ade walked down the street, feeling the afternoon sun warm her back, and the back of her neck. She reached up and rubbed the bare skin of her neck - she had cut her hair into a cute pixie-cut a little over a week ago, and still wasn't sure she really liked it - though her husband, Darryl did. He told her it made her look more like her mother, and everyone knew Lucia was a beautiful woman. Jade was wearing a light floral print dress that billowed around her in the gentle breeze, and absently rubbed her tummy. She was 7 months pregnant with her and Darryl's second child, and she hoped it was a girl. Life had certainly picked up, thought Jade, her dark eyes sparkling as she walked. She had become engaged to Darryl on her 20th birthday, in her first year of University. She and Darryl had both graduated the same year she turned 22, and they had been married the following year. Money had been tight with the unexpected pregnancy and subsequent birth of their son, James, the next year, but living in Jade's parent's house had greatly lessened the financial burden. She was now 25, Darryl was 26, and with their second child on the way, they were looking around for a place of their own. Jade's parents had been great with the house, moving into a town house when they returned from Fiji 2 years ago rather than moving back into their own house with Darryl and Jade, but Jade was aware that her parents couldn't support them forever. With Jade's art finally starting to sell, and her name becoming better known, and Darryl's steady job as an engineer in town, they were managing to save a bit of money. Adding that to Jade's inheritance, Jade was hoping that her parents would just let her and Darryl buy the house off them - it would be the easiest solution to the problem. She would bring it up with her parents the next morning when she went to their house to pick up James, who was having an evening with his grandparents.

Jade stopped walking and looked into a garden. The white picket fence had been freshly painted, and the lawn neatly mown. The garden beds had a tamed wildness about them, with herbs and many other flowers with pungent scents competing for space, and filling the air with a heady sweetness. Jade smiled, remembering the night in that garden two nights ago, where her twin sister and the man she was living with had stood under an arch of roses and honeysuckle, and stated that it had been a year and a day since they had become engaged, and they were still in love, and still wanted to spend the rest of their lives together, and had been handfasted. The gathering had been small, with mainly people Jade didn't know, but her sister had very firmly insisted that Jade attend - stating something along the lines of there was no way she was getting handfasted without her sister there. The ceremony had been simple and beautiful, by candle light and the light of the full moon, and very moving. The wedding was set for another month, but Jade couldn't help but notice her twin and her fiancé were already acting like they were married. And there certainly had been a few amongst those invited who had treated the ceremony like a wedding, but Jade just smiled as she pushed open the gate. Whatever made her sister happy was ok by Jade.

Jade knocked on the heavy wooden door, and thought about her twin's fiancé. Marc was a psychologist, and had his own practice, which was going very well, with many clients after 5 years of running. Jade's sister, Kat, had met Marc at University, when he was completing his PH.D., and she was just starting her degree. Now Kat had her PH.D. also, and was doing placement under Marc's supervision. Marc often commented that they didn't get very much work done, but the evidence to the contrary was clear in the success of their practice. The door swung open, and Jade was confronted with her twin, wearing a sheer white robe, and not much else. Kat stood framed by the doorway, her long red-gold hair in tangles to her waist and her deep blue eyes framed by dark lashes. Jade knew her sister was beautiful, but she looked especially so that morning, and Jade suddenly knew what she would be getting Marc as a wedding present. The only question was, would she sketch, or paint?
"Good morning," said Kat, stepping back from the door and letting her sister enter.
"Morning? It's gone 3:30 in the afternoon."
"Is it? Oh... I suppose we should get up then."
"Mmm, maybe."
"Go make yourself some tea, and I'll be out in a minute?"
"Sure."
Jade moved into the kitchen, put the kettle on to boil, pulled out three cups, and opened yesterday's paper to read while she waited.

Kat slipped back into her bedroom, and let the robe fall to the floor as she walked back to the bed.
"Mmm, now there's a nice sight to wake up to," murmured Marc from the bed, a combination of sleepiness and passion thickening his English accent.
"Mm, morning, Baby."
Kat climbed back onto the bed and snuggled up as Marc rolled her into the corner and kissed her good morning a few times.
"Who was at the door, Tarrishagh?" he asked eventually, his hands lazily stroking up and down her back.
"Mmm, s'nice, love. 'Twas Jade."
"She still here?"
"Mmm, in the kitchen."
"S'pose we should get up then."
"Aye, prolly."
Neither moved, save for Marc's slow stroking. From the kitchen came the sound of a spoon clattering in the sink, and Kat moved.
"C'mon, time to get up. It's apparently gone 3:30."
"Yes, I noticed that once the sun moved off the bed."
Kat smiled, and pulled on some clothes.
"Get up, love, we'll shower after Jade leaves."
Marc grinned, and leaped out of bed, pulling Kat to him and nuzzling her neck.
"Promise?"
"Mmm, yes, get dressed."
"I love you."
"I love you, Amor."
"Sure you don't want to come back to bed?"
Kat untangled herself from Marc's arms, and moved to the door.
"Get dressed. Besides, I don't believe in pre-marital sex."
Then she flashed him a grin, and closed the door on his disbelieving laughter.

Kat accepted a cup of tea from Jade, and put some bread into the toaster and moved around the kitchen making breakfast while she talked to Jade. Eventually the subject of Jade's visit emerged.
"I had my 2nd last fitting for my dress this morning."
"Oh?" asked Kat, looking up with a smile. "How did that go?"
"Kat, you know I love the material and the colour..."
"Yes?"
"But I look like I'm pregnant!"
Kat laughed, and said, "Honey, you *are* pregnant! And the princess cut dresses are most flattering for pregnant people, as well as being the most comfortable. Have they put the split in the chiffon yet?"
"Not on mine. They're waiting for the final fitting to do that, because it's likely that Jessica here will grow a bit more between now and the wedding."
"Oh, you've picked a name?"
"Um... well, sort of. I want Jessica Rose, but Darryl wants Dianne, you know how he is about that name."
Kat nodded. "Why not Dianne Jessica then?"
"I dunno, I like Rose."
"You really want your daughter to be Rose Ross?"
"Hmm... good point."
"What about boys?"
Jade shrugged. "Maybe Justin. Haven't really thought about it."

Marc entered the kitchen then, and kissed Jade hello.
"What are we talking about?"
"Baby names," teased Kat. "Interested?"
"In making babies?" teased Marc in return, slipping his arms around Kat's waist. "Definitely, with you. When can we start?"
The girls laughed, and Marc kissed the side of Kat's neck before moving to the fridge and getting out eggs and milk. While Marc cooked eggs, Kat buttered toast and made coffee, and Jade caught Kat up on her side of the family gossip, particularly that relating to James. "He's getting rather spoiled recently, all this time at Mum and Dad's. First your handfast two nights ago, and now tonight as well, he's going to come back round as a ball from all the sweets Dad slips him."
"Dad makes a good Grandad," smiled Kat. "He absolutely dotes on Jimmy, and Mum's not much better, really."
Marc scooped the eggs onto the toast, and smiled at Kat as they swapped coffee for breakfast. Jade smiled indulgently as she watched them move to the table and sit down. They were good together. For a while there, Jade had thought Kat was never going to settle down, but after four and a half years together, this seemed to be a fairly serious relationship, and Marc was certainly good for Kat. Having been in a relationship with him had given Kat back the confidence she had almost lost after an incident in high school.

"I thought I saw Glenn today, too," Jade commented, and Kat's fork clattered to her plate, causing both Marc and Jade to look at her in surprise.
"Glenn? As in, my Glenn?"
"Yeah, your Glenn."
"Who is Glenn?" Marc asked, curiously.
"Glenn is Glenn," Kat explained. "I was dating him when that stuff with Michael happened."
"Oh, that Glenn."
"Where was he?"
"If it was him, he was downtown. I saw him when I was leaving the dress shop."
"His invitation came back to us, not known at this address. It would be good if he was living here now, wouldn't it, Baby?"
"I guess," replied Marc noncommittally.
Kat looked puzzled for a moment, then resumed eating her breakfast.
"There is something you should probably know, Kat."
"What's that?" Kat finished her breakfast, and drained the last of her coffee.
"Um... Michael's out."
"He's what?"
"It's been 8 years, he got time off for good behaviour and that. Dad said his solicitor let him know yesterday, and he told me when I dropped of James."
Kat swallowed, and Marc moved closer and put his hand over hers.
"It's okay, love. He doesn't know where you are."
"That's true," Kat smiled, relaxing. "Besides, I doubt he'd like me now," she laughed.

The sisters smiled at each other, and shortly after, Jade made excuses and left, deciding that she'd start some work on Marc's wedding present in the afternoon before Darryl got home to take her out for dinner. Thinking about her sister that morning, Jade smiled grimly. Michael may not know where they were now, but if he saw Kat looking the way she looked that morning, Jade wouldn't like to see what happened. Jade shrugged off her worry, and hurried home, still pondering pencil or paint.

"That's good then, it's about time the men did the cooking."
"Oi!" laughed Marc. "Who made who breakfast this morning?"
"Mmm, you're the exception that proves the rule."
The three adults chuckled, and James reached up and grabbed Kat's dragon necklace, and attempted to stuff it into his mouth. Kat deftly uncurled his fingers and bopped him up and down on her knee to distract him as she tucked the necklace back under her shirt. Marc smiled at Kat and gently stroked the back of her neck with two fingers. Lucia observed them with a smile, and thought about her daughters. She was pleased that both of them had found a love as pure as that she shared with her husband.
"So, when are you two going to start giving me grandchildren?" she asked in a teasing tone, and Kat's eyes snapped from Jimmy's smiling face to her mother's in a instant.
"AFTER the wedding!!" she laughed.
"Sounds like a good plan to me!" laughed Erick, from the doorway. "If Madam would like to place young James in his crib, dinner is almost ready."
Kat rose from the couch and moved into the spare room, where James' cot was set up. She slipped him into his sleeper, and buttoned him up with much tickling and laughing, then sat with him on the rocking-chair and hummed to him. Marc came in with a bottle, and handed it to Kat, who passed it down to James. Kat hummed and rocked him while he drank, and Marc leaned against the wall and watched them with a smile. When the bottle was empty, Kat took it from him, gave him his dummy, and placed him in his cot. After a few gentle strokes of his back, James drowsily curled his fist around the blanket, and Kat leaned down to kiss him goodnight.
"Sweet dreams, Jimmy."
Marc switched off the light, and he and Kat left the room, closing the door behind them. Marc stopped Kat in the hall, and leaned down to kiss her.
"I love you."
"I know, Amor."
They smiled at each other, and joined Erick and Lucia at the dinner table.

***

"That was really great, Dad. Best Chicken Kiev I've ever had."
"Thanks, honey. I learned it last week. The secret is apparently to make the garlic butter first, and leave it overnight before you stuff the breasts."
The four of them cleared the table, stacked the dishwasher and took coffee in the lounge room.
"So, Kat," said Lucia, settling back into a large chair. "How are the plans coming along?"
Kat leaned over and rummaged through her bag before pulling out a small battered notebook and pen.
"Let's see... The bridesmaid dresses are all finished except for Jade's, because they don't want to finish it and then have to add panels for the baby to grow more! Um... My dress isn't finished yet, they're still working on the beading, but that's going nicely, I have my final fitting on Friday. I spoke to the florist this afternoon, and there was a problem with getting Queen Anne's Lace for the filler, so I said Baby's breath was OK. The flowers are a little smaller, but the effect will be about the same. I'm going in tomorrow afternoon to have a look at the mock-up of the garlands, make sure they're what we want."
"Would you like me to come, dear?" Lucia asked.
"Yes, that would be nice, Mum," Kat smiled. She quickly worked out how long it would take her to pick up Marc's Mum, and get to Lucia and Erick's. "Sylvia's coming too. I'll pick you up about 9:30?"
Lucia nodded, and Kat returned to her list.
"Marc's tux is at home, and very nice he looks in it too," smiled Kat. "I'm speaking to the caterers again on Wednesday, to finalise the menu. Marc's Dad is taking the bridal portrait and all that before-hand stuff, and a friend of his is taking all the during-wedding photos, and all the ones with him in them! Um... the reception hall is arranging for tables and seating and all that, I need to arrange a time with them to get the table-cloths and centre-pieces delivered, but that will wait until closer to the date. Only about 15 outstanding replies as of this afternoon, and Marc's arranged for the limousines for the wedding party, right, love?"
"Yes, I did that on Friday, they're going to call and talk to you about colours and ribbons and other stuff I thought you'd be better at deciding than me on Monday evening."
"So what is left to do?" asked Erick in amusement.
"Aside from the final fitting of my dress, and final checking of dates, places and times with the photographer, band, cars, reception and florist... I have to arrange the "thank you" things, get the license, finalise the seating arrangements, and let the reception coordinator know the exact numbers for the reception. And I need to go shopping with Mum, Sylvia and Jade at some point for... essential items for post wedding occasions..."
Lucia smiled and nodded.
"Sounds like you're organised. Got the rings?"
"They've been ordered. We can pick them up next week."
The doorbell rang, and Erick got up to let in Jade and Darryl. More coffee was distributed, and Darryl and Jade settled down on the two-seater.
"Got the cake?"
"It's being delivered to the reception hall the day before the wedding."
"So you have to make a few phone calls, visit a couple of places, and do a bit of shopping, and then you're set?" asked Erick.
Lucia, Jade, and Kat smiled each other. Typical male trivialising large tasks.
"When can we go shopping?" asked Kat. "I need to buy clothes, and presents. Mum and I are going to the florist tomorrow morning, so how about Tuesday?"
Jade and Lucia agreed, and Kat wrote a note in her book, reminding her to call Marc's mother.
"So, bucks night!" Darryl brought up energetically.
Marc and Erick both chuckled.
"The Wednesday before the wedding," Marc allowed. "Jade has already told Kat she's going out that night, so it's safe."
Kat laughed and checked Marc's watch.
"We better get going, baby, it's almost 12:00, and you have work in the morning."
"Mmm, true."
Kat and Marc rose from the couch, said their good-byes, and left. Jade and Darryl followed them shortly afterwards, deciding to take their son with them, to save a second trip out in the morning, and soon Erick and Lucia were alone in the house.
"Our little Kat is getting married," said Lucia to Erick softly.
He smiled down at his wife.
"She is. A little scary, eh?"
"A bit," Lucia allowed with a smile. "Both our girls with families of their own."
"Everything will be fine."
"I know."
Together, they stacked the coffee cups into the dishwasher, and went to bed.