Fawnie knew damn near nothing about how a proper wedding was done. She didn't help with Tommy's enough to learn anything and she was too young for John's to remember a thing. (plus his was less traditional)

Bonnie on the other hand? He knew more than he probably should. He tried playing it off as not his fault because he's got so many sisters, but Fawn didn't listen to him. She could tell how much he wanted the kind of marriage his father and mother had before she passed.

The Gold family was genuinely so excited for Bonnie to marry, it made Fawn sick with how cute it was. She already felt as though she was welcomed into their family despite only being Bon's fiancee. The amount of love they had for him only made her adore them more. His sisters treated her as one of their own.

The timeframe for the preparations was forced down to two months so the wedding could be in the summer. Fawnie refused to get married in the cold, they wanted it outside anyway. Invites were the first things to be sent out, the wedding was to be at Arrow House. That was the one condition Tommy had.

He said Fawn could do whatever so long as it was at his house. His subtle paranoia didn't go unnoticed by Fawnie.

But she was thankful anyway, the estate was big enough that the wedding would feel isolated enough but they wouldn't have to travel far to be in the shelter of the house. Plus with how big Bonnie's family was, they could all come and park their vardos in another part of the large yard.

Fawnie spent most of her time with the Shelby Ladies Club (plus Victoria and sometimes Bon's sisters). She loved calling it by that name, it made their daily meetings feel all that more professional. Everyone helped out equally. It made her feel so loved and emotional that Polly threatened Fawn multiple times that she better not be pregnant.

Victoria gifted Fawn a pink wedding dress that was worn by her grandmother, it was tailored to fit Fawnie in every way possible. And by god did Fawnie adore that dress. The first time she laid eyes on it, she knew that it was the dress. That was the first time she really cried over the wedding, the dress made it all feel so much more real.

Her aunt Pol and Ada both gave jewelry and other things, some of it being advice. They both loved and lost their loves but were still so optimistic.

"Never sleep in your pearls," Ada warned, which prompted Fawnie to laugh.

"I don't have pearls, Ads."

Her aunt shook her head, "Then get some and don't sleep in them, it's bad luck."

"Why?" Ada shrugged her shoulders before giggling.

Polly was even worse, constantly reading Fawn's tea leaves and just... checking in. She said. It didn't really bother Fawnie much, just–unnerved her. She grew anxious with how concerned Pol was with her. Polly swore it was nothing but Fawn knew her aunt never did anything for no reason.

And yet, the wedding still took over every aspect of her life. She stayed at Arrow House and in Small Heath most days. Bonnie helped too but with training, he was gone often as well. It was a group effort between the Shelby ladies and the Gold ladies.

The wedding itself was unbelievable. Two cultures collided, Roma and English, it was painfully beautiful.

Johnny Dogs himself married the young adults, it was kind of bittersweet for Fawnie... being married by the same man who married Esme and John. That had been the last Shelby wedding of Johnny's–until Fawnie Rose and Bonnie Gold. Nobody knew that Fawn asked Johnny to use the same vows with her and Bonnie until the day of.

The veil was thick and heavy, her feet were bare and she held a bouquet. Her right arm was looped into Tommy's left one as he led her down the carpeted path. The rug wasn't as soft as the grass would have been but Polly advised against having dirty feet. Her dress was blush pink and the veil white as snow.

Tommy wore a grey suit and blue tie, Fawn saw that it was the color of their eyes before he covered her face with a thin smile. She wouldn't mention it to anybody, but she could see the shine of tears in his eyes as he lifted it over her face.

The thought that he was leading her down the aisle to Bonnie was strange, to say the least, but he did offer his support.

"I never said it but I think he's a good kid." She opened her mouth to speak, "Doesn't mean I trust him. But... I suppose I like him."

Fawnie smiled widely, "I knew you would eventually, it's hard to not like him, isn't it?"

"I only like him because you do, I could give a shit–" He cut himself off, "My point still stands."

"Thank you..." She chewed on the word before saying it, "Thank you, dad," It still felt weird calling him that–especially to his face but Fawn could see the appreciation in his eyes.

Those few words made her ecstatic. It wasn't often that Thomas liked anyone—especially not "boys interested in his little sister". He'd said that line more than once while growing up. But Bonnie managed to break the mold, it was that boy who changed Tommy's mind. And that thought alone was enough to make her feel like she was on the moon.

And obviously, because she was finally marrying that boy.

━━━━

She could just barely make out Bonnie beneath her veil, but she was soon in front of him. Tommy gave him her hand and took the bouquet with him. Bonnie lifted her veil slowly and they shared a moment of silence looking into each other's eyes.

It was so quiet and peaceful, tears were filling his eyes and Fawnie shook her head. "This is a happy day," She whispered and wiped at the tears before they turned toward Johnny Dogs.

"We're here today to join in matrimony, this young man and this young woman... in harmony and togetherness which is sanctioned and honoured by the presence and the power of these two families around us. Do you, Bonnie Aberama Gold, take Fawnie Rose Shelby to be your beautiful wife? To have to hold, through sickness and health–until death do you part?"

The pair kneeled side-by-side on an ottoman with Johnny reciting the same words he said to Fawn's late uncle so long ago. She offers Bonnie a smile which he returns tenfold.

He looked up at Johnny Dogs and nodded, "I do."

"Dear Fawnie, what of you?" He skipped the script and she wasn't even mad.

"I do." There wasn't an ounce of hesitation in her answer, she meant it completely and honestly.

Johnny grinned at the young lovers, "There remains one more part of the ceremony. It's the mingling of the two bloods. So the two families become the one family." Finn was the one who presented the ornate knife gifted to the couple by Aberama.

They both presented their palms, Fawnie's left, and Bonnie's right. She carved a small line into his and Bon did the same. The pain was brief as they pressed the open wounds into one another. An uproar of cheers sounded from both parts of the family.

"Come on Bonnie boy, kiss your bride!"

It was Fawn who kissed Bonnie first, she didn't even give him a chance to think about it. Polly laughed the loudest at the sight before calling her niece impatient. They drew apart after a moment, grinning from ear to ear. Fawnie looked behind them and saw smiles on each and every face.

Johnny Dogs clapped Bon on the back as Bonnie helped Fawnie get up. The realness of the situation was finally dawning on Fawn. It was mad to think she was a married woman.

"That reminds me!" Bonnie said before calling Charlie, "Have you got it?"

Charlie nodded, "Of course! I promised to protect it with my life, Bon!" Fawn's smile deepened seeing their interaction, Charlie was a peculiar kid, it was hard to get him to like you if he got bad vibes.

Her brother handed her husband–thinking the word even felt odd–a small velvet bag. Bonnie had a mischievous glint in his eyes. "It's not something we do in my family but I thought you might like having a ring on your finger..."

She visibly perked up, "You shouldn't have."

Bonnie shook his head, "I didn't, your father did." He held out a golden band engraved with flowers and another with a large diamond in the centre.

AUTHOR'S NOTE.

One. More. Proper Chapter. Fuck. Still cannot process that this is finally coming to a close. And FAWNIE IS FAWNIE ROSE SHELBY-GOLD NOW!!! WTF!! Isn't that mad??? My baby girl is a MARRIED woman??? I'm so astounded, thank you all for joining me on this journey, it means the world. See you next week for the last few updates <3 Comments are once again appreciated.