A/N: Happy Sunday... And to those here in the states... Happy Oscar Day!
Sorry it's taken me so long to post this chapter. Thanks for your support and for reading and reviewing my chapters. I appreciate every review and PM. Y'all are truly the BEST readers a writer could ever ask for! KMS has clearly taken on a life of its own and with every plot line I write, I think of four more... this story may never end! I sincerely hope that y'all will continue to ride this crazy roller coaster with me. I have so much written that I cannot wait to share with all of you!
Corinne... Thank you for always giving me the kick in the ass I need when life takes over and writing takes a back seat. xx
o~O~o
Chapter 29
Matrimony & Mary Jane
o~O~o
After a few crazy months, the day that Beca had been waiting for had finally arrived. Waking up on the morning of her wedding day, she knew that the only things left to do in preparation for the day were to get ready in time for the ceremony, not to get mad at her Mom for fussing too much and making sure that Amy wore panties.
Beca couldn't wait to become Mrs. Jesse Swanson. It was all she'd been thinking about for the past few weeks even though they'd been to hell and back over the past year. With the loss of Bodhi being the most difficult thing that they had ever endured, Beca knew that, as a couple, they had come through it together, and they would ultimately be able to survive whatever else life had to throw at them.
Stretching out under her blanket, in that split second between sleep and awake, she reached out for Jesse before remembering he'd spent the night in the guest house. There had been a lot of fuss over the wedding details and as well as discussions about whether tradition was better than unique, but ultimately, they decided to keep at least one of the traditions safe. As Beca ran a sleepy hand over her eyes, a twinge of excitement ran through her as she realized that the previous night was the last night she'd have to spend away from Jesse. Desperately wanting to speak to him to see how he was doing, Beca picked up her phone to send Jesse a text. She was about to press send when she heard a soft knocking on her bedroom door.
Beca threw her arm over her eyes, took a deep breath and said, "Yeah?", before mentally preparing herself for her mother to come busting in, demanding that she 'rise and shine' and start to get ready.
"Are you awake?"
"No!" Beca answered, hearing the dulcet tones of her best friend from outside the door.
"Then how are you answering?" Amy asked, tapping on the door again.
"Just get in here." Beca said, raising herself up onto her elbows and taking a deep breath. The bedroom door opened slowly and Amy peered through the opening.
"Hey!" She said.
"You good?"
"Yeah. I brought you some tea."
"Well, get your ass in here then."
Beca managed to not roll her eyes as Amy rounded the door, wearing an illuminous pink onesie, bunny slippers and a tiara on her head.
"Your Mom said you have to drink this and let her know when you want her to run your bath."
"I'm perfectly capable of doing that myself." Beca said, taking the tea from Amy. She looked into the cup and sniffed. "Did you make this?"
Amy shook her head. "No, MawMaw did."
"Thank you." Beca said, giving the smallest hint of an eye roll and placing the mug on the bedside table. There was no way she was going to drink anything her MawMaw made on the day of her wedding. Not that she didn't love her grandma to pieces; she certainly was always a great source of entertainment, but the family matriarch was known to play a prank or two and Beca didn't want to spend the morning of her wedding flying as high as a kite. "Have you seen Jesse this morning?"
"Nope." Amy said, fiddling with the zipper on her onesie. "But I heard him and Casey talking rather loudly out in the back yard earlier. I was helping MawMaw make pancakes so I didn't go see what the fuss was all about."
"Pancakes?" Beca asked suddenly interested in what was going on downstairs. "Where's mine?"
Amy smiled wickedly. "If I told you I ate them, would you kill me?" She asked as she stepped out into the hall to get the breakfast tray with a heaping plate of MawMaw's famous buttermilk pancakes and homemade maple syrup.
"No…" Beca thought for a moment. "Killing you would be too messy and there's no time to find someone else to wear your dress for the wedding." Beca smirked.
Amy put the tray on the bed in front of Beca. "Was that a fat joke?"
"No… not at all." Beca said as she poured syrup on her pancakes.
"Look… I've told you I can't diet." Amy explained as she ran her finger through the whipped cream on the top of Beca's pancakes.
Beca swatted Amy's hand. "And I've told you that you can do anything you put your mind to." She said around a mouthful of pancakes.
"And I've told you that I saw a dietician. Basically she told me that I can have an almond for breakfast, lick an apple for lunch and yell at a picture of a Victoria's Secret model for dinner. I just can't do that."
"That's bullshit and you know it." Beca said, calling Amy out on her shit.
"It's not! These curves need nourishment." Amy said while sashaying across the room.
"Amy, you can't keep making excuses. You need to get healthy-"
"-Anyway…" Amy said changing the subject. "... we have to get you ready for your big day!"
"Yeah, yeah…" Beca said, hurriedly forking another piece of pancake. She was pleased that nothing tasted funky so she trusted that her grandma had behaved herself. After she finished her breakfast, she placed the plate back on the tray. She got a little worried when Amy began to look a little fuzzy around the edges. She suddenly worried that her MawMaw had actually put something in the pancakes. Beca blinked a few times before closing her eyes for a few minutes hoping that when she opened her eyes she could focus. When she opened her eyes, Amy was dancing around the room. Rather than get agitated at her friend, Beca began to laugh uncontrollably and crossed the room to hug Amy. She wouldn't have the morning of her wedding start any other way…
... and so the day began. A day full of merriment and wonder. A day of memories shared and memories made.
o~O~o
The day was proceeding exactly as Beca had envisioned it would. Her mother was fussing just as much as she expected and her Dad was keeping up his end of the unspoken bargain by keeping out of Anne's way. Beca watched as her dad walked across the back yard with an electric screwdriver firmly clutched in his hand. She wondered what was going on and giggled childishly to herself seconds later when she heard her dad call out across the swimming pool to her Mom that he was going to give it a 'jolly good screw'.
Anne laughed then responded, "You're not British! Lose the accent and the pretense... sir!"
Shortly after Noon, Beca heard shouting in the back yard and thought she'd heard Casey yelling at Jesse. Knowing that the tension of the day was probably getting to the both of them. She understood that family gatherings were hard for them because they didn't have much of a family of their own. Beca wanted to reach out to them both and tell them everything was going to be ok. She was about to pick up her phone when she heard a soft knocking on her bedroom door.
"Hello?" She called out, pulling on her robe as the door gently opened.
"Hey, it's me." Luke said, slipping in through the opening.
"What are you up to?" Beca asked, noting the weird look on his face.
"Huh?"
"Why are you skulking around like a creeper?"
"Perhaps because it seems a little odd to be coming into your bedroom on the day that you are getting married?"
"Why?" Beca asked, curling her lip slightly at him and thinking her best friend had finally lost the plot.
Luke sighed heavily. "Well, today is the day that signifies the end of an era. It-"
"-Dude, are you going to give me one of your speeches about-"
"-Sssh a minute, will you?!" Luke said in a tone he hoped didn't sound too aggressive. Beca rolled her eyes at him. "I just have something I want to say to you."
Beca took a moment to look at her best friend, noting the serious look on his face. She saw the stress in his eyes and the nervous way he was chewing on the inside of his lip. She knew from experience that he had something on his mind.
"Go ahead." She said, sitting down on the edge of her bed. Luke sat down next to her and picked up her hand, interlacing their fingers as they always did.
"There are times in my life that I wish I'd never met you." He began. "I know that sounds weird but let me explain. I moved here as a child, a young boy, who knew no one and did not understand the customs of a foreign country. On my first day here, I met you. I saw you at the park, beating some kids arse because he was acting like a moron, throwing codswallop about. It was then that I knew that I was destined to have you in my life."
"I felt the same way." Beca said, not sure if she was understanding what Luke was trying to say. This sounded like a goodbye speech to her.
"From that day forward," Luke continued, "I had you, up front and center in my life. We saw each other all the time, lived our lives together and formed a friendship so deep rooted, I am, on occasion, not sure where one of us starts and the other one finishes. But with that, also comes the stresses that only loving someone can bring. At times, I wondered if our friendship was healthy."
Beca nodded but didn't interrupt.
"And that is the problem. It was always just us. Yes, you had Amy and Aubrey in your life and I had Cole and Nick to hang out with when you were busy, but we barely spent a day apart. I believe God put us both on this Earth to be friends. I cannot imagine my life without you in it."
"You do know I'm not going anywhere, right?" Beca asked, squeezing Luke's hand tightly. She was surprised when he didn't respond.
"I have never hidden the fact that Jesse is not my favorite person. In fact, I have just told him how I feel and he knows that if he dares to fuck this up, he will have me to deal with."
"Luke, what's going on?"
"Nothing, nothing is 'going on'. I am not even sure what I am now trying to say. MawMaw was trying to get me to sample one of her brownies and the glint in her eye freaked me out so I thought I would escape-"
"-Awww, you need rescuing from my little old MawMaw?!" Beca laughed.
"She just tried to accost me!"
"Dude, American English please."
"She was making brownies and she smacked my buttocks with her wooden spoon and told me she wanted to ride me until my ears began to bleed."
Beca laughed out loud. "You know she's kidding, right? She says that to-"
"Mate, she was undoing her blouse and beckoning me towards the pantry in the kitchen!"
"Yeah, ok. She may have overdone her heart medication."
"Does heart medication look like mixed herbs? Because that is what she was happily lighting it up."
"MawMaw is crazy and you know it!" Beca giggled.
"Yes, that's for damn sure! I wouldn't change her for the world but please, for the sake of our friendship, do not, I repeat, do not, leave me alone with her. I fear for my... man parts."
"I'll make sure Little Luke is protected at all times. Anyway, what were you waffling on about?"
"Beca, you are my very best friend in the whole world." Luke continued. "I wake up every day and the first thing I do is check my phone. I look for a message from you before I get out of bed in the morning and I wait to hear from you until you do. This last year, my own routine has been shaken by you dating Jesse. Things changed between us when you met him and-"
"-I-"
"-and that is all right." Luke didn't allow Beca to finish her thought. He knew what he needed to say. "It is how life is supposed to be. He makes you happy and so he gets to stay. You know my feelings and I am not here to put a damper on your wedding day. I just wanted to-"
"-Are you doing your usual Britishy thing where you take four hours to say one thing?" Beca said, raising an eyebrow in Luke's direction. He grinned, taking the bait.
"Something like that, yes. I was going to write you a letter to read today but it felt like I was saying goodbye."
"That's good, because that's the last thing I want."
"Is it?" Luke asked and Beca nodded.
"Of course it is. You and are it. We're what friendship is all about. I never thought I'd be the one to get married first. Weirdly, I always thought it would be you. I imagined it was going to be me organizing your bachelor party and I gagged at the thought of having to organize strippers but I'd have done it… for you. I'm not going to sit here and ramble on about why we're best friends and saturate it with all the generic reasons and adorable anecdotes that you can spin out of the top of your head. I'm not going to do that, because you already know it. You know why we are best friends. If we weren't, then I don't even know how we've remained friends all this time. Of course, I have no recollection of time, although I do know my mother will be up to curse at you if you don't let me finish getting ready."
"I apolog-"
"-She can wait. Listen to me, without you by my side, I wouldn't be half the person I am today. Without you, I'd never remember a birthday or graduation or any other important event. My diary is my nemesis and the reason why I messaged you every morning was because I knew there would be a subtle reminder from you in your reply about something I was supposed to know. You bailed me out more times than I can remember. That's the type of person you are. I can barely get anywhere on time without you chewing my ass out. You remember all the small details about me, my family, my friends, my life. You know exactly how long we've been friends, what we were wearing when we met, and knowing you, what you'd eaten for lunch that day. Thank you Luke, thank you for knowing all of that and so much more. Thank you for knowing all the things I don't."
"You are welcome."
"Thank you for always being closest to me even when we were in separate time zones when you took a trip back to England. Even when boyfriends and girlfriends came along, you were there for me. It hasn't always been easy and I thank you for not letting us get split by dumb facts like you preferring the San Francisco 49ers over the Oakland Raiders. You wouldn't let us drift apart. You were the glue that held us together. We all get distant to a certain degree when we make huge transitions but you didn't let me get very far because you knew what was truly important."
"I was supposed to be the one in here saying what you mean to me!" Luke laughed but Beca could see that his eyes were filling with tears. She reached over and kissed his cheek.
"Sorry!" Beca laughed. "Go ahead."
"Well, thank you for taking care of me in every way possible, for being there when no one else was or wanted to be and when you didn't even have to be. I was that weird English kid who everyone laughed at for having a different accent and saying things all wrong. Everyone has those friends who you are close to but still manage to be awkward around and weird about asking for help but you were never like that with me. You were and are there for everything, no bargaining or explanations needed and even when you and Jesse were starting out and you were distant, deep down I knew that if I truly needed you, you would have been there."
"Yes, I would have been."
"Thank you for not being an ordinary friend. I have got people I can go to art museums with but we have never done that."
"Dude, you're right."
"I know I am." Luke winked. "I will not take you to places like that because we would end up taking the piss out of the naked pictures like a couple of schoolkids and knowing us, we would get asked to leave. There is no point in us really going out for drinks because after three or four, you have this urge to take your clothes off around me to show me your latest piece of lingerie. You turn up with dinner when I have no energy to cook, you send me those dorky messages and pictures of funny cats when I am deciding whether I am in a bad mood or not and just when I feel a bit of a failure, you ask me to come around to help you hang a picture, making me feel useful and needed. I run everything past you, even when I don't ask your opinion. I always think to myself 'what would Beca suggest?' before making any decision. Thank you for always being fun even when we're not having fun. I do not know how else to explain it so that will have to do."
"Thank you for believing in me when I was too weak and exhausted to believe in myself." Beca said, tears rolling down her face.
"Thank you for pushing me, for repeating those affirmations that do not mean anything in inspirational songs but mean everything when someone who cares about you says them."
"Thank you for not judging me when I did something really stupid, but also thanks for telling me I was an idiot and probably shouldn't have done the stupid thing." Beca said, a thousand memories coursing through her mind.
"Thank you for always being honest." Luke said earnestly.
"Thank you for doing all the things a real best friend does; for letting me sob into your shoulder when I need to and handing me a tissue when there aren't any more words."
"Thank you for always knowing who I am and reminding me of that when I forget." Luke nodded. "Thank you for being genuinely concerned with the outcome of my life and always listening, even when you are tired."
"Thank you for telling me the things no one wants to hear and sparing the bullshit advice. I can't think of many other people whom I would actually take a bullet for."
"The value of our friendship cannot be measured." Beca said, looking into Luke's eyes. "I may be marrying the man I love today but I will still be me. I still need and want you in my life."
"I cannot imagine a life without you in it. I wish you the very best today. I know in your heart that you love Jesse and today you reaffirm that in front of friends and relatives."
"I couldn't imagine doing this without you by my side. This life journey we're on, we are in it together. Forever."
"Forever."
o~O~o
After Luke left and she had had time to contemplate his loving words, Beca's mind wandered back to Jesse and Casey's raised voices. As she made her way to her bathroom to shower, hanging her robe up on the back of the door, she tried to think of ways to get the two brothers to reconnect. Since Willow had come along, Casey had changed and Beca was one of the first to say that it was definitely for the better. She knew Jesse struggled slightly with the fact that Willow would have been roughly the same age as Bodhi but he seemed to appreciate Casey's efforts to keep on the straight and narrow.
Beca was out of the shower within minutes and already thinking of an excuse to tell her Mom as to why she hadn't had the long soak in the bathtub that she wanted. Beca knew if she explained to her mom that the conversation with Luke was more important than bubbles, her Mom would get it. Her entire family absolutely adored Luke.
Amy arrived a few minutes later to help Beca finish getting ready, finding her friend in a bit of a flustered state, sitting on the floor, surrounded by various open boxes and bags.
"Everything all right?" Amy asked, mildly concerned at seeing Beca so unorganized. It was a rare sight and Amy took a moment to ponder whether it was safe to mock Beca but saw the look on her best friends face and decided it wasn't the right time for jokes.
"Yeah, I'm running so far behind schedule that I'm... I don't even know anymore."
"So, you're a little late, what the big deal?!"
"The big deal is that I may show up in my bra and panties to my own wedding."
"So, we start with you getting dressed, right?" Amy asked, looking down at the boxes of clothes all over the floor. "You gotta get all of that clobber on?"
"Yeah, I guess. Mom organized all of this crap... I'm just not even sure where this is supposed to go." Beca moaned, holding up a thin piece of lace in the shape of a butterfly.
"Do I need to call for Anne?" Amy asked.
"Not sure I could handle her right now." Beca moaned.
"Ok, but sitting there like a nancy isn't going to help, is it?"
"What the fuck is a nancy?"
"No idea. I heard Luke say it once."
"Help me up?" Beca said, holding out her arm for Amy to pull her up. Reaching down, Amy grabbed Beca under the armpits and pulled her to her feet. Beca's towel dropped to the floor. "Jeez Amy! Let me have a little dignity."
"Nothing I ain't seen before." Amy declared, turning to check the bedroom door was closed before admiring her best friend's form. "Damn girl... perhaps I do need to rethink going on a diet."
"You are very odd."
"And your life would be so very different without me in it."
"I guess that's one thing we can agree on. Ok, seeing as you aren't going to stop staring-"
"-Prolly not."
"Pass me my panties."
Aubrey arrived, just as Amy was trying to singlehandedly wrestle Beca's dress over her head. Beca was red faced and bothered at Amy's enthusiasm and forgot to care that Aubrey was over an hour late.
"Sorry, sorry, sorry." Aubrey said, air kissing Beca and dodging Amy's hands on her swelling belly. "I've been peeing every ten minutes and I swear one of these babies is gonna be just like you Beca!"
"What's that?" Beca said, surrounding by swathes of lace and crinoline.
"Cute and cuddly?" Amy asked out of the corner of her mouth.
"More like small and stubborn." Aubrey murmured back. "Ok, so where we at?"
"Really?" Beca called out, perplexed as the situation she was currently in, bent over and stuck in her heavy wedding dress. "Help me! I'm dying! I'm dying! It's hot in all this shit! Both of you, get your fat asses over here."
"Not a nice way to ask for help." Aubrey said.
"Shall we go and get a coffee?" Amy asked Aubrey who agreed that was a good idea.
"I didn't mean any of that stuff I said!" Beca cried out. "I love both of you! I love both of you awesome nerds. I'm just so stressed out right now that-"
"-Why the stress?"
"I'm going to be so late." Beca wept, fighting to get the dress off of her, uncaring as to whether it ripped into twenty pieces.
"You've got three hours to go before 'I do'." Aubrey said, looking at the thin gold watch strapped to her wrist.
Beca stopped in her struggle and brushed the fabric away from her face. "Three hours?" She questioned, looking at Amy with sharp eyes, immediately seeing a smirk appear on her Aussie friends face.
"I may have changed the clocks while you were sleeping."
"Amy!"
"I knew you'd hate to be late for your own wedding so I thought I was helping." Amy whined.
"Get me out of this..." Beca said and Aubrey took a hold of the bodice of the dress and Beca wiggled out of the garment.
"Nice hair!" Aubrey laughed.
"Shut up." Beca growled.
"Why didn't you step into the dress, like a normal person?" Aubrey asked.
Beca's answer was to thumb in Amy's direction. "Someone was being helpful."
"I'm doing my best." Amy said, looking hurt for a moment. Beca felt immediately guilty and walked over to her friend to give her a hug.
"Where's Aunt Anne?" Aubrey said, realizing for the first time Beca's Mom wasn't in the room.
"I think some of MawMaw's pot brownies might have gotten to her. When I texted her earlier to find out what time she was coming up to the room, she sent me a picture of a camel's foot."
"A camel's foot?"
"Yeah." Beca said, reaching over for her phone, unlocking it and scrolling to her Mom's latest picture. She showed it to both Amy and Aubrey.
"That's an Australian camel." Amy stated.
"How do you know?" Beca asked, knitting her eyebrows together as she looked at the screen.
"Says so in the bottom right hand corner." Amy pointed and Beca rolled her eyes at her own stupidity.
"Why has your Mom sent a picture of an Australian camel toe?" Aubrey asked, rubbing her belly with one hand as she started to hop from foot to foot, clearly needing to pee again.
"Oh!" Beca said, smacking herself on the head.
"What?"
"Amy."
"What'd I do now?"
"Australian camel toe. Dude, loosen your belt a bit cos that's what's on show right now."
Amy looked down at her crotch and grinned. "It's designer. One of a kind."
"Gross." Aubrey said, heading off into the direction of the en suite.
"Come on shortstack, let's get this monstrosity on you while Aub-Pee is in the bathroom."
Beca laughed and picked up the dress off of the floor. She smoothed out the layers and had Amy hold the bodice open as she stepped into it. Amy had just finished jamming Beca's boobs into her dress when there was a furious banging on the bedroom door.
"Beca!" Jesse yelled through the closed door.
Beca shuffled to the door as fast as her dress would allow.
"Beca?" Jesse called again.
"What are you doing up here?" She called through the door and waited a moment for him to answer before she whispered. "Jesse, are you ok?"
"Open the door."
"No! It's bad luck for you to see me before the wedding."
"Bec… I said, open the door."
Beca cracked the door and reached for Jesse's hand. They couldn't see each other but just feeling her hand in his calmed him instantly. "What's wrong? Are you nervous?"
"Beca, I need-"
"-Jesse, I need to talk to you." Anne announced and Beca was more surprised that she could hear her mother's voice out in the hallway. She turned to look at Amy and Aubrey in confusion.
"What's up?" Amy hissed and Beca shook her head.
"Beca, can I come in… please?" Jesse begged but before Beca could respond, Anne begin talking. "Jesse, we need to talk. It's really important." Anne told him. "Please come downstairs with me."
"Mom, just give him a minute." Beca called from the other side of the door. "Babe, what's wrong?"
"Is there a problem?" Aubrey asked and Beca looked at her cousin and shrugged her shoulders. "There isn't time to be messing around right now."
"Please…" Anne pleaded.
"Beca, is he sick?" Aubrey asked, pushing the issue.
"Jesse, what's wrong?" Beca asked again, tugging on his hand.
"Bec, I'll be right back. I love you." Jesse told her as he kissed her hand through the opening.
"I love you too." She said before closing the door.
"What was all that about?" Amy asked as Beca gathered up her dress and walked back to the chair in the middle of her bedroom.
"I have no idea but the mothership has taken over so I'll wait until she tells me later. I don't have time to be worrying about squabbles right now."
"Ok." Amy said. "Turn around then, and I'll zip you up."
Beca did as she was told and trusted Amy with the delicate laces and the corset back.
"Oh. My. God." Aubrey squealed, coming out of the bathroom. She threw her hands across her mouth as she stifled a second scream.
"What's wrong?" Beca immediately asked, stepping forward and almost tripping over Amy in her efforts to get to Aubrey. "Are you ok?"
"Have you gone into labor?" Amy asked, her eyes widening. "I kinda hope so as I have always wanted to deliver a baby. I want one named after me!"
Beca and Aubrey exchanged a look before Aubrey started fanning herself again.
"No. Everybody is staying where they should for right now."
"Why the theatrics then?" Beca asked.
"Look at you!" Aubrey said, taking a step back.
"What about me?"
"You look aca-amazing."
"Oh." Beca said, rolling her eyes.
"No, don't do that." Aubrey said, shaking her head.
"Dude, my hair is a frizz ball, my face is bright red and I'm pretty sure I've got a run in my thigh high."
"No." Aubrey breathed out. "You look beautiful."
The two cousins embraced for a moment, separating with the smallest of tears in their eyes.
"Not quite sure what I can do with my hair though. It's a bit wild." Beca said, trying to smooth down her mane.
"Well, we know someone who can deal with that!"
"Who?" Beca asked, gathering up her dress and walking back across her room.
"Pepper, from pole dancing and the other reason The Riff got signed, is also a hairdresser. She's coming today, right?"
"Yeah, we invited her." Beca said.
"I can send her a text and see if she can come and rescue... um..."
"Anything is worth a shot. I'd rather not have my Mom fussing cuz I've got a bird's nest on top of my head."
"I'll be back in a minute." Aubrey said, retreating back into the bathroom, digging in her purse for her phone at the same time.
"Now..." Amy said, sitting down heavily on Beca's bed. "... are you sure you don't want me to do your wedding makeup?"
o~O~o
Standing in front of her bedroom mirror and taking a deep breath, Beca opened her eyes and took the first proper look at herself that day. She wasn't one to think too highly of her appearance; clean, respectable and trendy were her only stipulations on a daily basis, but even she could quietly admit that she thought she actually looked pretty good.
Her dress was very sexy, daring and was the perfect fit for her slim frame. It showed off every curve to perfection and while her fingers lingered over her now flat stomach, she didn't let the memory of losing Bodhi interrupt her tranquil thoughts. Even Amy remained quiet as Beca took stock of herself.
The dress was a very fitted, mermaid style dress with a sheer, strapless, lace corset style bodice that had a neckline that mimicked Princess Tiana's in the Disney movie 'The Princess and The Frog'. Amy got a good laugh at Beca's expense over that little detail. Beca didn't let it bother her though, she loved the dress and that was all that mattered. Amy dubbed the dress 'rocker chic' and said that it made 'Beca's tits and ass look like a million bucks'... which it did.
Gently touching her long bouncing curls, Beca turned to thank Pepper for her hard work and attention to detail. Her once frizzy complication was now coiffed to within an inch of its life, a perfect copy of what she had hoped it would be. Her makeup was flawless and the red splotches, and one tiny pimple were carefully hidden under several subtle layers of spackle, paint and glitter… Amy's words… not Beca's.
Turning a little, she watched Amy dab her eyes in the reflection. "You all right there Ames?" She asked.
"Yeah. Just thinking that you scrub up quite nicely." Amy said, loudly blowing her nose like an elephant and spoiling the moment.
"You really do." Aubrey said, smiling at her trussed up cousin.
The discreet knock at the door stopped any further conversation and Amy slipped over to see who was there.
"Is my favorite Granddaughter in here?" MawMaw asked quietly.
"MawMaw! Get your butt in here." Beca said.
"Wait, which Granddaughter is she referring to?" Aubrey asked, her mouth in an amused twist, knowing her Grandmother had no favorites.
Walking in the room, Betty took in the sight of Beca in all of her lacy glory. She gasped and in a move that copied Aubrey's perfectly, she covered her mouth with her hand. "My sweet child, you look... well, you just look stunning."
"Thank you MawMaw." Beca said, hugging her Grandma.
"Aubrey, dear, have you put on weight?" Betty asked her other granddaughter.
"No MawMaw, I'm pregnant, remember?"
"Not in the slightest. I'm 79 years old, far too old to be having babies. Silly girl, did you forget everything you were taught in biology."
"No MawMaw, I'm having twins. Do you remember Mom telling you?"
"Beca dear," Betty said, "please tell Aubrey that she shouldn't be eating too many cakes and treats today. She's gotten very fat."
"MawMaw, really?" Aubrey said, heading towards the door. "I'm going to get my ultrasound pictures to prove it to you."
Beca laughed as she watched Aubrey disappear down the stairs. "You don't remember Aubrey telling you that she and Ben-"
"-Of course I do!" MawMaw winked at Beca. "I just like fucking with her!"
"MawMaw! You can't use language like that."
"Aww, don't get your panties in a bunch. Wait, are you even wearing any?"
"MawMaw!"
"Well you..." Betty began as she took in Beca's dress again. "... dear, you do know you've got a hole in the back of your pretty dress, don't you?"
"Haha MawMaw, very funny."
"Beca, my love. For once, I am not kidding around."
"Sure MawMaw. I'm not going to fall for that with you and-"
"Beca." Amy said. "I stood on the back of your dress and my heel tore a hole in it."
"Oh, don't you start!" Beca laughed, pretending to be mad at Amy. "Are you and MawMaw-"
"I'm sorry." Amy said, her voice suddenly so serious that Beca was surprised.
"Are you fucking kidding me right now? Beca asked turning around and bending over slightly in an attempt to get a better look at the back of her dress.
"Does this dress make my ass look big?" Amy said putting her butt directly in Beca's face in a poor attempt to change the subject.
"Oh… I don't know! Could you get a little closer? I still have some peripheral vision left!" Beca barked as she swatted at Amy's ass.
"Ok girls… no need for panic. I can fix this in a jiffy." Betty said as she sat in the chair by the window. "Amy dear, go fetch my purse. I have a sewing kit in there."
Amy turned on her heel and walked quickly out of the room. Beca plopped down on the edge of the bed. She couldn't believe her bad luck. First Jesse freaked out, then he had an argument with Casey and now her dress was torn. Could things get any worse?
"What happened?" Beca asked quietly.
"It was when I was lacing up the back of your dress. My heel caught-"
"-It's ok. I know you didn't mean to do it." Beca said honestly.
Betty watched as Beca's shoulder slumped and her eyes began to fill with tears. "Beca… my love, come here. Come sit on MawMaw's lap." Betty said as she patted her legs.
"MawMaw, I'm too big to sit in your lap." Beca said, sniffling.
"No ma'am, you'll never too big for my lap. Now come on."
Beca got up and walked across the room. She stood in front of her grandmother for a moment before finally giving in and curling up in Betty's lap. It had been a very long time since she had sat in her grandmother's lap but as soon as she did she suddenly felt safe and at home.
"You're not going to let a little tear in your dress ruin your special day… are you?"
Beca sniffled again. "I've tried so hard not to break any traditions and look what happened." She said pointing to her dress. "It's got to be a sign… don't you think?"
Betty giggled. "No honey, I don't think it's a sign."
"Are you sure?"
"Well, we can't ever be sure but-"
"-But what?"
"Have I ever told you about how I met PawPaw?"
"No, I don't think I've heard that story."
"I met your PawPaw in 1950, when I was just 16 years old. PawPaw was 18 and boy was he handsome. I was at the Frostop Soda Shop sitting at the counter with a few friends when he walked in with his brother Thomas. When I heard the bell over the door ring, I looked up and the minute our eyes met I knew he was special. He was 'the one'."
"How did you know?"
"Shh… just listen." Betty told her as she rubbed Beca's back. "He was so tall and there was just something about his strong build, dark brown hair and piercing blue eyes that captivated me. Without missing a beat, he walked over and introduced himself. We started talking and we immediately hit it off. He was a real charmer. About thirty minutes later, we decided to get a booth and shared an order of fried and a strawberry milkshake. We talked about anything and everything and were never at a loss for conversation. It was getting late and I needed to get home before curfew so he offered to walk me home. It was the most beautiful night. The sky was clear and the stars could be seen for miles. When we got to my house, he wished me good night, kissed me on the cheek and ask if he could see me again. I don't think I've ever been so excited in all my life. My heart was beating out of my chest. The next night we went to the drive in to see a movie about Annie Oakley called Annie Get Your Gun. I'm not really sure how much of the movie we actually watched. We spent a good bit of time talking and the rest of the time we-
"-MawMaw! No! Just… no!"
Betty laughed. "Two weeks later we were engaged and three months after that we were married."
"Is mom named Anne because of the movie?"
"She sure is. Thought it was funny to name her after the movie. She thinks it's because she was conceived when we were supposed to be watching the movie. What she doesn't know hasn't killed her so far."
"Gross." Beca mumbled.
Betty smiled. "Beca, I met PawPaw and we were married in less than a year. Much like your romance with Jesse, ours was a world wind romance but I wouldn't change it for the world. I won't tell you that marriage is easy. In fact, it's the hardest thing in the world but it's also the most rewarding. You and Jesse have had a lot of ups and downs but I truly believe that he's a good boy. If he's not, and he's pulled the wool over my eyes, well… then I just can't be held responsible for what happens to him."
Now it was Beca's turn to laugh. "MawMaw, I love you."
"I love you baby girl." Betty said as Amy came barreling back into the room like a bull in a china shop. She was clearly struggling to carry the purse and let out a strangled 'oomph' as she put it down on the floor. "It's about time Amy! I was getting ready to call the National Guard."
"Sorry… I smelled brownies when I got downstairs and well…"
Beca suddenly sat up very straight. "Oh Amy! You didn't!"
"Beca… how could I not? You know how I am about brownies!"
Beca rubbed her forehead. It was too late that damage was already done. Amy had already ingested God knows how many brownies and the only thing left to do was to wait for the pot to wear off.
Betty rubbed Beca back. "Alright… up you get. Let's get that dress fixed. Amy, please pass my purse."
Amy reached down and struggled to lift Betty's bag from the floor. "What do you have in here? Rocks?"
"Yes actually… on second thought, you're stoned my dear, nothing to do with rocks. Just pass me my lace handkerchief before you do any more damage."
"MawMaw, what are you going to do?"
"Give me a minute sweet child." Betty said, picking up the train on Beca's dress and taking the handkerchief that Amy was waving around. Beca stood waiting patiently and tried not to listen to the sound of fabric being torn. She almost wished the hole hadn't been found, at least she would have been blissfully unaware.
After what seemed like an eternity but was, in reality, only a few of minutes, Betty announced she was finished. Beca tried turning around to look but the dress was turning with her.
"Amy, is that better?" She asked her friend, hoping she had come down from her brownie high. It looked as if Amy's eyes were at trying to focus.
"Lemme look."
Amy made a big show of spinning Beca around so that she could see the repair job and threw herself down onto the floor like a petulant toddler to get a better look. After a couple of minutes, she jumped back up again, adjusted her boobs and declared that MawMaw was inhuman and had fixed Beca's dress. "It's perfect. And now I must go chase the dragons."
Beca stared as Amy galloped out of the room on a pretend horse. "MawMaw... just how much weed did you put in those brownies? Just so I know how long it will take Amy to come down off of her high."
"None."
"None?"
"Nope. Not in the batch that girlfriend stole. That bat shit crazy is all her. Dear, I gave the loaded ones to your mother and father."
"MawMaw, have I told you how much I love you?"
"You being so like me is love enough."
Beca and Betty embraced for a few moments before Beca remembered the hole in her train. "How did you fix my dress?"
"I tore my lace handkerchief in half, sewed one half over the hole and the other piece on the other side so that it looked as if it should be there."
"How did you sew it? I mean, I didn't see a kit..."
Beca watched as Betty dug into the front of her dress. "Who do you think taught Amy about a cleavage purse?"
Beca laughed and had a warm feeling that whatever life threw at her, somehow ... just somehow, everything would always turn out ok.
"Let's go and get you married, shall we?
o~O~o
Taking her Dad's arm, Beca knew this was the moment she'd been looking forward for a very long time. Counting the beats of the music in her head, she turned to look up at her father.
"You ready kiddo?"
"I am. Dad... I just want to say... in case I forget to say it later... I love you."
"Your mother and I love you very, very much." Will bent down and kissed Beca's cheek, careful not to muss her coiffed hair and neatly made up face. "We are really so very proud of you."
"Thank you Daddy."
"You ready?"
"Yes." Beca said simply, nodding along with the beat of the song for a moment or two as if she was waiting for the song to envelope her. Taking a deep breath, she repeated herself. "Yes, I am."
Beca and her Dad began to walk together down the carefully crafted path, laden with pretty petals towards the flower covered archway where Jesse stood waiting, shoulder to shoulder with his brother.
o~O~o
From the guest house, Beca and Jesse could hear the introduction to the Black Eyed Peas 'I've Got A Feeling' and knew that was their cue. After a few short minutes alone, it was finally time for them to be introduced to their guests at the reception. It was a moment they had both been waiting for.
"Ladies and gentlemen... may I please have your attention as we welcome the new Mr. and Mrs. Jesse Swanson! Please join me in congratulating the happy couple!"
The level of applause increased as more and more people rose to their feet to celebrate along with Beca and Jesse as they entered under the canopy decorated with twinkle lights and fresh flowers. Jesse clutched Beca's hand tightly in his and tugged gently on her arm just before they entered the seating area where their guests were waiting for them.
"You ok?" Beca asked.
"Yeah, I'm good. I just wanted to say thank you to you for today. You should be really proud of yourself for putting this amazing day together."
"You're welcome. I love you."
"I love you too." Jesse said quietly. "Whatever happens down the road, never forget that."
Slightly puzzled by his words, Beca shook her head to clear any negative thoughts. "Come on, I'm hungry and if we don't get to the front before Amy, there won't be much left!" Beca winked at him and was relieved to see Jesse laughed.
"Very true. One kiss before we go in." Jesse said, bending down to kiss Beca's lips. He pulled her towards him and hugged her hard.
"Dude, these people won't stop clapping until we go in!" Beca laughed as she hugged Jesse back. Taking Jesse's hand in her own, she interlocked their fingers and felt him relax as they stepped out from the canopy and into the room where the clapping and cheers reached a crescendo.
"Bravo!"
"You're finally here!"
"Congratulations!"
"'Bout time, I'm starvin'!"
Words filled the air around them and they caught sight of the most familiar faces as they pushed through the throng of people that rushed forward to congratulate them. They caught a few snippets as they choreographed a path through the tables but Beca stopped in her tracks when she heard her Grandma's comment.
"What took so long? Were you two boinking?"
Beca laughed at the look of shock on Jesse's face as she guided him to into the room. They were greeted with many congratulations and well wishes as they made their way to their places at the head of the room. As soon as they sat down, the 180 guests followed suit and the scraping of the chairs on the floor signaled the beginning of the meal.
Before the meal began, Will and Anne stood up to toast the newlyweds. As Beca listened to her dad's words and wishes for them, she was swept up in the moment. This was the day that Beca had dreamed about for so long. She looked around at all of the guests surrounding them, joining them on their most special day; family and friends that had been in her life from day one as well as people she met along the way. Each one was important and necessary to their life's journey and Beca wouldn't have had the day any other way. It was perfect. All of them were there because they loved Beca and Jesse and wanted to wish them well. Beca looked around at the smiling faces, nodding and returning her wide grin as her eyes swept the room. The gazebo was large, airy and filled with twinkle lights, flowers and delicious food but the people inside made it feel comfortable and homely. This was most definitely the best day of her life so far.
Jesse was also looking at all of their guests. As much as he tried not to be, he was quite overwhelmed with everything and wished with everything he had that he had a drink in his hands to calm his nerves. The gazebo was stifling and he hated that everyone was looking at him, judging him on his choice of shirt and tie. He was desperate to loosen the knot around his neck and more than anything, he wanted out of the reception, he couldn't wait to be upstairs in their room. He had more on his mind than he could ever tell anyone least of all Beca. Sensing that Casey was watching his every move and in an effort to calm his rapidly fraying nerves, he rubbed Beca's thigh as the speeches came to a close but even that couldn't help him ignore the rapid vibration of the phone in his pocket.
He knew the messages could potentially ruin everything.