Tuesday, May 20th 2025

Chichester, England

1:10 PM

The church doors swing open, the afternoon light showers the guests in its warmth as they all stand.

And here comes the bride. Her dress, white and pristine, flows down the length of her body. The very epicentre of the wedding, looking as graceful and beautiful as the sun. Her face is hidden behind the veil but a smile can be seen as her eyes lock with the groom.

As the bride takes her place at the altar, her father lightly kisses her hand and goes to sit down. She passes her colourful bouquet of roses to her maid of honour and taking a deep breath, she turns to face the groom. His smile is infectious and she can't help but smile back. The guests sit themselves down as the priest clears his throat and calls for attention.

"Ladies and gentlemen, family and friends," the priest begins, smiling benevolently, "we are gathered here today to witness and celebrate the joining of Robert Angeles and Farah Finley. With love and commitment, they have decided to live their lives together as husband and wife."

Junie cannot help smiling either as she watches her best friend wed the man of her dreams. The planning and preparation for the wedding has been absolute mayhem. When she met up with Farah eight months ago, she expected their standard coffee date and catch up about their lives, what she did not expect was Farah to announce Bobby proposed and that she wanted Junie to be the maid of honour.

It took four stressful months to find the perfect wedding dress and it was worth it because Farah looks stunning. Her dress, however, is a little tight and but she did not want to bring up the matter on the day of wedding as Farah was already stressed and freaking out about all the things that could wrong.

The bible readings and the vows pass by in a saccharine blur and as they exchange rings and make promises to love each other until their deaths, Junie is reminded of her own wedding. Of seven years ago in a small church in Brisbane. Of the rush that came with being pronounced man and wife and their first dance underneath the stars.

She steals a glance at her husband. Dylan is sat in the second row, looking exceptionally handsome in his tuxedo. His eyes suddenly meet hers, and in the twenty-two years they have known each other and in the seven years they have been married, his piercing blue eyes never fail to make her heart flutter. His mouth widens into a bright grin and he gives her a thumbs up. Junie smiles at him and returns her attention to the bride and groom, just in time to see them kiss. The entire church breaks into applause and a few wolf whistles.

7:34 PM

Junie Mercer watches from her seat as Farah and Bobby take to their first dance as husband and wife. She smiles to herself. Last night, during her hen night, Farah revealed she's three weeks pregnant. Bobby's a great man and she imagines the two of them are going to fantastic parents.

"Junebug."

She looks up at the sound of her nickname. Dylan's stood before her, holding a glass filled to the brim with champagne and another with orange juice as he smiles warmly. He passes her  a drink and sits himself down on the seat next to her. 

Of course, nobody can quite believe that Dylan Mercer, the internationally famous singer-songwriter, is at the wedding. It's a good thing most of the people are close friends of theirs. For probably the umpteenth time that day, she thinks that he looks very handsome in his suit, she's seen many of the women stealing glances at him and she feels sense of triumph every time they frown as they catch the gold wedding band around his finger. He's going to be performing later, singing some of his best hits and a special number he wrote just for Bobby and Farah.

"So," he says as he takes a sip of the champagne, "How does it feel?"

"How does what feel?"

"To finally be a professor," he says and clears his throat, leaning in towards her and he smells like always does. He smells like home. He talks in a low husky tone that causes something in chest to spread with warm, "Professor Juniper Mercer of Astrophysics at Cambridge University."

Junie swallows. He makes it sound a million times sexier than it actually is. It was last week when she finished her black hole physics lecture for second-year students that she got the call to visit the dean of the university's office. And after nine years, dozens of research papers, experiments and expeditions she was finally granted the professorship she's been wanting since she was fourteen.

The dean said it was her paper on the possibility of warp-speed travel in space that gained her the tenure. Her calculations and experiments on the matter are already being tested and the results are mixed but if they keep refining it, it will no doubt be a success. At this rate, there is a chance her equations and research can be used for future expeditions into space.

"It has a nice ring don't you think, Professor Mercer?" Dylan grins at her. "I have no doubt they'll put you on the team for the manned space expedition to Mars. You're one of the best astrophysicists in the world, you are going to get it. And just you watch Junie, when we go to Mars, you are going to be the lead scientists behind it all and you're name is going down in the history books."

She laughs at her husband. He has always been a dreamer. She lifts her hands and lightly caresses his cheek, enjoying the rough feel of his stubble. Time has been more than kind to him, he seems to be getting more handsome with each passing year. She smiles, "How can you possibly know that?"

"Because you've been my best friend since were ten and I know just how brilliant you are," he answers with such ease, she forgets how to breathe for a few moments.

He flashes her a cheeky grin and glances over at Bobby and Farah dancing to the slow music. They seem so lost in each other; she sees the nostalgic smile on his lips and knows he's thinking of their wedding. Her hand subconsciously goes to play with her wedding ring, turning it around her finger, the same nostalgic smile on her face.

 "You know," he says in a gentle voice as he glances at her, "You're a pretty good wife."

She laughs, ignoring the way heart picks up at that. "Pretty good? I'm the best damn wife you'll ever have."

"Can't say I disagree," he says.

He leans forward, gaze locked on her lips and kisses her. And after all this time, he still kisses like she's fragile glass and his kisses are still sweet, if not sweeter and leave her wanting more. She can feel him smiling. The feel of his silky hair as she runs her fingers through it, the taste of his mouth and the smell of his cologne fills her senses, dulling the surrounding world out.

When they pull apart, Junie giggles like she's seventeen and falling in love for the first time. Dylan presses a quick kiss to her cheek and leans back in his chair. 

Junie glances longily at his champagne.

He must notice because he laughs and says, "Sorry, honey but you know can't have alcohol."

Her hand goes to rest on her stomach, she smiles, she can definely feel the bump now. Junie found out she was pregnant with twins in January, and it was only last week, after months of debate that they were finally told the gender.  

Even now she can hardly believe it. Twins are going to be a handful, especially boys but she doesn't mind. She feels as if she can do anything with Dylan by her side. 

"I know," she says, smiling wider.

"I was thinking," he says, "about the names for the boys, I know we agreed on Max for the first twin, how about Lennon for the second?"

"Lennon, as in John Lennon or as in your dad?" she asks. 

He, at least, has the decency to look a little sheepish as he nods. He rubs the back of his neck, "Both, really. John Lennon was the whole reason I even got into music and my dad is the best guy ever so,it would mean a lot to me, Junebug."

He looks so nervous and excited, like he's on the brink of greatness. She has the strong urge to kiss him until the world stop turning. Her smile widens into a grin. God, she loves him so much. 

"Lennon," she repeats, testing the feel of it in her mouth. Junie nods, "yeah, Lennon. Max and Lennon Mercer. I like it."

The way he smiles and the way blue eyes explode with light almost knocks the air from her lungs. He looks like a child on Christmas. 

"Really?" he gasps and when she nods, he cups her face and pulls her into a kiss that has her toes curling and heart drumming in her chest. 

"There are children present," Someone says, causing them to pull apart. They glance up to find Isaiah sat on the other side of the circular table. He wears a feigned look of disgust as he takes long gulps of his bottled drink. "Jesus, you're thirty-two years old. You can't be making out like you're teenagers."

Junie tries hard not to wince. Yesterday was her birthday and she doesn't think it's an old age, but her brother makes her sound and feel rather ancient.

She notices the beer in his hand and quickly takes it from him.

"Hey!" he shouts.

"Zee, what the hell, this is alcohol," she frowns, "How many times? You're not allowed beer."

"I'm turning eighteen next month!"

"Yeah, next month," she says, "until then, no beer. Aunt Fiona let you get away with a lot things but not with me, there are rules and you are going to abide them."

At seventeen, Isaiah has grown into quite the heartthrob. She's seen the way all the girls at his school and outside immediately zero in on him and turn into blushing idiots whenever he looks their way. He loves the attention.    

"Aren't sisters supposed to be fun?" He asks with a huff, "I miss Fiona. I miss Australia. I wanna go back."

"I don't care," she says, "Fiona sent you to live with us because you were being an arse and she needs some space from you. Fiona's married with two step-children and she doesn't need you wreaking havoc and causing her more stress. You're stuck in England with us, so deal with it."

"Go flirt with some girls," Dylan says, "There are plenty here that are your age."

Isaiah rolls his eyes, "They're boring, I mean at least half of them have boyfriends, like what the hell is that about?"

She sometimes finds herself missing the bright sun and the salty smell of Brisbane. They have been living in England for a little over four years now and she's glad they made the leap to move here.

They have a nice house near Cambridge that has a picturesque view of the surrounding countryside, it's not far from the university, where she teaches and carries out most of her research. She likes it because the crime is low, the air is fresh, the people are kind and the town is lively and has plenty to go see and do. The perfect place to raise their children. 

 "Actually," she looks around the large hall, frowning slightly, "Where is Astrid?"

It's then that she spots the familiar head of fiery red hair a few feet away. She's laughing as she talks to Farah's nephew, the five-year-old ring bearer with a messy head of blonde hair and a shy smile. Astrid looks absolutely adorable in that puffy white dress and the roses in her hair adds volumes to her sheer cuteness.

She leans forward and whispers something in the boy's ear and they both burst into a giggling fit. She glances over at them and taking the boy's hand in hers, Astrid walks over to them. Junie nudges Dylan's shoulder as the two children head in their direction.

"Mum, Dad," Astrid greets when she reaches their table, "This is Vince, he's my new friend!"

She's staring up at them with these big blue eyes and a bright grin. Astrid may have Junie's fiery hair but she has Dylan's eyes, a bright ocean blue and the freckles he had when they were kids, they smatter her nose and plump cheeks.

Well, Junie thinks, she's only four but Junie knows her daughter is going to be an absolute heartbreaker when she's older. Vince looks rather nervous, smiling at them with the same watery green eyes that all members of the Finley family possess.

"Uhm, hi," he says. "C-can I have...have this dance with 'Trid?" 

Junie, Dylan and Isaiah share amused looks and glance back at the pair of children. Dylan smiles, "You don't need to ask us, buddy. Go on, have fun!"

Astrid and Vince simultaneously break out into grins. Astrid tugs at the little boy's hand, pulling him towards the dance floor, "Come on V," she says, "Let's go."

Junie watches their daughter and her new friend run to the dance floor.

"Right," Isaiah says as he runs his hand through his short blonde hair and pushing his chair back, he stands up, "If you'll excuse me, there's a certain brunette by the bar who I've been meaning to chat to."

His chocolate brown eyes are bright as he gives them his trademark grin and walks off. Junie turns to her husband and sees him stand up too. He reaches his hand out to her, the most charming smile on his lips, "Would you care to dance, Junebug?"

"Of course, New Zealand," she laughs as she takes his hand.