Maggie was stood upstairs in the bedroom standing in front of the mirror, looking at her reflection she twisted her body from one side to the other to get a better look. The lace and fabric that fell over her legs moved gracefully with the movement. She pulled her loose curls over her shoulders and adjusted the wreath of wild flowers on her head. It reminded her of the Art Nouveau lithographs she saw in a museum once. Maggie had spent the afternoon laughing and chatting with Leonard and his extended family members, it really had been wonderful getting to know Joanna better. She wasn't typically a woman who allowed herself to be immersed in her own vanity but looking at herself in that moment she couldn't help but enjoy the very feminine experience of beautifying herself.

If she were honest with herself she had been quietly relieved that Joanna's Mother and Husband hadn't attended. She wasn't someone who tended to feel emotionally awkward in social situations yet it just felt easier for Leonard mostly that they weren't there. She had played with Joanna in the nearby field and helped Eleanor with the food. Jim had been especially lovely, Maggie discovered he was a truly good man and a worthy friend to Leonard. Everyone had been delighted when they received the news that Leonard and Maggie were to wed that evening, a few cousins went home to fetch their musical instruments so that they could have a dance after the ceremony.

While Maggie was upstairs Eleanor ushered everybody to a row of benches that had been set up in front of the garden pergola. Leonard was stood at the front of the house calming his nerves.

"Leonard?" He turned round and looked down the path that ran along the side of the house.

"Pamela?"

Maggie was sat on the bed, it seemed liked it had been a long time, she was waiting for Jim to come and fetch her, she had asked him to give her away as well as officiate the wedding. Looking at the clock on the wall Maggie creased her brow in confusion. A moment later Jim knocked on the bedroom door but didn't wait for an answer, he walked in and closed the door behind him.

"James, you look very handsome." Maggie smiled and walked over to give him a hug and kiss on the cheek. Jim held her hands and took her in.

"Maggie, you look gorgeous. I've never seen anyone look so radiant in all my life." Kirk smiled but Maggie noticed the happiness didn't reach his eyes.

"Jim? What's wrong?" Maggie asked.

"Sit down Maggie." Jim instructed. Maggie initially refused but after Kirk insisted she sat on the end of the bed, Jim was still holding her hand.

"What is it Jim, you're scaring me." Jim took a deep breath and rubbed a hand over his face.

"Leonard's gone…"

"What?" Maggie cut him off, pulling her hand from his she stood up and started walking towards the door.

"Maggie! Wait!" Jim pulled her back before she opened the door.

"Where is he?"

"I don't know, I went to find him before coming up here and I couldn't. I don't know where he is." Jim's face was stricken with grief, Maggie just looked at him.

"I can't…I mean…I don't believe you…"

"Maggie, he's not here. I'm sure it's fine, just a mistake. Perhaps he had to go and run another errand or something?" He didn't know what to do.

"Does everybody know?" She asked quietly. Maggie was too calm for Jim's liking.

"No, not yet. They're all sat waiting…"

"I don't understand, why would he…he knows that this happened…he knows what happened to me…" Maggie couldn't go on.

"I'd turn up, you know that right?" "Yes, I know."

"Happened to you...? I don't understand...? He didn't say anything to me Maggie I swear, he was fine. He was happy, he said he was going to fetch some candles and he just disappeared. Maggie I don't know what to say…"

"I have to go down and tell everyone, tell them I'm sorry."

"You don't have to do that Maggie, I'll go down. Anyway I'm sure he will..." Jim took a step towards her but she took one back. She just nodded and looked down at the ground.

"I have to go." Maggie could no longer focus, no longer hear Jim talking. She felt like she was underwater and everything that Jim was saying was muffled and distorted.

"Go? Go where?" This wasn't the reaction he had expected, something else had spooked her.

"I don't know…I just have to go?" She gave him one final glance and ran from the room. She could hear him shout her name as she fled down the stairs and out through the front of the house onto the porch. She began walking down the dirt path, stopping once to look behind her and see the lights from the garden. Turning again she began to run, her dress got caught between her legs and she tripped and fell. Letting out a yelp she knelt there a moment. Suddenly the full weight of the situation dawned on her, screaming out a primal sound she pulled herself up and continued running into the night.

Leonard was beside himself, after all these years he couldn't believe Pamela had chosen this moment to speak of reconciliation. He'd dragged her away from the house, not wanting to create a scene before his wedding. He just stood there as she rambled on, finally his head cleared and he snapped.

"Pamela! How dare you! Why would you do this? Why would you do this now?"

"I'm sorry Leonard, I've been feeling this for a long while, I thought we'd become friends again? Seeing the way you are now, who you are. When I saw you today, the way you were with her! I just had to say something!"

"Enough! That's enough Pamela, it's too late, we had our chance. It's over between us, it has been for a long time. I have to go Pamela, I'm marrying Maggie! You have to go!"

"Leonard I'm so sorry, I didn't know but I just had to..."

"Pamela GO! GO NOW!" Leonard was incensed. He watched her finally turn and leave, when he was confident she had left for sure he began to walk back to the house. He didn't know how long he'd been gone, he needed a drink, going to the kitchen he poured himself a large Bourbon. What Pamela had tried to do had only confirmed to Leonard that Maggie was the woman he wanted to spend the rest of his life with. Downing his drink he walked into the living room, Jim was stood at the front door.

"Jim, what the hell are you doing?" Leonard looked around, his brow furrowed in confusion. Jim spun round and looked at Leonard in horror.

"Bones! Where the hell have you been…?" Kirk began searching for something through the porch screen.

"I got caught up with something! Never mind that, what the hell is going on?"

"Have you seen Maggie?" Kirk asked.

"Of course not! She was supposed to be with you! Jim…"

"Bones! She's gone."

"What do you mean she's gone? What the hell happened Jim?" Leonard's voice increased in volume.

"I couldn't find you, I looked everywhere! I couldn't find you Bones!" Realisation set in for Kirk.

"Where is she Jim?"

"I don't know, I went up to see her, to tell her. She just ran Bones…I'm so sorry, I didn't know where you were. I didn't think she would…I mean I thought she would…" The glass in Leonard's hand cracked under his tight grip, shards of glass fell to the floor.

"I'd turn up, you know that right?" "Yes, I know."

He didn't even flinch when blood began to drip from the cuts on the palm of his hand. He was in a nightmare.

"Bones your hand…!" Kirk took a step towards him but he was out the door before he could say anything more.

Maggie's lungs were on fire, with every breath she took a razor like pain spread through her chest. She'd lost track of time and she didn't know where she was. She had fallen half a dozen times, her dress was ripped and muddy. Tears stained her face as finally she collapsed to the ground. Her heart felt like it was broken into a million pieces, she couldn't comprehend what had happened. She kept shaking her head as if it was all a bad dream and that she would wake up safe in bed next to Leonard.

Looking back she could no longer see the house, it was pitch black all around her and as she suddenly shivered she realised it must have been late and she was getting cold. She couldn't get the faces of Leonard's Grandmother and Daughter out of her head, everyone had been so warm and welcoming. She had fallen in love with all them instantaneously. She began to cry again, thinking of the life she would have had with Leonard. Not knowing what to do and not caring she began to walk again.

Stumbling from exhaustion her foot caught on a tree root, feeling herself fall she tried to put out her arms but she knocked her head against something hard and her world went blacker still. As she lay in the gully, Maggie thought she could hear someone shouting her name but the darkness was too inviting. Closing her eyes she didn't care in that moment whether she ever opened them again.

Poor Maggie! Poor Leonard! Poor Jim! I really appreciate the follows and favourites, hope you're still enjoying the story. I couldn't help but get a little angsty! Reviews welcome my friends! LLAP :-) XOXO