fangirling like whoa

Those words always stuck with Mel, lingering in the back of her mind even after she’d given up on romance. Sure, she would sometimes fantasize about what her wedding might look like, if she ever met someone she wanted to spend the rest of her life with. It was always vague imaginings: pretty white dress, good food, quiet music, dancing. It was like even in her fantasies, she wouldn’t let herself fully think about it.

Now she had Frank, and now they were getting married. And even now, Mel still couldn't quite imagine the big wedding that took months and months to plan. What she really wanted was to be married.

They were laying in bed, lounging with their arms wrapped around each other. Frank murmured the question against her temple, playing with the ends of her hair. Mel twisted in his arms a little, tilting her head back to look up at him.

“Is that the kind of wedding you want?” she asked. She knew that his first wedding had been the big one, with the large wedding party and the multiple days of events leading up to it. When Mel and Frank got engaged, Abby fully admitted to Mel that she and her mother had done most of the planning for their wedding. Frank just nodded his head and said yes for the most part. Abby still thought it was funny. Mel didn’t.

Frank paused, like he was surprised Mel asked. He was quiet for a long time, wrapping the ends of Mel’s hair around his index finger. He pulled her close again, pressing his lips to her forehead. Mel slid her hand over his chest, curling her fingers into his shirt.

“I just want to be married to you,” Frank finally said. “I know how that sounds, but… I just want that. However we get there.”

“I want that, too.” Mel said. She kissed his chin and pulled back to see him smiling up at her. “I think we might be overcomplicating this a little. We can just… get married.”

Frank ducked his head, looking her in the eye. He studied her for another long, quiet moment. “I just don’t want you to regret something small. We could plan something, get it done in a few weeks.”

Mel pushed herself up, kissing his cheek now. “I really don’t think we need too much. We could have the kids and Becca and your family and do something small.” Frank’s family was big and loud and lovely, and they were absolutely going to be present no matter what the plan was.

“Besides.” Mel slid her hand over her belly. “I don’t want to do anything that takes too long to plan, anyway. Whatever we come up with, I want to be able to enjoy it.”

A beautiful smile lit up Frank’s face, and his hand covered Mel’s on her belly. They found out Mel was pregnant last week and had it officially confirmed over at Presby two days ago. They hadn’t told anyone yet, not only because it was too soon, but also because they just wanted to sit with the news for a while. It was an unexpected but very welcome surprise. Frank was convinced it happened the night they got engaged. Mel kept insisting there was no way to be sure—they had a fairly active sex life—but she had to admit it was a very romantic notion.

“I have an idea,” Frank said. He rolled Mel to her back and slowly stripped her tank top off of her, leaning down to press his lips to her neck. Mel’s thighs parted, allowing Frank to settle between them, pressing against her. She let out a breathy moan, arching beneath him, and tugged at his t-shirt.

Mel got distracted by kissing him then, running her fingers through his hair while she wrapped a leg around his hip to rock against him. He ground down against her, tangling his hand in her hair to tilt her head back. As his lips moved down her neck, Mel remembered they had been in the middle of a conversation.

“Are you going to tell me your idea?” Mel asked on a gasp as his big hand came up to cup her breast.

Frank grinned at her.

That weekend, with only their families present, Mel and Frank got married at City Hall.

Mel wore a pretty lacey white dress. She got the flowers, courtesy of Frank’s sister. Penny wore a lavender dress that matched Becca’s. Their vows were simple and heartfelt, promising to love each other and understand each other and support one another. Their families cheered as Mel and Frank said “I do” and kissed, linking their lives and their families together.

Frank’s parents insisted on doing a dinner at their house, catered by their favorite Italian restaurant. They strung up white lights in the backyard and played quiet music on a bluetooth speaker so people could dance on the deck.

Later that night, Mel was wrapped in Frank’s arms as they swayed in a slow circle. He held her close and Mel buried her face against his chest, forehead brushing against the bare skin revealed by the open buttons of his shirt. He had long since abandoned his suit jacket and tie and had undone the first few buttons on his shirt. Mel thought the look really worked for him.

“I’m your husband,” Frank said, sounding delighted and a little surprised. He’d said it multiple times since leaving City Hall. The first time he said it was when he pressed her against the car, whispering it against her lips as he kissed her deeply.

Mel looked up at him, beaming. “And I’m your wife.”

Grinning, Frank ducked his head down to kiss her. “Is this everything that you wanted?” he asked. He glanced around, looking somehow both embarrassed and affectionate as he watched his family dance around them.

Mel got the white dress and the pretty flowers and the soft music. She got married with her family there. She found someone she loved deeply and who loved her in return. Mel knew that not only did she have a wonderful wedding, as small and unconventional as it was, but now she was going to have a beautiful marriage.