tall order || katie and nathaniel
𝐖𝐇𝐄𝐍: chalice wedding // summer 2021.
𝐅𝐄𝐀𝐓𝐔𝐑𝐈𝐍𝐆: katie x nathaniel.
𝐓𝐑𝐈𝐆𝐆𝐄𝐑𝐒: height difference.
𝐃𝐄𝐓𝐀𝐈𝐋𝐒: desperate for help, katie leans on the most reliable person she knows.
Katie’s assistant had suddenly fallen sick, and she was stuck. The biggest wedding in Hastings that she was ever going to do. It wasn’t that there wouldn’t be elaborate and exciting weddings … it was just that this one was the most important. By far it was the most important. Two of her best friends getting married to each other? Once in a lifetime moments. Luckily for her and unluckily for him, Nathaniel had arrive nice and early. “Nate, can you pretty please be my second set of hands and eyes? I promise you nothing should be going wrong today. Everything is chaotically and expertly planned. But people are destined to dissapoint, so that’s why we exist. Please say yes” she said, praying he would. He was one of the only people with his head on straight, and for some reason she had agreed to not only be the wedding planner but also the maid of honor. And by agreed she meant offered. Because Katie Hastings knows no limits.
Nathaniel always made sure to come to any event early. Mr. Langston always made sure to remind the family that being early is being on time, being on time is being late, and being late is unacceptable. He was off to go find a familiar face when one happened to come up to him. It was always a delight to be around Katherine. Though they didn’t see each other much, she was sort of a breath of fresh air in his life. He politely listened to her, but wow was she talking fast. It made him smile a bit. He realized the last time they were around each other that though she may seem chaotic, it was all organized chaos, and that was proven by how the wedding looked so far. It was incredible. Nate wasn’t expecting to do much today, but he would never turn someone down when they were in need of assistance. “Of course. Anything you need, I’m here to help.” he nodded. “You look amazing, by the way.”
Katie smiled when he said that she looked amazing, “You know you look amazing too, there’s just one little thing missing” said Katie as she looked up at him. She got on a chair and popped a headset onto his head. “Now you look perfect” said the girl with a laugh, “I have an earpiece in. I’ll give you all the cues you need during the ceremony and right before. Once it’s all done then I promise I will be a great wingwoman for you all night long. Oh and I need help with setting up the most romantic looking gazebo in the history of all time” she said, making a stressed out face as she took his hand and got herself off the chair successfully. There was so much to do and the wedding was going to start before she knew it. Suddenly her phone rang, “Hastings Bridal, this is Katie speaking, how can I help you?” she said into the phone. She felt like she was going to faint, and held onto Nate’s arm. “The ring store just called and said that no one picked up the rings. My assistant was supposed to do it. Is your car nearby? My sister dropped me off this morning so I wouldn’t have to worry about my car” she said, her eyes urgent. Her knees weaker by the second.
Nathaniel adjusted the headset and smiled at Katie. He was not going to let anything ruin this wedding, he only aimed for perfection, and it seemed like Katie had the same mindset. After planning this wedding for so long, it only made sense. “Alright, sounds good.” he gave a single nod before she mentioned being his wingwoman. Was Nathaniel really looking for someone new after his failed almost-engagement? Not exactly. It’s not that he was still hung up on Cordelia, he’d honestly prefer to never see her again, even though she made that very hard for him. It was just that he always felt like romance should come naturally, but on the other hand, he was aware that he needed to put himself out there in order to find any kind of potential partner. Sometimes it was just too much to handle, especially with his busy work schedule. But maybe Katie was good at helping people with that, he’d have to see where the night took him. Him and Fiona were the last single Langston’s and there was no way he was going to allow Fiona to beat him on that. “Gazebo? Is that where Charlie and Alice are going to have their first dance or..?” he questioned curiously as he held out his hand for support. Nate raised his brows and held onto Katie as she explained that no one picked up the rings. It was just one disaster after another and Nate simply would not allow it. “Yes, it’s no too far. Let’s not waste anymore time and go.” He grabbed Katie’s hand and started jogging to the car, this was no time for a relaxed stroll. Nathaniel unlocked the car and opened up the passenger seat for Katie before getting into the driver’s seat, “Where to?”
Katie took his hand as the long legged man started to jog. She had large wedges on, and we all know that Katherine Elizabeth Hastings can run enough in heels. But he kept her honest to the speed. She pulled her long dress into the car before he shut the door for her, “thank you” she added before it closed. “Goldsworthy’s of course” Katie replied, “only the best and the most local” Katie loved putting money into this town. It was her favorite place in the world, she was just scared she was going to die alone here. But she wasn’t going to let that happen to Nathaniel. “Oh yes! I totally forgot” said Katie, remembering what they had been talking about before the disaster struck. As he started driving, she continued, “so the gazebo is actually a really cute sapphic moment for my cousin and her future girlfriend. Stevie and Juliette are getting officially back together tonight” she said, “now it’s not an example of my matchmaking abilities, but it is showcasing my ability to create romantic moments”. She was confident she could find someone much better for Nathaniel than Cordelia Maddox, now Abernathy. “We just need to find someone who is going to ruffle you out of that very nicely pressed thing you have going for you. Someone who makes you just uncomfortable enough” said the girl with a smile as she pulled down the sun-visor in the car and put on lipgloss as she spoke, “ya know?”.
Nathaniel raised his brows and turned to her with a slightly shocked expression on his face before brining his attention back to the rode, “Oh, really? That’s great. I’ve been wondering how things were going with them since you told me their story.” One of Nathaniel’s weaknesses, gossip. He got it from his mother who definitely got it from hers. Vivian Windsor absolutely loved the gossip, she’s always on top of it. The story between Juliette and Stevie was just so interesting, who wouldn’t be invested? Nate couldn’t help but smile once Katie talked about the kind of person he needed in his life. “Oh, is that what I need? I’d say I’m surprised at how observant you are, but I remember the conversations you and Fiona would have.” She was very smart and always seemed to focus in on the details, even if she did come across as chaotic. Finding someone that made him uncomfortable didn’t sound too appealing, but maybe she was better with romance than he was. “If we’re looking for someone for me, are we also doing the same for you? I think I’ll be able to find someone nice. A Hastings can’t be with just anyone, I know that much.” he said with a smile as he pulled up at the Goldsworthy’s shop.
Katie laughed, “I mean you do understand the assignment” joked Katie with a smile. She knew for a fact that there was no one in town for her. Everyone was snatched up or her friend. “I am observant, I guess” she said, never really having through of herself that way. She was just a people person, and she liked to notice the little things. Katie got out of the car and ran in to grab the rings before shuffling back to the car quickly, “okay, go go go!” she said with an air of chaos around her. Everything had been paid for, it was just a quick pick up, “we have 10 minutes until the ceremony starts. Floor it Nate” she said with her eyes huge. The stress was getting to her. The wedding was going to start right on time, whether or not she was there for it.
Nathaniel didn’t even have time to get out of the car himself, she was already in the shop and, in a matter of seconds it seemed, she was out. He had a moment to collect himself and started the car back up before backing up and driving back to the wedding. He was never really one to speed, but they only had 10 minutes. Katie needed to be there to make sure everything ran smoothly, and he wasn’t going to disappoint her or Charlie and Alice. He reached out and placed his hand over hers to try and comfort her somehow, “We’re gonna make it, don’t worry.” Thankfully they got there quicker than he expected. Nate got out of the car and ran over to open the door for Katie before fixing the headset that he still had on. “Okay. What’s next?”
Katie was happy that Nathaniel was speeding. First of all, rules were meant to be broken unless they were rules she put in place. Also no cop was going to date pull Katie Hastings over on the day of Charlie and Alice’s wedding. “Next is the ceremony. I need to check on Alice. You hangout by the camera crew and the lighting guys, they should know all their cues, but here is the clipboard” she said as she pulled it out from her bag of emergency things over by the ceremony. “I will see you after and then we can go set up that gazebo” said Katie frantically as she darted over to see Alice in her final moments as Miss Altman before she became Mrs. Altman, “you’re the BEST” she called out with a smile as she continued to go quickly.
-time jump-
After the ceremony had run smoothly and pictures had been taken, she took Nathaniel’s hand. “Let the events begin” she said as she took him to her car (that Milly had brought by) to find string lights and roses. “All we need to do is get the lights strung up and we are all set to go and find you a beautiful woman to dance with” said the girl, her smile shining bright. The ceremony had been so amazing, and her best friends were married. Her best friends were married. Soon enough they would be having kids, and she’d be an auntie. An auntie all by herself. At least there was Marshall as a fail safe. “So, are all your friends married” she pried as they carried the stuff to the gazebo. She wanted to know what things were looking like.
Nathaniel was feeling very accomplished. Katie had pretty much done everything, but he was happy to help her and Charlie and Alice on this special night. Charlie deserved this, even though it felt kind of awful knowing he was getting married before him. It’s not like it was some kind of competition, but he considered Charlie a friend but he was also younger than him, and it felt like he had his life more put together than Nate did. How much more put together can his life get though? He raised a brow at Katie and shook his head as they made their way to the gazebo. “Not all, but some. It’s getting there though, there’s another wedding coming up next month so that’ll be fun.” he said, trying his best to be positive. “Luckily Justin is not married, and that sort of makes me feel better about it all.” he chuckled. Justin Kestner was a good looking guy and he wasn’t married, so it wasn’t too weird that Nate wasn’t married yet … right? “Why? Is this your way of asking me to set you up with one of my friends, Katherine?” he asked playfully.
Katie laughed, “You see through my tricks, Nate” she replied. “Not really, just wondering where your head was at. If you’re just trying to date around or if I’m to find you the one and done” she might be biting off more than she can chew with this one, mostly because she wasn’t sure if there was anyone worth Nathaniel’s time. He was a professional and a hard worker, and a lot of people were also that. Or they were total screw ups. There were limited options and it all looked bleak. Maybe one of her college friends, that could be something. “You’re tall and handsome, so I’m sure the tall girls of the community will appreciate knowing that you’re emotionally available again” she said, putting her foot in her mouth, “not to say how you are. You are totally allowed to not be doing okay. Or to be doing okay. You just seem great” she rambled as she climbed up the ladder she had the gardener put out here earlier.
“The one and done? That’s a lot to ask, I wouldn’t want to put that much pressure on you.” Nathaniel chuckled. It was kind of Katherine to help, but he didn’t really think much would come out of it. He just wasn’t that hopeful right now, at least when it came to finding the one. There weren’t too many great options left, but even someone as great as Katie was single too, so maybe he just wasn’t looking hard enough. It was possible that she was very selective, which made sense. The standards were always raised for the Hastings. Nate couldn’t help but smile after she finished rambling, “It’s fine, but thank you.” he said, referring to her saying that he seemed great. Nathaniel knew how to keep his emotions in check, which was a pretty way to say that he wasn’t the best at expressing his emotions. It made him feel like an inconvenience to others. Dealing with them privately seemed the most appropriate. “I think I’m emotionally available again, I can’t spend the rest of my life being stuck in the past.” he stated as he handed some lights to her before hanging some up himself. “What about you? Are you also emotionally available, if you don’t mind me asking.”
Katie went down on the ladder and moved it over before going up to string the next section. “Emotionally available? Well previously I have been a little too emotionally available. So I’m working on getting better at it. I’m kind of an oversharer” she admitted with a laugh, “luckily I work in the gossipiest business in the gossipiest town”. Katie loved being here, and she loved talking about other people. It was gratifying to see the plots fold out in front of her all the time. It hurt a little more when her singledom was the subject coming from people’s mouths. Everybody just had something to say about how she didn’t meet anyone in college and how she was back home yet successful. Katie didn’t want to move out of Hastings Haven until it was time for her to get a place with someone. There was no reason to leave her childhood home empty so very often. “If it means anything coming from me, I think Cordelia made a big mistake that she’s going to regret” said Katie looking down at him from high up on the ladder as she reached.
“Interesting. I’ve been told I don’t share enough. Maybe we should be helping each other out on this.” Nathaniel said, hoping to make her feel better about being too emotionally available. It’s not like it was a lie either, he had gotten the comment a few times about how he needed to open his heart more to others. Unfortunately the last time he did that, she left him, married someone else, and had a baby. A little too quickly as well. “I will say though, you’ve never overwhelmed me before.” he told Katie truthfully as he moved across to string more of the lights up. He directed his attention towards Katie once she mentioned that Cordelia had made a mistake. Maybe she was just trying to cheer him up about it all, which was sweet and appreciated. “Oh are you not a fan of Warner?” he asked jokingly. “Honestly, I think I’m starting to see what others saw in her. My sisters weren’t too fond of Cordelia, not even Bella liked her. So maybe all of this was for the better.”
If Katherine Hastings was anything, it was brutally honest. “I’m fine with him. But I had heard through the grapevine that Cordelia was kind of a skitch. That’s skanky bitch, skitch. Taking notes yet?” she said, her smile shining bright as she broke into a laugh. “I think you made her as good of a person as she’s ever going to be. I feel sorry for Warner honestly” said Katie. “Her mistake was letting someone like you go, someone who could make her better even just by being in a room with them.” Katie was full of compliments like this, she thought it was important that people knew. He had a kind heart, and she could see that clearly under all the uptight layers. It was infuriating through: how he wouldn’t just have fun. Fun only killed some people some times and that was if you were being idiotic when you were having fun. “I think the only thing getting in your way is you, which is advice I could take for myself. But I want to focus on my career. There are a lot of great Hastings, and I want to be among them. My uncle has put a sour taste in people’s mouths for the Hastings name. So I put myself in the business of love, pouring it back into the community. So sometimes I forget about myself and how I might need that too” she said honestly, oversharing already.
Nathaniel furrowed his brows in confusion when the word skitch was brought up, this was definitely a new term, and though he was pretty sure he was never going to use that, he would definitely remember it. “I made a mental note. I’ll write it down later on.” he chuckled as if he was joking, but he probably wasn’t. Physically writing something down just helped with remembering it. He furrowed his brows yet again, but this time it was paired with a smile. The compliment was unexpected but sweet. He listened to Katie as she started to talk about how she wanted to focus on her career too. It was something he related to as well. The problem was that he didn’t find that to be an actual problem, not yet at least. Work was so important to him, he always put it first. Always. He was trying to figure out how to balance everything without realizing that he wasn’t actually balancing anything at all. He valued one thing way more, and it was costing him a chance at some real happiness. “Well you seem to know your problem, so you’re already in the right track.” he said with a reassuring look on his face. “Sometimes I feel like I’m lost.” he admitted. “Like I have everything laid out perfectly. Everything seems to be in the right order, where it needs to be, but I’m still missing something, and I’m not sure what.” He paused once he realized how much he was sharing, that was very unlike him. “I’m sorry, I think the drinks are getting to me. I’m not so sure I’m making sense. But you are.” he nodded in her direction. “You’ve always had a kind heart, just remember to show that kindness to yourself sometimes.”
Katie smiled as she came down from the ladder, and was now standing so far beneath him. She had forgotten how short she was when she was on the ladder. So she stepped back up two steps so she could make eye contact with him during the moment, “The drinks aren’t getting to you. You make total sense” said the girl as she reached out and touched his shoulder. Nathaniel was textbook good, it was just about how much of that good he was just putting into his work. She worried that if she set him up with someone, that over time he would fall back into his old habits of working constantly. His partner would ultimately leave, the same way all of her boyfriends seemed to whenever she got into one of her projects. “You should be kinder to yourself too. Let yourself have fun every once in a while” she encouraged, “but speaking of fun. I think it’s around time for dinner. You’re at my table, care to join me?” she asked, stepping down once more and putting her arm through his. “I may not have a date, but I do have an escort that is going to make Claire Summers eat her heart out. I feel like today has been an accomplishment” she joked. She was very happy that they were becoming friends, “I’m so glad Cody and Bella are together, or I’d have to be competing for your attention all night from Claire. She’s a notorious flirt, and heartbreaker I might add. When I set you up with someone they’ll have a heart of gold. That’s a Hastings promise.” The two entered back into the social realm. She really had put on a good wedding, something worth being proud of.