"I'm going to break up with victoria." billie blinks up at anastasia, certain she misheard her.

"did you hear me?"

"you can't do that! your parents will basically disown you and jason and jacob will be left with nothing."

"I'll figure something out. the accident showed me what's really important. life is too short to keep worrying about everything else."

billie looks deep into ana's eyes and sees nothing but sincerity. her heart leaps with excitement, she allows herself to indulge in the fantasy. "meaning...we can be a real family?" she asks. suddenly, she hears jason's laughter out in the hallway, cutting her off.

"I'm gonna catch you! muahaha!" victoria says loudly.

"oh no! monster victoria! avenge me, admiral jacob!" jason says. billie closes her eyes as the giggles wash over her, bringing clarity.

'if victoria is willing to commit to them fully...to end her fling and actually play with the boys...can I really be the one who stands in the way of that? after everything jason and jacob have already lost?' billie thinks to herself for a moment.

"billie?" anastasia's voice pulls her back to reality.

"darling are you okay? do we need to take you back to the hospital?" ana asks concerned. she reaches out to cup billies cheeks, but billie shakes her head, trying to blink away the tears.

"what's wrong pretty girl?" billie shakes her head again, putting a smile on her face.

"kiss me." billie says as she wraps her arms around ana's neck, pulling her in. the older girl's lips feel softer and warmer than ever before.

ana kisses billie's pale neck softly as billie pulls her body over her. "aren't you sore from the accident?"

"a little, but I don't care. I need you."

"tell me if I hurt you."

billie nods.

- after they finished, they lay quietly. until billie's voice caught ana's attention.

"kiss me one more time?"

"one more time? we have a lifetime of kisses ahead of us." ana says with a slight laugh.

"please?" anastasia obediently leans forward, her mouth opening for billies.

eventually, billie forces herself to pull away. "are you okay?"

"ana...this was the last time we're doing this."

"what are you talking about?" ana asks smiling nervously.

they both sit up at the same time.

billie gets out of bed, moving to her scattered clothes. "you have to marry victoria."

"no, I don't. I choose you. it's always been you."

"ana. the boys need stability in their lives, and victoria is nothing if not dependable. she's been there for most of their lives already, and your relationship with her won't cause the press to ask the boys fucked up questions." billie said keeping her eyes glued to the ground. "I'm not worth it."

"billie... you're the love of my life... I love you."

'she loves me?' "... I love you too."

anastasia swiftly crosses the room to grip billies arms. "then be with me..." billie shakes her head as she escapes ana's grasp, collecting the last of her clothes, slipping it on.

"billie, I know what you're trying to do. and I won't let you!" ana said getting upset mixed with a little anger.

billie feels a burst of rage bubbling inside of her, and she latches onto it, letting it overtake the pain.

anything is better than pain.

"what're you gonna do? huh? force me to marry you? force me to be with you and be happy?"

"what? no- that's not what I meant and you know that."

"you can't sacrifice your whole life for some nanny!" billie said frustrated.

"don't ever say that. you've never been 'some nanny', and monet enterprise is not my whole life."

"even if that were true, I still refuse to watch you give it all up. I love the boys too much to do that to them."

"what do you want then? you can't honestly expect me to marry victoria when you're here."

"i...I don't know what I want. all I know is that I cant be a part of this anymore."

"so... you don't know what you want, but you know you don't want me?" ana asked, eyebrow twitching.

everything inside of billie is trying to scream 'no that's not true' but... she swallows hard, stoping herself. "yeah."

anastasia flinches at the words, if she was being honest, she wanted to cry. but of course, she couldn't let that happen.

"whatever." ana said before slamming the door and going back to her room.

- late evening at the rehearsal dinner.

billie sat on the far side of the table with jason and jacob, grateful for an excuse to ignore the other guests.

"i cant believe the big day is tomorrow!" victoria said excitedly.

"yup. it certainly feels like a dream." anastasia said.

"need me to pinch you awake, anny?" tony says chuckling.

"shut up, tony. read the room." jade said rolling her eyes.

ana's parents stand and draw everyone's attention to the head of the table.

"we're not ones for long speeches, so we'll just say we couldn't be happier that our ana has finally healed her heart and settled down again." ana's father said.

"to the happy couple!" katherine said.

as everyone clinks their glasses, jade nudges billie and whispers. "bittersweet, isn't it? even when you look that good, your girl is still a fool."

"anastasia is not my girl. plus it's going to be fine. if victoria's gonna treat anastasia and the boys right, then who am I to stand in the way."

"damn, you really let her go? but...I'm glad you've come to your senses because your toast is up next."

"wait. what?"

"everyone knows the maid of honor makes a speech at the rehearsal dinner. didn't victoria prep you?" billie watches in horror as ana's father waves her to the front of the room.

"let's welcome billie, everyone. doesn't she look nice tonight?"

"maybe a little too nice..." victoria says looking at billie up and down.

billie ignores ana's intense gaze as she walks to the front of the room. soon, she's looking at the unfamiliar faces of the other guests.

"uh, hello. I'm billie o'connell, victoria's maid of honor. uhm, although i haven't known victoria for years, i can say that she is a really strong, powerful woman. and after everything this couple has faced, i know they've made the right choice with each other. here's to anastasia and victoria." billie downs her champagne in one gulp as jade joins her. "alright, alright, it's time for the other best woman to steal the show."

billie slips away towards the back of the room as jade continues her speech...

'god I fucking hate it here. maybe I should just find the boys and get outta here' billie thinks to herself for a moment before looking around, she spotted the boys dancing with carter.

"come on carter keep up!" jason said smiling.

"I'm trying kid." carter said laughing out of breath.

billie finds another glass of champagne and a quiet corner to nurse her broken heart.

a few minutes later, she gets startled by a voice. "may I have this dance?" she spins around, almost spilling the champagne "ana! you scared me."

"sorry. I thought you saw me. why are you huddled in the corner like a little kid in timeout?" billie shrugs. anastasia holds her hand out to billie and motions her towards the dance floor.

"ana...we can't. victoria's gonna get pissed."

"I don't care. I don't even know where she is right now."

"fine." ana leads billie onto the dance floor, holding her close.

"where did the boys go? they were dancing here a while ago."

"they're with carter somewhere." ana said before leaning towards billie's ear. "it doesn't have to be this way...I know you said you didn't want me but...my offer still stands."

"ana, we both knew we were doomed from the start."

"don't say that. we still hav-"

"no, ana. we don't 'still have' anything anymore. I made up my mind." billie took a deep breath. "consider this my official resignation."

billie feels the tears welling up as she says those words. she lets go of ana and rushes off the dance floor, ignoring anastasia calling after her.

she bursts into the nearest bathroom, wiping her eyes.

"what. the. fuck." shocked, billie watches victoria and jade pick up their clothes trying to put them back on. "billie!"

"fuck." jade says, mouth hung open.

"it's not what it looks like." victoria says shaking her head smiling nervously.

"seriously? cause it looks like you're getting fucked by anastasia's sister. at your rehearsal dinner. the night before your wedding. you said it was over!"

"billie I can explain."

"I'm not the one you owe an explanation to."

"billie, don't! please!" jade says.

billie turns around to leave the bathroom, but jade grabs her arm, forcing her to stop.

"I knew about you and ana, and I never said anything! you cant tell her!" jade says hoping billie would understand.

"jade you're her fucking sister! so don't compare us! we're nothing alike."

"I know we're not alike! the real difference between us is that this is my world. you're just a nanny! right victoria?" jade turns around but, no sign of victoria. "...vic?"

the two of them look around but don't notice her anywhere. "where'd she go?"

"I'll give you one guess." billie and jade rush back to the ballroom.

...but it's too late. victoria stands at the front of the room, angrily, wide-eyed, and gripping the microphone. "I warned you to stay out of my way billie!"

"what's going on?" anastasia asked looking at victoria. the entire room is now silent. looking at the three girls.

"i can't believe I'm saying this but..." victoria took a second before continuing. "anastasia and billie are having an affair!"

"victoria what're you doing!" ana said wide-eyed.

"oh dear!" katherine says.

"ana! this is not monet behavior!" her father says.

"it's not surprising. women have a knack for getting involved where they don't belong." victoria's father says looking at billie.

"victoria's sleeping with jade!" billie says loudly.

"that explains the hickey at least." tony says laughing.

jade quickly covers her neck as anastasia glares at her. "is that true!? after everything we've done for you?" ana asked loudly.

"well, i-"

"wait, ana drove me into the arms of another woman! none of this is our fault!" victoria says.

"poor thing." a guest says.

"victoria stop lying! you're as much to blame as anyone else. and no one drove you to cheat. you did that all on your own." billie said angrily.

"sounds like billie's the home wrecker.." another guest says.

"leave billie alone! she wasn't the one who betrayed victoria, I did."

a white flash from the other side of the room blinds billie briefly. she looks around frantically looking for the source.

she spots the wedding photographer nearby lowering her camera. "sorry, but I can make way more off these pictures than what I'm getting paid for the wedding."

"I don't think so. hand over the camera before I call security." older jason says.

"why? don't want your daughter exposed for the cheater she is?" paolo says. all of a sudden, ana's father swung at paolo, causing people to start arguing, billie got shoved roughly in the crowd, pushing her towards the back of the room.

"billie!"

"ana!" through the chaos, the two of them stood at the opposite sides of the table.

as people were yelling and trying to break the father's apart, billie feels someone tug on her arm from behind.

she spins around, only to stumble against carter's chest. "I got you, ms.o'connell."

"carter?"

"come, let's get you out of here, this is no place for a lady." billie looks over, trying to find ana through the crowd. but no luck.

- billie locks her door as soon as she gets back to the villa. she immediately falls onto the bed and puts in her airpods.

- the next morning, billie wakes up and books the earliest flight back to new york. it doesn't take long for her to pack the remainder of her items.

dear anastasia,
I'm sorry to leave so suddenly, but I know we both knew this was coming.

billie slips the letter under ana's door on her way out.

she hears a yawn next to her "...billie?"

"jacob? jason? what are yall doing up so early?"

"uh, nothing! we definitely weren't going to sneak snacks in our room."

"is our breakfast so big, you need a suitcase for all the ingredients?" jacob asked sadly, knowing that possibility wasn't high.

"no kiddo, i-I'm leaving." billie said upset.

"you were going to leave without saying goodbye?" jason asked sadly.

"is it because I kept hiding my veggies into my napkin at dinner? ill stop. I promise."

"I just have to go, dumb grown-up reasons. I wish I could stay with you two."

the boys throw their arms around billies waist, squeezing her as tight as they can. she holds them close.

"do you have to go right now?"

"maybe we can have one last breakfast meal together! please? no one else but us!"

billie checks her phone and checks that she does have a bit of time to spare.

"alright, but we have to be quick."

"okay!"

- once the three had finished making oatmeal, they sat down on the kitchen island.

"It tastes really good." billie said smiling.

"I know right! the three of us make a pretty good team, don't we?" jason said smiling.

"auh cuuda ahgreem muh!"

billie and jason giggle as jacob swallow his bite and tries again. "hehe sorry. I couldn't agree more."

"too bad that your- nvm!" jason stops himself, causing billie to reach out and put a hand over his.

"it's okay, you know? we can talk about me leaving."

the boys share a look. "uhm... why exactly are you leaving?"

"it's complicated, but I promise yall it has nothing to do with yall."

"it's about mom, isn't it?" jacob asks.

"yeah...I just, care about her too much."

"too much? what does that even mean?"

"It means that the right thing for me to do is leave, so your mom and victoria can get married and be happy together."

"but marrying victoria won't make mom happy," jacob says frustrated.

"maybe not at first...but I think it will eventually."

jason pouts, crossing his arms over his chest. "I don't get it."

"jason, come on. don't make billie feel bad."

"it's okay. I already feel bad, cause I don't want to leave you two. and sometimes I don't get it either. but I do think that's what's best for all of us."

"oh." billie squeezes them both tight, and their little arms wrap around her. "I love you boys, so much."

"we love you too, billie." the twins say at the same time. "mom also loves you." jason says.

"yeah, we know she does, even though she tries to cover it up."

billie smiles, after one last hug, she gathers her luggage and leaves, trying her hardest not to look back.

- on her way to the airport, her taxi gets caught in some traffic near a familiar cathedral.

'that's their venue. I can't believe there's traffic this early before the ceremony... or even that the wedding's still on after everything.'

"the papers say over there is supposed to be the wedding of the century! that's why people are so eager to arrive early. too bad normal people like us weren't invited, eh?" the taxi driver says with a smile.

"yeah, too bad..." 'at least it seems like what happened at the rehearsal dinner hasn't gotten out to the press' billie thought to herself.

soon, the taxi passes the venue, and billie looks away with a sigh.

- an hour later, billie finally reaches her gate. she plops into a chair and waits for the boarding call.

billie goes on her phone, watching some netflix show to pass time.

around 20 minutes later she hears the announcement.

"flight 387 to new york is boarding. finally boarding call for flight 387"

she picks up her suitcase and moves towards the end of the line when...

"billie!"

billie turned around and blinked. anastasia was
sprinting through the airport with jason and jacob just behind.

in all honesty, she thought she was dreaming.

"wait, billie!" jacob says yelling.

"we're running... as..fast... as we can!" jason says, breathing hard.

"what are yall doing here? you're...you're missing your wedding." billie says confused.

anastasia ran up to billie, taking her into her arms, and kissing her.

ana let go, catching her breath.

"you're really here." billie says looking at ana and the kids.

"we are." ana said caressing billies cheek.

"wait how? why?"

"billie, you're the love of my life. I walked out on victoria and I'm not going back."

"but...we passed the venue and the wedding was still on?"

"I let myself get caught up on other people's decisions. when you didn't answer your door last night, I thought I could let you go. but when I was forced to face the reality of a future without you, I knew I couldn't live with myself if I let you go."

billie smiled. then chuckled. "so you left victoria at the altar?"

"I'm not proud of it but yeah..."

"I am!"

"yeah! you should've seen victoria's face."

"sounds like a good story."

"it was certainly memorable, I was trying to-"

"wait! can I tell the story? pleaseeeeee?" jacob says.

"sure kiddo." anastasia said chuckling.

(you're jacob) 2nd person point of view? (idk how this shit works lmao)

you're standing at the door of the church, trying to remember what exactly you're supposed to do during this thing.

"uhh, jason... when are we supposed to start walking again? after jade or after victoria?"

"I knew you weren't paying attention during rehearsal." jason says.

"it's not my fault the planner lady was boring! I already know how to walk in a straight line. just not when to do it..."

"it's fine, jacob. you two follow grandma and grandpa down the aisle, but the day of coordinator will let you know when to start." mom says.

"wait! what if we lose the rings?" jason asks.

"don't worry, aunt jade has the real rings. just focus on making it down the aisle."

"but! just because they're fake doesn't mean you can swap in an onion ring at the last minute or something. everything has to look perfect for the photographers" victoria says.

"yeah yeah," you say rolling