Summary: Sebastian and Annette's wedding day is filled with unexpected surprises.
Chapter 13: What's Meant To Be
As fate would have it, it poured the day of the wedding. Staring out the large window of his guest room Sebastian wondered if it was some sort of omen. The weather report said it was suppose to be sunny and clear which is why they planned to hold the reception outside. However the sudden downpour ruined those plans and sent the wedding planner and her staff into a tizzy. The reception would now be held in the ballroom downstairs.
Sighing Sebastian turned around and looked at his reflection in the floor length mirror. He looked damn good if he did say so himself. Dressed in a simple black Armani tux he was the picture of elegance. Plastering a smile on his face he tried to act as happy as he knew he should be but it just wasn't happening. This was suppose to be one of the happiest days of his life but it sure as hell didn't feel like it.
Glancing over at the phone not for the first time that morning he had the urge to call her. Actually he had the urge since they parted a few days ago but for once he didn't act on it. What would he say to her anyway? "Hey Kathryn just calling to tell you I'm about to walk down the aisle. What are you up to?"
Somehow he didn't think she would see the humor in the situation.
Sebastian's thoughts were interrupted by a knocking at the door. "Yeah?"
One of his aunts maids walked in carrying a package "sir this just arrived for you and your fiancee. I didn't think I should bother her with it now."
"Oh but feel free to bother me." The maid looked at him with a mix of confusion and fear. Sebastian only rolled his eyes as he took it from her hands "thanks that will be all."
After she left Sebastian looked down at the small, rectangular package wrapped in decorative pastel wrap. On top was an open card that read:
To the Bride and Groom,
May your marriage be one filled with surprises.
"Strange" Sebastian muttered out loud when he noticed that the card wasn't signed. He thought they had gotten all their crappy gifts already so he wondered who could have sent it and why now. Turning it over in his hands he was about to open it when he suddenly changed his mind. The gift was addressed to Annette as well so maybe they should open it together.
Sebastian left the room and headed down the hall to Annette's room. Without knocking he walked in and was greeted by the piercing sound of shrieks of horror. "What are you doing?" One of Annette's cousin's who was also a bridesmaid yelled at him."You can't see the bride before the wedding!"
He ignored her as he greeted Annette who was sitting at a vanity table. She looked beautiful dressed her simple white dress with her hair pinned up. Sebastian smiled at her reflection as he gave her a kiss on the cheek "you look amazing."
She smiled as she scolded him "thank you but you shouldn't see me before the wedding. It's bad luck."
"It's bullshit nothing will ruin this day."
"Except for the rain" her friend and maid of honor Bethany muttered as she fixed Annette's hair.
"He's right nothing can ruin our day" Annette told her as she looked up at Sebastian adoringly. "What's that?"
He glanced down at the package in his hands "oh a last minute wedding gift. It was addressed to both of us so I thought we should open it together."
"You're so sweet. Why don't you open it my nails are still drying."
Sebastian nodded as he tour the packaging away to reveal a videocassette. He looked at it curiously "its a video. Who the fuck would send us a home video?"
Annette shrugged "who's it from?"
"Doesn't say"
"Well put it in let's see what it is"
He turned around and placed the tape in the VCR. After some momentary fuzziness the image became clear as did the sound. "Oh god Sebastian...yes...harder!" Kathryn moaned as Sebastian fucked her senseless.
Sebastian's mouth fell open in shock as he watched that of so familiar scene play out before his and his fiancee's eyes. He couldn't tear his eyes away from the image as he watched himself on screen order Kathryn to ride him, "I love watching you on top...your gorgeous breasts bouncing." He sucked her nipples as Kathryn let out that lavish laugh of hers.
"TURN IT OFF!" Annette suddenly screamed.
Sebastian whipped around to see his bride nearly shaking as she glared at the images on the TV. He quickly did as she said then turned back to face her. Before he could say anything Annette told her bridesmaids in a cold, even tone "can you guys please wait downstairs for a minute. I have to talk to Sebastian."
They all muttered "ok" as they all made their way out of the room each taking time to openly glare at him. He ignored them as his attention was only focused on Annette. She looked at him with a mixture of sadness and anger before turning back around to her reflection. Sebastian sighed "Annette it isn't what you think-"
"Oh you mean that's not you fucking Kathryn on that tape? What a relief" she hissed sarcastically at him. She quickly whipped back around to face him in total anger mode "well go on explain. This should be good. Explain to me how you can tell me you love me then go and sleep with that slut!"
"It was only that one time and it didn't mean anything" he found himself lying. He wasn't sure why he was bothering now that the truth was out. If he wanted he could be with Kathryn now but as he looked at Annette with tears now running down her face he knew he couldn't do that.
Wiping her face she whispered "you told me you didn't feel anything for her. God I trusted you Sebastian, I trusted you with my heart and you go to her. Her! Kathryn of all people why did it have to be her?"
"It just happened" he explained weekly hating himself for putting her in this kind of pain.
"How am I ever suppose to trust you again Sebastian? How can I ever look you in the face again and know you're not lying to me?"
Sebastian played with the video box in his hand awkwardly as he struggled for an answer. "I don't know. I-"
Suddenly something fell out of the box. Sebastian bent down and picked it up off the ground. It was a black and white photograph of two women sitting together on a park bench. The girl on the left was Annette and the women sitting opposite her was Gwendolyn.
At first he really believed his eyes were playing tricks on him. Annette and Gwendolyn it couldn't be, what were they doing together? However as he studied it Sebastian knew it was most definitely the two of them. He muttered to himself "what the fuck?"
"What?" Anent asked through tears.
Sebastian ignored her as he began to put the pieces together in his head. Gwendolyn and Annette what did they have in common? The answer was of course simple, him. It was then he began to realize the truth. Who had hired Gwen in the first place? Who hated Kathryn that much to hurt her? How had she gotten that video camera in the room? Annette. All roads led back to Annette.
Sebastian finally pulled his eyes away from the photo and looked over at his fiancee's tear streaked face. "You knew" he told her in a voice barely a whisper. "You knew all this time."
Annette shook her head at him "knew what?"
"You knew I was sleeping with Kathryn" he told her as his anger slowly began to rise. "You knew because you had Gwendolyn tape it then used it to black mail me into hurting Kathryn."
"W-what are you talking about?"
"This is what I'm talking about!" Sebastian yelled at her as he thrust the photo in front of her face. He laughed coldly at her as he took a seat on the couch "do me a favor cut the innocent routine it's wearing thin."
Annette stared at the photo for a long time before simple saying "all right I knew about it. I know about everything."
He glared at her not bothering to hide his disgust "I bet you do. Well go on explain because I really wanna know what the fuck possessed you."
"Don't you dare blame all this on me!" Annette stood up suddenly angry "I did what I did to save our relationship the one you were about to destroy by cheating on me with that tramp!
"Yeah and instead of confronting me about it you create some idiotic plot to...to do what exactly?
"To get you away from her" she hissed. "Don't you see what she does to you? God I thought you were over her after..."
"After what?"
Annette looked him dead in the eye "I know about the girls. The girls who looked just like her who you fucked after she left. One night after you canceled one of our dates I went to see you and I saw you kissing this girl good-bye. I didn't say anything until I saw you with another girl the following night, a girl who looked just like the one before. Petite, dark silky hair, green eyes. They all looked like Kathryn. That's when I knew you still weren't over her no matter how much you protested other wise. I was going to leave you but I just couldn't so I gave you that ultimatum and you chose me. You always do and you know why? Because you love me, we belong together Sebastian."
Sebastian's cold expression didn't waver. "You should of said something then. Not lie to me and issue threats."
She shook her head at him "I was afraid you would leave me Sebastian. So I didn't say anything and I was glad I didn't because we were happy. We were going to get married then she showed up out of nowhere and it was like nothing had changed." Annette walked over to him and sat down beside him. "That night you disappeared and I went to look for you. I heard you with her in your bedroom." A tear rolled down her face "you called her beautiful and told her you missed her. You have no idea how much that hurt."
"So of course you did the logical thing and hired someone to blackmail me instead of just confronting me."
"I wanted proof" she told his icily. "I thought maybe she was out of your system but then you insisted we go stay the weekend with them. I decided to get proof and I got it ten fold. I was going to just confront you but then Gwendolyn suggested I do something else that would break up you and Kathryn for good and test your loyalty."
"Oh" Sebastian snickered as he stood up "so it was all Gwendolyn's fault? You were completely innocent."
"I didn't say that. I would never had gone through with it...I was angry I wanted to hurt you back, both of you."
He sighed "well congratulations it worked."
"I regret hurting you Sebastian but I won't apologize for what I did to that witch. Kathryn is poison Sebastian don't you realize that?"
"You certainly wanted me to believe that didn't you? Having Gwendolyn tell me it was all Kathryn's doing. You had to turn us totally against one another."
Looking him in the eye she said "exactly. God Sebastian don't you get it I did this for you!"
"No you did it for you!" He yelled back just as angry "you wanted to get married and you didn't want her in the way."
She approached him a look of determination on her face "you're right I do want to marry you and you want to marry me. You purposed remember? I was the one with reservations but you insisted telling me you would make me happy. Hell Sebastian I even offered you an out of the whole thing but you said no way." Standing in front of him she let her hand touch his cheek. In a softer voice she said "yes I lied to you but no more than you lied to me. We both hurt each other Sebastian but I'm past it now. I can forgive you for going to Kathryn. The question is can you forgive me when all I was trying to do was love you?"
"Don't you mean manipulate?"
"No Sebastian, Kathryn is the manipulator. Tell me something in all your time with her did she ever make you happy? Did she ever make you laugh? Did you ever feel like you could trust her?" Gently she asked "did she ever tell you she loved you?"
As Annette asked all these questions Sebastian's mind wandered back to the past few weeks with Kathryn. He remembered that first time in bed with her. That challenge she issued him that he lost a few hours later. Kathryn calling out his name after she fell off that horse. Kathryn laughing after they made love in her bed. The look of pain in her face when she told him she would hate him if she had to. And then he recalled all those times it seemed she was trying to tell him something. It was then he realized the truth.
"No she never did. I suppose you're right that's not what Kathryn and I were about" he told her his face remaining placid.
Annette smiled slightly "you once told me I'm the only girl you ever loved. If that's true you'll forget about Kathryn and marry me today."
Sebastian let his hands caress her hair "you still want to marry me after all of this?"
She nodded "more than anything. But I have to know you forgive me and you're finished with her."
Sebastian waited an adequate amount of time before answering. In truth he already knew the answer, he always had. Breaking away from her he walked over to the vanity and picked up the photo. He knew now who had sent it and why. Tearing his eyes away from the picture he looked into Annette's hopeful face. That face he had fallen in love with all that time ago. That face that had lied to him countless times before. "Annette will you marry me?"
She smiled at him as she let out a laugh and jumped into his arms and squealed "yes! I'll marry you. I love you so much Sebastian!"
As he hugged her a smile formed on his lips with just a hint of malice. "I'm counting on it" Sebastian whispered.
Pulling one of his hands away from her he glanced back at the photo then flipped it over. He wasn't the least bit surprised to find a message written on the back in familiar hand writing:
Meet me in the west wing parlor after you receive this. We need to talk - K.
* * * * * *
At about the same time the wedding party was arriving at the church Kathryn was eagerly staring at her watch. What the fuck was keeping him? She had sent the maid up with that package almost an hour ago but so far she hadn't heard from him.
She knew she probably should of just shown him that stupid picture herself. However she just couldn't resist screwing Annette over one last time. Kathryn had prayed that they would watch that tape of them together, he would catch her in a lie then see the picture and end things right away.
Walking over to the window she looked out at the rain and wondered if he perhaps didn't get it or maybe me did. As she plotted out her latest scheme she hadn't wanted to think that he might decide he wanted to marry Annette in spite of everything. After all Sebastian did claim to love the little hick. Kathryn had never really believed it or rather didn't want to but maybe she was wrong.
Still she told herself no matter if he loved her or not he would still never marry her if he knew what she put them through. Kathryn's fists tightened as she thought about Annette and her holier than thou attitude she walked around with when the whole time she turned out to be just as big a manipulator as herself. Fucking hypocrite.
Annette had screwed her over royally but now thanks to her she just might get what she always wanted, a life with Sebastian. She had denied it long enough. He was what she wanted. He was the only man she ever loved. And he loved her. She smiled at the thought. They were going to be happy together and there was nothing that could stand in their way.
"Ding, Dong! Ding Dong!"
Although the main house was a little ways from the chapel and the rain was coming down fiercely Kathryn could still hear the sound of the church bells. She had attended more than a few weddings on the estate and knew that was the signal for the wedding to begin.
No! No he couldn't marry Annette. He loved her didn't he? After everything they had been through he was once again going to chose Annette over her. He rejected her yet again.
Slowly Kathryn sunk down to the floor not caring that her expensive pale blue dress was getting wrinkled in the process. How could he do this to her again? The question ran over and over again in her head as she tried to hold back the tears that so desperately wanted to fall.
No she would not cry. It was a sign of weakness and she wasn't weak. She had yet to shed one tear over him and she wasn't about to start now. No, no, no.
However as she stared at her pitiful reflection in the window and thought about him with his new wife the tears began to form and she no longer had the strength to hold them in.
* * * * * *
As the church bells rang out Sebastian made his way quickly down the isle completely confident and cool. Before he reached the alter he felt someone tug on his arm. "Sebastian did you talk to Kathryn?"
Sebastian turned around at the sound of Blaine's voice. "No I haven't."
"Well did she tell you about..."
He nodded "yeah I know about Annette hiring Gwendolyn."
Blaine looked at him confused "and you're still going through with this?"
"Blaine I've made my decision" he said before heading up to the alter.
"So son you still going through with this?"
Sebastian turned to his father and glared at him "don't start."
Before he could push further the bridesmaids began to make there appearance. As each one got to the end of the isle their smiles quickly vanished as they glared at Sebastian. He sneered back at them but quickly plastered a smile to his face as the wedding march began. Everyone stood as Annette and Mr. Hardgrove made there way down the is isle.
"I love you" Annette whispered to him right before the priest began.
Sebastian didn't smile back only said coldly "I know."
The priest began and as he went on Sebastian's eyes remained firmly intact on Annette. They only wavered slightly when priest asked if anyone objected to the union. Out of the corner of his eye he saw Blaine shake his head in disgust but no one said anything. He could feel Annette relax in relief. Good Sebastian thought, it will make all of this worth it.
The priest asked Annette if she would love him to death do they part and with all the love in the world she said "I do."
Then it was Sebastian's turn. He took Annette's hands and is and when the priest asked him the same he smile happily and replied "no way."
As he expected Annette's smile immediately fell and the guests began to stir wondering if they really heard what they thought they did. "S-Sebastian" she stuttered "what are you doing?"
"Oh I'm sorry Annette what I meant is there's no chance in hell that I'm ever marrying you."
She pulled her hands away quickly and looked up at him stunned while his father snickered "thank god he's come to his senses."
"You bastard you said you'd forget what happened" she whispered near tears.
"Yeah well I lied. Come on Annette did you really think I was just going to forget everything you put me through? You know me better than that."
As Annette looked at him in stunned horror her father quickly approached them "what is the meaning of this Sebastian? How dare you treat her like this."
Sebastian smiled coldly "well Annette would you like me to tell dear old dad the truth?" Turning to the old man he smirked "it's a hell of a story sir."
"Sebastian don't" she whispered tears falling down her face. Although he really wanted to tell Annette's daddy all about what a class A manipulator his daughter turned into he didn't have the time. He had to get to Kathryn before it was too late.
Looking Annette in the eye he said "the short of it is I'm in love with someone else." Grabbing Annette's chin roughly he sneered "and I'm no one's puppet least of all yours." Sebastian then pushed her away cruelly not caring in the least about the sobs that escaped her.
As the murmur from the crowd began to rise Sebastian quickly headed back down the isle. On his way out the door he heard Blaine tell him "well done."
However Sebastian didn't have time to chat. He had to find Kathryn then beg, plead whatever it took for her to forgive him and take him back. He pushed open the heavy chapel doors and ran out into the pouring rain. Nothing would stop him this time for getting what he wanted.
* * * * * *
Wiping the tears from her face Kathryn stood back up and straightened her dress. She truly was disgusted with herself for losing it and especially over a guy. Even though she knew it wasn't just any guy she still wouldn't let herself be controlled by her emotions.
"Fuck him" she said out loud as she checked her reflection in the mirror. She wasn't going to sit around and cry about him anymore like some loser.
Holding her head up Kathryn headed for the main door of the house. She stopped momentarily as she passed the ball room which was all done up for the reception. Shaking her head sadly she turned and left.
It was still poring as Kathryn opened up the heavy door. She was about to call for her driver when she noticed someone running up to the house. It took her a minute to recognize the handsome blond guy dressed in a tux. It was Sebastian.
Kathryn watched slightly entranced as Sebastian made his way to the door completly soaked. When he called out "Kathryn!" The cold expression she was wearing suddenly melted away and she smile almost giddy for the first time in her life. Without a thought of the rain or her dress Kathryn ran out after him.
Sebastian smiled as he saw her approach him. As she ran down the steps and he was only a few feet away they both stopped momentarily. Both grinning like idiots Sebastian yelled over the rain "I didn't marry her! I love you!" Kathryn reached for his hand and he started to pull her towards him when-
"Bang!...Bang!"
Before Sebastian could pull Kathryn into his arms he fell into hers with two bullets in him.
- to be continued (Please Review)