Looks like Vicky is softening up!

Hey,

I accidentally called Amanda Lucy twice in the Eddie/Lucy, LeRoy/Vicky scene, so sorry if that caused any confusion. I just went back and fixed it for you.

I've just been reminded of how crazy binge writing is. lol

Liz

“Sue!” Lucy squealed. She ran up to her roommie, and pulled her into a gigantic hug. “You’re back!”

“Yes, Lucy, I am, but I won’t be around much longer if you keep squeezing me this hard!” Sue answered.

Lucy released her. “So, how was the trip?” she asked, with a sneaky smile. Sue directed her gaze towards the door, and it suddenly clicked with Lucy that Jack had followed Sue in. “Oh, hey, Jack. How are you?” she asked, a bit awkwardly.

“Never better, Luce,” he replied, with a grin.

Lucy narrowed her eyes, as she studied Sue, picking up on her blush right away. “I just know something happened!” She grinned. “Okay, you are so telling me all about it later!” She looked from Jack to Sue. “I’ll give you two some time alone. I’m going for a walk.”

She grabbed her purse and Levi’s leash, calling for the golden, who stopped to jump all over his returned mistress, and his manly man master. They petted him thoroughly, then let him go with Lucy.

“So, where do you want your bags?” Jack asked her.

“Could you stick them in my bedroom for me?” she asked.

He nodded. “Of course.” Before leaving to put away the luggage, he pulled her into an embrace, descending his lips upon hers. They shared a lazy, heartfelt kiss.

When they’d parted, Sue smiled. “More later?”

“Of course.” He gave her a squeeze, and kissed her forehead.

“Want anything to drink?”

“Just a water.”

“Light on the ice?”

He laughed. “You know me well.”

Kissing her one last time, he left to deliver her bags.


In the kitchen, Sue grabbed two glasses out of the cabinet, and began filling them with ice and water. She looked over at the island, and saw a small brown box on the top. Finishing with the glasses, she walked over to the package.

It was addressed to her, from her mother. “What is it now?”

She grabbed a pair of scissors and began opening the box. As she cut along one of the sides, gentle arms wrapped around her waist. “It’s something from my mom.”

She turned to look at Jack. “Should I be scared? I know your mother can be a bit… overbearing.”

“I have no idea.”

She opened the box, and inside it was a videocassette. Under it, a note.

Dear Sue,

I found this, going through the attic. I thought you might enjoy it.
Miss you! Don’t forget to write.

Love,
Mom

She turned the cassette on its side, and read the label.

Best Freinds’ Wedding Dreams

She laughed, as her eyes began to tear. She never was a great speller, and the operative word in the label wasn’t even spelled correctly. Thankfully, she now could remember the “I before E, except after C” rule. But back then, it was obvious she’d missed that lesson in grade school.

Memories began to flood back. She turned to face Jack. “Judy and I made this before she died. It was a school video project.”

“Want to watch it?” he asked.

She nodded. “Do you mind staying?”

He shook his head, kissing her softly.

They made their way back to the living room, and put the tape in the VCR. They curled up on the couch together, wrapped in each other’s arms.

The tv screen showed two young girls, one Sue, the other Judy. The wedding march played in the background. They held up a big piece of paper, which said ‘My Dream Wedding.’ Sue’s eyes filled with tears, at seeing Judy again. So many memories flooded back.

Judy spoke first, and Sue, standing beside her, translated in sign. “When I get married, I want a medium sized wedding. My sister wants a big one, but I think medium is good. I have lots of family and relatives, so I would invite all of them, and of course Sue would be there as my maiden of honor, and we’d have a huge wedding cake, because I love cake. And it would be chocolate with pink frosting, because pink is my favorite color. I would marry the bestest looking guy every, and show Marnie that cute boys do like average girls. And then I would have a very big family, of course, but they’d all be adopted, because I just don’t like the idea of intercourse.” She looked at Sue. “Okay, it’s your turn, now.”

“You can’t say that on tape,” Sue signed and spoke.

“Say what?”

“You know what. It.”

“Yes, I can.”

“Well, fine.” Sue smiled. Her words were signed and spoken. “What I want in a wedding… well, I’d like it to be smaller than Judy’s, because I don’t have as many friends, and I don’t have as much family. I like chocolate cake, so mine would be chocolate, but with vanilla frosting, and I would make it myself. Of course, I would have to learn to cook first, but I will, someday before I get married. I would wear a simple, elegant dress, and I would curl my hair.”

Judy tapped Sue on the shoulder. “What about kids.”

Sue got a faraway look in her eye. “I think I’d want just a few kids, though, two or three. I want to be able to give them lots of attention, and if I have eight kids or something, like Judy, that would be hard for me to do.”

They held up a second poster, saying ‘My Dream Man.’

Jack tapped Sue on the shoulder, and she looked up. “This had better be me.” She playfully slapped him in the stomach, her eyes still glistening with tears.

They turned to watch the video again.

“I want to marry a blonde guy with blue eyes, because I just think they’re cute. I don’t mind if he’s short, as long as he’s nice, and funny, and cute, and smart, and all the things a guy should be. We’d have a dog, and maybe a cat, if I learn to like them, and a turtle, because they’re my favorite animal. He’d take me skating for my honeymoon, and we’d walk around under the stars all night.”

It was Sue’s turn, now. “Well, I think I’d like a guy with dark hair. I don’t know, there’s just something about it. But if God wants me to marry someone with blonde or red hair, I’ll still marry him. But, I just think I like dark best. I think dark eyes, too, because they’re more fun to look at. I don’t know. They just seem to say more than blue or green eyes. I could be okay with gray ones, though. Umm, I’d like him to be as tall as me, because if he’s shorter, I’d feel strange. But, again, if God likes him for me, I’ll like him. I think I want a dog someday, if he doesn’t scare me when I’m not looking or run away and make me sad. And it’d be nice if my husband liked to ice skate, because I like to ice skate, and we can ice skate together. That’s all.”

The last video frame was of the two girls standing together in their mothers’ wedding gowns, walking down the ‘aisle’ with bouquets. Afterwards, they tossed their bouquets backwards. Their last line: “Maybe you’ll catch my bouquet, so you’d better know what your dream wedding will be like!.”

And the screen went dark. Neither Jack, nor Sue said anything at first. He’d expected the video to be hard for Sue to see, since Judy was a part of it, and it reflected a part of her life she rarely revisited.

Sue wiped at her tears, and looked up at Jack. “I’d forgotten all about that. It was so long ago.”

“Judy seemed like a wonderful friend.”

Sue nodded. “She was.” She laughed. “She was always so blunt.”

“So, do you want adopted children, too?” he asked, a mischievous look in his eye.

“Jack! What does that matter?”

“Well, I just wanted to know if you felt like Judy did about… ahem, it.”

She swatted him in the chest, laughing. “Biological children are just fine, Jack.” She rolled her eyes at him.

“Good. I needed to know, because after all, I do seem to fit the dream guy criteria. Levi didn’t quite match up to your standards, but he’s doing okay, and just look at what I have to live up to. Dark hair, brown eyes, being taller than you… am I missing anything?” He leaned in close.

“No, I think you’ve got it pretty much covered.” He captured her words in a searing kiss.

After he eased away, he spoke again, loving the dazed look he left on Sue’s face. “All this wedding talk has got me thinking… what with Allie almost getting married, and then you and Judy… I’m starting to think of what I want in a woman.”

“And just what might that be?”

“Hmm… black hair is nice, green eyes, and you know… I like my women short.”

“Jack!”

He laughed heartily. “I’m just kidding, Sue. I don’t have to dream about a woman; I’ve got her right here.”

Sue smiled. “Good, because I was about to throw something at you.”

“Ah! Practicing for a marital spat, are we?”

She raised an eyebrow, as he took her hand. “Sue, as much as I joke about it, you really are my dream girl, to put it simply. You’re everything I want, and everything I need. Someday, when all of this isn’t so fresh, I do want to marry you, and if I had a ring, I’d promise it to you now.”

She took his hand. “You don’t need a ring, Jack. Just me, and just you.”

“Alright, then.” He beamed. “Sue, would you like me to be your dream guy, to be all that you need, and all that you want? Would you like to have biological children with me, and build a home with me, to have a chocolate cake with white frosting, and whatever else your heart desires? Sue, will you be my wife?”

She laughed, sweetly and genuinely. “Yes, Jack. Of course I want that with you. And yes, I will be your wife.”

He stood, taking her with him, smiling as wide as he physically could. Pushing the coffee table away with his foot, he spun her around in his arms, holding her close, and kissing her closer.

It perfection had a name, it would be named after this moment.

If the perfect couple had names, they would be Jack and Sue.
*****

“Jack, Garrett wants you in his office, now,” Lucy informed him, as he entered the bullpen. He smiled at Sue, who was sitting at her desk, and she smiled back.

“Where are you going?” she asked.

“Garrett.”

She nodded, biting her bottom lip in slight worry.

But the worry hadn’t touched Jack yet, for seeing her like that, with her errant teeth hooked on her lip, made him want to venture out in the same way. He knew she tasted wonderful, and she just had to go and tempt him further. That’s my Sue. Smiling one last time at her, he left the bullpen, hoping this meeting was good news.
*****

“Jack, how in the world did you do it so quickly?” Garrett asked him. His supervisor generally didn’t smile much, but he was certainly smiling now.

“Huh?”

“The San Francisco team. You’ve done wonders with them!”

“Well, honestly, I couldn’t have done any of it without Sue. She really was my better half out there.”

“Well, the A.D. was so impressed, he said it’s up to you, if you still want to transfer. Vicky’s team is ready to take on the advising assignment we would have given you, so although it’d a different method than we’d planned on, the West Coast restructuring project is covered.”

“So, you’re saying I can stay?” Jack asked cautiously.

“Yes, you definitely can.”

“Then, I’m staying.” He gave Garrett a look, clearing his throat. “So, what exactly does the rulebook say about marriage and coworkers?”
*****

Epilogue

The wedding was exactly as she’d imagined it, right down to the chocolate cake with white frosting. Lucy was her maid of honor, and while she wasn’t Judy, she was her closest friend, and that meant the world to her. She had a wonderful team of bridesmaids, which included Tara the ladies from the San Francisco office. Jack looked positively irresistible, and the rest of the men didn’t look so bad, but of course paled in comparison. The day was a day of dreams come true, and that night… well, as Judy would have put it, it was a frightening night, but as Jack and Sue would have expressed, the biological children were well on their way, and they had a most enjoyable time making that a reality.
*****

The End



Thanks for reading! I know things may have seemed a bit rushed at the end, but I guess that's the way it goes for deadline writing. lol.

I hope you enjoyed it!

The video was so touching, Lizzy, but very light-hearted too! Thanks for sharing this story with us. And you made it before the deadline with plenty of time to spare, too!

Congrats on making the deadline! I really enjoyed this story!

Wonderful job, Lizzy! So glad you took the time to write this for us! This story had it's ups and downs, and had me nervous for a bit, but you pulled it off nicely!

Thank you!

Jill

This is probably a good idea since Judy has an aversion to...it!

I'm sorry I couldn't read to the bitter end last night....I might as well have stayed up since we had thunderstorms most of the night and my dogs don't like the thunder. Think of the My Favorite Things scenes in Sound of Music only with canines. Elsie only feels safe is she's curled around my head, panting so hard the whole bed shakes and Simba, he tries to be macho and starts out at the foot of the bed but with each clap of thunder he belly creeps up until he's lying on my chest. Add to that the fact that the storm did nothing to alleviate the heat or humidty and you can see why I should have just stayed up and read.

I liked how Jack and Sue got the team to open up to each other -- and the Cupid line was hysterical. I'm thinking that maybe one of Trecie's arrows got rerooted through cyber space!!!! The video idea was priceless -- and having Jack watch it with her. Did you do that as a child?

And for not breaking up my team!!!!!!

You work well under pressure, Lizzy. Maybe you should be a journalist!

kav

Wonderful. Just wonderful

Kim

Lizzy, this is absolutely wonderful!! I love how Jack and Sue, very simply, brought the Los Angeles team together in just a week!!!

Jack handled Allie very well and I love the way he showed Sue how he feels!! The tape was great - I could just see them acting all this out!!!

I'm especially glad Jack is staying in D.C. and the team will not be broken up!! The wedding was wonderful - just as Sue imagined it!! And, I'm glad that the biological children are well on their way!!!

Thanks for sharing your incredible talent with us!!!

Joy

so much to say, glad the team is still together and i loved the video and wedding

cath

Oh, wow, Kav! What a night! Well, The Sound of Music is One of my favorite movies, but I'm sorry the doggy reproduction of it caused you such inconvenience.

And personally, I love thunderstorms, but again, having all that in the middle of the night, with sweltering heat and humidity? I guess that would certainly dampen their appeal. I lived in OK for five years, so I can sympathize, to an extent.

The whole Cupid situation came up and surprised me, actually. I've found that while making an outline for a story is beneficial, as long as I can force myself to think ahead that far, I follow it to a certain extent, then go off on crazy rabbit trails, and try to get back to the points on the outline I could still fit in.

Believe it or not, I almost left out the video, just by sheer forgetfulness, after those rabbit trails!!

And no, I never did do the video as a child. But, I did "get married" in kindergarten. hehe. Or was it first grade? I don't remember which. If you want to read about it, I actually wrote a short story about that very "whirlwind romance" in my young years, on this site, almost two years ago.

So, here's the link if you want to check it out.

Click Here!


Have a good one, everybody!!

loved it it was amazing

Brilliant story Lizzy, thanks for sharing

Kav, are you sure you aren't talking about my dog?! She's a border collie and ever since she was with another doggie friend during a storm and he freaked out, she does the same

Lizzy, that was the cutest story ever. I never felt that the end was rushed.. it was fun getting to read it all at one time tonight!! The entire story flowed so perfectly and I'm glad you didn't forget the video! I just melted when Sue said her dream man had dark hair and dark eyes Absolutely fantastic!! Loved every second of it!!!

Thank you for sharing such a great story with us

Beautiful, sweet and charming- i enjoyed it immensley...

Great story Lizzy - I'm still playing catch up some but what I've read is very well done.

Thanks, Pam. I'm glad you have a chance to read it!

Wonderful story! Glad you didn't end up leaving out the video -- I loved it! So glad you ended up making the deadline! Thanks for sharing!

sweet
glad jack and sue were able to fix up the cali team so jack didn't have to leave
yay jack and sue finally got together and even married
aww that video was cute.
lol jack really was her dream guy.