"Please Carla, wont you please let me take Cillian out for the day?" Sophie made a pouty face at Carla. Patrick and her had managed to exchange information before the ship had docked at Port Said. He had contacted her within a day of them arriving in Cairo asking if she would be free to go out. Sophie still convinced that she could not have a decent conversation with a man unless s child were involved, wanted Cillian around to act as a buffer and charm the pants off of Patrick. Carla wanted to put her foot down.

"No Sophie, " you can't just take Cillian as a hanger on for your little date. Imagine how Patrick would feel?"

"Oh he wouldn't mind, honest," Sophie is rummaging through her suitcase and holding up dresses for her date.

"You're only saying that because you think it is what I want to hear," Carla had just finished getting ready and was brushing her hair in front of the mirror, "My answer is no. You can go and enjoy some one on one time with Patrick and besides Cillian does not like the competition when it comes to having your heart."

There was a knock at the door and Carla rushed to open it. Lila and Sarah beamed at them.

"Oh good, you're up," says Sarah. Her voice was always full of hidden negativity.

"Your little Cillian is downstairs right now," adds Lila, "He's charming the pants of the blushing bride to be right this instance"

Carla laughed; her son was so very predictable. Sophie and Carla had met the bride and her family yesterday, they were all very kind, so unlike the type of family she was used to.

"Michel was just wondering what your plans were for the day? He didn't want to knock himself because he was unsure whether you were both decent."

"I am going on my date today," says Sophie glancing at Lila for a second before turning her attention back to the mirror and her pile of dresses.

"Oh how lovely," says Sarah, "And just who are you going on a date with this fine day?"

"Nobody you know," snaps Sophie. Carla is convinced she will pout until she gets her way and is allowed to take Cillian with her on the date.

"His name is Patrick," says Carla, " And they fancy a walk along the river Nile."

"You're joking," says Lila, "How romantic. Whose idea was it?"

"Mine," says Sophie, "I always come up with the most romantic dates Lila."

"Michel and you think so much a like. Sometimes I wonder if you share the same mind," says Lila, "He just suggested that we all walk along the River Nile today and take in all the sites. I bought a camera for it and everything."

"Oh," says Carla, "Well that's a lovely idea. Are we leaving right now?"

"Yes and I hope that it isn't a problem. Michel has so much he wants to show us around before the rehearsal dinner tonight. Plus the parents are getting into Cairo tonight just before hand and he will be rushing all the last minute preparations."

"Mother's room must be perfect," says Sophie finally selecting a dress and climbing into it. Carla went to zip her up, so that her camisole didn't get stuck in anything.

"I guess," Carla, says relenting, "Since we are all heading in the same direction you can take Cillian with you. Just as long as Patrick doesn't mind."

"Really Carla," says Sophie turning around and practically jumping her for a hug, "I promise you won't regret this. I will take perfect care of him and he will have so much fun."

"Alright," Carla responds patting her friends back. She couldn't help think about her best friend from England, this is exactly how Maria Sutherland would act.

"Ladies," they all hear Aaron's voice calling for them down the hall, "Are you all ready to go? Everyone is waiting."

Lila and Mary go out into the hall to meet him and Carla quickly grabs for her purse. For some reason her eyes fall on the ring Liam had given her when they had pretended they were married. She had taken to wearing it on this trip so that Michel would not ask any questions, she grabbed for it immediately sliding it on and following the other two out the door. Sophie frantically collected her belongings the realization that the date was so near was starting to make her edgy. Once she had gotten everything they closed the door and all four women walked down the hall to meet Aaron.

"You know," Aaron tells Carla, "I haven't even scrounged together a decent best mans speech for this wedding."

They group were all now walking along near the River Nile. Sophie had met Patrick as soon as they arrived and taking Cillian with her. Carla walked along the River with Aaron and Joshua. They were just behind Michel, his fiancée Diane, and her sister Emily. Lila, Mary, and a whole slew of other people Carla didn't quite know yet followed.

"You may want to get on that. The wedding is in two days time."

"Oh yes I am well aware. I have tired to write something decent. But I just feel so uninspired. Perhaps all I need is a moment to relax because so far all this trip has been is constant activity."

"True," Carla says nodding her head. She looks out at the great river just admiring the view. She has an urge to paint it.

"Speeches always come so easily for me," Says Joshua, "I always get inspired by the littlest things. Like for your and Lila's wedding, I read this lovely article in the New York Times…"

Carla knew where this story was going. He had read the article of the interview she had under her guise Dacia Matheson Barlow and felt so inspired by her quote "everything was beautiful" Carla had been driven to emotion by his speech during the wedding, just stunned that anyone took her words to heart like he had. And she remembers just looking over at Liam, feeling the pressure of his hand, and knowing that whatever it was they were feeling at that moment, it was right. But she had to go an mess things up. If only she had told him the truth from the very beginning he would be with her now. Her eyes glance down at the wedding ring he had given her and she feels like she will cry at any moment.

"-Yep that Dacia woman was so right when she said everything is beautiful. The secret is trying to find a way to make the beauty last," says Joshua.

"Oh I couldn't agree more. Everyday Lila and I try to live by those words," says Aaron then he glances over at Carla walking in between the two, "Are you okay Carla?"

"Oh yes," says Carla doing her best to stop the tears from flowing. She didn't want to ruin anyone's day with all her sad thoughts and regrets about Liam. Peter told her to try and be more positive so she would be. And she had made a promise to find Liam again so there was to be no more pining over him.

Aaron gives her a wink and puts his arm around her giving her a quick hug, "You know we're missing your husband this time around. We have feeling that the two of you together could only ever amount to mischief. I swear you both have that changeable look about you."

Carla gives a quick laugh. Her Liam did have so much fun together at the last wedding; she had never had so much fun in her life. And that was the moment he had told her that he loved her and kissed her hand. That would be one of her most cherished moments ever.

"Oh Liam was so fun," says Joshua, "And very deep. He told me lots of insightful stuff about love while we took breaks from all that crazy dancing."

"Oh really," says Carla. This is news to her and she wants to kick herself, but she needs to know what he said. It was nice to hear other people talk about him; it made her feel strangely close to him, "Like what?"

"Well he said that the first time he ever laid eyes on you there was something so magical about it, like it was a moment stuck in time. That if ever he was to recount the story to anyone, no matter how many times he told it, or how old you both got, whomever heard it would think you to be still that woman so young and fair as the day he met you."

Carla stopped in her tracks, bringing Aaron to a halt with her. This was all just too much; it kills her to think how thoughtful Liam is. That he had felt so much for her at the wedding he had poured out something so utterly beautiful from the depths of his heart, only to have her shatter it all hours later. He had pictured them growing old together, sharing their stories with grandchildren; if a love that was unwavering and she had ruined it all. The tears were coming and this time they could not be stopped.

"Aww," says Aaron, "She's getting emotional. It's alright Carla, you must know by now that is how your husband feels about you."

"Yes. I am sure he must have told you all this countless times. And if he hasn't well now you know and your love is made all the more stronger. It's a shame that he couldn't make to Cairo, Sophie said he had important business."

Carla just bursts into tears. She wants to scream out that it's all lies, that Liam is out of her life forever and it was all her fault. But instead she allows Aaron to hold her in an embrace opting for silence. Why could she never have a single conversation without people mentioning him and reminding her what an absolute idiot she had been in ever letting him go?

"Oh Carla," says Lila now noticing her crying from behind as the group gets closer to the shore, "Are you alright?"

Before Carla can answer they hear an earth-shuttering scream coming from nearby a bunch of people panicking and Carla looks up turning around instantly. For some reason she has just felt a jolt rushing through her body and the hairs on the back of her neck stand up.

"What in heavens name is going on?" asks Lila as a bunch of people makes their way down to the base of the river.

A man passing by answers her, "Someone has fallen in to the river. I'm going down to see if I an help." He continues on ward running and that action snaps Michel, Aaron, and Samuel into action.

They hear a familiar voice crying hysterically.

"Sophie, oh my God Sophie!" says Michel breaking into a run.

Carla immediately stops crying and follows right after him trying to break through the crowds. She hoped that Sophie was alright and further she needed to check on her son. She has a feeling that something isn't right and in a panic as she hears whispers.

"It's a little boy…he fell into the river…"

"But two man jumped in after him, they're swimming with him back as we speak."

"Poor lad I hope he'll be alright."

Carla doesn't now what has come over her, but she breaks into hysterics. It must be Cillian who fell into the river, it must be Cillian who has been hurt.

"CILLIAN!" she shouts as Lila follows at her heels trying to calm her down. Her world is falling apart around her. Finally after what seems like an eternity she finally catches up to Michel who has made it to the front of the crowd.

Sophie is okay but she is crying hysterically, "Oh Car," she says upon spotting her friend, "I turned away for one moment and he just fell in…got too close the edge."

"Where is he?" Carla says, "Where is my baby?" She is going to cry. And then she spots a pair of miniature legs sticking out from behind a figure with broad shoulders and dark brown hair. The figure a man is bending over the child, her child trying to revive him. Carla doesn't even think, as she breaks free from Lila's grasps and rushes towards them.

"Carla, No!"

At that the man turns around staring at her straight in the face. Carla cannot believe her eyes but before she can say anything it is Michel who speaks.

"Liam! Oh my goodness Liam, you made it to Cairo after all."

They do not take their eyes off of one another; they both look like they have just seen a ghost.