The boy narrowed his eyes from behind the tree as Kenny Dannegan rushed out of the trailer into the night. He had left his Dad only minutes ago. A part of him wanted to go back. Even if Wayne would never admit it, he probably needed some form of a backup.

His eyes squeezed shut. They had all grown up with Kenny, but Cael knew better than anyone that people did crazy things when their world crashed down around them. The guy had always been in love with DiDi. A blind idiot could see that.

The blood ran like ice through his veins. The thought of someone hurting his family gave him a sick feeling in the pit of his stomach. But the thought of someone hurting her made him crazy. Maybe it was because they were so close in age. They had always been able to read each other without saying anything.

His eyes opened as the other part of him took over.

He had to make sure she was okay.

------

She was sitting on the bed in the wedding dress, staring down at her hands. Cael sat beside her, removing an unwanted pillow that was digging into his side. He stayed silent, waiting. But the waiting didn't do any good. She didn't say a word. Her eyes hadn't moved. "Ginny." she finally muttered.

Cael turned to her, trying to see her face in the darkness. "What?" He asked.

"She wanted me to consumate the marriage. I never even said I Do." DiDi got out.

Cal's fists clench open and shut. "Son of a bitch." There was the feeling again. If they weren't in so much trouble as it was, he wouldn't have even asked. He would have just gone after him right then and there. But under the circumstances, he had to be sure. "Di," He asked seriously. "Did he do something to you? If he did you've got to tell me. I can still catch up to him."

Her hand brushed his shoulder. "I told him I didn't love him and he left." A look of confusion crossed Cal's face. Why did she seem so upset then?

Cal let out a breath of relief. "Jesus, D, you had me going there for a second. What are you sitting in here all alone in the dark still wearing that dress for then? We should be celebrating. Preferrably while or after leaving this shit hole."

She shrugged her shoulders and then a slight chuckle. "Like we've ever been able to celebrate anything. I was just sitting here trying to wallow in the calm." She bit her lip. "I was really scared standing up there. I thought I was actually going to have to do it. Marry someone I hardly even know. Someone I won't ever love."

"Mom and Dad would have gotten you out of it. Eventually." Cal assured her. "Or I would have figured something out. Guess it's hard to have faith in either of them recently."

DiDi shakes her head in disbelief. "Sometimes I wonder how Mom even lives from day to day." The statement didn't need to be argued. They both knew it was true. "He said he'd protect me. Well, I guess I should say us. Ginny won't be a problem anymore."

Cal nodded. "Good." He looks out at the bonfire on the other side of camp. "We should probably go find the others and get the hell out of here. You can change in the camper."

DiDi grabbed his hand as he moved to stand. "Sit here with me for a minute? We could use a little calm before the storm hits again." She told him, matter-of-factly.

He didn't have to be asked twice. He made no attempt at moving again. A smile played on his lips. "Never thought I'd see the day you'd be in a wedding dress."

She punched him in the arm. "Shutup."

Cael could only make out her shape, but he imagined that she looked the way she always did. Only more made up.

fin.