What a healthy marriage looks like

Showtime!

The next morning Mick woke up with Caroline in his arms and he gently shook her awake, "Caroline..." She stirred, a bit groggily, and grumped, "Noo, five more minutes...", "Come on, darlin'. We gotta get ready.", "Mphm.", "Come on," He shook her again and she swatted at him, mumbling something unintelligible. He chuckled and pressed kisses up her jaw saying, "Don't make me wake you up the hard way.", "Mmm..." She hummed as if she was considering this, then mumbled, "M'Okay I'm getting up...", "You ain't up.", "I'm getting up. Give me a second..." he waited a moment, then said, "That was a second.", " Two seconds then..." He picked her up and dropped her on the bed and she woke up with a squawk, "Alright! Alright! I'm up! Damn !" She sat up and glared at him, but he kissed her. She melted and when he pulled back she laughed, "I almost forgive you for that." He laughed too and she gave him a kiss of her own before standing up and stretching. He smiled at her, "You ready to be married again?", "I am. Are you?", "Oh, I've been ready since I married you the first time..." She grinned and he gave her one more kiss before saying, "Alright. I've gotta go, but I'll see you there.", "Alright. Bye Micky, I love you.", "I love you too, Caroline." He peeked his head out the bedroom door to see if he could make a run for it, only to be greeted by his mother. She gave him a look and he laughed awkwardly, feeling very exposed in just his boxers. She just shook her head and handed him the clothes she had brought him, "Figured you might want these.", "Thanks mum." He said, ducking back inside and quickly getting dressed before opening the door and giving her a hug. She hugged him back, then tweaked his ear, "You scared us last night when we couldn't find you!" He rubbed his ear, "Ow- I know mum, I'm sorry.", "You could have told us you were leaving- Or told anyone instead of just disappearing!", "I know..." She gave him another look, then hugged him again, "But that's water under the bridge. Go get dressed, we'll see you downstairs.", "Thanks mum, love you.", "Love you too, Mickie." She kissed his cheek and he moved out into the hall. He walked down to his suit, passing Terry on the way back and he nodded to her, "Mornin'.", "Morning..." She said, not looking at him. He opened his door and the first person to see him was Dell, who exclaimed, "Finally!" Mick walked in to all the boys getting ready. Including Spy, who Mick pointed at, "Shouldn't you be in Caroline's suit?" Spy shot back, "Shouldn't you be in yours ?", "Touche.", "It's touché .", "Whatever." Mick said, moving to the room that he was supposed to have shared the last two nights. Tavish sat on the edge of the bed, just thinking, and he looked up as Mick came in, "Oh, hey..." Mick started getting dressed as he said, "Mornin'. So, how was it?", "How's what?", "How was last night?" Tavish narrowed his eye at him, "...We didn't do anythin'." Mick smiled, "That wasn't my question." Tavish blinked at him for a moment, then smiled and nodded, looking forward, "We just talked and I held her and then before I knew it, we woke up... It was... It was nice." Mick nodded, putting on his dress shoes and tying them up. Tavish grinned and stood up, shouldering on his jacket as he countered, "How was your night, lad?", "Fan- bloody - tastic." They smiled at each other, then moved into the lounge with the others.

...

Caroline watched Mick go wishing he could stay a little longer, but alas... She wasn't ready to put on her dress yet, but she got decent and moved into the lounge. Lewie looked up from the couch and his eyes went wide, "Since when do you wake up before noon?", "Since I'm getting married today." She stuck her tongue out at him before realizing there were other people. Lewie and Henry, of course, then Terry, Dorthy, a woman she'd never met before, and Miss Pauling who was brushing out Olivia's hair as they all had breakfast. She sat down with them and Dorthy said to her, "How'd you sleep, dear?", "Very well, thank you.", "Yeah, I bet..." Terry scoffed and Lewie countered, " You're one to talk!" She gave him a look but he laughed and Dorthy just said, "Well I'm glad... Big day, you excited?" Caroline nodded, "Excited? Yes, and maybe a little nervous?" Miss Pauling looked at her, "Nervous? How nervous?", "I'll be fine." Caroline assured her, but even as she said that she could already feel her anxiety start to twitter. Dorthy just picked up a donut with a napkin and placed it in her hand, "Here. Eat something, you'll feel better." Caroline looked at it, "I don't think I can right now-", "Did you have anything last night?", "No.", "Then eat.", "But-", " Eat ." Caroline sighed and took a bite, then her stomach suddenly reminded her of its presence and she scarfed the rest of it down. Dorthy just pat her on the shoulder and asked, "Feel any better, dear?" Caroline blushed, "Maybe a little." and Dorthy smiled, grabbing her another donut. The woman she didn't know looked between Dorthy with Caroline and Miss Pauling with Olivia and said, "Ooh! That's so sweet, what I wouldn't give to have a daughter!" Not even looking up from her drawing Olivia scoffed, "She's not my mom." and Pauling paused for a second before just finishing up her hair. The woman said, "I know, but still." Caroline looked at her and said politely, "Sorry, but I don't think I know you, what's your name?" The woman laughed, "I'm sorry, I should probably introduce myself, shouldn't I? I'm Diane, I'm Jeremy's mom- and a friend of Dorthy's.", "I hope it's okay I brought her up here, dear." Dorthy said and Caroline nodded, "Of course, the more the merrier.", "I don't know about that..." Terry grumbled as Yelena came out of the other room saying to Diane, "You want daughter? You can have one of mine." She moved to the kitchenette, filled up a cup of water and moved back into the other room. It was quiet for a moment, then Yana, Bronislava, and Zhanna started shouting. Yelena shouted over them, "Up! Up! Up!" and the girls stumbled into the lounge, still half asleep. Dorthy and Diane greeted, "Good morning." and Zhanna grumbled, "It is certainly morning ..." picking up a sausage pastry and eating it. Then Miss Pauling said to Olivia, "Alright, you're all done. Now the rest of us need to get ready." Olivia looked around at the newly crowded space and asked, "Can I go downstairs now?" Pauling shrugged, "If you want to, but-" Without another word, Olivia got up, grabbing her paper and markers and stomping her little feet as she went to the door. Pauling called after her, "But, remember to be in the big room by-", "By twelve. Got it." She grumped, and then left. Pauling looked at the door for a moment and Caroline asked, "So... How's she been?" Pauling shrugged, an unreadable expression on her face and Dorthy pat her shoulder before standing up, "Alright, should we start getting ready, then? We don't want to be late." They all agreed, finishing up their breakfast before getting up to get ready.