LJ-SEC: (ORIGINALLY POSTED BY containedchaos)

Who: Jack, Hugh, Emmy, and the rest of their dysfunctional family
When: Saturday afternoon
Where: A little park outside of the city
What: Jack and Hugh attend their older sister's wedding and as usual with the Miller's, there's drama.


Jillian Miller stood in her bridal room surrounded by her friends, waiting patiently for anything to happen. She had made back up plans in case he didn't show up, but she still held out a little hope. She looked at the clock, five more minutes. She took a deep breath and closed her eyes.

Hugh and Jack stood silent at the gates of the park where their older sister was about to get married. "I can't believe she's actually getting married," Jack finally said looking down at the other end of the park where Jillian's future husband stood waiting for her.

"Neither can I," Hugh said scanning the parking lot. Still no sign.

Emmy ran up to her father and grabbed his leg. "Daddy, I want to see Aunt Jilly in her pretty dress," she said.

Hugh smiled. "She'll be out soon, and remember, you get to throw the flowers in front of her. That's a really special job," he patted the top of her head.

"Yeah," she grinned. "I have to go get my basket. Jon said it's almost time," she said referring to the groom.

"Alright, go find your basket," Hugh sent her on her way with a little kiss.

Jack looked at his watch. "Two minutes," he said.

Hugh sighed. "I don't think he's coming."

Jack didn't want to admit it, but he felt the same way. "She really wants him here. I don't know why, but she does. Just a year ago she broke two hundred dollars worth of china because he showed up to her luncheon and now this…"

Another car pulled up, they both looked expectantly, but no luck. It was just one of the catering staff. Hugh looked at his watch. "We should go get her," he said patting Jack on the shoulder.

"Yeah," Jack nodded and they walked toward the little public house where Jillian was patiently waiting. Hugh knocked on the door, one of Jill's friends answered.

"Jill, it's your brothers," she let the two of them into the small room packed with bride's maids and Jillian in her gorgeous white wedding gown.

"Hey Jilly," Hugh said forcing a smile. "It's about that time."

She nodded, forcing a smile but holding back the urge to throw up. The brides maids all evacuated the room, leaving Jillian and her two little brothers alone. "We can wait a few more minutes if you want Jilly," Jack said softly.

"I'm not waiting for anything," she said defiantly. Always the fighter, always the strong one, but she felt like she was dying inside. She just wanted this one thing, this one thing and she would be happy.

"Are you ready?" Hugh asked offering his arm.

"Are you ready to give me away little brother?" she laughed.

Hugh smiled. "I guess so," he shrugged.

"I should go round up all those beef head friends of the groom and your bridesmaids," Jack smiled heading for the door.

"Jacky," Jill said before he left the room. He turned back. "Come here," she motioned him over to her. Jack went over to his sister who threw her arms around him. "I love you Jack," she said lightly.

"I love you too Jill," he said hugging her back. "You look beautiful today."

"Thanks buddy," she smiled for real this time. "Go on, round up those rowdy bridesmaids."

Jack smiled and went back outside where there was a group of young ladies all giggling and Jon's friends with their rented tuxedos. "We should get ready to go down the aisle," Jack said to the group of them.

Everyone lined up with their partner and Emmy ran to the front of the line, right in front of Jack and the Susie, the girl he was walking down the aisle. The music started and everyone followed in procession down toward the other end of the park. Jack still felt like this wasn't Jill's wedding. Although it was untraditional in the sense that it was outside and not in a church, it still felt too formal, too traditional, too not like anything Jill would ever want for herself. He just did as he was asked though and lead the procession, if it would make Jill happy, he would do it. When everyone was lined up on either side of the justice of peace and the groom, everyone in their seats turned to see Jill and Hugh standing at the end of the aisle. She looked upset but there was still a smile plastered on her face. They started walking slowly down toward the groom. Hugh gave his older sister's arm to Jon and sat down in the front row.

"Dearly beloved, we are gathered here today to unite Jonathan Alexandra Cornel and Jillian Anne Miller…" the justice began the very long and traditional marriage speech. There were tears in Jill's eyes and pain written all over her face as she heard the vows and said her own to Jon. She hadn't wanted it to be like this, she was supposed to be happy.

"Do you Jonathan Cornel take Jillian Miller to be your lawfully wedded wife?" the justice asked Jon who grinned, his heart swelled with pride.

"I do," he said.

"And do you Jillian Miller take Jonathan Cornel to be your lawfully wedded husband?"

Silence. Jillian didn't say anything. She looked to Hugh, then to Jack. She turned back to Jon and opened her mouth to speak, but the words weren't coming to her aid. Silence consumed the entire park and tears slid down her cheeks. Everyone heard the approaching car. Jill looked up quickly to see her father getting out of an expensive black car that had just rolled to a stop.

Walter Miller walked slowly toward the wedding that was taking place. He had missed nearly the entire ceremony, he didn't think she would actually go through the wedding without him there and was impressed by her dissent. "Well, well, what do we have here?" he asked as he approached the silent crowd.

Jill didn't know what to say. She couldn't look at Jon who was holding onto her hands for dear life and begging her to look at him. She couldn't take her eyes off of her father, she was sure he was going to support her, he was going to make everything the way it was supposed to be.

He stopped in front of his oldest child and her groom. "Looks as though you have more courage than I gave you credit for," he looked at Jill. "Please don't tell me that I've missed the objection bit?" he asked the justice of the peace.

The justice shook his head, very confused as to what was unfolding before him. "No, we're waiting for the bride to say yes."

"Oh," he said brightly. "Cold feet huh Jillian? I always knew you could never commit to anything. Just like your brothers," he said snidely.

"I… I…"

"Get out of here," Hugh said fiercely as he stood up from his seat. He had seen enough. How much harm could one man cause on what was supposed to be the happiest day of his daughter's life. "No one wants you here anyways!"

Walter turned to Hugh, who he hadn't spoken to in well over six years. "Oh look, the city's biggest failure! Come to have a go?" he asked cruelly.

Jack felt the anger rising in his chest. He knew something like this was going to happen. He stepped out of the line and joined his brother. "If you're not here to support Jilly then you can get the hell out," Jack said crossing his arms.

Walter's grin twisted into a sick snarl. "And the faggot has something to say about it to? Wow Jillian, you have a great support system. You're doing much better than I thought."

Jill stood before everyone, all eyes on her. She turned to Jon and shook her head. "I'm sorry," she whispered.

"What?" he asked in disbelief. "Jilly…"

She couldn't stand it anymore. She took off running down the aisle past her father and her brothers. She ran through the entire park and into the city. She didn't stop running until her legs were too weary to carry on and she was forced to sit down. She looked up and realized she was sitting at the dock, a place she knew well, a place that brought her back to simple times. With her head in her hands she cried until there was nothing left to cry.

Jack and Hugh didn't know where to begin looking, but that didn't stop them from scanning the entire city and everything surrounding the area around the park. The boys took turns carrying Emmy on their backs as they searched high and low for the run away bride. "I have an idea," Jack said suddenly. "It's really random, but I don't know where else she would be."

"Where?" Hugh asked.

"Let's try the dock."

Hugh nodded and without anything else to say they turned in the opposite direction and walked as fast as they could toward the dock. Sure enough, sitting on a bench still in her huge bride's gown was Jilly. Hugh and Jack looked at each other and then walked over to her quietly. They sat on either side of their older sister without saying a word. Emmy sat in Hugh's lap and kept quiet. She didn't understand what was going on, but she knew it was bad.

She gasped for air, she didn't have to look up to know who was sitting next to her. "I didn't want it to be like this," she said desperately.

Hugh and Jack both put an arm around her. "We know," Jack said.

"It was all wrong. It wasn't… I should have just done what I wanted to do, not what I thought he wanted. I did what I thought any daughter should do," she took a deep breath. "And he ruined it."

Emmy put her hand on Jill's hand and wiped one of her cheeks. "I'm sorry the mean man came and ruined your wedding Aunt Jill," she said sweetly.

"Thanks Emmy," she forced a smile. "I think we should go somewhere," she said to her brothers.

"Back to our apartment?" Hugh suggested.

"Works for me," Jill laughed, wiping her own face.

Back in the apartment Jill asked if she could borrow some of Jack's pajamas. "I can't stay in this damn dress any longer," she said with a rough laugh.

Jack laughed and obliged. He was worried about her and feeling guilty about what had happened. "It's probably my fault," Jack sighed as the three siblings sat together in the small apartment. He leaned back into the couch, wishing that it would just swallow him and he wouldn't have to see the look of disappointment on Jill's face.

She reached across to her youngest sibling and put her hand on his knee. "It's not your fault Jacky," she said reassuringly. She felt deep in her heart that there was only one person to blame for the train wreck that had become their family, and that was their father.

"I shouldn't have screamed at him in that restaurant a few months ago," he said leaning forward again. "I feel like I was the one who cut all ties with him… between everyone."

"I threw dishes at him Jack," she said seriously. "Why did I honestly think he was going to be there to support me?"

"I'm an abysmal failure," Hugh said with a perky tone.

Jack and Jill grinned. Jill threw her arm around Hugh. "You're not an abysmal failure little brother," she said playfully. "You have a great kid and you're a great dad. A better father than our own dad."

Hugh grinned. "Thanks Jilly."

Emmy hopped up on the couch next to Hugh and Jack. "Was that mean man my grandpa?" she asked.

Hugh didn't know what to say. "Em… sometimes… sometimes people do terrible things, but you know that daddy would never do anything like that to you, right? And you know that Uncle Jack and Aunt Jill would never let anyone do that to you, right?"

Emmy smiled and nodded. "I know, but… was that man your daddy?"

"Yes," Hugh said. "That man was my daddy."

Emmy leaned her head against Hugh, she was just happy that all daddy's weren't mean like his daddy. "I love you daddy," Emmy said quietly.