Thank you once again for the amazingly supportive reviews! For the guest reviewer who suggested Jac should possibly have another baby of her own; this idea had originally crossed my mind when I first plotted out the story. However for reasons that should hopefully become clear (if my writing is good enough) Jac is unable to have any more children (I think I've briefly touched on this in chapter 24). As Team Naylor have been so well received I can confirm I do have plans to feature them in future chapters. I had great fun writing this chapter so I hope you enjoy it! Please review!

Jac walked up to the flat hand in hand with niece keeping her pace slow to match Ava's. They had walked to the park after lunch and were on their way back to the flat so Ava could have her afternoon nap. Jac was enjoying these simple days at home with Ava, it was hard believe a couple of months ago she was begrudging her enforced part time working hours. Now she felt the work/home balance was just perfect. She opened the front door and was met with a deafening roar of 'Surprise!'

'Jasmine!' Jac exclaimed as Ava ran forward to hug her mother.

'Ouch! Careful darling!' Jasmine laughed as she hugged her little girl.

'Have they discharged you?' Jac asked still in shock taking in the presence of her sister, Sacha and Mo all crammed into the tiny hallway.

'Just for this afternoon' Jasmine smiled 'because we're taking you wedding dress shopping!'

'Really?' Jac felt a bit suspicious. When she had spoken with Michael yesterday he had seemed reluctant to say how much longer Jasmine would need to stay in hospital for.

'Well I don't see what harm I can come to the presence of three doctors' Jasmine laughed as she pulled Ava's hat off the child's head and smoothed down her hair. 'Mo has volunteered to look after Munchkin here.'

'She should be just about ready for her afternoon nap' Jac smiled as Ava yawned.

'Can you read to me mummy?' Ava asked leaning against her mother

'Sure' Jasmine smiled and walked stiffly with Ava to her bedroom thinking that she should have just discharged herself earlier.

Jac had been pleasantly surprised at how smoothly the wedding dress shopping was going. Sacha had driven them to a wedding boutique where Jac had been pleased at the Russian shop owners brisk and efficient manor at helping them choose a flower girl dress for Ava and a bridesmaids dress for Jasmine. Ties and pocket handkerchiefs were easily selected for the groom, Granddad George and Sacha to match with the dusky pink colour scheme. Jac had surprised them all with her choice of colour but when Jasmine, realising Jac didn't want her wedding to scream Christmas, had suggested the warm hue of dark pink Jac just knew it would look perfect and understated.

'And now for the bride' Sacha grinned.

Yulianathe elderly boutique owner gave Jac a long considered look 'I'm thinking Ivory, not white'

'Jac would only want something simple and elegant' Sacha butted in.

'Quite right' Yuliananodded 'with those eyes and cheek bones and that stunning hair why detract attention?'

'I am sat right here you know' Jac muttered feeling uncomfortable.

'You come with me darling, I have something that will look just perfect on you' Yulianatook hold of Jac's hand and pulled her to her feet. 'You know I can always tell the marriages that will work by the way the bride to be behaves' Yulianaspoke as she pulled a reluctant Jac along behind her to the fitting room 'you my darling will have a long and happy marriage. I guarantee it.'

'How do you know that?' Jac asked sceptically.

'Because you are not caught up in the huff and fluff of a fussy wedding' Yulianasmiled at Jac 'for you the day is a bother caused by everyone else. But you know at the end of it you'll have your husband and that is all that matters to you.' Yulianatook out her tape measure and began measuring Jac. 'And of course I met Jonny last week when he came in for his suit fitting' she chuckled 'he is a man who cherishes what he has, you are lucky.'

'Yes' Jac smiled 'I am'.

'So now you confirm it for me, I know I am right.' Yuliana beamed at Jac's reflection in the mirror. 'Now don't you worry, I will have you in a dress that will amplify your natural beauty and so it will be effortless for you to be the picturesque bride. Just remember to smile like this yes?'

Jac couldn't help but laugh at the woman's advice, wondering where on earth Sacha had found out about this particular boutique.

'Now, what do you think?' Yuliana asked Sacha and Jasmine as she led Jac back out into the main shop. Jac was dressed in a simple ivory empire line floor length gown. 'Give them a slow twirl darling so they can see the fishtail hemline' Yuliana directed Jac. Feeling awkward Jac did as she was told and slowly revolved on the spot.

'Can one of you say something please?' Jac spoke as she turned back to face her sister and her friend who were both being uncharacteristically silent.

'Wow' Sacha uttered at last 'I'm sorry it's just…wow'.

'You look so beautiful' Jasmine burst out before dissolving into tears.

'My work here is done' Yuliana sighed happily as one of her sales assistants waltzed in with a box of tissues for Jasmine.

'What about a veil?' Sacha asked

'No way!' Jac protested at the same time as Yuliana shook her head.

'No. No veil' Yuliana stepped in front of Jac and carefully considered her appearance once more. 'Nancy, fetch me the foot stool and the tiara we were admiring yesterday' she ordered to her sales assistant.

Nancy returned with the foot stall, the tiara and a hairbrush. 'Don't mind me darling' Yuliana spoke to Jac as she stepped up on the stool behind her and carefully untied her messy bun. 'Now a veil would be too traditional and would hide this gorgeous hair' she spoke as she brushed it through carefully. 'Turn to face me darling' she spoke kindly to Jac who obeyed her commands. 'Now a simple accessory such as this will finish the look quite nicely' Yuliana smiled as she placed a vintage looking gold tiara made up of tiny flowers and leaves decorated with fresh water pearls and crystals on Jac's head. 'Quite beautiful' Yuliana murmured softly as she smiled at Jac. 'Nancy bring over that mirror'

Nancy wheeled over a full length standing mirror and placed it in front of Jac. Yuliana stepped aside so Jac could see herself. 'You see it darling?' Yuliana spoke softly so only Jac and Nancy could hear her 'you see how beautiful you look when you smile?'

'Sacha darling, we mustn't leave it so long between visits' Yuliana reached up and kissed Sacha's left cheek and then his right.

'you two know each other?' Jac asked as she took out her mobile from her pocket to check for messages.

'Yuliana is a dear friend of my mothers' Sacha explained as he hugged the helpful shop owner.

'So that explains it' Jac laughed 'I wondered how you knew exactly where to take me wedding shopping.' Her face suddenly dropped into a frown as she listened to increasing frantic voice mail messages from Antoine Malick and Jonny. 'What the hell have you done?' she asked Jasmine.