Chapter 3: The Secret

You were out on a walk with Ivan; it was the weekend before your wedding day. You giggled at another joke he told you, and your hands swung merrily. Neither you nor your fiancé's cheeks could be any brighter with mirth. The wedding was so close, and you hardly remembered that a battle was on its way if they found you. Hopefully when they did it would be after the wedding.

You both had planned your honeymoon since you didn't really have much else to do, and the idea of intimacy wasn't an issue anymore. If you guys did it, then whatever, all thoughts of Arthur had gradually been resting at the back of your head. "Your laugh is so adorable." Ivan said charmingly.

"Oh shut up Ivan." You said blushing with his words of flattery.

"No, I don't think I will." He said taking your chin and tilting it up to kiss you.

You let him embrace your mouth warmly.

"_, there's something I have to tell-,"

"_!" A familiar voice exclaimed.

You turned your head to the voice with a snap; your face was as white as the snow that lay before you. Arthur was standing there not thirty feet away, a bouquet of flowers hung limply in his hand. The shell-shocked look on his face was more than you could bare.

"A-Arthur? What are you doing here?"

"You…you promised!" He yelled angrily, even from where you stood you could tell he was close to tears.

"Oh dear." Ivan breathed knowing where this was going.

"Arthur, it's not what it looks like!" You exclaimed. He stormed up to you and rose his hand sharply. "How dare you lie to me?" Yet his hand did not budge an inch closer, as his tears rolled down his face in hot torrents. "I love you _!" He growled.

"Arthur, I love you too, but you don't know what's going on."

"Oh I have quite an idea!" He snapped, "I come all the way here to visit you, and you…you are cheating on me? You said if we ever saw each other again, we'd be together, like we've always planned!"

"My friend, don't yell. This isn't what it is, we are not together like that…at least, not permanently." Ivan said, standing up for you. He was breaking his own heart as he said those and the coming words. He explained the situation ending with, "And as soon as it's all over you can have her back. No questions asked, but please don't breathe a word of this."

Arthur was silent for a good three minutes as he let this matter set into his mind. "No jokes?"

"No jokes." Ivan replied with a serious face.

"I understand…in that case, I suppose I should go back so as to not arose suspicion." Arthur replied.

"I'm sorry you had to see this Arthur." You said sadly.

"It wasn't what I was expecting that's for sure." He replied.

"Well, have good trip, be careful." Ivan told him.

The two shook hands and the Englishman departed after a kiss on your cheek.

When you and your Russian fiancé had returned to his home, you asked, "You were going to say something to me before, but you didn't get a chance too."

"Uh…" How could he tell her now, after what happened with Arthur? It was apparent to him, that no matter how much he loved her, and how much she seemed to care about him in return, her heart would always belong to Arthur. So instead of telling her his feelings he said, "Never mind, I've forgotten."

"Well maybe you'll remember it." You said smiling reassuringly, he nodded.

Soon enough the day came and you pledged your 'I dos', and your families became one. Your grandparents agreed to join forces.

It had only been thirteen hours, of merrymaking and then some peaceful sleep for most. Ivan and you messed around and kissed and in spite of the fact that this was all a plan you both started making out and were hitting second base when the bell rang signaling the gang attack had begun. "Stay here." He hissed firmly as he grabbed weapons. "No! Ivan, don't leave me here, if you go I go. I don't want to lose you Ivan."

"Nor do I, stay here!" He demanded with a force that you had never seen before. His face was mixed with love, anger and concern. He didn't want you to get hurt, and would never forgive himself if you were. He kissed you passionately and left. You waited a few minutes and listened to the ruckus outside the house before you armed yourself with a gun and ran outside with a few layers of clothes on.

You searched through the bloody masses of people around you, luckily dodging bullets that whizzed by. Soon the opposing gang was gone, and there weren't many survivors. Ivan and your parents both had perished. Left over family members offered their condolences when they came across you.

You couldn't care less at the moment; the only thing on your mind was locating Ivan. Then you finally found him, one of two men you loved. You collapsed beside him, and started bawling, he was still alive but not for long. His breathing was slowing, "_...I have to tell you something before I go."

"No, save your breath! I'm not going to lose you!" You screamed, tears pouring down from your eyes. "Please _, listen to me. I love you, for a long time now I've felt this way. Also look for your father's body and search his pockets…There is something for you there. But before you go, grant your dying husbands last request."

"Anything." You sobbed.

"Kiss me."

You leaned in and while cradling his torso in your lap you kissed him, and he kissed you back until he breathed his last breath.

After crying for who knows how long, you memorized this spot and sought out your father's body like you were told. You found what you were looking for, it was a note held together by a ring.

I opened the note and read, the following words.

Dear _,

If you get this note, then I am dead. Your friend Arthur gave me this many months ago, he came to me a couple of months before we moved. He was asking me and your mother for your hand in marriage. But we couldn't allow that to happen. So we lied to him saying that we would hold onto it till he found the right time. We weren't planning on giving it back to him, so he could still have hope. But take it and if Ivan is also dead, then follow your heart and marry him.

Love always, your father and mother.

P.S. I love you. - Forever Yours, Ivan.

I was enveloped into tears again.

You exited the airplane and fell into the arms of the man you've loved since you were young. Arthur held you close then kissed away your tears. You had written to him about all that had happened. He knew you needed him now more than ever, because you did love Ivan, and now he was dead and so were your parents. He had promised her a place in his home, and she told him about the letter she had found as they went to his home. It wasn't much later before he proposed and you were married. You decided to use your old dress because it looked so good on you. Arthur didn't object, ever since Ivan stood up for you and talked to him respectively about what was going on, Arthur had respected Ivan.

It was the anniversary of Ivan and your parents' death, and many others. You approached the many graves and found the one you were looking for. You laid a sunflower on his grave and blew it a kiss. "You were a wonderful husband, even if we were only married for less than 24 hours. I love you Ivan." You smiled as you took the baby from Arthur's arms, his name, was Ivan Arthur Kirkland. Named after the two men she loved most in this life. She blinked back tears and thought of those two last yours on the note. Forever yours.