T/W:

****

Lex

As everyone is preparing to leave, I realize something: even though Eric had given Steve and I hugs after our announcement, he hadn't said anything.

I snag Eric by the elbow, pulling him away from everyone else and into the kitchen.

"What's up?' Eric asks.

"You don't like that I'm so eager to marry Steve, are you?" Eric sighs, scrubbing a hand over his face.

"You really wanna do this?"

"I do."

"He's..not...Speed."

"No shit."

"I just worry you're marrying Steve for the wrong reasons."

"Eric, I love Steve for who he is," I say.

"You mean, Speed's..brother."

"No." I give Eric a steely look. "Because of who he is, as himself." Eric nods, but I know he's not convinced.

"I need to go. Thanks for inviting me over. Congratulations." I hug Eric.

"Thanks for coming." Eric flashes me a brief smile and leaves.

***

Since both Steve and I are eager to get married as soon as possible, we immediately begin on wedding preparations.

Mom is in her element and has plenty of suggestions. Most of which I'm not too keen on.

"Mom, I don't want anything too extravagant," I say as Mom drags me from one wedding shop to the next.

"You should just keep your options open," Mom says, eyeing this incredibly outrageous wedding dress.

"Oh no," I say, backing away. "I refuse wear anything with that much lace." Mom sighs.

"Well, what are you willing to wear?" I wander around the shop.

"Something more simple," I say, studying a display of wedding gowns in the middle of the shop.

"Can I help you?" A tall woman with frosted, blonde hair approaches me.

"We're just looking," I tell her.

"My daughter is getting married soon," Mom says, beaming proudly. Inwardly I groan.

"Congratulations!" The woman beams at me. "When's the big day?"

"Probably in about six weeks or so," I reply.

"So soon?"

"My fiancé and I are kind of in a rush," I say, scooting around the other side of the display. The woman peers curiously at me. I suppose she thinks it's because I got knocked up.

"Is there anything in particular you're looking for?"

"Just something simple," I reply. The woman's brow furrows as she appears to be thinking.

"Hmm.."

"I don't need anything right at the moment. Oh man. I need to go." I make a quick exit, while Mom apologizes to the woman and hurries out to catch up with me.

"Lex! That was rude!" Mom exclaims.

"She was being too damn nosy," I say. "Besides, I'm tired and hungry." Mom just gives me a Look.

"Fine. We'll call it a day."

***

"Mom practically dragged me all over the city, searching for wedding dresses and other crap," I inform Steve that evening. He laughs.

"She's really excited about this, huh?"

"Maybe a little too excited," I mutter. Steve takes my hand, gently tugging me down into his lap. I smile, touching my forehead to his, fingering his lips.

"I'm pretty excited myself," Steve murmurs. I tense up and Steve feels it. He frowns a little.

"Lex?" I sigh.

"You know I want to be excited," I say, rubbing the back of Steve's neck. He relaxes into my touch, reaching up to gently cup the back of my neck.

"I understand you have reservations, given what happened before," Steve murmurs. I bury my face in the crook of Steve's neck. He wraps his arms around me.

"I know, baby," Steve murmurs over and over again. Even though I really don't want to be thinking about it: I am.

I should have been getting married to..Speed.

I shift around, smiling at Steve, who gives me a gentle kiss.

"I can't wait to marry you, Lex," Steve says.

"Yeah," I whisper. "It's going to be epic."

***

Steve

"Who's going to be your best man?" Dave is razzing me. He knows damn well that he's going to be my best man.

"Calleigh will be Lex's maid of honor," I say purposely not answering Dave's question.

"Oh yeah?" Dave looks thoughtful, scratching his chin. "If I'm the best man, I'll get to walk down the aisle with her?"

"If you're  my best man, that is," I tease. Dave gives me a wounded look.

"Seriously, man? You'd do that to me?" I laugh, punching Dave in the arm.

"Don't worry, man. You're definitely gonna be my best man." Dave grins.

"I really am happy for you. After all that shit you went through several months ago, you deserve some happiness."

"Lex too," I add, remembering the other night. Damn. She was so...emotional. I understand that,  but jeez...can't she at least try to be happy that I love her and want to marry her?

"You okay?" Dave is giving me a weird look.

"Yeah. Lex is just struggling with the 'what ifs.'"

"She's scared, Steve. The last time she went through this, it was rudely ripped away from her."

"Right." I know Dave makes a fair point, but it still hurts just a little.

***

"Lex wants us to all go down to the tuxedo shop within the next couple of weeks," Grant informs me a few days later.

"Us who?" I ask.

"You, me, your groomsmen, ushers etc,"  Grant replies.

"I wasn't aware that Lex was that far along with the wedding arrangements," I comment.

"She just wants us to look around," Grant explains. "See what can be available in the next two months."

"Ah yeah. I get that."

"Can I ask you a personal question?" I eye Grant. Where exactly is this leading?"

"Shoot," I say.

"You love my niece, right?"

"You know I do."

"Okay. So you also realize how tough this whole wedding process is for her, too, right?"

"Yes."

"All I'm saying," Grant says, placing a hand on my shoulder. "Is please be patient with her. I know she loves you, Steve and does want to marry you. She's just a little scared right now that she'll lose someone else she loves."

"I understand that," I say quietly. "I just want Lex to be happy that she will be marrying me."

"She is," Grant assures me. "Just don't let those feelings get in the way."

"I'll try."