My Blue Eyed Girl, chapter 7
After many hours several phone calls to me to make sure it was ok with the other guys, they had finally decided to have the wedding themed black, red and white. They had also planned to drag us out shopping the next day and leave the kids with Claire.
I arrived back at about 7. "Hey sweetie" she kissed me.
"Where's Amanda?? I have an ice cream date to take her on" I said giggling and putting my car keys and cell down on the counter.
I smiled. "Last time I checked she was upstairs in her room playing with her Barbie's" she said pointing to the stairs.
"Manda!!" I yelled coming up the stairs and heading towards her room. That was all she needed.
"Daddy!!! You remembered!!!" she said running out of her room and launching herself into my arms.
"Of course I did" I said laughing and tickling her. "I have a question to ask you" I said pulling her away from me slightly.
"Yesh Daddy???" she said looking at me with an adorable smile.
"Is it ok if Uncle Jason comes with us on our ice cream date?" I asked. She nodded frantically.
"YESH!!!!". Don't ask me how she could be that excited, but she was. I mean it was only Jason for heavens sake... but he was her favourite 'uncle' so I guess that explained it.
Besides... I needed to ask Jason to be my best man. Sure I hadn't been friends with him as long as Billie and Mike, but ever since the twins had come along, him and Anna had been really helpful with baby sitting and just helping out when we needed it. I would have to suggest to Mattie to ask Anna to be her Maid of Honour or whatever.
"How bout you get changed and meet me downstairs?" I said. She nodded and I went downstairs to talk to Mattie.
"Hey baby" she said lazily as she flicked through channels on the TV.
"Long day huh??" I asked sitting down next to her and massaging her shoulders a bit.
"Mmmmmhmmmmmmmmm" she agreed.
"Have you chosen you Maid of Honour yet?" I asked turning to face her.
"No why?" she asked.
"Well I'm gonna ask Jason to be my best man... ..you know coz of all the times they've helped us out and stuff... .and I think Anna would be stoked if you asked her to be your Maid of Honour... " I said trailing off letting her think about it.
"We'll it was gonna be either her or Sammy" she looking me straight in the face.
"Billie or Jason for me" I said. "So it's agreed??? I'll ask Jason and you ask Anna?"
"Yep... now get going on your ice cream date boyo!" she said kissing me on the nose and shoving me playfully in the direction of the front door, as the door bell had just rung. I opened the door to reveal Jason standing on the other side.
"Manda!!" I called. "Uncle Jason's here!" seconds later I heard the footsteps thundering towards us and then the scream of 'Uncle Jashon!!'.
"Manda Panda!!!" Jason yelled getting equally excited.
"Come on you two" I said laughing at their stupid-ness. "Let's go"
"Bye Mommy" Amanda said as Jason carried her out the door.
We sat down with our ice cream and I proceeded to go about asking Jason to be my best man.
"Jason dude I have a question to ask you" I said giggling as the spoonful of strawberry ice cream he shoved in his mouth, began to dribble down his chin.
"Sure dude, shoot" he said as he licked his chin.
"Well you know how we've got the wedding coming up... " he nodded. "Well, after all that you've done for us since the twins were born, I wanted to ask you to have the honour of being my best man... ." I trailed off and waited for him to give the answer.
"Aw Tre!! Of course I will man!!" he said after swallowing.
"Good" I said smiling. "Just so you know, Mattie's asking Anna to be her Maid of Honour."
He nodded again. "Does that mean I'm in charge of the buck's party?" he asked wiggling his eyebrows. Amanda saw that and giggled.
"Yes you are... but we can talk about that later when there aren't certain three year olds around" I said cocking my head towards Amanda. She was sitting quite happily eating her chocolate ice cream with sprinkles and strawberry sauce until I said that.
"Hey!!! I'm almosht 4!" she said pouting and holding four fingers up.
Jason and I giggled and went back to our ice cream.
"Jeez look at you" Jason said to Amanda about 15 minutes later. "You've got more ice cream on your face than in your stomach" he said tickling her and beginning to clean her up as I went and got some ice cream to take home to Mattie.
"Yesh... .but it shtill tashted good!" she said grinning and letting Jason clean her off.
We arrived home a while later to find Anna and Mattie sitting on the couch.
"Where's our ice cream??" they pouted.
"Right here' I said holding up the tub that I had brought home. "You didn't think I'd forget did you" I said taking it into the kitchen. Mattie followed me.
"So did you ask her?" I said beginning to spoon some ice cream out for her and Anna.
"Yep... she was more excited than I expected though" she said wrapping her hands around my waist.
"We did the right thing... .hopefully the others wont be too upset." I said cringing at the thought of what the other guys, namely Billie and Mike, would be like.
"Heheh... ..they'll understand" Mattie said unwrapping herself from me and smacking my ass. "Hurry up with the ice cream Soldier" she whispered in my ear before she went back to the lounge room.
"Aw!! MAAATTTTTIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!" I whined finishing with the ice cream and running into the lounge room with it. "Here " I said shoving one plate at Anna and the other at Trent. "Keep them down here" I muttered in Jason's ear as I grabbed Mattie's hand just before she sat down and hauled her ass up to our bedroom. There hadn't been any real 'army' activity for 3 years!!!
I raced into our bedroom and locked every door outta there. "No one's getting in... no one's getting out" I said panting slightly from all the running. We began undressing each other and I had to stand back and admire her for a minute.
"Damn! When did you get so fine?!?!" I said spinning her around to take in every angle. She looked heaps better than she did before the kids. But I guess that's what happens when you're running around after two 3 year olds and between one and five 26 year olds that act like three year olds.
I marveled at her every feature before she interrupted me. "Ummm baby you're drooling... and is there any way that we could speed this up Soldier!" she exclaimed seeing the looked of lust on my face turn into one of hunger.
"Yes Ma'am" I said saluting and taking her over to the bed. We fell backwards onto it and I began kissing her whole body, starting from near her ears and kissing in random patterns all the way down to her toes..
"Sh- Shit!" she exclaimed arcing backwards. I smirked.
"I take it Sergeant Mattie likes that" I said kissing right in between her boobs.
I won't give you all the details, but it was marvelous to say the least.
"What are you doing?" she asked between breaths.
"Calling Jason to get him to put the kids to bed... ... there's no way I'm going anywhere tonight!" I said flipping open my phone and dialing Jason's number.
She grinned widely and kissed my cheek.
"But do we have to??" I asked, whining like Amanda and Trent would if they didn't want to do something.
"Do you want to marry me or not?" she asked looking at me with an eyebrow raised.
"Yes" I replied timidly.
"Well then you and the other guys are coming with us." She concluded not letting me talk again.
Bugger. She never let me argue with her when she was on a mission. Oh well. At least I got to choose what the guys would be wearing.
Mattie's POV
"Awwwwwwwwwww!!! Look at them! They're so adorable" Anna cooed.
All the boys stood in front of us in what I hoped Tre would choose as the attire for the wedding. Each boy from the biggest to the smallest was dressed in black pants, a red shirt and a black one button blazer. Tre and Jason had white flowers in their pockets and the others had red flowers. Each guy also had a pair of black and white converse on their feet. This wedding was not going to be formal by a long shot... it was going to be more along the lines of casual/ dressy.
"What do you reckon?" I asked Tre, going over to him and straightening his flower.
"I think this could be it" he said smiling and kissing me on the nose.
"Our turn now" I giggled watching both his and Jason's faces contort.
"Ah man!" they both whinged.
After many hours and what Tre said was 'a gazillion dresses' later. I had decided what I wanted the girls to wear. I was in a blood red strapless dress that billowed out around me. I had a tiara thingo with red and black flowers and a white veil. Amanda was basically the exact copy of me except her dress had straps and she didn't have a veil. She was going to be throwing red and white flower petals before all the bridesmaids came down. Anna and the other girls were in black strapless dresses in a similar style to mine. It was decided that they would have white flowers in their hair and a red sash around their waist.
"Aw! Look at the lovely themed wedding party" a rather gay sales person said. "Will you be buying these today?"
"Yes we will" Tre said trying not to giggle at how gay this sales person really was.
We bought all our purchases and headed back to the cars.
"Wait! Who's going to give me away??" I asked gasping. "Because obviously my father can't do it. And I'm not letting Bradley do it either." I said getting a touch angry.
"I can get my dad to do it" Mike piped up. "I mean you were like a daughter to him anyways".
"Yeah... " Billie agreed. "I'd say I'd get my dad to do it... but ya know... " he said trailing off.
"I'll have to make a choice" I said furrowing my brow a bit. "But... " I said turning to Tre, Mike and Billie. "If you could ask your brothers, fathers if they would be up for it, I'd appreciate it. "
"Can do!" they all replied cheerfully.
We headed back home and began planning other things like invitations and seating arrangements.
"No Tre we cant invite your dog!!" I said giggling.
"And why the hell not??" he asked wanting me to give a reason.
"Well 1. It died when we were 10 and 2. Think of how decomposed and what not it would be now." I said wrinkling my nose.
"Ewwwwwwwww!!!!" Amanda squealed. "I don't want sit nexsht to a grossh doggy!" she exclaimed also wrinkling her nose.
"Fine!" Tre concluded. "We won't invite Rover then"
"Good choice baby, good choice" I said patting him on the back.
"Why can't we sit your grandma next to us though?" Billie asked motioning to him and Mike.
"Think about it Billie" I said cocking an eyebrow and giving him a second to think. When he came up with nothing I added. "After she caught us in your basement smoking pot... she nearly killed you!" then he got it.
"Oh yeah!!"
"You dumbass!" Jason said to him making sure that there were no kids around first. "Even I knew that's why her grandma doesn't like you!!! And I wasn't even there on the day!!"
"Good times" Tre said, getting a far away look in his eyes and reminiscing.
Billie was about to retaliate, but a look from me and something mouthed from Adie made him stop in his tracks. It was agreed that we would have a few tables for family and close friends and then a few other tables for acquaintances.
*A few months later, the day of the wedding*
Still Mattie's POV
"Tre get out!!" Anna yelled exasperated. "Your not meant to see her until later"" she yelled through the door as she slammed it shut, narrowly missing Tre's fingers.
"I'd like my husband-to-be, to have ALL of his fingers when I marry him thanks Anna" I giggled as I watched the scene from the mirror.
We were getting ready in my room and all the boys were trying to have a look. Anna locked the bedroom door and leant back on it, wiping the imaginary sweat from her brow.
"He's gonna end up fu... freaking pouncing on you later, you know that right?" she said, realizing that Amanda was still in the room.
"That's why we are having a honey moon Anna my dear" I said laughing.
We continued to get ready and about an hour and a half later we were heading off to the church.
"I'm soooo nervous......" I said to Anna, starting to bite at a piece of skin on my finger.
She slapped my hand away. "I was exactly like this before I married Jason remember?" she said, trying to get me to think of something else. I did remember. She was a total nervous wreck.
I took a deep breath and smiled at all the other girls sitting in the limo with me. I was gonna be fine... ... so long as I didn't cry or puke.
*at the church*
Tre's POV
"Fuck, fuck, fuck... FUCK!" I muttered to no one in particular over and over again. Why was I so nervous? I mean I managed to propose to her without too many nerves. What was so different about this?
Jason and the other guys came up to me. "You alright buddy" Billie asked walking over and passing Trent to me.
I nodded. "I'll be fine" I said brushing Trent's light brown hair off his face. "Once everyone starts arriving and Mattie actually gets here" I said putting Trent down and beginning to pace backwards and forwards.
"Dude relax" Jason laughing stopping me from pacing any more. "If you don't calm down you'll end up having an attack" he said looking me in the eyes to try and calm me a bit.
He was right. I couldn't afford to have an attack now. I took several deep breaths and my breathing started to return to its natural state.
"Dude are you calmer now?" Jason I asked. I nodded. "Good, because the music has just started and the girls are on there way"
This is what began running through my mind as I straightened myself out and stood to the side of the altar.
'shit shit shit shit shit shit shit shit shit shit shit shit shit!'
Amanda came first scattering her red and white rose petals on the way. Her blonde hair was slightly curly and she reminded me exactly of her mother. Trent was walking next to his sister carrying a red pillow that had the two rings on it.
Adie, Sammy and Anna came next and I swear to god that I saw drool come out of Billie, Mike and Jason's mouth's. They took there places on the opposite side of the altar to us, and then everyone stood up... this was it... it was now or never.
Mattie appeared in the doorway. If Jason wasn't standing next to me I would have fallen over then and there. She was absolutely breathtaking. It had been decided that my dad would be walking her down the isle. She was closer to him anyway. She began her slow walk down to meet me and I couldn't wipe the grin off my face. Finally, I... Tre Cool was going to be marrying the girl of my dreams.
As she finally reached the front I could take it all in. Her make up was perfect, her hair was perfect (she had changed the colour back to her natural dirty blonde), she was perfect. She kissed my dad on the cheek and said "Thank you Frankie" before she turned to me, tears welling in her eyes.
"Don't cry" I whispered as I grabbed her hand. "You'll set me off"
We held hands the entire time as the priest went through his stuff. Then it came to the time where me and Mattie were to say our special vows to each other. She started first.
"Tre... " she began, taking a deep breath to calm herself and to keep herself from crying for the minute. "Ever since I met you, I've loved you. You were the sunshine on my rainy days, the strawberry sauce on my chocolate ice cream." We both giggled at that. "You were always there when I needed a shoulder to cry on and you have been so supportive and helpful with the twins, and all the commotion that was my family. You are my world, my life, my everything... .I love you Frank Edwin Wright the Third" she finished giggling and crying at the look on my face.
I giggled also but didn't bother wiping the tears from my eyes. "Aww! Look what you made me do" I said motioning to my face. She giggled and I took a breath to start my vows.
"Mattie... .you are also my world, my life and my everything... but you are also my blue eyed angel, a marvelous mother to our beautiful twins, the best friend a man could ever ask for... ... and I think, the best damn person this side of California! You were there for me after the accident where we lost Cassandra, and you gave me hope when I thought the band was going down the toilet... .I love you Matilda Anne Somers... and I can think of nothing better than being your husband"
I think by this stage half the church was crying, men and women alike.
"Can we do the 'I dos' now?" Mattie asked the priest, trying to stop her eye makeup from running down her face, rather unsuccessfully.
"Certainly... do you Mattie; take Tre to be your lawful wedded husband?" she willed herself not to cry for that moment and said. "I do"
"And do you Tre; take Mattie to be your lawful wedded wife?"
"Better believe it... .sorry... .I mean I do" we smiled as the priest continued with his spiel for a minute. We only paid attention when he said "You may kiss the bride"
"C'mere Soldier" she giggled as I advanced on her and lifted her veil. I captured her lips in a kiss and my ears were met with a collective 'aww!' and clapping from the guests.
"Ladies and gentlemen... may I present Mr. and Mrs. Cool" the priest announced as we broke apart and began our walk back down the isle and into the waiting car that would take us to where the reception was going to be held. Funnily enough the car was exactly like the first car I ever had and it was decorated with flowers and cans. It had 'Just Married' written in shaving cream on the back.
We waved at all our guests before getting into the car. "You'll see us very soon sweetie" I said to Amanda as Jason brought us over to her. She was crying her little eyes out. She nodded and said 'ok' but still continued to cry.
We continued to wave to our guests as the car pulled away.
"Well hello there Mrs. Cool" I said pulling her close and kissing her deeply. She giggled.
"Come on... let's get our clothes for the reception together."
"Attention please" Jason said loudly trying to get the attention of the guests. "Time for the speeches" he said looking at me and wiggling his eye brows.
"Ah man" I giggled as he started.
"Now I've known Tre since we were both 21 and I'll have to say that since then he has been a better friend than these two" he said cocking his head towards Billie and Mike. "Through all the times we've gotten high, gotten drunk off our faces, and made the best jokes in the world. I'd like to thank you for being such a good friend dude" he said patting me on the back. "When you got together with Mattie, I thought it wouldn't last, but you sure showed me... .getting married AND giving me a niece and nephew... everyone if you could please raise your glasses in a toast" he said as everyone raised their glasses of an alcoholic beverage. "To Mattie and Tre!" he said.
"To Mattie and Tre!" everyone responded, cheering and taking a drink.
"Ok now I have something to say" everyone waited patiently, expecting me to make a speech. "Bring out the food... I'm hungry" I said whining slightly. Everyone laughed at that and several minutes later the food was being brought to the tables. I thought the kids, who were set up at a table next to ours, had the best food. They had chicken parmigana and salad. We had either a choice of beef and/ or lasagna.
"Can I have some of yours Manda Panda?" Jason asked obviously wishing he could have what the kids were having too.
"Nope... " she said shoving a tomato in her mouth. "The chicken in pyjamash and shalad ish all mine!" they stuck their tongue out at each other for a few seconds before I interrupted.
"Just eat dude... the dessert is better... I promise" I said. It was going to be better. We had the wedding cake which was a mud cake decorated with white icing and had mini replicas of Mattie and me and a drum kit on it. There was also the choice of apple pie and cream or fruit salad and ice cream. The kids once again got what I thought were the best. They got Ice cream with sprinkles and sauce and/ or jelly.
After all the food was done with, Jason took to the microphone again. "If you could all clear the dance floor for a minute, we'll get Mattie and Tre to have their first dance as a married couple" he said as all the couples already on the dance floor moved to the side.
I signaled to Jason to put the music on. The song that began playing wasn't really wedding dance music, but it was our song and it meant the world to us.
So close no matter how far
Couldn't be much more from the heart
Forever trusting who we are
And nothing else matters
"Oh Tre!" she said beginning to tear up again.
"Aw don't cry" I said. "Just come and dance with me" I said grabbing her hand and pulling her much closer.
Never opened myself this way
Life is ours, we live it our way
All these words I don't just say
And nothing else matters
Trust I seek and I find in you
Every day for us something new
Open mind for a different view
And nothing else matters
Never cared for what they do
Never cared for what they know
But I know
I began singing the next part to her softly. "So close no matter how far... Couldn't be much more from the heart... Forever trusting who we are... And nothing else matters" I heard her crying softly and I was pretty certain that the front of my shirt would be soaked through.
Never cared for what they do
Never cared for what they know
But I know
Never opened myself this way
Life is ours, we live it our way
All these words I don't just say
And nothing else matters
Trust I seek and I find in you
Every day for us something new
Open mind for a different view
And nothing else matters
Never cared for what they say
Never cared for games they play
Never cared for what they do
Never cared for what they know
And I know
As the guitar solo took over I span her away from me and returned her and dipped her kissing her romantically. "I love you Mrs. Cool" I whispered to her as I brought her back to stand up. Her reply was nothing more than a kiss. She would have found it hard to start anything anyway.
The song finished and people clapped. "Get your asses on the dance floor people!! We're renting this thing by the hour ya know!" I joked as couples made their way back onto the floor.
"Danshe wif me Uncle Jashon" Amanda demanded, bouncing up and down in front of him.
He picked her up and began twirling around with her on his hip. "Congrats" said to us pausing for a minute and kissing Mattie on the cheek.
A few minutes later the chicken dance song came on. The group knew what to do. Mattie, Billie, Mike, Jason, Jason F, Ronnie, Anna, Adie, Sammy, Emma, Bianca, Amanda, Trent, Joey, Jake and I all began doing the special dance that only our group knew how to do. Everyone else laughed and clapped as we finished.
"Come danshe wif me daddy" Amanda said, tugging on the leg of my pants. Where this kid ever got the dancing gene I'll never know.
"What about mommy and Trent?" I asked, picking her up and beginning to dance around.
"They can come danshe too" she said beckoning Mattie over as well. As a family we danced the nut bush, which is very hard with a three and a half year old in your arms, trust me.
"Here guys" Jason said walking over with the other guys and all the kids to give us something.
"What's this?" I asked taking the smallish package from him.
"It's a wedding present from us all. " I cocked an eyebrow. "Just open it and find out." He said grinning.
I stared at the parcel for a minute or so. "Tre just open it!!" Mattie exclaimed looking over my shoulder.
"Ok fine!" I replied beginning to open it. I opened the small box to reveal: two fully paid return tickets to Europe, concert tickets to see Queen in Madrid, and four fully paid return tickets to Australia (we had become really good friends with Chris and Emma while they were here.) Our mouths dropped open at the same time.
"Whose idea was this?" I managed to get out.
"Well... the tickets to Europe were me Sammy, Adie and Mike's idea. The Queen tickets were Ronnie and Mr. Freeze. And the tickets to Australia were inspired by the twins... .but Jason and Anna paid for them" Billie grinned watching the reactions on our faces.
"Ummm... .thank you" I said not knowing how to react. Amanda helped with that though.
"Jeezzsh daddy... ..you're meantsh to getsh excshited!" she exclaimed from where Jason F was holding her.
"Well sooooooooooooooooorrrrrrryyyyyyyyyy!!!" I said drawing the reply out.
"Sho when are we gonna shee Chrish and Emma and Tyler and Ashleigh?" she said all of a sudden becoming really eager.
"Not just yet Manda Panda" Jason said taking her out of Jason F's arms. "Mommy and daddy have to go on their holiday first. Then they'll come back to get you and Trent, and then you get to go to Australia ok?" She nodded.
Man, Jason could be so good with the kids sometimes. It was a shame him and Anna didn't have any of their own.
"And we'll have lots of fun and Mommy can finally get a tan... " Mattie slapped me at that.
"I'm not that white!!" she pouted.
"No... but your not exactly brown are you?" I asked smirking and hugging her around the waist.
She opened her mouth to say something but nothing came out.
"Exactly" I said as I watched her face contort into a look of fake hurt.
"Aw!! I still love you mommysh!!" Amanda said leaning forward out Jason's arms to hug her mother.
"Good to know someone does" she joked.
*** ***
"Can I take this off yet??" she whined as we pulled up to our destination. Our first stop was Paris and I had organized something very special for us... well her really.
"No" I giggled as she whimpered a bit. "Well I don't want you to see where we are just yet ok?" I said helping her out of the car.
She continued mumbling all the way up to the top of the Eiffel Tower where I had organized something special. We stopped.
"Ok now can I take it off??" she asked as I positioned her to face the sunset.
"Yep" I said smiling.
She pulled off the tie of mine that I had used as a blindfold and could do nothing more than gasp. We were at one of the viewing decks of the Eiffel tower and we had a beautiful view of the sunset over Paris. I smiled as I eased her into a chair.
"Baby its beautiful... " she somehow managed to get out.
"Think of it as my wedding present to you" I said lifting my glass of champagne and smiling.
We went on to enjoy our marvelous dinner and then spend a very interesting first night as a married couple.
I arrived back at about 7. "Hey sweetie" she kissed me.
"Where's Amanda?? I have an ice cream date to take her on" I said giggling and putting my car keys and cell down on the counter.
I smiled. "Last time I checked she was upstairs in her room playing with her Barbie's" she said pointing to the stairs.
"Manda!!" I yelled coming up the stairs and heading towards her room. That was all she needed.
"Daddy!!! You remembered!!!" she said running out of her room and launching herself into my arms.
"Of course I did" I said laughing and tickling her. "I have a question to ask you" I said pulling her away from me slightly.
"Yesh Daddy???" she said looking at me with an adorable smile.
"Is it ok if Uncle Jason comes with us on our ice cream date?" I asked. She nodded frantically.
"YESH!!!!". Don't ask me how she could be that excited, but she was. I mean it was only Jason for heavens sake... but he was her favourite 'uncle' so I guess that explained it.
Besides... I needed to ask Jason to be my best man. Sure I hadn't been friends with him as long as Billie and Mike, but ever since the twins had come along, him and Anna had been really helpful with baby sitting and just helping out when we needed it. I would have to suggest to Mattie to ask Anna to be her Maid of Honour or whatever.
"How bout you get changed and meet me downstairs?" I said. She nodded and I went downstairs to talk to Mattie.
"Hey baby" she said lazily as she flicked through channels on the TV.
"Long day huh??" I asked sitting down next to her and massaging her shoulders a bit.
"Mmmmmhmmmmmmmmm" she agreed.
"Have you chosen you Maid of Honour yet?" I asked turning to face her.
"No why?" she asked.
"Well I'm gonna ask Jason to be my best man... ..you know coz of all the times they've helped us out and stuff... .and I think Anna would be stoked if you asked her to be your Maid of Honour... " I said trailing off letting her think about it.
"We'll it was gonna be either her or Sammy" she looking me straight in the face.
"Billie or Jason for me" I said. "So it's agreed??? I'll ask Jason and you ask Anna?"
"Yep... now get going on your ice cream date boyo!" she said kissing me on the nose and shoving me playfully in the direction of the front door, as the door bell had just rung. I opened the door to reveal Jason standing on the other side.
"Manda!!" I called. "Uncle Jason's here!" seconds later I heard the footsteps thundering towards us and then the scream of 'Uncle Jashon!!'.
"Manda Panda!!!" Jason yelled getting equally excited.
"Come on you two" I said laughing at their stupid-ness. "Let's go"
"Bye Mommy" Amanda said as Jason carried her out the door.
We sat down with our ice cream and I proceeded to go about asking Jason to be my best man.
"Jason dude I have a question to ask you" I said giggling as the spoonful of strawberry ice cream he shoved in his mouth, began to dribble down his chin.
"Sure dude, shoot" he said as he licked his chin.
"Well you know how we've got the wedding coming up... " he nodded. "Well, after all that you've done for us since the twins were born, I wanted to ask you to have the honour of being my best man... ." I trailed off and waited for him to give the answer.
"Aw Tre!! Of course I will man!!" he said after swallowing.
"Good" I said smiling. "Just so you know, Mattie's asking Anna to be her Maid of Honour."
He nodded again. "Does that mean I'm in charge of the buck's party?" he asked wiggling his eyebrows. Amanda saw that and giggled.
"Yes you are... but we can talk about that later when there aren't certain three year olds around" I said cocking my head towards Amanda. She was sitting quite happily eating her chocolate ice cream with sprinkles and strawberry sauce until I said that.
"Hey!!! I'm almosht 4!" she said pouting and holding four fingers up.
Jason and I giggled and went back to our ice cream.
"Jeez look at you" Jason said to Amanda about 15 minutes later. "You've got more ice cream on your face than in your stomach" he said tickling her and beginning to clean her up as I went and got some ice cream to take home to Mattie.
"Yesh... .but it shtill tashted good!" she said grinning and letting Jason clean her off.
We arrived home a while later to find Anna and Mattie sitting on the couch.
"Where's our ice cream??" they pouted.
"Right here' I said holding up the tub that I had brought home. "You didn't think I'd forget did you" I said taking it into the kitchen. Mattie followed me.
"So did you ask her?" I said beginning to spoon some ice cream out for her and Anna.
"Yep... she was more excited than I expected though" she said wrapping her hands around my waist.
"We did the right thing... .hopefully the others wont be too upset." I said cringing at the thought of what the other guys, namely Billie and Mike, would be like.
"Heheh... ..they'll understand" Mattie said unwrapping herself from me and smacking my ass. "Hurry up with the ice cream Soldier" she whispered in my ear before she went back to the lounge room.
"Aw!! MAAATTTTTIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!" I whined finishing with the ice cream and running into the lounge room with it. "Here " I said shoving one plate at Anna and the other at Trent. "Keep them down here" I muttered in Jason's ear as I grabbed Mattie's hand just before she sat down and hauled her ass up to our bedroom. There hadn't been any real 'army' activity for 3 years!!!
I raced into our bedroom and locked every door outta there. "No one's getting in... no one's getting out" I said panting slightly from all the running. We began undressing each other and I had to stand back and admire her for a minute.
"Damn! When did you get so fine?!?!" I said spinning her around to take in every angle. She looked heaps better than she did before the kids. But I guess that's what happens when you're running around after two 3 year olds and between one and five 26 year olds that act like three year olds.
I marveled at her every feature before she interrupted me. "Ummm baby you're drooling... and is there any way that we could speed this up Soldier!" she exclaimed seeing the looked of lust on my face turn into one of hunger.
"Yes Ma'am" I said saluting and taking her over to the bed. We fell backwards onto it and I began kissing her whole body, starting from near her ears and kissing in random patterns all the way down to her toes..
"Sh- Shit!" she exclaimed arcing backwards. I smirked.
"I take it Sergeant Mattie likes that" I said kissing right in between her boobs.
I won't give you all the details, but it was marvelous to say the least.
"What are you doing?" she asked between breaths.
"Calling Jason to get him to put the kids to bed... ... there's no way I'm going anywhere tonight!" I said flipping open my phone and dialing Jason's number.
She grinned widely and kissed my cheek.
"But do we have to??" I asked, whining like Amanda and Trent would if they didn't want to do something.
"Do you want to marry me or not?" she asked looking at me with an eyebrow raised.
"Yes" I replied timidly.
"Well then you and the other guys are coming with us." She concluded not letting me talk again.
Bugger. She never let me argue with her when she was on a mission. Oh well. At least I got to choose what the guys would be wearing.
Mattie's POV
"Awwwwwwwwwww!!! Look at them! They're so adorable" Anna cooed.
All the boys stood in front of us in what I hoped Tre would choose as the attire for the wedding. Each boy from the biggest to the smallest was dressed in black pants, a red shirt and a black one button blazer. Tre and Jason had white flowers in their pockets and the others had red flowers. Each guy also had a pair of black and white converse on their feet. This wedding was not going to be formal by a long shot... it was going to be more along the lines of casual/ dressy.
"What do you reckon?" I asked Tre, going over to him and straightening his flower.
"I think this could be it" he said smiling and kissing me on the nose.
"Our turn now" I giggled watching both his and Jason's faces contort.
"Ah man!" they both whinged.
After many hours and what Tre said was 'a gazillion dresses' later. I had decided what I wanted the girls to wear. I was in a blood red strapless dress that billowed out around me. I had a tiara thingo with red and black flowers and a white veil. Amanda was basically the exact copy of me except her dress had straps and she didn't have a veil. She was going to be throwing red and white flower petals before all the bridesmaids came down. Anna and the other girls were in black strapless dresses in a similar style to mine. It was decided that they would have white flowers in their hair and a red sash around their waist.
"Aw! Look at the lovely themed wedding party" a rather gay sales person said. "Will you be buying these today?"
"Yes we will" Tre said trying not to giggle at how gay this sales person really was.
We bought all our purchases and headed back to the cars.
"Wait! Who's going to give me away??" I asked gasping. "Because obviously my father can't do it. And I'm not letting Bradley do it either." I said getting a touch angry.
"I can get my dad to do it" Mike piped up. "I mean you were like a daughter to him anyways".
"Yeah... " Billie agreed. "I'd say I'd get my dad to do it... but ya know... " he said trailing off.
"I'll have to make a choice" I said furrowing my brow a bit. "But... " I said turning to Tre, Mike and Billie. "If you could ask your brothers, fathers if they would be up for it, I'd appreciate it. "
"Can do!" they all replied cheerfully.
We headed back home and began planning other things like invitations and seating arrangements.
"No Tre we cant invite your dog!!" I said giggling.
"And why the hell not??" he asked wanting me to give a reason.
"Well 1. It died when we were 10 and 2. Think of how decomposed and what not it would be now." I said wrinkling my nose.
"Ewwwwwwwww!!!!" Amanda squealed. "I don't want sit nexsht to a grossh doggy!" she exclaimed also wrinkling her nose.
"Fine!" Tre concluded. "We won't invite Rover then"
"Good choice baby, good choice" I said patting him on the back.
"Why can't we sit your grandma next to us though?" Billie asked motioning to him and Mike.
"Think about it Billie" I said cocking an eyebrow and giving him a second to think. When he came up with nothing I added. "After she caught us in your basement smoking pot... she nearly killed you!" then he got it.
"Oh yeah!!"
"You dumbass!" Jason said to him making sure that there were no kids around first. "Even I knew that's why her grandma doesn't like you!!! And I wasn't even there on the day!!"
"Good times" Tre said, getting a far away look in his eyes and reminiscing.
Billie was about to retaliate, but a look from me and something mouthed from Adie made him stop in his tracks. It was agreed that we would have a few tables for family and close friends and then a few other tables for acquaintances.
*A few months later, the day of the wedding*
Still Mattie's POV
"Tre get out!!" Anna yelled exasperated. "Your not meant to see her until later"" she yelled through the door as she slammed it shut, narrowly missing Tre's fingers.
"I'd like my husband-to-be, to have ALL of his fingers when I marry him thanks Anna" I giggled as I watched the scene from the mirror.
We were getting ready in my room and all the boys were trying to have a look. Anna locked the bedroom door and leant back on it, wiping the imaginary sweat from her brow.
"He's gonna end up fu... freaking pouncing on you later, you know that right?" she said, realizing that Amanda was still in the room.
"That's why we are having a honey moon Anna my dear" I said laughing.
We continued to get ready and about an hour and a half later we were heading off to the church.
"I'm soooo nervous......" I said to Anna, starting to bite at a piece of skin on my finger.
She slapped my hand away. "I was exactly like this before I married Jason remember?" she said, trying to get me to think of something else. I did remember. She was a total nervous wreck.
I took a deep breath and smiled at all the other girls sitting in the limo with me. I was gonna be fine... ... so long as I didn't cry or puke.
*at the church*
Tre's POV
"Fuck, fuck, fuck... FUCK!" I muttered to no one in particular over and over again. Why was I so nervous? I mean I managed to propose to her without too many nerves. What was so different about this?
Jason and the other guys came up to me. "You alright buddy" Billie asked walking over and passing Trent to me.
I nodded. "I'll be fine" I said brushing Trent's light brown hair off his face. "Once everyone starts arriving and Mattie actually gets here" I said putting Trent down and beginning to pace backwards and forwards.
"Dude relax" Jason laughing stopping me from pacing any more. "If you don't calm down you'll end up having an attack" he said looking me in the eyes to try and calm me a bit.
He was right. I couldn't afford to have an attack now. I took several deep breaths and my breathing started to return to its natural state.
"Dude are you calmer now?" Jason I asked. I nodded. "Good, because the music has just started and the girls are on there way"
This is what began running through my mind as I straightened myself out and stood to the side of the altar.
'shit shit shit shit shit shit shit shit shit shit shit shit shit!'
Amanda came first scattering her red and white rose petals on the way. Her blonde hair was slightly curly and she reminded me exactly of her mother. Trent was walking next to his sister carrying a red pillow that had the two rings on it.
Adie, Sammy and Anna came next and I swear to god that I saw drool come out of Billie, Mike and Jason's mouth's. They took there places on the opposite side of the altar to us, and then everyone stood up... this was it... it was now or never.
Mattie appeared in the doorway. If Jason wasn't standing next to me I would have fallen over then and there. She was absolutely breathtaking. It had been decided that my dad would be walking her down the isle. She was closer to him anyway. She began her slow walk down to meet me and I couldn't wipe the grin off my face. Finally, I... Tre Cool was going to be marrying the girl of my dreams.
As she finally reached the front I could take it all in. Her make up was perfect, her hair was perfect (she had changed the colour back to her natural dirty blonde), she was perfect. She kissed my dad on the cheek and said "Thank you Frankie" before she turned to me, tears welling in her eyes.
"Don't cry" I whispered as I grabbed her hand. "You'll set me off"
We held hands the entire time as the priest went through his stuff. Then it came to the time where me and Mattie were to say our special vows to each other. She started first.
"Tre... " she began, taking a deep breath to calm herself and to keep herself from crying for the minute. "Ever since I met you, I've loved you. You were the sunshine on my rainy days, the strawberry sauce on my chocolate ice cream." We both giggled at that. "You were always there when I needed a shoulder to cry on and you have been so supportive and helpful with the twins, and all the commotion that was my family. You are my world, my life, my everything... .I love you Frank Edwin Wright the Third" she finished giggling and crying at the look on my face.
I giggled also but didn't bother wiping the tears from my eyes. "Aww! Look what you made me do" I said motioning to my face. She giggled and I took a breath to start my vows.
"Mattie... .you are also my world, my life and my everything... but you are also my blue eyed angel, a marvelous mother to our beautiful twins, the best friend a man could ever ask for... ... and I think, the best damn person this side of California! You were there for me after the accident where we lost Cassandra, and you gave me hope when I thought the band was going down the toilet... .I love you Matilda Anne Somers... and I can think of nothing better than being your husband"
I think by this stage half the church was crying, men and women alike.
"Can we do the 'I dos' now?" Mattie asked the priest, trying to stop her eye makeup from running down her face, rather unsuccessfully.
"Certainly... do you Mattie; take Tre to be your lawful wedded husband?" she willed herself not to cry for that moment and said. "I do"
"And do you Tre; take Mattie to be your lawful wedded wife?"
"Better believe it... .sorry... .I mean I do" we smiled as the priest continued with his spiel for a minute. We only paid attention when he said "You may kiss the bride"
"C'mere Soldier" she giggled as I advanced on her and lifted her veil. I captured her lips in a kiss and my ears were met with a collective 'aww!' and clapping from the guests.
"Ladies and gentlemen... may I present Mr. and Mrs. Cool" the priest announced as we broke apart and began our walk back down the isle and into the waiting car that would take us to where the reception was going to be held. Funnily enough the car was exactly like the first car I ever had and it was decorated with flowers and cans. It had 'Just Married' written in shaving cream on the back.
We waved at all our guests before getting into the car. "You'll see us very soon sweetie" I said to Amanda as Jason brought us over to her. She was crying her little eyes out. She nodded and said 'ok' but still continued to cry.
We continued to wave to our guests as the car pulled away.
"Well hello there Mrs. Cool" I said pulling her close and kissing her deeply. She giggled.
"Come on... let's get our clothes for the reception together."
"Attention please" Jason said loudly trying to get the attention of the guests. "Time for the speeches" he said looking at me and wiggling his eye brows.
"Ah man" I giggled as he started.
"Now I've known Tre since we were both 21 and I'll have to say that since then he has been a better friend than these two" he said cocking his head towards Billie and Mike. "Through all the times we've gotten high, gotten drunk off our faces, and made the best jokes in the world. I'd like to thank you for being such a good friend dude" he said patting me on the back. "When you got together with Mattie, I thought it wouldn't last, but you sure showed me... .getting married AND giving me a niece and nephew... everyone if you could please raise your glasses in a toast" he said as everyone raised their glasses of an alcoholic beverage. "To Mattie and Tre!" he said.
"To Mattie and Tre!" everyone responded, cheering and taking a drink.
"Ok now I have something to say" everyone waited patiently, expecting me to make a speech. "Bring out the food... I'm hungry" I said whining slightly. Everyone laughed at that and several minutes later the food was being brought to the tables. I thought the kids, who were set up at a table next to ours, had the best food. They had chicken parmigana and salad. We had either a choice of beef and/ or lasagna.
"Can I have some of yours Manda Panda?" Jason asked obviously wishing he could have what the kids were having too.
"Nope... " she said shoving a tomato in her mouth. "The chicken in pyjamash and shalad ish all mine!" they stuck their tongue out at each other for a few seconds before I interrupted.
"Just eat dude... the dessert is better... I promise" I said. It was going to be better. We had the wedding cake which was a mud cake decorated with white icing and had mini replicas of Mattie and me and a drum kit on it. There was also the choice of apple pie and cream or fruit salad and ice cream. The kids once again got what I thought were the best. They got Ice cream with sprinkles and sauce and/ or jelly.
After all the food was done with, Jason took to the microphone again. "If you could all clear the dance floor for a minute, we'll get Mattie and Tre to have their first dance as a married couple" he said as all the couples already on the dance floor moved to the side.
I signaled to Jason to put the music on. The song that began playing wasn't really wedding dance music, but it was our song and it meant the world to us.
So close no matter how far
Couldn't be much more from the heart
Forever trusting who we are
And nothing else matters
"Oh Tre!" she said beginning to tear up again.
"Aw don't cry" I said. "Just come and dance with me" I said grabbing her hand and pulling her much closer.
Never opened myself this way
Life is ours, we live it our way
All these words I don't just say
And nothing else matters
Trust I seek and I find in you
Every day for us something new
Open mind for a different view
And nothing else matters
Never cared for what they do
Never cared for what they know
But I know
I began singing the next part to her softly. "So close no matter how far... Couldn't be much more from the heart... Forever trusting who we are... And nothing else matters" I heard her crying softly and I was pretty certain that the front of my shirt would be soaked through.
Never cared for what they do
Never cared for what they know
But I know
Never opened myself this way
Life is ours, we live it our way
All these words I don't just say
And nothing else matters
Trust I seek and I find in you
Every day for us something new
Open mind for a different view
And nothing else matters
Never cared for what they say
Never cared for games they play
Never cared for what they do
Never cared for what they know
And I know
As the guitar solo took over I span her away from me and returned her and dipped her kissing her romantically. "I love you Mrs. Cool" I whispered to her as I brought her back to stand up. Her reply was nothing more than a kiss. She would have found it hard to start anything anyway.
The song finished and people clapped. "Get your asses on the dance floor people!! We're renting this thing by the hour ya know!" I joked as couples made their way back onto the floor.
"Danshe wif me Uncle Jashon" Amanda demanded, bouncing up and down in front of him.
He picked her up and began twirling around with her on his hip. "Congrats" said to us pausing for a minute and kissing Mattie on the cheek.
A few minutes later the chicken dance song came on. The group knew what to do. Mattie, Billie, Mike, Jason, Jason F, Ronnie, Anna, Adie, Sammy, Emma, Bianca, Amanda, Trent, Joey, Jake and I all began doing the special dance that only our group knew how to do. Everyone else laughed and clapped as we finished.
"Come danshe wif me daddy" Amanda said, tugging on the leg of my pants. Where this kid ever got the dancing gene I'll never know.
"What about mommy and Trent?" I asked, picking her up and beginning to dance around.
"They can come danshe too" she said beckoning Mattie over as well. As a family we danced the nut bush, which is very hard with a three and a half year old in your arms, trust me.
"Here guys" Jason said walking over with the other guys and all the kids to give us something.
"What's this?" I asked taking the smallish package from him.
"It's a wedding present from us all. " I cocked an eyebrow. "Just open it and find out." He said grinning.
I stared at the parcel for a minute or so. "Tre just open it!!" Mattie exclaimed looking over my shoulder.
"Ok fine!" I replied beginning to open it. I opened the small box to reveal: two fully paid return tickets to Europe, concert tickets to see Queen in Madrid, and four fully paid return tickets to Australia (we had become really good friends with Chris and Emma while they were here.) Our mouths dropped open at the same time.
"Whose idea was this?" I managed to get out.
"Well... the tickets to Europe were me Sammy, Adie and Mike's idea. The Queen tickets were Ronnie and Mr. Freeze. And the tickets to Australia were inspired by the twins... .but Jason and Anna paid for them" Billie grinned watching the reactions on our faces.
"Ummm... .thank you" I said not knowing how to react. Amanda helped with that though.
"Jeezzsh daddy... ..you're meantsh to getsh excshited!" she exclaimed from where Jason F was holding her.
"Well sooooooooooooooooorrrrrrryyyyyyyyyy!!!" I said drawing the reply out.
"Sho when are we gonna shee Chrish and Emma and Tyler and Ashleigh?" she said all of a sudden becoming really eager.
"Not just yet Manda Panda" Jason said taking her out of Jason F's arms. "Mommy and daddy have to go on their holiday first. Then they'll come back to get you and Trent, and then you get to go to Australia ok?" She nodded.
Man, Jason could be so good with the kids sometimes. It was a shame him and Anna didn't have any of their own.
"And we'll have lots of fun and Mommy can finally get a tan... " Mattie slapped me at that.
"I'm not that white!!" she pouted.
"No... but your not exactly brown are you?" I asked smirking and hugging her around the waist.
She opened her mouth to say something but nothing came out.
"Exactly" I said as I watched her face contort into a look of fake hurt.
"Aw!! I still love you mommysh!!" Amanda said leaning forward out Jason's arms to hug her mother.
"Good to know someone does" she joked.
*** ***
"Can I take this off yet??" she whined as we pulled up to our destination. Our first stop was Paris and I had organized something very special for us... well her really.
"No" I giggled as she whimpered a bit. "Well I don't want you to see where we are just yet ok?" I said helping her out of the car.
She continued mumbling all the way up to the top of the Eiffel Tower where I had organized something special. We stopped.
"Ok now can I take it off??" she asked as I positioned her to face the sunset.
"Yep" I said smiling.
She pulled off the tie of mine that I had used as a blindfold and could do nothing more than gasp. We were at one of the viewing decks of the Eiffel tower and we had a beautiful view of the sunset over Paris. I smiled as I eased her into a chair.
"Baby its beautiful... " she somehow managed to get out.
"Think of it as my wedding present to you" I said lifting my glass of champagne and smiling.
We went on to enjoy our marvelous dinner and then spend a very interesting first night as a married couple.
