No one said she would ever feel like this. Her stomach felt like a thousand bees had been let loose in there. She raised her hands to her face, they were shaking slightly. A deep breath, she instructed, her body obeying her but a shaky sigh betrayed her.

This felt like torture.

I can't do this, she began to think, she stood up and paced her room, feeling restless. She rubbed her hands together hoping to warm it up, it felt like ice, cold and heavy.

"What are you doing?" she spun around to find Nessa in a lavender strapless silk dress that swept the ground as she walked there was a cream flower brooch on her dress. She wore simple stud earrings to complete her look.

"I....don't know" she continued rubbing her hands together

"Don't you think it's cold here" she blurted once Nessa moved the mirror in front of her.

"No, I don't think so; I do think you are having cold feet now. Look at yourself" she looked up and saw a beautiful woman looking back at her, dressed in a white gown , the bodice encrusted with shiny gems flowing out at the waist in smooth lace. Her sleeves were made of see through lace too. Her hair she didn't know what they did to it but it had been parted and styled in a sort of bun at the left side of her head, her veil rested on her shoulders.

"That's you" Nessa smiled knowingly, "And this is your day"

"But I think I might be too young to get married"

"I was way younger when I married Adam, there is a vast difference between 20 and 24, be it just four years. You are just feeling anxious and trying to find straws to escape the feeling, it's normal" Rhoda's voice came from behind her. She turned regarding her with a sigh.
"You are beautiful Rain, Fred is really a lucky man. Trust me"

"You think so?"

"Of course I think so but with the way you are looking now, the hug I wanted to give you has to wait before you start bawling right now and ruin your makeup. Don't let any last minute thoughts ruin your day"

But it's about your brother, she wanted to yell.

"Come on Nessa, someone's calling for you" she watched both of them walk out, leaving her alone.

She closed her eyes, recalling her words to Fred about how marriage was built on Trust. She couldn't even trust herself right now.

God help me she sighed coming to a decision. She could not and would not do this to Fred.

Opening her eyes, she stared at the door which opened at the same moment her eyes did.
He entered and stood there looking at her, mouth open and both stared quietly.

"You look...look beautiful....I mean you look really beautiful"
That was a first; he had never looked as flustered as he did now. He swallowed when she didn't speak and took a deep breath.

"You are beautiful" he said once he was collected.

"You are not supposed to be back here" she said quietly.

He nodded, "I know and I know you need this"

She looked at him confused, "What?"

Moving closer, he stopped when his shoes touched the hem of the gown she wore. "I know"

"What do you know?"

"That you are confused and I know it's not because of me"

"Fred you really shouldn't be here" she said just needing him out of her room that instant.

"Why, because you think I'll make things more complicated?" he looked down, "That's not my intention, I'm here to help you because I know. I know you don't love me. You used to but not anymore. I know that. It seems like I've been trying to hope that it would turn for the better, that maybe the earlier spark would be reignited. But it was clear since you've been so different when I got you back"

Rain stared, her palm suddenly feeling sweaty.

"I go you back Rain but not the spot you gave me in your heart. You left it behind in that house, that little town. Specifically a person, you left your heart with the mechanic"

"Fred I..."

He shook his head, "Don't, please, this is hard enough for me to admit"

"What are you admitting?"

"That I'm letting you go and well really I must make it clear for you. I can see you are in a tough place right now, you feel like you have to choose between the mechanic and I" he laughed. "Let's be honest Rain"

"I'm sorry" she said from the pained expression on his face.

"Don't be, we both know, I lost you, I never even stood a chance"

"I never meant to...Fred I'm so sorry. But I wasn't going to let you have a marriage where trust wasn't a foundation. Believe me"

"I know. That's why I fell in love with you, always committed, you put others needs above you. I'm also sure you've been doing the same these past days. But come with me"

Tears fell down her face, wiping them with his handkerchief which he pulled from his suits top pocket, he smiled, "Don't ruin your makeup. Come on. You need to look presentable for where we're going"

"Where are we going?"

He turned to her, "Let's say I'm setting you free in the essence of the word

******************************

He had gone to the wedding even though his conscience had screamed for him not to. Thirty minutes into arriving he left, he was suffocating. He had to leave. Leaving too hurt him.

He checked the time, it'd been an hour since he left realization dawned on him, Rain was married now to Fred. He wished her all the best.

Phone ringing, he pulled to the side of the road.

Rhoda launched straight into a question not giving way to the formalities one would give on a phone call "Hey, where are you?"
"I'm sorry I had to leave. Tell Rain I'm sorry I couldn't stay but I wish her all the best"

"You idiot, the wedding was cancelled"

He was pretty glad he'd chosen to park, "What? Why?"

"Fred just grabbed a microphone babbling something about the wedding not coming off and run out of there, nearly gave Rain's Aunt a heart attack"

Daniel found it difficult to ignore the small part of him that began to jump in joy, but the fact that Rain was probably hurt at Fred's impromptu action on their wedding day was enough to ruin his happiness, "Why?"

"Don't ask me, I don't know"

He ended the call not knowing whether to be happy or not, wondering how Rain was. He was also pretty sure he showing up anytime about now, wouldn't be right. Swooping in when her heart had just being broken just wouldn't do. Moving again, he drove up to his apartment. A neighbour of his coming down the stairs stopped when she saw him, "Aren't you looking dashing? Good you are here though... some crazy people are up there I don't know what their problem is"

Daniel stared at her as she stared back as though he was the crazy one probably because he wasn't speaking, she walked away staring at him. He looked down at his clothes, yellow long sleeved shirt over a dark blue trouser. What was wrong with it?

As he got to his floor, he saw a figure leaning against the railing, he stood straight seeing him. Now what was he doing here? Did he come here to gloat? If so he made a huge mistake.

"What are you doing here?" he said once he stood close to the man dressed in his wedding suit. "Did you get what you want?"

"Daniel" he started.

"You promised you wouldn't hurt her" he cut in "And what did you do?! Why would you do that to her? Stringing her along to the altar and leaving her!" his voice raised.

Fred nodded, "I did, that's why I brought her, she wasn't going to go through with the wedding anyway"

"What are you talking about?"

"She was going to leave me at the altar anyway because she doesn't love me" Fred sounded honest but he found it difficult to believe. "So you decided to leave her first?!

"No, of course not!"

"Daniel" he looked behind Fred to see her. Rain stood there right in front of his apartment in her wedding dress, she started in a run towards him but tripped on her dress and fell to her knees, her dress forming a white bubble around her. He felt Fred nudging him to move forward but he stayed still, his mind temporarily in a trance. She felt like a vision so out of place, a glamour that did not belong in a place like his apartment. She did look so beautiful, he nearly turned to give some sound advice to Fred on how he let such a woman go.

Supporting herself with her hands she stood up quickly holding her dress with both hands to help her move easier. This time she walked.

"I know she looks beautiful but close your mouth okay?" Fred said and left without an answer and without looking back.

Rain stopped in front of him, "Hi" she said with a small shy smile.

"You are supposed to have gotten married" he found his voice.

She shrugged, "No I couldn't"

He stared at her, "Wont you ask me why?" no answer came from him, "It's because I love someone and it is not my groom"

"Okay congratulations" he said and started walking towards his apartment, picking out his keys from his back pocket. It was fine enough that he lost her to Fred; he wasn't going to wait to hear about another man.

"But it's you!" she shouted after him. He stopped and turned to face her slowly shaking his head in denial. She walked closer to him. "It's you Daniel, I'm sorry it took so long to figure it out but I know I want to be that annoying nagging presence in your life. The queasy feeling that began before I left, it never left, it blossomed and I wasn't paying attention because I didn't think for once that it could be you. But I know now, I love you Daniel"

He stared for a full minute.

"Please say something"

"I don't know what to say"

"I....I..."

He smiled, "It's just you spring this on me out of nowhere."

Slowly, it came to her, "This is not coming from nowhere. I'm pouring my heart to you" she smiled.

"I know" he stared back cocking his head to side, "I love you Rain and I never stopped"

He smiled widely, "Why are you crying? Brides must not cry on their day, they must not ruin their beautiful face" he moved and stopped in front of her, "Plus I don't know what to do" a nervous chuckle escaping, as he clenched and unclenched his fist around his apartment keys. "Are you sure you would let go of Fred to take this awkward me?"

"I already did" she said blinking back tears. Daniel pulled her gently into an embrace which she returned almost immediately.

"Can you say it one more time?" he whispered

"I love you Daniel" she said loud and clear against his chest.

He smiled, "I love you Rain"

Clapping sounded behind them as they disengaged from the embrace, "I dare say I'm proud of myself" Fred said behind them.

"Thank you Fred" Rain said from beside Daniel

"Don't mention it. I hope we'll still be friends?"

"Of course"

Burying his hands in his pockets, he nodded towards them, "So what's next?"

Daniel grabbed Rain's hand entwining their fingers before looking up at her, "Don't know but I'm sure we are certain of one thing"

Rain smiled back, "One step at a time"

"One step at a time" he echoed smiling wiling wider.

A/N

First on the list, a million apologies for the delay in updating. You don't want to hear all my excuses, they move in a circular motion if you get it. No one ever said ending a book is so hard. 😑

Okay so did you see what I did there. Chapter 14 will give you a clue.😉

kirstyt97 this is for you. I'm grateful for your support and your honest comments. I really appreciate you 😊

Guys so I need your help. Epilogue or no epilogue?

Ko si se me te monka.... Stay blessed.😃😃