Kian heaved himself out of bed and into the shower. He had to pick up his date in an hour and he was bound and determined to look decent, if he wasn't feeling that way on the inside. The entire British press would be covering the wedding today and it would never do to stir up any sort of rumors involving his bandmate and former flame. The tabloids had already raked that through the coals enough, it wouldn't happen today. Shane and Juliette deserved to be happy.
* * * * * * *
Seated in the church, Kian began to have his doubts about attending the ceremony. Why did he think he could sit here and watch Juliette promise her life away to someone else? She had been his for as long as he could remember. They'd met when they were both on holiday in Italy when Kian was eight. The Egan family rented a house in Sardinia every year and that year there happened to be an Irish family next door. The O'Connell's had six children as well at the time, with another to arrive soon after the holiday ended. As fate would have it, they were from Sligo as well, but living outside the main city, the two families never crossed paths. Juliette was the closest to Kian's age, two years younger than him. The minute they met, she took one look at him and announced "If you aren't nice to me, I'll tell my mam you yelled at me."
"That shows how much you know! You're just a stupid girl. I'm not allowed to yell at girls, much less a little one like you. Besides, you couldn't keep up with me if you tried." Kian turned around and headed down the beach with his sand-pail and shovel, determined to build the biggest castle on the beach. This year he was sure it wouldn't get washed away by the sea and it would reign over the whole shore all summer and no dumb girl would stop him.
Juliette tagged after him with her dark curls flying behind her. She had only said that because she wanted him to play with her. Her favorite game was Lords and Dragons and her brothers wouldn't play that anymore with her. Kian was the perfect knight to rescue her from the big mean dragon. She dragged her doll in the sand, trying to keep up with his pace. "What are you doing now? Are you going to build a sand castle? I'm really good, I could help. Then maybe my doll could be the princess of the castle and you could be king and I could be queen. That would be.."
"I'm not playing house with any girl. You can't make me. Dolls are stupid. This is a war castle. You aren't allowed to play war because you like dolls. You can't like both. My big brother says boys like cannons and guns and girls like clothes and dolls. So there." Kian turned around to see if she was still next to him and saw that she had stoppped a little ways back. She was just standing there looking at him, her doll clasped in her hand. Big alligator tears streamed down her face. He suddenly felt terrible. His mam would be so disappointed in him, making a girl cry. It was bad enough she wasn't his sister and even worse that she hadn't done anything and she was younger than he was and he had yelled at her. The only thing to do now was let her build his castle with him. Doll and all. So much for his fortress.
"Juliette, I'm sorry. Don't cry. I didn't mean to yell. You can help me if you want. We can play castle if you'll stop crying. Please?" His blue eyes were so nice she stopped crying. He didn't look like he was kidding, like her brothers.
"Promise? Can Caroline be the princess?" The look on her face was so hopeful, he could feel the smile on his face start to spread.
"I promise. C'mon. Let's build a castle. I'll race you!" Kian grabbed her hand and they went running down the beach.
From that moment on, Juliette and Kian were inseparable. All summer they played with dolls and built castles. When the holiday was over, the O'Connell's changed their plane tickets so they all traveled back together.
"You know, for a girl, you're not bad to play with. Promise to come over sometime on the weekend? I have a sandpile in my backyard." Kian was afraid that he wouldn't see Juliette again after they went home.
"I promise Kian. Can I bring Caroline? She'll miss you and she'll want to see you. Besides, we need a princess for our castle. She'll be good, I swear." Juliette was afraid that she wouldn't see Kian again too. She knew that they lived in the same city, but it seemed so far away. He wouldn't be next door when she wanted him.
"Aye, Caroline can come play too. I won't bury her in the sand or anything. I would have done that by now if I wanted to." He smiled.
When they arrived in Sligo, Kian and Juliette said goodbye. He waved as
she walked away holding her older sister's hand and Caroline. Suddenly she
broke away and ran back to the open car door. She leaned into the car and
pressed a sloppy kiss to Kian's cheek. "Bye Kian. I love you." Just as
fast as she'd broken away from her sister, she was back. When she got to her
car she waved at him. He just sat there in his seat, a dazed look on his
face. His mother watched her stricken son as he recovered from the effects
from his first kiss. She thought about the conversations she and Juliette's
mother had while watching their two children all summer. Maybe they weren't
so wrong after all. Those two had a long road ahead of them. Not easy, but
probably interesting.
Over the years, Kian and Juliette remained inseparable. They shared everything from that summer on. Every other weekend, they were at the other's house, running and playing. Sand castles and dolls progressed into football and plays which turned into dates and formals. As love became a feeling instead of a word, Kian professed his own to Juliette. He knew that she was everything in his life that he liked about himself. Her smile was the last thing at night he saw and the first thing he remembered when he awoke. She was perfect, a dream come true. And she loved him as much as he loved her. Totally and without restraint.
When Westlife came along, there was nothing Juliette thought she could do to stop Kian from pursuing his dream. She was friends with the other guys and wanted them to be successful almost as much as they wanted it for themselves. She sincerely wanted Kian to be happy doing what he wanted. The only problem was that he didn't know which he wanted more, her love or his career. Deep down he knew that if she asked, he would stay, but she never did. So he chose his career. They continued their relationship long distance, but he felt her slip away more each time they saw each other. It killed him to leave her, but every time he walked onto a plane, it got easier and easier for Juliette. He knew what was going on inside her head. Her childhood love was leaving, but in his place a new and brighter flame was burning. Shane. He was all she imagined a man to be. Beautiful, exciting, mature. And he saw her as a woman, not a little girl he loved out of obligation. Although he did love her. Telling Kian about them was harder than anything she'd ever done in her life, but he knew it was for the better in the long run. He didn't begrudge either of them what they felt, he knew they needed to experience life with other people before settling down. Kian never imagined that Shane and Juliette would last, but that she would come running back to him. There was no doubt in his mind that he would take her back. Of course, assumptions had never gotten him anywhere, why else would he be sitting at her wedding now, instead of standing at the altar?
The music flooded the cathedral as the crowd stood. The wedding party entered, followed by Juliette. Radiant in her gown, she looked every inch the princess of her childhood fantasies going to meet her prince. She passed Kian by on her way down the aisle, knowing that it would be easier for them all that way. Both their families were in attendance, ready to celebrate the seemingly joyous occasion. She met Shane at the altar and the ceremony began.
Kian felt as though he was living in an alternate reality. What in the world was he thinking? He couldn't let her just go to Shane without a fight. Juliette was the love of his life. What was the use of all time and effort invested if he just let her slip away? He couldn't live with himself if he stood by watching Juliette and Shane live happily ever. He had one more chance, just had to try one last time. It was coming up, his hands were sweating, his pulse started to race. Just one more minute... The priest looked into the crowd gathered for the event.
"If there is any person here who believes these two people should not be joined in holy matrimony, speak now or forever hold your peace. Anyone?" He looked about. "Fine then. Shane, you may...."
Kian stood up. "I have something to say. Juliette, don't do this. I love you more than I have ever loved anyone in the entire world. You make everything about me better. From the first moment you spoke to me, I have known we were meant to be together. Don't throw all that away. Please. Come back. I love you." He knew his family, his band members, his best friend, and Juliette were all staring at him as though he'd lost his mind. The cameras were popping and the pens were scratching as everyone recorded the moment.
Shane couldn't speak. He just stood there. Juliette'e eyes searched Kian's face. "Kian, you know I love you. I have always loved you and I always will love you. But you and I are not meant to be together, not like this. You are perhaps the greatest part of my past, but Shane is my future. I love him and want to be with him forever. I'm sorry." She turned back to the priest and Shane. Kian turned around and walked back to his seat, dejected. What was he going to do? What was he thinking? She rejected him. She flat-out said no. He sank into the pew, lowering his head into his hands, unable to watch as the newlyweds kissed and made their way back down the aisle. His date shook his shoulder.
"Kian? Are you okay? Do you want me to get you something? Kian! C'mon,
wake up! We have to be at the airport in an hour!! Dammit, Ki, this is no
time for games." She shook him again.
Kian jolted out of sleep and raised his head. What the bloody hell? He looked around, out of sorts. Sunlight streamed through the open window, catching her hair. She was standing in front of him in her bathrobe, holding a cup of tea. "Baby? You okay? You looked like you were having a bad dream. I got up and took a shower to let you sleep a little longer, but our plane leaves soon. You have to get up, hon. The wedding must have wiped you out." She sat down beside him and planted a kiss on his lips.
Then it all became crystal clear. Kian wrapped his arms around her. "Yeah, you could say I had a bad dream. Guess I should get up, huh? Those tickets to Sardinia were non-refundable. Lots of sand castles to build. What do you think? Think Caroline could join us?" Kian cradled her face in his hands.
"I think Caroline should stay home for this trip. I think she's a little jealous she doesn't get to be your princess anymore. I'll have to tell her Mr. Egan thought my name sounded better with his than hers did."
"Mrs. Egan, I think you're right. I'd go with Juliette Egan any day. But let's be gentle. I don't want her telling her mam I yelled at her."
"I think it'll be okay. So now that's cleared up, as your wife, with no jealous suitors, I can say it legally. I love you Kian." She leaned in to brush a kiss across his lips.
"Then legally, as my wife, I love you too, Juliette."