Title: Tempting Fate

Author: KiloRiley

Disclaimer: I do not own any of these characters. If I did, they
would still be on TV and we would have no need for fan fiction.

Jessie began to feel chills on her neck and shuddered as people scurried around her, leaving a trail of wind causing Jessie to get goose bumps. She sat there, in a big, comfortable chair trying to remain calm. Breathing in and out. She looked to her left and saw Grace trying to cut off the loose thread on her dress. She looked right and saw her frantic mother trying to fix her already perfect hair. Jessie couldn't figure out why her mother was concerned with something so unimportant at this moment. 'I guess we all do different things in stressful situations,' thought Jessie. She looked around and felt the room getting smaller and smaller. She decided to look straight ahead. Straight ahead was safe. There was nothing going on in front of her. She could just focus on the white wall.

"Jessie, look over here!"

Jessie turned her head and was nearly blinded by the flash of a camera.

"Okay, but smile next time."

Jessie smiled and was blinded yet again.

She looked back over at the wall and began to see spots where the flash had blinded her.

Her eyes were trying to adjust when she saw Zoe run across her line of vision with Lily trying to help find her necklace, which apparently had fallen off. Jessie began to slowly breathe in and out again. Her stomach dropped. 'Where the hell is Katie?' she kept asking herself. 'What if she doesn't show up? I need her.'

She looked up to see Eli walk into the door, making his way past Grace, while subtly looking her up and down. Grace looked up and caught Eli's glance just before he looked away and walked toward his sister. He knelt down next to her.

"Hey Jess."

"Hey Eli." Jessie turned to look at her brother.

Eli put his hand on Jessie's shoulder. "You nervous?"

Jessie shrugged. "I'm trying not to think about it."

"Trying not to think about it? Jess, this should be all you're thinking about right now."

"I know. I'm just trying to not hyperventilate. Plus…..well…."

Eli nodded. "Don't worry, Jess. Katie will be here. She hasn't let you down yet, has she?"

Jessie shrugged. "I guess." But she knew that wasn't exactly true. She looked away from Eli.

"Hey," said Eli, bringing her attention back to him. "Are you okay?"

"Yeah, I'm fine. Just overwhelmed."

"Well, you know you don't have to---"

"I know," Jessie interrupted. "I know, Eli."

Eli looked at his sister. He knew what she was thinking. He knew what she was feeling. He always had that kind of a bond with his sister. He decided not to press the matter and got up. "You look beautiful, Jessie."

"Thanks, Eli."

As Eli walked away, Jessie's stomach became more uneasy. The smell of hairspray was in the air as Zoe started using it abundantly. The room was way too small for so many people to be in here, but Jessie didn't say a word. She just looked over at the door, hoping a familiar face would walk through. Katie always had a way of making everything okay, no matter how stressful the situation.

"Jessie, how are you doing?" Lily broke Jessie's concentration.

"Oh, I'm fine."

"Do you want some water or anything?"

"No thanks."

As Lily walked away, Karen came up to her and touched her hand. "Jessie, do you need anything?"

"No mom, I'm fine. But thanks."

Karen smiled and went to go find Eli.

Jessie closed her eyes for a moment and tried to use her mind to will Katie to walk through the door. It wasn't working. She kept her eyes closed and tried to drown out the sound of everyone bustling around her. Every so often, she would see flashes of light coming from the camera, but she refused to open her eyes. Suddenly, a sense of calmness swept over her. Her body became fully relaxed and a smile crept up on her face as she heard a familiar voice whisper in her ear.

"You thought I wouldn't show up, didn't you?"

Every fear and every doubt evaded Jessie as she felt that warm breath on her skin. Jessie would know that voice anywhere. She opened her eyes and turned to see Katie kneeling next to her. Jessie smiled as she breathed a sigh of relief.

"I thought maybe you weren't---"

"Jessie, I promised you I'd always be there for you when you needed me. I'd never break a promise to you." Katie leaned in to give Jessie a hug and for one moment, Jessie knew everything would be okay. Katie was here. Everything would be fine.

As they pulled away, Katie looked at Jessie. "You look really pale. Are you okay?"

"Really? Because most people are telling me I look beautiful," said Jessie.

"Well you do, but also white as a ghost. Are you sure--" Katie grabbed Jessie's hand and looked up at her. She was completely captivated. This happened every time she was in Jessie's presence. She'd begin to speak, and then suddenly just by seeing Jessie's face, she'd forget everything that was going on around her. Jessie has had Katie under a spell from the moment they met 7 years ago.

"Am I sure…what?" asked Jessie.

"Um…oh. Are you….are you sure this is what you want?"

Jessie looked at Katie, grateful to finally be in the same room with her again. She searched Katie's eyes, trying to find the answer she was looking for. "I…um…"

Katie interrupted, "Because I have my car outside. The engine's running. You know… in case you want to get out of here. We could just run away."

Jessie began to caress Katie's hand. Katie could feel the other girl begin to tremble.

"I…don't know what I want. But I think this is right," said Jessie.

"You think?"

"I know," replied Jessie, more adamantly. "I KNOW it's right."

Katie nodded. "Okay."

Jessie continued. "I mean…look around. Everyone is here. EVERYONE. The money's been paid. There's nothing to do now but wait."

"Wait for what?" asked Katie.

"Four o'clock," replied Jessie.

Katie looked at her watch: 3:53pm. She looked up at Jessie. It had been 4 months since she had last seen her. Katie showed up, late as usual, to Jessie's college graduation and went to the after party, but didn't stay long. But the entire time she was there, they were inseparable as always. Then Katie had to go and Jessie cried, as always. (Of course Katie cried, too but not until she was on the plane. She refused to upset Jessie any more than she already had). She had to hop a flight to Boston. There was no particular reason other than the fact that she happened to just have a plane ticket and it happened to be for Boston, a place she had never been to before. Well, she did have another reason for leaving right away. Jessie had told her something that night. It was something that Katie was dreading. Something that Katie was not ready to hear. Something that Katie didn't want to deal with, so she left, making up an excuse that she had to meet her brother in Boston that night, when in reality she had no family there.

"I missed you, Katie," said Jessie.

She missed Jessie, too. She tried to call as often as she could, but found it difficult to find the right things to say to her. Katie could feel her eyes start to water as she slowly let go of Jessie's hand and stood up to straighten out her dress.

Jessie started to get up. "Are you okay?"

Katie nodded while trying to wipe the tears from her eyes. "Five minutes."

"Jessie?"

Jessie turned around and saw her father standing at the door.

"You ready, sweetie?"

"Yeah dad. Just give me a minute." She looked back over at Katie, who was trying to keep her tears from falling.

"You really do look beautiful, Jess," said Katie.

Jessie hugged Katie. Katie hugged her back, wrapping her arms tightly around her. She had to force herself to let her go. She leaned in and whispered to Jessie, "Everything's going to be okay. I promise. I'm here."

Katie began to walk toward the door.

"Katie---"

The older girl turned around to hear what Jessie had to say.

"I……" Jessie couldn't get the words out. She looked at Katie, trying to form a sentence.

"Remember, I've got the car running if you wanna leave."

Jessie smiled. "No. I just…."

"Jess….it's time. Let's do this," said Katie. "I'll see you in a few minutes."

Katie smiled sweetly at Jessie and walked out the door. Jessie turned and walked over toward Rick. He looked at his daughter, beaming. She was breathtaking. Jessie watched as one by one Zoe, Grace, and finally Katie disappeared through the double doors. Rick then escorted Jessie over to the doors, as Jessie used this final moment to smooth out her long, white dress. Then, the doors opened up and she heard the organ play and watched as the entire church stood up to watch her walk down the aisle. She was the center of attention at this moment. And she really didn't want to be. She never wanted to be. The only time she could ever really be comfortable with people staring at her was when she was on stage. Other than that, she didn't really care for the attention very much. She tried to focus. She caught glimpses of familiar faces as she and her father made their way down the aisle. Family members, friends from high school, friends from college, and some people she had never seen before. She looked straight ahead and saw Katie standing at the end of the aisle watching her with a grin on her face. Katie couldn't take her eyes off of her. Jessie smiled to herself and began to feel a lot less nervous. She reached her destination as Rick kissed his daughter on the cheek and stepped back. Jessie's eyes rested on her fiance as they joined hands and the priest began to speak.

"We have come together to witness and celebrate the marriage of Jessie and David."

To Be Continued….