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Kipps stood awkwardly, this had always been the norm for him. He knew he was all gangly limbs like a puppy dog not quite grown up and had long accepted he would forever be essentially a overgrown teenager. Long limbed but shorter than average, today he was more awkward than usual. He had a pale faced that was tensed in concentration and effort. He was straining on his tip toes, so his collar was showing in the small mirror in Holly's flat hallway and was trying to fix his tie. He'd so far managed to get his finger stuck in the knot. Then he thought he had it, but it had unraveled completely. He stood with it loose around his neck but was confused by the reflection and how every movement he made was a mirror image. He swore softly and threw his arms out in frustration. He paused and started to study all the Polaroid pictures Holly had stuck by the mirror. Smiling pictures of Holly and her girlfriend, Katie, all smiles in some arty black and white shots of London landmarks. There were ones of Portland Road too, George laughing whilst painting in the kitchen caught off guard and with paint in his hair. There was Lucy, a candid shot that Holly must have taken on the way to a job once in a taxi. Lucy turned to the camera eyes shining brightly her feet up on the rear seat in between George and Tony, a slight laugh threatening to erupt. There was him in the kitchen of Portland Row, cuppa in hand, and George next to him, two fingers up behind his head, little shit. Flo on her boat Matilda, the whole gang had gone out fishing, Tony and he had turned it competitive and Holly had trumped them all. The picture was of her, her face a picture of disgust at the fish she was holding. His fingers traced the faces and smiles of his friends. Then, one of Tony and Lucy. Tony, with his arms around Lucy's waist, his head tucked down towards her shoulders. He must have said something to make her laugh as Lucy's face was blurred slightly as she'd turned and her face was full of mirth, it must have been shortly after they were 'officially' dating. Everyone knew, of course, they'd all crowded round the window of the front room at Portland Row when they'd gone for their infamous 'walk'. To be fair, Holly and himself had talked about it for months, and George was fed up with the doe eyes they made at each other.
He returned to his infernal knotting his fingers fumbling. He'd never been good with these things. Never needed to learn, too many years in the famous grey uniform. Whatever good that had done him, nothing to show for so many years of his life. Shit, he was nervous, and his fingers were shaking slightly. Which bit went where, why was this so difficult? Was it the top bit over first? How on earth did Lockwood wear one every day, the smarmy git. He let the tie go again with an exasperated sigh.
It was just the two of them left now in Holly's tidy little flat. Holly and her girlfriend had left a few minutes earlier, chattering excitedly as their taxi arrived. All the noise and bustle of the morning over, just the contemplative quiet before Jake was due to pick them up. Lucy had stayed here the night before. She had been all for staying at Portland Row until Holly had vetoed the idea some weeks earlier.
"You know that's bad luck Lucy, you can't be seen in the morning. It's tradition!"
Lucy had laughed at this.
"It's not as though the rest of the day will be very traditional, Hol. But if you insist, I trust George to get Lockwood where he needs to be on time."
They'd suggested Kipps could stay over, too, given his role in proceedings. Holly had offered the pull out the sofa bed, but he'd declined. Lizzy, his girlfriend, was on a rare few days off from work from St Thomas's Hospital, and a cozy night in with her was much needed. They'd promised each other they'd spend as much time as possible before things got busy, and they were due to get really, scarily busy. Not just with his new official role with Lockwood. Plus, he had no idea what 'girly' things would be done the night before you were married. He imagined that there would be those things on your face, those beauty mask things and tittering gossip, nail varnish, and what ..what if Holly had hired a stripper. Oh no, he was out! When he told her his fears Lizzy had gently admonished and teased him for this,
"Oh yeah Quill, they'll be cooking up a fertility spell of some kind, Flo will appear with various trinkets she's found to burn in a ceremony and they'll be surrounded by scantily clad fireman and police officers chanting Lockwood's name."
Lizzy had told him that the reality was likely to be much more mundane, pizzas and wine. There were going to be facemasks, though. He had been right about that. Lucy had pleaded with Lizzy to come along, but she'd worried she'd be too tired to make the ceremony and politely declined.
He'd been lost in his thoughts, remembering times with the company, the jobs, the laughs, the epic breakfasts, and crazy bickering.
"I thought I was the one meant to be nervous, Kipps." Lucy had spoken so softly from behind him he startled slightly.
Kipps turned and whistled softly, "Lucy, you look..." His voice deserted him. Lucy stood in the doorway, her cheeks flushing slightly and her eyes sparkling as bright as the shimmering familiar jewel she wore. She had declared a traditional dress wasn't for her, George had muttered she absolutely couldn't wear white for its 'traditional' meaning and he had ears, which worked exceedingly well, and if the noise carried on he would move in with Flo. Even if this meant living under a bridge.
The dress was long, with delicately beaded sleeves and bodice. A long deep neck line that traversed towards a delicate cluster of pearls at her chest, the sapphire necklace resting perfectly above standing out against her pale skin. It was the palest of creams. A cluster of flowers was in her hair.
"So, I look alright, old man?"
"Yeah, you'll pass! I'll allow the old just for today. Just don't call me Dad again. That was weird that time.. Tony is a lucky man."
Lucy laughed, a bright chime of a sound. She came up and started to fix Kipps tie, fingers deftly moving and quickly wound the loose ends in a neat knot. Kipps looked down at Lucy. He wasn't tall, but he was almost a head taller than her.
"Huh, how do you know how to do that?" Then more tenderly. "Listen, I know I'm not your real family, Lucy. But you, Tony, even George...well, you let me in when I was at my lowest, when I had no purpose or reason to be. Given what I did, I didn't deserve any of that. So for today, I'd like to think of you as family. Your Northern big brother maybe, yeah I'd like that and it will be my honor to give you away. Even to a soft Southern boy like Tony."
Lucy smiled broadly, then her lips quivered slightly, and tears brimmed in her eyes. Then her lips wobbled more, and the tears flowed.
"Oh hey, wait, don't cry, Lucy! Is this cause I called Tony soft. "
Kipps drew her into his arms. "Come on, pet."
"No, Kipps, it's just... you are my real family, you Holly, Flo and George...and Lockwood. God even Skull, even if he's a sarcastic little dick. You're my real family. You always will be."
Lucy was sobbing now, her face buried in Kipp's chest. It was past the point he really knew what to do. Before he'd started dating Lizzy, women had always been a bit of an enigma for him. It was still true. Especially crying, weeping ones. He opted for squeezing her a bit tighter.
"Right enough now, you'll ruin your dress and makeup, I'm not Holly. I can't redo that for you. There were so many pots and potions and that weird metal thing that looked like she was going to suck your eyeball out with."
"It was eye lash curlers Kipps," Lucy's voice muffled as her head was still pressed into his chest.
There was a beep of a horn from outside, Kipps gently let Lucy go and popped his head out the door. He turned to Lucy, who was dabbing her face carefully with a tissue.
"Let's get you married then."
Jake, the taxi driver, was waiting for them. His cab freshly washed with a blue ribbon adorning the front bonnet, the ends of the it whistling, and whirling in the breeze. Jake wore a suit and had acquired a ridiculous top hat from somewhere. Lucy laughed when he gave an overexaggerated bow, sweeping his hat off his head.
In the cab there was an initial excited chatter, Jake full of congratulations he had to pass on from other cabbies and laughing over tales of having already picked up George and Lockwood and deposited them safely at the Town Hall.
"We were halfway there, and George realised he'd only one shoe on. Who does that?"
A nervous quietness had settled then. Kipps had squeezed Lucy's hand but she was lost in thought, looking out of the cab window. Then they were suddenly there. Jake pulled up outside the town hall, steps leading up to a baroque portico. Huge double doors, already open, ready to welcome them both. A hallway to joy and happily ever afters.
"Ready?"
"Aren't I meant to ask you that, Lucy?"
He was ready. He'd been ready from the first moment they'd asked him. It'd been a couple of months back, on the day they announced it to everyone. Lockwood had dropped that bombshell casually into conversation over breakfast one day. They were all gathered ready to hear George's latest research on a case. They'd been asked to tackle a visitor over at the historic Hampton Court, a limbless in the old Tudor kitchens.
"Morning everyone, I think I need toast and tea before we start George, please. Kipps stick the kettle on. Oh, and by the way, I asked Lucy to marry me, and she said yes."
George spat his tea out and stared incredulously, mouth open like a goldfish, as Holly shrieked and jumped up, her usual calm demeanor gone. It was Kipps who reacted first, turning from the kettle with a massive grin and sweeping Lucy and Lockwood in a massive hug.
"Tony, you sly dog! Lucy! That's amazing news."
The limbless was forgotten, free to terrorise the kitchens one more night. Hurried trips were made to Arif's for emergency cake, donuts, beers (despite the time of day), and sparkling apple juice. News travelled fast it seemed and within an hour Flo turned up with a massive crumpled box of chocolates, Holly later delicately and unobtrusively hid them under the kitchen sink as they had an unidentifiable green slime on them. It was a surprise to no one who was celebrating at Portland Row that it had happened so fast. It was the norm, of course, in The Problem times, you didn't hang about. Even Kipps could see that Lockwood and Lucy were soulmates. It had enraged him at first. How could Tony so seemingly effortlessly run an agency, have his own place, look cool, and get the girl. It was another tick on the things he hated about him, but then gradually, overtime, he realised the list was less about Tony and more about him and his perceived failings of himself. He started to leave his sarcastic and egotistical self behind, explore who he truly was.
They asked him later that night, as he was packing and checking equipment in the kitchen in no rush to get back as Lizzy was on a late shift. Holly had already headed home, still grinning like the Cheshire cat. She was worryingly organised already, having rustled up a notebook and spent much of the afternoon quizzing Lucy and Lockwood on their choices from invitations, flowers to cake flavours. Lucy had attempted to reign her in declaring they wanted something small and simple, but Holly, with an event to oragnise, had been unleashed. She was a force of nature in that mode. Kipps was looping iron chains and making sure each bag had enough flares. Limbless ghosts didn't care about engagements or eternal happiness, and the whole team would be back in action tomorrow. Lucy came in first, followed by Lockwood pushing his dark hair out of his eyes. Kipps picked up the furtive glances between the two and raised eyebrows immediately.
"Spit it out, what do you want? I'm not tackling this limbless on my own or with just George. Last time, it was just us two George managed to not only knock out the electricity of the house we were searching but one of my teeth. Plus, all his trousers are worryingly loose. I'm going to need danger money if I have to see him moon me Tony."
"It's not that Kipps. We wanted to ask you something."
Kipps glanced up at the tone of his voice. It was uncharacteristically uncertain and hesitant. Lockwood stood behind a seated Lucy who had been grasping a long since finished cup of tea. Lockwood was still fidgeting with his hair, then seemed to sense this and firmly put his hands in in his back pockets.
"Well, er, we were talking Luce and I....." Lockwood faltered and tailed off.
Kipps was worried now. Had they decided they didn't want him in the company any more. They'd finally realised those goggles were no substitute for talent. He was more of a hindrance, was that it?
Lucy must have sensed the concern and spotted the unspoken questions in his eyes.
"Kipps, will you give me away....at the wedding, I mean?"It came out in a rush, and she looked quickly towards Lockwood, who untucked his hand and squeezed her shoulder.
"Me, me, Luce? Me?" His eyes were boggling more than usual, and he looked from Lucy to Lockwood like a giant gaping mouthed frog trying to catch a fly.
"You Kipps, yes, you prick. We talked about it, I want George as my best man. I mean, I might have to take care of the rings myself, and he'll be stress cleaning weeks before. You're family now Kipps, I know this doesn't repay you staying and fighting with us against Gale and his croons. It doesn't repay what you did over there, on the other side. I know that. You saved us over there, Kipps."
Kipps shook his head in disbelief.
"Me? You want me?'
Lucy was laughing at him now.
"Yes, you great Northern idiot. You."
Kipps was smiling back at them now.
"I'd be honored. You don't owe me anything, though. I think without you and everything you've given me, I'd be more dead if I hadn't travelled to the other side."
His eyes were filling up now, a rare occurrence for Kipps. Tears mix with a great, broad grin.
"Yes, I'll do it, gladly."
Lucy leaped up from her seat and enveloped him in a hug. Lockwood clapped him on the shoulder, his grin matching Kipps.
"Nice one, Kipps, or should I call you daddy?"
"Absolutely fucking not Tony."
Kipps smiled at the fortune he had ending up with a job, with friends, with a partner, with a family. He took Lucy's arm, tucked it in his and they walked together into the ceremony room. It was only small, just how Lucy had wanted it, much to Lockwood's chagrin as he'd had designs on a newspaper spread and Holly had pursed her lips. They both agreed though that it was perfect.
Music started to play, a recording of a song that Kipps remembered from the radio when he was little, his mam and dad dancing in the kitchen to it. He wondered if that was where Lockwood had heard it too.
She may be the face I can't forget...
People turned to look. There was Jake, he'd rushed in ahead of them to sit with his partner Tony. Barnes and Wade, both with serious faces as usual but Barnes gave a slight wink towards them as they passed and Wade a grin before raising her camera. The flash popping and lights pricking in Kipps eye sight. A older couple he hadn't met before but had such a resemblance to George it was no doubt they were his mum and dad. There was his Lizzy, resplendent in a short laced dress. He was so used to seeing her in scrubs and the dress skimmed tightly over her figure, the slightest hint of a bump thrilling him. He'd clearly stop to gawp at her as he sensed Lucy pulling ahead and Lizzy aggressively doing that eyebrow point he never really got. Then onwards, a younger woman similar in looks to Lucy, this must be Mary her favored sister. Holly and Katie beaming bright beacons of smiles. Flo in a new hat with a blue ribbon tied round, this the only reference to her being at a wedding, her other attire remained the same. Then finally George looking towards them both with an 'o' shaped mouth, his eyes wide and lively. Lockwood finally turned toward them, sensing they were near. A gulp, then another. Then a nod to Kipps and a grin that was purely for Lucy.
"Who gives this woman to be married to this man?"
Kipps squeezed Lucy's hand, and leant to peck her on the cheek.
"I do."
The party back at Portland Row would be long remembered. Kipps and George has spent days before rigging up portable ghost lights and tons of fairy lights in the small garden at the rear, then a small marquee that Arif had somehow procured from his nephew. Between Arif and George's mum there were tables heaving and sagging with food of every variety. At the centre George's cake, tiered with two figures holding rapiers on the top, surrounded by iced on iron chains.
They ate, they drank, then danced and chatted and laughed. Kipps caught the bouquet, completely unintentionally. He'd been lamenting Middlesbrough Football Club with Jake who was a Fulham fan so similarly doomed. Both had a beer in hand. Holly and Katie missed the thrown flowers by being overcompetitive and pushing each other the wrong way. Flo side stepped it and Lizzy was too busy laughing at Holly in a ungracious heap to spot it. It landed, plop, right in his drink. He grinned towards a blushing Lizzy and raised his eyes suggestively.
There were toasts, more laughs a few groans. Lockwood made a speech and cried, about bloody time thought Kipps. Then more dancing.
It was the perfect night after a perfect day for Lucy and Anthony Lockwood
Kipps slunk off about midnight with Lizzy, headed back to their flat together. Hands entwined, Lizzy's head on his shoulder in the cab. They were soon curled up in bed together, Kipps tucked around the sleepy Lizzy stroking the small bump of her abdomen.
"Do you think we should have told them?"
Lizzy opened one eye.
"Absolutely not Kipps, steal their thunder? It was their day Lucy and Lockwood's. I want our news to be just for us, just our secret for a little while longer."
Kipps moved his head down so he his lips were brushing the bump.
"Hear that little baby girl, that's your sensible mother talking."
Lizzy was laughing, Kipps breath and lips tickling her.
"I'll see you soon baby girl, and eventually you'll meet someone special. Just avoid Bunchurch agents they are all dickheads, OK? When you do I'll get to do this all over again, I'll get to give you away but you won't ever leave my heart. "