DECEMBER,  1999

It was just for one night. We'd only be here for one night and most of the day tomorrow, and then we'd be off on a plane heading towards Waikiki for our honeymoon.

I'll admit, I never thought I'd return back home to Derry. I'd only been back once, and that was the summer after my freshman year of college. Every summer since was spent in Boston either working summer programs on campus or going abroad with Professors. At first, I felt bad, not returning home and seeing my mom, but it was her who encouraged me to take the chances in front of me.

And if it wasn't for her pushing me to go on that first study abroad trip to Ireland the summer of my sophomore year, I never would have met Christopher. We would never have been partnered together for an icebreaker on our first night as a class in the city. We would never have visited the Cliffs of Moher and caught the sunset after a dinner with our class. We would have never started dating that fall, and we would have never made it to this point, right here.

We would have never been engaged.

My mother likes to say that it was fate, the way that Christopher and I had crossed paths. Part of me likes to think that's true because as I got to know him during that summer, I found out that not only were we pursuing the same major but that we had come from the same town as well. I mean if it's not fated then how else could you explain that two kids from the same small town in Maine, end up at the same university with a student population of 10,000 plus, students?

It was fate that seemed to have not only brought us together in Boston but brought us back to our small hometown to be married in front of our closest friends and family before beginning the rest of our adult lives in office jobs just outside of Boston, as well.

"Hello? Earth to Danielle..." I looked away from the car window to see Christopher, waving his hand in an attempt to get my attention. "Did you hear what I said?"

"Sorry," I replied, shaking my head and adjusting my posture. "I zoned out a little. Just got a little caught up in being back here and seeing everything again."

"That's right, you haven't been back for years," He said, placing his hand on top of mine. "I'm glad I could be with you when you made your return home."

The word home just didn't sit right with me. Was Derry really my home? Sure, I spent my entire teens here– but it never truly felt like a place I could call home. Because when I think of home, I think of the feeling I get when I hear my brother laugh at a bad joke. Or the way my mom always smelled like coconut. Even the way my dad would give hugs. A feeling I couldn't begin to describe, but I know it made me feel happy.

And Derry just wasn't that place. It's almost like it's hard to be happy here, even though everyone else is smiling.

Christopher came up to a stop light and for the first time, I actually took in my surroundings. Everything here looked the same as if Derry had frozen in time for the last five years. The old arcade, the town square off in the distance...even Mr. Keene's pharmacy. Mr. Keene...I wonder if he still worked there. "Park over off to the side here."

Christopher scrunched his eyebrows and peered to the right. "But the restaurant is at least two blocks from here..."

"Okay, how about I stop into the pharmacy here and then you go ahead and park by the restaurant."

"And leave you? You haven't been here in years!"

I laughed and opened my door, unbuckling my seatbelt. "I'm sure I'll manage, this place hasn't aged a day. I closed my door and poked my head into the open window. "I'll be right there, I swear."

"Danielle–"

Before he could say anything else, the car behind him honked at him to move, since the light was green. He begrudgingly drove straight ahead, leaving me on the sidewalk just across from Keene's pharmacy. I looked both ways before jogging across the street, soon finding myself in front of the glass doors. I touched one of the handles and gripped it tightly, and a small memory of blurs just flashed through my mind. I shook it off and pulled open the door, walking inside.

The bell above rang, signaling that I had stepped foot into the store. I peered down the medical supply aisle to see a clear shot to the checkout desk– it was empty. I walked further into the store, looking at the stocked shelves, not really needing anything. I didn't even know why I was here. I guess I just wanted to see if everything really was the same as it had been when I left. I walked up to the counter and leaned over it. No one was around the corner from what I could tell. God, I wonder if Greta still works here.

"Take a number, I've been waiting for years."

I stood up straight and turned my head slightly as my mind took it's time to recognize that voice. It couldn't be. I turned around fully to see the tall figure the voice had belonged to. His hair was a little shaggy and unkempt as if he had just rolled out of bed hours before. He was wearing cargo jean pants and a white t-shirt with an unbuttoned dark, multi-colored plaid shirt overtop it. In his arms was a sixpack of corona tucked under his arm. "Richie?" I asked, squinting my eyes as if I couldn't see him though he was standing right in front of me. "Richie Tozier, is that you?"

"No shit. Who's ask–" He looked up from his Nokia phone and his jaw dropped just slightly once his eyes focused on mine. "Dani Merritt...no fucking way."

I smiled at my old childhood friend, though he was barely recognizable from his 13-year old self. "Wow, it's been how long?"

"Five years," he said, nodding his head as if he was trying to convince himself that I was really standing in front of him. He seemed to knock himself out of his thoughts and put his beer on the counter behind me. "Holy shit dude, give me a fucking hug."

He wrapped his arms around me and I swear I could have felt my heart twinge at his touch. After all these years, he felt like the one thing that seemed the most familiar in my life. "What are you doing back in Derry? Do you live here?" I asked, pulling away from him.

"Hell no. I've got some shitty apartment in New York."

"Then why are you here?"

"I came to bury my mom," He replied, stuffing his cellphone into his pocket. "Or at least get my money's worth and watch them lower the casket into the ground before I leave this place."

My stare softened at the realization of his mom's passing. "Oh Richie, I'm so sorry..."

"You knew how she was with the bottle. I'm just surprised she made it this long with her liver being as shitty as it is," He took a deep breath and sighed, shrugging his shoulders. "Dad's still kicking out somewhere in the mountains of 'I'm still a hotshot dentist who could give two-shits about my family.'"

"When's the service?"

"Tomorrow morning. I'm trying to get out of here as soon as I can. I just need to figure out how to sell the house." He looked at me and nodded. "So what brings you back here?"

Suddenly, I found it hard to even think about telling Richie that I was getting married tomorrow. I haven't seen him in five years, but there's a feeling in my stomach that just couldn't even begin to imagine the look on his face. "Actually, I–"

"Danielle? Danielle are you in here?" Christopher's voice rang out, as the doorbell rang through the pharmacy. He walked down an aisle and appeared to my right. "Babe, I thought you were going to meet me at the restaurant."

He came up beside me and place an arm around my waist, leaning in and kissing my cheek. I kept my eyes on Richie, who had raised in eyebrows in curiosity. "Sorry, I got caught up," I apologized, motioning to Richie. "This is–"

"Richie. Tozier." Richie said, extending a hand to Christopher. "I'm an old friend."

"I'm Christopher. Danielle's fiance." He replied, shaking Richie's hand. "Did you grow up here too?"

"Actually, yeah. I lived over on Center. I take it you're from this shit hole as well?"

Christopher straightened his posture at Richie's language. He came from a pretty well off family, compared to Richie and I. So he wasn't one who was the kind of person who cursed or grew up around a lot of cursing. "Yeah, I am." He turned towards me and nodded his head towards the door. "Our reservations are coming up now, are you ready to go?"

"Yeah, I'm ready," I replied, looking back at Richie. "It was nice seeing you Richie."

"Actually, why don't you come to dinner with us? I'm sure the restaurant won't mind us squeezing in one more person."

I looked at Christopher with wide eyes. "Are you sure that's the best–"

"I'd love to." Richie smiled, waving off the beer on the counter. "No one seems to be here anyway, I guess I don't need that beer."

"Great, let's get going then, shall we?" Christopher smiled, leading us out of the Pharmacy.

❏❏❏❏

They haven't stopped talking since the moment we left the Pharmacy. They talked about College, since Christopher's cousin actually attended Purdue, even sharing a dorm complex with Richie. I would have my input every now and then, but I couldn't stop thinking about just how strange my past and my present came crashing into one another at Keene's Pharmacy.

Or the fact that they were actually finding things to talk about when they're two complete polar opposites.

Christopher's phone rang and he brought it out of his pocket. "I'll be right back sweetie," He said, kissing my cheek before walking off.

I took another sip of my water as I avoided Richie's gaze. I could only hope that Christopher would return soon. "So...fiance, huh?" Richie asked, taking a sip of his beer. "I've just got one question for you Danielle..."

And it was the fact that he called me Danielle, that caught my attention. He had never called me Danielle, always Dani. "And what would that be, Richie?"

"Why are you marrying a douche like that?"

I stopped taking a sip of my drink, swallowing what I had left in my mouth. "He's not a douche, Richie. He's actually a pretty good guy. I figured you'd seen that since you two have been talking each other's ears off, non-stop."

"It's called improv, Dani. You really think I could give a single shit about the hottest gadget he had stuffed in his pocket?" He took another sip of his beer and sighed. "Besides, I don't even know his cousin. He was just some name on the whiteboard in the hall."

"Then why even bother coming? Why waste your time?"

He looked at me as if he was studying the way the words had rolled off my tongue, searching for the type of mood I was in. Richie always knew how to read me, it was one of his gifts. "Because."

"Because? Well, is that it? Just because?"

He took another sip of his beer and looked at his glass, observing the remainder of his drink. "It's been five years since I last saw you, and six years since we last time we spoke. Because then we both stopped coming home for the summer's and it was like everything just...blurred away, except for one thing."

"And what's that?"

He finished his drink and looked at me. "How strong my feelings are for you." I leaned back into my chair and he leaned onto the table. "Hear me out Dani. Don't you think it's strange? My feelings have never faded for you even after all these years, and then suddenly we're in town at the same time? That can't be a coincidence."

"Richie, I'm–" I looked around the bar to see if Christopher was coming back, before looking back at Richie. "You can't say stuff like that, I'm getting married...TOMORROW."

"Okay, but–"

"Hey, I'm back," Christopher said, coming back towards the table. "Sorry it took so long, it was the Pastor on the phone about some final touchups for tomorrow."

"Is everything okay?" I asked as Richie sat up straight.

"Yeah, I just need to run down there real fast."

"Oh, I can come with you! I mean, I am the bride..." I said, hoping he'd catch a hint that we should end the night.

"No, that's okay," he said, kissing my cheek. "You should catch up with Richie, it's been a while."

"The church on Jackson Street?" Richie asks, looking between Christopher and I. "Is ole Pastor Michaels still kicking? I guess the power of Christ is real, seeing as he was like 100-years old when we were 15." He chuckled.

Christopher forced a smile as I tried to hide the giggle that wanted to make an appearance. One thing was for sure, Richie's sense of humor never faded away...no matter how crude. "Yeah, that's him. I'll see you tomorrow beautiful. Only a few more hours until you're Mrs. Harrison."

"Bye." I waved, watching him walk out of the restaurant.

"Yikes, tough crowd." Richie snorted, playing with his empty glass.

As the people around us continued on in conversations, I could feel the awkwardness in the air surrounding us for the first time. I picked up my glass of water, the vapor chilling my fingers as I brought it to my lips. "What do you say about ditching this prissy stand and grabbing a beer or two down at the Falcon? I hear that piss joint is still up and running."

I kept the glass against my lips as I pondered his suggestion. I could feel every fiber of my being telling me that I shouldn't go with him. That I should politely decline and go back to Christopher and spend time with him and our parents before tomorrow. Yet there was this small part of me that was going against it all. A part of me that was persistent that I say yes. I put my glass down and looked at him, nodding my head. "Yeah, but only one beer!"

A corner of his mouth turned up, and for the first time, he looked like the boy I'd known for the last eleven years. He flipped the receipt over and brought his wallet out of his pocket, opening it and tossing down $60 and some change. "Let's go."

I took the napkin out of my lap and placed it onto the table, following him out of the restaurant. It had gotten colder outside since we sat down to dinner, and I was regretting not wearing a jacket or at least a cardigan. "There's a jacket in the back."

"What?" I asked, grabbing onto his passenger door handle.

"A jacket. I have one in the back of my car if you're cold." He opened his car door and ducked down to get in.

I looked into his back window and couldn't see a jacket, but instead, a bunch of packed moving boxes, some of them were so full that they couldn't even close. I heard the unlocking of my door and pulled on the handle, ducking down and getting into the car. I don't know what I expected his car to smell like, but I definitely wasn't expecting something along the lines of frankincense and leather. His radio station was set to classic rock, and he had a collection of colorful beads hanging from his rearview mirror. One of them had a big, circular charm hanging from it that read 'Flash me for beads!'

We didn't talk as he pulled away from the restaurant and down the old roads of our small town. The streets were a little bare since it was nearing bedtime for most, but the quietness of it all felt less than calming. I looked out the window, watching all of the old buildings pass by when suddenly, my body was being tossed towards the window as his car came to a sharp turn. I snapped my head in his direction, my eyes wide in fear. "Richie! What the hell?!"

His eyes were wide for a short moment, staring straight ahead on the dim light road. He shook his head and cleared his throat as his breathing began to level again. He had scared the shit out of both of us. "I don't know, I just..." he scratched the side of his head, ruffling his short, yet shaggy hair, before gripping the steering wheel tight again. "Do you remember that spot we used to go to all the time?"

I scoffed and rolled my eyes, leaning my head back into the headrest. "I haven't been here in years Richie, I barely remember the street names."

He sighed as his fingertips tapped the leather of his steering wheel. "You know," he waved his right hand in the air aimlessly, as if he was trying to make whatever place he was thinking about, appear out of thin air. "the place we'd go to when we'd sneak out late at night to hang out and kiss. The place where you let me feel you up for the first time–"

"RICHIE!" I squealed, looking at him with wide eyes as my hand smacked his shoulder instinctively. "Can you not talk like that?"

His eyes were glued off to his left as we passed a sign. "The Quarry! That's it, that's the place!" He drove a little further up the darkened road and came to a stop, turning off the ignition and getting out of the car. He peaked his head back in and looked at me with raised eyebrows. "Well?"

"Well, what? You told me we were going to a bar to have a beer. Not some..." I looked out of my window, the darkness making it hard to barely make out the trees surrounding us. "dark place where you want to reminisce about feeling up my chest."

He rolled his eyes and shut the door, his keys in hand as he walked ahead of the car. I watched him, hoping that he'd at least have the decency to lock the car since I was in it, but nope. Nothing. I groaned and opened my car door, stepping out onto the damp soil and shutting it behind me. As I took my first few steps, following behind Richie, I could feel an overwhelming sense of nostalgia rush over my entire body.

The Quarry. How could I have forgotten about the Quarry? This was the place that Bev and I had befriended Richie and the rest of those guys my first summer in Derry. Where my parents had spent most of their childhood out with friends, even engraving their presence and eternal love into an old rock near the edge. It was where Richie and I had spent those last few moments together before we both went off to college...one of the last times we'd ever really see each other again.

At least up until now.

I made it to the edge of the Quarry, to find Richie standing in front of the metal bars and staring out at the water. I walked up next to him, placing my hands on the old and graffitied covered bars, looking out at the scenery as we both basked in the silence. "Richie, what are we doing here?"

He kept his stare straight ahead, running his hands along the metal bars. "I just had this feeling that I needed to come here. Like there's something here that I need to see," he looked at me, once again looking like the boy that I used to know. "or feel." His eyes returned back to the view ahead of him and he sighed. "Damned of a feeling hit me like a fucking truck."

I knew what he was talking about, sort of. I didn't have some strong intuition that I needed to be here, at his very moment in time. But I did have that body shaking, rock me to the core, wave of nostalgia the moment that my keds sloshed in the mud. All of the memories from every season over the last five years that I had spent there were flooding through my mind like gallons of water breaking through a dam. I looked away from the view and over to my right, my eyes landing on the formation of an old rock that the moon was casting its light over the most.

I walked away from Richie and carefully made my way to the old rock. The side facing me was covered in spraypainted initials and other designs, all looking to be faded from time. I pressed my hand against the jagged rock for balance as I took a small step down and came face to face with the other side, seemingly untouched by the teenaged graffiti. I leaned in closer to the rock, hoping that I remembered where the carvings were. I brushed my fingers along the rock, stopping over an all too familiar pair of carved initials. I traced my fingers over them, smiling to myself.

C.K. + K.M. '65 ♡

I moved my fingers a few inches down and directly to the right, finding another pair of initials that were still everpresent in the rock, and traced over them as well.

D.M. + R.T. '92 ♡

I could feel his presence behind me, watching closely as I brushed my fingers over them again and again. The fall leaves crumbled beneath his feet as he made his way closer to me, coming to a stop right beside me. He leaned against the rock and stuck out his fingers, tracing over the first two initials– my initials. "Why are you marrying him?"

I opened my mouth to say something, but nothing would come out. And when I looked away from the carved initials and at his face, I opened my mouth again to speak, not wanting to see the way his face would crumble once I said those three words.

"I love him."

The way his face crumbled for the first few seconds hurt just as bad as the way those three words felt the moment they left my mouth. And for the first time since Christopher and I had exchanged those words...they didn't feel right.

Richie straightened up his posture and his face returned to its stone cold look. "I don't believe you. I don't think you love him, not even a little bit."

"Well, I do!" I yelled, walking past him and over to the edge of the cliff, looking out at the water. My nostrils were flaring as the conflicting emotions took over my body. "I have to..."

"No you don't, I know what you're feeling Dani because I feel it too," he said, stepping closer to me and holding my arms, rubbing his thumbs against them. "I did the moment I saw you."

I looked at my left arm, watching as his thumb rubbed against the fabric of my shirt. I avoided looking at him as my eyes returned to the rock– to my parents' initials. "I'm getting married tomorrow, Richie...I love him. I love him and I'm getting married."

Each time the phrase left my mouth, I couldn't help but think the tone would get sharper and sharper as if I was not only trying to convince Richie that it was true...but trying to convince myself as well.

"You can keep saying it all you want, but you're not going to convince yourself that it's true."

"DAMN IT RICHIE, JUST STOP!" I yelled, turning towards him as my voice echoed across the Quarry and into the endless rows of the forest.

It was silent as I stepped away from him and back to the rock. I crossed my arms and stared at my parents' initials, lost in the thought of their story. I remember as I got older, after mine and Richie's first fight, I had asked my mom if she and dad had ever gotten into any fights. I could still see the look on her face when she was contemplating whether or not she wanted to lie to me about it and say yes, or confirm my childhood fairytale and say that they were perfect. Of course, being my mother, she told me the truth. That they rarely got into arguments with one another, because they always seemed to be on the same page– like they were the same soul.

My eyes linger down to mine and Richie's initials, and I couldn't help but wonder if we were like them– soulmates from the beginning to the end.

I heard him walk up behind me, but I refused to turn around. Because I knew if I did, I would only get more upset– and it being upset at Richie was the very last thing that I wanted to do. He reached out his hand and ran his hand over my parents' initials, before moving down to our own, tracing his fingers along the rugged lines."You're doing it again."

"Doing what?" I asked, still staring straight ahead.

"That tick you have when you're deep in thought. You chew on the inside of your cheek and burrow your eyebrows," He stepped closer to me, grabbing my elbow and turning me towards him. He stood there for a few moments as if he was pondering his next move, only to cradle my face with hands a few moments later. "Does he know about that? Or about how when you lie, you subtly rub your index finger against your thumb."

"Richie," I whispered, fighting the urge to allow my bottom lip to tremble.

"Or how you love cherry soda but hate cherries? What about your undying love for John Hughes movies and how you can quote them word for word?" His eyes linger down and he looks at me. "What about that bracelet on your wrist."

I brought my arm up and looked at the extremely faded red, pink and blue bracelet he had won us nearly 10 years ago at the diner. Even after all of these years, it had failed to come off. And it never really crossed my mind to ever cut it off either. "Does he know any of that? Because I do, I know every single thing. And I know you're fighting with yourself right now Dani. I know part of you wants to block me out and just leave everything from our past behind..."

I turned my head away from him, not wanting to look him in the eye because I could hear the emotion in his voice. I knew the moment I'd look at him, I'd burst into tears because he was right. Part of me did want to leave everything behind and go ahead with my future...with Christopher.

"But here's the thing Dani." He turned my head back to face him slowly, leaning in and touching his forehead to mine. "We both know I'd never leave you...anywhere."

My heart seemed to have skipped a beat the moment he said that. And in what felt like milliseconds, everything between Richie and I seemed to flash in my mind, like a short movie. Both of the times he had said those very same words to me when we were 13 and he stayed by my side. To our last time together at this very spot, the night before we left for college. The night before our paths would drift further apart...only to come back together, at this very spot...with those very same words.

I gained the courage to look at him as the tears were sitting in my eyes. He brushed his thumb across my cheek and gave me a faint smile as if he knew what those words had just done to me. He leaned in a pressed his lips to mine, pulling me as close to him as physically possible. The sparks were immediate and I wrapped my arms around his neck, my hands playing with the nape of his neck as we kissed each other passionately, both seeming to chase the longing hunger that lingered after all these years.

When he pulled away, we stood there with our foreheads still touching and trying to catch our breaths. It was the only sound besides the crickets in the grass, that filled our ears. Richie looked down at me, with those puppy dog eyes that belonged to the Richie I had once known. "Don't marry him," He said, his voice weak and full of sadness, "please."

❏❏❏❏

I couldn't sleep at all last night.

Part of it might have been because I was back sleeping in my childhood bedroom and the posters of Patrick Dempsey, River Phoenix and Ralph Macchio seemed to have been staring at me all night. But the other half had to do with my reunion with Richie, the kiss we had shared at the Quarry...and his emotional plea for me not to go through with the wedding.

Regardless of the cause, the lack of sleep was not helping my situation. Especially since I was already nervous enough coming into this wedding. Suddenly, my situation seemed all too real. I mean, here I was in the dress I had picked out months beforehand. I had my make-up and hair done and the bouquet in my hand– everything was real, and it was all happening. It was no longer an event taped to scrapbook pages. It was waiting for me down the hall, just outside of these backroom doors.

I kept pacing back and forth, the small train of my dress dragging along the carpeted floor. I felt insane as my brain kept replaying all of my times with Christopher and Richie, seemingly making a pros and cons list on the side. I could feel my heart begin to race and then a knock came from the door. "Come in," I said, nervous of who it could be on the other side.

"Hey it's just me," Benny said, walking in and closing the door behind him. He looked handsome in his tux, and part of me found it hard to believe that he was the older brother who would once take me down our street in the pouring rain to catch frogs. "Dani, you look absolutely beautiful...."

"I don't think I can do this!" I huffed, my chest rising and falling fast as I turned to face him. "I-I can't."

"Hey, hey, hey, come on deep breaths now,"He walked towards me and held onto my elbows, keeping me from pacing. "What's wrong? Are you nervous?"

I closed my eyes and took a few deep breaths, opening them and shakily letting out another breath. "I saw Richie last night and it was like...everything came rushing back out of nowhere and I realized something."

His face relaxed and he nodded. "You don't love Christopher."

I could feel myself begin to get overwhelmed at the thought that my wedding was waiting for me outside of those doors and I was having second thoughts. "I don't...and I just...I don't know what to do." I looked at him as I sniffled. "What do I do?"

He went to say something when another knock came from the door, and our mom came out from behind it. "Oh Danielle, you look so stunning," she said, closing the door behind her and pressing a tissue to her eyes. "Your father would be so proud of you, he'd probably be as big of a mess as I am."

Benny and I both looked at her and of course, with her being our mother she knew that something was up. "Mom..."

She took a deep breath and nodded. "I think I know what this is about."

"You do?" Benny asked, looking at me. "You talked to her already?"

"She didn't need to," She said, walking over to us and pulling out a chair from the table and sat down. "Dani, when you went up to bed last night after Richie dropped you off, he stuck around. It's been a few years, so I thought I'd have him sit down and we'd just talk about everything that's been going on. He started talking about how he's always considered me to be his second mom and then he told me about what happened at the Quarry. He even asked me if he could marry you."

"Wait," Benny said, looking at us both. "What happened at the Quarry?"

"Seriously? That's what you're stuck on?" I asked, looking back at my mom before quickly looking back at Benny. "We kissed."

My mom took my free hand into hers and held it. "Sweetie, I wish I could tell you what to do, I really do. But this," she motioned around the room and nodded at my dress, "this is all up to you. I can't tell you what your heart is already saying. You just need to listen to it."

I took her words to heart, literally. Her and Benny exchanged looks between one another in silence as I stood there, contemplating just what I really wanted to do. I looked back at her and sniffled, nodding my head. "You're right, I can't do it. I can't go through with this wedding." I turned to Benny and gave him a weak smile. "Can you go get Christopher and tell him to come out to the hallway, that way it won't be in front of the guests."

He nodded and pressed a kiss to my temple. "Of course, anything for my little sister."

My mom stood up from her chair and held my hand in hers as the three of us made our way to the door. "That boy is so incredibly in love with you Dani."

"You think so?" I asked as Benny opened the door.

"The look in his eyes when he talked about you, was the same look your dad had on our wedding day," she squeezed my hand and smiled. "So yes, I think so."

We walked out into the hallway, closing the door behind us. "Danielle!" Christopher called out, jogging down the hallway. He started to slow down as he got closer, his eyes taking me in. "Wow, you look...you look gorgeous." He came to a stop in front of me and shook his head in disbelief. "I can't wait to marry you. To be able to call you my–"

The doors behind us practically flew open, causing us all to look at them in shock. Standing there, trying his best to catch his breath, was none other than Richie Tozier. He had on dress pants and a collared shirt with a crooked tie, something he'd wear to a funeral service...or a wedding. He started walking towards me, only to look over my shoulder to see Christopher standing there. He came to a stop, a few feet away from us and stood there helplessly.

I gave him a small smile as I took in the sight of him. He smiled back and I tried my best not to let my small laugh escape, but it was hopeless. It was hard not to smile, or even laugh when around Richie. Christopher grabbed my hand, taking my attention away from Richie. I looked at my mom and Benny, who both nodded subtly. "Christopher...these last few years have been...amazing. From the first time, we met, to the sunset at Cliffs of Moher. Apartment hunting, planning this entire wedding...everything has been great..." I said, smiling at him.

I tucked my bouquet into my elbow and slowly took my hand away from him, sliding off the engagement ring and placing it into his hand, closing his fist around it. "But I just can't marry you..." His jaw dropped in shock as I turned around to look at Richie, who's smile was overtaking his face and his eyes radiated just pure love. I looked back to Christopher and shook my head. "I'm sorry, I really am."

He stepped away from me, his fist still tight around the ring before taking one last look at me and turning back down the hallway. I looked at Benny and my mom, walking towards the both of them. I wrapped my arms around Benny, hugging him tightly and kissing his cheek. "Thanks for being the best big brother, ever," I whispered, pulling away and smiling at him.

He nodded and I moved over to my mom, watching as she dapped the tissue in the corner of each eye again. "Mom, don't cry, please," I said, fighting back the happy tears.

"I'm just, so happy for you Danielle," she wrapped her arms around me and held me tightly. "So, incredibly happy for you, and I know for a fact that your father is watching right now and is just as proud."

I pulled away and laughed at the fact that we were both crying. I sniffled as a hand rested against the small of my back and I looked to see Richie standing beside me. "You ready?" He whispered, smiling at me.

"Did you really just steal my sister from her wedding?" Benny asked, looking at Richie. Richie froze, just like he did all those years ago when he met Benny for the first time. And just like all those years ago, Benny broke into a laughter. Only this time, he brought Richie into a hug. "Treat her right, you hear me?"

"Wouldn't dream of doing anything else," Richie said, pulling away and sneaking a glance at me. "Mrs. Merritt...." He turned to my mom and gave her a hug. "Thank you."

"You two be safe. And wherever you're headed, I expect a phone call once you get there," she said, pulling away from the hug and looking at us both as if we were two teenagers going on our first date. "I love you both."

"I love you too, mom. You to Benny." I smiled, intertwining my fingers with Richie and looking at him. "Ready?"

He nodded and we made our way down the hallway, never looking back as we exited the double doors and walked out into the sunlight. Richie walked by my side down the stairs and came to a stop at the passenger side of his door, stopping to look at me. "Wow," he sighed, his eyes slowly lingering on me. "You look...wow."

I smirked and nudged him with my flat. "Who knew Richie "Trashmouth" Tozier could be speechless."

"It's all because of you." He smiled reaching out and taking my hand, kissing the top of it before opening the door. "Come on, let's go."

"Where are we going?" I asked, getting into the car and watching as he closed it behind me, jogging around to the other side.

"We've got a plane to catch." He said, starting his car and immediately driving away from the church.

"A plane?" I laughed, looking at him with suspicious eyes. "Richie Tozier, what in the world are you doing?"

He grabbed my hand in his and kissed the top of it as we came up to a stop light. "Marrying the girl of my dreams of course. And what better way than to do it in Vegas, baby."

I laughed as he leaned over his seat and started to kiss me as if his life depended on it. A car honking its horn from behind us, caused him to pull away from me and drive through the light and towards the exit of Derry. I watched bittersweetly as the old buildings passed us by on our drive out of town. I found it hard to believe that just yesterday, I was planning on leaving this town a married woman, to the man who I thought was my future. And instead, I was leaving, a newly engaged woman, riding towards the airport with the one boy who knew me better than anybody else, by my side.

"That last day at the quarry before we left for college...I told you that we didn't have to break up, but you said that we did..." I said, turning towards Richie. "That it's what would be best for us and that if we ended up together when school was over, then we knew that this...was supposed to happen."

"Is there a question in that flashback there?" He laughed, placing his hand on my thigh and flashing me a smile.

I thought back on how my mom had said that meeting Christopher on our abroad trip was fate. How our meeting and our small similarities seemed like more than pure coincidence. And then I thought on how I bumped into Richie at Keene's. How we were both only in town for a day before we were to head our separate ways.

"Do you believe in fate?" I asked, looking at him.

He stared ahead of him as his thumb started to rub back and forth against the material of my dress. He turned to me and smiled, nodding his head. "You've always been my future Dani, always."