Chapter 38: The World Still Turned

October 2053

Three loud knocks.

I knew it was her from the three firm knocks and the magnetic draw that bound us together but Kai ran to the door before I could even inhale.

"Um, hi," Maddox's voice was soft and unsure. When I rounded the corner, the pure beauty of her in her wedding dress stopped me dead in my tracks. Kai moved aside, and she nervously watched him, as if she were afraid to look up at me.

"Are you okay?" I finally asked when I grew too anxious to stand still anymore.

"Can I talk to you?" When our eyes connected I felt sick from the power of it. In one single glance, she could invoke every emotion that lay deep inside me. I walked past Kai being pulled in by my connection to her until we were alone, face to face on Jared's old wooden porch.

"Is something wrong?" My stomach hurt just asking. Wild scenarios flew through my head, while I waited for her to say something, anything.

"I love you."

I never thought she would say that to me again. I dreamt of ways that she might have an opportunity or desire to say it to me again, but my deathbed seemed the only viable option anymore. This fact and only this rendered me unable to reply fast enough to sidestep her speech, which she launched into immediately.

"I let myself stay away from you—no, I forced myself to stay away from you out of stubbornness. I saw you with Hope and I got scared and then I had nowhere to go so I ran back to Javi and I got so lost. Everything snowballed so fast and I couldn't figure out how to unwrap myself and get back to you. Then I thought I was pregnant and things just got out of hand that I wasn't sure you would want me back. I kept begging for you to come, to feel my pain and come save me from myself but that wasn't your responsibility. I fucked up so bad, so many times and I need to make it right. If you love me, if you think you can still love me like that, I don't care about anything else, I will close the door to every mistake we've ever made and start fresh. I just… I just wanna be with you, okay?"

Kai nudged me forward from the doorway where everyone stood watching and I stumbled into her, wrapping my arms around her ample curves and pulling her in for a kiss. I didn't have words to answer, besides the fact that my eyes were already watering and I didn't trust my voice. The crowd erupted, Kim howling like a wolf above the cheers.

Her lips were soft and yielding against mine, but as I weaved my fingers through her hair they became manic, the soft moaning pant against my mouth made me want to eliminate every millimeter between us without regard for who watched us.

"I love you. I love you more than anything or anyone on this earth," I told her, moving to drink in the sweet scent of her skin at nape of her neck.

"I'm sorry, I'm so sorry," she sighed, gripping my hair and keeping me locked at her throat where I left hot wet kisses.

"I'm sorry too, for everything, truly," I sighed.

"I hope that's Maddox," Kai said in a sort of exasperated voice. We broke apart like teenage lovers being caught by a teacher necking at a school dance.

"Kai, this is Maddox… Madd, this is Kai," I introduced them awkwardly. Maddox pushed her hand out for him to shake and they limply shook before stepping back apart again.

"It's nice to meet you," Maddox said sweetly. She looked fragile and nervous standing between me and my son who even at his age hulked over her.

Harley pushed past the onlookers and grabbed her sister with more love than I ever seen them express before. Soli and Amber held hands, beaming at each other brightly and Jared with his arm around his wife patted me on the back repeatedly.

"Oh Maddie, I'm so happy you've come to your senses," Harley joked, pulling me in for a threeway hug.

"Bout damn time," Soli tutted but her eyes were bright and her red-stained lips were stretched widely in a welcoming smile.

"You look beautiful," Jared said kindly, Kim nodded in agreement next to him.

"Thank you, I'm sorry to burst in here when you're catching up with your grandson..." she trailed off, stepping back farther onto the porch.

"Oh quit it, get your ass in here and get some hot chocolate, it's cold out there," Kim demanded, letting go of Jared so she could come outside and pull Maddox in by the hand.

"WAIT DID THEY MAKE UP?!" Sammy Uley's voice boomed from a car parked out front.

"Yes, now come in and get some cocoa!" Kim called back and Sammy's answering whoop made us all laugh.

Maddox didn't fight it, she allowed herself to be pulled inside gripping my hand tightly with her free one. At the doorway to the kitchen, I kissed her again because I could and she melted into me causing a pile-up from the people still waiting to enter.

"oh geez guys," Sammy complained.

"Oh, save it for your wedding night," Harley howled pushing through us with a huff. We parted looking at each other from opposite sides of the door frame as Amber, Soli and Kai entered.

"Their wedding night?" Kai breathed to his mom in a question.

"You do know you have to get married now, right? If this were a movie that would be how it's supposed to end. Girl leaves guy at altar and with her entire town watching marries her first love," Harley continued, looking around for back-up.

"Agreed… look, you've got the dress, the caterer, your family and your true love, that's how this movie is supposed to end, with a big ass wedding," Soli agreed.

Maddox and I stood still, both glued to the opposite sides of the doors like gargoyles. There was never a question for me, I have always wanted Maddox as my wife, but I watched as the idea lit up her eyes first with shock and disbelief then joy.

"Soli, stop pressuring people, they just got back together, don't rush them into things," Kim chided her, though she turned her attention on us as if waiting for either of us gargoyles to agree with her.

Maddox's eyes were wide and bright and perfectly clear, because they mirrored my own—both our eyes were now open to a world of possibilities. After several long seconds of staring at each other, she cocked her eyebrow in a 'so what do you think?' kind of expression and I nodded emphatically, setting the kitchen alive with another round of applause.

I bridged the gap between us kissing her again with passion that she gave back tenfold.

"Oh my god, oh my god, oh my god!" Harley sang hopping on her heels and pulling Soli in for a dance.

"Soledad, call Annie, and Amber, go get Rachel. She's great with clothes, I don't think it's very lucky to get hitched in a dress you were supposed to wear to marry another man. Solace, find yourself something to wear and get that girl her ring, I know you still have it. Maddox, go home with Sammy and Lee, tell everyone what's going on. Rachel and I will be their soon, this wedding is going to happen before the sun goes down. Kai, run to the Cullen mansion, tell them about the change in plans." Everyone stood watching Kim, waiting for more orders but it became clear she was done when she howled, "Hurry up, we've got a wedding to plan here!"

Maddox and I kissed one last time long and hard, repeating sweet 'I love yous' until Jared and Kim pulled us apart. I showered in ice cold water, my body heat creating a sauna around me and when I stepped out, towel around my waist Phil stood in my doorway smiling wide and looking younger than I'd seen him look in years.

"I'm assuming I'm your best man," Phil said casually taking a seat on the edge of my bed.

I pulled on a pair of black boxer briefs, the kind Maddox liked so much and I had stopped wearing years ago then I pulled him into a hug. "Thanks."

"So I got a call from Kim and Rachel. The dress code is semi-casual," he said using air quotes for the last two words.

"What does that mean exactly?" I asked him standing still in only a pair of briefs.

"Um, I think that means jeans are okay but you have to wear a nice shirt and shoes?" We were hopeless but then I also knew with pure conviction that Maddox wouldn't care. That this wedding was a symbolic release of all our past demons and lies and betrayals, it was just the beginning of the life we were supposed to have together and the clothes didn't matter. The only thing that mattered now was that she loved me and that I loved her more than life itself. That we had finally chosen to forgive and forget the past and that we would be promising in front of our friends and family to be together forever, no matter what.

Phil picked out the outfit while I searched through my things for the engagement ring and wedding bands I had bought in preparation for Brazil so many years ago. I handed them to Phil who tucked the small box into his jacket pocket. I tried to smooth my hair down but it was unwilling to lie flat, I didn't fight it, I sat patiently waiting.

Kai came twenty minutes after I finished dressing, dressed himself in a suit and tie, with a wide smile.

"Are you ready?" I didn't answer my throat was too tight; I just nodded and followed him out the front door.

We were on the Ateara doorstep in less than five minutes, my hands sweating profusely. I didn't know what to expect or who would even be there. Quil met me at the door with open arms and Addison slapped my back happily but Maddox was nowhere in sight. There was a large white tent set up out back, like the kinds Tara rented for her children's birthdays but I couldn't see what was under them from this angle.

"You look good," Quil whispered. He hadn't let go of me, he just slung his hand over my shoulder and guided me to the living room where some of the other guys were sitting around. Kai went to sit with Taylor, who was chatting animatedly with Mark and Jordan all clad in suits. Collin, Brady and Randy sat next to them chatting animatedly to Harley's boyfriend Jett, who waved when he caught sight of me.

"Thanks… this is quite the turn out," I marvelled eyeing lines and lines of pack members new and old.

"Yeah, you need to pick two more groomsmen," Quil said simply pointing out into the crowd, all the guys looked up at him momentarily, smiled and went back to their conversations.

"Two?"

"Yup, I have been ordered by Kim to tell you need to find replacement for Javi's friends." Quil handed me a list, which was apparently a new guest list, which included wolves and vamps I hadn't seen in years.

"Addison, would you?" I asked turning to Maddie's brother, a married man in his own right.

"I'd be honored."

Before I could finish reading the list his name popped in my head and like magic Embry appeared in the door Leticia at his heel. His smile was just about the only thing about us we shared, but it was more than enough to make me feel at home.

"Hey!" I hadn't seen Embry in awhile but I hugged him regardless and he squeezed me back.

"Will you be one of my groomsmen thingies?" I asked

He nodded deeply, "Yes, that'd be awesome."

Rachel whirled through the room, pulling Addison, Phil and Embry away with her after I informed her of my choices. She had three shiny red silk ties in her hand and a manic expression.

Annabelle walked through the front door in a form fitting red dress, high heeled boots and a baby papoose with her four-month old, Ace, securely in place. He was a calm, quiet baby with intelligent eyes that watched the world around him with interest. Annabelle was talking on a hands-free headset, holding a checklist that was handwritten with little handmade boxes along the side.

"Well, we need someone, so tell him we will double his fee," she paused, stopping to kiss me on the cheek.

"Oh come on, this isn't a discussion on religious morals, we just need a priest," she said roughly though she was smiling lovingly down at her son. "We'll triple the fee but that's my final offer… great, the name of the groom has changed, so make sure he knows the name is Solace Avery… yes, Solace like to give someone solace, S-O-L-A-C-E… yeah, she's marrying someone else and you just forced me to triple my donation to the church so don't get all high-and-mighty with me… And, sister, could you tell the Father to step on it, we've got a wedding to do here."

When she clicked off the small black headset in her ear she congratulated me and ran to the back of the house where I could hear the girls fluttering around Maddox who was talking to the girls in the room about me.

"I just told him I loved him and after I like rambled for a little bit he kissed me and he said he loved me too. Then Harle y and Soli said we should get married and Solace nodded and yeah, that's it, here we are," I could hear the smile in her voice.

Kim emerged from the kitchen a little while later with a self-satisfied sort of look, ushering everyone but me to the backyard through the kitchen. The last people to enter were Tara and Hope, who was being dragged by her mother with bloodshot eyes. I wanted to talk to her, to apologize or say anything to her but she was pulled past me and into the yard so quickly, it was almost vampiric.

When everyone was settled, Kim came back for me, taking me out to the back around the side so that I wouldn't see Maddox. I could hear Maddox's heartbeat fast in the kitchen. The tent was filled with dozen and dozens of flowers in different shades or red and maroon, and every row was filled. I tried to take in all the faces, faces I didn't expect to see like Will and Jasper, others I had not seen in a long time like Leah and Jake.

Part of me always thought that the moment I stood at the end of the altar, waiting for my imprint to come marry me I would be excited or nervous, maybe even scared but I felt nothing but complete calm. For the last few years I felt as though I was being dragged along the tide but finally I had purpose again. Music played but I couldn't hear it over the growing peace in my heart.

Phil and Harley walked together first standing on either side of the altar. Chloe and Embry came next, followed by Ava and Addison who both smiled at me with complete joy. When the music changed, I could finally hear it clearly, the wedding march that was familiar and yet foreign at the same time. My hands shook from desire, if I could have I would have run to her, but I gave Quil his last moments with his daughter before she became my bride.

My bride.

The full weight of that had still not fallen on me and I felt disturbingly jovial.

She wore a silver dress with and short jacket to cover her arms in the cold. We didn't wait for the expensive priest to give us permission, we kissed the moment we were standing in front of each other.

When it came time to exchange personal vows I panicked. I hadn't prepared anything but Maddox didn't falter.

"Solace, every beautiful and magical event in my life centered around you. All my happiest memories and my greatest joys feature your face. I took some time away out of stubborness and spite but what I learned in that time was that I cannot live without you. You are my soulmate, my better half, my equal and I don't want to be away from you ever again. I don't know where we will go or who we will become but I am more certain now than ever before that we will do it together. Thank you for waiting," she said accepting a tissue passed to her from Harley.

I was never a man of many words but when it was my time to speak the words flowed naturally.

"For years I watched my brothers around me find their soulmates, and with each passing match I felt more anxious. Some nights in my head I would create the perfect woman, this femme-fatale who would roll into town and save me from my deep loneliness and uncertainty. This perfect woman was strong, smart, passionate and of course beautiful. I gave my heart freely and when the failed relationships began to pile up, many women failing to compare to this imaginary soulmate, I ran away not knowing that in the years I was gone you would arrive. As if you were made just for me, you are everything I dreamed of and more. I will follow you to the ends of the earth."

The crowd erupted in howls when I finished with a few tears. When the priest pronounced us man and wife, the crowd continued with more clapping and even a loud 'hell yeah!' from Soli but we didn't part, our lips melded and battled. We had no honeymoon planned, no idea what we were doing next but I knew at least we would be doing it together.

When we finally pulled back for breath and to thank the crowd for their support one face stuck out from the rest, my son Kai. His face was so like mine, with one distinct difference. He stood staring across the aisles, his eyes wide, his jaw slacked, the look of a brand new imprint.

I laughed loud and hard for the first time it seems in years when my eyes followed his to Hope, who stared back with equal awe.

My movie, our love story, was at its' "happily-ever-after" but the world still turned and, at that moment, a new one began.

FIN

.X*X.X*X.

A/N: So this was the original end to this story but I will post the epilogue in a few weeks probably. This chapter is about 10 years in the making, it's the end to this universe that I put so much time and effort into, and it's proving to be very difficult to execute. I have so much I want to fit in but I don't want it to be like 10k words...