<<< To Have And To Hold, Kyle, Then Open

April 27th, midday

She remembered that day as though it were this one. It was, in so many ways, the last one of her life. For years, she had said, mostly to herself, that that sunny day on that hospital bed, when her hair and eyes gained their now signature color, was the day Delia Colins died. Gone was the girl with the striaght brown hair whose life was so filled with routine and possibilities. Delia Colins, the girl so full of innocence, was replaced by many things. First, she was a mutant, with powers that at once saved her life and took it. Secondly, the bright and expressly routined persona that had helped her rise through the ranks of top tier pianists in the country, was replaced by an encompassing bitterness that sent her spiraling into both depression and excess. In every way that counted, she was gone, and with her went all the dreams that she had started and so carefully nurtured . Sometime during the swirling door that had become her life, Delia had quietly layed down the hopes she had as a girl. She had subtly resigned to live as her body did, in a neverending stasis that was more existence than life.

Now, looking down at herself, outside the parlor doors, all she could think about was grace. Grace, from whatever source such divine things come from, had to be the reson she was standing here today. The underlining poetry that made the world both liveable and beautiful had no doubt moved her and given her all the things she never knew she always wanted. Her dress was strapless and white. It hugged her in a way that she knew would be attractive in the wedding photos. If she had nothing else from her days as a socialite, it was a flawless sense of style. Her hair, shimmering every bit as much as the sun, hung in tendrils around the sides of her face. Her makeup was immaculate. Avery was to thank for that. The green woman, who had quickly become Kyle's best friend and best 'man' had been more helpful than Delia had any right to expect. Her maid of Honor, Jamie Madrox, while a spectacular person in his own right, was really out of his element when it came to the girlie things. Delia looked up again. A dagger of pain shot through her as she thought of her sister Molly, of how the fact that she couldn't be here was the only thing that seperated this day from perfection. The former socialite took a deep breath and allowed the sensation to redefine it's self as the dull and habitual melancholy that was reserved for all thoughts of her sister. She was here with her, she surmised. Even if she wasn't, she was.

The music started. Delia searched herself for signs of hesitance, of regret. Surprisingly, she could find none. It was then that a thought occurred to her. If that day in the hospital was bad enough to kill Delia Colins, perhaps this one would be good enough to bring her back. The woman blinked back tears. The doors opened and the girl from Pennsylvania started the wedding march that she had so foolishly convinced herself she would never have.

If he could see his life from beginning to present he imagined it would look like a long road, with memorable moments marked like sites along the path. In some ways he felt as if he had lived several lives each with beginnings and ends of their own. There had been his childhood; summer camps, family picnics, prep schools, a life lived under the glare of public scrutiny and public service. His mother had been a subscriber to that Jackie O way of raising her kids, making sure they were always seen perfectly dressed in polo shirts and buster brown haircuts. He and his brother had been happy, or what had passed for happy he supposed. He hadn't questioned much as a child, encouraged by the notion that things were how they should be and to shake the walls would only bring about an unhappy surprise. That same young boy had grown into a happy young man, engaged by life and a future where the only goal was to be a man as great as his father. And then he had met Cadance, and life seemed to exist for those moments, and love was good and life better, and he was charmed and blessed and content.

Then that young man learned the cost of happiness and the whims of fate. That the gods did not like you to rise to such heights, and that the fall from joy was a long one indeed. Cadance had died because of him and who he truly was, and he had been broken, into a thousand pieces never to be whole again. But broken he learned many things. That what he had once seen was not how it really had been. He saw his father for what he truly was, a cold man who valued not the better of his country and people, but rather power and success. And suddenly he realized all he had chosen to overlook while he had been in his little self made bubble. That his so called happy childhood had not been so happy, and maybe just maybe he had revered things because he had been told to and not because they had been worthy of.

He had to start over, to find himself, perhaps for the first time. Kyle had been lucky, in that journey he had the help of many hands. And in spite of the twists and turns he had taken, the times he had set out to punish himself by drinking too much or acting too wild, eventually he found closure. He learned that even if forgiveness was not something he could give himself it was still something of value. He had taken something good out of the world in the scales of fate he had to bring something good back. So he had became a teacher, and he had returned to the one place that had seen him at his most loathsome and encouraged him anyway. All those months ago when he had returned to this place, this second beginning, he knew he could not have foreseen this moment. When present would meet with past to make a future. He had never believed himself deserving of another chance at true happiness, thinking that what was once lost would be lost forever, and his punishment was to be in the world but not a part of it. But Delia had made him a better man, and shown him that everything he thought had died in that crash of metal and flame could live again. That he could live again. Kyle believed it was more then he deserved, but he was grateful for it anyway.

When the music picked up on cue all eyes turned to the entrance as Delia began to walk down the aisle. He had seen the gold eyed beauty in every state of dress and undress that he could imagine, but at this moment he realized he had never seen her so beautiful. She seemed, dare he say it, as happy as he felt, and he knew that she was ready to embrace life as much as he was now. For the second time in his life Kyle Van Leerson believed himself to be a truly blessed and happy man, and for the second time in his life he was about to learn that when you placed yourself on a pedestal you had nowhere to go but down.

Rahne had always loved weddings. There was something about the idealism behind them, about the ceremonial expression of love between two people that was emotionally moving to her.

So of course, she was disappointed to find out that two of her colleagues had gone off and eloped as they had. Not that what they had done was bad, but the fact nobody else was there to share in that moment (except the news media, apparently) was just disappointing.

Naturally, then, she was quite pleased to find out that they were going to do it all over again, do it "right" this time. That pleased heer very much, especially since it came at a time when this school needed it the most, when everyone within its walls lived with the fear that the person next to them, their best friend, their lover, their brother or sister - could be replaced by a total stranger at any moment, with no apparent provocation... or perhaps even they themselves may be gone...

Needless to say, the residents at Xavier's were going through a rough patch - nerves on edge, emotions running high, confusion and fear running amok. So to have something as pure and beautiful as a wedding, if for nothing else than to serve as a happy distraction from what Rahne had been thinking of as "The Ruby Syndrome"? It was wholly welcome.

She had dressed up nicely, in a light violet dress that she had picked out just for the occasion, gotten her hair done as well as its length could allow, and eagerly awaited the ceremony's beginning in the crowd alongside whichever of her students had opted to come along and be in the audience.

"Oh, 'tis exciting," she said for the umpteenth time that day, "I love weddings."

As Delia entered, Rahne stood up along with the rest of the congregation and turned to watch her enter.

As always, Rodney was suspicious. First off, he was never under the impression that Mr. Van Leerson even liked Miss Colins, let alone that he wanted to tap that. Even more so, why would he suddenly want to shack up with her? It was more than a little crazy.

Which meant only one thing. Miss Colins' alien overlords had gotten to Mr. Van Leerson. He would have to get this information to Scott Summers somehow. But for some reason, it was getting harder and harder for Rodney to catch glimpses of the old taskmaster. It was almost like someone was trying to keep Rodney and Cyclops separated. That also seemed to auger poorly, and something that RJ was going to have to investigate soon.

But, he had learned from the best, and the proper move here was to focus on one problem at a time. Miss Colins was consolidating her powerbase with her newfound mate. RJ had theorized that she had shucked out the insides of Mr. Van Leerson and was using his skin to hide one of her alien comrades. She/It was using the same advanced alien technology to keep it a secret from RJ's X-Ray vision like she did to herself. Or perhaps it was some sort of brain slug. RJ didn't have that good of intelligence on Plutonians or what they looked like.

The alien agent masquerading as Delia Colins was also apparently moving in on Jamie Madrox and the school nurse. Ingenious. With Madrox, they could get an entire army with just one man. Avery let them infect or capture any kid that went to the infirmary for a scraped knee.

Of course, she was smart in other ways too. Obviously recognizing the biggest obstacle in her plans, she had invited Rodney in. He had initially suspected for her to make her move during the rehearsal dinner last night. But his skeleton was intact, and his brain was gloriously unslugged.

Oh, sure, she had tried to sell him on the idea, that he was the ringbearer because he was the only kid in his class that had signed up for piano lessons. (RJ had continued taking lessons, once he calmed down about his discovery. He had to know more about his enemy, you see?)

He stood tall, in the miniature tuxedo that they had procured for him, next to the Best Man, who was, in all actuality, a woman. He was carrying a white pillow with two ceremonial rings. (Apparently, they trusted him enough for their world domination plans but not to carry the actual rings.) He purposefully scanned through the crowd, making sure that there weren't any Plutonians trying to blend into the crowd.

JP Jean and Ruby

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"You know I am only going to this thing because I look so good in a tux, right?" Ruby muttered, as he straightened his tie, admiring the fit of the tailored tuxedo Jean had made him get for the wedding of two people he didn't know, and didn't care about. "I am guessing I wear this penguin suit better than the Saint," he said, unable to help himself. Knocking Scott made him feel... like he had some power over his perfect counterpart. It didn't make him feel better about the difference, about how bad he was beginning to feel about himself. "You ready to make our token appearance at this social gala? I'm just hoping that it's open bar."

“Don’t worry,” Jean said, emerging from her bedroom, “I wouldn’t want you to go through any great hardship on our account.” She hadn’t wanted to dress-up either, truthfully, not that she had any ill-will against Delia or Kyle, they were great and if they happiness, more power to them, but dressing up and going to a wedding, in her heart, felt more like a funeral and she had to stop herself from wearing black. Instead, she had reached for something in powder blue, a nice Springtime color to hopefully lift her spirits. She pulled the light, gauzy wrap around her shoulders, letting the ends dangle at her thighs.

“Not that the school revolves around us, but Delia and Kyle don’t need us being a distraction on their big day.”

Smirking, Ruby said, "You don't think I can behave myself? C'mon, babe, I've been a very good boy, especially since we figured everything out." He turned to look at her and put his hands on her upper arms, looking her in the eye, seriously, "Look, I'm trying, ok? I've done everything I can to switch Scott and me back short of using a power drill on my skull to let the evil spirits out. I know I'm a jerk, sometimes, but I know this has to be extremely hard on you. I'm not going to cause any trouble, ok? I'm going to be a good boy," he squeezed her shoulders, in a strangely Scott-like manner and said, "You look gorgeous, by the way."

“I know. And thank you,” Jean said woodenly and moved to the door. “We should probably make an entrance together but we won’t have to dance; no one will expect it… Scott doesn’t like to dance,” she said and moved out the door like a sleepwalker.

Ruby caught her hand, not willing to let her keep avoiding this. "Jean, stop, wait," he said, "Honey, talk to me, for a minute, please. This whole time you've been trying to hold it together, you've been playing strong, but I hear you crying at night. I see how you don't eat, you barely sleep. Somehow we're going to get this fixed, somehow we're going to send me back to my happy little criminal life, and get your boytoy back to you, but there's going to be nothing left of you if you don't... take care of yourself. What's it going to take? What can I do? Because I can't watch you pining away like this. There's too much Scott in me not to feel something for you, even if I know it can never be between us the way it is between you and him."

She pulled her fingers free of Scott/Ruby’s hand without looking at him and took a deep, stuttering breath. “When I stop… to eat… to rest… to think, I’m always wondering ‘what is Scott doing right now’. From the way you describe that place, the torture and the pain, I doubt he’s wearing fine clothes and going to a wedding; so how can I? But… this day isn’t about me… or you. It’s about the future, being happy, and making the most of our time – of making every moment count because it could your last one of happiness; that’s what Delia and Kyle are trying to do. I know you mean well, but nothing you can do or say can change things. We should go… and don’t forget to smile,” she added softly.

"Sounds to me like you don't believe in your husband very much, Jeannie," Ruby said, as she looked anywhere but at him, "You might not think very much of me, but I thought he's a tactician. When Winter switched, he said that Alex and my gang was launching a rescue mission to break 'me' out of prison... between my people's skills, my brother's connections and Scott's soldier boyishness, I'm guessing he's free as a jaybird and holed up in one of my penthouses working out a way to get himself back to you. I... can't say why I feel it... but I'd know if he was... " He ran his hand through his hair, growing out more the way he liked it in the almost two months he'd been here. "I can manage a smile, if you can," he said, changing the subject now, knowing there was nothing more he could do.

They took a place near the front of the assembly. Jean smiled, kissed, and warmly clasped hands with friends and people she knew. It wasn’t her day, it was theirs, but still, her mind drifted back a few years, replaying memories of another wedding.

Behind his red glasses, Ruby's eyes were dark, and while he was able to muster the small smile of his counterpart, all this reminded him was of deeper failure, and life he would never be allowed to live.

Avery had done all that she could to help out during the whole wedding process. After all, neither Kyle or Delia had family present, and being not only a best friend to the groom but like a little sister, she felt that it was only her right to do so. Kyle had not been so bad, she had expected him to be a bit more of a handful than he actually was. After she had primed him to perfection, help making sure he looked his best, she did her best to ease his mind and reassure him that this path was one that he deserved. She dropped in to see Delia, to help her with her makeup and finishing touches, since her MOH was a man, and while she was sure there was a dupe of Jamie that knew a thing or two about feminine care, it was the kind of thing that was best left to a woman. With Delia she had done her best, but honestly she was merely polishing her natural beauty, she then helped her with her head piece, admired her for a moment before she gave her shoulder a gentle squeeze and left the woman to attend to Rodney. To her pleasure he had already been ready to go and out of habit (after fussing over Kyle so much) she adjusted his tie and secured the wedding bands onto the pillow he was to carry and accompanied him to pallor where he would walk out before her.

To her left, ready to take her arm was Jamie. She smiled at the MOH whom she had never seen before in a tux and it could certainly be said that the X-Factorite cleaned up very nicely. With a murmur to tell him he looked handsome, the green hued elven in the golden dress offered Jamie her arm and they walked up the isle. There at the end took Kyle waiting with a charming isle, and as in all weddings, for now all eyes were upon them at the moment as they wanted for the bride to arrive. And just for a little while, as her eyes flickered to the friends that were gathered in the corrugation, she couldn't keep her mind from drifting.

She wondered if she would ever have a moment like this. Currently, after so much had happened, after so much time had passed, marriage for Avery seemed like a concept that was just out of reach. She began to doubt if it would ever happen despite the promises that had been made. What if Pietro decided he would never return…Or, that when he did, the love just wasn't there any more? Avery was no exception to the little girl's princess wedding fantasy and she had dreamed of a big lavish wedding ever since she knew what one looked like. However, as time went by and realism set in, Avery learnt that sometimes you have to make do with what you have. And she was fine with that, made life as being a mutant and living at the institute a happy one. Her little girl dreams turned into something more suitable, perhaps a simple garden wedding with all of Xavier's present. Hank would most likely walk her down the isle, and her MOH…well she wasn't certain who it would be so she imagined both Kyle and Josh there waiting for her, still fighting over who would stand in the first spot. In her white gown, with her hair adorned with flowers, she would giggle at them as she rolled her eyes and squeezed Hank's arm. And lastly, her eyes would fall upon Pietro who would be standing there with his eyes only upon her, warm and proud smile on his face despite having to wait an eternity for her to come down the isle. It seemed to perfect in her mind.

But so far away and almost nonexistent. It was disheartening to think about actually, especially at this moment as she walked down the isle with Jamie, that she wouldn't have a moment like this. Alas. this was the wrong place and time to be thinking about such…uncertainties. Her best friend was getting married and he looked so charming, so happy…besides, she would forever curse herself if she looked back upon the pictures and see fake smiles. The two of them deserved this, they all deserved a little happiness. It was time she continued enjoying the celebration of Kyle and Delia's love. And so beside Kyle she did finally arrived to stand and turn to watch Delia's entrance, giving her best friend a soft rub of the arm as she did so. The music began and the bride did enter with all the grace and beauty that she was meant to have on this day.

"Oooh Kyle, she's beautiful…" Avery murmured in a near helpless sigh. Vibrant violet eyes rolled up to look at the taller man standing next to her, smile warm and gentle as always. She stood by his side for now, knowing that his eyes would not leave Delia to acknowledge the look she gave him for he was spellbound. Avery's smile broadened for a moment before her gaze fell back on the blushing bride. In a moment she would move back and watch the two become husband and wife as it seemed that all of life's troubles and strives melted away.

Jamie Madrox was more than willing to help his friend Delia Colins on her wedding day. He was her maid of honor after all. He was there for moral support as well as physical support. If Delia had any sort of need, he was there to take care of it. If, God forbid, that Kyle disappeared, Jamie would be the one to stall Delia with some story about how the priest was late so that they could buy some time while they looked for the groom. Thankfully, that was not the case. Since he was a non-conventional maid of honor, Jamie had a lot of research to do.

As far as the female condition was concerned, Madrox was pretty clueless. The mutant created a team of dupes to perform research. They poured over bridal magazines to acquaint himself with the process. One of his dupes, however, used the time to peruse Cosmopolitan and now Madrox had intimate knowledge of the ‘Bedside Astrologer.” Apparently, he should be on the lookout for a Leo that could rock his world. This knowledge was not entirely needed because Avery was able to step in to help out in the more feminine department.

Jamie walked down the aisle hand in hand with Avery. She was beautiful in her golden dress. It complemented her golden hues elegantly. She was a beautiful specimen. Jamie thought he looked rather dashing in his tuxedo. The thoughts ran through his head about all the hot women that would be at the reception that would be looking for attractive, single men to fulfill their fantasies. A grin pulled at the corner of his mouth but when he looked around to see how impressive everyone looked, he smiled sincerely.

Jamie took his place on the bride’s side of the procession in front of the priest. Everyone was set and in place and finally the music started. The crowd rose to their feet. Delia in her beautiful dress appeared and began her march down the aisle. She looked amazing. She looked scared and excited at the same time. Jamie shot a glance at Kyle. He had the same happy expression on his face. Avery commented to Kyle that his bride-to-be was lovely. It was true. Delia looked absolutely amazing. He was so happy for the couple. He prepared himself for Delia's arrival so that he could adjust the train of her dress in front of the priest for the ceremony.

Kitty had been in three weddings her whole life. There had been her cousin Lisa's when she was seven, an entirely melodramatic affair, as she remembered her mother criticizing much of the ceremony in Yiddish since Lisa was going against type and marrying a Shaygetz. Kitty personally had loved the entire event, excluding the rush of relatives who constantly pinched at her cheeks and commented on her Sheyner Ponim. To Kitty the entire event had seemed magical, an event that would later prove to her that there was two types of truth, the kind that you remembered and the kind that history wrote down. To her seven year old eyes it had not appeared like the overproduced gaudy spectacle her parents and photographs would attest to later. But rather a testament to the power of love and the magic of weddings. She had fallen asleep on the drive back home to the sounds of her parents arguing over her father's Chutzpah in leading off the couple's toast, knowing the world was a place full of happy moment like this. Similar cars with similar families returning from similar journeys, and in her idealized mind the young girl was already making the plans for her own wedding some day.

The second wedding she had been privileged to be a part of found her at a much less romanticized part of life, though the affair was breathtaking in it's own right. The wedding of Scott and Jean had been something that had been written in the stars, and Kitty had felt blessed to stand witness to the testament of their love. She was older then, far wiser then that young girl of seven had been. She had lived so much in the years from that first wedding to the second, had seen so many things that there was little way to view the world the same as she had when she had been a child. She understood the meaning of sacrifice now, of obstacle and challenge. That struggle was as much a part of life if not more so then any of the simplistic things she remembered. But in a way that made it all the more greater. Because now she understood love more, because she believed she had felt it, and she understood the journey more because she believed she was walking it. And as she stood for Scott and Jean she hoped to one day build a love as strong as theirs was, able to weather any of the storms that fate threw at it.

Now Kitty Pryde was in attendance of her third wedding, and she wondered where she stood on the subject. Gone was that doe eyed girl of seven who believed she'd never find a man as great as her Dad or a town as perfect as Deerfield. But also she knew she wasn't the same young woman who had stood for Scott and Jean those few years back. What was love really? She had thought she had felt it once, but that had been a fire that burned with infatuation not time tested strength. She no longer saw herself as someone who could just be happy settling down and having a family. The world required more of her, and she loved so many people in a way that was strong enough to carry her through even the toughest of times. But that great Soul mate love, the love of weddings and novels, she didn't know if it was in the cards for her. She had been in love with the same boy since she was a wild haired girl of fourteen, and as she had grown into herself she had grown into wisdom as well. He didn't see her like that, at least not the way she had so often saw him, and Kitty had made her peace with that, for the most part. She was a modern creature who practically saved the world in her free time, what was a man when compared to all of that?

Still as she walked down the aisle, flowers in hand as one of the brides maids, she thought about the splendor of the day. Even the most jaded could get caught up in the temptation that was a wedding. And this affair was different then either her cousin Lisa's or Jean and Scott's had been. The bride was an enigmatic person, who never seemed to let anyone get too close. While the groom seemed the opposite, someone who hoped to bring people into his trust and confidence. They made a unique pairing, but they seemed to make it work. They may not have had the epic tale that Scott and Jean had had but she had heard whispers that their romantic pairing had not been all sunshine and buttercups. Kitty guessed love was a gamble no matter who you were. The young phaser wondered if she would ever find something like Kyle and Delia shared, take that big step before God and family. She honestly didn't know. But life was a funny thing just like she was a different person from seven to seventeen so might she be a different one the next time she assembled before a crowd like this. She was no fortune teller that was for sure.

So the young X-man took her place in line along with the rest of the bride's party as she mentally remarked on the Mishegas that was a female best man and a male maid of honor as the bride walked down the aisle. Between the music, and the sight and the aroma of lilies and flowers in the air Kitty Pryde worked hard not to become Ferklempt.

Weddings were beautiful in most people's opinions. As for Jayson, her opinion was the same. There was something about the ceremony to commemorate the bond of two lovers that got to her. The simple beauty of everything. Of how the groom stood waiting with bated breath. Of the wedding party as it walked down the aisle. Of the bride in all her glory and grace. Everything. If she allowed herself to get lost in the ceremony, tears would flow from her eyes in joy.

But the beauty of the whole affair could not take Jayson's mind off current happenings. No matter how hard she tired to drift her eyes in studying the groom and the rest of the wedding party, she could not stop casting a glace to her boss. Something was wrong with Scott. Rumors were traveling. He wasn't the only one who'd experienced the same ailment. Everyday it seemed like another person switched into someone she could not recognize. Violey, who knew neither the bride nor the groom so she did not attend, had been telling her as much as she could about the switches. This time the personality shifts weren't isolated to the mansion. This wasn't some messed up infection.

'That's the wedding march,' Jayson thought. Pushing the last conversation she had with Violey out of her head, Jayson stood with the rest of the congregation. In mere moments the bride was to walk down the aisle. Jayson was truly happy for Delia and Kyle. Each of them found soul mates in the other. Anyone, including her, dreamed for the same. But most were doomed to wallow in unrequited love. Or become lost in the dream of love to the point it never made it to the real world.

As Delia passed her as she made her walk to her future husband, Jayson gave her a sincere smile with every wish of happiness she could think of at that moment. The beauty in weddings most truly was the couple. No matter the troubles or the switching going about the mansion Jayson knew today was their moment. Delia and Kyle had eyes only for each other. Let that be the memory today.

The room was full. So much so that Delia was taken aback by the sheer number of supporters who had come to wish her well. As much as Kyle was involved in this, as much as she couldn't do it without him, any wedding was, to an extent, focused on the bride. Delia was more than capable of shining in the spotlight she received as she walked down the aisle. RJ was first though, dutifully taking the rings to the altar. He had become Delia's favorite pupil, even if the looks he gave her sometimes defied description.

Following him were Kitty Pryde, another student Delia had grown to know in her time back at the Institute and the seemingly mismatched best 'man' and 'maid' of honor. Jamie and Avery made a handsome pair walking together in front of the glowing bride. In another world, in one where Pietro perhaps didn't exist, she could see the two of them together. Each were good kind people who deserved happiness. She wondered a bit to herself why it was that she, who had made so many mistakes in her life, was on the cusp of that happiness while people who deserved it were so far away. Perhaps things like that really weren't fair, or perhaps happiness came looking for those who needed it most. Delia settled on the latter thought. It gave her the most comfort.

Delia smiled at the people she passed on her way to the altar. Jayson, Jeans, even Scott. They all, at least in a passing way, seemed thrilled for her. The march to the aisle began to feel like a victory lap to the former socialite, though it was one she was happy to finish. She handed her flowers to Jamie and with a quick smile whispered, "Wish me luck."

Kyle was perfect standing before her. She had to forceably from once again wondering why someone as together as he was wanted her. The priest began and his words seemed to spill together. So much so that, when he asked Delia the big question she was stunned that he had gotten there so quickly.

Still, she was more than ready to answer. "Yes, I do. Sickness and health, richer or poorer. All of it. I do." She pressed back tears as they threatened to pour from her golden eyes and gave a smile to her soon to be husband.

In the crowded room being watched by the eyes of friend's and companions he should have felt more nervous but he didn't. All he could see was the beautiful girl walking down the aisle towards him, like she had done the first time he had ever saw her and he knew his life would never be the same. Kyle had always considered himself an open minded person but at that moment he was very much a kid. His heart raced and his brain poured out one sole defining thought, "Mine." Delia Colins was not the girl of his dreams. She was better because she was real. She was real and she was his. He didn't need to know anything beyond that. He felt as though the world around him was heightened. The lights appeared brighter, the colors more bold, the sounds louder and richer. Everything seemed to go to another level, and it all threatened to play tricks on his head. He wanted nothing to distract him from this moment, from his girl, but he felt as though he was being pulled away by a small invisible chord wrapped tightly around his waist. He could hear the priest begin the ritual, hear Delia declare her vows and his heart threatened to burst. He wanted to kiss her right then, to grab onto her and plant his feet by her side, but the force…. It was like a siren song pulling him into a murky ocean. He needed to struggle, all he could see was Delia, Delia in her wedding dress, Delia on the night he first met her, her smile, her stern gaze, her, her, her. Someone was addressing him now, was it the Priest? Why was he by a priest? No. Delia., stay with her, don't leave her, this is important. You promised never to leave, never to abandon.

Music was playing, a Jackson Browne song. He liked that song, it was one of his favorite driving tunes. Where was it coming from? Had someone in the school swiped through his cd collection? What school, why was he thinking about a school? The road before him blurred and swayed. He didn't feel tired. Maybe he should pull over, but he was already late. Frost would shit a brick if he was late.

Focus on Delia he thought, hold on to this place, you cant go, not now, not now, not when your so close to what you want.

His head started to throb, a blinding pain that threatened to end the world. He was having an anneurism. This was it, his life was flashing before his eyes. The white light grew brighter, closing in. Oh God he was dead, he was dead and he was seeing an angel, a face framed in golden hair with golden eyes. Oh it was a beautiful sight, but he wasn't ready. Not yet, not to die. Then the blurry picture came into sharper focus. He realized the angel's face belonged to no angel but to a woman, a beautiful woman, but human still the same. He felt like sighing in relief till he realized he shouldn't be looking at a woman. He had been driving he remembered that, heading up to Boston for a meeting with Frost. Jackson Browne's "I'll Do Anything" had been playing on the stereo. He knew that because he always listened to that song when he drove, that had been his and Cadance's song. Someone was talking to him, why was someone talking to him? His head felt thick but the blinding pain was easing, fading away as his eyes adjusted to what he was seeing. People, in Fucking formal wear no less, Oh this was rich. Maybe he hadn't made it to heaven after all. Maybe the Eagles had had it right and this was the "Hotel California". Someone said his name, Kyle they said, Kyle Kyle!. He felt a hand shake his shoulder. He snapped away from it's touch.

"What!" he yelled back to the aghast faces. Something was wrong, something was seriously fucking wrong. The angel who was no angel looked at him oddly as if she knew him and he was breaking her heart. How the fuck was he responsible for that? He had never seen her before in his life, and now she looked at him like she owned him. Wait, why was she in a wedding dress, and why was he in a tux?! What was going on? Where was he?!

Fear kicked in, the need for self preservation. Frost had warned him about shit like this. If the mission had ever been compromised, if they had been caught, weird things might go down. Telepaths and mind fucks and propaganda and a lot of bad mojo. He valued his own ass too much to go out like this, not on the other end of some mind trick. He looked at the people staring at him, all either illusions or enemies. He had to escape. He had to fight.

The girl in the wedding dress seemed to say something and reach out her hand to touch him. Instinctively he reacted. He may have been on the other end of some trick but it was still his mind God Damn it. He'd fight them till they killed him if that's what it took. He channeled something intense inside of him, grasping for a power that had been the will of genetics. Using that force that he pushed out against his would be assailants, tossing most of the formal dressed enemies back toward the wall and sending the golden eyed girl flying across the room her landing only cushioned by a large tiered wedding cake that she collided with.

"Everyone stay the fuck back!" he yelled out loudly, as people in seats stood up in shock. "I'll knock everyone of you son's of bitches to high heaven if you come near me!" His eyes darted frantically for a door. If he could just get out, just make it free, he might be clear of this. He just needed to escape.

A lone horn blared into the air. It took Kyle a moment to realize the reason why the horn was blasting was because his head was slammed into a steering wheel pressuring the vehicle's horn to wail. His face felt wet, wet and sticky. From one opened eye he could see it was red. He was bleeding, and he was so tired. If he could just close his eyes all of this would be over, but the horn, the horn was so loud it made his ears ring. If he could move his head maybe he could stop it and then he could sleep. And if he could sleep he could wake up, and all of this… so much pain, he hurt all over.

"Buddy, Hey buddy are you alright?" His name wasn't Buddy it was Kyle. His dad had called him buddy, one of those weird kid names he had never really understood. Light seemed to be pouring in from shattered glass and fragments. So many pieces he thought, so broken, never to be set right again.

"I've called an ambulance okay, just hang on. Help is coming." The voice tried to break through the pain but it couldn't. He was in a car and he had been in an accident, and from the trembling timber in his would be helper's voice it wasn't a pretty sight. He wanted to laugh at the craziness of it. How could he have been in a wreck? He was getting married. He would tell the guy that as soon as the pain stopped and the damn horn stopped blaring. As his body began to surrender to the darkness, he saw Delia dancing before him beckoning him after her. Then she changed and it wasn't Delia anymore it was Cadance. And she was saying something, something really important. "I'm sorry Cadance." he said to her, "The horn is just too loud." And then he was gone.

-End Of Thread-

TBC