The shop is already buzzling with our family and friends when I arrived. The place is full and packed with people talking and laughing. As soon as I entered the door, my eyes immediately found her in the crowd. Although her back is turned to me, I feel like my eyes are glued to her whenever she's in the room.

A grinning Eros welcomed me first, stealing a little of my attention away from shortcake. "Man. This group of people are hilarious." He said cheerfully. It seemed that he has gotten to know almost everyone in here. "Although, I got to say, your Mom looks awfully iritated." He said nodding his head towards Mom, who is indeed brooding with negative vibes in the corner of the room.

I smiled, despite seeing yet another negative reaction from Mom. "She's always like this. I got to go say hi to my fiancée. Excuse me." I told Eros politely before walking past all the other people in the room just to get to her. She's still busy talking to a couple of girls who I don't seem to remember ever meeting.

She jumped as soon as my hands made contact with her hips but eventually relaxed. She turned to me with a smile, her beautiful gray eyes shining with so much happiness and life. "Hey." She said, greeting me with a kiss on my cheek.

I grin stupidly, not knowing what else to do as I again get sucked in by her breathtaking smile. "Hey yourself. You look beautiful, as always." I said, dropping a soft kiss on her plump red lips. Hmm. Looks like my shortcake put on some lipstick this morning.

Mara giggles before she fully turns her body to me. She wipes the corner of my lips with her thumb. "You had lipstick." She remarked amusedly.

"At least I get to kiss you." I said cheekily.

I don't know what it is about today, but I woke up happy and excited. I don't think anything could dampen my day. Not my sulking mother. Not even the looming presence of Amelia. Not a thing.

I have my shortcake in my arms. Our wedding is almost at full swing. I guess that was what made me feel so excited. The notion that our wedding is fast approaching. Any day now, I would go to sleep and wake up looking at very woman who is talking joyously as I stare dumbfounded at her.

"Hey guys." Aurora's loud voice made us both look at her questioningly. She raised her eyebrow at us, a fond smile on her face. "You look amazing together and all but I got to get these people measured up." She told us.

Mara immediately nodded her head. "Who should we start with?" She asked, looking at the number of people in the room. It wasn't suppose to get this big, but I guess when people's eyes are at your wedding it'll be hard to keep it quiet even among friends.

"Start with the males? I think that'll take a shorter amount of time while the ladies decide on their dress." I said looking down at Mara. "What do you think?"

She smiles up at me. "Great idea. I'll see you later." She said, kissing me again on my cheek before disappearing into the sea of women, among who are my mother and Amelia. However, I feel comforted by the fact that Artemis is not very far from Mara.

"Guys." I said, addressing the men in the room. We'll start first." I told me. They nodded their head eagerly as Aurora and her assistant started getting measurements from a Mara's dad.

"Hey man." Mark said, greeting me with the same boyish smile when I met her. "This is all very exciting, isn't it" He said, gesturing to the room full of people.

I nodded my head. "It is. It's almost like the days are just moving faster and faster as we approach the wedding day." I said truthfully. The excitement bubbling inside me has been building up whenever we get something off of the wedding planning list. Even Clarrisse admitted that we are the most decisive couple she's ever worked with. "How's Vero?"

Vero recently found out that she's six weeks pregnant with their first child. It was a surprise considering she was suppose to be sterile. She freaked out for a good week before Mark pulled her aside and made her apply for a vacation leave which soon became a resignation letter. As the doctor said that her pregnancy will be a difficult one and that she is not allowed to be stressed or run around carrying heavy object.

"She's good. Bored but very happy. She started painting one of the room to be the nursery but she doesn't like the color of it anymore." Mark said, an adoring smile on his face as he talks about his wife. "How's the wedding planning?"

"Great. It's coming along. I think the last one on the list is this and the wedding cake." I said. Things have been moving faster since the awkward and unwanted company of Stella disappeared since the food tasting we did.

Mark raised his eyebrow at me. "You know I could make your wedding cake." He said, looking at me as if I'm unbelievably stupid.

I opened my mouth as if to say how brilliant that sounded. "Right. Right. So can I make a special request?" I said, an idea forming in my head.

Mara loves pastries. Specially the sweet ones. There's no doubt in my mind that she would like this one despite having no knowledge of how it would turn out. I, at the very least, want this wedding cake to surprise shortcake.

Mark nodded his head a grin of understanding on his face. He knows exactly what I am planning before I even said a word about it.

I found Alec a few steps away from Eros looking on the other people of the room after I talked about my plan with Mark. I walked to him, nodding my head and greeting my other friends along the way. "Stop sulking." I told him as soon as I am in the way of his line of sight.

He sighed, looking away from Aurora. "She really hates me." He said. "I guess I deserve that, huh?" He asked, chuckling darkly to himself.

It's still a mystery as to what happened that resulted with Aurora's shoes in his back seat. He never did tell me that. Even Rory refused to acknowledge that part when I had to drop her shoes off because Alec didn't want her to see him all torn apart after our latest visit to May.

"She just needs a bit more time." I said, consoling his conscience. Not many people know why exactly they called off the wedding -- well why Rory called off the wedding. But I am one of the people who know why. I know the pain they both went through and I know the horror that Alec has had to face during the first few months of not being able to see or even hear from Rory. It was his own personal hell that he dug up himself. "I know it might seem impossible, but you'll get there."

He smiled bitterly, his eyes drawn to Rory's laughter. His eyes turn dark as jealousy crawls up his skin. He eyes the man like he's ready to kill him any second for flirting with his woman. "This is torture." He said, closing his eyes and taking a deep breath.

I turn to Rory and found Miles, a good friend of mine from college flirting mercilessly with Rory as she finishes up taking measurement. "Get on with it Miles. There's a lot of people wanting to talk to the lady." I said jokingly.

He laughs at my remark but does move to talk to Eros who looked happy to see his friend. "Thanks." I heard Alec said.

"Best friend, right?" I grinned cheekily at him. My words have a double meaning to it but Alec choses to ignore that and instead, nods his head in agreement.

"Son." Dad called, I turned to see him talking with Jack and Mark. I walked to them with a grim smile. I don't know how to act around Jack. It seemed like he was never the man I thought he was to begin with and that upset me a great deal. I thought he was better than Dad in that department, but Alec's accusations have pestered the image I have of him. "We were just talking about a wedding gift for you and Mara."

I nodded my head in understanding.

"I told them a nice house would suffice but these old men says otherwise." Mark said jokingly.

"Dustyn is an only child and Mara is my only daughter. They deserve something.. a little more grand." Jack said with a smile of his own. "Son, wat do you think? Maybe a vacation home in Italy? Say Lake Como?"

I watch Dad nod in agreement. "Yes. That is a great spot. Also good for the honeymoon."

"That won't be necessary." I said, smiling at the both of them. "Mara and I have yet to talk about it but I think she would like something a little simpler." I said truthfully.

I have had a few ideas for our honeymoon. But I have yet to tell Mara any of it. She just seems busier than usual these past two months. I didn't want her to feel anymore pressure than she has too.

"How about just giving them a house? Anywhere they like." Dad supplies in lieu of what they had planned. Jack seemed disappointed that I flat out rejected his offer but he dejectedly nodded his head.

"No need. I'm giving Mara the house as soon as she turns twenty." Alec's calm and collected voice was a far cry from what he sounded earlier. It seems like he had somewhat calmed himself down. After all, seeing Aurora laughing and talking to other men was a not a sight he was prepare to see today. "I need you and you witch of a wife to vacate the house by next week." Alec said, addressing his Dad.

Dad looks at me with confusion but I just shake my head at him. He pulls Mark away from us and joins my group of friends along with Eros. "Alec, not here." I said, whispering the words so no one else can know what is going on.

Alec chose to ignore my pleas and continues on his assault of words on his Jack. "I have architects coming and designers to change the house to the way it used to be. I don't want to see any of you in that house."

I could see Jack's eyes turn cold as he regards his son in a newer light. He must've realized by now that Alec has changed so much since he came back from Spain. He's not as careful and respectful towards him as he used to be. In fact, things have been pretty heated between them that even the media has caught word of the fall out between the father and son duo. "Son. That's highly disrespectful."

Alec's eyes blazed in anger. "No, what's disrespectful is you bring a slut in her home. That's disrespectful." Alec said, spitting the words from his mouth. The men in the room have started looking in our direction with questioning gaze. Wondering why the family of the bride is on each others' neck.

Smiling I turn my attention to them. "wedding drama." I said jokingly, pulling the Ramirez' men out of earshot. "Don't do this here. Mara needs this to go well. Please." I said begging the both of them but more importantly, begging Alec.

I know he carries a lot of hatred for his Dad. I know these past two months have been difficult for him even when he refuses to tell any of us the reason. I know there are things he has been keeping to himself but his attitude towards some people has changed drastically.

"Fine." Alec said stepping away from his father's personal space. "I still want them out of the house next week."

I watch as Alec approached Rory with a serious face. Our friend stepped back to let him go first, as Rory gets to work on taking his measurements. A visible blush on her cheeks as she measures his torso.

"Honey!" Amelia's loud and irritating voice made me sigh in annoyance. I almost forgot she's here. I give Jack a look that says to behave before walking to the other part of the room where Mara and her bridesmaids are.

"What about this?" Artemis asked, showing Mara a long mint green tube dress.

"Stop looking at the price, Art." Mara said almost annoyingly. She gives Artemis a glare as the latter goes for another dress on the same rack. I'm guessing those are the cheapest dress she could find in the shop. "Art." Mara said in warning.

"Hey. Hey." I said soothingly grabbing her hand.

She sighed, stress visible on her face. "I saw that, you know." She said, her eyes following the direction of her Dad and brother. "What was it this time?"

I smiled. "Nothing that I couldn't handle. Now. Back to the dresses." I said moving her attention back to the dresses her friends are holding.

"Are you going to be Mara's husband?" A woman who looked a bit like Artemis asked. She's sitting on the couch, drinking water. Her gray hair is visible on her bun but her face does not look any older than thirty-five. "He's very good looking, sweetie."

Mara smiles at her. "Dy, this is Autumn Fields. Mother of the twins. Autumn this is Dustyn Franco, my fiancée." Mara said, introducing us formally.

"Nice to meet you, Dustyn." Mrs Fields said with a pleasant smile.

"Pleasure is all mine." I replied with a smile of my own.

"How about this?" Artemis said, pulling yet another dress from the same rack which made Mara frown. Her friend is obviously embarrassed by being surrounded with people who are in a much higher class than her. Its bothering her to the point that her fashion sense has gone from the best to the worst in a matter of minutes

Mara moves forward, getting a different dress on the rack. A floor length strapless rose colored dress. She moves to put the dress in front of Artemis, as if deciding if the dress would be fitting for the role her bestfriend would be playing at the wedding.

"This will do. Go try it on." Mara said, practically shoving Artemis in the direction of the dressing room with the said dress in her arms.

Artemis looked back at Mara with uncertain eyes. "This is how much my monthly allowance is. I can't afford this." She said, looking in the direction of her Mom who looked oblivious to what is happening with her. "Mom didn't even bring this much money."

Mara rolled her eyes at her friend. "I told you, I'm paying for it. Chill."

"I'm sorry. Maybe I can get that mint green dress?" Artemis asked already walking in the direction of the said dress.

I sighed, not being able to take the irritation on Mara's face. "What about we loan it to you?" I said.

"A loan?" Artemis asked, confused.

Mara is looking at me like I've lost my mind at suggesting such a thing. She had told me that she wanted the Fields' family to not worry about anything money related for this wedding. She just wanted them to attend because, in her words, they're like a family to her. And Mrs Fields is like a mother to her. But I don't think accepting things from Mara is something that any of them enjoys.

"You can pay me back in installment. Don't worry much about it. Just pay me when you can." I said, smiling at her.

Her face instantly brightens as she looks back at Mara. "Is that okay. T?"

Mara nodded with a smile of her own. "As long you get that wonderful dress in your hand. I want my maid of honor to stand out and look her best."

Artemis laughs. "But not out stand the bride, of course." She said heading straight to the dressing room and mumbling her thanks as she passed by me.

"I don't think any one could out shine you on our wedding day. shortcake." I said sweetly. Watching with joy as her cheeks turned red at my words.

Just three more months before I can finally call her my wife.