For those wondering, don't worry; the next installment of my Pain series is coming. Outline's done, just gotta start writing. But because I literally fought with that outline every day for the last month, I wanted to take a break and write something else to get the writing juices flowing again.
This was originally supposed to be a quickly little one-shot, but then I started taking it seriously and it snowballed. There's already fics of Cosmo and Wanda's wedding, but I figured I'd take a stab at it with my AU. Takes place roughly a year after my fic Fairy Academy; Senyear. Don't think you have to read that to enjoy this, but it'd definitely help with context.
Friday, April 19th. Twenty-four hours before life's pen shall write the newest chapter of their young lives. Twenty-four hours before forbidden love shall be bound to unity. Twenty-four hours before two shall become one…
Twenty-four hours before the start of forever.
Shamrock shag swayed gently in the sunset's breeze, the tips of his straight locks touching just above the white-denim shoulders of his unbuttoned jacket. His jean jacket layered a Castleton-green tee untucked over black skinny jeans, black Adidas with green soles footing his feet. Sharing the orangey-red warmth of the sunset, he sat atop the blue blanket spread across lavender grass. Stealing a peek towards his bride.
Tucked behind earlobes pierced in yellow pearls and silver studs along the helix, her fuchsia curls lay past the lower back of her yellow crop top, sleeved in pleated bells and tied in a deep V neckline where her black spaghetti-strap tank could be seen beneath the mesh fabric. Black high-waist shorts hemmed just above her bare thighs with black Doc Martens stopping at her ankles, and with flat palms atop the blanket as support, the heirloom of a diamond ring sparkled from her left hand.
Emerald orbs admired such a breath-taking sight, eyes of admiration magnetized to her natural beauty. Wanda…the literal key to his heart. He'd come so close to losing her when the negativity from his mother had soil his head in self-hatred. Self-hatred that had manifested into resentment towards the one person he was supposed to cherish and protect. To think that through it all, this woman has committed herself to be his one and only for the rest of eternity…
How did he get so lucky?
Feeling someone watching her, rosette eyes turned towards emerald fixed on her. Curling the softest smile to her cherry lipstick. Cosmo…the very life in her soul. She'd come so close to losing him when her father had fairynapped him for slaughter. Torturing him to extreme lengths of not just physical damage, but nearly breaking him as a being completely. To think that through it all, this man still chose her to be his to love and to hold, for better or worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health…
How did she deserve this?
Before they were to separate until they would meet at the aisle, Cosmo Cosma and Wanda Fairywinkle had returned to the infamous cliff that had started their romantic journey. It felt like centuries ago when fifteen-year-old Cosmo had brought fifteen-year-old Wanda to this cliff, the place where he'd innocently proposed for her to be his girlfriend. On this very cliff years later, he had proposed again and made her a fiancé on her twenty-second birthday, the same night where they'd given themselves to each other for the first time. Now in just twenty-four hours, they will be husband and wife at the age of twenty-three. Eight years of treachery, tears, trials, and tribulations that had gotten them to this point…would soon pay off under the devoted seal of "I do."
"You're so beautiful…" Cosmo grinned earnestly, touching a delicate palm to her right hand.
"…and you're so handsome." Wanda smiled back, interlocking their fingers.
"Y'know, you don't have to lie to me."
"Yeah? Same." she playfully countered his sly joke.
The heck was she kidding with this freakin' outfit accentuating every sexy part of her body. "Oh, whatever! Have you seen you?!"
One could argue with that cute stubble growing under his chin. "Have you seen you?! You're a total knockout!"
"Yeah, to a blind bat!" Cosmo couldn't help but scoff.
"Well, that makes two of us." Wanda's crafty smile made him smirk a sigh.
"…can you ever just let me compliment you?"
"I could ask you the same thing."
He pretended to roll his eyes like he was annoyed "…I just can't win, huh?"
"Nope." she teased. "And now you're stuck with me."
Cosmo held his amorous grin. Never had he stared at someone so stunning. "I love being stuck with you."
His words curled her lips enticingly, lifting herself to straddle him with knees beside the lower of his waist. Soft palms against the small of her waist, his thighs supported her sitting on him in a highly 'optimal' position, considering he had the best view of bosoms oh so succulent. There were no objections when their eyes fell blissfully as the magnets of her lips leaned down to align with his, swaying her hips against his center. Slowly but surely tugging at his resistance as rousing temptations starting to tingle below the beltline.
"Whoa, now…" he managed to speak through the string of kisses, delicate grasps on her shoulders soon holding her back "…save summa that for the honeymoon."
"I know…" she reached a finger to gently brush along his jawline "…I'm just gonna miss you."
"…I'm gonna miss you too." His palms moved from her shoulders to cup her cheeks, unable to take his eyes off her. "I can't wait 'til I have you all to myself again…"
"Oh?" she teased a grin. "And what happens then?"
Be careful what you ask for.
Giving a little preview, Cosmo took his fiancée by the waist, lowering her wings to the blanket. Repositioning himself on top of her with his pelvis between her legs, savoring every second of time with his own feathered finger down her cheek before his lips crash into hers. Longing fingers combed through her curls with every breath-stealing kiss. Their tongues danced in the sensual rhythm their rocking hips, letting one venturous hand leave her hair to trail past her neck.
Taking her quiet moan into their kiss as confirmation that his hand had reached the intended target of her chest.
He probably would've scored another base if it weren't for her hands to his cheeks preventing another kiss, her speech now breathy "…what happened to saving some of that for the honeymoon?"
"Well, what am I supposed ta do when I got alla this?" alluring eyes looked his ultimate prize up and down. "Just look at it?"
"You were perfectly fine doing just that earlier." Wanda giggled. "What changed?"
Cosmo leaned forward, the distance between their lips temptingly close "…not my fault you light a fire in me."
The soft croon in his voice sparkled a desirous glimmer in her eye. Her own fire ignited as her index and thumb drew his chin even closer, murmuring against the very tip of his lips "…well, you did say 'save some'…not 'all'…right?"
Flutters beat against his chest as a radiance heated the bridge of his nose, feeling like a virgin all over again. The pair of green and pink locked in a loving trance, heat swelling between their bodies nearly linked in contact, cooled by sunset's breeze dancing in the lavender grass.
No, she wasn't referring to eating the whole cake. But he can have a little 'taste.'
Looking down for brief confirmation that his hands were in the right spot, he parted his lips to hers as his fingers loosened the barrier between his treasure. Undoing the button to her shorts before he pulled his lips away for her to raise her bottom half, aiding in removing a layer of clothing to reveal her black lace. He planted tender kisses to her bare midsection, working his way down to her panty line as her fingers held his hair in a massaging grip.
Her back arched naturally in a pleasured moan when the wet of his lips went lower.
Palm trees sprouted from surrounding pink clouds, a golden statue of three wands centered the sparkling lilac path leading up to the tall structure lined in walls of glass windows. With the signature fairy crown standing tall on one end of the building, the word 'Spa' was inscribed in pink along the front side slabbed in sky-blue concrete.
Within the turquoise walls and shimmering lilac tile of the nail salon of their Fairy World Magic Springs Spa reservation that the Matron of Honor had booked, a mani/pedi kicked off their Bachelorette party as part of getting dolled up for the bride's big day.
"Girl, he did what?!" the Matron of Honor's indigo eyes gawked in her mint-green spa chair, the nail tech taken back when Susie's feet jumped in the middle of her fuchsia pedicure. Afro kinks styled in a frohawk, an indigo belt looped her strapless denim jumpsuit, accessorized in gold hoops and gold bracelets on her ebony wrists.
"Did you just say what I think you said?!" the teal-eyed fairy barely contained her own astonishment in the spa chair next to Susie, marmalade curls tied in a side pony over the shoulder of her burgundy strapless corset. Eyes lined in black eyeliner in contrast to her ivory skin, Rose sported washed denim jeans and a black-velvet choker. Her left ring finger wearing a garnet stone enclosed in a double halo of 14-carat white-gold diamonds.
"Wow, didn't know he had it in 'em." the twin sister of the bride casually remarked from her spa chair, her flaxen curls similar in length to that of Wanda's. Her short puff-sleeve dress in turquoise satin with a sweetheart neckline held a pink belt around the waist, adorned in her usual white pearl necklace and pearl bracelet with matching earrings.
"Girls, it's happened before." Wanda chuckled as the nail tech coated her left pinky toenail in another layer of fuchsia.
"You getting' ate the fuck out on top of a cliff?!" Susie gawked again, still jarred from the first revelation.
"…yes?" Wanda smiled awkwardly, her and Cosmo's sex life suddenly a bit nerve-wracking to talk about.
Rose inquiringly leaned to Wanda's eye contact two chairs down. "And did you…?"
Wanda shrugged. "…not this time."
"Pause. What do you mean 'not this time!?'" Though Blonda was quite aware that the eldest twin was sexually active, she still felt like a little sister in regards to hearing Wanda do just half the things that she's done in her level of experience.
"He didn't want me to." Wanda clarified, smiling just thinking about her wonderful fiancé. "He got off fine just pleasing me."
"Oooo, you got him whipped and ready!" Susie joked before pointing to the engaged fairy on her right. "And you bettah be takin' notes, miss 'I get married in a month'!"
"Spike's been doing that!" Rose smirkingly pointed out.
"As he should!" Susie enthused, soon glancing playful eyes at the flaxen woman to her left. "Blonda? You takin' notes?"
"…Juan only does what I want him to do." Blonda spoke casually. "And he doesn't make me do more than what I want to."
"…so if all you wanted was for him to go down on you…" Rose probed, her nail tech moving on to her other foot "…that's all that happens?"
"Uh, yeah."
Susie nodded, wagging an enthralled finger towards a woman that she never in a million lightyears thought she would ever get along with "…oh she that girl!"
"I mean, he's really big on consent. Especially because…" sexual abuse that she'd rather block out darted Blonda's coy eyes back and forth "…y'know."
"No, that's awesome." Rose praised. "I'm just glad we all have men that care about that."
"…you mean y'all have men." Susie corrected, causing Wanda's curiosity to glance at her best friend since 9th grade. Recalling Susie's involvement with a particular mutual friend of theirs.
"Are you and Thornton not…?"
Susie animated mood sank into muted diffidence now with all eyes on the relationship status that she'd kept a mystery for personal reasons. "We're not like…'exclusive'…if that's what you're asking."
"…but you're two aren't seeing anyone else." Rose pointed out. Having been like glue since seventh grade, if Spike was somehow not available, Rose was often Thornton's listening ear for personal stuff…i.e., his love life.
"We don't have labels." Susie dully clarified. Wasn't this night supposed to be about the bride?! "Let's put it that way."
"…but kinda like, friends with benefits?" Blonda inquired.
"We don't do none of that." Susie quickly denied.
"Do you want to?" Rose questioned.
"I dunno…" Susie lowered a drab gaze in figuring out what else she could say other than "…it's complicated."
Wanda completely understood Susie's hesitation; she hardly had a chance to fully enjoy her marriage before her husband was mercilessly gunned down for no rhyme or reason. Alewandro was the only man she ever gave her heart to, and while Thornton was a great guy in his own merit, true love is irreplaceable…you can only give your heart away once.
Wanda would've understood if Susie had declined being Matron of Honor. Susie would never show it, but going through all this wedding stuff had to be difficult after barely two years since her husband's untimely demise. However, Susie was adamant about keeping their promise to be each other's Maid/Matron of Honor, and Wanda had already fulfilled her end of the commitment.
"Well, clearly, the word of the day is consent." Blonda remarked, Susie lifting somber eyes. "And what matters is that he doesn't make you do anything you're not comfortable with or ready for."
Rose gave an agreeing nod. "And that's on period!"
Coming out with another round of Cabernet as part of the total spa package, a server carried a party plate with built-in stemware holders, each glass filled half way in red wine that was served to each member of the bridal party.
"Talka 'bout right on time…" Susie's spirits seemed to lift almost immediately after the glass filled with liquid happiness fell in her grasp, addressing the ladies with her glass held high "…howa 'bout a toast!"
"A toast to good vibes only!" Rose was the first to copy Susie with a high glass.
"A toast to new memories." Blonda joined in, smiling towards her sister.
Thinking of what this entire night was all about, Wanda raised her glass with an endearing grin "…a toast to true love."
With esteem held high, the bridal party clinked their glasses one by one in a straight line, careful not to spill a drop of alcohol in the process.
. . . . . .
Spotlights lit the red-carpet pathway leading to the large glass double doors framed with wide rainbow florescent lights. A cloak of two-way mirrors against silver brick walls structured the entire building, and the roof hinges were snaked with rainbow sequential lights dancing in a circular motion.
Occupying the circled booth of Magic Mirror Nightclub's VIP section would be the main event of the Bachelor party, hosted by the Best Man himself. Seated Cobalt-blue hair cut short in messy spikes, Spike's matching goatee was extended in a neat trim through his chiseled jawline. Black-leather jacket unzipped over a loose-fitted navy tee, black skinnies footed in blue high-top chucks.
Seated next to Spike was his wand mechanical business partner whose tangerine dreadlocks were neatly retwisted in a basket-weave pony, his short-sleeve button down printed in orange and white striped polyester. Buttoned starting just below his toned pecs where a gold chain hung. Styled with slacked khakis and Madden loafers printed in burnt-orange alligator leather, Thornton had just finished a sip of his rum and coke, bobbing his head to the Hip Hop track blaring through mounted DJ speakers.
Across from Thornton was the older brother of the groom with his shamrock-green shag cut above the shoulders of his hunter-green sweater vest, the white-drycleaned collar of his short-sleeve dress shirt worn beneath. Black slacks hugging slender legs with black-leather loafers on his feet, the 29-year-old COO of Wandos 2.0 finished the last of his Cosmopolitan before he turned to the groom beside him, noting the concentrated crease in his brow with hands joined over his mouth. Cosmo wasn't very hard to read; something was heavy on his mind, enough to distract from a night of drinks with the groom party.
"…what's goin' on, lil bro?" Schnozmo asked over the music, nudging an elbow to Cosmo's arm for gain his divided attention.
"Nothing." Cosmo coolly shrugged. "Just thinking."'
"'Coz' and 'thinking' in the same sentence?" Thornton lightheartedly teased, swishing his rum and coke flattened by half-melted ice. "That's wild."
"Nervous about tomorrow?" Spike assumed, causing Cosmo to shrug again.
"That among other things…"
"…what other things?"
Sighing into his clasped hands, Cosmo then folded them atop the table's wooden surface, his gaze still downcast "…my mom."
Recalling the cyan fairy that he'd luckily interacted with sparingly, Schnozmo scrunched a questioning brow to his brother "…the hell you thinkin' about her for?"
Closing his eyes for just a moment, memories of the last night that he'd ever interact with Mama Cosma resurfaced. Memories that still lived in his mind rent free "…she'd told me Wanda was gonna dump me when she realizes how pathetic I am… that she'd realize I was a waste of life…" his fingers clenched bitterly "…that I'd always be nothing."
Thornton also remembered that night like it was yesterday when he'd driven him to Mama Cosma's. The very night he'd seen Cosmo a broken shell of a person for the first time.
"…and being here with you guys tonight had me thinking…" Cosmo paused thoughtfully. Feeling the tiny sense of pride for him to be able to say "…how wrong she was."
Spike observed Cosmo straightening his slouch, and the sentiment brought a gratified grin in Schnozmo's features.
"…I graduated from college of all things…" Cosmo began with a feat he never thought he'd reach, lifting his eyes as he listed off his many accomplishments "…I started the career I always wanted…helping give a few kids a chance at happiness so far…I have great friends around me…" swirly pink hair flashed in his mind "…and I'm marrying the love of my life tomorrow."
"Well, you know what they say, Cozzie boy." Spike grabbed his mojito for another sip. "The best revenge is success."
Just as his self-esteem had been restored, the groom's features fell solemnly "…too bad she'll never see it for herself."
"She don't gotta see it." Schnozmo set a reassuring hand to Cosmo's shoulder, making matching green eyes look towards him. "What matters is that you see it."
"Facts!" Thornton happily agreed.
Only seconds past before their server of the night returned with a tray of cups filled to the brim of apple and orange juice mixed with the bartender's choice of assorted sprits and hard liquor. "One round of Magic Bombs?"
"That's us!" Spike took the tray from the server to place in the center of the table. "Thank ya, kind sir!"
"No problem." the server smiled. "Lemme know when you need another round!"
With the server tending to other tables, Hip Hop transitioned to the triplet Drill beats as the groom and his posse all stood to clink their glasses together before sitting back in their seats. Thornton and Spike chugged their drinks with Thornton stopping about half way as his face scrunched from stinging burn in his throat. Spike managed a bit more than half way, wiping the vodka and bourbon from tingling his lips with the back of his hand.
Schnozmo ingested his entire drink as nothing more but mere juice, setting his glass down before he covered his mouth from a gulping burp. As the lightest weight out of the quartet, Cosmo took only a sip before his face distorted from the taste of what his tongue could only distinguish as pure, rubbing alcohol.
"Yo, remember when Wandro had put us onto Magic Bombs?" Thornton recalled fond memories of barhopping with Alewandro and Susie when he'd sometimes double date with his beloved LeShae, the girlfriend who he'd lost to crippling mental illness.
"Exactly why I ordered them." Spike and Rose had also gone on double dates with Alewandro and Susie, and these double dates also included more barhopping with nearly endless Magic Bombs.
"You mean Alewandro, right?" Schnozmo recognized the name that Cosmo had mentioned before "…the friend that died in that shooting?"
Just like that, bright smiles darkened to grave frowns, and chagrin hunched Schnozmo's shoulders.
"…sorry."
"Nah, it's cool." Thornton solemnly set his drink down, knowing Schnozmo meant no harm.
"Speaking of Wandro…" Cosmo squinted from another sip of rubbing alcohol with a side of apples and oranges. Staring down at the drink that he held with both hands "…I feel kinda bad that Magoo can't be here. Wanda and Blonda talk at least once a week, and from what I hear…life's been hard on 'em."
Spike sighed sympathetically "…can't imagine probation feelin' like a day at the spa..."
"And bro still got 199 years to go…" Thornton added with a groan.
"Wow…" Schnozmo swished the remaining ice in his cup. "…and this is cuz he killed someone, right?"
"Accidently." Thornton made clear. "His girlfriend's agent turned out to be some sick perv that was forcing himself on her when Juan defended him off of her."
"…and he's allowed around kids?"
"Barely." Cosmo recalled what Wanda had explained to him. "He has his license, but his probation officer makes it difficult for Fairy Council to give him permission to go to Earth."
"And his P.O. won't let him come to the wedding either…" Spike included, disappointed.
Schnozmo found this quite peculiar. "Really? Why?"
"Cuz he's a P.O." Spike scoffed. "He has Juan's freedom in the palm of his hands."
"Juan does everything he's supposed to do…" Thornton added. "But this P.O. just won't let him prosper."
Schnozmo huffed, rubbing his chin "…sounds like a hearing with the judge for a new P.O. to me."
"You think he would've shown up anyway?" Cosmo inquired "…cuz of Wandro?"
"Well, now that cha mention it, Ion know…" Thornton considered "…I mean, Susie's going only to keep a promise."
"Yeah, but Wandro was the family he grew up with." Spike mentioned. "Don't imagine he'd want much to do with weddings…"
It was Cosmo's turn to feel ashamed of damping the mood when they're supposed to cut loose and enjoy this once-in-a-lifetime night. "Sorry…I didn't mean to bring everyone down."
"Hey, it's your Bachelor party." Spike faintly smirked. "You'll be emo if you want to."
"Speakin' of…" Thornton lifted his now alcohol-free glass as emphasis. "…can we bring the moral back up?"
"Heard you." Spike widened his smile, flagging down the server to order another round of Magic Bombs.
Saturday, April 20th…the dawn of a very important day.
T-minus ten minutes before forbidden lovers became Mr. and Mrs.
Blush-pink walls and magenta carpet surrounded the female occupants of the bridal suite. A large mirror spread across one wall near the pearl-white vanity lined with multiple makeup bags, suitcases and backpacks stuffed with day clothes propped against rosy-velvet stools.
The Matron of Honor zipped the back of the bride's puff-sleeve dress bright in white's purity. A white-silk ribbon accentuated her waist, the length of its pleated skirt hemmed just above her white babydolls. The short sleeves, the silk train, and the fleece veil atop her bouncy rosette curls were all stitched with a frilly detailing to tie the entire outfit together.
A natural palette painted the bride's face; a faint amount of foundation, a delicate amount of concealer, a fair amount of eyeshadow fluffed in black mascara, the softest blush to rosy her cheeks, and lips plump in cherry lipstick shined with clear gloss.
A soft glam only to enhance the beauty that was already there.
"You look sooooo beautiful!" Rose gushed, silver valka wedge sandals paired with her dark-crimson cami dress ruched in black lace and fitted to her hourglass figure.
"Cosmo's gonna love it." Blonda agreed, white stilettos worn with her sleek bubble-pink midi dress flattering her hips with off-shoulder sleeves in a sweetheart neckline.
"Absolutely." Ruby concurred, raspberry waves parted down the middle past her back. Baby-blue eyes heavy with false lashes and red lipstick to compliment the keyhole neckline of her lantern-sleeve dress woven in royal red. Since Juandissimo couldn't attend the wedding, Blonda had invited Ruby, a fellow actress and friend dating back even before Poofy Pants, as her plus one.
The bride floated to the wall-width mirror, brushing her fuchsia manicure through the rosette swirls that flowed down her torso. Combing imperfections from her perfect curls.
"Wanda, you're gonna flatten your hair if you keep combing it!" Susie chuckled, gently restraining Wanda's arms from reaching another finger in that gorgeous hair of hers. Dressed in her tube dress with a mermaid hem and the full body of fuchsia satin embroidered in shamrock florals with dressy white slingback sandals to show off her fresh fuchsia pedicure.
"I know, I know…" Wanda pouted, spinning around to face her Matron of Honor. "I'm just nervous…"
"Girl, I get it." Susie moved to take both of Wanda's hands into hers, empathetic to the nerves of her sister from another mister. "But it's Cozzie! Your literal soulmate!"
"Plus, he's probably just as nervous as you." Rose theorized with a small smile.
"Probably…" based on their short text exchange this morning, her future husband was probably a heart attack away from shitting bricks. "But…" inhaling a trembling breath, Wanda met the gazes of ladies that were not just blood but chosen family. Even Ruby by association "…I-I want to thank all of you for being here…it truly means a lot."
"Sucks that your dad isn't here to give you away…" Ruby felt the need to remark.
"We don't want him here anyway…" Blonda's brow creased in antipathy. From fairy-napping Schnozmo out of petty resentment, to then fairy-nap Cosmo for his stupid mafia circle of torture. To physically assaulting Wanda in the face. Wanda harbored zero ties to the trash removal CEO ever since, and after losing all respect for the man she once called a father, Blonda supported her sister without a second thought.
As far as they were both concerned, Big Daddy was just as dead to them as their mother, Little Mamma.
"The only people who were invited are those who support our love." Wanda stated, doing her best to block out all hatred for her sperm donor so that the love for her future husband remained in her heart. "All others can suck it."
"And will!" Susie emphasized comically, glad that she could make the nervous bride laugh a little. She'd be lying if she said it was smooth sailing going through the motions of wedding preparations. She'd been in Wanda's very shoes, except Wanda's lover was still alive…and hers wasn't. Was she compensating with overused comedy as a coping mechanism? Absolutely. Seemed to work so far.
Gotta laugh to keep from crying…
A knock on the bridal suite door caught the attention of the occupants, a familiar voice following after. "It's Schnoz…you gals decent?"
"Wouldn't you like to know!" Blonda blithely teased her future in-law. Never too early, right?
"…I'll take that as a 'yes.'" they heard a quiet chuckle from behind the door, opening to Schnozmo dressed in his Versailles tuxedo with the blazer and pants combo crisp in jade dacron with black damask embroidery. Black dress shirt with popped collar beneath a black satin lapel was paired with black leather derbies polished to perfection. His dazzling outfit catching the lured gaze of Blonda's plus one.
"Lay it on me…" Wanda inched towards the brother of her groom, biting her lip. "How is he?"
"Even with a slight hangover, he's still an anxious wreck in there…" Schnozmo kept one casual hand in his tux pocket. He then acknowledged the Matron of Honor, pulling out his hand from his pocket with a male wedding band resting in his palm. "Delivery from the Best Man; his hands are full and I needed a breather."
"Thanks." Susie chuckled, floating to Schnozmo with a female wedding band retrieved from her tube top portion of her gown. "For you, sir!"
"Thank ya, Ms." Schnozmo grinned, taking the band. He then acknowledged the other ladies in the room with sociable nods. Including one woman of whom he couldn't recall ever meeting. There was a coquettish glimmer in her baby-blue orbs that caught his eye, and while his back-stabbing ex had made him happily single, he wasn't opposed to exploring his options.
The curve in her red lips brought a sly smirk in his cheek. His gaze fixed on her as he addressed the other ladies. "See you gals at the ceremony."
Ruby tucked a wavy strand behind her ear as her eye candy left the bridal suite. "Sooooo…" she turned to Blonda, a cunning bat in her lashes "…he's gonna be your in-law, right?"
Blonda met her with a suspecting look "…yeah?"
"…you got his number?"
"…why."
"Just wondering."
A five second staring match led Blonda to roll her eyes, making Ruby giggle with a playful shove. "OMG, Ruby, you're so dickstracted it's ridickulous!"
. . . . . .
Schnozmo returned to the emerald-beadboard siding and Castleton-green carpet of the groom's room, built-in ceiling lamps providing dim lighting onto brown leather furniture. Hovering over to the mocha fairy dressed in his white dress shirt with black bowtie and burnt-orange blazer fit slim to his build, accompanied with black slacks and the same alligator-print Madden loafers from last night.
"Any change?" Schnozmo asked, taking a seat next to Thornton who'd made himself comfortable on the couch.
"See for yourself." Thornton nonchalantly gestured to the Best Man still trying his hardest to ground the jittery groom talking a mile a minute. They'd been at this for the last twenty with such little progress.
White blazer and black tuxedo pants fresh from the dry cleaners, the groom wore a shamrock bowtie that matched his cummerbund. Paired with black-leather darbies and a black top hat with shamrock band nestled atop his mid-length shag. "What if she sees me and chickens out?! What if I see her and chicken out?! What if I forget my vows?! What if I forget how to talk all together-"
"Coz, look at me!" Spike shook his brother from another mother by the shoulders of the umpteenth time, wearing his shamrock-green tuxedo suit etched in fuchsia floral patterns with white monk-strap shoes. Keeping his own patience in check as stern blue stared into disheveled green. "Chill. The fuck. Out."
"But what if-"
"You'll be fine. Wanda will be fine. Everything will be fine. I promise" Spike summarized slowly and calmly, giving Cosmo's shoulders subtle emphasis with each phrase. "Sheesh, take a breath, will ya?"
Taking his best friend's advice, Cosmo willed his stiff lungs to expand before fear of the unknown blew past tight lips. This prompted Spike to bring Cosmo forward with a palm behind Cosmo's hair, gently pressing their foreheads together.
"Remember what you talked about last night?" despite his firm gaze, Spike's tone was gentle. "About you marrying the love of your life in spite of your mom? In spite of the Fairywinkles? Everything that's ever worked against you?"
The groom nodded weakly.
"Focus on that." Spike stressed tenderly. "When you're at the end of that alter standing in front of your girl, just tell yourself 'I did it. We did it.'"
One sweaty palm reached for Spike's arm, holding his sleeve as if to keep any semblance of sanity. When they'd first met senior year of high school, Spike had been like a brother before Cosmo even knew he had one by blood. Their brotherhood had crippling lows that had torn them apart, yet healing highs had repaired their broken bond. Solidifying it stronger than ever.
When Spike pulled away thinking irrational nerves had finally settled, Cosmo let go of his Best Man's arm, looking to Spike as a fond memory curled his lips "…remember Prom?"
"Wow, that feels like forever ago…" Spike had all but forgotten one of their many brotherly exchanges. "What about it?"
"You used to hate this kind of mushy stuff." Cosmo grinned. "What happened?"
"His fiancé is what happened." Thornton smirked from the couch, knowing a certain teal-eyed fairy who'd brought out the soft core to a hardened shell.
"I became a sap, I know." Spike smiled, half embarrassed to admit how disgustingly soft he'd gotten over the years.
"Love can make you soft." Schnozmo spoke from experience, the image of his ex Nebula soon wilting his eyes. "It can harden you, too…"
Their door received three hard knocks, and the groom's party turned to the wedding planner opening the door. She was a green-eyed fairy with platinum blonde curls tied in a low pony with a puffed front bang. elfin ears pierced with white pearls wearing a white button-up under a pink blouse with cerise slacks. "Hey! Just letting you know, we're about to start in five!"
"Thanks." Schnozmo politely acknowledged, and the wedding planner left to inform the bridal suite.
With time drawing near, Spike placed a friendly hand on Cosmo's shoulder, watching as Cosmo initiated another deep breath "…you ready?"
Terrified. But ready, nevertheless. Many days envisioning her swirly pink hair floating down the aisle, imagining their vows to each other. Many nights dreaming of their first kiss as husband and wife…would all come to fruition in T-minus five.
This was not a drill. This was not a dream.
…this was real.