"Oh my God!" Elena said with tears filling her eyes.
"Ele, what's wrong?" Nick asked. "We're sorry if we upset you."
"No, you didn't...it's just so sweet that all of you were involved in this." she managed.
"Yes, I enlisted the help of Erin to get this all pulled together, so I could surprise you. She got John, Nick and Jenna involved as well." Mark admitted. "You didn't honestly think I could get all that done by myself when I'm with you all day, did you?"
"I was wondering actually." Elena chuckled.
"Well, are you gonna show us that ring, or what?" Erin asked impatiently.
"Of course!" Elena squealed, letting everyone admire her emerald cut diamond.
"Good job, Darcy." Erin said, smiling at Mark.
"Yes, I think he did a wonderful job." Elena replied, kissing Mark softly.
"Right, who wants some champagne? We've got a lot of celebrating to do here." John asked, popping the cork on a bottle of Moet.
"Fill 'em up, dammit...fill 'em up." Elena laughed, handing out the flutes.
"So." John began "To the future Mr. and Mrs. Rhodes and the future Mr. and Mrs. Darcy." he continued raising his glass.
"Here, here." Erin said as everyone clinked their glasses in a toast.
"My God, now we have 2 weddings to plan. Any ideas on when?" Jenna asked.
"Soon....very soon." Nick replied, kissing Jenna.
"Uh-oh....another Taylor style wedding, the sooner the better." Elena laughed.
"What?" Erin asked in mock agitation.
"Well, you and John were dying to get married, so you guys did it within a couple of months. It appears our Mr. Rhodes is in a hurry to marry our Miss Almon in a hurry too." Elena answered.
"I have no problem with that." Jenna smiled.
"See, another pair of love sick puppies." Elena cackled.
"Oh, and you and Mark aren't little love sick puppies?" Erin countered, laughing.
"We never said we weren't." Mark replied.
"You know, Mark and I are very lucky to have a circle of friends like you. Erin and I have been friends since we were in grade school and John has become a part of our urban family. Nick, you've been a wonderful friend to me and Jenna's also become a part of our urban family. We couldn't be more blessed with better friends." Elena said.
"To friends." Mark said, raising his glass.
"To friends." Everyone replied, toasting again.
The three couples continued to chat and laugh until late into the night. Erin and John were the first to say their goodbyes, followed by Nick and Jenna. Mark and Elena stood outside as they all drove away.
"Such a perfect day, don't you think?" Mark asked.
"I couldn't agree more." Elena answered, walking into the foyer.
"Are you going to call your mum soon then?"
"Umm-hmm. Tomorrow, it's too late now."
"Too late for what?" Mark asked with a sly grin.
"Too late to call mum." she said, wrapping her arms around his neck.
"Mmmm...I like this." he whispered, pulling her closer to him.
"Do you now?" she teased.
"Yes, I do." he replied, kissing her before he swept her into his arms.
"I see. You really do like this don't you?" she giggled as he carried her into their bedroom.
********
"What are you grinning about?" Mark asked, rolling over toward Elena.
"Last night....you were amazing." she replied, kissing him gently.
"Best to stop, or I'll do it again." he smiled.
"You were better than amazing."
"Ele, I'm warning you." he said, shifting his weight on top of her.
"phenominal..." Elena whispered.
"That's it." he smiled, surprising her with a deep kiss. "Bollocks!" he moaned when the phone rang.
"'Ello?" Elena managed.
"Elena, darling." her mum chirpped.
"Who?" Mark asked.
"Speak of the devil." Elena whispered, covering the phone.
"Elena?"
"Yes, mum, I'm here."
"I haven't spoken to you in awhile. Are you ok?"
"I'm fine mum. I was actually going to call you today."
"Is something wrong dear? Your father has been worried about you."
"No mum, I'm fine. I just have some news."
"Gerald." Patsy called "Get on the extension, Elena has some news."
"Ele, sweetheart. How are you?" Gerald asked.
"I'm fine dad."
"Well, what's your news then?" Patsy asked.
"Mum, Dad, Mark has asked me to marry him."
"Elena! That's wonderful. You did accept, didn't you?"
"Yes, mum, I accepted. He asked me yesterday."
"Congratulations, Ele." Gerald said truthfully.
"Thanks, dad."
"You and Mark should come 'round for dinner soon then. Maybe we could have an engagement party for you." Patsy suggested.
"That would be fine, mum. We'll discuss it later."
"Ok dear. Tell Mark hi for me."
"I will. Talk to you later." Elena said, hanging up with her mum.
"Now, where were we?" Mark asked.
"Ummm...I think we were right about here." Elena replied, kissing him deeply.
"Well..that went well." Elena said letting out an exhausted sigh of relief as she walked in the front door of her home.
"I thought so." Mark said pulling Elena into his arms.
"Yeah, Mum and Dad are really happy for us."
"I'm happy for us." Mark replied kissing Elena's nose.
"Mmm...me too." she said as she snuggled in closer.
"Don't you have to call Erin and give her all the details?"
"Shit...yeah. I promised I would call as soon as we got back." Elena sighed.
"You call Erin and I am gonna go shower." Mark said handing Elena the cordless.
Elena dialed the number of The Taylors.
"Hello?" Erin asked.
"Er..it's Ele."
"Ele! How did it go at Mum's?"
"Great. Mum was beside herself." Elena laughed.
"I bet she was. What did she say about the rock on your finger?"
"She said and I quote " That's the most beautiful thing I have ever seen." She's so dramatic."
"You got that right.So, where is that wonderful man of yours?" Erin asked.
"Taking a shower." Elena replied.
"That gorgeous creature is naked in the shower, and you are on the phone with me?" Erin questioned.
"Um..well...now that I think about it bye!" Elena said with a laugh.
"Bye Ele." Erin said cackling as she hung up the phone.
Elena rushed to the bedroom and took off her clothes.She quietly opened the door to the bathroom and crept in.
"Company?" she asked seductively as she opened the door of the shower.
"Most definitely." Mark purred.
Elena stepped in and shut the door behind her.Mark reached for her and pulled her close.
"Mmm...this is nice." Elena said as she kissed his chin.
"Very." Mark replied kissing her deeply.
The kissed seemed to last forever..slow, seductive...everything a kiss should be.
When they pulled back they were both breathless.
"I love you." Elena managed to utter.
"Show me." Mark whispered with a wicked grin.
Elena's lips covered his, kissing him deeply as the hot water ran down their bodies. Her hands ran down the moistened skin of his back and over his buttocks, where she held on firmly. He pressed closer against her, his erection straining and brushing against her thighs. Her fingers locked around his engorged shaft and began stroking him slowly. Mark's breath hitched as the adreneline pumped through his body. "I want you." Elena purred. "Do you now?" he teased. "I do, more than I've ever wanted anything." she whispered as he pressed her back against the warm, moist wall and entered her slowly. Mark was caught in the moment, thrusting hard and fast, with Elena's body meeting him on each stroke. She cried out as orgasm claimed her body quickly. Their lustful moans filled the glass enclosed stall of the shower as Mark reached his own release.
He kissed Elena gently and held her. The hot water and steam of the shower engulfing them as they stood still pressed together, gazing into each other's eyes.
******
"Mark Darcy...you have a smirk on your face!" Elena giggled.
"Do I?" he asked teasingly.
"You do."
"I wonder why?"
"I've no idea." she laughed.
"I think it could have something to do with that shower. I've gotta say, it's the best one I've ever had."
"I'm glad to hear that."
"I thought you were talking to Erin."
"I did. It didn't take long to tell her how it went at mum's. And, when I realized you were naked and getting in the shower, being on the phone was the last thing on my mind." Elena smiled.
"I love your wicked mind...the face of an angel, and a body made for sin." Mark purred.
"Mark!" Elena exclaimed.
"Sorry luv, it's true."
"I could say the same about you then." she replied, touching the cleft in his chin playfully.
"I love you, Ele."
"Mmmm....Mark Darcy, I love you too." she whispered.
"Is everything ready for tomorrow?" Erin asked as she talked to Elena on the phone.
"Crikey...I think so. Help me go over the lists we have." Elena said reaching for her note pad.
"Ok..what about the cake? Have you heard from the bakery?"
"Let me ask Mark. I stepped out for a bit earlier.Mark!" Elena shouted.
"Yes?" he asked walking into the bedroom.
"Did the bakery ever call?" Elena asked.
"Yeah, the cake will be here first thing in the morning."
"Thanks." she replied as she kissed him softly.
"Yeah, the cake will be here bright and early." she said as she continued her talk with Erin.
"Great. What about the caterers?"
"They will be here to start setting up around 9:00"
"Is the garden ready?"
"Yep...Mark has been out there all day." Elena said with a laugh.
"He really should have asked for help...you guys have enough going on without him doing that."
"I know Erin.I told him that, but he said he wanted to do it."
"Oh, flowers??"
"Got em under control."
"Sounds like things are set then.And of course we have our dresses."
"Hopefully tomorrow will be perfect." Elena sighed.
"It's time!" Erin yelled to Elena and Jenna.
"You ready?" Elena asked as she pulled the veil over Jenna's face.
"Am I supposed to be this nervous?" Jenna asked with a laugh.
"Yeah...but Nick is a wonderful man. I guarantee as soon as you see him all that will fade away."
"Thanks Elena,Erin. You don't know what this means to me." Jenna said on the verge of tears.
"Stop or we will all be a right mess." Erin said pushing Elena and Jenna out the door.
"Steady." John whispered to Nick when they saw the women appear in the doorway.
"Am I really doing this?" Nick whispered.
"Looks like." Mark said with a chuckle.
"Here they come.They are all gorgeous." Nick said totally in awe of the three beauties coming down the garden path.
"I now pronounce you Husband and Wife. You may kiss the bride." The Minister said as Nick and Jenna embraced and shared their first kiss as a married couple.
Nick and Jenna immediately started to mingle with their friends and family.
Elena noticed Mark and John over talking to the Minister, probably thanking him for a beautiful ceremony. Her attention was torn away by Jenna calling for her.
A few moments later she felt a hand on her arm.
"Ele..Mark wants you." John said with a huge grin then excused himself to go find Erin.
"Yes?" she asked walking up to Mark.
"Let's do it." Mark said .
"Do what?" Elena asked with confusion.
"Get married."
"When? Now?"
"Why not.All our friends are here...so are our families.We have a Minister."
"But Mark...this is Nick and Jenna's day. I don't want anything to take away from that."
"We aren't. The reception is for them. We've had all the pomp and circumstance. We've done the big wedding, with the cake and all that. I just want us to be together...what better place than here? In a place we both love, with the people we love."
"We don't have our wedding bands." Elena said.
"Yes...we do." Mark replied taking their old wedding bands out of his pocket.
Elena's eyes filled with tears.
"Marry me." Mark said taking her hands in his.
"Ok." Elena said as she threw her arms around Marks neck.
"Who's turn is it?" Elena asked as she settled back in Mark's arms.
"I think we lost track we were laughing so hard." Jenna said throwing her dice at Nick.
"It's Mark and Elena's turn." Erin called from her comfy spot on the couch with her head in John's lap.
Elena looked at her best friend rub her pregnant, swollen belly, and thought about all the wonderful things that had taken place in the last couple years. All the things they had felt were out of reach were really there all along...just waiting for them.
She felt Mark nuzzle her neck and squeeze her tight...this was the way it was supposed to be.
The End
