PARKER | Dark H.S. AU

lxii. idk really

A simple and solemn wedding. That is what Charlie wants from the ceremony up until the reception. Harry keeps that in mind as he and Charlie flip over different wedding-themed catalogue in the lounge area. She wants it to be an occasion they'll only get to share with their closest family and friends -- Hank, Martha, Lisa and her nurse-friends included. But that would mean they'd have to wait before they return to Chicago for it to happen.

Harry thinks it over, and although it deviates from his earlier plan to marry her before going back to Charlie's hometown, he finally agrees to it. It would have been disheartening if the people who have been there throughout their relationship -- from friendship to engaged -- wouldn't be present on their happy-ever-after.

"I've always dreamed of an outdoor wedding...like in a garden. But it wouldn't hurt if we have it in a closed space -- preferably in a small chapel." Charlie suggests, remembering that it started to snow in Spellborough before they left.

"Okay, baby. Whatever you want. Happy wife, happy life." He chants a popular quote of many devoted husbands, placing his faith on it.

"I can already feel that this marriage will last a lifetime." She jokes, though there's no doubt in her mind that it'll do.

Minutes passed of looking for wedding ceremony prospects and ideas, Anne enters the room to bring cookies and tea and later on joins in their probing.

They are already in deep conversation and have reached an agreement about some aspects of the preparation when Harry's phone goes off. It takes a few rings before he can finally locate the gadget that was beneath the pictures and brochures sprawled over the coffee table. He frowns upon reading the caller ID but presses the answer button anyway.

"Harry, hey." The voice on the other line says through a ragged breath, sounding worn out.

"Pat, you okay?" He looks at his fiance and mom and stands from his seat after giving their permission to excuse himself to talk to her sister in the other room.

"Yeah. Just done a few sit-ups. How are you? I was disappointed you left earlier the other day."

Harry rolls his eyes, reminded by Derek's audicious disapproval of Charlie. His eyes watch Charlie and his mom through the door, trying to understand each other as they marvel at different pictures on their laps.

"I'm really sorry." He groans and runs his hand over his face. Anne disappears all of a sudden, though his sight trails his fiance's line of vision to his mother who reenters the room clutching an old photo album. "I just had an emergency with mom."

"Could you please stop covering Derek? I'm aware he can be an ass sometimes -- no, most of the time. You wouldn't believe me if I told you I ranted about it throughout the evening. I wouldn't have stopped if only Olivia wasn't having cramps under sudden stress." He hears a few scratches in the background, and then her sister whispering a goodbye to someone else.

"Get out." Harry chuckles in disbelief. He always knows there's a fierce side to her sister, but he would never expect her to actually unleash it and targetting their eldest brother. "Way to go, Patti. You finally did it."

"Crazy, right? I've always known I would someday blow up. He's been insulting my career since. It was only you or dad who always cared about it and I was really looking forward to seeing you that day because of some exciting news, and I just wasn't able to control my anger when I saw you left and I --" She pauses to draw a breath in the middle of her grumbling. "Just had to scream at his face."

Harry couldn't believe it so he just laughs.

"Anyway, I'll be throwing a dinner party this Sunday. I wish you could come? And do bring your special friend with you."

Harry smiles at her sister's reluctance. "You mean my fiancé?"

"What?" He finds entertainment in her shock. "Wait, Harry, you mean you're getting married? Does Dad know this?"

"Uh-huh."

"And he didn't tell me." She sounds offended. "I am gutted. Why don't I know this? Damn you, Derek."

Harry chuckles. Anne is pointing at few pictures on the photo album now with Charlie laughing hysterically, clapping her hands together as if she just heard the best joke ever.

"Hold on, Patti." He quickly puts the call on hold and scampers back in the lounge, snatching the photo album from his mother's lap.

"Hey, we were looking at those pictures." Charlie protests, giving Harry an unimpressed look as he hides the object behind him.

"Mom, how many times did I tell you not to show these pictures to anyone? I was young and stupid back then. Most of the photos here I regret ever taken." He grumbles and pouts his lips.

Anne stays quiet though she shares a devious smirk with Charlie.

"What? Baby, they're all cute, you know. Like when you stuck your fingers to --"

"Stop, Charlie, stop." He cringes and closes his eyes as he put a hand in front of himself to halt Charlie from continuing what she's supposed to say. "I don't want to hear it." He turns around with the photo album with him, hiding it in a secret place never to be seen again.

He returns to the room with the two women still giggling with each other. It wouldn't surprise him if Charlie already learned how to do sign language.

He puts the phone against his ear again, ignoring the snickering in his background. "Still there, Pat?"

"Seems like a party over there, huh?" His sister comments with the sound of the car travelling on the road in the other line. He reckons she's already on her way home.

"No, just my mom and Charlie." He takes a seat across the women. Charlie steals glances at him and he catches her everytime. On her defense, she would have been inconspicuous if only Harry isn't staring at her the whole time.

"Charlie." He can hear the smile of her sister through the earpiece. "That's her name?"

"That's her." He attempts to sound casual but Patti can easily recognise the pride in his tone. His and Charlie's eyes automatically meet at that.

"Well, I have to meet her soon, yeah?"

"I guess." He shrugs his shoulders, sitting straighter on the couch. Patti could sense his brother's reluctance about coming, especially considering his last encounter with Derek.

"That's enough for me, baby brother. Don't forget -- Sunday. Can't wait. Talk soon. Just got home." A car engine dies down and a phone beep follows, Patti being the first to hang up the phone.

*****

It hurts me that Zayn would actually turn on his mate of five years just to defend a greasy burrito. My heart is actually broken. WTF

#louisisbae #LOUISSLAYSAGAIN