Authors notes: The story idea for this short chapter came to me while listening to "A Thousand Years" by Christina Perri. Love that song, and it got me in the mood to write something sweet. Thus, this was born!
Now, as mentioned in the summary, this story will be a collection of short stories of our lovely Chloe and hunky Derek. They might not always go together (example, in one chapter the two might be a happy couple, but in the next they could be complete strangers), and there will be no timeline. It's simply a place for me to put my ideas into action. But, I am open to suggestions! I will look over reviews for ideas for future chapters. So, if you have a relationship horror story, or a sweet or sexy idea, hit the review button and tell me about it! I will give credit at the beggining of your chapter.
So...on with the story! This chapter is set years past the books. The two are grown up, and are at their wedding.
A Thousand Years
"And now, Mr. and Mrs. Souza's first dance!'
The peppy DJ we hired for the night's celebration voices his announcment over the loud speakers, and me and my new husband make our way slowly to the spralling dance floor waiting for us. All around us, our closest friends and family wait expectantly, some bored, as we come to a stop in the center. I look above me, way above me of couse, and take one step closer to the man I love.
He smiles, and as if on cue, the music begins to play; a slow, whimsical melody that he knows I adore, and that always reminds me of him. Even though he himself is the exact opposide of whimiscal, thats exactly how I would describe our love together. Hardships, bad timing, none of that ever had anything on us. All we ever needed was whimsey and a smidge of hard love to carry us through.
We sway, and twist, and unimaginably float across the floor, never once loosing sight of eachother. I glance slowly across his neck, down through his sholder, across his broad chest and quickly to his strong jawline. His full, delicious, smirking lips are curled up at the corners; the perfect accessory to his now gleanimg emerald eyes. And one word flashes and sings through my mind.
Mine.
"So how are you enjoying your night, Mrs. Souza?" He asks casually, slightly startling me out of my pleasant thoughts.
"Quite well, thank you." I reply conversationally.
His strong hand presses closer to my hip, and we make a sharp turn to the left, as he spins me outward, then back in, only to hold me even tighter than before.
"I'm not sure all this twirling is the best idea, Mr. Souza. Who knows what kind of mischief my clumsey self could get us in." I say with a wink, and his smirk grows ever bigger.
"Hmm, well I happen to love your mischief..." He leans his neck to my level, lips near my ear. "and I love you."
A visible shiver runs through me, as he dips his head to caress my neck lightly with those beautiful lips. The word Love-although it did not appear until later in our relationship-never ceased to leave me emotionally breathless. We don't say it much, with our mouths at least. But somehow it is always there. In the way our fingers wind together when walking, or the way I can glimpse the twinkling of his eyes when I laugh at something he says. Little moments, that make up a bigger picture. Love, love, love, ever present in our everyday lives and nights together. And when said outloud, whether it be breathless or loud and clear, always succeded in strenthing my resolve in the decision I made all those years ago. If he was mine, then I was his. His mate, his friend, his lover, his anything.
Not to be outdone, I gently move his face in front of mine with my finger. He blinks, and I blink, and then I smile and place a light kiss at the tip of his nose.
"As I love you, husband. As I love you."
And we dance, together. And together, even when the guests are gone and the show is over, we will stay. Always together, always in love, even if it lasts a thousand years.