"I'm telling you, Lita, my Aunt Isabelle would love to come. She's the life of every party."
Aelita raises an eyebrow and gives her fiancé a quizzical look. "Aunt Isabelle? You've never mentioned her before. Which side of the family is she from?"
"Oh, she's on my mom's side." William smiles. "You know, the creative and eccentric bunch. She's an artist, so she always brings a sort of... avant-garde touch to family gatherings."
Aelita furrows her brow. "Your mom's side? I thought your mom only had two sisters and then a brother."
William scratches his head, "Well, technically, Isabelle is Mom's cousin, but we're so close we call her Aunt. Trust me, you'll love her."
"Okay, but how about we focus on the ones we're sure about first? Your family tree is starting to look more like a forest, and I'm getting lost." Aelita hugs herself with her arms. "Besides... I don't really have any family to invite. It's just me around here."
William wraps his arms around Aelita. "I'm sorry, Princess. I didn't mean to upset you."
"It's okay. I'm not upset. Just a little overwhelmed, that's all."
"I understand. We can take a break if you want."
"No, it's okay. Let's keep going."
"Okay, if you say so."
They continue planning, and the list of guests grows longer and longer. William stares at it, scratching his head. "Wow. That's... a lot of people..."
"Yeah, it's a little scary when you think about it," Aelita agrees. "And I still feel kind of weird about not having any family on my side. There's no way to keep things even, per se."
William takes a beat to consider her words. "You know, maybe it's better if we just nix the entire guest list."
"Huh?" Aelita asks, confused.
"Yeah, let's just have a small ceremony. Just the two of us and a couple of witnesses."
"Really?"
"Yeah, why not? It'll be simpler and way less stressful, that's for sure."
"I guess so," she responds reluctantly.
"So, what do you think? Small and intimate, or big and extravagant?"
Aelita considers his question. She'd always imagined herself standing in front of a large crowd, but looking at the nearly three-page-long guest list in front of her and William, she's almost second-guessing herself. "Small and intimate," she decides.
"Perfect," William says, a smile spreading across his face. "That's exactly what I was hoping you'd say."
"Really?"
"Yeah, really. I don't need a big, fancy wedding. All I need is you."
"Aw, Will. That's so sweet." Aelita gives him a quick peck on the cheek. "I love you."
"I love you too, Princess."
Just then, Aelita's phone rings. She picks it up and sees that it's none other than her best friend. "Hello?"
"Hey, Lita! What are you up to? Odd and I are bored out of our minds and thought we'd see if you wanted to hang out."
"Actually, William and I were just doing some wedding planning and, frankly, we could use a break."
"Ooh, fun! Can we help?"
"Sure, why not? Where are you guys?"
"We're sitting in my dorm right now."
"Okay. Why don't you two come by the Hermitage and help us out?"
"You got it! See you in a bit!"
Aelita hangs up the phone and turns to William. "Well, Sissi and Odd are coming over."
"Oh?" William chuckles. "That'll make things interesting."
Fifteen minutes later, there's a knock at the front door, and Aelita gets up to answer it.
"Hey, Lita," Sissi says, giving Aelita a hug.
"Hey, Sissi," Aelita replies, returning the hug.
Odd is right behind her, a grin on his face. "Hey, Leets."
"Hi, Odd. Please never call me that again."
He gives a curt nod, attempting to hold back laughter. "Understood."
"So, what's this I hear about wedding planning?" Sissi asks, her eyes sparkling with excitement.
"Yeah, we're just ironing out some of the details," Aelita answers.
"Like what?"
"We're having a lot of trouble with the guest list. And that's caused some other changes."
"Uh oh. Go on."
The four of them sit down and start brainstorming ideas.
"So, what have you got so far?" Sissi starts.
"Well," William starts, "the most important detail right now is that we've decided to elope."
Sissi gasps. "Elope? Really? I always imagined this big, beautiful event for you two."
"Yeah, really," William replies simply. "I have too big a family and she, well, she doesn't have any. It's easier this way."
"Well ain't this a surprise," Sissi exclaims.
"Caught me off guard, too," Aelita says.
"Then with all that figured out, when is this actually happening?" Odd asks.
"Uh, we didn't get that far," William says sheepishly. "But I was thinking probably before I sign with a pro team."
"What?" Aelita's gaze shoots to William. "The way things are going, that's not that far away."
A slight frown shoots across William's face. "Yeah, really. Why not?"
"I dunno. I just feel like that's so quick, Will. We'll barely even have time to enjoy being engaged."
William turns to Odd and Sissi. "Do you guys mind giving us a second?"
"Of course, buddy," Odd responds. "Take all the time you need." He shoots Sissi a knowing glance.
William turns back to Aelita. "Can I talk to you in the kitchen?"
"Okay? Is everything alright, Will?"
He stands up. "Everything's fine. This just sounds like it's gonna be a conversation I'd rather not have those two idiots involved in." He looks at his two friends across the room. "No offense."
Sissi sticks out her tongue, but doesn't say anything, and Odd just chirps, "You're good. We'll wait right here."
William nods and leads Aelita into the kitchen and out of sight and earshot of Odd and Sissi. "Is there something wrong with wanting to get married so quickly?" he asks almost accusingly as he crosses his arms.
"I don't know, Will. We haven't even been together for a year and a half altogether, and I really had wanted to enjoy our time being engaged. Not to mention, I still have a year of school left. I'm just a little unsure that moving this quickly is the best idea for us."
"That makes me a little sad, Princess," he says, dropping his arms. "I thought we would be on the same page about this."
"Please, honey. Don't get me wrong. I want nothing more than to be your wife and spend the rest of my life with you, but..." She trails off, trying to think of what to say. "I don't know, Will. Why do you think you want to get married so quickly?"
"Well, for one, to show those crazy-ass fans of mine that I'm taken once and for all. Maybe seeing us actually married would finally shut them up."
"That's not a good reason to marry someone, Will, regardless of how quick the engagement is," Aelita chides.
"Fair point," he admits. "But honestly, doesn't the saying go, 'when you know, you know?' If it were really just about shutting my fans up, then I'd be insisting on the enormous, lavish ceremony. I just want the world to know you're mine, and I really don't care how that happens or when it happens. Just that it happens."
Aelita sighs, knowing he has a point. "Alright. I understand. Before you sign with a Ligue 1 team it is. Which I guess means this summer?"
Odd's voice rings from the other room. "Hey, you two! Everything going alright in there?"
"Well, we haven't killed each other, if that's what you're wondering!" William shouts back. "We'll be back in a sec!" He lets out a chuckle as he looks down at his fiancée, who is also giggling herself.
"Sounds like we should get back," Aelita says with a smile.
"Yup. Sounds like it for sure," he says as he smiles back. "Are we alright?"
"Yes, my love."
They walk out of the kitchen, hand-in-hand, to Sissi giving Aelita her an "I know what you just did" look. William sees the non-verbal exchange and laughs. "No, Sissi. We just talked about things and we're moving forward with the plan of eloping."
"Dammit," Sissi curses under her breath as she reaches into her purse and pulls out her wallet. She drops twenty euros in Odd's hand and pouts.
"Stop betting on us!" Aelita shouts at her friend before she freezes. "Wait. Sissi. You just gave Odd money." She turns to William who is equally in disbelief. "Sissi lost a bet about us. Sissi. Lost a bet. About us."
"What has the world come to, right?" Odd chirps, playing with his fresh bank note.
Sissi just grumbles and continues to pout. "Ahem. Anyway. Now that you've decided to elope, that pretty much takes care of the guest list."
"Yup," William agrees. "It'll just be us, Bastien and Maeve, and you two."
Sissi's eyes light up. "Really? Us too?"
"Are you dumb?" Aelita says, looking at Sissi incredulously. "You're our best friends. Why would we not invite you? Also, I distinctly remember someone claiming my maid of honor spot already."
"Hey, just had to make sure," Sissi says, her eyes glistening with tears. "I'm honored."
"We're honored to have you," William says with a smile.
Odd clears his throat. "So, uh, where are you guys thinking of going?"
"We haven't really thought about it yet," Aelita admits.
"Well, you should," Sissi advises. "It's an important decision."
"How about Mexico?" Odd asks animatedly.
"No," William responds almost immediately. "I'd rather not have to worry about dying at the hands of a cartel."
"Oh, come on, Will. Gotta go big or go home with an elopement!" Odd crosses his arms. "Australia?"
"Don't they have gigantic tarantulas down there? I'd rather choke myself to death than see a giant spider," Sissi quickly answers.
William and Aelita shoot her a look.
"What?" she asks. "Just saying."
"Okay," Aelita says, holding back a smile. "No to Australia."
"Italy?"
"Eh," William responds. "Too touristy."
"Canada?"
"Nah," William answers. "I've got family there. Too many expectations to celebrate."
"France?"
"We live here, Odd," Aelita points out.
"We do live in the City of Love."
"It's not special enough," William counters.
"Fine," Odd says, rolling his eyes. "How about the States? New York City?"
"Hmm," William hums. "Nope."
"Why not?"
"Too many choices. I think you forget just how big America is."
"England?"
"Nah."
"Ugh, you guys are impossible," Odd groans.
"We're not trying to be," Aelita says.
Suddenly, Sissi sits up straighter and looks at William. "I have an idea."
"What is it?" he asks.
"What about Ireland?"
"Ireland?"
"Yeah, Ireland. It's beautiful there, and it's not too far away. Plus, they have castles."
"Ireland," William repeats, considering the suggestion.
"I think it's perfect," Aelita says, a smile spreading across her face.
Sissi is nearly bouncing up and down in her seat. "Really?"
"I think it's perfect too," William agrees.
"Ireland it is, then," Sissi declares.
"Ireland it is," Aelita and William echo.