Chase's POV:
1 Month Later
Over the past month, Madelyn and I had been relaxing so we'd have enough energy for the next months of tight filming schedules and other events for season 3. We'd be starting production tomorrow! We wouldn't be filming yet, just having meetings, table reads, and costume fittings.
Maddie seemed good, besides the small hiccup in New York. We were both seeing our therapists weekly. I was feeling a lot better too. I was still anxious from time to time, but no longer depressed. It must've just been that week long slump, but I was still in therapy anyways. It was good to learn about how to handle my emotions as well as vent about anything and everything when I needed to.
Besides season 3 beginning tomorrow, Madelyn and I had other really exciting news. We decided that we were going to get married next month. After some discussion, we came to the conclusion that we didn't want anything extravagant or fancy. All that mattered was being surrounded by family and close friends for our special day. We would have a small ceremony on the beach and a nice dinner with everyone afterwards. I was relieved that we didn't have to do a lot of planning, especially because it was during filming. Maddie still wanted to get a traditional wedding dress, but she was looking for something a little more casual. Madelyn and I went to the jewelers yesterday and got fitted for wedding bands.
"I'm so excited." Maddie told me after we left the jewelers.
"Me too, I'm glad we're doing something more low-key." I replied.
"Same, I want it to be a fun day for us too. I feel like brides and grooms are always so overwhelmed at their own huge wedding parties." She said.
Madelyn and I got an early start to our night. We had to be up early the next morning for a full cast and crew meeting.
"I am not looking forward to getting up at 6:30 tomorrow." I said with a chuckle.
"I know, it's gonna suck. But at least we can see everyone. I haven't seen Drew and JD and some other people in a while." Maddie responded.
I was feeling slightly anxious about tomorrow. It was more of an excited anxious, but I hadn't worked in a while. I woke up a few minutes before my alarms went off and watched as Madelyn peacefully slept. I placed my hand on her chest, feeling it rise and fall with every breath. I turned off my alarm before it could go off and wake her up.
She rolled over and sighed deeply.
"Good morning." I whispered while poking her arm.
"What time is it?" She asked as she opened her eyes.
"It's almost 6:30." I replied.
She moaned. "I don't wanna get up." Maddie said.
"I know. You look so cozy." I said.
She rubbed her eyes with her hands and ruffled her hair.
"C'mon, I'll make you some breakfast." I added.
Maddie reluctantly sat up in bed. I walked around to the other side of the bed and took ahold of Maddie's hands as she stood up.
"I'm so fucking tired." She said.
"Let's get some coffee in you." I replied.
After Madelyn and I got ready and ate breakfast, we headed to the production office. We were greeted with cheers and smiles. Partially because we hadn't seen the crew in a while, but also because we were getting married.
We said hi to everyone and sat down for a boring meeting. Maddie was trying to make me laugh the whole time which I appreciated. It was either going to be me falling asleep during the meeting, or giggling through the whole thing, and I preferred giggling.
We did a table read of the entire first episode after our meeting. Afterwards, I was really tired and drained, but it was nice to be back with the full cast, I missed them.
When we got home, Madelyn and I ate dinner and snuggled on the couch.
"I don't have costume fittings until the afternoon tomorrow, so I thought I'd look at some dresses with my mom." Maddie said, referring to wedding dresses.
"That's a good idea." I replied.
"Unless you want to be there, do you?" She asked.
"I think it'll be special if it's just you and your mom. Also, I kinda want your dress to be a surprise." I said.
She smiled and kissed my lips.
Madelyn's POV:
Chase left early this morning to get fitted for some John B clothes. I was still sleeping when he left, but I felt him kiss me on the cheek when he got up. I noticed a note that Chase left on the counter.
It read, Have fun trying on dresses today. I love you, my beautiful bride!
I smiled as I read the note. I got dressed and left the apartment. I planned to meet my mom at a bridal shop downtown.
"Hi honey!" My mom said as I walked up to her.
"Hi! Thanks for meeting me." I replied.
"I wouldn't miss this for the world. Are you excited?" She asked.
"Yeah, I'm nervous though." I said.
"That's normal. Nerves are part of this process. Let's go in." She said as she stroked my arm.
We were greeted by the manager who helped us pick out some simple yet stylish dresses.
My mom came back with me to the fitting room area after we chose a bunch of dresses.
I tried on the first three dresses and hated them. One was too lacy, the other fit strangely on my waist, and one was too short.
My mom could tell that I was getting frustrated.
"Maddie honey, breathe. Not all of them are going to be perfect, that's why we picked out a lot, ok?" She reassured me.
I took a deep breath, attempting to calm myself down.
"Hand the bad ones to me, I'll start putting them away." She said.
The next dress was a very simple long satin dress with an open back and thin straps. It was beautiful. I opened the curtain to show my mom.
She gasped. "You look gorgeous in that!" She said.
"Do I?" I asked quietly.
"You've gotta be kidding me...sweetie, you look stunning." My mom added.
I walked over to the full length mirror and my mom followed behind me. I looked in the mirror to admire it. The dress was perfect, but I couldn't tell if I was perfect in it.
Noticing my cheerless expression, my mom stared into my eyes through the mirror.
"What's wrong? You don't like it?" She asked.
"No, I do." I whispered, a small frown still plastered on my face.
"Talk to me." She said, knowing something was wrong.
"I just- I don't know. My arms look fat and my stomach is bulging a little bit, and-" I complained before my mom interrupted.
"Madelyn," She began sternly, "I'll remind you until you believe me...you are beautiful. You're the most beautiful person I've ever seen, and I'm not just saying that because I'm your mom. Look in the mirror." She requested.
I did as she said.
"Look at that beautiful woman staring back at you." She said referring to me. I smiled a little bit. "You have a beautiful body, and a beautiful smile, and an electric personality." She said.
I began to tear up.
"It's ok if it's not the dress, you have a bunch of others to try on, but it's not your body that's the problem here, you are perfect honey." She said.
"Thank you." I whispered as I turned around to hug her.
After a minute or so, my mom gently pulled away from the hug.
"I have something for you." She said.
"What?" I asked.
She grabbed her purse and pulled out a small box.
"Open it." She said after handing it to me.
I opened the box and saw a beautiful diamond necklace. I recognized it from my parents wedding photos.
"Isn't this the necklace you wore at your wedding?" I asked, surprised that she would gift it to me.
My mom nodded. "I wanted you to have it. Even if you don't wear it for your wedding, I though it would be something special to pass on to you." She said.
I teared up again.
"Thank you. This means a lot, and of course I'm wearing it for my wedding!" I said.
My mom smiled and took the necklace out of its box. I held my hair up as she clasped it around my neck.
"It's beautiful, thank you." I said while admiring its shine in the mirror.
"You're welcome. It looks beautiful on you." She said.
After seeing the necklace and the dress together, I sighed with relief.
"Do you want to try on more dresses?" My mom asked.
"I know we've only been here for like 30 minutes, but I feel like this is the one..." I said.
"I knew you'd change your mind about this one!" She exclaimed referring to my earlier hesitation about this dress on me.
My mom insisted on buying the dress herself.
Her excuse was, "If you have a daughter one day, you'll understand."
We hugged once more and she helped me carry the dress out to my car.
