I just want all of you AMAZING readers (who have given me the most AMAZING feedback! THANK YOU!) to know that I do not own anything, that the ages are a little jacked up because of the timeline I have started things at, and that I love you all for clicking the link that lead you to this crazy story. Thank all of you that reviewed and/or favorite-ed and/or followed my story.
Important: I took the ish off! So it is now important!
Now, a reader pm-ed me and asked me to write a version of this story only if Camilla Torres (Nicolette's biological mom) had given Nicolette to Christian when she was four or so. What I want to know is if the idea sounds appealing to the rest of you before I go writing an entire story about something that nobody likes. Review or PM me the answer please and thank you.
Chapter 49: Within A Kiss
The group didn't stay in Vegas long after the wedding, Christian had Taylor drive Max's truck back to Seattle and everyone else on Grey 1 flying back. Nicolette had fallen asleep in Max's arms while they were sitting on the more lounge chair together. Lee Anne and Tara were bopping her head to music while her boyfriend and Mitchell read about a new farming technique. Max was awake, working on lesson plans for the first semester of the new school year. Every now and then he'd look up from his laptop, and see Nicolette curled up in his arm, asleep, mouth barely open, earphones in- and smile.
Nicolette Anne Hartsville.
Ok, so it wasn't the first time Max imagined her with that name, but now that it was her honest name... as soon as the paperwork goes through... Max couldn't help the way his heart skipped a beat each time he thought about it.
Christian was 'working', which translated into trying to concentrate-on-actual-work-but-am-actually-watching-my-son-in-law-hold-my-baby-girl-and-am-trying-not-to-kill-him. Ana was watching her husband amused, while Kate and Mia were 'quietly' planning the wedding, with Grace reading a doctor's magazine and Carrick and Elliot going over work plans, one with a blueprint and the other with a witness' testimony.
Little Phoebe was fast asleep in her pac-n-play in the bedroom while Teddy played with a couple of helicopters on the floor. The blonde-but-beautiful flight attendant glided into the cabin of the plane and smiled at the family.
"Sir, we are about to land, if everyone could please return to their seats, set them in the correct positions and buckle up. Thank you." The blonde smiled. Christian and Ana stood to gather their children.
"Ana, I will grab Phoebe, will you get Teddy into his seat?" Christian phrased it as a question, but Ana knew better.
"Yes. Max will you wake Nicolette?" Ana asked, but Max was already shutting down his laptop while trying to gently wake his bride.
"Babe, hey babe. Up and at 'em." Max whispered, Nicolette's face wrinkled as she awoke with a groan.
"Whhhhaaaaat?"
"We need to get in our seats." with a pout, Nicolette climbed into her own seat and buckled up.
Christian frowned as his family was swarmed by the paparazzi on their way to their cars, and everyone would meet up at Escala, so it didn't really matter who got in what car. There were shouts coming from all around.
"Nicolette are you pregnant?"
"Miss Grey! Did you actually marry Mr. Hartsville?"
"Mr. Grey how did you feel while giving your daughter away at the alter?"
"Mr. Carrick Grey! Is your granddaughter pregnant?"
"Dr. T Grey! Are you going to be a Great Grandmother anytime soon?" Another reporter asked, as Nicolette leaned over to whisper to her father, Grace answered the question.
"If I am I haven't been told yet."
"Why do they keep coming back to pregnancy?"
Christian held the passenger side door of the SUV open for Ana as Max held the rear passenger side door open for Nicolette, Nicolette and Max buckled Teddy and Phoebe in with little problem; before Christian and Max walked around to the other side of the car, the paparazzi still hounding everyone for answers.
"Dad, you didn't answer my question. Why is everyone sure that I am pregnant?" Nicolette asked as Christian slid into his seat.
"You want to know why my darling daughter! Because you ran off to Vegas and tried to elope with no family! The first thing anyone is going to think is pregnancy!" Christian hissed, Nicolette flinched at her father's harsh words.
"Sorry I disappointed you." Nicolette whispered. The rest of the drive to Escala went by in silence, at moments Christian would open his mouth to say something, but no words would come out. Max kept his hand on Nicolette's knee in silent support as his wife stared out the window. Even Teddy and Phoebe were silent, as they picked up on the sullen vibes in the car.
Nicolette couldn't get out of the SUV fast enough, the moment it stopped Nicolette was unbuckled with Teddy in her arms and out the door. Max pulled Phoebe into his arms and followed after his wife, both trying to keep the kids' faces away from the flash photography going on around them.
Nicolette had opened the elevator and typed in the pin so fast that Christian nearly didn't make it inside the elevator, although Ana had been in step with the younger adults/children.
"Are you going to sulk all night?" Christian asked. Nicolette pressed her hands to Teddy's ears, as he stood leaning against his older sister's legs.
"I don't know are you going to be a jerk all night?" Nicolette shot back, Max raised his eyebrows at Nicolette, he had seen her like this a handful of times. Most of the times, however, involved Christian.
"Excuse me, I'm your father." Christian glowered.
"Then why can't you be happy for me?" Nicolette bit out. Christian sighed and ran his hands through his hair, Ana smirked, knowing that their daughter wasn't going to put up with his attitude for long.
"I'm trying, ok? I just have... issues... that I'm trying to get passed. Just be patient." Christian said softly. Nicolette searched Christian's eyes for a reason that she should doubt his words... finding none, Nicolette removed her hands from Teddy's ears.
When the elevator stopped at the penthouse floor, the family exited.
To find the penthouse decorated and smelling delicious.
And their families standing in the foyer with big smiles.
"What is going on?" Christian asked. Lee Anne shrugged.
"Nicolette and Max never got to their wedding reception. So, Mia, Grace and Kate helped us plan this." Lee Anne gestured to the space around them.
"Oh, Lee..." Nicolette gasped, looking at her home.
"I know you two were just going to go to a nice dinner or something stupid and unoriginal like that. But, you two have been our friends since any of us can remember. Nicolette, when Lee Anne was practically shunned by the entire town for her unique hair colors you stood by her side and told everyone that if she was going to be shunned for not having hair the same color as everyone else, then you should be to." Tara smiled.
"Max, buddy. You were the one that told Mitchell to grow some balls and ask Tara out." Jonathan smirked.
"Nikki, you were the one that stayed by Tara's side for a week and waited on her hand and foot when she had her abdominal surgery." Lee Anne grinned.
"Max you practically housed Jonathan for two months when he told his parents that he was dating Lee Anne." Mitchell smiled.
"And Nicolette fed him and did his laundry." Tara added with a laugh, Jonathan shrugged.
"So pulling this together, was nothing compared to some of the things you guys have done for us." Lee Anne nodded, Nicolette moved from Max's arms to Lee Anne's and Tara's in a heartbeat.
"I love you girls."
"We love you too."
"Hey, we helped." Elliot said, acting offended. Nicolette shook her head, but hugged each relative.
Nicolette looked at her apartment.
"How long did it take you guys to do this decorating?" Nicolette asked, eyeing the streamers and black and white, circular Japanese lanterns placed beautifully all over the penthouse.
"Ok, so we had Gail's help, along with whomever she recruited along the way." Tara confessed.
"C'mon dinner is in here." Lee Anne led the group into the Great Room where a large table sat with a table cloth over it and the table set with fine china.
"I didn't know I owned china." Nicolette whispered to Max, who snorted. The TV was on in front of the table and it was paused on the DVD screen.
Nicolette sat in the seat labeled 'Bride' and Max sat in the seat labeled 'Groom'. Nicolette and Max pressed a soft, short kiss to each other's lips as dinner was served by a catering place, as Gail, Taylor, Waters, and Clayton joined the group.
Gail pressed a kiss to Nicolette's cheek and grinned.
"I knew you could do it."
Taylor also pressed a kiss to Nicolette's temple, having become another father figure to Nicolette in the last two years. Taylor stood to his full height and glared at Max.
"You hurt her. I will know. I will get away with killing you." Max stared at Taylor with wide eyes as Taylor took his seat.
Lee Anne and Jonathan stood up as food was finished being served, both moved in front of the screen and smiled.
"So, everyone here knows that the maid of honor- me- and the best man- him- are supposed to give a speech about how they remember the bride and groom from childhood and how each supports the other and whatever. But that is boring, and when are any of us known for being boring?" Lee Anne asked as everyone snorted.
"So instead of talking your ears off, Lee Anne and I put together a little movie collage of pictures, videos and whatnot of the two of you. Because nothing we can say will be able to stress how much those two love each other." Jonathan agreed, Lee Anne turned and pressed play on the DVD player before the two went back to their seats.
The first thing that popped up was a picture of twelve year old Nicolette and fifteen year old Max, Nicolette had her hair back in two french braids and a big, cheesy smile on her face as Max stared down at her lovingly. As the picture popped up I Promise You by Frankie J played over the speakers.
I promise that you'll never be alone
This house will always be your home
The next photo was of Nicolette when she was thirteen and Max was sixteen at what looked like a lawn mower racing event, Nicolette wore a long baggy shirt that had Hartsville written on it, she stood by Johnson and two adults, a man and woman, Ana didn't recognize.
And our hearts will always beat as one
As long as I can breathe I swear
Nicolette was still at the racing event, though now Max was in the photo, both sitting on an old, red lawn mower. Max behind Nicolette.
I promise that I will never let you down
Be strong for you, I'll always be around
Look into my eyes you'll see that we were meant to be together (oh)
Nicolette and Max were now sitting in the bed of a truck, at thirteen and sixteen, star watching. Max hold Nicolette to his chest as Nicolette rested her head on his pec.
This love of ours was sent from up above
Together I know that we could touch the sky
Nothing ever felt so right
Girl I...
Nicolette and Max were dancing it seemed, the two were laughing at something and were holding hands.
This I promise you, this I promise you, this I promise you
(girl I'll be there) I will be there (I will be there) will be there
This I promise you, this I promise you, this I promise you
(girl I'll be there) I will be there (I will be there)
I promise all my life.
Nicolette and Max were now fourteen and seventeen, the two were at a birthday party with Lee Anne in the background with a birthday crown on her head.
There's something that you really gotta know
I'm with you til the end of the road (end of the road)
I'll never let you go.
Nicolette and Max were asleep on a couch, Nicolette curled into Max's arms and head resting in the crook of his neck, Max's head leaning against Nicolette's head.
I swear I've never felt like this before
cos everyday I love you more and more
you lift me up so high, I look into your eyes I see forever.
Nicolette and Max were in a kitchen with the unknown woman from the lawn mower racing pictures, the woman seemed to be stunned by the two who were caught kissing.
This love of ours was sent from up above
Together I know that we could touch the sky
Nothing ever felt so right
Girl I, I, I..
Nicolette and Max were on a horse, Nicolette in front of Max, but leaning back to look at his smiling face.
This I promise you, this I promise you, this I promise you
(Girl I'll be there) oh I'll be there (I will be there) oh I'll be there
I promise my time (this I promise you),
I promise my heart (this I promise you),
I promise my love (this I promise you),
Girl I'll be there, girl I'll be there.
The two were now fifteen and eighteen. Max was chasing Nicolette with a bucket of water, both in their bathing suits with water flying through the air as Nicolette tried to save herself.
Through the fire we could hold each other up
I'll be your shelter cos the storms are gonna come.
This time Max was the one getting soaked, only now he lay on the ground sunbathing unaware that his girlfriend was exacting her revenge.
So don't worry anymore
Cos this is no ordinary love
And this I promise
Nicolette was now sixteen and Max was kissing her as he now dumped mud on her, Christian recognized the outfit she was wearing in the picture and knew it was from the mudding adventure that Nicolette had sunk out to go to.
(Girl I'll be there) oh I'll be there (I will be there) oh I'll be there
I promise my time (this I promise you),
I promise my heart (this I promise you),
I promise my love (this I promise you),
Girl I'll be there, girl I'll be there.
A now muddy Nicolette was kissing a now very distracted Max as she dumped mud on him.
This I promise you, this I promise you, this I promise you
(Girl I'll be there) oh I'll be there (I will be there) oh I'll be there
(Girl I'll be there) oh I'll be there (I will be there) oh I'll be there
I promise my time (this I promise you),
I promise my heart (this I promise you),
I promise my love (this I promise you),
(Girl I'll be there) I will be right there, (I will be there).
Then a fast montage of the shot gun wedding appeared on the screen.
I promise all my life.
Oh baby baby baby baby baby this I promise you.
As the song ended a picture of Nicolette and Max kissing for the first time as husband and wife filled the screen.
Then a clip showed up, all of the people that Nicolette and Max grew up with filled the screen.
"Congrats you two." Sarah Beth grinned.
"If anyone deserves happiness it's you guys." Caroline Smith smiled.
"Come back to Haven soon, we want to congratulate you in person." David Myers nodded.
"Congrats!" everyone shouted at once.
A different clip came on this time, but the same song filled the speakers and Joseph's face filled the screen.
"Hey, Lee Anne, I know you'd want to see this." The camera turned and now everyone could hear the same song that just played over the speakers. Nicolette and Max were slow dancing in the kitchen of the Hartsville's Seattle home, the two obviously in love.
When that clip ended the screen darkened.
Max looked at Nicolette and captured her lips in a kiss.