What a healthy marriage looks like

Mawage 2: electric boogaloo

The next few months were a bit of a rush. Caroline went back to work as a CB and Mick picked up odd jobs, all the while Miss Pauling planned their wedding for them. She didn't charge them, but she had her own ideas about what she wanted to do and they mostly stayed out of her way. They sent out invitations early, mostly to see who all was going to be in the wedding party. Caroline had just three requests for who she wanted in her wedding party; Two friends from highschool, who both accepted, and Maggie, who had declined. Apparently, she and Saxton Hale were 'rediscovering their relationship' So she was not only unavailable to be a bridesmaid, but was also unavailable to attend the wedding, along with Hale himself. In both congratulations and apologies, they just sent Mick and Caroline a sizable sum of money. On Mick's side, all of the former mercenaries accepted his request to be groomsmen, which led to the addition of Caroline's wedding party in the form of Heavy's three sisters and Spy. Caroline was initially hesitant to have Heavy's sisters as part of her party, but with little convincing she allowed it. Before anyone knew it, there was only two days before the wedding. Pauling had gotten hotel rooms at the venue she had picked to host the event with the money they'd gotten from Saxton and Maggie, and as the wedding parties came in, she directed them to either Mick's suite, or Caroline's. One of the first to arrive was Lewie and his boyfriend, all the way from Michigan. They were directed to Caroline's suite and when she opened the door for him they screamed excitedly and hugged each other. "Lewie!", "Lynn! It's been too long!", "I know- come in, come in!" She invited them in and offered, "Would you like something to drink?" Lewie moved over to the wet bar saying, "Girl, you know I love me a mimosa." As he did that, she introduced herself to his boyfriend, "Hi, I'm Caroline, and you're Lewie's partner?" He nodded, then offered his hand to shake, "I am. I'm Henry. Congratulations by the way.", "Thank you!" She shook his hand and then they sat in the lounge area. Lewie called from the bar, "You guys want anything?" Henry said, "No, thank you." At the same time Caroline said, "I'll take a Chimayó." Lewie called back, "Bitch, I ain't Terry. I don't know how to do that fancy shit." Caroline responded, "Take a glass, fill half of it with cider and the other half with tequila.", "How was I supposed to know that?" Lewie mumbled, grabbing a glass. She laughed to herself and Henry asked her, "So, Lewis told me you two were friends back in highschool?" Caroline nodded, "Yeah, really good friends- but what about you two? How did you meet?" Henry waved a hand, "Oh, you know-", "Gay bar." Lewie answered for him, coming back over with the drinks. He gave Caroline hers before sitting in his boyfriend's lap with his mimosa. She nodded and took a sip. It was awful. Lewie asked, "So, is it good?", "Uh, yeah! Thank you-" There was another knock on the door and Caroline quickly got up to open it. Terry smiled at her, "Hey girl!", "Hey Terry!" They hugged and Caroline led her to the lounge. When Lewie saw her he said, "How did we beat you? You live here." Terry sat down with them and replied, "I got shit to do." Lewie rolled his eyes but Terry just pointed to Caroline's drink, "What's that?" Lewie answered for her, "It's a Chimayo. I made it myself." Terry eyed it then eyed him, then she picked it up and took a sip. She spit it out, "God- I can tell. What? Did you just pour Patron and apple juice in here?" Lewie scoffed, "That's what she told me to do..." Terry looked at Caroline, who shrugged, "That's what I thought it was." Terry looked at her with a mix between horror and disgust before she stood up with the drink, "I fucking- I can't with you. Either of you. Hi Henry." Henry nodded politely and Terry moved over to the bar, pouring out the drink and looking around, "Well, there's no lemons, or créme de cassis... Or even good cider, so you're S-O-L on the Chimayó, Lynn. What's option two?" Caroline waved a hand, "It's fine. It's your day off.", "You saying you want me to get creative?", "Mimosas are fine.", "That's what I thought..." Terry mumbled as she made herself and Caroline drinks. She gave Caroline hers and sat down on the couch as she asked her, "I thought you two had already gotten married? Why are you having a wedding now?", "We did, but apparently something happened with the paperwork so instead of just re-signing it we figured, 'Why not do a wedding this time?'." Lewie drew his brows together, "Wait, you already got married?" Caroline scratched her neck, "Uh, yeah. A few months ago-", Bitch! Why didn't you TELL ME?!" Terry threw her arms wide, "That's what I said!" Caroline sighed, "We just went up to the courthouse and signed the papers on a whim. It wasn't supposed to be a big deal-", "Bitch, you got married! Of course it's a big deal!" Caroline gestured helplessly, "I mean, I guess? and also, we've just been living life the same way we were before. The only difference is the title." Lewie and Henry looked at each other, then Lewie nodded, "Yeah, I guess I get that." Caroline nodded too and then Terry asked, "So, are we you're only bridesmaids- bridesmaid and man... bridespeople?", "No," Caroline chuckled, "I've got three more girls that should be coming soon.", "Friends?", "Friends of friends.", "Ah." Terry mused, "Anyone we'd know-?" There was a knock at the door and Caroline got up saying, "No, they're not from around here." She opened the door and it was Mick's mom, who was talking to an older looking woman. When she saw her, Dorthy pulled her into a hug, "Caroline! Hi dear! It's so nice to see you again!", "It's nice to see you too, Dorthy!" Mick's mom released her from the hug and Caroline asked, "Where's Mr. Mundy- or, uh, Johnathan?", "Oh, we got our own hotel room. As much as we like to party, we're not as young as we used to be.", "Ah." Caroline mused and Dorthy gestured to the woman beside her, "Anyway, I was just talkin' to Mick's friend's mother." The woman raised a hand in greeting, "Hello, I am Yelena. I am Mikhail's mother. My daughters are around here somewhere..." She looked around the halls, "I do not know where they left to, but they will be around.", "Ah, of course. Come in," Caroline led them inside, "Could I get either of you a drink?" Yelena shook her head, "No. I am fine." and so did Dorthy, "I'm alright, dear. Thank you, though." Caroline nodded and then moved to the lounge area to introduce everyone, "Terry, Lewie, Henry, this is Mick's mother, Dorthy, and the mom of Mick's friend, Yelena." Seeing them, Lewie scrambled out of Henry's lap trying to appear casual, "H-hey! Hi. Nice to- nice to meet you. Thanks for the warning." He mumbled that last part to Caroline. Yelena pished and said, "You do not be scared from me. My son, he marries nice young man years ago. I am not bothered."  Lewie and Henry looked between each other and Dorthy chimed in, "Yeah, you don't have to be worried with us. Love's love." Henry smiled and hooked an arm around Lewie's waist as the women sat down. Caroline asked Dorthy, "So, did you have the chance to visit Mick?", "I did, we actually just saw the boys right before we came over here. It's quite... Um, lively over there.", "You mean chaos." Yelena stated dryly. "Oh..." Caroline mused, "Is everyone here, then?" Dorthy shrugged, "I don't know who all's comin' so I couldn't tell you." The door opened and someone called from the entrance, "Ma!" Yelena called back, "Yana?" A woman in about her mid thirties came into the lounge and said, "Mother, Zhanna and Bronislava won't leave the elevator." Yelena sighed, standing up and stating, "I will be back." and she left with her daughter. Once they left, there was another knock on the door and Caroline stood up. Dorthy said to her, "Pretty fun mornin', huh?" Caroline laughed, "Pretty chaos, more like it." She went and opened the door again, but this time it was Mick. She smiled and hugged him, "Micky! Hi!", "Hi darlin', how are you holdin' up?", "I'm doing fine. How about you?" He looked down the hall toward his suite and said, "Uh, good, I guess.", "Has everyone shown up?", "Yeaah. Demo was the last one and he brought beer-" There was a loud bang and a puff of smoke came from under the door. He kissed her cheek and said, "I should go check on that. Sorry, love.", "You're fine, baby." She kissed him properly for a moment before releasing him, patting his shoulder. He moved quickly back down the hall, passing Heavy's mom as she dragged one of Heavy's sisters by the ear while the other two followed behind, arguing. Mick nodded, "Ladies." and the sisters stopped fighting to give him a, "Hi!" Then as he moved past them, one of them said something in russian and they both giggled. He looked back just as Heavy's mom smacked the brunette upside the head, telling her off. Mick just continued back to his room, opening the door to smoke and confetti. He called into the room, "Ey! I was only gone for a moment! What happened?" Dell came out coughing, "Jane found a popper, I don't know where, but-" There was another bang and more smoke, accompanied by maniacal laughing. Pauling came down the hall shouting, "Idiots! What are you doing?!" Dell started, "Jane found a-" but she cut him off with a hand, "I don't care. Just get the smoke out of there before the alarms go off-", "Then it's a good thing I disabled the alarms!" Jane proclaimed proudly. Pauling's eye twitched, "Soldier, you're an idiot." Jeremy came over and said, "Don't worry, Miss Pauling! We've got it all under control! We got the fans on, it's all good!" Pauling marched up to him and grabbed the popped popper out of his hand, "What's this?", "Oh, that? It's uh-", "Scout, where did you get this?", "Uh, where? That's a really good question, lemme get back to you on that-", "Scout...", "Pyro brought em'." Pyro mumbled something incoherent, pointing at Jeremy. Dell translated, "Pyro says Scout brought em'.", "Me? I would never- AAH!" He shouted in surprise as Pauling dragged him down the hall and yelled at him. From the couch, Fritz mused, "Only a few hours back together and someone's already blown something up." Dell shot back, "You didn't try to stop em'!" Fritz shrugged and beside him, Mikhail mumbled, "I just hope ladies are having less trouble.", "Ladies?" Jeremy asked as he came back in. Mikhail gave him a hard look, "Do not speak to my sisters, tiny man.", "Sisters?" Jane asked and Mikhail sighed. Miss Pauling moved next to Mick and mumbled, "I knew this was a bad idea." Mick looked at her, "It was your idea.", "Yeah, but nobody was checking me, so really this is all your fault.", "Well, whatever. It's your problem now.", "What do you mean it's my problem? It's your wedding!", "Exactly. I'm gonna go take Caroline out, and we'll come back once this is fixed.", "But I- but you-... Alright fine. But be back in an hour.", "Two hours.", "Hour and a half.", "Deal." He said and moved back down the hall. He knocked on Caroline's door again and the sister that had been dragged by her ear opened it. She looked at him, "Who are you?" He quirked an eyebrow, "I'm Mick... Is Caroline-", "Ah. You look like man Bronislava has crush on." She looked him up and down, "Very tall, thin man... You are like twig, I do not understand what she is attracted to-" From inside someone shouted, "Who's at the door?" and she shouted back, "Bronislava's crush!" Heavy's brunette sister poked her head out, confused, then blushed and immediately ducked back inside, shouting, "Zhanna!" There was laughing and guffawing and then Caroline walked over saying, "Thank you, but I'll take it from here." Zhanna scoffed, "You may keep him." and Caroline chuckled, moving into the hall. She smiled at Mick and said, "You're back. Is everything- oh!" They looked down the hall as the guys were trying to clear the smoke out of the room and Mick put an arm around her shoulder, hustling her in the other direction, "Yeah, they're fixin' it. In the meantime, I'm stealin' you.", "S-stealing me? What for?" He flashed her a grin, "Just cuz'." They rounded the corner and she mumbled, "I hope it's not for something nefarious." He looked to make sure they were alone, then pinned her up against the wall, "and what if it is?", "Whoa, whoa, whoa-!" She shouted, then her visage disappeared and was replaced by Spy's. Mick jumped back before growling, "Oh, I'm gonna fuckin' KILL YOU FOR THAT!" Mick lunged at him and Spy barely managed to jump out of the way before he ran down the hall. Mick sprinted after him shouting, "COME HERE YOU- BLOODY WEASEL! I'M GONNA TEAR YOUR BLOODY EYES OUT!" Spy ran around the corner and when Mick followed, he'd disappeared. "DAMN IT!" Mick cursed, then behind him was a noise. He whipped around and Caroline ran in from the other direction, stopping when she saw him. She rested her hands on her knees to catch her breath as she said, "Micky... are you... are you okay...?" He growled, "Spy, I swear to God-", "It's me!" She held up her hands, "It's me- It's... It's me... I went to the bathroom... and when I came back Spy was gone... then you were shouting and... and I put the pieces together... Fuck you're fast..." He stalked up to her, "Prove it." She stood up, still catching her breath, then hugged him. More resting on him than anything. He studied her suspiciously for a moment, then hugged her back, "Okay, it is you... Sorry, love.", "No, I'm sorry. I didn't think he'd do that...", "Well, in my defense, I did not think he would pin you up against the wall." Mick pulled Caroline into him and took a swing at Spy, who had materialized beside them. Spy dodged, but Mick still managed to clip his jaw and Spy staggered back with a, "Fuck!" Mick shouted, "That's what you GET you greasy- slimey- son of a-", "Mick- Micky. I'm alright, you're alright. It's okay... and by the way, Spy, I could have told you that." Spy felt at where Mick hit him and shrugged with a laugh, "I suppose I deserve that." Mick sneered, "Oh, you deserve much more than that, you rat bastard-", "Micky..." She gave him a look and he brushed her hair out of her face very tenderly as he said, "I'm just gonna rip his spine out and beat him black and blue with it, I'll be quick-", "Micky...", "I'll be quick, I promise-", "Micky, my love, would you take me on a walk through the courtyard?" Mick looked at Spy, then her, then back to him, before finally settling on Caroline, "... Yes...", "Great," She said, taking his arm and moving him away from Spy, who Mick glared at until they rounded another corner and he lost sight of him. At that, he hooked his arm around her waist and pulled her close, slightly paranoid that the moment he turned, Spy would pull that shit again. They walked over to the elevators and Caroline pressed the button before saying, "By the way, I saw the smoke coming out of your room. Is everything alright?", "Yeah... Someone brought a firecracker and set it off inside.", "Oh, yikes.", "Yeah." An elevator opened and they stepped inside. Just before it closed, Tavish stumbled over and joined them, "Oh, hey! Tha's where you went.", "Hey Tavish.", "Hey M-M-Micky! Micky Mouse!" Mick gave him a look but Tavish just laughed, pulling both of them into a hug, "Congrats tae the both of ya! I'm happy for ya, and lang mae yer lum reek!" He kissed the side of both of their heads and Mick chuckled, "Thanks Tav.", "I just can't believe it! First yer nabbed, then wer jobless an no yer gettin' married?! Again?!", "I know, mate. It's crazy.", "Crazy? Tha's one wae teh bloody put it!" The elevator dinged for the lobby and Tavish got out, stumbling away. Mick called after him, "Where you goin', mate?", "Out. I'll be back later, don you worry..." Mick looked at Caroline, who shrugged before pressing the button for the top floor. The elevator closed and Mick quirked a brow at her, "I thought you wanted to go to the courtyard?", "I wanted to get you away from Spy before you actually did kill him." Mick looked away with a grunt, "That bastard deserves it...", "Maybe, but not right now. We're getting married in a few days and I'd rather not have the feds sniffing around a crime scene when we're trying to go on our honeymoon." He paused at that, "Honeymoon?" Caroline grinned, "I may have... Set something up with Miss Pauling.", "...You wanna tell me?", "Nope. You're just gonna have to be patient.", "Mm. Payback." He mused, wrapping his arms around her waist and she smiled, "Oh yeah, big time." They rode the elevator quietly for a moment and then he asked, "I'm not... I'm not thin am I?", "What?", "Do you think I'm thin?", "...Is that a bad thing?", "Do you?" Caroline shrugged, "Compared to what? Compared to me? Yeah.", "No- and you're beautiful..." He ran his hands down her hips for emphasis, "I mean... Do you think I look small compared to other guys?" Caroline looked up at him, "Where's this coming from?" He looked away and she cupped his face in her hands, "Who told you that? Because whoever it is I'm gonna find them and do something violent to them. You're perfect, Micky. You're tall and strong and protective and exceedingly handsome. I don't know if you know this, but I find you very attractive..." She purred that last part, moving her hands down his chest for emphasis. He smiled, pulling her hands into his own, "Thank you, darlin'. Sorry, that was just me bein' a bit insecure.", "No, you're fine Micky. Now just tell me who said that and I'll beat them black and blue with their own spine." Mick chuckled and squeezed her close to him as he said, "Now that is a cat-fight I don't want to see." The elevator dinged for the top floor and they moved out as Caroline asked, "...So it was a girl?" They went out to the roof as Mick responded, "If I can't kill Spy, you can't kill Heavy's sister.", "Hm." Caroline hummed, "Which one?", "Lynn.", "What? I just wanna talk... Then punch that bitch in the face." He laughed, "As charming as I find your loyalty, it's fine.", "It's not! She said that to you, I'm not just gonna let her-" He held her face, "Lynn, it's fine." She grumbled but conceded, and he smiled at her, leaning down to draw his mouth over hers. She sighed, hooking her arms around his neck as they kissed. When they broke he mused, "If I'm being honest, I'm kinda ready for this to be over.", "If I'm being honest? Me too." They laughed together for a moment, then Caroline pulled back to look at the city around them and beyond that, the dense clouds above, "At least it's cooled down a bit, and it looks like it's about to rain.", "Just in time for my birthday.", "Oh yeah! You're gonna be thirty tomorrow! How do you feel about becoming an old man?", "Excuse you, I'm only slightly older than you.", "Yeah, but I'm still in my twenties.", "Twenty-eight.", "That still counts!", "Only barely.", "Says the old man-" He pulled her into him and mused, "I'm still twenty-nine until tomorrow, plenty of time to enjoy the rest of my twenties...", "Oh yeah? Anything particular you had in mind?" He shrugged, "Maybe... Depends on if we can sneak off tonight-", "There you are!" Miss Pauling said as she came out onto the roof, "The room's fixed and I've confiscated all of Scout's fireworks, so there shouldn't be any more trouble... Well, tonight at least." Mick turned to her, "That ain't the least bit comforting.", "I know..." She sighed walking over to them and Caroline joked, "I hope this is what you had in mind when you said you wanted to plan our wedding." Pauling laughed, "Planning is one thing, having a bunch of idiots running around a hotel feels like herding cats... Speaking of- Come on, you two are needed downstairs." Miss Pauling ushered the two of them to the elevator and they rode it back down to their floor. They got off and Pauling shooed Mick back into his room saying, "Alright, now I just need to find Demo." From inside the door, Mick said, "Tav went out.", "Where?" Mick shrugged, "He didn't say.", "Like herding cats, I swear... Okay, I'll go find Demo. You got stuff to do- both of you. Then tomorrow is the rehearsal/ birthday dinner, then the next day: show time!" She left and Caroline moved over to Mick. He leaned up against the door frame and she gave him a kiss, "Doesn't look like we'll be able to sneak away tonight. Sorry.", "It's alright, love. I kinda figured... It's not a big deal-", "Yo! He's back!" Jeremy shouted and then grabbed Mick, yanking him inside. Caroline giggled as the door closed behind him and then moved down the hall to her own suite. As she was walking she got the faint hint of cologne and paused to say to the air, "That was a mean trick you pulled earlier." Spy materialized beside her, "I know, je suis désolé...", "Don't apologize to me." She gestured down the hall and Spy felt at his jaw before saying, "...I will apologize to him later." She quirked a brow at him and he grumbled, "I would rather keep my jaw in one piece right now." They kept walking down the hall as she asked, "Well, what did you think was gonna happen?", "I... I saw an opportunity and took it because I thought it would be entertaining...", "I mean... It was pretty entertaining to me." She grinned smugly at him and he smiled despite himself, ruffling her hair. She ducked away, laughing, before bumping him with a shoulder, "Just don't try that again, because next time I won't stop him from mauling you.", "Oh, don't worry. I never want to experience that again.", "Getting punched?", "Getting pinned to the wall." He shivered in disgust. Caroline laughed, "Not a fan?", "Not from your fiancé, no. He is about the same age as Scout." She shrugged, "I'm into it-", "Don't. I do not want to hear anything about that. Keep it between yourself and your fiancé...", "Well, I mean... I don't need to tell you anything, you already experienced it-", "Et! No! I'm leaving." He began to cloak, but she grabbed his arm laughing, "Wait! Sorry, but you deserved that." He sighed, "...I suppose I do." He opened her suit door for her and they went back inside, where Dorthy was the first to see her. She moved over to her and asked, "Is everything alright, dear?" Caroline nodded, "Yeah, just some... Technical difficulties.", "Do I need to check on Mickie?", "No, I was just with him. It's all fixed now." One of Heavy's sisters, Yana, poked her head out of the lounge, "You are back! Now you must show us your dress!", "My dress?" Hearing this, her other guests agreed and she held up her hands, "Alright, alright. Let me go grab it." She went to the bedroom she was sharing with Terry, Lewie, and Henry and grabbed the dry cleaning bag that was hanging up. Moving into the lounge, all her guests watched excitedly as she unzipped the bag and showed everyone her wedding dress. Everyone ooh'ed and ah'ed at it- everyone except Spy, who pointed out, "That is the same dress you wore last time." At that, Terry proclaimed, "Wait- you got invited to her first wedding?!" Caroline flushed and replied, "It wasn't really a wedding.", "But you invited him and not me?!", "He was our witness!", "I could have been your witness!" Dorthy called, "Alright! Settle down! The past is the past- We're all here now, so let's be grateful for that and celebrate- and Caroline? I think that dress is lovely.", "Thank you..." Caroline said, gratefully. Spy interjected, "Yes, but he has already seen it." Yana gasped, "That means you must find a new dress!" Bronislava brightened, "Yes! We must find you a new dress! Which means we must go out into the city!" The sisters all got very excited at that, and Caroline stammered, "But this one is fine, and- and we don't need to go through the hassle of getting another dress-" But the sisters were already up and running around, getting their stuff together for a day on the town. Lewie also got up saying, "Yess, and while we're out we can get mani-pedi's." Henry got up too, saying, "I like that idea." Caroline said, "Wa-wait- Miss Pauling said-" but the sisters were talking over her. Then, Yelena boomed, "QUIET!" ...Everyone stopped. Heavy's mother nodded, "Good. Now Caroline, what did you say?" Caroline hesitated and then there was a knock on the door, "Uh, let me go get that..." She went over and opened the door to Miss Pauling. Caroline sighed in relief, "Perfect timing." Pauling quirked a brow, "Why?", "Because everyone wants to go dress shopping now.", "Don't you already have a dress?", "Exactly, but apparently since that's the one I wore last time, I can't wear it again." Pauling nodded, "Alright. That's fine then.", "...What?", "If you all want to go dress shopping, that's fine.", "But- I thought you said to stay here?", "No, I said you have stuff to do. That stuff is entertaining your guests, so if your guests wanna go dress shopping, go dress shopping- in fact, that might be better. Then I'd only have one crowd to deal with... Yeah, okay. You still have the registry checkbook?", "...Yeah.", "Cool, then get out of here. Go have fun.", "But-", "Go. See you guys later." and she walked back down the hall. Caroline stood there for a moment, then walked back into the lounge where Terry asked, "Who was that?", "It was Miss Pauling. She said we're good to go." The sisters hopped up, excited, and everyone else started getting ready to go. Caroline just sighed, hoping that finding this dress wouldn't take as long as last time.