It was getting late, the last few guests were all waiting for cabs to take them wherever it was they were heading

It was getting late, the last few guests were all waiting for cabs to take them wherever it was they were heading. Hamilton escorted his parents out and while his father waived for a taxi, his mother kept him occupied.

"I'll see you tomorrow Mom!" Hamilton exclaimed as he tried to pry himself from his mother's grasp.

Kate Fleming gave her son a kiss on the cheek and released him from her embrace. "Oh I know Munchie but this time tomorrow you'll be married. I'm going to have to share you with Jacqueline."

"Mom, you've been sharing me with Jake for years."

"I know I know. But after tomorrow, it won't be the same."

He hugged her again, trying to reassure her that the only thing changing was his marital status. "Don't worry. I'll still let you call me Munchie."

A moment later, a cab pulled up to the curb. "Honey, let Hamilton go. He has a big day tomorrow," Steve Fleming said as he opened the door to the car. "Good night son."

"Night Dad."

Pulling away from her son, Kate made her way to the cab. "I'll be over first thing in the morning."

"Mom!"

"We'll see you at the church," his father intervened. Hamilton shut the door and watched as the taxi drove away. He stayed there for a minute, hands in his pockets, staring at the street, even though the vehicle that carried his parents could no longer be seen.

He was so lucky to have parents like he did. Two people who devoted their entire lives to him—selflessly, unconditionally, totally. They had their good and bad times, as all parents and children do, but they always came out stronger and closer because of the things they went through. Because they went through them together—as a family.

Lucky. Lucky to have both a mother and a father who cared for him. Who stuck around and stood by him through it all. That's why he couldn't understand how Jake's dad could just walk out on her the way he did? Not just abandon her, but never try to contact her again. Until yesterday.

How was he going to tell her? There was no easy way to do it. He knew that it would break her to hear the words, but he couldn't keep it a secret. Philip Pratt would be at the wedding. There was no changing that now.

He knew how'd she react. Shocked, angry, yet at the same time overjoyed. Because despite what he had done to her, Jake still loved her dad. How could she not? He was her father. There was no changing that either.

Hamilton headed back to the dining room where Jake, Will, Bella, and Scout remained. When he entered, Will and Jake were talking at one table, while Bella and Scout were having their own conversation at another.

"You guys ready to go?" Hamilton inquired.

Jake got up without answering and made her way to him. "I was thinking that Will and I would spend some time together. After all, tomorrow is gonna be busy day and I think…well, we haven't really talked and I…I just wanna do some of that. Maybe."

She wasn't asking for his permission. When it came to her and Will, she knew that Hamilton still wasn't completely comfortable with…well, all of it. On the other hand, Jake had learned to deal with the fact that her best friend had feelings for her. She didn't ignore them, rather, realized that with time, Will would find his happiness elsewhere. And though some part of him would always love her, they would always be friends.

Hamilton appreciated Jake's effort to make him feel more at ease about Will. He couldn't keep her from spending time with him. Why would he? He trusted her. He trusted HIM. That's what friends do—trust each other. It was nice to call Will his friend again…and really mean it.

"Of course. That's a good idea."

"Okay. That's good that you think it's a good idea."

"But before you go, I gotta talk to you about something. It can't wait."

His demeanor didn't indicate that anything was wrong, but she sensed that there was. Not wanting to alert him of her observation, she took his arm and led him outside the room. They sat down on a sofa in the waiting area of the dining facility where they were out of the other's hearing range.

"So what do you have to tell me?" a touch of apprehension in her voice, "What is it that can't wait?"

Nervously, Hamilton took Jake's hands and interlocked their fingers. He focused on their hands, evading her burning gaze of concern. She was scared. Afraid of what was coming. Afraid of what Hamilton was about to say.

He could sense that without even looking at her.

"Jake, there's no other way to say this but…"

"Oh god…" she gasped, her hold on his hand tightening.

He took a deep breath as he fidgeted with her hands, still avoiding her eyes, though he could feel the intensity in her stare.

"Oh god," she said again, her eyes glossing over due to the tears that were building up in them.

"Your father…Jake, your dad…"

Jake could barely get out the words. She was in total confusion. "My…wha…what?"

"Your DAD," Hamilton answered, asserting the word. He looked up at her, except now, she was not looking at him. She bit her lip and stared down at the floor, pushing back the tears that flooded her eyes.

"Your dad," he continued, "he's…"

Dead. 'Dead,' she thought to herself. What else could it be? Why else would this be "something that can't wait"? They never talked about him. SHE never talked about him. What other news could Hamilton give her about her dad except that he was dead? If that was why, it explained a whole lot about why she hadn't heard from him in 16 years. Dead. She couldn't believe it. And she didn't even get a chance to say goodbye.

Tears fell mercilessly from her. She gasped for air, feeling like she couldn't breathe. She couldn't believe it.

Seeing the tears, Hamilton lifted her head gently, took his thumb and slid it slowly across her cheek to wipe away her sobs. "Baby…I'm so sorry…"

"How? When?" she was finally able to muster. "HOW Hamilton?"

He gave her that look—that look he always threw her when he was confused. "How what Jake?" It hadn't even occurred to him that Jake might be thinking what she was. He figured that they were both on the same wavelength. Pausing a moment to rethink her question, he replied, "Scout…"

Not letting him finish, she cut in, "Scout WHAT, Hamilton?" She was freaking out. Burying her face in her hands, Jake whispered, "Oh god."

He put his hands on her face and moved in closer to her, their eyes meeting for the first time since the whole conversation began. "Scout found him—in Staten Island. That's why he was there."

"Oh god." Her mind was blank. No other words came to her. No other words could describe what she was feeling at that exact moment.

"Jake it's going to be okay. We are going to get through this."

Frustrated, upset, heartbroken, Jake answered, "How? How Hamilton? My dad is dead! He's dead and I didn't even…I didn't even get to…"

"DEAD?" he asked, a confused look again spreading over his face. "Jake what are you talking about?"

She was confused now too. This was no time for Hamilton to be cryptic. "Hamilton you just said that my dad…"

"He's not dead. Is that what you thought I was talking about?"

"Yes. I mean what else could you have to tell me about him?"

Sighing, "He's coming to the wedding."

Spent, Jake wrapped her arms around Hamilton and buried her head in his shoulder, with exasperated relief. "Oh god."

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

"Oh god," said Bella upon learning the same news that Hamilton had just delivered to Jake. She stood across Scout and Will on the dance floor, as a cleaning crew arrived to tidy up the dining room. Bella's mind wandered to her own feelings of abandonment. She knew exactly what Jake was going through considering that her own mother resurfaced after 10 years of estrangement.

All the feelings Bella had felt when her mother reemerged came back to her now, flooding her mind with the memories of how difficult it had been for her to cope with the realization that her mother had not been out of her reach as she had once thought. Rather, she was in Carson, only a car drive away. All those years of feeling lost and deserted could have been fixed with one trip to the next town over. The ironic part of it all was that her own situation paralleled Jake's. Who would've thought that Jake's dad was living in Staten Island?

No one. Exactly.

The three stood in the middle of the room, silent, resolutely not looking at one another. Jake and Hamilton walked in, hand in hand, and met them at the center of the dance floor.

Immediately, Bella embraced Jake. "I'm here for you," she told her. "It'll be okay."

Clutching to her friend, Jake choked back tears—tears of happiness, sadness, gratitude. "I know."

"I'm gonna get going. Big day tomorrow," Hamilton said to the others as Jake and Bella hugged. He looked at Will and added, "I'm trusting you'll see her home. She really needs you right now." There was greater meaning to Hamilton's words and it was not lost on Will. He stood there, uncertain what to say, so he just nodded.

Hamilton hugged Jake one last time before departing, holding her so tightly that it seemed like he would never let go. She smiled as she pulled back to look at him, she mouthed, "I love you." He responded with a kiss, silently reaffirming his love. "See you at the altar," he said gently. He squeezed her hand and smiled; with that he made his way to the door.

As Hamilton walked out, Scout deemed this as his time to do the same. "I should go too. Good night guys."

In the corner of her eye, Jake could see Scout making his way to the door. She pulled back from Bella and said softly, "I'll be fine. Just go."

Bella gave her friend a reassuring smile and ran after Scout. "Hey! Wait up!"

Scout turned around and flashed a smile. "Mind if I joined you for midnight stroll?" asked Bella when she reached him.

"Not at all. I'd love it." Scout offered his arm to her and Bella gladly accepted it. As they exited the room, Will and Jake watched them, surmising that something monumental was going to happen between them tonight. Something that would change everything. They didn't know what it was exactly, but there was something there. Definitely.

"And we thought it was never gonna happen," Will said turning to Jake.

"Well, it hasn't happened YET. But I'm sure it will…in due time."

"I'm sure it will."

He turned to her now, knowing exactly what she needed from him—to be her friend. She was trying so hard to be strong…not to show her vulnerability and anxiety. Will could see right through her. He always could. That's why he was her best friend. Because he could see her heart. And he knew exactly how to handle it.

"I'm not going to ask you how you're feeling because I already know. But what I am going to ask you is…how can I help?"

He extended his arm out and covered her shoulder with it. She leaned into his side and soughed. "Listen. Listen…like you always do."

"Okay."

They took one last look around at the empty room and made their egress. As they walked through the doors of the building, Will told Jake, "I know the perfect place for listening. But we're gonna have to walk a little. You up for that?"

"I'm game. Show me the way."

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

"Welcome to my humble abode," Scout said as he and Bella entered his living space. However, it was by no means humble. She had been shocked at the enormity of Jake's apartment, but she was even more so at the size of Scout's loft. It was quite a lot of space, considering that only one person lived there. The vast expanse was adorned by a few pieces of furniture—a couch, table, bookcase, a desk, two standing lamps, and a television. The walls had some picture frames scattered across them and a large photograph of a coastline hung above the couch.

She headed straight for it, her eyes locked on the beautiful site. "Wow, where is this place? It's absolutely stunning."

"You can say that again. I've never been there though."

"Mr. I've been everywhere-seen everything? That's a new one."

"Seriously huh? I've always wanted to go to Maine in the summer, but my parents always insisted on going to Cape Cod instead. I guess that's why I have a picture of it. Makes me feel like I've been there."

Bella smiled as she thought of how she too had always wanted to go to Maine. What a pleasant surprise it was to find out that Scout felt the same way. It was more than just a coincidence. It was like…a sign. Fate. Fate giving her a sign that maybe, just maybe, there was hope for them yet.

She thought about telling him of this odd similarity, but quickly voted against it and remarked thoughtfully, "We'll just have to go there someday."

Scout stood there, trying hard not to show how moved he was by those seven words. He stepped towards her gingerly and retorted, "I'd like that."

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

Will and Jake sat in the balcony of the Palace Theater, the sole occupants, for it was long after the final act had been performed. As a well-renowned writer, Will had connections everywhere. Therefore, it didn't surprise Jake when he brought her to this place. In fact, she thought it was sweet. It was in that very theater that Jake made her acting debut as Viola in "Twelfth Night."

"Thanks for bringing me here. It brings back so many good memories."

"I'm glad."

"I should be happy. I'm getting married tomorrow! So why is it that I feel so bad? I never thought I could feel this bad again. My life was just getting back on track and then this…this happens. My dad happened."

Jake kept her gaze at the stage below, pursing her lips together, eyes glistening. Will could see that she was trying to be stoic about them and it seemed like she was keeping it together. Almost.

"Listen to me. What's happening with your dad…you shouldn't let that undermine your happiness. It's a blow to find out all of this now, the night before your wedding, but you gotta deal with it. You have to."

"I'm not denying that. Its just that…I never thought I'd see him again. And now he wants back in my life, in my life! I should be furious right now, but I can't help it. I want him back in my life too. I'm willing to forgive him, but I need to know…I need to know that he's not going to do this to me again."

It was only three months ago that she had said the same thing about Hamilton. She was so frightened of the prospect of getting hurt again. Of being abandoned once more. But, she followed her gut. And her gut told her that this time…nothing would come between them ever again. In less than 24 hours, she and Hamilton would be married. If she hadn't followed her instincts, then tomorrow may never have come.

And her gut was telling her the same thing now. When she learned of her father's planned appearance, she felt sick to the stomach. A mixture of emotions filled her head. She didn't know what to think or what to feel. But as the initial shock wore away, she began to feel only one thing—relief. Relieved that he wasn't dead as she had so falsely assumed. And relieved that they had a second chance—a chance to be father and daughter once more.

"I've missed him so much. I've wondered about him—every night, every day. I can't count how many times I wished that one day, he would just show up at my door…apologize…promise never to go away again…and that I'd have my dad again. That never happened so I gave up hope. Now that day has come and I'm freaked out of my mind. Tell me what to do Will."

"I can't tell you what to do. You have to do whatever your heart tells you is right. The only thing I can do is be here for you. I'll always be here for you."

She hugged him, comforted in knowing that that would never change. Despite all that had happened, she could still always count on him. And he could always count on her.

Will got on his feet, bringing her up with him. "You need your beauty sleep. Today is your big day."

There were two meanings to that and Jake knew it. "It is. It really is."