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The box was heavy, much heavier than Jules had anticipated. She had known it was going to be a challenge the moment she saw it sitting ominously at the foot of the stairs, but Mika, ever the optimist, had waved off her concerns. Now, as they awkwardly maneuvered the oversized package through their apartment door, Jules wasn't sure if her arms were going to give out or if her knees would simply buckle first.
"Careful on the left" - Mika warned, her voice strained but still managing to carry that playful lilt Jules adored - "We're dangerously close to the wall"
"Maybe because this thing weighs a ton" - Jules shot back, adjusting her grip and trying to angle the box through the narrow entryway - "I thought we agreed on a small wedding, not furniture-sized decorations"
"This isn't a decoration" - Mika countered, grunting as she pushed from her side - "It's the arch. You know, the one we'll be standing under when you promise to love me forever"
Jules couldn't help but laugh, even as her muscles screamed in protest - "When you put it like that, I guess it's worth the hernia"
With one final heave, they managed to set the box down in the living room. Jules immediately dropped onto the couch, letting out an exaggerated groan as she stretched her legs - "We're asking Adams and Kwan next time we need to carry something like that" - she declared, her chest rising and falling with each heavy breath.
Mika, ever the overachiever, was already opening the box, her dark hair falling into her face as she leaned over - "Come on, this wasn't so bad. And look," - she said, holding up a piece of intricately carved wood - "it's beautiful. Totally worth it"
Jules tilted her head, examining the arch piece through half-lidded eyes - "It is beautiful" - she admitted, her voice softer. She could already picture it, draped with flowers and fairy lights, standing against the backdrop of whatever venue they finally decided on. The image stirred something warm and hopeful in her chest.
Mika set the wood down carefully and wiped her hands on her jeans - "Okay, truce. I'll get us some water. You're on handwashing duty"
Jules grinned and pushed herself off the couch - "Fine, but only because I'd like to be able to eat dinner without tasting cardboard dust"
As Jules made her way to the bathroom, she could hear Mika rummaging in the kitchen. The sound of cabinets opening and closing was familiar, comforting in its mundanity. She turned the faucet on and scrubbed her hands, her mind wandering to the endless checklist they'd been tackling over the past few weeks. Flowers, food, music, venues, guests.. it was enough to make anyone's head spin. But even amidst the chaos, Jules felt a deep sense of peace. They were building something together, piece by piece, and that thought alone made all the stress worthwhile.
When she returned to the living room, Mika was pouring water into two mismatched glasses. One had a faint chip on the rim, a relic from Jules' college days, while the other was part of a set they'd bought together last year.
"Thanks, love" - Jules said, taking the glass Mika handed her and plopping down onto the couch again - "Serious question" - she began, taking a sip - "How many people are we actually inviting? Because your list keeps growing, and at this rate, we're going to need the biggest venue we can find"
Mika sat down beside her, tucking one leg under herself - "First of all, I only added two people last week" - she said defensively - "And second, we can still keep it small. Intimate. Just our closest friends and family"
Jules raised an eyebrow - "Your definition of 'closest' might be a little more flexible than mine. Who were the two people again?"
Mika's cheeks turned the faintest shade of pink, and Jules couldn't help but smile at the sight - "Okay, fine" - Mika confessed - "I added Gwen from med school and her wife. But only because they've been so supportive over the years, and it felt wrong not to include them"
"Gwen's nice" - Jules conceded - "Her wife's the one who made those amazing cookies at that end of the year party, right?"
"Exactly" - Mika said, her smile widening - "She promised to bring them again if they come"
Jules chuckled - "Alright, they're in. But no more additions unless we cut someone else, deal?"
"Deal" - Mika agreed, extending her pinky. Jules linked hers with Mika's, the gesture childish and endearing all at once.
They sat in comfortable silence for a moment, the weight of the day settling around them. Jules leaned her head against Mika's shoulder, her eyes drifting to the arch pieces scattered across the floor.
"What about flowers?" - Mika asked softly - "Do we want something classic, like roses, or something more unique?"
Jules considered the question, her fingers absentmindedly tracing patterns on Mika's arm - "I like the idea of wildflowers" - she said - "Something that feels natural. Less formal"
"Wildflowers" - Mika repeated, as if testing the word - "I like that. It feels very.. us"
Jules turned her head to look at Mika, their faces close enough that she could see the faint freckles dusting Mika's nose. Emphasis on faint - "What does 'us' even mean?" - she teased.
"You know" - Mika said, a smirk tugging at her lips - "Chaotic but beautiful. A little messy, but somehow it works"
Jules laughed, the sound filling the small apartment - "I'll take it" - she said, leaning in to press a kiss to Mika's temple - "Okay, one more question. Where are we doing this? Back at the lake where we had our first actual date, or somewhere else?"
Mika's eyes lit up at the mention of the lake - "The lake would be perfect" - she said - "But only if we can convince the geese to stay away this time"
"Ah, yes" - Jules said dryly - "Nothing ruins romance like being chased by an angry goose"
Stupid goose.
They both dissolved into laughter, the kind that left their sides aching and their faces flushed. As the laughter subsided, Jules felt a wave of contentment wash over her. This was what she wanted, not just the wedding, but the life that came after. The moments of shared laughter, the quiet discussions about flowers and venues, the comfort of being fully known and fully loved.
Mika nudged her playfully - "Alright, your turn to pick something off the list to discuss. Let's pretend that the venue's settled, flowers are wild, and the guest list is.. manageable. What's next?"
Jules tapped her chin thoughtfully - "Cake" - she said decisively - "Because if we're going to survive this wedding planning madness, we're going to need a lot of sugar"
"Now you're speaking my language" - Mika grinned - "Oh, and speaking of things we'll have to handle.." - Mika continued, nudging Jules gently - "you know this arch we just carry inside isn't even fully assembled yet, right?"
Jules' eyebrows shot up - "You mean to tell me we almost broke our backs hauling this thing up here, and it's not even put together?" - she asked, though looking down at the box, it was pretty obvious that the arch wasn't an arch yet.
Mika shrugged, her grin unapologetic - "Exactly. But now you get the joy of watching me struggle to build it while you sit here and judge my craftsmanship"
"Oh, I'm definitely judging" - Jules said with mock seriousness - "But I'll also be your assistant. Someone's gotta make sure you don't turn it into a modern art piece"
Mika laughed, leaning in to kiss Jules lightly on the cheek - "Of course, baby"
They stayed like that for a moment before Jules spoke again - "By the way, have you thought about the budget? We've been adding a lot of little things lately, and I'm starting to wonder if we're creeping out of our original plan"
Mika tilted her head, her expression a mix of sheepishness and consideration - "Okay, so maybe I've been a little.. flexible with the budget"
"A little?" - Jules arched a brow, sipping her water and eyeing Mika suspiciously - "Please tell me you haven't secretly hired a live band or something"
"No band" - Mika assured her quickly, holding her hands up in defense - "But I may have splurged on a photographer"
Jules groaned, leaning back into the couch - "Mika! We talked about this. A small, affordable wedding. Phone pictures are perfectly fine!"
Mika laughed, reaching over to take Jules' hand - "Baby, I know you'd settle for selfies, but I wanted us to have something more. Someone who can actually capture all the little moments.. the way you look when you laugh, or the way the light hits us when we're saying our vows"
Jules softened at Mika's words, her initial exasperation giving way to something tender - "You're amazing, you know that?" - she murmured, squeezing Mika's hand.
"Only for you" - Mika teased, leaning closer - "But seriously, we're still in good shape. I've been keeping track"
Jules shot her a skeptical look - "Keeping track as in knowing how much you've spent, or as in just mentally crossing your fingers and hoping for the best?"
"Both?" - Mika grinned, and Jules couldn't help but laugh.
"Okay" - Jules said after a moment, her tone shifting to something more practical - "Let's go over everything tonight. Make sure we're not going overboard. The last thing I want is for us to start our marriage in debt because we couldn't say no to fancy napkins"
Mika nodded, her expression serious but warm - "Agreed. And for the record, the napkins were a gift from my mom. She insisted"
"Oh no" - Jules feigned a groan, covering her face - "If your mom's involved, we're doomed"
Mika laughed, pulling Jules' hands away from her face - "Relax. She's on our side. Mostly. Though she did mention something about renting a chocolate fountain.."
"Oh my- Really? And you're telling me that just now?" - Jules asked firmly, though her lips twitched with amusement - "I see how it is, Yasuda, we're not even married and you're already keeping secrets from me"
Mika straightened up, her expression caught between alarm and amusement - "What? Baby, no. I'm not, not even close-"
Jules crossed her arms dramatically, tilting her head as if scrutinizing her - "Uh-huh. First, it's the chocolate fountain. What's next? A surprise ice sculpture? A hidden gospel choir? Should I be worried about a marching band bursting through the doors during the vows?"
Mika's eyes widened, and she threw her hands up in mock surrender - "Okay, first of all, I would never book a marching band without consulting you. That's sacred and expensive territory"
Jules narrowed her eyes, fighting a smile - "So, you're saying there is a marching band? I knew it"
"Jules!" - Mika groaned, burying her face in her hands before peeking out with a grin - "I swear, there's no band. No choir. And definitely no ice sculpture. I have some self-control"
Jules leaned forward, her eyes sparkling with mischief - "But not enough to stop your mom, huh? Admit it, Yasuda, you've already been roped into her fountain schemes"
Mika bit her lip, caught - "Okay, maybe she mentioned it once or twice.. but only because she thought it would be fun for the kids coming to the wedding!"
Jules gasped, clutching her chest as if Mika had just confessed a grave crime - "The kids, Mika? Using children to justify your secret dessert extravaganza? Unbelievable. I don't even know who I'm marrying anymore"
"Baby, come on!" - Mika laughed, grabbing Jules' hands and pulling her closer - "You know exactly who you're marrying, someone who loves you more than life and might have a soft spot for chocolate in all its forms"
"Hmm" - Jules said, pretending to weigh the evidence - "You're lucky I like chocolate. And you. But only barely"
Mika leaned in, her grin softening into something more genuine - "Good thing I'm marrying you, then. Someone who'll keep me in line when I get carried away"
Jules smirked, pressing a quick kiss to Mika's nose - "Oh, you better believe I will. Chocolate fountains today, inflatable bounce castles tomorrow.. where does it end?"
Mika laughed, resting her forehead against Jules' - "I promise, no bounce castles. Just you, me, and maybe a little bit of chocolate. Deal?"
Jules pretended to consider it for a moment before nodding - "Deal. But only if I get first dibs on the fountain"
"Done" - Mika said, sealing the promise with a kiss - "So, dinner first, then spreadsheets?"
"Yes, I'm hungry" - Jules replied - "And after we figure out the budget, you can start assembling that arch. I'll bring snacks and commentary"
"Perfect" - Mika said, leaning over to kiss Jules' forehead - "Though fair warning: I've never built an arch before, so this could end with us standing under a pile of kindling on our wedding day"
Jules chuckled, resting her head on Mika's shoulder - "I'll take kindling over debt any day"
They sat there in silence for a moment, their hands intertwined, the weight of the day fading into the background. Together, they would figure it all out: budgets, arches, and everything in between..
...
Mika was crouched on the floor, pieces of the vintage wedding arch sprawled around her like the aftermath of an ambitious but ill-fated art project. The instruction manual lay open beside her, an unhelpful jumble of diagrams and confusing arrows. Her brows were furrowed in intense concentration, the tip of her tongue peeking out at the corner of her mouth as she tried to decipher how "Panel A" was supposed to lock into "Piece C".
Jules sat cross-legged on the couch, cradling a mug of tea and thoroughly enjoying the show. There was something about watching Mika wrestle with DIY projects that was both endlessly amusing and, if Jules were honest, a little too attractive.
"Having fun down there?" - Jules teased, taking a slow sip of her tea - "Because from here, it looks like you're trying to summon the arch into existence with sheer willpower"
Mika groaned, brushing a strand of dark hair out of her face - "This stupid thing was supposed to be 'easy assembly'. Lies. All lies"
Jules tilted her head, letting her gaze linger on the way Mika's shirt had ridden up slightly, exposing a sliver of toned back as she leaned over one of the wooden beams. Focus, Jules. She's struggling, and you're ogling her like a lovestruck teenager.
"Well," - Jules said, fighting back a smirk - "if the arch doesn't come together, at least we'll have a new addition to the modern art world. I can see it now: 'Chaos and Commitment: An Abstract Exploration'"
Mika shot her a mock glare over her shoulder - "Ha, ha. Very funny. Why don't you come down here and help, if you're so full of ideas?"
Jules held up her hands in mock surrender - "Oh no, I wouldn't want to cramp your style. Besides," - she added, letting her voice drop into a playful lilt - "watching you build things is.. educational"
Mika paused, narrowing her eyes suspiciously - "Educational, huh?"
"Mhm" - Jules nodded, her gaze deliberately slow as it traveled from Mika's flushed cheeks to the muscles in her arms flexing as she tightened a bolt - "You know. It's always good to see how capable my future wife is with her hands"
Mika blinked, the realization dawning as a blush crept up her neck - "Jules" - she said, her voice half warning, half laughing.
"What?" - Jules asked innocently, biting the edge of her mug to keep from laughing - "I'm just appreciating your.. craftsmanship"
"Craftsmanship?" - Mika repeated, gesturing to the half-assembled arch - "This looks like something a toddler threw together"
"Well" - Jules said, setting her mug aside and leaning back on the couch - "I wasn't talking about the arch"
Mika let out a groan, but Jules caught the slight smile tugging at her lips - "You're impossible, Millin"
"And yet, you're marrying me" - Jules shot back, grinning - "So who's really the impossible one here?"
Mika shook her head, turning her attention back to the instructions - "I swear, if this thing collapses during the ceremony, you're taking the blame"
"Sure" - Jules said easily, then added with a mischievous glint in her eye - "But if it doesn't collapse, I think that's worth a reward for the builder"
Mika turned to look at her, arching an eyebrow - "Oh? What kind of reward?"
Jules shrugged, feigning nonchalance - "Oh, I don't know. Something involving candles, a bed, maybe some whipped cream.."
"Jules!" - Mika's laugh was incredulous, her cheeks now a vivid shade of pink - "You're supposed to be motivating me, not distracting me"
"Distracting you?" - Jules echoed, her voice dripping with mock indignation - "I would never. I'm simply.. admiring my fiancée's perseverance. It's inspiring, really"
Inspiring for later..
Mika groaned again, though the corners of her mouth twitched upward as she focused back on the arch. Jules took the opportunity to drink her in: her determined expression, the way her hands moved with careful precision despite the mounting frustration, the way she huffed under her breath when something didn't fit quite right.
It wasn't just the physicality of Mika that made Jules' chest tighten in that familiar, achingly sweet way. It was the effort she put into everything, even something as small as assembling an arch for their wedding. Mika cared about their day, about making things perfect, about building a life together. And Jules loved her all the more for it.
Lost in thought, Jules didn't realize Mika had paused and was looking at her until she spoke - "You're awfully quiet over there. What's going on in that devious little brain of yours?"
Jules grinned, resting her chin on her hand - "Just thinking about how lucky I am to marry someone who'll wrestle with a hundred pieces of wood for me"
Mika softened, her eyes warm despite her teasing tone - "Yeah, well. You're worth it"
Jules felt her cheeks flush, and she couldn't help but smile - "Sap" - she said, her voice gentler.
Mika returned to the arch, her voice light as she replied - "Takes one to know one"
They stayed like that, Jules making the occasional quip, Mika alternating between laughing and grumbling, until finally, the arch began to take shape. By the time Mika stood back to admire her handiwork, sweaty and triumphant, Jules was already clapping.
"See?" - Jules said, getting up and wrapping her arms around Mika from behind - "I knew you could do it"
"Yeah, yeah" - Mika said, leaning back into her with a sigh - "But next time, I'm hiring someone"
"Next time? I hope you're not already planning on marrying someone after marrying me" - Jules murmured, pressing a kiss to Mika's neck - "But for the record, you look hot when you're frustrated"
Mika laughed, turning in Jules' arms to kiss her softly - "Good thing you'll get to see a lot more of that in the future, then"
Jules laughed, tightening her hold on Mika - "Looking forward to it"
Mika leaned back slightly, nudging Jules with her elbow - "Okay, okay. Enough hugging. I'm all sweaty and gross. You don't want to ruin that nice shirt of yours"
Jules smirked, tightening even more her arms around Mika despite her protest - "Sweaty? Gross? Oh no, this is the authentic 'hardworking builder' experience. I'm embracing it"
"Yeah, well, I don't think you'll be embracing it for long once you catch a whiff of me" - Mika quipped, wriggling in Jules' hold.
Jules leaned in exaggeratedly, inhaling deeply near Mika's neck before pulling back with a mock grimace - "Oh my god. You're right. How are you still alive under all that smell? Is that why you're so bad at assembling furniture?"
Mika let out an exasperated laugh - "Hey! I just built our wedding arch, thank you very much. Show some respect"
Jules grinned, holding up her hands in mock surrender - "Respect duly noted. Though I think it's fair to say you owe me now"
Mika raised an eyebrow, crossing her arms - "Owe you? For what, exactly?"
"For making me sit through two hours of you grumbling at inanimate objects while looking ridiculously cute doing it" - Jules said, her grin widening - "It's emotional labor"
Mika rolled her eyes, though her lips twitched in amusement - "Oh, please. If anything, I'm the one who deserves a reward"
"Oh, absolutely" - Jules said, stepping closer with a glint in her eye - "What kind of reward were you thinking?"
Mika studied her for a moment, her expression a mix of playful defiance and calculated mischief. Then she tilted her head, her tone deliberately casual - "Actually, I was thinking you could help me out with something"
"Anything" - Jules replied without hesitation, leaning forward like she was preparing to hang on Mika's every word.
Mika smirked, leaning in just enough for her voice to drop into a lower register - "The shower"
Jules blinked, her grin faltering for half a second as her brain caught up - "Love?"
"You heard me" - Mika said, her smirk widening - "If you're going to stand here teasing me about how sweaty I am, then it's only fair you help me clean up. You know, teamwork, partnership, all that marriage stuff"
Jules raised an eyebrow, her voice deadpan but her eyes sparkling with amusement - "Are you asking me to scrub your back, Yasuda? Because I'll have you know, I'm a very thorough scrubber"
Mika shrugged, feigning nonchalance even as her cheeks flushed slightly - "I'd expect nothing less from my future wife"
"Oh, I'm definitely up for the challenge" - Jules said, her tone dripping with innuendo - "Though I hope you know, once I start, I don't plan on stopping at just your back"
Mika's eyes widened for a split second before she broke into laughter, shaking her head - "You're a dork, Millin"
"And yet," - Jules said, stepping closer until their noses were almost touching - "you're the one who invited me to join you"
Mika grinned, leaning in to kiss her quickly before pulling back - "Come on, then. Time to put those scrubbing skills to the test"
Jules couldn't help but laugh as Mika grabbed her hand and led her towards the bathroom, their laughter echoing through the room. As they disappeared down the hallway, Jules thought, not for the first time, that there was no one else she'd rather spend her days and nights teasing, helping, and loving..
...
By the time they stepped out of the shower, Jules was glowing, whether from the steam or "scrubbing" her future wife was anyone's guess. Mika, on the other hand, looked freshly determined, her wet hair tied up in a messy bun, a towel slung over her shoulders.
Mika walked towards the arch, gazing at it with unmistakable pride. The delicate wooden structure, adorned with soft carvings and a faint patina of vintage charm, looked picture-perfect, or as perfect as it could without the flowers and lights they'd planned to add.
"I've got to admit," - Jules began, leaning against the doorway as she dried her hair with a towel - "you really made that thing look like a professional job"
Mika beamed, wiping her damp hands on her shorts - "Told you I could handle it"
Jules smirked, crossing her arms - "Careful, your ego might get caught in the doorway"
Mika was about to reply when a sudden gust of wind rustled through the room, making the curtains billow like ghostly waves. Jules glanced towards the open windows, a spark of unease flickering in her chest. She started to walk towards her fiancée, still toweling off her hair, and froze mid-step as Mika crouched beside the arch, inspecting her work. Something wasn't right.
"Mika, is that supposed to-"
A loud creak interrupted her, and before either of them could process what was happening, one of the wooden legs wobbled violently.
"Shit!" - Mika yelped, lunging forward to steady it. Jules dropped her towel and darted to her side, reaching out instinctively as Mika wrestled to keep the arch upright.
"Careful! If that falls on you-"
"I've got it! I've got it-"
She absolutely did not have it. The leg buckled, the entire frame shuddering like a drunk uncle at a wedding. Mika let out a frustrated growl, and Jules, panicking, threw herself at the other side of the arch to counterbalance it.
"Jules, no! You're going to-"
Her foot slipped on the carpet, and the next thing she knew, they were both on the floor, tangled in a mess of limbs, laughter, and collapsed wood.
For a moment, all Jules could hear was the sound of their giggles, breathless and uncontrollable. She tilted her head to see Mika sprawled beside her, one arm draped over her eyes, her chest heaving with exasperation and amusement.
"I thought you were supposed to be my assistant" - Mika managed to tease between gasps.
"Hey" - Jules retorted, grinning despite herself - "I assisted. I just.. didn't say I was any good at it"
Mika lifted her arm to look at her, shaking her head with mock disapproval - "You're unbelievable"
"And you're the one who built an arch that couldn't handle a little breeze" - Jules shot back, sitting up and pulling pieces of wood out of her body.
Mika groaned, pushing herself upright - "Okay, fine. I might've underestimated the structural integrity. But at least no one got hurt" - she paused, her eyes narrowing - "You're not hurt, right baby?"
Jules blinked at her, touched by the sudden concern - "Nah, I'm fine. What about you?"
"Just my pride" - Mika admitted, though her tone was warm.
They sat there for a beat, the arch now lying pathetically on its side beside them. Then Jules reached over and placed a hand on Mika's knee.
"Well," - she said, trying to suppress a smirk - "I think it's safe to say you need a second pair of hands"
Mika arched an eyebrow - "Your hands? The same hands that just helped bring the thing down?"
"Hey! I was trying to save your life, you know?" - Jules swatted her arm lightly - "And we're rebuilding this together, and this time we're doing it right"
With that, Jules pulled out her phone, scrolling quickly - "YouTube's going to save the day. There's gotta be a tutorial on 'how to build a wedding arch that won't kill you'"
Mika snorted - "You're impossible"
"Impossibly resourceful" - Jules corrected, holding up her phone triumphantly as a video started to play.
For the next hour, they worked side by side, watching the tutorial and following the steps as best as they could. Jules held pieces steady while Mika drilled, the two of them occasionally pausing to argue good-naturedly over measurements or materials.
"You sure that's level?" - Jules asked at one point, tilting her head as she held a plank in place.
"Do you want to hold the level?" - Mika shot back, trying to hide her smile.
"Actually, yes" - Jules said, grabbing it with mock confidence - "See? Now is perfectly level"
Mika leaned in to look and smirked - "That's upside down, genius"
By the time they finished, the new arch was standing proud and sturdy, adorned with soft fairy lights that Mika had added as a finishing touch. Jules stepped back, hands on her hips, and admired their handiwork.
"Not bad" - she admitted, glancing sideways at Mika - "I mean, we're no professionals, but this thing's not going anywhere"
Mika gave her a sideways grin - "Thanks to my expertise"
Jules rolled her eyes but couldn't stop the laugh bubbling up. She reached over and tugged Mika close by the waist, pressing a quick kiss to her temple.
"Face it, Yasuda" - Jules murmured, her voice soft with affection - "We make a damn good team.”
Mika leaned into her, resting her head against Jules' shoulder - "Hell yeah" - she said quietly, a hint of a smile in her voice - "We really do"