Caroline & Randy…

By: Jana~ 

--Caroline and Annie stood in the dressing room while they waited for Del to bring Richard back. When Richard walked in, Annie left with Del...

"We'll leave you two alone." Annie said, gesturing for Del to join her in the hall.

"Richard, what are you doing here?" Caroline asked softly.

"I had to see you Caroline."

"Why?"

"I had to tell you... tell you that I was so wrong about being a parent. I didn't know I would fall in love with being a father. Caroline... I know I messed things up, but... I love you. Please, Caroline... will you marry me?"

"Richard... this is my wedding day. I'm marrying Randy..." Caroline said sadly.

"Caroline... I know I have no right to ask this... but, do you love him?"

"Of course I do."

"More then me?"

"Richard... you and I, we had something very special, but... it wasn't enough. I need stability. I need to be able to make plans. I couldn't do that with you, but I can with Randy. I'm sorry Richard..." Caroline said tearfully. Just then Stefano started to fuss.

"Ok... I understand Caroline. I'm sorry for ruining your wedding day. I'm... I'm gonna go now..." Richard said with tears in his eyes.

"Richard..." Caroline said as Richard walked towards the door... "I'm so sorry..."

"I know. This isn't your fault, it's mine. I hope you have a wonderful life..." Richard said as tears rolled down his cheeks.

"Thank you Richard... I hope you do too."

"I will always love you Caroline..."

"I'll always love you too, Richard." Richard felt the ability to speak leave him... he waved goodbye, then walked out the door and out of Caroline's life.

--Annie watched as Richard left, then weentt to Caroline's side.

"What happened sweetie?" Annie asked compassionately.

"He has decided that he loves being a father. The one obstacle that prevented us from getting married is no longer an obstacle." Caroline said through her tears.

"So, what are you going to do?" Annie asked softly.

"I'm gonna marry Randy. I will always love Richard, but I need stability Annie. Our relationship was always stressed and rocky, but with Randy... it's more stable, know what I mean?"

"Yeah, sweetie... I do. But... do you love Randy like you love Richard? Is Randy your sincere amore?"

"Annie... I don't even know what that it anymore..." Caroline said with frustration... "It's like I have to choose... if I have the sincere amore... the grand passion, I have to give up stability. But with stability I don't get the love that I never have to question... Annie... I just have to choose. I choose stability. I love Randy, and maybe in time I will love him as passionately as I love Richard, but, I'm not getting any younger. I need to know that after the passion dies down there is stability there. I just don't know if that will be so with Richard... and I can't take that chance." Caroline said, crying fairly hard.

"Oh, sweetie... I am so sorry." Annie said as she hugged Caroline.

"Oh, don't be sorry... I'll be ok. Randy is great... and he loves me. We will be happy together."

"Do you want some time to freshen up before you go out there?" Annie asked as she helped wipe the tears from her face.

"Yeah, I think I need a minute. Can you let everyone know?" Caroline asked, regaining her composure.

"Sure, sweetie." Annie said softly, then walked towards the door.

--As Annie was leaving, Randy came into thhe room.

"Caroline, what's going on?" he asked with concern.

"I'll just go let everyone know..." Annie said as she walked out and shut the door.

"Randy... Richard came back cause he still wants to marry me..." Caroline said softly.

"And?..." Randy asked nervously.

"And... I told him I was already getting married to you." Caroline said, smiling through her tears.

"Caroline... are you sure? I mean... I love you, but I have sometimes felt like I was second to Richard. Caroline... if you have doubts about marrying me, now is the time to tell me." Randy said sincerely.

"Randy, I do care for Richard, but... I want to marry you. I love you." Caroline said, then leaned in and kissed him tenderly.

"I love you Caroline..." Randy said softly, then leaned in and kissed her again. They gently broke away and Randy stared lovingly into her eyes... "You look beautiful today Caroline." he said lovingly, gently stroking her cheek with the back of his hand.

"Oh... I'm a mess! Give me a few minutes to freshen up, then I'll be out." Caroline said as she looked at herself in the mirror.

"Ok, honey... I'll see you out there." Randy said, then headed for the door. He stopped and looked back at his bride and smiled. Caroline smiled back, sure that she had made the right decision.

--After getting freshened up, Caroline wwass ready to get married. For the second time that day Caroline waited for The Wedding March to play, and for the second time that day, she walked down the aisle towards marriage. She knew she would always love Richard, but Randy would be her husband... to have and to hold, in good times and bad, in sickness and in health, until death parted them. She knew she made the right decision, and she never regretted it.

THE END

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