Chapter 24

"So let me get this straight, you have no intentions of marrying her?" Randy asked with an arched eyebrow.

"I didn't say that, I said not right now."

Paul arched an eyebrow. "Smart man." He murmured, sneaking a glance at Stephanie. "Just...wait till you know her better."

"How much time do you need to know if you love someone?"

"Trust me, you can love someone and STILL not need to be married."

Mark smirked, reaching out to ruffle Paul's hair. "Aw, don't worry son, I'm sure one day Stephanie will give you back your balls."

"I don't know, I think you and Jetta should get married." Glen said thoughtfully, drinking a beer. He had taken off his jacket and unbuttoned the top of his shirt, much like Mark had. "You two have been-"

"Look, we don't need papers to say we love each other. We already know we do."

"There's an ownership factor to consider with the rings, says she's taken."

"So do the marks I frequently leave on her. Jetta and I will do things OUR way and nobody else's. Next person who tries badgering me into-"

"Mark, why don't you propose to her already? How long are you going to make her wait?"

Paul shoved Randy out of harm's way.

"Look, I'm NOT marrying Jetta just because Glen popped the question and NOW everyone thinks we're not committed to each other. I love her and she loves me, that's enough for the both of us."

"Don't you want a family?"

"Yeah, a few rugrats would-"

"Since when do people have to be married to have kids?"

"True dat, true dat." John nodded. "Hey, I'm with Mark on this. Him and Jetta are happy and everyone pressuring them to do something is just going to make them not want to do that something, you dig?"

"No."

"Could you repeat that?"

~!~

"So how long have you and Mark been together?" Stephanie asked, munching on some chips that were on her plate.

"A little over a year, why?"

"I was just wondering if you were ever considering-"

"What is it with everyone talking about marriage to me?" She asked, crossing her arms in front of her chest. "Do I LOOK like the type who wants to get married?"

"Yes you do."

"Cayla..."

"No Jetta, you may not think you are, but you are the marrying kind. For over a year, you've been devoted to Mark, no matter how many fights you get into." She started laughing. "Remember that time you threatened to cut his hair off?"

"The bastard was teasing me, what choice did I have?"

"ANYTHING, but the hair though!"

Jetta smirked. "I got what I wanted, which was an orgasm."

"Jetta, tell me honestly, don't you want a family?" Cayla asked, the women out on the patio with glasses of wine in their hands. "Don't you want that feeling of being called by his last name?"

"What feeling is that, constipation?"

Stephanie snorted into her wine, trying hard not to laugh.

"I'm serious! You are how old now?"

"Going on thirty, what's your point?"

"It's time you settled down and had a family. It's time you and Mark both committed to each other fully."

"So you're saying a piece of paper, changing my last name to his and a ring is full commitment?" Jetta inquired, raising an eyebrow. "What about what we have now? We're HAPPY and in love, what's wrong with that?"

"What happens if he does propose to you?" Cayla suddenly shot back, her eyebrows drawn together. "What would happen if he came out here right now and asked you to marry him?"

"I would say hell yes and then book us two flights to Vegas."

"Jetta!"

"What? I'm not into the whole tradition, Cayla. If I get married, it'll be on my terms and mine alone."

"Paul and I waited a long time before we got married, but that was because my father was a bastard who didn't want to see me happy."

"Why am I the only one who thinks the next LOGICAL step is marriage? Her and Mark are MEANT to be together. They need to make it official." Cayla was standing her ground and not giving up this subject.

"Mark and I are happy with the way things are, Cayla. I'm done with this conversation. I need a refill." She walked back inside, shaking her head and smiled when John walked up to her, his blue eyes sparkling impishly. "What do you want Cena?"

"Will you marry me?"

Jetta snorted wine out of her nose. "FUCK!"

John blinked and then winced, knowing that must've stung. "It was a joke!" He yelped.

Groaning, Jetta splashed John with her wine right in the face.

"MY EYES!"

Randy looked up when John came flying out of the house, rubbing his knuckles into his eyes. "I bet you anything he pissed Jetta off." He said, lighting a cigarette with an amused grin.

Mark ducked behind them all when he seen Cayla craning her neck in their direction. "Glen, go make sure it's you your wife is after. She has that 'bitch on a mission' look."

"Who you looking for, Cayla?"

Jetta shook her head as she walked out of the house, crossing her arms in front of her chest as she watched John try to get the wine out of his eyes. "Next time don't play a prank like that on me, Cena." She stated evenly, glad she hadn't gotten anything on her dress. She was rather fond of it and didn't want it ruined.

"What did he do?" Cayla asked, her mission temporarily on hold, sighing resignedly.

"The cock block came up to me while I was getting my refill and asked me to marry him."

"WHAT?"

"It was a joke!" John whined and screeched when his date's glass went in his eyes next.

Jetta found all of this rather amusing before turning around and walked over to Mark, Cayla by her side. "Damn moron." She muttered.

Randy passed John a wad of towels Paul had passed to HIM. "Here you go, cock block."

"Not funny, I was just joking..." John whimpered.

"Your Malibu Barbie just stormed off...With Matt Hardy." Mark said, shaking his head, and grinned down at Jetta. "Where've you been hiding, darlin'?"

"Talking with the girls about the wedding." She answered smoothly, feeling his arm wrap around her waist, and leaned against his side.

Cayla snorted, shaking her head.

"Oh right, and being badgered on when we're getting married." She added, rolling her eyes and sipped the glass of wine Randy went to go get for her, flashing him a thankful smile. "I told them it'll happen when it happens and we'll be doing it on our terms."

"It's like I said, Paul and I waited for years before we got married."

"Only cause of your old man."

"You're not helping sweetie."

"Well when you DO get married, I want to be your maid of honor since you were mine."

Jetta sighed resignedly and felt Mark kiss the top of her head, smiling up at him.

"And if we never get married, remind us to invite you to our 'fuck the world' party." Mark added. He wasn't happy that everyone was suddenly badgering them to get married, settle down, have a family. Eventually, they probably would. But it was going to be on their terms, not because Cayla, Glen and everyone else couldn't mind their own damn business and leave well enough alone. When Glen opened his mouth, Mark stopped him. "Glen, just because you two were ready for a child and marriage, does not entitle either of you to assume we are. It's Jetta and my decision, not us and the world."

"You're right." Glen sighed with a nod. "Now, before you interrupted me, I was going to ask if you could light that torch behind you."

Jetta grinned as she took the lighter from Glen and turned around, lighting it, and handed it to back to him. She was being careful due to her hair and turned around, staring up into Mark's green eyes. "I do love a man who takes command and speaks his mind." She stated, winking and laughed when he lifted her up in his arms. Her legs wrapped around his waist as much as they could, his arms under her ass so she wouldn't fall, arms around his neck. "Don't let them get to you. I love you and I'm happy with the way things are." Jetta wanted to assure him and kissed him softly before pulling back to press her forehead to his. "I would be happy just being your girlfriend if that's all you wanted. Just as long as I'm with you, nothing else matters to me." Her blue eyes sparkled back at him with such happiness and radiance as she hugged him tightly around the neck. "Mmm I love your scent..."

"I love yours too, hairspray and all." Mark murmured, ignoring everyone around them. For the now, it was just him and Jetta. That was all he needed to get by, to live this life. With or without rings. "Darlin', if you ever feel what we have isn't enough, just tell me." He said softly. "But I want it to be because that's how we both feel, not because INTERFERING fools can't shut the fuck up."

"You are all I need, Mark. A ring is just a piece of a jewelry. A piece paper is just that, a piece of damn paper. I don't need either to prove my love to you or you to me." She ran her fingers through his hair, rubbing her nose gently against his, a smile on her face that lit up his entire world. "But if you did ask me, my answer would be yes in a heartbeat. So, either way, I have you and that's all I'm worried about. I just want you." She pressed her hand against his chest over his beating heart, her eyes locking with his, green meeting blue. "And it takes A LOT for someone to interfere in my train of thoughts. For instance, he has to be tall, dark and incredibly handsome with stunning green eyes and black hair."

"Tall, dark, incredibly handsome with stunning green eyes and black hair." Mark echoed with an arched eyebrow. "Not asking for a lot, are you Jetta?" He snorted, his stunning green eyes twinkling with amusement. "Lucky for you, I happen to fit all of those qualities. Though my hair is actually red. Not that you'll ever see it that color...but, just incase you decide to change your mind."

"Your hair could be yellow with green streaks in it and I'd still love you just the same." She giggled when his eyes widened, laughing, and buried her face in his shoulder. "It doesn't matter to me what you look like, Mark. Just being you is all I need to be completely happy." She meant those words and smiled when he muttered yeah right, giggling more. "Stop it, Calaway." She kissed him, moaning softly before pulling back, and stared deeper into those green depths. "Do you want more or are you happy with the way things are?" He asked her, she was going to ask him, not wanting him to go along with her just because he thought it was the right thing to do. Not that Mark would ever do that, but Jetta could never be sure.

"I'm happy with YOU. Jetta. We don't have to be married for us to love each other. At the same time, being married to you wouldn't be any different then it is now. Other then it'd be domestic assault instead of plain assault if you decided to kick my ass." Mark smiled crookedly at her, one hand gently running up and down her back. "I love you darlin', if it takes a ring and a paper to prove it, then I'd do it."

"It doesn't, Mark." She murmured softly against him, kissing him tenderly, and smiled as he gently set down on her feet so they could rejoin everyone else.

Their fingers laced together, though Jetta couldn't stand having this hairspray in her hair much longer. She smiled at Cayla and Glen, who were thanking everyone for coming while baby Daniel was being passed through to everyone. When Mark asked if Jetta was ready to head back to the hotel, she nodded emphatically and walked over, saying her goodbyes to Glen and Cayla, promising to see them on the road in two weeks after their honeymoon. Glen's parents had been kind enough to take Daniel so they could have a proper one, though Cayla was having a hard time letting him go.

Once they said goodbye to everyone, Jetta and Mark walked over to their rental car and slid inside, buckling up. She couldn't wait to get out of there so she could wash her hair and get these damn roses out. Though when they passed the hotel, Jetta frowned and looked over at Mark, raising a slow eyebrow. "Where are we going?" She asked curiously.

"Far, far away before they catch up." Mark joked, glancing over at her. "I sincerely hope you're not TOO worried, darlin'. Your stuff will be taken care of." He obviously wasn't about to tell her anything else at the moment. "Unless you're afraid I might be kidnapping your pretty little ass..."

"Number one sweetie, you can't kidnap someone who WANTS to go and, number two, I want to get this damn hairspray out of my hair." She replied, crossing her arms in front of her chest with a pout, though that quickly turned into a smile when she seen his green eyes sparkle mischievously. 'What the hell do you have planned Mark Calaway?' She thought, lacing their fingers together, and stared out the window. Her head was killing her, but other than that, she was as content as can be, though her curiosity was eating away at her.

"I know a little place..." Mark replied, soon heading down a stretch of open road, glancing at her, then her hair. "You'll be able to get the hairspray out, don't worry." He chuckled at some private joke, trying to keep the grin off of his face. "Why don't you try relaxing before we get there, hmm?"

"Oh yeah sure, like that's really going to happen?" Jetta retorted, though no malice or anger was evident in her tone, just pure wonder. What did he have up his sleeve? "You're not going to tell me are you?"

When he grinned at her, Jetta groaned as she leaned back in her seat and began plucking the roses out of her hair, tossing them to the floor. They were artificial so it wouldn't stain the rental carpeting or anything. Kicking her heels off and scooting the seat back a little, Jetta leaned back and turned the radio up as she began moving her head to the beat, never letting go of Mark's hand.