Here is the first chapter I promised would be posted mid to late November haha! Enjoy! And let me know what you think of it! Excuse my errors!

Chapter 1: The One

Catherine

Catherine smiled to the women as she picked up another gift. They all surrounded her like a typical group of high school girls as she lifted the lid off the paper box. She deliberately removed the gift bag paper filler and her eyes shined at the present in front of her. It was a set of towels with her and Zach's name printed on them.

"Ahhh." She released in awe as she picked up the red and white cotton material. "Personalized towels!" She said, showing the other women her gift. They all looked thrilled and clapped their hands in excitement.

"Very chic Beth." She said, smiling to her friend who had purchased the item. Beth was a good friend from High School and was going to be in her wedding.

"Thank you." Catherine said to her as she folded the pieces back into the box they came in.

"And the best part is.." Beth started as she leaned over to point to the towels, "you can have the embroidery removed if, you know, things get a little-"

"Okay!" Chimed in Heather, Catherine's sister. She stopped Beth before she went any further. Beth gave her an odd look before shrugging her shoulders and sipping the champagne in her hand.

"One more gift and..." Heather said as she leaned down to pick up the big bag. "Then we'll start the games." Heather said quirky and Catherine gave her an odd look before laughing. She stood up to meet her sister half way and retrieve the heavy bag.

Catherine placed the bag beside her in the living room chair she was resting in. Her hands dug through the bag as she flashed her little sister a delighted smile, knowing it was her gift. Heather smiled warmly at her as she pulled the silver snow globe out of the bag.

Catherine heard the girls reaction as she stared down into the globe. Everyone reacted but her as she looked down at the picture inside the crystal ball. It was a picture of her and Zach and it took a moment before she finally smiled and looked up at her sister.

"It's beautiful." She said softly and Heather sighed in relief.

"I knew you'd love it! It's to commemorate your and Zach's first Christmas together..as husband and wife." She added on as she bounced with joy.

Catherine kept her small grin intact as she shook her head before looking back down at the gift.

They watched her for a seconds before Heather blurted out they should make a toast. One of the girls handed Catherine a glass of Veuve Clicquot as they all stood up and crowded in a circle. Heather rose her glass first and everyone else followed.

"To Catherine and Zach.." Heather said in her chipper mood before giggling, "may you enjoy a lifetime of..marital bliss and happiness."

Catherine swallowed thickly as a picture of her future with Zach flashed into her mind. She cared for him, she did...but it was almost impossible to imagine a real future with him. Did she really want to marry him?

Catherine let the thought dance away and she smiled, quickly recovering from her doubts. "Cheers." She said and the girls echoed the room with the word as well as they all clinked their glasses.

A little later

Heather walked into the kitchen to see her sister standing there, gazing into space. She frowned a little when she saw Catherine was wearing a mopy expression as she played with a snack on the tray.

"You okay?"Heather asked as she set her glass down. Catherine instantly looked up at her, with her fixed smile and quickly nodded her head.

"Yeah! I'm great.." She pulled off as Heather gave her an unsure look. Catherine ate the appetizer she was judging recently and looked back to her worried sister.

"Mhmm.." Heather said as she stacked all the empty trays.

"Thank you." Catherine said genuinely as Heather looked to her as if to say "for what?"

"For doing this..again." Catherine said a bit disturbed that she was doing this another time.

"Hey, what are sisters..slash roommates, slash business partners for huh?" She questioned which made Catherine laugh. She placed the napkins on the plates with the snacks, preparing them for their guest.

"What's a wedding without a shower?" She inquired with a glint of humor.

"Well, I wouldn't know." Catherine reminded her as she watched her sister. Heather looked to her and stopped what she was doing.

"Your gonna do it this." She said with confidence, mainly trying to convince herself she was right. "I mean..three's a charm, right?" She joked and they both ended up laughing.

"Yeah, right." Catherine said before releasing the breath she was holding. She ate another appetizer and began to feel some of her anxiety go away.

"Plus, if you don't.." She said giving her a serious look, "Mom will start thinking you're gay too. We can't all crush her dreams of those adorable grand-kids." She said with a hint of disgust.

Catherine gave an unpleasant reaction as well as she rolled her eyes. "Oh god.." She screeched out. That's all her mom talked about lately. Her getting married and popping out babies.

Heather snickered to herself as she nudged Catherine in the side. "Come on." She forced her along as she grabbed the platter of food. "Let's get back in there before Beth turns this into a bad 80's dance party." She hurried.

Just then, they both heard the sound of the drums and old techno music blaring from the living room. The girls cheered and Catherine looked back to see Beth getting her "groove" on and the other girls buzzed and dancing along.

Catherine shook her head and looked to her sister whose mouth was open in disbelief. "Too late." Catherine said as she withheld her giggles.

Heather sighed and just decided to join in. She grabbed Catherine's hand and drug her along. They both walked back into the open room and began pumping their fist to the beat.

One Month Later

Wedding Day

The sound of the violin and the cello played softly inside the church as everyone was walking in and taking their sits. Today was the big day, the day she would marry Zach.

Catherine stood up straight, looking at the reflection of herself in the mirror. Her white gown was on and she looked certainly stunning as her mother laid her head-piece in her hair that carried her veil. Catherine's mom, Vanessa, stared at her daughter in awe. She pulled the trailing of the veil back and made sure everything on her looked absolutely perfect. She didn't even notice the unsure look on Catherine's face as she peered down at her bouquet of cream and red flowers.

"Mom?" Catherine blurted out, looking to her mom in the mirror.

Vanessa's eyes stayed on the attire instead of Catherine as she replied nonchalantly, "Mmhmm?" She responded to her daughter.

"Remember when we talked about the difference between loving someone and...being in love?" She asked nervously.

Her mother gave her a pointed look before fluffing out her veil some more.

"Nope. Not at all." She lied as she tried to stay positive about this day. She didn't want her daughter having second thoughts. "Love is love." She said, which made Catherine look back at her.

"Mom." She let out in a really sort of way and Vanessa gave her an innocent look.

"I'm sure you dated other guys before Dad. And maybe you even...loved some of them." She tried and Vanessa looked a bit speechless, with lack of words to say. She just returned Catherine's focus back to the mirror.

Catherine stared at her mom in the mirror, trying to have a serious talk with her. "How did you know Dad was the one?" She begged as her mother fiddled with every tiny error.

Vanessa finally stopped pestering around and gave her daughter a smile, "By marrying him." She declared and Catherine squinted her eyes at her. She decided to remain quiet and just let it go since her mother clearly wasn't listening.

"Let's go!" Vanessa told Catherine as she pulled the bottom of her dress out. Catherine took in a deep breath and nodded her head. She was beginning to feel the same feeling she did the other two time's she tried walking down the aisle. And neither time did she make it to being married. She always ran.

Vanessa told Catherine to smile like she was a little kid. Something definitely had to be off if your own mother is happier than you on your wedding day.

Catherine put on her big smile as she made her way out the room with her mom right on her toes. Her hands tightened on her bunch of roses and pedaled flowers, causing her hand to turn two shades lighter.

The little girl paraded down the aisle in her white dress and full basket in hand. She tossed the rose pedals around the floor as she skipped through the crowd of people who thought she was adorable. She made it to the front of the church and then followed Heather.

Heather stepped systematically in her strapless, wine-colored bridesmaid gown. Vanessa smiled at her beautiful daughter as she already got to her seat in the front row. Heather was the last girl to walk in and stand with the other bridesmaids.

Then walked out Catherine. Everyone stared at her as she made an appearance. They all rose to their feet and her mother went crazy taking photos, even when they had hired a person to do just that.

Catherine smiled nervously as she saw Zach waiting at the altar. He was wearing a black suit and a white dress shirt underneath. He rocked a red bow tie and his hair was combed back for a change for the occasion. He stared at Catherine in admiration and thought he was too lucky to end up with her.

Catherine slowly start ease her worry until she saw Zach return a dap to his best man. She fought off the mucky face she wanted to divulge in and started to make her way down the aisle with her father, Tom.

She linked arms with him and he whispered to her that she looked beautiful. She smiled at his words slightly.

She smiled at everyone that was watching her, all her friends and family that came to yet another one of her big days. The closer she got to Zach, the more her heart thumped and her brain questioned her life choices.

She continued to give forced smiles, one her Mother didn't even see through. She wanted to scream when her Dad began to pull away and give her away to his future son in-law. Or maybe just to Zach. Even as she walked up to him and caught his big smile, she still couldn't see herself with him forever.

Before the preacher could say or utter a single word, Catherine found herself walking pass Zach and the altar itself. She saw the side door to the church in sight and rushed to it like Mr. Right himself was waiting outside.

The music took a dramatic turn as it died down and Zach called out to her confused. She pulled the door open and rushed outside and as far away from the church as soon as possible. Zach looked to her dad for an exclamation but no matter who he questioned, no one had any answers. Everyone in the church began to chatter away confused as well and Vanessa rested her hand in her palm yet again. This was the third time. The third time that Catherine had walked away. She didn't know if she would ever be happy and go through with it.

Later

Catherine wiped her messy mascara off her face from her excessive crying. She tried to pull herself together as she designed another layout for her and Heather to work on. She matched the fabrics and all with the furniture in the pictures. She just needed to do anything to keep her mind off what she had put everyone through again.

The front door opened and in walked a tired Heather. She saw Catherine the second she walked in and Catherine turned around in surprise.

"Hey!" Catherine said in an unusual happy voice. "What do you think about doing a crushed velvet and chrome for Aunt Kate's house, huh?" She asked, trying to focus on the different colors and fabrics in her hand.

Heather walked slowly to her as she was witnessing her sister have an obvious melt down and a round of denial.

"With maybe a gray tile.." She vocalized with a shaky voice. "But I really love um..a nice gray couch with some purple pillows and..maybe a chrome lamp." She managed to say as she sniffled. She looked back to Heather who was still quiet and looked really concerned.

"Right?" Catherine said, trying to get her to speak or something. "I mean it's perfect for her-"

"What happened?" Heather asked as she walked into the room. She sighed in relief after pulling off her heels.

Catherine shook her head and threw the fabric down. "Ugh! I don't know!" She said honestly, plumping down in the chair close by. She ran her hands through her hair, getting frustrated with herself.

"I have no idea!" She said, raising her hands. "I mean..I really thought I could do it this time! You know, and then..and then..I saw him Heather!" She conveyed looking up to her sister who was listening intently. "I saw Zach at the alter and I just...suddenly I just felt. God I just felt so..." She tried to say, not being able to formulate the right words.

"What?!" Heather rushed her, trying to understand.

Catherine tried to emphasize what she wanted to say with her hands as she bit her tongue.

"I—I care about him, you know? I mean I really, really care about him. I just..I don't..."

"Love him?" Heather finished her sentence as she sat beside her sister.

Catherine rested her hand against her mouth and shook her head no, finally being able to tell the truth.

"No, not like that." She spoke honestly and Heather just sighed and looked at her sister.

"God, what is wrong with me?!" Catherine said, asking her sister seriously. "I mean..I've broken not one, not two, but three. Three engagements." She said matter of fact as her hand showed three fingers.

Heather shrugged her shoulders, "Well..you came pretty close to sealing the deal this time."

Catherine groaned and bit on her bottom lip, "How is he?" She suddenly asked and Heather looked up at her.

Heather fiddled with the back of her hair and looked around. "After you left, he kind of put his fist through the pulpit."

Catherine's foot landed on the ground off the couch in reaction and she drowned her head in the crossing of her arms as she grumbled.

"Reverend Macy was really nice about it though." Heather said, trying to make her feel any type of better, knowing that-that didn't matter.

"Ughhh I should of never said yes." She cried out as she kept her head down.

"Probably." Heather quickly said and Catherine's head shot up.

"Heath..he asked me to marry him in front of fifty thousand basketball fans." She brought up and Heather opened her mouth, but didn't have anything in return.

"Did you want me to break his heart on a one hundred foot jumbo tron?"

"Is it any worst than breaking his heart at his own wedding?" She responded and Catherine groaned to herself again at the realization of what she'd truly done to him. She embarrassed him in front of everyone.

"Your right.." She finally concluded. "That was pretty awful. I'm awful." She said to herself and Heather laid a hand on her shoulder.

"Catherine, that's not what I meant."

"No." Catherine said looking at her and she pushed her hair back. She did some thinking to herself and came to a resolution. "You know what, that's fine. I'm clearly not meant for the whole marriage thing so..this is it. I'm done hurting people. No more wedding planning. No more engagement parties. I'm done!"

"Don't say that." Heather urged, trying to get her to get it together. "Okay, yes..Evan, Patrick and Zach..their all really great guys. But if you weren't feeling it than maybe they just..weren't the one."

"The one." Catherine said in amusement. "Really Heath? And when do I know when I meet the one, huh? Is there going to be fireworks booming? Or sirens flashing, is that how I'm gonna know?" She went on, determined that she'd never find the one. He most likely didn't exist, or so she thought.

"I think it just..happens.' Heather said, not having any other way of explaining it. "You know when you know."

"Well.." She said in return as she rose out the chair. "Unless there's some sort of guarantee..I'm done." She said seriously and Heather nodded her head with her sister's decision. It sadden her but if that's what she wanted to do...than she'd support her.

Vincent

He was in his new apartment, playing poker and stuff with three of his pals from the office. Basically, a typical guys night.

"Two pair." Matt said as he laid his cards down and he looked to Vincent who could decide if he won or not.

"Straight." He said, dropping his cards down for them to see. Vincent smirked as they all huffed in disbelief that he won again.

"I don't believe it!" Charles said, starting to think Vincent was cheating. "Puckett aces and you still beat me!"

"5,7 why would you even play that hand?" Matt asked his best friend and Vincent just shrugged his shoulders as he collected his wins.

"Sometimes it's better to run good than play good." He said to them and Charles still shook his head and said unbelievable before gulping down his beer.

"Hey, I can't help it if I got the luck of the Irish in me." He said with a fake accent, resulting in a pleased smile.

"Alright, easy McTernan, you're not that lucky all the time." Matt shot back and Vincent shook his head as he laughed.

"You sure about that?" He asked with his raspy voice. "Are you forgetting about that money I took from you last week with that full house?" He jogged his friend's memory and Steve shook his head.

"Oh, I'm not talking about cards." He clued him in and Vincent gave him an odd look.

"What are you talking about then?" He asked, starting to get intrigued.

"Women." Matt said without a doubt and the rest of the guys laughed to themselves and looked to Vincent.

Vincent found himself laughing, surely Matt was joking. "Are you serious?" He asked. "He's kidding right?" Vincent went on, looking to the other men at the table.

Every one else remained quiet and Vincent shook his head in disbelief.

"I'm the only one who can still go out and get lucky, the rest of you.." He signaled pointing to them, "have to go home to your wives." He said, chuckling a little bit.

"Except Matt." Charles said and Matt cut him off right then.

"Hey, she hasn't signed the divorce papers yet. Besides, this is not about me. Look.." He said drawing the attention back to Vincent. "We all know you've dated lots of women but..none of them have gone anywhere." He informed Vincent and that made him look up at him.

"Thankfully so." Vincent topped. "Cause I don't wanna get caught up in that whole marriage mess." He said honestly as he stacked his piles of chips.

"Wait, but what if you meet..the one?" Charles asked him and Vincent let out a dry laugh.

"Please." He retorted, glancing at his foolish friend. "Steve.." He said bringing the conversation to his rather quiet guest. "Do you think Bev is..the one?" He asked with the included air quotes. "The girl of your dreams?"

"Uhh..."Steve uttered out, "well uh..that's what she keeps telling me." He answered, looking back down to his chips he had left.

Vincent smirked and pointed at Steve to let him rest his case. Not needing to say anything else.

"Okay look, all I'm saying is..it doesn't matter if you meet the one or not, she would never marry you anyway." He said, trying to challenge his friend.

"What makes you say that?" Vincent asked, getting testy.

"Well..your not..marriage material." Charles said softly, trying to say it as nice as possible.

Vincent looked to him as if he was shocked. "What are you talking about?"

"You're the guy girl's date before they get married. You know, the phone guy." Matt teased as he poked at Vincent.

Vincent pressed his lips together and shook his head, "You don't know what you're talking about. That's not true." He simply said. "But I am fun." He added on.

"You got commitment-phobe written all over you buddy. Girls can smell that a mile away." He told Vincent, but he just brushed it off.

"Well maybe I just don't think that kind of forever love is possible." He stressed, getting tired of this discussion.

"Vincent face it, you could never get a girl to commit." He went on and Vincent looked to him dead on.

"That's ridiculous, of course I could." He fought back.

"Really?" Matt asked.

"Yeah." Vincent said firmly, determined to prove his starting-to-be aggravating friend.

Matt slowly smirked and leaned forward. "You wanna bet?" He asked and Vincent gave him a weird look. Matt went on before Vincent said yes or no.

"You get a girl to say yes to your marriage proposal by Christmas...and.." He paused to think of a prize. "and I will give you my corner office." Vincent looked up at him as the words flew from his mouth. He was starting to get wrapped up in this little game, everyone knew Matt had the best offices on the floor while everyone else suffered in the small, caged cubby holes.

"If you lose, then you have to take Charles's cubicle and he takes your office." Charlie then smiled, now hoping Vincent would agree just so he'd have a chance at moving up to an actual office.

"Sweet." Charles's said and Vincent rolled his eyes.

"That's crazy." Vincent said looking down at his money.

"Crazy because you don't think you can do it? I mean you've never ran away from a bet before-"

"No, it's crazy because Christmas is just four weeks away." Vincent stated.

"Hey, Sped Lana said yes just after four weeks." Charles rung in about his wife.

"Charles, she was getting deported." Vincent deadpanned and Charles smiled automatically fell as he remembered and said oh yeahh.

"Hey man, look it's cool, if you don't think you can win this one..just say so." Matt continued, trying to win this argument.

"I'll do it." Vincent said without another thought. He refused to satisfy Matt's dying wish.

Matt's eyes widened as he watched Vincent drink down his beer. "Beg your pardon?"

Vincent finished his beer and raised his finger, "But..I have to choose the girl." He required, knowing how things would go if Matt went around looking. God knows who he'd find.

Matt laughed to himself and rapidly beat the table, "Done and done my friend. You are on." He said reaching out his right hand.

Vincent grinned and shook his hand. They had a deal. He would try to find a girl to marry in just four weeks. He didn't know how he'd do it, but he'd make sure it happened.

He didn't know yet that Catherine would be the girl he picked...who recently just swore off men and any kind of relationship.

;)

Mwuhahah A/N

Well, here is the first part of my Christmas story! What do you think so far? This is gonna be SO much fun I swear! The next chapter they will meet, I won't say how or where, just know..it'll be interesting and much more.

I wanted to post this first chapter to get thoughts on it so far before I continued! x) The next update I'll be posting is The Situation (unless you beg for this haha) maybe this upcoming week. I leave Tuesday to go home for the week so that'll be perfect! XD

I'm going to bed now! Night everyone and morning to some! xoxo