Sophie and Biana walked into the dress shop upon arrival. An elderly woman came bustling up to greet them. Sophie had been to the store several times but she had never seen this woman before. However, the lady smiled widely and recognized her. She started to speak and her voice was high pitched and happy. "Why, if it isn't Sophie Foster! I hear that you're soon to be a Vacker," she winked. Noticing Biana, she smiled even wider, if that was possible. "And Biana Vacker! Welcome, welcome!" The lady was very energetic and Sophie couldn't help but feel a little overwhelmed.

Sophie said before the woman could say anything else, "Hello, I'm here to pick up a dress I ordered a few weeks ago. For the wedding?"

The lady looked a little confused. "Hmm, I don't remember seeing that in the order book, but let me go check right now. Follow me." Biana and Sophie followed the woman to a back room, where the woman got out a thick book that was caked with some sort of powder that wasn't dust and looked overly used. She thumbed through the pages twice, but shook her head in the end.

"Well... I don't see any orders from a Sophie Foster. Or a Sophie Vacker. I checked for both names, just in case."

"What? But I ordered the dress weeks ago!" said Sophie, panicking a little at the thought of not having a dress for her wedding.

"Well, darling, let me see if we have it in stock. Do you remember what it was called?" Sophie did not, for all of the names of the dresses were very exotic and long, like Chiffon Satin Midnight Distress, Size Petite. She shook her head as she struggled to remember the name and the woman frowned.

"Well, can you describe it for me?" she asked, though she looked unsure.

"Umm. It's white tulle. It has a scoop neck that's not too low and a lace bodice, hem, and sleeves. It's really poofy and it also has a small train in the back." Sophie had no other words to describe the dress and she suddenly wished that she had shown Biana the dress before as Biana had better fashion sense.

The lady thought for a while and then shook her head. "Come with me to the wedding dresses aisle and we'll see if you can recognize any of them as yours."

Sophie followed the lady, Biana trailing close behind. Why did this always have to happen to her? Lost dresses were just a little thing but there were always more and more terrible things happening in her life that just culminated to one huge horrible thing.

They reached the wedding dress aisle and Sophie looked through the white dresses. After a while, she shook her head. "It's not here. Not from what I can see."

"Oh?" the lady asked. She held her hands up. "Well... I don't know what to say. Do you know who you spoke to when ordering?"

"A lady named Jeanette," said Sophie. Jeanette had been a bit befuddled and Sophie couldn't help but blame her for the mishap.

"Oh... let me go find her. I'm sure we can sort this all out." The lady bustled off and Sophie was left alone with Biana.

Biana put her hand on Sophie's shoulder in an effort to console her. "Sophie, it's okay. The wedding isn't for another three weeks. You have a lot of time."

"Yeah, but that dress was perfect. I actually liked it. And I'm sure Fitz would've too."

Biana laughed. "Sophie, Fitz would like you in any wedding dress, even if it was neon orange with glitter and sequins!"

"Yeah, but..." Sophie trailed off. Biana just didn't understand. She had spent hours looking for the perfect dress and when she had finally found it, she had been happier than she had ever been in this whole process of getting married.

Just then, the lady came back with Jeanette, who had brown hair that was pulled back into a ponytail and glasses that she kept pushing up nervously.

"Jeanette, do you remember taking an order from Sophie Foster? Or Sophie Vacker?" the original lady asked.

Jeanette nodded. "I did. White tulle dress and everything. Why?" she asked. Well, at least she remembered the dress.

"It's not in the order book and it didn't arrive. And she needs it."

"What? But I recorded it right after I hung up." She looked at Sophie. "I'm so sorry. I can order it now if you like. For half off?"

"Will it get here in time?"

"Hmm... maybe three weeks or so? The delivery systems have been out of order lately so it could be later. How about this? If it doesn't come in time, I'll give you a free wedding dress. Anything you want from this aisle."

The other lady nodded in agreement.

Sophie shrugged. "Okay. But can you still order the original dress?"

"Yes, of course. But I can't make any promises."

"It's okay." Sophie was not going to let anything ruin her wedding.

"In the meantime, why don't you pick out a dress here just in case?" the original lady asked. Sophie turned to the dresses.

"Okay..." Biana moved to help Sophie. In the end, they picked out another white dress, but this one was silk and chiffon with no train and a beaded hem. It was gorgeous, but Sophie didn't feel the same spark as she had felt with the first dress.

They left the store, but before they lightleaped home, Sophie convinced Biana to let her stop by Slurps n Burps to visit Dex and pick up her elixirs.

When they opened the door and received their complimentary burping doorbell chime, Dex came rushing up at the sight of them. "Sophie! Biana! Hey!"

"Hey, Dex," they chorused.

"Dex, do you have the elixirs?" Sophie asked.

"Sure thing, Sophie. Let me just go get them." And Dex went walking off and Sophie couldn't help but notice his biceps and back muscles.

"Dex seriously matured, don't you think?" Biana asked suddenly. Sophie blushed as she was thinking the exact same thought.

"Yeah... why?" she asked.

"No reason. I was just stating that fact because it's weird. I still remember the dorky kid from so long ago." Biana sighed as she relived their old memories.

"Dorky kid? I hope you're not talking about me," said Dex, coming back with a bag. and smiling widely.

"Definitely not," said Sophie, teasing. She took the bag from Dex and reached for her money. Dex shook his head and held up his hands.

"No, please, we're friends. Think of this as ONE of my wedding gifts."

"One?" Sophie asked.

"Oh trust me, I have lots more," said Dex, smiling a devilish grin.

"Okay..." Dex noticed the wedding boutique package. The shop packed everything in little boxes, which Sophie had thought was odd.

"Say, is that the dress?" Dex asked, pointing to the box.

"Yeah. Well, actually, no. It's a dress. But it's not the one I originally wanted. Long story," said Sophie.

"Oh... well..." There was an awkward silence until Biana cleared her throat.

"Well, Dex, it was nice seeing you and all, but we have to get going. We have wedding planning to do," Biana said brightly.

Dex nodded. "Of course, of course. I totally understand. And Sophie?" he asked as they turned to leave. She looked back. "Congratulations," he said finally.

"Thanks." And they lightleaped away.

When they reached Everglen, they walked inside the house and collapsed on the floor. Sophie was exhausted but Biana insisted that they keep planning. Keefe was, of course, the best man, bridesmaids were done, and maid of honor was finished as well. Sophie was even more tired and her head started to droop until she heard footsteps behind her.

"Biana, how can you exhaust my fiancee like this?" She heard Fitz's voice accuse Biana and all of a sudden, Sophie was awake again.

"Fitz, I'm fine," she said. He smiled and leaned down to kiss her. Biana cleared her throat and Sophie reluctantly pulled away.

"Fitz, we were planning the wedding," she said, rolling her eyes.

"I know, but it is my wedding too, you know. And frankly, I feel as if I have had no say in any of this." He spread his hands wide as he stared at the piles of papers that Biana had stacked around her in an effort to organize.

"I'm sorry. Do you want to help?" asked Sophie.

"Sure. What do you guys need help in?"

"Well, we're doing the guest list right now," said Biana.

"Just invite everybody," Fitz said automatically, waving it off.

Sophie sat up straight. "Fitz! What?"

"Well, people are going to feel left out or something or maybe even be offended and then where will the Vacker name be? We can't drag our name in the dirt. Why not invite everyone?"

"Fitz, you can't invite everybody! It's hard enough to get married but now I've got to do it in front of everybody in the entire Lost Cities?" Sophie couldn't believe it.

"Look, we'll talk about this later, Soph," said Fitz, smoothing down her hair and bringing her to his chest.

"Fine, but this is not over," said Sophie.

Fitz changed the subject before Sophie could get too worked up. "Say, did you guys get the dress?"

"Yes and no," supplied Biana. Fitz's brow furrowed and Sophie decided to help him out by explaining as best as she could.

"They didn't place my order so the dress I wanted might not come for three weeks or more, which means it'll be cutting it close with the wedding itself. So we bought another dress just in case."

"Well, technically, they gave it to us," said Biana. "As an apology."

"Yeah," Sophie nodded.

"Really? Can I see it?" Fitz asked energetically.

"What? No!" said Sophie. Biana shrieked along with her.

"Why not?" Fitz asked, furrowing his brow?

"It's really bad luck to see your bride's wedding dress before the wedding!" said Sophie. "Don't you know that?"

"I guess I'd better remember that when my turn comes," said Biana dreamily. Fitz whacked her.

"Biana, your turn is coming sooner than anybody wants."

"What's that supposed to mean?" Biana asked.

"It means, you've got to wait. Give poor Tam a chance to propose before you start planning already."

Biana's face dropped at Tam's name, but she nodded. "I'm not dumb."

"Biana? Are you okay?" Sophie asked, studying her friend.

"Yeah, fine. Look, can we drop this?" Biana asked. 

Sophie shrugged and Fitz smiled. "So what do you wanna do?"

"I don't know... Biana, any ideas?" Sophie turned to her.

"I'm going to go call Tam," said Biana. "Be back later. Make some food. Please? I'm starving."

"Okay, we will," said Sophie. Biana left and Sophie walked to the fridge. Just as she opened it, Fitz closed it again and pulled her away.

"Hey! I was going to make some food! Frankly, I agree with Biana. I'm so hungry I could eat a horse." Then she realized that elves didn't eat meat and backtracked quickly. "I mean, I could eat a lot," she corrected. Fitz just laughed. Then, pulling her face closer to his, he kissed her.

Sophie sank into the kiss, forgetting all about the prospect of food. When she finally pulled away, she was breathless. "Fitz..."

"I just can't believe you're going to be Mrs. Vacker in three weeks. Just three. I can hardly wait!" said Fitz.

"I know. It's so scary but yet so far away and sometimes I just want to be done with it already." Fitz pulled away and turned to look at her face, confusing and hurt coursing through his eyes.

"Sophie, are you having second thoughts?"

"NO," said Sophie emphatically. Fitz sighed in relief. "I'm just scared."

"Why? It's just a wedding." Sophie couldn't believe it.

"Just a wedding? It's the one day when you give yourself to a man, preferably for forever," said Sophie. "That's a lot more than just anything."

"Well, when we get married, Sophie, you won't belong to me. You're my equal. We'll be together forever."

"Thanks," she said. She moved with Fitz to a sofa, where she sat next to him, breathing in his scent.

"Sophie, I love you so much," Fitz murmured into her hair.

"And I you," said Sophie. Then Fitz kissed her again and Sophie was lost.