T/W: Mentions suicide.

***

Steve

Luckily after that shit show, things calm down and Lex continues onward with our wedding plans.

I receive a text message from Eric a few days later, asking how Lex is doing.

'All right,' I text back.

'Good 2 hear.'

'Thx again 4 coming 2 join me when we needed 2 find her.'

'No problem. Lex is my friend.'

I suddenly remember that letter that Tim left for Lex, how in it, he said he.. wanted Eric to be the one to...take care of her.

Maybe he should. Then I wouldn't be stuck dealing with Lex's shit all the damn time.

As I'm thinking it, I know I couldn't just walk away.  I love Lex and I want to be with her.

'I'm glad Lex has a friend like u,' I text back to Eric.

'Thx. Me 2.'

***
"Horatio called me today," Lex tells me that evening.

"About?"

"He's got the church reserved. We can set the date for six weeks from now," Lex says.

"Wow." Suddenly everything is starting to feel real.

"Is that a good wow," Lex asks. "Or a bad one?"

"A good one." I reach out, hugging Lex. She returns the hug, burrowing into me.

"There's something else I'd like to discuss with you."

"Yes?"

"Do you want to go with the traditional wedding vows or would you like to write our own?" I let go of Lex, but she stays close to me.

"I'm fine with either," I say.

"I thought it might be fun to write our own," Lex says. She finally steps back, a mischievous glimmer in her eyes.

"We can do that," I say. Lex pulls my head down, gently pressing her lips to mine. She smiles afterwards.

"I love you, Steven Speedle."

"I know.  I love you, too." I'm curious as to why this sudden burst of affection from Lex. Is it stemming from guilt over her recent actions? Or does she feel like lavishing it upon me just because?

"If you don't want to write our wedding vows, we don't have to," Lex says.

"I'd like to," I say. Lex smiles.

"Cool."

"Just out of curiosity," I say. "What exactly should we say?"

"You mean like, 'I vow not to get pissed off every time Steve forgets to take out the trash.'" I laugh.

"Something like that." Lex gives me another kiss.

"I can add that, if you'd like. However, I mostly want our vows to say how we really feel about one another and some attainable goals we can stick to in the future." I nod.

"I can do that." Lex hugs me.

"Thanks, Steve."

"Of course, baby."

****

Lex

Several days after my, whatever the hell that was, I'm slowly beginning to unthaw inside. Honestly it feels like a fever dream. Like I really almost try to...kill myself? I cringe. I feel guilty about it.

Especially since I freaked out poor Steve. I notice he's been watching me more closely lately. I suppose he thinks I'll relapse again. I'll give him this: at least Steve didn't break off our engagement.

Most men probably would have. I certainly wouldn't have blamed him if he had decided to do that. It's in that moment that I realize something: Steve truly loves me and I'd be a fool to hurt him.

***
I finally agree to allow Mom to take me dress shopping again. However this time, Calleigh comes along. We look at least twenty or more dresses, me trying on each one to see how they look and feel.

By the end of the afternoon, I have my wedding dress. It's slinky and silky and does contain a bit of lace on the skirt part but not a ton.

"You look like a beautiful bride," Calleigh says, smiling. I stand in front of the full length mirror in the dressing room, studying my reflection.

"I do, don't I?"

"You look beautiful, baby," Mom says, wiping tears from her eyes. I turn to my mother, giving her a hug.

"Oh, Mom," I whisper. "I really can't wait for Steve to see me in this dress." Mom gives me a squeeze.

"He'll love it." We pull apart, both of us teary-eyed now.

"Yes. I know he will."

***

"I found the dress!" Steve grins.

"Is it here?" He asks.

"No. Mom took it to her place, so you wouldn't be tempted to peek!" Steve looks offended.

"I'd never peek!" I laugh, jabbing him in the ribs. He gives me a not-so-dirty look, rubbing his side. I burst into giggles.

"I can't wait to see you in that dress, though." Steve gathers me in his arms and I smile up at him.

"Neither can I." Steve leans in, touching his forehead to mine, still smiling.

"I'm also looking forward to seeing you in a tux," I add. Steve chuckles, giving me a gentle kiss. I cup his cheek in my palm.

"Which reminds me," I say. "You, Uncle Grant and whoever else needs to go see about tuxedo's this week."

"All right. I'll call your uncle and see what we can get lined up."

"Perfect."

***

Steve

Grant, Jay, Dave, Eric, Dustin and Ryan Wolfe (my brother's replacement at the crime lab), all ended up heading down to check out a few tuxedo shops, seeing what we can find to be available in the next four weeks.

I'd asked Eric to be a groomsman out of respect to Tim. I'm pretty sure if Tim and Lex had gotten married, Eric would have been the best man. I know it's kind of a downgrade, but Dave's my best friend and technically Eric is more Lex's friend than mine.

Anyways, we end up enjoying ourselves, which I hadn't expected. Jay and Ryan were going to be ushers and Dustin was my third groomsmen. I had  met Ryan briefly, as he'd only been working in the crime lab for a few months.

I'd heard, too, from Lex, that Eric hadn't cared much for Ryan at first, but they seemed to be getting along all right now. Grant, of course, was acting as the father figure for Lex, having the privilege of walking her down the aisle.

We looked at several types of tuxedo's (who knew there were so many?) Grant, being the clown that he is, was constantly commenting on his own tux and asking the sale associate's all kinds of questions, such as if the tux matched his eyes or made him look fat.

Jay would immediately crack up and my friends were usually be the first to join in. Ryan would just kinda chuckle and Eric just shrugged, but then I'd see him grinning to himself in the reflection of the mirror.

After several hours, we all found something that would work and be available when we'd need them.

"I think we look suave," Grant comments as we stand there, admiring how nice we look.

"Not too bad," Jay agrees.

"I feel like James Bond," Dustin remarks. I laugh.

"Yeah. I get that."

"As long as your bride thinks they're good enough," Eric says to me. I nod.

"Lex will be over the moon."