Disclaimer: …ahhh, forget it.

"I'm not gonna!" The red-haired woman sat in the chair, her arms folded.

"Vicky, be reasonable." The older woman addressing her had gray streaks running through her dark hair. "It's your sister's wedding."

"I don't care! I don't want any part of it."

"Wait. I know what this is about." A younger woman with dark hair stood up and adjusted her glasses. "It's not that you don't want to be part of the wedding." She walked over to the chair and leaned her face into Vicky's. "You just don't like who I'm marrying."

"Is that it?"

The two brunettes stared at Vicky, who seemed about ready to explode at this cross-examining.

"Yes, dammit! I hate Timmy. Is that what you want to hear?!"

"But why?" The younger of the brunettes gestured with her arms.

"I…don't like him. I don't like the thought that I'll have to see him every day. I don't like that he's going to be a member of our family."

"But why?"

"He's an annoying twerp is why!" Vicky put her hands on the arms of the chair and pushed herself up, stalking toward the front door. "I don't want anything to do with him, and if you love me like you so often say, you won't ask again." She slammed the door, the force causing a vase to fall off a table. The quick reflexes of the older brunette saved it.

"Mom…"

"Yes, Virginia?"

"Granted, Vicky and I didn't have the best relationship, but I really wanted her to be a part of this."

Virginia's mother rubbed her daughter's back. "So did I, dear."

"Virginia?"

XxXxXxXxX

"Virginia?"

The woman in question shook her head. "Oh." She looked very beautiful in her snow white wedding dress.

The red-headed man at her side held her hand tightly. "Are you all right?"

"I'm fine, Daddy. I'm just…Vicky…"

"She didn't want to be a part of this. We couldn't force her. We couldn't guilt her, either."

Virginia giggled a little. Her mood lightened, but her heart was still heavy. It had been a month since she'd spoken to her sister. All she asked was for Vicky to be her maid of honor.

The processional music rang through the church. Father and daughter walked down the aisle together. "Are you sure you're all right?"

"As much as I'll ever be."

"You look breathtaking, Virginia."

A blush crept across the woman's face. "Daddy…" She smiled nervously.

"I mean it. Timothy is a lucky man."

"I'm pretty lucky myself to have such caring parents."

The bride-to-be felt her hand get squeezed, as if her father were thanking her. He let go, allowing Virginia to join her future husband on the altar. The two of them looked each other in the eyes as the minister opened his Bible.

"Dearly beloved…"

XxXxXxXxX

A woman in an apartment looks through a shoebox full of pictures. She brushed the red hair out of her face as she glanced at the first picture. She sighed at the sight: a chubby-cheeked little girl hugging a baby.

"…we are gathered here to witness the joining together of Timothy Turner and Virginia Flanagan in the bonds of holy matrimony."

She flipped the snapshot to the back and looked at the one beneath it. Her wistful expression changed to one of anger. The picture featured a dark-haired little girl staring up at a picture of a boy in a pink hat. The next few pictures contained variations of this and the last one had the girl jump up and kiss the picture.

The woman tossed the shoebox across the room with a grunt.

XxXxXxXxX

"Do you, Timothy Turner, take Virginia Flanagan to be your lawfully wedded wife, in sickness and in health, for richer or poorer, 'til death do you part?"

"I do."

"And do you, Virginia Flanagan, take Timothy Turner to be your lawfully wedded husband, in sickness and in health, for richer or poorer, 'til death do you part?"

Tears in her eyes, the woman moved her mouth to speak. "I…do."

XxXxXxXxX

"And if there be any here who has any reason why these two should not be joined, speak now or forever hold your peace."

Among the pictures on the floor, the red-haired woman screamed toward the heavens, expelling as much oxygen and noise as her lungs would allow. After a minute, she collapsed to the floor, panting for breath.

XxXxXxXxX

"I now pronounce you man and wife. You may kiss…" Virginia already had her arms wrapped around Tim. She kissed him deeply. To her, there were no onlookers. It was just her and the man of her dreams.

To the strains of the recessional music, the happy couple ran out of the church. They dodged the rice thrown at them as they hurried into a limousine. Just before closing the door, Virginia tossed the bouquet to the women gathered in front of the church. It landed in the hands of a happy-looking brunette in a flowing pink dress. She blew a kiss to the vehicle as it departed.

XxXxXxXxX

"I can't believe it. The two of us…married."

Tim put his hand on hers. "Yes we are."

"This blows all of my dreams away. Thanks for taking a chance on me."

"I have to admit, it was never easy. Vicky…"

"Don't worry about her. She'll be fine."

"I can't believe how nice the ceremony was. And so many people were there. I still can't believe that Trixie was there…as the maid of honor, no less!"

"I'm just glad that her flight wasn't delayed."

The groom gave her a puzzled look. "You'll have to explain that to me one day."

"I will. I guess we'd better get going on our honeymoon."

"Two weeks in the Bahamas…sounds good to me, though not as good as you in a string bikini."

"You play your cards right, it might be even less than that." Virginia offered a giggle. Tim joined her. She could always bring a smile to his face.

XxXxXxXxX

"Oh, isn't the sunset beautiful?" Virginia's eyes widened at the sight, even though she'd seen the same sight every day for a week. The balcony of their hotel suite afforded them a terrific view. She could feel two arms wrap around her waist.

"It's a close second, if anything." Tim kissed her ear. She closed her eyes and blushed. "You know, Gin, I've been thinking…"

"Yes, Tim?"

"Well…we're a married couple now and…have you considered…consummating the relationship?"

Virginia turned around and glared at her husband - that felt so good to think - a hungry look in her eyes. "I'm surprised you even have to ask."

She wrapped her arms around him and kissed him. The two of them backed into their hotel room. Virginia slid the door closed with her foot.

They fell onto their bed, still kissing. Tim tried to break away, but Virginia kept him close. "Wait…"

"Why?", she pouted in a little girl's voice.

Tim locked the door and took the phone off the hook. The speed with which he performed these actions impressed his new wife.

He leapt onto the king-sized bed and kissed her lips. "That's why."

"I love it when you think."

"Maybe I should think more often."

Virginia rolled over so Tim was beneath her. She practically ripped his shirt off and pulled her own over her head.

"Hey. How come my shirt gets ripped and not yours?"

The brunette next went to work on her bra. "Just one of those mysteries of the universe." The undergarment floated onto Tim's face. He removed it, allowing him the sight of his bride's perfect breasts. All he could say in the face of her pert 34Cs was… "Wow."

"Are you going to stare all day or are the girls gonna have some fun?" Virginia cupped her breasts and let them drop, jiggling. Tim reached up and kneaded them like dough. The brunette moaned at this.

He let go and flipped her over. He kissed her neck and worked his way down to her navel.

Tim slipped his fingers beneath the elastic of her panties and slowly removed them. He left them dangling around her shins as he resumed kissing her. With a light kick, the underwear flew to the floor.

XxXxXxXxX

Vicky packed the last of her suitcases into her trunk. She slammed the door closed and walked toward the driver's seat. As she fished for the keys in her pocket, a truck zoomed by, just missing her.

"Watch where you're going, jackass!" She shook her fist toward the vehicle.

With a huff, she pulled her keys out and settled into the car. In that moment, she remembered the first days of driving it; how free she felt as she made her way down the road.

The redhead took a glance at the building across the street. The apartment complex had been her home for the last eight years. Thankfully, the rent was pretty decent.

She started her car up and entered traffic.

XxXxXxXxX

Virginia moaned at Tim's motions. He was determined to satisfy her, but sensitive to her every desire. She knew she made the right choice for a life mate. Night after night, she hoped that Tim would see that she would love him and do anything for him.

She wrenched her arms around his back, as if to encourage him further.

XxXxXxXxX

Vicky grunted as she turned a corner. The events of the last few weeks were still fresh in her mind. How could Virginia choose…him?! It didn't make sense. So focused was she on this, she nearly didn't see that the car in front of her made a sudden stop.

She slammed on her brakes, just narrowly avoiding a head-on collision.

XxXxXxXxX

Tim could hear the moans from the woman under him quickening in pace. As a teenager, he had fantasized about eliciting such a reaction from a girl. He never imagined that this would be the girl. She was everything he had wanted: kind, smart and funny. Being pretty sure didn't hurt, either.

He couldn't imagine how this angel could possibly be a blood relative to the girl who had tormented him in childhood. Tim shook a little. Though he had fantasies about Vicky in high school, not realizing his feelings for his dark-haired gift until college, this was definitely not the time to think about her.

He continued to pump into her, kissing her on occasion.

XxXxXxXxX

As she drove, a calm feeling washed over Vicky. Her whole life was ahead of her. She didn't have to worry about family. She could travel the country, or better still, the world. (There was more than a little money stashed away.)

XxXxXxXxX

Virginia's moans were slower and rose in pitch, as if anticipating something. Tim looked at her and smiled. She tried to smile back, but she felt herself to be on the verge of release.

Her body tensed. She screamed. The maids would not be happy with the mess they would now have to clean up.

XxXxXxXxX

The crowds left restaurants, stores and their cars as they gathered around the wreckage.

The car had been slammed into a telephone pole.

The driver responsible got out of his truck, which had been coming up the street. He swore he couldn't see her.

Blood - fresh blood - fell from the victim's face. People could make out that she wasn't wearing a seatbelt.

The red-haired woman inside the car wasn't moving. It was possible she'd never move again.

XxXxXxXxX

The sun shined brightly as the couple awoke the next morning.

Virginia, wearing nothing but panties and her husband's ripped shirt, stretched her lithe body…a sight which pleased the man in bed. "You were pretty good last night." She walked near him.

Tim shrugged. "Credit where credit is due." He pulled her down and kissed her. "I couldn't have done it without you."

The woman giggled, nearly drowning out the ringing of the cell phone on the night stand. Tim reached over and answered. "Mrs. Turner's phone. Mr. Turner speaking." He paused to listen, then handed the phone to his wife.

"Hello? Mom, hi! How's…" Virginia listened. Her tone grew darker with each word. "Oh my God. No. Oh. No, no. I needed to hear this. I'll see you when we get back."

Tim sat up as Virginia tossed the phone away. "Is everything…?"

He never got time to finish his statement. Virginia collapsed on the bed, sobbing. Tim held her close. She reached up and tried to grab onto him, but she was too weak. Tim rubbed her back and sighed.

XxXxXxXxX

Tim and Virginia walked down the aisles of the church, ultimately finding Mr. and Mrs. Flanagan and sitting with them.

Tim stared blankly for most of the funeral. He couldn't even believe it was happening. He never much liked Vicky, but he would never want her dead.

He woke up at about the time when Virginia was speaking about her departed sister. There were times where she couldn't make it through the speech, she was so emotional. She left the podium and her husband comforted her. He told her that he would have no problem if she wasn't up to it. She decided to finish her speech, and the gathering was moved.

After it was over, Tim and Virginia, after paying their respects, retreated to their car. Virginia broke down again, but this time, Tim was crying with her. After a half hour, they went to her family home.

XxXxXxXxX

"Uhhhh!" The being grabbed her head, as if suffering from a migraine. "What hit me?" She slowly opened her eyes. There was darkness all around. Standing in front of her was another being, quite unlike any the first one had ever seen. Her hair was as blue as the sky and she looked to be dressed in a pink robe.

She offered a sweet smile and helped the first being up. "Greetings", she stated in a English accent.

"What's going on? Wh-who are you?"

"My name…is Angela." (That's pronounced 'Aaaaan-gela')

"Well, Aaaaan-gela, where the hell am I?"

"Now, this may be a little hard to understand. You're dead." The first being stared in shock. "You know, now that I think of it, it's really not that hard. I don't know why everyone says it is."

"What do you mean I'm dead? I was just driving down the street. Oh, man. I gotta get back to my car. Someone might try to rip me off."

Angela does a face-palm. "That's why", she muttered to herself. "Now you must listen to me."

"Where's the way out of here?"

Angela waved her hand and the darkness bled away, replaced by the scene of the accident.

"Whoa. Neat trick."

"You should see me at birthday parties. Now about this…"

The being pushed her way through the crowd, but none of the people moved. She could feel herself phasing right through the onlookers, as if she were a non-corporeal entity.

She looked inside the car. She reared back and covered her mouth. She nervously pointed toward the unfortunate motorist. "That's me."

"Right you are, Vicky." Angela stood next to her.

"But…but…that would mean…" Vicky ran to Angela and cried. "I don't want to be dead!"

Angela rubbed her back. "There, there. Don't worry. The bosses upstairs have been reviewing your file. There's a slight chance that you'll be brought back to life."

"Please let me have it." Vicky dropped to her knees and grabbed the edge of Angela's robe. "Please! I'll do anything."

Angela waved her hand over her robe. It disappeared, causing Vicky to fall to the ground. She now wore a white dress with red polka dots.

"Calm yourself, Vicky. It's just a simple matter of going through your life and seeing if bringing you back will be justified."

Vicky bit her lip. This would not be easy. A bright light shined in her eyes. She brought her hand up for protection.

XxXxXxXxX

The light faded. Vicky took her hand away from her face. She looked around at the people gathered near the front.

"Where are we now?" It looked very much like a church.

Angela said nothing as she walked toward where most of the people were.

"Hey! I'm talking to you." Vicky ran up to the front. She gasped. Her body was lying in a casket. It looked so peaceful. Vicky didn't even see the two people that passed through her.

It was Tim and Virginia. She stepped forward. "Vicky. I miss you so much." She blinked back tears.

He rubbed her shoulder and looked down at his sister-in-law's body. "Vicky…sure you were mean to me…and seemed to hate the fact that I existed…but you don't deserve this. Hell, I could've put up more of an effort to be a better charge."

Vicky could see tears falling from Tim's eyes. "No. You stop right damn now! Don't you dare feel sorry for me. You stop right now." Her voice trailed off as tears fell from her eyes. "Stop…" Vicky wiped her eyes.

Angela picked her up. "Come on, love. We gotta get going." The two of them disappeared from the group of mourners.