Caroline & Nobody...
By: Jana~
--Richard entered the
dressing room with Stefano to find Caroline in tears.
"I'll leave you two alone." Annie said as she left with Del to go into the hall.
"Caroline... why are you crying?" Richard asked with concern.
"Why are you here Richard?"
"When I found out you were getting married I had to come see you." Richard said
softly.
"Why? So you could stop the wedding?"
"No... that's not why I came. I came to tell you... I was wrong."
"Wrong about what?"
"Wrong about being a father. Caroline... we didn't get married because I didn't
want to have children... well... I was wrong. I just didn't know that I wanted
children. These past 6 months with Stefano has opened my eyes and I have found
that I love being a father."
"Richard..."
"Caroline... I know this is probably the worst possible way of doing this...
but, will you marry me?" Richard asked as he got down on one knee.
"No." Caroline said tearfully.
"No?" Richard asked dejectedly.
"Richard, a lot has happened in the past 6 months. I need more..."
"More what?"
"More then you have to offer..." Caroline said sadly. Just then Randy walked
in...
--"What is going on? Richard... what aree yyou doing here?!"
"When I heard Caroline was getting married, I just had to come see her. I had to
see if we were truly over." Richard said softly, sadness to his voice.
"Well, you are over. Caroline is marrying me!" Randy said with slight anger to
his voice.
"Randy..." Caroline said softly, trying to get his attention... "I'm sorry... I
can't marry you either."
"What?!" Randy and Richard both said in unison.
"I can't marry either of you right now. I'm just too messed up... I should have
said something earlier Randy, but I thought it was just normal 'before the
wedding jitters'. But, I don't think it is. I am so sorry, but I don't want to
marry either of you." Caroline said tearfully, then ran from the room leaving a
confused Richard and Randy standing there in shock.
--Annie saw Caroline running and ran to caatch up with her...
"What are you doing?" Annie asked as she tried to catch her breath.
"I can't do it Annie..." Caroline said through her tears.
"Do what sweetie?" Annie asked supportively.
"Get married..."
"Get married... to Randy? Or Richard?"
"Either..."
"You are not getting married at all?"
"Annie, I'm way too messed up to get married right now... I need time to
think... to get over stuff... you know what I mean?"
"Yeah sweetie... I think I do. You stay here... I'll take care of it." Annie
said as she wiped the tears from Caroline's cheeks.
"Thanks Annie."
"No problem... hey, what are friends for... right?"
--After all the guests and Richard and RRanndy left, Caroline came walking down
the aisle. She had changed out of her wedding dress and was in her comfortable
street clothes. She softly hummed The Wedding March as she slowly walked towards
the altar, her crying made the humming sound awful.
"You know, I think you're a little late now..." a voice called out to her from
behind.
"Daddy..." Caroline said tearfully, then walked towards her father.
"Hi Puddin'! How you doin'?"
"I'm ok... I'll be ok anyway... soon... I hope."
"You know Puddin'... if you want to, you can come and stay with us for a few
days... till you clear your head or whatever."
"Thanks Dad, but I should go back to New York. I have the strip to do, and I
just need to get on with my life now."
"Puddin'... what happened?"
"Oh, Daddy, I don't know. I love Richard, and I love Randy too... although
differently... but when I seriously looked at the situation, I just knew this
was not the right time for me to be getting married..."
"Well, Pudd... when your ready, your Mother and I will be front row center."
Fred said, then kissed the top of her head.
"Thanks Dad." Caroline said, a faint smile crossing her lips.
"You're welcome. Now, let's go get some dinner... I'm starved!"