Hot, relentless tears burned her eyes and blurred her vision as she stood on the balcony of her hotel room. She took a deep, shuddering breath, breathing in the scent of… what had he called it again? Night-blooming jasmine? She gazed up at the star-filled sky as his word echoed in her mind...

"I must be in love. It doesn't even bother me that you come with them."

"You don't want to spend half of your life thinking about a chance that you didn't take."

"The stars are out, there's a nice breeze. And of course there's the beautiful girl..."

"Just say the word and I will leave Mel in a heartbeat."

And then her words… the words that she wished that she could take back. "My mind's made up. I think we should say goodnight now."

Even more tears came and she brushed them away. Again she inhaled deeply, breathing in the night blooming jasmine; a scent that conjured up an image of his handsome face, his beautiful blue eyes, his sweet smile and for the hundredth time she was harshly reminded of what she had done.

As if she could have forgotten.

It was impossible to forget what led to her decision, his sweet voice telling her that he loved her and the way his soft, warm lips felt against hers. The way his arms had gone around her body encircling her with love. Oh how she wished that her words had been different; that she'd been completely honest with him and told him exactly what was in her heart. She loved him too and she wanted nothing more than to be with him, even though it meant hurting Donny and Mel. She shuddered at the thought. There was no telling what they would do once they found out, but she knew that it wouldn't be good. However, she knew that it would be worth it, no matter what the consequences. A thought crossed her mind then.

What if it had been Donny? What would she have done had he come to their room hours before their wedding and announced that he had fallen in love with his best friend? But she couldn't even think about it, for she had no idea what she'd do. However, at that moment all she could think of was Niles and how much she had hurt him. She loved him so much; God how she loved him. He was her best friend and-

She jumped, startled by the unexpected feeling of a pair of arms around her body and a pair of lips on her neck. The touches of affection made her whirl around and for a split second….

"NI-." She swallowed hard, her heart thundering in her chest. Disappointment shrouded her and that disappointment was all but impossible to hide. For it wasn't Niles at all.