Disclaimer: All recognized characters and places are not mine. The plot and any spelling/grammar mistakes are...

Again I want to thank Loki's Only Love for betaing this for me...

Chapter 1

The sun was shining brightly as I drove towards the beautiful villa in Italy. The fact that it was shining outside was a complete contradiction to what was going within me. I was in a word nervous. I had just called things off with my fiancé and jumped on a plane hoping that I might have a chance with someone who I only met two months ago. Someone who I haven't spoken to in two months. My nerves still hadn't abated when I reached the villa and parked. The outside looked just as I remembered except today there were signs pointing to the small chapel where the ceremony was taking place. When I was almost to the chapel door Charlie came out stopping me in my tracks. He was dashing in a gray suit. At seeing me, Charlie's step faltered a bit before he stepped closer.

"Sophie, hi."

My lips twitched slightly. His voice was just how I remembered it with its rich accent. "Hi Charlie."

"How are you?" he asked tentatively.

"I'm well and you?" Our pleasantries sounded awkward even to my ears.

"Good."

Upon answering he just stood staring at me like he was unsure of what to say next. I could relate. This whole encounter a bit uncomfortable.

"How's Claire?" I asked after a minute of silence.

He grinned and I gasped. I think it was one of the first times I'd seen him grin and it lit up his face.

His didn't let on that he heard my gasp but I thought that I saw his lips twitch. "She'll be glad to see you."

I smiled. I was looking forward to seeing her too. "Did..."

"Sophie..." Charlie began at the same time.

Letting out a small laugh I motioned for him to proceed.

"Can we speak after the ceremony?" He asked.

"Sure," I answered wondering what he wanted to say. Before I could say anything else a brunette woman put her hand on Charlie's arm. She didn't look that much older than me and was wearing a beautiful sapphire gown. "Charlie it's time," she said simply not looking at me.

He glanced down at his wrist. "Oh right. Thanks Patricia."

Patricia? As in his ex-girlfriend?

Since those last questions weren't spoken Charlie couldn't hear them. He told me that he would see me inside. I just nodded as Patricia took his arm and they walked away. A feeling of loss overtook me. Was I too late? I didn't have the chance to ponder this question since something touched my shoulder. I turned around to see Isabella standing behind me. She was wearing a dark blue gown with her hair swept up.

"Sophie," she greeted happily kissing my cheek.

"Isabella," I greeted back. I was pleased to see her. "How are you?"

"Good and you?"

"I'm doing well."

"I've read your story, it was wonderful."

I smiled in gratitude though I was a tad embarrassed. Writing was very personal and with this being my first story published in the New York Journal I was still getting used to getting so much praise.

She was about to say something else but the beginning note of a song started. "Do you know where you are sitting?"

I shook my head.

"Then come sit with us."

I didn't know who us was but I agreed. We walked inside and found the other women who wrote letters with Isabella along with her mom, Angelina, already sitting. They were all dressed in beautiful gowns of varying colors. Kisses on the cheeks were exchanged and we sat awaiting Claire's arrival. Lorenzo was already standing at altar looking handsome in an outfit similar to Charlie's. He placed a hand over his heart and winked when he saw me. Next to him stood a shorter balding man wearing a white robe. He held a book in his hand.

"That's Reverend Kelley," Francesca told me. "I attend his church on Sundays."

I nodded in acknowledgement that I heard her. The song that was being played while everyone was seated stopped and a new song began announcing the bride's arrival. Claire and Charlie soon walked down the aisle. She squeezed my hand affectionately when she saw me sitting on her left with the rest of her friends and family. The ceremony was beautiful and I found myself smiling as Claire and Lorenzo said their vows. Their eyes conveyed such love and tenderness as they gazed upon each other. Soon they were declared husband and wife and everyone was getting ready to leave the chapel.

"You'll sit with us at the reception right?" Maria asked.

"You must," Angelina prodded.

I nodded and their faces lit up in smiles. Together we walked outside where the newlyweds were greeting guests.

When Claire's eyes fell upon me the smile she already had on her face grew wider. "Sophie!"

"Claire," I greeted enthusiastically.

She stepped closer and pulled me into her arms. "Darling how are you?" she asked in my ear.

I pulled back and smiled. "I'm good."

She assessed me for a minute then said, "I'm glad that you came."

"Me too. The ceremony was wonderful."

At that moment Lorenzo came over and wrapped his arm around Claire's waist. "Sophie," he said simply.

"Lorenzo," I answered back. Neither one of us got to say anymore before everyone was being herded to the reception area.

Maria found a circular table in the middle with a clear view of the head table where we could sit. It had only been a couple minutes when Charlie appeared before me. "Sophie, can we..." He started. I knew that he wanted to talk so I nodded. Standing, I told my friends that I'd be back and followed Charlie to a clear area by a pink hued building. Stopping he turned looking nervous.

"Charlie why'd you want to speak to me?"

"I...I saw your story," he answered.

"You brought me here to tell me that you saw my story?"

"No." His voice stuttered like he was nervous. So far our interaction had been awkward.

"Charlie, maybe we should head back. I bet Patricia will be looking for you."

He seemed surprised at my saying that name. I only knew it because he had said it earlier. "Why would Patricia be looking for me?"

"She's your girlfriend isn't she?"

"Girlfriend?!" He stated clearly surprised. Dawning came upon him. "Patricia is my cousin."

"How is that legal?"

"Sophie, no! There are two Patricia's. There's my cousin who's here and my ex who I've totally forgotten about."

As these words sunk I couldn't help but feel relief and with it a sense of lightness enveloped me. "So you are not here with anyone?"

"No. to tell you the truth I was actually hoping that I'd see you here." He stepped closer as he spoke.

"Why?"

Charlie opened his mouth to say something then closed it.

"Charlie," I prompted.

"I love you Sophie."

I took a step back shocked. That was the last thing I thought he would say. "You love me?" I had to make sure I heard him correctly.

"I do. I know you're engaged and I shouldn't have said anything but there it is."

"I'm not engaged anymore."

"You're not?"

I shook my head. "Victor and I broke up."

Several emotions crossed his face. Making my way over to him I cupped his cheek.

"Before you ask it's ok. I'm okay."

"How? I thought you loved him."

"I do." Charlie frowned at my words. "But I'm not in love with him. I'm in love with you Charlie."

He stood there gazing into my eyes while I stared right back at him so he could see the sincerity and truthfulness of my words. Suddenly a huge smile broke out across his face and we both inched closer to the other until our lips met. This kiss was better than our first. Our first kiss had been when we were staring up at the stars. We were caught up in a moment and it felt right and wrong at the same time. Wrong because I was still engaged to Victor at that time but right in that my heart was already on its way to belonging to Charlie. This kiss was filled with desire and love; more desire and love than I ever thought possible. Laughter from the reception ended our kiss.

"We should get back," I stated.

"Probably a good idea before Gran comes looking for us."

Hand in hand we made our way back to the reception area returning to our seats but not without a quick kiss. Claire glanced at Charlie when he sat down next to her but words were not exchanged. Patricia, on the other hand, spoke to Charlie and he looked at me before smiling.

"Sophie is everything okay?" Isabella asked.

I turned to her. "Yes."

Before she could respond I felt a tap on my shoulder. I looked up to see Patricia standing there. She squatted a little so we were more at eye level with each other. "Sophie, hi I'm Patricia, Charlie's cousin."

"Hi," I greeted back.

"I was just wondering if you might want to trade seats. That way you could sit next to my cousin who hasn't been able to take his eyes off of you since the ceremony."

I peeked over her shoulder and saw that Charlie was indeed looking at us. I gave him a small smile before returning to Patricia. "I think I'd like that."

"Okay then."

Before I left I apologized to my friends for leaving and introduced them to their new table mate. Once that was done I walked over to Charlie. His eyes followed my every move.

"Hi," I told him upon sitting.

His brow was drawn in confusion. "Hi."

"Patricia offered to trade seats with me."

He shook his head clearing amused by his cousins' recent activity. "She's always up to something. She asked if we righted things between us when I sat down a few minutes ago."

"I saw her talking to you."

"I told her about you after Gran and I returned to London. She thought that I should've gone after you instead of returning home."

"I was in agreement with my niece," Claire said startling us. We both looked over to see her watching us.

"I saw you two leave earlier. Did you talk?"

"Yes, Gran," Charlie said at the same time I answered "Yes." We laughed and Charlie took my hand in his and kissed the top of it.

She smiled. "Oh my darlings. That makes this day even more wonderful!" She then stood and, coming behind us, hugged us.

Lorenzo turned his attention to us with a questioning gaze. Claire returned to her seat and told him why she was hugging us. After she finished he was as elated as his new wife reiterating her sentiments. Soon it was time for dinner. Charlie, Claire, and I chatted while we ate. Lorenzo joined in some of the time as well. After dinner was finished Claire stood up holding something. It looked like the letter I had sent to her two months ago.

"Fifty years ago I wrote a letter and two months ago I finally received a reply," she began. "Sophie," she said turning to me, "do you mind if I read your letter?"

I shook my head letting her now that I didn't mind.

She gave me a smile and cleared her throat. "Dear Claire, "What" and "If" are two words as non-threatening as words can be. But put them together side-by-side and they have the power to haunt you for the rest of your life: What if? What if? What if?"

As she continued reading I glanced around at the other guests. They were all intently listening to Claire's speech. My eyes lingered on Isabella and the others at my previous table briefly before turning my gaze on Charlie. I knew that Claire had shown him the letter when she first received it; it was on his face the day when he stormed into the Secretaries of Juliet office. Yet as Claire spoke, he seemed to be listening to her voice with a thoughtful expression. In a sudden movement that caught me off guard he leaned towards me until I could feel his warm breath near my ear, making me shiver.

"Come with me," he whispered.

I pulled back so I could see him. His eyes were bright and a smile graced his lips. He stood and held out his hand waiting for me to decide. I took Charlie's hand, trusting that he would not lead me astray, and together we started walking. I had no idea what he was up to as we approached Reverend Kelley the man who had just married Claire and Lorenzo. The reverend was sitting at a table off to the side. Still holding my hand, Charlie asked the reverend if he could speak to him privately. Curiosity crossed past Reverend Kelley's face as he agreed.

"Charlie, what are you doing?" I asked as we walked to a more secluded place. The same place where I had followed and talked to Charlie earlier.

He didn't seem to hear me. His attention was on the jovial man in front of us.

Once we stopped Charlie asked, "Sir, since you are still here I was wondering if you'd marry us?" Charlie's free hand waved between me and him.

Shock and confused I asked, "You want to marry me here and now?"