A Wedding 3/3

"We are right on time for school yard antics if you want to see what I do at lunchtime every day." Tim told Mia happily. She nodded her ascent, so the driver took them to the spot under the oaks across from the school playground.

"I have been watching to see how Ginger cajoles Sage into interacting on the playground most days. Sage seems to be a bit antisocial, but Ginger is incredibly determined." Tim explained. "We still have about five minutes before the children come out." Mia nodded and leaned back against her husband. That caught her off guard. Timothy was her husband, Mia looked at him.

"You're my husband." Mia said.

"And you're my wife." Tim confirmed.

"Wow." Mia remarked in an awed voice.

"I know." Timothy said reverently.

The children came running out of the building to various pursuits. Ginger and Sage were in the middle of the group today walking side by side. Sage didn't have his backpack which was a promising sign. Ginger headed to the merry go round followed by Sage and two other children. Ginger had Sage climb on and sit down and she and the other two children started pushing and then hopped on.

When the merry go round started to slow, one would hop off and push for a minute. Sage finally laid down flat on his back and Ginger laid down beside him. They stayed like this until the end of recess when they got up somewhat wobbly and went back inside. If they could have heard the twin's conversation, they would have worried about how to deal with the situation. It seemed everyone at school knew that the twin's mom was going to marry a doctor.

"Do you think Sage was feeling alright?" Mia asked Tim, "He was lying down for a long time."

"Maybe we should check on that later." Tim offered. "He could have simply liked the way it felt. I used to do that all the time."

"I know. It's hard not to helicopter him when he has been sick his whole life." Mia explained sadly. "It is most likely nothing. He has a checkup next week. I don't want to make him self-conscious." Tim nodded.

"It was nice sitting here just watching them play though. They have always had such a strange life that it makes me so happy to watch them be normal children. Mia smiled thinking about Sage playing like a regular child.

"What time is your appointment at Lane Law Offices?" Mia asked.

"In about thirty minutes, we should go." Timothy spoke to the driver, and they got on the road.

Timothy took Mia's hand in his and kissed her hand above the rings. He couldn't believe they were married. He couldn't believe she was his forever. It had been a long hard road getting back here but now they could heal and build a life together. Sure, they couldn't announce their marriage for a couple of weeks but that was all right. Nothing could keep them apart now no matter who tried or how hard they tried. It was too late. Timothy had won the game.

Tim turned to his wife and turned her face toward his then leaned in and kissed her passionately. By the time he pulled back she was clinging to him ready for anything. But Tim would not take his wife for the first time in the back seat of his car. She deserved better than that though he really wanted to. Tim stroked his thumb across Mia's cheek, and she turned her head enough to kiss it. He wanted her badly, but he could wait. Tim had a plan.

Tim texted Nathan to make sure that there was only Jason and Nathan at the office. A minute later a text came in, 'Jason told Dominic you canceled. He was pleased and was headed to his office an hour ago.'

"I want you to go up to Jason's office and wait for me. I will be up in a few minutes. If there are paparazzi just tell them no comment and keep walking." Tim told Mia seriously.

"I'm not new Timothy," Mia smirked at her husband.

He sighed, "I forget because I want to protect you so badly."

"I forgive you," Mia said giving Tim a quick kiss and hopping out of the car. Mia was up the stone steps and into the building in a flash. Timothy told his driver to drive around the block and park in a new spot. He felt like he was becoming paranoid trying to preempt this situation.

Timothy made his way to the top floor of the building marveling slightly at how successful Jason Lane had to be for Lane Law Group to own this entire building. It was no small feat. All the Lanes were incredibly successful. Dominic owned the largest real estate company in Norde City with subsidiaries around the world, Jason had the Law Firm, Connor was a renowned heart surgeon, Nathan owned Technosphere, Liam was the A-list actor Linden Lane, Claude was a celebrated pianist, Eva was the most sought-after Fashion Merchandiser in the business, and Mia was a celebrated interior designer that now owned high-societies most touted resort chain, Aide Castle. The Lane family was impressive. No one could dispute that fact.

If their two families ever learned to get along, they would be unstoppable. Barrett Group owned Bern City the way the Lane's owned Norde City and now they were family whether they liked it or not. Eventually they would get there because they had no choice but right now that time felt extremely far away.

Tim walked into Jason's waiting room to find Mia typing a message on her phone. He went over and sat beside her trying not to be nosy.

Mia looked up and smiled at Tim, halfheartedly. "I'm trying to set up lunch with Eva because she is really upset and doesn't understand what is going on. I can't really go out though because of the risk of the paparazzi following me back to the hotel. Eva doesn't want to come to me because she is afraid that Dominic will find me if she does. I don't know what to do. I hate this. How did everything get so messed up?" Mia looked at Timothy despair clouding her expression.

"We will talk about it with Jason and Nathan, maybe they can pull her aside and reassure her until things settle down." Tim answered gently.

"Yes, that might work." Mia said quietly.

Nathan came to the door then and motioned for the pair to come into the office. He glanced at them inquisitively as they walked past. Once they were in the office, Nathan walked to the conference table where Jason sat rubbing his forehead along with a woman in her late forties.

"You are looking especially lovely today, sister." Nathan told Mia. She smiled her thanks at him.

"Sorry about keeping you waiting. I was dealing with an irate caller. You know that Rolls Royce you favor stands out quite a bit Mr. Barrett." Jason smirked at Tim. "It's a nice car but people know it is yours."

Timothy scowled; he had missed a trick. He thought of his car as a plain black sedan, but he knew it was an impressive car to most people. That meant that the caller was angry because the car had been spotted.

"How long until he gets here?" Timothy asked knowing they would have company.

"Dominic is about thirty minutes away if he floors it." Jason said succinctly.

Timothy pulled his phone out and dialed a number. "Caleb come to the law office, swap cars with me. Go to a car dealer buy a new plain sedan, no, nothing flashy and take the rolls and have it stored for the next thirty days. Yes, at once. No, people are tracking my car. It's only dumb luck we haven't been caught. Good enough, Bye." Everyone was watching the ping ponging half-conversation with interest.

"So, we need to leave here in twenty minutes?" Mia asked.

"We can't, it will take Caleb an hour to bring his car for you to leave in. We will get some work done in the meantime." Tim tried not to act irritated.

Mia groaned, "I don't want to see Dominic. I am so over his nonsense." Tim reached over and squeezed her hand telling her it would be alright.

"All right then, Mr. Barrett," Tim raised an eyebrow at Jason's formality. Jason continued, "This is Margaret Rommel the attorney I think could be a good fit for you going forward with the Heir Documents." Ms. Rommel shook Tim's hand then Mia's.

"Before we move forward with that there are some changes that may alter how the situation needs to be handled." Tim said, producing a stack of documents from his briefcase and handing them to Jason. "Make copies and put them away before Dominic gets here. We still need to play pretend for two weeks." Jason was looking at the prenuptial agreement, the marriage certificate, the judge's sworn statement of compliance with ordinances.

"Mia, you got married without your family there?" Jason sounded sad and Nathan snatched the papers away from him. Margaret was watching the unfolding events with interest.

"I didn't really have a choice. Dominic took that away from me." Mia said frustrated.

"Tim, are you telling me you applied for this marriage two weeks ago?" Jason asked perplexed.

"What did that cost you?" Nathan laughed.

"The paperwork says I did, doesn't it? Nathan, I have no idea what you are talking about." Tim answered smirking.

"Timothy, did you bribe that judge?" Mia asked appalled.

"Of course not. Just because you didn't know that we were getting married doesn't mean that I didn't." Tim smiled cheekily at his wife. Ms. Rommell chuckled heartily at that, and everyone relaxed.

"How come your prenup only protects Mia?" Jason asks handing the document to Margaret when she held her hand out for it.

"I must recommend that this be retracted and rewritten. Plus, the Heir Documents you are asking for are extremely concerning. For your protection, I have some suggestions for a rewrite that while fair would be less biased in favor of your wife." Ms. Rommell said.

"No, I want them exactly as I specified." Timothy stated uncompromisingly.

"I really must insist." Margaret began.

"No." Tim shook his head at her.

"Then I can't put my reputation on the line by drafting documents that would be disastrous for you if the worst were to happen." The attorney said with a shake of her head.

"Has she signed the NDA's?" Timothy asked Jason. Jason nodded in the affirmative.

"You may go. I no longer need a separate attorney from my wife anyway." Tim told the woman who then stood and after a moment walked out the door.

"Isn't that correct, Jason." Tim asked.

"Technically, a gray area but we should be able to get the documents finished then add a consulting attorney, so it won't be questioned by anyone." Jason said, thinking quickly. "I think we can get everything ready for signatures within two weeks."

"Good, that's what I want to hear." Tim answered. Nathan walked back into the office and handed the original documents back to Tim. He handed the copies to Jason who took them and locked them in a drawer in his desk.

"I have to ask, Mia, did you really get married because you wanted to?" Jason asked his sister crouching down in front of her. She gave him a lop-sided smile.

"I married Tim because I wanted to marry him. I got married now like this because Dominic is trying to force me into marriage with Nicholas and he is fighting so hard against Timothy that there is no room for compromise." Mia said, her voice turning angry at the end.

"I'm sorry, we should have tried harder to reign him in." Nathan said coming up beside Mia. "I can't believe we didn't get to be at your wedding. That just really hurts my soul" Nathan continued.

"We will have a real wedding when this all blows over." Tim told the brothers. He could tell they both really cared for their sister. They both nodded gratefully at their new brother-in-law.

"Now all we must do is survive the next two weeks of my engagement." Mia cheerfully remarked.

"Thirteen days." Timothy amended stonily. Mia rolled her eyes but nodded her acknowledgement of his statement.

"So, is there any information you still need from me as far as the Heir Documents are concerned?" Tim asked, wanting to escape with his bride but not able to until Caleb sent him word.

"What about stipulations for Mrs. Barrett Senior?" Jason questioned unsure on the topic.

"I miss Grandma Laura." Mia was saddened at the thought. "Any news, Tim?"

"There is still no major change, but brain activity continues to improve at a gradual pace." Timothy repeated what the doctor had told him during his weekly phone call. "I only ask that Mia continue to care for Grandmother as I have done and if she were to awaken that she provides comfortable care for the rest of her days. Grandma is quite wealthy on her own so that is not an issue. I suppose you should be aware that Grandma Laura bequeathed almost all her estate to you years ago."

"What?" Mia asked, "and where would you be in this?"

"Yes, she left you her estate a long time ago back when I first said I wanted to divorce. She gave you almost everything." Tim paused, "I would be dead in this circumstance, Mia. The documents protect you and my heirs when I am not around to do it myself." Timothy explained.

"Can we not talk about me being a widow on our wedding day?" Mia asked extra cranky about the topic now. Tim brushed his hand across her cheek. Tim's phone buzzed with a notification.

"The car is here let's go." Tim said, nodding to Jason and Nathan.

"Leaving so soon, Barrett?" Dominic's voice sounded in the room as he strode into the office. "Mia's engagement not enough punishment for you so you came in for another round with the Lane brothers?"

Mia had her hands under the table in her purse, quickly switching out the rings. She hated to do it but if Dominic found out she was married to Tim now he would go crazy. With the ink barely dry on their marriage certificate, Dominic would try to undo the match. They needed to stay married secretly long enough that a judge wouldn't consider an annulment. Mia finally managed the great ring swap and placed her hands back on the table. She glanced at Tim; he was looking at Nicholas's engagement ring scowling.

"Mia, what are you doing here?" Dominic asked grumpily. "I can't get ahold of you or find you. Not even your assistant will give me a straight answer but here you are?"

"The documents concern me, so I came in. I don't want to talk to you or for you to know where we are." Mia told her eldest brother.

Dominic's face became stony, "When will you be home today? It isn't right for you to be out in the world unchaperoned before your marriage."

"I am a divorced mother of two children nobody cares where I am. I will not be coming back. Since you are forcing me into marriage you will have to accept that I will be doing it my way." Mia retorted angrily.

"Why are you always around Barrett? He abandoned you for four years." Dominic said in a sharp tone.

"Wow! You faked my death and told him the children and I died and then hypnotized me so I wouldn't remember him, and you call that abandonment?" Mia scoffed. The three other men in the room were watching the exchange with increasingly concerned expressions.

"Why can't you just let me live my life?" Mia asked quietly.

"As long as that bastard is in the picture you keep choosing wrong, and I must protect you from yourself. You don't think clearly around that man." Dominic said harshly.

"You mean I don't think the way you have decided I should." Mia laughed derisively. "Since we have learned that my life is all about you, I guess we are done here. Just text me what I am supposed to think next and save me some time." Mia let the sarcasm flow unable to continue this a moment longer.

"You and Nicholas will join Eva and I for dinner on Monday to discuss wedding venues. The sooner you are married the better." Dominic ordered his sister.

"At least we agree on one point." Mia said quietly before turning and walking out the door.