I am thinking this is the last one my pretties. Thank you for the reads and tagging. I am thinking of making a per-quell. Yup, of Bucky and Ava before, during, and at the end of their marriage.

Last we left off, we didn't know if what Greg said was true.

This will be cut up a little bit. Longer, but the parts won't be huge.

She woke up in the kitchen, covered in once again in flour and anything else to make a cake. She could also smell others in there and now she could hear their voices. She groaned and picked her self off the floor, wondering why Esme would let her stay there.

"Well, looks like my little princess is up and ready to go." Her father stood by the counter, noticing her first. She groaned and held her head.

"What time is it?" She mumbled and lazily looked around the kitchen. The cake stood complete on the counter in front of her and her aunt had removed the cupcakes last night. It was ready. She thanked the moon.

"About 6:30. We have breakfast cooking and then you should probably go clean up." She saw Aunt Persia, a pack member she hadn't seen since she left many years ago.

"Persia, it's been so long." She smiled and the older woman smiled back. Ava couldn't believe how much older she looked, but it had been a long time since she had seen the elderly healer.

"Our tragic miracle girl is up. I would hug you but I am in my nice sweater, my child." She looked her up and down, regarding the good coat of flour.

The others in the kitchen smiled at her. Raul and the twins stood talking, bacon in everyone's mouths. Esme waved her to eat but she shook her head. "I am going to shower and then...I need some time alone." She ignored the questions and the odd looks and excited the kitchen. She needed to figure out if she was going to board the plane tomorrow or stay here.

The ground was moist, but not soaked. The evidence of yesterday's rain fall was beginning to vanish.

Ava sat, trying to remember what is was like to be part of a pack. She didn't know any more. Plus where would they put her? In her room that she stayed in now? No...every one lived in the houses around the inn or rented a room, but she knew that the room she stayed in was one of their best.

She sat on a rock, keeping away from the drying ground and letting a few rays of sunshine fall on her. This wasn't a life or death decision. Even if she went back to Canada and then came back here, they would settle for that. Esme said she needed to do what was best for her. But what was best?

She smelt a musky scent and heard the sound of boots crunching the fallen twigs that laid in their path. She sighed. One moment alone was what she asked for, just one. It was hard to escape some times.

"Your aunt wants you back at the inn, she says she has a surprise for you." Some one poked her shoulder and she hugged her knees tighter.

She laid her head the opposite way of the intruder and closed her eyes. "She can wait. Leave me alone please Bucky."

He came to stand in front of her and placed both hands on either side of her body, bringing him a little to close. "What is your problem today? Do you need a hug because I have these arms that are oh so comfy."

"You turned in the divorce papers." She whimpered.

He removed himself from her space and stood there. "Who told you that?" He asked quietly, his tone giving it all away.

She bit her lip and left her perch on the rock. "Doesn't matter." She picked up her shoes and began to walk quickly farther into the woods. She didn't want him to see her cry, not when he did what he thought she wanted. He didn't do any thing wrong...

He pursued her, running after her and easily matching her pace with his longer legs. "Hey, I asked you a question kid."

Kid. She thought sadly. He only called her that before they even started dating. He reverted back to her old name between them, instead of baby doll or baby girl, which he used when she was upset. "I said it doesn't matter."

"Yes it does because you ever told you that had no right, that was for you and I to talk about." He grabbed her arm gently and stopped her. "I thought it was what you wanted." He frowned and he suddenly looked older. Just like Persia looked older. Four years...he was almost 30 soon, but she couldn't remember any more.

She looked away and recoiled from him, holding her shoes to her chest. "Yeah, it was."

He looked surprised and she could see regret and hope in his eyes. Maybe it was just confusion. "Was? Oh moon you didn't chang-"

"No." She said quickly. "Not about that." She felt like she was lying, but she wasn't. At least that was what she believed; she had been wrong before though. "I just...forget it, you did the right thing." She began to walk away from him.

"You are lying and I hate it when you lie like that." He followed her and she tried to dodge him but he kept on her heels. "Is this what you want? To be wondering why you wake up alone every morning, to feel like you made the wrong choice? Do you want to be like your mother Ava? Is that your goal? You are succeeding."

She spun on her heel and slapped him, hard. His head only turned slightly and his eyes widened with surprise. She was even surprised and she stepped back, clutching her shoes tighter. When he reached up and touched his face, he looked at her with sadness. "Baby, I am so-"

"Don't ever call me baby again and you can go to hell. Like you are perfect!" She sniffed back her tears. Today was a happy day, today was her cousin's wedding. She was not going to let him ruin it for her. "Stay away from me." She took off back toward the inn, leaving him there in shock.

Served him right.

Ava heard everything that was going outside and the women trying to convince Vivian that she needed to stay in her room so no one saw her. Gabriel, she knew, was in for a treat.

She remained in her room after returned to the inn. She needed to be alone. But when she entered her room she found a dress bag and a note. She opened the bag to find a soft pink dress, one for Vivian's maid of honor. When she had picked up the note it read:

I used to think you were just a know it all snob. Come to find out you do really care about others. I am glad you came, thanks for saving my wedding.

-Viv

Ava was happy that she was promoted from estranged cousin to savior. She laughed. She could solve everyone's problems but her own. After putting the dress on the bed she sat on the floor with a shoe box. In the box were pictures she had hidden in her stuff and left at Rudy's and hadn't been burned with the inn. She found it in the drawers of the vanity and she was unsure if she should open it.

She finally willed herself to open the box, slipping the lid lightly off and setting it next to her and tipping the box completely over and spilled the pictures all over the floor.

She shuffled through a few, seeing some of her and her mother, father, cousin, uncle Ivan and aunt Esme. She even found a few of pack events and weddings. Including her own.

The picture she found was of her in her simple dress and him in his simple suit. They didn't do anything big but it was perfect anyway. It was of them after they just walked back down the aisle and Bucky had leaned down and kissed her, both trying not to smile to wide. They were so happy...

She set it face down and looked for another, only finding one of her and Bucky at the old inn, with her on his back and his big grin and eyes covered with his 'manly' aviators and her in her way to big for her face sunglasses. She felt her heart drop to her gut and she remembered what he had said earlier. Like her mother...

No, she was not. She refused to be her mother and she knew what she had to do.

She drew a bath and scrubbed herself clean and used lilac bath salts to get rid of the smell of the forest. She was going to go down there and with her head held so high.

She was not going to let her problems ruin her cousin's wedding. She was going to enjoy it.

After she had cleaned herself, she dried her hair and let the natural waves stay instead of straightening it out, since it would futile anyway. She heard a knock and opened the door, standing there completely naked. Esme stood there with a bag and a wine bottle. "I have come to make you drop dead gorgeous maid of honor material, now let me in before some one walks by and sees you like that. Your daddy raised you better."

"And even though we are naked all the time and oddly he has seen me, it's still a taboo." Ava rolled her eyes and stood back to let Esme dance into the room. Esme was gorgeous herself. She was dressed in a strapless cream-colored cocktail dress and her hair was pulled up into an elegant and tasteful bun; she remained shoeless and walked as if she was dancing to a soundless tune.

She stepped over the pictures and ooh'd when she saw some face up. "Well, look it here. Oh you and Vivian in the tub!" Esme swooned. "I make good-looking babies. And your ok too." Esme picked up another one. "Oh and look at this," She flipped it around to show Ava. It was the one she had just sat down. "Look at this hot young couple."

Ava shook her head and walked over to her bag. "Haha, Esme."

Esme shrugged and put all the pictures in the box she saw. "He has a very nice ass." She giggled and left the box to set down the bottle of wine and set her little bag down which Ava assumed was full of make up. She wasn't really one for make up.

Ava scoffed and began to put her bra and underwear on. "Then why don't you tap it?" She asked sarcastically.

Esme gave her a dry look. "I am a mated woman and he is a mated man." She opened the wine bottle and took a large gulp. Esme loved her wine.

"Oh, he is?" Ava put her hands on her hips and raised her brow.

"Doesn't mean I didn't think about it. But I am a good auntie and I would not do that to my little Ava boo." Esme sung the last word and Ava had to contain her own laughs. Ava boo. How horrendous. Esme took her arm and sat her down in front of the mirror. "I'm not touching your beautiful hair, just your face and then you get in that dress and get downstairs. You have to see the set up."

Ava smiled and was glad to see her aunt all happy and excited, even if she was drunker than an NFL fan on Sunday. Esme shook her head and then opened her bag of 'surprises'. "So Bucky said you two had a pretty good spew this morning. Tell auntie Esme all about this so she can spread rumors." She found the eyeliner and Ava wondered if she would have her eyes after this.

"I really don't want to be in a bad mood right now." Ava said in a nicer voice, even though she knew she might have come off a little snotty.

Esme had her close her eyes and she carefully applied the eyeliner. "Well, I just want to know if I have to kick his ass or not. Get a beer in you and there will be no sorrow tonight."

Ava took a deep breath and pressed her lips together slightly. "He said I was like mom and that I was making a wrong choice." She sighed. "He did turn in the papers."

Esme cursed and shook her head. "Son of a bitch, I was hoping that was just something Greg was saying to piss you off." She could feel and smell the breath of her aunt when she pronounced the last words.

"I was thinking of trying again, you know and then...it is what it is." Ava said quietly.

After she was done with the eyeliner, Esme moved on to the eye shadow. "No, it isn't. You need to go down there and show him what a woman you are and that he was stupid."

Ava opened her eyes and looked at her aunt with confusion. "He did what I asked him too, it's my fault!"

Esme smirked and gave Ava a knowing look. "Men only do as their told when they know what might be in store for them. He knew you'd come running back if he did that. Just play his game and make him wage his tail."

Ava smiled back at her aunt and began to laugh. She was right. Bucky would do that if he thought it would make her run back to him. "Oh Esme, that is not how all men are."

"Are too, just you see."

Ava looked adorable in her dress with petite flats. She was supposed to wear heels but after many failed attempts at walking and not dying, Esme settled for the flats and left to go help down stairs again.

Ava followed shortly, enjoying seeing everyone in button ups and ties, dresses and slacks. The twins had their mother fidgeting over their shirts, begging them not to make asses out of them selves and Ulf being prepped by Esme. Everyone was talking animatedly about how exciting this was.

In the kitchen, Rudy, Gabriel, and Bucky were enjoying a beer with other pack men, laughing at a joke that some one had just told. When Rudy saw her he yelled out in joy and opened his arms. "There is my sweet heart and look how beautiful you are!" He gave her a large hug and patted her back. He smelt like beer, as did every male in the room. Along with cologne.

"Hey, cousin, come here and give me a hug." Gabriel grabbed her as soon as Rudy released her and gave her a half hug. "I want to thank you for helping my Vivian out. She was a mess, let me tell you." He patted her back. "You are more than welcome to stay here."

Rudy looked away and Bucky pretended not to hear it. No one knew if she was going to stay or not; it was tearing her father and Bucky up, she knew. Do what is best for you.

"I am going to find Vivie, so I can help her do her...thing." Ava turned away and walked back the same way she came, avoiding eye contact with any one else so she wouldn't get caught in another conversation and end up answering questions she didn't know.

She found Vivian in the house behind Bucky's, where Esme, Jenny, and another girl her age, were going in and out off, keeping watch on the set up outside. Many white chairs were lined up in neat rows, an aisle down the middle was a wonderful white lane leading to a white arch covered in false white and light pink roses. Ava was surprised her cousin liked pink.

"There she is!" Esme smiled and waved Ava over. "I told you it was really pretty." She smiled and began to wiggle. "You should see her Ava."

Ava followed Esme into the house, dodging around the other girls who were trying to get ready. They all wore light cream dresses that flowed around them lightly like they were angels and their hair was down in waves like Ava's. Unlike her though, she doubted that they were natural.

Vivian was in her room, looking in the mirror on her dresser. Her hair was pulled loosely back and in a neat bun. The straw strands fell around her face, giving her face a beautiful gold frame. The dress still looked as beautiful as before and of course, Vivian copped out of the heels and chose bare feet. Ava almost laughed. How wolf like.

Vivian saw Ava and waved her into the room, shutting out everyone behind her. "They won't leave me alone." She shook her head as she closed the door. "And Esme is so drunk she can't see her toes."

Ava shrugged and remembered her own wedding. "You remember my wedding?" Esme had fallen over and uncle Ivan went to catch her, taking him with her and half of the decorations near them. Ava wasn't angry. It was funny after all. Rudy had to carry her back to the inn and put her in bed before she could injure herself any more.

"Oh moon! Don't you curse me!" She pointed at Ava and looked in the mirror again. "I mean your wedding was nice and all but I swear to the moon if Gabriel or my mom get that drunk I will kill." She growled and she shivered as her fur lightly ran across her skin.

"Oh Vivian, you will also be too drunk to notice." Ava sat on the bed, thinking twice about it and standing. She didn't know what Gabriel and Vivian did in that bed.

Vivian sighed and looked at the door, as if some thing was tearing her up inside. Ava kept looking at her cousin, wondering if Vivian was scared or was unsure of doing this. Vivian finally shook off what ever thought that was weighing on her and looked at the window. "The sun is going down."

"You'll be Mrs. Gabriel Dirigeant before sun set. Are you ready?" Ava turned and grabbed the head band that Vivian decided to wear instead of a veil. Tole did not look go with lace.

Vivian nodded and took the head band and placed it in her hair, making it look like she was crowning herself as queen. She turned back toward her dresser and picked up a picture that Ava instantly knew was of Vivian's father, Ivan. Ava turned her head away. That was a private moment for Vivian and she didn't want to intrude.

"I miss you daddy." Vivian placed a kiss on a face that would never be seen in this life again. Vivian didn't get the joy of having her father give her away at her wedding. It was one of the most fond memories Ava had of her father. Maybe she took him for granted more than she realized.

Vivian tucked the picture into her dress, keeping it with her and then looked at Ava with a determined face. "Ok, let's go get married."

"You did it on purpose."

"I did not! Vivian said I could choose who I wanted and I chose Bucky. The fact that she made you maid of honor is totally not my fault. If any thing you should go after her." Gabriel looked down at the short loup garou girl with a smile in his eyes. He really did do it on purpose.

Ava had snuck Vivian into the inn, where she was going to start her walk down the aisle with Rudy, with no one seeing her. She wanted Gabriel to be surprised. On her way back out and toward the set up, Orlando Griffin, who came for the occasion, called for the maid of honor and best man. To her shock and surprise, Bucky marched right over to the old wolf and Ava knew Gabriel had planned it. She swore on the moon! She hunted him down and found him standing by a mirror in one of the halls, trying to correct his tie. He only laughed at her accusation.

"You are a liar, Gabriel." She crossed her arms and look at him with defiance. She used to baby sit his sisters and they were always kind of friends, so she knew her boundaries, even though he was alpha now.

He feigned hurt and put his hand on his chest. "That is so mean of you to say Ava Lene."

She wanted to laugh. He was a big man, with a demeanor of a warrior, but for Vivian and her, he was a puppy dog that covered them with his sarcasm. "Whatever. Just know if he tries to pull this 'I miss you' crap on me, he is flying into that cake." She pointed at the table in which the said cake was perched on.

He held up his hands and shook his head. "Maybe you shouldn't be so stubborn and be with the man you love, but what do I know, uh?"

Oh, the bastard. She turned and walked away, her arms tightly crossed over her body and a full pout on her lips. They wanted her to suffer. She didn't want to talk to him. She didn't even want him to say he was sorry for this morning. She didn't want an apology.

"Hey Avie! You are looking mighty fine you lovely beast, you!"

She turned toward the cat calls, only to find the remains of the Five strolling after her. She groaned inside. Who else wanted their face torn to bits? She wanted to grow claws and swipe at them.

They looked ridiculous in tuxes and their sports coats. The twins didn't look to happy about their mother insisting on the matching ties and Gregory, as always, was to lanky to fit the sleeves and pant legs of his outfit. Ulf wriggled around, as if the material was burning his flesh. He looked like a damn worm.

"What evil have you come to bestow upon me now you awful gang of cretins." She scrunched her nose. Their cologne seemed awkward on them and she wished they would have stayed with the usual smell of the Earth thing they had going on.

Gregory smile and Ulf giggled. Finn pouted and nudged her with her shoulder. "You are as much of a cretin as we are you know."

"Yeah, you used to be fun and hang with us. What got stuck up your sweet ass?" Gregory tilted his head and Avie realized they were actually asking about why she was being so cruel.

She shrugged and blew her hair away from her face. "To tell you the truth, since I have gotten here all I have done is trying to explain to men why their existence is threatening mine."

Ulf looked at the twins who gave Ava a doubtful look. Williem looked like he was in pain. "Why don't you just do what Gabe said and stop being stubborn."

She was going to blow. Any minute, she was going to tear off their heads. "Because I have some things to deal with first."

"Oh yeah like what?" Finn sniffed and lip twitched.

Like what? "None of your business, know go away because I have to go make sure my cousin doesn't die before she gets down the aisle."

Why, why, why? Why? She asked herself. She had no reason, so why? Come home, go back to Bucky, have a family...become distant and pretend her husband or her children weren't there and dive deep into depression. Become her mother. No.

She couldnt' do that.

The crickets sang their song in the trees as everyone sat and waited for the music to start and for Vivian to start her way down towards her fiance, to be wed and become a wife.

Gabriel stood there, trying not to look nervous, but he was. He never thought he would get married and now here he was, waiting for her to come out that door.

Ava looked out towards the back, where everyone waited. Behind her was the other bridemaids and groom's men. Bucky was trying to make his usually messy hair to lay in a neat fashion, but it didn't work. He was avoiding her and Ava knew it and thanked the goddess. For some reason, she felt like she was out for blood tonight.

"Ok, Vivian is at the stairs in the lobby, best man and maid of honor, please get ready to start in a minute!" A woman called and Ava assumed it was Magda. She was the loudest female Ava had ever known.

Bucky slowly made his way over to Ava, who stood by the door, waiting for the word. He looked wonderful, but out of place. Dressing up wasn't his thing.

"You look beautiful." He said quietly, fidgetting slightly.

She wanted to be mean but she opted for kindness. "You look good too."

After another moment of awkward silence, Bucky leaned his head down and Ava could smell the beer he had drank earlier. She knew what was coming. "You are nothing like your mother. I know an apology won't help, but...I will let you go, so you can figure out whatever is holding you back."

That was not what she was expecting. She swallowed and held her head high. "You already turned in the divorce papers."

"Actually, not yet. I signed them. I chickened out last minute. I didn't really get to talk earlier about that, due to my asshole behavior." He sighed and Ava closed her eyes as his breath fluttered over her face. Even with the smell of beer, she liked that feeling.

Before she could respond, some one yelled behind them and Bucky held out his arm for her to take. His smile soothed her slightly. She hated crowds.

As soon as she took his arm, he opened the door and one of the twins held it open as they stepped out, people in the chairs turning as they did.

A strange sense of deja vou made Ava hum slightly, like she was trying not to say something. Bucky's other hand touched her hand and rubbed her knuckles. She could almost hear him: Don't get nervous now pip squeak. They kept onto their way down the aisle, slowly.

As they made their way, other's following, she kept trying to answer the questions, but something deep down was holding her back. Her mother, that was all she could think about was her mother.

But Bucky still wanted her and her family would welcome her back. Did she have to leave? Yes...she had to do it. She had to go home, the one where she belonged. Away from people, so she couldn't hurt them any more.

When they stopped, they parted and went their ways to the sides. Ava stood there, with her small bouquet of flowers, the others following her and standing at attention, waiting for the bride. The music was also tasteful, since is was soft violins and not organs blasting. She hated organs.

Jenny's little girl stepped out of the door. She was a cute little thing and Ava knew she had practiced because she walked straight down the aisle, tossing the petals in clumps. She heard some of the women swoon.

The music changed and every one stood. Out of the corner of her eye she watched Gabriel shift his stance and straighten up. Just because he was the alpha didn't mean he couldn't be nervous or excited for his bride to come out of those doors.

And when she did Ava thought he would cry. She stood on the porch, with Rudy at her side. She looked like a goddes in her dress and the way she was posed made her look even more beautiful. She saw Bucky pat Gabriel's back in approval.

Vivian's eyes though, were only set on one person, and that was Gabriel. She was holding back tears, but her smile wavered, as if she was trying not to laugh out of joy. Finally, the love of her life was here. No more pain and sorrow.

When Vivian and Rudy stopped, Orlando Griffin smiled and asked who gave Vivian away. Rudy puffed up with pride and said: "Her mother and I."

When Rudy kissed her cheek and handed her over to Gabriel, the crowd was asked to sit down.

Yes I lied...there will be one more chapter after this, but come on! This one is longer than the rest!

Enoy and please review!