Episode 263

“Come in here,” Deidra held tightly onto Dean as they walked into one of the hospital rooms. Deidra could tell that Dean was hurt badly from the way he was holding onto his wound. Blood was soaking through his shirt as she helped him towards the table. “We have to get you stitched up so it stops the bleeding.”

“I’ll be fine,” Dean lied, letting out a small groan as he sat down on the table and watched Deidra put on some gloves. “Just take your time, I’ll be just fine.”

“Anyone with eyes can tell that you are hurt Dean,” she pointed out, grabbing a few more items before going to help Dean. “Do you think he hurt you really bad? Did it maybe hit anything?”

“No, he got me where you did,” Dean informed her, watching as she looked away from him for a moment. There was no doubt in his mind that she was still uncomfortable with that situation and he didn’t mean to say it, it just came out. “He must have known that I got hurt.”

“Who didn’t know?” Deidra questioned, motioning Dean to hold up his shirt so she could stitch him up. “It seems that rumors fly fast in this town. He could have found out from anyone.”

“I have to wonder though,” Dean bit back on his bottom lip as he felt his body begin to sting. “How does he find all this out? He needs to have some type of help.”

“I don’t know,” Deidra sighed, finishing up with Dean and backing away slowly from him. “I truthfully can’t tell you how he does it, I wish I knew, but I don’t.”

“I think everyone in this town wished they knew more on Bruce’s secrets,” Dean pointed out, standing up from the table slowly and placing his hand over his wound. “I wish I did.”

“Dean, about what I did to you…” Deidra began, watching as Dean’s dark eyes met hers. The words she was planning on saying wouldn’t come out. It was like no matter what she said would be enough to apologize for what she had done to him that night. “I never meant to hurt you. I guess I just saw those things and I let my nervousness overcome me. I overreacted and I don’t know how I can ever apologize to you.”

“Deidra, it’s fine,” Dean tried to assure her, shaking his head slowly as he spoke. He never once blamed Deidra for this, it was more his fault than anything. “I don’t blame you for anything. You were scared and when people get scared they do things. It was my fault that I didn’t tell you.”

“But I should have known,” she cut him off before he went any further. He was making this whole thing sound like it was his fault, but it was truthfully hers because she couldn’t hold that trust she thought she had for Dean. “Dean, I should have taken the time to think things over. If I just would have thought about the type of person you were, the type of person you were with me…”

“Don’t,” Dean hushed Deidra, reaching his right hand out slowly to caress her cheek gently. “I should have told you, I should have been truthful with you all along.”

“Dean,” Deidra felt her body begin to tremble as she thought about the horrible things that happened just moments earlier. “I don’t know what would have happened to me if you didn’t find me. I can only think of what Bruce would have done to me.”

“Don’t think about that,” Dean frowned, placing his index finger over her lips gently. “The only thing you should be thinking about is that I came and I saved you. I am never going to let him even come close to you again. I promise.”

“I don’t know what I would have done if I would have ever lost you,” she sighed, feeling him embrace her in his arms tightly. “He could have killed you Dean.”

“But he didn’t,” Dean pointed out with a small hush, holding her tighter in his arms. He hated the fact that she had to deal with Bruce like this. When they had gotten those officers on her, he was sure that she would be protected, but obviously he was wrong and he hated that. “I’m still here and you’re not going to lose me. That is one thing I can truly promise you.”

A noise coming from the corner of the room made Deidra jump as Dean still held her in his arms tightly, noticing that it was only one of the officers.

“It’s okay sweetheart, he’s just here to update me about Bruce,” Dean sighed, letting her out of his grasp slowly. “So, did you find him yet? Did you catch him?”

“I’m sorry sir, but he’s gone,” the officer explained, watching the anger grow behind Dean’s features. “It’s like he’s a ghost. He was there one minute and now he’s gone.”

“I can’t believe that he‘s just gone like that,” Dean scowled, running his right hand through his hair slowly, “Damn it. We have to catch him before it’s too late.”

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

“I can’t believe this is really happening,” Michelle squealed excitedly after she and Ken arrived at the chapel ready to commit themselves to one another. “This is like a dream. Everything is falling into place perfectly for us.”

“It really is, isn’t it,” Ken pulled her into his arms unable to resist the urge to kiss her. He squeezed her closer to him thinking about all the things that they had ahead of them.

While Brant might’ve been bound and determined to stop this wedding, Ken wasn’t about to let his brother destroy one more good thing in his life. Now that he and Michelle were at the chapel, the reality of it all was coming to him. He was finally going to have a wife and a chance at a future that he’d felt was ripped away from him time and time again. Sure, maybe it wasn’t exactly like he’d imagined it, but it was happening. It would finally be the key to his unlucky streak ending forever.

“This is so perfect,” Michelle squealed excitedly looking to the chapel again, “Of course there is one small thing missing from all of this.”

“What might that be?” Ken questioned keeping her closer to him as he found himself filled with romantic notions of happily ever after. There was a time in his life when he truly believed that he’d be sharing this day with Caitlin or even Wendy, but both women had disappeared from his life and out of his world forever. He knew now that while he’d felt something truly different for both Caitlin and Wendy, he was about to have that dream that had evaded him for so very long.

“A wedding dress,” she replied with a small blush, “I know it sounds trivial in the grand scheme of things, but it’s something of a tradition for the bride to have that. I mean I know we have the rings, but…”

“But if you want a wedding dress,” Ken decided tipping down to kiss her tenderly, “then a wedding dress you shall have.”

“Mr. Ashford,” the man at the chapel greeted him with a cheerful expression, “I thought it was you that I saw pull up.”

“Yes we’re here,” Ken nodded eagerly, “Although I’m afraid the wedding won’t be happening as soon as we’d discussed.”

“But I don’t understand,” the man gave him a strange look, “I was under the assumption that with the urgency you said that the matter at hand had that you’d be getting married right away.”

“Well we’d still like to, but my bride to be would like to get herself a wedding gown since no wedding ceremony is complete without a dress for the bride to wear,” Ken explained lacing his fingers with Michelle’s. “After all my princess needs to feel like a true princess on the happiest day of her life.”

“Being with you makes me feel like a princess Ken,” Michelle wrapped her arms around him in a tight squeeze.

“Yes, well let’s at least do what we can to make this feel more like a wedding than just a quick rush job,” Ken decided extracting his charge card from his wallet before turning to the man in front of them. “You wouldn’t happen to know of a dress boutique around here that could help us out, would you?”

“Why you’re in luck,” the man smiled eagerly, his eyes darting to Ken’s charge card ravenously. “There happens to be a boutique next door that my wife runs with the most amazing, exquisite dresses you can think of. They have just about everything shipped in from local designers to the high fashion designers in Paris.”

“Oh it sounds wonderful,” Michelle beamed excitedly, “I’m sure that I’ll find something there.”

“A woman as beautiful as yourself should have no trouble,” the man nodded in agreement watching Ken hand his credit card over to Michelle willingly.

“Find what you like and get it,” Ken encouraged her with a bright grin, “Find the most beautiful wedding dress they have and get it for yourself. You deserve nothing less.”

“Oh thank you Ken,” Michelle smiled giving him one last kiss before rushing off to find herself her dream gown.

“She’s a real looker that one. I’m sure that my wife will be able to help her with something nice,” the man added with a grin, “Now about the quickie wedding we discussed.”

“I believe this should cover it,” Ken replied reaching into his pocket and pulling out a wad of cash. He handed it to the man whose eyes now lit up with the possibility of the money he was going to make off of the Ashford wedding--not to mention the press that would follow upon learning that an Ashford was wed in his tiny chapel.

“It’ll more than cover it and I promise you today is going to be a day you’ll never forget,” the man smiled as Ken looked to the future ready to begin his new life with Michelle. After today nothing would ever be the same again!

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

“I hope you’re right about this one Hart because if you’re not, Brant is going to kill me,” Don began pacing around the small room he and Hart were in waiting to hear from Hart’s contact about Ken’s charge card. While Hart was convinced that Ken would find a way to use it before the ceremony, Don wasn’t as convinced. “Hell forget about Brant. Shannon will kill me too. I told her I had it under control right before Ken snuck off and…”

“Trust me knowing Michelle, she’s more than likely the kind of woman who will want the best of the best on her wedding day which translates to Ken forking out as much cash to make the event memorable,” Hart added pointedly thinking about what Don had told him about the woman that Ken had wound up with, “You know it continually blows my mind that he is so naïve about all of this. I mean sure I get that he was torn up about losing Caitlin. I get that on so many levels, yet when I think about what he’s doing--about what he’s getting himself into here…”

“It’s crazy I know,” Don shook his head remembering the way Ken seemed so gung ho about marrying Michelle, “and what I don’t get about it is that Ken was always so level headed. He was the one you could run to when you had a problem and he’d try his best to fix it. He was so selfless and considerate and…”

“And that all changed when he lost Caitlin,” Hart pondered the thought for a moment, “Truth be told I don’t know what I’d do if I lost Jenna. I have no idea how that would make me behave considering how she’s my world now.”

“I know what you mean,” Don stopped pacing long enough to take in what his friend was saying to him, “I mean in one moment you find yourself wrapped up in a world of happiness, but in the next you wake up and it’s gone. It’s like everything you’ve waited for and wanted in your life has just slipped away and everything’s this big blur. I guess that’s kind of how I felt when I lost Stephanie…”

“Yeah, but you didn’t go off of the deep end either,” Hart reminded him pointedly.

“Yes, but I had Matthew to think about. I had to do what was best for my son and try not to focus on what it was that I’d lost. It put a hole in my heart to lose Steph like I did, but I knew if I buried myself in that, then Matt would have no chance at a future,” Don paused thinking about his late wife, “She was my world and I knew if I didn’t at least try to make the effort for Matt, then she would be disappointed in me.”

“Well given how far you’ve gone to make him happy, I think it’s safe to say she’d be very proud of you Don,” Hart smiled over at him thinking about his friend’s journey to hell and back. “You’ve raised him to be a wonderful little boy. You’re a good father.”

“I hope I am,” Don couldn’t help but smile thinking about his son, “He’s really given me a reason in this world to keep pushing on even when things look pretty bleak. I mean I wouldn’t know how I could keep going if it wasn’t for him.”

“He’s very lucky to have you in his life too Don. You’re a good man and Stephanie would be proud to see that life has only added to that for you,” Hart added thoughtfully remembering the woman Don had once loved so very much.

“I hope so, but I know she’d never forgive me if Ken runs off and gets married,” Don frowned thinking about the current situation they were in, “If Ken ties himself down to that woman she’ll take him for all that he’s worth and he’ll never be able to get out from what she’ll put him under. When I lost Stephanie you guys didn‘t let me destroy everything around me and we owe it to Ken not to let him fall down that trap in being sucked into a marriage with Michelle. If that wedding happens, then only disaster will follow.”

“Which is why we can’t let that happen,” Hart added hearing his cell phone ring. He answered it quickly hoping that this was the call that they’d been waiting for.

Don eyed Hart closely praying that this was the break that they’d needed. If it was then he could give Brant a clear picture of where his brother was at and of what was going on. He paced around the room once again wondering what he would do or say to convince Ken not to marry Michelle considering that he had no doubt in his mind that Michelle had probably told Ken all the things that Shannon and Don had done to keep them apart. Still Don was a fighter and not ready to give up until he was certain that his friend was out of harm’s way.

“Well, it turns out I was right. Michelle just dropped twenty thousand on a wedding dress from a boutique that happens to be right next to a wedding chapel,” Hart explained excitedly feeling like their detective work was paying off for them.

“And you think this is the place where they’ll be at?” Don replied hopeful that this would lead them to where they could find Ken.

“Oh yeah. I’m sure of it. Ken’s no doubt on his way to marry her there and if we move now we can be there in a few minutes,” Hart explained matter of fact. “It’s only a couple of blocks from here.”

“Well what are we waiting for,” Don questioned with a mischievous grin, “We’ve got a wedding to crash.”

“That we do my man. That we do,” Hart nodded readily following his friend out of the room ready to do whatever was necessary to stop Ken from making the worst possible mistake of his life.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

“We’re here,” Grady announced putting the car in park as Avery’s eyes were glued to the Denton family cabin in front of her. While she knew that Grady wanted to take her some place neutral, she hadn’t imagined that this would be the spot that he’d bring her to. It was the place where she’d shared so many wonderful memories with Russ. The place where she’d first realized her love for his brother and now that they were there together, Avery couldn’t help but find herself overwhelmed with memories of the past.

Grady seemed to pick up on her uneasiness, but chose not to mention it as he opened the driver’s side door on the car, “Come on. Let’s go inside.”

Avery sat in silence a moment longer before hearing him circle around the car. He opened up her door for her and she stepped out feeling the first hints of a breeze sweeping over her. She closed her eyes remembering the first time she’d been to this place with Russ--to the first time they’d made love and immediately a warmth surrounded her putting her a bit more at ease as Grady reached for her. She felt his hand against the small of her back and she stiffened slightly, but only for a moment.

“I figured this might be a good place for us to touch base with one another,” Grady explained simply walking with her to the front door. He pulled the keys out of his pocket opening the front door to let her inside. “I know you always felt at home here with Russ.”

“I did and I still do,” Avery replied with a small smile unable to contain the emotions that carried over her. Just thinking about Russ seemed to melt away the concerns that had hung overhead since she’d awakened in Grady’s arms this morning. Being here made her feel almost as if Russ was still alive--as if he was still waiting for her wanting to share his love with her.

“I was hoping that would be the case,” Grady watched her for a long moment knowing what a risk he was taking in bringing her here to a place where she’d shared so many memories with his brother. Still, he knew Avery enough to know that there was something about Russ that had always settled her--had always comforted her and Grady knew that if Russ was watching them right now, then he’d want her to be at the cabin. “I think my parents had someone come in a few weeks ago and stock the refrigerator so we should be good in that respect.”

“I’m not really all that hungry,” Avery replied knowing that while she hadn’t eaten in well over twenty four hours she didn’t have much of an appetite either. She glanced over her shoulder at Grady once again seeing the way he was watching her every movement. The way his eyes penetrated her caused her to shiver ever so slightly. Yes, he’d promised that they were on neutral ground, but with one look from him, she knew this was far from neutral. Turning away she inhaled slowly before speaking up again, “So what did Shannon tell you?”

“That Bruce was back in town,” Grady remembered his phone call doing his best to have a casual conversation with Avery, “He’d attacked another woman--a couple of them actually and she believes he’s falling apart at the seams.”

“As opposed to what,” Avery couldn’t help but sigh, “You’d think by now they would’ve had him.”

“You would think that, but for some reason he’s always been one step ahead of the game. Though Shannon told me that he’s gotten sloppy. Before he was careful in his killings, but now they are just sheer acts of violence--as if he’s building up to one last final attack on…” he stopped himself suddenly uncomfortable with where his thoughts were headed.

“On me?” Avery finished turning to face him again, “Is that what you were going to say?”

“I didn’t want to say that, but yes, I believe that’s where Shannon thinks he’s headed,” Grady answered honestly hating to see the pained expression on her face, “which is why I brought you here. I know you’ll be safe here Avery.”

“As long as he’s out there, no one will ever be safe,” Avery closed her eyes thinking to her past with Bruce, “You know I never imagined that he could be so evil when I met him. Here I was upset that I’d lost the baby--that I could never have Russell’s child and he seemed so kind and considerate. He was with me when I was upset about knowing that I could never give Russ the life he wanted…”

“You mean when you walked out on the wedding,” Grady questioned in a soft, patient tone. When she said nothing he added another thought, “Avery I know that wasn’t your fault. I understand why you left Russ that day and I can’t blame you for that. I’m sorry that I made you feel like a horrible person for wanting to spare him the pain of knowing what had happened.”

“I just wish I hadn’t left. That I could’ve been honest with him about our baby from day one,” she whispered her hand dropping down over her abdomen, “If I would’ve told him instead of wanting to wait, then maybe our child would’ve had a chance. Maybe our son or daughter would be here with us right now and we’d be at this cabin together as a family instead of apart.”

“I wish that things could’ve been different for all of us,” he stepped in closer to her sensing the sadness that carried over her. He reached out to touch her placing his hand on her shoulder and feeling her flinch ever so slightly. He thought for a second that she would walk away, but instead she stood still allowing him to hold her. His other arm wrapped around her waist hand pressing in against her soft, swelled abdomen. “Listen to me Avery. We’re not going to let Bruce hurt you or my niece. You’ll be safe here.”

“Maybe from Bruce, but Grady we both know he’s not the only threat to our future,” she tilted her head back to look at him, “Even if they find him, you and I both have to face what happened between us. We have to own up to it somehow and…”

“Shh,” Grady touched his finger over her lips to silence her. He saw the beginnings of tears behind her eyes and he coaxed her to face him, “Avery I know I promised you that I wouldn’t pressure you, but I also realize that we have a lot of things that we have to talk about--things that we need to come to terms with between the two of us before we bring the rest of the world into it.”

“This is hardly the place to do it,” Avery’s eyelashes fluttered with her words. “I mean this place is so special to Russ and I and…”

“And I know that, which is why I’m not going to push you,” he interrupted gently pushing her dark hair away from her face, “I’m sorry that you’re uncomfortable and that being this close to me is making you feel that way, but I’m not about to apologize for the way I feel about you. I meant what I said before. I’ve spent a great many years wanting you and needing you, but I didn’t want to hurt Russ. I knew what you two had together was something that no one could break and I promised that I would stay on the sidelines.”

“Grady, I don’t think…” she began only to feel him press his finger in over her lips.

“You’re not betraying Russ in loving me Avery,” he reminded her with a poignant smile, “If anything I think he’d be happy to know that we were together right now instead of you and Brant. He’d be relieved to see that I want to take care of you and his daughter--that I want to be the man that you need.”

Avery said nothing as she stood before him seeing the raw emotion burning behind his green eyes. He cupped her face in his hands leaning forward to skim his lips over hers in a soft, barely there kiss. She let out a small whimper opening herself up to the kiss as his breath cast out over her causing tiny shivers to race over her. She curled her arms around him opening up a connection with him as their kiss continued in a fluid, tender push guiding them to a more intimate connection. She felt his arms drop around her waist drawing her in against the strength of his solid chest, to the warmth of his welcoming arms, but just as his tongue teased in against hers offering the first hints of yearning and desire, she broke away from him finding herself overwhelmed at the hold that this cabin had over her.

“Grady please,” she turned away her mind swirling with the memories that she and Russ shared together. She could remember quite clearly the night they’d come together as lovers for the first time, the day when they’d found their way to one another again after a painful separation and even now she could still recall the last time she’d been here with him sharing their hopes and dreams for a future with their child, “right now it’s just too much.”

“I’m sorry,” Grady took a step back clearing his throat uneasily. He knew he was pushing it--knew that maybe it wasn‘t the smartest idea to kiss her then and there, but he couldn’t resist. Still he had to stay focused or else this could all blow up in his face. Clearing his throat once again Grady finally spoke up, “I think I’m going to go take a look around the place and make sure everything is secure.”

“That sounds like a good idea,” Avery acknowledged his words as her eyes cast out over the water remembering the good times she’d had here with Russ. Oh how she wished that they hadn’t ever had to end. How she longed to have him with her now holding her in his arms and telling her that everything would be alright. She knew that if he was still alive and with her, then she would truly believe that. If he was still with her, then she would have hope and a reason to look forward to what life had waiting for them right around the corner. With Russ, she was certain that she would be happy instead of standing here feeling as if her heart was breaking all over again in knowing that they would never be together in this special place of theirs.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

“So what do you think?” Angela couldn’t help but ask after she and Nick were given the mini-tour of the castle. “Do you like it?”

“It’s beautiful,” Nick replied thinking about all that he’d taken in during the short time they’d been here with one another. “There really isn’t any other word for it.”

“I was hoping you’d like it,” Angela leaned into him laying her head on his shoulder for a moment, “especially considering that I always wanted to get married here. You see they have this story about two lovers who were married at this very spot. It was a story of star-crossed lovers who were…”

“…wed here when the rest of the world wanted them apart. They were able to escape the lives that they lead before and they found their way to this place where their souls were locked together for eternity,” Nick finished feeling the words drifting from his lips without a second thought.

“That’s right,” Angela nodded lightly, “I take it you heard the story before.”

“I didn’t think so,” he paused wondering where that had come from, “but maybe the tour guide said it on the way in.”

“Maybe, but I’ll have you know that they have a little festival each year around Christmas. It’s so beautiful and the celebration is so full of magic and romance. It‘s said that anyone on the island that finds their way to one another at that time of the year in particular will be bound together for all eternity--that their love will never be broken by the evils of the world around them,” she continued thinking back to where she’d been at that point in time. She could very clearly remember how she’d avoided going to the festival and taking part in any of the parties until that night that Brant had taken her dancing. She remembered the way they’d ignored the party happening around them and they drank and danced the night away bringing themselves to a state of a drunken haze, which in turn had spun a world of passion between them which lead to…

“It’s a beautiful story,” Nick nodded encouragingly snapping her out of her daze.

“Yes it is,” she replied biting down on her lower lip nervously while damning herself for allowing that memory of Brant to slide into her subconscious.

“It almost makes me wonder why you want to get married now instead of waiting until Christmas time,” Nick couldn’t help but grin at her, “With the legend and all…”

“It gets very hectic around here with the festival,” she explained matter of fact, “and to get a wedding around here at that time, well you have to either know someone or be someone important.”

“Like you aren’t someone important,” Nick tossed out at her pointedly.

“That’s not really what I meant,” she paused for a moment, “and besides to wait that long, well it would feel like an eternity. I see no point in waiting that long since Christmas isn’t exactly my favorite time of year.”

“I was just saying,” he shrugged his shoulders his mind playing out the notion of a Christmas wedding.

“There you are,” Martha waved at Angela motioning for the two of them to join her in the room that lay beyond where they stood. She grinned excitedly before curling her finger at them once again, “You have to see the tables they set up in here. They are too cute for words.”

“Too cute for words huh?” Nick grinned lightly trying to ignore the shaky feeling that settled in the bottom of his stomach. He felt Angela lead him along towards the room and before he knew it he was in an oversized ballroom filled with various round tables topped in white lace and flowers.

“And this is only for the engagement party,” Martha laughed lightly, “Imagine what the wedding will be like. In fact, come over here for a second Angie. I want to show you something.”

“I’ll be right back,” Angela promised tipping up on her toes to kiss him, “Don’t get lost.”

“I won’t,” Nick assured her watching her go to join Martha as he opted to take a look around. He moved over to a tapestry admiring all the work that must’ve gone into it. It was beautiful with vibrant colors and images that clearly took hours to put to life.

“It’s amazing isn’t it,” a man’s voice broke through Nick’s thoughts causing him to turn around with a jump.

“What?” Nick questioned taking a long look at him. There was something about his face--something about his eyes that seemed familiar, yet…

“Do I know you,” the man asked curiously. “You’ve been here before, haven’t you?”

“No,” Nick shook his head before offering up a polite smile, “I’m here for the engagement party tonight. My bride-to-be and I thought we’d check this place out tonight and…”

“No, that’s not it,” the man shook his head giving him another long look, “There’s something about your eyes--about your face. I do know you.”

Nick stared at him blankly finding himself met with that same feeling, yet he couldn’t quite put his finger on it.

“I’m not all that good with names, but I’m certain we’ve met before,” the man took a step towards Nick causing him to feel a certain sense of uneasiness.

“I really don’t think so,” Nick replied though his own thoughts seemed to be betraying his words.

“But I am,” the man eyed him intently, “as I never forget a face. There’s something about you--something that…”

“That what?” Nick asked again catching the expression on the man’s face.

“You were staring at the tapestry before. I think we’d talked about the history behind it,” the man snapped his fingers in realization. “We’d had a talk about it before and you were asking about the history--about the legend of the island…”

“No, I’m afraid you’ve got me mistaken for someone else,” Nick began apologetically hearing Angela call out to him.

“Nick, you have to see this,” she shouted out holding up some kind of white floral arrangement, “they have the cutest little knickknacks on this and…”

“I’ll be right there,” Nick held up his finger to her before addressing the man once again, “Duty calls, but it’s been nice to talk with you.”

“Likewise,” the man watched him closely knowing that sooner or later the reason he recognized Nick would come to him. There was just something too familiar to be forgotten.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

“Where in the world can he be?” Kyle asked himself as he walked back up the sidewalk to Avery and Russell’s place. All morning he had tried to find Grady, pondering over and over again where he could be, but there was nothing. “I searched all the places that Grady could have been and still nothing.”

It worried Kyle that all the possible places that Grady could have been, he wasn’t there and there was no sign of Grady either. Grady would never do something really stupid that would make him want to endanger his life, would he?

Kyle hoped that when he got home, he could find some type of lead to where Grady was. Maybe something that Russell and Grady shared would be a good clue. There had to be something in the house that could point him towards Grady.

Kyle went to pull his keys out of his pocket before he looked up and saw that the front door was opened a crack. He slowly walked into the house and looked around.

When he heard a crash in another room, worry began to overtake him as he remembered all the things that Shannon had been telling him about Bruce. What if Bruce tried to break in? Was Bruce in the house right now? Whether it was Bruce or not, someone was in this house and whoever it was, they weren’t going to be leaving very easily.

Kyle walked down the hallway slowly, trying to avoid any glass that would give him away with some noise. When he reached the study, he saw someone hunched over and looking at something on the ground.

“This is it,” Kyle sighed, pausing himself as he looked at the figure before him. When the man stood up, he saw that the figure was way too big to be Bruce. “That can’t be Bruce.”

No matter who it was, they didn’t belong here and he was going to take care of it right now. He slowly crept into the room and when he got close enough, he slammed his arm against the person’s back and slammed them into the wall. Okay, the guy looked much smaller when he was in the hallway and now that he was here, the guy seemed much bigger than himself. The best thing he could at least try to do would be to overpower the guy who was pressed against the wall in front of him.

“Who are you?” Kyle questioned, locking the guy’s arm in his right hand as he felt the man struggle. Kyle felt the guy’s head come back into his nose as he let go of the guy and grabbed his nose, feeling the pain shoot up through his head.

“The question is,” Kevin began, turning around to face the person who had shoved him against the wall. His eyes widened as he realized who the guy before him was. “I know you. You’re Kyle, Seth’s friend. The one guy from the…”

“Island and you‘re Kevin,” Kyle finished, pushing his hands against the center of Kevin’s chest. Kyle watched as Kevin stumbled backwards from the force of his push. “What the hell are you doing in this house?”

“I had to find something and that‘s it. I wasn’t trying to steal anything, I was actually hoping to talk to someone, but I found something that would help me out a little bit more,” Kevin explained, feeling Kyle’s right fist slam into his jaw as he stumbled backwards. Kevin gripped onto his jaw, feeling the pain already building up in his face. His dark brown eyes that were filled with rage looked up into Kyle‘s. “That’s it--I’m going to kick your ass like I should have done a long time ago.”

“You don’t belong here Kevin and I have to wonder what you are doing here,” Kyle replied going to hit Kevin again, but missed when Kevin ducked and hit him in the stomach. It was enough to send Kyle to the ground and flat out on his back. Kyle kicked Kevin in the back of the knee, making Kevin fall on the ground too.

Fists swung over and over again as Kyle and Kevin tried to both get the other down and out. Kyle was going to try and protect this house and this family if it was the last thing he really ever did do. And if that meant trying to take Kevin out, he was still going to try the best he could.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

“What’s going on with the two of you?” Cori questioned angrily, folding her arms out in front of her chest as she looked between Diego and Sarah. “Somebody should explain to me what is going on before I make assumptions.”

“You don’t have to make assumptions,” Sarah rolled her eyes, trying to stop Cori before she went any further. “Nothing is happening, we were eating breakfast and we started playing around.”

“What kind of playing around?” Cori eyed over the two before her as she shook her head slowly. “You both are covered in food and when I came in, you two were in each others arms.”

“Sarah fell,” Diego tried to explain to Cori, pointing to the water that was on the floor. “We got in a food fight because Sarah was feeling down and I was trying to make her feel better. You have to at least understand that.”

“How can I understand that my boyfriend has some girl that’s not me in his arms?” Cori angrily stared at Sarah who seemed to avoid all eye contact with her.

“You know, stop worrying about me for a second and let me know the answer to my question,” Diego began, taking a step toward Cori. His eyebrows tensed as he wondered how in the world she found him. “Why are you here? And how did you get inside the house because I made absolute sure that the door was locked so no one could harm Sarah.”

“Well you see, it all started when I went to your house to ask you if you wanted to have breakfast together Diego,” Cori informed him with a bit of sarcasm behind her voice. “I waited and waited for you to answer your door, but you never did. So I sat there and wondered where in the world can he be? That’s when I remembered last night when you got called by Ms. Marx here and I remembered how eager you were to get to her.”

“I was trying to be here for a friend Cori,” Diego pointed out with a small shake of his head. “That still doesn’t explain how you got in the house.”

“Well, I found this,” Cori pulled the extra key to Sarah’s house out of her pocket as Diego eyed her over slowly. “The extra key was placed right under the flower pot.”

“Why didn’t you knock on the door or ring my doorbell?” Sarah questioned, finally bringing herself into the conversation as Cori shrugged her shoulders. “It would have been more polite.”

“I knocked a lot more than I should have and then I figured I should just let myself in,” Cori explained, eyeing over Diego and Sarah over slowly, “Never did I imagine that I would come in here to fine you two acting like children.”

“Can I talk to you for a minute?” Diego questioned with a small glare towards Cori. Cori was just being rude, plain and simple. He saw her nod as she wiped at the goop on her forehead from the egg. “Alone.”

“Fine,” Cori shrugged, following Diego into the corner of the room as he gave Sarah one last look.

“Oh, this is just wonderful,” Sarah muttered to herself, leaning back against her counter. As she watched Diego and Cori talk with each other, she felt a bit uncomfortable noticing the way that Cori kept looking at her. It had scared Sarah when Cori came in, but right now it was worse to watch Cori fight with Diego. It was obvious that Cori was suspicious, but did she really know what had gone on between her and Diego? If so, then her and Diego were in a world of trouble and it was in the hands of Cori.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

“I can’t believe that they can’t find him,” Dean groaned, throwing his hands up in the air after the officer left the room. “It’s not like Bruce can be here one second and then disappear the next. How can he get away, just like that?”

“I don’t know, I wish I did,” Deidra began with a frown, watching as Dean looked around the room. She could tell by the sound of his voice he was angry, more than angry. “Dean, if I knew where I could find him, I would.”

“I know you would sweetheart and I feel the same way about that bastard,” he assured her, sitting back down on the table as he tried to stop himself from letting his anger get any higher. “I know you want him put away just as much as I do.”

“Don’t worry about it, he will eventually get what he deserves,” Deidra pointed out as Dean’s dark eyes met her hers. “I know he won’t make it much longer.”

“That’s what I have to wonder though,” Dean shook his head slowly as he thought about what happened to Deidra. “He isn’t going to stop until he gets what he wants. I swear, I don’t know what I would have done if he had really gotten you Deidra.”

“About that,” she paused for a moment thinking of a way to respond to what he had just said. “I don’t think that anyone would have done that for me. What you did for me was amazing Dean and you proved something to me.”

“Deidra, I wasn’t a hero or anything,” Dean declared, a small frown peaking at the corner of his lips. There was nothing he could do or say that could explain to her why he did those things other than one thing. “Deidra I love you and I’m never going to stop loving you. I can’t just walk away from you and let you get hurt.”

“Dean,” Deidra whispered, reaching out to touch his shoulder gently. The words he just said to her were exactly how she felt. She never stopped loving him, she was just to afraid to apologize in the past because she felt that he wouldn’t still feel the same thing. They always had a connection together, but she figured that after what she had done to him, he would never be able to forgive her.

Her emotions and her feelings overtook her as she leaned down, closer to Dean. Her lips met his in a slow motion as his hands caressed her the small of her back gently. She had wanted to show him how much he meant to her and she knew that this wouldn’t be enough. Nothing would ever be enough to apologize for what she had done to him.

“I love you Dean,” she breathed against his lips as he pulled back and away from her slowly. His intense dark eyes looked up into hers as she spoke to him. The look he gave her sent chills down her spine as she thought of something more to say. She loved Dean and now of all times she was having a hard time just telling him that. “Dean, if I ever lost you, my world would end. I love you Dean and I never meant to hurt you. The thing I regret the most is the fact that I lost you in my life.”

“You never lost me,” Dean whispered, standing up from the desk and wrapping his arms around her tightly. “You are never going to lose me Deidra. I’m here and I am never letting go.”

“I hope you mean that,” she smiled, resting her head against his muscular chest gently.

“I’ve never meant something so much in my life,” Dean whispered, kissing her forehead gently. “I’m always going to be here for you no matter what.”

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

“Damn, that hurt,” Kevin groaned, falling on the ground with Kyle after they both tried to punch each other. Kevin rolled onto his back as he looked over at Kyle who was right next to him on the ground. Kevin brought his hand up and wiped away the small amount of blood that was at the corner of his mouth. “Are we done yet or do I have to get up again?”

“We’re done, hopefully,” Kyle replied slowly, arching his back up from the pain when Kevin had thrown his back in against the mirror on the wall. He saw Kevin slowly get to his knees as he rested there for a minute.

“Here,” Kevin held his hand out to help Kyle up from the ground and to his feet. “I owe you one from that one night.”

“Thanks,” Kyle let a small breath escape his lips as he felt another sharp pain in his head where Kevin had slammed him into the wall. He wiped the blood by his nose away as he let out a small sigh. “You’re a good fighter, I think you just broke my nose.”

“I was a boxer,” Kevin pointed out, watching Kyle spit some blood out of his mouth. “You going to be okay?”

“Yeah, I’m fine,” Kyle assured Kevin, looking up at Kevin before nodding slowly. “I forgot that you used to be boxer. Seth had told me that, but I guess I forgot. I wish I would have remembered that before I tried to attack you.”

“Even so, you’re not that bad of a fighter,” Kevin pointed out, still feeling the pain in his arm from the lock Kyle had him in earlier. “You’re probably the only guy in the last decade who ever came close to taking me out.”

“Thanks, I think,” Kyle wiped at his mouth before his dark eyes met Kevin’s again. “Can you tell me why you are here so we don’t have to fight anymore? I don’t feel like being bruised and hurt for another three weeks. Are you like some type of psycho working for Bruce because if you are…”

“No, I’m not,” Kevin rolled his eyes, fixing his shirt as Kyle’s eyes never left him. “I hate that man as much as you do. And I’ve only known him for a short while.”

“Consider yourself lucky,” Kyle let a small breath out before shrugging his shoulders. “So, why exactly are you here? And what do you want?”

“I want to know who this man is in the photo,” Kevin declared, grabbing the picture he had found earlier. It surprised him that it wasn’t broken because him and Kyle had broken almost everything in the room already. “Can you tell me who this is and who the woman with him is?”

“Are you some type of nut or something?” Kyle wondered, his eyes looking over Kevin slowly as he saw Kevin shake his head slowly. “Why do you want to know?”

“Because, I won‘t harm anybody. Believe it or not, I am just a little curious,” Kevin explained, holding the picture up as Kyle took it, “It’s really urgent.”

“The guy was my best friend and that is his wife,” Kyle informed Kevin with a small shrug. When he saw Kevin’s face twist in confusion, he couldn’t help but wonder what was wrong. “Why do you want to know?”

“Is this Avery with him?” Kevin questioned quickly, looking up at Kyle as Kyle’s dark eyes seemed to be worried with what he should be telling Kevin. “Who are the two of these people Kyle? What is this guy’s name?”

“The woman in the picture is Avery,” Kyle nodded slowly, watching as Kevin frowned and traced the outline of Avery in the picture. “Why? What do you want with her? If you are going to do something that is going to hurt her, I swear I’ll…”

“Stop right there,” Kevin cut Kyle off before shaking his head slowly, “I would never hurt anyone.”

“I beg your pardon,” Kyle looked at Kevin with disbelief as he touched the back of his head, feeling the pain of where he had been thrown into the mirror earlier. “I think you just tried to beat my ass and you almost killed me a couple of times.”

“Well, I mean,” Kevin tried to explain himself before realizing that Kyle had caught him in a small confusion. “Just, can you please tell me who this guy is?”

“His name is Russell,” Kyle stated, pointing at Russell as he looked up at Kevin who seemed to be giving him his full attention, “This is him and Avery at their wedding.”

“Wait,” Kevin grabbed the photo from Kyle’s hands as he looked at the scenery behind Russell and Avery. He knew who the man was and he knew where they are. “I know where this place is.”

“That’s where they got married,” Kyle informed Kevin with a small shrug as he watched Kevin look up with him with worried eyes. “What does it mean to you?”

“It doesn’t mean a damn thing to me,” Kevin declared, letting out a small breath as he thought. “But it may mean everything to my best friend.”

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

“Would you just listen to me before you assume things Cori,” Diego begged with a small groan as she ignored him every time he tried to explain things to her. “Just listen to what I have to say.”

“I don’t want to listen to what you have to say Diego,” Cori replied angrily after hearing his words. Everything he tried to explain to her was bull. “I don’t care about Sarah and her boyfriend. I say the boyfriend made a good choice in leaving her behind. Actually, if her boyfriend was here right now, I would tell him good job because anyone could do better than that woman.”

“You are acting like a real jerk I hope you know,” Diego pointed out with a deep frown. He hated the way that Cori was acting towards Sarah. “You are being really ridiculous and this is so not you Cori. I don’t even want to be around you right now.”

“Diego wait,” Cori caught his hand as he was about to walk away. “Look at Sarah, she has caused nothing but trouble for you. Every time I am around you, all you do is worry about Sarah.”

“She’s really important to me Cori, she’s my friend,” Diego explained feeling a slight bit guilty as he looked over Cori. He was telling the truth about half of what he said. Sarah really was important to him, but what they had going on was way past friendship. It was more than friendship. “She’s a good person Cori, you need to understand that.”

“What I understand is that she is a bitch,” Cori scowled, watching as Diego glared with her with his dark brown eyes. He shook his head slowly before walking off towards the front door. “Diego come on. Diego.”

“I don’t think he wants to talk to you right now,” Sarah pointed out, shaking her head slowly as she went to go after Diego. Sarah saw that he took a step outside after talking to Cori. “Maybe you should have been a little bit nicer.”

“Nicer,” Cori muttered and she slowly nodded to herself. A small smile crept past her lips as she thought about all the trouble that Sarah and her sister had caused for her over the last few months. “You know, I would like to have a word with you for a moment.”

“You want a word?” Sarah questioned, watching Cori nod slowly as she folded her arms out in front of her chest slowly. “Fine, have your word.”

“I don’t like you and I want you to know that I don’t like you,” Cori began with a small scowl, holding her right hand up as she spoke. “In my view you are just as much trouble as your sister.”

“I am nothing like Heather,” Sarah snapped, taking a step closer towards Cori. Nothing bothered Sarah more than someone comparing her to her sister. “You don’t know me, so don’t judge me.”

“I know you well enough,” Cori pointed out with a small shrug as she saw the anger behind Sarah’s eyes. “I actually like your sister a tiny bit more than I like you.”

“Listen you,” Sarah began, taking a step up towards Cori, but Cori did the same in return.

“What? You don’t intimidate me Sarah,” Cori declared, staring Sarah right in the eyes. “You want to say something to me right now Sarah? Just say it.”

“You know,” Sarah started as she backed away from Cori slowly, “You need to stop acting like a jealous little brat because nothing is going on between me and Diego. But hey, if you want to you can continue to act like this because if you do, I can promise you that Diego is going to dump you very soon.”

Without even saying another word to Cori, Sarah walked off and left Cori inside her own kitchen. There was a strong anger that built up inside of her when Cori compared her to Heather, but she had to just brush it off for Diego. Sure, her and Diego were lying to Cori for now, but that was for the best.

Sarah took one last look back at Cori before walking outside to talk to Diego. Sure, Sarah knew that going to Diego’s side would only irritate Cori more, but hey--she was going to have to deal with it then.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

The heat inside had started to swelter as Nick stepped out onto the balcony needing a moment before the party began. He and Angela were almost finished setting things up for the night and now she had gone off with Martha to check out one last thing before the guests arrived. Now ten minutes before the party began Nick realized he needed some time to collect himself. He felt the first breeze from the ocean make it’s way up from the water onto the balcony and he closed his eyes taking in the moment. It was so peaceful here--so tranquil and serene and Nick could honestly say that it felt like home. The familiarity of his place was eerie and after the man had cornered him, he’d tried to figure out how it was possible for the man to have known him, but he’d come up empty.

“Which seems to be the norm lately,” Nick sighed reaching into his pocket to check the time when he felt his keys jangling within. He pulled them out his eyes now focused on the key chain before him. While he’d hoped that it would prove to be something important, he felt the same old frustrations continuing until…


“Oh come on you know you want to get it,” he saw the woman before him dangling it in his face, “In fact I’m going to get it for you.”

“Why would you waste your money?” he wrinkled his nose at her. “It’s hideous.”

“All the more reason to buy it,” she replied curling her arm around him, “Besides it’ll be a reminder of our honeymoon--of the time we spent here in paradise.”

“I was thinking a snow globe might be more festive,” he laughed back at her, watching the way her nose wrinkled at his statement.

“Oh come on. It might be cheesy, but it’s small and you can always carry it with you. I can’t very well see a snow globe fitting in your pocket,” she teased her fingers over the center of his chest, “Besides it’s already too late I bought it anyways.”

“You did, did you,” he arched a curious brow watching her nod.

“Turn it over and see what’s on it,” she suggested prompting him to take a look at what she’s given him, “It’s not really from me, but rather from our little one. The baby wanted you to have something…”

“The baby…” Nick repeated returning to the present. He fingered the back of the key chain straining to see what had once been written upon it not so long ago. He lifted it up beneath the light to try to read what was on it when another memory hit him harder than the last.


“Speaking of our little miracle,” his hand dropped down over her abdomen, “I have a little surprise for our baby,” Nick whispered seeking out the hand of the woman beside him as he urged her to take a seat on the edge of the bed, “Stay there.”

“Okay,” she watched him search through the boxes under the tree before returning with a Christmas tree wrapping paper covered package.

He handed the box over to her eagerly as he took a seat beside her, “Well, what are you waiting for? Open it.”

“Right now?” she asked with wide eyes, “but it’s only Christmas Eve and…”

“And nothing,” he motioned to the bow upon the box, “Just open it. I think our little one deserves an early present for being our Christmas miracle,” he touched her cheek gently pressing a dark strand of hair from her face as he nodded towards the box once again, “Come on I know you’re dying to check it out.”

“Well actually,” she tore into the box discarding the wrapping as her curiosity got the best of her. Seconds later, she opened the box to reveal a small white fluffy rabbit with big blue eyes looking up at her. Unable to contain herself she pulled it up out of the box, “Oh, this is too cute…”

“His name is Buster,” he teased with a nudge, “since you felt we needed one of those in the family.”

“Hmm, well he is absolutely adorable,” she teased her fingers over the floppy ears before her, “but I do seem to recall giving someone else that name when…”

“Just you hush,” he instructed cutting her words off with a kiss as he motioned towards the box, “but you’re not done just yet…”

“There’s more?” her eyes widened in surprise.

“Much more,” he nodded in agreement as she turned her attention to the box before her pulling out a large photo album of sorts tied up with a red ribbon with the words ‘The Denton Family’ embossed in fancy gold lettering over the center of the cover.

“When did you…” she started at a loss as he reached out to the album untying the ribbon to open the album as he motioned the page before him.

“When we were apart, I had a lot of time on my hands and I think I started working on this to punish myself, but then when I found out that we were about to have a family, well I had a few extra touches put in,” he explained motioning towards the first page as there was a gold inscription on the crisp, white page before her.

Lifting it up for a better look, her eyes skimmed over the page as she read aloud, “To my unborn child. I present you with this book to share with you the story of the romance that brought your mother and I together. It’s a fairy tale unlike any you’ll ever read filled with the same old castles and fire breathing dragons, but what’s inside is so much more as it’s ultimately how you came into this world and with this book I offer up all the love that I can give as in being your father you’ve opened up my world to a happiness I never dreamt possible before now. You and your mother are everything to me and it’s with this album that I offer you a piece of myself as we work together to fill the pages together in our years as a family. With love from the luckiest daddy in the entire universe,” she choked up on emotion and tears pooled in her eyes as she looked up at him, “Oh Russ I love it…”

“Oh my God,” Nick gasped staggering backward as the reality of what his mind was telling him hit him. All this time he’d thought that Angela was the one--that he was drawn to her because she was…because he’d thought that she was Avery. He felt his heart hammering in his chest as another realization dawned in over him. All this time he’d been on the island living out the life of Nick Smith, when his heart--when his world was far from where he was right now. Dropping his keys, he let out a gasp as everything came to him clearer than ever since he’d awakened on the beach after his escape. In that moment of clarity, he finally knew it all. He wasn’t a man with a past that made him dangerous--wasn’t a man who had a dark and terrible secret behind him. Hell, he wasn’t even Nick Smith at all, but rather he was Russell Denton--a man who had been locked inside of himself miles away from the life he‘d left behind and his wife that needed him now more than ever!

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

“Okay I lied,” Grady called out walking into the bedroom area to find Avery seated on the edge of the bed, her fingers fanning out over the comforter. “The person who was supposed to fill the refrigerator and the cabinets apparently didn’t bother with stockings things up here. The water is running, but the kitchen is empty. I think I’m going to go run up to the market and get a few things for us while we’re here. Want to join me?”

Avery glanced up at him from where she’d been seated lost in her thoughts of Russ. She offered up a small smile before shaking her head, “No, I’d really rather stay here right now. I’m a little bit tired and I’d really like a shower.”

“Sure,” Grady dropped his hands into his pocket trying not to be too eager about wanting to spend some time with her. He shuffled on his feet nervously before clearing his throat again, “that should be okay since we’re pretty much the only people out here. The market is only about a mile or so away, but you already knew that and…”

“Grady I’ll be fine,” she promised with a small smile watching him staring at her, “I’m sure whatever you get while you’re out would be great.”

“Oreos perhaps,” he questioned wiggling a brow at her. That seemed to be the trick. Her smile returned to her with a genuine warmth be hind it.

“Oreos sound fantastic,” she nodded in response, “and maybe some coffee. That sounds great.”

“Oreos and coffee it is,” he replied with a thoughtful expression, “and then maybe when I get back we’ll set up a fire and take in a movie or something,” he suggested.

“That sounds nice,” she added seeing the way he was looking at her like he wanted to kiss her--like he wanted to touch her again and that expression on her face caused a heat to rise over her cheeks. She was convinced that he was going to try to make another attempt at getting closer to her before he left, but instead he reached for his keys and smiled at her.

“I’ll be back shortly,” he assured her giving her one last longing look before leaving the bedroom.

Avery heard the front door close and she let out a long sigh. Falling back onto the bed she thought about everything that had happened leading her to this point in time. While being stuck at the cabin with Grady wasn’t exactly her idea of a good time right around now given that their lovemaking was still fresh on both of their minds, she knew full well that going back to town wasn’t an option either. Not when Brant was away.

“Brant,” she thought aloud remembering her husband who had left her behind. How she wished that he would’ve just taken her on that trip with him--that he could’ve been okay enough with her to take her along. If he would’ve just forgiven her before he’d left and they could’ve been together working to help Ken, then she was certain that she never, ever would’ve been with Grady. She never would’ve made love to him and found herself hating what she’d become. Here Brant had offered to give her the world and she’d stomped on it betraying him in the worst possible way.

Reaching into her pocket she pulled out her phone thinking about how she was going to hurt him by telling him the truth of what she’d done. She’d been so sure that she wouldn’t ever become something like this--that she wouldn’t hurt him with Grady, yet she’d done everything that he’d anticipated. She’d betrayed him just like he’d accused her of doing time and time again when the thought of making love to Grady hadn’t even been an afterthought. She’d taken something special and beautiful that she had with Brant and risked it all for a night that now she wished that she could take back. It wasn’t that she didn’t care for Grady because she did, but they both had known better. They both had been too smart to fall into that trap, yet…

“I have to call Brant,” Avery finally decided needing to hear her husband’s voice again. She wasn’t sure what she was going to say to him or how she was going to be able to make it through this situation, but she was going to have to talk to him sooner or later. She just feared what would happen once he learned of her careless, thoughtless mistake. If only she could take it back--if only she could find a way to get Brant to understand that she never, ever would’ve…

“No more excuses,” she told herself reaching for the phone again. She started to dial his cell phone number when she realized that it wasn’t working. She pushed the send button repeatedly only to keep getting the same response.

“No signal,” she sighed in frustration tossing the phone onto the bed as she lay back reaching for a pillow. Closing her eyes she found her thoughts lingering to Russ as she wished like anything that he could be there with her now. He’d know what to do. He’d know a way to make this right somehow. If only he were still alive…

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Grady walked around the front of the cabin thinking about the way Avery seemed to be keeping him at arm’s length. While he knew that things were happening fast between them, he still had the feeling that beneath the surface this had been something that had been building between the both of them for a great many years. He could recall clearly that night they shared together at her mother’s party. With the way she’d looked at him--the way that they’d danced with one another.

“It wasn’t a mistake,” Grady mouthed to himself stopping just outside the bedroom window. He looked inside to see Avery laying on the bed seemingly lost inside of herself. He knew he shouldn’t just be standing there, but he couldn’t help himself. He hated to see her so upset and he’d give anything to see her smile again. He watched her get up off of the bed and make her way into the bathroom for her shower.

“When I get back we’ll work on making things like they were before,” Grady promised reaching into his pocket for his keys when it suddenly dawned in on him that he didn’t have them.

“Great,” he grumbled to himself realizing that he must’ve left them inside. He spun on his heel ready to go back and retrieve him when he heard a small snapping sound from behind. He attempted to turn around and seek out the source, but before he could turn around all the way he felt a sharp pain over his temple. He tried to register what was happening as his ears filled with a loud booming sound, but before he could react, he fell to the ground in a blur. He tried to see clearly, but his head felt like it was about to explode. He heard footsteps around him, saw the first hint of a black boot in front of him, but before he could register what was going on, the world around him faded to darkness.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Ken reached out and gripped tightly onto Michelle’s hand as their wedding began. They went through hell to get here and he wasn’t about to let this one slip through his fingers. He was going to marry Michelle right now and no one was going to stop him.

His eyes stared into Michelle’s the whole time as they repeated the words that needed to be said and listened carefully to everything the man was saying.

This was it, in just a few more moments Michelle would be his wife and he would have someone that he got to spend the rest of his life with.

“Does anyone object?” the man before them questioned, looking out into the chapel as Michelle rolled her eyes.

“No one is here, I don’t think anyone can object,” Michelle pointed out, looking up at Ken, “that’s means that you can go on.”

The sound of the chapel doors slamming open caught everyone’s attention as Don stomped into the room with Hart not far behind.

“I object,” Don yelled as he saw the way that Ken glared back at him, “I can’t believe that you would do something like this to me Ken. I can’t believe you would do that to us.”

“How could you do this to him Ken?” Hart questioned, not knowing where Don was going with that, but he was going to follow him no matter what Don did.

“What in the world are you trying to say?” Ken wondered before deciding that he didn’t even want to know. “I am getting married to Michelle. I love Michelle and there is nothing that you can do to stop me.”

“That’s not what you were saying a few nights ago when you were with me,” Don walked up the isle, trying to shake his hips as feminine as possible. Okay, so maybe this was going a little far, but he had to stall this wedding. Better yet, he had to stop this wedding.

“The other night,” Michelle repeated Don’s words, looking up at Ken slightly shocked, “What does he mean by the other night?”

“He is just kidding sweetheart,” Ken muttered with a small bit of anger behind his eyes as Don stepped up to him. “Isn’t that right Don? This is all some type of big joke, right?”

“Kidding? A joke? I vowed my love to you and this is what you do to me?” Don questioned, placing his hand over his chest. “Kenneth, my heart is already breaking. You promised me that you would never leave me. You said you would always love me.”

“Don stop it now, this isn’t funny,” Ken held his finger in the air as he watched Don’s eyes begin to gloss over. “You’re good Don, but Michelle isn’t buying it. No one is buying this.”

“Kenny, we have been together for months and you vowed yourself to me. How can you not even think about the love we shared?” Don questioned, looking back at Hart who seemed just as shocked as Ken and Michelle from what he was coming up with. “You can’t tell me that it’s better with her than it is with me.”

“What’s better?” Ken questioned in a whole amount of confusion as Don grabbed the back of Ken’s neck tightly and pulled him forward into his arms.

“This,” Don whispered, hating that this had to come to these terms, but if he was going to stop this wedding he had to come up with something good and this was the best thing he could come up with.

Don pulled Ken into a kiss as he overpowered Ken and held him in his arms tightly as Ken tried to get away. He saw Michelle slowly back away as he continued to kiss Ken. If there was a way this wedding was going to be stopped , this was a start. The only bad thing was that no one was going to forget this.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

 

...to be continued...