September 1640s (or thereabouts)

"Father will perform the ceremony, so at least everyone will have time to stare at you, love. Many of our associates have replied affirmatively, and most of our friends too. Darling, are you sure you're family can't make it? I don't want you to feel alone..well I mean, alone in the sense that you have noone to calm your nerves before the ceremony...not that I believe you have any reason to be nervous...but I..."

Dana rubbed her temples, "Carlisle, sweetheart, can we stop now? My head cannot take much more."

"Whatever do you mean? This is our wedding!"

"I know sweetheart. It's just between your father- preaching about the length of a 'real' engagement, telling us our choices for hymns, prayers and gospels were wrong and then screaming that he'd do it 'properly'- and your mother's input on dresses, cakes and the such, I cannot take anymore in today. I thought planning the wedding would be hard, but I haven' gotten to do anything myself...this is worse than it being difficult."

Carlisle looked at his soon-to-be wife, the love of his life, for now and eternity, and smiled. "You're right, darling. I'm sorry. My parents can be a tad...particular."

"Don't apologise. Particular? Is taht the word you'd use? Haha... Oh Carlisle, I'm sorry, I do not mean to gripe. I'm just...tired, I assume."

Carlisle kissed Dana's temple, placed his arm around her shoulder and said, "Let's get you home then. And, love?"

"Yes?"

He smiled at her cheekily, "Don't apologise."


Dana was passing through the town, later that any lady should, when she saw him. It had been days!!! Days of wondering where he was, what could have happened, and why he had chosen this particular time for it to happen.

"Carlisle!"

"Dana? Oh my God. NO! Stay away!"

"Carlisle? What's wrong? Sweetheart come here. Oh, how I have missed you. You realise we have been worried sick about you? Your mother if frantic, your father is incensed, and I...I...oh Carlisle!"

She took several steps towards him, intending to wrap her arms around him once more. Only to see him shrink back, as if afraid. Of what she couldn't tell.

"No, Dana...I can't...It's off, the wedding, everything. I must go."

Dana just stared. "Carlisle...I...what's wrong? What did I do?"

"Nothing! I swear to Almighty God, nothing. You could never...I... Just listen to me!"

"I am! You're not making any sense."

Knowing the pain he was about to cause them both Carlisle whispered, "I don't love you. I never did. Goodbye, Miss Scully."

"Carlisle, WAIT! What do you meam? CARLISLE? WHAT DO YOU MEAN?" She fell to her knees, pain spreading throughout her entire being.

He kept walking, head bowed, eyes closed against the emotions threatening to spill out. He never once looked back. Never once let his thoughts drift to her. Focusing instead on the task at hand, getting the Hell out of England...


I've failed with the whole word count thing again haven't I? Damn, this is hard... Oh wait, it's more than 500 -dances- hopefully I can keep this trend going.

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