Hi all, the reason I started this fic is because 2 empty weeks without grey's anatomy is killing me and hence perhaps writing about my favorite characters will curb the misery. I'm aware that there are tons of good writers around and mine in comparison may not be as interesting. Besides, I'm not a native speaker so as to say. Nonetheless, if you enjoy reading my fic, please do drop me a word of encouragement. Reviews or any comments are greatly appreciated! Thank you and enjoy!

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

For some people, a wedding signifies a new beginning of life, a new starting point for happiness and usefulness. For other, it is an irremovable scar that will always be there despite trying to hide it.

The soft music of the organ started filling the air and echoed through the clean white walls and pillars of the chapel. He, together with two other best men was left standing at the altar awaiting the grand entrance of their each respective bridesmaid. For a moment the music was drowned out by the gentle rumbling of the congregation rising to their feet to get their first look at the bride.

There was a barely audible collective low murmur of voices when the first bridesmaid entered the aisle, followed by the second and the third. Despite how ravishing they all looked today, his electrifying gaze only settled at the one woman who never failed to take his breath away. A crooked grin unconsciously plastered on his face as he watched her intently at how hard she tried to conceal her scowl and maintain her gracefulness down the aisle. She had complained to Meredith that she could never get the walk down the aisle right, either her pace was too fast for Izzie and Lexie to catch up or she might just trip over her stupid heels.

"I hate lavishing weddings!" Chistina had hissed to Meredith during the wedding rehearsal just the night before, pacing up and down the aisle nervously.

"But this isn't yours, Christina," Meredith stared up at her with nonchalance.

"I know. I'm just saying I hate it!" Christina stopped pacing, finally, and glared at Meredith.

"Ok…" Meredith gave her an ambivalent shrug before she returned to memorizing her wedding vows.

"Wait…You don't just stop there. You gotta ask me why, why!" Christina slumped down at one of the benches beside her best friend.

Sighing, Meredith looked up at her expectantly, and asked, "Why?"

"Because you, Meredith Grey, for once, have made a terrible choice by picking me as your maid-of-honor! All weddings are a façade, and wedding vows are meant to be changed!"

Owen frowned a little when he overheard their conversation. He never really understood why wedding could give her the jitters, even though it wasn't hers to begin with. The thing with Christina was, she never gave herself enough credits. In his eyes, she was the most beautiful woman he had ever seen, inside and out. The confidence she eluded was one that he had seldom seen in other women's possession and the endless support she had given him throughout his therapy was enough for him to boldly declare his undying love to her in front of the whole congregation, except that knowing Christina, she would hate him for doing that.

Today, she looked stunning in that champagne tube dress that Meredith had specially selected for all her bridesmaids. Her black wild curls were pulled up with dozens of silver pins, revealing her tender neck which he could kiss and taste all day. Owen recognized the small private smile that she had on her face was an attempt to conceal the flutters of butterflies in her stomach and he didn't blame her, knowing that she wasn't a people's person.

As if she felt the intense stare from him, and she held his gaze with a slight blush across her cheeks that only Owen could tell and that made him grin wider. He loved that after all that they had been through, they could still make each other's heart skipped a beat with just an eye contact or a kiss on the cheeks. He never had this special feeling with Beth nor anyone besides Christina. His Christina. He wasn't going to deny that a huge part of him wished that it was their wedding today, but the thought of rushing into a marriage without even being sure if he was able to turn the love of his life into the world's most blissful bride made him think twice.

"You're seeing through me, Dr Hunt," Christina murmured softly into his ears when she reached the altar and took his hand.

"I couldn't take my eyes off you, Dr Yang." Owen hid his smile before they parted. The bridesmaids on the right while the best men on the left.

A collective gasp went through the crowd when the bride appeared at the rear of the church. Meredith walked down the aisle with her father on her arm. She looked radiant in a lily-white gown; and thousands of tiny crystal-like beads sewn on that glimmered in the light whenever she moved. Her golden brown hair shone in the soft lighting in the church as she continued walking, her smile captured the essence of a thousand laughs.

Meredith and Derek's wedding was a huge success. Bright sparkle confetti flew from all sides as the new weds exited the church, laughing and ducking their heads whilst they climbed into their black Volkswagen Jetta and drove away. The crowd stood behind in front of the chapel and witnessed the happy couple drove off to their happily-ever- after.

"Looks like cupid has finally shot the right couple with its bow and arrow," Alex mumbled, running his fingers through his tousled hair lazily but he soon yelped aloud when Izzie's elbow nudged his ribcage. "What's that for?" he growled.

Christina's brows rose. She rolled her eyes at him and said sarcastically, "Not every day that someone had the honor to experience what it feels like to be left at the altar so I appreciate your comment, Karev!"

Christina never liked weddings. She never believed that a damn piece of paper could bind a couple forever or work any wonders to craps like happily ever after. And of course she had to specifically thank her ex-fiancé for adding another reason to her belief on why marriage would never work. Nonetheless that didn't prevent her from wishing her person happily ever after with Derek.

She felt a strong arm tightening around her waist. Her heart pounded, wondering if he overheard what she had said to Alex. She wasn't at all ready to confess her past relationship to Owen, not when their relationship had just begun to sail reasonably smoothly after the rough patch they had gone through dealing with his PTSD. He should be spared from her not-so-proud past relationship with Preston Burke, at least for now.

"Ready to go?" Owen raised a hand to her hair and gently brushed her strands of hair aside. She loved it so much whenever he did that. His gentleness never failed to send tingles of warm sensation through her nerves.

Her nod was restless and resigned. Silence followed after as they walked hand in hand to the parking lot. Maybe her worries were redundant. She was grateful to Owen for not probing into her unwanted past because that was the last thing she needed now, to be reminded of the abandonment at her own wedding.

With one hand still holding onto hers securely, Owen reached out to open the door of the car for her. Christina mumbled him a 'thanks' before she started into the car, but felt a tug on her palm which pulled her back. She peered up to him, searching his worried blue eyes in confusion.

"You look beat," he observed gently, noticing her drawn face. His palms found its way onto her face and he lightly caressed her cheeks with his thumbs, hoping to sooth all the tension she was feeling.

Smiling, she cocked her head slightly to her left, her own palm tightening into his as she basked in the warm limens of his touch. His strong sense of understanding touched the very bottom of her heart and she felt the heavy urge to confide in him; yearning to hear him telling her that everything would be ok, just like how she would have told him. She contemplated and decided against it. They had a four hours break before the wedding banquet starts. She came to a conclusion that today was Meredith's big day, not Christina's self-wallowing day.

"It's a long day today. Maybe a rest later would do me some good," she told him after getting into his car; her smile was strained but genuine.

Owen nodded in agreement and said, "Get some rest when you get home. I shall pick you up at 6."

That evening, Christina applied a touch of mascara and stepped back to inspect her reflection in the full-length mirror. The mauve cocktail dress was perfect for the wedding banquet. Its crushed velvet material was soft and lovely, its line flattering in their simplicity. A simple pair of dangling earring matched her outfit completely. Even her hair she wore was simple – pulled back in a loosely bun. Just the way Owen liked it.

She hated that she cared so much, she who lectured Izzie and Meredith that good looks are secondary, was preening and fussing like a high school senior on her way to prom. Okay, so she wanted to look good for him, she wanted to see the flicker of admiration in his eyes. Was that so terrible? She was a normal thirty-two year old woman who still feels good when an attractive army guy suddenly appeared in her messed up life and literally swept her off her feet. Period.

She slipped on her black high heels and glanced at the clock above her bed. He'd be here any minute. As if on cue, her cell phone rang.

"Hello?"

"It's me," Owen's deep husky voice sounded on the other line. "I'm running a little late."

"Oh." She cast another quick look at the clock. "Where are you? Should I call Shepherd and say we'll be late?"

"If we are, we won't be by much. I'm already on my way to your apartment and should be there around ten minutes."

"Fair enough. I'll see you in a bit then."

When Christina disconnected from her phone, she couldn't seem to get rid of the naggy feeling at the back of her head, wondering what could make Owen Hunt, who previously worked in the army and detested unpunctuality, be late for a wedding.

To Be Continued…