Us Against The World

The Norths

Lucas' Point of View.

Here we were... ten thirty in the morning of our wedding day an hour and a half to the ceremony, and Aeryn was being difficult, the house was full of people already getting organised and all I wanted was to bath my daughter whilst Chloe was out with Sarah and Beth getting pampered. I could hear everyone moving around below us, but my attention was on my little girl who was staring up at me with a look that resembled her mothers when she first woke up.

Above the din of everyone talking I could clearly make out the voices of my mother and the Wicked Witch of West London, whatever was going on down there didn't sound good. I was thankful that I could hide up here playing with the yellow rubber ducks as I washed Aeryns hair, the soft curls falling loose around cherub like face.

"Today's a magical day sweetheart, Mummy and Daddy are going to go to that beautiful building we took you to and your Mummy is going to become my wife. Yes she is pretty girl, in a few short hours your Mummy is going to be Mrs Chloe North and your Daddy is really looking forward to seeing that band of gold on her hand."

I lifted her out of the bath and wrapped her up in a soft towel, her little giggles and calls for me making me smile... my daughter was the apple of my eye and I treasured both her mother and her more than life itself. I carried her wriggling and kicking me, into the master bedroom, a normally calm and peaceful sanctuary from the day to day struggles that work gave me that was currently filled with suits as well as our cases for the honeymoon. I had never seen it look so chaotic but it made me smile, everything today was making me smile if I was honest.

Lying Aeryn down on the bed I dried her off and rubbed the lotion into her soft skin, something that was a hard task as my little lady was determined to turn around and crawl away at every given opportunity. I had to get her dressed, the tiny white dress was hanging over the door next to my suit, my hands were shaking as I undid the tiny pearl buttons getting it ready before putting on Aeryns little vest and tights – she was going to look like an angel today. We had bought a little silver bracelet for her to match one that Chloe wore so that she would have something to treasure as she grew up. After what felt like an eternity, she was ready bar her shoes as she had a habit of throwing them away...

I called for Dimitri to take his precious God-daughter downstairs as I looked at the black suit I was going to be wearing, the gold tie gleaming gleaming in the sunshine. I took a deep breath, this was it... get the suit on and then the men would be leaving the house, I was getting nervous now...

"Lucas, it's not too late to stop it, I'm sure Chloe would understand if you couldn't say I do. Admittedly that would be after she'd hit you around the head with something heavy. Face it mate, you love her – she loves you, this is just one day a piece of metal goes on your fingers and that's it. You're already committed to one another by having this little lady and that a new little one due in what, eight weeks? Just go get showered and dressed and then we can get out of here, I'll settle Aeryn downstairs with her grandmothers – let them squabble over her."

I went into the wet room... my mind wandering back to the times Chloe and I had been in here together, a warm smile crossing my face as I envisioned her naked body against mine. Running the shower I stripped down, stretching my aching muscles as I made my way under it, the warm water ran down my body – each droplet of water relaxing my mind as well body. I thought of Chloe washing me in here one night when I'd come home exhausted and dirty from chasing a group of thugs halfway around the docklands, her tiny hands had worked their magic... God I missed her, roll on the next hour when I'll be standing by her side telling her my vows. Grabbing the mint shampoo I washed my hair, repeating my vows to myself over and over again, determined not to stutter when I was face to face with my gorgeous girl. It was time to get dressed... I was supposed to have gone to Harry's place to get changed but couldn't bare the thought of leaving Chloe earlier this morning and had instead convinced her that I would be gone before she returned from the salon.