Today was her wedding day. The day she had dreamed about since she had been a small child. The day that all young girls acted out. The day that should be the happiest day of her life.
So why was she so miserable?
Her bridesmaids and Maid of Honor had already disappeared, leaving her some time alone to contemplate the end of her single life and the beginning of married life. Her mother had also left, after she had been kicked out. Politely, of course. She checked the clock on the wall. Her father would be coming to walk her down the aisle in about fifteen minutes. The church had already begun to fill up, and the pictures had already been taken.
The pictures... that had been a lesson in self control. He had been there, as one of the groomsmen. Not the best man, of course, but definitely still a member of the wedding party. Just because he had a history with the bride-to-be didn't mean that he wouldn't be included in the wedding party. He and the groom-to-be were too good of friends for that to happen.
While the groomsmen had been photographed, she had done her best not to stare. He just looked so good in a tuxedo. Much better than the man she was about to marry. And during all of the pictures of just her and her fiance, he had been standing behind the photographer. She looked at him, not the camera. On occasion, they had been so engrossed in each other that the photographer had had to repeat himself multiple times. The rest of the wedding party had written it off to pre-wedding jitters, but she, he, her fiance, and her maid of honor had known the truth.
And there was absolutely nothing she could do about it.
Ten more minutes, and she would go marry the man she didn't love. The man who would always be second best in her life. And the man she did love, the man who was her first choice, would just stand there and watch it happen. Because he wouldn't have her. Because, according to him, it wouldn't be right. Even though they had known each other longer, and understood each other better, he believed that he was the wrong man for her. And he was going to let her marry someone else.
Ten more minutes before it was all over.
She was fixing her hair when the knock came. Glancing at the clock, it was still too early for it to be her father. Opening it, she gasped in shock. It was him.
"What are you doing here? Shouldn't you be at the front of the church already? And does anyone know you're here?"
"Are you kidding? Of course no one knows I'm here. I just had to see you." He gazed in adoration at her. "So, you decided to go with white. I was kind of wondering."
"Oh, don't even go there. You gave up all right to mention that when you told me to say yes to his proposal." Even as she was yelling at him, she couldn't help but admire him. He looked great in his tux.
"You know why I did that. It's better for you. You know it is. I know it is."
"Then why does it hurt so much?" She couldn't help it; she started crying.
"Oh, honey, don't cry. You'll ruin your makeup, and you have to walk down that aisle any moment now." The sight of tears always made him feel inadequate. He had to stop them somehow. Even with the knowledge that he was about to watch her marry someone else, he still enveloped her into a hug. "Shh... it's all right. Don't cry. It's your wedding day. You're supposed to be happy."
"But I'm not marrying you. How can I be happy?" she sniffed, dabbing at her eyes with a tissue from the vanity. "Oh, drat, all my mascara smeared, didn't it?"
"You look fantastic. It barely streaked at all, and you got it with the tissue."
"My father's going to be here in about two minutes to walk me down the aisle. How am I supposed to go through with this?" she asked, still holding on to him for dear life.
"The same way that you have been ever since you agreed to marry him. You love him; you told me that yourself."
"But not as much, and not the say way, that I love you." She looked into his eyes. "Just ... hold me, until it's time. Please?"
"I'd hold you forever if I could," he answered, wishing it was possible.
Seconds later, the couple heard a small cough. Jerking apart, she was relieved to see her Maid of Honor standing there, not her father. Her Maid of Honor knew the whole story, and could not believe that she wasn't marrying the man she loved.
"What are you doing here? I thought my father was going to be the one to let me know it was time," she asked, stepping back into her beloved's arms.
"Well, he was. But I saw who was missing from the lineup, and put one and one together, and decided to spare you the embarrassment of having your father walk in on what I just walked in on."
"Thanks," he said, regretfully releasing the bride-to-be. "Did anyone else notice that I wasn't there?"
"I think the groom did, but he knows the truth. I personally can't believe he's still going through with this."
"Me either," the bride-to-be agreed.
"I know why," he said. "It's because he loves you, and since he knows he can't have all your heart, he's content with just part. And maybe he's not the one you love, but he's the one you're going to marry, and he'll be the one you'll be living with, and ..." he trailed off, trying to escape where his train of thought had led.
"Oh, honey, if it bothers you this much, why are you making me go through with it? Why can't we get married?" she countered, taking hold of his hands.
"Because he'll be better for you."
"Why would you say that? And what gives you the right to decide that for me?"
"Because I know you. You're too like me. We'd drive each other crazy within a week. And he's different than us. He can give you what you need."
"But I need you!"
The Maid of Honor watched the interplay between the two. It was obvious how deep a love they shared. And it was also obvious how painful today was going to be for them. They were too good of friends to go through this kind of pain. Although she was friends with the groom, and had in fact once harbored a crush on him, she couldn't let today's marriage take place.
"You guys, don't do this. I can't let you do this."
The couple broke apart, gasping at shock at the Maid of Honor's words.
"But I'm getting married now. In fact, I should have walked down the aisle already. The guests are all here. Everything's been paid for."
"But you're not happy. You can't marry the man at the altar when the man you love is with you now."
"I can't just leave! What about my parents?"
"What about them? You don't love the man you're about to marry, and the man you do love loves you."
"I can't do that to him. He's one of my best friends," he said, putting his two cents in.
"And she's the woman you love! Go. Now. Both of you. Before you do something you'll spend the rest of your lives regretting."
The couple looked at each other. "Let's do it," he said. "I do love you, and I know that we'll at least be happy together."
"I just hope he forgives us."
The Maid of Honor smiled. They were doing the right thing. "Come on, get going before someone comes looking for us. I'll go explain it to everyone else."
The now ex-bride-to-be grabbed her purse, tore off her veil, and grasped the hand of her beloved. On their way out, she stopped and gave her best friend a tight hug. "Thank you so much for talking us into this. We'll be in touch, once we get settled." Then they were gone.
The Maid of Honor stood there for a moment, letting the magnitude of what she had done sink in. And now she had to go tell the full church of people that there will not be a wedding today. Taking a deep breath, she left the room and went to do what must be done.
Leo stood at the front of the church and made no secret that he was checking his watch. Where was she? Mike, who was standing at the back waiting to escort Maya, the maid of honor, met his gaze and shook his head. Still no Kendrix. Leo scanned the wedding party. There was Damon, one of his groomsmen, adjusting his bow tie. Two of the children from his play groups on Terra Venture were serving as ring bearer and flower girl; they were sitting down, playing jacks. Karone and Cassie, the bridesmaids, were standing to the left of Damon, talking to each other. Kendrix's father was pacing behind them. Maya was nowhere to be found.
And neither was Kai.
Leo masked his annoyance he felt toward Kai at the moment. He knew that Kendrix and Kai were close, but she had agreed to marry him. She wasn't marrying Kai. But Kai was probably in there now, saying goodbye. Which was why Kendrix was late. As for Maya, she had probably gone to break them up, and get Kendrix going down the aisle. He had faith in Maya ... they would get this party started very soon.
He checked his watch again. Kendrix was now ten minutes late, and there was still no sign of her, Kai or Maya. Mike shook his head again, then quickly grinned. "Here comes Maya" he mouthed.
Leo brightened immediately. If Maya was back, then the wedding could get started. However, the rest of the wedding party wasn't lining up. In fact, they seemed less organized than before. Karone and Cassie had crowded around Maya, the two children had run off, and Damon and Mike were trying to get a word in edgewise with the women.
What was going on?
Maya broke free from the people surrounding her and gestured to Leo to join them. He shook his head. She did it again, and he shook his head again. Finally, she took a deep breath and started down the aisle to talk to him.
Maya walked stately up the aisle to where Leo was waiting. Telling the rest of the wedding party that Kai and Kendrix had left was a stroll in the park compared to telling Leo. She did her best to look normal, so as to not let the guests know that anything was amiss. They'd know soon enough.
Keeping of the veneer of an expectant groom, Leo fired questions at Maya as soon as she came to a halt beside him. "Maya, what is going on? Where's Kendrix? Where's Kai? And why did the flower girl and ring bearer just run away?"
"Speaking of running ..." Maya took a deep breath and pretended all one hundred pairs of eyes were not watching them. "Leo, Kendrix isn't marrying you today."
Leo blinked. Then shook his head. "I think I heard you wrong. I thought you said Kendrix isn't marrying me today."
"Um, Leo, you heard me right. She's not marrying you today."
Maya watched him take a deep breath, struggling to remain calm. "Okay, does that mean the wedding has been rescheduled?"
Maya put her hand on his arm, in an effort to ease the blow she was delivering. "Leo, she's not ever marrying you. She and Kai ran off together."
"THEY WHAT?!?!"
Maya ignored all the murmurings in the church now. The guests weren't even attempting to hide their interest in the conversation between herself and Leo. "Leo, calm down."
"Calm down? You want me to calm down? Like that's going to happen!"
"Leo, the guests are staring. Lower your voice."
"Well, at least they've got something to do now. They've been waiting awhile for this shebang to get going while the bride-to-be decides to have a fling with one of the groomsmen," he continued to rage, but he did speak at a lower level.
"Shut up Leo, you know it's not like that. They truly love each other, and I have no idea why Kendrix ever agreed to marry you in the first place. We both know that she loves Kai, and he loves her."
"If they love each other so much, why did they let it get this far? Why wait until it's time to walk down the aisle before deciding to be together."
"Because Kai kept insisting that marrying you was the best option for Kendrix. He thought you'd make her a better husband than he would." Maya took another deep breath, knowing the reaction her next words would bring. "I couldn't let her go through with wedding, after seeing how miserable they were at the thought of being apart."
"You? YOU?? You told them?? Okay, Maya, since this was your bright idea, YOU get to inform the guests what's going on. I'm going out with my brother to get drunk." With that, Leo stormed down the aisle, yanking off his bow tie as he went.
Maya was left all alone at the altar. Well, now or never. "Ladies and Gentleman, in case you haven't guessed, the wedding has been called off. I feel that this is the best possible thing that could have happened, given the circumstances." She took another deep breath. "The food that was to be used for the reception is being laid out in the church basement, and you're all welcome to eat it. Thank you all for coming."
Maya sank down on the steps to the altar after her speech. That was one of the hardest things she'd ever had to do. She watched the crowd exit the pews, and avoided eye contact whenever possible. By supporting Kendrix and Kai's actions, she knew she was opening herself up for recriminations from the others later. But she did what was right. Looking up, she saw Damon giving her a thumbs up. Well, at least one person agreed with her.
Leo sat at the bar, nursing his third bottle of beer. He had left the cummerbund in Mike's car, the tie at the church, and the jacket was resting on the back of his barstool. Mike was sitting next to him, dressed the same, only all of his missing clothes were in the car.
"Why? Why did she do that to me, Mike?"
"Because she loves Kai. You've always known that," Mike reasoned, still on his first drink.
"If she's always loved him, why did she agree to marry me?"
"If you knew she loved him, why'd you ask in the first place?"
"Because I loved her..." Leo downed the last of the bottle and signalled the bartender for another one.
Before giving it to him, the bartender eyed him cautiously. "This is your fourth in less than an hour. You're not driving, are you son?"
"No, he's not. I'm taking him home," Mike informed the bartender. "He knows he's in no condition to be driving, and even insisted that I drive him here."
"Okay, good. Here you go, fella. Go easy on them now, don't want you getting sick or nothing," the bartender said, giving the bottle to Leo.
"How could she do this to me?"
Kendrix laughed aloud with joy. They were truly free. Free to be together. And nothing was going to keep them apart now.
"Remind me on our 50th Wedding Anniversary to do something really nice for Maya."
"Deal. Do you think Leo will ever forgive us? I hope he does."
"I hope so too."
"I love you Kai."
"I love you Kendrix."
Additional Author's Note: All this happens on Mirinoi, a few years after Journey's End. Kendrix's parents were flown in by the MegaShip, which I'm pretending was never destroyed. No, I don't know how, I just know it wasn't.