Special Agent Natara Williams

Disappointment was an understatement. And even though Mal had kissed away my tears, I knew more were on their way. My eyes wandered towards the floor, and I remembered: The little black box.

That was Mal's other present to me for my wedding. I picked it up and walked back to my room, fearing what was inside. An engagement ring? No. It couldn't have been.

I swallowed my fear and peeked inside. After opening it fully, another tear left me.

"Mal…" I sniffled the following tears back in, and removed the contents from the box. It was a necklace. A silver pony necklace.

Without hesitation, I lifted my hair up and clipped it on, which is something fairly impossible to do on your own but… I did it.

I did it, and my personal exhaustion took over. I went to sleep.

Mal Fallon

It had been exactly five days since Natara and I kissed. And during those five days, I hadn't heard from her. I didn't know if I even wanted to. But one thing I was aware of, was the day. And it was the day of Natara's wedding. Her wedding finalizing her marriage to District Attorney, Oscar Santos. The thought made me want to vomit. And Natara decided she wanted to finally do something for herself. I admired that. I'm Mal, and as Mal, I decided nothing was more sickening than watching the woman I love marry somebody else. Not just someone else, but somebody that she didn't even have feelings for.

And I knew I couldn't let this happen. But there was nothing else I could really do, I needed more time, but time is irreversible.

Natara Williams

The gown was beautiful. Everything was beautiful. The flowers were all white, just like my dress.

The dress I chose was honestly the most gorgeous dress I had ever seen. It was long, satin and strapless, with a pearly-colored white encompassing all of the dress. The back was like a corset, with a lace opening going down the back, but the lace was beaded, and off-white, with a long train dangling behind me.

Plus, I trusted Neha and my mother to take care of my hair. I was very on the fence about it, but as it turned out, my hair looked stunning. She put, long, bouncy curls throughout my hair, but she tied half of my hair up into a loose bun. On top of all of that, was my veil.

While studying the mirror, my eyes were snagged on one thing: the necklace. I debated with myself for a couple of minutes. It threw off the entire outfit but… I really didn't care. Mal hadn't spoken to me since the incident at my hotel room, and a part of me questioned whether or not Mal would show up to the wedding. All I wanted was for him to be happy, and when I woke up this morning, I realized that I wasn't the person to make him happy. After what I did last night, rejecting him like that, I knew he deserved much better. Besides, it was too late to call the wedding off. Oscar's family was all here. Our friends were here. My entire family, including my father, was here, at the wedding venue, and everything was scheduled to begin in an hour.

"Neha, can I talk to you?" I whispered, as she finished lacquering hairspray onto my head.

"Of course. Shoot."

I looked around, seeing my bridesmaids, my mom, and all of my female family around me, in an earshot. "Not in here… umm… outside."

She shot my a baffled look. "But…. Your dress. And your hair. Nothing can get ruined, Natara."

I sighed. "Just for a second, please."

She thought for a second. "Guess it couldn't hurt."

She led me quickly out the backdoor of the venue, hiding me from other people, as well as my groom. It was bad luck if he saw me. I wasn't big on superstitions, but I definitely believed in that one. "So big sis, what's wrong?"

I paused, and regretted wanting to come out here. Not because I didn't know what I was saying to her, but because it was freezing outside. "What makes you think something's wrong?"

She raised her brow. "Come on. Natara, today is your wedding. Your only wedding. You don't even look nervous. You look bored, dude. I know, it raises an alarm. I know eventually, you'll get there. After the ceremony starts, I might see Natara actually break a sweat… Crazy right?"

Neha, she stole the words from the back of my throat, where they were stuck and begging for air. "Yeah, I guess. I just.. Hate this whole ceremony stuff. It's stressful.. That's all."

Her eyes sparkled as she let out a giggle. "Yeah. But just think! You're gonna be so happy when you're with the man of your dreams… "

Again, we snuck back inside into the women's wing, making sure nobody saw me that hadn't already.

They insisted on touching me up, and I endured it. I looked at the clock on the wall, noticing the time. And it was up.

Detective Mal Fallon

The clock struck one, and the wedding was scheduled to be starting… now. I didn't really know how I felt about it.

Obviously I was disappointed. I loved Natara. But all the while, if you love somebody, set them free, and if they don't return… you must be Mal Fallon.

I couldn't stop looking at the clock, and then back down at my liquid courage as it began to kick in. I wasn't drunk, or even buzzed. But I definitely had nerve right then. I wanted closure. Natara rejected me, sure, but not blatantly. Not blatantly enough.

I took another big swig, and it burned on the way down.

I set the bottle down, dashing into my closet. I threw on a solid black tee, and some dark jeans. I didn't worry about dressing for a wedding, because if I could help it, it wouldn't be a wedding after all.

I ran as fast as I could, through traffic and I almost knocked over women, children, and a hot dog stand. I felt bad, but I had to keep running.

Before I knew it, I was standing in front of the church. And I froze, because I had no idea what I was going to say. I didn't know what I was gonna do. But I knew I had to do something. I took one last breath before I threw the door open.

It was mid-ceremony. And there was so many people there, that when I walked in, hardly anybody noticed me enter. Plus, it was a long aisle. Natara didn't hear. Oscar didn't hear. Nobody heard. So I stepped aside, and I waited.

After a few minutes of the minister blabbering some poop about vows, love, and… other stuff I didn't pay any attention to, I heard the words that signified my last opportunity: "Does anybody out there today have any objections?… Speak now, or forever hold your peace."

I waited a minute, as did the minister. And I saw Natara's body tense. I began to make my way up the aisle, and eyes wandered to me as I did. Nobody I recognized, except for others from the precinct, and Natara's father, Raj. That's when I heard Natara's faint voice mutter: "Oscar.. I.."

I was going to let her finish, but I decided I needed to talk first. I didn't way him to attempt to convince her that this marriage should finalize. I spoke loudly: "I definitely do."

Suddenly, every eye in the room turned to me, all were staring daggers, too. Except for the only pair I really cared about… Natara's.

She looked gorgeous. I mean, She always did, but today… oh man. "Natara, I can't believe I'm here at all today. But you know what? I don't care about any of this. What people are going to say, or what they're gonna think. The only thing that I care about is you. Natara, I love you, so so much."

Everything was quiet. I half-expected Oscar to throw a fist in my face, but he didn't. Not yet, anyways. "I love everything about you. And I'm not going to be that guy that interrupts your wedding and on top of that, lists off all the things that made me fall in love with you. Because it would be everything. Unless of course you want specifics, then I'll give them. Which if you did, I'd say it's how the sun hits your hair, the expressions you make, how absolutely fearless you are… and just… everything. Literally everything. Even last night, when you cried for me, for the first time ever, Natara… I still love you. And I'm telling you, I know you feel the same."

I waited, watching her face turn pale, and her eyes grow in every direction. I know she was scared, and she was under a ton of pressure. But this was it. This was my only hope.

"Natara, I'm going to go until you stop me. Because I know you want this, too. We've been partners for a while. And ever since I met you, I knew there was something special about those green eyes of yours. I knew that eventually, I would fall head over heels for you. Congratulations, Natara. You made me your victim. I'm lost for words. And I guess… you should know… on that resort when I made up that "ruse" to distract Gil in order to stop the bomb, it wasn't a ruse at all. I meant every word.. I had to. Come on. I can't talk people down like you can, that's all you…. And.. Well, I don't know what else to say except… don't do this. Don't throw it all away. You're not happy. And all I want is for you to be happy. So please, let me make you happy."

She didn't say anything, and then, just then, the alcohol wore off. But I realized, I didn't even need it. No matter how awkward this was, it still felt like it was just Natara and I, alone in a crowded room. Suddenly, her painted lips finally muttered words. "Everybody… I'm going to be right back."

People started letting out gasps, and small words were exchanged between members of the audience. I felt Natara's usually gentle fingers wrap themselves around my wrist as she dragged me out the front door.

And as soon as we hit the fresh air, she started yelling. "Mal! What the hell are you thinking?"

I froze, not expecting that.

"Mal… I… I must be dreaming. You did not just object at my wedding!"

I tried to move closer to her, to calm her down, but she just wasn't having it. "Natara, please.. I didn't intend on hurting you. I needed you to know."

"It couldn't have waited?"

I didn't want to lose it, but it was hard. With her yelling, and people staring out the front windows of the chapel at us, I lost my control a little. "NO! Today was my last chance. You have to know I cared! Would I have done all this if I didn't?"

She chuckled. "Yeah? No Mal, maybe you do care, and maybe you are in love with me but…. That was insane. Too insane for me. And I'm a goddamn federal agent."

I didn't know what else to say, really. I felt heartbroken, again. Complete déjà vu. "Natara, come on. Don't do this to me… I've risked everything for you. I'd do it all again. Just give me a chance. Please."

She had already started making her way back inside, but she turned back around. "Mal… what's funny is that today, up there, I was going to tell Oscar that I needed more time. And then I was going to call it off completely. But after this, I don't know anymore. You humiliated me. You told them I cried in front of you!"

I sighed loudly. "So what? Come on, Natara. I was just trying to explain…"

"Explain what? How much you like to embarrass me?"

"Natara!"

"I DON'T WANT TO HEAR ANYMORE, MAL! I just want… I want to be left alone. Please."

Her sweet, Natara eyes burned holes in me, as she turned around, and walked back In the direction she was originally headed, away from me.