Chapter 259

"This is so perfect." Erik said, holding Pearl's hand and walking along a path on the grounds, looking at the stars and the moon. Tiki riches and lights lit up the path.

"It is beautiful here." She said, smiling.

"Pearl. I want to talk to you about something." Erik said.

"Ok. What's on your mind?" Pearl asked.

"I want us to be a family. A real family. Not one that is overwhelmed with duty or work. Not one that looks good in the papers. I want to have a real life with you." He said.

"Erik, I thought that's what we were doing?" Pearl asked, confused.

"Yes. And no." He said. "I don't want to get caught up in the life that will greet us when we get home. I don't want anything about us to be for show. If we are having a bad day, we will have it. I want to kiss you when I want. Make love to you when I want. I want to be as we are now. It's not about show. Or diamonds. Fuck the flowers and designer clothes. The speeches. I just want you, my best mate, to go through life with me. I want you in my bed every night, and my hands, touching you, like it's agony not to." He said, turning to her. "This love I feel for you isn't proper. And I don't ever want it to be. And I'm terrified that our lives are going to be like my parents. Like my family. Like all other marriages when duty calls." He said.

Pearl looked at him. "Listen to me. I know that there has to be some kind of formality with our relationship in the public's eyes. But this thing between us is perfect, just as it is. This child I carry was conceived in love. So much love. And passion. And want. Nothing about us is obligatory or structured by rules. You aren't that kind of man. I'm far from that kind of woman. Before I met you, I had read about you. How you stayed out of the public eye. How you hung with artists and writers and musicians. How you didn't conform. That's what I knew of you and that's what drew me to you. This whole thing with us had been slowly pulling away from that. Let's not let that happen. I love us. As we are. And I understand where you are coming from, and I promise you, I will not let that happen. Ever." Pearl said.

Erik put his arms around her and hugged her. "God I love you. I love you so much." He said, breathing into her hair. "I am terrified of what life would be like if I ever lost you. You are everything to me." He said.

"Then don't ever lose me." Pearl said, standing on her top toes and kissing him.

**************

"Hello. I'm Grace and this is TyShawn. We are here to meet someone? We aren't sure who. We got a call yesterday about our wedding venue maybe still allowing us to have a wedding?" A woman with dark red hair and green eyes said, standing at the front desk of the lobby. She was dressed in a long flowy skirt and looked like a bohemian, hippy type, with piercings and freckles. With her was her fiancé, a tall, dark and extremely handsome man with dreads and sunglasses on. He wore a button down, open at the top shirt and faded jeans. A Lenny Kravitz look alike.

"Yes. You are expected at the Lakeview for lunch. I will take you there." The concierge said, leading them to a large restaurant.

"Please have a seat." The concierge said. "Your hosts will be with you shortly."

They sat down and ordered a drink. A few minutes later, the staff stood and the concierge led two people into the dining room.

"His royal highness, crown prince Erik of Wales and her royal highness, Princess Pearl." The man said.

"What. The. Fuck." TyShawn whispered. They both stood up and Erik offered to shake TyShawn's hand.

"Oh my god. I have to say, we were not at all expecting this. Wow. It's so nice to meet you, your majesty." TyShawn said.

"Erik. No need for formalities. This is my wife, Pearl. Thank you for coming on such short notice. Welcome." Erik said, pulling out Pearl's chair and unbuttoning his suit jacket, sitting down next to her.

"I'm so nervous. I have no idea how to address you both or what to say. At all." Grace said, blushing.

"Relax. We invited YOU here." Pearl said, smiling and sipping her tea.

They discussed a little of their background. Grace was a CNA and currently worked as an in home caregiver for a couple of ladies and the mother to a six year old son with autism. TyShawn had to help his mom when she was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis, after she lost the ability to walk and hasn't worked since. They met in college, at Western Michigan University in Kalamazoo, Michigan. Grace was a theater and art major and TyShawn, music history, literate and theory. They were only friends for years, until Grace and her long term boyfriend broke up. They seemed like an amazing couple.

"So, why are we here?" Grace asked.

"Yes. About that. The reason we asked you here is because we have a situation that we are hoping you might help us with." Erik said.

"Us? How?" TyShawn asked.

"Well, Pearl originally reserved this lovely resort to have a wedding here with a complete prat..but we will not go there." Erik said, looking at Pearl and rolling his eyes. "Instead, she fell in love with me and I'm certain you know that we were married elsewhere."

"Yes. We watched it live last week." Grace said, smiling. "We were thrilled about Pearl. Being an American and musician."

"I'm a huge fan of Poems for Wolves. My band has a similar style." TyShawn said.

"I would love to hear it." Pearl said.

"Really?" TyShawn said, in shock.

"Yes. We are doing a huge stadium tour next month through August. John, our manager decided we should go for it instead of putting it off for a year. We are looking for some opening bands, unknown preferably. We want to give others the same opportunities we were given." Pearl said.

TyShawn looked like he had seen a ghost. "Are you kidding me?" He asked.

"No. Do you have a website or YouTube channel?" Pearl asked.

"Ok. We can touch on that later. Regarding this wedding, I felt it was in my remit to still have the day, because of all the work the staff here has put in. That's where you both come in." Erik said.

"I don't understand." Grace said.

"If you can both make it here at three pm on Saturday, there will be a wedding all set up and ready for you. It will cost you nothing. We will have hair and makeup people here, a photographer, a reception, food, drink, you name it. And if you need a dress, tux, anything, we will cover it. It is our gift to you, if you'd like it." Pearl said.

"What?" Grace said, dumbfounded.

"It's all paid for and ready to go. We can show you what it all will look like. We even have an officiant. You will need to get a license. Quick, if you can. If not, you will have to do the legal stuff later. And it can accommodate however many guests you would like. I know it's short notice, so it may be difficult." Pearl said.

"Oh my god. This is... this is unbelievable."

TyShawn said. "Why us?" He asked.

"We found out from your venue that you had to cancel for financial reasons. We called several venues, looking for similar couples. And then we did a slight dive and found out why. We think you are the perfect couple to give this gift to." Erik said.

Grace began to cry. "My father was diagnosed with stage four lung cancer last month. They have given him six maybe seven months to live. And then, Ty's mom got sick. All I ever wanted was for my father to walk me down the aisle, but after we had to cancel that, I didn't think it would be possible. You have no idea what you are giving us. I don't know what to say. I don't know what to do." Grace said, sobbing.

"Call your family. Your friends. Get everything together, that's all you need to do. Let us know what else you'll need and we will see you Saturday morning." Pearl said, smiling.

Ty stood up and leaned across the table, hugging Pearl and then Erik, tears falling.

"You have no idea what this means to us. Thank you." He said, his voice cracking. "We will be here on Saturday morning." He said. They finished lunch and told them they would touch base the next day.

"They were absolutely wonderful. I am so happy." Pearl said, smiling at Erik. She was so proud of his idea to do this.

"Let's go. We have a wedding day to finalize." Erik said, taking her hand.