*5 years later*

So to catch you up to speed, Cass is an amazing teenager now. Already he's studying college courses in technology, math, and sciences. He is graduating high school this year, HIGH SCHOOL. The kid is 13 and just blows us away at everything he's able to do. Mark and Mollie are very proud and he now calls them mum and dad.

'The hearts in my eyes every time I hear that .....AW!'

John and I, we're still strong as ever and have been planning our wedding actually. We waited till some time (about 4 years) after his promotion to inform the office of our relationship and then a few months for our engagement.

While we waited for a response on the matter, everyone looked at each other and we ended up getting the sound of crickets first before some people spoke up.

Responses were a mix of :

"This is new?"

"Yeah, we know."

"Okay, tell me something we didn't know."

"It was obvious to all of us."

This was the general consensus but when I put on my engagement ring finally, that's when we got a more enthusiastic response.

"OH! YEAH!"

"Congratulations!"

"Set a date yet?"

...Me and him.....

"Yes, that's why we're telling you, come by either office of ours to get your invite and RSVP card."

'I swear sometimes...'

...

Later this afternoon, I'm sitting in my office checking over some files that could not leave the building for an upcoming intelligence gathering operation I would be doing. I hear a knock and the Head Director comes in and abruptly handed me some more files.

"Here's more information on the Erlking and an actual untouched copy of the agreement between the Fae Courts and the U.N.  I also got you information on every known elderly fairy in France and the area around Omaha beach according to the information the Fae courts would release to us."

My eyes blink slowly up at him.

"Thank you Head Director Sir, I really do appreciate you doing this for me." Sincerely as I can be, who knows what strings he had to pull to get this information.

"Thank you for your concern Head Director Lewis Sir, but if I can, yes. Yes, I will give it all up to have a normal life. I think the past 76 years of dedicated service to our nation gives me some lee way to retire if I am able to do so. If not, I'll be here long after you're dead and gone. " I smile that knowing smile of why he had asked me this. It only meant more successful missions under his department for his own laurels.

"Sorry, If I've offended you Agent Sin. I hope that information helps. Enjoy the rest of your day." He gets up to walk out and I call him back.

"Sorry sir, but here's your invite and RSVP." I smile standing to hand it to him.

Taken aback from my invitation offer, his eyes soften and his smile warms as he takes the invite from me.

"Thank you agent, Sin."

....

Later that night at home, John and I are going over where we want to honeymoon. Our plans are getting closer to the wire  and we have a mission before our wedding and then another soon after the honeymoon. The one before the wedding we will be in separate countries, but after we'll be doing a bigger operation that requires a few teams to work together which includes ours.

"So Maldives? Bali? We can go island hopping in the Bahamas? Or maybe you want to go to Norway, that'd be different." I say looking at the travel sites and the places I'd saved that I would want to visit.

John looks at me, "Norway? That's sounds like it would be perfect to see how I can get your voice to bounce off those mountain tops." He stretched his arms and wrapped them around me.

I scoff, "Please, You want to make me start an avalanche on top of a mountain on our honeymoon. You're such a pervert." I push his him away gently.

"Oh? I'm the pervert now?" He laughed. His phone starts ringing, "Hello, Pervert speaking? Oh Hey Mom, no...no...no.. It's an inside joke between me and Mary, yes mom. Yes, I was just joking. Yes, Hold on." He pulls the phone from his ear, "Mom wants to know what time we're going to get fitted for our clothes tomorrow?"

"The appointments at 10 tomorrow, I can pick her up if she would like? It's only going to be her, Moll, Sasha and Grace there."

"Okay, you heard that mom? YES, please pick her up, thank you." He looks at me and points at the phone. "Yes, mom. She will. What?...." He looks at me and starts to walk off, "No of course mom, not until the wedding day. It's only a dress mom."

I just laugh as he handles her. She keeps thinking he'll steal a peek of me in my dress before the wedding since he'll be getting fitted at the same place.

He comes back into the room tossing the phone on the bed. "So where are we going on our honeymoon?" he runs his hands through his hair looking slightly flustered.

"Norway." I said smirking, "I'd hate to not satisfy your curiosity, Mr. Lacroix." I purr leaning over on the couch that we had been sitting at. "Care for some practice now?"

He looks up at the ceiling sighing before,

"Don't mind if I do."

Suddenly jumping onto the couch, startling me, he roars playfully.

"Roar!"

"AAYYYEEEE!" Squealing like a little girl, I raise my hands protectively in front of me.

  I scramble off the coach and he chases me playfully around the house slowly catching up to me before he captures me and 'punishes' me for running away.

....

The next day at the bridal salon, I made sure that Moll, and two of my closest work friends Grace and Sasha's dresses were tailored to their liking. John's Mom, Cathy, was already done and happy with hers. She was patiently waiting to see what my dress looked like. While the girls were going over a few fit issues with the tailor, Cathy and I discussed the honeymoon plans.

"Yes we're going to visit Norway. It's different and it's beautiful there. We can go hiking or a day cruise on the fjords. Everyone speaks a little English there so we don't need to speak Norwegian to get around. I'd like to go see Reine there, it looks so majestic." I inform his mom, Cathy, while she just smiles and nods.

"Well that is different. Most people want to go somewhere warm and tropical for their honeymoon. I like that though, not doing things like everyone else." She responds as the girls come out and she gets excited. "Oh it's your turn now. I'm so excited."

I blush and go back with the tailor and get changed.

'Calm down, Mary. It's just a dress.'

My heart beating rapidly was making my face flush, and my palms feel sweaty as I got ready to try it on.

Before we head out to show everyone, we check for any minor adjusting after the last fitting, that may be needed. It fits perfectly and I can hardly wait for the day now. She grabs a veil for me to get the full effect from them when I walk out.

The reaction from all of them was what I expected. The 'oohhs' and 'ahhs' from my party. Even the other employees and brides gave me smiles and wow expression. I was blushing from the compliments and feeling ever so much the term of a "blushing bride" albeit far from one.

Turning to look into the mirror with the veil, I had to stop myself from my jaw going slack.

'I'm beautiful.'

I blinked a few times, trying to fight back tears that threatened at how beautiful I felt.

'John is going to faint when he sees me in this.'

It was a fit and flare dress with a floral laced illusion neckline. The lace that covered the bodice, beautifully sculpted my curves and accented  the flare down the cathedral train with lace cut outs. Everyone loved it with the simple veil that had very small crystals attached to it making it sparkle ever so lightly.

*Author pulls back edge of 4th Wall* (For those who'd like to see which dress inspired the look, check out Martin Thornburg Danielle) *I'm just going to put this wall back up*

Mollie was wiping tears that leaked out the corners of her eyes. "Oh Mary, I wish Gran could a seen this. You're radiant."

This niece of mine was going to make me start to cry.

"Thank you."

We finished the fitting and I got changed. Happily, I took my dress home since it was finished. Cathy could not stop telling John how pretty I was and how it would be a miracle if he'd be able to talk at all.

We both laughed at that.

"You know mom, I think she makes me speechless all time."

Here comes those anime eyes again.....

"Oh you two. Now be careful on your work trip next week. Do not worry about a thing between Moll and I, we'll make sure everything is ready for your big day when you get back." She reassured us as we dropped her back home and headed home to pack our own bags.