The next four months passed by like the blink of an eye for Naya, she spent her break from filming abroad losing herself in the haze of different cities, different woman and alot of alcohol. She kept on the move, always trying to outrun the pain of losing her soul mate. Telling no one, she disappeared after Heather's last day and never returned for the last episode of the season. Producers were furious and concerned, Dianna was the only one who knew what had taken place that day, she only hoped Naya was safe but knew she needed time to work through her demons. No one heard from Naya for months, until one day she finally stopped running and came home.
The taxi came to a sudden stop, Naya lifted her head to see she was at her house; the drive from the airport went quicker than she was anticipating. Dragging her bag through her front door, Naya couldn't help but remember what had taken place within these walls, good and bad.
She dropped her case and made her way to the kitchen, her mail was neatly stacked on the counter, her plants still alive; it was obvious someone was looking after things while she was MIA. Looking over at her answering machine she saw it was flashing 'full', she walked over and pressed 'delete all', Naya wasn't interested in talking to anyone, she already knew Dianna was worried about her, she had left alot of messages of her voicemail and Naya had listened to a few. Naya owed alot to Dianna; she had been a good friend so she decided to put her mind at ease.
Taking out her phone to send a text message, 'Hi Di, I'm back, talk soon. Naya"
Naya's eyes drifted to the enormous pile of mail sitting on her counter top, she took a seat and began to flick through it.
"Junk, junk, bill, bill" Naya called out filing through her letters.
Suddenly her eyes froze and she dropped the rest of the pile. Her heart stopped beating as her stomach sunk, and in one second all the pain she had been running from for the past four months hit her all at once.
Naya held the rectangular card in shaking hands, "You are cordially invited to the wedding of Taylor Hubbell and Heather Morris". She stared blankly at the date, "September 2nd 2012", that was tomorrow.
A tear escaped down her cheek, she furiously wiped her face refusing to shed anymore tears. Naya violently tore up the invitation and threw it in the bin. If Heather wanted to marry Taylor than that was exactly what Naya was going to let her do, it wasn't her problem any longer.
Naya stomped over to her liquor cabinet grabbing a bottle of vodka and drinking in straight down, praying the smooth liquid would soothe her aching heart.
Heather spent the night before her wedding at dinner with her family and Taylor, running over the final preparations for the big day. Everything was set, the dress was picked, the church, the cake, every detail was taken care of; there was no more hiding for Heather.
The wedding had come together alot faster than Heather anticipated, Taylor was very active in the planning, if Heather was honest, he did most of it. The past months had been agonising for her not hearing from or seeing Naya, Dianna gave her updates if she got any information on which city Naya was currently in, but it wasn't enough, it wasn't the same as having her safe in her arms.
Heather had spent the last four months in a state of depression, all she was, so bright and vibrant was gone. She was a shell, but she hid it from Taylor, she hid it from everyone. Heather had chosen her fate, she would accept the consequences.
Sitting at the dinner table, she had her mother and father across from her, Taylor by her side holding her hand. She wasn't listening to the conversation, but simply staring blankly into space, lost in thoughts of how she had gotten to this point in her life. Heather could feel her Mother's stare, she looked into her eyes, the blue spark having died long ago, her Mother looked at her puzzled giving her a smile, Heather weakly smiled back.
"Speech, speech!" Heather's cousin yelled from down the end of the table.
"Oh come on, don't we do all that tomorrow" Taylor laughed. After more pressure from the table he conceded "Okay fine I'll say a few words" he said standing.
Taylor stood beside Heather holding his wine glass up. "Well I guess I just want to thank everyone first and foremost, you have all been great and we wouldn't be here without you. To my soon to be new parents, I just want to thank you for all the help with getting the wedding together and for having such an incredible daughter", Taylor smiled. "And last but certainly not least, Heather, I want to thank you". Taylor turned his gaze down to Heather who looked up to meet his eyes. "You are amazing, you are my world and you are always there for me, thank you Heather, thank you for agreeing to be my wife. I love you and I promise I will love you for the rest of our married life" Taylor bent down and kissed Heather as the table erupted in cheers.
Heather smiled feeling nothing but numbness inside, with a nudge from Taylor she was standing on her feet with all eyes staring at her waiting for her toast. What was she suppose to say? She could barely keep herself breathing these last few months, how was she going to construct sentences. There were uncomfortable coughs from the table, Taylor beamed up at her, suddenly the room disappeared and she saw Naya, sitting across from her in all her beauty. Her dark eyes glistening back at her with a smile across her perfect face, she willed Heather to speak and in that moment, Heather spoke only to Naya.
"I love you; I love you more than I have ever loved another human being". Heather smiled "When I met you my whole world changed, I didn't even realise how empty my life was until you came along, with your love you saved me" She took a deep breath "When I'm with you, my heart is alive and I feel a passion that runs deep to my soul, I love you with every fibre of my being and every beat of my heart. When you're not with me I am not living, my world doesn't exist unless you in it" Tears flooded Heather's eyes. "My heart and soul, everything I am and everything I wish to be are right there in your brown eyes. You are the one, you are the reason for living and I will love you with every breathe I take until I take my very last".
She wiped away her tears, realising she had not looked at Taylor the entire time she glanced down at him touching his shoulder. He smiled gently back at her and everyone clapped as she sat down.
Conversation quickly broke out again and Heather took a moment to collect her thoughts once more. She looked up at her Mother, but this time she wasn't met with a cold glance, it was a look Heather had never seen, her Mother was sad with pained eyes. Mrs Morris stared at her daughter and if Heather hadn't know any better she would have thought her Mother was apologising.
The evening soon ended as guests slowly left one by one, wishing Heather and Taylor early congratulations until they were the only two left sitting at the table.
"What a night hey babe, did you have a nice time?" Taylor asked turning to Heather.
"Yeah, it was nice to see everyone". Heather replied.
"Yeah it was, okay well I better get you home, don't want to be sleepy on your big day!" Taylor smiled kissing Heather on the cheek.
"No, wouldn't want that" Heather smiled back. "I'm just going to the restroom then we can go".
As Taylor sat alone waiting for Heather, his mind raced. He couldn't shake a feeling, he couldn't let go of something Heather said in her speech. Perhaps he heard wrong, perhaps it was just error on Heather's part, but Taylor couldn't let go of Heather saying she saw her future in those brown eyes.
Taylor's eyes were blue.
