Thanks to Nepeace, oOoOo, countryfreak, adpi22, oceanwave, PeTiTeCaT, MissyJane, krisnina77, and diamondlilymay for reviewing Chapter 7. Oh, and if I don't mention you, and you did review, it's only because it hasn't shown up on ff.net at the time I'm writing this. But thanks to you all as well!

Sorry about all the suspense, angst, and whatnot. I hope my ending doesn't let y'all down. I still don't even know how or when to end it… Ugh! I should really plan these things out before I write them, huh?

On with the story!

~~$~@~$~~

Sara looked down at her watch as she pulled into the parking lot behind St. Andrews church. It was already 1:30. She was only a half hour late. No biggie, right? She secretly hoped that Monica got nervous or something and they had to start later.

She quietly stepped inside the building. She had entered through the back, so she would have to walk all the way down the long hallway on the side, and around to the front of the building. She saw a few people she didn't recognize. "Excuse me?" She said politely to an elderly couple,

"Yes dear?" The man answered.

"Is there a wedding going on right now?"

"No, there isn't."

"There isn't?" Sara asked shocked. "Maybe I got the address wrong then."

"There was a wedding here. It ended just a couple of minutes ago." The woman spoke up.

"Oh. Uh thanks." Sara quickly walked to the main entrance of the main area of the church. It was completely empty except for a few altar boys who seemed to be getting ready for the next mass.

Sara walked slowly up the aisle, and took a seat in one of the pews in the middle of the church. She leaned back and let out the breath she had been holding since she got there. "I was too late. Damn traffic."

"I can't believe he just called off the wedding like that," a female voice said.

"Why are you complaining? It's not like you loved him anyways. He was only doing it for the baby." Sara turned around and saw a woman in a simple white gown sitting in the very last pew with another woman who had on a pale pink dress. 'How did I not notice them before?' she asked herself.

"I know. And at least he'll take the baby as soon as I give birth so I won't have to deal with it," the woman in the white dress, who she assumed was Monica said.

"You just hate the fact that you were left up at the altar, Mon."

Yep it was Monica. Sara turned back around to face the altar so they wouldn't notice her eaves dropping.

"I can't believe he's paying me for this kid. I never took Nick for the fatherly type."

That was enough for Sara. She stood up and turned around to leave the church and go find Nick.

But she turned too quickly without looking and ran right into another body. A strong body at that. She felt arms go around her waist to prevent her from falling over. She instinctively grabbed onto the other person to steady herself.

"Going somewhere?"

Sara looked up into the prettiest, deepest brown eyes she had ever seen. "Nick," she breathed.

"Hey," he said softly.

"Hi." Sara blushed slightly and pulled away from him, but Nick didn't let go of her.

"I didn't think you'd come."

"Uh Nick, you're still holding onto me…"

"Sorry. I guess it just felt so natural." Sara blushed at his comment, and Nick let go of her. "You look amazing, by the way."

"So do you," she said looking him over from head to toe. He was wearing a plain black tuxedo.

They stood in silence just looking at each other for a few minutes.

Then Sara broke the silence. "I should go. I don't know what to say to you. I heard Monica. Nick, why?"

Nick silenced her by placing two fingers to her lips. "Sara –"

He was cut off when Monica and Bianca walked up them. "Nick, I hope you're sure about this," Monica said.

Nick turned around. "Monica, I'm sure. I'll have a lawyer draw up a legal document if I have to, but I will not let you get rid of my baby."

"Fine. Oh and here's your ring back." Monica took the simple engagement ring off her finger and handed it to Nick.

Nick took the ring and watched as Monica and Bianca left the church. He turned around and found Sara to be gone. He was now standing alone in the middle of the aisle, holding the engagement ring. "Sara?" He called out. That's when he spotted her heading out one of the side doors quickly. "Sara!" He called louder. She kept going.

Tonight I'm tangled in my
Blanket of clouds
Dreaming aloud
Things just won't do without you
Matter of fact
I'm on your back

If you walk out on me
I'm walking after you

Sara rushed outside to the parking lot where her Tahoe was parked. She knew she needed to get out there fast before Nick could catch up to her. She was sure he was chasing after her. She swore she heard him call her name, but the only thing she could hear was the pounding of her heart sounding in her ears.

Nick ran outside and spotted her walking quickly toward her Tahoe. He was glad she was wearing heels and couldn't move too much faster, for he knew Sara ran a lot and could possible beat him if she needed to. And right now was probably a time she knew she needed to beat him.

If you'd accept surrender
I'll give up some more
Weren't you adored?
I cannot be without you
Matter of fact
I'm on your back

If you walk out on me
I'm walking after you

Sara cursed her heals, as she finally neared her Tahoe. She reached into her purse, pulled out her keys, and slipped the right one into the lock. Before she could open the door, however, she felt a strong hand on her arm, pulling her hand away from the door handle. Then she felt another arm on her shoulder, turning her around, her back facing the one and only thing that could get her away from the one and only person she couldn't face right now.

Nick held onto her tightly, making sure she couldn't shake out of his grip. She refused to meet his gaze, but that didn't matter. "Sara? Why are you running away from me?"

"Because…"

"Because why?"

Another heart is cracked
In two
I'm on your back

She stared down at the ground, and let out a long sigh. "Because I can't let you mess up your life or the life of your baby for me…. And I'm just not sure… I'm confused… I don't know"

Nick loosened his grip, but didn't let go of her completely. "Sara, marrying Monica would have been the biggest mistake of my life."

"Your baby deserves two parents. A family. Marrying Monica would have given you that."

"But I don't love her. What kind of kid wants to be with two parents who don't love each other. I love you. Not her. And raising a baby in a family like that just wouldn't be right," Nick said as he stepped closer to Sara.

She could feel his breath on her face now and it sent shivers up and down her spine. "At least he or she would be with both of his or her parents. What if the kid grows up to despise you for not being with its mother? I can't stand in the way of that. You'd end up resenting me, and I'd hate myself, and it would just get ugly."

"Sara, look at me." When she didn't comply he cupped her face with his hands, and brought her to face him. "I love you. I want a life with you. I want a family and kids with you. I don't care what it takes. I guess this whole situation has shown me how much I need you. Yes, my child may be upset with me, with Monica, maybe even with you, but that will not stop me from loving you, and feeling the way I do. And I'm sure this baby will grow to love you as his or her own mother. You'll see."

Sara just looked into his eyes. She knew he was telling the truth, but she couldn't bring herself to tell him that she knew.

When Sara didn't say anything, Nick spoke up again. "Please say something. Sara, please? Don't walk away from me, please. I need you."

Sara swallowed the lump in her throat. "I have to go Nick. I need to go." She stepped away from him, and opened the driver's side door of her Tahoe.

Nick just watched as she got in the SUV and started the car. She didn't even look at him once before pulling out of the parking lot and driving away from the church. Nick knew there was nothing he could do just then. He'd wait. As soon as her Tahoe was out of sight, he headed back into the church to find Warrick who had driven him there before the wedding started.

Sara only got a few blocks away from the church before she had to pull off to the side of the road. She was being blinded by tears and knew if she didn't pull over soon, she could get into an accident. She turned off the engine, and leaned forward on the steering wheel, one arm on top of the other. She leaned her forehead on top of her arms as the sobs shook her whole body.

~~$~@~$~~

TBC

Okay, so Nick didn't marry Monica. One hurdle down, one more to go. Will Sara go back to Nick? Or will she be the one to take drastic measures? Haha! You'll just have to wait and find out!

Sorry this chapter wasn't as long as I had said it would be, but I just thought it was a good place to stop for now.

The song in this chapter was "Walking After You" by the Foo Fighters. I found it on the "X-Files – the Movie" soundtrack, which was actually very good.

Please review, and let me know what you think, but leave the flames at home! Thanks!