A Mixed-Up Wedding

A Mixed-Up Wedding:

Since their return from the resort, Carl and Felicia's lives had been a flurry of wedding planning during the week, and quiet weekends in the apartment where Felicia got a chance to spend time with Carly. Nothing as drastic as the first two times, but some makeup and Felicia's magic touch to his hair, and Carly was never too far away. The end of these weekends were always disappointing to Felicia, but they were a necessary evil, Carl wanted Carly kept under wraps between them.

As the couple laid in bed on Sunday morning, Carl, dressed in a nightgown, looked over some paperwork from his job as a paralegal, poking through them with manicured fingers with nails painted a soft pink. Felicia reached over and grabbed one of the papers from Carl’s hands.

"I thought we agreed that you wouldn't do any Carl things while you're Carly." Felicia pouted.

"We've just got this big case and I need to check what I'll be researching this week." Carl said, before smiling, putting the papers down and turning his attention back to Felicia.

Carl and Felicia spent a few moments gazing into each other's eyes while Felicia put her hand onto Carl's face, before moving up to his ears.

"Maybe we can pierce your ears next week..." Felicia played with Carl's earlobe.

"Yeah, cause that'll be easy to explain at work..." Carl muttered.

"Lots of guys have pierced ears now. Some even do both ears." Felicia said.

"We're already tempting fate with me keeping my nails groomed, and don't even get me started on the hair." Carl said. "Besides, what would your parents say? What would my parents say?"

"I don't see why your ears should be a concern to them." Felicia said. "And someone who does as much handshaking as you do should have nice nails anyhow."

"Listen, I like the double life, it's sort of exciting, but I don't want those two lives colliding." Carl said. "This is already too far for me, what if we got an uninvited guest? One of your friends could show up unexpectedly while I'm like this! Or one of mine!"

"Relax, we made clear that weekends were for us to be alone." Felicia said. "And if anyone sees you I'll just say that I'm cheating on Carl with another woman."

"I guess..." Carl sighed as Felicia put her arms around him.

"So you're sure that you don't want to tag along for dress shopping?" Felicia asked.

"I'm sure, after all, isn't it bad luck for the groom to see the bride in her gown before the wedding day?" Carl replied.

"True... and I guess if my mom and best friends are there, I wouldn't be able to convince you to try one on for yourself." Felicia replied.

"Definitely not." Carl insisted. "Besides, when would I ever wear it? I'm wearing a tux on the big day."

"I know..." Felicia sighed. "It's just such a cute image."

A few days later, Felicia returned home from dress shopping and immediately collapsed on the couch. Carl, with his hair tied back in a low ponytail and wearing his t-shirt and pajama bottoms, walked in from the kitchen with two glasses of wine.

"Rough day?" Carl asked, handing Felicia the glass. "Find anything good?"

"A few potential choices." Felicia said, accepting it and taking a sip. "Of course everyone has their own opinions. Driving me nuts."

"Well, you've still got time to shop around." Carl said.

"Speaking of that, I got a bit of an idea... you know how we were talking the other day about Carly and dress shopping?"

"When we agreed that it was a pointless idea and I wasn't going to do it?"

"Exactly." Felicia sat up, excited. "I was thinking while shopping, that there are a few other shops across town that I haven't checked out yet. What if I brought Carly with me? As part of our weekend agreement?"

"I don't know... I was fine going out in public on Valentine's Day because I had no way to change back... and then at the resort because we were nowhere near anyone we knew... but here, and now?" Carl asked.

"Come on..." Felicia put her hand on Carl's leg. "Just this one weekend. I won't ask for you to go out in public ever again!"

Carl mused on the idea for a few moments, while Felicia batted her eyelashes, which Carl was as powerless against as he always was.

"Fine. But just one weekend, okay?" Carl said.

"That's all I'll need." Felicia giggled.

On Friday night, as they settled in to watch TV on the couch, Carl, wearing a pair of pink sleep shorts and a camisole, sat with his foot in Felicia's lap as she gave him a pedicure, what had become one of their usual traditions, while he blew on his fingernails to make them dry faster.

"I still don't know why you insisted on French tips this weekend... all the effort when I'll be removing it Sunday night..." Carl mused between exhales.

"I just felt like doing something a little different this weekend." Felicia said. "Now keep your toes still so I can do this..."

Bright and early on Saturday morning, Felicia put in a new pair of earrings as Carl emerged from the bathroom, fully in Carly mode. His hair was styled in a messy center-part style, makeup done in natural tones that were still unmistakably feminine, and he was wearing a white floral dobby blouse with a blue polka dot midi skirt. He sat on the bed gracefully and began to put on a pair of low heeled sandals.

"I love that skirt on you." Felicia said.

"Thanks." Carl stood up and played with the skirt a bit.

"Excited?" Felicia asked, handing a purse to Carl.

"A little." Carl smiled. "I hope you find the perfect dress."

"Don't worry, I know I will, with you by my side." Felicia leaned in and kissed Carl.

At the dress shop, Carl sat, with crossed legs, on a cushioned bench, while Felicia came in and out of the room wearing various types of dresses. Felicia insisted that Carl give his opinion, in her words, "as if he was going to be wearing the dress", and so he did. He ruled out a few because he felt the straps were too unwieldy, another few because he didn't like how the skirt flowed outwards, and one because it was far too revealing.

Eventually, Felicia came out wearing the perfect dress, an A-line dress made out of lace and chiffon, featuring a scalloped v-neckline, and a long, flowing skirt. The only problem for Carl came from the open-back, but Felicia explained that a veil would be covering it, so it wasn't an issue.

"It's perfect." Carl said. "Is it the one that you love?"

"I think it is." Felicia smiled. "Let me go change."

Carl smiled as he watched his future bride walk back to the changing room. It was as if everything had become real, seeing Felicia standing there in that dress. Carl's elation continued, even as his patience withered, as five minutes later, Felicia hadn't yet returned. After tapping his foot for another ten, Carl sought out one of the employees of the store who had been helping them pick out dresses, a rotund woman named Fran.

"Excuse me, do you know what happened to my fiancée?" Carl asked.

"Oh, come right with me, Carly." Fran replied. "Let's go find her."

The employee led Carl into a changing room, where the perfect dress was hanging on a rack, with Felicia nowhere to be found.

"Where's Felicia?" Carl asked.

"She told us she wanted this to be a surprise, if you'd like privacy, you can use the screen over there." Fran pointed.

"Of course, she wants me to try it on." Carl sighed. "Let's get it over with."

Carl disrobed into his bra and panties, both white, and both picked out by Felicia. Fran helped Carl get into the dress. Carl posed in the mirror as Fran made sure the dress settled right on Carl's body. Carl was slightly guarded, but knew Felicia's tuck-job wasn't going to reveal itself easily, so he had nothing to worry about.

"I bet you've dreamed of this moment since you were a little girl, right?" Fran asked.

"Not exactly, but this is kinda nice. I should have expected it, though." Carl replied.

"If you'll step into these." Fran placed down a pair of white, open-toed heels that nicely showed off Carl's pedicure.

"Why do I need shoes for a fitting? And how did you know my size?" Carl asked.

"One last thing, the veil." Fran ignored him, and took out a veil placing it into Carl's hair. "What do you think?"

Carl turned to the mirror and gasped. His manicured hands immediately went to cover his mouth as he took in the sight of himself as the blushing bride. The dress looked just as perfect on him as it did on Felicia. As much as he tried not to get too involved while picking the dresses, he took Felicia’s advice to heart and had imagined himself wearing it. But he never thought he’d look this good!

Between the way the dress flowed, the way the veil sat over his face… And he understood why Felicia insisted on french tips. They were really the tip of the iceberg in making the look truly work, accentuating the beauty of Carly’s engagement ring. His stomach was doing cartwheels as he went through every emotion at once. Shock, awe, surprise, elation, and partly sadness that this was just a try-on.

"I can't believe it..." Carl started to tear up.

"Ooh, don't cry, dear, you don't want to ruin your makeup." Fran said, dabbing Carl's eyes with a tissue.

"Where's Felicia?" Carl asked. "She has to see this before I take it off."

"Oh, you're not taking it off." Fran softly smiled.

"Huh?"

"The dress is paid for. Felicia said she wanted you to wear it out of the store."

"What?!" Carl exclaimed, nearly falling over in the heels from the shock.

"It's okay, honey." Fran smiled and quickly helped Carl steady himself. "She left instructions that you're to go outside and get into the limo."

"Limo?"

Fran helped Carl to the entrance to the store, where a black limo awaited outside. The driver quickly opened the door and helped Carl inside, where Carl found empty seats, before starting to drive.

"Uh, where exactly are we going?" Carl asked.

"Sorry, miss. Under orders not to tell." the driver replied. "We'll be there soon, though."

All Carl could do was look out the window and try to guess their destination.

A Mixed-Up Wedding Ceremony:

As the limo drove through the city, Carl's anxiety was going through the roof.

“Oh my god… What the hell is Felicia planning? Where am I going? What if I see someone I know?” Carl’s brain frantically thought. “Dear god, what if that's what this is about? What if Felicia wants to reveal Carly to everyone?”

Carl nearly started hyperventilating until he composed himself, knowing Felicia would never do anything to hurt him. But where was he being brought, and for what purpose? Especially dressed as he was? Maybe she wanted to do a photoshoot? Carl could only sit and wonder as the limo continued driving through the city.

The limo eventually arrived at a hotel that Carl didn't recognize. The driver stopped and opened the door for Carl, helping him out of the car. He looked around, confused, until he saw an unexpected, yet familiar face approaching him.

"Darren?" Carl asked. "What are you doing here?"

Darren, who Felicia and Carl had met during their vacation, and had also been one of the first people their engagement was announced to, since they dropped into the hotel bar to celebrate that night, where Darren and Eric had been drinking, was walking towards Carl. Carl noted how different Darren looked in a suit, as opposed to the casual wear that he was wearing when they had met.

"Carly! Eric and I are in town for business and Felicia reached out to meet up. Come with me." Darren reached out his hand.

Carl took it, and Darren led him into the hotel and towards one of the private ballrooms. As they walked, Carl wondered why Darren would be wearing a suit if they were just meeting up. And why he didn’t bat an eyelash at the fact that Carl was wearing a wedding dress.

"Lemme guess, you're sworn to secrecy too?" Carl asked.

"Something like that. But I think you'll figure it out in a minute." Darren replied as they stopped in front of the door. Darren reached out and pulled the veil over Carl's face.

“Darren… What's going on?” Carl asked. “Where’s Felicia?”

Darren picked up a bouquet of flowers off of a chair and handed it to Carl. Carl's stomach did a few more backflips as the final switches flipped in his head, making him realize what was really going on.

Carl was speechless.

"I know that this isn't typical, but it's what Felicia wanted." Darren opened the door, and locked his arm around Carl's leading him into the ballroom.

Carl took in the sight of the room. It was fairly sparse, with some wedding decorations hanging up, save for a podium near the front, where Eric and Felicia were standing. Felicia was wearing a fitted suit that Carl had never seen before. She turned towards Carl and grinned.

Darren walked Carl down the aisle as a familiar tune played out of a speaker. Carl held back tears as he approached Felicia, When they got to the front of the room, Darren took back the bouquet, and Felicia reached out to grab both of Carl's hands.

"I told you it was perfect." Felicia said, pushing Carl's veil over his head.

"I don't understand." Carl said, choked up.

"I figured since it was Carly who proposed to me, that she should get to enjoy the wedding too." Felicia whispered into Carl's ear. “Consider it my version of a bachelor party.”

Eric cleared his throat.

"Dearly beloved, we are here to witness the union of Felicia and Carly, two souls that truly belong together, if all this effort is to be believed." Eric started, before making an aside. "I got officiated online for this."

Carl giggled as he gazed into Felicia's eyes.

"If there are any objections to this, speak now or forever hold your peace." Eric said, looking around the room jokingly. "Do you, Carly Stewart, take Felicia to be your lawfully wedded wife? To have and to hold, until death do you part?"

"I do." Carl said.

"And do you, Felicia Miller, take Carly to be your... lawfully wedded wife?"

"I do." Felicia said.

"Well, I now pronounce you... woman and wife! You may now kiss the brides." Eric exclaimed.

Felicia quickly grabbed Carl and kissed him deeply. Darren and Eric smiled as they watched the kiss. Darren quickly popped the cork on a bottle of champagne and poured four glasses. After pulling away, Carl wiped more tears from his eyes.

"I can't believe you went to all this trouble." Carl cried.

"It's all worth it for you." Felicia said. “Always is.”

Darren handed two of the glasses to Carl and Felicia who took them. Eric picked up his own glass and held it up. The others followed suit.

“To Carly and Felicia!” Eric exclaimed.

Everyone raised their glasses and took a sip of the champagne.

“I’m so impressed that you managed to pull this off in secret.” Carl remarked.

“We’re not done yet, ladies.” Eric smiled and tapped a button on a nearby laptop.

Speakers in the room began to play a familiar song, one that Carl recognized quite well.

“This is the song that was playing when we met…” Carl started to tear up again.

“May I have this dance?” Felicia held her hand out to Carl.

“But I don’t know how to dance.” Carl took Felicia’s hand.

“Then you’re just gonna have to let me lead, then.” Felicia giggled and pulled Carl towards her, until their chests were touching.

Carl gazed into Felicia’s eyes while they danced, the song’s tempo being perfect for the slow dancing that Felicia was slowly teaching Carl how to do as they did it. Carl felt Felicia’s hand gripping his waist and saw their two manicured hands entwined as he tried to focus. Carl stumbled slightly as he tried to match Felicia’s moves. Carl was amazed at how fluidly he could move in the heels, although he had to admit, he’d had enough practice these last few months that it wasn’t a total shock.

Once Carl got the hang of it, he and Felicia moved perfectly in-sync, their bodies practically becoming one as Darren and Eric watched from the other side of the room, both happy for the couple and impressed at the skill. Carl's skirt flowed gorgeously as Felicia guided her bride around the room. Carl had never felt more feminine, even the initial makeover hadn’t made him feel as feminine and vulnerable as he did in this moment. But unlike the makeover, he felt at peace, knowing that Felicia was by his side.

Carl's heart fluttered as he thought about how he'd get the chance to repay Felicia for this at their real wedding, but for the moment, this was as much for Felicia as it was for Carl, and she was in heaven as she saw how happy it made Carl and herself. Carl expected to feel out of breath from doing the unfamiliar dance moves, but he instead felt invigorated from the dancing. At the apex of the dance, Carl knew what was coming next. Could Felicia dip him? Carl wasn't sure, but he gave himself entirely over to Felicia and she expertly spun Carl around, before pulling him back and dipping him in a final move that elicited applause from Darren and Eric.

“I don’t know what to say.” Carl said, breathlessly.

“Well, I do. That was beautiful.” Eric said.

“Thank you.” Felicia said, before embracing Carl in a hug.

"Do we just go home or did you plan a honeymoon as well?" Carl asked.

"I've taken the liberty of handling that." Darren held out a room key. "Honeymoon suite. One night, as requested."

Felicia took the room key and kissed Carl again.

“Congratulations, you two.” Eric said. “May your lives together be long and happy.”

“Thanks Eric… and thank you too, Darren.” Carl said. “For everything.”

“Don’t mention it. Though I’m a little disappointed you didn’t have a cake.” Darren chuckled.

“Next time you’re in town, we’ll buy you a cake.” Felicia said.

Everyone joined together in a laugh before the groups started to part ways.

"Shall we, my blushing bride?" Felicia asked, wiggling the room key.

"Lead the way, my love." Carl picked up his skirt and followed Felicia out of the ballroom.

One thing was for sure, Carl was definitely not going to be doing any work from home this weekend. This weekend belonged to Carly.

The End?