Author's Note: Not much to say. Not sure why I'm going with this story...since well. It doesn't matter. What matter's is I dont quit. I Wont quit this story, despite the fact that things have changed. This is still my story, my characters, my words, and my dreams. Anyone who reads this. Hope you like it. As Always, Read/Enjoy/Review!

Chapter Eleven: Countdown to Forever…

" Love is just love, it can never be explained."-Anonymous.

XXX

" What if marrying Chase was a mistake?"

My own words echo in my head, whirling and rolling, and I feel terrible. Like somehow by opening my mouth and saying them out loud, I've opened Pandora's Box. I feel nauseous. Like at any moment I'm going to be sick.

Maybe that's what I need.

To be sick.

To just throw up all of the insecurities, and doubts, and words, and then I'll be okay.

I can't do that though, because we're in Florence.

Florence freaking Italy for Evangeline and Jared's wedding.

So there's no time to get sick, or try to wish away words that were said. There's only time to coordinate. To be sure Shannon, Tomo, Colin, and Tyson get the right tuxedos, and that Charlotte, Laycie, Amber, and Mark get their Bridesmaids gifts. That's right, Mark's a bridesmaid, seems only fitting since Evy and him are practically attached at the hip.

The staff at Villa San Michele are amazing, and so good about helping in anyway that they can, but it doesn't relieve any pressure. Pressure to make sure that everything works. That Evangeline is nothing but relaxed, and calm before walking down the aisle. That everyone gets along, including Tyson and my Chase. Who have both made it quiet clear that they are more than willing to fight at a moments notice.

The rehearsal dinner, being held in one of the Villa's many spacious and beautiful banquet halls is beautifully decorated. I walk through slowly, fingers brushing over the burnt red table linens, drawing in the scent of sunflowers and gerbera daisies filling the room. Subtly, not too over powering, instead its welcoming, like someone whispering 'welcome home.'

Three days in Italy and as beautiful as everything is, I can't really take everything in. I can't sit back and just soak up the fact that I'm in hands down one of the most beautiful places in the world, because I'm too worried.

Worried about the wedding.

Worried about Evy.

Worried about Chase.

Worried about Tyson.

Tyson, who hasn't spoken to me, let alone looked at me since he spotted my wedding ring.

Instead of being focused on the fact that my best friend in the whole wide world is getting married, I'm scared. Because I don't know what's going on in my life. I opened a big ugly box of concern and worry on myself.

" Brae?" Chase's voice comes from behind me and I whirl around, pressing a hand to my heart, " Sorry, didn't mean to scare you."

" Its fine. I was just, I was just checking up on things," I murmur turning away from him.

Oh, and the fact that Chase and I haven't spoken about the whole ' he-doesn't-want-babies,' thing since we fought about it nearly four days ago, does not help one bit.

" So when are we going to talk?"

" About what? The fact that you called me a childish, self-centered brat the other night, or that you don't children, ever? Because either way I think we've covered the bases."

" Brae, I didn't mean it when I called you that. I was exhausted. I had just gotten off a nearly thirty six hour shift, and we're talking about the possibility of getting a dog, and then you start talking babies."

" Well, I'm sorry. I just kind of figured you'd want children. That you'd want children with me," I say straightening a sunflower in one of the vases.

" Brae…come on."

" What? I'm sorry, okay, I'm sorry that it bothers me. That it hurts me that my husband doesn't want children!"

" Don't start raising your voice, this isn't a conversation to have where people can hear us," he says and for some reason his cool calm demeanor just pisses me off.

" Why not? You're the one who asked if we were going to talk. So we're talking. So what, because it didn't go the way you wanted it to that you get to delegate when and where we can talk?" I demand whirling on him.

" Uhm, sorry," Tyson's voice suddenly breaks through the haze of anger and I roll my eyes.

" What?" I nearly scream at him, but I manage to control it.

" Jared wants to see you," he says running long fingers through his hair.

" Of course he does. Rehearsal dinner, one hour. Either of you show up late and I will personally kick your ass."

XXX

Jared's POV

I'm happy.

Completely happy.

Okay, mostly happy.

Would be fucking ecstatic if Brae was okay.

But she isn't.

Brae isn't okay, Evy isn't okay, and if Evy isn't okay, well then I'm not okay. Weird the way their connection works that way, at least that's how I used to think, only anyone who spends any sort of real time with them understands the way they work. How they seem to move in sync with each other, thinking from the same mind, functioning from the same heart.

So when one is hurting, or confused, or feeling lost, the other feels it just as acutely.

" Hey," Braelyn's voice comes from the door and I turn to look at her. She looks like the Brae I know. Long, shiny black hair, beautiful face, gorgeous eyes. Only the light that usually blooms in her face is gone. Replaced by hurt. Loss. Confusion.

" I wanted to talk to you," I say hugging her closely before sitting with her on the couch.

" Is something wrong? Oh God, please don't tell me something is wrong. We brought all of the tuxes, hell, I color coordinated them for God's sake, did they mess one of them up? Fuck, this will ruin everything for Evy," she starts stammering, eyes welling up with tears and panic skitters up my back.

" Whoa, slow down, nothing's wrong with the wedding okay? Everything is perfect. You, Evy, and Mark did an amazing job," I say calming her down.

" Oh, good. Good," she murmurs trying to smile.

" I wanted to talk to you about you."

" What about me?"

" Brae, how long have I known you?"

" Uhm, a year and five months, give or take a few days," she says sitting with her legs pulled up to her chest.

" Okay, and in that time, I think its safe to say that I know you pretty well. Know when something isn't right, when your trying to cover things up. You go into serious organization mode. Its like you shut down emotionally, you put on the fake smile, and pretend like everything is perfectly fine in Braelyn's World, when it really isn't."

" Jared, I'm fine. You don't need to worry about me. It isn't about me this trip. It's about Evy and you. Your marrying my best friend the day after tomorrow, and that's all that matters. So please, just listen to me when I tell you that everything is okay," she says smiling brightly, but I know better. I know better when the light of her smile doesn't reach her eyes.

I also know not to push her, because she'll talk when she's ready too.

" Okay, well. Just sit with me for a while," I murmur sitting next to her, staring straight ahead, my hand covering hers.

I let time pass, the only sound to be heard is our breathing, and I wait for it. For the break, and the release, and finally it comes.

" He doesn't want children Jared," she whispers and I look over at her slowly, " I know it doesn't seem like a big deal. Because, I mean, I'm only twenty five, so it's not like he can't change his mind, or I'm on some sort of schedule as to when I can have children, but I want babies. And he doesn't. Ever. He doesn't want babies. I have always been that girl. The girl who begged her parents to have a baby, the girl who goes all gooey inside when I smell baby lotion. I want the three a.m feedings and diaper changes, walking a colicky baby, I want all of that, and he doesn't. How did I not know this before I let him put his ring on my finger, before I tied my life to his and his to mine? How did I not know that we wanted such different things from life?"

" Brae," I start saying but she shakes her head.

" I made a mistake, marrying Chase, and I know it. Deep down inside of me I know I did. I did it for all of the wrong reasons. I did it to feel safe again, protected, loved. To forget the fact that Tyson hurt me. What kind of person does that?" she demands and I wince when I see the tears.

" Well, good to know what you really think of our marriage…" Chase's voice comes out of thin air and I watch in horror as Braelyn's face falls, tears falling fast down her cheeks, as Chase and her lock eyes.

" Chase," she whispers, and he just turns and walks away, leaving her even more broken then before.

XXX

Evangeline's POV

Everything is under control.

That's all I've been told as I slide carefully into the dress I picked out for the rehearsal and following dinner with Charlotte's help.

What has me worried, is what needs to be controlled?

" Char, where's Brae?" I ask, turning to look at one of my closest friends.

" She's uh, well. Okay. I was told not to tell you, but I can't keep this from you, because you and Brae, you guys are well, Brae and Evy," Charlotte says and I grow nervous catching the way her eyes tear up in the mirror.

" Char, what happened?"

" Jared asked Evy to come to his room and talk, because he knows, well everyone knows that something's up with her, and he just, we wanted to make sure she was okay. Well, I guess he didn't get to her until after she and Chase had a fight in the banquet hall. So Brae was pouring her heart out to him, and Chase walked in. I don't know what was said, but whatever it was, was bad enough to have Chase storming out and Brae in shambles."

" Damn it," I whisper closing my eyes slowly. Brae. Oh Brae. Of course she didn't come to me. She wouldn't. She seems to have it in her head that because it's my wedding her issues are of no importance, and I love her for it, but can strangle her right about now.

She's still important, regardless of the fact that I will be walking down the aisle in in less than forty eight hours.

" I, I don't want to be nosey, but are they going to be okay?"

" Brae wants children, and Chase, well Chase doesn't. So I don't know. I don't know if they are going to be okay," I say and I look up when I hear Charlotte start to cry, " Oh Char, they'll be fine. I'm sure."

" It's not that, its just. I'm, I'm pregnant."

" Congratulations."

I jump turning to find Brae, dressed in a beautiful black cocktail dress standing, make up perfectly masking the tears I'm almost positive she cried, and I smile, understanding that despite her heart ache she is sincere with her words for Charlotte.

XXX

Despite the underlying current of tension that can be felt, everyone is all smiles and laughter. Even Brae, who is being joking with the Charlotte, Laycie, and Amber about the good old college days, when I, Evangeline Mason, swore I would never, ever get married.

" Now look at her, look at the way she's all aflutter," Laycie jokes, batting her eyelashes dramatically.

" Don't make me come over there and kick your ass, I did it once before if you'll remember," I say sweetly, glancing over my shoulder at her.

" Well, that just wouldn't be a fair fight. Brae would kill me if I gave you a black eye two days before your wedding. So how about we rain check the fight for the reception, okay?" she says sarcastically and I giggle, nodding my head.

" You got it."

" Now, now ladies there will be no cat fights at my wedding," Jared says rousing laughter by the semi-serious tone of his voice.

" Uh oh, he's serious, don't make him go all Groomzilla on us," Amber says, and we all fall into fits of laughter, laughter none of us can seem to control, and that's okay.

About half way through the rehearsal dinner I catch it. The deep stares that Chase and Braelyn keep exchanging, watching every move the other one makes. I can't stop the worry that fills me, and just as I'm getting ready to push away from the table and ask Brae to take a walk with me to talk about what's going on, she stands and gently taps her fork against the side of her crystal Champaign flute.

" Well, first I want to say thank you to everyone who made the trip out here to see my best friend and Jared get married. I didn't prepare a speech for this, because well, I prepared one hell of a speech for the wedding. Instead, with the help of Shannon, and Mark, we put together, well, you'll see. Lights, please," Braelyn says, nodding her head towards Mark who dims the lights.

A large screen lights up, music swelling and filling the room, and suddenly my face, along with the face of my parents flash on the screen, and the tears start. Damn it, and damn Braelyn for cooking up this idea because I'm almost one hundred percent certain that she is in fact the one behind it. Sure, Shannon and Mark probably helped, but it was entirely her idea.

I wipe away the tears, smiling as nearly twenty five years of memories dance for everyone to see. Mixed with Jared's memories, until finally, suddenly, it becomes our memories. Our memories. The beach trips, the cake war, all of them, melting together. A testament that when you find the one, the one your supposed to love, it's no longer you and your life, them and theirs. Its 'ours.'

When the screen goes blank, and the lights raise I find Brae's eye's, and whisper a thank you.