Mary adjusted the veil on Anna's head and sighed again. Anna turned to her, or tried to until Mary set her head forward toward the mirror again. "Hold still of I'll stick you with this pin."
"Then stop sighing your disapproval. Either speak or stay silent."
"I just think you should've planned something a little more grand."
Anna tried to hold back her laughter, "You mean like an obnoxiously large dance hall where half of your extended family flew in and got drunk on the open bar before starting that argument in the back?"
"That's not fair." Mary held up a warning finger in the mirror, "English people don't argue. They debate hotly and then discuss how tempted they get to complain."
"Whatever. They still drank you dry before midnight and then went bar hopping."
"It's called pub hopping."
"Only when done in the UK. Otherwise it's bar hopping and they got themselves kicked out of one for starting a fight over who's better, Manchester or Chelsea."
"Chelsea, obviously."
Anna scowled, "You're not supposed to get me riled up on my wedding day."
"I thought the whole point was to get riled up on the wedding day to guarantee you'd see some action in the bedroom later."
"We don't have issues with that."
"The new water heater you installed would agree with you." Mary stepped back, "Alright. It should take an act of God t move your hair and veil so I consider my work done."
"Perfect." Anna took a little turn in the mirror, "What do you think?"
"That you deserve better than setting yourselves up in front of a judge."
"And I think it's better to have the right man than the right wedding."
Mary frowned, "But if you can have both…?"
"It's fine and it's how we want it." Anna stepped off the stool with Mary's help. "I don't want to make a fuss and neither does he."
"This is the kind of thing to make a fuss about, Anna."
"He already had the muss and fuss and we didn't need that. Besides," Anna cringed, "If we do it like this then I don't have to anger all those people who'd be torked they didn't get an invite."
"Was this just a competition to see who could invite the least amount of people then?" Mary dodged Anna's poke and hurried to cover her as the door opened. "Announce yourself."
"It's just me, Mary."
"Enter then," Mary stepped back as Matthew came into the room, holding a baby sucking on a teething ring. "I think he needs a feed."
"When doesn't he need a feed?" Mary hefted the baby from Matthew's arms, "He's a right hog and gives me no time to rest."
"You'd go mad with nothing to do." Anna lifted her train but Matthew came to her aid, holding it up, "Thank you."
"Don't mention it." He smiled, "I do hope I'm still the one walking you down the aisle."
"The only other options were Mr. Carson or Tom and as much as I enjoy both of them I don't really feel the kind of kinship that would have me wanting them to escort me down the aisle." Anna looped her arm through Matthew's and looked over at where Mary managed the baby in her arms. "Will we have to wait for the ring bearer to finish?"
"G.R. is perfectly ready to execute his duties." Mary bent at the knees to retrieve something from her bag and held up the box. "Though normally this is the job of the best man or something."
"We thought you'd want to feel included." Anna waited for Matthew to open the door and leaned over to Mary, "How long've you been calling him 'G.R.'?"
"Long enough that Matthew stopped rolling his eyes about it."
"It sounds like your private school's been rubbing off on you."
"Hey," Mary shook the ring box at Anna, "I can still lose these."
"Let's get you married then shall we?" Matthew hurried back to Anna and walked her out of the dressing room toward the main office.
Cora and Robert paced in the hall and Cora covered her mouth with her hand, tears forming at the corners of her eyes. "Oh, it's beautiful Anna."
"Thank you." She held up the edge of the dress. "It fits wonderfully."
"After a few alterations." Mary muttered and Anna shot her a glare. "What? It'd have to be altered for your height anyway."
"The point is," Anna interrupted, taking Cora's hand. "Thank you for the dress."
"It's a shame you couldn't use your mother's."
Anna shrugged, "It wouldn't have fit the décor. Besides, it musted up in attic and I wasn't really to go the lengths I needed to fix it."
"Either way I'm glad I could get you something borrowed."
"What is that again?" Robert frowned, "I forget how it goes."
"Something old, something new, something borrowed, and something blue." Mary shook her head, adjusting her son in her grasp. "The something old's John, the new enough thing is Anna, the borrowed thing is the dress and I think we just decided to say since she's got blue eyes that'd be it."
"You never fail to suck all the romance from the situation." Anna snatched at her train and handed it to Mary, who pawned her son off on her bewildered father. "Make yourself useful as my matron of honor."
"Only if we don't use that word." Mary spread the train and lifted it from the floor. "I'm not old enough for that."
"It's a title."
"It's-"
"Mary," Matthew groaned, pointing to the doors, "She's about to get married. Can we focus on that a moment?"
"Yes," Mary kissed Anna's cheek, "To the shotgun wedding and the speedy bride."
They walked through the doors and Anna beamed when John stood up immediately. The grin that broke over his face at the sight of her sent shivers down Anna's spine and she gripped tighter to Matthew's arm. He patted her hand, shooting her a smile, and escorted her to stand next to John.
Anna slipped her hand loose from Matthew and gripped John's outstretched hands. He bent to kiss her cheek and whispered to her, "You've never looked more beautiful."
"You mean that lingerie you bought me wasn't better than this?" Anna teased and laughed when John coughed past the rise of blush in his cheeks.
"Wonderful as that looked on you no, this is much more beautiful." His finger slid around the ring on her finger. "Because today we're going to be one another's for the rest of our lives."
"Yes we are." Anna stepped carefully around her dress to face the judge as she entered.
The plain surroundings only accentuated the beauty of the moment for Anna. Of saying her name and promising to be his forever. Or hearing him say her name while sliding the ring over her finger to join the one she accepted from him just weeks ago. Or kissing him for the first time with him as hers and she as his.
The little gathering cheered for them and broke to their separate cars to drive to the wedding lunch. Another series of groans from Mary followed when they arrived, as well as a short tirade about how they could do much better than the tiny restaurant that had Matthew finally ordering his wife to silence. But when they entered the little restaurant- closed for a family event- Anna knew they chose the right venue.
Simple lighting, tastefully arranged decorations, and a cake large enough for the group with some spare for Anna and John to enjoy at home. Mrs. Patmore bustled about them, sparing no expense to make sure they were well taken care of, and cooed over the couple until Daisy called for help from the back. But when each member of the group threatened to loose their belts Anna and John rose from the table.
"This has been better than I could've imagined." John turned to them, "Thank you for such a lovely day."
"It's been our pleasure John." Cora shook his hand, kissing Anna on the cheek. "And we wish you both the utmost happiness."
"Thank you." Anna interlaced her fingers with John's. "I'm sure there's no worries about that."
"Enjoy your honeymoon and I hope neither of you think too hard about anything other than one another." Robert exchanged shakes and kisses of his own, "I know when I had mine-"
"Okay," Mary stood, pushing her father back to his seat. "We'll leave that where it is and not risk the end of that story or my ears'll bleed."
"But I-"
"How much did you drink Robert?" Cora put a hand to his head, "You don't look well."
"I only had a small brandy." Robert mimed with his fingers and, after an exchange of glances, Matthew helped Cora haul him to his feet. "It was small."
"That's not small." Cora chided and pushed Robert toward the door. "We're taking you home to sleep that off."
"Huh," Anna raised an eyebrow at Mary, "Reminds me of your wedding."
"Don't be a sore winner." Mary warned before hugging Anna, "Despite what you may think, I'm overjoyed for you and I hope you enjoy the gift I left you."
"You didn't leave me a gift."
"Oh," Mary winked at John, "I may've snuck into your house last night when you were over at mine."
"What?" Anna turned to John but he pulled his lips in. "What did you do?"
"As he was told." Mary kissed John's cheek, "Treat her well or I'll end you."
"Heard and understood Lieutenant."
Mary leveled her finger at him, "I can do it you know. No distance is too far for me to find you and I know a few places where no one would find you."
"I'll treat her right Mary."
"Good." She sighed, motioning to the sleeping baby in the carrier and the left over. "And I'll treat for this so you two go off and enjoy your honeymoon yeah?"
"Yeah," Anna looked up at John, "I think that's exactly what I'm going to do."
"And that's my cue to get you to your car before I have to call the cops on you for public indecency." Mary pushed them toward the door, "Please don't contact me for at least twenty-four hours. Forty-eight is preferable but I'm flexible."
Anna and John went to his car, he holding the door for her and helping her manage the train of the dress. Once he was inside Anna put a hand over his and leaned over to kiss him. He returned it with enough fervor to get both of their blood pumping but without making a scene in the car.
They pulled apart and John stroked his thumb over her cheekbone. "I don't think I've ever been as happy as I am now."
"Nor me." Anna giggled with him, planting another kiss on him. "I'm ready to start this adventure with you"
"Are you?" John raised a dramatic eyebrow, "Are you sure?"
"I know that I am now who I was always meant to be, Mr. Bates, and that's not going to change."
"I just hope you don't live to regret it."
"I could never regret it."
"Despite what you could call me for what I've done and how I've-"
"Mr. Bates," Anna chided, squeezing his hand. "After all we've been through can't we just have this? Have this moment and this beautiful day without letting the world in to pull us apart?"
"I can give you that." John leaned forward again, his nose brushing hers and he murmured toward her lips, "And every day I can manage after that."
"I'll take it." Anna grinned, kissing him with a tease of her tongue over his lip. "Now, get us home before I strip you and take you in the back of this car."
"Yes ma'am."
They wove through the trees and over the rolling hills to Anna's hidden drive. John guided the car safely to stop outside her garage before kissing her again. Anna's hands went to his face, taking the breath from him lungs. He broke the kiss and got out of the car to help her out of her door.
"Welcome home Mrs. Bates."
"Thank you Mr. Bates."
Anna smiled and then dissolved into giggles as John swept her off her feet. She held on at his neck as John walked them to the front door and jiggled her slightly to unlock and open it. He weaved between the island in the kitchen, dropping their shoes while still keeping a tight grip on Anna, and then risked the stairs toward their room.
For one moment Anna feared they might tumble back down the stairs but they managed it and John set her back on her feet just outside their closed door. She raised an eyebrow but he only smiled and turned the knob. Anna's hands flew to her mouth when she saw the petals strewn over the floor and the candles wafting sweet scents over the room.
"For you, Mrs. Bates."
"John," Anna turned to him and he took her hands. "It's beautiful."
"Just enough for my gorgeous wife on her wedding day." He bent and picked her up again, "Over the threshold."
"You already did."
"I'm overly traditional." John guided them to the bed and set Anna gently on the edge.
"Does that mean," Anna pulled him closer by his tie, unknotting it with nimble fingers to let it drop to the side before popping the buttons loose. "We're only allowed missionary style in the dark with silence?"
"I'm not that traditional." John set his hands on either side of her, tipping Anna to her back on the comforter. "But if you want to try and stay silent I'll welcome your attempt."
"I can stay silent."
"Says the woman who screamed my name so loudly the dogs from the neighboring farm were howling at midnight." John glided his lips down her cheek to kiss over her neck while Anna pushing his shirt and jacket off his shoulders. "I think we've different ideas of silent."
"I wouldn't act so cocky, Mr. I-almost-broke-the-headboard when I sucked you off." Anna raked her fingers over his chest and John groaned.
"That wasn't fair, you caught me half-asleep."
"That was the point." Anna popped the latch on his belt and tugged John to stand between her legs. "Now help me out of this dress so we can upset the rose petals you put all over this bed."
"They're technically not roses but-"
"Shhh," Anna put a finger over John's mouth, silencing him. "I believe the agreement we both gave today was to love, honor, and obey. Now it's time for the obedience and honoring part."
"Yes ma'am." John's mouth took over hers and within a few minutes they both writhed against one another.
Anna's leg hooked over his hip while his fingers teased and stroked over her folds to send her keening moans to echo off the A-frame of the ceiling. Her fingers scrabbled for purchase on his chest or shoulders or in his hair as they tangled tongues. When neither could take it any longer John sunk as deeply as he could and Anna practically cooed with the motion.
There was no time for slow and steady, though they both gave their honest efforts toward it, and soon Anna was crying out with John. They slumped together on the bed and Anna made a face as she started pulling petals off her sweaty body. John laughed, helping her find a few before running his fingers over her.
"Are you helping or hindering here?" Anna mocked and dropped the petals on the bedside table before rolling to find the ones stuck to him and ferret them out of the covers.
"I thought helping you orgasm again was helping."
"It's a lovely thought, like these petals," Anna held them up, "But next time you want to ravish me on this bed we'll ditch the petals."
"What if I want to ravish you other places?" John's fingers moved lower and Anna's arms trembled as they held her up over him on the bed. "Is there room for negotiation there?"
"I think I'd like to spend the rest of my life negotiating with you." Anna scrunched her eyes closed, trying to form coherent thoughts as John continued to move his fingers inside her and added the motion of his lips to her skin to drive her mad. "But only if you continue what you're doing."
"I don't plan on stopping." John shifted to kiss her navel, "Not for the rest of my life."
"For the next two minutes is enough for now."
"Yes ma'am."
Anna almost answered but found herself too occupied with moaning at the new location of his mouth and crunching the comforter in her grip as she tried not to shriek with pleasure.