AJ tried as best he could to contain his excitement as he hopped down the stairs. He couldn’t believe he and Dawn were finally going to get married. He had dreamt about it for so long.
After everything that had happened between them recently, he wasn’t sure, until today, if Dawn even still wanted to marry him. She never once took off her engagement ring, but he still couldn’t be sure what she was thinking or feeling, and he had been afraid to bring it up.
He floated into the den where Arianna was trying to teach D and Nick a game on the computer.
"Hey", he smiled as they looked up at him.
"Your daughter is way too smart for her own good", D stated.
"I know she is. Takes after her Mommy", he said as he kissed the little girl’s head.
"What’s going on? Is Dawn okay?" D asked.
"Oh yeah, she’s just fine," he smiled.
"What’s that supposed to mean?" Nick asked, looking up at him.
"Nevermind, we don’t wanna know", D chuckled. "There are little ears in the room".
AJ rolled his eyes. "No, nothing like that, but we do have something to tell you guys", he smiled.
"What is it?" D questioned.
"I can’t tell you, hafta wait until Dawn comes down".
She raised an eyebrow at him then turned her attention back to the computer.
"You’re such a tease".
"You know it", AJ winked as he walked out of the room.
A few minutes later, Dawn came downstairs and joined AJ in the kitchen.
"Ready?" She asked as she wrapped her arms around his waist and looked up at him.
"I’ve been ready for years", he replied as he kissed her.
"Let’s go tell them", she said as she took him by the hand and led him into the den where everyone was.
AJ cleared his throat and they all looked up at him.
"Daddy, you bodering us. I trying to teach dem my game!" Arianna scolded.
"I know, honey. You can teach them in a little bit, Mommy and I have something to tell them".
"Well, hurry", she said as she turned her attention back to her game.
"Yeah, you’ve kept us in suspense long enough. What’s going on?" D asked curiously.
Whatever it was, she knew it had to be something big because AJ hadn’t stopped smiling since he came downstairs. He looked like he was going to burst at any minute.
"We’re getting married," AJ told them, looking at Dawn.
He squeezed her hand and gave her a tender kiss on the lips. D and Nick looked at each other puzzled.
"Yeah J, we know you’re getting married," Nick said slowly.
"We mean now dude," AJ clarified. "Tomorrow."
"TOMORROW?!?!" they said together, shocked. AJ and Dawn laughed at their expressions. "But I thought you guys wanted a big wedding?" D asked, confused.
"We do but we’re going to have one later on. We just don’t want to wait anymore." Dawn explained. "We’ve wasted so much time already. And we want to keep this quiet, go to the Justice of the Peace. We’re telling you guys because we want you to stand up for us. Will you?"
"I..umm.." D was speechless.
Getting married? Tomorrow? What brought this on?
"We’d be glad to stand up for you," Nick answered, giving AJ and Dawn a hug.
"Thanks man. We knew we could count on you," AJ smiled.
"Daddy", Arianna's little voice piped in as she looked up at him. "What's married?"
AJ looked over at Dawn, then knelt down on his knee in front of Arianna.
"Married means that Mommy and Daddy love each other very much and they're going to promise in front of a lot of important people that they'll take care of each other and..."
"I take care of Mommy", she insisted as she cut AJ off.
"Yes, you'll help Daddy take care of Mommy", he stroked her hair.
"What else, Daddy?" She asked as she awaited more explanation.
"Well, when people get married, they promise to be together forever and ever".
"How long is dat, Daddy?" She questioned. "Is dat long time?"
"That's a very long time," he emphasized.
"A bery long time?" Her blue eyes got wide.
"Yep," AJ smiled.
He tried not to laugh, but her innocence was so endearing, it was hard for him to hold back.
"Mommy?" She looked up at Dawn.
"Yes honey", Dawn knelt down next to AJ as he looked over at her with an amused look.
"You marry Daddy?"
"Yes, I'm marrying Daddy," she answered, noticing that Arianna still had a confused look on her face.
She slowly slid off her engagement ring, holding it up for Arianna to see.
"You see this ring, sweetheart?" Arianna shook her head. "Well, Daddy and Mommy are both going to be wearing rings. You see how it's in the shape of a circle?"
"Yep, not skware", she stated.
Dawn and AJ both chuckled.
"That's right, you see that it goes around and around and never ends? Well, that's like getting married. That's when two people love each other so much, it never ends. It just keeps going and going."
"Like dat pink bunny on TV!" The little girl exclaimed.
Everyone laughed as Dawn gave her a hug.
"That's right", Dawn laughed.
"Mommy?" Arianna looked up at her with a worried look. "You love me, too?"
"Of course I do, honey, very much" she stroked her hair.
"Forever and ever?"
"Forever and ever".
"Okay. I let daddy help me take care of you den", she concluded.
"Aaww. Well, that's nice of you, jellybean", AJ laughed as he gave her a hug.
"I pway my game now", she stated, turning back to the computer.
They both rose to their feet and looked at D who was still in shock on the couch.
"You okay?" AJ asked her.
"Ah yeah, just surprised," she told him, standing up. "I'm happy for you guys."
She gave them both a hug.
"This is great! We need to go call the JP and Denise and then we're going to go shopping for dresses," Dawn told them excitedly.
"Wait, if we go to the mall people will see us and know what we're up to," Nick pointed out.
"I know some local places that I'm going to call and let them know that we're coming. I'll make sure nothing leaks out. It will be fine," AJ reassured them.
"Why don't we go make all the arrangements and you guys meet us back here in an hour?" Dawn suggested.
"Sounds good," Nick agreed as he grabbed D by the hand, and gave Arianna a kiss on the head.
"We'll be back soon", he told her.
"You don't be gone long", she ordered.
Nick laughed and led D to the door, out to the car.
Once they got into the truck and started on their way, Nick noticed that D had been quite, too quiet. He looked over at her and saw her staring out the window of the truck with a faraway look.
"You okay, baby?"
"Hmm?"
"I asked if you were okay. What's wrong?"
She sighed and looked back out the window.
"I was just thinking about the wedding tomorrow."
"What about it?"
"Don't you think they're rushing things?" She asked, looking over at him.
"Rushing? They've been engaged for over two years. They've been together for what seems like forever. I think it's about time."
"But they just got back together. They are just now getting back to the way things were before this whole Noah mess happened."
"Yes they are. And getting married may be exactly what they need right now. You should trust their decision. If they feel they're ready then they must be ready. I think it's great," he told her, pulling into her driveway and turning off the ignition.
"It's awfully sudden. I wonder what made her decide to do it now?"
"Maybe she finally realized that there was no point in waiting any more, that it's time."
"But is it time? Think about all that's happened, what J put her through. He was a real dick to her and she's just forgetting all about it and marrying him."
"Isn't that what we all wanted her to do?" Nick asked her, confused.
"Of course but I just think she should take some more time and really be sure. What if J isn't really convinced that the baby is his? And what happens when she finds out about everything that we've been keeping from her?"
"Who says she's going to find out?"
"She remembers me saying something to her about forgiving all of us when she was in the hospital. It's only a matter of time before she puts two and two together."
"Baby listen," Nick said, taking her hand in his. "If she finds out she's going to be pretty pissed off, that's obvious. But look at it this way, she'll already be married to AJ and it may just change how she'll react."
D thought for a minute.
"You could be right about that. Let's just hope she doesn't find out so we don't have to test that theory. I still think she's rushing into this. I know she loves AJ and he loves her but so much has happened and I think they need time to completely heal."
Nick looked at her with an amused smile.
"What?"
"You worry too damn much, and frankly it turns me on."
"It turns you on that I worry too much?" She laughed.
Nick nodded and pulled her close, nuzzling her neck.
"Nicky," she giggled, pushing him away. "I'm serious here. What if they aren't ready?"
"Baby," he said, grabbing her face in his hands. "Stop over-analyzing and just accept it. They are ecstatic and we should be happy for them too."
"You're right," she smiled and kissed him, gliding her tongue across his. He let out a soft moan.
"Baby, let's go inside," he whispered, kissing her neck.
"How much time do we have?" D panted.
Nick looked at his watch.
"About forty-five minutes."
"Let's go then! Move!"
They got out of the truck and ran into the house, not wanting to waste a single minute before they had to go meet AJ and Dawn.
AJ had just gotten off the phone with the bridal store when Dawn came into the room.
"Hey baby. I just called Amy's Bridal Shop and told them that we were going to be stopping by there tonight. They said they'd close up early for us."
"Wow, they didn't have to do that."
"That's what I told them but Amy insisted. I guess she's a big fan," he smiled.
"I also called my friend Paul who owns the jewelry store where I got my cross necklace and some other rings. I got your engagement ring there, too. He's expecting us tonight. He's looking forward to meeting you," he smiled, pulling Dawn onto his lap.
She wrapped her arms around his shoulders and smiled down at him.
"You've thought of everything haven't you?"
"Yep. We have an appointment at eleven tomorrow at City Hall."
"So it's official then. We're really getting married tomorrow?"
"That's right, Angel. You and me, together forever," he said, kissing her tenderly. "Did you get a hold of my Mom?"
"Yes I did. We have to drop our daughter off at her place. I just told her we were going shopping. I didn't want to tell her why over the phone. I figured we could tell her when we pick Ari up."
"Sounds like a plan."
"Hey, you know, I was thinking..." Dawn began.
"Uh oh.." AJ teased.
"Well, I was just thinking that we should probably tell the rest of the guys after we get married. I mean, there's no reason to keep it a secret from them. You know?"
"Yeah, we could tell them. I just thought you wanted to keep it quiet".
"Well, I do. I want to enjoy it for awhile. I want it to be just us, enjoying each other for as long as we can. You know as soon as the fans find out, all hell's gonna break loose. We'll have to tell your management company, anyway, so why keep it from the rest of the guys? I'm sure they can keep it quiet."
"Okay, Angel. Whatever you want to do. I want you to have everything you want".
"I already have everything that I want right here", she kissed him softly on the lips.
Just then the doorbell rang.
"That must be Nick and D," Dawn said, getting up and going to answer the door.
"Hey guys!"
"Hey! Are we ready to shop?" D asked excitedly.
"Oh yah.....let's go spend some money baby!"
"I guess I should call the bank and tell them not to panic at the large amount of cash that will be disappearing from my account," AJ laughed, joining them.
"UNCIE NICK!!!" Arianna screamed as she ran into the room.
"Hey Peanut!" He greeted, scooping her up into his arms.
"You come back to pway anover game wis me?"
"No honey, Auntie D, Mommy, Daddy and I are going out."
"Oh," she pouted. "Can we pway when you come back?"
"Of course," he promised, kissing her cheek.
"Okay, are you guys ready to go?" D asked.
"Sure are." Dawn turned to Arianna. "Go and get your dolly. You're going to stay at Grandma's until we get back okay?"
"Okay," she agreed.
Nick set her down and she ran off to get her dolly.
"Have you said anything to Denise yet?" D asked.
"No, we're going to wait to tell her in person. We'll talk to her when we pick Ari up. She's going to be so happy" Dawn informed her.
"I weddy!" Arianna declared, holding her dolly and jumping back into Nick's arms.
"Let's roll!" Nick said,
opening the door and they all piled out.