April 10th

Saturday morning Sara met both Mary and Katie in front of a bridal shop in downtown Chicago. This was the first time the two women had met so she quickly made the introductions. Lucky for her, they seemed to hit it off right away and were chatting as the three of them made their way through the aisles of dresses. Sara had been looking casually for a dress the last few months, but it was now April and she still hadn't found anything. The wedding was less than three months away and she needed to get serious.

Lincoln and LJ were standing up with Michael and Sara had asked Mary and Katie to stand up with her. So not only did they need to find a dress for Sara, but also one for Mary and Katie as well which was today's ultimate goal.

After three hours of shopping they still hadn't found anything. They either liked the style but not the color, or they liked the dress on the rack but after trying it on it just wasn't right. Deciding to take a break they made their way to a small deli to grab some lunch.

"So…" Mary asked directing her question to Katie, "Tell me what was Sara like pre-Michael?"

Sara stopped with her sandwich halfway to her mouth. Katie gave a little chuckle. "Let's just use the word depressing shall we."

Mary thought on that for a moment and then took a bite of her sandwich. Sara just sat there. Now it was Katie's turn. "So what is she like at work now?"

Mary was smiling full out now, "Oh definitely not depressing."

The two women laughed together and glanced over to Sara who was now blushing. "Oh come on Sara," said Katie, "you know your much happier now than you were back when we used to work together. The only time you would perk up was just before a certain someone's appointment."

Sara didn't have time to respond to that one before Mary chimed in, "Now that you mention it…there was always a change in her just before she'd go off to see him."

Both women were full of smiles and having a fun giving their friend a hard time. When it appeared they were going to continue, "Ok. Enough you two." Sara said. "I freely admit that the prospect of seeing Michael, then…and even now puts a little kick in my step." Sara smiled. And Mary and Katie laughed. Sara joined them.

The women finished up their lunches and then headed out to do more searching. Finally at four o'clock they walked into a store and found two dresses for Mary and Katie. They liked them and so did Sara.

After completing the purchases, the ladies hugged goodbye and Sara made her way back home. It was already five-forty five and they were supposed to be at Lincoln's at six thirty. She was dead on her feet already. Used to working twelve-hour shifts at the hospital, she still hadn't been prepared for what eight and a half hours of shopping had done to her body.

Michael was waiting for her when she walked in the door. Seeing the worried look on his face, "Sorry I'm late. We just couldn't find anything we liked."

Coming over to give her a quick kiss, "Did you find a dress?"

She frowned. "No." With a sigh she walked into the kitchen to get a glass of water. Michael followed. "We did find dresses for Katie and Mary though. Which is good." Draining the glass, she set it in the sink. "I guess I'm going to have to keep looking." Walking back up to him, she wrapped her arms around his neck, "How was your day?"

He placed his hands at her waist. "Good. Not as busy as yours it seems." Placing a kiss on her forehead, "You ready to go?"

Sighing she said, "Yea."

Breaking apart they headed out the door.

~

Sara and Michael were the last to arrived. The pizza had even beaten them. As soon as they walked in the door LJ looked up, "About time Uncle Mike. We were going to start without you if you didn't get here soon."

His nephew was trying hard not to smile but wasn't doing a good job. "Sure you were."

The couple joined the group at the table. At first this had seemed odd to the three men sitting at the table, but Sara had insisted ever since Jessica had joined their ranks. Taking their seats everyone dug in.

"So how did shopping go today?" Jessica asked Sara.

"Alright. We were able to find dresses for Mary and Katie."

"Still can't find yours huh?"

"No." Sara sighed. "I know it's out there though. I just have to keep looking."

"I know you'll find the perfect dress Sara." Said LJ.

"I could help." Jessica offered. "I mean if you want. I've free most Saturday's."
Sara hated shopping alone, which is what she was looking at having to do for the next two Saturday's at least. Both Katie and Mary had to work. "That would be great. Thanks."

The rest of the evening was typical, each member catching the rest up on their week. After dinner, Lincoln got out the cards and they played gin. Michael won all but one hand, which went to LJ. This was the reason they didn't often play gin.

LJ and Jessica were the first to leave followed shortly there after by Michael and Sara. After they were all gone, Lincoln made his way through the house turning off all the lights except one, leaving it on for LJ when he returned. He made his way into his bedroom and stripping down he got into bed.

He didn't bother to cover himself, there wasn't anyone around to see. Instead he lay there, hands behind his head, staring at the ceiling. He'd put on a good front tonight, he thought. But for how long? How long before his brother picked up on something he didn't even realize he was doing like humming to himself while making breakfast, which he'd caught himself doing this morning. How long could he go before he told his family he'd found someone again?

~

They lay in bed that night after making love softly caressing each other. There love making had been silent tonight. He'd initiated and she hadn't resisted. Sensing she was tense, he'd wanted to help. But even now, as his hand made it's way down her back, he could feel the tension building in her again. Placing a kiss in her hair, "You want to tell me about it?" He paused. "Or if you give me a minute maybe I could be convinced to relax you again." Smiling into her hair.

A small giggle escaped from her lips and then she sighed, tucking herself closer to him. "What if I can't find a dress? Or the right flowers? Or what if the minister decides were not right for each other and won't marry us?"

Continuing to stroke her naked skin, "I thought you liked him?"

"What? Oh. I do. I just…I don't know what's gotten into me." She lay silent again and he didn't push. "I've been looking on and off for the last three months for a dress. And then today…today we must have went to twenty different stores. Why can't I find something?"

So this was about the dress. Softly he said, "Because you want it to be perfect."

Kissing his chest, "Well of course I want it to be perfect. I'm only doing this once."

He laughed. "Well that's good to know."

After a few more minutes of silence, "I'm sorry Michael."

"Don't be. I want you to talk to me Sara."

"I know. But you have so much going on right now with work, you don't need this too."

Sliding his hand up her arm, he raised her chin so he could look at her. "Sara, I don't care how busy I am. You can always talk to me." She remained silent and he rubbed his thumb over her lips. "Your very tempting. Do you know that?" he whispered.

Sara leaned into his hand and kissed the pad of his thumb before sucking it into her mouth.

He closed his eyes trying to concentrate when he felt her hand snake down below the sheet. "Sara…"

Releasing his thumb from her mouth, she began kissing his chest. He looked down and saw her eyes gazing up at him from her new position, her lips never leaving his skin. "I need to relax." She murmured against him.

This time, neither of them were quite so quite.