If you don't want to read the AN, please skip ahead.

This is my first attempt at writing anything, let alone fanfiction. I had an idea about a story and it would not leave me alone, so I started writing and actually found it quite enjoyable. So, here it is. Any reviews are welcomed. If you have something bad to say about my story, please try and be constructive. I apologize for any mistakes made in advance. If there is a similar story out their already I apologize. I have not read many of them and there are thousands out there.

The characters will be OOC is some ways and not in others and there will most likely be a few new characters that are not from the books. I can't promise to update regularly as I am sitting for my A levels at the moment (English version of SAT's). I will try my utmost to update regularly. I'm aiming for once a week, maybe more, but I make no promises. I go on summer break from school on the 22nd of June so after that you can most likely expect more regular updates.

I will split scenes and AN's with lines, characters subconscious with be in italics. Most of the story will take place from Ana's POV but I will alternate between other characters not just CG. I'm going to start the story off by showing you their past leading up to where the prologue ends. If you have any questions PM me and I'll happily answer. This story will not have many lemons to start with, if you choose to read you will see why pretty quickly. The majority of the story will take place as adults however at least the first several chapters will show you their lives as kids and teens (significant moments needed to understand my version of the characters), leading to the end of the prologue. I have the prologue and the first chapter written at the moment so expect the third installment to be a little later than the second.

I will write this story to completion even if it takes me a while and I only have one person who reads it. I have found that writing this story kind of therapeutic, so that will make me want to update more regularly. Anyway, I have waffled long enough, so on with the story.

Prologue

People say you should marry your best friend because they are the person you can tell anything to and know that they will not hold any resentment, nor will they judge you. They know all your darkest parts and love you anyway, that's truer for us than anyone I've ever met, he knows everything about me, well almost everything. A best friend knows all your flaws and loves you not in spite of them but because of them, his flaws are what make me love him. Your best friend is someone you can't live without and wouldn't want to live without. Someone whom you want to experience life's ups and downs with. God knows we both have those. A best friend holds your hand through the worst times in your life, when they see you at your worst and you're broken, they don't run, they help you put the pieces of your life back together. You've been through hell together and he has always been the one to hold your hand and put you back together, just as you have for him. But things have changed.

Today I stand facing the man I love, my best friend at the altar, thinking about all the moments that lead us right here. All the ups and downs we've been through and how no matter what we've always been there for one another, he's what grounds me, he's the one who pulled me out of unspeakable darkness and saved me, literally the first time we met. He's the one I have loved for as long as I can remember. He was my childhood best friend, my prom date, my college roommate, sort of and my business partner. He is my everything, the one person I can't live without, my reason to breathe, my rock. We're standing here facing each other in a beautifully decorated church, lined with breath-taking floral arrangements, he's wearing a perfectly tailored tux and I'm in a stunning floor length gown. It should be my dream come true but it's anything but… because I'm not the one he's marrying.

The man I love more than life itself is marrying someone else, and I'm standing at the alter as the fucking bridesmaid. I can hear the minister talking about love and commitment, but I'm not really listening because it is taking everything in me to keep standing upright and not let my knees buckle like they so badly want to. I told myself I was happy he found someone he can love because if he is happy, then I should be happy for him, but I'm not, how can I be when the person I love wants to marry someone else. She seems nice, she plays nice for everyone, played the sweet adoring girlfriend, then the fiancée and now soon to be wife, but she is anything but, she is cold and quite frankly a bitch. Not that she would let anyone but me see that side of her. I get it, I do, because I'm in love with her fiancée, but I know how to hide what I feel. After all I've been doing it for fifteen years. So, for the last almost six months I've stood by, held my tongue after every snide comment, every evil glare and played nice. Not that she made it easy. I guess the only person to blame for being in this situation, is me. I've had multiple opportunities to say something, anything but I never have and now I guess I never will. Coward.

I'm counting down the hours till they leave for their honeymoon, I just want to leave, go home, curl up in bed and not leave for the next 24-48 hours. Ideally it would be forever, but someone has to run his empire, while he is on his honeymoon for the next three weeks and who better than his COO. Me. Four and half hours to go.

"If anyone can show just cause why these two should not be married today, speak now or forever hold your peace." The minster says startling me out of my inner-monologue of self-pity. Really? I thought they only said that in the movies.

I could say something, I should say something, but I can't, he'll only resent me. Maybe he won't. He doesn't love me, he loves her. I open my mouth to say something, but nothing comes out, just deafening silence. I just stand their catching flies, I can't speak or breathe, my heart is hammering so fast I'm genuinely concerned it might break through my ribcage. My feet are glued to the floor, feeling like they're encased in cement. I'm brought out of my daze as I feel a single tear hit my right collar bone, I don't know how it slipped down my face undetected, but it did. It feels like someone has their hands wrapped around my throat choking me. I drop the bouquet of flowers in my hand and they land on the stone beneath my feet with a dull thud. I'm clawing at my neck as I rip off my locket, when it finally snaps it lands on the floor with a clink that is barely audible.

Before I can register what, I'm doing, my feet are moving of their own accord down the aisle towards the double height, intricately carved wooden doors at the end of the aisle leading to the outdoors. I can't hear my heels hitting the floor beneath me over the thundering of my blood as it rushes through my ears. My hands collide with the doors pushing them openwith everything I have in me, astheyopen the cool October breeze hits my face cooling me instantly. I take a deep breath in as I make it outside and down the four stairs in front of the church, only then does my brain register that we are in the middle of nowhere and I have no car, no keys, no phone, no nothing. My knees finally buckle, and I fall to my knees with thud onto the dirt below me.

"Anastasia!" I hear from behind me as the cries escape me, as I process what I have just done. One hand flies to my mouth to cover the sound of my now uncontrollable sobs, and the other encircles my waist in an attemptto comfort myself.

Please, let me know what you think. Your comments and thoughts would be appreciated.