Chapter 21

John couldn't believe that he had nearly been late for the wedding, knowing that wouldn't have made a very good impression on Jasina's friends. Not to mention after all the stories Arielle and Gary had wickedly poured down his ear, he figured Trish might injure him severely. Though if he could sneak in without anyone seeing him, as long as the wedding hadn't started, John would be in safe haven, thankful when he arrived the wedding was just about ready to commence.

"Sorry man." He grunted when he walked into another guy, frowning when he had to look up. This guy was in the groom's party, that much was obvious.

"Don't worry about it." Mark said, waving him off. "Ya here for the weddin'?"

"Yeah, I'm not, um, late am I?"

"Nope, just go through them doors down there and grab a seat, if there are any left."

John nodded and headed in the direction the man pointed, breathing a huge sigh of relief and didn't notice the door to the bridal suite open as the women began filing out.

"Mom, is John here?" Arielle quietly whispered, not having spotted him when she walked out to go to the bathroom, the bridal suite not accompanied with one.

"He should be, yes. I haven't seen him yet." Jasina murmured back, having told Trish that she had a date for the wedding and nothing more than that. It was better that way. "Did Gary...?"

"I told him if he uttered a word, he wouldn't have any balls in the morning."

Jasina nodded and couldn't help chuckling, all women turning to face the groomsmen as they began pairing up. Arielle blushed at the way Gary looked at her while Margaret had her own husband to walk down the aisle with. LaShonna had her husband, which was a very good friend of Steve's, and that left just Jasina and Mark standing staring at each other. When Mark extended his arm, Jasina accepted it as she looped hers through his, standing in the far back since the Matron of Honor and Best Man walked out after the bridesmaids and groomsmen.

"Did you manage to make Steve's breath minty fresh?" Jasina murmured to him, staring straight ahead.

"He damn near swallowed a bottle of Scope, which probably has more alcohol in it than the shot of whiskey did." Mark murmured back, his eyes also straight ahead though he had a smile on his face. "Arie looks gorgeous, you know she's going to want a weddin' of her own now, right?" He was only half-joking, having seen the way Arielle had watched Trish handle everything and then today she had actually called it all romantic.

John's eyes were fastened on Jasina, wanting to let loose with a catcall or a whistle, but refrained. He did notice that her ex-husband -The Best Man, best friend of the groom, he had remembered- was also the guy he had bumped into. Apparently, Jasina hadn't told Mark about him or else his brains probably would've been splattered on the ground and walls of the building. Then again, John wasn't exactly a small man and could probably take her ex…maybe.

"Whatever she wants, we'll give her."

Jasina slowly made her way down the aisle with Mark, the conversation cut short as they moved flawlessly together. The dress flowed with each step she took and Jasina couldn't help letting tears fill her eyes at the thought of her baby girl getting married. Then she saw the look on Steve's face, the sheer love shining in his blue eyes and knew without a shadow of a doubt that Trish was his soul mate.

Releasing Mark's arm once they arrived at the front, each took their rightful places, Steve never taking his eyes from Trish for a second. Jasina wiped away a tear while holding her bouquet of sangria colored roses with gold glitter on them, seeing the brilliant smile on her best friend's face. She hoped one day she had the same experience with her soul mate, suddenly remembering her wedding with Mark and how beautiful it had been.

Mark could not believe the way Steve and Trish looked, wondering if they had always stared at each other this way and maybe he had missed it or was used to it so much that it took an event like their wedding to make him recognize it. Either way, he could tell that no matter how much they may have squabbled or argued over who wore the pants in the family, they genuinely loved each other. He felt a pang in his chest, knowing he was jealous of them and what they had.

Jasina felt the exact same way, watching and hearing the beautiful vows they wrote for each other. Trish had someone from the office help Steve with his, but she knew it was ninety-nine percent from his heart. Jasina clapped loudly along with everyone else when they were finally pronounced husband and wife.

Steve actually dipped Trish to passionately kiss her, making everyone laughing softly and cheer for them. They headed down the aisle together as husband and wife, the bridal party following suit with everyone throwing gold rice at them. There was a huge black stretch hummer limo waiting for the entire bridal party, which Jasina told John about, so he would simply meet her at the reception as they all piled in carefully, not wanting to muse anything.

"You know Dad, don't even think about peelin' that tie off cause there's pictures next once we get there." Arielle said when it looked like Mark was about to loosen up his clothing, her eyes sparkling wickedly.

"Darlin'..."

"Would you help pay for my wedding?" Arielle asked out of the blue.

"Wait- what?" Gary blinked, wondering where THAT came from.

"Yeah, what- wait a minute, you don't want to marry her?" Mark narrowed his eyes slightly at the boy.

"O-Of course I do, I just want to get to ask the question before she starts hitting you up to pay for anything." Gary clarified, folding his arms in front of his chest.

"Might as well ask her now because she's been wanting to marry you for quite some time, Gary." Jasina winked when Gary blushed, giggling softly and was stuck sitting next to Mark the entire way to the reception.

"Calaway, don't even THINK about touching that tie." Trish ordered gravely, brown eyes narrowed.

Jasina full out laughed when Mark's hands instantly dropped, accepting a glass of champagne, being careful not to spill.

Trish beamed, everyone toasting her and Steve on their marriage.

"Told ya, Daddy." Arielle whispered, grinning before turning to Gary. "If you even THINK about proposin' to me today, I will gut you." Arielle informed Gary sweetly, under her breath so nobody else could hear.

Today was about Trish and Steve, not them.

"Sweetheart, when I propose to you, it will definitely not be in front of your parents." Gary assured her.

"Did you ask them?" Trish asked her husband quietly.

"I thought you did?" When Trish shook her head, the newly married couple smiled sweetly at their respective best friends. "We need babysitters." Steve announced without preamble.

"Preferably you both since Mark has more experience with babies and Jas, you're great with Stevie."

"Not to mention if Mark tries to let him stay up late or something...you'd stop that damn quick." Steve added helpfully.

Mark arched an eyebrow slowly.

"It would mean so much to us..." Trish batted her eyelashes at him.

Jasina still hadn't told Trish about finding a new place to live, not wanting to take any focus off of the bride this week, and slowly looked up at Mark with wide teal eyes. Just looking into Trish's pleading brown eyes was enough to make Jasina nod, without even discussing it with Mark. She would have to change her moving arrangements.

"We'd love to..." She ignored the looks that both Gary and Arielle shot her, keeping her smile on when Trish squealed while Steve shook Mark's hand.

What the hell was she supposed to do?

Say no to the beautiful pleading bride and groom?

"Great! We have a list and their things...and for Emily, she has a rash and-" Steve shut up when he realized Mark was staring at him like he had lost his mind. "Sorry, I know you raised a girl, but...she's MY baby girl."

"Hey now! He did a really good job on me!" Arielle defended.

"And your Mom did a great job at polishing you up into becoming a woman instead of just a tomboy." Trish teased gently, laughing when Arielle nodded her agreement. "They're both great parents."

It was everything else they sucked at.

"I'll make sure Emily and Stevie are well taken care of, Steve. So will Mark."

They were great parents together, but when it came to a relationship, there was a lot of complications and...Jasina suddenly found herself delving into the past again, immediately stopping when the limo came to a halt. Everyone piled out, Jasina taking the list from Steve and kissed his cheek, wearing smear-free lipstick so there was no mark left behind and then hugged Trish gently. They snapped what seemed like a gazillion photos before finally heading into the hall, the bridal party announced.

When it was Mark and Jasina's turn to be announced, she didn't take his arm and simply walked out when their names were called, waving to everyone before immediately heading in the direction of John. Trish and Steve were next as they waltzed into the room, the spotlight on them. They took their rightful place at the head table, the room decorated in sangria and gold and looked absolutely exquisite.

John had followed everyone to the reception, glad for the line of traffic to follow. It meant he wouldn't get lost. Not to mention he knew absolutely NO ONE here besides Arielle, Gary and Jasina. He knew Mark by sight now and obviously the couple with the spotlight on them and in the obvious wedding clothes were Trish and Steve. When he seen Jasina heading towards him, he smiled in relief and went to greet her. He hesitated at taking her in his arms, wondering if that was a good idea with her ex-husband lurking around.

"Probably not a good idea to kiss you, is it?" John asked with a half-grin.

"Why wouldn't it be?" Jasina replied, confused. "The photos are done and I owe you something for looking as dashing as you do." She smirked when John blew on his knuckle and brushed his shoulder, giggling at how cute he was. He wore a simple black suit with a dark blue dress shirt beneath, which brought out his sky blue eyes nicely. "Come here." She pulled him down for a soft kiss, making sure not to muse up her look and sat down when he pulled out his chair for her. "Such a gentleman, who would've thought?" She joked, laughing when he scoffed and nodded at a waiter who came over with a tray full of different wines and champagne, taking a glass of wine while John already had a beer in front of him, barely touching it.

"Now you know for a fact, I'm more hood rat than gentlemen." John teased, nodding when Arielle waved at him from where she and Gary were watching the dancing couple. "She looks excited, first time being part of the wedding ceremony?" When Jasina nodded and smiled quizzically at him, he shrugged. "I have three younger brothers and one older, all married. I've been to several weddings." He took a sip of his beer, his eyes yet again appraising her appreciatively. "And you are definitely the finest Matron of Honor I have ever seen."

Jasina blushed while sipping her wine and placed her hand on his thigh, giving it a gentle squeeze. "Thanks, you clean up nice yourself, Cena."

She winked teasingly, accepting another soft kiss from him and leaned her head on his shoulder while they made idle chatter. Arielle and Gary walked over to join them at the table along with LaShonna and Henry, everyone wanting to know who Jasina's new flame was. She introduced him as a friend, hoping John didn't mind that, and was glad he didn't considering they were simply sexing it up with no strings attached.

"Damn girl, where do you find these hunks?"

"Not sure."

"Hunks, what am I?" Henry teased, pretending to be put out and laughed when LaShonna gently nudged him in the ribs with her elbow.

"You are my incredibly handsome husband, no hunk holds a candle to you."

All John could do was stare and listen to them, amusement written plainly all over his face. "She met me in a bar."

"That suddenly explains a lot." Henry teased, winking at Jasina.

Jasina rolled her eyes, knowing it was ironic since she'd met Randy and Mark in bars before engaging in relationships with them. "Keep it up, Henry." She never noticed Mark's eyes hadn't left her.

"Will ya stop starin' and just go over there?" Steve demanded, staring over at his Best Man, who was brooding with a glass of beer in front of him. "Just ask her to dance."

Trish had no idea who Jasina was bringing for a date, thinking it would be someone from the office and felt a little betrayed that Jasina hadn't told her about her new flame. "What's his name anyway?"

"No idea, nobody knows him here."

"Well, I think I'll just go over and introduce myself." The bride was already on her way over, Steve following suit along with a reluctant Mark.

When John saw the bride, groom and the Best Man coming their way, two out of three wearing stony expressions, he knew he was going to be wearing a smile a bit harder than usual. When Trish reached the table, he automatically stood up. LaShonna bit her lower lip nervously, glancing at Mark and then back to Henry, who was just stepping away to let everyone else by. Taking a cue from her husband, she waved at Jasina and retreated as well.

"I'm Trish Austin, and this is my husband Steve, we're friends of Jasina's." She introduced politely, the smile never leaving her lips as his blue eyes darted between her, Mark and Steve. The poor guy probably felt like he was being ganged up on. "You must be Jasina's...date?"

Jasina stood up along with John, smiling softly and watched as John nodded, shaking Trish's hand. "He's a friend of mine." She clarified, placing a hand on John's and winked when he simply looked back at her with those understanding blue eyes, staring straight at Trish.

"A friend?" Trish tried not to sound condescending, but just the way Jasina kissed John, it was obvious they were more than 'friends'. "Well thank you for coming to my wedding, John. Tell me, how did you two meet?"

"Emerald City." Jasina answered before he could. "He's in town to look for a friend, but he lives in Boston."

While Trish decided to make small talk with John, obviously rooting for more information that what either John or Jasina was willing to come forward with, Mark was getting bored with the whole thing. He recognized John as the guy he had run into right before the wedding and half-wished he had sent the guy in the opposite direction. Mostly because Trish was convinced that he was more than Jasina's friend and Mark didn't like admitting that Trish was usually spot on about those kind of things. Reaching out towards Jasina with an open hand, he flashed her a charming grin.

"Darlin', feel like dancing with the Best Man?" He asked in a slow drawl, extending his hand.

"Oh, then the photographs can get some pictures of you on the dance floor!" Trish squealed with delight.

It was almost like Trish was on his side.