"I'm so glad you are all here." Luke said with a smile, placing a hand on the small of Echo's back and gently guiding her along.

He'd surprised her lately, keeping his distance. She was so used to him being so affectionate, always reaching for her, always trying to hold her but for the last several weeks, he'd almost seemed to be avoiding her. It worried her. She'd stayed up tossing and turning more than once, wondering if she'd done something, wondering if maybe he'd changed his mind. 

He used to show up randomly while she was sitting with Nadia, he used to ask her to stay behind and have dinner with him, but in the last few weeks... she'd only seen him once. Now it seemed that he almost regretted having to touch her. 

"Thank you." Alice said graciously as they entered the restaurant waiting area. The weather forecast hadn't been wrong- no rain, no snow but it was very cold. 

While the family was all staying in Luke's home, the house was currently buzzing with staff setting up for the big day. So, the family was now gathered at the nicest restaurant in North Town and Luke had it closed for their private use. 

"It's my pleasure. The house is absolutely hectic at the moment, I hope you'll be able to visit and see when things are more calm." Luke said. 

"It's a beautiful house." Maru said, her eyes glittering with excitement. The truth was that everything about North Town had a certain charm for her. She couldn't quite put her finger on it, there was something strange  about this place, but it thrilled her.  

"It really is." Vera added, thinking of the large 8 bedroom home that sat prettily on an acre of endless green. It was impressive in a very different way than their own home. While their house was bigger, Luke's exuded a different type of elegance. It was reminiscent of an Italian country home, telling of Luke's life and family and covered in photos of his parents and sister. It was also a bit of a maze... confusing with its multiple corridors. 

But what really confused her was the number of men she'd seen roaming the grounds. Her family had never kept any type of security on their property, not more than an alarm system, but Luke appeared to have several guards making rounds. She wondered if this was because of the wedding, or if in general Luke kept security on staff. 

"Is it just you and Adelia in the house?" Michael asked. 

"And Echo." Adelia added with a grin. She'd been home for less than a week for winter break and was excited for it. Luke had entrusted her with the task of helping Echo adjust to the every day routine, and Adelia was proud to do so. She'd fallen instantly in love with her and her big family, thinking it was a pity that she couldn't be the one joining it. She looked now to Echo's brother, Ben- handsome and funny- a girl could really fall in love with a man like that. 

"maybe even a few grand babies." Karen volunteered, making Echo immediately blush and raucous laughter break out. 

"Please, you're making her blush." Romy said calmly. "It's not good to upset the bride the night before the wedding."

Echo, however, wasn't paying much attention to the chatter. She was too busy watching Luke, who was sitting on her right and talking brightly to her parents. He'd hardly turned to glance at her at all. In fact, he hadn't spoken to her at all... it was almost like he was ignoring her. Could it be he'd changed his mind?

She shouldn't be surprised, after all, she was just Echo. Sure, he'd seemed impressed because she'd had the nerve to argue with him, because she'd refuse to just accept whatever he told her too- but was that enough? Echo despaired. She searched her mind frantically, trying to find a good, valid reason for him to want her... what if it was all over?

"Echo, has your dress been delivered yet?" Alice asked, bringing her back to the present. Echo opened her mouth to respond but it was Luke who spoke. 

"Yesterday, I had it put in her room." He said without looking at her. her room.  Echo felt her heart tighten in her chest, her anxiety whispering to her the words over and over. Most of her things were brought over during the week and all of it had been placed in that same room she'd seen and used on multiple occasions. It was a beautiful room but it was not the room she wanted. She'd assumed she'd share his. 

"You should see the veil..." Echo said to her mother, "that Luke's aunt had made for me. So much lace..."

Echo's words resonated in Luke's ears. so much lace... Just like the note. He frowned, trying to shake the thought. He was no further today than he was then at solving the mystery. 

Echo watched Luke's face. She didn't miss the frown, even if it hadn't last long. She reached out, placing her hand over his, practically begging for something... a sign or anything... 

"I'm sure you'll look beautiful." Alice gleamed with a soft smile. 

"Echo's going to make a beautiful bride." Luke said, turning to Echo's hand as he sat over his. He picked it up, his eyes meeting hers quickly and offering her a smile, before slipping his own hand away.

Then he proceeded to ignore her the rest of the night.

---

"Why do you look so depressed?" Maru said, throwing herself onto Echo's bed. "If I were you... I'd be bouncing off the walls. You're getting married tomorrow!"

"She's nervous... it's natural." Vera said as she braided back Lena's hair. Echo looked around. Her sisters were camped out around her room, Vera on the floor with Lena as she applied nail polish to her toes, Romy laying lazily on a chaise as she flipped through a magazine, and now Maru on her bed.  Their rooms were just down the hall but less than 15 minutes after she'd tried tucking herself into bed, they'd starting clamoring in. 

"I'm not depressed." Echo volunteered, moving her head side to side and rolling her shoulders back. 

"but you sure are tense." Maru said, noticing as she moved. "Lay down."

Echo raised a brow suspiciously.

"I'm not going to hurt you..." Maru said with a chuckle, patting the bed next to her. "Come on... on your belly."

"Do it, dear. You need it." Romy said without looking up. "Although, we were thoughtless not to book her a massage before today."

"I doubt Echo would like some stranger touching her in any way." Lena volunteered.

"She's right." Echo added as she lay down flat, allowing Maru to climb over her. 

"Be gentle, Maru. We need her in one piece tomorrow." Vera said with a smile. 

"It's crazy. I can't believe you're getting married." Maru said with a sigh. "We'll never get to have a night like this again."

"We've never had a night like this before." Lena said. 

"Sure we have. Remember our birthday?" Maru insisted, making them all look at her. 

"Maru... we were 8." Lena responded and everyone giggled. 

"And Romy was already acting like she was too old for us." Maru added. 

"I was 13." Romy said with a smile. 

"And too sophisticated for us with her training bra." Vera said, biting her lip. This time, everyone laughed brightly, even Romy wiped her eyes. 

"We should have done this more." Romy volunteered suddenly, making them all smile softly. They were quiet, each one letting the thought soak in. 

"Echo... are you okay?" Maru asked, noting how a tear now slid down her cheek. She climbed off her back, allowing her to sit up hastily. 

"Yes, I'm fine." Echo said, reaching towards the nightstand and taking a tissue. She quickly wiped the tear, plastering on a fake smile. 

"Are you sure?" Romy asked, sitting up and looking at her directly. Echo took a breath, prepared to shake it off but instead... an incessant flood of tears. 

It was instant, unexpected and unstoppable. Echo was sobbing, hysterically... frantically and for a moment no one moved, they only stared in surprise. 

"Oh Echo..." Romy said, jumping up and running to the bed. Within seconds, they had all huddled around her, wrapping their arms about her and holding her close. They didn't say anything, they didn't do anything. They let her cry, let her cry until she shivered with the intensity of it. 

It was understood. Whatever was going on in Echo's mind, she didn't need words. She need to be held, needed silent comfort, and needed to be allowed to feel the moment. Echo couldn't have asked for anything more. She felt the warmth her sister's arms provided and leaned on their strength. When a few minutes passed, she wiped her cheeks and now faced them with a brave smile. 

"Better?" Romy asked, tucking back a strand of Echo's hair. She nodded gently. 

"Yes. I guess It's just a lot of change at once." Echo said, "I'm overwhelmed."

"You've always got us." Lena offered sweetly, hugging her again. 

"Oh dear... look at the time." Vera said, suddenly, making them turn. "Echo, you should be in bed. Come on... everyone out."

---

Luke stared out onto the garden. It was dark and quiet, the world slept. It was late, tomorrow was a big day- the biggest- and he should be in bed. 

But he'd tossed and turned relentlessly. Sleep evaded him as it had for almost every night in the previous weeks. He'd questioned himself time and time again, wondering if he was doing the right thing. There had been no signs of the Russo brothers, they were no closer to finding the author of the notes, and now the day was finally here and in a matter of hours Echo would be his bride. 

But was he prepared to keep her safe? Was he being fair to ask to her to give up so much? Wasn't she safer before she met him? He thought about the road ahead. There was still so much to do and unfortunately, until he could fix this, he could not give Echo everything he wanted to. 

Was he really doing the right thing?

Then he saw, the shape moving in the shadows. Luke tensed. It wasn't possible... how could anyone have gotten in. He reached for his back, his gun still strapped on his hip...

Then she stepped out of the shade- the moonlight crossing over her face. She walked slowly, playing with the zipper of an over-sized coat as she did, carefully taking note of the large tent that had been set up earlier that day. The garden really did look wonderful and tomorrow night there would be twinkling lights and music to bring more magic to it. 

She sighed, looking back towards the house, stopping when she saw him. It was as if they were thinking the same thing because their feet moved in unison, bringing them together in the darkness of the night. 

"Luke." She said, the sound of his name coming from her made his breath catch in his throat. She was disheveled, she looked tired- almost as restless as he did- but somehow, she was still more beautiful than anything he'd ever seen. 

"Echo." He said and she shivered, savoring his deep baritone. 

"It's cold." He said, removing his coat and wrapping it around her suddenly. Her eyes widened and she shook her head. 

"Exactly," She said, trying to take it off. "You shouldn't..."

"I insist." He said, stepping back and taking her in. "You're still awake."

"You too." She said, looking down. "Luke... I need to know."

"What?" He asked, raising his brow. 

"I need to know why?" She said, facing him with a frown that surprised him. "Why are you avoiding me? Did I do something wrong?"

"No, Echo. It's not you." He said. 

"Have you changed your mind? Because if that's the case, I'll under-" She began to say but he reached out suddenly, taking her by the shoulders and kissing her. It was gentle, it was chaste but it warmed her to her toes. 

"I haven't." He said, taking her hands and looking into her eyes. "I wish I could tell you but..." 

Echo jumped up, wrapping her arms around his neck and pressing her lips against his. She kissed him, kissed him with all the passion she'd been holding back, kissed him with everything she had to offer... 

As she stepped back, she placed her hands back in his- offering him a smile. 

"No, it's okay. I don't need to know." She said, watching as a smile spread over his face. 

They stared at each other silently for a few more minutes, dumbly smiling but not moving a muscle. 

"Tomorrow." She finally said, slipping her hands out of his and moving away. "Don't be late."