Had Things Been Different... Part 6

Georgia looked at herself in the mirror.  For a while now, she and Florida had been secretly planning a marriage between the two of them.  The way she saw it, this was the best decission for everyone.  The two colonies would no longer have to worry about fighting, South Carolina wouldn't have a thing to worry about, Spain and England might actually see the error of their ways and start getting along, and she and Rutilio could live happily together for their rest of their lives.  she looked down at the ring on her finger and smiled, a small tear of joy coming to her eye.  Today was going a good day!  She could feel it in her body that everything was going to be alright.  After all, the sun was shining happily outside, the birds were singing, and the scent of the spring flowers on the air just begged to challenge how today couldn't be perfect.

She grinned before adjusting her white dress and fussing with her hair, which had the sides pulled back into a celtic knot at the back of her head while the rest hung down, one last time before she turned and left her room.  She had made sure to pick out a white dress that wasn't too overly directed so as not to raise suspicion among anyone within the apartment.  The only one within the townhome that even knew anything about her plans for today was Scotland, who had given his blessing with the words, "Whatever makes you happy, kiddo."  as she walked out of her room, Oglethorpe caught sight of Georgia and smiled to his colony.

"Ah, Georgia, good morning.  You look quite lovely this morning.  What are you up to today?"

Georgia stopped in her tracks before looking to her governor and smiling happily with a small blush on her cheeks.  "Oh~!  Good morning, Governor~!  I'm not up to anything today~!  I just felt like dressing up~!"  She gave a small, cheerful giggle of joy.  Honestly, she was in such a pleasant mood that she could just kiss everyone!  However, she knew her governor and founder would disapprove of such behavior, so she contained herself.

Oglethorpe smiled and nodded.  "Ah, good.  I was afraid that you had forgotten that England and South Carolina are supposed to--"

Georgia glanced to the clocked and gasped in surprise.  Was it already almost noon?!  How had so much time passed without her noticing!  "Oh!  Actually, now that I think about it, I have to go!  I almost lost track of the time!"  She then smiled and waved to Oglethorpe as she turned her back to him.  "I'm sorry!  I promise to talk to you later.  Bye daddy!"  With that, she lifted her skirts and ran off, her heels clacking against the ground as she ran out of the townhouse.

Oglethorpe stood there in silence and surprise before frowning.  "But, Georgia.....  England and South Carolina were going to be here for an early dinner today...."  He sighed, bringing a hand to his face and sighing in frustration.  Honestly, what could that girl be up to today?  If she wasn't here by the time the colony and nation arrived, he was going to have a lot of trouble on his hands....

...................................................................................

Rutilio stood in the church, looking around the small building he and Georgia had selected for the wedding.  It might not be as fancy as the Catholic churches of his home, but the stainglass was still rather pretty, and the humbleness of the main section of the church was charming and suited Georgia perfectly.  Although, now that he thought of it.....  He and Georgia never had discussed what they would do in terms of their religions before hand.  He knew that most of the British colonies were against Catholics for whatever reason, so he doubted she would be willing to change.....

Louisiana was also looking around the church.  He'd been here with georgia before during one of his visits here, so he was familiar with the place.  However, he was proud of himself.  The two colonies had asked for him to help set up the church for the ceremony, even if he was the only witness to the event.  He had some of both territories' flowers arranged in beautiful bouquetes all around the small service area.  At the risk of sounding immodest, he was rather proud at his own accomplishment since the place looked nice.  However, he sighed and looked to Rutilio, who looked nervous and fidgety.  "Mon ami, relax.  She is not about to back down from this.  Knowing Georgia, she is just running a little late.  Our little Christine will be here soon enough~!"

"It is not that.  Well, that is not the only thing worrying me....  Boss Spain sent a letter a while ago saying he would pay me a visit today, so a part of me just wants to hurry up with the wedding, even though I know I should be looking forward to it, but...."  Rutilio looked to Louisiana and gave a nervous smile, wringing his hands together.  "I hope you are right, amigo.  I don't know what I would do if she, what is the phrase, got frozen feet?"

Louis scrunched his eyebrows together as he looked to rutilio in confusion.  "Rutilio, I think you mean cold feet.  And, no.  I doubt that is the--"

Louisiana caught the sound of a door flying open and chuckled lightly as he cocked his head down the ailse.  "See?  I was right!  She was--"

"Sorry!  I was running late!  I lost track of time and--!"  Georgia stopped at the end of the aisle on the other end of the service room, panting heavily as she leaned against the door frame in an attempt to catch her breath.  She could hear both men chuckling lightly and looked up to the two of them, her face flushed in both embarrassment and lack of air.  "I- I hope I didn't worry either of you or keep you both waiting...."

Louisiana smirked lightly and shrugged his shoulders.  "I was not worried, but Rutilio here--"  He felt an elbow jab into his stomach and stopped, doubling over slightly as he looked up to Rutilio who was blushing and putting a finger to his mouth to tell the French colony to hush.  Georgia didn't need to know how worried he had been at the thought of her deciding against the marriage.  He then looked to Georgia and smiled brightly.

"No no, Georgia~!  W- We figured you might be runnign a little late!  Don't worry!  Everything is fine!"  Florida gave a small, nervous chuckle, hoping that Georgia was now calmed down from her worry of worrying the two men.

The blond blinked lightly from her sot at the door before she stood up straight and smiled with a soft blush.  "I'm so happy to hear that!"  She lifted her skirts slightly and walked down the ailse to where both men stood and smiled up to Rutilio.  She stood on the tip of her toes and planted a loving kiss on the Spaniard's cheek.  She could feel him smile before he wrapped his arms around her and pulled her into a hug before kissing her forehead.

Louisiana recovered from the jab and stood, smirking slightly at the sight of the two.  "Calm down, you two lovers.  You can kiss one another all you want once the wedding ceremony is over."  He chuckled as he went to the pew and cleared his throat.  The French colony began reading off the traditional spiel on why they were there and this, that, and the other.  After a while of preaching, the trio got to the part for exchanging vows.  Georgia said her vows to Rutilio before Rutilio said his.  Of course, it was all said in Spanish so no one but Rutilio knew what it was the Spanish territory had said.  However, no one questioned what he said since they knew it was probably very meaningful and would have lost the meaning if the poor guy tried to translate what he had said.

Louis smiled and chuckled softly at his two friends.  "Well, I doubt there will be at this point, but....  If anyone has any objections to this union, speak now or forever hold your peace."

"Yes.  I have something I would like to say."

Georgia paled and stiffened up.  She went from lovingly looking up to her southern neighbor to frightfully looking towards the end of the aisle where, not one, but two familiar faces stood with their arms crossed disapprovingly.  And next to those two was a third member of their group whom the state did not immediately recognize, but at least recognized was somehow related to Florida.

Florida looked as well and held back a gasp of surprise.  It wasn't too surprising to see an angry England and South Carolina standing in the Georgian church, but....

"B- Boss España.?"

England, who had been the one to speak up, stomped his way down the aisle at the same time Spain did.  However, unlike Spain who was focused on Rutilio, England was staring angrily at Georgia.  Both nations grabbed the wrist of their respective territory and glared them down.

"Georgia Christine!  What in the blazes is the meaning of this?!  I come here to have a nice dinner with you and your sister only to hear from your boss that you have run off somewhere!  And then, to top it off, I hear from word of mouth where you've run off to only to find you standing here, in a church, being wed off by the French to some dirty Spanish territory-- The one you were specifically forbidden from ever speaking to or interacting with unless you were trying to kill him!"

Both Florida and Georgia flinched at the last statement.  Rutilio did his best to look to Georgia, but he could see her gaze was turned down and away from Rutilio.  He had known she was supposed to protect the evil puta to the North, but he hadn't known that England had specifically ordered the sweet and delicate Georgia to outright kill him.  However, his attention was instantly snatched by his boss as a hand grabbed his jaw and jerked his head in the direction of an angry Spain.

"Florida, I can not believe you!  I told you a long time ago I wanted you to kill that girl back before she could become a problem.  instead, years later, I find you in this protestant church trying to marry her?!  I though I could trust you, but I see that was wrong!  You are lucky that you have some value to me, or else I would cut you down here and now for disobeying me!"

"P- Para Boss..."

"No!  I don't want to hear it!"

South Carolina stomped her way down the aisle and pointed an accusatory finger at Louisiana.  "You!  I thought I told you to keep an eye on my baby sister and to make sure she was happy!  I didn't mean for you to get her to try and marry some lowly Spaniard who has picked fights with me for years!  You ought to be ashamed of yourself!"

Louisiana smiled sheepishly and shrugged.  "But, Caroline, I did as you told me~!  I kept an eye on her, tried to make her happy, and when that did not work, found a different way to make her happy~!"  A hand came out and slapped the French colony across the cheek.  He rubbed his sore cheek with a pout as South Carolina went on a rant about how useless he was.

"F- Father, please....  I- I know you probably do not approve of Rutilio and I--"

"I don't want to hear any more from you, Georgia!  I see now that not even my brother or Germany is capable of doing their jobs.  I suppose I have no other choice than to just send them both back to where they came from and have others keep a much closer eye on you!  Now then, come along!"  England tugged Georgia's wrist, trying to get her to follow him out.  Georgia whined out a complaint and tried tugging her arm away from the nation.  However, England was much stronger and just matched her tug with a sharp and harsh jerk which caused her to cry out in pain as she fell forward.

Rutilio went from pathetically looking up to his boss as he continued to rant at him in their native tongue to looking over in worry when he heard Georgia cry out.  However, as soon as he turned his head to look over at her fate, Spain reached out and snatched his ear and once more forced the territory to once more look at him.

"I am not finished with you just yet, niño!  As soon as we get back home, we are continuing this discussion.  However, it seems the English are too much of a distraction for you."

Spain reached out and grabbed Rutilio by the collar of his shirt and began to drag him out of the church.

Georgia caught a glimpse of Rutilio being dragged out and reached a hand out pathetically towards the poor Spanish Territory, tears streaming down her face.  "Rutilio!"

England snatched her wrist and began to drag Georgia out as well, glancing over his shoulder to the other colony who was still busy yelling at Louisiana.  "Come along, Ashley.  We will all continue to discuss this back in the townhouse."

South Carolina looked over her shoulder to England and called out, "Coming~!"  She then looked back to Louisiana and frowned at him.  "You'll be lucky if I don't decide to just cut off trade with you after all of this!"  She huffed before she turned, her nose in the air, and ran off after her father and younger sister.

Louisiana stood and watched as he witnessed his two friends, two people who clearly loved one another, were both dragged away and any hope of them living happily together were dashed away.  He sighed sadly as he looked to one of the stain glass windows of the now empty church where no union took place.

"Et aujourd'hui ..... était censé être une bonne journée .... Je l'avais senti ......."