A/N: Alrighty all this is my first fanfic, so reviews are most definitely welcome. I hope you enjoy!

I don't own anything, those rights belong to the lovely Libba Bray

Final Vow

So many preparations go into a marriage ceremony, even in this case an elopement. Shocking for a woman of my station, to enter into a sacred union in such a scandalous fashion, but then again I have never been one for tradition. Everything is set, the time, the place, the minister to officiate, and his wife to serve as our witness.

All the preparations are sound, save one.

It took me 5 years to allow my heart to love again. When I did, my heart chose Gregory, and it pursued him with so much passion and vigor, it could have been whole. He is true, loyal, strong, and passionate and is, in every way, my soul mate.

While I am sure in my decision to marry Gregory, I cannot fool myself into thinking I can give him my whole heart. Part of it has already been stolen, and permanently lost, along with the soul who took it. A corner of me had been holding on, hoping that one day my heart will be united with its missing piece, and I with the one who took it. With my impending marriage, I now have to let that go, and finally say goodbye.

So this brings me to my final errand before my marriage. I can't quite bring myself to the realms to say goodbye, my dreams will have to do.

As always he is there, strong and steady at the shore. His beautiful brown skin almost glimmers in the sunlight and his dark eyes maintain a sparkle that it very much alive. The very presence of him suggests warmth and health, not at all the cold death of reality. He smiles at me as he is his usual custom when he sees me. But today it is a sad smile, he has guessed my purpose and the knowledge sends a wave of pain.

"Kartik…," I meant to say more but the words have lodged themselves in my throat and tears come instead of my intended sentiments.

I blink and Kartik is beside me, and I startle a little at the closeness of him. In my dreams he always appeared at a distance, and I was always grateful for it, any closer and my heart would not have been able to recover. But today is not a normal visit. He takes me in his arms and places his lips upon my own. It is exactly the way I remember them, full, warm and eager, and for one moment I experience the purest form of magic.

"I love you, Gemma. Always."

There are so many things I want to say. I miss you every moment. I would do most anything for you to be alive. I love you. I want to say all this but only one word can escape my lips. "Always."

Then he is gone. I know that I shall see no more of him in this life, my dreams of him will now be a distant memory. But I also know that this is not the goodbye I intended. I will see him again and feel those lips upon my own once more, but not in this world. That is all I can hope for, the other worlds I know, are in many ways more real than this one.

When I wake the tears dried upon my cheeks, leaving salty stains on my face. I make one final realization and search my shirt for my last physical memory of Kartik, his red bandanna. It is not where it has always been, hidden from view near my heart, it too, is gone.

"Goodbye."