redamancy

"You're getting married tomorrow!" Alex shouts to her as she enters the locker room. He swings his arm around her shoulder and pulls her into a headlock. He affectionately rubs his knuckles on her head. She groans and tries to pull herself out of the hold.

"Get off me, you doofus." She pulls away and lands back against the lockers. He smiles affectionately at her and crosses his arms. "It's your last night of freedom."

"No, Alex. It's my last night before I marry the love of my life and get to spend the rest of my life with her."

"Gay." He hides in a cough, she shakes his head and goes to punch him in the stomach.

*

She doesn't see Addison all day. She suspects that Alex was doing his best to keep them apart, whatever he was most probably doing, it was working. They would also just miss each other; she would come to the NICU, Addison had gone to the ICU. Charlie was going up, Addison was going down. Charlie guesses that it adds to the tension and excitement of the next day, but she just wants to see Addison.

Finally, she manages to catch her. She's coming out of surgery and Charlie heading up to Peds. It's a pleasant surprise when they pass each other in the corridor.

"Hey," Charlie calls out, Addison comes to a stop. She turns to the intern and smiles widely. "I think Alex has been trying to keep us apart." Charlie crosses her arms and leans back against the wall. 

"I wouldn't be surprised, I saw him and Callie talking, they've made a pact to keep us apart." She laughs and leans on the wall next to Charlie. They take a second, looking at each other, gazing into the eyes of each other. Addison starts to lean down but is interrupted by her pager. She sighs and checks it, 911 call. "I've got to go. Hopefully, I'll see you later. If not, I'll see you tomorrow." Addison smiles and then heads down the corridor. Charlie watches her leave, smiling to herself.

*

'Whiskey and Steak' night becomes 'Whisky, Steak and Cigar' night when Mark turns up. He brings a bottle of the good stuff and a box of incredibly expensive cigars. Alex grills the steaks on the barbecue and they sit outside under the golden sun and smoke the cigars.

"So, Addison. How did that happen?" Mark asks, his feet up on the table, a glass of whiskey in one hand and a cigar in the other.

Charlie smiles and leans back in the chair. She thinks back to that fateful night in Joe's all those months. She tells them the story of how they met and everything that followed; the fight with Alex, the trauma of the shooting, their break up, the proposal. Everything that contributed to their story, she shares.

Derek and Mark pass out and George goes to bed, leaving Alex and Charlie alone in the garden. Charlie's looking up at the stars, admiring the dark sky and the constellations that shone from above. They sit on a bench, Alex staring at Charlie, and Charlie staring at the sky.

"Your mom is coming over tomorrow morning, then she's going over to the hotel to help Addison. Your brothers will meet us there and then guests should start arriving at 3 tomorrow. Are you ready for this?" He asks her, leaning his arm on the back of the bench.

She nods her head and bites her lip, smiling. "She's it for me, Alex. She...she makes me feel so much and I...I love her." He clasps a hand on her shoulder and squeezes lightly.

"Do you want a coffee?" She nods her head and Alex heads inside. She takes a deep breath and smiles. Suddenly, her phone starts to ring, Addison's name flashes on the screen. She looks up to see Alex in the kitchen so she answers it and walks further into the garden, hidden away from Alex.

"Hey, I'm pretty sure we're not allowed to do this." She smiles down the phone.

"I know, but I can't wait until tomorrow to see you. I just wanted to hear your voice." Addison replies down the phone. Charlie smiles and leans against a tree.

"Honestly, I love Alex for doing this but I want nothing more than to be at home cuddling up with Pablo and you." Charlie smiles into the phone.

"I know, but we'll see each other tomorrow, and then we have the rest of our lives to cuddle with Pablo." Charlie smiles at the sound of that.

"I love you. So much." Charlie breathes down the phone.

"Charlie?" Alex calls to her as he steps out from the kitchen holding two mugs.

"I've got to go. I'll see you tomorrow. I love you!" Charlie calls down the phone, Addison replies with her affirmation of love and hangs up. She comes out from behind the tree and walks down the path. Alex smiles as he looks up at her.

"And who was that?" He smiles, a mug of coffee held in his hand.

"Oh, no one. Wrong number." She settles down next to him and takes the mug of coffee.

"You're smiling very widely for a wrong number." He smirks, taking a sip of the coffee.

"It was Addison." She says, hiding her huge smile behind her mug of coffee.

"I told you, you weren't allowed to call her!"

"I didn't break any rules! She called me!" Charlie throws her hands up in defence and grins widely at her best friend.

*

Addison's party is a lot more wild than Charlie's. Callie takes them on a tour of the local bars and they dance and drink at every one. They lose Cristina for a while in one of the clubs, but then she magically turns up at their table with a guy named Shaun and a bottle of vodka so Addison doesn't have any complaints. That is until he starts flirting with her.

"So," He shouts to her over the music and into her ear. "Can I buy you a drink?" Addison turns to him and shakes her head, she lifts her glass and smiles awkwardly. "Not even one?" He slurs, sliding closer. Addison straightens herself and leans away. "I'm sure your friends won't mind if you disappear and dance with me for a bit." He smirks, leaning his head down.

Addison readies herself for the inevitable kiss, but it never comes. She looks and Cristina has him by the collar of his shirt. "SHE'S GETTING MARRIED TOMORROW YOU DICK." She shouts as she drags him away from her. Meredith is the soberest out of all of them, drags her away before she can inflict any damage onto the unfortunate man. "Are you okay?" Cristina slumps down beside Addison, eyeing her curiously.

"Thank you." She tells her.

"Well, Charlie isn't here to beat them up, so tonight, I'm afraid you'll have to settle for me." Cristina laughs and Addison smiles and suddenly a wave of something hits her, she wants Charlie. She's not sure if it's the alcohol or the thought of Charlie being jealous and protective, but right now, she wants nothing more than to be pinned down by her fiancée.

"I'm going to get some air." She smiles and heads towards the exit for the bar. She finds a quiet spot and dials Charlie's number.

"Hey, I'm pretty sure we're not allowed to do this." Charlie's raspy voice sounds from the phone. Addison smiles and bites her lip.

"I know, but I can't wait until tomorrow to see you. I just wanted to hear your voice." She laughs at her fiancée. She takes a breath working up to say something, but Charlie beats her to it.

"Honestly, I love Alex for doing this but I want nothing more than to be at home cuddling up with Pablo and you." Millions of things ideas run through her mind, she wants to do so much more than cuddle right now.

"I know," She plays it cool. "But we'll see each other tomorrow, and then we have the rest of our lives to cuddle with Pablo." She still doesn't think she'll get used to that, picturing the rest of her life with Charlie. Her love. Her Charlotte.

"I love you. So much." Charlie breathes down the phone. Just as Addison reciprocates her affirmations of love, Charlie gets pulled away by Alex. "I love you!" Charlie shouts down the phone, before hanging up. Addison smiles and heads back into the bar.

Knowing she couldn't do much about that feeling, Addison decides to just cover it with vodka, and she does. She goes so hard that she wakes up in Callie's hotel room bathtub, with Cristina splayed out next to her on the floor. Callie opens the door to the bathroom, a cup of coffee in her hand and a smile on her face. The light creeps in and Addison has to squint her eyes shut, it's too bright.

"Morning." Callie's chipper voice calls to her.

Too bright and too loud.

"What time is it?" Addison asks, still trying to survey her location.

"It's a little after 9. Lisa is heading to Alex's at 10, then she's going to the hotel at 12 to help you." Addison opens her mouth to ask something, but Callie raises her finger. "Don't worry, I already you checked in and took your bags and dress over. We just have to get you to the hotel, then it's wedding time." Callie squeals in excitement, and Addison just smiles and rests her head back onto the tub.

"I'm getting married today." She smiles to no one in particular. Cristina stirs on the floor beside her. 

"I am never drinking again." she groans and sits up, her hair is a mess. "What happened last night?" She looks to Addison and furrows her brow. "This is your fault, this is why I don't do weddings." Cristina sits for a minute, she stares into space, contemplating her actions last night.

"I seem to remember a guy called Shaun and a bottle of vodka, but then it's black until we bought pizza and I threw up over someone."

"That would be me. You ruined my shoes." They both turn to the voice. Amelia is leaning against the door jamb, hands in her pockets, smiling at the two women.

"Amy." Addison smiles. "Thank you for coming."

"Wasn't going to miss your wedding now was I?" She smiles steps into the bathroom, over Cristina to help Addison get out of the bath. "You have a wedding to get ready for, so hurry up." 

*

"Get up!" Charlie shouts as she lands on Alex. He lets out an 'oof' and groans, rolling over in his bed. "I'm getting married today! Get up." She thumps him with a pillow. He blocks it with his arms and sits up.

"I'm up. I'm up." He squints, looking up at Charlie. She smiles widely at him. He thrusts a cup of coffee in his hands and stands to leave the room.

Once Alex has had the chance to fully wake up, Charlie comes back in, tablet in hand scrolling through the list she had made to make sure today went as smoothly as possible.

"Okay, so Mom is coming here at 10 then she's heading to the hotel to help Addison get ready. I texted Callie and everything is on track." She smiles. "I'm getting married today!" She shouts.

"Yes, I know," Alex replies, taking a large gulp of his coffee.

Lisa arrives whilst Charlie is in the shower. 

"Hi, honey!" She calls to her opening the bathroom door.

"Mom! Get out." Charlie shouts in shock.

"Oh please. I gave birth to you Charlotte." She rolls her eyes and enters the bathroom, sitting on the closed toilet lid. "Alex is cooking breakfast, and there are some strange men passed out in the living room." Lisa points out. Charlie opens the shower door and stares at her mom.

"That's Derek and Mark. Addison's ex-husband and ex-lover." Lisa raises her eyebrows and nods her head in approval. "Mom!" She grimaces and closes the door again. "Please don't encourage Mark, he's a man-whore and will try and sleep with you," Charlie calls over the water.

"Maybe I'll let him," Lisa mumbles, under her breath.

When Charlie finally gets out of the shower, the smell of bacon hits her nose. She wraps her towel around herself and heads downstairs. The boys are gathered in the kitchen, Alex over the stove, George with his head on the counter, Derek sat at the table with coffee and Mark talking to her Mom.

"Hi, sweetie." Her mom says, opening her arms wide for her daughter. Charlie accepts the hug and her mom squeezes her tight. "My baby's getting married today!" Charlie smiles and nods. "Your brothers are meeting us at the hotel, they checked in last night." Lisa takes a seat at the table, opposite Derek and sips her coffee. Charlie walks over to Alex and steals a plate of bacon pancakes.

"You made bacon pancakes?"

"'Course I did, they're your favourite." He wraps an arm around her shoulder and kisses her forehead. She takes the plate and begins to head upstairs to get ready.

She smacks Mark on the back of the head as she passes by. "Do not sleep with my mom." She adds to him.

"No promises, Beck." He winks, cheekily.

"DO NOT SLEEP WITH MY MOM, MARK!"

*

Amelia is doing her hair when Lisa arrives at the suite. She arrives with food and Cristina immediately takes it out of her hands and starts digging through the bags.

"Alex told me to bring you food, so thank him. How's it going?" She smiles and walks over to Addison, settling her hands on her shoulders and smiling at her in the mirror.

"I'm going to need some help getting into the dress but other than that I'm okay." She smiles.

"Any nerves?" Lisa asks, raising her eyebrows. Addison nods her head slightly. "Perfectly natural. Don't worry. You'll be fine, Charlie is very excited and cannot wait to marry you." Addison grins and Lisa takes overdoing her hair. 

"Can you do up my dress," Meredith says to Cristina, she turns and Cristina reluctantly puts down her doughnut and does the zipper up on Meredith's dress. 

"How long does it take to put on a dress?" Cristina flops back on the couch, slowly getting bored of waiting for Addison to get ready. 

"Cristina, this is her wedding day. it has to be perfect." Izzie clasps her hands together waits in anticipation for Addison to leave the bedroom.

"But she's already got married once, how perfect does it have to be?" Cristina speaks, her mouth full of doughnuts. Meredith nudges her in the ribs.

The door to the bathroom opens and Addison exits. She stands in the doorway, showing off her dress.

"Oh wow." Cristina says, "I can see why Charlie bangs her now." She whispers to Meredith.

Lisa follows her takes her hand, "I have something for you." She takes Addison's hand and leads her to the mirror. Lisa hooks a necklace around her neck, the three diamonds match the ones on her engagement ring. "Charlie's dad got this for me, I wore it for my wedding and I want you to have it."

"Lisa, I couldn't." She holds the necklace in her hand and turns to Lisa.

"Addison, I want you to have it. Please. I want you to enjoy it and I couldn't believe the ring Charlie showed me, it was a perfect match and that's when I knew that this was meant for you."

Addison starts to cry and Lisa wipes the tears away. She pulls her into a hug and squeezes her tight.

*

"What do you mean you haven't got the rings?" Charlie raises her voice at Alex. They stand outside the ballroom. The guests are here and this wedding is happening now. This was the last thing that needed to happen today.

"I gave both of them to Scottie!" Alex points his finger.

"Are you fucking kidding me right now?" Scottie shouts, he runs his hands through his hair. Charlie turns to her brother. "I haven't got them!"

"Well, then where are they?" Charlie looks between the two of them. 

"I came up to your room this morning and left them on the desk!" Alex tells him.

"Why did you do that?" Charlie asks him, a tone of annoyance in her voice.

Alex takes a moment. "Benji was going to walk down the aisle with them. It was meant to be a surprise."  Charlie fights to hide her smile. She can see both, Jeremiah and Pete sat with Benji, keeping him occupied. She's still annoyed, but it was a nice gesture.

Scottie pinches the bridge of his nose and sighs. "Give me a second." Scottie exits the lobby and heads into the ballroom. The guests turn to look at him, he smiles awkwardly. Derek and Mark make gestures at him from their seats, to see if everything is okay, he shakes his head slightly.

He prays to whatever god up that his wife would have them. He spots Sophie, sat with his Mom. "Hi," He grins. "You didn't happen to pick up the rings did you." He whispers to her. She rolls her eyes and opens her clutch bag, the two rings sit in the inside pocket. "You are my hero. " He smiles, takes the rings and places a kiss on her forehead. 

"That's why you married me." She smiles, he shoots her wink and then begins to head out the door, turning to Derek and Mark, before he leaves to give them a thumbs up and a wink.

"Crisis averted, Sophie picked them up." He says as he exits the ballroom. He holds them up to his sister. She smiles and lets out a breath. 

"Okay, let's finally, get this show on the road." She smiles and takes a moment before pushing open the doors. The guests, again, turn to see who has arrived. "Just me folks, sorry for the delay. Let's finally start this so we can all have a drink." She smiles and walks down to the minister at the head of the aisle.

Alex stands next to her, along with Pete and Jeremiah.

Charlie takes a second to breathe, then the music starts. 

She turns around. Her brother walks Benji down the aisle, followed suit by her friends in their bridesmaid dresses, Callie smiles widely along with someone Charlie doesn't recognise, but then there she is. 

Addison.

White dress, hair up, flowers in her hands.

Charlie starts to cry. Her eyes well with tears and she tries to fight the wide smile that is taking over her face. 

Addison smiles at her crying fiancee. She takes the last step and is face to face with Charlie. 

"You look amazing." She says through the tears. 

"So do you." Addison smiles.

The minister starts his speech and Charlie and Addison face each other. Charlie still can't quite believe that this is happening. She's getting married. If only her 18-year-old self could see her now.

"Now it is time for the vows. Charlotte?" He asks her, she smiles and Charlie takes out a slip of paper from her inside pocket and unfolds it.

"Addison," She begins. "How can I put into words what you mean to me." She begins. "Before I came here, I was lost. I was drifting and then I found you, and completely accident it seems. If Alex hadn't dragged me to Joe's that night, I never would have found the love of my life. When I was drifting between life and death, I had a choice. I could choose to go and be with my dad, or I could choose to stay with you. I chose you. I will always choose you. It's always going to be you, Addie. Every time." Charlie looks up to Addison and smiles, she takes a breath before continuing with her speech After my dad, I had a hole in my heart, and being with you; it's beginning to heal. I love you, so much." Charlie finishes and wipes away the rogue tears that began to fall down her cheeks.

Addison squeezes her hand and smiles at her.

"Addison, would you like to share a few words?" She nods and turns to Callie who hands her speech. 

"My love. Here we are. We finally did it, we're getting married and sharing this day with our friends and family. I already did this day once and I thought that was it, I thought that I had found the love of my life, I now know that he was only helping me find the true love of my life and for that Derek, I owe you a drink." She smiles and the guests let out a light laugh. "These past few months have been a rollercoaster, but I know that whatever the future has in store for us, as long as I have you and Pablo, I'll be just fine." Charlie gazes at her, her eyes full of love.

"May we please have the rings?" He asks and Scottie lifts Benji into his arms. The little boy places them into Charlie's hand and as a thank you, she kisses his small brown-haired head. "Thank you, now Charlotte please repeat after me," The minister starts, Charlie turns to Addison and takes her hands and gets ready to place the ring on. "I, Charlotte Emilia Beck, take this woman to be my wife." Charlie squeezes Addison's hand as she repeats the words. "I promise to love her, to cherish her and be by her side until the last of my days." She repeats them and slides the ring onto Addison's finger.

"Now Addison, please repeat after me. I, Addison Adrienne Forbes Montgomery, take this woman to be my wife. I promise to love her, to cherish her and be by her side until the last of my days." Addison slips the ring onto Charlie's finger and takes her hands. "Now as to your friends and family as your witnesses, I now pronounce you wife and wife!" Charlie doesn't even wait for the instructions, she pulls Addison close and kisses her hard. He smiles widely and the guests let out a cheer and applause. 

Finally. They were finally married.

*

Alex makes his Best Man speech, he's had 5 drinks by this point so it's mainly just him slurring about his love for Charlie, but she appreciates the sentiment. 

"So, what I'm trying to say is; Charlie. I love you and I know that your old man would be so proud of you. He's looking down and he's cheering and smiling." He holds the microphone in one hand and a pint of beer in the other. He raises his glass. "Andy, I hope you're proud of her." He says as he winks to Charlie. "To Addison and Charlie!" He shouts to the guests. 

"To Addison and Charlie!" They call out. Charlie turns to Addison and leans down, pressing a kiss to her lips. 

"I love you." She whispers to her wife. 

Charlie spends practically the rest of the night glued to Addison's side. The only exception is when Alex and her brothers were doing shots and she wanted to see if Alex would drink them under the table like he had been saying all night. She stands at the bar and watches as they take shot after shot. Jeremiah comes to stand next to her and watches on as Alex and his brothers throwback shots. 

"I'm glad you're okay." He says to her, nudging her shoulder. She turns to him, her brows furrow. "Mom was losing her mind." She throws an arm around her shoulder. "I was really worried. I wasn't allowed to come and see you, Mom didn't want me to worry and I had to look after Dax." She pulls him close and presses a kiss to his temple. 

"I'm okay, kid." He nods his head and hugs her tight.  Alex raises his hands in triumph. He laughs and watches as Pete clutches his stomach then runs off. Alex lets out a laugh along with Scottie. 

Charlie ruffles her brother's hair and Alex drags her over to the table where her intern friends sit. She settles down with her interns and they settle into conversation

"What's the weirdest thing, you've  had to remove from a human body?" Suddenly Pete says as he slumps down in a chair. Charlie turns to her brother and stares at him. "Doll heads from a man's stomach," Meredith says absentmindedly.

"What?!" Pete shouts.

*

"Will you please join us for Charlie and Addison's first dance." Her cousin calls over the microphone. Charlie stands up and meets Addison's eyes from across the floor. She holds out her hand and Addison takes it. Charlie pulls her close and wraps her arms around her waist. the slow violin opening of Aerosmith's "Don't Wanna Miss A Thing" fills the air. They sway gently to the music. Charlie closes her eyes and feels Addison play with the hair at the back of Charlie's neck.

"I never thought I would have this," Charlie confesses, Addison pulls away so she can face her.

"Never have what?"

"This. A life, a job, love." Addison tilts her head in curiosity. "Truthfully, I thought I would be dead before the age of 21." Addison pulls her close and hugs her tight.

"I'm so glad you're here, Charlie. I love you." Addison presses a kiss to her lips. 

*

The night begins to wind down, the cake has been cut and people are starting to take the final dances together. Addison sits down and watches the dance floor, Charlie is dancing with Benji, She watches on fondly as Charlie swings Benji around and carries him on her shoulders. Richard comes and takes a seat next to her. 

"Are kids on the table for you two?" He asks, gesturing to Charlie and Benji. Addison leans back in her chair.

"Maybe. We're happy right now as we are. We've talked about it, but we're not sure." Richard takes Addison's hand in his own and squeezes. 

"I'm happy for you, Addie." He smiles and Addison thanks him. Charlie walks over to them, red-faced and her sleeves rolled up.

"Hey, you wanna get outta here?" Addison takes in Charlie's appearance. Her top button undone, the chain around her neck glistening, her hair becoming less than perfect, the tattoos on her arms, the jacket hanging over her shoulder. 

"Yes." She takes her wife's hand and bids her goodbye to Richard. 

Charlie takes her hand and rushes through to the doors. She finds her mom talking to Mark Sloan of all people. 

"Mark, please don't sleep with my mom." She says to the two of them.

"I told you, Charlie, I can't promise anything." She rolls her eyes and hugs her mom.

"We're gonna head up, I'll see you tomorrow at mine?" Lisa nods her head and waves her off before she turns back to Mark. Charlie rolls her eyes and takes Addison's hand in hers.

They stumble up to their room, the excitement and alcohol running through their veins. Charlie stands outside the door and picks up Addison. "I love you Addison Montgomery-Beck." She pushes open the door with her foot and kisses her wife.