Something Old, Something New

This chapter was prompted by Reallyme and the prompt was Lindsey and Joe's wedding day.

I hope you all enjoy it!

Lindsey couldn't believe it. After all the planning, all the tears and all the stress, it was finally here! Today was the day she was getting married, to the best man in the whole entire world, her soul mate, Joe Roscoe.

It had been a long engagement unfortunately, almost eighteen months total, but the wait was worth it. They'd been planning on tying the knot months before hand, but the sudden and hasty move to Hollyoaks Village six months before made it difficult. All prior plans had gone up in smoke and they'd had to start practically from scratch once more.

But they'd done it, they'd found a lovely church which was mere minutes away from the village and Jason had even persuaded Doug from the Deli to help with the catering. But as the weeks passed and the date loomed ever closer, Lindsey couldn't help her nerves from growing.

It wasn't that she didn't want to marry Joe, it was never that, it was just, she wanted the day to be perfect, and everytime she closed her eyes a new scenario flashed in front of her eyes, showing her what could go wrong.
Her dress could be the wrong size.

The food could be off.

The church roof could leak.

No-one turned up.

Someone protested halfway through their vows.

Endless scenes wormed their way into her mind and Lindsey hated to admit it, but she became a slight bridezilla. Okay the slight was a bit of an understatement, only Joe and Sandy could stand to be with her one-on-one lest she snap, both doing their best to calm her as much as possible.

Just yesterday, one day before the wedding she had been unbearable to be around, constantly checking on her dress to make sure it was perfect, calling Doug to make sure he was on task and fretting about the state of the church.

Everyone had been relieved when her parents and younger sister; Charlotte had turned up mid-afternoon to drag her to the hotel and go through last minute plans.

"Knock knock," said sister called through the hotel door, smiling brightly when Lindsey opened the door and dragged her into the hotel room.

The Butterfield sisters looked incredibly similar and it was obvious they were related, having inherited their Dad's warm brown eyes and with the same long dark brown locks they were practically one of the same. "How's the bride to be?"

"Stressed," Lindsey moaned, running a hand through her hair as she sat on the stool next to the small vanity.

"Well don't be," Charlotte snarked, grabbing a brush and gently combing it through Lindsey's hair. It had been agreed that the younger Butterfield would do Lindsey's make-up and hair for the wedding, as she had not so long ago completed a beauty therapy course and was even planning on setting up her own business in the coming months.

"But what-"

"Eh! What did I just say?"

"Don't stress," Lindsey grumbled as she felt her sister lightly tugging at strands of her hair as she began clipping it up.

"Good, you're learning. Everything is sorted, your dress is gorgeous, the cute deli guy did the majority of the food yesterday and is putting the finishing touches on it as we speak-"

"You know he's gay," Lindsey interrupted, arching an eyebrow.

"Meh, no harm in looking. Anyway, back to the subject, the church is looking great you'll love it and Mum's even got Dad to wear his good tie."

"But what if no-one's there? What if they get lost or the trains delayed or-"

"Breath Linds!" Charlotte demanded, whirling around to look straight at her sister. "Just breathe okay. Everyone will be there, no-one's going to get lost and no-one's going to be late. Tash checked out the church yesterday and she's giving directions and helping people who will be more likely to get lost, Uncle Dan for example.

"And nearly everyone came up yesterday, they've completely booked out Premier Inn so they could be here for you on your special day on time. The bridesmaids are going to be here in a few hours for cheeky pre-drinks and to get to the church. Everything is going to be perfect so don't worry your pretty little head."

"Okay," Lindsey nodded, feeling slightly comforted by her younger sister's words.
"Good, now shut up and let me do your hair, otherwise you'll be the late one."

}}}}}}}}}}

He couldn't believe it. The day he had been dreaming of had arrived and Joe was finally getting married. Even thinking of it had him smiling like a goon, something which all his brothers were taking the mick out of with great delight.

"Oi, where's my tie?" Robbie yelled, breaking the silence through the house as he noisily began searching.

"Don't tell me you've lost it?" Sandy demanded, jogging down the stairs, hair still in curlers and make-up unfinished.

"It were here last night!"

"I told you to put it in your room so this wouldn't happen," Sandy sighed, helping her son searching as the others all descended to watch the chaos.

"We'll find it ma," Ziggy said after a minute, trying not laugh at her look of despair when Robbie began carelessly chucking cushions around the room. "You go and get ready."

Sandy shot Robbie one final look, obviously weighing up the two situations in her head, before she turned and made her way back up the stairs. "You make sure he cleans this mess up."

Trying not to laugh at his family's dramatics, Joe entered the living room and began helping with the search. "Found it!" Freddie cried from the kitchen where the tie was harmlessly lying on the top of the cupboards. Joe didn't even want to know how it got there.

"Cheers," Robbie said, grabbing the tie and clumsily tying it, shooting a mock glare when Joe told him to start tidying.

"I'll help," Jason offered begrudgingly, grabbing a cushion and putting back to it's original place. Joe smiled as he went back to his room, making sure that everything would be packed for the honeymoon (nothing special but they were going to Cannes for a long weekend) and that he hadn't lost the speech for the reception.

He read over it once more, his smile only growing as he imagined reading it out to not only his family but Lindsey's too, as his beautiful soon to be wife sat by his side. He had been waiting for this day for years and couldn't believe it had already arrived.

He had known that he was going to ask Lindsey to marry him after only a handful dates, their connection already incredibly deep and special, though when he actually did ask after a year and a half together, he couldn't believe that she'd said yes.

But she had and since then they'd only grown stronger as a couple, and today was the day they'd be showing the rest of the world how strong their love for one another actually was.

"Joe, the cars are here," Ziggy called and Joe took a deep breath, steadying his sudden nerves as he grabbed his suit jacket and straightened his tie, descending the stairs on shaky legs.

The others were all seated in the living room, waiting for the groom and when he arrived they stood as one. "You look very handsome," Sandy said, hugging him tightly as she tried not to cry, lest she ruin her make-up. "Your Dad would be so proud of you love."

"Thanks mum," Joe replied, appreciating her kind words. His Dad's approval had always been the most important thing to him when he'd been growing up and although he knew that he would, Joe couldn't help but wonder if he would have liked Lindsey. "We ready?"

The others nodded and made their way to the two cars that were waiting out the front, before being drove to the church.

It wasn't a long journey and they arrived at the church in minutes. As one, the family made their way to the building. Joe had visited the church before, but it was even more beautiful inside than he remembered.

The sun was shining through the stained glass windows, painting the floor and walls in a variety of different colours and the simple decorations that had been placed around the large building, added a splash of colour to the whole area.

He made his way to the front of the church with Freddie who had been appointed best man, whilst his other brothers stood by the entrance, leading guests to their seats and being the perfect hosts, a welcome surprise.

"You nervous bro?" Freddie asked as they waited for the church to fill up.

"No, this... it feels right. Like I'm meant to be here and it's what my life's been leading up to, you get me?"

"No, not really," his younger brother replied slowly, raising his eyebrows.

"One day you'll meet your perfect girl Freds, then you'll know exactly what I'm talking about," Joe promised his younger brother, though they were interrupted by the traditional wedding march playing and echoing through the now full church.

Joe had chosen Ziggy, Robbie and Jason to be his grooms-men and they walked down the aisle one-by-one with a bridesmaid attached to their side, before being followed by Charlotte who shot a wide smile to Joe as she moved to the side.

She revealed his young cousin Shelly who was scattering flowers on the floor as she tottered forward, Lindsey's nephew Scott was walking next to her, with the pure determination that only a seven year old could manage, looking incredibly cute in his mini three-piece suit, ring box held firmly in his hands.

Once the two young children had found their seats there was a slight pause before Lindsey fully entered the church, arm wrapped around her Dad's as they slowly walked down the aisle.

It took all of Joe's self-restraint not to go and meet his partner halfway there, and he was pretty sure he would have done, if Freddie hadn't nudged him, reminding him of his presence, and that running down the alter during his own service wasn't exactly proper.

It was just... she looked so beautiful. Charlotte had done a good job, Lindsey's make-up was subtle but highlighted her face well and her hair was pinned up, though a few wisps had been allowed to escape and were framing her face.

It wasn't just that, her dress was gorgeous and Joe was glad he hadn't seen it before now, because although it was absolutely stunning, Lindsey made that dress, plain and simple. Although she could probably wear a bin bag and still be the prettiest girl on earth.

When she got to the head of the church, she shot Joe a nervous smile, though he could do little but stare, struck dumb by the pure beauty of his love.

The vows were quick and painless, though Joe could never tell anyone what he had recited, because his whole mind was focused on Lindsey, who's hands hadn't stopped slightly shaking throughout the whole ceremony.

"I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may now kiss the bride," the vicar said, and Joe couldn't stop smiling, pulling his wife close and sharing a passionate kiss, the clapping and cheers of the friends and family surrounding them.

As the newly married couple left the church they couldn't stop the laughter of relief and pure happiness that escaped them. They had done it, they were actually married!

Their laughter didn't stop as they climbed into the car that would lead them to the reception hall, waving eagerly to their loved ones as it crawled down the lane, ready to start the next chapter of their life.

Together.

Safe to say this was a much cheerier one than some of my previous chapters.

Thank you all for the lovely reviews, they mean the absolute world to me! As always tell me your thoughts on this chapter, they're greatly appreciated, maybe with a prompt of your own?

Next Story – After selling a dodgy drug to someone, Freddie stops working for Trevor, leaving his boss fuming. Trevor's determined to get his revenge, but which of the Roscoes will he target? - prompted by Reallyme