Tying the knot... or not?

~Epilouge~

ONE YEAR LATER

Their wedding venue was perfect.
It wasn't flashy or cool or grand - it was select and tasteful and comfortable.
At least comfortable enough for the small gathering of friends and family who had come to see Theo and Emily get married.
After some discussion they'd agreed to keep it simple and had invited only Lula - who was her bridesmaid - and Tristan, of course, Theo's mother, Emily's brother, and a good friend of Theo's, whom he'd known since university and who had gamely agreed to be best man.
It was just right for them; exactly what they'd both wanted in the end.
No press. No fuss. Just the people they loved.
It had been tough, keeping the secret of their engagement and then their impending nuptials from the press - especially as Emily had to remember to take off her engagement ring whenever she was filming in case anyone caught on.
The show she was now hosting and also executive producing - where budding inventors of innovations to help humans to live better lives were pitted against each other and competed for the prestigious Humanitarian Inventor of the Year accolade - had steadily and resoundingly beaten the ratings of Treasure Trail with Daisy Dunlop since the day it had launched.
Not that she was gloating about that fact.
Much.
More importantly, because of the power she wielded on the show as executive producer, Emily knew she'd never have to go through the stress of waiting to see whether she was going to be usurped by someone younger and more hungry for success than she was.
Not that she courted the press at all these days. All that craziness was well and truly behind her now.
She had a steady, comfortable life with Theo at the manor and she was happy.
More happy and settled than she'd ever been in her entire life.
'Well, you two, you did it,' Lula said to them, beaming with delight once they'd exchanged rings and kissed each other with the blessing of the registrar.
It was just like Lula to be ecstatic at the thought of another happy-ever-after; she was a starry-eyed dreamer, after all, who'd managed to make her own dreams come true.
'So, not meaning to grab the limelight on your big day, but...' She paused for effect, looping her arm through Tristan's and smiling around at them all with big, mischievous eyes.
Emily's heart began to race with anticipation and she had to dig her nails into her palms in an attempt not to shake the information out of her friend.
She really hated being kept in suspense.
'I'm pregnant,' Lula announced finally, her expression radiating the joy she clearly felt at this life-changing event.
'Whose is it?' Theo asked wryly, and was rewarded with a thump on the arm from both Lula and Emily.
He grinned nonchalantly at Lula and Tristan. 'But seriously, that's fantastic news, guys. Congratulations.'
After Emily had dragged her friend to her for a hug, and smothered her in kisses, Lula jumped up and down on the spot excitedly and blurted, 'So you two have to get a move on and get pregnant too, so we can have babies together!'
Tristan grinned at his wife and put a gentle restraining hand on her arm. 'Give them a chance, Lu, they've only just tied the knot.'
Lula's face flushed bright red and they all patted her back in support as she spluttered an apology.
'Don't worry, Lula, I'm sure it'll be on the cards soon enough,' Theo said, grinning at his wife.
Emily raised an eyebrow. 'Will it?'
'Yes, of course. We need to seriously think about extending the family line now we've validated the nuptials,' he said, stony-faced, and only broke into a smile when she jumped on him, grabbing him playfully around the neck and wrapping her legs around his waist - just able to manage it in her tightly fitting wedding dress.
'I think that's our cue to leave, Lu,' Tristan said, giving a bemused shake of his head. 'We'll see you back at your house.'
'Yeah, great,' Theo said. 'There should be champagne when you arrive - make sure you get some. Although...' He looked at Lula. '...I guess you're not allowed any at the moment.'
She pouted, then grinned. 'I can live with that,' she said breezily, taking Tristan's hand and walking away with him.
'Are you going to get off me now?' Theo asked, his voice sounding rather strained from holding Emily's weight against him.
She slid down his body, then readjusted the silky skirt of her dress. 'I'm off.'
'Glad to hear it.'
'Theo?' she breathed into his ear, leaning her body seductively against his.
'Wife?'
'About that baby...?'
He turned to give her a confused frown. 'I thought we'd agreed to wait a year and give ourselves some time to enjoy being married first?'
'Oh, yeah, I'm still on for that. It's just I was thinking...'
'Yeeess?'
'There's no harm in getting some practice in now, for when we're ready to start trying. Right?' she said, waggling her eyebrows at him and drawing him towards one of the quiet, lockable ante-rooms at the wedding venue.
'No harm at all,' he said with a grin. 'Lead on, Lady Berkeley.'