A/N: I currently have two ongoing stories. I will be finishing up one very soon so For Better or For Worse will take its place.
Chapter 1: Stay
There was something about the first snow of winter that spoke to a woman in love. As the sun set on autumn, she hoped her love would keep her warm. As the heavens dusted white powder, she felt all her hurts healed. As the cold surrounded her home, his name surrounded her heart.
Only two hours before her wedding and Anika's heart fluttered sprang once again in her chest. If she had any doubt about eloping, the flurries cleared it away. It seemed as though even the heavens were blessing her day. All that was left was to give her groom the wedding present. How happy would he be to know he would a father to their little bean in nine months. What a perfect way to start a new life!
Shivaay was full of doubts. Yes, he loved Anika. No questions there. But was this the right thing to do? He was barely in his twenties, no job, no money of his own. And he never could see himself being a trust fund baby. If they ran away now, would his family accept him back? If they didn't, could he survive being poor? Well, Anika was a warrior. She could get through anything but he wasn't sure about himself. Sad as it was, he didn't feel enough. Didn't feel like she needed him.
"Oh jaan, I need you here right now. It's almost appointment time. The judge is here already. Where are you?" Anika tried to contain her panic over the phone. Was he hurt? Was he okay?
"I am coming Anika. Don't you worry. Just pulling up to the parking lot". So it was decided for him. He would stay with this woman for better or for worse. Time to get going.
She adjusted the flower on his tux one more time and smiled a smile that went straight to his heart. Shivaay felt so full with love he could burst. This girl would be death one day.
"Before we go inside, I have a special present for you". She lifted his hand with her fingers and settled it on the curve of her belly.
"Anika?"
"Yes", she said shyly. "Yes, yes, yes!"
Shivaay felt the sky falling. His chest was tight, no room to breathe. He tugged on his bowtie and unknotted it with an angry pull.
"Shivaay?" Anika grew nervous at his lack of response.
"I...I...am...I am going to the bathroom". He rushed out of there like his house was on fire. He didn't make it to the bathroom. His legs somehow took him back to parking lot and he drove and drove trying to get rid of the feel that he couldn't get away.
Anika waited outside the bathroom. There was no sign of him for hours. The appointment time went and passed. There were creases on her wedding gown. Her phone chimed once with a message from a bored friend. But because nobody knew she was eloping, this day would become her private shame.
She couldn't think about that just now. Her groom would show. He would! Maybe a day later when he'd calmed down. Maybe right now he would run up to her and beg for forgiveness and she would look back to today with laughter. She would tell her grandkids this story, maybe. But the hope was growing faint. It had stopped snowing.
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