AN: Hi everyone and thank you for your reviews this week.
This is the last regular chapter of Fortune Favours the Bold. Only the epilogue and the two part Fandom 4 Oklahoma outtake are left after this. I'll be hitting that 'complete' button when I post the epilogue next week.
Big thank you to my pre-reader and beta SunflowerFran!
I do not own Twilight or any of the wonderful characters that Stephenie Meyer created to bewitch us all. I also do not own Jane Austen's Persuasion. I am merely her humble admirer, and in borrowing plot points from her final published work, I mean only to honour her memory. Song lyrics in this chapter are borrowed from Latch by Disclosure featuring Sam Smith. This story is rated M for bad language and lemons. If you don't like these, please don't read it.
Thank you muchly!
Chapter Thirty-Seven
August 2013
New York was swelteringly hot, but in Barnes and Noble on Fifth Avenue, Bella was keeping her cool in the face of a huge audience of the city's voracious literary reviewers, bloggers and historical fiction fans. Her eyes sought out Edward and Rosalie, who were sitting to one side with Gemma, and their looks of encouragement helped her continue along with her reading without giving into her nerves, and helped her to handle the questions and the book signing that followed. It was the last stop on the book tour, but this time she knew what to expect, and dealt with it a lot better than the European one.
After she had finished, Edward came up and swept her into a big hug that lifted her off her feet.
"You did amazing, love!" He pressed his lips to hers; he was not at all shy about showing her affection in public. They started moving towards the exit. "Although, I thought I was going to have to rip that guy from the New York Times a new one when he asked if you were single! The way he was eyeing you up ..."
"I thought I heard a growl from the back!"
"I don't understand. Rip a new what?" asked Gemma sweetly. Edward blushed when he realised what he'd said in front of his soon-to-be niece.
"I'll tell you later, baby," murmured Rosalie, giving Edward a small glare. "Now, why don't we go find Grandpa Charlie, Emmett and your brother?"
"I just got a text from them. They're going to meet us at the Magnolia Bakery. Fancy a cupcake, Gem?" asked Edward.
"Yes please!"
"Oh, me too!" cried Bella. "I'm going to need the sugar for later, when Hurricane Alice arrives!"
"Hey, you made her your wedding planner, what did you expect?" joked Rosalie.
"Don't laugh too loud, Rosie. You're coming dress shopping with us!"
"Damn, I forgot about that! What time do they arrive?"
"They'll be here in time for dinner with Demetri," replied Edward as they stepped outside the store. He hailed a cab and they all piled in.
"Magnolia Bakery on the Upper West Side please," he told the driver.
When they arrived at the bakery, Emmett and George were cycling up Columbus Street, and squealed to a stop in front of them, with Charlie following closely behind.
"Oh wow, we've had the best time! Central Park is the coolest, ever!" rambled George.
"You hired bikes?" Rosalie murmured when Emmett stepped off his bike, a little hot and sweaty.
"We thought it was the best way to occupy him for three hours," he replied, kissing her lightly on the temple.
"Yes, but in hindsight we should have considered how much it would wear us out!" groaned Charlie, although he was in better shape than he had been in for years.
George hadn't stopped talking.
"... and then we saw this fountain, and then we cycled past a horse and carriage, and I asked if I could pet the horse, who was called Moony, and I also got to feed him a sugar cube, and so did Em! It was ace! Oh, and then we ..."
"I think it's safe to say you like Central Park!" exclaimed Edward, ruffling George's hair.
"I really do! How was your book signing, Auntie Bella?"
"It was great, thanks, sweetie," she told him. "Now, have you thought about which cupcake you want?"
Charlie, Edward and Bella took the twins into the bakery while Rosalie and Emmett lingered behind.
"He called me 'dad'," whispered Emmett.
"What?"
"He asked the carriage driver if he could pet the horse. The driver said it was okay as long as his dad said it was okay. George looked at me, and I nodded. He then said, 'My dad says it's okay,' and went on to pet the creature to within an inch of its life."
"Does it bother you?"
"Not at all, I actually loved it."
Rosalie stopped in her tracks, cupped his face and kissed him.
"You are truly the best man I've ever met. You've been more his dad in the past few months than anyone, handsome. It doesn't matter that the twins aren't yours biologically. If you want to be their dad, and they want you to be their dad, then in my mind, you're their dad."
Emmett gazed into her hazel eyes. God, I can't wait anymore. I love them so much. I'm going to do it tonight.
"Look, Edward, Bella, Alice and Jazz are going to be having dinner with that Demetri guy, and I know we could join them, but the restaurant he's chosen isn't exactly kid-friendly. We could go to that Serendipity place instead; the one in the movie Gemma likes? Then maybe take them for a horse and carriage ride in the park before bed. What do you think?"
"I love the idea, but what about Dad? He's not going to want to go to dinner anywhere fancy, and I don't want to leave him eating alone."
"Of course I meant Charlie too, love."
Before she had a chance to kiss him again, George appeared, holding a chocolate cupcake. He had icing on his nose.
"What are you doing out here? It's cupcake time!"
-cc-
"If we weren't about to go out, I'd be acquainting that dress with the floor right about now," Edward murmured as Bella was getting ready for dinner. "You look stunning, love."
She glanced down at the light grey, chiffon, one-shouldered dress, which was cinched at the waist by a wide, black ribbon belt.
"Later, mon ange," she promised. "Alice will be arriving any ..." They were interrupted by a loud knocking on the door, "minute."
"Hello? Edward? Bella?"
Bella pecked him on the lips and went to answer the door.
"Bella!" Alice squealed, hugging her tightly before opening her arms to Edward, who came over to embrace her too. "I missed you guys so much!"
"We missed you too."
Jasper came through the door after Alice.
"The place sure hasn't been the same without you two." he agreed.
"I have had the best few weeks though. Me and Esme, we've planned an amazing wedding for you both. I can't believe it's in two weeks!"
Alice proceeded to talk to them about her meetings with Esme and the details she'd thought of, right up until they pulled up outside Buddakan, in the Meatpacking District, where they were meeting Demetri.
"Don't be nervous, love," Edward told Bella as they walked through the door. She had his hand in a vice-like grip. "He's a pussy-cat."
Demetri, dressed in a loud pink shirt and cream linen suit, waved to them from the bar.
"Hey guys!" He embraced Alice and Jasper first before running his eyes over Edward, Bella and their joined hands. "Now, let me get a proper look at the girl who managed to tie down Edward 'Blonde-Chaser' Cullen! And hell, you sure are a pretty little thing, and not a single blonde hair on you!"
"Thank you Demetri. It's good to meet you," she replied, holding out a hand to shake politely. He ignored it and lifted her into a bear hug, right off the ground so that she had to let go of Edward's hand. "Umm ..."
"Put her down, Dem!" Edward warned, semi-seriously. "You know I don't share, Bella most of all!"
"Ooh, the protective vibe!" he joked, putting Bella down. Edward immediately reached for her, and when she was back next to him, tipped her chin up and kissed her softly. Demetri's eyes were almost on stalks; in twelve years of friendship, he had never seen Edward show more public affection for a girl than allowing her to take his arm if she were wearing high heels.
"It goes both ways," Bella told him. "I don't like to be away from Edward at all if I can help it."
"Well, it's a good thing you're making things official and shit!"
"Mr Volturi, your table is ready," a waiter murmured.
"Oh good. I'm starving." He took Bella's arm on her other side. "So, tell me everything about Edward I don't know ..."
-cc-
While Edward, Bella, Alice and Jasper were downtown, Emmett, Rosalie, Charlie and the twins had just finished dinner at Serendipity 3, rounded off by the restaurant's famous Frozen Hot Chocolates, and had walked the few short blocks back to the hotel, where a familiar horse and carriage were waiting with their driver, Afton.
"Oh look, it's Moony!" George ran over to the horse and driver. "Oh, please can I pet him again? And can my sister?"
"Sure kid," Afton winked at Emmett, "in fact, do you want to go for a ride around the park with your mom, dad and grandpa?"
"Oh, yes, can we, please?" the twins chorused, trying to maximise their cuteness. "Please?"
Emmett grasped Rosalie's hand, grinning.
"I think that's a great idea," she replied. "What do you think, Dad?" she added, looking at Emmett. He beamed back at her.
"I'd love to. Grandpa?"
"Why not?" replied Charlie.
They all piled in. Rosalie and Emmett sat with their backs to the driver while Charlie and the twins sat facing forward. Afton stopped at all the usual Central Park highlights, and the twins had a field day taking pictures. Rosalie curled into Emmett's side, enjoying the ride, but mainly enjoying the smiles on the kids' faces and revelling in her family's happiness.
After taking them down The Mall, Afton stopped at the Olmstead Flower Bed, surrounded by statues of famous writers.
"Come on, gorgeous, let's get out and take a walk around for five minutes," Emmett suggested.
"Sure," she shrugged. Emmett got out after the kids and Charlie, and held out his hand to help her.
"Look, Mum, it's Shakespeare!" cried Gemma, who was already a little in love with the writer, thanks to her aunt's influence. She bounded over to the statue.
"So it is, baby," Rosalie murmured, wandering over to take a closer look. "But I think the flowers are prettier ..." she added, turning round to gesture to the bright pink and purple flowers in the bed behind her.
Her voice tailed off because her gaze didn't land on the flora. It landed on Emmett, who was down on one knee.
"Emmett ...?"
"Rosalie, it's been nearly fourteen months since you walked into my life and into my heart. I loved you instantly, and that love has only grown. You're a phenomenal mother, and I love George and Gemma, like I love you- more than my own life. Please, please marry me? Let me be part of your family?"
He opened a red, velvet box, and showed her the stunning ruby and diamond engagement ring that had once belonged to his mother. He had surreptitiously got it resized by borrowing one of Rosalie's rings from her jewellery box, and had replaced the diamond with a larger one of improved clarity, but otherwise it was the same as when Elizabeth wore it.
"This was my mother's ring, and she told me, before she passed away, that I was to give it to the woman who made my heart soar, and who made me feel invincible. That's you, love. You're my amazing Wonder Woman."
Rosalie was stunned, frozen into silence by her surprise. Her heart was hammering against her chest, threatening to burst. She held out her hand to Gemma and silently beckoned George, who jumped off his grandfather's back to attach himself to her other side.
"What do you think, babies?" she whispered, trembling slightly.
"If Mum says yes, will you come live with us?" asked Gemma.
"I will," Emmett replied.
"If Mum says yes, would you be our dad?" asked George.
"I will," Emmett said, swallowing hard against a lump in his throat, "if you want me to be."
"Mummy, I think you should say yes," whispered Gemma.
"I think so too," added George. "We love Emmett. We want him to be your prince."
"Well then ..." Rosalie took a step towards Emmett. "Yes!"
There was a loud cheer from Charlie, Afton, who had been entrusted to film the whole thing with Emmett's video camera, and the gathering of passers-by, who had stopped to watch. Emmett rose to his feet and lifted Rosalie into his arms, spinning her around before putting her down and kissing her tenderly.
"Let's try this on for size ..." he slid the ring onto her elegant, French-manicured finger.
"Perfect. It's perfect, handsome!" she exclaimed.
Emmett kissed her on the forehead before giving the twins a huge hug.
"Thank you kids," he whispered. "I promise that I'll be the best dad I can. I'm going to mess up sometimes, but never doubt that I love you, okay?"
"Okay, Dad!" they replied, in their cute twin way.
"I have one more present ..." He pulled out an envelope from his back pocket. "I hope you won't be too mad with me about it."
Rosalie opened the envelope warily, and gasped.
Her Majesty's Land Registry
TITLE DEED
This is to certify that the above property and the land upon which it stands belongs in freehold to
Emmett McCarty Cullen (EMC Holdings Inc.)
As conveyed on 16th November 2012
"EMC Holdings is you? You're my landlord?"
"Yes. I bought the house for us, love, with our family in mind, when you started talking about moving. EMC Holdings is the company I set up a few years ago when I began making side money in London property."
"So you bought it as an investment?"
"No, love, I bought it for us," Emmett reiterated. "I wanted you to live there, even though it was too soon in our relationship for me to live with you. But you're so independent, and I knew that you wouldn't agree to live there if I just gave it to you, so I put it on the rental market at a price that I knew you could afford, and refused to rent it to anyone else."
"Your middle name is McCarty?"
"Yeah, from my Irish grandfather on my mother's side. It sounds more like a surname than a middle name, so I never use it."
"Oh." Rosalie returned her attention to the property deed. "What would you have done if I hated the house?"
"Sold it or rented it for more money."
"What did you do with the money I paid in rent?"
"I put it into a savings account for the twins."
Rosalie wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him deeply, before slapping the back of his head.
"Ow!"
"Never do that again, you idiotic, crazy, wonderful, amazing, fantastic man! You are damn lucky that I love that house. But, we're partners now, and all big decisions we make, we make together, okay?"
"Okay, love."
"Let's go. I have a fiancé, a ring, and a house to show off!"
-cc-
Demetri, Bella reflected, was coarse and boorish, but he clearly thought the world of Edward and was fantastically generous with his time, his money and his affection. He said what he thought and didn't put on any kind of front. He was completely genuine, and she respected him for it.
After an array of delectable appetisers and a delicious green vegetable stir-fry with Udon noodles in peanut sauce, Bella excused herself to go to the ladies' room. Alice got up to go with her, but spotted an old friend from NYU in the bar and got chatting to her. Bella waited politely for a minute before heading to the ladies' room alone. She was just washing her hands when the door opened, and two very tall, very thin women, one strawberry blonde, one platinum blonde, walked in.
Bella recognised the strawberry blonde instantly. Tanya Denali!
"... Da, I saw him at table with my Dyadya Demetri," she was saying in her thick Russian accent. Bella froze. Is she talking about my Edward?
"Are you going to go over?" asked her friend, in a Scandinavian accent. "He is looking good, and you and Paulo are on a break, not that a relationship ever stops you ..." she added suggestively.
"I should pay my respects to my uncle ..." Tanya shrugged. She looked towards Bella in the mirror. When they made eye contact, Bella quickly looked away, her cheeks burning. "Edward does look good, he always does, but I don't know what I am in the mood for ..." Bella felt Tanya's eyes on her again. She wanted to leave, but her morbid curiosity compelled her to stay and listen a little longer. She took a tube of peach lip gloss from her handbag and started to apply it slowly, whilst eavesdropping.
"I heard a rumour he was engaged," the platinum blonde added. Tanya snorted with derision.
"I vill believe it when I see it! He is, what do you say ... commitment-shy!"
Unwilling to hear any more, Bella put her lip gloss in her purse and started to leave, when she felt a tap on her shoulder. She turned around, and Tanya's eyes were travelling up and down her figure.
"Um, yes?"
"Oh, you are Eengleesh, I love Eengleesh girls. Lahndon doesn't have enough. It seems to be full only of French girls!"
"Err ..." Bella didn't entirely know how to respond.
"Zhat is great dress. You look hot in it. Vhere ees it from, dahling?"
"Um, Paul and Joe, I think. My friend got it for me," Bella replied shyly.
"Aah, I love Paul and Joe."
"Right, well ..." Bella tried to leave again.
"Vait! You must come pahty with us, beauty!" Tanya ran a finger down Bella's bare arm and dropped her voice to a husky murmur. "You are lovely. I ah-dore brunettes. I vill show you great time."
"Um thank you, but I already, uh, have plans ..."
Before Tanya could say any more, Bella darted out of the ladies' room door. Once outside she paused. From within the ladies room, she heard Tanya's friend say,
"I think you scared her, Tanya!"
"Da, I know! Looks like it is dick not pussy tonight ..."
Bella realised with horror that Tanya could be intending to try it on with Edward, and rushed back to her table.
"Bella, love, you were gone ages, is everything okay?" Edward asked as she sat down. "Where's Alice?"
"Talking to one of her university friends at the bar. Um, speaking of old acquaintances, I met one of yours in the ladies' room."
"Who?"
"Tanya Denali."
Edward's eyes widened.
"Oh shit, really?" Bella nodded.
"Did she hit on you? You're just her type."
"She did! Tanya's bisexual?"
"Tanya's sexual full stop. And you, a shy, petite brunette with an English accent? She'd be all over you and then some, honeybun," agreed Demetri.
"Well, she's coming over!" Bella hissed. "She knows you're here and doesn't believe you're engaged because you're 'commitment-shy' and because I ran away from her advances, she's after your dick instead of my pussy!"
"Don't worry, darlin'," Jasper tried to soothe her. "Tanya's just permanently randy. When Edward knocks her back, she'll move onto the next joint and find another potential victim."
"Honestly, Bella ... you know I'm not interested in the slightest ..."
"I know, it's not you, mon ange. I just don't want her or anyone else hitting on my fiancé." she cried, putting her palm on his chest. Edward tried to comfort her with an arm around her shoulders and a kiss to her cheek.
"She's coming over now, kids," warned Demetri. "Time for battle, Bella." He rubbed his hands together. "This should be fun!"
"Dyadya Demetri! Good to see you!" Tanya cried. "And Edward and Jasper and ..." her eyes glanced over Bella, still with her hand on Edward's chest and his arm wrapped around her.
"I'm Bella Swan, Edward's fiancée," Bella stated, with a confidence she didn't truly feel. She tapped Edward's chest to show off her beautiful engagement ring.
"Eet's true?" Tanya cried incredulously. "Edward, you are getting married?"
"Very true. Our wedding is in two weeks' time."
Tanya started laughing.
"Edward Cullen who is Mr Commitment Hater? Good joke, vhat is punchline?"
Bella stood up, shrugging off Edward's arm before leaning over and kissing him with a hot, open mouth. Edward responded instantly by sliding his tongue against hers and both moaned lightly as their heady passion for each other ignited. Tanya's tittering stopped instantly. In the two years she and Edward had dated, he had never moaned like that when she touched him.
Never ever.
All too soon for their liking, Edward and Bella broke apart, and she turned towards Tanya.
"Thank you for keeping Edward warm, Tanya, until he returned to me," she said, looking Tanya right in the eyes. Tanya raised a brow. "A misunderstanding meant that we parted ways when we were young, but we've found our way back to each other now, and he's mine. For good."
Tanya didn't say anything. She looked at Edward, whose hand was on the small of Bella's back. Bella could feel his admiring eyes on her, and she boldly continued.
"It's funny how you both have similar taste. After all, you wanted to show me a great time tonight. Edward does that for me, everynight, and I reciprocate, so much so that he begged me to move in with him, and fell over himself to agree when I proposed. You know that he doesn't share, and neither do I, so I'm afraid both of us are unavailable for your future pleasure, ever."
For a long moment, the two women stared at each other, like predatory lionesses, while the rest of the restaurant watched in quiet fascination at the scene unfolding in front of them. Bella was aware of a couple of phone cameras being clicked, but she didn't care. It'll just show the world that Edward belongs to me now, and forever more.
Then suddenly Tanya was clapping and smiling.
"Brava! Edward, she is glorious. Congratulations, dorogaya!" She kissed Bella on both cheeks, then Edward, Demetri, Jasper and Alice, who had arrived in the middle of the drama,before skipping out of the restaurant with her friend.
Bella collapsed onto her chair.
"Did that really just happen? Did I really just do that?"
"You did, love. It was amazing," cried Edward, rubbing her back, "and sexy as hell!"
"It's so surreal ... a supermodel hits on me and then my fiancé, and then I tell her to get lost ... me!"
"I think we all need to raise our glasses to you ..." Jasper lifted his glass of Snapple. "To our bolder, feistier, more confident Bella; you're a spectacular thing to witness, darlin'!"
"To Bella!"
-cc-
Alice, to her credit, took less than an hour to procure a wedding dress Bella loved, from a Brooklyn bridal dress warehouse. It was ivory, and had a lace bodice which was finely beaded with pearls, sheer cap sleeve, and a bias-cut, floor-length, A-line skirt. It was simple, elegant and light, which was just what Bella wanted. Alice also found a similar dress in ivory chiffon, with an indigo-blue sash, for Gemma, who was the bridesmaid/flower girl. Another hour in Hugo Boss had Alice sort out suits for Edward, Jasper and Emmett, who were the best men, for Charlie and for George, who was the ring bearer. The men were eternally grateful not to have to sit through a hundred fittings.
Esme and Alice worked in near-perfect harmony to turn Riverview Place into the perfect wedding venue. They had created a canopy on the patio, with the river in the background, and dotted it with small, silver fairy lights which twinkled delicately. Inside the house, the piano room had been turned into the venue for the wedding breakfast, for which she had persuaded Corin D'Arby to do the catering. Benjamin, Edward's Number Two in the production department at AJE, was doing the DJ-ing and his wife Tia was playing the piano. Bella had asked Bree and Diego to come, and Bree volunteered to sing Night Light for their first dance.
Bella checked herself in the mirror for the umpteenth time. She couldn't quite believe that the wide-eyed, chocolate-haired beauty staring back was actually her. Rosalie had played make-up artist, and had done a stellar job.
"You look perfect, Bella," murmured Charlie from behind her. "You're so beautiful, my little lamb."
"Thanks Dad," she replied, fidgeting nervously with the diamond drop earrings Edward had given her as a wedding present. They had belonged to his mother, and she was touched to have a part of Elizabeth with her on their wedding day.
Alice popped her head around the door; they were in the front drawing room.
"We're all set outside. Bella, you all right, honey?"
"I'm good," Bella murmured. "How's Edward?" she asked.
"He's good too. Pacing nervously, but he's so happy. You both have the same little glow. It's so cute!"
Charlie checked his watch and stood up.
"It's time, Isabella. Ready?"
"Yes."
He held out his arm to her. Alice opened the door for them, and they followed her through the conservatory, where Gemma and George were waiting.
"Oh, Auntie Bella, you look so pretty!" exclaimed Gemma, carrying a basket of blue delphinium petals to scatter.
"Yeah, like a fairy princess!" echoed George, almost dropping his pillow. Thankfully Alice had the foresight to lightly tack the rings to the pillow with a couple of stitches of cotton.
"Thanks babies," Bella swooped down to kiss them both on the foreheads. "Right, I'm ready."
Edward was struggling to stay still under the canopy.
"Relax, Bro, it's practically time," said Emmett. "You're actually making me dizzy."
"What if she freaks out and realises that she's about to marry a complete fuckwit?"
"What if you stop stressing and enjoy today?" Emmett countered. He looked past Edward to see George and Gemma at the conservatory doors. "Besides, I think she's here."
Just then, Tia switched to playing Pachelbel's Canon in D. First Gemma walked down the short aisle, throwing the blue petals, followed by George, proudly holding the pillow. Finally, Bella and Charlie stepped through the doors.
"Oh holy mother of ... wow ..." Edward murmured in wonder before losing his words completely. He was utterly astounded by Bella's radiance in her wedding dress.
My wife. My love. Always.
Bella, similarly, could not take her eyes off her Edward, looking unbelievably handsome and dashing in his dark grey, Hugo Boss suit and indigo-blue cravat.
He is my Darcy and my Wentworth. My Lysander, my Orsino, my Orlando. My Heathcliff and my Rochester. He's mine.
My Edward. Forever.
Later, when Edward and Bella told people about their wedding, they would not be able to recall the exact words that they repeated to each other, but would be able to describe the way their hearts felt so full of love they thought they would explode, how their kisses were so much sweeter and how they couldn't help but grin each time they had to called each other wife or husband.
The exquisite wedding breakfast consisted of rocket salad with polenta crisps and roasted peppers, mushroom ravioli with cream and parmesan sauce, halloumi with gremolata and couscous salad, and finally, a lemon and raspberry panna cotta with white chocolate shavings. Afterwards, Bella and Edward cut their dark chocolate and vanilla marble cake, smashed cake into each other's faces and then got ready for their first dance.
"Hello, all! It's time for Edward and Bella to hit the floor!" Alice cried once everyone had been ushered outside to the dance floor under the canopy. Bree took her place at the mic stand. Everyone else gathered around.
"God, I feel like a goldfish!" exclaimed Bella, her cheeks turning pink.
"Suck it up, Mrs Cullen," replied Edward, glancing over his wife's shoulder. His eyes landed on Seth who nodded in acknowledgement. "A couple of dances, a bit of mingling, and then it's just you and me and a luxury hut on a beach in Kerala for ten whole days," he whispered in her ear.
"I can't wait, mon ange," she murmured back.
The music started, and Bree began singing in her sweet, lilting voice. Edward took Bella by the hand and twirled her into the centre of the floor. They glided together, Bella following his lead in the short pattern of steps they had practised in the run-up to the wedding. She relaxed and forgot that they had an audience, focussing instead on her husband's arms around her, until the bridge of the song.
"Ladies and gentlemen," Bree said, "I'd like you all to welcome Seth Clearwater to the stage!"
There was a big round of applause.
"Edward, what's going on?"
"A little surprise, my darling wife. Just listen ..."
The music transitioned from Night Light to another song Bella was extremely familiar with.
"Bella and Edward," began Seth, "two people who write such beautiful music together, most definitely belong together, and I'm honoured to sing this for you ..."
You lift my heart up when the rest of me is down
You, you enchant me even when you're not around
If there are boundaries, I will try to knock them down
I'm latching on, babe, now I know what I have found
"Latch? You got Seth to sing Latch?"
"Yeah ... it felt important to have it as part of our wedding. After all, it is kind of how you proposed ... and Seth singing means so much to us ..."
"I love it, mon ange. His voice is perfect for it. Thank you, Mr Cullen!"
"You're welcome, Mrs Cullen!" He lifted her off the ground and spun her around and around.
I feel we're close enough
I wanna lock in your love
I think we're close enough
Could I lock in your love, baby?
Now I got you in my space
I won't let go of you (never)
Got you shackled in my embrace
I'm latching on to you ...
The rest of the wedding party joined them in their dance, and in their happiness. As the song drew to an end, and Bella drew Edward towards her for a perfect kiss, the moments of pain, heartbreak, sorrow and loneliness they had each experienced in their years apart, were obliterated by the joy in their united hearts.
-cc-
The next update, the epilogue, is currently with my beta and should be posted in a week's time.
CC xxx