February 12, Winter, year 20

What is this, like… wedding number three in the freezing cold? We're going up to the Goddess pond today, but it's supposed to start snowing pretty heavy later, which might kill the festivities.

I swear, how I haven't caught the flu yet, I'll never figure out.

Also, two days til Valentine's. I need to make the chocolate…

Lauren, Muffy and Claire had all forbidden Flora to sleep in her tent the night before the wedding, promptly 'kidnapping' her and carting her over to the farmer's home.

Bright and early the morning of the wedding, Flora started to get cold feet. She was pretty much dragging around uncertainly, trying to find fault with everything until Muffy sighed with annoyance.

"Was I this bad?" she asked Claire.

"…I plead the fifth," the farmer grinned.

Laughing she dodged the pillow Muffy threw before going over to Flora wit a grin.

"Relax sweets," she coaxed. "You're going to look beautiful, and once spring rolls around didn't Carter say he was going to start work on building you a real house? He seemed so full of happy plans, can you really deny him that?"

Considering the professor had been going around all week in the best of moods, laughing and smiling at everyone, and had bubbled over with ideas on where to build the house and how many rooms to give it…

Flora blushed and gave a tiny, uncertain smile.

"I'm just…"

"It's cool," Claire grinned. "By the way, should I call you Aunt Flora after this?"

Her eyes twinkled with mischief, and Muffy solemnly handed Flora a pillow. Flora promptly thwapped Claire upside the head with it, blushing madly.

"No!" she protested. "I'm just Flora!"

A burst of laughter—Lauren—made Claire lean over the back of the couch and grin.

"So, how's our miracle worker?"

"Ready to put the dresses on both the bridesmaid and the bride!" was the amused reply. "If they're ready to be serious…"

"Aww, it's a wedding!" Claire protested. "We're supposed to have fun!"

"Did you finish the wreath?"

"I did!" Muffy held it out, smiling brightly. "Last night actually."

A simple wreath of white flowers was in the barmaid's hands, lilies that Lauren had brought with her from the city, twined into a crown by Muffy's dexterous fingers.

"Wonderful. Alright girls, ready?"

"No," Flora squeaked. "Not really."

"That's how I felt," Muffy giggled. "It'll be over before you know it!"

"Exactly!" Lauren smiled warmly. "It's alright Miss Flora, truly. I've seen hundreds of nervous brides, and in the end most of them have ended up happy."

Flora didn't seem reassured, but she let Muffy and Lauren help her into the dress, which was—in Claire's opinion—perfectly suited for her.

It was a medieval style with a long, white underdress, topped by a gold-trimmed white tunic-style top. There was gilt embroidery along the hem and cuffs of the sleeves, and once the top was in place, Lauren started her last minute work of hemming and pinning while Muffy got to work on brushing out Flora's hair.

"I think for the wedding you should lose the glasses," Claire said, tilting her head slightly. "You'll look absolutely darling without them, you know?"

"B-but I…"

"Oh, you're only nearsighted," the farmer said, brushing away the protests and plucking the glasses from her friend's face. "Don't worry, I'll give them back after the ceremony!"

Flora wasn't really given time to protest, the three wedding veterans easily moving about the living room taking care of their tasks. After a few moments she just submitted to the inevitable, trying not to twist her hands together too much.

Claire, after ensuring that Muffy was going to take care of her hair as well, changed into her less-ornate bridesmaid dress, and slipped Flora's glasses into the pocket that Lauren had cleverly added.

Then she too submitted to Lauren's 'one last check', holding her arms out very patiently.

"Claire, when are you going to snag an engagement from your boyfriend?" Muffy teased. "It's not fair for you to always be the bridesmaid!"

Claire shrugged carefully, a little uncomfortable.

"Claire, you have a boyfriend?" Flora's surprise made Muffy giggle. "Why didn't you tell anyone?"

"Just… because," she replied uncertainly. "I don't want people to have a preconceived notion about him… It's kind of hard to explain."

"Oh, you're not getting off the hook that easily," Lauren said quietly, so that only Claire could hear her. "Why not just tell the he's got the same name as the thief? I'm sure they'll understand."

If she hadn't been working on the dress, Claire would have kicked her. Or maybe stepped on her foot.

"It's complicated," she said firmly. "And I'm not ready to really talk about it yet."

"Alright, alright," Muffy giggled. "But you'd better be soon, or I'm going to gather the girls to descend upon you for a slumber party! We'll work it out of you then!"

Muffy and Flora laughed, and Claire rubbed the back of her neck sheepishly. Fortunately for her, the old grandfather clock wheezed the hour, and they had to finish up in a hurry.

Lauren clapped Flora on the shoulder, smiling warmly.

"Congratulations and good luck kiddo," she said as they hurried out the door. "Enjoy your life."

Man, if I never have to be in another wedding it will be too soon! On the plus side if there are anymore, they'll be spring weddings.

I kinda wish Muffy hadn't asked about me and Skye… It's hard enough being in all the weddings and thinking about it without having it be mentioned by family.

I just don't want them to judge him… even though no one ever saw him except Lumina with silver hair, I'm… not ashamed, I'm worried. I want him to be accepted, by more than just me.

Not to mention I have this.. feeling that things are more complicated with his people than he wants to admit to me. Well… If he doesn't ask me, maybe I'll try asking him next month…

I hope so anyways.