"We want to help pay for the wedding," Martin told Elizabeth and Lucas.
"We appreciate that, Dad…"
"Son, I know you don't need us to pay for anything. You've done well for yourself. We want to take care of you in this way."
"My parents are paying for almost all of it," Elizabeth admitted.
"The honeymoon?" Martin asked.
"I already took care of that," Lucas told him. "We're going to Maui."
"What isn't covered by Elizabeth's parents and you, Son?"
"The caterer and minister."
"We'll cover those things then."
"Thank you, Dad."
Helen brought them something warm to drink a few moments later.
She watched Lucas hand Elizabeth a mug of warm coffee, keeping tea for himself. Then he wrapped his arm around her shoulders, their eyes locked, her cheeks flushed, seemingly having a conversation without words.
"Mom?"
"Hm?" Helen asked.
"Do you have something on your mind?"
"Seeing you with Noa and with Elizabeth, as a father and a soon-to-be husband…I'm just so proud."
"We…" Martin corrected gently.
"Of course, dear. Yes, we are so proud of you. You've made your own life, first in New York and now California. You've found your purpose, it seems."
"Yes." Lucas kissed Elizabeth's temple. "I know I'm meant to be Beth's husband and Noa's dad. They are my whole world."
"I love you," Elizabeth whispered, snuggling closer in his arms. "You're my whole world too."
His eyes drifted lazily to her lips but he'd wait to kiss her until his parents weren't watching every move they made.
"Daddy?!" Noa yelled. Lucas looked up and stood, hurrying off to see what was bothering Noa.
"She has nightmares sometimes," Elizabeth told Martin and Helen. "Lucas is the one she calls because he protects her from scary things. She told me that once. They have such a strong connection even though they haven't known each other that long."
"Hey, sweet pea," Lucas said softly, walking into her room. "What's wrong?"
"Please don't leave me!" she sobbed, climbing into his arms after he sat on her bed.
"I'm not going anywhere, baby. It was just a bad dream." He rocked her back and forth in his arms, stroking her soft, brown hair. "Shhhh, it's alright. It wasn't real."
"Promise?"
"Yes, sweet girl. I promise."
Later as he struggled to fall asleep on the couch which was much too short for his long body, he felt someone nearby. His eyes popped open.
"Hi, sweetheart," he whispered, tucking Elizabeth's curls behind her ear when she knelt in front of him.
"I can't sleep."
"Me either."
He moved back on the couch to make room for her to lay down and lifted the blanket. "Wanna join me?"
"Yes."
He smiled and then sighed when she snuggled in, wrapping her arms around him, intertwining their legs and feet. She fit perfectly. She always had.
"Mmm, you're warm," she whispered. He shivered when he felt her icy fingers slide under his t-shirt.
"Good grief! Babe, you are not warm."
She laughed and snuggled closer, if that was even possible. "Thank you, Luke."
"For what?"
"Bringing me here. I love your parents, even if I barely know them. Looking at and listening to your dad is like looking at you in thirty years."
He chuckled and flipped her over onto her back so she was essentially below him. He was careful not to put all his weight on her though.
"Lucas," she whispered, softly running her nails up his back.
"Yeah?"
"I love you."
"I love you too."
He leaned down, softly teasing her mouth with his. She could easily lose herself in his kisses. And arms. And everything.
"I…think…we…should…" She began between kisses.
"Mommy?"
Lucas jumped and then fell off onto the floor. "Ugh."
"Yes, baby?"
"My arm hurts. Can I have medicine?"
"Of course you can, bugs. Let's go get some."
Elizabeth giggled at Lucas who just stayed on the floor.
"Mommy? Why was Daddy on top of you?"
"Hush now. We don't want to wake up Grandpa or Nana."
….
The next morning
Helen was sipping her coffee in the kitchen when Noa walked in.
"Hello, Noa."
"Hi, Nana."
"How did you sleep?"
She shrugged and leaned against Helen.
"What is it, dear? Does your arm hurt?"
"A little."
Helen kissed the top of her head. "Would you like to eat breakfast?"
"Can you make me egg yellows? Please?"
"You mean the yolks?"
"Yep! And toast with honey? You can have my white parts, Nana."
"Nana doesn't like eggs, Noa," Martin said. "But I'll eat them."
"Okay!" She raised her arms up and he picked her up. "I love you, Grandpa."
"I love you right back, sunshine."
"Morning, everyone," Lucas said, walking into the room.
"Hi, Daddy! Nana is making me yellows and Grandpa's gonna eat the white parts."
"That's nice of him, sweet pea."
That was his dad. Nice. Quiet. Always showing love to family. Martin Bouchard was one of a kind and Lucas strived to be like him.
"Son?" Martin said, staring up at Lucas.
Lucas squeezed his dad's shoulder and kissed the top of his head. "Love you, Dad."
"Love you too, Lucas."
When it came time to fly back home that evening, it took a little more effort for Lucas. He hadn't felt homesick for his parents before but seeing how they responded to Noa, drew him in.
"You okay?" Elizabeth asked him as they sat on the plane waiting to take off.
He blinked away the tears in his eyes.
"Aw, babe. What is it?"
"I miss them already."
Noa patted his leg. "I miss them too, Daddy. It's OK to cry."
"Thank you, baby girl."
He leaned down and kissed her soft hair. Then he put his head back on his seat and closed his eyes.
He may feel homesick for his parents but he'd see them very soon. In the meantime, the two girls who meant the most to him in the whole world, were going home with him. That was what counted.
….
March 29th, The wedding weekend
It was a warm and sunny weekend for late March in San Diego. That was perfect for the festivities.
It was Saturday and they were going to have a fancy brunch with the family and the wedding party. After that, the women, including Noa, were going to hang out at the beach, drink cocktails, a mocktail for Noa, and just relax.
"Mommy, I'm staaaarving," Noa told her.
"I know, punkin. Let's go pick up Daddy and go to eat."
"Yay! Can I have yellows?"
"Of course."
"Cool."
Elizabeth looked around at the last pile of boxes in her living room. It would be moved to their new house the day after the wedding by Carson and Faith.
Elizabeth had carefully packed everything they would potentially need at the new house and it was already there. Including Noa's things. These boxes just had extra blankets and linens and pots and pans that she figured they could donate. Lucas had bought new everything.
"Mommy?"
"Sorry, babe. Let's go."
She would miss the house. It had been a good four years living there but she was definitely ready to make their new home with her new husband and their daughter.
"Mmm, you look very bridal and gorgeous," Lucas told her a few minutes later as he slid into the passenger seat of her car.
"Thanks!"
He put his hand on her knee, admiring her tan, long, toned legs peeking out from her short dress.
"Hi, Daddy! I'm so so hungry."
"Hi, sweet pea. I'm hungry too."
Elizabeth felt his hand slip a bit higher and his thumb stroke her skin. She shivered and he smirked.
She caught his eye and blushed when he winked. "Ready for Maui, Beth?"
"Very."
"Packed?"
"Yep. You?"
"Oh yeah. My suitcase is in the back of my car. Did I tell you dad is driving us to the airport?"
"No, but that's good. I'd rather not leave either of our cars at the lot for two weeks."
"I'm gonna be five soon, Daddy! In two months, Mommy says."
"I know," he said, turning and smiling at the second love of his life. "Are you excited?"
"Yep and I'm going to kindergarten!" she cheered, making him chuckle.
They chatted for the next thirty minutes and finally made it. Faith and Beth's sisters had wanted to throw this brunch for them and Elizabeth wasn't going to say no. They had given her a small lingerie party a few days before and she insisted a Bachelorette party wasn't necessary.
As the three of them walked into the country club that Viola had rented for today, Noa skipped ahead giving Elizabeth a chance to stop Lucas.
She squeezed his hand and then moved into his space, her hands up on his shoulders. "Just so you know, you have never looked sexier than you do right now."
"Is that so?"
"Mmm." She nodded and kissed him slow and deep. "You, in a pair of dark jeans…amazing."
"My jeans, huh?"
"Your long legs and how the pants look from behind…."
"So you're saying I have a good butt?" he asked, his dimples popping.
"Yeah and this dress shirt, unbuttoned so I can see just a little bit of chest hair."
"Um, guys," Noa said, hands on her hips. "I'm still hungry."
Lucas chuckled, kissed Elizabeth again and they walked inside. Was it tomorrow yet?
….
The crazy amount of food at the brunch was crazy. Sadly, there were only deviled eggs for Noa and she apparently didn't like those.
"No! Daddy! Mommy said I could have yellows!"
Lucas didn't know what to do with an obstinate Noa. He'd seen her upset but the sobbing, yelling, frowning child next to him was an unknown.
"I'm sorry, baby. I didn't know there wouldn't be regular eggs."
"You're mean!"
That hit Lucas right in the heart. He knew she didn't mean those words but it still stung.
Elizabeth walked over, picked her up and carried her out of the room. Lucas watched them leave and kicked himself that he hadn't thought to take her out of the situation too.
A few moments later, Elizabeth carried Noa back in. "What do you have to say to Daddy, punkin?"
Lucas placed his hand on her back. Noa turned and launched her little body into Lucas' arms. "I'm sorry, Daddy. I'm sorry I threw a fit."
"And…" Elizabeth prompted.
"And called you mean. You're not, Daddy."
He dried her tears and hugged her tight. "Okay, thank you. Are you sleepy?" She nodded.
"And hungry."
"How about some fruit, honey? They have strawberries. You like those."
"I guess," she sighed dramatically.
"That's my girl."
When they sat down with their guests, Noa had strawberries, a tiny little sandwich and a bag of chips. She smiled a little smile at Nana Grace who came over to say hello.
"Well, are you two ready for tomorrow?"
"Yes!" they answered in unison with a whole lot of feeling causing people to laugh.
"Have you two practiced yet?" Julie, Elizabeth's sister asked, sitting down across the table.
"Practiced what?" Elizabeth wondered.
"The kiss."
"Trust me, we don't need to practice," Lucas said with a smirk.
"Luke," Elizabeth hissed, her cheeks turning red.
"What? It's true. We know how to kiss."
She wasn't denying it but why talk about it around a room full of people?
"You should practice. Seriously," Julie told them. "You don't want to embarrass yourselves at the ceremony."
"No one will embarrass anyone," Elizabeth assured her younger sister.
As they swayed later to music Julie insisted they practice their first dance with, Lucas chuckled. "As much as I don't think we need to practice our kiss for the ceremony, practicing would be a lot of fun." He let his lips trace a gentle line from her temple down her cheek to her chin before settling on her mouth.
"Mm," she mumbled, smiling against his lips. "I love you."
"To the moon."
"All the way."