Just Remember

Chapter 12 A Wedding, Family, and a Funeral

Life continued blissfully for the Watts as They merged their two homes by moving half of their wardrobes to each house. It had taken Grace's maid and her farm hands a while to stop dropping what every they had in their hands every time that Justin walked into the same room with them or walked passed them to be near to his wife, but now things were going smoothly. Connie, and Grace were almost always chattering together with Rebecca and a few other people planning a wedding complete with dresses, tuxes, and decorations, since Connie felt the need to give them actual wedding pictures and maybe even a video to share with their children in the future once the two started thinking about settling and having a few. Connie and Rebecca both had no idea that Justin had already made up his mind firmly on that front even if it cost the Texans their crowd pleaser to do so.


They had managed to figure out every detail except for the Venue where they would be married, the Honey moon, and a top secret surprise that Grace's little brothers were working on for the big day, when Justin ran into the house and grabbed Grace around the waist kissing her neck and pretending that he was going to eat her like a hungry bear making her scream with laughter and the other ladies in the house giggle. "Justin, not in front of your mother," Grace scolded as he pulled her close to his chest and was about to squeeze her backside.
"Babe," he wined!
"Don't you dare give me that look, Justin, there's a time and a place for that, and it's not and will never be in front of family and friends or strangers," Grace scolded as she wriggled out of his arms and returned to the Dining room table to check over the check list again.


"Okay, ladies, where were we before we were interrupted, by the wild man," Grace laughed?
"Menu, check, music, check, invited guests, check, Dresses, and tuxes, Check, Flowers, Check, D.J., Check, Really all we need now is the venue location, so that we can send out the invites," Rebecca said as all of the women turned their heads to give Justin expectant expressions.
"Nope, It's not going down like that. I've already sent out the invites, and the tickets to everyone on that list last week. If you want the Location of the Wedding venue, you ladies are going to have to ask your men, because it will spoil the surprise for Grace if I spill the beans," Justin smirked.


"The caterer, bartender, d.J., Flouriest, and party planners that you ladies have been working with have already left for the venue to have it ready by Morning. Now, May I suggest that anyone who is going to my and Grace's wedding get out of our house, grab your dresses and makeup and other goop that you need, and meet us at Bush Airport. I've chartered a plane to get us where we need to be, so anyone not on that plane will definitely miss the wedding," Justin said as Grace Gave him an exasperated look upon realizing that he had definitely lied to her when he said that he had nothing special planned.


The Entire Texans Team their coaches, and the Team owner had all been invited to attend the official re-wedding of Justin and Grace Watt, along with her brothers and their wives and children, the Watts of course and the Runyons and their son who attended university with the Watt boys. Justin was fuming as he was forced to sit on the opposite side of the plane instead of being allowed to sit with Grace. Rebecca and his mother wouldn't let him anywhere near her, and it was bothering him Greatly. His Only solace at that point was that the Pilot had agreed not to announce their destination over the Loud speaker, and would remain to carry the guests back to Houston when the party was over.


As the plane started to lose altitude and prepare to land Justin nodded at his mother who quickly tied a black blindfold over Graces eyes after relieving her of her glasses. She was going to protest when suddenly she felt Justin as he whispered into her ear. "Keep that on, until Mom takes it off of you, I've had to go through hell to arrange this surprise for you, and I don't want it ruined," Justin smiled as he placed a feather light kiss onto her cheek before taking his seat with a cat who ate the canary expression upon his face.


Grace was guided down the stairs of the plane when it landed, and was helped into a large car that she suspected was a limousine with all of the women who could fit inside of it with her. Her nerves were making her tremble with anticipation as the limo finally stopped and she was led into a building and into a large room before the blind fold was removed and she found herself standing inside of the old high school gym surrounded by all of her female friends and past team mates from her days in the flag core, who screamed surprise at the top of their lungs making Grace blink back tears of joy as she was hugged by everyone each in turn before everyone changed into their formal wear and assisted Grace into her long flowing wedding gown that was made to flow as if it were made in the middle ages, made of the sheerest, and softest silk and lace.


Her hair was left down and curled at the ends and her long flowing vale was attached to a wreath of white Lily's and Yellow Roses to match her bocay in honor of her father who was in Iraq in active duty at the moment. She was then left inside with only Rebecca as her maid of Honor, and her old team mates, who were all acting brides made as her Brother's stepped to her side one holding the hand of his daughter and his young nephew who were acting as flower girl and Ring bearer, while the other placed on of her hands into the crook of his arm and flipped open his laptop, to reveal her father's smiling face beaming at her over his Connection using Skype with a look of pride upon his face.


"Daddy," Grace almost cried in shock.
"Don't cry Princess, you'll mess up your make up. We can't have your beautiful face running now can we," Lee smiled as the Marching Band gave a drum roll before they started to play the wedding march giving it a beat that was completely Football night exciting. David turned the laptop to face the front so that their father could see what was going on as they began to move, and all eyes turned as Grace was led onto the snow covered field preceded by the flag core who were all spinning and twirling their flags followed by the Flower girl and the ring bearer led by Walter, and then Grace and her brother David who held his father on the laptop allowing him to take part


At the Goal line on the other end of the football field, with his father, and mother, and Brax standing by his side as best man, Justin looked to his wife as she was led down the aisle trying not to cry as his father-in-law's smiling face was carried along by her brother. He pulled his handkerchief out of his front pocket, and handed it to Grace as she was led up to his side with a smile as the Minister spoke. "Who gives this woman to be married to this man," the Minister asked as David held the laptop so that his father's face could be seen by all, and plugged a cord into it so that his father's voice would be heard by all over the speakers.


"I Colonel Leeroy Teller do give my only daughter to be wed to Justin James Watt. I'm trusting you to take care of her, and to never allow any harm to come to her if it can be avoided. Break her heart and I promise that I'll come after you and break more than just your arms and legs, do I make myself Crystal clear," Leeroy asked in a stern military tone?
"Sir, yes sir, I will never break her heart and understand that you have the right and privilege as her father to kick my ass upon the day of that most idiotic happening," Justin said as he gave his father-in-law a solute, to laughter from everyone.
"Good man, Watt. Well then Preacher, what are you waiting for, Marry them already so that I can see my baby girl smile," Leeroy ordered before David pulled the cord silencing his voice from the speakers.


---

In Iraq Colonel Leeroy Teller wiped a tear from his hazel eyes as his daughter was kissed by her husband and birdseed and confetti was thrown at them as Justin Swept her into his arms and ran as fast as he could through the Entire Texans team and the old members of the Pirates team as they chanted the happy couple's last name and held their helmets over the center isle with members of the flag core interspersed every so many feet between them holding their flags up in solute as well. He laughed as he heard his older son scream out as Justin Crossed the other goal line with Grace in his arms and spun with her making her scream out as she clung to him.
"Nice end zone dance Bro, but you'd better not forget that our sister is not a football or our dad will get to watch us kick your ass over the field goal post," Walter screamed making everyone laugh.


Colonel Lee Teller disconnected and shut down his laptop praying that he'd be able to witness more precious moments in the future, and sighed as he stowed his laptop into his duffle, with a sigh as he drifted off to sleep with the thought of one day holding his future grandchildren that would be born from his daughter and his son-in-law. War is an ugly thing, that brings forth fear, strife, and hardships, bloodshed, and often death and dismember ship upon those unlucky to be caught up in it. From that day on Lee's only light was in the knowledge by fighting, and continuing to fight that his children and their children would hopefully grow up in a world free from fear, and the loss of war. How could a future so bright, be filled with such uncertainty, he thought as he lay awake in his bunk, late into the night?


-----

For their honey moon Justin had pulled yet another surprise out of his bag of tricks, and took Grace to visit his family home where his grandparents still lived in the Highlands of Scotland, since he had been told that Scotland was the only country that Grace had not been in her extensive travels. The family manor was actually a castle surrounded by picturesque moors, and forests that looked as if at any moment if you looked hard enough you would see Fairies, and woodland creatures frolicking just within the boundaries of the forests that surrounded the expansive lands for the estate. They were greeted by his Grandmother and Grandfather who insisted that Grace call them Papa and Nanna just as all of their many grandchildren did, before they were led up to what had to be the most extravagant bedroom suite that Grace had ever had the privilege of being in.


The next morning after nearly half of the night spent in her husband's passionate embrace, Grace awoke just as the light of dawn glinted through the massive floor to ceiling window that looked out onto the snow covered moors, and slid silently out of bed to watch the sun rise. Seconds later strong arms snaked around her and Justin rested his chin on top of her wild untamed red hair, and sighed deeply. "I don't know what's more beautiful, the sunrise or my wife standing in my ancestral home watching the sunrise in my arms," Justin smiled as she turned in his arms and gazed up into his blue eyes happily.
"Justin, this is the most beautiful thing that anyone's ever done for me. Its right up there with my father's graduation present years ago. I love you so much, " she said as she pulled him down to meet her lips.


"Are you really happy Babe," he asked with a pleased expression on his face?
"Yes, Justin, I'm so happy that I feel like I could sprout wings and fly. What other surprises do you have in store for me," she asked as he pulled her away from the window and sat her down on a thick bearskin rug at his feet while he ran a brush through her long red hair removing the tangles so that it would be less work for her after they indulged in an early morning shower before breakfast.
"Well, let's see, I thought that we'd join my grandparents for breakfast, and then I'll take you out onto the grounds and show you all of my favorite spots, followed by a picnic for lunch, and then maybe if I haven't worn you out, some shopping down in the village. How does that sound to you," Justin asked as he put the brush on the side table and helped her back to her feet before leading her into the bathroom with a smirk on his face and a spark in his eye?


He allowed Grace out of the shower after enjoying his favorite pastime, of having her call out his name against the wall of the shower, and shaved while she got dressed for the day in a nice fitted dress made of Olive Green material, with sleeves that belled at the elbows, a square neckline and embroidered leaves of a darker green around the hem of the skirt that stopped just above her ankles. She had just slid her feet into a sensible pair of black wool lined leather boots, when her husband stepped into the room dressed in a white turtle necked sweater, and to her shock a kilt. "Justin, what ladies closet did you steal that lovely dark green plaid skirt from," she laughed knowing exactly what it was that he was wearing and wanting to poke at him?


"Skirt, what skirt? This is a kilt, babe it's considered quite manly in these parts for men to wear them. Don't you like the way that I look in it," he asked noticing the large smile that she was attempting unusually to hide from him?
"Oh, yes, Justin, it looks amazing on you, but exactly why are you wearing it, and is it true that traditional Scotsman wear nothing beneath them," Grace asked as he stepped behind her and slapped her hands away before braiding her hair for her?
"My grandparents are extremely traditional people. They expect for all males of our family line to dress in traditional Scottish clothing, and for all ladies to be dressed in either dresses like the nice one that you're wearing or skirt and blouses. Never wear pants around my grandparents unless you want to get scolded, and dragged back to your bedroom by your ears and forced into the proper clothing that is expected," Justin warned seriously.


"As for if I am wearing underpants or not beneath my Kilt, that is for me to know, and for you to enjoy finding out later. Oh, I should also warn you, my grandmother can be a bit bold and abrasive in her word choices at times. Don't be surprised at anything that comes out of her mouth," Justin smiled as he pulled Grace to her feet and led her down to the dining room.
"Ah, it would appear that you now owe me a new dress ," Justin's Nan smirked as her grandson held out a chair for his wife before taking his seat by her side with a smile.
"Nan, what exactly does grandfather owe you a dress for," Justin asked as he poured Grace a cup of coffee before serving himself?
"Nothing, except for the time that the two of you would show your lovely faces, my dear boy. Your Grandfather here, swore that we'd not see your faces until noon, but I told him that you'd not be taking lunch with us because you had plans for the day, and that it was more likely that you've show up for the morning meal," Nan smiled as her husband grumbled d under his breath making Justin laugh.


"Grandfather, honestly you should have known better than that. Besides there's more to life than sex, " Justin said making Grace choke at his words before she scowled at him.
"Justin, is that proper talk for the breakfast table, really, your impossible," Grace said after catching her breath.
"At least the girl has more manners than the two of you, scoundrels," Nan said shaking her head.
"Nan, have you contacted them, Justin asked with a smile on his face at Grace's puzzled expression?
"Yes, we'll meet you after lunch in the village horse fair," Nan said as she sipped from her morning tea.


Grace's eyes brightened at the chance to go to a horse fair, and they widened even more after breakfast when Justin helped her into a light slegh pulled by a large blood bay horse with long flowing mane and tail. "Justin where are you taking me," Grace asked as he leapt into the slegh beside her and pulled a thick blanket over them before he made the horse move out into the moors of the lands that surrounded the castle with a smile.
"I told you that earlier," he smirked as the horse picked up speed and moved into a wooded trail at a brisk trot.



After surprising her with the fact that he indeed was wearing no underwear and taking her slowly in the shade of the snow covered willow beside the frozen river, Grace now rested in his arms while Justin wove flowers into her long red hair while she slept. They both rested for about an hour and then Justin drove her into town to visit the horse fair and for the final surprise that he had planned for that day. When they arrived, they took their time looking at the various horses, when Grace saw his grandparents coming towards them with another pair of elderly people who were leading a lovely pair of Gypsy Vanners along with them. Grace blinked as the other couple handed the reins of both horses over to Justin before wrapping her into a tight embrace.


"What's going on Nan, who are these people and why exactly are they hugging me like this," Grace asked in a shocked tone?
"Oh, lass, please forgive us, we never thought to see any of the we barrens of our son Leeroy Teller," the old man said in a thick Irish accent.
"What?"
"Oh, she has the look about her alright, Nan. It's thankful, I am, that you've contacted me. Forgive, me, me little Lass, I'm your Gran Gwenivear Roseland Teller, and the Bloke with tears streaming down his face would be your Grand Da, Angus Leeroy Teller," Gwen said with a large watery smile on her face.


"I thought that daddy was joking when he said that he was in immigrant," Grace said in clear shock.
"No Lass, he wasn't joking with you. He left Ireland after his older brother John and his entire family died in a car crash years before you were even a twinkle in his eyes," Angus smiled.
"We've been your biggest fans since you started riding. When your Da, called us shortly after your wedding last week, we knew that we just had to meet you if we could and make sure that you'd married a fine young man," Gwen smiled as she patted Justin's cheek affectionately making him blush.


"It's glad we are that you've chosen to wed into the Mc'Watt Family even if they did drop the first part of their name when his father moved to the states," Angus said as he elbowed Justin's grandfather.
"Regretful it is, lass that we can't stay longer. We did want to give you our wedding gifts in person," Gwen said as Justin and Angus led the two Gypsy horses over to the car to tie them to the back of it. "So when are you going to tell you're handsome husband, about the we babe in your belly, Lass," Gwen asked with a large knowing smile upon her face?
"What, how could you know about that when I'm not even certain myself," Grace asked in shock?


"You don't give birth to eight boys and four girls of your own without knowing the signs Grace. If I could guess you are about three weeks along. If you didn't feel it the first time that you flew, than I pray that you don't feel it when you return home by the end of the week," Nan said.
"Have you not been ill lately," Gwen asked smiling at her granddaughter's glowing face?
"No, just a bit of jet lag when we got here, but I handled it the same as I always do, with a cup of strong mint tea," Grace answered as she placed a tender hand over her flat belly.
"Well, I'd advise getting yourself to a doctor as soon as you find the time to confirm it, but we've never been wrong,," Nan smiled.


"You won't tell Justin, until I get to tell him myself, will you," Grace asked?
"Won't tell me what, Babe," Justin asked as he slid his hands around her waist and placed a kiss on top of her hair?
"Won't tell you, nothing that is not your business, it's woman talk, Justin, that said unless you wish to speak of ladies frocks, and maxi pads, and tampons, you should keep your nose out of the conversation of three women," Nan smiled as she nodded in perceptibly to Grace and winked at Gwen.
"Nan, do you have to say things like that in public," Justin blushed making Grace laugh as she turned her face into his chest and held him in a tight hug? His Nan and Gwen just smiled like the cats who swallowed the canary and left the couple to themselves.


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When they returned to their home in Conroe, Grace racked her brain for a way to tell Justin the news, and made an appointment for a doctor while Justin was at Practice. Now that it was confirmed she knew that she needed to tell him and she also knew that she would have to keep her promise to not ride trick horses or rough stock. It took her a week after their Honey moon to think up how to tell him and now she stood at the kitchen sink as she poured a cup of coffee for Justin who had just entered the kitchen and dropped his gym bag onto the floor beside the door. "Grace, why haven't you gotten the bull loaded into the trailer for today's game," He asked as he took the hot cup of coffee from her taking note that she was yet again drinking mint tea instead of the dark brew that he preferred?


"I'm not riding today, Justin! You and the team will just have to pull off the win without me and Big Tex," Grace said as she sipped her tea and leaned against the center Island and gazed out of the kitchen window into the stable yard where the chickens were scattered pecking the ground happily.
"You've never backed down before. Are you feeling alright, Grace," Justin asked with a worried tone in his voice?
"I'm fine, Justin, I'm just keeping a promise that I made to you," she said as she set her tea cup down on the counter and turned to face him with a smile on her face.


"I never made you promise me that you'd stop riding, Grace," Justin said in confusion as she tapped her foot in annoyance at his words and rolled her eyes at him.
"Justin, did our wonderful Honey moon erase the Memory of your birthday when I brought you back here, and you asked me if I wanted to have your baby," Grace asked giving him a beaming smile as he placed his mug of coffee down on the counter and his blue eyes widened in understanding and joy?
"Grace, are you, are you really? How far along are you? Why didn't you tell me sooner," he asked in an excited rush of words as he sank to his knees and lifted her Texans shirt so that he could run his hand over her flat belly in wonder trying to feel the baby that wasn't quite big enough to feel just yet?
"Yes, Justin, I'm really pregnant. It took me this long to tell you, because I wasn't sure how to tell you and I wanted to be sure that I really was pregnant before I got your hopes up. As for how far along I am, I'm about five weeks Pregnant," Grace said with a laugh as her husband kissed her belly tenderly before getting to his feet and showering her with more kisses that showed exactly how he felt about her happy news.


"You're right, I'm glad that you remembered your promise to me. MacNair will be upset , but I think that he'll get over it when I tell him why you won't be riding. Maybe you could teach Big Tex, to just take a lap around the track each time that we earn a touch down from now on," Justin suggested as Grace refilled his coffee cup, before turning back towards the window to replace the coffee pot only to stop mid-way there, and shake with wide eyes that brimmed with tears , before suddenly dropping the coffee pot , placing a hand to her mouth and collapsing making Justin drop his coffee to catch her before she hit the hard tile floor of the kitchen.


Marie came running out of her room and gasped just as Justin had managed to lift his wife into his arms and gently laid her down onto a clean spot on the kitchen floor before ripping one of the soft cushions off of the kitchen chair and placing it under her feet to elevate them, while trying not to panic just as there was a knock at the door. "Marie, Get that, will you? Grace, babe, come on, wake up," he said as he shook her and tapped her face with his hands just as two Military officers in dark Green uniforms steeped into the kitchen. Grace blinked as Justin held her head in his lap and reached for a glass of juice from Marie's hand. "Take it easy Babe, drink some of this, before you try to get up," he said as he held the glass to her lips.


"Are you alright, Grace," Sargent Grimson asked as he pulled a chair out for Justin to help her into?
"I'm not as good as I wish that I was, before I saw you pull into the Driveway, Sargent. Please tell me that I'm dreaming, that you gentlemen are not really here, and that I didn't just see my dad's Humvee pulled into my driveway on a tow truck," Grace asked with pleading tear filled eye's?
"I'm afraid that I can't do that Sweetie," Sargent Grimson said as he handed Grace over a thick yellow envelope with the U.S. Army seal upon it, and her father's keys. Grace turned her head and barred it into Justin's chest as she began to sob clinging to him for dear life as he stroked her hair with a frown on his face.


"Justin, I-I can't, d-do this," she stammered into his chest as he soothed her.
"It's okay, babe, I'm here. Marie, get my cell out of my jacket pocket, and dial MacNair for me," he ordered in a soft voice.
"The Funeral's already been arraigned to take place the day after tomorrow just as Colonel Teller wanted it to be. Here's the Itinerary. Inside of that envelope is all of his personal papers. He knew that this was going to happen someday, and placed everything in there to be placed into your hands upon his death. Grace, he wanted you to be the head of the family since you were born first, that's why we brought it to you instead of one of your brothers. I'm sorry for this, Sargent Grimson said as he hugged the woman who he had known since she was born and wiped away her tears with a gentle hand.
"Thank you, Sargent," she whispered before she gathered up the envelope and her father's keys and left the kitchen for the solitude of the master bedroom.


Justin removed his shoes and slid back into bed to hold her as she curled into him sobbing silently in his arms. "You should get going, or you'll be late for your warm up before the game," Grace sniffed as she lay there spooned up against the strong muscular body of her husband wishing that the day hadn't gone from happy to horrendous in a span of mere seconds.
"No, I'm not leaving you to deal with this alone, Grace. That's not what family does, when someone that they love is suffering. I've called MacNair and told him that I won't be playing tonight, and I've called your Grandparents and your brothers. Your grandparents will soon be on a nonstop flight here, and Walter said that he'll pick them up. Don't worry about anything Grace, I'm here, and I'm not leaving your side, until I have to," Justin said as he pulled her shaking form closer and let her get out her sorrows while he rubbed her back in soothing circular patterns until she fell asleep in his arms.


Two days later Grace, her brother's and her grandparents from the Teller side of the family were each presented with a specially designed dog tag that was filled with the ashes of their father and son, Colonel Leeroy Teller, along with the U.S. Flag and his war metals. Gwen split the metals between herself and her three grandchildren, and cried as Grace insisted that she keep the Flag that had been presented since she had his Humvee. Gwen and Angus Teller stayed for the rest of the week attempting to lift each other's spirits by sharing various stories about Leeroy with he was a child and laughing at the similarities between him and his three grown children. They exchanged addresses with all of their grandchildren and waved as they walked down the walk way onto their plane wishing that they didn't have to go.