Completing Someone – Chapter 25 – Forever

Chad pulled Taylor aside. "Promise me something?"

She looked up at him, "What?"

He searched her eyes for a moment before he could continue. "Promise me that you'll get free of the fighting just after the turning point. Promise me that you will grab Gabriella and Sharpay and haul them away from danger. If Troy or Zeke were to accidently see their mate—"

Taylor's tear-filled eyes searched his, "You want us to be safe. But, Chad, he's our friend too. We are Weres just the same as you and Zeke. Troy's an alpha. He's got a little on all of us, but Chad…Baby, I'm never going to leave you alone in a fight. You are my mate. I will stand with you until the end. There's no force in the world that would be able to take me from you except death."

Chad's eyes filled and spilled over the tears. "I will die before you. I refuse to allow you to be taken first."

Taylor smiled and laid her palm gently on his cheek. "I know, Chad. I promise you can go first, mate. I will be with you shortly thereafter."

Chad kissed her. "Okay." He held her tightly.

Jason pulled Kelsi into the kitchen. "So, I know that you've decided to try mating with—"

Kelsi pulled his lips down to hers. She kissed him intensely. When they had to pull back, they did.

Jason stared at her, "But…"

She shook her head, "He's not my mate. He was just a potential mate. We never completed the ritual and I knew after a few weeks that he couldn't ever love me the way you do."

Jason grinned, "Really?"

She smiled and nodded as she ran her fingers through his hair, "Really."

"YES!" He leaned down and proceeded to make out with her again.

Martha smiled over at Nate as she stayed wrapped around his arm. Their intertwined hands left nothing to ambiguity. They were very together now. "He's learning from his father. I mean neither of us are Were, but we've decided that the Were in this town need a few humans to help them get along. And frankly, there's plenty we can do. So, we've decided to stay and hold down the fort."

Gabriella smiled at Martha. She'd been so scared that Martha would be alone for a long time. She was happy for the couple. Nate seemed to be extraordinarily pleased to accept the affection that Martha showered on him. "That's amazing, Martha. I can't tell you how much that means to me. We need all the help we can get."

Martha smiled at Gabriella, "It's going to be okay, Gabs. We've fought before and won. You'll all come home this time. You'll see."

Gabriella gave her a sad smile, "I hope you're right, sweetie." She met Troy's eyes, then looked back at Martha. "I hope you're right." She excused herself and went to Troy.

As Gabriella moved across the room, Troy remembered the way he'd stalked her that day in the gym. He smiled as she reached up to kiss him. "Everything okay, princess."

She just looked at him. "I needed those lips for a moment."

Troy grinned in that way that a man who loves the woman teasing him will do. "Well then, I hope you need a little more." He leaned down and kissed her a little more passionately.

Suddenly the group was oooing and awing. Troy pulled up and glanced around to see everyone watching them. He laughed, "What? She's my mate. If we had a little more time, I'd make her my wife."

Gabriella blushed heavily in his arms and buried her face in his chest.

Everyone laughed.

Jake cleared his throat. "You know I am a member of a Shaolin Monastry. I'm a monk. And, by law, monks can perform marriage ceremonies."

Gabriella's eyes went to the size of saucers.

Troy smiled and looked down at his beloved. "Baby? What do you say?" He got down on one knee and pulled an old ring from his pocket, "Will you marry me?"

Gabriella's jaw dropped. The room went silent. No one breathed.

A moment passed, then two. Suddenly Troy was beginning to feel terror within. What if she didn't want to marry him? What if she said no? This suddenly seemed like a terrible idea.

Finally, Gabriella regained her breath, "Yes. Yes. Please. Oh God, Troy! Yes!"

Troy jumped up and let out the heaviest breath he'd ever felt. He grinned as he wrapped her into his arms and lifted her from the floor. "Oh thank God!"

She laughed and held on to him.

Twenty minutes later, Troy stood staring into her eyes as they stood there in front of Jake. His dad had come down and his mother too. They'd held each other and cried when they'd explained their morning to them. His dad and Chad and Zeke and Jason all stood there with him. Lucille, Taylor, Sharpay, and Kelsi each stood with her.

A large black furred Jaguar walked her into the room toward him. Now, in the middle of his parents' living room, Jake was marrying him to his beloved mate. Even if he did die today, he was now her husband and mate. He'd given her everything he could, except a family of their own.

She smiled as he repeated the words, "I do," at sunrise. She couldn't stop the fear in her body that she'd lose him today, but she also knew that for all the hardship they'd suffered, he was all hers. He was her husband now and forever. She repeated as Jake instructed her, "I do."

Jake smiled at them. He hadn't had the chance to do something this good in a long time. "I now pronounce you Were and Wife. You may kiss the bride."

Troy leaned down and planted the sweetest, most love filled kiss he possibly could to his wife's lips. When he pulled back just centimeters, he whispered, "I love you so much, Mrs. Bolton."

She smiled, "I love you too, my husband."

He grinned widely. "I have one more surprise for you."

She looked at him, "What else could you possibly have up your sleeve?"

Troy glanced at Jake. Jake produced a signed marriage certificate. All that was left to make their marriage legal was her signature on the line marked "Bride." Troy looked back at Gabriella, "You know those forms I asked you to sign the other day?"

She looked back at him, "You conned me into signing an application for a marriage certificate?"

Troy gently slid his hand down her shock covered face. "I knew something was coming, sweetheart. I had started to get that feeling that I get just before all hell breaks loose with the damn angels. That's why when dad told us, I wasn't all that shocked. Angry sure, but not really shocked." He pulled her closer, "I was too scared to ask you. So I came up with this. I figured if you said no, I'd just tear it up. It isn't legal until you sign it."

She kissed him, "Of course I'm going to sign it."

Troy smiled softly, "I love you so much."

"I'm all yours." She signed her name to the document and Jake grinned. "You two are officially hitched. Congratulations, Mr. and Mrs. Bolton."

Troy picked her up and spun her around.