Chapter 49: Kimberly's Memories

The day finally came, the day of Ann and Brandon's wedding arrived. Kimberly was about to go upstairs when Tommy noticed the tears in her eyes. He got up from his chair and placed his hands on her shoulders. "Hey, we both knew this day would come," he insisted.

"I know, but it just seems like yesterday I just held her in my arms and now she's going to be coming down those stairs and getting married," she sighed.

He placed a kiss on the side of her head and sighed. Katie walked over and pulled on Kimberly's dress. "Mommy, why are you crying?" She asked. Kimberly kneeled down and smiled at her daughter.

"Mommy just can't believe that your sister is getting married today," she replied.

Katie touched her mother's face and smiled. "You still have us," she giggled. Kimberly nodded and kissed Katie's forehead.

"Mommy has to get Ann ready," she stated.

Katie nodded and watched Kimberly go upstairs.

Ann was putting her make-up on when Kimberly came in. "Hey," she greeted. Kimberly smiled and closed the door.

"You look so beautiful," she whispered.

(Flashbacks)

(Nineteen Years Ago)

Kimberly was sitting in a rocking chair and was trying to calm her baby girl down. This was before Jake found her and made her life a living nightmare. Ann opened her eyes and gurgled. "Hey sweetie pie," she whispered. Ann wrapped her tiny hand around Kimberly's finger. "You are my sunshine, my only sunshine. You make me happy when skies are gray. You'll never know dear how much I love you so please don't take my sunshine away," she sang. She watched as her baby fell asleep.

(Seventeen Years Ago)

Kimberly was waiting for Jake to go to bed before going upstairs to Ann's room. Ann was sitting up in bed with a picture of Tommy in her arms. "Mommy, would you tell me a story?" She requested. Kimberly smiled and sat down.

"Well, years ago, a lovely young woman was at her best friend's karate tournament. She was trying to get him ready for his competition when she saw his competitor across the gym. He was so handsome as he was practicing his karate. She felt like she was floating on a cloud. Her best friend and this guy tied in the karate tournament. The next day at school, a bully was trying to get her to go out with him..." she started.

Ann smiled as she listened to the story. "The boy and the girl shared their first kiss by the lake and they went to the dance together that Saturday," she finished.

"Mommy, is that the end?" Ann asked.

Kimberly smiled and touched her daughter's face. "This story will have an ending soon enough," she assured.

"The song," Ann yawned.

Kimberly had her daughter get under her covers and tweaked her nose. "You are my sunshine, my only sunshine. You make me happy when skies are gray. You'll never know dear how much I love you. So please don't take my sunshine away," she sang softly. Ann then drifted off to sleep. She then placed a kiss on her forehead. "I love you, Ann," she whispered. She then got up and walked out of the room. She then shut the lights off. "You will see the ending sweet heart," she added. Then she left.

(Thirteen Years Ago)

"MOMMY! MOMMY!" She called. Kimberly had opened the door when she heard her daughter's calls. She went down on her knees and hugged her tight.

"Did grandma treat you right?" She asked.

"Yeah, mommy, I got to meet daddy," Ann giggled.

Kimberly looked up to see Tommy walking over to them and smiled at him. "Tommy, I still can't believe you brought her home," she stated. Tommy grabbed her hand and looked at Ann before looking at her.

"I always keep a promise, Kim, remember that," he whispered.

He sent Ann inside and gently placed his hands on Kimberly's beaten waist and looked at her face. The only place that Jake hadn't touched with his fists. "I'll be fine, Tommy, the bruises will heal," she insisted.

"But, will the glow in your eyes return from what happened?" He asked.

Kimberly sighed as she looked at him. "Time will bring the glow back," she replied. He kissed her forehead before they went inside.

(End Flashbacks)

"You were able to see that happy ending after all," she whispered. Ann looked at her mother with a confused look.

"What?" She asked.

Kimberly smiled and pulled up a chair next to her. "When you were two, I was telling you a story about when I was with your father when we were in high school. You asked me about a happy ending. Sweetie, you saw my happy ending, now I get to see yours," she stated. Tears welled up in Ann's eyes and she embraced her mother.

"I did get to see that happy ending," she agreed.

Kimberly hugged her tight and sniffled. Both mother and daughter were crying together. Kimberly pulled away and cradled her daughter's face in her hands. "You are my sunshine, my only sunshine," she started.

"You make me happy when skies are gray," Ann joined in.

"You'll never know dear how much I love you so please don't take my sunshine away."

"I love you mom."
"I love you too baby."

She then fixed Ann's make-up and got her into her dress. "Sweetie, I want you to have this," she stated. She snapped a necklace around her neck. "Your dad gave it to me before I left for Florida. The last thing he gave me before I found out I was carrying our precious gift," she explained. Ann looked in the mirror and looked at herself.

She was wearing white high heels, a flowing white gown, the necklace her mother gave her, a pair of pearl earrings, and a tiara sat on her head.

The dress was long and it had a three feet back to it. It zipped up and it was spaghetti strapped. The dress was full of beads shaped like flowers and a white sash was tied around her waist. She had a tint of pink added into her dress.

The necklace was a golden chain with a heart charm.

Kimberly took a deep breath and decided to leave her daughter alone before the wedding. "Your father will be up in a little while to get you," she informed. Ann kissed her mother's cheek before Kimberly left.

Author's Note: Change of plans, there are still quite a few chapters left. So this isn't the end of course. Review please.