THE NEXT DAY
Athena stood at the front of the room, a nervous but determined energy emanating from her. She had called Janet, LaToya, and Rebbie—asking them to all come to her mansion in Los Angeles, since they would all be in the area anyway for meetings.
"Hello, ladies," Athena smiled as she invited them inside, "Thanks for coming."
"Of course," Janet grinned as she made herself comfortable on the couch.
"Anytime, Hena," Rebbie added.
"I'll gladly come to your house any time!" LaToya laughed as she and Rebbie sat down next to Janet on either side of her.
Athena took a deep breath, her heart pounding with anticipation. She knew this decision could potentially change the dynamics of her relationships with her sisters-in-law—so as she sat down across from them, she braced herself for the upcoming discussion, "So as you all know, Michael and I are engaged."
"And we're thrilled for you!" Janet exclaimed, beaming at Athena.
"We couldn't be happier to welcome you officially into the Jackson family," Rebbie added, her smile warm and genuine.
LaToya reached over to squeeze Athena's hand gently. "You've always been a part of the family in our hearts, Hena. We love you."
Athena felt a wave of gratitude wash over her at their words. Taking a moment to compose herself, she continued, "I've been struggling with choosing a Maid of Honor because I value each of you so much. But then I had an idea that might sound a bit unconventional..." she said, "Now I know Rebbie doesn't like the spotlight, so I was wondering if Janet and LaToya would be willing to be....co-Maid of Honor?"
Janet and LaToya exchanged surprised glances, their eyes reflecting a mix of curiosity and excitement. Rebbie smiled warmly, understanding Athena's consideration for her preferences.
"That's a wonderful idea, Hena," Janet said, breaking the brief silence. "I'd be honored to share the role with LaToya. It'll be a great way for the three of us to work together and support you on your special day."
LaToya nodded in agreement, her smile infectious. "Absolutely! We'll make sure everything runs smoothly and that you have the most magical wedding day."
Athena's eyes shimmered with relief and gratitude as she felt the weight lifted off her shoulders. "Thank you, both of you. I couldn't imagine having anyone else by my side as I marry Michael." she smiled, "Now Rebbie, how would you feel about being a Bridesmaid?"
Rebbie's eyes lit up at the suggestion. "I would be honored, Athena. Thank you for including me in your special day," she said, a genuine warmth in her voice, "And thank you for considering my preference to not be in the spotlight. Being a Bridesmaid is perfect for me."
"We need to plan the bachelorette party!" Janet exclaimed, her eyes sparkling with excitement. "I say we go all out and have a girls' trip and go to another country!"
"Ooh! Bali!" LaToya grinned, "No! Hawaii! No! I've got it..." she paused for dramatic effect, "Let's go to Bora Bora!"
"Yes, Bora Bora!" Janet grinned, "Ooh! We could do combined Bachelor and Bachelorette parties!"
"That's genius!" Rebbie laughed, "We would be separate from the men, but we would all go to Bora Bora together—to celebrate Athena and Michael's last week as unmarried people!"
Michael emerged from the doorway, his eyes widening at the sight of the animated discussion unfolding before him, "Well, what are we talking about here?"
"Mike, Janet and I are Athena's Maids of Honor and Rebbie is one of her Bridesmaids!" LaToya giggled.
Michael grinned, his heart warming at the sight of the women coming together to support Athena. "I couldn't think of a better team to help plan this wedding," he said, admiration clear in his voice. "And a joint celebration in Bora Bora sounds like the perfect way to kick things off."
"Perfect! Now let's plan this wedding!" LaToya grinned.
"Oh, Michael, call Marlon and whoever else you want," Athena muttered, "They need to be part of this too. Call your whole family if you want."
It didn't take long for Marlon to arrive, a determined glint in his eyes as his brothers trailed in behind him, "Alright, ladies and gentlemen," he declared, his voice filled with excitement. "We are here to plan the wedding of the century for our beloved Michael and future Mrs. Jackson!"
"I can't wait for you to take our name!" Randy laughed.
Jackie spoke up next, "I always knew Athena would be an amazing addition to our family."
"Absolutely," Tito added, "She fits right in with us crazy Jacksons."
"You're telling me?" Jermaine laughed, "I mean, we all know how wild this family can get sometimes!"
The room filled with laughter and chatter as they began brainstorming ideas for the wedding. Athena watched with a heart full of love as the Jackson family embraced her with open arms, making her feel like she had always belonged.
Michael stood by her side, his eyes sparkling with happiness as he witnessed his family coming together to support them in this new chapter of their lives. As plans for the wedding and the joint celebration in Bora Bora started taking shape, the Jackson brothers high-fived each other, a sense of camaraderie and excitement filling the room. The energy was palpable as they all shared ideas, jokes, and reminisced about past family gatherings.
"Hey, where's your parents?" Athena suddenly realized.
"We've been sitting here, just listening," Katherine's voice said, causing all the siblings to whirl around and see their mother and father sitting on one of the couches.
Joe nodded in agreement, "You kids have always known how to rally together for a good cause. I must say, Athena, you are truly becoming one of us." he chuckled, "By the way, Athena, you have a beautiful house."
Marlon jumped up from his seat, his eyes shining with enthusiasm, "Well, since everyone's here now, why don't we start throwing around some ideas for the wedding color theme?" he suggested, looking around at the group.
"I say black and gold!" Randy added, "It's the only colors we ever see those two wearing!"
Katherine's gentle voice interjected, "What about incorporating elements of both black and gold, symbolizing the merging of two families into one?" Her words carried a sense of wisdom that immediately resonated with everyone in the room.
Joe nodded in agreement, a proud smile on his face. "That sounds like a wonderful idea. We've always been stronger together as a family, just like how black and gold complement each other."
The room fell into a contemplative silence as they all considered Katherine's suggestion. It was a poignant reminder of the unity and strength that had always defined the Jackson family.
After a moment, Tito spoke up, "I love that idea. It's not just about the colors; it's about what they represent—unity, harmony, and the blending of two families into one." His words were met with nods of agreement from his siblings and Athena.
Michael looked at his family with pride and gratitude, feeling incredibly fortunate to have each and every one of them by his side, "I couldn't ask for a better group of people to share this journey with."
Athena reached for Michael's hand, "I second that," she said.
"Let's make this wedding one to remember," Marlon declared, his eyes sparkling with excitement. "We should have live music, fireworks, and a feast fit for royalty!"
Jermaine chimed in, "And don't forget about the traditional Jackson dance-off! We could battle it out on the dance floor to see who's got the best moves."
"The Tyler's don't back down from a challenge!" Kayden, Athena's older brother said as he and his wife, Claire, walked in.
The energy in the room spiked as Kayden and Claire entered, their presence adding to the excitement of the wedding planning.
Marlon clapped his hands together, a mischievous grin on his face. "Well, well, well, look who decided to join the party! Kayden, Claire, welcome!"
Kayden chuckled, a glint of mischief in his eyes matching Marlon's, "Couldn't have my little sister getting married without me throwing in some dance moves, now could I?"
Claire arched an eyebrow playfully. "You know we Tyler's can out-dance any Jackson anytime, anywhere."
Laughter filled the room as the Tyler and Jackson siblings bantered back and forth about their upcoming dance-off at the wedding.
Michael leaned into Athena, whispering in her ear with a smile. "Looks like our wedding is shaping up to be a family competition."
Athena chuckled, shaking her head in amusement at the playful rivalry unfolding before her. She squeezed Michael's hand, feeling grateful for the wonderful, supportive families they both had. As the laughter and banter continued to fill the room, she couldn't help but feel a surge of joy knowing that their wedding was not only about celebrating their love but also about uniting two families who cherished each other deeply.
Suddenly, amidst the lively atmosphere, a knock on the front door interrupted the festivities. Everyone turned to look as the door swung open, revealing a familiar figure standing in the doorway.
"Liz Taylor!" Janet exclaimed, "What are you doing here?"
Liz smiled warmly, her eyes twinkling with mischief, "I heard you all were planning a wedding fit for royalty and I had to be here!"
"Liz Taylor!" Athena smiled, "How did you know where I live?"
Liz laughed, a melodious sound that filled the room with warmth. "Oh, my dear Athena, a little birdie told me," she said, winking at Michael who grinned in response. "And when I heard about the festivities, I simply had to be here to celebrate!" she smiled, bringing Athena into a hug as she completely ignored Michael.
Michael feigned offense, "I can't believe you're stealing my bride already, Liz!" he teased, joining the group hug.
"Oh, Michael! I have to steal her away for a moment to talk about wedding dress designs," Liz said with a mischievous glint in her eye, "We should pick a day to discuss! How about tomorrow?"
"Of course! The girls and I will meet you," Athena smiled, motioning to Janet, Rebbie, and LaToya, "If that's okay?"
Liz grinned, a twinkle in her eyes. "Perfect! It will be a fabulous girls' day," she declared, already envisioning the dress designs and details they would discuss. With that settled, Liz bid everyone goodbye and promised to return the next day for their dress appointment.
As the door closed behind her, the room buzzed with excitement once again. The wedding planning resumed with renewed vigor, fueled by Liz's unexpected visit and the upcoming dress consultation. Ideas for decorations, music, and food flowed freely as the Jacksons and Tylers collaborated to create an unforgettable celebration.
Despite the chaos of planning a wedding with two big families involved, Michael and Athena found moments of quiet amidst the whirlwind. In those stolen moments, they would steal glances at each other, their love speaking volumes in hushed whispers and tender touches.
As the night drew to a close, the siblings began to disperse, each taking a piece of the excitement with them.
Athena stood in the now quiet living room, her heart full of gratitude for the love and support surrounding her. Michael came up behind her, wrapping his arms around her waist.
"You know, I never imagined my wedding day would be so filled with laughter and joy," Athena said softly, leaning back into his embrace.
Michael pressed a kiss to her forehead, his voice warm with affection. "That's because we have the best families anyone could ask for. And tomorrow, when you meet Liz for your dress fitting, it'll feel even more real that we're getting married."