One last time/Zauren

24.

Z:
My mother was sort of distraught today because Doniya left back to California early this morning to finish packing up her apartment and now it was Lauren and I's time to depart. "Do you guys have to go?" she asked, pouting. I nodded and gave my mum a side hug as our flight time was being called on the intercom and flashing on the screen. "We'll be back to visit soon, or better yet, you'll be back for the wedding," I said as she shared a hug with Lauren.

"A wedding that better be happening this time," my mum glared at the both of us. My fiancée and I nodded and Lauren flashed her ring. "It's definitely going to happen. No worries about that."

My mum started to smile as she stared at the both of us. "I just can't believe that my boy is getting married.. I am so happy for you two and I wish you nothing but continued growth and successs for your future."

"Aw, mum!" I wrapped my mom in a hug that Lauren joined in on. I pulled away first. "We really have to get going, but I love you mum, and I'll see you soon." My mother blew a kiss at us as she made our way to our gate.

It was getting late now and Lauren was finishing unpacking the rest of the things she'd taken with her during her brief departure from my life and our apartment. "Can we cuddle?" I shouted out flipping off the tv. I didn't hear a response from Lauren. I hadn't heard her for about an hour actually. I peeled the duvet back and climbed out of bed. I left the bedroom and found Lauren laying on the couch fast asleep. I chuckled to myself and admired how adorable she looked. Lauren always had her hand pressed under her cheek for her substitute pillow and it squished her cheek, making her lips stick out.

I gently scooped Lauren into my arms and slowly made our way to the bedroom with the fear of waking her. I laid Lauren in the bed and placed the duvet on top of her. All the while she still managed to sleep. I pushed a piece of her long dark hair out of her face and kissed her on the forehead. "I love you," I said in a hushed tone.

Lauren, the wedding planner and I all went to look at our wedding venue and the reception venue some days later. The church was stunning and the sunlight coming through the mosaic windows really added that extra unf. Where our reception was going to be was about a fifteen minute drive from the church, but nothing to complain about.

"Okay, so bridesmaids and groomsmen will walk through first, and then we'll have the maid of honor and the best man walk out together and they'll be the ones to announce your arrival and you'll walk out with one another through these same doors. Do you got that?" Rebecca asked. I nodded my head and pulled Lauren closer by her waist. "Seems pretty simple," I said.

Rebecca was having a talk with one of the sound guys here after showing us where our centerpieces will be and what not. I went to the toilet and when I came back Lauren was still sat in the same position as when I left. I thought maybe she was texting or making a phone call, but she was just staring straight ahead at the creme wall.

I sat down beside her and also looked straight ahead. Maybe she was seeing something that I wasn't. "Everything okay?" I asked with a gentle nudge. Lauren nodded and then dreamily said, "we're getting married... is that not absolutely insane to think about? All of this chaos and this over stressing to make sure everything is perfect is going to lead up to the both of us saying, 'I do'."

"And it's all going to be more than worth it, and I think Rebecca's a little more stressed than we are," I laughed watching our wedding planner as she pointed all over the place with the sound system guy. "I know.. I'm just really nervous all of a sudden," she said propping her head in her hands, her eyes tired.

"It's the wedding jitters."

"And I'm exhausted," Lauren said looking down at her hand where the ring was glistening.

"Wait- you aren't rethinking everything, right? You're not going to back out of this, are you?" I asked, suddenly feeling my heart drop.

"No. I wouldn't do that. I'm not going to do that."

"It sounds a hell of a lot like that. Please don't get cold feet at the altar," I pulled Lauren's hands into mine.

"I'm not getting cold feet. I just want to marry you already."

"It's just a week and a half more."

"I don't want to wait that much longer. I keep having these dreams.. well nightmares actually, that we never make it down that altar. That something happens that causes us to not marry each other and I don't want to deal with that again."

"That's certainly not going to happen, Lauren." I kissed her hand and squeezed it tight.

"You never know what can happen in ten days."

"Yeah, we're going to go from being engaged to married in just ten days. That's a lot," I said.

Lauren was quiet as she played with a strand of hair with her free hand. I let go of her hand and let out a sigh. "You don't want to do this anymore.." I stood up.

"How's the happy couple?" Rebecca asked walking over with her clipboard in her hand and a ridiculous smile on her face. I looked at Lauren and answered. "Great."

"Awesome to hear. Okay, so I talked to Ted and he's going to make sure everything sounds good in here on your big day. He'll provide all the mics and the speakers and what not. Sound good?"

"Sounds great," I said. Rebecca grinned and nodded checking something off her list. "Alright. I think that's it for today. When I leave here, I'll go ensure all centerpieces are a go. Have a good one," Rebecca said.

Lauren and I walked in silence to the car and started our drive in silence until Lauren said, "Don't assume things. Please, don't assume. I told you, I want to marry you. I want to be Mrs. Cigarettes and Apple beer," she laughed. "I'm just exhausted. That's really all there is to it. I have to do so much more preparation than you do and it's starting to get to me. I haven't gotten good sleep because I'm stressed or eaten anything appetizing because I want to still fit into my dress and be beautiful for you."

I didn't say anything. I just pulled onto the side of the road and turned to Lauren. "First off, you're beautiful no matter what, and you're going to look exceptional in that dress. Okay?" I said carressing her cheek. Lauren held my hand and nodded. "When you walk down the aisle in ten days, I'm going to be right at the end of it, likely in tears because I'm going to be able to marry the most beautiful girl ever. It's you and me, and guess what?" I held my fist out to Lauren and she smirked bumping her fist against mine. "We got this."