Wedding Day

It had been almost a week since Taylor and Christy had encountered the voices. The two still thought about it often but decided to put away the thought for today because today was Taylor's wedding day. She and Christy had been busy all morning getting ready for it. Casey had bee helping them too.

"Taylor…I can't believe you're getting married!" Casey cried. She looked at her once little girl. Now she was a woman. Taylor smiled at her. She still had the same smile from when she was six years old.

Casey had been collecting fruit all day and had taken Taylor with her. Taylor was being a six-year-old and asked every five minutes when they would be done and she was driving Casey up a tree…literally.

The older woman jumped down from the low hanging branch she was on and caught herself on the ground. She stood up and told Taylor to come with her to the next tree and headed in that direction. When she heard no food steps she turned to find her daughter gone.

"Taylor?" She asked, quickly become agitated with her offspring's behavior. There was no answer to her call so she asked again. "Taylor?" She asked a little louder this time. She walked back to the tree and looked around. Taylor wasn't there.

She walked over to near by trees and looked behind them to see if Taylor was playing a game with her. When she didn't find her she became worried. "Taylor?" She called out franticly. "Taylor, where are you?" She ran back to the tree she was at before and stood there calling for her little girl.

Suddenly, Casey heard a giggle from above her. She looked up to find Taylor dangling from a tree branch by her knees. "Look mommy! I can climb trees too!" Her brilliant smile shone like the sun. Casey had the strongest urge to slap her for what she did but had the heart not to. She couldn't resist that smile.

"I'm so excited!" Taylor said in response to her mother's statement. "I can't wait to marry Aaron. I really love him." Taylor had gone with her mother's idea of wearing all white like she had for her wedding.

She had on a pair of white slacks and a white tank that looked like it was made especially for her; it fit her like a dream. Her hair was curled with a set of sponge rollers Casey had set aside for such and occasion and a single whit orchid finished the ensemble by sitting b3ehind her right ear. She looked like an angel.

While Casey couldn't stop thinking about the fact that her daughter was getting married, all Taylor could think about was Aaron. She couldn't wait to marry him and she knew he felt the same. They were in love and there was no denying it. She thought about what he looked like…what he decided to wear…just everything there was to think about.

Before she knew it, Taylor was at the lake with Christy and her mother. People were there too and so was Aaron. He looked so handsome. Taylor couldn't think of a time when he looked handsomer.

Jack stood in front of her. He was ready to give her away, or at least as ready as a father can be to give his little girl away. She looked like her mother so much it made Jack sick…but in a good way. She looked so beautiful and so grown up. Jack could only see this little seven-year-old girl asking all of these questions with two missing front teeth. Now she was a woman and about to be married. It was too much for Jack to even think about. Tears filled his eyes but none fell.

"I love you monkey. You know that right?" Jack asked as he took her arm.

"Yes pop. I know that. And I love you too." Taylor smiled at Aaron as Jack and her walked slowly towards them. "I'm so happy, pop." Now Jack smiled. He turned to look at her and saw her bright smile. She was happy and as long as she was happy so was he.

The walk down the center aisle seemed too short for Jack. It was the last time that she'd actually be 'his'. He hated to give her up but he kissed her cheek and handed her to Aaron then went to stand next to his wife.

Walt was performing the ceremony. They thought it was only appropriate. Locke normally would have done it but he passed away only three years earlier. Walt took after him in every way he could despite his father's wishes. So, now he stood with Taylor and Aaron…marrying them.

Taylor could hear every word that Walt was saying but she was necessarily paying attention. She had locked eyes with Aaron and couldn't let go. Aaron said 'I do' to something and she snapped out of it in time to say 'I do' herself.

"You may now kiss the bride!" Walt said excitedly. Aaron and Taylor leaned in for a kiss and smiled brightly, both of them. Everybody clapped and cheered for the new Mr. and Mrs. Aaron Pace.

The rest of the night was a party. A celebration in honor of Aaron and Taylor's marriage. There was music provided by Charlie, there was food, and there was happiness. The night was going so well, Taylor couldn't have asked for a more perfect day. The lake had been beautiful with the small water fall ant all of the flowers in bloom; it was like a paradise.

"So how does it feel to be someone else's monkey?" Jack asked his daughter as they danced.

"Dad…I'm only Aaron's wife. I'll always be your monkey. I don't think anyone would have the guts to call me that other than you." She smirked.

"Yeah, well…" Jack trailed off. He looked back at this daughter and found himself at a loss of words. He saw a little seven-year-old girl with two missing front teeth standing on his feet. He blinked again and saw he 'real' daughter smiling at him. Everything was perfect in his opinion.

"Pop, thanks for…" now Taylor trailed off. A sound came from the jungle. It was something Taylor had never heard before.

A howl? A screech? Taylor couldn't find a word in her vocabulary that described what she heard. It was almost mechanical she thought. Bird flew up out of the trees and the ground shook slightly. Trees shook in the distance. What was that thing?

Jack's face paled at the sound. It was back. It had left them alone for almost fifteen years, why did it have to come back now? This was awful and Jack didn't know how to answer Taylor's question of 'what was that?' How could he tell her everything? He didn't want to so he struck up another conversation and took her hands and danced again. She indulged him in conversation despite her confusion. Soon she had let it go and was having a wonderful time again.

Jack twirled her right into Aaron's arms. She knew it was him immediately. She laid her head down on his chest and let him rap his arms around her waist. His whit shirt felt good to the touch.

"My mother's already begging for grandchildren." Taylor laughed.

"Really?" Aaron was surprised at how soon it was before someone made a request for kids.

"You know…I don't think we've ever really talked about kids before?" Taylor picked her head up to talk to her husband.

"I don't think we have either." Aaron answered truthfully. "Why don't we let it go for tonight and just have good time. After all it is out wedding night!" Aaron kissed her temple and brought her in closer. It really was the perfect day.