New Beginnings: Chapter 15

Hi everyone, as i promised here is the next chapter. Chapter 15 is broken into three separate parts. Each sort of ties up a lot of loose ends. This chapter is really special to me because we finally see Tyler without any protection. But I think its also important because it shows how sometimes we ruin things for ourselves even when we think we are doing what's best for the other person. Let me know what you think, next chapter should be the finale ***

Part 1: deception
"knock, knock"

Alexis looked up from where she was sitting on the floor hemming the bridesmaid dresses. She was surprised to find Sarah standing at the door to her studio. "Oh hello" she said hoping that she didn't sound too surprised, she watched as the other woman glided into the room

"I was just doing some shopping and I noticed your boutique, you have some great pieces saw a lbd that I simply must have" she looked down at Alexis "what are you doing all the way down there?"

Alexis sat back on her hunches and then stood, "Just finishing the touches on the bridesmaids dresses"

"Oh of course the wedding is only a couple of weeks away now" she took a flat silver case out of her handbag, "do you mind?" she held up the cigarette

"Not at all, in fact I'll join you but lets go out onto the balcony can't have the bridesmaids dresses reeking of cigarette smoke"

Sarah smiled and then followed her out onto the balcony, they smoked in silence and then Sarah turned towards her "Listen I want to apologize about the other night" Alexis raised bemused brows even though she knew exactly what she was talking about "Well you see Tyler told me that you were a bit upset"

"You spoke to Tyler?" Alexis looked the other way trying to compose her emotions

"Oh sweetheart, Tyler and I are very old, very good friends. We practically grew up together." She shrugged her shoulder "Even our parents thought that we might end up getting married"

Alexis nodded "I see"

"The thing is" Sarah continued ignoring Alexis's diminishing spirits "I know Tyler, I probably know him just as well as his family does and so he would naturally confide me when things are worrying him" she looked pointedly at Alexis

"And what is worrying him" she finally gave in tired of pretending that she didn't care because the truth was that she was extremely interested.

"He's only worried about you honey, surely you must know that. He thinks that you're both rushing things, that may be you should take it slow" she pulled on her cigarette the smoke blowing in Alexis's face "but he would never tell you that, he cares about you too much"

Cares? Alexis thought distraught, "it sounds like he wants a way out" she ventured to publicize her thoughts

"Not exactly" Sarah chose her next words carefully "I think he feels a bit lost at the moment, he doesn't know how to please you, his family, or himself", she laughed "let's be honest he's a man and he has needs"

"Are you implying that he's only with me for the sex"

"Oh honey he could get that anywhere, no I think he's with you for a combination of reasons"

"Being what?"

"Well, he's obviously attracted to you and second he's comfortable with you. He knows that you will always be there because let's be honest you've always loved him haven't you?" She smiled when she saw Alexis's pale face "imagine he was once in control of all aspects in his life and then his wife betrays him and then his confidence is shattered who does he turn to" she pointed a finger at Alexis "and you've done wonders to restore him to his former self"

"But do I really want to be the one that ties him down again, when he might not be ready for that"

"Exactly" Sarah murmured "smart and beautiful" She stubbed out her cigarette in the ashtray "All I'm saying is think about it, you have a lot of power at the moment use it wisely" she straitened her dress "Well I have to be off" she handed Alexis her business card "If you ever want to talk, there's no reason why I can't be your friend as well" she squeezed Alexis's hand "I know you must not really know what to make of me, but give me a chance?"

Alexis smiled "I guess it wouldn't hurt"

"No it wouldn't, listen I really must run, thanks for the chat I really am sorry about the other night"

Alexis watched as she left, wow she thought what was with being in a relationship, all of a sudden she had advice coming out of the woodwork. Sebastian had funnily enough spoken to her about the same thing a couple of days ago. Were they all right? With only weeks to go to the wedding Alexis didn't want to risk upsetting anyone, she knew that she had to make a decision about what direction she would take. Thing was...she was happy, extremely happy. Tyler had made her happy and until a few days ago she had thought he was happy too. No, she knew he was happy but maybe he was also confused and needed someone to get him out of the situation he was in. Maybe she was the only one who could do that.

Part 2: the wedding

It was a perfect morning for a wedding. Alexis stood on the balcony having one last moment to herself before the ceremony began. She had just performed the last minute inspection on the bridal party and was finally satisfied that she had done her job. She sighed as she looked down at the lawn where a couple of children were chasing each other. Who would have thought that this day would come so soon, it seemed like yesterday that she had agreed to take this job and now it was almost over. A lot of things were almost over, she thought back to the conversation she had had with Sarah just last night. She had needed to hear the other woman's voice reassuring her that she was doing the right thing by telling Tyler that they should take things slower. But Sarah had assured her that she was the strong one and needed to do the one thing that Tyler would never be able to do. "I hope I know what I'm doing"

Sebastian's pov

He watched her as she stood out on the balcony, the light morning breeze ruffling her hair. She had looked so sad this morning that he had been tempted to tell her to forget everything that he had said to her and just be happy with his brother, to live in the moment and hope for the best. But she deserved better than that, and she seemed confident that this was the best thing for them at the moment. "He'll come back to me when he's ready" she had told him "I'm sure of it". Somehow Sebastian knew she was right. He had paid special attention to how his brother treated Alexis and there was no mistaking that he did care for her, deeply...but he also knew that everything had happened too fast. So fast that may be none of them knew what to do anymore. Their relationship has skipped a couple of key development stages and they needed to go back and make sure, so that there would never be any doubt again. The fact that both Tyler and Alexis had allowed themselves to doubt their relationship meant that there was work that needed to be done.

"Ready?" she turned towards him and smiled, he held out his hand to her and she stepped forward to take it "any last words?" he asked

She had tears in her eyes and he slowly wiped them away "Just enjoy yourself, you're marrying your other half today"

"I love you," he whispered, kissing her forehead "I will be here for you always, you do know that" he bent so that he was on the same level as she was. When she nodded, he rose to his full height "good, now come on I can't be late for my own wedding". They walked outside hand in hand, and stopped at the entrance to church, "I'll see you later" he squeezed her hand one last time before he turned and bounded up the stairs, running to meet his destiny.

Part 3: the end

After that everything was a blur, she was certain of two things, that the ceremony was beautiful, and that Tyler looked magnificent standing beside his brother in the suit that she had made for him. He had winked conspiratorially at her during the service and she had felt butterflies flutter in her stomach, god give her courage because she loved this man and he loved her but there's was a love that was not meant to be...for the time being anyway.

They stood now in the foyer of his house and as she linked her arms around his neck she knew that this might very well be the last time that she felt his body against hers and the thought broke her. She felt the tears begin to roll down her cheeks. He drew away "What is it love?" he smiled "was it the ceremony?" he kissed her cheeks wiping away the tears "you must be exhausted why don't I run you a bath?" he was so sweet she didn't deserve it not now.
"No" she bit out

He stopped at the foot of the stairs and turned back to face her "okay, what would you like me to do?"

"Tyler I" she shook her head, the tears falling again

"Yes Alexis" he observed her from where he stood, he had a closed off expression on his face as if he knew what was coming

"I need a break" she blurted out, she choked on a sob as he lifted a hand and then let it drop to his side "I just think this is too much at the moment"

"And how did you come to this conclusion" he sat down on the foot of the steps and looked up at her, his eyes imploring her to be honest

"Well you told me to think about what you said about our relationship" she lied

"That was two weeks ago" he growled anger slowly creeping onto his face

"Well I really thought about it" she said stubbornly "I just think that we've rushed into things, we both need some time to think about things to see if this is what both of us really wants"

"Have you found someone else?" he was on his feet again and coming towards her "is that it Alexis, gotten bored of me have you?"

"No" she whimpered, but he wasn't listening to her, he grabbed her chin wrenching it up so that she was forced to look at him "I don't believe you" he bit out" and swore softly almost under his breadth "what a fool I've been, here was I thinking that you loved me, here was I thinking what was the best way I could ask you..." he trailed off his eyes narrowing "meantime you were having a fat laugh at my expense"

She shook her head, "ask me what Tyler?" she grabbed hold of the lapels of his suit jacket "Tyler what did you want to ask me?"

"Why should I tell you? So that you and your lover can joke about how in love I was with you, how pathetic I was to think that you could actually love me in return?" she was shocked that those old wounds could still come back to haunt them. Sebastian and Sarah were right they were in over their heads.

"No never, Tyler I love you" he shook free of her grasp a dazed expression on his face as if she had physically hit him "I just want a little time" she tried to explain again "But I love you, you have to believe me"

"I will never believe anything you say" she moved towards him but he held up a hand "so when did you decide this anyway?"

"I told you..."

"That's enough" his voice reverberated across the room "drop the act Alexis when did you first think that a break might be a good idea?"

"Two weeks ago" she whispered

"Ah" he ran a hand through his hair and loosened his tie and all she could think about was how much she wanted to run her fingers through his hair, to pull him towards her using that tie to do it. How had things gotten so wrong, this was not how things were meant to be, he was normally so in control, so rational this was a completely different Tyler one she didn't know how to deal with. He was acting as if she had deliberately deceived him, but she thought he might be relieved but it wasn't relief she saw in those gray eyes it was a hidden sadness and distress that she had never seen before.

"Well then, what are you doing here, don't you have a life to live?"

"Not without you" she began but he laughed harshly

"Do you expect me to wait, while you find yourself" he shook his head "Sorry Alexis I know what I want, and it's you at least it was you. But I see now we will never want the same things" he shrugged "maybe I was wrong to force my needs onto you, you're still young you should be out there living not stuck in here with me"

"Tyler, you have it all wrong, I thought you would be relieved, I thought you would want this too"

"I would want this too?" he crossed to the window and stared out of it "what I want is to lock you up in some tower where you can't escape me, where you would only be mine, where I could always find you" The idea was almost barbaric twisted with aspects of some of her favorite fairytales. "What made you think that I would want a break?"

She shivered feeling cold all of a sudden, she couldn't tell him about what Sebastian or Sarah had said it would be a betrayal of their friendship. He would never forgive them; all she could hope for was that after he calmed down he would see reason "I guess..." she began

"Well you guessed wrong..." he turned to face her "but I will give you what you want, as always I can never refuse you" he moved away from the window his face was clear, the hurt she was sure was there a minute ago buried deep inside "you want out? You got it" she shook her head wanting to stop him "you want me gone? You got it, I'll be on the first flight to London in the morning" he was in front of her now, he reached out and trailed a finger down her cheek "Alexis, love" his voice faltered and he literally shook "please go" his hand was still resting on her cheek "please go, I can't do this anymore" She turned her face into his hand and he closed his eyes. She realized then that he wasn't going to move she had to be the one to leave. She slowly took his hand in hers and released it from her face, then she let it go, turned on her heel and walked as steadily out of the house as she could.