Tiptoe

Arriving home, Holtzmann and Erin settled into the living room to watch a movie, both of them still in their dresses. Holtzmann kicked off her shoes and pulled Erin towards her so the pair were cuddling. Neither of the two were focused on the movie, both thinking about their proximity to the other. Holtzmann reached out and began to play with Erin'd hair, before leaning closer and placing a gentle kiss on her temple. Erin burrowed further into Holtzmann's chest, in an attempt to hide the blush that had appeared at the contact.

'Er? Holtz glanced down at the brunette. 'I had fun tonight' and Erin could hear in her voice that she meant it. She looked into the engineer's blue eyes and decided it was now or never. She leaned in cautiously, letting her eyes flick down to Holtzmann's perfectly red lips. Holtzmann leaned in slowly, she didn't want to scare Erin, or to stop what she thought was about to happen.

'Guys!' Alexis burst through the living room door, pulling the girls out of the trance they were in.

'Hey Alexis. Erin smiled halfheartedly, as much as she loved the little girl, she wished she could have picked a better time to come in.

'Mommy said I have to go to bed now.' Alexis jumped on the couch, wrapping an arm around each of the girls necks. 'Goodnight aunt Erin. Goodnight aunt Jilian.' A guilty feeling rose in Erin's chest. What would happen when everything went back to normal and Jillian wasn't her 'girlfriend' anymore. She didn't think about how that would affect anyone else, including Alexis, who had grown so fond of the blonde engineer.

'Goodnight kiddo.' Alexis followed her mom out of the room, waving back at the girls.

'Yo, Gilbert. You okay?' Holtzmann nudged Erin, knocking her out of her thoughts. 'Yeah, of course.' She forced a smile onto her face, pulling away from Holtzmann and sitting on the opposite end of the sofa.

'Earth to Er-bear?' Holtzmann pried gently.

'I'm fine Holtz.'

Holtzmann reached towards Erin, with her pinky outstretched, a dorky grin plastered on her face. 'You promise?'

'Yeah, I promise.'

'You've got to make it a pinky promise, y'know, or it doesn't count.'

Erin took Holtz' pinky in her own, a genuine smile appearing on her face. 'Is that so?'

'Yep.' Holtzmann beamed.

'You're a massive nerd.'

'Yep' Holtzmann repeated, popping the 'p'. 'Erin, shush, it's my favourite part!' Holtzmann tossed a cushion at Erin and looked back to the TV.

'Me and her, we're the fuckin' heat' Holtzmann said in time with the TV. Erin couldn't help but find the whole thing adorable. 'Come on dork, let's get to bed.' Erin stood up and started walking towards the stairs. 'You coming?' Erin looked back towards Holtzmann who had yet to move.

'Yeah, I'm coming.' Holtzmann smiled, thinking to herself that it wouldn't be horrible to spend the rest of her evenings like this.

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The morning of the wedding came around fast and Erin was stressed. Hair and makeup had been finished but Erin couldn't help feel she was missing something. She was spending the morning with the bridal party, helping everyone get ready, after which she would go back home, pick up Holtz and make her way to the church. She couldn't wait to see Holtz in her suit. While she had loved seeing Holtz in a dress, she knew that the engineer would feel more comfortable in a suit, and Erin knew she would look gorgeous regardless of what she wore.

Walking in her front door, Erin could hear the noise of her family getting ready but she was not prepared for the view she saw when she looked towards the stairs. Holtzmann was walking downstairs in a gorgeous suit, looking sharp as ever. Her hair was pinned in her trademark look, but slightly neater than usual, wearing a navy blue tux and bow tie combo, that complimented Erin's dress well, she noted, was paired with a rose gold watch on her left wrist and a pair of tan shoes. Erin was blown away by how good her date looked.

'Looking dapper, babe' Erin managed, an adoring grin painted across her face.

'And you call me the dork?' Holtzmann smirked, her dimples showing clearly. 'Go get your dress on so I can marvel at my beautiful girlfriend.'

Erin made her way upstairs, hiding the blush that had crept up her face hearing Holtzmann talk about her like that, even if it was just for her family's benefit.

Holtzmann sat outside Erin's bedroom door waiting patiently, or as patiently as she could, to see Erin in her dress. 'Erin, hurry! I want to see your dress!' Holtmann yelled.

'One sec' The door swung open and Holtzmann is pretty sure her jaw dropped to the floor. Erin looked incredible.

'Erin Gilbert' Holtzmann began 'you look stunning and I am a lucky human to be your date, even if only for a night.'

The dress that Erin was wearing was modest, her hair was pinned back elegantly and she had a smile on her face. Erin blushed, catching her mother's eye, as she appeared in the hallway.

'Come on down for some photos girls.'

'Mom, you know it's not me getting married, right?' Erin joked.

'I know. Not yet anyway.' Erin's mom chuckled, before making her way back downstairs.

'Sorry' Erin mouthed at Holtzmann, pulling a face.

'Don't be!' Holtzmann whispered. 'Now hurry. You heard your mom. It's photo time!'

Making their way downstairs, the girls looked around at the rest of the family. Erin's mom, rushed around, ushering everyone into the back garden to take some photos. Alexis ran in circles, blowing bubbles as her dad chased after her, pleading with her to be careful in her dress, and Leah looked on fondly. This is what it was like to have a real family, Holtzmann decided.

Erin's mom insisted on lots of photos of the two girls, from normal photos to typical prom-style photos to dorky photos with Alexis. Holtzmann and Erin were both very excited to see the finished photographs and Erin's mom insisted she would send copies of every photo she had taken of them, including the candid photos that they had not been aware of. She smiled warmly, looking at the last photo she had taken of the pair deep in conversation, staring into each others eyes with smiles on their faces. 'This is love' she thought to herself.
Breaking away from the picture, she called out 'Come on, I want a group family photo!'
'I can take this one if you like.' Holtzmann suggested.
'Nonsense dear. You are part of this family now. You will be in the photo.' She set the camera on the tripod and pulled Holtzmann into the photo and at that moment, a warm feeling rushed over Jillian Holtzmann, and she knew that she couldn't let this weekend go without telling Erin exactly how she felt. This was the closest she had ever been to having a family and she didn't want to let it go after this wedding.