"Hey, where's Cassandra and Nick?" Emalia asked walking into the guys' house.
"They already went upstairs to bed," said Coreene.
"You guys, can I tell you something?" Isabella said.
"Yeah, we suppose," said Devon. Kevin, Emalia, Devon, Coreene, Nicole, A.J. and Isabella all went into the living room and sat down.
"Well, I have some good news!" said Isabella.
"What?" said Nicole.
"I'm getting married!"
"Who is it to this time?" asked Emalia.
"To A.J. of course!"
"That's wonderful, Isabella!" said Kevin, giving everyone else a look.
"Oh yes," they all agreed.
"We're what?" said Cassandra, disbelievingly.
"Yes," he said nodding his head.
"What time do we have to leave?"
"Early. I guess we can have someone take us to the docks."
"I can't believe it!" Cassandra screamed and jumped up into his arms. She jumped so hard that it knocked him over and they fell onto the bed. Nick kissed her then stood up. He still felt a little lightheaded. He grabbed a suitcase and threw some stuff in it, and then neatly folded four different suits into another suitcase.
"Come on," he said holding out his hand. "Let's go pack." Smiling, she took his hand and followed him downstairs.
"Oh Cassandra, you missed the good news," Emalia said sarcastically.
"What news?"
"Your sister's getting married. Again." Cassandra looked at Isabella in awe.
"Yup," Isabella said smiling and nodding her head.
"To A.J. I hope."
"Yup," she said again.
"It's about time!" Cassandra said giving her sister a hug. "So when's the big day?"
"Next week! We're going to try this over again." Cassandra's smile faded and she looked down at the ground. "What? Cassie, what's wrong?"
"We're, uh, not going to be here. Today's Saturday, and we're leaving tomorrow. We actually came down here to go back to my house and pack, and to ask if someone can take us to the docks tomorrow morning, early."
"But where are you going?" Isabella asked.
"Der sister dear, our honeymoon of course!"
"Oh, well I guess that we can postpone it until you get back next week."
"So can someone take us tomorrow?"
"I can," said Kevin.
Cassandra smiled at him. "Thanks Kevin. Oh, and I need someone to take care of my fish!"
"I can," Nicole said softly.
"Thanks, Nicole," Cassandra said smiling, but Nicole didn't smile back. "Um, we're going to go pack now. I guess I'll see you early tomorrow," Cassandra said to Kevin. "Bye guys! Oh, and congratulations A.J. and Isabella. We'll see you in a week, I guess."
"K," said Emalia. "Have fun you guys!" Cassandra and Nick walked out of the door, into her house, and up to her room.
"So what are we going to do until they get back?" asked Emalia.
"I don't know. Cassie and Nick are always the life of the party," said Isabella. "Something always happens and it always comes back to them somehow!" They all laughed.
"Well, we could ask Nicole why her boyfriend packed up and left," said Emalia. Nicole looked up from where she was on the couch. "So Nicole?" Nicole couldn't explain. She just didn't have any words to describe what had happened between her and Jonathan.
"What should I pack besides everything?" Cassandra asked Nick from her closet. He sat on her bed, half asleep.
"Well, a different dress for every day, and whatever else you'll need."
"Gee thanks. You're so much help."
"I know," he said yawning. Cassandra went through all of her clothes and picked out eight dresses for eight different nights. She grabbed her garment bag and carefully hung her dresses in it. She took her suitcase and went into the bathroom to grab all of the objects that she would need for her hair and face.
When she went back into her room, she put her suitcase down by the front of the bed, and saw Nick asleep. She smiled and turned the light off.
The next morning, Cassandra and Nick went over to the guys' house at five o'clock.
"I can't believe that I'm not tired," Cassandra whispered as they started up the stairs to Kevin's room. "I couldn't sleep at all last night!"
"Me neither! But I do have a feeling that we won't get much sleep this week anyway," Nick said with an evil grin and kissed the side of her face.
"Nick! Shh! We have to wake up Kevin and not everyone else."
"I suppose I can wait a while."
"You're such a goof, wait here. I'll go get Kevin," said Cassandra and silently went into Kevin's room. "Kevin!" she whispered. She saw that Emalia was with him, and didn't want to wake her up. "Kevin!" she whispered again.
"Uh?" Kevin said starting to stir.
"Kevin, ready to go?"
"Huh? Oh, yeah, um, hi Cassie, yeah, uh, let's, uh, go." Kevin slowly crawled out of bed, being careful not to wake up Emalia, and walked with Cassandra and Nick downstairs.
"Slept in your clothes, huh?" Nick asked.
"Yeah. I didn't know how early was early, and this is early!" said Kevin.
"You want me to drive?" Nick suggested.
"Would you?" Kevin asked. Nick laughed and they walked out to Kevin's car. They put their luggage in the trunk and Cassandra hung her garment bag with her good dresses in it, in the back seat. Nick got behind the wheel, Cassandra in the passenger's seat, and Kevin crawled in the back.
About five minutes later, Cassandra and Nick heard snoring. Cassandra turned around and saw Kevin, fast asleep.
"Kevin?" she said. "Kevin!"
"Huh? What?" he said, getting up with a start.
"Don't lay on the garment bag!"
"Oh, sorry," said Kevin, laying back down, pushing the garment bag away. Nick laughed.
"And what are you laughing about?" Cassandra asked him, folding her arms.
"Oh, nothing."
"Yeah, very funny!"
They arrived at the docks, two hours later. Kevin was still asleep, and Cassandra offered to wake him up. "Come on, Kevin. Time to wake up!"
"No mommy, I don't wanna go to school!" Kevin said, stirring.
"Kevin, I'm not your mommy." Kevin sat up and looked at Cassandra. He blinked a couple of times then rubbed his eyes.
"Are we there yet?"
"Yes we're there. You up to driving back?"
"Yeah, I'll be fine. Here, I'll help you with your bags, so you can carry your garment bag and not wrinkle it!"
"Oh very funny!" Kevin got out of the car, and Nick and Kevin went to the trunk and picked up the four bags in the trunk.
"Geez Cassie, what do you have in here?" Nick asked picking up one bag and almost dropping it on the ground.
"All of my hair stuff, and make up."
"You're kidding me right?"
"Well, make up to match each dress, a blow dryer, curling iron, shampoo, conditioner, hair brush, gel mostly for you-"
"Okay, okay Cassie!" said Nick. "Why did you bring make up? It's not like you need it or anything."
"We've already had this conversation. And this time I need it so it can match my dresses. This is a cruise you know, and matching and fashion is everything."
"Okay, whatever. I'll let it slide for now, but when we get back, we're throwing it out. You don't need it."
"I hope you meant that in the sincerest way."
"Come on you two," said Kevin. "Let's get you on that ship before it leaves without you." The three of them walked over to the platform and Cassandra took the two bags from Kevin, with her garment bag flung over her shoulder. Nick handed the two men the tickets.
"Bye Kevin, thanks for taking us, sort of," she said giving him a hug. "Tell everyone that we said good bye and not to call my cell phone unless it is a major, major emergency!" Kevin laughed.
"All right, I'll make sure they don't bother you!"
"Thanks. We'll see ya!" said Nick. "Come on Cassie." They both picked up their bags and carried them across the platform and onto the boat.
They walked down the hallway, until they found their room, 5G, and walked in.
"This is beautiful!" said Cassandra and dropped her bags onto the floor. Their room was all light colored. A queen sized bed, oak wood floors with a white rug underneath the bed, and an oak bureau with a gold rimed mirror. "Oh Nick!" She wrapped her arms around Nick and kissed him passionately. He wrapped his arms around her and pushed her down onto the bed. "We haven't even left the docks yet."
"I know, but we're celebrating early!" said Nick smiling. He leaned down and kissed her again.
Linden drove to Trevor's house. She slowly got out of the car, and rang the door bell, and Trevor answered it.
"Linden!" Trevor exclaimed. "What a surprise!"
"Quit the crap while you're ahead," she said coldly. Linden walked right through the front door.
"What the hell is up with your stomach?"
"I'm pregnant stupid!"
"That's my child in there," Trevor said with certainty.
"No, that's what I have to tell you. It's Anthony's child and we have a whole new life together."
"Oh how sweet, but you will never get rid of me."
"I want you to stay away from me."
"Oh, whatever. We'll just see about that-"
"Oh my God!" Linden said.
"What?"
"I think my water just broke."
"Shit, shit, shit-"
"Get me in the car!"
"Good idea." Trevor quickly helped Linden into his car, and drove as fast as he chanced.
When they got to the hospital, ten minutes later, Trever rushed in ahead of Linden and started yelling at the woman behind the desk. "I have a woman, that's going into labor!"
"Okay, Sir, just calm down. Where is she?"
"She's right here," he said pointing behind him.
"All right. Follow me." Linden and Trevor followed the woman, and she got Linden a wheelchair to sit in. Linden sat down and the woman rushed her down the hallway and into a room. Trevor saw the doctor that would be tending to Linden, and he stopped him.
"This baby is mine," he said to the doctor.
Trevor talked to him for about five minutes, then the doctor rushed down to Linden's room. Satisfied, Trevor went and sat down in the waiting area.
Hours later, Trevor got bored, so he decided to go see how Linden was doing. He walked down the hallway and casually walked into Linden's room. He saw a nurse holding the baby, and Linden asleep.
"What's its name?" Trevor asked breaking the silence in the room.
"Taylor."
"Oh, why is Linden asleep?" He heard one of the nurses softly begin to cry.
"She didn't make it. She died in child birth."
"What? You're kidding me right?" They all shook their heads. "I'd better call her boyfriend." He walked out of the room, and pulled out his phone. "Anthony? I have some bad news."
"Trevor? What?"
"Linden had her kid, but I am afraid to say that she didn't make it through the labor."
"Give me a break!"
"It's true."
"Fuck you," Anthony said.
"And by the way, they said that the kid is mine."
"You are a lier."
"Come to the hospital and see for yourself."
"Fine I will."
That night, everyone was sitting around the girls' living room. They had just gone out for dinner, and were now only talking.
"So what do you think that Nick and Cassandra are doing right now?" Nicole asked.
"Dunno," replied everyone.
"So you're really getting married when Nick and Cass come back?" Emalia asked Isabella and A.J.
"Oh you'd better believe it!" said Isabella.
"Yup, take two!" said Kevin. They all laughed except Isabella.
"Okay, I know that the first time that I attempted to get married, kinda backfired on me-"
"Kinda?" interrupted Emalia.
"Okay, it did backfire on me, but that was only because my emotions were screwed up and, at the time, I felt that Austin was the only one that I could turn to."
"Oh, okay," said Emalia. "Cassie and Nick may not be too happy about your wedding being next week."
"What are you talking about?"
"I'm sure that they don't want to come back in a week, and now they probably feel obligated to come back because of your wedding."
"I never thought about that," A.J. said.
"So when are you and Kevin getting married?" Isabella asked Emalia, changing the subject.
"What are you talking about?"
"You two should get married!" said Coreene.
"Um, no."
"Why not? You guys are always making out, or doing something. You guys are, like, perfect."
"So?" said Nicole. "So what if their hormones are out of control? It doesn't mean that they have to run off and get married like Cassandra and Nick!" Everyone turned to look at Nicole.
"And what is that supposed to mean?" Isabella asked her, getting defensive.
"All I'm saying," said Nicole, "is that Cassandra and Nick were the second ones to get married. Now, Brian and Mercedes, they're twenty three and they're about the right age to be getting married, but Cassandra and Nick, they're only eighteen, going on nineteen. Don't you think that's a little hasty? I mean, they're going on their friggen honeymoon!"
"If she didn't have Nick, she would probably be locked up in her room for the rest of her life, or in a mental hospital, or six feet under, dead!" yelled Isabella. "Don't you ever say that my sister made the wrong decision. They're going on a cruise, and who cares how old they are? They are married, they are on their honeymoon, they are madly in love, she is my sister, and he is my best friend. He has been there for me since I can't even remember, and he has been there for her, whenever she needed him. No matter how small the problem! Don't you ever speak badly of their relationship again!"
Everyone looked at Isabella and couldn't believe her outburst. None of them had anything left to say.
Anthony had been in the hospital for over an hour, and still couldn't believe the news that Taylor was Trevor's son, and he would never be able to accept the fact that Linden was gone. He was sitting in the waiting room, biting his nails. Just then, Trevor walked by him carrying Taylor. Anthony didn't say anything as he watched Trevor carry his son out of the hospital. It felt like it was all over for him. He had lost his son, and the love of his life, who he was going to ask to marry him tomorrow.
Cassandra walked out of the bathroom wearing her long green dress, and her hair in a french twist with a couple of curls hanging down. She saw Nick wearing a dark green, almost black suit, with his hair naturally hanging down.
"You look gorgeous," he said. "I love that dress."
"You don't look so bad yourself," she said smiling. "Do you approve of the make up?" she teased.
"Yes, I guess so. It looks good. You ready to go to dinner?"
"You bet!" She linked her arm with his and they headed for the door.
As they were walking out of their room, they bumped into the people from across the hall. "Oh I'm sorry!" said Cassandra.
"Oh, no, it was my fault," said the lady. She looked about sixty and so did the man she was with.
"So you're our neighbors for the week?" Cassandra asked.
"Yes! I'm Ruth-Ann, and this is my husband, Bob." The four of them shook hands. "So are you two here on vacation?"
"Actually, we're here on our honeymoon."
"Oh congratulations!"
"Thank you," Nick and Cassandra both said, smiling.
"So why are you two here? If you don't mind me asking." Nick asked them.
"Oh, of course we don't mind! We're celebrating our thirty ninth wedding anniversary," said Bob.
"Oh that's wonderful!" said Cassandra. "Hey, do you have any tips on how to make something last that long?"
"Well, why don't you two join us for dinner?" Cassandra looked at Nick.
"Oh we wouldn't want to impose," said Cassandra.
"Oh nonsense! We insist that you join us, and we won't take no for an answer," said Ruth-Ann.
"Okay then. Sure, that'd be great!" said Nick, and Cassandra smiled.
"Wonderful! We'll introduce you around. We practically know everyone on the ship! How long are you two staying?"
"Oh we're only staying for a week," Cassandra answered.
"Oh that's all? You must stay longer!"
"We can't. My sister postponed her wedding until we get back, and we told her that we'd be back in a week."
"Well then, we must hook up sometime and come back on this ship."
"Oh that would be lovely!"
"Shall we ladies?" Bob asked. Cassandra took Nick's arm again and the four of them walked up to the dining deck.
There, they had lit candles on every elegant table, a classical quintet playing in the background, and the most extravagant dresses and jewellry that Cassandra had ever seen.
"I'm lucky to have the most gorgeous woman on this ship, on my arm," Nick said to Cassandra.
She looked up at him and smiled. "And I'm lucky to be on the arm of the sweetest, most gorgeous man on this ship." They walked to their table with Ruth-Ann and Bob, and sat down. They started a conversation and listened to the band.
"I'd like to propose a toast," said Ruth-Ann. They all raised their wine glasses. "To you two. May your love stay just as strong." Nick and Cassandra smiled, and the four of them touched glasses, and took a sip of their champagne.
"Want to dance?" Nick asked Cassandra.
"Sure," she smiled. She took his hand and they walked out to the floor. Ruth-Ann and Bob smiled at them.
Nick put his arms around Cassandra's waist, and she leaned her head down on his chest. She closed her eyes and tried to make herself realize where she was and why she was there. Everything was too perfect, and whenever something this perfect happened to them, something bad always seemed to happen to them, as well. She started to play with his tie, and tried to put that thought out of her mind. She lifted her head and he looked in her eyes.
"Ready?" he asked.
"What-" Before she could say anything else, he dipped her backwards. It startled her and she went back so far, that she grabbed his arms. It almost threw him off balance, but he got his balance back just in time and caught them both. They both looked at each other and burst out laughing. They walked back to the table.
"Well, that was a, uh, very interesting dance move," Ruth-Ann commented. They all started laughing and took another sip of their champagne.
"Isabella," A.J. said, "are you all right?"
"No I'm not all right, A.J.!" Isabella said loudly. "Nicole has no right to say stuff like that about anyone, especially my sister!"
"Isabella, calm down-"
"No it's okay," Nicole said. "I'm going to bed anyway." Before anyone else could say anything, she ran out the door and to her house and up to her room.
"What happened between her and Jonathan?" Kevin asked. They all shrugged.
The next morning when Cassandra and Nick woke up, they heard a knock on the door. They both got up to answer it.
"Mr. and Mrs. Carter?" a man said. They both smiled, and nodded their heads. "This is for you and your husband, compliments of the ship. Congratulations on your marriage, and we hope that you have a pleasant honeymoon." He handed them an elegant basket full of exotic fruits.
"Oh thank you very much!" said Cassandra. Nick tipped the man as Cassandra took the basket over to the bureau and set it down.
"That was very nice of them!" Nick said, walking up behind her and wrapping his arms around her.
Cassandra looked up in the mirror to look at him. "Ah! I can't believe I answered the door looking like this!"
"You look fine."
"Gee, thanks. I look so fine," she said sarcastically. "It can only get worse."
"Uh huh."
"I'm serious."
"Yup," he said not paying attention. He had a grin on his face.
"I don't know what that grin is for, but it's scaring me." Nick picked her up, and threw her over his shoulder. "Nick! Put me down! Nick!"
"Oh come on. You're not going anywhere."
"Nick, put me down now!"
"Um, no."
"Please? Pretty please?"
"Um, no."
"Nick! Put me down!" she yelled starting to laugh.
"Fine, you want me to put you down?"
"Yes!"
"Okay!" He let go of her and she slid off his shoulder and onto the bed. He jumped onto the bed and started to laugh.
"Oh that was so funny!" Cassandra said trying to act mad.
"Oh come on."
"Nick that wasn't funny!" she yelled. She bit her lip trying not to laugh, and she tried to think of unhappy thoughts.
"Cassie, come on," he said pouting and giving her the puppy dog look.
"Oh don't do that. You know that I just want to kiss those lips then." Nick continued to pout. Cassandra shook her head and smiled. She put her hands on his face, and kissed him desirously.
**Two days later**
"Hello?" Anthony said picking up the phone at Linden's house.
"Anthony?"
"Yeah?"
"I am calling you anonymously, so don't ask me to give you my name. Trevor paid the doctors and threatened them to say that Taylor was his child. But it is yours."
"Uh, thank you. I guess." He hung up the phone, and immediately ran out to his car and set off for Trevor's house.
When Anthony arrived at Trevor's house, he barged right through the door. Trevor, who was holding Taylor, was startled. Anthony walked right up to Trevor and grabbed Taylor out of his hands.
"What in the hell do you think that you're doing?" Trevor yelled.
"I'm taking my son home!"
"Your son?"
"Yeah! I got an anonymous call from the hospital saying that they were threatened and paid to say that he was your son!"
"Uh-" Trevor bit his lip.
"That's what I thought. Stay away from us you bastard!" With that, Anthony ran out of the house and carefully strapped Taylor in the child's seat in the back seat. He got into the driver's seat, and tore off down the road. He had plans on running away, running away from it all, far away. Some place where Trevor would never find them. A place where he could mourn the death of the greatest love of his life, in peace. He didn't know where that place was yet, but he knew that he would know when he got there.
**Eight Days Later**
"Okay Isabella, are you really going to get married this time?" Cassandra asked her sister in the bridal room.
"Yes Cassie! I'm sure this time!"
"Magic time!" Mercedes said knocking on the door.
"All right, let's go!" said Nick walking into the room.
"Just walk in why don't you!" said Isabella.
"Too late, I already did!"
"Very funny!"
"Okay, come on, let's go," said Cassandra. "Hey Nick? Aren't you the best man again?"
"Um, yeah. Why?"
"Shouldn't you already be at the end of the aisle?"
"Oh shoot! You're right! I know I can't kiss you because of your make up, so I'll see you down there!" he said running down the aisle. Cassandra shook her head and laughed to herself.
The music started. Cassandra was the first one down the aisle. She looked at Nick down at the end of the aisle, and smiled. It reminded of her of their wedding. She was followed by Mercedes and Brian, Kevin and Emalia, and then Howie and Angel. Then Isabella came to the door.
She looked up and saw A.J. She knew that the day that she almost married Austin, would have been the worst decision of her life. She knew that this would be the best decision of her life because she was truly in love with A.J. and knew that she wanted to spend the rest of her life with him.
She reached the end of the aisle, and took A.J.'s hand. She looked up at the priest and saw that it was the same one that almost married her and Austin.
"Well, well, well Isabella," said the priest, "are we ready this time?" Isabella nodded her head. "And hello Cassandra! Do you have any outbursts for us today?" Cassandra blushed deeply, and looked over at Nick.
"No," she said to the priest and looked down.
"Good! Okay then! Dearly beloved, we are gathered here today, again, to hopefully join these two people in the bonds of holy matrimony."
**Thirty Minutes Later**
"Do you Alexander James, take this woman to be your lawfully wedded wife? To have and to hold, in sickness and in health, for richer or for poorer, until death do you part?"
"I do," said A.J.
"And do you Isabella, take this man to be your lawfully wedded husband? To have and to hold, in sickness and in health, for richer or for poorer, until death do you part? Please?"
"I do."
"Hallelujah! I now pronounce you husband and wife, you may kiss the bride." A.J. turned to Isabella and gently lifted the vail over her head and put his hands on her face. He pulled her face closer to his, and gently placed his lips on hers.