Here it is. Finally.
Dedicated to Zai who is a hardworking little sweetheart, and to my embarrassing mother, Anna hahaha
For the last time, unbetaed. Enjoy everyone!
Epilogue
I'm open, you're closed
Where I follow, you'll go
I worry I won't see your face
Light up again
The days that followed their reunion were laid back. They took the time to know each other better, to understand each other's feelings about what they went through, and why certain decisions were made. Cora opened up to Robert about her fears then and how going home and talking to her dad had opened her eyes. She told him how she had been so blind to see that he was all she really needed.
He, on the other hand, had apologized to her for the pain she went through, and for that brief moment of temporary insanity (as he called it) that he had called her drunkenly and told her she was being selfish. Cora didn't feel like he had to apologize about that, for what he had said at the time were all true, but he did anyway, and in the end, Cora had told him that he was forgiven.
They'd used the time to reconnect and reconcile, to reminisce about the past but push themselves to the future that awaited them. It was rejuvenating and Cora honestly did not feel pressured to do anything at all. Knowing Robert well, to the point that she was able to finish his sentences, had always been a pleasure that she relished, and this time, when she heard of how he, too, had suffered quietly, she was in pain but she welcomed and appreciated the knowledge.
It was her who had asked him if he was willing to go through relationship counseling. It was true that they felt better, individually and together, and that there seemed to be no cracks in their relationship that they were not able to fix, but she personally did not feel like taking a chance. Whatever step she thought would help them be stronger and better, she was willing to take. Luckily for her, Robert was always on the same page as her and he had readily agreed.
They visited her old therapist and they were recommended to go to Dr. Isobel Crawley. It was purely coincidence that Isobel was also somewhat related to them, although she was very much distantly related. She was the wife of a cousin many, many times removed. There had been apprehension at first, due to conflict of interest and Isobel being somewhat related, but Isobel was very professional and she helped them through everything.
She had suggested that they visit the place where everything had happened, aka where Cora had lost their baby. It had been a while since Robert last visited their house in Chiswick, and even longer for Cora. She feared that she wouldn't be able to do it, but Isobel made logical points. By visiting the house and deciding whether she can face living there in the future knowing what had happened there, she can finally start to fully let go. The first step was finding her way back to Robert, the second was deciding to fix their relationship and move forward, the last and final step was figuring out what she wanted for her future by facing what hurt her most. The house was a good representation of what had hurt Cora the most.
It took a few days before Cora was able to find the courage to do it, but with Robert by her side, she knew she was willing to do anything, was able to face anything. Robert was apprehensive and told her so, but still, he drove them to the house and held her hand as they walked in.
The odd feeling settled at the pit of Cora's stomach as she came in, sending a shiver down her spine. The carpet which was once dirtied by her blood was changed and was pristine. The marks that would have suggested something so tragic happened in the house were gone, there was no trace at all, but the marks left in Cora's heart remained forever.
She took a long look at the staircase, afraid to even make a move. Breathing through her anxiety, Cora closed her eyes and tried to get a grip of herself. It was just a house, it had really nothing to do with her miscarriage, apart from being the unfortunate place where she had it.
She'd dreamt of this house for so long, had dreamt of building a life with Robert in this very place, was she really going to let one incident ruin that for her? It was tragic but it didn't mean she can't move past it right?
"Are you alright, love?" she heard Robert say by her side. He, too, looked conflicted, and Cora understood. This was the place she had her miscarriage, and everything that had happened afterwards started here. It was hard to view it objectively.
"I'm fine," she told him, however, holding his hand and squeezing it gently. Can she really move past it? "Are you okay?"
Robert nodded slowly. "I guess I am," he replied softly. "I know it's where it all started but…whenever I think of the future…I think about you and me, about us, and it doesn't really matter to me where that it's going to be, as long as you're going to be there. I know this place have bad memories attached to it, but as long as you can move past it, I know we can create more beautiful memories here together." He used his free hand to scratch at the back of his head. "Honestly, wherever you are, that is where I want to be."
Cora felt her heart swoon at his words. Of course, she felt the same. So she asked herself: Can I really move past it and live here?
She looked at Robert, looked at his blue eyes staring back at her, at his smiling face that tried to comfort her. She knew the answer.
She can. She can move past it and live here, as long as Robert was going to be there with her, she would move to the ends of earth if needed be. Robert was all she needed for a good life.
She nodded slowly before a gentle smile appeared in her face. "As long as I'm with you, I can do it all."
And so, they restarted moving their things there the very next day.
. . . . .
Robert could see the changes in his relationship with Cora after she had come back and they started going to couple's therapy. It was uncomfortable, at first, because he wasn't the type to air his dirty laundry to others, and whatever had gone down between him and Cora during the brief period they'd been apart felt like something they should keep in private. However, he understood that they both needed it to keep their relationship as smooth sailing as it could. He did not have any objections to that, and so he easily agreed when she asked.
Besides, if he was worried about the whole 'airing their dirty laundry' thing, then he really should worry more about the tabloids. Before Cora had returned, mama had been the one to expose to him what the newspaper had been saying about him and his relationship, and though logically, his personal life did not have anything to do with business, he knew that it was just ideal. His personal relationship affected his image and he needed to clear that up before the issue grew even more.
His mother and Rosamund had been helping him with controlling the news about him, although they'd started to spread like a wildfire. He was worried, moreover, to what Cora would think of it. As a socialite back in the States, she knew full well how this worked and had been on the same experience once or twice before, therefore he knew she was fully capable of handling this. He was just worried about her…what, with the precarious state their relationship was in before…
"This insider informant makes me wonder," Cora said one day while they were in the house, sitting together on the floor of their walk-in wardrobe, putting away their things in boxes so they could move them to their house in Chiswick. She had been going through the newspaper while sifting through loads and loads of shoes.
"It's probably just some random person they are putting that title to, to make this shit more believable," Robert said off handedly as he fetched his shoes and put them in the box. He turned to look at her and shrugged. "I don't know of anyone who might want to sell such rubbish about us…"
Cora bit down on her lip and Robert could tell that she was thinking hard and wanted to say something. He waited for her to say it. "I don't know…there's a mention here of me being in the hospital, and although that wasn't exactly a secret, it wasn't public knowledge either. The hospital we went to was very strict about patient-doctor confidentiality."
"Maybe some paparazzi snapped a picture of you as we were rushing you to the hospital?" he asked. Normally, the tabloids never bothered them, and even at the beginning of his relationship with Cora when all the news had been about their coupling and they were only short of being harassed by photographers on the street, it hadn't really bothered them. They didn't even talk much of it, because they both knew how to handle it. Besides, that one died really quickly, after some well-phrased PR statements about the status of their relationship. This time, however, felt different. They'd been through some horrible experience, and neither one of them want that to be exploited.
"I don't know," Cora said, sighing, as she stood up to walk over to him. She wrapped her arms around him and looked up. Without her heels, she was a lot shorter than him and had to look up at him to see his eyes. He smiled at her and leaned down to kiss her before pulling away and touching his forehead to hers, nuzzling her nose with his before he pulled away fully.
He touched her cheek. "You worry too much," he chided lovingly. "Who cares what the world thinks? I got you, and you got me. We can take them on together."
At his words, she smiled, and leaned up to kiss him again, and he kissed her back, fully believing that he could take on the world as long as she was with him.
Later, his mother called to tell him that the culprit, the insider spreading rumors about him was Adeline Philipps. Robert could seriously not be assed to deal with her, but he did want her to stop. Cora was baffled as to why she would go so far and had voiced out her confusion. It's been more than a year since she had dumped Robert, and it's been almost a year now since Cora and Robert had been together, but Adie just didn't seem to want to stop.
Robert wondered if he should go and confront her, but Mama and Rosamund had both come to their rescue as they themselves confronted the evil woman. The very next day, all the rumors about Cora and Robert and the state of their relationship had been wiped out from the internet, and there were no more segment in the newspaper or the tabloids about them.
That was another thing they could put behind.
. . . . .
Surprisingly, moving to Chiswick had been quick and smooth. Filling the rented U-haul with boxes and boxes of their possessions, they began their move. Before the whole incident, Cora had already been filling the house with furniture and everything they might need in their move, so when the time came for them to move, the house was already fully furnished and was waiting to be brought to life by the little trinkets and things they've brought along with them.
It was so exciting to be starting a life together, Cora felt like her heart might burst from the excitement. All throughout, her energy never wavered, and her happiness increased. She got to know Robert better, even better than before, and the pain in her heart now felt like distant memory. There was a niggling ache sometimes, but it was dull and irrelevant. The joy of having had the experience of carrying the product of her love with Robert, no matter how short lived, now overshadowed the pain. Dr. Seuss was right: she had to smile that it happened, and not cry because it was over.
Her happiness was equally matched by her fiancé, and they would spend days together working for a better future with each other. While Robert was away at work, Cora would work on their house. Because of the recent events, Robert had implored her to take it easy. Since she was feeling a little exhausted still, she didn't argue and instead acquiesced. After all, it was not just Robert who had begged her to slow down, it was her body too.
On a glorious Saturday afternoon, as Robert helped her unpack the rather larger boxes that housed their combined collection of books, she had rumination. She watched as Robert stood by the window, looking at the shelf before him and deciding which book went where. He looked so good, with his hair swept away from his face, and his beautiful blue eyes twinkling as the setting sun shone upon his face. He looked so handsome that her breath got caught in her chest.
Sometimes, she could not believe her luck. She had been merely standing there on one cold day, waiting for a cab to get home, and there was Robert staggering, almost falling flat in his face from inebriation. Who knew that was the start of something beautiful?
She had been captivated by him then, and she felt even more captivated now as he turned to look at her, his blue eyes light and clear, looking at her with question.
"I love you," she told him as she made her way to him. Every step was one step closer to him, and a smile stretched her lips and tears made her eyelids heavy. Never in a million years did she ever think she would be so lucky to end up with a man who adored her as much as he did her. She was a lucky woman, and she was not ashamed to admit that.
Robert pulled her into his arms and kissed her, nuzzling her nose as he pulled away. "I love you too," he said softly, making her heart flutter. They could be dating for a year or married for 10 years, but Cora was sure that he could make her heart flutter the same way he did the first time she met him.
She knew that he loved her as much as she did him, but sometimes, it felt like words weren't, could not, be enough. She wanted him to know that he was her whole world, and if he asked her, she'd give him her life.
"Robert," she whispered as a tear finally made an escape. Her emotions spilled from her heart and made her tremble. It was impossible to feel this much for someone, yet here she was. "I can't live without you." He was about to reply, probably saying the same thing, but she cut him off with a kiss. She wanted him to know that she knew, but she also needed to say it. "Let's get married."
Robert's eyes widened. "I was under the impression we were already going to," he answered, chuckling softly as he teased her. Of course they were engaged, and it's been months since Robert had proposed. In a few months time, they probably will get married too, but Cora didn't want to wait that long.
It was already almost September, and in the year that she had been with Robert, she knew that he was the one, she knew what they had was forever. She just wanted it to be official.
She shook her head. "I mean, let's get married," she repeated, slowly enunciating the words so he would get it.
He did. And when he did, his eyes widened even more. "Are you proposing to me, Ms. Levinson?" he teased, the levity that tinged his voice lifted Cora's spirits as she laughed at him.
"Are you going to say yes?" she teased back.
"When?" he asked then, half serious, half teasing.
"October 16," she replied with a smile. It was a month away from now and Cora figured she can wait that long, but only that long. She wanted everyone to know what she and Robert already know: they were meant to be forever.
. . . . .
The next month was hectic, with the preparations for their wedding and settling in their new house. Fortunately, they were able to fully move in before Cora had thrown herself into the wedding. She was lucky enough to have the help of Rosamund and Violet, although Violet was very much old-fashioned and liked certain things that did not appeal to Cora. When Violet had called her choice of flowers 'suited for a christening rather than a wedding', Cora had taken it with a grain of salt.
She rolled her eyes playfully and said with a gentle smile, "Then what flower is suited for a wedding?"
Violet huffed at her. Since Cora was having her wedding in Autumn, she wanted Autumn colors to be the theme. Violet had agreed easily enough, but only because Robert had the foresight to interfere on her behalf, and had told his mother that she was to help not take over of the preparations. So Violet had turned up her nose, but didn't say anything. Honestly, as much as Cora didn't care, she couldn't wait till her mother was there to go head to head with Violet. That was bound to be explosive.
She turned her head to sneak a glance at Rosamund who was snickering. Ros knew all too well how Violet planned weddings. After all, Violet helped her plan her wedding too.
Violet didn't say anything to them but she fetched the book to point at the pictures of flowers. Cora was surprised at the choices Violet had given her. In the end she picked a combination of red roses, orange dalias, and bicolour callalilies. Violet had wanted her to pick the Asiatic lilies, but Cora felt they were too much. After all, no matter how grand Violet and her mother wanted her wedding to be, it was her wedding, and Cora didn't want grand. She just wanted to be Mrs. Robert Crawley at the end of it.
Sometime on the second week of September, Cora's mother and father landed in London to help for the preparations. Or at least Martha was going to help. Isidore used the time to catch up with Robert's father, and the two had planned to go hunting when they weren't so busy with their businesses.
Cora knew that her mother coming to help wasn't going to be easy. Both her mother and Violet had strong personalities, and neither would ever admit to being wrong. They also would push their preferences over Cora's just because they were domineering. Not necessarily because they thing Cora would like it better. Cora knew she was in for a headache.
She was right. When they were deciding over the menu for the wedding for a mere seventy guests (Cora didn't want any more than that, and had originally wanted to invite only their closest friends and family, but when Robert reminded her that she would probably want to invite her band and some people from the pub like Charles, Elsie, and Beryl, she'd acquiesced to the guest list thrust to her by her mother and his, only asking for veto powers on the final guest list), Martha and Violet had a fight over it.
Cora felt the migraine brewing in her head, and she stood up to break up the verbal sparring happening. She misjudged the amount of time she'd remained unmoving and so was surprised when she stood up and feel wobbly, her knees buckling and her mind swirling. She almost fainted, but luckily, Rosamund had been paying her a lot of attention and was there to catch her.
If she was trying to break up a fight by almost fainting, she was successful. Except, Cora didn't really mean to almost faint.
"Cora, are you okay?" Rosamund asked, rubbing her back. She led Cora to sit on the couch and soothed her while the two sparring matriarchs stared at them in shock.
Cora raised her hand and placed the other on top of the bump on her stomach that still hasn't gone away. She's learned to live with it, and she was told it would eventually go away. She hadn't gone with the D&C and so she understood.
She waved her raised hand. "I'm okay," she told them and she breathed through the sudden onset of nausea that she felt. She tried to smile, but her smile was weak and her lips were trembling. "I think it's the stress. You guys were too loud."
They were, and the two women who were quarrelling over the menu shut up real quick. They both kept her head up, not wanting to be shamed, but their eyes held a degree of embarrassment. Cora didn't want that, though, she was merely explaining her situation so she quickly told them she was okay, just tired.
They had been using hers and Robert's house in Chiswick to plan the wedding, Violet still stayed in their own London home, and her parents used her old apartment for the time being. So when Cora started feeling unwell, both mothers excused themselves for the day and reassured Cora that since they already have most of the things planned (the venue was the estate, the theme was easily decided and they would be decorating the estate in a few weeks, and she already has her choices of dress, she only needed to try them on and approve), there wasn't really much to do and they can afford to take some time off.
The two were ushered out by Rosamund who had decided to stay with her until Robert came home. Cora smiled at that, because she genuinely enjoyed spending time with Rosamund.
"Maybe we should go to the doctor?" Ros suggested, anxiety clearly written in her face. She was holding Cora's hand and was staring at her in earnest.
Cora waved her off. "There really is no need," she said, dismissing that idea. "I'm fine." Ros bit down on her lip, looking a lot like she wanted to say more but was scared she would offend Cora. "What is it Rosie?"
"I just…you didn't go through the D&C, and I'm scared you'd have an infection or something," she said, and Cora could see her point. Still. "I just want to make sure. It's better to be certain that sorry, especially with your wedding so close."
Cora knew she was right. She smiled, squeezed Rosamund's hand, and nodded. "Can you drive me?"
. . . .
Robert was worried as he rushed home.
He had just gotten a call from his sister, telling him that she and Cora had been to the hospital. She'd recounted to him the events of the day, and Robert could barely suppress his chagrin at his mother and future mother in law for putting Cora in such stress. Although Rosamund had assured him that she had brought Cora home and she was resting in their house, Robert's worries could not be alleviated.
He worried when she was sick with flu and his poor heart had hurt at the sight of her coughing and being unable to move much, and so his worry spiked to level 1000 upon hearing that she'd almost fainted and that Ros had brought her to the hospital.
When he got home, he fully expected Rosamund to still be there and waiting for him to get home. After all, she'd told him he'd wait for her, but it seemed that Cora had sent her away for the time being. Although Robert wanted to be angry that Cora had been left alone after the incident, he couldn't very well blame his sister if Cora had asked her to leave.
"Cora?" he called out as he entered the den. She wasn't there, so Robert naturally assumed she would be in their bedroom.
He almost had a heart attack when he found out that she wasn't there. He ran out of the bedroom and was ready to alert his sister when he'd found the door adjacent to their room, opened. It wasn't a room that Cora liked to open or stay in, so Robert wondered why now. He tiptoed across the floor and opened the door slowly. His heart ached in a way that it hasn't lately when he found her sitting on the rocking chair, holding a stuffed toy in her hand. She was quietly looking at the view from outside the window, but Robert could see the tear tracks marring her beautiful face.
The ache in his heart intensified.
What kind of bad news did she get from visiting the doctor?
His mind raced.
"Cora?" he asked softly as to not startle her. She lifted her head slowly and turned to look at him. Her eyes were watery and red rimmed, and Robert felt like the world just fell to his feet.
She reached for him, extending her hand to ask him silently to come closer. He obliged and took her hand. He moved her gingerly and then he took a seat on the rocking chair, gently parking her on his lap. He held her tight and kissed her forehead, then her nose, pulling away slightly to nuzzle it with his.
Her tears fell faster, and Robert could feel his heart stop. If she was this upset, what could have happened?
"My love, are you okay?" he asked her gently as he stroked her back and held her tighter. "What did the doctor say?"
To his surprise, Cora smiled. "Robert, I'm pregnant," was all she said, and then her smile turned dazzling as though it was only then that it fully sunk in her.
Robert felt a hundred varied emotions run through him. He couldn't believe it. But how could she be? Since she had come back, they had not made love, opting to wait a little more when they were comfortable before they expressed their love in a more physical way.
Cora could probably read the question in his eyes because she chuckled and kissed him softly. "Our baby boy was a twin," she said in a way of explanation. "The doctor said that we were going to have twins, but my body purged the one that I couldn't carry. I would have lost them both had I gone for a D&C, but since I opted out of the one, the other baby grew right here." She touched her bump which she originally thought was just an effect of her not getting a D&C—her body took longer to return to normal. It turned out she was somewhat right, it was an effect of not getting a D&C—her baby was alive in her stomach.
"Does this mean…" Robert was unable to finish his question. He didn't really know what to say. He felt overjoyed, felt like the pain he suffered over the few months have been now rewarded with such a beautiful gift.
"We're having a girl," Cora told him in lieu of an answer, and she smiled, her smile wide and untouched by any kind of pain. Her eyes were bright and poured all the happiness she probably felt inside.
Robert felt like screaming for joy. He pulled her closer and kissed her gently but passionately, always passionately and full of worship. He would never in a million years understand the kind of luck he'd hit by ending up with a Goddess like Cora.
When he pulled away, he nuzzled her nose once more and smiled.
This was what happiness felt like.
. . . . .
News about her pregnancy spread like wildfire through their family. Everyone was overjoyed, even Rosamund, and Cora felt blessed. She was worried at first that Rosamund wouldn't be as happy about the fortunate turn of events with regards to her pregnancy, but Rosie was just as happy as she was.
Even then, Cora had been very cautious around her sister-in-law. She tried very hard not to talk about her pregnancy, although Rosie didn't seem to be at all affected by it. She had even tagged along with Cora and her mother when they went to the last dress fitting. After all, as Cora's maid of honor, it seemed right. Phyllis was there too, because she was one of the bridesmaids. Cora's closest friend from the US was the other bridesmaid but she wasn't arriving till the week of the wedding.
They went to the high-end shops in London for Cora's dress, but in the end, they'd settled for a local designer that Cora and Rosamund had found when they had gone shopping for other things for the wedding. The shop had been hidden in an alley. The store was seated between a coffee shop and a bookstore, and had a quaint, simple but quite elegant vibe to it, and upon perusing the available designs, Cora had fallen in love.
The dress she had picked was seriously one of a kind. It had a sweetheart neckline, with sleeves that were long and made of pure lace—the embroidery in it was astounding, and from what the designer said, was handmade. The same embroidery was seen through the upper half of the dress, stopping right where the skirt started. The skirt was made with a soft, flowy material, making it fall just naturally on her body. With the dress on, her baby bump was not so visible. However, the dress was also kind of flimsy and would do very little to fight off the cold autumn weather, so the designer had designed a cape that was clasped around the neck by a brooch. The hem of the cape had the same embroidery as the lace top half of her dress. This meant that Cora wouldn't be wearing a veil, but she didn't mind that. She would probably just wear some sort of simple head piece.
They went in the shop for the last alterations before the wedding. With Cora being pregnant, that meant some adjustments had to be made to accommodate her bump. The designer had been quite nice and obliging to Cora and the demands that came along with her condition.
Cora stood on the pedestal, letting the designer take note of the changes as she pulled the dress on. The designer smiled at her through the mirror as she zipped the dress up. Immediately, she asked Cora if the fit was uncomfortable.
"Not much," Cora answered her honestly. "It's not so restrictive on my bump yet, but with the wedding still a little ways on, I think my bump might get a bit bigger than it is now, so I guess that's where the alterations are needed especially." Although the material was flowy, it could get restrictive if her bump grew. While Cora didn't care much if her bump became visible during the wedding, she also didn't want to be uncomfortable half the wedding ceremony.
The designer, a young woman who had told her that she had inherited the business from her mother for she was the only one out of the three daughters who had an eye for fashion and wanted to take it on, smiled at her and nodded. She pulled a tape measure from her pocket and measured around Cora's stomach. She adjusted it and asked Cora if it was good enough until they both agreed that it was the right size, then she took note of that.
"You can go show your bridal party outside and see what they think of it," the designer suggested, adding that she just needed to check if she had that textile needed or if she needed to go order it in.
Cora nodded, thanking her before she came down from the pedestal. She paused for a while to look herself in the mirror. Out of everyone outside, her mother and Violet were the only ones left who had not seen the dress, but she knew how important the dress was for her mother. Even at a young age, her mother had always told her how important the dress was. It had to be elegant and tasteful but not too grand that it drew attention from her. It could not be too simple either, in case people found it too plain.
Cora always thought that she didn't care much, in the end, whatever she wore was just part of the wedding. Looking at herself now, though, she knew what her mother meant. It was her day, the day she was to become one with the one she loved, and she deserved to look her best on that day.
She breathed in deeply, and swiped at the sudden tears in her eyes. She opened the doors of the changing room and found four pair of eyes staring at her in awe. Even Violet looked pleased at their selection. After all, it was just grand enough for her to look like royalty, but not tacky that it made her look like a royal disaster.
Martha rushed to her and cupped her cheeks. There were visible tears in her eyes as she leaned in and kissed her cheek.
"My baby is a grown up," she whispered, her voice breaking and her lips trembling. She looked really happy.
Cora's tears that she tried very much to hold back, escaped, and she smiled through her tears, throwing her arms around her mother and hugging her tight. She could not express, right at that moment, what she really felt inside, but Cora knew that if someone died from too much happiness, then she would be that someone.
Violet came around just as Martha pulled away, and she took Cora's hand, surprising even her. The older woman didn't say much, she just smiled and nodded her head, patting the hand that she held before she drifted away.
Cora felt like her smile wouldn't disappear as she stood there, holding her dress up, and looking at the happy faces of the people around her. She turned to Phyllis who raised her thumb up and gave her a wide smile, and then she turned to Rosamund who was looking at her all teary-eyed but with a smile on her face. Cora followed her eyes and found that she was looking at her visible baby bump and she felt a smidgen of discomfort. Not because she was particularly adverse to Ros looking at her bump, but because she didn't want to make her sister in law uncomfortable.
Rosamund probably felt the shift in her, because she walked right to Cora and pulled her to one of the chairs. She didn't want to discuss this with Rosamund, really, but Rosie had been the one who was there for her through her whole miscarriage, and when she felt like the world had fallen apart. Wasn't it only right to share her joy with the same person who was there through it all?
She never wanted to rub it in Rose's face, but she had to tell her. She had to say something although Rosamund already knew. S0, when she'd told Rosamund about it, she'd been cautious, but Rosamund beamed at her and hugged her tight.
"Oh I'm so glad," Ros said with a big, dazzling smile. "I was worried that I wouldn't…" she paused, seemingly searching for words to explain. Cora just waited her out to explain. "With my infertility, Duke and I have decided that we had to go to a different route to have kids. We decided to adopt. After all, there are a million other kids that are in desperate need of a home and love, and Duke and I could provide that."
Cora nodded. She was right.
"So this year, on our first wedding anniversary, Duke surprised me, and we went to adoption centers. Originally, Duke and I preferred to adopt a baby, but we knew how hard that was going to be, so we just told ourselves that whatever or whoever we get is fine, we would love them anyway. We really just wanted to have a kid. It turned out, a young girl named Ethel saw us leaving from the center, and she wanted to know about us, so the center arranged it. She was 16 and she was pregnant. She wanted for us to adopt her baby," Rosamund explained, the joy pouring out of her through her words. Cora could see how happy this development made her. "We're also going to have a girl. We're naming her Edith Violet. We probably will have the babies around the same time."
The news was surprising, but in a good way, and Cora cheered for her sister in law. Her dreams were coming true, and she knew how happy Ros was.
"Oh, Rosie," she murmured. "This is great." She pulled the other woman in a tight hug. "You're going to be a great mother."
When Ros pulled away, there was a tear in her eye. "So are you," she said.
. . . . .
The 16th October was fast approaching, and the estate was being decked out in wedding refinery. The Crawley family had decided to have a glamorous tent set up in their backyard to hold the reception. It was properly insulated to keep everyone sufficiently warm even when it was fall. The trees surround the lot where the tent was built had been wrapped with twinkling lights and red, orange, or white ribbons. The red carpet that led inside had rows of the same flowers on Cora's bouquet lined up on each side. Inside, it was decked out in the color scheme that Cora had picked: rustic red, burnt orange, and an off-white color. The candles, flowers, and centerpieces were those colors, and the stage was also decked with twinkling lights. There were torches made of metal casings with an intricate design scattered inside the tent to create a soft, cozy ambiance—just like Cora and Robert wanted. They wanted the gathering to be intimate and not about them flexing their money.
The wedding ceremony itself was to be held at the nearby church where Robert and Rosamund had been christened and where Rosamund and Duke had their wedding just a year prior. Robert felt heady, but in a good, exciting way. Only a few months ago, he didn't think he could even be with Cora anymore, much less marry her. But here they were now.
In only a few days time, he was to marry the love of his life.
He had taken time off work to oversee the preparations. Cora had insisted she could do it, but with her pregnancy and the risks that it involved, he'd begged her to just take it easy. She was still overseeing a lot of things, but he'd covered the logistics. He'd also covered the song selection, with Cora's permission. As a man who loved her too much and just wanted her to be pleased, he let her have a go at the preparations, but of course, he also didn't want her to feel like he didn't care, so sometimes he would intervene on her behalf, or make the decisions she was too indecisive about, and on this case, take over the song selection. Cora had been overjoyed at his small gesture. And, honestly, if she was happy, then that was all he really cared about.
Of course, he knew exactly what to play for their first dance, and he was sure that Cora did too.
He was standing just outside the tent, overseeing the last minute touch ups and arrangements on the venue when he felt a tap on his shoulder. He turned and found his father standing just behind him. He looked serious, but not displeased or unhappy. He looked at his father in question as he stepped forward to stand shoulder to shoulder with him.
"It's all going well, I presume?" his father questioned, though it came out more as an expectation, like everything was with him.
Robert nodded slowly. "Yes, everything is going according to Cora's plans, I expect to turn out well," he answered with pride and happiness in his voice. He might be terrified to get married, but he was excited and happy, most of all.
"And you're certain that Cora is the one?" his father asked plainly, without irony or dissatisfaction. Robert understood this as a way for his father to just make sure he was one hundred percent certain of his decision, but really, there was no room or need for doubt.
"Of course," Robert answered swiftly and without any hesitation. "I love her."
It was as simple as that.
Patrick nodded and smiled, patting his shoulders. "Well, then, congratulations my son," he said, granting Robert his blessing in his own way.
Robert smiled although tears pricked his eyes. He nodded at his father, unable to say anything else.
. . . . .
Neither Cora nor Robert were big on traditions. The only tradition, perhaps, that they had both sworn to keep up until they were of the olden days was to spend every waking moment grateful and happy to have found one another. However, on the eve of their wedding day, it was Cora who had asked her soon to be mother-in-law for a different room to stay in and get ready. Violet had seemed surprised at first, but when Cora had said that she did not want to see the groom until the wedding ceremony itself to avoid bad luck, Violet had nodded, pleased, and showed her to another room on the other side of the house.
So it was there that Cora had settled in for the night, sighing happily as she pulled the covers over her, dreaming about the moment she would say I do and take Robert as her lawfully wedded husband.
Tomorrow, though, it was no longer just a dream but a reality.
She smiled at that as she settled down on her bed. Just as she had found the perfect spot, she heard a knock on the door. Frowning, she thought she only imagined it, but when she heard three gentle knocks in quick succession, she knew it was real. She wondered who it could be, but realized that other than Robert, there was no one who would look for her. Rosamund and Duke had both retired early, with Rosamund being tired from the car ride over. Duke had some business to attend to and had been unable to go to Downton until today. Rosamund, of course, had decided to accompany her husband, and since Rosamund had already done so much to help them, Cora had encouraged her to stay. Martha had been dragged away by Isidore before she could get her hands on a third glass of red wine, not wanting her to be drunk though Cora knew that her mother was just excited and jittery over her wedding. Violet would not come knocking on her door at this hour, or ever if she was honest with herself, and so she didn't think it was her either.
"Cora?" she heard the muffled sound through the door, and she knew that voice. It was Robert's. She didn't know what he could want at this time of night, but she was adamant to follow the tradition and not let him see her until tomorrow.
"Robert, I told you, it's bad luck for the groom to see the bride before the wedding," she insisted, and she had told him the night before. He had laughed at her slightly when she said it, but then he told her it was silly but if she liked it, then he had no objections.
"I still think it is silly, but I just wanted to come and talk to you. Open the door slightly, I swear I'll keep my eyes closed," he promised.
He sounded sincere so Cora gave in, sighing. She pushed the covers away and climbed out of bed, before she made her way to the door. She opened it a little bit, just enough for her to hear his voice clearly. She didn't check if he did have his eyes closed, but she didn't need to, she trusted him. Just then his hand poked through the opening, reaching for her.
Looking away, she held out her own hand and touched it with his. It was a simple touch, but it made her smile and her heart sing.
"Is everything alright, Robert?" she asked softly, as she held onto his hand.
Robert squeezed her hand gently. "Yes, love," he assured her. "I just want to spend the last minutes of the day with you. After all, starting tomorrow, we will no longer be the same people. You and I will be bound for all eternity."
For all eternity, he said….for some this can be daunting, for lover like Cora and Robert, it didn't seem remotely enough.
"Yes," Cora replied in earnest as tears started to gather in her eyes. She was so excited to live the rest of her life as his wife. "Tomorrow, you and I will be married."
Cora heard a soft thud from the other side, Robert must have laid his head against the door, she did the same, hoping she could embrace him and be enveloped in his warmth, but knowing that she would have to wait till tomorrow for that.
"Cora," he whispered, to which she replied with a soft hum. "I just want you to know that I love you, I love you very much. I will strive to live the rest of my days keeping you happy and loved. If in the future, I commit mistakes that may hurt you, please know that it is not my intention, for from this night forward, I only intend to love and cherish you."
Her tears became uncontrollable, then, and they started falling one after the other. Her heart felt like it might explode in many, many pieces. Feelings filled it to the brim.
"I want you to remember my vow to you: I will not love anyone as long as you walked the earth, and if the time comes that you don't, then I will never love anyone as much as I love you."
Cora could no longer remember how to breathe. The tears kept coming, and her love for Robert grew for every second.
"From the very first moment I saw you, staggering on the pavement near the pub, I knew I was going to love you more than life itself. I love you, Robert," she answered, sniffling. "In this lifetime and the next ones after this, I will only love you."
She felt Robert squeeze her hand, and heard him sniffle. He must be crying, too. When he lowered their entwined fingers and squeezed one last time, she knew it was time to go.
"Goodnight, Robert," she told him as he lifted her hand to his mouth and kissed it before untangling their fingers.
"Goodnight, my love," he responded as he closed the door.
Cora fell asleep that night with a smile on her face, knowing her dreams would be sweet. She was sure, her dreams would be even sweeter.
. . .
When Cora woke up the next morning, she was still smiling. The sun was already out and was streaming through the windows of her room, bathing it with a golden glow and warming it. She stretched as she yawned, and then climbed out of her bed with gusto. It was still early and they weren't going to start the preparation until after breakfast, at least, but Cora went straight to the bathroom anyway to have a bath. She took her time, languorously lying in her bathtub with her eyes closed.
It wasn't until she was done with her bath and was about to blow dry her hair when someone knocked on the door.
"Come in," she yelled out as she plugged her blower in and started drying her hair. She flipped her head down and combed through her hair while she whipped the blower above her head. She barely heard the footsteps or realized that someone had already walked in until she was staring at a pair of feet. She stood right up and turned her blower off.
"Good morning, sweetheart," her mother said with a smile. Martha hadn't always been caring or sweet, but she was now, and Cora wanted to savor it.
"Good morning, mother," she greeted back with a smile. It seemed that Martha had also woken up early, for she seemed to have already bathed, her hair dried and pulled back in a low pony tail. She was wearing some comfortable clothes and a beaming smile on her face.
"Come, sit down, I'll dry your hair for you," Martha offered as she patted the chair beside Cora.
Cora was surprised but didn't say anything. She only sat down as ordered and handed the blow-dryer to her mother, letting Martha take over. It was sort of relaxing, anyway, as Martha's nails scratched at her scalp lightly. It didn't take long until her hair was dry. Martha pulled it back and tied it up lightly.
"Go get dressed and have some breakfast. I brought some for you, I hope it's not too cold yet," she told Cora and then without waiting for a response, she dashed out of the ensuite bathroom and yelled out: "Nope, it's too cold, I'll come and get you a warmer plate. You get dressed first."
Martha didn't wait for Cora to reply, as she walked out of the room, the door closing behind her with a thud. Cora shook her head but didn't mind, only smiling and shaking her head. She was in a very good mood. She did as her mother said and pulled out a pair of pants and a t-shirt before she started rubbing some toner on her face, and then applying moisturizer.
When Martha came back, Cora was just zipping her luggage closed.
"Ready for your trip after the wedding?" Martha asked casually as she placed a tray filled with breakfast food on the table by the windows. "Are you all packed up?"
Cora nodded. Apart from the logistics of their wedding, Cora had given Robert the free reign on their honeymoon. Because she was pregnant, they were going to spend only a week for their honeymoon, and then they could possibly go on another one when their little Mary Josephine was old enough to either be left with her Auntie Ros or accompany them. She only had one condition on this honeymoon: Robert could not go overboard. She knew that Robert would do everything in his power to try and fly her to Mars, if he knew that it was something she would be interested in. So she told him she wanted something low key, maybe somewhere they could easily travel to. She had tried to pry it out of him, but he'd told her no, had told her that she'd find out soon enough, and she had asked enough times to know that now was the time to stop.
She smiled at her mother. "Yes, mom, I'm all packed," she answered as she began digging into the breakfast her mother had brought up. It was a simple enough breakfast—some English muffins, turkey bacon, eggs, and a cup of tea. Cora felt her stomach rumble. "Have you eaten?"
Martha nodded as she took the seat on the other side of the bed. "I have," she replied. "Violet had the makeup artist and everyone else in the bridal party to camp up in the drawing room. So we'll have your hair and makeup done in there. Your dress is already set up in there. At quarter past two, the car will be here to drive us over to the church."
Cora only nodded as she munched on her turkey bacon. She lifted her cup of tea and drank a sip, feeling lighter than she has in years, despite her nervousness. She was excited, she was going to be Mrs. Robert Crawley in a few hours. "Do you think my dress is over the top, mom? With the cape, I just don't know if… but it's cold without the cape, and I wouldn't mind that naturally, but the baby probably would."
Cora knew she rambled, and Martha laughed, putting a hand up. "It's alright, your dress is beautiful, and you can take the cape off when you enter the reception venue. It's insulated so there would be no need. Besides, the dress you picked was already simple enough without being bland, the cape just adds to the majestic feeling to it. The cape is not made of some heavy material anyway, like those you see in movies being dragged around by the Queen of England or whatever."
Cora nodded, feeling pacified. Anyway, she loved the design, so even if people thought it was a bit over the top, she didn't care. She loved it, and it made her feel like a queen. To her, as long as Robert liked it, she was happy enough.
And so, their day began the earnest. After breakfast, Martha whisked Cora away to the drawing room where everyone from the bridal party already was. Violet was being led away by a makeup artist to the chair so they could begin her makeup. Rose's auburn locks were being fixed by another stylist, while the two other bridesmaids—Phyllis and Amelia—were already sat on the chair and the makeup artists were already working on them.
The main stylist walked up to Cora and Martha and took Cora's hands with an affectionate smile. She led Cora to another chair, opposite Rosamund, while Martha was also seated so they could apply makeup on her. The stylist greeted her and then got started on her hair. There wasn't much to do, she'd asked for her hair to be put in an low updo. After an hour or so, the stylist got started on her makeup. She had wanted something light and fresh for her makeup, and the stylist complied.
When she was done with makeup, she was brought away to the other room to get changed into her wedding dress. It was a wonderful fit, the fabric just falling into the right places. She had yet to put on the cape, but the overall fit and look of her wedding dress made her feel like she was royalty. When they made sure that everything was fastened and there was no damage, she was led back to the drawing room where everyone was waiting.
Rosamund and Phyllis gasped when they saw her, and her friend Amelia had tears in her eyes. Violet looked at her with a soft smile, and Martha looked as though she might cry at any moment but was trying very hard not to. Cora felt that at that moment, everything was more real than it was the last second. The teary but smiling faces looking at her made her heart clench in the best way. She smiled at them.
"Come sit," Rosamund urged, gesturing to the chair in front of them. She was holding something in her hand, and when Cora was already seated, she began speaking. "This is your something blue." Ros handed her a blue garter which was supposed to go up on her thigh for Robert to retrieve later. She smiled. "It's from the three of us." The other two nodded, and Cora smiled at them, touched.
"We wanted to get you something else, but we're sure you have already got it covered," Phyllis said, not even bothering to hide what she meant. Cora blushed and Phyllis laughed. "Anyway, we all wish you a fruitful and lasting marriage."
"We wish you all the happiness in the world—you and Robert," Amelia nodded as she held Cora's hand and squeezed gently.
Cora felt as though her heart might break and flood the room from so much happiness. "Thank you so much," Cora whispered through her tears.
"You shouldn't cry," Rosamund reminded her. "You'll ruin your makeup!"
Cora laughed then, and took the tissue that Amelia offered her. At this point, Violet took a step forward, holding something in her hand that she covered with a silk cloth. Cora looked up at her with wide eyes.
"I took the liberty of handling your something borrowed," Violet said as she took the silk cloth off the thing she held in her hand. Cora's eyes fell onto the gorgeous diadem in front of her and she gasped in shock. "This is one of the diadems that were left to us by our ancestors. You might have seen another one last year, the one that Rosamund wore, and I thought I'd do the same for you and lend you the other. I chose this one because I thought it best suited to your gown."
Violet stepped in front of her and placed the diadem on top of her head gingerly. It wasn't too big or too small, but just right and it sat on top of Cora's head loftily, not really tearing away any of the attention on Cora, but adding to the beautiful ensemble she wore that day. And here she thought she was going to wear some simple headpiece.
Cora felt tears weigh down her lids, and she tipped her head up slightly to stop the tears from flowing. When she lifted her head up, she smiled at Violet. This was probably the softest interaction she had with her mother-in-law.
Violet nodded in understanding and took a step back, just as Martha took a step forward. Her fists were clenched and she was holding Cora's cape in one hand. She helped Cora up gently, and then wrapped the cape around her neck.
"I was in charge of your something old, and I thought that nothing else would be best," Martha said softly, smiling through her tears. She opened her fists and showed Cora a brooch—the pearl one that Cora knew came from Martha's grandmother. Cora felt more tears sting her eyes. Martha didn't say anymore but she silently fastened the cape with the brooch in her hand. After she was done, she kissed Cora's cheek. "You're all set."
Cora nodded wordlessly before she held onto her mother and embraced her. She was trying very hard not to cry but her heart was clenching, her emotions over running and threatening to spill. Martha pulled away first and patted her cheek softly. At that moment, an attendant came in and told them that the cars were there.
Cora's heart raced as a smile bloomed on her face. In a few minutes, she was to walk down the isle to become the new Mrs. Robert Crawley.
It was a beautiful dream.
She absolutely could not wait.
. . . .
Robert could barely contain his anxiousness, and Cora wasn't even late.
The ceremony was supposes to start at 3 in the afternoon, and it was barely quarter past, but he felt as though he could no longer wait for Cora to walk down the aisle so they could get married. After everything they went through in the year that they were together, this marriage was something like a gift to them. He was so happy to be marrying the love of his life, but he was so anxious too.
He was even pacing back and forth and his hands were clammy, firmly clenched on his side. Why can't they hurry?
"Robert, you're going to wear a hole on the rug," his best man and brother in law chuckled as he clasped a hand on Robert's shoulder, stopping him from going down again. "Calm down, she's not even late yet." Duke shook his head. "Give her at least fifteen minutes before you doubt whether she is going to show up."
Robert looked at his brother-in-law, feeling panic sink in to him. "She's going to show up, though, right?" he asked, though deep inside he knew the answer. It was just that…well, he was very anxious.
Duke actually laughed out loud before patting Robert's shoulders. Just then the doors opened and the attendant said that they were ready to begin. From a distance, the entourage was standing in a neat line, and beside him, Duke started to stand straighter, while his other two groomsmen—Joseph and John Bates—excused themselves to join the rest of the entourage.
Duke leaned into him just as he straightened out his suit. "What do you know, she's already here," he said, making Robert beam.
Violet was ushered in to the pew on the very front, and she sat next to his father. The rest of the guests were straightening out themselves and standing, awaiting the entrance of the bride. There was a buzzing noise as everyone's anticipation grew, but the senseless chatter stopped once the bridal march began to play.
Robert's heart started to race faster.
The entourage began, and the first one to come down was a couple of young girls, throwing flower petals on the ground. There were three girls in total and they were a mixture of his and her nieces. Next came in his cousin James with baby Patrick in his hand and a pillow that held their rings on the other. They'd chosen Patrick to be their ring-bearer, so James had to carry him in. Next were the John and Amelia, walking in slowly, followed closely by Joseph and Phyllis. They were holding on to each other arm in arm, while the women carried miniature versions of the bride's bouquet. The bridesmaids were wearing a peachy gown that had a different design to each, suited to their body and style. Next walked in his sister who was Cora's maid of honor, and she was wearing a burnt red gown that matched her hair and made her look like she was glowing. She, too, was holding a bouquet that matched Cora's, only slightly smaller, and she had a wondrous smile on her face.
But the real scene stealer was her…Cora, who walked in looking like a Queen. She didn't have veil, but her was hair pulled up elegantly with a crown resting on top of her head while her cape dragged behind her as she walked. Robert could clearly see her smiling face as she entered, and he felt his heart stop, his world stop, for there was no one in this world that could look more beautiful than her in this moment.
Tears pricked his eyes and they fell, though he tried to control them. For as long as he lived, he knew that nothing could compare to this moment. All the pain and suffering they had endured, they all disappeared, and all the happy times they have shared (and there were so many, and all of them were beautiful and wonderful in their own ways) paled in comparison to this very moment. This moment when she was walking down the aisle toward him, looking so beautiful in white, with a lovely smile on her face and tears shining just at the corner of her eyes.
She was being led to the altar by her parents, and they both looked like they might cry, too. Isidore was holding on to her hand, and Martha looked like she might actually burst at the seams at the moment.
Robert felt like everything was simply surreal, or a dream, but God, he didn't want to wake up if it was. She looked ethereal and the most beautiful dream he had ever had.
And today, he was going to take her to be his wife, from now until forever.
He was a lucky bastard.
Robert felt like floating, but luckily, the minister had spoken out, bringing him back to the present.
"Who gives this woman away?" the minister asked just as the music stopped.
"We do," Isidore and Martha said simultaneously as Isidore took the hand he was holding and gingerly placed it on Robert's own hands.
"Take care of her, she's my treasure," Isidore reminded him without threat or pleading, but only merely a statement. It was something Robert already knew.
"Always," Robert answered softly, and though his words were an answer to Isidore, his eyes remained on Cora. "I'll take care of her always."
Cora only gripped his hand and squeezed it in response.
. . . . .
The ceremony was over quickly.
They shared their vows, ones that they wrote themselves—filled with love and tenderness and proclamations of never ending love—and then the minister was making them swear to love each other 'for richer or for poorer, in sickness and in health, till death do us part'.
It was such an easy vow to make, for Cora had decided to devote herself into making sure that she and Robert lived a happy life together. When they were done with the vows, the minister asked him to kiss the bride, and boy, did he kiss her.
They walked out of the church hand in hand, feeling the exhilaration of being a married couple, finally. The guests pelted them with rice, wishing them a happy life together forever. Cora had never felt so hopeful in her life, for she knew that despite a bumpy road ahead, they would make it through. They were together, that was what matters.
Soon enough, they were ushered to the bridal car and driven away back to the Abbey, just as all the guests also made their way back. Cora had initially lobbied the idea to use a carriage for a more romantic feeling, but Robert had vetoed that, saying she was pregnant and he was concerned for her safety (he said that pregnant women weren't supposed to go on rides on horses, and though it was not on horseback, the carriage would be bumpy enough to cause some discomfort), so Cora had acquiesced.
It wasn't a long ride, and they spent most of it taking the rice out of Cora's hair and clothes.
"I really tried to shelter you from them, but I guess some still find their way onto you," Robert said apologetically as he plucked the last grain from her hair.
Cora just smiled and pulled him into her embrace and kissed him. She kissed him until her heart was content and then she raised her head just enough to rub her nose against his. Ever since the beginning of their relationship, this had been somewhat of their own thing, and Cora had always felt the same way from the first time he did it, to now that they were married. She felt like there were butterflies in her stomach.
"Are you warm enough, my love?" Robert asked as he took her hand in his and rubbed it. They were a bit cold, but they were quickly warming up with his touch.
She beamed at him. "I am when you're holding my hand," she answered. Just then, the car came to a stop, and Cora looked out to find that they have arrived at the estate.
The chauffeur opened the door, and Robert climbed out first before he helped Cora out. When they entered the house, the servants were already waiting, and even Elsie and Beryl were already there waiting. Both women enveloped them in warm hugs before Elsie helped Cora out of her cape. Cora kept the brooch her mother had lent her for the day and fastened it near her heart as they settled in the drawing room where the fire was kept going. They were to stay and prepare or wind down as they waited for all the guests to settle down in the tent, before they walked out and made their entrance.
They sat on the chaise longue for a while, admiring their rings and just feeling euphoric over the fact that they are now legally wedded. Robert was playing with her rings as she leaned against him, her back against his chest. He was dropping kisses against her hair, neck, and shoulders, and Cora smiled languidly as she burrowed closer to him.
They have been together for a full year and they have been living together for a while now, for all intents and purposes, everything should feel the same, except it didn't. Everything felt different…more official now.
When a servant had come knocking on the door and told them that everything was ready and everyone was settled, Cora leapt to her feet and dragged Robert with her, looping her arms around his. They walked out arm-in-arm together to the tent, walking down the red carpet and marveling at the craftsmanship and effort put in to the design of the venue. She might have thought of it, but she had never imagined that her dream would come to life. It was all thanks to the same man who was holding her now as they entered the hall.
Loud cheers and applause rung forth, making Cora beam. When she looked at Robert, an equally big and stupid smile was etched into his face. Because she still felt a little like she was floating on the seventh heaven, she didn't mind it when Robert led her to the front where their chairs were. The long table was already full, save for their seats, with Rosamund Duke, Phyllis, Joseph, John, and Amelia.
When they finally took their seats, the guests started clinking their forks against their glasses, and Cora blushed, knowing full well what they meant by that. She had fully expected Robert to be a little embarrassed himself, but she was surprised to find him smiling cheekily before he pulled her to him and kissed her. It was a small, tiny, infinitesimal kiss, but it was enough to start a fire inside Cora's guts.
God she loved this man, so much.
Since she was pregnant, Robert had specifically ordered that the reception was not to be held too long or exhausting to the bride. She had protested and told him that she didn't mind much and wanted to enjoy the wedding as it was, but she had been overruled by everyone in the family who had understood Robert's intentions and agreed that since they were going to travel that very night, it was best that she didn't tire out too much, given her condition. Reluctantly, she'd agreed, but she still maintained that most of the tradition be upheld. That meant the first dance together, and Cora was ecstatic when it was announced that it was that time, and Robert led her away to the center of the place, and the music began to play.
Wise men say
Only fools rush in
But I can't help
Falling in love with you
Tears prickled at her eyes, and she has—by now—lost count of the times she had cried that day. But the reason behind the song choice was obvious to no one else but the two of them, and the significance made her heart ache in the best way. This song had many memories attached to it—their first date, their first dance, the proposal, their reunion, and now their wedding. This was their song, for it was true: they can't help falling love with each other.
She looked up at his eyes, smiling through her tears. "I love you," she murmured happily as she rested in his warm embrace.
"I love you, too," he whispered in her ear, pulling her closer.
"And to think, it only took me a year to make you mine," she joked, burrowing further into his arms, her head falling onto his shoulder. She placed a cheeky kiss on his neck.
He shivered. "Not a year, not as long as that," he said, sighing. He kissed her forehead and then run his down hers, nuzzling it before kissing her softly. "I knew I was meant to be yours from the moment I saw you."
She smiled.
Perhaps, it was in this moment that made her fall deeper in love with him. It was in that moment when she realized how beautiful and colorful her life truly was with him in it. It was in that moment when she realized their lives had well and truly collided, and there was no force greater than their love could tear them apart.
For she had promised to love him and he promised to love her, for all eternity, till death do they part.
Even the best falls down sometimes
Even the wrong word seems to rhyme
Out of the doubt that fills my mind
I somehow find
You and I collide
Fin
Head on to my tumblr if you want to read some more sappy goodbye notes. /breakingunbreaking