A/N: Sry im getting a little antsy with this story im nearing the end and I can't wait to finish it. I hope you guys like it!
Twinkle22- I hope that this makes you happy!
Nerdalicious- I know you know what happens. I hope that once I put it into words that you will laugh. I will continue my immortal story. Read more!
Charter Mage Z- it's cool that you didn't see hp with us. Like in the e-mail. I think that you are a little late in the Aric hunt. Hehe. I hope you like this chapter.
Ch. 9. the beginning of the end of the lovers story
A few weeks passed and Emma had not heard anything from Michael or Christian. But then just when hope had faded, she had reason to hope again.
A letter came for her the next day.
Dear Emma,
We have found Aric; he has agreed to come to see you since we told him that you were dying without him. I'm not sure how well it will work out since Jonathan is still there. I'm sorry that Michael and I missed your 19th birthday. We won't be back for another month. We had to trace him all the way to the most northern borders of France. He was going to leave and never come back. We would have never found him if he wasn't such a slow walker. I sent you a gift; I want you to wear it when we come home. Don't tell anybody. Aric doesn't know. He sent you something and a letter. I will send note when we are close. I love you. See you soon.
-Christian
Emma opened the gift that Christian had sent. It was a dress; it was the most beautiful dress that she had ever seen. It was a beautiful pinkish blue. The dress shimmered in the sunlight. Emma threw that dress on the bed and reached for Aric's letter.
My dear sweet Emma,
It seems that I was wrong in leaving you. I won't loose you again. I don't care what happens when I come home, I refuse to let you go. I love you. I sent you a gift to. You can keep it if you like, if no I understand. When I see you, I'll look for it, if I see it, I'll know. If not I won't bother you anymore. I'll see you once I get there.
Love,
Aric
Emma didn't understand his doubt about the way she felt for him. She loved him so much it made her nervous to be away from him. She opened the small box that came with the letter, it was a black velvet box she opened it to find a note. It said: this is a promise ring.
Emma knew what that promise was. She took the ring out of the box and slipped it on to her ring finger. She silently promised that she would never him again.
The time passed so slowly to her that she could barely stand it.
X
The months passed so slowly, Emma thought that she would go insane. But soon she received the letter that said her lover would be home in two days. That was only a month before her 20th birthday, and when she would be married to Jonathan. But she knew that Aric would never let that happen. Those two days passed the same as the months had.
The morning that Christian, Michael and Aric came home had finally come. Emma put on the dress that Christian had sent her. And Emma made sure that the ring was on her finger before she went to pacing by the front door. It seemed like hours that she paced there. She had no idea of the time that she heard the faint knock on the door and ran to the window to make sure that she was not imagining it.
There was Christian and Michael, but not Aric. She swung the door open, and greeted her friends. She hugged them both.
"Where is he?" She whispered.
Christian nodded his head to the street where Aric stood. Emma ran to him and wrapped her arms around him. The first words out of both their mouths were "I Love you". They kissed and hugged for a long time.
Aric pressed his forehead against hers and smiled. He lifted her hands to his face.
"You're wearing the ring." He whispered and laughed.
"Of course I did. There was never any reason for you to doubt the way that I felt about you. I love you Aric, I always will." She reassured him.
"What was the promise?" He asked.
"I promise that I will love you and only for as long as I live and even into death. Nothing can sway my love for you." She said.
He looked stunned that she said that. Then a smile replaced it and he kissed her again. He picked her up a spun her until her feet left the ground. He put her down then looked at Christian who nodded at him. Aric bent down on one knee and pulled another box out of his pocket.
"Emma, I love you more than anything in this world. I couldn't bear to lose you again. Would you, be my wife?" he ended in a whisper.
Emma said nothing for a few moments and looked at Aric in disbelief. Then as tears began to escape her eyes she pulled him up to her and hugged him. She pulled him away and looked into his face.
"Yes." She whispered to him.
"Emma? Who is your friend?" came a familiar voice from behind Emma. Emma froze in Aric's arms and slowly turned around.
"Hello Jonathan. This is my friend from the opera… Ar… Charlie. He left for vacation a few months ago and he found Christian and Michael on his way home." Emma said carefully.
"Oh, Hello Charlie. I'm glade to meet you Emma never said anything about you before." Jonathan gave Aric a blank look.
"What an idiot! I can't believe that her parents can't see that he is that brainless. I have to get her away from this loser." He thought to himself."
"Hello Jonathan. Christian told me that you and Emma were engaged. Congratulations." Aric stressed those last words. He shook Jonathans hand harshly. Jonathan didn't seem to notice.
"Thank you, won't you stay for dinner?" Jonathan asked.
"Of course." Aric replied coldly.
Emma shot Aric a warning look and he returned it with one was pure innocence.
Jonathan wrapped his arms gently around Emma's waist as a warning to Aric to stay away. He led her into the house and the rest fallowed. Dinner was slowly prepared as the tension began to rise every time Aric and Jonathan met eyes. Jonathan sat the head of the table with Emma to his right and Aric to his left the others sat next to Emma and Aric ready to stop something if it should rise.
"Won't your parents be joining us tonight Emma?" Aric asked daringly.
Emma shot him a warning look and Jonathan answered before she could, she was glad because she wasn't sure if she could keep her voice calm.
"They are out tonight, I'm afraid to say. They felt like they needed a night to themselves." He chuckled unnecessarily to himself. Emma brutally skewered the chicken on hr plate and chewed it.
"Calm down Emma your going to choke yourself. Trust me I made sure that it was dead before I put it on your plate." He laughed again.
"I wanted to make sure." She added in a gruff voice hoping to lighten the mood. It wasn't working. But Jonathan laughed again.
"Just think my darling Emma, in less than a month we will be married. Mmm…" He sighed.
"I'm just giddy with pleasure." Emma said in the most sarcastic voice that she could muster. That made Aric and Michael laugh. Emma was glad that Aric still remembered to laugh.
"Well if everyone is done, then we will move into the sitting room for brandy." He smiled.
"I'll get the dishes." Emma said, thankful for any reason to get out of the tension.
"I'll help you Emma." Aric offered.
"Oh you really don't have to do that. Emma can do it." Jonathan said.
"No I think that I would like that help for once." She rudely turned and walked into the kitchen. She dropped the dishes in the sink and stood with her head dropped. Aric came into the kitchen with the rest of the dishes.
"You wash, I'll dry." He said and waited for her to start. She slowly started to clean the plates that they had used.
"What an Idiot." Aric said.
"And I'm the one marring him. I'm glad that you're back aric. I missed you so much." She put the dishes down and turned to him.
"Me to. It was stupid to run away." He whispered.
"Aric, will you promise me that no matter what happens, that you won't let me marry him?" She asked.
"Yes. I promise no matter what happens. I won't let you go." He reassured her.
They finished the dishes an joined the others in the sitting room in much better spirits.
A/N: I know that this is story is sadly coming to an end. I know tears all around. But I will write another story I promise. Tell me what you think!