Some Things Never Change - Alternate Ending
Chapter 2. I Do, Again
Author: j_rock873
Rating: R
Summary: Obviously by the title of this chapter, another marriage occurs. It should be apparently clear who it is. Some of the things that happened or were implied in the original second chapter will happen here along with a few different things. This is the final chapter. It will end happily.
Disclaimer: I own Zoe's best friend, Rachel Smith and Rachel's brother, Daniel. The others belong to the show.
Reviews: Yes, I want them.
Author's notes: Words in italics are personal thoughts and in all capital letters required special emphasis. I borrowed a line from an episode of Dawson's Creek. If you've seen that show, let's see if you can remember the episode.
Two and a half years later
The Sammler/Manning backyard is once again set up for a wedding. While Rick and Jake made sure everything was just right, Lily, Grace, Jessie, and Katie helped Zoe prepare to walk down the aisle for the second time in four and a half years.
"Are you sure you're ready for this so soon, Zoe?"
"Yes, Mom. I know it was only two years after I got divorced that we started planning this wedding, but I love her. She loves me, too. She told that she knew that the first time she met me."
All four girls reflected back to that very eye-opening conversation they had two and half years ago.
Flashback:
"Zoe, why are you acting that way around Rachel? She cares about you enough to check on you after David was arrested."
"It's because of what happened the first day we met, and when we slept together."
"What happened that day? You told us everything about the affair."
"Almost everything."
They were all curious about the reason for her current attitude.
"Ok, here it goes." Zoe took a deep breath before continuing. "The first day we met was by her pool. She saw me coming and acted like Phoebe Cates from Fast Times At Ridgemont High."
"Whoa. She did that on the first day?"
"Yes, and a lot more."
"How much more?"
"She didn't just unbutton her top. She took it off. That was right before she French kissed me while grabbing my butt. Before we laid out in the sun, we helped each other apply suntan lotion. It was fine until she almost ran her hand underneath the bottom half of my bikini."
"Damn, Zoe. She has it bad for you, but who could blame her? Your butt is kind of irresistible," Katie said with a laugh.
Zoe decided to go along with the joke. "When did you start thinking that, Katie?"
"When Jessie and I saw the pictures you and your friends took during your first college Spring Break."
"Yeah, I sort of remember those. Mom and Dad got mad when they saw how revealing my bikini was in those pictures. I'm just glad they didn't see the other ones."
"You mean the ones where you were kissing your friend on a dare?"
"Yes."
"That was kind of hot too."
"Ugh, that's our sister you're talking about, Katie," Jessie and Grace said with obvious disgust.
"Can't you two take a joke by now?"
"Not when you joke about the attractiveness of our sister. It's a little weird. Almost like if Zoe told us she called out your name the first time she was with Rachel."
Zoe blushed immediately as Katie laughed.
"What's so funny, Katie?"
Jessie and Grace weren't sure they wanted to know the reason, but they asked anyway.
"I did," Zoe mumbled.
"You what?' Jessie asked curiously.
"I did call out her name."
Zoe blushed even harder.
"Huh?" Grace questioned her this time.
"I did, OK. I called out KATIE'S name the first time Rachel and I did it."
"WOW!" her sisters exclaimed in shock.
"See, I told you she would," Katie replied with fake arrogance.
"Was she upset?"
"No, since I called her name a few times within a minute after that."
"Are you saying that she was able to make you moan three times within two minutes?"
"YES!"
"Well, she must be very good," Katie said while ignoring Jessie and Grace.
"She is."
Zoe had to turn away when they laughed at her expression. Why did I have to look that way when I told them?
"WHOA!"
"What now, Katie?"
"Those are some impressive bite marks on the back of your neck, Zoe."
The girls laughed once again as Zoe covered the back of her neck before leaving her room in a hurry.
End of the flashback
"Are you ready, Zoe?" Jake asked as he opened the door.
"Yes, I'm ready."
"Do you really love her, Zoe?"
"Yes, I do."
"That's good enough for me."
Jake tried to hold back tears of joy as he walked his daughter, who was obviously too distracted to even look straight ahead, down the aisle. As soon as he saw her fiancée, he let out a little laugh.
"What's so funny, Dad?" Zoe asked while wondering what would cause him to laugh at a moment like this.
She looked over to what was making him act that way. There was her fiancée, Rachel, standing there in a tux. Her beautiful, blonde hair was almost touching her shoulders. I can't believe she wore a tux. That had to be Katie's idea.
"I can't believe you're wearing a tux to your wedding, sis," Rachel's brother Daniel said in amazement. She had chosen him as her best man.
"Katie told me she did the same thing when she married Jessie, and she can be pretty persuasive," Rachel admitted before realizing that someone had begun distracting her brother.
"What's the matter, Daniel?"
"It's that woman over there. She keeps staring at me."
She smiled as she also noticed it and began talking again, "That's Katie's friend, Tara Brody."
"I thought you said she was a lesbian too."
"No, I said she was bi-sexual. You must have been distracted by her looks. She's single too."
"Really?"
"Yes, so sweep her off her feet like I did with Zoe."
"Does that mean I should surprise her with a French kiss while grabbing her butt? Like you did with Zoe?"
"Shut up," Rachel said as she began to blush quickly but was able to stop before Zoe was beside her.
Both Zoe and Rachel had wanted to keep everything pretty simple, so like at Jessie and Katie's wedding, they only said a few words before the vows were read.
"Before they begin, is there anyone here who believes they shouldn't be married? Speak now, or forever hold your peace."
When there was nothing but silence, Rachel started to speak.
"Zoe, when I saw you I knew it was love at first sight. No one had ever made feel that way without even saying one word. After I found out you were married, I was crushed, but I understood why. You're beautiful, intelligent, and have a very caring heart. You also have a very sensitive soul. It's those reasons why I fell for you so fast and love you so much. I also noticed that David would also take you for granted sometimes. I knew if I ever got the chance, I would never do that to you."
She choked back tears as she noticed Zoe, Grace, Jessie, Katie, and their mothers start to cry. Now it was Zoe's turn.
"Rachel, you were there when I needed a friend. Whether it was giving me advice, letting me borrow something, or just being a shoulder to cry on. You only shared your personal feelings about me when you thought it was necessary. You kissed me first, sweetheart. It's for those reasons that I LOVE you."
Rachel began to cry along with the others for a minute.
"Zoe, do you take Rachel to be your lawfully wedded wife? Do you promise to lover her in good times and in bad, in sickness and health, and for richer or poorer as long as you live?"
"I DO."
"Rachel, do you take Zoe to be your lawfully wedded wife? Do you promise to love her in good times and in bad, in sickness and in health, and for richer or poorer as long as you live?"
"I DO."
The girls then shared a soft kiss.
"I now introduce you to Mrs. Zoe and Rachel Manning."
The reception - ten minutes later
Zoe and Rachel danced to "Heaven" by Bryan Adams during their first dance as a newly married couple.
"WHOA! Deja Vu," Jessie said as she gasped.
"What's wrong, Billie?"
"Don't tell me you forgot already?" Jessie said as she started to get upset.
"You mean the nightmare you had years ago? It was just a dream."
"Yeah, I know. It's just weird."
"I understand. Hey, Billie, look at that."
Jessie turned around to see Tara dancing with Daniel as she rested her head on his shoulder. They hadn't seen her smile like that since that day in The Bahamas.
"They really look happy, don't they?"
"Yes, they do. I'm so happy for her, Billie."
"So am I," Jessie announced as she rested her head on Katie's shoulder.
The two couples saw that they were both doing the same thing, shared a smile, and continued to dance to the music.
B&W the entire group: (sitting around while sharing smiles and laughter with everyone)
B&W Zoe: (looks at Rachel, who's resting her head on Zoe's shoulder) "And they ALL lived happily ever after."
B&W Rachel: (looks up, gives her a soft kiss on the cheek, and lays her head back on Zoe's shoulder)
B&W the rest of the group: "AWW!"
The End