Fiddle faddle and rot, sir.

What do you remember from the process of shooting Colin and Penelope’s wedding?

"I know it sounds silly, but in this show, [the weddings] feel real, in a way. It’s not like I felt like I was really getting married, but it did feel like a big occasion, and I was like, “I don’t want Luke to see me in my dress before I go down the aisle,” which was so silly, but I wanted to get his first reaction. [Laughs.]"

You’re one lucky man. That much I know.

She didn't think he'd cry, at least not that soon into things, but she had hopes for a good bit of a jaw drop, at least.

Then she nods, though, business again, "matching, good. Classic." Babette tilts her head to kiss his cheek, then finally turns around properly and holds the jacket up against him, "what do you think of this one? I might prefer one with lapels that are blue too- though that might be a custom job, depending on what they have.. The black brings you down a bit." He pulls an exaggerated frown, which makes her laugh, "I just think- there's not going to be a lot of black in the rest of the colour scheme really, it might seem stark."

He smiled softly when she kissed his cheek, his arm snaking round her waist to pull her closer for just a second before he released her again. Tibbs listened as she held up the jacket, though really he was only half paying attention. As he so often did when they were wedding planning, he was distracted by the thought of how lucky he was to be here, how long a road it had been for them both.

Turning ever so slightly so he could look at her better, Tibbs smiled, gave a nod and said, "You're right, as always. We'd better see if we can find someone to ask. We need to make sure someone writes all this down, anyway." He chuckled. As easy as it was to fall into sentimentality, there was also a wedding to plan: Tibbs was the practical one, remember. The one keeping them on track.

He let Bridgette keep hold of the jacket whilst he took hold of her other hand, leading her to find a member of staff.

"You could pick something that matches your eyes..." She suggests, turning her head to smile at him. God, those baby blues could make her do anything.

She nods, "but yes, I think a dinner jacket too, something with a bit more structure suits you. It'll be less of a hastle too, not so much wrinkling. Do you want a waistcoat of some kind? I don't think I've ever seen you in a three piece suit..." Babette was sure he'd cut a fine figure no matter what he wore, though she was now imagining how he might take the jacket off and roll up his shirt sleeves after they'd been dancing for a while... "Depends if you like a jacket with one that mataches, I suppose." She says, shaking herself out of the fantasy, "might make you a little too handsome, though."

Babette pulls a deep blue dinner jacket off the rack, with black satin lapels, "what are you thinking for trousers, same as the jacket or black?"

"I'll think about it." He chuckled, recognising the faraway gaze in Bridgette's eye. "Though I'm leaning towards yes. To the waistcoat, not the trousers - same as the jacket, I think."

It seemed maybe a little too young and trendy to start changing up the colours, and the last thing he wanted was to come across as someone who was trying too hard.

It was a level of togetherness that Gregory strived for these days, it was just harder when Greg had spent his entire life not planning for the future, only starting to realize he'd be here and he'd want to start thinking about how the rest of his life would look.

"...well, I mean technically I already have two." He clarified with a small wince. "My boyfriend lives with me and he has a dog. They only make the absolute worst instigating tag team of dogs I have ever seen." Gregory explained with a fond shake of his head. Edgar, of course, was with Zero today or he'd probably be chasing these bigger dogs around all the same (or more likely, sleeping somewhere buried in the leaves). "...but there's been a dog at the shop for a long while now. I was just thinking of adopting him myself." He hadn't succumb to his own desire to adopt every animal that steps through Ruff to Fluff somehow, but... this one was certainly a lot tougher of a battle.

He nodded softly at Tibb's words though, smiling softly. "...I still have your number." Gregory felt himself say. "...that same little paper you wrote when I was in the hospital, taped to the side of my desk." He added, but his shoulder's shrugged all the same. He'd never called it. He'd never texted it. He didn't even know if it was the same number the other man had now, all these years later. "I never used it, obviously...-but I always knew I could. If-.. If things would have gotten so bad. I think I just keep it as a reminder that.. there's always someone willing to help." Because it had confused him all those years ago.

That Tibbs had been willing to offer his number as a listening ear. When Gregory hadn't been a friend. Or someone close. Barely more than a stranger they'd once been close to together in a weird dream. But he'd still offered - and that offer was part of the reason that Gregory started to believe that support was out there, there would always be someone.

Gregory had made an impression on Tibbs. He had been so young-- that was what he had kept thinking, over and over again. About how young he was, and about how much life he had left to live, if only he'd give it a chance. Maybe it was because Tibbs had known many young men like Gregory; the army had a way of turning even the most hopeful young men into shells of themselves. In Gregory he saw his friends, his colleagues, the people who'd had his back for years without him realising that no one was looking out for them - at least, not in the way that it counted.

Tibbs had never heard from Gregory after that hospital stay, but he had seen him around town, heard things by word of mouth, that had reassured him. He supposed that was the benefit of living in a small town; it was easy to check up on former patients without really checking up on them.

Tibbs smiled faintly, his hands in his pockets. Across the way the dogs were still playing, tearing through the leaves, chasing each other from one pile to the next. After today they might never see each other again, but he was sure that if they ever crossed paths in the park again, they'd be back to playing just like this.

"The offer still stands." Tibbs said after a moment, looking over at Greg. "I'm glad you never needed it, and I'm glad to see you doing well. But if you ever do need it - my number's still the same."

"I will need you," Belle told him. It was hard for her to admit. Belle was stubborn when it came to asking for help, but Tibbs had always been there for her. She trusted him to continue to be. He had never judged her. Okay, maybe he had a little. Only in a way that made her feel sheepish, but not ashamed.

And he always answered her calls. No matter what time of day.

Belle appreciated that kind of steadiness. She hadn't had much of it in her life. Even though he only had about 15 years on her give or take, he was one of the first adultier adults that she felt like she could trust. She had taken to calling him, not only when one of the children were sick, but if the sink broke or the car started making a funny noise. It was what, she imagined, it felt like to have a parent.

"You have been very important to me, I hope you know that. I love you and I appreciate you," she told him. She didn't know if she had ever said it. Possibly because she thought it might embarrass him. He was always so reserved.

She squeezed his hand again. "We're family."

But it was still nice to hear it said so explicitly, perhaps for the first time in all the years he'd known her. To think back on the Belle he had first met, not in that strange dream world but here, in Swynlake. To compare her to the Belle he knew now. She had come so far, partly brought on by those around her but under her own steam, too. He was proud of her, and like she said - they were family. He had a right to be proud.

"We are." He agreed gently. "And I love you and I appreciate you, too." Tibbs was getting better at that: at voicing how he felt. Emotion was something his father had never really showed towards him when he was growing up; he wasn't that type of man. But Tibbs wanted to be better than that, for Tabitha and yes, for Belle and her children, too. Stoicism didn't benefit anyone, and though it had took him years to unlearn the behaviour of swallowing down an feeling, negative or positive, he was getting there.

But he wasn't fully there, not yet. He gave her hand one final squeeze, and then let her go. "Now, come on - your soup's getting cold. And it's good; you can bring me some more when you come to visit. Or make it when we come to visit, I suppose. Whichever comes first."

One or the other, he knew. It wouldn't be too long before he saw Belle again, he would make quite sure of it.

That was Belle’s stickiest point. Sure, she was worried about herself. Her own discomfort with moving to a new place. She’d lived in the same house nearly all her life. As much as she talked about adventure, she liked her familiar haunts too: Chapter Three, Hatter’s, and even Town Hall. She would miss her life here. But, she worried about her magical children. And, even, her husbands. Well, Toulouse’s feelings she worried about. Hades, she worried about him getting set off. And the children…children could be so cruel. Teachers also weren’t prepared for magical kids. Swynlake was, but Magick sensitivity wasn’t required nationally. There were schools that required it, but it wasn’t a guarantee. They would have Simba for their first year, which made her feel better, but what happened after that?

What if they were made to feel the way Hades had felt, growing up?

“It will be fine. Toulouse is anxious to be in the city and it will give Salome some privacy. Here in Swynlake, she is going to be a target for the media. At least…we can blend in a little more.” She sighed. She didn’t think her family would ever blend in. Which, in her opinion; wasn’t a bad thing. It was, however, complicated.

He could understand why she worried, though. Life was not as easy for her family as it was for his. There were so many things to think about, so many different problems that could arise. He wondered if moving to London would solve any, really. He was hopeful that it would.

He was mildly surprised by Belle's hand resting on his, and Tibbs looked up, his soup forgotten. He smiled gently, warmly, and gave a nod. They'd be over to visit, once everything had settled down. After the wedding, perhaps; close to Christmas. It'd be nice to see London at Christmas, he thought. He'd find as many occasions as he could to visit.

"I was going to say - don't go backing out now. We've already paid the caterer." Tibbs chuckled lightly, turning his hand to give hers a gentle squeeze. "I know you won't, but if you need me any time, whilst you're up there - let me know. Alright?"

But that was alright. They had been living with Belle's momentum, for the most part, the last few years. Her career had come first over and over again. Hades and Toulouse taking the brunt of the child rearing. Not that she was going to slow down in London, but she knew she didn't really have a leg to stand on.

Being in a partnership, having a family, meant making sacrifices. Meant that things weren't just about you. And a few years in London felt like the least she could do. It was only a few hours away. It wasn't the end of the world.

"Richmond Upon Thames, most likely, though we are still closing on our new house so...it isn't settled yet. It is the same neighborhood as Berlioz and Simba. So, when Tibby isn't available to babysit, they will be there to do so.

I don't know if...exciting is really the word, but Hades wants to start a non-profit and it would be silly to do so here, since Swynlake is already well protected. We want to help Magicks with their political careers. Get jobs in Parliament and work on petitioning the government. All of that is much easier in London, for obvious reasons. And we will be back," she added, still feeling rushed to get all of it out. "In a few years, when the children are in high school, at the latest, I'd imagine. We will see how it is. With the boys and Salome...well, London might not be the kindest place for them to grow up, but for a few years, we can make a real difference, I think."

It was selfish of him to feel glad that they would be returning, especially when really, his own life was not too disconnected from London itself. His mum still lived there, Tabitha lived there full time. He had his own ties to the place, and so it would be no huge feat to add Belle and her family onto that list. But he knew that soon he would be even more tied to Swynlake than he was now, with a wife and a young family of his own. Things like that made making time difficult.

"I suppose it's not too far, either, if you still want them to feel linked to Swynlake." Perhaps a clean break would be better, though. Truly, Tibbs had no idea. "And not too far for visiting, either."

He took it for granted that she might want him to visit, but he thought it would be nice, prhaps, to see her new home. See where she was living, what the neighbourhood was like, if she'd be able to keep herself out of trouble.

"Probably also a lot safer for them out there, though," He said, thinking about the children again. "I doubt London suffers many demon attacks."

Honestly, part of her would miss all the planning work when all was said and done. Perhaps they could do a little something for their first wedding anniversary-- probably much smaller, more laid back..

Then Will said denim waistcoat, and Babette snapped back to the present moment. "I'm sure you're joking, but if there's any chance that's true, oui, no denim waistcoats." She grins ruefully at him, starting to sift through the demo jackets on the rack. "Oh..?" She narrows her eyes a bit at the printed tie and hums, "it's.. Not bad- what, do you think it's a bit too much? Maybe she'd be satisfied picking out a zany pocketsquare, or some such.."

"I'll figure something out for her, don't worry." He reassured her, looking over the selection of ties that had been laid out. There were quite a few options in blue, some plain, some patterned. He actually didn't really mind the patterned ones, at least not the ones that weren't garishly bright.

"And I'll figure out the tie thing, too. Plenty of time." Tibbs said finally, coming to stand behind Bridgette, and arm around herr waist. He perused the selection of jackets from over her shoulder, and said, "I was thinking something more like a dinner jacket than a blazer. Seems classier."