Chapter Text
The party was huge, and again Juliet found herself impressed by all the work Shawn had put into that planning. It was all to her taste, and despite being really classy, so them. For the dinner, of course, he had chosen Mexican and a big chocolate wedding cake was waiting for them at the end.
While the bridesmaids prepared a small video with Juliet and Shawn’s best moments, Gus made sure to give a long and very emotional speech, as he didn’t have the chance to do at their previous wedding.
Followed by him, Henry, Karen, Maryanne, and even Lassiter occupied the mic, sharing their own memories with the couple and the wishes of happiness and love for the two.
At the sound of James Taylor's Only One, they shared their first dance, embracing each other, swinging around the ballroom in precise steps. Juliet was sure Shawn had taken more classes before the wedding because his moves had improved drastically, and now he could spin her without breaking anything or dropping her in the process. The playlist changed to more agitated songs, causing the entire party to dance until their feet hurt before it all calmed and, once again, the couple found themselves moving at the sound of soft ballads.
Juliet had her head rested on Shawn’s shoulder, his inebriating scent driving her to her own happy place, where there were just them two and that inexhaustible love. He had his arms around her waist, supporting her weight on him, moving them gently around the dance floor.
“Shawn?”
Lifting her head out of her husband’s shoulder, the bride locked her eyes with his, taking him out of whatever thought he was lost at. “Thank you. For this, for everything.”
“Anything for you, my lady. I know it’s not a beach in Antigua but… I hope you liked it.”
His expectant look, almost shy, caused Juliet’s heart to swell even more. She still couldn't understand entirely how her husband was able to remember every single thing she has ever said, and it was something that, until this very day, astounded and mesmerized her.
“No, it’s not. It’s better. Better than I could've ever dreamed of.”
She smiled softly at him, but Shawn could sense there was more to be spoken.
“And... I’m sorry.”
“For what, Sweetheart?”
“For today, this morning. If only I knew, I would never have snapped at you like that.”
“Hey, it's okay. It was all part of the plan. No hard feelings. Besides, I should be the one apologizing for messing up all the plans I’m sure you had.”
“If you haven’t pulled such an amazing wedding, you bet I would be furious at you. But you know I can’t be mad when there’s chocolate cake around.”
“A man has to know his ways into his lady’s heart.”
Juliet playful hit him on the chest, rolling her eyes at the smug smile he had on his face, but so glad her husband knew her like no one else.
“You know, this is better than anything I could have ever planned for today.”
“No. I’m sure I would've loved everything you prepared.”
“Well, it’s a shame we lost our tickets to Six Flags.”
“What? We’re going to Six Flags?”
“Yeah.”
“Oh my… Let's leave now. Maybe, if we take a shortcut, we can arrive there before they close.”
Losing his hold on her, Shawn grabbed Juliet’s hand, already pulling them towards the entrance door, but not moving more than a few steps before his wife tugged his arm firmly, obligating him to stop.
“Shawn! I believe that a wedding dress isn’t the most appropriate outfit to go to an amusement park.”
“You can change on the way.”
“Shawn!”
Her gentle yet serious glare calmed the excited heart of the man who would never grow up.
“Okay. But promise me we can go later!”
“I’ll try to exchange the tickets to my next day off. How does that sound?”
“Perfect! You’re perfect.”
Juliet smiled, feeling her cheeks blush slightly under the gaze of her handsome groom. How come he could make her feel just like she was a schoolgirl again? His greenish eyes resting on her face, staring at her like, indeed, she was the most perfect thing on the whole planet.
“Look, Shawn… I was going to wait until this ended to give you your gift, but I can’t wait anymore.”
His eyes widened, and his face turned into the exact expression he has while opening his Christmas gifts.
“You bought me a gift?”
“Not exactly.”
“Wait... Did you make it? I…” Her silence increased his curiosity, and the gift he had never imagined he would receive was now everything he cared about. “Come on, Jules. You know I can’t…”
“I’m pregnant.”
Shawn stopped. Their dance ceased as they stood in the middle of the loud dancing floor, with people around them moving without a clue that the groom’s world had changed completely.
Now he knew his life would never be the same again.
Although they had talked about it, and her husband assured her that whenever it happened he was ready to begin their family, Juliet couldn't shake the small worry in her heart.
A lot had happened since he first thought she was pregnant, and clearly, he wasn’t prepared to back then, and so wasn’t she. But after Selene first started to show, Juliet couldn’t help but feel that twinge of jealousy in her heart.
She wanted a baby.
She always had. But knowing how much trouble Shawn had in processing fatherhood, especially because of his own bad experiences, she decided never to force the subject or to push him until she was one hundred percent sure she was ready to.
Later that week, after everything was wrapped up and Carlton was back home, Juliet took the time to talk with Shawn, trying to avail his position regarding kids. Sure he had brought them up a couple of times, on casual conversations, willing to go down that road someday. But after watching his outburst and panicking over the possibility of her being pregnant, Jules wasn’t that sure anymore if her husband would ever be ready.
At the time, they were married only for a couple of months, and she could understand his dilemmas. But now, being married for a year, she wondered if his regards remained the same. If he would never be ready to have a child.
One night, just out of the blue, after a call with Henry, Shawn mentioned that, if one day, it ever happened he would be ready, planting a seed of hope in Juliet’s heart that she didn’t know she held onto that much until she faced the reality of, indeed, carrying a child.
When she first suspected she was pregnant, she chose to keep it quiet until her doctor confirmed it. Deciding to wait for their Anniversary, just a few days ahead, to share the news, she hoped to have it received with happiness instead of another panic attack.
“Shawn? Are you…”
Before she could finish he already had his lips on hers, kissing her tender and affectionately, weakening her knees in the process, and planting a lasting smile on her face. Breaking it a moment later, he hugged Jules, gently as if he squeezed her too tight he would smash their growing baby.
“I love you, Jules.”
“So, you are not … I mean, we didn’t plan it and everything.”
“Hey, I told you. Whenever it happens I am ready. I’m ready. Scared to my very core to mess this up, but ready. Besides, we agreed, a thousand babies and a fleet of pugs.”
Juliet felt the known happy tears rush back to her eyes, spilling on her cheeks from where Shawn’s thumb dried them, a bubbling laugh coming from deep down.
“I’m gonna be a dad.”
“Yeah.”
“And you’re gonna be a mom.”
“Yes, Shawn.”
“Oh my God… I have to tell Gus!”
Still gripping his arms, Juliet squeezed her fingers, catching Shawn's attention and calming his overexcited heart. “Huh. Let’s wait before telling anyone. I’m not 12 weeks far yet.”
“Okay, you’re right. Besides, if I told him now, this party would be over and he would be already heading to buy baby furniture at the closest store.”
“That’s true.”
Grinning widely, Shawn planted one hand at the still flat stomach of his wife, imagining how long it would take until a small bump appeared, and then it turned into a big round belly. He felt her own hand covering his, her warm touch reassuring and welcoming. Kissing her one more time, Shawn returned to swing them around the dance floor, the music playing in the background, and the world continuing to spin while he entered his own bubble where time had stopped forever on that loving moment.
“I love you, Jules. I love you both. Happy Anniversary.”
With her head back at his shoulder, Juliet tightened her arms around his neck.
“We love you too. Happy Anniversary.”
And as Tony Bennet’s The Way You Look Tonight started to play, Juliet and Shawn danced.