Who: Gwendolyn Wright and Mark Yuan What: After the wedding When: Backdated to May 24th, 2009 Where: Golden Phoenix Restaurant Rating: PG Status: Complete
The papers were signed. It was official. She was married. Gwen wasn't thrilled with the idea, but at least her... husband wasn't gung-ho about it either. It was almost funny. They both wanted out, wanted not to have done this, and yet they both had. They hadn't protested, hadn't said a word against it, hadn't even tried. Maybe he had... she shouldn't project her own inability to act onto him. But, still, he was here. If he had tried anything, it hadn't worked. "Well," she murmured, standing outside the Chinese restaurant his parents owned, well aware that a group of people was waiting inside for them, "this should be fun."
Mark snorted quietly. No, it wasn't going to be fun at all. He could sense that feeling in her voice, and he felt it inside himself, as well. "Yeah," he said quietly, not sure what else there was to say. He was honestly feeling exhausted. He'd awoken this morning and only just gone through the motions - Got dressed, ate, then headed to the courthouse. A wedding should have been a happy occasion, and his family and Gwen's seemed to be trying their hardest, but his heart just wasn't in it.
He felt ashamed. He spend so much time fighting against all of this, and yet had allowed himself to be forced into a marriage as well, and his... wife. He should have had the balls to stand up and say something. But if his mother was upset now, imagine how she'd feel when they took him and inevitably found out about his involvement with the House of Spades. What it would be like when they took his family for questioning. What it would be like when he was imprisoned... Or worse. No, this was the best route, but he still felt... cowardly.
"After you," he said, opening the door for Gwen.
Gwen felt... like she should resign from her position with the Spades. She called herself the Queen of Spades and did nothing to fight for her own rights. How the hell was she supposed to save the world when she couldn't save herself? It would have been easier if he'd spoken harshly to her, ordered her around... but he'd been polite, if uninterested. Not that she blamed him. Not only being paired with a stranger... but a strange who made their living off sex. After all, she didn't kid herself. People heard "escort" and thought "hooker." But that was why they'd agreed not to mention her actual profession.
"You're too kind." Even though she wasn't looking forward to it, she did manage to sound a bit teasing, giving him a faint smile as she walked into the restaurant. What would his family think of her? ...At least she wasn't just some girl he'd picked up over the weekend and chosen to marry. It wasn't her fault this was happening and it wasn't his. Hopefully they wouldn't mind her at least...
The tables had been pushed together to make one long one, and everyone was sitting around it. When Gwen and Mark came through the door, everyone clapped. Mark gave them a smile and wave, then pulled out Gwen's seat for her and took the seat next to his mother. His mother was a short woman, slightly round and with smile lines near her eyes. His father seemed much older than he was, and occasionally coughed heavily into his fist. Mark's younger brother, Nathaniel, sat next to him, almost as tall as Mark and looking as though he was going through his wild, rebellious teenager stage. Two sets of aunts and uncles were both there, and even Mark's older sister.
Only three people had come from Gwendolyn's side of the family. Her mother sat to her daughter's left, a woman still pretty at forty-one. Her parents sat beside her, the two of them brimming with pride at seeing their granddaughter married, despite the circumstances.
Gwen couldn't help but smile a little more and a little more sincerely at seeing the group of people, and she looked at Mark, giving him a polite nod... almost of acknowledgement. For better or for worse, they were stuck together. How was it the song went...? 'Coupled together through Hell, hurt, and hunger...'
Mark's mother stood then, along with his aunts, and they all disappeared into the kitchen to bring the food out. Mark introduced himself to Gwen's mother and grandparents, shaking their hands and giving them all warm smiles. It wasn't their fault he was forced to marry Gwen, and he idn't really mind her - Just the situation.
"So!" Mark's uncle said. He was a little older than Mark's father and balding. "When can we expect the grandchildren, huh?" There was laughter, but Mark winced ever so slightly.
"Well--" Gwen began, but her tone made her mother look over at her quickly.
"Gwendolyn!" She knew her daughter's 'let me tell you just what I think of this' tone, and she wouldn't have any of it here.
Gwen forced a smile and changed her tone. "Well, I wouldn't imagine it will be very long." It was polite but not modest, a gentle statement of fact. They had to start trying soon, according to the same damn law that had seen them married. Though it wasn't this man's fault that hit a sore spot, and Gwen made a note to apologize to Mark for almost going off on his uncle. She watched her grandmother disappear into the kitchen as well and smiled a bit.
Mark took a sip of the tea that was already set out on the table, and ducked his head down. He didn't want to think about children. He didn't want to think about a son or daughter that he was forced to have. He didn't want to think about the fact that he didn't love Gwen, and the fact that he might only grudgingly accept his own flesh and blood child.
"Gwendolyn," Maggie, Mark's sister spoke up. His uncle didn't seem to notice the tone, but Maggie had, and Mark was grateful that she was going to keep him from continuing to push the subject. "Where do you work? Mark doesn't talk a lot, and things have been so rushed I'm sure you barely have gotten to know each other, let alone us."
Gwen smiled at the question, her reply coming easily from years of practice. "I do freelance advertising." She offered a hand to the young woman, saying with a chuckle, "I am afraid it's been a lot of information to take in very quickly, so I'm afraid I lot of details haven't been discussed, especially with family." After all, they'd had a week to get married. No one could blame them for barely knowing who was who.
"Ah, well, it's nice to meet you. I'm Maggie, I'm Mark's sister. This is Nathaniel..." She introduced the family, then gave Gwen a wink. "You know Mark, but as his wife I think you should know that if you're ever mad at him, 'Guiren' gets a much better response."
Mark nearly choked on his tea. "Maggie!" he cried. Agh!
Gwen arched an eyebrow, unable to help but laugh. She wasn't sure why she'd expected to be treated coldly, but it was a relief to be... at least somewhat welcomed. "Dare I ask why?"
Gwen's mother smiled at Mark, "Gwendolyn went through this silly phase as a child where she absolutely would not answer to her full name!"
"Nathaniel's still like that," Maggie said, giving him a teasing nudge. He rolled his eyes, but gave her a smile in return.
"It's Nate," he said, sticking his tongue out playfully.
Mark was pleased to see that they seemed to be getting along. He was worried his family wouldn't like her. That would add a second level of frustration to this marriage that he just did not need.
Gwen raised her glass slightly to that, smiling at Nathaniel. "I'm with you there. Thank goodness for being able to shorten names." She chuckled a little, smiling more than she really wanted to, but it would do. As long as she could act happy here, she might actually survive tonight.
"So, Mark," Gwen's grandfather asked, surveying him. It wasn't a cold look, and he smiled a bit, but he did seem to still be deciding if this man was good enough for his granddaughter. "Where did you go to college? You did go to college, didn't you?"
"Oh," Mark said, setting his tea down. "Yes, I did." He wasn't sure he liked that last question. "I went to UW, I have a degree in computer programming." How was that? Computers were a lucrative business, after all, and people seemed to be impressed with his degree... Even if he did continue to work in his parents' restaurant.
"You know," Gwen's mother, Molly, said with a smile, "my Gwen majored in computer sciences! Used to be I couldn't drag her away from that computer of hers!"
"All we care about is that you make our little girl happy," Gwen's grandfather said with a smile.
"Granpa," Gwen said, quietly, "it isn't Mark's job to make me happy. It's mine. I have to make myself happy. Of course," she gave a nod to Mark, "a spouce should help, just as I hope to help him make himself happy, but... When it comes down to it, we can't expect other people to do that. We... have to do that ourselves." She stopped and sighed. Probably had said too much, made a scene, even if she hadn't meant to.
There was a moment where everyone was quiet, but Mark spoke up. "She's right. I plan to give Gwen her space. Even though we were told to marry... I don't intend to interfere in her life." He smiled as best he could. "We're married, but we're our own people. I hope that in that regard, I can make her happy. It's a big change, but I want to make this... transition as comfortable as possible for Gwen." He gave her a knowing look. Somehow, he felt like he understood her just a little more.
Gwen smiled a little, nodding at her husband. "We're both going to need space. Eight days ago, we were complete strangers. If one of us goes into this determined to be unhappy-- though I like to hope neither of us is doing that-- then nothing even the best partner could do would change that." She regarded him, giving another nod. "We have to give ourselves and each other what time we can." Then, almost with a laugh, but her eyes were serious as she focused on Mark's, she added, "It might not be so bad."
Gwen's mother laughed, however uneasy the couple's announcements had made her, deciding that was really the only way one could respond. Getting upset would do no good!
Maggie gave a tight smile as well. "That's good," she said. "It's a big decision that you both didn't get to make... But I think you're approaching it the right way and handling it admirably." She then took a long sip of her tea. Mark returned Gwen's smile, and the awkwardness was then broken by the appearance of food.
There were many large dishes of food set out on the table, and little plates handed to everyone. Chopsticks were sent around, but silverware was also given to Gwen's family just in case.
"What are you waiting for?" Mark's mother said brightly, unaware of what had just gone on. "Go ahead, eat, eat!"
Gwen kept her silverware close, but she did take a pair of chopsticks. She knew they were likely to be discarded soon, but she might as well try. She already felt like she'd made a bit of a scene, even if, thankfully, half Mark's family hadn't seen it. They'd hear about it, she was sure, just like she was sure her grandfather was already whispering about what had happened to his wife.
Conversation started up, but Mark was silent as he ate until his mother addressed him. "Is it good, Mark?" she asked pleasantly, and he nodded.
"Your Gwen's grandmother helped," she said, her tone reflecting a bit of pride. "She is a very good cook." She turned to Gwen. "Did that talent pass down? Ah, well, if not, that is okay." She smiled. "I will send Mark home with food for you both. But then maybe you will be tired of it!"
Gwen smiled at this, saying, "I know how to cook, though I don't think I could ever make something as good as this!" It wasn't just flattery either. This was very good food.
"I tried to teach the girl to cook a proper three course meal," Gwen's grandmother announced, clicking her tongue even as she smiled, "but she never had quite that long of an attention span."
Mark's mother beamed at that praise, and Mark couldn't help but smile. She was polite and respectful, at least. That was good... And his mother liked her grandmother, which was good as well.
"I know what you mean! Maggie can cook very well, and Mark likes to, but Nathaniel never wanted to learn!" Mark's mother said, nudging her youngest child playfully.
Gwen saved her anger, her frustrations. Those could be taken out on far more appropriate people once she settled behind her computer screen, ran her programs and entered into the world of anonymous posting. For now, she smiled, chuckled at her grandmother and mother-in-law and glanced at Mark. At least their families got along.