Guests whispered and pointed and gasped. Daphne couldn't believe her eyes. She had wanted Fred at her wedding, but sitting and watching, not opposing.

"Um, would you please excuse me for a moment, please?" The possible-bride touched her love's shoulder, and trudged down the aisle. She grabbed Freddy's wrist, and pulled him into the service area. She secured the secrecy by closing the doors.

"Fred, what are you doing?"

"We were fourteen. You went away to camp, and we wrote each other every day. Except, every time I went to send a letter, Red Herring would be at the mailbox. He would tease me and say that I loved you. I kept telling him that you were my best friend."

"Freddy, why are you…"

"On our senior year, we had our prom; I went to the dance with Sarah Rogers, and you went with Bryan Caleb. We danced with our partners the whole night, and barely got a word in with each other. Yet, Julie Cameron announced that you and I were the king and queen of the dance. After our dance, people insisted that we were the cutest couple ever. Once again, I told them you were just my best friend."

"What is the point of this?"

"Last year, at our graduation, we were called "The two that would be together forever." And again, I called you my best friend."

Daphne took a gander at what he was trying to prove. "Yes, we have been together for a long time. And that's why I'm so glad you're here!" She smiled. "But you didn't have to make such a dramatic entrance."

"Daphne, have you ever considered that so many people said we'd be perfect together because it was actually true?"

"No, it was because I was cheerleading captain, and you were the football star."

"Daph," Fred placed his hand on hers. "You are not my best friend anymore. You are my love. You are the girl that I have been with since I was three. You are the one that I love falling asleep to movies with. You are the one I want to be with…forever. Forever. You are perfect, absolutely perfect, and beautiful, and strong."

The girl felt her eyes widened. She inhaled deeply, but still felt out of breath. "Freddy, we can fall asleep watching movies any time. But still as friends."

"I've been just your friend for so long, because I thought that you would never leave me. But now that you're getting married, we won't be doing those things any more. You won't be there for me, and we won't be called the best couple. When we were younger, I never had to worry about you going away. But now, you will. I need you to stay here! I need you to be with me."

"Freddy, you don't want me to be your love: you just want me to be here all the time."

"NO!" He thundered, and took her head in his hands. "I know everything about you! I admit, that just a half hour ago, I didn't know how I felt. We have been so close that I never considered us as more then what we've had. But think about it: we care about each other more then anything in the world, and we are together at least 18 hours of the day! We risk our necks for each other in mysteries many times! That's love!"

"Here," Freddy wrapped his arms around her waist. He pressed her head against his shoulder. "Feel this! This is what it is to be held by someone who loves you!" Fred smelled her hair, and closed his eyes, begging that she would understand.

But Daphne was not swooned. She lifted her head. "We are not lovers. We are great friends. And you are right that I care about you a lot, but the love of my life is standing outside, waiting for me. I… I have to go." She turned. But before exiting the room, she felt something slip from her sleeve. It was Fred's old ascot. She looked at it, lying on the floor. She bent down to pick it up, but met someone else's fingers there.

"You kept this?" The blonde-haired hunk questioned.

"Of course I did. It was my reassurance that I would still have friends when I returned home from camp." She held it gently in her hands. She stared at it for many moments before speaking.

"I'll miss you. While I'm on my honeymoon."

"Yeah, right. You'll have Saint Jacob there with you. You'll forget I exist."

"I will not, and you know it!"

"Oh, come on, Daph!" He was now yelling. "It's clear now that you don't actually care about me! If you did, you'd be willing to stop this, and we could talk it over! But no, I was fun to be around as kids. But you have a husband, and he will all you think about!"

That was it. Daphne Blake had had enough. "HOW CAN YOU EXPECT ME TO DO THIS?"

"… What?"

"How can you expect me to just walk out there, and tell everybody that the wedding is off? Especially, because I have strong feelings for the man in the tuxedo! And how the heck can you waltz in here and expect me to just give it all up for you? I do love you, Freddy, but I am getting married! I am MOVING ON!"

"You just said you loved me," Freddy had lowered his voice.

"No, I didn't."

"Yes, you did. And you said that you had 'strong feelings' for Jacob!"

Daphne curled her lips under her teeth. She felt tears expose themselves. Several fell from her eyes. "Even if I did love you…"

The sound of shuffling came from the hall. People were getting restless.

Daphne felt her heart grow smaller. She whispered low. "It's too late."

"Too late?" The boy repeated.

"I'm getting married to Jake. We are going to be happy together." She continued, "Oh, gosh, why now! Why not yesterday? Why not months ago! Why couldn't you have told me before? I might have… then… done something."

"You can still do something, now." Fred grabbed her shoulders. "We can still be together forever!"

"Freddy," Daphne touched his face, "we lost. We didn't make it. I have given my heart to Jake, and I can't get it back. I'm sorry," she began stepping backwards. "Please be happy for me. We will still always be as close as we are."

"God!" Fred fumed. He stood there for a minute, eyes at the wall.

Finally, he looked at his love. "Fine."

"Fine?" She hadn't expected that.

"As long as you can honestly go out there, and swear that you love him with 100 of your heart, I won't interfere. Have a nice life!" The teenager stormed away, leaving the distraught girl alone in the room.

Daphne stood there, thinking about absolutely nothing. Then, clicking back to the present, she spun around and walked, again, through large doors. People hushed, wondering what was going to happen.

"Everything okay?" Jacob whispered.

"Um, yeah." Daphne just couldn't believe what had happened.

The priest opened his book once more, and continued, though Daphne was hardly paying attention

I told Freddy I loved him, she thought to herself. Why did I do that? I love Jake, she looked at her fiancée and smiled. He was apparently making his vow. But by the time she had tuned in, he was finished, and it was her turn.

"I, Daphne Blake, take you, Jacob Burns, to be my mate in life, to share memories with, and to love for all eternity." I really wish Fred wouldn't be such a drama king! "Though we've only known each other for a couple months, I feel like I've known you for all my life." Fred really has gotten to me. I look at Jacob and see him. But I'm not marrying Freddy. I am not, and that's how fate predestined it to be.

"Do you, Jacob Burns, take Daphne Blake as your lawful wedded wife, to have and to hold, to love and to cherish, for richer or poorer, through sickness and health, till death do you part, for as long as you both shall live?"

Brown haired, green eyed Jacob gave an award-winning grin. "I do."

Fred is too late, though. I love Jake.

"And do you, Daphne Blake, take Jacob Burns to be your lawful wedded husband, to have and to hold, to love and to cherish, for richer or poorer, through sickness and health, till death do you part, for as long as you both shall live?"

The matured teenager opened her mouth to speak, but was held back. She felt a warmness suddenly heat up her palm. She rubbed her fingers against Fred's ascot, which had fallen from its place in her sleeve.

It reminded her of how wonderful Fred had been and was, and the great memories she had had with him. The precious times when she considered her relationship with him, and the sacred times when she was fast asleep at his side (fallen asleep to a movie).

What am I going to do? Suddenly, she was petrified. Why does he have to play games with me?

Daphne exhaled, and looked an awaiting Jacob straight in the eyes. She knew what was right; she knew what her heart wanted. She, once again, made an O with her mouth, and spoke………