[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]

"We only need a few photographs and then you can take it off," she said in as soothing a voice as she could manage. "You look incredible though."

It was while the photographs were being taken that it dawned on her that she was a bride whose professional photos couldn't really be shown to very many people and would never be published in the paper in the 'Just Married' section. On the upside, she could take some of them to work to show off to people who hadn't gotten an invite.

In the guest house, she turned her back on Webb and lifted her hair. "Undo me?"

[fakes-death.livejournal.com]

"Alright," And he did so after a few minutes of trying to figure out exactly how to undo the back of the dress.

"Can't wait to see the other one."

[freshoffthefarm]

Dressed in nothing but her extremely expensive and brand-new lingerie, she hung up her first dress in the closet and turned to look at him. Her nieces had brought out the second one immediately after the ceremony so that it would be ready for her to change into.

"You can see it after you appreciate what I'm wearing underneath it all."

[fakes-death.livejournal.com]

"Wow...Annie." If he wasn't trained as a spy his jaw would have hit the floor.

[freshoffthefarm]

Since his reaction was so nice, she forgave him for his somewhat lackluster reaction to her wedding gown. She stepped closer and began to help him undress, too, her lips trailing along his jaw.

"I'm glad you like it," she whispered. "Let's get you out of your uncomfortable suit."

[fakes-death.livejournal.com]

"Yes, let's."

And he was very glad he rented this suit. It could wind up on the floor and he didn't particularly care. Which is exactly where the jacket wound up. He did manage to have enough sense to put his wedding gift from Annie in his jewelry box on the dresser.

[freshoffthefarm]

Annie wasn't removing any of her jewelry because, as far as she was concerned, her new husband could make love to her while she glittered in the afternoon sun that was pouring into the room.

Once he was mostly naked, she pulled him close again and slid her hands up into his hair. "You've made me the happiest person in the world today."

[fakes-death.livejournal.com]

"I don't know about that, you're competing with me."

He ran his hands down the sides of her corset before bending his head and kissing her along her collar bone, "Is it going to be too much work to get back into this?"

[freshoffthefarm]

"I'll let you win today if you let me win tonight," she countered and then arched into his touch. Inhaling deeply, she smiled at his question, shaking her head slowly. "No, not that much work at all. It'll be worth it. Unless you want me to leave it on."

[fakes-death.livejournal.com]

"Sounds fair."

Clay didn't answer and instead took his time unhooking the front of her corset, dropping a kiss where each hook was.

[freshoffthefarm]

"Oh, my God."

It came out breathless as his mouth moved lower and, as her eyes fluttered shut, the fact that they had guests -- people that were waiting for them to change and return to the party -- completely flew out of her mind. The fingers in her hair softened in their grip and she sighed a moan that ended in his name.

[fakes-death.livejournal.com]

Clay tried his best to back Annie against the bed, she did all the work the previous night, this time he would. His plan was to kiss Annie everywhere she'd let him. Clay thought he was doing a pretty good job so far.

[freshoffthefarm]

At the moment, there was no place that Annie wouldn't let her kiss him. Laying back on the guesthouse bed with her eyes closed and the sensations washing over her, Annie was completely caught up in what he was doing. To show her appreciation, she gave into little sighs and soft moans, her body arching toward him whenever he did something that was particularly pleasing.

It didn't take long before she was panting.

[fakes-death.livejournal.com]

There was no question in his mind that everyone at the house was going to know exactly what they were doing while they were "changing" for the day and he didn't particularly care. They were both enjoying being married and that's all that mattered.

Clay took his time, and did his best to make sure Annie enjoyed this more than he did.

[freshoffthefarm]

Annie was absolutely enjoying herself, though she was being quiet about it. His hair was certainly taking a beating though, and she was grateful that he had a brush and every other necessary item needed to make themselves presentable after.

As it was, she was going to take a moment to catch her breath. "Um..." Another breath as she rolled to her side and closed her eyes. "I love you."

[fakes-death.livejournal.com]

Clay just set the alarm for 20 minutes, then put his arms around her, "Love you too."

[freshoffthefarm]

"If we fall asleep, people will be completely aware of what we've done as opposed to getting up now and letting them assume we just took a few extra minutes to get dressed," she said around a yawn. "Maybe ten?"

[fakes-death.livejournal.com]

"Ten it is. All the fasteners on your gown were complicated." He was sure she could hear the joke in his voice.

[freshoffthefarm]

"It was."

Ten minutes went by in a hurry and she'd barely dozed off when the alarm went off. Opening her eyes with a deep breath and she sat up, pushing her hair out of the way. "When I fix my hair, people will assume it's because we had sex."

[fakes-death.livejournal.com]

"Let them think whatever they want. We're just celebrating being married, alone, behind a locked door."

He sat up too and looked over with a smile.

[freshoffthefarm]

"Behind a locked door because we're only half done with the party, still have another--" She looked at the clock, "Six hours of entertaining, at least. Later just isn't an option."

Standing, she pulled her second dress out of the closet and held it up. "This is it."

[fakes-death.livejournal.com]

"I love it. Loved the other one too."

Which he hoped she knew from the way he stared at her as she walked toward him.

"You have excellent taste."

[freshoffthefarm]

"Will you button it for me when I'm in it?" She was already hooking up the corset again and it wasn't nearly as difficult as it looked. Hooking up her stockings took a moment and then the dress went over her head.

[fakes-death.livejournal.com]

While Annie got back into the corset, Clay put on his shorts and tuxedo shirt.

"Of course," he said as he went to work on the buttons, suddenly thankful his every day suit had a lot of them. Made things easier.

[freshoffthefarm]

Once she was dressed again, for the most part, she went to work on her hair, making it look a lot like it had before she'd been taken to bed. Then she watched him, using the mirror to do so, a small smile on her face.

"I love you."