Out of the corner of his eye, Josh noticed Raleigh's fist clenching and unclenching, saw the way the vein popped from her neck, and knew she was about to explode. She didn't disappoint. Not even two minutes later did she smack her hand on the dashboard are let her anger out.

"What the fuck is wrong with him? If he's going to bail on his only daughter on her wedding day why the hell doesn't he just man-up and admit that he doesn't want to go instead of finding all these lame-ass excuses that are complete bullshit? I mean really, I don't deserve to be there. No shit you fucking asshole but that doesn't make her want you there any less! God, for once could he just not think of himself and do something for Carly? I wish I had punched him in his fat face. Why didn't you let me hit him?" Raleigh's angry eyes stared at Josh, waiting for his answer.

"Because you don't need to be arrested for assaulting him. And he's not worth it." He responded coolly.

"Yeah I guess you're right. But I still would have loved giving him a black eye." The corner of Josh's mouth curled up in a grin as he imagined Raleigh punching Paul Hayes in the face. He had to admit it would have been satisfying to watch but also knew it wouldn't have accomplished anything.

He saw Raleigh begin to bop her head to beat of the music playing and knew the worst of her anger was over. He allowed himself to relax a bit and enjoyed the music as they continued to drive. They had just made it to Millington when an especially strong gust of wind decided to blow and he nearly lost control of the car. A small scream escaped Raleigh's lips as Josh swore under his breath, just barely keeping them out of a ditch.

"We're too far away from the hall. We're not going to make it."

"Well what do you suggest? Just pulling over and hoping the tornado doesn't touch down on top of us?"

"No, my parents' house is less than a mile away. We can hang out there while we wait it out."

"It's only twenty more minutes. We can make it."

"Dammit Raleigh, no we can't! Are you that desperate to be rid of me that you'd rather risk your life?" Raleigh stared at Josh's face for a moment, realizing for the first time that this wasn't easy for him either. Still, he was making an effort to get past everything. She knew she should do the same.

"Fine."

"Fine." He snapped back at her as he turned onto his old street. When he pulled into the driveway, he told Raleigh to stay in the car until he came around to her side. He had to keep his arm around her and pull her to the door, both of them fighting the strong wind as the rain pelted their faces.

Finally they made it into the house, dripping wet and Raleigh's hair was everywhere. Josh quickly ran into the bathroom and grabbed two towels and a brush for Raleigh before telling her to follow him into the basement. He turned the light on before heading over to one side of the large room and he began taking off his sopping wet tuxedo.

"What are you doing?" Raleigh asked incredulously as she watched him peel off his shirt.

"Undressing. I don't know about you but I would rather not sit here in soaking wet clothes. Don't worry. I'll be over here by myself the whole time. I won't come anywhere near you. Not that you haven't seen it all before anyway."

"That doesn't make a difference." Josh just nodded his head as he neatly hung up the tux, remaining in only his boxers and t-shirt. When he turned around to grab his towel he noticed Raleigh now had her back to him and was taking out the bobby-pins in her hair. He sighed to himself as he ran the towel through his wet hair. This was going to be a long wait.

---

The howling of the wind became even louder as it whipped around outside,
the lights finally beginning to flicker before going completely out.
Raleigh let out a slight yelp of horror as they were immersed in the pitch blackness of the basement they sat in.

"Are you okay, Raleigh?" Josh asked from across the room. He didn't like
being in the dark during a tornado any better than she did.

"I'm fine. It just surprised me is all." Raleigh stood from her seat and
maneuvered to the nearest tiny window so she could see outside. She stood on top of a chest that sat below it and looked out. It was so dark out she could barely make out the small objects as they flew by, hitting trees, fences, houses and cars. The rain continued to pound down outside and she was wondering how long it would be before the golf ball sized hail came. It was bad enough that the storm had trapped her inside with Josh, but now she was going to miss her best friend's wedding reception. Or be seriously late for it. "Carly is going to kill us."

"It doesn't start for another half hour. It could be gone by then. These
things usually end quickly."

"No Josh. They usually come on quickly and end just as abruptly. This one has been building for hours. I don't think its gonna be a quick touch down and disappear." Raleigh jumped down from the chest and tried to find her way back to the chair she'd been sitting in. She went a little carelessly and her shin hit something hard on the floor. "Ow!" Raleigh reached down to rub her now throbbing leg. "Dammit ow! Don't you believe in flashlights?"

"They're up in the kitchen." Josh tried to hide the laugh in his voice by clearing his throat. "Would you like me to go up and get them?"

"Why didn't you get them when we got here? It would have saved a lot of
trouble." She snapped at him only causing him to laugh again. "I'm glad you find my misery so funny."

"I'm sorry, but I could have sworn you just hinted that you're miserable
because you're stuck in my basement with me. I know that's not true."

"How can you be so sure?" She grumbled, still rubbing her shin. "I'm gonna have a huge bruise."

"Oh stop whining. A bruise never killed anyone. I'll be right back." She
heard Josh make his way up the stairs and couldn't help but to smile. In a horror movie, which she presently felt like she were in, the person to say "I'll be right back" and left on their own usually ended up dying.

Raleigh sighed and shook her head, leaning back in her chair. That wasn't right. She would never wish anything bad upon him, but laughing at her was just uncalled for. She suddenly heard a loud thud above her followed by a muttered curse and let out a laugh of her own. Sounded like she wasn't the only one who couldn't see in the dark.

Raleigh waited silently in the basement for Josh to return but after a few minutes had passed and she no longer heard him moving around upstairs she began to worry. The idiot wouldn't have gone outside would he? Raleigh bit her lip, trying to decide if she should just wait for him to return or go up and try to find him. She would have much rather have stayed where she was but after another few minutes she decided she should go up and look. Just as she was nearing the stairs she heard a very loud crash that made her jump. She stayed frozen where she stood for a moment or two, waiting to hear another curse from Josh but there was nothing but silence in the house.

Her heart began pounding, her palms started sweating. She suddenly felt
like she was in a very real, very scary horror film. She searched her mind trying to figure out if she'd seen anything on her way down here that she could use as a weapon. She remembered seeing Josh's old baseball stuff on her right as she went to sit down so she quickly and silently turned to her left to try and find the bag. As soon as she found it she bent over and pulled out a baseball bat - aluminum by the feel. Clutching it in one hand she turned back to the stairs and slowly began going up to the first floor. She paused by the open door, just listening for any slight movement, any ruffle of clothing. When she was satisfied that she heard nothing she took the final step that set her into the hallway.

She decided to go to the right first, toward the kitchen where he was
supposed to be. When she got there she found it completely void of any
person. She hadn't been sure, but she was almost positive this was where
she'd heard the crash earlier but it was spotless. Everything in its place, no mess the floor.

"Josh." She whispered into the darkness. Nothing but the howling of the
wind responded. She waited a moment before calling out again, a little
louder. This time she heard the creek of a floor board back down the hall the way she came. Her heart began to pound even harder as she tried not to get scared. "You have got to be kidding me!" She said to herself, hearing the fear in her own voice. Clutching the bat in her hands she turned to head back to the hallway, afraid the sound of her heart pounding would give her away. Once she reached the end of the hallway and found herself at the front of the house she could have sworn she saw movement in the living room.

"Josh?" She called out, hoping it was him. "Come on Josh, this isn't
funny!" Her voice cracked under the pressure of her fear and she vowed to herself that if this was Josh messing with her she was going to give him a black eye. Taking a breath, Raleigh followed where she thought she saw someone disappear. As soon as she passed through the doorway a dark figure jumped out from behind her and grabbed her around the waist. She let out a loud scream and began swinging her bat. Finally after a minute of fighting him he let her go and she fully planned on turning around and hitting him as hard as she could with the bat. But then she heard the laugh. The laugh she'd heard all her life. The laugh that told her she'd just been thoroughly scared for the hell of it.

Raleigh dropped the bat and tried to make good on her silent vow and began to punch any spot she could find in the dark. "You stupid son of a bitch! What the hell is wrong with you?"

"I'm sorry but it was too good of an opportunity to pass up." He said
between fits of laughter and trying to dodge Raleigh's flying fists.

"You are such a jackass! Were you trying to give me a heart attack?" She kept punching and slapping him trying to get all her fury out.

"I'd never intentionally give you a heart attack, Ray. OW stop hitting me!"

"No!" She hit him a few more times before picking up her bat and walking
away. "I hate you."

"Oh come on, Ray! You can't tell me this doesn't bring back memories."

"Memories? Yes. Good ones? No. Stupid ass." She kept muttering insults
under her breath as she made her way back to the kitchen and began
rummaging through the drawers.

"What are you doing?"

"Looking for the flashlights you were supposed to be up here getting.
Instead you were plotting the best way to scare the hell out of me. What
did you destroy anyway?"

"I dropped my mom's silver platter. It never breaks and makes a huge
crashing noise."

"Oh just wait until Karen hears what you use that platter for."

"You wouldn't tell her." Josh said confidently as he leaned against the
counter, smirking at Raleigh.

"I wouldn't be too sure of that." She slammed yet another drawer shut.
"Dammit! Where do you keep your damn flashlights?"

"In the last drawer you abused." He told her before admitting that he had the flashlights all along and shined it into her face.

Slamming the drawer shut that she just opened, Raleigh walked over to Josh, grabbed the light out of his hand and punched him on the arm before turning to go back down to the basement.

"Hey, you might be mad at me but it just goes to show you." Josh called
after her.

"Goes to show you what?" Raleigh asked, turning around to face him once
again.

"That as much as you swore you've hated me these past five years, you still care about me."

"And why do you think that?"

"Because you thought I was attacked up here and you braved that to find me and make sure I was ok." Raleigh blinked once, responding just a few seconds too late.

"No, it just means I'd rather kill an attacker before he killed me."

Josh smirked and grabbed the baseball bat out of her hand. "With an aluminum bat?"

"It was all I could find." Raleigh snatched it back and headed down the stairs hoping Josh would just drop it. But of course he never would.

"Thank you, Ray."

"For?"

"For worrying that much about my safety."

"Oh just drop it." He snickered behind her back as he imagined her rolling her eyes. He absolutely loved annoying her.

"Fine, fine. Consider the subject dropped."

"Thank you." Raleigh sighed as she sat back down and leaned her head back. She could feel the headache from earlier coming on once again. She needed this storm to end soon. If Josh remained acting this way the entire time they were stuck together, she was likely to go nuts. She couldn't remember a single time since they were kids that he'd acted this way. The last few times she'd seen him he'd been cowering in a corner away from any other semi-human being drowning himself in alcohol. When he'd acted that way could he really blame her for having been avoiding him?

"So what, are you just going to ignore me now? Not speak to me at all?"

"I'm not ignoring you I just having nothing to say to you." Raleigh said, keeping her eyes closed and trying to clear her mind.

"Oh sure you do. You could ask me how I've been, what I've been up to. It has been five years since we've seen each other you know." His voice was light with how he spoke the words, but she knew the real meaning behind them and would rather have ignored him.

"Actually it's only been a few months since we've seen each other. We were both at the VMA's. Or were you in too much of a drunken stupor to
remember?"

"I'm not a drunk, Raleigh." All humor fled from his face and voice as he
looked at her.

"I didn't say you were a drunk. Its just that every time I saw you at a
public function..."

"That's the only time you've seen me." Josh interrupted.

"You were drowning yourself in alcohol." She finished.

"Like you have room to talk. Excuse me, but I'm pretty sure the sun doesn't shine out of your ass. You don't exactly have a clean track record either."

"Don't try to talk to me like you know anything about that. You have no idea what I went through back then."

"I would have if you'd thought to talk to me. I was there for over a week Raleigh! Right in the middle of everything that was going on and you never once thought to tell me about it, to ask me for help. Instead you just let it get to the point of overdosing and almost dying."

Raleigh's nostrils flared in anger as she glared at Josh. This was the last thing she'd ever wanted to discuss with him. Why did the past always come back up when he was near? Why couldn't he just let it all go? Did he honestly think that was a time she liked to think about?

"You don't know what you're talking about." She said through her teeth.

"So why don't you clue me in?"

"Why so you can rub it in my face, just like my mother, how bad of a screw up I was? Well sorry to disappoint you but no thank you." Josh stood abruptly from his seat and went over to Raleigh, kneeling down in front of her.

"Look at me, Ray." All the hardness was erased from his voice so she
couldn't help but to look down at him. His face was calm, his eyes
understanding. "Have I ever rubbed your nose in your mistakes?"

She so badly wanted to say yes, to say anything to get him to leave it
alone, to leave her alone, but she couldn't lie. "No."

"So why would I this time?"

Josh watched every tiny movement Raleigh's face made, heard every breath
she took, noticed how many times she swallowed. She never once met his gaze and he knew she was fighting an inner battle. One that she would most likely ultimately lose.

"It doesn't matter." She said to him when she finally got herself under
control. "It was over five years ago. What happened then doesn't matter
anymore."

"Why?"

"What?" Her eyes finally met his.

"Why doesn't it matter anymore?"

"I guess because it was so long ago. I got over it. It doesn't even enter my mind unless someone brings it up." She answered automatically as though she'd been saying it every time someone asked her this.

"You can't get over something you avoid, Ray." After he'd said it he
realized that worked with him as well. He'd avoided Raleigh for five and a half years and now all those old feelings seemed to rush over him like a tidal wave, sucking him back down to the black lifeless hole he'd been in since he broke up with her. Fate seemed to hate him, finding pleasure in his misery.

"I do not avoid it. Its just stupid to dwell on things you can't change." Raleigh stood and walked away from him, shining her flashlight on objects as she passed them.

"What are you doing?"

"Looking for something to do." Looking for something to throw at you, she thought to herself.

"I've got something for you to do. Tell me what happened in LA."

"You know everything, Josh! I told you when I got back." She said,
exasperated.

"No, you told me part of it. Besides, didn't you just tell me I didn't know what I was talking about? Quite obviously there's more to the story so don't back step now."

"Why? Why do you want to know?" She was yelling at him now. Nothing had
ever infuriated her more.

"Because you need to talk about it! When's the last time you talked about it with someone? When was the last time someone asked you how you were handling it?"

"Oh don't act like you're the only one who cares now, Josh. You've been gone for years."

"Yeah, well I'm here now. And I may not have shown it then but I've always wondered, always worried."

"Don't be. I'm fine. I've been fine and I will be fine." She spit the words at him, turning her back on him once again.

"Just say it, you need to, I can tell."

"You don't know what I need." She ground her teeth together, forcing herself not to lose control.

"I know you better than anyone. Let it out!"

"Fine!" Raleigh turned back around and advanced on him. "You want to know what happened to me in LA? I got caught up in all the drugs, alcohol, sex, and I was having the time of my life, snorting and drinking away my pain, my misery. I'd never felt more alone in my life and the only thing that helped were the drugs. I felt like I was on top of the world, like nothing could touch me. The night I ended up in the hospital was the night it all came crashing down. I had a fight with Dan, I missed you, I missed my family, Effron was being a dick and I just wanted to forget it all for one night. For one night I wanted to feel nothing, I wanted it all to just go away. The cocaine gave me that. I'd snorted more that one night than I ever had. And later on, I still wanted more. I was high off my ass and completely drunk when I accepted a drink from Effron, a drink I knew I shouldn't have taken but I did anyway because I needed more. After that I went upstairs to find a bathroom and that was about the time I knew something wasn't right. I went into the first bedroom I could find and laid down and the next thing I knew Effron was there on top of me, holding me down, touching me, blaming me for his psychotic break! And when I said something do you know what he did? He hit me, over and over until I thought I was going to black out from the pain. And you know what he did next? He raped me. He told me I deserved it for being such a tease." Raleigh felt the tears rolling down her face but she didn't bother to wipe them away, more would follow. "I still wake up screaming in the middle of the night sometimes. Always from the same nightmare. I'm still terrified that he's going to come back, that I'm going to wake up one night and he's there, watching me, waiting to finish what he started. And no matter what I do I can't get away from it, from him." She watched as Josh tried to process it all. His eyes were fixed on hers, his face stark white. "You wanted to know the truth, well there it is. Now tell me, what could possibly say to make that all right?"

She stood there, staring at Josh, waiting for him to say something, anything. Finally, he opened his mouth and the two words he said were nearly inaudible, but Raleigh heard them.

"I'm sorry."

"You're sorry?" She let out a humorless laugh. "I don't want your pity, Josh. I don't pity myself and I don't want anyone else to either. You can't change the past. You can only work to get over it. And I have."

Josh looked at Raleigh, studying her. He knew what she was saying was a lie. It was so obvious to him that no matter how many times she said it, she wasn't over the attack. The nightmares were proof of that. Hadn't she ever thought to talk to someone about it? He knew the answer to be no. She was so masochistic. She would rather suffer in silence than admit even the slightest weakness, no matter how understandable that weakness might be.

"It's getting lighter outside. Maybe it's almost over." Raleigh's voice broke through Josh's thoughts and he noticed her gaze was fixated on the tiny window. Indeed it was beginning to lighten out but he could still hear the wind and rain.

He watched as Raleigh went over to a shelf resting against the wall. It was full of boxes and he wasn't sure what those boxes were filled with. Apparently she had no reservations against going through other people's possessions for she opened the top box and peered inside, smiling slightly. He wondered what was in there so he made his way over to her, watching as she reached in then pulling out a pile of photos. Photos of the group of them as kids.

"Oh look at us." She cooed, her eyes roaming the smiling faces staring up at her. On the left it began Chris, Mandy, Joey, Josh, Raleigh, Bobbie, Carly, then finally, Justin. He wished he could go back to the time when he was ten. Life was so much easier then, so much better.

Raleigh sat on the floor and Josh grabbed the box, setting it down in front them before joining her on the floor so they could go through the memories.

For a long time - Josh didn't know how long exactly - they sat there, side by side looking at hundreds of pictures, laughing together like nothing had happened between them. Acting as though they were still the best of friends until finally, they came to the last picture. A picture that had been taken seven months prior. A picture Raleigh'd had no idea included him.

"You were there?" She asked quietly, staring at the photo.

"Yes." He replied simply, watching her face to try and get an inkling of what she was thinking.

"I didn't know this was you."

"I knew it was you." He remembered that night so vividly. It was Halloween, a mutual friend of theirs had thrown a big party, calling it The Halloween Mask. The theme was the late eighteenth century and Raleigh had worn an exquisite dark green gown with black lace outlining the thin straps and bodice and sewn intricately through the full skirt. She had on black silk gloves and a black lace choker with an emerald charm. Her mask had gone around her eyes and matched perfectly to her dress. Her hair had been pulled back on top and spilled down her back in tight curls, a black feather there for decoration. She'd look positively amazing and Josh just had to dance with her. When he'd approached her he could have sworn she recognized him, but of course she would deny it now.

"We danced. And I remember this picture being taken. You never said a word."

"Because you would have recognized my voice and I wouldn't have gotten the chance to dance with you." She nodded, not knowing what else to say. They sat there in silence for a few moments before Josh cleared his throat and began putting the old pictures away. "It sounds like the storm has died down. We should head back."

"All right." Raleigh helped him put them away quickly, the feeling of being uncomfortable with him so near coming back full swing. Once they were put away neatly, Josh put his tuxedo back on while Raleigh returned her black heels to her feet and brushed through her hair once more, afraid of what she must look like.

Once they were ready they left the house and headed back to the reception hall, Raleigh praying Dan and Carly weren't completely pissed off at her.

---

Raleigh stayed by Josh's side as they stood at the entrance to the hall, searching through the crowd for Justin and Carly. Just as Josh pointed them out to Raleigh and they began heading over to them, he heard someone call out to him, someone he would have much rather avoided at that moment.

"JC!" She called out again and he could picture her running up to him, her fake assets nearly bouncing out of her low-cut dress.

"For fuck's sake, you have got to be kidding me." He murmured under his breath. When Raleigh turned to him with questioning eyes, he knew any semblance of friendship they may have rekindled in the last few hours was about to be destroyed once again.

"JC!" She called out once more and he and Raleigh stopped and turned to face her.

"Erin." Ah, this is what Erin looked like these days, Raleigh thought to herself. She looked like she were half silicone. "What are you doing here?" She noted there was no hint of friendliness or pleasant surprise in Josh's voice or face. Interesting.

"What do you mean what am I doing here? You invited me silly."

"No, I didn't. I told you about it. There's a big difference."

"Oh whatever." Erin noticed Raleigh at his side for the first time. Noting the way they both looked incredibly disheveled and Raleigh's hair was a big mess atop her head she could only come to one conclusion. "Who are you and why do you look like you just got done screwing my boyfriend?" Raleigh knew Erin had never been the sharpest tool in the shed but she at least thought she'd realize they'd just come in from a storm. Apparently there was no need to give her the benefit of the doubt.

"I am not your boyfriend , Erin." Josh said, exasperated.

Unable to resist the chance to piss of Erin further, Raleigh ignored Josh‘s comment and looked at Erin‘s angry face. "Well, maybe if you did your duty as his girlfriend and satisfied him he wouldn't have to find it elsewhere." Raleigh placed her hand on Josh's arm and leaned in like she was going to kiss him, praying Dan wasn't watching. "I'll see you later, JC." She placed a lingering kiss on his cheek before giving Erin a smirk and walking over to where Dan stood with Carly and Justin.

As soon as she came within hearing distance she heard Carly's worried voice. "Raleigh where the hell have you been? And what was that..." Her words were cut short when Raleigh grabbed her by the hand and dragged her toward the bathroom. Only when they were safely behind closed doors did Raleigh attempt to explain.

"Josh and I had an errand to run and we got stuck in his basement to wait out the tornado. I'm sorry we're late but we really couldn't keep driving through it."

"I don't care that you're late, Ray. Dan said you had to go do something and then we noticed that Josh was nowhere to be found and neither of you were answering your phones so we got worried. I mean it wasn't the best of conditions out there to run errands in."

"I know Carly. And it was just a waste of time anyway." Raleigh turned toward the mirror and grimaced. She looked like hell. Her make-up was completely smudged and her hair looked like she'd just rolled out of bed, just like Erin said. Her dress was still damp too. "Ugh, do you have any makeup with you and anything I can use to tame my hair?" She grabbed a paper towel and ran it under warm water, attempting to clear the black smudges from beneath her eyes.

"Yeah, I'll be right back." She returned to the bathroom in record time and Raleigh immediately began making herself more presentable.

"So." Carly said when she realized Raleigh wasn't going to offer up anymore information on her time spent alone with Josh.

"So."

"Were did you two go that was such a waste of time?" Raleigh paused, mascara halfway to her eye. Should she tell her the truth? "You went to see Paul, didn't you?" Raleigh shifted her eyes away from Carly and she took that as a confirmation. "You didn't have to do that, you know. If he wanted to be here he would have been."

"I know that. I guess I thought I could knock some sense into him."

"Not literally I hope." She raised an eye brow at her and Raleigh bit back a laugh.

"Almost. Josh had to drag me out of the house." A smile lit up Carly's face.

"Wish I could have seen that." She shook her head, waiting a moment before changing the subject. "Anything interesting happen between you and Josh?"

"Depends on what you mean by interesting. The power went out and I thought he'd been attacked on his adventure to get flashlights out of the kitchen and I almost had a heart attack when he attempted to scare me." Carly laughed as she imagined the sight. "Also I told him what happened in LA five years ago."

"That was a big step for you." Carly noted. She'd asked a few times over the years about how she'd been dealing with it and she'd always refused to talk about it. It seemed appropriate somehow that Josh was the one to get her to crack.

"Yeah. But that's a discussion for another time. Today is the happiest day of your life and I'm not going to ruin it. You go back out there with your new husband and I'll be out in a few minutes."

"Ok." Carly nodded to her, moving to the door. "Just so you know, I don't think Dan's too happy about the fact that you were alone with Josh that whole time."

"Well he needs to understand that there is nothing to worry about there."

"Right." Carly agreed, more for Raleigh's sake than believing it to be the truth. While she was alone, Raleigh quickly finished cleaning up and took a deep breath, trying to calm the nerves she suddenly felt at facing Dan's intense gaze.

"This is stupid. You're being ridiculous." She told herself before opening the door and stepping into the hallway.

"You were gone a lot longer than you said." Dan's voice came from her left and Raleigh nearly jumped out of her skin.

"Dan, you scared me."

"I'm sorry." He waited until her breathing went back to normal. "I thought you were going alone."

"Yeah, I had planned on it but Josh came after me and offered to give me a ride. He wanted to go for the same reason I did."

"And what was that?" His usually clear green eyes were hard and his mouth was set in an angry line.

"Oh please do not pull this overprotective crap on me now. This is neither the time nor the place. We can talk about it later." Raleigh turned and walked away from him, heading back to the room where all her friends were. She couldn't believe he was acting like this. Of all the things he could have been worried about, he was afraid she was cheating on him with Josh. Josh of all people! Like that would ever happen. She shook her head, wondering if he'd gotten into the liquor early.

Her mind taking a different path suddenly, Raleigh changed course and headed to the bar that was going to be open for another ten minutes or so, and then until midnight after dinner. She ordered a rum and coke and fully planned on ordering many more if she was going to get through Erin's ridiculous stares and Dan's over protectiveness. Two of her best friends just got married, she deserved to celebrate and have some fun and she'd be damned if she let them take that away from her.

After giving the bartender a tip, Raleigh headed over to where the wedding party would be sitting for dinner and took her seat beside Carly. She noticed her eyes were directed towards the restrooms and realized she was watching Dan.

"He looks pissed." She commented.

"He'll get over it." Raleigh replied easily, taking a sip of her drink.

It was only a few minutes later when a majority of the guests began showing up so the wedding party was told to go to the back room and wait to be introduced by the DJ. Once they were all seated and the applause and cheers had died down, the waiters began coming around, serving their dinner table by table, course by course. Once they had finished their final course of the meal - the dessert - Josh stood from his seat and claimed the attention of the guests.

"To my friends - old and new. It's an honor for me to be here... to celebrate this very special day for Justin and Carly. Dale Carnegie once said: "Don't ask a man what is important to him. Watch how he spends his time." I've watched Justin spend his time, and I can see what's important to him. Carly. She has made Justin a happy man... a man with a new focus... a man with a new appreciation for love and life." Raleigh watched him easily as he spoke in his smooth voice. His eyes sparkled at the crowd and he unleashed his easy-going smiles on them. They were all captivated by his words of warm affection for both Justin and Carly, and Raleigh was no exception. No matter their past, it was always so obvious the compassion Josh held for their life-long friends. He loved them entirely and she knew he wished the best for them whole-heartedly. "I've known Justin and Carly my entire life and I can honestly say that they are perfect for one another. I remember how, when we were kids, Carly would say how one day Justin would open his eyes and see that she was all he'd ever wanted. She would say one day they would be man and wife. I am happy to say that day has finally arrived and I am honored to have been a part of it." Josh turned to Carly and Justin and raised his glass to toast them. " To Carly and Justin, the best people I have ever known who deserve all the happiness in the world." He bowed his head forward slightly before taking a drink of his champagne, followed immediately by the guests.

When Josh sat back down beside Justin, Carly leaned over and gave him a hug, her eyes filled with tears from his speech. While he still had his arms around her his eyes met Raleigh's and held them for an instant, seemingly trying to communicate something silently to her. She couldn't for the life of her imagine what that would be so she turned back to face the guests, taking another gulp of her champagne.

"And now I would like to ask the bride and groom to the center of the dance floor to share their first dance as man and wife." The Dj's voice announced and Carly and Justin stood and made their way to the center of the dance floor just as Lifehouse's You and Me began playing. Raleigh watched, her eyes glistening with tears, as her two best friends danced, smiled, and kissed. She found herself wondering if she and Dan would make it there. To that point of utmost happiness, being so in love that nothing could come between them.

Raleigh was so absorbed in watching the dance she nearly jumped out of her skin when she felt someone's hand placed on her arm. She looked to the owner and nearly ripped Josh a new one until she realized he wasn't even looking at her. His eyes were fixed on the entrance, a look of shock on his face. Her eyes followed his and she felt her mouth gape open unattractively. Without looking back at Josh to see if he'd follow or not - she knew he would - Raleigh stood and made her way around the tables of guests and to the hall entrance.

"I thought you weren't coming." Raleigh could hear the hate and disgust in her own voice and tried to calm herself down.

"I wasn't."

"Then why did you?" Josh's voice sounded almost as hateful as Raleigh's.

"Look, I know I've been a shitty father. You two made that perfectly clear earlier today. But you were right. Today is about her and she wants me here. You may not believe me after all that I've done, but I do love my daughter." Raleigh stared into Paul's eyes. Not believing him, but finding nothing but sincerity in his eyes.

"You're right, I don't believe you. But she loves you for some reason and she does want you here. Just don't upset her."

"I won't."

"Ray." Josh's voice made her look at him, question in her eyes. But once again he was looking away from her. In fact he was looking behind her where Carly stood in the middle of the dance floor, staring back at them. Raleigh stepped out of the way and allowed Carly to see whom they were speaking to.

Paul stepped around Josh and Raleigh and made his way to where Carly stood. She remained motionless where she was, unable to process the fact that her father was actually there, at her wedding reception, in a suit and tie. He looked slightly uncomfortable and completely sorry for everything he'd done in the past. In this one moment he hoped to correct a lifetime of letdowns. And Carly was going to let him. Because this one time, he was there for her.

"Care bear..."

"Don't." Tears were glistening in her eyes as she stopped whatever apology he'd been about to make. "I don't care." And just like that she was in his arms, crying like she were still a little girl whose father had just returned home from a long trip.

Raleigh looked to the Dj and nodded her head, cueing him this would be the father-daughter dance, then made her way back to the head table. As soon as she sat down, Dan was next to her, whispering into her ear.

"What was that all about?"

"That's Carly's father. The reason Josh and I were late." Raleigh watched them dance, a smile lighting up Carly's face as they spoke. "I really didn't think he'd come."

"You're a great friend, you know that, Raleigh?" Turning her head to look at Dan, Raleigh finally felt like the fight was over. She smiled, said ‘thank you' and kissed him.

The rest of the night went amazingly well. There were no more surprises (good or otherwise), Carly's father stayed the entire night and seemed to genuinely enjoy himself, and for as many drunk people as there were in attendance, nobody made a complete fool of themselves and everyone had a great time. The reception came to a close and all too soon they had to say goodbye, everyone wishing the newlyweds a great time on their honeymoon.

Raleigh hugged everyone goodbye, including Josh, and chose to ignore the eyes Dan was burning into her skull as he watched them embrace. She laughed as Erin made a grunting noise and pulled him away and towards the front doors. She hadn't bothered her all night, surprisingly, and she wouldn't let her bother her now. She hadn't wanted him back in her life, but as much as she denied it, she knew she'd missed him much more than she ever thought possible.

He'd told her he was staying in town for another week and was going to be helping her parents out at the café. The next few days were going to be interesting.