Chapter 33- The Night Before
"Are you serious?"
"Yes, Locke, I'm very serious." Celes said, and yawned loudly, and slumped back against the headboard of the bed. "Terra suggested it to me today."
"Do you think he would do it?"
"Yes."
"Well, then that's great! I can't believe we have a priest!!!"
"Hee-hee." Celes smiled, and yawned again. "Well, not exactly a priest, but someone who can get the job done!"
"I'll write him tomorrow, and ask." Locke said excitedly, and smiled. "Looks like everything is turning out ok again babe. We just had to be patient..."
"Yeah!" Celes said, and ran her fingers through her hair. "Just a couple of days and...!"
**********
The next morning, things seemed to go back to normal. Celes got out of bed and gave Terra the tour of Kohlingen she had promised her the day before, with out any problems. Locke wrote to Setzer and requested his services at the wedding. The day went by peacefully and without any exciting events, which to Celes, was more then a good thing.
The next day, they got a reply back from Setzer, saying he would be more then happy to marry Locke and Celes. He also added a little note about there being a slight fee, but Locke and Celes decided to ignore that. It's not like he needed it!!
Although walking was slightly more painful then before, Celes was healing up nicely from the day before. She and Terra spent time together walking around Locke's property and talking about most of the things they never got to share while they were together, mostly intimate girl talk that both had missed out on their whole lives. The Empire also came up a few times, but not enough to bother them. Finally, finally, Celes could push away her past and focus on the future...at least, that's what she thought. Terra even shared with Celes the secret that she had been keeping to herself...how her past still bothered her slightly, how it even effected some of the things she did today. Celes was honored that Terra would share something like that with her.
Everything seemed to be falling into place nicely as the days ticked by until the wedding. Somehow, to Celes' surprise, Locke had managed to find a great chef in town who would have loved to provide food for the guests. (And with Umaro as one of the guests, there would definately be a need for lots of food...) Celes and Terra made up a great arrangement for the small party at Locke's house afterwards, a big picnic in the beautiful back yard!
And the honeymoon? Well, that was all discussed the night before...Terra had fallen asleep in her room, worn out from last minute plans. She even helped Celes clean the house and make sure her dress was ironed and perfect for the next morning. Celes was changing into her pajamas when Locke walked in, his head matted to his forehead from sweat. He had been working out in the yard, cleaning it up for the party. Celes was slipping into her pajama bottoms as he came up behind her and embraced her tightly.
"Locke!" Celes exclaimed, and struggled to pull her pants up the rest of the way. He kissed her hair and released her, pulling off his white t-shirt as he walked away. Celes reached for her hairbrush on the dresser and began to pull her hair back in a low ponytail.
"You look tired." Celes said, and set down her brush again after tying a worn ribbon in her hair.
"I am." Locke said, and yawned loudly. "I can't even get to sleep yet. I still have to take a bath..." He yawned again as he pulled off his jeans, leaving him in his boxers. He then took his robe off of a hanger in the closet, and slipped it on, leaving the front untied, and grabbed his sleeping shirt from the bed. He walked over to Celes again and kissed her softly on the lips. She returned the kiss, and smiled a little at his dirty face.
"Hurry to bed." She said, and he winked.
"But of course." He replied, and walked out of the bedroom, shutting the door softly behind him. Celes let out a breath she didn't even realize she was holding and crawled into bed, pulling the covers up and around her body. Butterflies had made their way into her stomach, making her heartbeat race. Tomorrow she would be a different person. She wouldn't be Celes Chere anymore...She would be Celes Cole.
"Celes Cole..." The name fell from her lips in almost a whisper, but filled her mouth with a sweet taste like the kind you could get from children's candy. Celes rolled onto her back and looked up at the very boring and very white ceiling, immagining what kind of a life Celes Cole would lead. Would she be a beautiful girl that would age gracefully into a real woman, one that would get dressed up for dances and balls and strive to be the prettiest, now that she had a husband to impress? Or maybe she would be a homewife...dependent on every one of Locke's actions...never having to worry about work outside the home again? Or maybe...
A pang of fear struck into Celes' heart at her next thought.
Maybe...a mother... Celes bit her lower lip and closed her eyes tightly, trying to squeaze the thought out of her. She didn't know why, but the thought of bearing a child was absolutely horrifying. Not only was there the pain that you had to go through just to get the thing out, but it was literally a life-altering experience. Things would never change, no matter what, because children were forever. Children that depended on love, and other important things only a mother could provide with the father. Celes moaned and opened her eyes again.
I wonder...if I could ever love someone like that. She thought. I really cannot tell what I am capable of anymore unless it has to do with battle tactics. How sad...it's like I have the maturity of a little girl when it comes to all of these important issues life throws at every woman...What if Locke wants a child and I refuse him? Would he leave me? Or maybe...he would...
A tear slipped from Celes' eye and trailed down her cheek. No way would Locke want to cheat on her for something like that! There was no way she could doubt him at all! Locke loved Celes for who she was now, not who she was capable of transforming into in the future.
"I don't want to change at all." Celes stated firmly to herself. "And I won't. The only thing that will change about me tomorrow is my name. Locke has fallen in love with the woman I've become. I'll always be General Celes Chere in my mind, but in his...I'm just Celes Cole. And that's....that's who I want to be!"
"Celes? Did you call for me?" Locke called out from the hallway as he opened the bedroom door. Celes sat up and tried not to gawk like an idiot. He was only in a light yellow towel wrapped around his waist, with another towel around the back of his neck that she asumed he had used for his towel- tossed wet hair. Celes swallowed and managed to shake her head slightly, her eyes glued on his tanned and toned body.
"No..." She said, "I did not..."
"Oh, sorry, jeeze, I jumped out of the tub for nothing." Locke laughed a little and turned around, closing the door once again. Celes felt a sweat break out on her forehead as she hit her pillows again, her breathing slightly paced up.
"Oh man, how am I going to get through tonight?!" Celes muttered with clenched teeth, and balled her fists at her side. "All of a sudden, being a virgin bride has become really difficult!!"
About a half an hour later, Locke finally came back to the room for the night, dressed for bed. He crawled in next to Celes and embraced her tightly. Celes sighed happily, his fresh scent enveloping her body, even with her back turned to him.
"Locke, I'm so excited about tomorrow, I don't think I can fall asleep!"
"Heh, you have to, Angel, if you don't get any sleep, you'll look like the bride from the dead tomorrow."
"Hey!" Celes giggled, and snuggled closer against him. He burried his head in her hair and sighed himself.
"So, what is up for the honeymoon tomorrow, dear?" He whispered. Celes blinked and tried not to giggle as he began to lightly tickle her leg.
"What did you have in mind?" Celes whispered back.
"Hmm, well, so far, all I see in the picture is you, and me, and a totally empty place to ourselves...and..."
"I'm serious!" Celes said, and finally started to giggle as his hand brushed her inner thigh when he began to tickle there.
"You don't sound very serious yourself!" Locke pointed out over her laughter, and kissed her ear.
"Well....um...there is no where to go around here..."
"I know...so why don't we just stay here? We'll clear out the house eventually, and then..." Locke nibbled Celes' ear lobe, and she squealed softly as he ran his hands over her thighs and up to her waist, pulling her closer to him and he continued to nibble and kiss her softly.
"Hmm..." Celes murmured, and closed her eyes, feeling a wave of relaxation run through her. She had to do all she could not to turn around and start returning his kisses, because she knew that if she did, they would never be able to stop, and there would be no sleep for either of them. Celes immagined her and Locke worn out the next evening, too tired to even undress, and she cringed in her mind. What an awful honeymoon!
Celes blinked, and sat up. Sunshine was pouring over the bed from the open window in their bedroom. A gentle breeze blew through, making the curtains drift about aimlessly. She looked around, but not could find Locke anywhere. Has she fallen asleep? She then spotted a note beside her in the bed, on Locke's pillow.
See you later babe! The groom isn't supposed to see the bride until the wedidng, it's bad luck!
Love,
Locke
Celes smiled a little and raised her arms high in the air to stretch and yawn.
This was it! Celes' big day had finally arrived!
"Are you serious?"
"Yes, Locke, I'm very serious." Celes said, and yawned loudly, and slumped back against the headboard of the bed. "Terra suggested it to me today."
"Do you think he would do it?"
"Yes."
"Well, then that's great! I can't believe we have a priest!!!"
"Hee-hee." Celes smiled, and yawned again. "Well, not exactly a priest, but someone who can get the job done!"
"I'll write him tomorrow, and ask." Locke said excitedly, and smiled. "Looks like everything is turning out ok again babe. We just had to be patient..."
"Yeah!" Celes said, and ran her fingers through her hair. "Just a couple of days and...!"
**********
The next morning, things seemed to go back to normal. Celes got out of bed and gave Terra the tour of Kohlingen she had promised her the day before, with out any problems. Locke wrote to Setzer and requested his services at the wedding. The day went by peacefully and without any exciting events, which to Celes, was more then a good thing.
The next day, they got a reply back from Setzer, saying he would be more then happy to marry Locke and Celes. He also added a little note about there being a slight fee, but Locke and Celes decided to ignore that. It's not like he needed it!!
Although walking was slightly more painful then before, Celes was healing up nicely from the day before. She and Terra spent time together walking around Locke's property and talking about most of the things they never got to share while they were together, mostly intimate girl talk that both had missed out on their whole lives. The Empire also came up a few times, but not enough to bother them. Finally, finally, Celes could push away her past and focus on the future...at least, that's what she thought. Terra even shared with Celes the secret that she had been keeping to herself...how her past still bothered her slightly, how it even effected some of the things she did today. Celes was honored that Terra would share something like that with her.
Everything seemed to be falling into place nicely as the days ticked by until the wedding. Somehow, to Celes' surprise, Locke had managed to find a great chef in town who would have loved to provide food for the guests. (And with Umaro as one of the guests, there would definately be a need for lots of food...) Celes and Terra made up a great arrangement for the small party at Locke's house afterwards, a big picnic in the beautiful back yard!
And the honeymoon? Well, that was all discussed the night before...Terra had fallen asleep in her room, worn out from last minute plans. She even helped Celes clean the house and make sure her dress was ironed and perfect for the next morning. Celes was changing into her pajamas when Locke walked in, his head matted to his forehead from sweat. He had been working out in the yard, cleaning it up for the party. Celes was slipping into her pajama bottoms as he came up behind her and embraced her tightly.
"Locke!" Celes exclaimed, and struggled to pull her pants up the rest of the way. He kissed her hair and released her, pulling off his white t-shirt as he walked away. Celes reached for her hairbrush on the dresser and began to pull her hair back in a low ponytail.
"You look tired." Celes said, and set down her brush again after tying a worn ribbon in her hair.
"I am." Locke said, and yawned loudly. "I can't even get to sleep yet. I still have to take a bath..." He yawned again as he pulled off his jeans, leaving him in his boxers. He then took his robe off of a hanger in the closet, and slipped it on, leaving the front untied, and grabbed his sleeping shirt from the bed. He walked over to Celes again and kissed her softly on the lips. She returned the kiss, and smiled a little at his dirty face.
"Hurry to bed." She said, and he winked.
"But of course." He replied, and walked out of the bedroom, shutting the door softly behind him. Celes let out a breath she didn't even realize she was holding and crawled into bed, pulling the covers up and around her body. Butterflies had made their way into her stomach, making her heartbeat race. Tomorrow she would be a different person. She wouldn't be Celes Chere anymore...She would be Celes Cole.
"Celes Cole..." The name fell from her lips in almost a whisper, but filled her mouth with a sweet taste like the kind you could get from children's candy. Celes rolled onto her back and looked up at the very boring and very white ceiling, immagining what kind of a life Celes Cole would lead. Would she be a beautiful girl that would age gracefully into a real woman, one that would get dressed up for dances and balls and strive to be the prettiest, now that she had a husband to impress? Or maybe she would be a homewife...dependent on every one of Locke's actions...never having to worry about work outside the home again? Or maybe...
A pang of fear struck into Celes' heart at her next thought.
Maybe...a mother... Celes bit her lower lip and closed her eyes tightly, trying to squeaze the thought out of her. She didn't know why, but the thought of bearing a child was absolutely horrifying. Not only was there the pain that you had to go through just to get the thing out, but it was literally a life-altering experience. Things would never change, no matter what, because children were forever. Children that depended on love, and other important things only a mother could provide with the father. Celes moaned and opened her eyes again.
I wonder...if I could ever love someone like that. She thought. I really cannot tell what I am capable of anymore unless it has to do with battle tactics. How sad...it's like I have the maturity of a little girl when it comes to all of these important issues life throws at every woman...What if Locke wants a child and I refuse him? Would he leave me? Or maybe...he would...
A tear slipped from Celes' eye and trailed down her cheek. No way would Locke want to cheat on her for something like that! There was no way she could doubt him at all! Locke loved Celes for who she was now, not who she was capable of transforming into in the future.
"I don't want to change at all." Celes stated firmly to herself. "And I won't. The only thing that will change about me tomorrow is my name. Locke has fallen in love with the woman I've become. I'll always be General Celes Chere in my mind, but in his...I'm just Celes Cole. And that's....that's who I want to be!"
"Celes? Did you call for me?" Locke called out from the hallway as he opened the bedroom door. Celes sat up and tried not to gawk like an idiot. He was only in a light yellow towel wrapped around his waist, with another towel around the back of his neck that she asumed he had used for his towel- tossed wet hair. Celes swallowed and managed to shake her head slightly, her eyes glued on his tanned and toned body.
"No..." She said, "I did not..."
"Oh, sorry, jeeze, I jumped out of the tub for nothing." Locke laughed a little and turned around, closing the door once again. Celes felt a sweat break out on her forehead as she hit her pillows again, her breathing slightly paced up.
"Oh man, how am I going to get through tonight?!" Celes muttered with clenched teeth, and balled her fists at her side. "All of a sudden, being a virgin bride has become really difficult!!"
About a half an hour later, Locke finally came back to the room for the night, dressed for bed. He crawled in next to Celes and embraced her tightly. Celes sighed happily, his fresh scent enveloping her body, even with her back turned to him.
"Locke, I'm so excited about tomorrow, I don't think I can fall asleep!"
"Heh, you have to, Angel, if you don't get any sleep, you'll look like the bride from the dead tomorrow."
"Hey!" Celes giggled, and snuggled closer against him. He burried his head in her hair and sighed himself.
"So, what is up for the honeymoon tomorrow, dear?" He whispered. Celes blinked and tried not to giggle as he began to lightly tickle her leg.
"What did you have in mind?" Celes whispered back.
"Hmm, well, so far, all I see in the picture is you, and me, and a totally empty place to ourselves...and..."
"I'm serious!" Celes said, and finally started to giggle as his hand brushed her inner thigh when he began to tickle there.
"You don't sound very serious yourself!" Locke pointed out over her laughter, and kissed her ear.
"Well....um...there is no where to go around here..."
"I know...so why don't we just stay here? We'll clear out the house eventually, and then..." Locke nibbled Celes' ear lobe, and she squealed softly as he ran his hands over her thighs and up to her waist, pulling her closer to him and he continued to nibble and kiss her softly.
"Hmm..." Celes murmured, and closed her eyes, feeling a wave of relaxation run through her. She had to do all she could not to turn around and start returning his kisses, because she knew that if she did, they would never be able to stop, and there would be no sleep for either of them. Celes immagined her and Locke worn out the next evening, too tired to even undress, and she cringed in her mind. What an awful honeymoon!
Celes blinked, and sat up. Sunshine was pouring over the bed from the open window in their bedroom. A gentle breeze blew through, making the curtains drift about aimlessly. She looked around, but not could find Locke anywhere. Has she fallen asleep? She then spotted a note beside her in the bed, on Locke's pillow.
See you later babe! The groom isn't supposed to see the bride until the wedidng, it's bad luck!
Love,
Locke
Celes smiled a little and raised her arms high in the air to stretch and yawn.
This was it! Celes' big day had finally arrived!