Trigger Warning: Some parts will feel familiar to those who've had the misfortune of dealing with a protective order, and the asshole who is willing to breach it.
Rest assured, this is still a tale with a happily ever after.
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"No fair!" Rin punched me in the arm, the stone on the ring crunching painfully on the muscle. She was wearing her favourite onesie, but had the hood down, for once.
I sucked in air, and rubbed where she had hit, "Do you see me driving!? Just because you've only just got up."
She went to grab the wheel and I knocked her hand aside, "I got an early start, so we could have more time for us, today. I wasn't trying to piss you off."
Rin sighed and sank down, holding her knees, "Well, yeah. Didn't assume you were trying to piss me off. That'd just be dumb. But... You weren't there when I woke up. It hurt."
"Oh."
She gave a tiny shrug, "Doesn't matter. You had sweet reasons for it."
"Did you really panic attack that I had somehow abandoned you? When we're on a boat, and I just proposed?"
"I didn't say it was reasonable." She said angrily, "Still... Hurt. I... I was so excited to see you first thing. To have you be the thing I woke up to, and not a blank wall. Especially... Because... You did propose."
I rubbed my arm again, "Well, I'm glad you like the ring. Even if I'm regretting getting a stone that size. That seriously hurt."
"You deserved it." Rin retorted and then put her face in her hands and gave a frustrated yell. I glanced towards her as she calmed herself down, and then she spoke quieter. "Sorry. You didn't deserve it. I'm a real married woman now. Need to stop lying and hiding."
"Rin, I fell for you. Don't go changing on me."
She shuffled over and leaned her head in my lap, "You mean it?"
"Duh." I patted her on the head, "Though... Have I managed to change your mind about a wedding? You talked about it with Jan. That maybe you were missing out."
Rin snorted, "It's been a night. I haven't had a chance to write my vows yet, but yeah. I'd like to stand in a garden with you and tell the world what I want."
"Rob cut up your wedding dress."
She sighed heavily, "Oh, that fucking asshole. I'd nearly forgot about him, with you. I wonder if I can easily get a tearaway wedding dress? That'd be fun. Though... You booked the garden for our last day with the boat. Honeymoon over. Wouldn't have much chance for you to do anything fun like that before we have to head home."
"We going to fight over whose apartment we're going to live in?"
"Uh uh." Rin shook her head, "Rob has no idea where your place is. So I don't have to deal with any drunken rants when he comes back and screams at me that I'm missing out by not fuckin' him."
"Fuck's sake, Rin." I cringed, "Why haven't you got a restraining order on him, yet?"
"I do. Called a protective order."
"Oh."
She nestled her head in a bit more, "Can we... Not talk about my ex? You proposed. You're supposed to be romantic. I'm supposed to be romantic. Not... Slightly depressed."
"Well, slightly depressed, there's another sandwich in the toaster oven for you." I offered.
"Comfy, here."
I brushed her head some more, "So... Back to wedding planning... Do you think there's anyone you know who could hack it? That'd be able to show up for it? Friends?"
"Uh... No." Rin laughed weakly, "I mean... I might have one or two friends I could coax until they're okay with us, but not in the space of a few days. Oh! We could invite Tom and Jan. Doubt they'd turn up, but I wanna invite someone. Anyone."
I nodded, "Should be able to put some addresses together from our map."
"What... About you? Wanna invite anyone?" Rin asked, her tone of voice suggesting she knew the answer.
I shrugged, "Yeah. I already did. Sorry if you feel put out by that. The day is still going to be totally about you or me. If anyone gets too annoying we'll just leave. Go back to... Our place."
"Who?"
I laughed softly, "That's for me to know, and for you to find out."
"Not for my fucking wedding it's not." Rin snapped, "Bride is the bride. Names, Chris. Now."
I shook my head, "Usually, I'd agree. But... No. I want it to be a surprise. I've invited two people. Both of them know us and... Said they want to be there. Accept it. Us."
"What?" Rin said fearfully, "And... I goddamn hope you were sure of it before you asked them, Chris! Nobody is tearing us apart. I won't let it happen."
"I was."
She punched my leg, "You're an asshole, sometimes."
"I love you." I offered pathetically.
Rin grabbed me around the waist quickly, "I love you, too. I can't say how much I love you. Don't want to be anywhere except by your side. Well, on top works pretty good as well. But by your side."
"Speaking of on top... You were getting a bit... Sore."
Rin laughed at me, "Fishing to see if we're going to fuck, today?"
"Kinda. First time sex after our proposal." I said nervously, "I... May have wanted to, when you got me to call Vincent instead."
She chuckled, "Yeah, I'm sore. Good 'n chafed. So... Extra lube. Which, I happen to have bought. So you can fuck me as much as we want. But... That reminds me. What did the royal dick have to say for his majesty? And why did it take you like two hours on the phone?"
"He thinks Mum and Dad overreacted. So he's going to give us some space." I replied honestly, but cautiously. I didn't want to get her hopes up, or let slip I'd invited him.
Rin glared, "Yeah, right. What did he actually say?"
"He... Apologised. Said he deserved it when I punched him." I said, still sort of surprised that particular turn of events had happened.
She jerked her head into the steering wheel in shock, "Ow. Also, the fuck? I can't actually remember him apologising... Ever. I remember Dad ordering him when we were younger, and him biting Dad instead."
"Yeah."
Rin shook off the surprise and knelt her head down again, "Da fuck. You must have given him a concussion or something with that punch of yours. So... Onto less confusing shit... How do you want to fuck me, today? You like plans."
"There's a picnic place that's about an hour's hike from our next stop." I offered up the romantic plan, "Or... We can go back to bed and just sit there grinning at each other like idiots and pretending to get some sleep like last night."
"I wanna scream your name from the top of a mountain." Rin said quickly, "Dunno if it's in sex, or just wanna say I love you. Either way, really. So... Sandwiches for lunch?"
I stroked her cheek, "You could do some more house-wifey things and bake us some biscuits to go with. If you wanted."
"Mmm. Nah." She yawned, "Instead, I'm going to play dress ups. Do you remember me saying something about buying clothes so you can rip them off me?"
"Vaguely... So... Tights?"