The capuchin monkey clambered happily onto Starr's shoulder as she beamed at the camera on Travis' phone. "He wanted to say goodbye to you," Starr told Hope. "I know you want me to bring him home, but this is his home. He wouldn't be happy living with us." She opened a cage and extracted the two-headed snake she herself had caught. "This is Tweedledee and Tweedledum. They'd have a hard time living in the wild, so we took their venom out and brought them here. But now I have to say goodbye to them, too." She kissed Tweedledee and Tweedledum midway along their body to their tail, and remarked again that it would have been a mistake to call such harmless creatures "Hannah."
He smile got so wide that she thought she might split her own face open. "But I'm not sad to say goodbye, because I'm going to see you the day after tomorrow! I love you, Hope!"
She blew a kiss at the camera just as Dr. Charles walked in. "I wouldn't send that," he warned her. "There's been a problem with our transportation arrangements. We'll be staying a little longer than expected."
Starr's mind ran wild with fear. I can't betray Hope like that. I know what it feels like when parents don't come back. Mom's almost ready to have the baby. She has a history of premature labor. I would never forgive myself if I missed this.
"How much longer?" she asked anxiously.
"It's a significant delay. A few weeks. You aren't the only student with a conflict. I know it's inconvenient, but it's also a bonus. There aren't many weeks of your life that you'll get to spend in a place as biologically diverse as this one."
There weren't very many weeks of Starr's life that she spent becoming a big sister, either.
There weren't very many weeks of Hope's life that she would be three years old, and Starr had already managed to miss almost half of them.
Her jaw hardened, and she spent the next fifteen minutes explaining to Dr. Charles exactly why this was not acceptable. He said a lot of things relating tp politics and economics and diplomacy, about which Starr did not care.
Eventually, Travis thanked Dr. Charles and politely sent him on his way.
"I know that look," said Travis when they were alone again. "You're not going to wait for them to work this out, are you?"
"My daughter isn't going to wait to grow up and my sister isn't going to wait to be born," said Starr. "So, no."
"It's a five mile hike to the nearest road and our passports are locked up in the safe in the office."
"I've walked a lot more than five miles in my life and my aunt is a United States Senator. I think they'll let me back into the country."
Behind her, Tweedledee and Tweedledum flicked their tongues in what Starr chose to interpret as encouragement.
"They're telling you that this is a bad idea," said Travis.
"They're telling me that they want to come, too," said Starr. In a burst of fury, she pulled a collapsible travel case from the shelf and assembled it. If Dr. Charles didn't understand why it was important for her to get home, she didn't understand why he got to keep the snake she had taken great pains to catch.
"You're breaking about fifty laws."
"You're going to turn me in?"
"What do you think?"
It was funny how life had a way of circling back to things that had happened before. Starr held out her hand. "Run away with me?"
"Why do we have to go to this wedding again?" Todd groused as he expertly knotted his tie. "They don't even like me."
"Cristian doesn't like you," said Blair mildly. "I don't think Layla cares."
"At least Cristian can't make puppy dog eyes at you when he has a wife at home."
Blair was of the opinion that even when they had been sleeping together, Cristian hadn't been much for making puppy dogs eyes at her. She diced not to share that observation with Todd. She settled instead for a small smile.
Too much jealousy and Todd was a danger to himself and everyone else.
But just a little bit of jealousy… well, she deserved to enjoy that, didn't she?
Todd scowled.
Blair pretended not to notice. "Sarah will be there. You always like to see her."
"The crazy Cramers will all be there. No offense to Sarah, but she doesn't balance that out."
"We don't have to speak to any of them. Except Cassie."
"We don't have to go at all. We could just go up to the new house and check on it."
Blair laughed. It sounded tempting. "You know we can't check on it like we checked on it last time."
"They'd never notice," Todd prompted as he kissed the back of her neck.
"I'm singing, so they'd notice." Saying it aloud helped her shake off the temptation to skip the whole thing. "Cristian is an artist. It means a lot that he'd want me to sing."
"It means he's too cheap to pay for entertainment and would rather manipulate a pregnant woman who should be his honored guest—"
"It's one song, and they're going to have a band and a deejay."
"Better not be any song you've ever sung for me."
She cringed inwardly. Todd had given her a great opening, but she still wasn't looking forward to this conversation. "It's not."
"Good."
"In the interest of full disclosure, because I know how much you hate getting blindsided about things that happened while you were gone—"
"You sang it for him?"
"I wish I could tell you that my voice died in my throat when I didn't have you around to inspire me, but that's not what happened. Cristian and Layla picked it because it reminded them of how they felt when they got together and I didn't want to say no."
To her surprise, Todd softened completely. His eight years of torture had taught him to control his temper and his tendency to mistrust. She loved the results.
She wished that it had happened any other way.
"But from now on," he informed her, "All of your songs are for me."
"I can promise you that," she whispered.
Jack sat obediently in the pew with a hundred other guests and let his mind wander. He wasn't thinking about much in particular. There was summer training for soccer, summer work at The Sun, exercising Boreas while Blair was in no condition to ride, and how he would arrange his room in the new house. It all vanished instantly into an inexplicable rush of anger and shame when a tiny girl, younger even than Hope, began the long journey down the aisle. She wore a dark blue dress and clutched a basket of flower petals importantly.
Jack's subconscious remembered who she was before his conscious mind put a name to her. Both of the child's doting fathers stood beside Cristian and Antonio at the altar, silently urging her to come to them. This was Sierra Rose Morasco.
Shane's cousin.
Gigi's niece.
She would never know her mother and, thanks to Jack, neither would she ever know her aunt.
Suddenly Jack was aware, with absolute certainty, that everyone in the crowded church hated him for that.
He jumped up and ran, nearly colliding with the older girl who walked ten paces behind Sierra Rose carrying a candle.
From beneath her angelic, perfectly made-up face, the girl sent him a glare that summed up all the hate all the wedding guests felt for him. Jack thought that she might take the opportunity to light him on fire.
Instead, she continued on her way and Jack continued on his—out of the church, down the cracked sidewalk, and to a park bench where he could sit and wait until the ceremony was over and his parents came out to tell him how disappointed they were that he had ruined it all.
He felt a tap on his shoulder far before Layla and Cristian could have said their vows. He looked up and saw that it was Destiny. "Can I sit down?" she asked.
"Whatever."
She sat close beside him like they were friends, which, weirdly enough, they were.
"Your parents were going to come after you but I told them to stay and that I'd handle it."
Jack rolled his eyes at this girl barely two years older than he was having discussions with his parents about who was going to take care of poor, stupid Jack. "Consider me handled," he grunted.
"I didn't mean it like that."
Jack sighed. He couldn't get properly mad at her when he was so mad at himself. "Go back inside. You're missing the wedding. Aren't you the type who loves weddings?"
"I'm not any type. I'm an individual. And yes, I love weddings, but right now I'd rather be here. You know how I got invited?"
"They invited everyone either one of them ever met?"
"My brother used to do security for the bride's ex-boyfriend. Kind of a tenuous connection."
"Like I said. They invited everyone. Even the people they knew would ruin everything. Maybe that was the point. All the other guests can stop manipulating each other and trying to sleep with each other and bond over how much they hate me. They're doing that right now."
"Nobody's doing that."
"They were all staring at me."
"You're not more interesting than a flower girl who's barely old enough to walk in a cute little designer dress. Sorry."
"Your brother wanted to kill me just so I wouldn't go the prom with you."
Destiny chuckled. "About that. I set it up."
"What do you mean?"
"I asked Shaun to play the heavy in case I couldn't convince you any other way."
Jack didn't like to admit how violently relief coursed through him. "So he's not really going to kill me?"
Destiny shook her head. "No."
"I guess the little bridesmaid I almost knocked over will get to do it, then."
"Jamie Vega?" asked Destiny.
"Duh." Jack smacked his own forehead. "That's who she was. Last time I saw her she was about," and he held his hand three feet off the ground. "She grew up."
"So have you," said Destiny. "I think you're going to be okay. I'm almost sorry I won't be here to see it."
"Harvard did a smart thing when it accepted you," said Jack.
Destiny shrugged off the compliment. "Want to go back in for the reception? The cake looks good."
Cristian escaped from his clutch of well-wishers and pulled Blair off to the side. "Congratulations!" she told him. "You and Layla looked so beautiful up there. I'm so happy for you both."
"Thank you," said Cristian, and he waved off the further gushing Blair was more than prepared to do. "You still want to sing? I heard that Jack got sick or something."
"He's fine," Todd answered for Blair. He pointed across the room to where Jack and Destiny were huddled together with Sarah (who looked more adult than Todd thought she had any business looking in her dark bridesmaid's gown). "Blair can sing."
He squeezed Blair's hip possessively and sent the message without saying it. She might be singing at your wedding… but she's singing to me.
Cristian looked less than bothered. "Then the microphone's ready."
Todd escorted her to the microphone with his hand pressed against the small of her back, right where it hurt most of the time anymore. Blair was half inclined to bring Todd up onto the stage just to keep his hand there.
She settled for locking eyes with him as the music started before she directed her attention to Cristian and Layla.
You said just one kiss, couldn't be much harm in it,
And I thought what could really happen?
She might have been looking at the bride and groom, beautiful and happy in expensive clothing Layla had designed herself, but what she saw was the dilapidated hotel room where she had first kissed Todd. She never would have imagined it going this far.
But it went way too far, from your lips to my heart
Last thing I want to do is scare you
She still didn't know what had made Jack run out of the room, but Destiny was hovering over him while little Jamie Vega—who was growing into a gorgeous teenager— smiled interestedly at him.
Much too soon, much too fast,
And I know this might sound crazy
But I can't hold back
The love I feel inside for you
Jamie's parents were watching her carefully. Reports that Talia was not enjoying her pregnancy had not been exaggerated. She looked absolutely miserable, and the immense care that had been taken to design a bridesmaid's gown to fit and flatter a woman who might go into labor at any moment didn't hide that.
Blair made a mental note to talk to Talia later on. They didn't know each other well, but sometimes it was easier to take reassurance from another woman who was also as big as a house. They could at least commiserate on how they couldn't have a glass of wine and their backs hurt.
Please don't run from my heart
Don't take away this dream that's just come true
And I'm sorry but I love you
Adriana had her hand on Talia's shoulder. Much to Dorian's chagrin, Adriana had announced her intention to return to New York with Antonio, Talia, and Jamie to help out until the birth of the baby. Dorian had wanted a full Cramer contingent for the birth of Blair's daughter, and to Blair's delight, the two women she didn't want there—Adriana and Kelly—had both declined.
If you'd asked me yesterday,
If someone could feel this way
I'd've looked at you and probably laughed
She had to admit that she did want Dorian there.
But she felt a lot safer in that decision knowing that Cassie would be there to run interference.
She spotted her cousin; as their eyes met, Cassie smiled approvingly. Cassie had barely made it to town in time for the wedding, though Blair assumed that Cassie's attendance was more about checking up on her own family and less about the longstanding acquaintance between the Cramers and the Vegas.
What kind of world is this
That changes with one kiss
Who is this stranger standing in my shoes
Blair wondered if Carlotta was going to make it through the day without throwing anything at Dorian when Dorian inevitably announced to the assembled guests that she'd "practically raised Cristian."
Her voice wobbled with mirth at the thought.
The silence here is deafening
I'm waiting and I'm wondering
As the song drew to a close, she returned her gaze to the bride and groom. She was beyond happy that Cristian was happy. He deserved it.
And perhaps she could commission some of his work for her new home. One of his more modern paintings would go well with the look she was envisioning.
Please don't run from my heart
Don't take away this dream that's just come true
And I'm sorry but I love you.
She was careful not to look at Todd as she sang the last line. It sounded like a warning or a criticism. Once, it would have been.
Now she could walk off the stage into his arms and marvel at how nice her life really was right at this moment. They had faced challenges together and they hadn't imploded.
Don't make me sorry that I love you
She was sure he wouldn't.
Disclaimer: Blair's song, I'm Sorry But I Love You, is in fact Kassie de Paiva's and was performed by her on the 2004 New Year's episode of OLTL. I don't own it, nor do I own anything OLTL.