Thanks for the review MistressLynell! I appreciate it very much. Any ways, I just want to say to my readers that if you have any comments, questions, concerns, or you find a mistake that needs fixing, do not hesitate to let me know. I do not bite people's heads off just because they were trying to help or offering constructive criticism. I welcome it.

-Jane

Ava ran as fast as she could, not caring if the rain was making her blind. She was late, so late and now she had less than ten hours to make a wedding cake and then go with her aunt to get a 'more suitable' dress for the wedding. That gave her less than ten hours, she realized. She cursed Bucky for letting her sleep in but he was no where in sight and he was defiantly in trouble.

She burst through the door and skidded to a stop, realizing her bare feet were dragging in mud onto the tile of the kitchen. The two women who were standing by the oven looked over at her with wide eyes, not sure what she was doing.

"Mother of the..." She turned in circles, noticing that it was way to late to go back. She grabbed a rag that was laying on a counter and tried to clean the mud from the floor and her feet.

Her aunt Esme had just entered the kitchen in time to see the mud from Ava's feet and her beautiful face turned red. "Ava Lene Revoux! Damn it girl I just mopped that floor! And for moon sake's why are you soaking wet!"

Ava froze and her eyes widened. Oh no...She slowly looked over to see her aunt stalking towards her. "But I didn't-"

"Enough, go up stairs and bath for moon's sake and get ready quick. Vivian's dress doesn't fit any more and she is about to lose her head." It looked like Esme was about to, too.

"Yes, 'em." She ducked her head and ran by her aunt, hiding her face from the other two women. How embarrassing to be yelled at in front of other people. Damn her moody aunt.

As she was running up the stairs, she turned the corner to quick and smacked face first into a person. She stumbled back and grabbed the rail before she could fall down the stairs she just climbed. The person turned out to be her father.

"Daddy, you scared me." She put her hand on her chest.

"There you are, I have been looking all morning for you. Esme is pitching a fit. Where were you?" He crossed his arms. He wasn't to enthused about her disappearing after all.

"Daddy I am an adult. I just helped Bucky clean his house last night and fell asleep. I overslept, that's all." She walked up a couple of steps. "And if you see him, you tell him he is in for it." She bared the empty threat on her father to pass and hurried up to her room.

Outside in the hall, were the Five, to her luck. Good this day get any worse? Yes, actually, it can. She shrugged and continued to her door. "Oooh, some one smells like a certain wolf man. Were we frolicking with the ex last night?" Gregory teased her, pulling lightly on a loose stand of hair from her disastrous bun.

She swiped at him and turn toward him. "That is my husband, you nit wit and its non of your business what we were doing. I am surprised you even know the word 'frolicking'." His face hardened and the others behind him began to laugh. She turned toward the door and grabbed the knob.

"Didn't you hear? He took the papers in this morning. You're officially divorced." Gregory said with a smug smirk and she wanted to smash his face into the wall.

It took her breath away hearing that. He took them in.

She gripped the knob and turned it, slamming the door in their faces. Why was she so upset? This is what she wanted. She asked for it; he only did what she had asked. But why did it hurt so much?

Ava did not think her cousin was one to cry over a dress. She was wrong.

The whole way into town Vivian panicked and spontaneously broke into tears. She gained three pounds, and the frail silk had ripped fatally. There was no repairing it. The wedding was tomorrow and it was raining, mud getting out of control, her cake wasn't done (Ava got an earful about it), and she was on the verge of killing one of her bridesmaids, but she missed which one.

Her cousin was under so much stress, that she was having a nervous break down and Ava wasn't sure to be scared or annoyed.

"Vivian, honey, calm down, its ok. We have enough to get another." Esme tried console her as Ava saw the first light coming into town. The rain was persistent here and it made load thuds on the car.

"No its not, mother. I had that dress made for me. Made! Now I have to settle for a cheaper, not a beautiful one? My wedding is falling apart!" Vivian covered her face.

"They could have one similar to it and maybe you might find one better." Ava patted Vivian's shoulder, only to receive an icy glare.

"That was the dress of my dreams Ava. There is not another one like it!"

Ava went silent. It was pointless.

Once to the small town wedding dress store, she saw why Vivian was so upset. They are horrendous selections of dresses, in the windows any way. Inside they were greeted by a very fat lady with bright red hair and dark red lipstick. Ava started to feel some of her cousin's anxiety.

"Well howdy darling! I am Beatrice and you are?" She stuck out her hand to Vivian, instantly knowing who the bride was. It must have been because she worked in the business so long.

"Vivian Gandillion." Vivian tried to keep a straight face. No meat person would see her cry.

"What a lovely name for a lovely girl and I bet this lovely lady over here is your mother. What can I do for you today, Miss Vivian?" Her voice was very sweet and high pitched. It made Ava want to bury her head in one of the outrageously large gowns next to her.

Before Vivian could tell her tale of tragedy, Esme put on a sad face and looked at Beatrice. "She is getting married tomorrow and her dress ripped beyond repair."

Vivian's lip trembled but she hide it by looking at a dress and Ava stood in front of her cousin so Beatrice or Esme could see her cry again. Beatrice's reaction was as large as her. "Oh good heavens you poor baby! Do you happen to have the dress with you?"

"Well, yes, but we wanted to see if we could get another one. It is pretty bad." Esme tried to explain.

"It was only three pounds." Vivian muttered only to Ava and Ava nodded. She knew what only a few pounds could do to a wedding dress.

Beatrice shook her head. "I'm sure you know that a wedding dress is one of the most important parts of a wedding. I bet you are crushed it tore on you. You bring that dress in and I will see if I can fix it in any way."

Vivian perked up and looked at her mother with hope. Ava didn't even have to be asked and went out into the rain and retrieved the bag in which the dress was stowed.

Beatrice's face when she saw the dress reminded Ava of a sad pig. She looked all over the torn back and rubbed the silk in between her fingers. "Oh honey, I am so sorry. I can't fix this."

Vivian squeezed her eyes shut and rubbed her temples. Esme put the dress back into the bag and shook her head. "Is there anything like this here?"

Beatrice shook her head and sighed heavily. "No darling, not here. But," She perked up and took Vivan's arm. "I am certain we can have you in another dress, even if I have to work all night. I can't have no pretty girl like you walking down that isle with her head down."

Esme and Ava sat on an overly plush couch that smelled like powdery perfume and Ava sneezed a couple of times. Vivian didn't seem hopeful that anything could ever replace her dream dress. Beatrice had her work cut out for her.

Ava knew that Vivian was not a weak little girl. But the alpha female was under so much pressure that she looked like one.

There was no way to console her. None of the dresses she tried on did anything for her and Esme was also on the brink of tears, unsure on how to help her daughter. Ava still had to do the cake and knew if this didn't wrap up quickly, there would be even more things to worry about.

So Ava removed herself from the couch and began to search for dresses with Beatrice, who was starting to look distressed. Nothing she pulled was even slightly good enough for the girl.

"I just don't know what to do." Beatrice said quietly when she and Ava were out of ear shot of Vivian. "I can't let her walk out of here with out a dress, that would just be pathetic of me."

Ava smiled sympathetically. "We will find some thing, she just doesn't know what she is looking for."

Beatrice crossed her arms and pouted in thought. Ava wondered what the woman could possibility be thinking about until Beatrice's face lite up. "Silly me, I know what might do. I have some rental dresses that I might just sell, half price. Come look and see if any of them would work for her, since you are related to her and all."

She wanted to laugh. Just because she was related to the bride didn't mean she knew her best. In fact she knew that any thing she picked would not make one difference to her cousin, but she obliged and followed the large woman into the back room of the store.

"Now, I know the dress she had was vintage and very form fitting. I don't have any silk in her size and that is ready to rent or sale, but-" Beatrice started grabbing bags of dresses and handing them to Ava. "I think, with your help, we can get close to what she wants."

Beatrice pushed her over to a rack and started taking the dresses from Ava's arms and hanging them up. Her boisterous humming made Ava want to kick her. Once all the dresses where hanging up on the rack, Beatrice started flipping threw them. "Now, she is very fit and beautiful and I like the form fitting ones on her, but what about a mermaid dress?"

Ava shook her head. Vivian was no mermaid. "No, I wouldn't even try."

Beatrice pouted and then went back to flipping through the dresses. Ava spotted on with little beading and beautiful lace. Vivian and lace...crazy enough it just might work. "Wait, that lace one, two dresses back, that lace one."

Beatrice scrunched her nose and shook her head. "That is not enough for her."

"You saw that silk dress. Its light and airy enough for her and plus, you never know until you try." Ava would not give up. She had a feeling and her cousin had to have a dress, this was very serious.

"Fine." Beatrice gave up the fight and took the dress off the rack. "But you show it to her." She put the dress in Ava's arms and shooed her out to the show room.

Esme was sitting with her face in her hands and Vivian was sitting on the stand, looking like a kicked dog. Ava rushed over and flashed the dress in front of Vivian, who's face pinched in dislike. "Its lace."

"You are trying it on because I have a cake to bake and this is perfect because I said so, now get up." Ava helped her cousin stand up, since she was in a very heavy dress. "Trust me please, Vivie, I you need a dress and this is the only thing I have seen so far that might be it."

Vivian didn't look very pleased but she softened a bit when she saw Ava pleading with her eyes. She sighed and grabbed the bag, heading toward the dressing room where Beatrice was patiently waiting.

"Lace, Ava Lene? Lace on my baby?" Esme was looking at the girl like she was crazy. "I don't think this will work." She put her head back in her hands.

"Well sitting there and having no hope won't help." Ava snapped back. "You two are going to drive me crazy." She crossed her arms. She was starting to feel sassy.

Esme rolled her eyes and glued her eyes to the dressing room door. Ava's throat closed up with nerves and she silently prayed to the goddess that this was it after all or would at least get Vivian to think about other dresses.

"Mom." They heard Vivian call. "How much do we have?"

"I'm sorry baby but only 500." Esme looked at the ceiling. "Oh moon...we are never going to find anything for that..."

The door opened and silently Vivian stepped out. She was like a dream in the lace dress and the way it hugged her body and slightly flared out from the hips made her body even more beautiful. What was best is that on one shoulder there was a strap and the other no strap, meaning she could have it either way. The sweat heart neck line showed only enough cleavage to make the dress have a slight sex appeal. Esme gasped and began to tear up, but not because she thought Vivian didn't like it, but because her daughter looked like a bride. "Oh baby...you are gorgeous."

Ava agreed, her cousin was stunning. Vivian silently continued to the mirrors, either shocked or scared, Ava didn't know, but her eyes were wide. She stood there for several minutes, just looking at herself.

"Is it ok?" Ava asked quietly.

Vivian's lip trembled and she looked at Ava before throwing her arms around her. "You saved my wedding, thank you so much!" Ava stood there for a couple moments in shock before hugging her cousin back. She was shocked that they dress actually worked. Vivian stepped back and with teary eyes ran her hands over the bodice of the dress, a smile slowly coming over her. "This is better than that silk one."

"Oh thank you!" Esme said in relief and turned to Beatrice. "How much is it?" Now Ava could feel the tension once again. If it was over the limit, she knew Vivian would kill some one and she feared for Beatrice. An alpha female was some times worse than her male counterpart.

"Well, that is a rental dress, but the girl and I already talked and I decided to sell it and since it is used, several times, I will only sell it for 350." Beatrice said proudly, like she was the one who fixed the problem.

Esme didn't need to be told twice and wrote the check and turned back to Vivian who was still admiring her new wedding dress. "If your father could see you, I know he would tell you that you are beautiful baby."

Vivian looked at her mother and smiled widely, wiping her tears away. "I am so happy. Thank you Ava, thank you so much."

After Vivian changed back into her clothes and they were on the way out, Beatrice stopped Ava and smiled sweetly. "Now darling, I don't know if you are from around her, but let me tell you, if you ever need a job, you come right here. You just did a miracle and I think you might have a talent."

Ava was shocked. Her help brides look for wedding dresses? She had never thought of it. "I'm not, but if I do move back...you will be one of the first to know."

Another night spent in the kitchen made Ava think that the room she stayed in was just for show. She really just lived in the kitchen.

But even with the cake partially finished, Ava had a hard time concentrating. He turned in the divorce papers. He really did it. Several times she could feel tears threaten her but she only reminded herself that this was her fault. She had begged him to let her go and now that he did...she could feel that part of her was missing.

Divorced...at 21. For no reason. What was her logic?

The door opened and Esme stepped in quietly, smiling at Ava when she looked up. "Thought you could use some help, if you would like."

Ava smiled back and shrugged. "Vivian helped me with the cupcakes."

"Which are beautiful. I see that you are almost done too. You know, I used to decorate cakes when I was Vivian's age, for a bakery in a grocery store. Maybe running inns and baking cakes are in the family." Esme stood across from Ava. "What you did today, at the dress shop, was very kind of you. I mean, gutsy to go up to an alpha with attitude, but I am glad you forced her to do that."

Ava shrugged and continued to fold fondant into a flower. "She needed a dress."

Esme could tell some thing was wrong with her niece but she didn't know how to approach her. "Did your mom really kill herself?"

Ava stopped and looked up at Esme, her lips pressed together. "Why?"

The older woman sat down in a chair and crossed her legs elegantly. "Well, you father was telling me about it before you got here. Broke his heart. He is still in love with that woman." She sighed and looked at the cake, lost in her thoughts about her poor brother Rudy.

"I can't see why, she was a horrible person. I hated her. Still do." Ava went back to her flower and set it on wax paper.

"She wasn't always terrible Ava. She just couldn't live life after she left New Orleans. She tried for a while, but some thing just died in her and she gave up, let it eat her. Her inner beast won. She needed to be with her goddess."

"She needed to quit being selfish." Ava mumbled and felt her anger that had been pent up starting to ooz out. "She had a wonderful husband and a daughter who loved her and it was never good enough."

"That, my love, is the pot calling the kettle black." Esme raised her brow. "You are doing the same thing to Bucky."

"The hell I am!" Ava slammed her hand down, smashing the flower she just created. "I left because I wanted her to be happy! I was too young to be married and I only got married because that woman told me too! For the family! I never got a reason why but I thought it would solve problems and it didn't! I love Bucky, I do! But I didn't marry him on the right terms, how is that fair to him?" Ava was almost screaming at her aunt and she felt her chest go up and down with each heavy breath. "Even if I did come back, what will it do? Dad doesn't live here, I don't know most of this pack and I have no friends here. And it doesn't even matter any more..." Ava let her hair fall over her face as she bent her head down.

"Ava Lene, how in the hell would it not matter any more? What are you talking about?" Her aunt sounded more concerned than angry, but Ava didn't want to look up.

"He turned in the papers...it's over." Ava's voice cracked and she clenched her eyes shut. "I thought that was what I wanted...but..."

Esme got up and went to her niece, placing her hands on her shoulders. "What papers, honey? What is over?"

Ava began to sob and held her fist to her forehead, not even trying to contain herself. "Bucky turned in the divorce papers this morning. That means he doesn't want to reconcile. I lost the love of my life. I'm just like my mom."

Esme was shocked. Bucky did what? She didn't even think he would do that, not ever. Bucky loved Ava and he would endure any punishment she could bestow on him. "Ave, where did you hear this from?"

"Gregory said so when I went upstairs. Even thinking about it breaks my heart." She tried to breath but her aunt hugged her tightly and rocked her gently.

"Do not listen to what those idiot jerks say. You don't know if that's true."

"I went to his house last night and he told me to come home and I said I couldn't. I think he gave up on me. I deserve it, I did this to myself." Ava clutched on to Esme and nuzzled her shoulder.

"Ava. We love you, very much. Me, you father, Vivian, Bucky...hell the Five miss their friend. You say you don't have anything to stay for, but I doubt you have anything to go back for." It was true. She didn't. "But you do what you need to do for you, not every one else ok. Now lets finish this cake and get you to bed before you collapse."

A little more clarification on what happened and why she won't go home. I am not telling any one if Bucky really did turn in the papers or not. You will just have to read and see for yourself!