[WEDDING] ... her perfect day

[freshoffthefarm]

The sun woke her up a good fifteen minutes before her alarm went off. That was her story and she was sticking to it. It was more true that she'd needed the sleeping pill that Danielle had slipped her once she'd snuck back in from her midnight blindfold visit to Webb, but it wasn't true that it had worked as well as it could have. She didn't wake up tired or even stressed, but calm. Married. Today was the day that she'd dreamed of off and on over the last six years, while at the same time wondering where it had all gone wrong. Today, she was marrying the man of her dreams -- and really, how many women got to say that?

Once the moment of introspection was done, she turned on her side, excited. Wrapping an arm around Danielle's waist, she squeezed lightly until she felt her sister hug her arm.

"I'm getting married today," she said quietly and felt her sister nod.

"I know. I've been helping you plan for a few months. I've been cooking for a day and a half," came the sleepy reply. Annie grinned even bigger.

"Come on, get up. I want to grab an apple and a granola bar before everyone in the house gets up. Twenty-seven bedrooms of people looking for breakfast is going to be unholy."

Danielle rolled onto her back and Annie got out of the way, propping herself up on her elbow to look at her sister. "This is why we gave everyone baskets of fruit and stuff like that in their rooms last night. No one has any reason to be out wandering around that kitchen. In fact, they need to be out of it. With the caterers coming in to help in--" Danielle leaned back to look at the clock, "-- a half hour, you need to get in the shower so you can dry your hair and get started. The guys are all cooped up so we can at least wander freely."

Annie nodded. Everything was set in terms of the people they'd hired to set up and serve at both receptions, not to mention the set up on the large lawn for all the guests. There were so many people in the house that she had tasked her nieces with cameras that she could filter later. While a lot of the guests had covers that couldn't be compromised and many others were people that lived for publicity, they'd had to find a delicate balance with a photographer: all proofs, negatives and cards surrendered after the wedding itself. Photographs would be developed by the happy couple and the photographer could charge the same price as usual.

After Danielle was dressed and had left the room to go check on final arrangements and to make sure the lawn was perfect before coming back with Chloe and Katia.

"Everything is going to be set. The rest of the lunch is going to be ready as the ceremony is done, the tables are all set up on the opposite side of the house and the aisle and arch look amazing. Annie, it's all perfect." Danielle looked so pleased with herself that Annie felt tears well up and her sister panicked. "No. Stop that, don't you dare. Actually, no. Do it now before your makeup is on. Do you need a Xanax?"

Annie laughed. "No, I'm fine. Come on, get dressed. Girls? Start with your hair, so you can step into your dresses. Katia, once you're done, please go and get the box of flowers downstairs? It's the one hidden especially for us."

It was makeup first for Annie so she didn't muss her dress, and then her hair. It didn't take long, thankfully, and then she stepped into her dress. It wasn't until she pulled out her wedding gift from Webb that Danielle's eyes widened and Annie actually blushed. "I know. It matches a necklace he gave me years ago. It's in the box there--" After Danielle fastened it, Annie looked at herself and nodded. "I think he'll like it, don't you?"

Danielle just nodded. There was a knock on the door and Danielle went to open it -- Auggie.

"I assume I'm allowed in since I can't actually see the bride?" Annie laughed.

"Come in. Are you ready?" She looked him over. "Because I don't know who dressed you this morning, but you look amazing." Stepping forward, she gave him a hug.

"Are you insinuating that I can't dress myself on a normal day?" Auggie kissed her cheek and ran his hand over her waist. "This is beautiful, isn't it?"

"It's okay," she answered with a smile. "So far, we've decided he'll like it."

"He's never just liked you in anything," Auggie countered, the look on his face saying it all and Annie blushed again. "Now, are you ready to get this show on the road? From what I've heard, the guests are almost all seated and the groom and his men were headed up the aisle in the next couple of minutes."

Sure enough, Annie could hear music playing. "That's our cue, isn't it?"

Opening the box Katia had brought up, Danielle handed both girls small versions of Annie's bouquet, while keeping a medium sized one for herself. It was at that point that Annie thought she might need to take a breath and it was then that Auggie's voice in her ear did the job it always did: calm her down.

"You can do this. Think of it as the op of a lifetime."

Annie smiled at him and turned her head to kiss his cheek. "What would I do without you?"

He shrugged bashfully and smiled in her direction. "Run away from the happiest you've ever been?"

Annie laughed. "Never again."

The entire bridal party headed toward the double doors at the back and waited for the signal that it was time to exit the house. The backyard had been decorated stunningly, with white rose petals lining the grassy aisle. The President had arrived an hour earlier, and important people were scattered throughout the seats. Annie didn't care about any of it. Once the music started, she only had eyes for Clay.

Holding onto Auggie's arm, she walked slowly down the aisle in the blue shoes he'd bought her for this particular occasion, her eyes focused on his. No, she wasn't going to cry, she was entirely too happy. Her life was perfect.

Comments

[freshoffthefarm]

"I am." She was smiling softly and sniffling and then shook her head. "I can't cry or I'll screw up my makeup and Danielle will kill us both. Let's go."

[fakes-death.livejournal.com]

Clay stood and took her arm before getting his hat again, "Let's go."

Outside he had to be social and make nice with everyone who was staying with them, thankfully he's used to being a bureaucrat.

[freshoffthefarm]

Annie wasn't so much used to being a bureaucrat, but she had a lot of experience mingling and making nice in the field, so she did that now. Giving him a small kiss at the back door, she waited until the applause died down as their guests saw them again and then they split up to make the rounds.

The music played lightly in the background -- Webb had said a DJ, which she'd procured for the evening, but a four-piece orchestra sat in the corner of the yard for the morning brunch, which was on the way. Weaving in and out of the tables, she shook hands and accepted kisses and hugs from everyone she saw, including Joan and Arthur, making small talk as she did.

[fakes-death.livejournal.com]

Webb was impressed. Annie always thought she wouldn't fit in in his social circles. He, on the other hand, firmly believed that CIA Deception training was a perfect starting point.

Clay made his own rounds talking to everyone, and even joking with Arthur about their affinity for younger blondes who are better with guns than they are.

[freshoffthefarm]

Annie was still fairly certain she wouldn't fit in with the social circles that he'd grown up in, the ones that his mother had floated in. Yes, those people were there, too, and a lot of the top people from DC's elite. As long as she could fake it with a smile and the best training the CIA could offer, she was going to be fine.

When all else failed, she could find Auggie and Jai and cheese cubes. Really, they were like the Three Musketeers and, even in her wedding dress, wearing more diamonds than she'd ever worn in her life, she found it easy to laugh with her best friends. The fact that they stayed near the banquet table while the servers prepared brunch as if it were another awards ceremony said a lot about the way the hierarchy still worked at the Agency.

She was having a ball.

[fakes-death.livejournal.com]

Eventually, Webb made his way over to Annie after making the rounds of the room a few times. Now, he was practically starving and made use of the buffet.

[freshoffthefarm]

"You're acting like you haven't eaten all day," she teased as she joined him at their table. Picking at the fruit and bacon he'd chosen, she smiled at him and kissed his cheek. "Did you get to say hi to everyone?"

[fakes-death.livejournal.com]

"I haven't."

Clay cleaned his plate in record time, "And yes, I did."

[freshoffthefarm]

Annie shouldn't have been amused at the way he ate his food so quickly, but she was. "Stay here."

Going to the buffet table, she caught up with the President, whom she hadn't ever met in person before. After accepting well-wishes and congratulations, she made Clay a second plate and went back to hand it all to him, kissing him on the top of his head.

"Your friend says hi," she told him, motioning to the man who was waving.

[fakes-death.livejournal.com]

Webb waved back, "You mean my boss? I'm sure he does."

Though Annie did win wife of the year by bringing him another plate of food, which he seemed to eat just as quickly as the last one.

[freshoffthefarm]

"Please don't casually refer to the President of the United States as your boss," Annie said, her smile never faltering as she followed the wave and gave another small one of her own. "That's just..." She turned to look at him and laughed lightly. "Weird."

Which was probably just as weird as calling her husband the Director of the CIA, if she really thought about it, which she wasn't going to. "Come dance with me?"

[fakes-death.livejournal.com]

"It's not like I called him John," which was, his first name.

He finished eating and made sure to wipe his hands before standing to dance with Annie, "I'd love to dance with you."

Which he did with less flare than he planned to use for their official first dance, and was more concerned with enjoying being with his wife.

His wife, talk about terminology that was weird.

[freshoffthefarm]

"As long as you don't invite John to poker nights," she said under her breath just loud enough for him to hear as she let him pull her along to the dance floor.

Standing off to the side so no one would really notice them, they swayed slightly until they were noticed and then Annie shook her head. "Later. We'll dance more later. I promise."

[fakes-death.livejournal.com]

"John isn't invited to poker nights," he said as he leaned in closer, "Usually because we wind up complaining about him and his administration."

Clay turned so Annie wouldn't feel like everyone was staring at her, "Song's almost over."

[freshoffthefarm]

She swore her giddy feeling was going to take over if he kept on getting close like that. She wanted to pull him even closer and do indecent things to him and right now, his boss, and the hundred other people just like him milling around on their lawn were the only thing stopping her.

"Mmm," she murmured, a shiver going down her back. Thankful he'd turned her, she settled for resting her temple on his shoulder and closing her eyes. "This is my idea of the perfect day."

[fakes-death.livejournal.com]

"Mine too. It's even caviar free." It was Clay's lame attempt at humor.

[freshoffthefarm]

She laughed, turning her face into his neck before pulling back and looking up at him as the song ended. "That's all you needed for a perfect day was to have it caviar free? You're so easy."

[fakes-death.livejournal.com]

"It's not the only thing, but it helps," he said as he led her away from the dance floor.

Getting married to Annie helped too. Looking back he had no idea why he was so terrified back then, especially knowing how good he felt now.

[freshoffthefarm]

"As long as you're happy with it," she told him as she eased back into her seat, threading her fingers through his. Looking around the yard at all their friends, she gave him another smile, resting her head on his shoulder. "Everyone looks so happy."

[fakes-death.livejournal.com]

"I think it's because they are happy."

He slid his arm around her waist.

[freshoffthefarm]

"That's good because I'm thrilled." Tilting her head up, she kissed his jaw and then closed her eyes. It was extremely intimate, but she was counting on the fact that everyone else was occupied with food and drink and talking and dancing and having a good time. She inhaled deeply and then opened her eyes to focus on the crowd again. It was like a party with two hundred of their closest (and not) friends. Their evening party would narrow that to their actual friends and be even better.

A wicked smile appeared. "You do know that later, you'll have to dance with Chloe, right?"

[fakes-death.livejournal.com]

He didn't mind their little intimate moment, as he doubted anyone was really paying attention to them. After all, today was supposed to be the day he and Annie celebrated being in love with one another. As far as Webb was concerned, if anyone said anything, he'd just assume they're jealous.

Webb just grinned in response to the mention of Annie's niece, and held up the hand with his wedding ring on it, "Taken."

[freshoffthefarm]

Taking his hand, she laughed. "Yes, you are. That doesn't mean you can't dance with her. She's been looking forward to it for weeks and I think she's even been practicing. Be nice."

[fakes-death.livejournal.com]

"I'm always nice to your nieces."

[freshoffthefarm]

"Which means that since you broke her heart today, you can dance with her tonight." Kissing his ring, she dropped his hand and stood. "I'm going to go find Auggie and rescue him from whatever women have scooped him up."