Stuck: Together

"I'm glad you're happy because this is only stage 1 of my plan."

"Plan? What plan?" Nicola was usually the mischievous one so she was curious as to what Arthur had in mind."

Arthur turned over to look at her directly in her face. "Nicola, what I'm about to tell you is probably the most batshit thing I've ever come up with, but I've worked out all the kinks and if you're on board then we can get this done within a month."

Part of Nicola was scared, but she trusted Arthur enough to go along with whatever he was planning. And when he laid everything out for her that fear turned to excitement, it was completely batshit, hell it was crazier than anything she'd ever thought of.

But it was brilliant all the same.

*

Arthur's plan had some time to get into play so the two of them went about their normal business, thankfully the news of the engagement was met with elation, everyone knew it was coming but they were happy that Arthur did it so soon after the accident. For Nicola's part, now having something worth fighting for, she took to her rehabilitation program with even more gusto than before, to the point where a few days after her 19^th birthday, Oliver had a surprise for her.

The session started out like any other, only this time Oliver brought along a long, thin case with him, he set it on the table without saying a word leaving Arthur and Nicola confused as to its purpose.

"Uh Olly?" Nicola asked after no explanation. "You going to play snooker after this?"

Oliver laughed. "No, no these, uh... well these are for you."

Neither Arthur nor Nicola needed x-ray vision to tell what was in the case, Nicola even felt a tear forming in her eye at the idea.

"Show me." She said in a soft voice

This was Oliver's favourite part of the job and he was going to savour it, taking slow, deliberate steps, he picked up the case, ambled over to Nicola and placed it down on the table in front of her.

"Do you want to open it or should I?" He asked with a smile on his face.

"Y...you." Nicola's voice was uncharacteristically shaky, she knew she'd fuck something up if she even touched the case.

Oliver obliged and carefully unlocked the case on both sides before lifting the lid to show Nicola what lay inside.

Unconsciously, Nicola grabbed Arthur's hand as they looked upon two beautifully designed prosthetic legs, carbon fibre sockets that flowed seamlessly into titanium stilts, ending with a hinged piece of hardened plastic for the foot, already covered by a pair of new black trainers. Two expensive pieces of equipment but as Joseph Martin had promised Adam after the accident, it was covered by the company.

Oliver knelt down to Nicola's eye-level. "You've come a long way Nikki. I'd say you're ready to go that little bit further."

"Do you really think I'm ready to start walking again?" Nicola's grip grew tighter on Arthur's hand, facing the real prospect of having legs again was exciting but terrifying.

"Baby steps Nikki, baby steps. Today we're just gonna see if you can stand, it's gonna feel strange and you might get a little dizzy, but the sooner you get use to it the sooner you can take your first steps. You think you're ready?"

Nicola looked up at Arthur, a smile growing on his face as he slowly nodded at her, bolstered by his confidence, Nicola looked back to Oliver.

"Fucking right I am."

"That's what I like to hear. You want the honours of putting them on yourself?"

"Supposed I'd better get used to it, sure. Do I just slip them on or is this something else to it?"

"Nope, there suction based so you just need to push your leg in, it'll be a tight fit at first but that'll pass after a few hours. We'll discuss limb health more as you get used to the prosthetics down the line but for now let's try them on."

Oliver handed a couple of padded lining covers for Nicola to roll up over her stumps, once she had those on he handed her the first limb, the left leg. Nicola scooted to the edge of her wheelchair so she could get a better angle against the floor, as promised it was a simple case of pushing her thigh into the socket, once Oliver checked her over to ensure everything was air-tight he allowed her to roll a sleeve over the top of the limb and onto her legs, giving an extra layer of protection.

"How does it feel?" He asked, watching Nicola start at her new leg.

"Strange, it's not uncomfortable, but it'll take some getting used to."

Oliver handed Nicola the right limb and once again she pushed her thigh into the socket, did a check herself for the air-tight quality and rolled the sleeve up. Now with both limbs attached, Nicola looked down at her feet for the first time in over 3 months, and she couldn't help but giggle.

"What do ya think?" She asked Arthur, her smile beaming.

"You look good girl."

"Pfft, you're just saying that cause you love me."

"Damn right I do."

Nicola made a mental note to reward Arthur later but for the moment she turned back to Oliver.

"Ok then, let's give this standing thing a shot."

"Slow down Nikki, you're gonna want to feel things out first. Try putting your foot on the floor first."

Nicola looked down, having been confined to the wheelchair for a while she needed to readjust herself slightly. Slowly she placed her new left foot down onto the carpet, where she realised that it was much closer than she thought it was, only through her knee not being able to move did she know where the limit was. Now with hindsight, she took an even more careful approach to putting her right leg down, it was still closer than she thought but she was less taken off-guard by the floor.

"Should we help her up or...?" Arthur asked Oliver, slightly worried for his girlfriends safety.

"Let her try herself, don't want her getting complacent now do we?"

Her heart beating like crazy, Nicola braced herself on the armrests of her chair, and pushed. Once her butt was off the chair she found herself unsteady, unbalanced by the new centre of gravity she had to contend with, she got as far as her arms would stretch but couldn't bring herself to let go and stand up unsupported.

Oliver put a comforting hand on her shoulder. "It's ok Nikki, if you want to sit back down you can, or if you want to keep going then me and Arthur are here to catch you."

Arthur thought quickly and pulled the table further away from Nicola, giving her a more open space in case she did fall. Being as stubborn as she was, she made the decision to push on. With one hand, she let go of the wheelchair, she tested her balance, making sure she could keep control, and then finger by finger, she let go with her other hand.

It was crude and it was awkward, and she still had her back slightly hunched over to counteract how heavy her upper torso was feeling at the moment. But Nicola McAllister was standing on her own two feet.

"Fucking hell this feels weird." She exclaimed, her voice reflecting the effort she'd put into the task. "It's like I'm fucking floating."

Oliver nodded. "That'll take some getting used to, having to rethink where the ground actually is, but with time that'll come. I know you've heard this before but it's like going to be easy, you're literally learning to walk again, but thankfully now that you've passed the first part, the rest will come to you."

Oliver turned to the case and pulled out a couple booklets. "These will teach you some more about limb health, mostly about how your stump will react to the pressure, I won't lie, it's not gonna be great but so long as you take care and wear the limb when you can, even try just standing up once or twice a day to get used to it, your body will adjust properly. Oh, and just so you know, suction based limbs are among the best for being able to handle strenuous activity, so with time and training you might be able to play volleyball again."

That pushed Nicola over the edge and she burst into tears of joy, Arthur grabbed her and held her as she wept, between Arthur's proposal, her new legs and new the possibility of returning to the sport she loved so much, it was all too much for her.

As she cried into Arthur's shoulder she felt him take a step back, curious she looked up and saw Arthur looking her up and down quizzically, eventually he spoke only two words.

"You're taller."

With tears still in her eyes, Nicola burst out laughing, of course Arthur would notice that, after five years in each others arms she'd be offended if he didn't.

"Well, I might have told the doctors I was 5'9'' instead of 5'8'', but you can't blame a girl for trying."

"After everything Nikki, you've earned it."

Ignoring the fact that Oliver was still in the room, Nicola pulled Arthur closer for a kiss... but her mind also wondered what the best way of freaking out her mother would be to show off her new ability to stand.

*

Lexi did scream the first time she saw Nicola standing and that reaction alone was worth the crying and hugging both her parents gave her. Over the new few weeks Nicola would practise standing and sitting in her room, wearing the prosthetics even though she wasn't walking, Oliver's sessions kept up her routine of strengthening her muscles but now included exercises to taught her how to properly lift and bend her leg. When she eventually took her first step she nearly fell over, but she took it all the same.

But right now that mattered to Nicola, because on October 31^st, the third anniversary of her and Arthur sleeping together, she was sat outside the Glasgow City Chambers with Arthur by her side waiting for her friends to arrive.

"They're gonna freak out when they get here." Nicola giggled to herself.

"You sure you're up for this?" Arthur asked nervously, while this was all his plan it was still strange to think it was happening.

Nicola took his hand and held tight. "Abso-fucking-lutely."

At that moment they saw four bodies in the distance getting closer, Megan, Brendan, Emily and Francis had parked up just down the road and were making their way to the City Chambers, all of them wondering why the hell Arthur and Nicola had asked to meet them there.

Megan was the first to notice something was up. "Nikki's wearing a dress everyone, she's wearing a fucking dress. She's up to something."

"Whatever do you mean Megan? I'm simply happy to see my close friends."

"Bullshit." Emily chimed in. "I know you McAllister, you're fucking with us."

"Don't know what you mean skipper."

"Can we discuss this inside?" Brendan said while rubbing his hands. "It's too fucking cold for this."

Arthur took Nicola's chair and led everyone inside, although Francis stayed behind, looking intently at the building until a small smile appeared on his face.

"Babe?" Emily looked towards her boyfriend. "You ok?"

"I know what's going on."

"Yeah? What you thinking?"

Francis shook his head and took out his phone. "Nah, I'm gonna text you what I think, don't read it until they tell us but I'm sure I'm right."

Francis sent his text and they followed everyone else inside, Arthur and Nicola led everyone down a few corridors, round a couple corners, going a little too fast for anyone to notice where they were leading until finally they stopped outside a pair of double doors. And engraved onto the doors were the words;

'Marriage Ceremonies'

Emily instantly checked her phone, sure enough Francis' text read 'We're here for a wedding', she then looked at Arthur and Nicola, utterly speechless for the first time in her life, hell nobody really knew what to say.

"Shall we explain everything to you?" Nicola said, her voice trying -- and failing -- to hide the cheekiness of her tone.

"That be a good fucking start." Brendan spoke for the group.

Arthur placed a hand on Nicola's shoulder as he took up the speech. "Before I proposed to Nikki, I knew that with everything else going on, adding the stress of planning a full-blown wedding was not the best idea. I mean sure we could've just had a long engagement, but this is us, we haven't exactly been a couple that's taken things lightly."

Nicola took over. "We're still going to have our big wedding with cake and guests and all that shit, but this is for us, so that legally, on paper, we are married as soon as possible. Which is why we've invited the four of you, all of you are the closest friends we have and since we can't have our parents here without them freaking out, we want to share this day with you all."

The four friend stayed silent for a few seconds, taking everything in, eventually it was Emily that broke the silence.

"You two are fucking crazy."

Arthur nodded. "Yeah, I guess we are."

Ever the logical one, Francis had some queries on his mind. "How did you set this up so fast? You've only been engaged, what, just over a month?"

Since it was his idea, Arthur answered. "Well I filled the paperwork before Nicola knew what was happening so once she was onboard all I needed was her signature, a month is standard waiting time after approval but I was able to get ours fast-tracked thanks to someone who wanted to do us a favour; Rachel Allen."

That fact caught everyone off-guard, Rachel Allen was the mother of Martin, they'd seen her during the trial -- which was still ongoing but the evidence against Martin was mounting up -- but she'd kept mostly quiet, unlike Martin's father Steven who had a lot to say to the courts and to the press. David had used some contacts to keep them all away from the courtroom, in particular Nicola, but they'd followed the case on the news and social media.

Arthur continued his explanation. "She's furious at Martin and hates his father for enabling him, says she's divorcing him and leaving town. But it turns out she works, she's got a minor role in politics but enough to pull some strings and push our paperwork through, after what Martin did she was adamant of finding some way to repay us, I figured this would benefit everyone."

"Look, we know this is insane." Nicola tried to calm her still worried looking friend. "But this is a big deal for us, and I'll be honest it's happening regardless, we want you all to be there when it does."

It was Megan who stepped forward first, kneeling down to look Nicola in the eye. "You sure about this?"

"More than anything."

"Have you told Kevin?"

Nicola smiled. "I have, and I need you to call him on Facetime so he can watch the ceremony. What you do afterwards is none of my business.

"Then I'm good, you two were always going to get hitched, so what if it happens a little earlier."

Brendan rolled his eyes. "Fuck it, I'm good with it too. I've always known you two were crazy, this just fits."

Emily and Francis looked at each other, still processing everything. Eventually it was Francis who shrugged his shoulders and chuckled. "I mean, it's not really that weird if you think about it. They've been together for five years, it's a good time-frame."

"Yeah and we've been together ten years, we're not rushing to get married."

"Because that's not something we want just yet, they do. Think of what this signifies for Nikki, confirmation that Arthur is by her side through everything, that the fact that she's lost her legs doesn't mean a goddamn thing to him, she needs that right now."

Emily looked at Francis, then to Nicola. "You promise to let me know when you can walk so we can get you back into practise for volleyball."

Nicola couldn't help but laugh. "Really? That's what you're thinking about right now?"

"Damn right it is, I've got a whole new generation waiting to learn from you so I need to up to speed as soon as possible. If this whole marriage things helps that then go for it."

It was typical of Emily to think of volleyball above anything else, after three years as captain it was part of who she was, but Nicola knew her well enough to know that she was just playing around. With everyone on board they opened the doors to where a judge and a notary were waiting, Arthur pushed Nicola to the front while everyone else took their seats, Megan quickly called Kevin who answered just as fast.

"Hey, sorry it's a bit later here than I realised, everything ready?"

"Yeah, we're good to go." Megan turned the camera so Kevin could see the ceremony, he would've preferred to be there but couldn't get away from other commitments just yet.

The judge, a tall, thin woman with a soft voice, smiled at them both. "Good afternoon, it's lovely to see you both."

Arthur smiled back. "Thank you, and thank you for seeing us at such short notice."

"Not a worry, I'm happy to help whenever I can. Will there be anyone else joining us today?"

Nicola shook her head. "No, this is it. We'll include our parents for the proper ceremony, right now this is just for us."

"Very well then, let us begin. My name is Linda, I shall be conducting your civil ceremony today, my colleague Hannah shall be covering the legality of your union and ensuring that everything is above board. May I first take the name of the groom please."

"Arthur Malcolm Ross."

Linda wrote down Arthur's name on the certificate. "And of the bride please."

"Nicola Jane McAllister."

She did the same with Nicola's name. "Ok then. We are gather here today to witness the union of matrimony between Arthur and Nicola and to share in their first steps towards their future together. The place we have met today has been sanctioned by law for the celebration of marriages, I am required to ask that if anyone knows of any legal reasons why Arthur Ross and Nicola McAllister should not be wed, they should declare it now."

As expected nobody had anything to say, though from the corner of her eye Nicola could see Megan struggling not to make a joke.

"Ok, now one of the historic customs involved in the wedding is the giving away of the bride, this is seen as a support from her family for her marriage as she makes way for a new chapter in her life. So I ask who shall present Nicola to be married to Arthur."

"I do." Kevin piped up, fulfilling his role as both Nicola's brother and only member of her family she invited.

"Before you are married, I must remind you of the solemn vows you are about to make to each other, marriage in this country means the union of two people, entered voluntarily, to the exclusion of all others. It is a strong partnership, to be built upon with the love, comfort, friendship and strength that you find in each other, it should not be entered into lightly, nor should it be lightly set-aside. Do you both agree that, by law, there is no reason why the two of you should not be married today?

Arthur and Nicola nodded.

"Then you may face each other."

While Nicola manoeuvred into position, Arthur got down onto his knees so that he was eye-level with her, a small gesture but one she adored him for making, they took each other's hands and held tight

"Arthur, do you take Nicola McAlister to be your wife?"

"I do."

"Do you promise to love her, care for her, and share in all things with her?"

"I do."

"Nicola, do you take Arthur Ross to be your husband?"

"You're damn right I do." Nicola words ran out her mouth as she failed to keep herself from crying.

"Do you promise to love him, care for him, and share in all things with him?"

Nicola could only nod before letting out a high-pitched "I do."

"Now this is the solemn moment in which Arthur and Nicola become husband and wife, in the presence of the witnesses gathered here today. As a sign of support could you all please stand."

Brendan, Megan, Emily and Francis all stood up, Emily cuddled into Francis as tears ran down her face.

Linda continued onwards. "This is the moment where you exchange the legal and binding vows that form the marriage contract; so Arthur would you repeat after me. I call upon."

"I call upon."

"These persons here present."