August, 1903

It took a year for Carter Cushing and William Ferguson to declare Margert, Pamela and Enola dead so Thomas and Edith could wed.

They also found out that Thomas' uncle had embezzled Thomas and Lucille's inheritance. He finally admitted to the crime and he stated he deserved the money as well as Allerdale Hall and Crimson Peak. His uncle was convicted and he was to spend the rest of his life in prison. His estate and money were offered to Thomas, but Thomas refused to accept any of it. Instead, the money was given to away to charity and the estate was sold.

Thomas also sold the rights to Crimson Peak to Carter. They decided to close the mine and leave Allerdale Hall to rot.

Thomas was able to attend classes at a local university, but he did feel a little out of place when it came to associating his younger classmates. When he found younger classmates who appreciated Shakespeare as much as he did, he started to relax. He also aided some of them in their schoolwork and he was surprised with how many of them looked up to him.

Edith finally finished her manuscript, but it took a few tries before any publisher would look at her manuscript. She finally found a publisher who was willing to take a chance and Crimson Peak became an overnight sensation. The reviews praised her writing skills and some reviewers wondered if she based her main male character on Thomas. She refused to comment one way or the other.

After being able to finally marry Edith, Thomas asked if they could be married in Cumberland and Carter agreed.

Lachlan was surprised when Thomas had asked him to be his best man and Lachlan had helped him find a church for the wedding.

Holy Mary Church

"You look amazing!" Merida said while she finished putting the last of the hair pin in Edith's hair and Edith smiled. Edith did feel sad about her mother not being present, but Merida was an excellent substitute.

"Thank you. Do you think Thomas will think the same?" Edith asked.

"If he doesnae, he's blind."

Both of them laughed as the door opened and Carter entered the room. His heart slammed in his chest at the sight of his daughter as he gasped and Edith turned to look at him.

"My God! You look just look like your mother!" he said and Edith saw the tears in the corners of his eyes.

"Father. Please don't cry," Edith said as she walked to him and he kissed her cheek.

"Sorry."

"Have you seen Thomas?"

"Yes. And he looks terrified."

"Why?"

He saw the worry in Edith's eyes and he placed his hands on her shoulders.

"There's nothing wrong. He's just nervous."

The music started as Carter took her left elbow in his hand and Merida lifted the train of Edith's wedding gown as they left the room.

Edith wasn't fully aware of what happened after she saw Thomas standing at the end of the aisle. He looked so handsome in his suit and she swore he was swaying a little after he had seen her in her wedding gown.

"Are you alright?" she had whispered and he nodded.

She did notice him glancing behind him after the priest asked if there was anyone who had just cause for them to not be wed and she admitted to saying a prayer no one would arrive to stop them.

She did remember the small meal they had at Gracepoint and how Thomas had kissed her after her father's toast.

Thomas had arranged for them to spend their wedding night at the small inn in town. He opened the door then he lifted her off the floor and he carried inside the small room. The bed took up most of the room as she looked at the bed then she looked at Thomas and he saw the worry in her eyes.

"Don't worry, Darling. It's going to be fine," he assured her. He lowered her to her feet as he closed the door and she felt her body shaking. He walked to her as he smiled then he carefully removed the veil from her hair. "Would it help if you undressed me first?"

She took the veil from his hands while she nodded and she placed the veil on the chair to their right. She removed his waistcoat when she neatly folded the waistcoat and she placed the waistcoat on the chair. She unbuttoned his vest as she removed the vest, neatly folded the vest then she placed the vest on top of the waistcoat.

A few minutes later, she had undressed him as he stood naked in front of her and she scanned his body with her eyes. She reached out to touch his chest when her eyes locked with his and he nodded. She gently moved her fingers over his skin while she explored the curves of the muscles of his chest and she lightly kissed the scar. He held the palm of her hand over the scar as she wished she could make the scar disappear and he gave her a soft grin. She moved her hand away while she moved behind him to touch his back and she felt the muscles of his back stiffen. Even though years had passed, she imagined the bruises covering his back and she felt the rage building in her chest.

"You bitch," she thought while image of Beatrice Sharpe moved by her eyes and she frowned.

"No," he whispered after her fingers touched his back and she quickly moved in front of him. He was breathing hard and she placed her left hand against the center of his chest. She could just feel the pounding of his heart when she moved closer and she hugged him.

"I'm sorry," she whispered and he kissed the top of her head.

"No. It is I who should apologize," he said then she lifted her head to look deeply into his eyes. "Will you let me undress you?"

She shyly nodded her head and he smiled. She let him take his time as he undressed her and he had carefully placed her wedding gown on the back of the chair. She wanted to cover herself, but something in his eyes made her feel comfortable. He moved closer when he leaned down to kiss her lips and she slid her fingers down his chest. His skin tingled as he sighed and he held her head in his hands. He moved back as she walked to the bed and she moved the bedding down. She went to sit against the headboard as he stood at the foot of the bed and she smiled at him.

"I need you to do one thing for me," he said and she nodded for him to continue. "I need you to keep your eyes on me and relax."

"I will," she assured him. She watched he climb onto the bed like a sleek panther stalking his prey and his muscles rippled as he moved closer. He lifted her legs up as his fingers moved down her thighs and she shivered.

"Are you ready?"

"Yes."

They spent the night kissing, touching and exploring each other. She softly cried out after he had taken her maidenhead and he wiped the tears out of her eyes with the pads of his thumbs.

"I am so sorry," he whispered in her left ear, but she shook her head then she kissed him.

She had heard a small giggle from his lips after she had grabbed onto his firm bottom and he heard a small giggle when he kissed down her body to her navel.

She enjoyed him touching her, but she was saddened by places he wouldn't let her touch him. She knew the reason was Lucille and he would give her an apologetic look.

He wasn't sure, but, at some point, he swore a golden light moved over them and he forgot where he stopped and she began. He felt like their bodies, hearts, minds and souls merged into one being. Her heart started beating in time with his and their love filled him to the brim.

What he was feeling never occurred when he had sex with Mildred Sewell or Margaret or Enola. Nor did he feel this way whenever Lucille took him.

"Is this what love actually feels like?" he had thought.

When the golden light faded, he carefully rolled off her and he rested on his back. She slid against him while she placed her head on the center of his chest and he slid his arms around her.

"What did we just do?" Thomas asked and she looked up at him with a confused look. "I mean... Did we do more then have sex?"

"I believe what we did was make love," Edith said while listening to his heart settling back into its normal rhythm.

"Oh," he said with a small smile.

"Am I right in thinking you weren't repulsed by it?"

"Well, I did keep my eyes open," he teased and she softly laughed. Exhausted, they closed their eyes and they drifted off to sleep.

The morning sunlight woke her as Edith listened to the soft thrumming of her husband's heartbeat and she lightly moved the fingers of her left hand over his skin. She felt the staggered sigh as his heart slightly sped up and her left index finger moved as she wrote her name on his skin.

"G'morning," grumbled in her ear while she smiled, but she didn't move.

"Good morning," she said and she felt his fingers moving up and down her left arm.

"Did you sleep well?"

"Yes. You?"

"For the first time in my life, I can admit I did get some rest."

She hated the idea of Thomas not being able to sleep through the night and she balled her hand into a fist. He lifted her fist to his lips as he kissed her knuckles and she flexed her fingers. She listened as he started humming and she admitted she liked how his voice and the humming tickled her ear.

"Do you need to get out of bed?" Thomas asked.

"No. Do you?" she asked as she finally looked up at him. His eyes were slightly open as he smiled and he kissed her knuckles again.

"No."

"We will have to get up at some point. Unless you're not hungry."

"I am famished, but it's not for food," he said and she felt the heat of a blush moving over her body.

"Well, I can't let my husband starve," she teased. Edith carefully climbed on top of him when she leaned in to kiss his lips and she shivered as his hands moved over her sides, along her back then came to rest on her shoulders. She moved back to see his sleepy face and she brushed some hair from his face.

"My precious angel," he whispered.

"My precious demon," she teased. He gave her a puzzled look which changed to a hurt one and his lower lip started trembling.

"Is…? Is that how you see me?"

"No. I could never see you that way."

She kissed his lips again as he found himself forgiving her and she moved back to place her forehead against his chest.

"Forgive me?" she whispered. He lifted her chin with his finger and thumb and she saw the apologetic look on his face.

"Only if you forgive me," he said. She held herself up on her forearms while she gently kissed the spot over his heart and he wrapped his arms around her. "I guess you do."

She softly laughed as she moved up a little more so her face hovered over his face and they locked eyes.

"Now where were we?" she asked.

"I believe I was about to make love to my angel," he said.

"What about...? What about the places you won't let me touch?"

"They're yours to do whatever you wish."

"Ah," she said and he pulled her down on top him so he could kiss her lips.

September – Buffalo, New York - Brookshire

Even though he didn't like the smell of petrol coming from somewhere in the car, Thomas admitted he was impressed with how much faster a car was compared to a carriage and he wondered how the car worked.

"What are you thinking about?" Edith asked. He glanced at her then at Bon-Ton sleeping on her lap then he looked out the window at the scenery going by.

"I was just wondering how the car works," Thomas said with a small smile.

"Maybe the driver can explain it to you if you asked him."

"I might."

"Just don't get any ideas of taking it apart."

"I would never do that!" he said with a mock shocked look on his face and they laughed.

The car pulled onto a long drive as Thomas looked at the white sign at the end of the drive and Brookshire was painted in bright blue lettering.

"Brookshire?"

"That is what the property is called," Edith explained. They watched the three story, gray brick building coming into view as Thomas noticed the black shingle roof and the two large chimneys. The car moved around the circular drive then the car came to a stop at the bottom of the stairs and Thomas leaned down to look at the columns which held up the roof over the stairs.

Carter was standing at the top of the stairs as he walked down to the car and the driver exited the car. The driver opened the door as he helped Edith out of the car and she nodded. He walked around the car to the other door as he opened the door and Thomas exited the car.

"Welcome!" Carter said as he hugged Edith then he scratched the top of the dog's head.

"Hello, Father," she said when she turned to see Thomas stand near the fountain at the center of the circular drive and he was looked up at the stone fish at the top of the column at the center of the fountain. "Thomas?"

Thomas hadn't heard her. He wasn't sure, but there was something familiar about where they were. He scanned the area with his eyes when he felt a strong pull which wanted him to head for the trees and he walked away.

"Where is he going?" Carter asked.

"I don't know," Edith said while she handed the dog to him then she went to follow Thomas. She noticed he seemed to know where he was going as they walked by the trees then they came to a large clearing. He walked toward the large oak tree at the center of the clearing as the soft sound of a brook filled the air and he looked up at the branches. One of the branches was broken and stuck out like an arrow. He sat against the trunk of the tree as he closed his eyes and his dream moved through his mind.

"It can't be," he thought when he felt fingers through his hair and he opened his eyes. Edith was kneeling in front of him as he saw the worry in her eyes and he smiled.

"Do you remember the dream I had when…? When Lucille assaulted me?" he asked. She thought for a few seconds when she remembered the dream and she nodded. "This is the tree."

"The tree in your dream?" she asked.

"Yes," he said as he looked up at the leaves.

"Are you sure?"

'Yes," he said while he got to his feet then he helped her to hers. He slid his arms around her as the wind moved through the leaves and she looked up at him. He took her hand as they headed back to the house and she leaned her head against his left arm.

"Is everything alright?" Carter asked as he watched them walking closer.

"Yes. Everything's fine," Thomas said and Carter nodded.

"Shall we go inside?"

"Before we go inside, do you mind telling me who used to live here?" Edith asked. She did like the house, but the idea of living in another haunted house caused a cold chill to move through her.

"No one has lived here," Carter said.

"No one?" Thomas asked.

"No. This is my wedding gift to you and Edith."

"Father…," Edith.

"What? Did you really think I want the you two underfoot with all that newly married nonsense going on?" he asked with a blank look on his face then they laughed. After they walked up the stairs to the front door, Carter unlocked the door when Edith handed him the dog then she giggled while Thomas scooped her into his arms. After they went inside, Thomas lowered Edith to her feet as Carter placed the dog on the floor and Bon-Ton sniffed the hard wood floor.

Thomas was looking up at the swirls on the ceiling as he made a soft humming sound then he looked over at the staircase which led upstairs.

"Now, over here we have the lady's parlor," Carter said while they walked to the room on their right and Thomas saw the small fireplace at the back of the room. He walked to the fireplace as he moved his fingers over the mantle molding and he thought he heard a soft sighing sound coming from the fireplace.

"Hello to you, too," Thomas whispered. He turned as he watched Edith stroll around the room and she had a serious look on her face. "Don't you like it, Darling?"

"I love it. Just trying to figure out what it's going to look like," Edith said. Thomas felt the air turning warmer when he felt like someone was in the room and Edith glanced at him. She saw Margaret standing next to Thomas and Margaret smiled at her. "Maybe I'll find someone to help me figure it out.

"She means me," Margaret whispered in Thomas' left ear then she vanished and he nodded. They walked out of the room as they explored the downstairs and Edith was surprised with the size of the library.

Thomas had gone down to the basement with Carter as Carter showed him the furnace and, to his surprise, the water heater/pump and he liked the small wine cellar.

They went upstairs to the second floor as they looked inside the guest rooms and each room had their own bathroom.

"Do you think it would be a good idea to paint each room in a different color?" Edith asked.

"I think that is an excellent idea," Thomas said and they headed up to the third floor.

"This is the family floor," Carter explained. "There is a nursery, a nanny's room and a schoolroom."

They walked to the double doors as Thomas opened the double doors and they walked in the nursery. Images of seeing the nursery from the hiding space Lucille had found filled his mind and he shook the images out of his head.

"Thomas?" Edith asked and he looked at her.

"Sorry, Darling. Just revisiting the past," he said. Nodding, she watched him head for the small nook in the wall between the windows as he titled his head to one side and she walked to him. "Perfect."

"What do you mean?" she asked and he slid his right arm around her.

"This is the perfect spot for Thomas' urn. We could paint a mural of a blue sky with white clouds. Maybe had little cherubs sitting on the clouds. We could also put a memorial plaque at the top."

Edith felt the tears in her eyes as she nodded her head and she buried her face in his chest. Thomas didn't mean to make her cry as he rocked her and he made soft hushing sounds.

"I think it's a lovely idea," Carter said.

After Edith calmed down, Thomas handed her his handkerchief as she wiped her eyes and nose and he gave her a sad smile. He led her out of the room while Enola appeared in front of the small nook and she looked down at the baby. The baby wiggled in her arms as she rocked the baby and she softly smiled.

"Where is the schoolroom?" Edith asked.

"It's over here," Carter said. They walked to the door as she opened the door and they walked in the room. The room was brightly lit by the windows and built-in bookcases lined the walls. She watched Thomas walking around the room when he stopped in one corner and he turned to look at them.

"I think this will be a wonderful spot for some small easels," Thomas said as he walked to the large slate board on the wall. He pictures small chalk drawings on the slate board as well as lessons and he smiled. He walked to Edith as they headed for the door and they left the room. They hadn't seen Pamela standing at the center of the room as she looked around the room with her eyes and she smiled.

Thomas, Carter and Edith headed down the hallway when Thomas stopped at a door and he opened the door. He looked up the small staircase as he looked up into the dark attic and he slowly walked up the stairs. He fought the urge to remember the past as he stood in the darkness and he could just see the sunlight coming from the window to his left.

"Thomas?" Carter called as Thomas turned and he looked down at him standing at the bottom of the stairs. "Is everything alright?"

"Yes," Thomas said as he walked down the stairs then he turned to look back up the stairs.

"No," Edith said as she walked closer after handing Bon-Ton to Carter. She took hold of Thomas' hands and they locked eyes. "This is your home. Our home. No more being locked away. No more being ignored. If you want to go downstairs… If you want to go outside… You can."

Thomas knew she was right as he nodded and they walked back into the hallway. Carter closed the door then they walked down the hallway and they stopped in front of the door to the master bedroom. Thomas opened the door then Thomas lifted Edith up and she softly laughed. Thomas carried her into the large room as she gasped and they walked to the center of the room. Clearing his throat, Carter headed down the hallway as Thomas slid his arms around Edith and he lowered his head to kiss her lips.

"Welcome home," she whispered against his lips.

"Finally," he whispered against hers then they placed their foreheads together.