Plus One. How to Catch a Cloud - x

The foursome sat around the dining room table with breakfast set. The marrying couple got up early to get the meal prepared. Eggs, bacon, sausages, toast, fruits and pancakes covered the table top.

"Guys, did you really have to cook this much food?" Ara asked in awe.
"You don't believe we can finish all this?" Phoenix challenged?
"Ah, just dig in guys. We can finish this!" Georgia exclaimed.

Ara turned to Georgia skeptically and scoffed, "Are you serious?!"
Wiggling her eyebrows, Georgia nodded and shoved a big bite of pancakes and syrup into her mouth.
"Oh my..."
"I think we should all dig in before my future wife decides this feast isn't enough for her," Phoenix joked.

That comment wasn't enough to deter Georgia from the task at hand. She poured herself a glass of milk and took gulp before having another bite. Everyone around the table minded their own meals, until one by one heads popped up in realization.

Ara looked in Georgia's direction and gasped.

Charlie, thought sometimes inapt at the obvious, looked in Georgia's direction and smirked.

Phoenix looked towards his sister and friend, then snapped his head towards Georgia and his jaw dropped.

Georgia sat there unaware of the shock and happiness emanating from her breakfast companions.
She was smiling at the single pancake heart Phoenix made for her.
Looking up to thank her fiance for such a thoughtful gesture, she found three weird expressions.

"What?!" she exclaimed as she felt self-consciousness kicking in.
Georgia wiped at her face in case she had something on it.
"What's going on?"
"Are you..." Ara began.
Charlie continued smiling. Weird, Georgia thought.
"Were you going to tell me?" Phoenix asked.
"Tell you what?" Georgia was so confused.
"That you're pregnant?!" Ara exclaimed excitedly and rushed over to Georgia to hug her.

Phoenix didn't make a move.

It was Georgia's turn to have her jaw drop. She stared at Ara in disbelief as she held her in a tight hug from behind her chair.

"Pregnant? What makes you guys think so? Calm down, Ara. I'm not pregnant."
"Have you gotten it tested?"
"I read that cravings and fatigue are pregnancy symptoms."
Everyone looked over at Charlie.
He continued as if it was common knowledge, "Have you been having some dizzy spells or have you been feeling nauseated?"
Georgia nodded, "But that could mean a whole bunch of other things."
"Gi, you have been eating weird things lately. And in large quantities... You weren't ever a heavy eater."
Phoenix soothed her back. Somehow he had ended up behind her chair where Ara had been.
"I'll get it tested then."
"You ok, Gi?"
"Yeah, I'll be fine. It just never dawned on me that I could be... you know... Ah! Come on! Let's not waste this food. Eat up now. Sorry about this..."
"We'll go out after breakfast. We have a wedding to plan, too!"

Georgia smiled brightly at her fiancé. She loved him so much, she couldn't explain how happy she would be if it was true. Could she possibly be pregnant? Couldn't it all have been a fluke? Maybe she's just sick, or gassy, or... Ok, she told herself. Get a grip!

After the hearty breakfast they had, a walk was definitely a great idea.
They walked in twos, occasionally shifting so that they took turns walking with a different person. They walked to and through the nearby park, and headed towards the nearest shopping mall.

The women dressed in smart sundresses and the men dressed in cotton shirts and light pants. The weather was perfect. The sun wasn't shining too brightly, and the clouds didn't overpower the sky. There was such balance to this day that Ara felt sure that nothing could go wrong.

"So," Ara began as she was paired up with Charlie for the second time.
Their first time paired up they didn't speak a word. Just walked on.
"So... what?" Charlie cocked his eyebrow.
She smiled sweetly up at him, "How did you know about the symptoms of being pregnant?"
He shrugged, "Something I picked up from somewhere I guess."
"Really? It's a far cry from Architectural articles," she teased and smiled up at him.

They neared the entrance to the mall. He held the door long enough for the three to walk through.
After Ara passed by, he followed suit and whispered, "You should be privy to great news every morning."
"Why do you say that?" She asked, as they formed two pairs again; it was their turn to fall behind.
He smiled, "Because you're cute and fun when you're happy."
She shrugged, "Anyone can be fun when they're happy."
He left it at that.

They caught up to the other two who were in and out of shops looking for household items, and on the lookout for home pregnancy tests.
Georgia looked a bit apprehensive when they all walked through the aisles of the drug store looking for it. Charlie thought perhaps it would be better if he and Ara were out of their way.

"Uh, hey Ara, did you finish shopping for the Best Man's tux?"
Ara caught on, "Oh yeah... Hey Georgie, you mind if we leave you two alone and go off? I have to find a great tux. Can't lose this challenge, you know."
A flash of relief crossed Georgia's face.
"Yeah. That's a good idea! Get a good one! PINK!"
And giggled when she saw her fiance cringe.
Phoenix and Charlie exchanged disgusted looks for a long second.

"Ok, let's go," she said taking Charlie by the hand and dragging him out of the drug store.

Since she didn't let go of his hand, he didn't give her a reason to stop and think about what she was doing. He kept his fingers entwined with hers and they happily walked around the mall looking for any tuxedo shops.

Ara knew she ought to let go at some point, but she felt too happy to walk hand in hand with Charlie. He didn't seem disgusted by it, so she took that as a sign that all was comfortable.

The time came however, when they turned a corner and found what was most likely the only men's formal wear shop in the whole mall. Excitement was ill contained as she tugged onto his hand to get him in the shop. It was tiny, but overstocked with tuxedos of different colors and styles. She looked around, while he checked out a few that hung on the racks.

Flipping through the tailor's shop catalog, she found what could possibly be the one. She asked the tailor if he had a sample on stock and lo, he did!

Trying on the tux, Charlie was slightly in awe at how Ara had chosen a piece so complementary to the dress he picked out for her. The tiny detail was identical but he wasn't sure she would be aware of it.
"It's perfect, don't you think Charlie?"
"It is. You have great taste, Ara."
"Do you think there's a dress that will match this?"
"I told you I bought your dress already."
"No, you didn't."

"Yes, I told you the other day."
"Yeah, I know you told me about a dress you bought. But you did not buy the dress I'm going wear," she rolled her eyes.
"Yes, I did. Have faith Ara. You don't know how perfect this suit is for the dress I picked out."
Her eyes lit up with hope, "Really?"
"Yup. Just have faith in me. It's the one thing I ask of you."
"OK, fine. Let's ring this up then?"
"Help me out of this?"

After shrugging Charlie out of the tuxedo, maxing out her credit card and walking out of the little tailor shop, she realized she was developing a deeper curiosity for her Maid of Honor dress.

"So..." she began.
Looking down at Ara, he wondered what kind of sweet talking she was doing now.
"So... what?"
"Am I going to get a look at my dress any time soon?" She fluttered her eyelashes with much exaggeration.
He taunted her with a, "We'll see..."
"What do you mean 'We'll see...'?!"
"Don't worry," he soothed draping his arm over shoulder as he lead them into the thin crowd of consumers.

"Shouldn't we be worrying about what the bride is going to wear? I mean, in six months, won't she be like a balloon or something?"
Ara laughed, comfortable in his arms.
"You know, you're right. Want to go check out some prospects for her? Or could we get some more of my things crossed off my list?"
"What else do you need to do?"
"Centerpieces," she scrunched her face. "This is going to be a bit of a challenge because I don't want to overspend on this thing, but I want it to be pretty."
"We'll find something. If not, we'll figure it out, I'll cover the excess if we go over budget."
Her eyes grew wide with surprise, "You'd do that?!"
"I'm not an ogre, Ara. Of course I would. Why not?"
"I'm impressed, Mister Grumpy. You surprise me..." she retorted and draped her arm around his side giving him a little squeeze of appreciation.

Boy, he loved it when her eyes lit and she smiled so bright. If he could bottle up a moment to last forever, this would be it. Definitely.