Tomorrow May Never Come

After the Bakers and Kate's family had sat down and discussed ideas for the engagement party and the wedding, planning was in full swing. Considering there was only a few weeks difference between the engagement party and the wedding itself, there wasn't too much time to get things done.

Everything was going to be held at Zack's parents' luxurious home, since they had the space for it and already had the interior designer coming to decorate for their anniversary party that was taking place before the engagement party in the evening.

And the closer it came to the big day, the more Kate was finding herself excited, which was something she hadn't planned on happening. Yes, she loved Zack, but a part of her still wanted Brian; but he was married, and there was nothing she could do about it.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

The engagement party was loud, seeming almost like a reception after a wedding would. There was a DJ, a full bar, food and drink galore, and the house looked impeccable. Kate couldn't believe how well things were going from the start of the night onward, but as she stuck close to Zack, her arm looped through his as friends and relatives came to congratulate them on the engagement, she couldn't fight the smile tugging at her lips. Especially when Zack would steal a quick kiss from her without caring who would see.

Brian, on the other hand, wasn't as happy as he wanted to be. He was happy for his friends, happy that his plan to get them together before it was too late had worked out in the end despite the bumps along the way. But at the same time he felt a load of regret weighing him down. He wanted to be where Zack was. He wanted to be with Kate. But the future for him was bleak. He knew already that he didn't have too much time left. He hadn't told anyone, not even his mother, but he had a feeling it was inching closer and closer to him, faster than anyone would know.

And despite the warnings he had been given by various doctors on the matter, he couldn't help but begin to drink away his sorrows. It was the only thing that seemed to make him feel less depressed than he already was. His smile became more genuine the more he had to drink, but in the back of his mind, the thought of death wasn't too far away.

"If I could have everyone's attention?" a voice was heard, amplified through the speakers that had been set up for the DJ, and everyone at the party in the large hall quieted down, looking toward who had spoken. James was stood by the DJ's table with Maria by his side, smiling as they looked across the room at Kate and Zack.

"Thank you. We would just like to take this moment to express how happy we are that Zack was able to find such a gem like Kate. When I see the way he looks at her, I know that he loves this girl more than he's loved anything else in the world, and would like nothing more than to spend the rest of his life with her," James said, and Zack blushed a bit, clearing his throat as he looked down at his feet. Feeling a nudge from beside him, he looked over at Kate who had a smile, and she kissed his cheek, holding onto him a little tighter.

"I'd just like to propose a toast to the two of them, in hopes that they have many years of happiness ahead of them. To Zack and Kate," James finished, raising his glass, and Kate and Zack along with the rest of the attendees raised their own before taking a sip of the sweet champagne.

"I love you," Zack whispered to Kate, leaning down to swiftly kiss her. Brian was stood only a few feet away, and the sight made his depression grow just a little bit more. Quickly he downed the rest of the alcohol in his glass, heading back to the bar to fill up again.

Pulling from the kiss, Kate felt a hand on her shoulder and turned to see her mother there.

"If I could have a moment with her, Zack?" Denise asked, and Zack nodded before letting her go, walking off to go chat with some of his friends that had shown up.

"What is it, mom?" Kate asked as Denise put her arm around her daughter, leading her a little ways from the noise and commotion of the party. They stepped out onto one of the back terraces, the chill of the air wrapping around them as Denise turned to face Kate.

"I just wanted to say that I love you. And I know your father is very proud of you right now," Denise said, and Kate blinked hard. Any mention of her father brought tears to her eyes, no matter where she was.

"Mom..." she whispered, looking away to try and fight back her emotions.

"I mean it. And I'm very proud of you as well. I know that what you're doing right now is hard. You love two different men, both in different ways. Having to choose and go through with this is one of the hardest choices you might have to make. But I feel in my heart that this is right. I look at you and Zack, and I can see you two going far. You might not fully believe it, but I think you two may have been destined to be together for the rest of your lives," Denise said, and Kate let out a small smile.

Looking through the windows of the house, she could see Zack inside laughing and having a good time with whoever he had been talking to. But then her gaze slowly shifted, and she could see Brian, drink in hand. He seemed rather reclusive, quieter than he ever usually was, and she couldn't help but feel that maybe there was something wrong. She'd have to talk with him later, if she got the chance to be alone with him.

Looking back at her mother, Kate smiled.

"I do love Zack, mom. I think that maybe...back when we were friends it was just kinda hidden in the background, you know? And now that....this all is happening, it's finally coming out. He's really grown on me, and I really am happy."

Denise smiled. "Alright, let's get back in to your party. Can't have you just randomly disappearing; this is for you..."

Straightening out the satiny red dress she was wearing, Kate nodded and followed her mother back inside, earning a kiss on the cheek before she made her way back over to Zack. She looped her arm through his while he wasn't looking, causing him to slightly jump and turn to her.

"Hey," he said with a grin. "What was that about?"

"Nothing...mom just wanted to talk to me about something. Nothing huge," Kate answered, and Zack nodded before someone spoke into the microphone again.

"Being that this night is all about Zack and Kate, I feel it's fitting that they share a dance," came the voice of the DJ, and Kate's eyes widened.

"Are you serious?" she groaned, rolling her eyes.

"What, you don't want to dance with me?" Zack asked with a playful grin.

"It's not that... It's just... Everyone watching," Kate blushed.

"You'll be fine," he said as the lights dimmed down a little, pulling Kate to him as the opening piano for "Hold Her Closer" by Blessid Union of Souls began to play through the speakers.

Kate couldn't help but smile at the song, especially when Zack began to sing to her.

"When you see love, and you don't know what it is, you might find yourself in fear to show your heart. When you feel it, and it's oh so wonderful, you might find yourself in fear to let it part, in fear to let it part. So hold her closer when she cries, and hold her closer when she feels she needs a hand to hold. Someone who'll never let her go again. And hold him closer when he tries to hold the tears back from his eyes. And say goodbye, say goodbye," he quietly sang into her ear, and once more Kate had to fight back the tears.

"I love you," she whispered to Zack, looking into his bright green eyes, and he smiled. She'd never said it until now, and he knew that she wasn't just saying it. He could feel she meant it that time.

Leaning down, he pressed his lips to hers, a hand going to his neck to hold her there as their eyes slipped closed. Around them cat calls were made, causing Kate to smile against Zack's lips, but she didn't dare part from him; not yet.

A few minutes later the song ended, the lights were turned up, and a fast-pumping song came through the speakers. And that was where Brian made a near fatal mistake that night.

In his loosened state, alcohol in his system, he just let everything go, danced, laughed, had a good time, continuously drinking. And then it all stopped.

The smile slowly fell from his face, and he backed away from everyone. The tightness in his chest was taking over, he couldn't breathe. He couldn't see straight, couldn't think straight. Up was down and down was up; panic set in. Taking deeper breaths he tried to calm himself, gasping when a sharp pain shot through his arm. He knew what was coming, knew what was going to happen.

Breath shallow, he fought his way through the crowds, trying not to let anyone notice the excruciating pain he was in, and made his way to the nearest bathroom, locking himself in. Back against the cold tile wall, he tried to make the pain go away, but nothing he did was working. He'd done it this time, really done it.

Collapsing to the floor, back against the wall, he pulled his cell phone from his pocket, quickly dialing his mother, hoping she'd hear it ring through all the noise.

"Brian?" her sweet voice came through the other line.

"Mom..." he gasped out, throat straining as he fought to breathe. "I need..." he panted, "I need to go to the hospital. Now. My heart..." He couldn't finish his sentence. His eyes clamped shut as the pain in his chest and arm grew, feeling like he was suffocating. He was going to die. He could feel it.

"Brian, where are you?" his mother's stern voice grabbed his attention again.

"In the bathroom... Please, don't...don't let anyone know. I don't want anyone to know. Don't call an ambulance, just take me..." Brian panted out, air rasping through his lungs at an alarming rate.

"Alright, I'll be there. Just...hold on, okay? Everything is going to be fine," Suzy said through the phone, trying to mask her worry as she made her way to the bathroom. Brian reached up with the only strength he had to turn the lock again, allowing his mother into the room.

Quickly she rushed him out of the room as fast as possible, hoping no one would see the state he was in, and got him into her car, speeding her way to the nearest hospital.

She just hoped she wasn't too late.