Okay, so this was originally meant to be a stand-alone but after reviews
(granted 3) that said it would do well with another chapter I have decided
to add it.
This probably will be only a two part now.
I don't actually know how the whole wedding thing does so if it's wrong it's wrong.
FOREVER HOLD YOUR PEACE
Luka slid silently into the back of the church as Abby reached the altar. She looked beautiful. Her long white dress clung to her every curve and she was positively glowing. She looked happier than Luka had ever seen her before.
The music stopped and everyone fell silent. Carter grinned at Abby and she smiled back.
"I love you," he mouthed.
"Love you too."
Luka clenched his fists. What had given him the stupid idea to come today? Abby had said she wanted him here. So? It's not as if her day would be ruined if he hadn't come. He thought to sneak back out the way he had slipped in, but as he went to stand, the priest began.
"Dearly beloved, we are gathered here today-"
He clenched his fists so hard his short, bitten nails pressed into his skin.
"-to witness the coming together of this man, and this woman into the bonds of Holy matrimony-"
This man and this woman, he thought bitterly. It should be him up there, smiling at a beaming Abby. Not Carter. Not the man who screwed him over every time.
"-the couple have chosen to write their own vows-"
Not matter what he did, Carter always did one better. He got an amazing save at work; Carter got an even more amazing one. Luka had a great story to share with staff members, Carter had a better one. Luka had a funny anecdote; Carter's was funnier. Luka got a great girl; Carter got the best girl. Carter got Abby.
"-Abby-"
Abby smiled at Carter and cleared her throat. "I haven't had the easiest time with relationships and so after a few particularly nasty break ups-"
Namely ours, Luka thought.
"-I never thought I could trust men again. But then my best friend for two years came along and swept me off my feet-"
Yea, right in the middle of our relationship.
"-You always know how to make me feel better when I'm sad and how to help in bad situations. You make me happy-"
Like I couldn't.
"-And I want to make you as happy as I am. I want to spend everyday of the rest of my life with you. You make me feel like I'm spinning and I don't ever want to stop. I love you John."
Luka clenched his fists tighter. Blood dripped in small, slow streams down his hand.
"-John-"
"Abby, after Lucy, I felt like I was dead inside, that I'd stay that way. But you brought me back to life. I feel in love with you the first instant saw you, and I love you more each day. It killed me that when I first met you you were seeing someone-"
Me, you cocky, self-centred, filthy rich bastard.
"-And then I just couldn't work up the courage to tell you how I feel. I can't believe it took a small pox scare to bring us together but I'm glad it did. I can't imagine my life without you, just spending time away from you hurts. I want to grow old together, have kids together and retire to a cottage together. I love you Abby."
A drop of blood fell to the floor, making a small 'plink' as it did so.
"Now, repeat after me. I Jonathan Truman Carter-"
"I Jonathan Truman Carter-"
The third, you forgot the third. Stupid poncy name. What kind of a name is Truman?
"Take you, Abigail Lockhart-"
"Take you, Abigail Lockhart-"
"To be my lawfully wedded wife, in sickness and in health, for richer for poorer, until death do us part."
"To be my lawfully wedded wife, in sickness and in health, for richer for poorer, until death do us part."
"Now, Abigail, repeat after me. I Abigail Lockhart-"
"I Abigail Lockhart-"
Most beautiful women in the world.
"Take you, Jonathan Truman Carter-"
"Take you, Jonathan Truman Carter-"
It should be Luka Mikhail Kovac, he thought. I should be up there marrying her.
"To be my lawfully wedded husband in sickness and in health, for richer for poorer, until death do us part."
"To be my lawfully wedded husband in sickness and in health, for richer for poorer, until death do us part."
These vows mean nothing, Luka shouted to himself in his head. When would Carter ever be poor? Abby shouldn't be marrying Carter; she should be marrying him.
"Can we have the rings please?"
Susan stepped forward and gave a gold wedding band to Abby, whispering something as she did so. Some relative of Carter's handed him the ring.
Luka stopped listening at this point. He could feel blood dry on his palms. He was almost shaking as Carter took Abby's small, delicate beautiful hand and slid the ring on to it, smiling. Abby did the same thing, smiling the same smile.
"If anybody knows good reason why these two people here should not be joined in Holy matrimony, let them speak now, or forever hold their peace."
Luka's legs ached for him to stand up, his jaw was hurting from keeping it clenched, his heart was screaming at him to run to the front of the church, to grab Abby and say she couldn't marry Carter.
"If no one has anything to say then I now pronounce you husband and wife."
Luka had missed his chance. They were married. He'd come to stop it, he'd been ready to shout his story. But when the moment came he couldn't do it. Because for a split second he's registered just how happy Abby looked, how truly happy. And in that split second his heart melted, his fists relaxed, releasing the pressure on his hands, and he couldn't do it. He couldn't hurt Abby like that. He had no right. She was happy, finally happy. And he had to le her go.
"You may now kiss the bride."
Even so, Luka had to look at the floor when they kissed. He couldn't watch that. The band began to play again and the guests clapped as Abby and Carter began to walk towards the doors of the church.
He needed a drink. A stiff drink. Vodka. A bottle. Maybe two. Three or four. Just enough to knock him out for a few hours, to kill to pain in his heart, the pain that made his stomach convulse.
Luka stood up and walked out into the sunlight that burned his eyes. No one would notice him leave now. They were all hugging and kissing the happy couple, and were ready to go off to the reception to get royally pissed. Just the same as Luka. But he didn't have friends or family to do it with. He just sat in the dark and quiet of his apartment and drank until he passed out. All he had to keep him company know were his thoughts.
"Luka!"
Shit he'd been seen. And worse off by Carter. The last thing he wanted to do was look that slimy asshole in the face.
Plastering a fake smile on to his sad and haggard face, Luka turned around. Carter was standing a few metres in front of him, his arms around Abby's waist.
"Glad you could make it."
I bet you are, so you can rub this is my face. You won, I lost, just like always.
"Yea, well-"
"Thanks for coming Luka."
His smile faltered a little as Abby spoke. A lump rose in his throat and he opened his parched lips to force out the words he knew he was expected to say.
"Congratulations."
"Thanks man. You going to stick around for the party."
Luka shook his head and fingered the flask in his pocket. "Things to do, patients to see."
He kissed Abby on the cheek and reluctantly shook Carter's outstretched hand.
"See you around."
He left before they could say anything, across the grass and out of the churchyard. When he came to a bench on the side of the road he sat down and buried his head in his hands, aching for a cold drink to soothe his aching throat.
He hated this. He hated what he had become. He hated that everyone he loved was dead or off with someone else. He hated that his colleagues spoke about him behind his back. He hated that his only friend was a bottle full of clear liquid. But more than anything else...
He hated himself.
This probably will be only a two part now.
I don't actually know how the whole wedding thing does so if it's wrong it's wrong.
FOREVER HOLD YOUR PEACE
Luka slid silently into the back of the church as Abby reached the altar. She looked beautiful. Her long white dress clung to her every curve and she was positively glowing. She looked happier than Luka had ever seen her before.
The music stopped and everyone fell silent. Carter grinned at Abby and she smiled back.
"I love you," he mouthed.
"Love you too."
Luka clenched his fists. What had given him the stupid idea to come today? Abby had said she wanted him here. So? It's not as if her day would be ruined if he hadn't come. He thought to sneak back out the way he had slipped in, but as he went to stand, the priest began.
"Dearly beloved, we are gathered here today-"
He clenched his fists so hard his short, bitten nails pressed into his skin.
"-to witness the coming together of this man, and this woman into the bonds of Holy matrimony-"
This man and this woman, he thought bitterly. It should be him up there, smiling at a beaming Abby. Not Carter. Not the man who screwed him over every time.
"-the couple have chosen to write their own vows-"
Not matter what he did, Carter always did one better. He got an amazing save at work; Carter got an even more amazing one. Luka had a great story to share with staff members, Carter had a better one. Luka had a funny anecdote; Carter's was funnier. Luka got a great girl; Carter got the best girl. Carter got Abby.
"-Abby-"
Abby smiled at Carter and cleared her throat. "I haven't had the easiest time with relationships and so after a few particularly nasty break ups-"
Namely ours, Luka thought.
"-I never thought I could trust men again. But then my best friend for two years came along and swept me off my feet-"
Yea, right in the middle of our relationship.
"-You always know how to make me feel better when I'm sad and how to help in bad situations. You make me happy-"
Like I couldn't.
"-And I want to make you as happy as I am. I want to spend everyday of the rest of my life with you. You make me feel like I'm spinning and I don't ever want to stop. I love you John."
Luka clenched his fists tighter. Blood dripped in small, slow streams down his hand.
"-John-"
"Abby, after Lucy, I felt like I was dead inside, that I'd stay that way. But you brought me back to life. I feel in love with you the first instant saw you, and I love you more each day. It killed me that when I first met you you were seeing someone-"
Me, you cocky, self-centred, filthy rich bastard.
"-And then I just couldn't work up the courage to tell you how I feel. I can't believe it took a small pox scare to bring us together but I'm glad it did. I can't imagine my life without you, just spending time away from you hurts. I want to grow old together, have kids together and retire to a cottage together. I love you Abby."
A drop of blood fell to the floor, making a small 'plink' as it did so.
"Now, repeat after me. I Jonathan Truman Carter-"
"I Jonathan Truman Carter-"
The third, you forgot the third. Stupid poncy name. What kind of a name is Truman?
"Take you, Abigail Lockhart-"
"Take you, Abigail Lockhart-"
"To be my lawfully wedded wife, in sickness and in health, for richer for poorer, until death do us part."
"To be my lawfully wedded wife, in sickness and in health, for richer for poorer, until death do us part."
"Now, Abigail, repeat after me. I Abigail Lockhart-"
"I Abigail Lockhart-"
Most beautiful women in the world.
"Take you, Jonathan Truman Carter-"
"Take you, Jonathan Truman Carter-"
It should be Luka Mikhail Kovac, he thought. I should be up there marrying her.
"To be my lawfully wedded husband in sickness and in health, for richer for poorer, until death do us part."
"To be my lawfully wedded husband in sickness and in health, for richer for poorer, until death do us part."
These vows mean nothing, Luka shouted to himself in his head. When would Carter ever be poor? Abby shouldn't be marrying Carter; she should be marrying him.
"Can we have the rings please?"
Susan stepped forward and gave a gold wedding band to Abby, whispering something as she did so. Some relative of Carter's handed him the ring.
Luka stopped listening at this point. He could feel blood dry on his palms. He was almost shaking as Carter took Abby's small, delicate beautiful hand and slid the ring on to it, smiling. Abby did the same thing, smiling the same smile.
"If anybody knows good reason why these two people here should not be joined in Holy matrimony, let them speak now, or forever hold their peace."
Luka's legs ached for him to stand up, his jaw was hurting from keeping it clenched, his heart was screaming at him to run to the front of the church, to grab Abby and say she couldn't marry Carter.
"If no one has anything to say then I now pronounce you husband and wife."
Luka had missed his chance. They were married. He'd come to stop it, he'd been ready to shout his story. But when the moment came he couldn't do it. Because for a split second he's registered just how happy Abby looked, how truly happy. And in that split second his heart melted, his fists relaxed, releasing the pressure on his hands, and he couldn't do it. He couldn't hurt Abby like that. He had no right. She was happy, finally happy. And he had to le her go.
"You may now kiss the bride."
Even so, Luka had to look at the floor when they kissed. He couldn't watch that. The band began to play again and the guests clapped as Abby and Carter began to walk towards the doors of the church.
He needed a drink. A stiff drink. Vodka. A bottle. Maybe two. Three or four. Just enough to knock him out for a few hours, to kill to pain in his heart, the pain that made his stomach convulse.
Luka stood up and walked out into the sunlight that burned his eyes. No one would notice him leave now. They were all hugging and kissing the happy couple, and were ready to go off to the reception to get royally pissed. Just the same as Luka. But he didn't have friends or family to do it with. He just sat in the dark and quiet of his apartment and drank until he passed out. All he had to keep him company know were his thoughts.
"Luka!"
Shit he'd been seen. And worse off by Carter. The last thing he wanted to do was look that slimy asshole in the face.
Plastering a fake smile on to his sad and haggard face, Luka turned around. Carter was standing a few metres in front of him, his arms around Abby's waist.
"Glad you could make it."
I bet you are, so you can rub this is my face. You won, I lost, just like always.
"Yea, well-"
"Thanks for coming Luka."
His smile faltered a little as Abby spoke. A lump rose in his throat and he opened his parched lips to force out the words he knew he was expected to say.
"Congratulations."
"Thanks man. You going to stick around for the party."
Luka shook his head and fingered the flask in his pocket. "Things to do, patients to see."
He kissed Abby on the cheek and reluctantly shook Carter's outstretched hand.
"See you around."
He left before they could say anything, across the grass and out of the churchyard. When he came to a bench on the side of the road he sat down and buried his head in his hands, aching for a cold drink to soothe his aching throat.
He hated this. He hated what he had become. He hated that everyone he loved was dead or off with someone else. He hated that his colleagues spoke about him behind his back. He hated that his only friend was a bottle full of clear liquid. But more than anything else...
He hated himself.