Shattered Glass

[Louise_2983]

Well I can't believe this fic is 50 chapters old. Thanks for sticking with me, I appreciate all your comments and I hope you enjoy this chapter

Chapter 50

“I’m sorry I’m late!” Belle cried as she dashed through the door to the tiny boutique, the wind charms above the door tinkling softly.

“I had a funeral to attend” she explained with a solemn nod.

“A funeral?!” Matilda exclaimed, her mouth agape.

“Who died?!”

“Don’t panic!” Belle smiled softly.

“Mickey Mouse Jefferies the goldfish is no more and Jamie’s devastated so we had to bury him and read poems and it was all very moving”

“Aww poor Jamie!” Nicole sighed as she carefully lifted Alyssia from the bright blue baby carrier strapped to Belle’s front and cuddled her close to her chest.

“But the perfect excuse to give him lots of cuddles hey?”

“I never need an excuse to cuddle my boy” Belle grinned as Nicole thrust a pile of coat hangers, each with a wedding dress hanging from it, into her hands.

“Woah hold on, what are these?”

“Wedding dresses?” Nicole looked at her as if she were stupid.

“You know the reason we’re here?”

“But they’re all white” Belle stated the obvious as she flipped through the hangers and cast a critical eye over each dress in turn.

“Someone better tell Charlie to watch out” Nicole quipped sarcastically.

“We have a new detective in town!”

“Oh ha ha very funny” Belle sighed as she gazed down at the dresses in her hands.

“You were late so we picked out some possibilities for you” Matilda clarified taking one of Alyssia’s tiny hands and playing with it gently.

“But you guys know that I’m not wearing white and these are all so...”

“Gorgeous?” Matilda finished her sentence for her.

“Weddingy?” Belle mumbled uncertainly.

“Well funny that what with them being for a wedding and all!”

“You know what I mean!” Belle sighed in frustration.

“I was just thinking something plain and simple and not white given that this isn’t going to be the first time I’ve done this! And it will be Aden’s third wedding”

“Nah the second doesn’t count as a wedding” Nicole muttered as she handed Alyssia over to an eager Matilda and turned her attention to removing one of the dresses Belle was clutching from its hanger.

“It felt more like a wake”

“Nicole!”

“Well it did! I’m not going to lie about it. Kirsty didn’t even wear a dress she wore this cream skirt suit thing” Nicole visibly shuddered as she remembered the garment which had clearly offended her.

“And there was hardly anyone there! There was literally the two of them with Jamie and Ollie, me, Roman and Irene. It was in this tiny little registry office and we went to The Diner afterwards!”

“The Diner?” Belle asked in disbelief as she ran her fingertips over the soft white silk of the dress Nicole was holding up in front of her.

“A-ha” Nicole nodded, pressing the dress into Belle’s hands and taking the others from her.

“So if you really want some plain and simple dress and a tiny wedding then fine but if you’re just doing it because you don’t think you deserve a nice wedding with a big dress and all your friends and

family because you had that before and screwed it up th-“

“Gee Nicole make her feel good about this why don’t you?” Matilda chuckled as she cuddled Alyssia closer to her and cooed softly into her ear.

“I don’t think your Mummy and Daddy screwed up sweetheart, not when they ended up with you”

“Exactly” Nicole nodded.

“Aden and Kirsty had their small, crappy wedding because neither of them actually loved the other and if they’d had some big, fancy wedding in front of everyone it would have made things even more

of a sham. But you and Aden being back together shows that if you love someone you can overcome pretty much anything and that’s something that deserves to be celebrated! Everyone is really happy

for you guys, well...” she paused with a smile.

“Maybe not Kirsty but pretty much everyone, so why shouldn’t you have a wedding that you’re going to enjoy and remember rather than hiding away as if you’re doing something wrong by getting

married to the man you love again?!”

“I never thought I’d say this” Matilda chuckled.

“But she actually talks a lot of sense”

“Well actually” Belle smiled in exasperation at the fact Nicole was right.

“Aden and I were trying to write a guest list last night and we realised that even if we just invite the people closest to us that still gives us you two, Ric, Roman, Sophie, Geoff with Melody and Sam” she

paused with a giggle as Nicole visibly winced.

“Annie, my Mum, Peter, the twins, Ryan, Drew...”

“That’s not a small wedding” Matilda laughed softly as she rocked Alyssia gently in her arms.

“Exactly” Belle chuckled.

“So we decided we may as well just invite everyone because even the people who don’t make the really important list are still important to us!”

“So you’ll try the dresses on?” Nicole asked with a triumphant grin.

“Yes I’ll try them on, but no promises!” Belle laughed as Nicole pushed her towards the small veiled area at the back of the tiny shop.

“Well get a move on then! You do get married next week after all!”

“Actually we don’t” Belle grinned sheepishly running into the changing area and yanking the curtain shut before Nicole could kill her.

“Please do not tell me you brought it forward!” Nicole threatened.

“Because I can’t plan the perfect hen night in less than a week!”

“OK then, we didn’t bring it forward” Belle mumbled as she slid the soft, silky dress over her body.

“Anyway I’m Maid of Honour! The hen night is my responsibility!” Matilda objected on the other side of the curtain.

“Please?!” Nicole cried in frustration.

“Letting a solicitor plan the wildest night of your life? I don’t think so! We are SO going to breaking some laws!” she announced with a wicked cackle as Belle stuck her head around the blue velvet curtain.

“I don’t even want a hen night!”

“Tough!” Nicole announced gleefully.

“You’re only the bride, you don’t get a say!”

“You brought the wedding forward didn’t you?” Matilda asked knowingly.

“We might have”

“How forward?!” Nicole demanded rather than questioned.

“Saturday?” Belle mumbled sheepishly.

“3 days?! Why could you possibly want to get married in 3 days?”

“Well” Belle began but stopped as her cheeks suddenly blushed crimson.

“Well it sounded all romantic and lovely when it was just me and Aden discussing it but now you’re going to laugh at me and I’m not so sure...”

“I won’t laugh” Matilda promised with a soft smile that Belle knew was genuine.

“I meant Nicole!”

“Just tell us!”

“Well Saturday would have been our sixth wedding anniversary if it hadn’t been for the whole...”

“Divorce?” Nicole helpfully filled in as she paused.

“Yes” Belle laughed softly.

“That legal thing that neither of us really wanted”

“So you want to get married on the same day as you got married before?”

“Yep” Belle nodded still clutching the curtain over her body.

“But we cancelled the registry office and we’ve decided to get married on the beach at sunrise, you know kind of like a new beginning for an old love?” she muttered feeling very self conscious.

“That is the most romantic thing I have ever heard!” Nicole sighed as she gently ran her fingertips over Alyssia’s dark hair.

“Aren’t your Mummy and Daddy just total saps?” she giggled but couldn’t hide the tears welling up in her eyes.

“Nic?” Belle teased softly.

“Are you crying?”

“No!” the blonde cried defensively.

“I just have something in my eye!”

“Yeah whatever!” Matilda chuckled as Nicole wrenched the curtain from Belle’s grasp and pulled her out into the flattering lighting of the store.

“Oh” she sighed as she realised how ill fitting the dress was around Belle’s cleavage.

“Yeah” Belle laughed inching the strapless dress up to preserve her modesty.

“I’m either going to need the next size up or a different style dress. I seem to have erm filled out a little since Alyssia”

“I bet Aden appreciates it though!” Matilda laughed cheekily as Belle continued to struggle with keeping the dress up.

“If only he’d let himself!” Belle sighed in frustration.

“He’s being a stickler for the 8 week rule! Honestly, the one time I actually want him to be a rebel...”

“The eight week rule doesn’t stop you doing other stuff though” Nicole winked suggestively.

“But other stuff just makes me want to...”

“Jump him, yeah we get it”

“What exactly are you going to do on your wedding night? Hold hands?” Matilda scoffed.

“Mattie” Belle sighed with a smile.

“You’d be very surprised how often that is all we’ve done”

“Because holding hands is how they got you isn’t it beautiful?” Matilda aimed her words towards the tiny baby in her arms with a chuckle.

“I swear!” Belle laughed with a wink.

“The two times we’ve done it...bam! Jamie and Alyssia!”

“Whatever!” Nicole laughed pushing Belle back behind the curtain with another dress to try.

“Who picked out this dress?” she called over the curtain as she gazed at her reflection in the mirror.

“Me if you like it, Matilda if you didn’t!” Nicole’s voice called back.

“Hey!”

“It’s perfect” Belle whispered softly as she stepped back out into the soft lighting of the boutique.

“It really was me” Nicole grinned as she took in the sight of Belle in the beautiful, one off dress.

“And it is perfect” Matilda smiled before twisting Alyssia around to face Belle.

“Doesn’t your mummy look beautiful sweetie?”

A small gurgle tripped over the baby girl’s lips as Matilda bounced her gently in her lap.

“Well thank you beautiful, I’ll take that as a yes” Belle grinned taking her daughter from Matilda and kissing her softly as she breathed in her warm, familiar scent. She cuddled the baby girl close for a

few minutes before realising that Nicole was suspiciously silent as she looked through the racks of bridesmaids dresses.

“Nicole?” she questioned dubiously.

“What are you up to? You better not have chosen anything pink and fluffy!”

“Of course I haven’t” the blonde sniffled as she kept her back turned.

“Nic? Are you crying? What’s wrong?” she asked softly as she moved to her side and placed a hand gently on her shoulder.

“Nothing” Nicole shrugged trying to hastily wipe away her tears.

“There is something, you’re crying”

“And the last person I want to do this in front of is you! We don’t even like each other half the week!”

“Maybe not but today’s Wednesday and I’ve got today pencilled in my diary as a day to like you” Belle smiled softly.

“So what is it?”

“It’s just stupid” Nicole sighed, rubbing a trail of mascara across the back of her hand in an attempt to remove her tears.

“It’s just...you get two weddings with the man you love and I can’t even manage one!”

“Nicole, you’re only 25 there’s plenty of time to find him yet!” Matilda chuckled.

“But not when you’ve already found him hey Nic?” Belle asked knowingly.

“No” the blonde shook her head as Belle silently mouthed the name “Geoff” to Matilda.

“Ah” Matilda whispered feeling foolish.

“I told you it was stupid! He’s not even that great! He’s so high and mighty and self righteous and...and...and”

“And what?” Belle prompted with a giggle.

“And married” she sighed, her eyes filling with tears once more.

“I know I really shouldn’t be saying this stood here in a wedding dress, three days away from becoming one again but wives are dispensable!”

“Belle!” both Matilda and Nicole exclaimed laughing in unison.

“Well it’s true” Belle grinned cheekily.

“When I came back Aden was married to Kirsty but I avada kedavra’d her ass right out of there!”

“Harry Potter?” Nicole giggled looking at Belle as if she was insane.

“Hey don’t mock” Belle chuckled.

“If you really want Geoff back, you’re going to need a bit of magic”

***

“Belle, relax a little!” Nicole ordered over the loud music of the club.

“This is your hen night! You’re meant to be having fun!”

“I am!” Belle protested as she put on a false smile.

“It’s just the first time I’ve left Alyssia since she came home and Jamie was so upset about not getting to come on my “chicken” night!”

“Awww!” all the females in the room swooned at the little boy’s sweet error.

“And Nicole’s confiscated my mobile so I can’t ring home!” Belle pouted hoping for some sympathy.

“They’re with Daddy of the Year aren’t they?” Amanda chuckled.

“Yeah they’ll be fine, stop worrying!”

“You guys are no help!” she sulked.

“Here have a drink” Nicole laughed pushing a cocktail into Belle’s hand.

“And just be grateful Kirsty declined the invitation your mother so politely extended to her earlier!”

“Well I didn’t know who she was!” Amanda protested as the others laughed at her mistake.

“She hardly looks like Aden’s type does she?”

“He doesn’t have a type!” Belle protested.

“He has me! And me only!” she giggled before continuing.

“And Charlie over there but he’s not her type if you catch my drift!”

“Belle!”

“Well he’s not, he plays for another team” she chuckled.

“My team, in case anyone’s wondering!”

“Well Kirsty looked like she played in another league, Aden’s premiership material compared to her!”

“Mum!” Belle yelped spluttering as she took a mouthful of the bright pink cocktail Nicole had christened “The Adelle”.

“I’m only saying!”

“I’m only going to say one word” Belle told her with a stern look.

“Drew”

“Ok, I’m just going to keep any opinion of Aden to myself for the rest of my life!” Amanda chuckled before taking a gulp of her own drink.

“Wise choice” Belle nodded before Annie looked at her curiously.

“Why? What happened with Drew?”

“I would tell you Annie, but you’re really not old enough” Belle smiled well aware everyone else in the room knew full well what had happened.

“I’m 22!”

“Physically maybe, morally no where near” Belle smiled, hugging her surrogate sister against her side and quickly changing the subject.

“Kirsty isn’t coming is she? Because she did come to Aden’s party and th-“

“Relax!” Nicole told her.

“I had a word, let her know if wouldn’t be a good idea”

“You weren’t too mean were you?”

“Of course not, I just made sure she knew that the invitation list extended only to people who hadn’t slept with Aden!”

“Nicole!” Rachel exclaimed with a chuckle as Belle caught Ruby’s eye and quickly looked away.

“Well it’s true but...” she sighed.

“I’m afraid it means you have to leave Belle, we’ll see you at the wedding”

“I told you!” Belle protested with a wink.

“We only hold hands!”

“Then this is going to come as a real shock!” Nicole squealed as she swung a soft, silk scarf around Belle’s eyes and tied it securely.

“NICOLE!” Belle yelled as the room went black and she felt herself being spun around and led up a set of stairs.

“Nicole! I can’t see!”

“That’s the point!”

“Untie this scarf now!” Belle ordered knowing she had no chance as the group continued to guide her up the stairs.

“NICOLE!” she screamed as they reached a doorway and she felt it swing open as her body was pushed through it.

“You better not have got me a stripper!”

“Or what?” she heard Nicole giggle as her palms were pressed flat against a toned, oily, muscular chest.

“NICOLE!”

***

“Got over your embarrassment yet?” Nicole chucked as she washed her hands and Belle re-applied her make-up in the plush ladies room of the very expensive club she had chosen as the venue for the bride to be’s last night of freedom.

“I wasn’t embarrassed!” Belle protested, adjusting the wonky L plate hung around her neck as Nicole straightened her veil.

“I just...”

“Just what?”

“I have Aden for that, I don’t need to look at anyone else!”

“It’s your hen night, it’s traditional!” Nicole protested.

“And you have to admit it the stripper was hot”

“He looked like Geoff!” Belle chuckled.

“I wonder who chose him huh?”

“Well I might have played a part in it...and I got his number too, I figured if you’re not going to go there I might as well”

“Nicole! He’s a stripper have some self respect please!”

“It was a joke” the blonde giggled noticing the blindfold poking out of Belle’s purse on the counter.

“Keeping that huh?” she grinned knowingly.

“Well” Belle blushed crimson.

“I kind of liked it and who knows it might be just the push Aden needs!”

“TMI!” Nicole squealed covering her ears.

“But at least you might get something out of the $100 dollars we spent I guess, seen as you didn’t even pash him! I thought the least you’d want was for the last guy you kissed before you got married,

other than Aden, not to be Johnny!”

“Actually” Belle laughed loudly.

“Other than Aden the last guy I pashed was your Dad!”

“Ewwww! I’m leaving!” Nicole squealed as she exited the bathroom shuddering just in time for Belle to see Ruby in the mirror as she exited one of the stalls behind her.

“You know don’t you?” Ruby asked as she twisted the tap of the sink next to Belle and began to wash her hands.

“Know what?” Belle asked feigning ignorance.

“About me and Aden, I saw the look you gave me when Nicole made that comment about hen party invitations only going to people he hadn’ t slept with”

“Yeah I know” Belle nodded.

“But it’s none of my business, we weren’t together then” she told her sincerely. She’d promised Aden she wouldn’t bring up the issue with Ruby and she hadn’t. She wasn’t going to push her about it.

“You’re curious though aren’t you?”

“Not really” Belle shrugged.

“In fact thinking about it kind of makes me want to vomit”

“And that’s why I think you should know” Ruby told her softly, turning off the tap and drying her hands with a paper towel.

“Know what?”

“Well” Ruby sighed and looked Belle straight in the eyes.

“This is really embarrassing for me to admit so...”

“So what?” Belle prompted not able to hide her curiosity now Ruby had started to open up.

“When Aden and I were you know...”

“Yeah I know!” Belle snapped not wanting her to elaborate any further.

“Well, he doesn’t even know that he did it or if he does he hid it really well but...”

“But what? What did he do?”

“It was your name he called out, not mine, yours”

“What?” Belle whispered in shock.

“He said Belle and he said it like he meant it if you get my meaning”

“Oh my god too much information” Belle squirmed.

“Sorry” Ruby laughed softly.

“But how do you think I felt? It only happened really because I was upset about my Dad not even remembering my name and then Aden couldn’t get it right either”

Belle let out a small laugh and instantly felt guilty.

“Sorry it’s not funny”

“No it is” Ruby laughed with her.

“It is now but it wasn’t then”

“I’m sorry” Belle apologised again.

“What for?”

“If I hadn’t have left, if I’d come back sooner that would, I hope, never have happened. I’m sorry you had to experience that. You must have felt pretty used”

“Yeah” Ruby nodded softly.

“But I was using him too in my own way”

“He asked me not to bring it up” Belle admitted quietly.

“You didn’t, I did” Ruby smiled.

“And I won’t tell him if you don’t?”

“Deal” Belle smiled back at her as she zipped up her purse.

“He loves you Belle, he always has done”

“Yeah I know” Belle whispered at her own reflection as Ruby slipped out of the bathroom back into the heaving club.

Belle remained just staring at herself in the quiet bathroom, alone with her thoughts for the next few minutes until the door flew open and Matilda barged in.

“God I’m dying for a wee! Those Adelle’s go straight through you!” she exclaimed as she ran into a cubicle to relieve her bladder.

“Belle?” she murmured when she emerged a few minutes later.

“Are you crying? What is it? What’s wrong?”

“It’s just...” Belle sobbed as Matilda grabbed some tissue paper and pressed it into her hands.

“What is it? You can tell me”

“Aden really loves me” Belle sighed in between her tears as Matilda let out a tiny giggle and hugged her friend close.

“Of course he does silly!”

[LAURZY!]

Oh i absolutely loved it!!!

Yes, Nicole should totally go for Geoff! haha They're obv meant to be

The bit at the end when Belle started crying was so

Loved the banter between the girls

Cant wait for more as usual lol

[MrsL]

aaaaawwww beautiful

Love the interaction between Belle, Mattie and Nicole. So funny. Also loved Amanda/Belle relationship too.

Brilliant. Looking forward to the wedding

[~Zoe~]

Aw, that was really good

I liked the interaction with Belle and Mattie, and Nicole

Looking forward to the wedding

[emma_2006]

Awww so loved this chapter

Loved how Amanda said she's going to keep her opinion of Aden to herself

Loving all the chats between Nic, Belle and Mattie!

Look forward to the next update

xoxo

[zifiso]

Aw i feel for Nicole, she deserves to be happy too and she is really nice to Belle!

Nicole named the drinks 'adelles'

Poor Ruby, she must have felt used

The end was so

Loved the update, worth the wait

[KaiyaBlake]

Belle makes me so jealous

I loved how Belle's being all serious and then Matilda barges in “God I’m dying for a wee! Those Adelle’s go straight through you!” Funny.

I like how you're kinda putting in Nicole and Geoff, even though I know it might just be a mention.. still

50 chapters and still amazing... well done

Loved it. Can't wait for more

[bikinikill]

Hey Louise. Last three chapters have been fantastic. I loved the three girls picking the wedding dress. And Aden and Belle getting married the day they got married before. Thats really sweet. I hope for both their sakes the wedding night isn't complete with holding hands. How anticlimatic. hahaha. And I loved the bit with Ruby at the end, and when Nicole started crying over Geoff. So sweet.

Wedding soon. YAY!!

[Red Ranger 1]

That chapter was great.Loved the whole conversation between Belle, Mattie and Nicole.(I'll gloss over Belle encouraging Nicole to steal a man off his wife.After all, Geoff pretty much encouraged her to do the same.)Liked Annie's little cameo(chronological age 22, emotional age still about six)and Belle clearing the air with Ruby.

[Louise_2983]

That chapter was great.Loved the whole conversation between Belle, Mattie and Nicole.(I'll gloss over Belle encouraging Nicole to steal a man off his wife.After all, Geoff pretty much encouraged her to do the same.)Liked Annie's little cameo(chronological age 22, emotional age still about six)and Belle clearing the air with Ruby.

Lol I think you may be the only person not asking me to have a Geoff/Nicole reunion

Thanks for the lovely comments everyone

Belle might be saying hello again to her old friend inebriation next chapter...