ATG - Part 8
Two posts today! I've got this and the first part of my new fic, Moonlight. =] Aren't I nice...
Title - All That Glitters
Author - midnightfate
Chapter - 8
Pairing - Tony/Candyce
Rating - PG for a little drama
Summary - Candyce and Tony are ready to start their new lives as husband and wife, but Greg has to have his say.
Disclaimer - Don't own.
The party was in full swing at the reception. The normally drab room was decorated with light blue and black streamers to match the wedding colors. Even the centerpieces, martini glasses with candy and confetti inside, matched the colors. The bridesmaids and Josie were delighted with their new bags, each one intricately embroidered with their initials in light blue. Candyce, ever the kind heart, had insisted that they receive something for putting up with her insanity during the planning phase. Music played over a set of powerful speakers, and some people did some early dancing. Everyone was happy and having a good time. Everyone, that is, except for Greg.
“Have you seen Candyce?” he asked his mother. “I have a few words I'd like to say to her.”
“Greg, please. It's her wedding!” Mrs. Proops protested as she absently adjusted her pearls. “Don't bother her with your opinion of Tony. I don't know what you have against him. He's a perfectly nice man, and he treats her well.”
“I don't care!” Greg retorted stubbornly. “She went against my advice.”
“So? She's happy. Can't you tell?”
“For now, maybe,” Greg said as he walked away.
As Greg made his way over to Candyce, she found herself surrounded by people. That was the last thing she wanted, but she expected it. She put on her best smile and accepted their congratulations and other words of kindness as well as she could. Her eyes anxiously scanned the room for Tony. Where was he, and when could they get away from this? She had other things in mind for this particular night, and she was more than certain that Tony did too.
“Candyce!” Tony called.
“Please, excuse me,” Candyce said to the throng of people around her. “My husband wants me.”
It felt so good to be able to call Tony her husband instead of her fiancé or boyfriend. However, the idea of being Mrs. Slattery was going to take some getting used to. It was better than her maiden name, though. She loved her family to death, but that name was the bane of her existence at times. As a young girl, people often made fun of her for it, but she didn't have that problem anymore now that her last name was Slattery. It was a very good feeling.
Candyce worked her way out of the throng and found Tony waiting for her by the serving tables. He immediately embraced her, and she took the opportunity to gaze into his eyes. She heard a camera click and smiled. Wedding pictures, of course. Tony smiled at her, and she sighed happily. She could definitely get used to this.
“I think it's time for...you know. Those dances,” Tony said as he nodded towards the floor. “Your dad was looking for you.”
“Do I have to?” Candyce whined. “I'd rather stay like this...or do something more enjoyable...”
Tony smirked at her. His smutty thought process had rubbed off on her, and he couldn't lie. He liked it. A lot. Her eyes lit up when she realized that she could stay like that for at least three more minutes.
“Tony, my dad's wrong. I don't dance with him first. I dance with you,” she said happily.
“Brilliant. I think it's about time, actually.”
Mike, acting as emcee for the reception, stepped to the microphone and quietened the guests. As everyone's attention shifted to Mike, Tony gently lead Candyce closer to the floor. He held her hand tightly as Mike spoke.
“I think it's time we get this thing underway, and I can't think of a better way to start than with Tony and Candyces's first dance. Come on, you two crazy lovebirds,” he said with his jovial laugh.
Tony lead Candyce onto the floor, and she knew that everyone was looking at them. She had never felt comfortable dancing in public, but this was an exception. There wasn't that much to a slow dance, anyway. She was sure she remembered how to do it. As they held each other close, Greg scowled at them from the shadows. He knew better than to interrupt a couple's first dance...damn it, when was it going to be his turn to talk to his sister?
A slow love ballad with heavy piano and string orchestra began to play over the speakers. Tony wasn't too fond of the song, but he knew it was one of Candyce's favourites, so he tolerated it. Besides, it wasn't like he was listening to it. He was too busy staring into Candyce's eyes to pay attention to it. They moved back and forth in place, just enjoying the moment. Just to vary things, Tony gave Candyce an elegant spin, and she smiled. Could he be any more amazing? She didn't think so.
As the song played, everyone in the room became invisible. The only person Candyce could see was Tony and vice versa. She found herself lost in Tony's beautiful brown eyes, and she had no intent of finding herself any time soon. Neither of them was aware that the song came to an end until the room fell silent. Candyce snapped out of her reverie, much to her dismay, and kissed Tony. She hesitantly let go of him and sought out her father. Once she found him, he wrapped his younger daughter in a tight hug and kissed her head.
“You look beautiful, Candyce. I don't think I've ever seen you happier.”
“Thanks, Dad. I think we have a little something to take care of.”
Her father nodded, and he took his daughter onto the wooden floor. As they danced, she spied Tony with his mother. He smiled at her, and she returned it. Much to her delight, her new mother-in-law gave her an approving smile as well. What was all this talk Candyce had heard about horrible in-laws? Obviously it wasn't true! She met her father's gaze once again, and her face fell once she saw that he looked worried.
“Dad?” Candyce asked. “What's wrong?”
“You haven't seen Greg, have you?” he asked. “He's not happy with you...”
“Please, I know he's not happy with me. As much as I hate to say what I'm about to say, it's the truth. I don't care what he thinks. This is my life and my marriage,” Candyce replied sweetly.
“I know, but you two have been so close...”
“We'll be okay. Trust me.”
Candyce's dad nodded, and she gave him a smile. She knew that her father always valued his family and that it killed him to see his children torn apart like this, but there was nothing she could do to alleviate it. It was Greg's fault to begin with! If he would just stop trying to interfere with her life, then they could go about their business. For once, Candyce wished that she was Greg's older sister instead of his younger sister. Then, maybe things would be different. The song came to an end, and her father hugged her once again. She was about to go find Tony and see if they could leave (it was growing late), but Greg grabbed her wrist and drug her away. It was now or never.
“Greg, what the hell was that for?” Candyce gasped as she rubbed her wrist. “I was looking for Tony!”
“That's what I wanted to talk to you about,” Greg said seriously. “Why? Why the hell did you marry him?”
“Oh, let's see, shall we? Tony asked me to marry him, and I said yes. Not exactly rocket science, is it?” snapped Candyce.
“Why did you say yes, then?”
“I love him! Why else would I accept his proposal?”
“I'm telling you, it's going to end badly. You two are too different,” Greg said. “But no, you have to be your normal independent self and go against me. Damn it, Candyce...if you'd listen...”
“How are Tony and I different? I mean, we're from different countries, but really, our personalties aren't that different. Just try to find a major difference.”
“You don't like to go out. He does.”
“Hah! Greg, you haven't been around me much lately. I happen to like going out. London is a wonderful city.”
Greg knew another way that Candyce differed from her new husband, but he wasn't about to get that personal with his sister. The idea of his little sister sleeping with Tony was enough to make his stomach churn, and the thought that she was probably looking for him so they could leave and do that very thing was abhorringly disgusting. Hell, the idea of Candyce sleeping with anyone was bad enough. He shook that unpleasant thought out his head and narrowed his eyes.
“Just trust me, something will happen.”
“Lighten up. You're probably jealous because your little sister got married before you did. Now, if you'll kindly excuse me, I need to go find Tony.”
With that, Candyce turned on her heel and did her best to gather herself as she stormed away from her brother. No sense in making Tony ask questions! After all, this was their wedding night, and it was supposed to be a night of fun. There was absolutely no way that she would ruin that, so she figured that she would keep the conversation she had with Greg a secret. Candyce quickly found Tony and pushed Greg's warning to the back of her mind.
“Ready?” Tony asked alluringly with that twinkle in his eyes that she loved. Candyce knew good and well what he had in mind.
“Definitely,” she replied.
As they said their goodbyes to everyone, Candyce saw Greg again out of the corner of her eye. He shook his head at her and turned without saying another word. His warning kept flashing in the back of her mind, but she ignored it. Really, was something like that possible? Tony loved her, and she loved him. No way was this marriage going to end. Greg was wrong. Candyce's heart told her that she would stay by Tony no matter what happened. This was for good, and she wouldn't have it any other way.