A/N: Bonus scene! It's pretty short, especially compared to all the other chapters. It was originally going to be part of the last chapter, but I cut it out because otherwise I felt the chapter would be way too long. It's still pretty long, but better than it would have been. Now...before we get to the scene, there's some things I would love some input on. First a story update: hoping to both update Then You Stand and finish up Little Glimpses soon, so watch out for those. In addition to those, I want to start a new story. My current problem is that I have at least four stories I want to start at some point and I can't decide which one to do first. This is where you all come in. I'll give a really brief summary of each for you all and you can tell me which, if any, you'd like to see first. All of them will get written at some point, I just don't want to start too many stories at once, especially since I'm still working on Then You Stand. So here are the options:
Story #1: the sequel to 25 roses, currently untitled. This one will similar to this story, but will have a twist. That's all I'm going to tell you right now. :)
Story #2: Last Name - the gang, all over 21 and most likely in their mid-20s by this point, head to Vegas in order to celebrate Troy and Gabriella's wedding. Kelsi, never having been much of a drinker, soon learns what can happen when one has too much to drink. Also will have a subplot featuring Zeke and Sharpay.
Story #3: tentatively titled The Broken Road - Ryan and Kelsi gather their friends and families together to celebrate their wedding and reflect back on the broken road that brought them to this day. Inspired by "Bless the Broken Road by Rascal Flatts. Lots of angst.
Story #4: currently untitled. Takes place during their senior year. Kelsi should be happy: after all, she has great friends and has been dating Ryan for several months. She's also going to get a chance to write the music for the spring musical, even though that's still months away. But her home life isn't all that great and something happens that makes Kelsi wonder if she can trust anyone. Including Ryan. Whole lot of angst involved here.
Thanks guys! Hope you enjoy your bonus scene! I mention it in the scene, but the poem featured at the end is Love's Garden by Katharine Lee Bates. :-)
Epilogue
"You have got to be kidding me," Kelsi said, later on, as they stood outside of one of the most expensive hotel rooms in one of the most expensive hotels in Albuquerque.
"You can thank my dad for this," Ryan said, slightly surprised as well. He knew that his father had arranged for them to stay at a hotel, but he had never imagined it would be this one. He shook his head as he stuck the key in the door. It was just before midnight and most of their friends were still at the mansion celebrating. Ryan and Kelsi would see them all again the next day, but had decided to slip away from the festivities for what had now become their wedding night.
"Ryan Evans," Kelsi began. "First you leave me all alone on my birthday. Then I start getting all of these roses telling me how much and why you love me. Then I get to see all of my friends and family for a party...thrown for me, no less. Then you propose." She shook her head as she continued, "then we get married and now we're about to spend the night here in one of the most expensive hotels in the city. This has got to be the single most incredible day of my life..."
"Yeah," he agreed, grinning at her as set their bags in the room. "Man, I'm good." He eyed her, looking back and forth between her and the door. "You know, Kelsi, I do believe that it is traditional for the man to carry his wife over the threshold on their wedding night."
"Yeah...what's up with that tradition? I mean..." she trailed off and let out a small shriek as she found herself being picked up. "Oh no." She shook her head. "You are not seriously going to carry me over the threshold."
"Why not?"
"The door frame looks rather small all of a sudden," she winced.
"Kelsi, I'm not going to running at the door at full speed," he laughed. "I'd just as well have you conscious."
"Encouraging," she said, dryly. "Don't you think this is a little silly?"
"Maybe a little," he admitted. "But it's romantic too. Don't you think?" She peered inside the room as best as she could and then looked back into his eyes. Thinking about what would happen shortly after they made it into said room was enough to fill her stomach up with butterflies and she was very grateful she didn't have to worry about trying to keep herself standing.
"Well...," she smiled at him. "Maybe a little." She snuggled against him as he walked into the hotel room, turning sideways so that he wouldn't bump her head against the door frame.
"See?" he said, gently closing the door with his foot. "I got you over the threshold in one piece." He took a couple of steps and she suddenly felt a shot of panic creep in along with the butterflies as she spotted the bed.
"Wait," she said softly. "The door...we should probably lock it...to be safe and all," she stammered, growing increasingly nervous.
"Okay." He kept his voice low, in an attempt to soothe and turned back towards the door. She managed to lock it with a shaky hand. "Kelsi...baby...look at me." She slowly turned her head back to look at him, bringing her hand back around his neck, and focusing her gaze on his eyes. "This is new for both of us...we don't have to rush anything. It'll be fine...just trust me," he said, gently. She gulped and nodded.
"I...I do," she whispered, oddly comforted to see that he looked a little nervous as well. "I trust you completely." She gently pulled him closer, tilting her head up so that she could kiss him. "And I love you," she murmured and then smiled against his lips. "My husband."
"I like the sound of that," he smiled back at her. "And I love you too...my wife...happy birthday, baby."
"Happy Valentine's Day," she beamed at him, holding on tightly as he slowly started walking them towards the bed.
"Happy Valentine's Day," he echoed, softly. He gently lowered her onto the bed and eased himself over her as she reached for him. He leaned in to kiss her and then paused, lightly running a finger down her face. "You are the most beautiful woman in the world," he whispered, kissing her briefly. "Just like how the rose is the most beautiful flower."
"Back to roses, huh?" she giggled softly.
"Back to roses," he echoed, kissing her again. The kiss was longer this time. "I may have said it before...I honestly don't remember." Another kiss. "But as beautiful as the rose is...it doesn't even hold a candle to you."
"How about twenty five roses?" she asked. "Or I guess I should say twenty six." He kissed her again, stealing her breath this time. He eased back to study her.
"Twenty six roses are definitely very beautiful," he nodded, "but even they don't hold a candle to you."
"Oh Ryan," she sighed dreamily. "I love you so much." He brought his mouth to her ear.
"I know," he whispered, making her shiver. "But I still love you more."
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"Love planted a rose,
And the world turned sweet,
Where the wheatfield blows
Love planted a rose.
Up the mill-wheel's prose
Ran a music beat.
Love planted a rose,
And the world turned sweet."
Love's Garden – Katharine Lee Bates
The End.
