A Life Worth Living

Meeting Teddy

"Oliver! I think we need to have a talk with Molly and your Mum," Iris yelled up to the library from the living room one evening a week later.

He popped his head over the railing and looked down.

"Why?" he asked.

Iris held up two handfuls of letters with an exasperated look on her face.

"These are just from today. Linen choices, sample invitations, centerpieces... I could go on. It's just a bit much... and none of it is what I want," she called up in frustration.

Oliver stood and ran down the stairs, walking over to Iris.

"I thought we were supposed to have an easier go of it lettin' them plan most of it," he said, looking at the many papers in her hands.

"I did too, until I saw what they were planning," she said, looking back down at the letters.

She was starting to feel a bit dizzy from the sheer amount of correspondence going on.

"So, ye've figured it out, then? What ye want for the wedding?" he asked.

Iris looked up at him, her eyes wide as she chewed on her lower lip for a moment or two.

"Argh, I'm still working on that, but I do know that I don't want everything decked out in blue and gold or red and gold," she huffed, now glaring at him.

Oliver laughed sheepishly as he scratched the back of his neck and took a slight step away from Iris.

"I didnae think they'd get so hung up on my house and team colors," he said. "Let me see just what they've been sayin'. Surely we can come to some compromise."

He pulled out one letter and opened it, glancing over its contents.

"I also don't want a red carpet. Or a giant castle. Seriously, do we need that?" she asked. "It's a bloody wedding, not the BAFTAs."

"Ehm... I dinnae think so..." Oliver replied, though he wore a confused expression as he continued to make his way through the letter.

Of course he wouldn't know what those were. Nor would he have a strong opinion about anything related to the wedding, it appeared. Iris had just about had enough from her two well-meaning, yet overly excited mothers, and needed Oliver to have her back when she finally stood up to them.

She supposed it was partly their own fault for letting them have such free rein as it was. Sighing, Iris threw the letters up into the air, chuckling as she watched them flutter back to the ground.

"What on earth are ye doin'?"

Iris laughed and wrapped her arms around his neck.

"Let's elope. Run off to some tropical island and get married on a beach. Just the two of us. And, well, Harry," she said. "Can't leave him behind."

Oliver smiled down at her as he gripped her waist and pulled her closer.

"As temptin' as that is, I dinnae think we could get away with that between my mam and Molly Weasley," he replied.

"Honestly, I think I'd be happy with just a small wedding in a garden somewhere. Or, just outdoors, really. With lots of flowers," Iris huffed.

Then she perked up a bit. That actually didn't sound all that bad. With pastel colors, perhaps?

Wait. Had she finally decided on what she wanted for her wedding?

"Then ye should just tell them that," Oliver said. "If that's what ye want."

"What do you want?" she asked, realizing she never really thought to consult him.

"Just ye walkin' down the aisle towards me," Oliver said before pecking her on the lips. "Though I do like the idea of a garden. Seems fittin' for the both of us. Gettin' marrit' outside."