seeing not only the look of shock on York's face, but North's when he caught sight of the ring. "North and I sorta got married as well."
"That we didn't know," Wash said for everyone as they all kind of paused.
"I'd say that's enough reasons for a toast of good will to both happy couples," George chuckled as everyone raised their glasses and a chorus of cheers and congrats echoed around the table.
"Is that what the bubbly stuff was for?" Caboose asked Donut quietly.
Ally glared and poked Emma hard in the arm.
"Hey!" Emma growled. "What was that for?"
"Not telling me!" Ally pouted before getting up and running into the house. York and Carolina both went to go after her.
"No," Emma sighed, "I got it..."
Emma got up and walked back into the house. She slid open the door, "Ally?"
"GO AWAY!" A door slammed.
Emma bit the inside of her cheek and walked inside just as Church appeared.
"Why's the kid upset?"
"Don't worry about it," Emma grumbled walking to Ally's room. The door was closed. She tried the handle which didn't budge. Cursing quietly, she gave a knock on the door, "Ally, let me explain, please."
"I don't want to talk to you!" Ally yelled through the door.
"You don't have to talk, just listen."
"I don't want to do anything with you!"
Emma grit her teeth. This was a reaction she hadn't even thought of and the guilt from that was enough to make her bang her head against the wall.
"Ally, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to hurt your feelings, I swear. It just kinda happened. We weren't really planning it or anything. It was spur of the moment. Normal circumstance, yes you would've been the first one I told. This was not a normal circumstance. Please open the door."
Emma waited what felt like an eternity before she heard the lock click and the door crack. Ally was still glaring at her, though she could make out tear tracks.
"When did you get married?" Ally grumbled.
"First night we got here." Ally went to slam the door, but Emma caught it. Ally tried to push it closed, but luckily Emma was more than strong enough to keep it open. "Ally, come on. Please let's talk about this. I'm sorry."
"You had three days to tell me after that!" Ally yelled. "Three days Aunty Emma!"
"I know. I'm sorry. No one knew anything-"
"Momma knew!"
"Only because I told her right before we came outside." Ally let the door slide a little. "North and I didn't tell anyone because we weren't sure how to."
"But we tell each other everything! You said that we always would and you didn't tell me you got married! That's a big thing not to tell me!"
"I know. I know it is and you're right," Emma nodded. "I'm sorry. I was embarrassed and it's all really really fast and I've just been trying to wrap my head around it. You think it's hard not having known for three days? Think about how hard it is knowing and having to deal with it because it was so spur of the moment and for the first time in your life you were free to do what you wanted and you just jumped right in without a second thought because you just so happened to find the most amazing person and fall madly in love with him and would do just about anything for him including something crazy like get married even though you only known him a few weeks." Emma took a few breaths as Ally finally stepped back and let her in the room. She walked in and sat on the bed before continuing. "Besides, it's not like you can lecture me. I'm the adult here and it's not like you've paid me much mind at all really since your parents showed back up. So don't even try and guilt me because I could throw it all right back at you because ya know, I only raised you for your entire life. They got the easy end of the stick. So I think I'm allowed one screw up here."
Ally wasn't looking at her and was kicking at the floor. Emma stayed quiet, slightly embarassed by her outburst as she sat there. She started picking at the blanket.
"You still coulda told me," Ally said quietly.
"I know. I'm sorry. That's the last time I'm going to say it," Emma sighed.
Ally walked over to her and reached out and took Emma's left hand, examining the ring. "It's really pretty."
"North picked it out," Emma replied. "He insisted we needed them."
"Good. He's right."
"If you're talkng to me, does that mean I'm forgiven?" Emma asked.
"I wish you would've told me," Ally sighed.
"I know. Like I said, it happened really fast and it's been hard trying to wrap my head around it. There's a lot to kind of adjust too."
"Are you happy you did it?"
"Yea," Emma smirked. "Yea I am."
"And Uncle North is happy too?"
"Yes," Emma nodded.
"Then that's all that matters," Ally sighed. "Next time, you better tell me."
"Promise," Emma nodded as Ally smiled. She stepped forward and wrapped her arms around Emma in a hug.
"Think they're ok in there?" North asked staring at the the door where the girl's had gone into.
"I would be more concerned about yourself," York grumbled. Carolina smacked him as did Mei who was sitting on his other side. "What the hell?"
"Knock it off," Carolina grumbled.
"What? He's the one who married my sister behind all our backs," York replied defending himself.
"He is also one of your best friends and you've known Emma the same amount of time as him," Carolina argued. "Knock it off."
"Exactly why th-"
Carolina covered his mouth with her hand, "I said, knock it off. We did the same thing so don't even get mad about it."
"Yea but we've known each other for how many years and have a kid together."
"Which we were separated from each other for how long and didn't exactly get to raise our daughter together until recently," Carolina huffed. "Weren't you the one pushing them to do something of the sort anyway? You're making yourself look like an even bigger idiot than normal."
"I'm starting to see now why Emma didn't want to actually tell anyone in the first place," North mumbled. Carolina shot him a quick glare. "Had I know this would be his reaction, I would've understood her reluctance a bit better."
"Congrats to all of you either way," Wash cut in seeing that York was about to open his mouth again even though Carolina was in full death glare mode at him.
"Thank you Wash," North replied as Emma and Ally finally came back out. "Everything ok?"
"Yup," Emma nodded as Ally sat in her seat. "Though tomorrow morning we are doing something with Ally if that's ok with you, C?"
"Fine with me," Carolina nodded.
"We can meet up in the afternoon?"
"Sounds great."
Emma glanced at York and rolled her eyes, "Let me guess. Mr. Matchmaker over there isn't happy because we did it all on our own without him pushing us to?"
"Pretty much the gist of it," Carolina nodded. "And he's going to knock it the hell off otherwise he won't be meeting up with us later."
"Whatever," York grumbled turning back to his food.
"And you're going to wish our friends congrats."
"Yea, yea." Carolina raised an eyebrow at him.
"Daddy..."
York huffed, "Fine. Congrats. I'm beyond happy for you both."
"Man, this place is hopping," York commented as he, North, Wash and Tucker got to the club Carolina had said they would be at. The others had stayed behind, content with drinking and playing cards while York's parents had agreed to keep an ear open for Ally.
"Think we'll be able to find them?" North chuckled.
"Oh I'm sure," York replied.
"Well, good luck, to you two," Tucker clasped them both on the shoulders. "Wash and I are off to find some drinks and ladies."
"Wait...what?" Wash squeaked as Tucker pulled him away.
"Good luck with that!" York called after them. "Alright, where to begin..."
"Hold up," North put a hand on his shoulder. York gave him a confused look. "Just want to make sure you and I are ok."
York sighed, "Yea man. Definitely."
"The way you reacted at dinner has me thinking otherwise."
York scratched the back of his neck, "Guess you're right there...I apologize. I was a bit caught off guard."
"So Emma had the gist of it when she called you out on it." York gave him a smirk.
"I am happy for you guys. Honest."
"Same," North chuckled.
"My only concern and yes just hear me out. My only concern is that you guys haven't known each other all that long...what if-"
"Hey," North cut him off, "We'll be good."
"I just don't want either of you getting hurt."
"Thanks. Let's just go find the girls."
York nodded looking around the throng of people dancing. He grinned when he saw a familiar shade of red towards the middle. He tapped North on the shoulder, "Got mine. Pretty sure yours is in the same vicinity."
"After you," North motioned.
York nodded before making his way through the crowd. He finally got to where the two were dancing, not paying attention to the guys approaching them. York slipped in behind Carolina, taking the risk of getting hit and wrapping an arm around her waist, "Whoever let you out of their sight doesn't know what he's unleashed."
"Or," Carolina chuckled pressing back against him, "He knows I'd kick his ass into next week."
"You do this with every guy that comes up behind you?"
"Oh yea," she smirked over her shoulder at him. "Course it helps I saw you coming."
"Yea, guess that would."
"You the only ones that came out?"
"Nope. Tucker and Wash are here."
"Wash is here?" Carolina asked skeptically. "Didn't think him for the club type."
"Tucker drug him out," York shrugged. "Think we remember how to do this?"
"I'm sure we'll figure it out," Carolina chuckled as he grabbed one of her hands and spun her out to arm's length before spinning her back in, facing him this time and wrapping his other arm around her waist, holding her to him. "Not bad."
"Yea, guess there's still some muscle memory there," York chuckled adjusting his grip. "I'd say we show these young'uns what we can really do, but I wouldn't want to make them jealous."
"You're so full of yourself," Carolina rolled her eyes. "Your luck, you'd break something."
"I love how much faith you have in me."
"I have all the faith in the world, I don't know what you're talking about."
"LADIES! IT'S SHOTS TIME!" Kai came hurrying over and grabbed both of them, pulling them away from North and York who exchanged looks before following them.
"How many do you think they're up to?" York asked.
"Well," North chuckled, "Pretty sure Emma's three sheets to the wind so I'm sure quite a few."
"Great," York sighed. "This'll make for an interesting night."