Thank you for all your wonderful reviews, they really do mean the world to me and I hope you continue to enjoy the final couple of chapters.
I am actually rather sad that this story is reaching its end but I don't want it to run too long and get very dull and disliked.
I took a risk with this chapter, and it will either be loved or you will dislike it and think it's a very stupid decision, but I decided to take a chance as the story is reaching its end. So please review and let me known your opinion.
Dedicated to everyone who has read, favourited, followed and reviewed- you are all amazing and I can't believe how many of you have read this story and loved it!
"Why did I decide to make my own wedding dress?" Agnes moaned as she collapsed onto the sofa beside Josie, who immediately glanced across at her and smiled. "It's turning into a disaster and I have to wear it down the aisle in a week in front of most of the staff of Selfridges, who see some of the most gorgeous dresses in the world and will be watching me get married. Why did I not get someone else to make the dress? It will never look right," she panicked, her nerves becoming obvious as Josie smiled at her.
"Agnes, I have complete faith that you have created the most beautiful dress," Josie responded as Agnes fell silent, clearly very nervous before Josie stood up and held her hand out towards Agnes. "Show me this dress," she said quickly as Agnes smiled nervously before taking Josie's hand, laughing when Josie pulled her off the sofa before they both walked out of the living room. Walking up the stairs and approaching Agnes' room, the two women stepped inside before Josie glanced at the white dress that had been thrown across the bed, clearly in Agnes' frustration for perfection. "Why don't you go and put it on Agnes and we'll see what we can do about it?" she suggested, lifting the outfit off the bed before passing it to the younger woman, who nodded and slowly disappeared out of the bedroom to change. Moving to sit on the edge of Agnes' bed, Josie smiled as she glanced around the bare bedroom before she heard the door open and close, turning once again to look across at the young woman who was nervously standing in front of the door. "Oh Agnes," she smiled as Agnes shrugged before glancing down at the dress.
"It looks terrible Josie, I can't wear this," Agnes moaned, moving to look at herself in the mirror as Josie stood up and shook her head, approaching the young woman and looking at the dress.
"It looks beautiful Agnes, you just don't see the complete picture. You're a perfectionist, you don't see the complete beauty until it is completed and you can take in everything," Josie stated as Agnes turned her head to look at the other woman. "Do you trust me?" she asked quietly as Agnes nodded, smiling at her as Josie found her box of hair slides before smiling at the young woman and beginning to pin back Agnes' dark hair. "Now imagine a veil as well," she said quietly as Agnes nodded, continuing to watch her reflection as Josie smiled. "And we'll put something else in your hair, something simple but beautiful."
"Flowers," Agnes suggested as Josie nodded at the idea, knowing that Agnes was beginning to feel more comfortable in her dress. "I think flowers would look beautiful in front of the veil. They're simple but they are so stunning," she explained as Josie continued to smile. "Perhaps the same flowers as in the bouquet, consistency."
"Sounds like a perfect idea Agnes, like all your plans," Josie responded. "You do look beautiful Agnes, Victor is a very lucky man and he will be unable to take his eyes off you throughout the whole day," she explained quickly as Agnes blushed before glancing down at the dress that she had created. "Have you found a veil?" she asked as Agnes nodded, smiling at the older woman who had a small smile decorating her face.
"My mother's," Agnes explained. "It is the only thing of her wedding that I have left, her dress just disappeared. Dad probably destroyed it," she said quietly as Josie nodded. "It is in my wardrobe, will you get it?" she asked quickly, Josie nodding before she moved towards the wardrobe and removed the box that Agnes had directed her too. Resting the old but perfectly conditioned box on the bed, Josie smiled as Agnes walked towards the box before lifting off the lid and removing the veil, her smiled growing as she held the material for a moment. "Will you help me? I want to make sure that it looks good," she explained quietly, Josie nodding before she slowly pinned the veil into Agnes' hair, unable to stop herself from beaming as she watched the younger woman. She looked so beautiful.
"See sometimes the most simple designs are the most perfect," Josie whispered in amazement as Agnes glanced at herself in the mirror, running her fingers across the dress before she laughed in amazement. "One more week to go" Josie whispered as Agnes nodded, still staring at herself.
"One more week and then I will be Mrs Agnes Colleano," she laughed before glancing across at Josie. "Thank you Josie," Agnes smiled.
"For what?" Josie asked as Agnes stared at her.
"For being here," Agnes smiled as she took hold of Josie's hand. "I don't have a family except for George but since you asked me to stay, I feel like you have become part of my family. You are family, both you and Florian," she admitted as Josie squeezed her hand gently before smiling at the younger woman. "You will be there, when I get nervous on the day and panic, I can't imagine getting married without you being there," Agnes quickly stated as Josie nodded.
"I'll be there Agnes, I can't imagine being anywhere else," she promised as Agnes nodded. "Now, I must get ready for work."
XOXOXOXOXOXO
"I've never seen her this happy, it's almost strange," Kitty commented to Grace as she glanced across at Miss Mardle who was currently humming while clearing the counter of accessories as the store began to shut for the evening. "She has always been so straight faced, and well, angry at everything."
"Kitty," Grace laughed as Kitty shrugged, still watching the older woman as Agnes approached them.
"What are you two doing?" Agnes asked as she joined the two women, following their line of vision to see them staring at Josie. "Why are we watching Miss Mardle?" she questioned as Kitty smiled, realising who had just joined them. Who was better to ask about why Josie Mardle was happier than she had ever seen in five years than the woman who was living with her?
"We were wondering why Miss Mardle has been so happy over the last month?" Kitty admitted as Agnes shook her head at the other woman, knowing that she wasn't going to give Kitty any information that she could use for gossip with other members of staff. Although Josie was no longer hiding her relationship with Florian, it was her business to tell people about them, it was not Agnes' business to inform people that Josie and Florian were now together.
"Kitty, it's none of your business why she is so happy," Agnes stated quickly. "Will you be coming to the wedding next weekend Kitty? You haven't responded yet," she asked as Kitty smiled, her mind immediately moving away from Miss Mardle to the approaching wedding.
"Of course I'm coming, I wouldn't miss your wedding for anything Agnes," Kitty smiled as Agnes laughed. "Are you getting excited?" she asked quickly as Agnes nodded slowly, unable to remove her grin as she began to think about her approaching wedding. "I can't believe that you are getting married. I can't imagine the shop without you and your beautiful windows," she explained, surprise covering Agnes' face at what Kitty had just admitted. Although things between them had been tense at times, the two women did usually get along and Agnes couldn't imagine getting married without the redhead present.
"I am sure you will cope Kitty," Agnes smiled before glancing across at the silent Grace. "You are coming too Grace?" she asked as the blonde quickly nodded.
"Of course, thank you for inviting me," Grace responded before biting into her lip for a moment. "I was wondering Agnes, whether I could bring someone with me."
"A certain Gordon Selfridge by any chance?" Agnes smiled as Grace began to blush. "Of course you can bring him," Agnes declared before she moved away from the two women. "I will see you both tomorrow," she smiled as the two women nodded, watching as Agnes quickly approached Josie, who was still humming to herself. "You're getting a lot of attention Miss Mardle," Agnes commented as Josie glanced across at her.
"How do you mean?" Josie questioned as Agnes laughed.
"You apparently seem too happy, Kitty is trying to work out why you are no longer angry," Agnes explained as Josie rolled her eyes before laughing to herself. "It is lovely to see you so happy though," she added quickly, Josie biting into her lip as she finished packing away the gloves before turning to look at Agnes properly.
"One month," Josie admitted as Agnes nodded, knowing that a month ago they had dealt with their issues and had become completely committed to each other. Walking together to collect their coats and hats, the two women smiled as they completed getting ready to leave before silently walking out of the building. "Will Victor be joining us for dinner tonight?" Josie questioned as they began to walk down the street together, Agnes nodding quickly in response.
"Yes, if that is alright?" Agnes asked.
"Of course it is Agnes," Josie smiled before jumping in shock when someone's arms wrapped around her. Turning her head quickly, Josie laughed as she found herself staring at Florian who had snuck his arm around her figure. "You scared me," Josie moaned as he apologised quickly before leaning down and kissing her gently, Agnes shaking her head at the couple while Josie laughed at him and wrapped her arm around Florian's before they began to walk down the street together.
"How was work?" Florian asked as he looked across at Josie and Agnes.
"Busy," Agnes admitted as Josie nodded in agreement, knowing that neither of them had stopped all day. "It seems that everyone who was in London wanted to shop in Selfridges' today," she explained as Florian laughed. "I am going to go and collect something, I will see you both at home," Agnes explained as they reached the end of Oxford Street, the couple nodding before saying goodbye and watching as the young woman began to walk down a different road to them.
"I was wondering whether you would meet me after work," Josie admitted as they began to walk in the direction of their home. "We didn't have time to discuss it this morning before you left for your recital," she commented as he smiled down at her for a moment. "How did it go darling?" she asked quickly as Florian nodded.
"Wonderfully, they wish for me to perform again next week," he explained as Josie smiled at him.
"You're starting to make a name for yourself now," Josie commented as Florian laughed. "Soon you will be one of the greatest violinists in London Mr Dupont, everyone will know who you are and we will never have a moments peace," she smirked before leaning up and kissing him quickly, the younger man smiling at her. He loved that she was finally comfortable in being affectionate with him in public, allowing him to hold her arm and kiss her around other people. During the first week after their discussion, she had still been nervous to be affectionate around him in public but she had slowly gotten used to it and now she didn't care whether people stared at them for longer than they should.
"Don't worry, I will still leave one evening a week to spend with you," he teased as she shook her head, knowing that he was joking with her.
"I demand at least two evenings a week Florian," she smirked as he remained silent for a moment, pretending to think as she laughed at him. "I am after all your…" she began before falling silent, trying to work out how to refer to him. She hated the term lover, it sounded wrong, like there were no feelings in their relationship, only sex.
"I think that when I am one of the greatest violinists in London, I can give you two evenings a week Josie," he smiled, trying to get her to stop worrying as she remained completely silent. "Are you going to tell me why you have gone all quiet darling?" he questioned, knowing that she had upset herself as he nodded.
"What are you? To me?" she asked quietly as they continued to walk down the street together.
"The man that you love Josie, the man that you're in a relationship with, the man, who I hope, makes you happy," he began as she nodded slowly, knowing that she was getting concerned again. "I didn't think you were concerned with official terms Josie, you've never been worried about them before."
"I'm not Florian, I just don't know how to refer to you. I don't like the term lover," she stated as they began to walk down the street again. Approaching their home in silence, the couple smiled at each other before Josie wrapped her arms around his neck and quickly kissed him gently, his arms wrapping tightly around her body. "Please stop worrying about me," she whispered against his lips. "I'm not going to leave you again, please stop worrying."
"You sometimes have those moments, when you go completely silent and I worry about what's going on in your head," Florian said quietly before Josie kissed him again. "I'm not worried though Josie, I know that you are one hundred percent committed to this relationship, to us, to what we have managed to build as a couple."
"I love you, you wonderful man," she smiled before she unlocked the front door, letting them both into the house before she kissed him again. "I am so proud of you, of what you are achieving, of the fact that you are following your dream and being a success."
"I've only had a couple of performances," he stated as she shook her head. "Although, Victor has asked me to perform at the wedding," he admitted as Josie beamed. "There is a particular song that Agnes adores, he wants to dance with Agnes to it, and he asked me to play it as a surprise," he explained as Josie nodded, unable to remove the smile from her face as they stepped into the living room, the two of them sitting down before he wrapped his arms around her and kept her close while she shut her eyes and relaxed into his hold.
XOXOXOXOXOXOX
"I think you get greater every time you play," Josie commented as she sat on their bed, watching as he began to pack the violin away while his smile grew. Walking towards her, he slowly sat down beside her before kissing her quickly, a laugh leaving her lips as he began to kiss her neck.
"Well they do say that practice makes perfect Josie," he responded as she continued to laugh, her fingers playing with his hair before he sat up and began to unbutton his shirt while she watched him in amazement. Watching him as he changed his clothes and climbed into bed beside her, Josie smiled as she curled up beside him and felt him begin to play with her hair as she continued to smile to herself. "I was thinking Josie," he began as she glanced up at him, her smile growing as he stared at her for a moment. "We are happy together, aren't we?"
"Yes, I'm happier than I have ever been," she smiled as he nodded, their fingers lacing together as she rested her head on his chest, relaxing to the sound of his heart beat. "I'd quite happily spend the rest of my life with you Florian, you have made me so happy and I love every moment I spend with you," she said quietly as he looked down at her for a moment, starting to play with her hair again as they fell silent.
"Then Josie," he began as she looked up at him. "I was wondering actually," he started before laughing nervously while she moved to lie on her side, staring up at him as he fell silent for a moment.
"Yes Florian?" she asked quietly.
"You're the love of my life Josie, you make me feel like the happiest and luckiest man in the world. You are the best thing to happen to me, I feel so lucky every morning when I wake up to find you curled up beside her and I adore all the moments we spend together, as a couple," he explained, watching her before she leant down gently and kissed him quickly. "When I play the violin, I think of you Josie. Everything I do Josie, you are always on my mind and you always will be."
"Florian darling, I love hearing all this but why are you bringing this up now?" Josie questioned as he reached up and brushed her hair behind her ear, smiling at her as she continued to watch him in confusion. "What's going on darling?" she asked.
"I want to spend the rest of my life with you," he stated before kissing her. "Marry me."
Maybe I shouldn't have taken the risk.
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