Finally

Part 46: Elope, Nope: Jacklelope

"Eloping." Blandly and yet curiously restating with blank dead eyes, our friends sit at the breakfast table this morning and all seem confused as Lauren tries to comprehend our wishes.

"Like Vegas?" Adrian happily says as he bounces Levi on his lap.

"Not in Vegas- obviously." Iggy states.

"Yeah, eloping. Today." I state and Helen smiles widely as she burps Vincent.

"Did you all just get really high last night and decide this?"

"To be honest- we were discussing our funerals." I state casually and their eyes widen.

"My heart won't last forever and Max and I just want to make the most of our time together."

"Then take a vacation and hide the knifes." Adrian says ignorantly.

"Idiot." Emily taps the back of his head and then smiles at us. "I think it's an awesome idea. Not awesome that your heart is numbered theoretically- but awesome that you want to just jumped into it on a whim."

"Thank you. At least someone is on board." Smiling I high five Emily and set down some papers I printed off earlier this morning: when the insomnia refused to leave. "So I did do some research and it said that you can do spur of the moment elopements- but paperwork is still essential- so— in my immense amount of free time this morning and after Glenn and I got some fresh air- we printed off and filled out all the necessary paperwork that we have to take today- that will be processed and our actual wedding certificate will be shipped in the mail in 5-10 business days."

"You filled it all out this morning?" Looking at the near novel stacked papers, Helen's wide eyes seem rather impressed.

Or.

Regretful.

"Sure did. You wanted to elope today- so I'm making it possible, Baby." Tapping the paperwork, I cross my arms proudly and she smirks.

"Well...it's good to know you can take initiative on paperwork. I'll let Karen Brantley know that." Helen smirks once more before walking to put Vincent in his bouncer.

"Please do not."

"So are we partying after our little trip to the courthouse?" Lauren asks.

"No, we just wanted to invite you guys to watch if you wanted and then we're just gonna have a nice simple dinner." Helen states.

"Are you at least going on a honeymoon?" Adrian asks.

"Yeah- we're not doing the honeymoon thing." Helen says and I smirk at her.

"Are you two planning double suicide? Like the fuck?"

"Lauren!!" Everyone yells and she shrugs.

"What?! Helen doesn't want to party or go on vacation and just got done telling us they were funeral planning?! That doesn't sound fucked up to any of you?"

"Lauren, we're not killing ourselves. We just want to make this easy and relaxing. Vacations are nice- but Max just spent nearly a month at sea and I spent more than enough time here at home recovering. We just want normalcy." Helen told me today that she doesn't think her heart could take being in a plane. That it feels a bit weak for all the G-force one experiences.

I'm glad she was honest with me.

I'm glad she was honest with herself more than anything.

"You can at least play some bumping music while we eat shitty take out." Grumbling, Lauren crosses her arms and feigns displeasure, but I know she really just wants Helen to have what she's always talked about.