21st March, 2016

Despite the chill in the March air, spring had definitely arrived in Rhy'Din. And with it had come a date that had been looked forward to for months - a wedding. Two, in fact. Elle and Dominic had enthusiastically offered to share their wedding day with Ashlyn and James, each couple as eager as the other to tie the knot sooner rather than later.

Of course, that left the bridal party one bridesmaid short, but Piper had assured everyone that she could handle being the only adult bridesmaid, so long as no one decided to panic on the big day. Between them, Piper and Vicki had Daisy and Emily under control - sort of - and Miranda was overseeing those last minute adjustments as the brides were helped into their dresses and were generally fussed over.

"Ooh," Vicki groaned laughingly as she bent to catch the runaway flower girl that was her own daughter. "Don't make me bend, Emmy, I'm going to split a seam!"

"Daisy, make sure the flower girl doesn't run away, will you?" Elle called, as Miranda fussed unnecessarily over her gown. "Really, Miranda. Leave it be. It's perfect!" she gently scolded the other woman.

"It's near perfect!" Miranda argued, as she made another minor adjustment. "Oh, you're going to take Dom's breath away!" She nearly squeed with delight before moving over to check on the other bride.

"All hail the magic of corrective underwear," Vicki declared, handing Emily off into Daisy's capable care as she came over to help finish Elle's hair. "You look gorgeous," she told her friend proudly. "His jaw is going to hit the floor when he sees you."

"Let's hope it doesn't hit the floor too hard," Elle replied with a laugh, her face bright with happiness. "Oh, darling!" she called over at the girls as she made as quick a dash as she could to catch them. "Don't pull your hair apart until after the ceremony!" she scolded gently, as Emily tugged at her curls.

Miranda darted a glance over as she finished up making adjustments on Ashlyn's gown. "All she has to do is get down the aisle. Then she can do whatever she wants."

"Emily ..." Vicki sighed softly, rolling her eyes as she looked over at her daughter. She hitched her dress up to crouch down for the toddler. "No tugging or pulling until you're sitting with Daddy, okay?" she offered. Yes, there would be photographs, but thankfully no one really minded what state the flower girl was in when it got to the official bits.

Emily eyed her mother for a long moment and sighed. "M'kay," she agreed. "But it itches."

"It's what girls have to put up with to look absolutely gorgeous, sweetie," her mother smiled, kissing her temple.

Ashlyn laughed from where she was standing, trying to keep still for Miranda. "I swear, if you pull that any tighter, I'm going to barf," she threatened her cousin fondly.

"Be glad you don't have to wear a corset," Miranda scolded gently, a soft smile on her face as she stepped back to admire her handiwork - not only Ashlyn, but the entire bridal party. "You all look so lovely, but ..." She frowned, tapping one perfectly-manicured finger against her chin. "There's something missing ..."

Chuckling, Ash turned as Miranda stepped back to survey her handiwork - not one, but two brides; two adult attendants; one bridesmaid; and one flower girl; all of them head to toe in Miranda originals.

"It's bad luck for the grooms to see the brides in their dresses before the wedding, Miranda," Piper teased the older woman fondly, one hand gently twisting Elle's curls away from her face.

"I'm not talking about the grooms," Miranda replied with a barely-repressed grin. "Don't go anywhere. I'll be right back!" she said, as she started toward the door.

Elle exchanged glances with Vicki, wondering what was going on. Miranda was definitely up to something, but she wasn't sure what.

It really was amazing how completely nonplussed Vicki could look when she put her mind to it. She knew exactly what was going on, avoiding meeting Piper's eyes purely because she knew that the raven-haired woman would start giggling the second they made eye contact. Life with Jonathan Granger, however, had taught Vicki a few things about acting.

"She's probably remembered something sparkly she wanted to put on you guys," she suggested with a shrug.

Ash snorted with laughter, rolling her own eyes. "That, or she's about to whip out pregnancy tests and insist we do them now, so she'll be the first one to know if they're positive."

"The bloody woman has fussed over us enough already," Elle remarked, her colorful accent getting the best of her. "Do you think the boys are as nervous as we are?" she asked, taking a final look at herself in the mirror. She couldn't think of anything Miranda might have forgotten, and it was nearly time.

She didn't have to wonder long as the door opened again and Miranda stepped back into the room, pulling someone else along behind her. "Surprise!"

"I don't think anyone could be as nervous as me right now," Ashlyn admitted, peeping over Elle's shoulder at their contrasting reflections.

"You both look beautiful," Piper told them, but whatever else she might have said was interrupted by Miranda's reappearance. And the newcomer was someone very familiar indeed.

"Oh. My. God," Ash breathed, her eyes wide as she stared at the reflection of the newest person in the room. "Izzy?" She turned, and there was Isabelle, her older sister, Dom's younger sister, standing nervously beside Miranda.

"I heard the bridal party was one bridesmaid short," Isabelle said quietly, all her apology for her absence right there in her eyes as she looked at the two brides. "Will I do?"

Elle turned to find a pretty, young woman who bore a distinct resemblance to Dom and Ash standing before them. A warm smile graced her face as Ashlyn greeted her and she knew this must be the long lost middle child, but she knew enough not to get in the middle of a family reunion.

"Try not to cry! There's no time to fix your makeup!" Miranda warned the two women.

"Screw the make up," Ash declared, advancing to embrace her sister in a warm hug, enveloping her in several yards of silk taffeta in the process. Isabelle laughed a little helplessly, wrapping her little sister up in a warm hug of her own as they squeezed each other.

Miranda helped Daisy and Emily take their places in line before peeking out into the hallway to make sure the coast was clear. "Here we go, ladies!" she said, as she started off, leading the way. She'd veer off to join Rufus once they got downstairs and were ready to file into the music room for the ceremony.

With both brides on his arms, Humphrey could not have looked prouder as the bridal party made their way down the stairs - carefully, of course. Between the dresses, the flowers, and Humphrey's dodgy hip, it was a wonder they made it to the ground floor in one piece but evidently luck was on their side today.

"Try and get into a position where you can get a good view without being seen," Piper told Elle with a wink as they reached the main doors of the music room.

Under normal circumstances, Elle might have asked why, but this was anything but normal, and she couldn't very well question it with Humphrey on her arm. She and Ash were taking their time as much as they could without tripping over their own feet, helping Humphrey along as they made their way toward the music room. Elle narrowed her eyes at Piper, giving her a quizzical look, but there was no opportunity for her to ask what was going on. She drew a deep breath and murmured just loud enough for Humphrey and Ashlyn to hear her. "Here goes nothing."

"Here starts everything," Humphrey murmured back to her, all three of them taking up a position behind one of the opening doors. Elle could just see through the gap as the bridesmaids began their advance down the aisle.

First Piper, all pale pink gauze and dark hair. Then Isabelle. She didn't even get halfway down the aisle before Dom abandoned James by the vicar and went from a standing start to snatch his second sister up off her feet in one of those bear hugs that everyone in the family knew. They stood together in the middle of the aisle for a long moment, clinging to each other as Dominic's shoulders heaved with the effort of not crying on her, until a small hand tugged at his jacket. He looked down at Daisy, who whispered something to him that made him chuckle. Without thinking, Dom lifted the little girl up off her feet, escorting both of those bridesmaids to their places before resuming his own beside James.

There were a few gasps at Isabelle's unexpected arrival from the small crowd of family that were gathered around to witness the wedding, followed by a few laughs and even some brief applause before things returned to normal. By the time Daisy found her place with the other bridesmaids, she was beaming from ear to ear that her new Daddy had escorted her himself, along with her new aunt. As far Elle was concerned, she found herself a little teary-eyed at the sight of her future husband reuniting with his sister, as if there wasn't enough to celebrate already.

"Stay," Vicki murmured to Emily, one finger on the toddler's nose gently before she set off down the aisle herself.

The little girl whined a bit, hopping from one foot to the other as she watched her mother down that long stretch of carpet. Then, when she reached the grooms, Vicki turned and crouched down, beckoning to her daughter with one crooked finger. Emily beamed, toddling down the aisle at speed, waving her flower ball excitedly, much to the amusement of the guests.

With the flower girl caught and settled with her father, it was finally time for the brides to make their entrance.

Jon couldn't help beaming at the sight of his eldest walking down the aisle, looking as pretty as her mother. She reminded him once again of the child Vicki had been that he'd met once during a journey through time. It was a bittersweet thought, but it made him happy to know that these two lovely ladies, both mother and daughter, were part of his life. With Ben on one knee, Emily settled herself on the other, beaming happily to be part of this special day.

The tune played on the old grand changed to something sweepingly romantic - an original composition, it seemed - as the big double doors were opened wide to admit the brides, one on either side of Humphrey. They were a beautiful contrast to one another - Ashlyn, in as close to eighteenth century dress as they'd been able to find, her long blonde hair caught back from her face with a pearl comb, short gloves on her hands; and Elle, all modern sexy sophistication in the Miranda original that had been made just for her, her own dark hair caught back in a chignon with trailing curls left to frame her face.

Dom drew in a sharp breath where he stood, his eyes fixed on Elle. She was truly the most beautiful woman he had ever known, not just in looks but in spirit, too, and he knew he was the luckiest man who ever lived to have been given the chance to make a life with her. His smile was all for her, charmed and floored by the beauty advancing toward him down the aisle.

And he just might have been the luckiest man in the world, if it wasn't for the other groom who stood beside him whose expression mirrored that of Dom. In that moment, the man who had once been known as the infamous Captain Hook had eyes only for the blond beauty who was moving past the rows of family and friends on the arm of the Granger patriarch toward the man who represented her future.

It wasn't only James who was a little awestruck. Ashlyn, already a little choked up from the unexpected appearance of her sister, found herself tearful as she processed up the aisle, her smile bright beneath wet eyes. She had never thought of herself as the marrying kind, especially after her personal disaster in that area. Yet here she was, marrying the best man she had ever met, and he was wearing a modern suit. She would have married him in jeans, and he knew it, but just knowing they had made this effort for one another was the icing on the cake.

James looked very much a modern man in his suit and tie, with his hair neatly combed to the side, a single red rose pinned to his lapel. There was nothing about him of the pirate tonight, except perhaps for a bit of swagger he was mostly unaware of. He noticed the tears in her eyes as she came closer, and he swallowed the lump that was forming in his own throat at the sight of her. He nodded his thanks to Humphrey and offered her an arm, rather than a hand, a soft smile on his face that was only for her.

Edward stepped forward to help Humphrey to his seat, while Elle found her groom, eyes bright with happiness and just a hint of tears. Who would have thought a pirate and a thief would be lucky enough to have found love here at Maple Grove and be given a chance to start over"

"Hello, handsome," Ash greeted James in a soft, thick voice as she wrapped her arm about his. "Ready to get hitched?"

"You look amazing," Dom murmured to Elle as he took her arm through his, looking her over as though he'd never seen her before. "Absolutely stunning. Please tell me you're wearing panties, or we're never gonna make it to the reception."

The vicar, who had just opened his mouth to deliver the opening words, choked on his laughter overhearing this, and had to turn away for an extended coughing fit.

"I guess you'll just have to wait to find out," Elle replied with a grin, though it probably went without saying that everything she was wearing was a Miranda original, right down to her underwear. She might have said more if it weren't for the vicar, but there would be plenty of time for teasing her husband after the ceremony was over.

Meanwhile, James was admiring Ashlyn, a soft smile on his face. "More than ready, beautiful," he replied. There were no cold feet here, no second thoughts.

"Dearly beloved ..."

As the vicar surfaced from his extensive coughing fit to plunge headfirst into the service, Ash glanced over her shoulder at her grinning brother and his bride, turning her eyes back to James. "Who'd have thought we'd be the well-behaved ones?"

"The night is young," James whispered back, with a smirk. And unlike the other couple, they had no children to worry about, though Elle had arranged for Daisy to stay over with Jon and Vicki for the night.

Elle might have remarked on Ash's question, if she'd heard it, but she was too busy staring into Dom's eyes and half-listening to the well-known words that the vicar was reciting.

Applause erupted around them as the family rose to their feet to join the two couples in congratulating them and celebrating this happy day.

"How's it feel to be married to a pirate, love?" James asked as he seemingly effortlessly pulled Ashlyn back up, one arm around his waist.

As the family began to rise to congratulate them - and to put the chairs out of the way for the tables and food to arrive - Ash laughed, finally upright once again. "Does this make me an honorary piratess?" she asked James teasingly, drawing her fingertips down his cheek. Someone small was investigating her voluminous skirt as a place to hide, but for now, she wasn't that bothered, her smile deepening as she spotted Isabelle lurking amid the group around them. "Wanna meet your new sister?"

"Aye, you certainly stole this pirate's heart," James replied, touching a kiss to her lips once again, before turning to find her sister amid the crowd. "I think perhaps I should," he admitted, knowing Ash was probably anxious to greet her long lost sister properly.

Smiling, she raised a hand to beckon her sister over, rescuing her from being inundated with too many relatives demanding to know where she had been. Isabelle slipped over to her little sister, hugging her once again. "Congratulations, Ash," she murmured, kissing her sister's cheek as she drew back. Her green eyes turned to her new brother-in-law. "And you must be James. I hope you know you've married the best girl in the world."

James was patiently quiet while one sister greeted the other, waiting for his turn to be introduced. "Aye, and you must be Isabelle. It's a pleasure to meet you," he told her cordially, but warmly, offering a hand in greeting, a smirk on his face at her remark. "You know that and I know that, but there are a few people here who might disagree," he said, wondering if her brother was one of them.

"I'm one of them," Ash pointed out with a low laugh, watching with quiet delight as her sister finally shook hands with her husband. "You're gonna have to come and see the Charlotte while you're in town," she told Isabelle. "Just not, you know, in the next couple of days. Not unless you want to get another eyeful of me. I'm intending to be naked for at least twenty-four hours."

"Ashlyn Maria Radcliffe, bite your tongue," another voice interjected, and Ash turned an amazing shade of red as her mother pushed between all of them to envelop James in a strong embrace. "Remember, pregnant by the end of the year, or no Christmas presents," Lucy Granger teased him, pinching his cheek affectionately.

Not one to be bullied or bribed, James only smirked. "We'll get right on that, as soon as the party is over ....or would you like us to get started now?" he teased back, once the hugging was over, rolling his eyes a little at the pinching of his cheek. This was a man the Granger women were not going to be able to embarrass easily.

"True, that threat would work better on her," Lucy conceded with a chuckle. She'd taken to James far better than anyone had expected, inducting him as an honorary son long before he and Ash had even considered marriage as an option. "You owe me a dance, young man."

"Geez, Mom," Ash groaned, laughing as she was drawn into a throttling hug. She stuck her tongue out at Isabelle as her sister escaped their mother's clutches to go and pounce on Dom and Elle instead.

"Aye," James replied. "I wouldn't miss it," he told the woman who had just become his mother in law. His own mother was long dead, along with anyone else he might consider family. His family line had likely died with his father's death, but with any luck, he and Ashlyn would change that when they started a family of their own. "'Tis an honor to be part of your family, ma'am," he added, sincerely.

"Oh, I'm the one who's honored," Lucy told him cheerfully. "If you hadn't gotten Ashlyn in a dress and to the altar, Isabelle might never have buried the hatchet with Caroline and been here for it. I have a lot to be thankful for today, James, and you are a large part of bringing it all about."

James arched a dark brow, a little puzzled that she was crediting him with something he'd had nothing to do with. "I can't really take credit for that, but I do love your daughter, and I promise you that will never change, so long as I live."

"Oh, I know that, dear," Lucy promised him with a smile.

Beside them, Ash suddenly let out a little squawk, bending to lift her voluminous skirt up above her knees, revealing not just the sparkly blue shoes on her feet. Clinging to her stockinged legs were Emily and Ben, giggling to themselves as they looked up at the adults. "What are you doing under there, trouble?"

It was Jonathan who came over to rescue Ashlyn from his children, blushing and apologizing profusely. "I'm so sorry, Ash. Auntie's Ashlyn's dress is not a hiding place, you two!" he scolded the pair gently, as he scooped them up, one in each arm. "I don't know what gets into them sometimes!" he said, as he hurried away, calling for his wife.

James stifled an amused snicker. "I wonder what else is hiding beneath that skirt," he teased.

The toddlers weren't in the least bit upset at having been caught, cackling loudly as their father scooped them up from their hiding place. Ashlyn was weak at the knees with laughter, more at Jonathan's embarrassment than anything, leaning into James as he teased her. Her smile was bright as she looked up at him. "Hmm, wouldn't you like to know?" she teased him in return. "Preparing to sail into home territory already, Captain Radcliffe?"

"It's not like I haven't been there already," James teased back, despite the fact that her mother was standing not far away. But they were all adults, and he didn't think she'd be too shocked to hear they hadn't waited for marriage.

"No condoms," Lucy told them, proving that she was gleefully eavesdropping and not at all embarrassed by any allusion to her baby girl's love life. "Oh, look, the food's here." Grabbing the nearest child as her excuse for being the first one to the buffet, Lucy hurried off, leaving Ash chuckling once again.

"Well, you're stuck now," she told James fondly. "She's gonna be as much on your case about babies as she is on mine."

"Mmm, I'm in no hurry, are you?" he asked, as he slid his arms around her waist. They might only have a minute or two before they were interrupted with more congratulations or to get in line for food, but he wasn't afraid to take advantage of it.

"If it happens, it happens," she smiled to him, nose to nose. No doubt he felt her relax as his arms went about her. "You do realize you're gonna have to do the steering when we dance, right' All I know how to do is bump and grind - Izzy and Dom got the ballroom lessons when we were little, I got scuba-diving classes."

"Do you regret it?" he asked, mirroring her smile as he touched his nose to hers. He had a feeling that, even as a child, scuba-diving lessons fit her personality far better than ballroom dancing. "Anyone can learn to dance, love, but I'm afraid I'm a wee bit out of practice." Not to mention out of date.

"I can dance underwater, sort of," she offered with a cheeky chuckle, brushing a tender kiss to his lips. "We'll make do, baby. Just stand really close to me, no one'll be able to see what your feet are doing through the skirt."

"I don't suppose anyone dances a minuet anymore," he remarked half-seriously, with a sigh and a faint smile as she touched a kiss to his lips. "Ah, well. I have always done my best dancing in bed, anyway."

"You could always teach me to minuet," she pointed out sweetly. "But I'd rather spend the time getting to know you even more intimately. You're gonna look so adorable in a snorkel." She snickered softly, curling her arms about his waist as fresh family members came up to congratulate them. The conversation might have evolved into a discussion about snorkeling and scuba-diving, if it wasn't for the fresh string of congratulations.

"I get distracted by you naked," Jon reminded his wife with a grin.

"If we are talking wonders, I think your sister might get the best cleavage award tonight," Elle said, and she wasn't talking about Ashlyn. "You never told me she was such a stunner, Dom."

True to his word, Jon didn't even blink an eye. Edward turned a brief glance to the cousin in question, but not to check out her cleavage. "Where's she been all this time?" he asked, though he, too, had only recently returned home to Rhy'Din.

Dom glanced over to the bar, where Isabelle seemed to have pulled out a warm laugh to help the socializing along. Of course, that might have something to do with the fact that she was sitting on Humphrey's knee, and the Old Man was not exactly known for his clean sense of humor. He smiled faintly. "She's been on Earth," he told Edward. "Joined the faculty of Canterbury University, and has been part of a few archaeological digs with various students and professors over the years. I need to find out who got her home for today and hug them to within an inch of their lives."

Elle cleared her throat, knowing the answer to that little secret but not having had a chance to tell him just yet. "That would be Miranda," she said, lowering her voice, so as not to let too many ears overhear her. The same woman who'd been responsible for introducing Desmond and Piper, as well as a half a dozen other good deeds. She didn't have a reputation of being the family busybody for nothing. "I don't know how, but I know she's responsible." She grinned as she added quietly, "She's also responsible for this cleavage."

"Oh, and I love that cleavage," Dom grinned, setting his glass down to lean over and give said cleavage a kiss.

Across the table, Vicki snorted with laughter, throwing a soft roll at the back of his head. "Save it for the bed, lover boy, I have toddlers who are copying everything right now," she complained, making Lisbeth giggle.

"Do you mean to say that Emily and Benjamin will want to kiss Elle's breasts because Dominic is doing just that?" she asked innocently, looking at Jon for clarification.

"Gods, I hope not. That would be awkward!" Jon replied with a chuckle.

"If you're that worried about Emily and Benjamin copying, you might want to make sure they don't get too close to Uncle Humpy," Elle teased with a nod of her head toward Humphrey who was exchanging dirty jokes with Isabelle, while his date was congratulating James and Ashlyn.

"Oh, good grief ..." Vicki lurched up from her seat - Elle might not have realized it, but Emily was advancing on Irina with a handful of cream from someone's dessert. That needed to be stopped before it happened.

Dom laughed at the redhead's turn of speed. "Pretty impressive for a woman in heels," he commented cheerfully, chowing down as much as he could possibly get in his mouth at once. "Remind me again how we failed to have breakfast, Teddy?"

"Uh," Edward started, looking between the women a little sheepishly. "As I recall, you were a bit hungover," he explained with a shrug, saying nothing of himself.

"Do you remember anything you did last night?" Jon asked, slightly distracted by his daughter's antics, but confident Vicki had the situation well in hand.

"I remember serenading Elle from the garden," Dom offered with a grin. He was sure it had been the right house, too. "I seem to remember something about stealing a bicycle and joyriding around the Grove too. Or was that a dream?"

"Really' How did you do that when I was here at the manor?" Elle pointed out, clearly amused to hear what her husband had been up to on his last night as a bachelor. "Please tell me more," she added, resting her chin against her hand, with rapt attention.

"Uh ..." Edward interjected again, trying hard to hide a smirk. "That was Willow Grove ....and Johnny almost threw you in the pool."

"Was that before or after I decided to take a shower?" Dom asked curiously, his lips twitching in amusement. It wasn't often at all that he let himself go and drank far more than he should, so his antics last night must have been recorded for posterity somewhere.

"You ran naked through my living room at about 3 am," Lisbeth offered with a faint smile. "I walked in, ready to go to bed, and a large naked man did three laps of my couch before running out the way he came before I could get the door shut again."

"Thankfully, I made sure no one took any photos," Edward added with a smirk or his own. Someone had to remain halfway sober and responsible while the groom was making a drunken fool of himself, and that responsibility had fallen upon the best man.

"Oh, is that what Cosmo was barking his fool head off about last night?" Elle asked, looking equally amused.

"What I'd like to know is ....while you were chasing Dominic around, who was keeping an eye on James?" Lisbeth pointed out in amusement of her own. "Or were you the only one so very inebriated?"

Dom shifted a little uncomfortably. "I don't actually remember what happened to James," he admitted. "One minute he was there, the next he was gone."

"I wish I'd seen it," Elle said, looking thoroughly amused and having a hard time not slipping into a fit of laughter. "I shall have to bribe the details out of Jon, unless your best man is willing to spill," she said, turning a sharp gaze at said best man, who was looking like he was on the spot.

Edward held up his hands. "I'm afraid I'm sworn to secrecy, but I assure you both that nothing untoward happened last night, save the, uh, streaking incident."

At that, Elle couldn't hold herself back anymore. "The streaking incident!" she echoed and just about fell over with laughter.

"As for James, as far as I know, he went home to bed," Edward added, though his words were probably drown by Elle's laughter.

Dom smiled indulgently, knowing he was never going to live this down, but equally sure he was never going to lose control of himself like that again. He let Elle howl with laughter, signaling for someone to refill her glass as he grinned at Edward. "Aren't you glad you two just went for the elopement style marriage?" he asked his cousin fondly, glancing up as Vicki returned.

"What did I miss?" the redhead demanded cheerfully.

"You have no idea," Edward answered his cousin with a grin.

"We were just discussing Dom's little adventure last night," Jon informed his wife. "Though I have to admit," he added a bit sheepishly, "I don't remember much of it myself."

"Oh, I know," Vicki smiled affectionately, twisting her husband's curls back from his face. "But we had a lot of fun putting you to bed when you got home, didn't we, Elle?"

Jon arched a curious brow, but knew better than to question his wife when she wanted to get him alone somewhere. "Not bad news, is it?" he asked, wondering what was going on.

"No, not bad news," she smiled to him, giving him a tug up from the table to seek out somewhere in the room that was a little less prone to eavesdroppers. Dom and Elle were very much caught up in each other, and besides, there were a lot of other family members who wanted to check in with both happy couples.

"Okay," he replied, looking around for a place they could go for a few minutes of privacy. Edward and Lis had already slipped out to the garden. "Where to?"

They knew this house inside and out between them, and despite the fact that the garden was being used by several people in the growing dusk, it was still a relatively private place and a part of the celebration ongoing. Vicki pulled Jon out onto the patio, away from an elderly aunt who was smoking like a chimney. "This will do," she told him softly, hugging her arms about his waist. "I think it's probably about time I told you, although I only found out for sure a couple of days ago. I think Elle just worked it out, though."

Jon followed Vicki on out to the garden, a few nods given to those they passed on the way. He couldn't fathom what it was she wanted to tell him, though she had assured him it wasn't bad news. "What's this all about?" he asked as she hugged her arms around him. Had Mataya given her a raise" Was she taking a leave of absence" Had her father decided to finally give in and visit Rhy'Din"

Chuckling, Vicki kissed his chin. "Jon, how many children did we eventually decide we need to have for our family to be complete?" she asked him sweetly, wondering if he could work it out from there, or if he was going to need an extra push.

"Uh, six?" he replied with a smirk. Though he knew that was unlikely, it was a number he had once mentioned in jest before they'd gotten married. He pulled away a little, a frown touching his lips as he assumed the worst, though she'd already assured him this was good news. "Wait, is something wrong" Do you want me to get snipped" Look, I know Emily and Ben are a lot of work, but Em is out of diapers now, and Ben will get there. I don't need six, but couldn't we just have one more, maybe?" he asked, with a pleading expression on his face.

The redhead laughed as he pleaded with her, wondering just how much he'd drunk the night before to have so many misfiring synapses getting in the way of rational thought today. "Do you really think I'm going to say no?" she asked him affectionately. "We're already halfway there."

Jon narrowed his eyes at her, trying to sort out what she was saying. She could almost see the wheels in his head turning as he tried to sort it all out. He had to admit now that they had two, six seemed like a lot, but it was no secret that Jon adored both his children and was hoping for a few more before they were through. It didn't hurt that they had a big family to help, when help was needed, but wasn't that what family was for"

"What are you trying to ..." He broke off, something finally clicking in that half-inebriated head of his. "You aren't ....are you?" he asked, with a glance at her belly.

"I rather think I am," she agreed with a wide grin. She'd thought he might have put together the signs more quickly - the tiredness, the fact that her bridesmaid dress had become a snug fit almost overnight, her avoidance of alcohol. But it was always fun watching Jon finally put it all together.

"Really?" he asked, as incredulous as always when that news was first shared. It took a minute to sink in before, he was grinning from ear to ear and picking her up in his arms to spin her around in a circle, as he gave a shout of triumph and happiness that echoed through the garden.

She nodded in the face of his incredulity, already laughing as he lifted her up off her feet and spun her about. No, it hadn't been planned exactly, but they'd never really planned any of their pregnancies. Vicki was pretty sure this one was the result of their weekend away at the end of January. Spun about, she kissed his cheek, breathless when he finally set her down. "Good news, hmm?"

"How long have you known and why didn't you tell me before?" he asked, a million questions flooding his brain all at once, as he set her on her feet. He took her by the hand to draw her over toward a bench. "You should sit down. Do you need some time off work" We could hire a nanny. Are you feeling all right' Any morning sickness yet?" he asked, firing off the questions at record speed.

"Jon, for goodness' sake ..." Laughing, Vicki pulled him to a halt, drawing him back to her. "About two days," she told him. "I did a test a couple of days ago, and got it confirmed by Rebecca. I didn't tell you, because I didn't want the news to get in the way of celebrating today. We're not due until November, no morning sickness yet, and believe me, the second you tell Mataya I'm pregnant, she's going to start plotting to steal my keys again."

"November," he mused aloud. That seemed like a long time away, but he knew from experience that the time would fly by. "No ultrasound yet?" he asked curiously. They'd been through this twice before and he already knew what to expect, but it was probably a little early for that still. "What makes you think I'm going to tell Mataya?" he asked, with a chuckle, though he was admittedly tempted to text her the news.

"No, it's too soon yet," Vicki chuckled, hugging him tenderly. "I'll need to talk to a conventional doctor to get dates for ultrasounds and stuff." She eyed him in amusement as he attempted to play it cool about telling his best friend. "Please," she snorted with laughter. "Knowing you, you've already butt-dialed her."

Jon chuckled. She really knew him too well. While Mataya might be one of the first to know, it could wait at least a few minutes longer. "I'll text her later," he replied, though later was likely not to be very long. "Is that why Elle was eyeballing you earlier?" he asked curiously. He wasn't offended to realize his wife's best friend figured it out before he did - she was another female, after all.

"Well, no alcohol last night, none today, and she was part of trying to get this dress zipped up earlier," his redhead pointed out warmly. "She has suspicions, but I haven't told her yet. You're the first." She grinned, rising up on her toes to kiss him - a loving action that was hurriedly curtailed as two small people came barreling out of the music room to slam into their legs heavily. "Oof."

His arms went around her again as he dipped his head to meet her lips. As if he wasn't happy enough already. He knew it wasn't going to be easy - it never was, especially in the beginning - but they had their whole family to help. Before he had a chance to tell her how happy he was, he was laughing into her kiss as two very familiar small people collided with their legs. "And what have we here?" he asked, scooping the pair up into his arms. "Are you two done terrorizing the brides yet?"

Emily threw her arms around her Daddy's neck, kissing his cheek with sticky lips. "Lynnie go'ed poof poof and wings," she informed her father cheerfully as Vicki rescued Jon from having to juggle two toddlers.

Vicki chuckled, shaking her head. "He's going to whine until he's tucked up in bed," she assured him in a cheerful tone. "We just started it early, that's all."

Elle touched a kiss to Emily's cheek. "Good night, sweetheart. Sweet dreams," she told her before moving to do the same to Ben.

"We'll see you at brunch," Jon promised, once they were done with the goodnights.

"You know, provided you surface in time for it," Vicki added, falling in to let Jon weave their way to the doors and back to their own suite to settle the children down and get comfortable for the night.

Dom smiled, wrapping his arms around Elle affectionately. "Do you think that might be us, someday?" he asked her quietly.

Elle quirked a brow at him, wondering what exactly he meant by that. They were already as madly in love as the other couple and ahead of the game a little with a child he'd inherited by marriage. "How do you mean?" she asked, curiously, looking up at him as he wrapped his arms around her.

He hesitated, knowing he hadn't exactly been encouraging the last time this had come up. "Leaving a party early because the baby needs to sleep," he said tentatively, rushing to add, "I love you, and I love Daisy. If we never have another child, I will be perfectly content. I can't help being ....hopeful, I suppose. Is that wrong of me?"

"How very domestic of you, Mr. Granger." She smiled up at him, unable to help teasing him a little before she softened and gave him a more thoughtful reply. "Darling, Daisy is as much your daughter as she is mine. You've earned that, and it's more than I can say for some who've had children by birth." Jon and Vicki notwithstanding, of course. "If we never have another child, I will be just as happy as I am today, but if that is what you truly want, then we will find a way together." She touched a kiss to his lips to underscore her words.

"Only if you want it, too," he reminded her. "It's your body, love. I'm just the pitcher in this scenario." But he was smiling as he said it, determined not to let the conversation become dark and difficult. It was their wedding day, and he was very happy. "Marksman' Is that a better analogy' Archer. Shot-putter?"

She laughed, equally determined not to let him sink into depression again over something that had yet to happen. "You're better stop there. You're much more than just a stud, stud," she teased. Was Vicki rubbing off on her, or were they sisters by different mothers"

He chuckled, nuzzling close to her neck for a long moment as he embraced her, recognizing Vicki's influence on Elle. But equally he had noticed Elle's influence on Vicki. The best friends were rubbing off on each other, and it made him happy to know that Elle was settling so well into life on Rhy'Din. "I know, I'm an amazing Humpasaurus."

She laughed again. "You'd better not let Daisy hear you say that, or you'll never hear the end of it ....Humpy," she teased, eyes bright with amusement and happiness. "And you, my handsome husband, owe me a dance," she added, poking him in the chest.

"There's already one Humpy in this family," he laughed, raising his head as she poked at his chest. "Oh, we're going to do the polite dancing thing first, are we" As you wish." With a grin and a wink, he took her hand, moving toward the middle of the room where others were swaying. A wink to Kaylee at the piano brought the current song to a close before the gentle strains of Three Times A Lady began.

Elle knew the song and gave him a quizzical look. "Who, me?" she asked. "Not hardly." Though she supposed it was all in the eye of the beholder. He knew a little of her meager beginnings, though she had not seen much point in sharing all of it. It was a rags to riches story, not unlike a few others who'd found their way to Rhy'Din, but the simple fact that he saw a lady in here was in part what made her love him so much.

"That's a matter of opinion," he told her, taking her in his arms as they danced together. "And in this case, my beautiful Belle, it's my opinion that matters. So shush and let me enjoy my beautiful lady dancing with me." He smiled at her; he knew her story - more of it than she thought he did - and he'd never judged her for her background. She was, simply, Elle, and he loved her.

"Yes, dear," she obediently replied for a second time, leaning into him as they moved across the floor together, curling her fingers into his jacket as if she was afraid to lose him. She closed her eyes as she followed his lead, squeezing back the tears that were threatening. It would never do for everyone to see her cry, even if they were happy tears. She really didn't deserve to be so happy, and she certainly didn't deserve a man as special as this one, but who was she to argue" Life had dealt them both enough hardship; it was time to get on with their lives and stop wasting time fretting about the past.

The past was over and done, not only for them, but for the other happy couple who joined them on the dance floor. Today was about starting fresh and stepping forward, and they would do that, all four of them. So perhaps the question wasn't how a thief and a pirate managed to marry into the Grangers. Perhaps it was more that these particular Grangers needed something only they could provide. A future.