1.03 No Old Fashioned Stuff

Previously...

Amelia realizes that her new boss is a hunky-hunk. After a dinner party at his place, they both profess having feelings for one another and go back into the apartment together. A misunderstanding makes Amelia think that Mort is using her, so she avoids him. Eventually they are both on the same page and back together - they even decide to move in together, and Amelia finds herself certain that Mort is about to propose!

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It was dark, and damp, and quite cold. The old bridge was a bit slippery under Amelia's rather high heels, and she tensed up as Mort led her onto it. Why hadn't he told her to put on some more comfortable shoes? They stopped at the middle of the bridge and Mort pulled Amelia into a close embrace that gave her warmth and some steadying that eased her considerably.

“What are we doing here?” She asked curiously. She certainly had her suspicions, but this wasn't at all what she had imagined a proposal by Mort to be like, so she started to doubt herself. Mort stared silently at the landscape for a moment before looking down at his girlfriend.

“Amelia, I love you.” She could feel a tingle in her tummy. This was it.

“I love you too.” She answered, intensely looking into his eyes, trying to read them.

“Then marry me.” The words were so blunt and over so quickly that Amelia blinked confusedly. Had she imagined them? No, she would never have imagined him proposing on his feet. Why wasn't he on one knee?

“Don't I get a ring?”

“If you say “yes”, you do.” Mort said warmly, with a smile.

“I thought you were the old fashioned type?”

“With you, one just can't be old fashioned. Admit it, you would be annoyed if you couldn't choose the ring for yourself.”

“Yeah... I guess you're right. I would like to pick it out myself.”

“Is that a “yes”?”

“Mhm.”

“It's an “mhm”?”

“It's a “yes”.” Amelia said with just a little irritation, but only because she was shy to have to say it out loud. Mort smiled calmly and held her tight. He had not anticipated any other answer.

The next day as Amelia was on her way to the grocery store, she called her mother with the good news. It felt good to have a reason to call her, usually it was the other way around and they never had anything to talk about other than the weather and the local news. But this conversation was full of exclamations and genuine joy.

Mort and Amelia had already set the date for the wedding and all that was left before the preparations could begin was to make sure that the most important guests could actually come. Olivia Sterling was thrilled, and assured her daughter that both mother and father of the bride would be there.

“I'm so happy for you, give my love and congratulations to Mort!” Olivia said before they hung up. Amelia beamed all the way to the store and back. Reluctantly she had to admit to herself that life did have more precious things to offer besides work.

The next person to be told about the wedding was Laura, Amelia's now closest friend. Even though they saw each other every day at work and talked on the phone almost as often, Amelia was hesitant to tell her about the wedding plans. Even though she was engaged to Donald McGreggor, she had been head over heels in love with Mort for a long time, that much Amelia had gathered over the months. However, it turned out her fears were unwarranted. Laura was beside herself and begged to be a brides maid.

“I'm sorry Laura, but we've already decided that Tilly will be the only brides maid. This day will be almost as much about her as about me and Mort. We'll become a family for real.” The last words glowed and shone in Amelia's mind. She had never hoped or looked for a family, but now the thought warmed her heart. Since moving to Riverblossom Falls and meeting Mort, she had come to grips with the fact that she was a workaholic, but she was fine with that. It suited her perfectly. Now, she only hoped that having a family wouldn't interfere. “I'm sure it won't, though,” she thought to herself, that evening as she lay in bed watching TV, “if anyone understands, it's Mort.”

The big day approached rapidly. Even though the wedding was to be a small one with only a few guests and a small dinner afterward, planning was a nightmare. Amelia had taken it upon herself to do it, but the closer they got to The Day, the more she regretted the decision. It was only two days before the wedding date that Amelia managed to get a look at the little church where it would all take place.

“It's cute.” She thought and went inside. Although there seemed to be flowers virtually everywhere she looked, Amelia was pleased with Mort's choice. This had been the only thing that he had been involved with and he had done a pretty good job.
 

“Oh geez, this really is happening.” Amelia thought to herself as she stood alone in front of the bathroom mirror.

Just outside she could hear the guests arriving and chatting away, waiting for the church doors to be opened. She looked at herself one last time, giving the final touches to her lips and eyelashes.

She could hear the people shuffle into the church. Suddenly it all got quiet. And then the organ started playing. “This is it.”

Outside the church, Mort stood waiting for her.

They had decided that they would walk in together. Just as he had said, getting away with something old fashioned wasn't easy with Amelia. Being given away by her father to another man was not Amelia's style, even when it was only symbolic. She was her own woman and would go into the church next to her husband, as the decision was theirs and no one else's.

“Let's go.” Mort said and took her by the hand.

The walk down the aisle was like a blur to Amelia afterward. She looked around and saw the people she and Mort loved. As they stopped by the large window, Amelia looked around, humbled.

There was her mother and her father at the front row, smiling happily.

On the other side of the aisle sat Laura. Dear Laura, she looked genuinely happy too. And right next to Amelia appeared her soon to be step daughter. Tilly had begged to wear a pale blue dress for the wedding and of course had gotten her wish granted. She seemed happiest of all.

“You look amazing.” She mouthed at Amelia.

There was no priest, just Mort and Amelia thanking the guests for being there after which they said their vows.

“Amelia Sterling."

"You are the love of my life and I thank the Maker every day that I found you. I will care for and treasure you just as I do my beautiful Tilly, and you will both be what keeps me young.” He winked at Amelia and she gave a little laugh. The age difference between them was a comfortable running joke by this time. “The rest of my days will be devoted to keeping you happy. I am yours.” Mort nodded courteously at his fiance and brushed away a tear from the corner of his eye.

“Mort Termine.” Amelia commenced.

“I came to this town and to this new job thinking that all I would do was work hard, with the aspiration to be the CEO of the company one day. Then I met the CEO. You. And all my priorities changed. I'm proud to call you, and Tilly, my family from this day on, and I vow that I will always do my best to keep you happy and safe. I love you both.” She took Tilly's hand and pulled her into a three-way-hug. Tilly had tears in her eyes. They had both put her into their vows and she was touched and honored beyond words. She gave her father the wedding rings, and took a step back.

“I love you and I will always love you.” Mort said and slipped the ring onto Amelia's finger. She repeated the words and slipped the other ring onto Mort's finger.

A kiss and huge cheer ended the ceremony and soon the entire party had moved out into the garden where the food had just been placed by the caterers.

After they were all full of food, Mort and Amelia had their first dance as a married couple.

Everyone looked on in awe. What a gorgeous couple they made. He, distinguished and experienced and she, brimming with youth and potential. Soon however, the wedding guests tired of looking on and joined in. The place was full of the sound of music mingled with happy talk and laughter, and the clicks of heels against the flagstones.

“My beautiful daughter.” Olivia Sterling slurred as she managed to get a moment of the busy bride's time.

“My beautiful daughter, I can't believe that you are married. It seems like only yesterday you were crawling around, looking for something to hold onto so you could practice standing and walking. You have always been focused on advancing. And here you are, all settled down and happy. I can't believe it.” There were tears in her eyes. Amelia sighed with a smile.

“Mom, you've had a bit too much to drink. Sit down for a bit, you will break those old bones if you don't stop dancing.”

“Oh, I will have you remember that your husband's bones are almost as old as mine!” She retorted indignantly. “And I'm sure they can tumble around too when they want to.” Olivia winked suggestively at her daughter, who quickly found a chair to put her embarrassing mother in. As Amelia sat down next to Mort, with a sigh, he gave her a side glance and smiled.

“I hope you don't regret marrying these “old bones”?” Amelia let out a laugh.

“Of course not! I love your old bones...” She grabbed his tie and pulled him into a lusty kiss. As they came up for air, Mort looked around and said:

“We should probably wrap this up, it's getting late. And we have a plane to catch.”

The next afternoon, two lovebirds and their grown up daughter looked out of their air plane windows and marveled at the sight beneath.

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Sorry about this episode being kinda crappy. I really just needed to get passed the wedding, didn't have many pictures or storyline stuff prior to it. No babies on my radar yet, but I sure hope there will be some eventually, or this legacy will come to an abrupt and unsatisfying end. xD Today's question: What do you think of Tilly? Did she age up well?

/Alexandra 

After the ceremony, everyone was in such a rush to get outside, that they locked Mort inside the church. :S (He couldn't get out for a good hour or two.)

Aaah! Line dancing wedding crashers!

Flying bride?

And of course some wedding snaps. One of the happy couple.

And one with the happy daughter/step daughter.