Age 26

The doorbell rang. Rachel really hoped it wasn't Nic, wasn't it bad luck for the groom to see the bride in her dress before the big day? And considering that day was tomorrow, she couldn't afford the superstition. She just couldn't resist trying it on one more time. She gathered the dress and moved towards the door opening it slightly.

It wasn't Nic. It was Noah.

His mouth dropped open at the sight of her. The dress had a taffeta ball gown skirt, ruched up in asymmetric layers of material. The bodice was strapless and lace with a gathered section of lace in the bottom right hand corner, held with a crystal encrusted flower. She looked beautiful.

"Oh its you," she opened the door to let him in and moved into the living room. "Help me out? I just couldn't resist trying it on again."

"You look beautiful." said Puck moving to unzip it at the back.

"Thank you," Rachel said slipping gently out of it, into her simple white slip that she wore underneath

"No problem," replied Puck and he carried the dress back into her bedroom and returned to the living room, where Rachel was sat with her knees pulled up against her chest.

"Are you nervous?" he said, sitting down across from her on the other sofa.

"A little, but it's going to be the best day of my life, I know." She half smiled, "I mean, Nic is a really good guy, and he really loves me.."

"Don't marry him." Puck cut her off abruptly. "You can't marry him."

"Noah, I-I" Rachel stammered, shocked.

"I still love you Rach, I never stopped, I never will. Run away with me, please. I love you so much, you're the most beautiful person I've ever seen, and I can't live without you. We've got so much history together Rachel,"

He dropped off the sofa and crawled over to her, kneeling at her feet taking her hands in his. "I just know you'll be making a huge mistake if you do this, and I'll spend the rest of my life and you'll spend the rest of yours wondering 'what if?' And I promise you, I'll make you the happiest woman in the world, because without you, I'm nothing. I want you, I love you, I need you, Rach. Please."

Rachel stood up and brought him up with her. She looked deeply into his eyes and sighed.

"I can't not marry him, Noah. I'm sorry. I think you should leave."

She led him to the door and shut it behind him. She leaned against it and put her head in her hands sighing heavily.

Noah sat at the back of the church watching Rachel in the beautiful white gown at the front. Rachel had always wanted to get married in a temple, and it was meant to be with him. He bit his lip angrily and all he could do was watch.

"Do you, Nicholas Andrew, take Rachel Barbara to be your lawfully wedded wife?"

"I do." Bastard, thought Noah, viciously.

"Do you, Rachel Barbara, take Nicholas Andrew to be you lawfully wedded husband?"

"I-.." Rachel stopped, and swallowed thickly. She looked up at Nic and blinked sadly. "No." she whispered. "I'm sorry."

She gathered her dress in her hands and turned around to walk back up the aisle. Murmurs and whispers started around her as she marched out of the church. She didn't look around either way as she walked forward, determined to escape.

Noah jumped up and followed her up the aisle out of the church. He was aware of all eyes on him as he ran to catch up with her.

He found her outside, leaning on a pillar with her head in her hands.

"Hey,"

She looked up, and smiled.

"Hey you,"

"You alright?"

"I am now…"

He took her face in his hands, and kissed her passionately on the mouth. He felt the soft way her lips caressed his, the familiar tickle of her tongue alongside his and everything felt like it was fitting into place. The truth was, Rachel thought, she'd never really stopped loving him. She just needed to find her way back. They broke apart and Noah looked deeply into her eyes.

"Thank you," he whispered, gently stroking her face.

"No problem" said Rachel, touching her forehead to his.