Work Text:
Ellie sat in one of the uncomfortable chairs near the changing room, squirming as she dreaded her turn, but this was for Joel and Tess; they deserved her willingness and not her griping. Sarah was currently inside trying on her dress since she was going to be Tess’s Maid of Honor, while Maria was standing in as her other bridesmaid. Ellie was standing with Joel as his ‘Best Person,’ and Charlie was going to be his groomsman.
They had all had many conversations about the lineup so Charlie wouldn’t feel overlooked by either parent, and he felt good about being involved. Tess didn’t argue when Ellie asked if she could stand with Joel. Sarah gladly said she would be Tess’s Maid of Honor, wanting Tess to know she was glad to have a new stepmom. Tommy would marry them during the small ceremony, and Kevin was the ring bearer.
Sarah stepped out of the room in a beautiful dress, dark blue with a sensible sweetheart neckline and a long skirt. She swished around for Tess and Ellie’s approval, and they both gave appropriate affirmative noises. Ellie watched as a garment bag was brought into the changing room for her, while Sarah stepped onto a small platform so the attendant could make the necessary adjustments. Tess smiled at Ellie and nodded her off towards the dressing room. Ellie returned the smile and wished Joel were here. He was spending the afternoon with Charlie and Tommy, running errands as well. Ellie closed the door behind her and unzipped the bag, expecting to see something similar to what Sarah was wearing, only to find something very different.
“Tess? I don’t think this is right,” she called out.
“Does it fit? Joel said this might be better for you, and I think you would look great in it.”
Ellie pulled out the slacks, dress shirt, and vest, smiling at the thought of putting on something so fine, yet something she would feel more comfortable in. She stripped out of her sweater and jeans, then stepped into the slacks and buttoned them up, sliding the dark blue shirt over her black tank top, now understanding why Joel told her to wear that today, buttoning that as well before donning the vest, which was black to match the pants. Once that was buttoned as well, she slipped out from behind the curtain, grinning wildly as she spun around to show off to her sister and future stepmother.
Sarah covered her mouth with a hand as Tess smiled widely, “You look amazing, Ellie.”
“Thank you,” Ellie said, not for the compliment but for understanding something about her that even Ellie didn’t fully comprehend.
Tess nodded, clearly understanding what she was really saying. Sarah made a noise, not unlike a squeak of joy, as she held her arms out to Ellie, who allowed herself to be swooped up into a hug from her sister.
“You look so amazing, baby sister,” Sarah whispered into her neck, and Ellie huffed but hugged her back just as tightly until the lady working on Sarah’s dress cleared her throat and made them separate from each other.
It took them only another half hour to finish the fittings and change back into their own clothes before heading home to meet everyone else. Joel planned to pick up dinner to share.
They walked into the house to find the men already home. Ellie rushed across the house and jumped onto Joel’s back, hearing his ‘oof’ at her sudden added weight, but he immediately reached down to hold her legs as she wrapped them around his waist. “Hey, kiddo, how did everything go?”
Ellie shoved her nose into his shoulder and whispered, “Thank you.”
“Baby, you don’t have to thank me for knowing who you are. This isn’t just Tess and my day, it's about all of us. I don’t want you to be uncomfortable for my sake, and neither did Tess.”
Ellie pressed a quick kiss to his shoulder before she dropped to the floor, and they settled in to eat their dinner and discuss the wedding, which would be happening in a couple of weeks.
~ ~ ~
Ellie fiddled with the buttons on her vest, sitting and waiting while Tess and Sarah finished getting ready. The wedding wasn’t going to be in a church or at a large venue; it had about twenty guests, including family, but it was still enough pressure to want to do well.
Ellie desperately wanted to behave and be a good part of this family event. It was far from the first one, but it felt crucial to get this one right.
She refused the makeup Sarah offered, but Tess helped her with her hair, putting it up in a half-ponytail braid, and Ellie tried not to tug at the ends. She knew there would be pictures; Tommy arranged for Joel and Tess to have a photographer for the ceremony and some pictures afterward.
Ellie stood up, walked over to the mirror, and smoothed back her hair before shaking out her hands and turning to pace back and forth in the room. Why the hell was this so intense? She wasn’t getting married! Her job was to stand next to Joel and smile a little. She’s done that before, a lot!
There was a knock at the door, and Sarah called from the bathroom, “That’s Dad, Els, can you tell him we are two minutes out?”
Ellie walked over to the door and opened it to see Joel, looking a little pale, and for a moment, the possibility of picking on Joel relieved her anxiety. “You see a ghost somewhere?” she asked as she leaned against the doorjamb.
Joel frowned down at her, “Shut up.”
Ellie snickered, “Sarah says they are ready to go in two minutes.”
Joel nodded, then looked Ellie up and down, “You look amazin’ kiddo.”
Ellie flushed, looking down at her Converse shoes, something that had been non-negotiable even when Ellie thought she was going to be wearing a dress. She loved her sneakers, and they were the only things she felt comfortable in, even when she knew she'd feel uncomfortable.
“Hey?” Joel asked gently.
She looked up, “What’s up?”
“I’m nervous because I want to be a good partner to Tess, and I don’t want marriage to change that. We’ve been together for a long time, and she’s never wanted to get married until recently.”
Ellie looked around a little, “Okay?”
Joel smiled, “Now you.”
Ellie glared at him, “You’re a jerk, dude.”
Joel waggled his eyebrows for a second, “Come on, kiddo, spill it.”
“I don’t want to screw this up, is all.”
Joel reached out and pressed a hand to her shoulder, “You couldn’t screw this up.”
Ellie looked up, smirking, “What if I pull the fire alarm?”
Joel rolled his eyes, “Don’t go out of your way to screw this up, and you’re gonna be just fine.”
Ellie nodded, leaned her head against Joel’s chest, and he pressed a hand to the back of her neck.
“Dad! Get out of here!” Sarah said as she rushed to the door, and they both laughed before Joel pressed a kiss to the back of Ellie’s head and walked away. Tess walked out as soon as the door was closed again, and Ellie smiled at the sight of her. Tess was also wearing pants instead of a dress, making Ellie feel warm at her center. She was wearing cream-colored pants and a lighter-colored long tunic top with an uneven hem. It had two layers: the top was lacey over a long tank. The tunic had long sleeves with wide bell sleeves at the hem, and she wore gold sandals.
Sarah’s hair was in a lovely side braid, and Tess had her long hair loose around her shoulders with just a little pinned back on each side. It made Ellie feel better about her simple hairstyle.
“You look amazing, Tess,” Ellie said, and they all walked out of the room and headed to the central part of the community center, and each walked down a simple aisle to where Tommy was waiting for them.
They didn’t have a processional, but Joel and Ellie walked down together, then Charlie and Sarah, and finally Kevin, holding hands with Tess, who wasn’t holding flowers, and watching Joel when he turned around. Ellie looked over at Joel to see his eyes soften and his mouth open in awe at the sight of Tess, and as much as Ellie wanted to remember everything that happened after that, her head was buzzing. Everything was blurring around the edges as Tommy spoke, then Tess and Joel took turns. Their vows elicited laughs and happy ‘ooohs and awwwws’ before Tommy announced them married. They went outside to use the lovely space around the community center for some pictures, and Ellie just floated through the experience, wondering how she ended up having a family, something she’d always hoped for but never really thought she would have.
She was glad for it, but she would have to rely on the others, videos, and pictures to remember what happened during the ceremony.