"Of course, dear. Cook has prepared a full five course meal," Lila sighed.
Edward looked over the formal dining room. The long table held plates and the finest silverware. An ivory tablecloth covered the table, and burgundy red napkins sat at every place setting. Fine crystal water goblets sat beside the china. "Everything has to be perfect."
Lila took Edward's hand. "I think it is wonderful that you are doing this for Emily."
Edward smiled. "She's my granddaughter, and I love her, no matter what the circumstances of the marriage may be."
"And I know Emily appreciates it, dear," Lila said.
"She deserves nothing less than a grand Quartermaine wedding," Edward said emphatically.
*-*-*-*-*-*
"I am so glad to be off my feet," Emily sighed as she looked out the window at the world passing by.
"I'm sorry. I know it's difficult for you to stand that long," Sly said as he drove.
"Well, I'm only getting married once, so it will be worth it," Emily smiled.
Sly slowed down as he approached an intersection. "You know, I'm glad that your family is keeping this rehearsal dinner low key tonight."
"Me too, especially considering all of the pomp and circumstance of the actual wedding." She shifted in her seat to a more comfortable position. "What do you think Liz and Scott will talk about tomorrow?"
Sly laughed as he ran his hands along the T-Bird's smooth steering wheel. "They're not your most likely Best Man-Maid of Honor combination." Sly did his best Scott imitation. "So Elizabeth, where do you get your hair cut? I've got this great barber…"
Emily giggled. "Sly, you're bad."
"You know it, baby," he winked.
Emily looked over the interior of the car appreciatively. "Thanks for picking me up in this car. I just can't climb into your truck anymore."
"It's a special night. Why not ride in style?" He made the last turn onto the Quartermaines' street.
"Our last night of freedom?" Emily suggested.
"Come on, you know I didn't mean it that way," Sly said as he started to pull up the massive circular driveway.
"Me neither." She sighed. "Hey, do you think if we keep cracking jokes like this, we'll be able to ignore how serious tomorrow is?" Emily asked.
Sly swallowed as he pulled the car to a stop. He put it into park and shut it off before facing Emily. "I guess you're right."
She rested a hand in front of her rounded stomach. "I guess it really hit me when the priest was going over the vows. This is major."
"It is a little scary," Sly admitted.
"Do you think we're making a mistake? Are we rushing into this?" Emily said softly, looking into Sly's eyes.
Sly looked at her curiously. "I don't think so. Do you?"
Emily ran a hand through her hair. "No. It's just- I don't know what I feel right now. I'm so nervous about tomorrow. I can't believe that my family is making such a big production about this. There have to be a million people on the guest list…" Her rambling was quickly cut off by a warm kiss from Sly. She kissed him back for a moment, then pulled away laughing. "You sure know how to keep me quiet."
Sly gave Emily his small half grin that always made her melt. "It's called cold feet, Emily. Don't worry about it. It happens to everyone." He moved closer. "Why don't we think happier thoughts? What's your favorite part of the ceremony?"
She smiled. "I think it's when you take my hand in yours." She then took his hand. "Like this." She looked deeply into his eyes. "And I know that these are the hands that will dry all of my tears, the hands that I'll reach out to cling to in the night, the hands that will hold our baby, the hands that will love and protect me."
Sly looked down. Their blood is on your hands. He blinked rapidly as he remembered his grandfather's words from the dream. He had not been able to get that dream out of his mind, no matter how hard he tried. He felt his heart speed with panic, so he silently reprimanded himself. Calm down, Sly, he thought. It was only a dream.
"And then you slip the ring on my finger, a visible reminder of our love and fidelity. So I think that's my favorite part," Emily finished.
Sly looked into Emily's warm brown eyes and felt a little better. You could never hurt her. You love her, he silently thought. He didn't say anything.
Finally, Emily spoke up. "So, are you going to leave me in suspense?"
"Huh?" Sly asked, drawn out of his thoughts.
"What's your favorite part of the ceremony?" Emily smiled.
He leaned close to her. "Oh, that's easy. It's when it's time to kiss the bride." He kissed her softly on the mouth. "Like this." He kissed her again. "And this." Another kiss.
After several minutes of kissing, Emily reluctantly pulled away. "I think this make out session's going to have to wait for the honeymoon," she grinned. "Our families are expecting us."
Sly groaned. "Ok, ok." He got out of the car, then crossed and opened Emily's door. He whispered into her ear. "Tomorrow can't come soon enough."
*-*-*-*-*-*
Jenny and Paul stood stiffly in the Quartermaine living room. Alan and Monica were speaking to AJ and Lila, and Edward was rushing back and forth between the living room and the dining room, harassing Reginald at every turn.
Jenny leaned over to Paul. "This is too much like déjà vu."
"I can't believe that we actually used to live here," Paul whispered.
"Of course, that was when you were my step-father-in-law," she teased.
Paul chuckled. "How insane was that time in our lives?"
"Very. But we made it through, and that's all that matters." She took his hand. "Maybe you can talk to Lila later on and try to get some information out of her about Tracy's whereabouts."
"Do you think my son would even know who I am anymore if I did find them?" Paul asked sadly.
"Dillon is your child, Paul. Of course he'll remember you, at least on some level," Jenny said sincerely.
Just then, Ned and Alexis walked into the room. Ned spotted the couple and moved over to greet them. "Jenny, Paul, it's nice to see you again," he said somewhat formally.
"And you too, Ned," Jenny said with an equally formal tone.
"Have you met my fiancée, Alexis Davis?" he asked.
"Paul and I have consulted on a few local cases before, but Jenny, I don't think I've had the pleasure," she said, extending her hand.
Jenny shook Alexis' hand and smiled at her. "So you're going to be the next Mrs. Ned Ashton. You should give me a call sometime. We could compare notes."
Both Ned and Paul had cross looks on their faces, but Alexis smiled. She knew Jenny was just trying to stick it to Ned. "Oh really?"
"Yeah, he's an expert Lamaze coach. He and Lois helped me deliver Paul Jr."
"Don't remind me," Paul muttered. Jenny softly elbowed him in the ribs.
"Let's not go into that one," Ned said, quickly leading Alexis away. "It was nice to see you both. Jenny, you're charming as always."
Jenny gave him a sickly sweet smile as they walked away, then she turned to Paul. "Thank God Sly and Emily got their own apartment. I don't want him near these people."
Alexis whispered to Ned. "Lamaze coach?"
Ned rolled his eyes. "It was all a case of mistaken identity…"
*-*-*-*-*-*
Everyone was finishing their chilled apricot soup about an hour later at the expansive dining room table. Sly and Emily were seated at one end of the table, Jenny and Paul on his left, and Alan and Monica at her right. Alexis and Ned were to Paul's left, and AJ sat next to his mother. Edward and Lila sat at the other end.
Sly was staring at his silverware, trying to figure out what utensil came next when Edward spoke up. "So, Sylvester, how is the job down at my warehouse?"
Sly paused for a moment as he very carefully tried to select his words. "It's fine, sir," he said finally.
"I made sure to put you with one of the best men in the company, James Newhouse. He's an effective leader, strong and decisive."
Sly slightly grimaced at the name of his boss. He's also a major league jerk, he thought.
"Of course, I had to pull a few strings, but I think it's important for the father of Emily's child to have a full-time job," Edward said, proud of himself.
"Sly is quite capable of finding a job, Edward," Jenny said quickly.
"Without a college degree? Hardly. You know, I play golf with the president of Port Charles University. I could get him to look over Sylvester's grades, get him into the Business program there," Edward suggested.
"Edward," Monica said, shooting him a look.
"If Sly wants to go to school, he doesn't need your help, Grandfather," Emily said calmly. She hated when Edward tried to boss everyone around, and she wasn't about to stand for it the night before her wedding.
Lila attempted to change the subject. "Paul, dear, how is your practice?"
"Oh, we're doing fine. We are the council for a few large companies around town," he said as the help cleared the plates.
"He's not as successful as Alexis, though," Ned grinned.
"Maybe that's because he doesn't represent mobsters," Jenny said as she looked at Ned.
"I prefer to refer to him as a warehouse owner, which is his real job," Alexis said diplomatically.
AJ scowled. "How about kidnapper? He conspired to steal my son."
"You lost Michael all on your own, Junior," Ned snapped.
As another argument started, Sly got up from the table. "Excuse me a moment," he said. Emily looked up at him, but he gave her a small smile. "I'll be right back," he whispered.
Sly walked from the dining room and out into the front hallway. He walked out the front door and leaned against the building. The Quartermaines had to win the prize for most family squabbling. He didn't know how Emily could handle it all. He breathed in the fresh late winter air for a few minutes, trying to muster up enough strength to go back in.
"I don't blame you for leaving."
Sly turned to look at the person who had come outside to join him. It was Alan. He approached Sly. "I apologize for my father's attempt to take over your life. Eventually, you'll learn to ignore it."
Sly smiled sheepishly. "Emily's been giving me a lot of advice about how to handle these family dinners, but I'm not fully trained yet, I guess."
Alan smiled, and then looked up at the night sky. "So, are you ready for tomorrow?"
Sly nodded. "Yes."
"That's good, because I know Emily is looking forward to it, no matter how stressful it may be." He looked at Sly. "And in spite of it all, I know she really loves you."
Sly was surprised to hear Alan admit that. He was sure that he still did not approve of their relationship.
"And I can see that you love my daughter, too. I may not have wanted to believe it at first, but I can see it when you look at her, the way you treat her."
"I do love her very much," Sly said sincerely.
"Then I know that you'll listen to what I have to say very carefully." Alan looked Sly in the eyes. "I will admit that I have not been the best parent to Emily. I've tried very hard, but I've done the wrong thing many times, and I've hurt her."
Sly swallowed the lump in his throat. He didn't like where this conversation was headed.
"Sly, marriage is a serious commitment. And no matter how much you love someone, eventually, you're going to hurt the other person. It's a fact of life."
Sly squinted a bit. "What are you trying to say, sir?"
"I'm trying to explain that rough times will happen. You and Emily will fight, you will hurt each other, but if your love is strong, then you will overcome it. You will learn to forgive, and to apologize. God knows Monica and I have learned this the hard way."
Sly felt as if his stomach was doing flip-flops. Alan was trying to be nice, but he really did not need to hear about how he might hurt Emily. Not now.
"And to prove my point, I would like to apologize to you," Alan said sincerely.
"To me?" Sly asked. What could he possibly have to apologize for?
Alan put a hand on Sly's shoulder. "I am very sorry about the way that I treated you. I am thinking in particular about the day that Emily told us she was pregnant."
Sly's eyes clouded over a bit as he remembered that day.
"I never should have pushed you like that. I let my anger get the best of me, and violence is never the answer." Alan sighed. "I know it affected you more than you ever let on, and you don't have to tell me why. But I hurt you, and for that I'm truly sorry."
Sly looked into Alan's eyes and saw his sincerity. "Thank you," Sly said, the absence of words evident.
Alan nodded, and then opened the front door. "Are you ready for round three?"
Sly smiled. "Sure," he said, although he wasn't so sure at all.
*-*-*-*-*-*
"I'll just be a minute," Emily called as she walked Sly out after the night was over. She kissed him on the cheek. "I think you passed."
Sly smiled. "I would hope so, since we're getting married tomorrow."
"I think tonight went well. Everyone got along in a dysfunctional sort of way," she laughed.
"I'm glad," Sly whispered pensively. The truth was, he couldn't stop worrying. His mind raced from thought to thought, fretting about how the wedding would go, and what Alan had said. Instead, he tried to think of how happy he and Emily would be once this whole wedding was over. "Do you think everything will go well tomorrow?"
"Now who's worrying?" Emily teased.
Sly put his arms around Emily and hugged her. "I just want you to know how much I love you, Emily."
Emily hugged him back, and tried to reassure him. "I love you, too, Sly. Everything's going to be fine tomorrow, you'll see. I've heard it will be the happiest day of our lives."
Sly pulled back and looked into her eyes, and the love he saw shining there caused him to just fall in love all over again. "I'm sure of it," he smiled, and he felt better already.
"You better go and get a good night's sleep," Emily said.
Sly laughed. "Are you kidding? There's no way I'll be able to sleep."
"Me neither."
Sly kissed Emily, and then touched her rounded stomach. "I'll see the two of you tomorrow."
"We'll meet you at the altar."
Sly blew her a kiss and got into
his car. She watched as the dark blue Thunderbird rolled away under the clear
night sky. She patted her stomach. "Are you ready for the big day?"
she asked her unborn child. She was surprised when she felt a kick. Emily
started to laugh. "I guess that's a yes." She opened the door to
the mansion. "Me too."