Thank you so much for your wonderful reviews. This story is far from over but this chapter has a lot of action, so fasten your seatbelts and enjoy the ride.

R & R as ever, makes my day. ;o)

Steph lay in the dark surrounded by her teenage life as fear clawed away at her insides, threatening to consume her as the streetlamp outside cast shadows across the posters of Michael Jackson and Madonna, giving them a life of their own. She felt cocooned and safe, yet on a knife's edge, much like the night she hooked up with Joe at the Tasty Pastry. So much had changed that night too.

The only sound she could hear was that of her father snoring from across the hallway. She smiled wryly. How her Mother coped with that noise every night she'd never comprehend. That's what came of marrying someone and believing in your wedding vows she thought as a large tear pooled, then trickled, down her face. She rolled over and let her pillow soak up the water as she tried to forget the events of the day.

She should be on her way to Hawaii for her honeymoon right now with a good man who she should have spent the next 50 years looking after. The thought of looking after anyone worried her and although part of her was dying at the thought of the hurt she'd inflicted on Joe, part of her was doing a happy dance that she was not Mrs Morelli.

Not having to be the woman he wanted her to be.

She looked over at her wedding dress which now hung on the back of her closet door carefully and lovingly left there before she'd taken a long and very thoughtful bath.

Something compelled her to go over and run her hands down the fabric and as she was having very little success with the sleep thing, she climberd out of bed and went over to it. As she looked at the bodice, covered in a delicate white lace covered in tiny seed pearls and crystals she noticed a thread sticking out of the side seam. She gave it a gentle pull and the stitching on the bodice started to give. With morbid fascination she pulled a little harder and several of the tiny adornments fell to the floor, skittering happily in all directions as if pleased to have been released from their bindings. Gently she pulled again and another length of stitching unravelled, a complete section's worth of beads joined their partners on the floor. Another tear pooled and fell from her eye – perhaps this was indicative of what her life with Joe would have been. Seemingly perfect but likely to fall apart with a little bit of pressure.

She carefully crept back to bed and lay, listening to her father as sleep continued to evade her. She'd deal with the floor's contents in the morning.

O0o0o0o0o

"Shh, Mother! Quiet!" Helen said loudly once the taxi had deposited her and her mother on the sidewalk outside her house.

"It's not me making all the noise!" came the loud and crabby reply.

The two women, shoes in hand, tottered unsteadily up the path towards the house.

Suddenly there was a loud whoomph as Grandma Mazur fell over into a bush.

"Mother?" Are you OK?" Helen said thickly as two images of the offending plant, complete with a pair of chicken legs sticking out from the middle of it, stared up at her.

"Think I'll just stay here for the night, quite comfy you know."

"Mother! What will the neighbours think?" came Helen's shocked retort.

"That's what got us into this mess in the first place." Edna replied tartly "I'll see you in the morning. Don't wait up!" she added, and started to giggle.

Helen shook her head and immediately wished she hadn't as her world started to spin. Taking a big breath to calm her she weaved unevenly towards the house.

o0o0o0o0o

Ranger stared out of the hotel window, the night sky twinkling in blissful ignorance of the chaos that the largest near wedding of the year had created. He was happy that it had all gone wrong. In fact the mercenary in him was gloating at the spectacular way his adversary had been thwarted but a little bit of him felt for the enemy. Joe was not a bad man, just not the right one for his Babe. That said, could he step up to the plate or should he continue with his no relationship stance even though he realised that now everyone knew about his feelings?

Part of him was glad that he had been 'outed' in such a public way. Part of him should have been pissed at the intrusion into his private life. Part of him was just sad, but he couldn't quite work out why.

Soft arms reached round his neck and pulled him in back into a very warm and willing body. "Come back to Bed, lover. I'll make you forget her" the soft voice crooned. He groaned as his body reacted to the promise in the woman's voice.

Turning round he playfully kissed her ear and lifted her up. In reply she wrapped her legs round his waist as he carried her back to the bed.

Steph may have been in drug of choice, but he had needs and Amy was more than happy to scratch his itch – no strings attached.

Like him, she didn't do relationships.

o0o0o0o0o

Helen successfully navigated the front door with its cheeky little lock but tripped up the first couple of stairs and nearly planted her face in the hall carpet. Catching herself she swore loudly under her alcohol-laden breath then picked up her shoes again. Squinting at them for a few seconds she decided it was all their fault and she threw dropped them over the edge of the banister where they crashed loudly onto the wooden floor.

"Shh!" Helen stage whispered crossly as she glared at them before grabbing the wooden rail and hauling herself up the stairs.

Steph heard the commotion and went to investigate.

"You ok, Mom?" she said as she aided her clearly paralytic mother up the last few steps.

"You and I need a definite talk." Helen slurred out, jabbing at her daughter's chest before pulling her into a big hug. "But right now I need a large glass of sleep and plenty of water. See you tomorrow, maybe." She said with a serious look on her face before staggering off into her bedroom.

Steph grinned at her mother's antics. Part of her wanted to grab her phone and get some blackmail material but her stomach complained at the thought of losing pineapple upside down rights, so reluctantly she went back to bed and eventually fell asleep.

o0o0o0o0o

Joe sat on the plane, rolling a glass of Jack Daniels thoughtfully. What a day of contrasts!

Here he was, nearly but not married heading off to his honeymoon on his own while his mother and the mother of his almost bride partied the night away and ate the cake Steph had spent hours deliberating over.

Dawn was just breaking over the horizon and he took a deep breath then a large swig.

"Everything ok, sir?" the red headed hostess who's badge told him she was called Tiffany asked him, giving him an innocent smile. He nodded and she made to move away. "You all alone?" she asked, her innocent smile starting to change into something else as she cocked her head to one side ever. So. Slightly.

"Sort of" he replied, watching as the smile on her face started to fade. ."Why don't you sit down and I'll tell you all about it." He added, patting the Steph-less seat next to him. "I'm going on my honeymoon" he added pointedly.

She smiled again as understanding hit.

Perhaps the new dawn was a sign and maybe red heads were more him he thought as Tiffany gracefully sank into the large leather seat that only first class provided. "Just for a minute, you understand." She added, looking round to make sure none of the other passengers needed her help, but all of them were fast asleep.

o0o0o0o0o

Chambersburg woke to the sounds of traffic noise and bells as people were called to church.

Anyone entering the Church of the Immaculate Conception would not see any reminder of what had taken place the previous day. There were no wedding flowers or orders of service or even confetti to show for the months of planning that had taken place. The walls were still silent and calm and outside as usual, a few birds sang their hearts out, trying to compete with the chimes.

But everyone knew. Expectation hung in the air. Father Peter squared his shoulders and started the 8.00 service as if nothing had happened. Everything as usual. And perhaps it was...

o0o0o0o0o

"Anna, can you ready my beach house, please?"

"Sure thing, Ranger, when for?"

"Don't know, could be today, might be in a week's time. Just check it over and wait for further instructions. I'll need it fully stocked for one. Lots of Junk food please, especially Ben and Jerrys."

"Sure."

"Oh, and one more thing."

"?"

"No one is to know that the beach house is mine, ok?"

Ranger came off the phone, startled to see Tank standing just inside the door.

"You heard?"

"Yeah."

"And?"

"My lips are sealed."

o0o0o0o0o

Helen Plum stirred groggily and looked over at the night stand. She smiled sweetly at the sight that greeted her.

Thank God for her Frank! She thought, smiling as she reached for the bag with the golden arches on it. It was their little secret, even when they were dating he'd known about the hang over cure.

Smiling, she tucked into the salty goodness before inhaling the sugary, bubbly liquid in one long draw.

Half an hour later, and feeling much better, she balled up the evidence then got up to face her daughter.

I promise the next chapter will be the one with the talk - I just needed to set a few scenes. Hope you enjoyed it!