Part VII - Forever:

Part A:

'I want you to know that I don't hate you, Mom. I'm not even angry with you anymore. I just...I know you're reading this and shaking your head. I know you're upset with me for not being 'strong' enough to keep my mouth shut about Claire, but the truth is, Mom, telling him took more strength than I ever knew I had. Real strength is being terrified beyond belief and doing what you know is the right thing, Mom. It's not keeping quiet. And if I end up alone after today...that's okay. I'd rather be alone for the right reasons than with someone for the wrong ones.

I love you, Mom. I hope one day, when we see each other again, that you'll look at me and be proud of the decisions I made.

- Miriam'

Shawn brushed Mimi's hair behind her ear as he stared at her sleeping face. The warm breeze blew through the open window and across their naked bodies covered only by the thin sheet. A sleepy smile curled her flushed pink lips and Shawn knew there was no moment more perfect than this. She had just fallen asleep in his arms after they surrendered themselves to each other. Her breathing had slowed down to a soft purr and the tiny hand that had been drawing circles on his chest had stilled. Craning his head to stare into her face, he smiled. The stiff neck he would suffer later would be very much worth it. They would renew their vows today. Becoming man and wife again; this time, forever. No secrets between them now. No hurt, lies or pain.

Though most wouldn't believe him, Shawn was grateful for all they went through. If they hadn't gone through all of the hurt and pain, they never would have been delivered to this special moment in time.

Pressing his warm lips to her forehead, he knew this was where he belonged.

"Shawn, please, let's talk about this. Let's talk about our daughter."

Belle's voice echoed in the dark. Closing his eyes, the warm breeze engulfed him while Mimi's breath lulled him into serenity.

He could see her face behind his closed lids clearly. The pain the echoed deep within her blue eyes would have affected him once upon a time, but not now. He had finally seen Belle for who she was. Seen her for the manipulator he never would have guessed she could be.

Tears streamed down Belle's reddened cheeks. She stood face to face with Shawn in his apartment, and for the second time in two days, was met with more coldness in his chocolate orbs than ever before. Adjusting Claire on her hip, watching the way his eyes softened upon looking at their daughter's face, her heart pounded rapidly in her chest.

Waking up this morning, the dread from her system gone, Belle intended to make Shawn see the light. To remind him that this was the dream they shared since they were children. They were soul-mates and this was the way it was meant to be. Philip hadn't come home last night; not that she really expected him to. She would always feel guilty about hurting Philip the way she had. He really didn't deserve it. Part of her would always feel guilty about hurting Mimi...she wasn't as heartless as Mimi claimed her to be. But Shawn was her destiny. She would make no apologies for loving him. Make none for wanting him.

"Look, I know you're still mad. You have every right to be, but, Shawn..." - she allowed a watery smile to cross her lips. "...this is what we always wanted. This..." - she held Claire closer to her chest. "Look at her." - she told him, the unjustifiable pain in her voice ringing clearly. "Look at what we created. How can you be mad about making this beautiful creature?"

Shawn stared at her in disbelief. If she truly thought that was what he was angry about, she didn't know him as well as she claimed. "I'm not angry about being Claire's father. I never could be. She's beautiful and she's innocent and she's the best parts of you and I rolled into one. I'll never be unhappy about her being brought into this world" - he noticed Belle smile happily. "But..." - her smile faltered. "...the worst parts of you and I created her. The parts of us that were so selfish and greedy about wanting what we wanted...what we thought we deserved created her. The parts that thought it was okay for you to cheat on Philip and then to lie to him about it."

"We loved each other. We needed each other and succumbed to what had always been between us. What would always be between us." - she reached out to touch his face but he stopped her.

"That doesn't make it okay, Belle." - he told her; seems they've had this conversation before. "Love isn't supposed to hurt people and that's exactly what we've done. You, me, Mimi, Philip. We've hurt everyone we've claimed to care about...and even Claire. We've deprived our daughter of the family she should have had all along."

"We can give her that now. Mimi's gone, Philip's gone, we can be together." - she pleaded. "We can give Claire everything she deserves."

"No, we can't." - he was adamant about that fact. The determination is his eyes, the subtle shake of his head. They both placed an obscene amount of fear in Belle's heart.

"Why not?" - she whispered. "What's stopping us?"

"My heart." - he told her. "It doesn't belong to you anymore." - he chuckled softly. "I can't believe it took me this long to figure it out, and if Mimi hadn't left, I never would have even noticed but...I don't love you anymore, Belle. Not that way." - the tears Belle cried echoed her vast heartbreak. "I love my wife." - he declared. "And I'm going to get her back. I'll deal with everything else after that."

"Say, handsome," - Shawn's eyes opened quickly, shifted and locked with Mimi's. A sleepy smile still across her lips. "All your loud thinking is keeping me awake." - she joked.

"Oh?" - Shawn hitched an eyebrow sleepily and Mimi thought it was the cutest thing she had ever seen. "And how is that? You were snoring, loudly, just a few minutes ago. And my eyes were closed, how do you know that you didn't just wake me up?"

"First," - she slapped his shoulder lightly. "I don't snore. Second, I know when you're sleeping and I know when you're not. You clearly were not as evidenced by your normal breathing and the fact that as soon as you heard me speaking, your eyes shot open and locked with mine. I love you, Babe, but you sleep like the dead. A herd of elephants stampeding in our bedroom wouldn't disturb you."

"Maybe." - he shifted to his side, still keeping her locked in his arms. His hands immediately sought out the most sensitive parts of her back. Her skin felt like silk against his fingers. "But those elephants aren't nearly as sexy as my wife. Nor is the noise they make as sexy as your voice." - he dipped his head and brushed his lips over hers lightly, feeling a tingle shooting through him as he fingers caressed his back.

"Thank you for the compliment. You're pretty sexy yourself." - she kissed him again. "What are you thinking about?"

"Nothing." - he smiled easily. "Just how we got here."

An alarm sounded in Mimi's mind. "Where were you?"

"Nowhere nearly as wonderful as here." - he told her, taking note of the worry in her voice. Kissing her again, he waited until he felt her relax before stopping. "Don't worry. I'm not running."

"Oh, I'm not worried." - she declared. "It took this long, wonderful week of us being down here for me to stop being worried, but...I know you love me. I know you choose me. And if you run out on our wedding, I'll kill you." - she joked with a sleepy grin.

"As will Jason and Samara." - Shawn added.

"Not to mention everyone they're flying down for the wedding."

"And then, I'd kill myself." - Shawn finished. Brushing her hair behind her ear, Shawn was pleased to see the amusement in her eyes. It had taken them so long to get to this point, but he wouldn't trade it for the world. "I love you." - he told her, suddenly serious.

Cupping his face in her hands, "Shawn, I was only kidding. I know you'd never leave me. You promised me you wouldn't once before. I was only teasing."

Smiling, "I know, Babe."

More concerned now. "What's wrong then?" - she asked.

"Nothing. I just never want to forget, and never want you to forget, all that we went through to get to this moment."

"We won't, Shawn." - she told him. "We're going to be okay." - silence fell for a beat. "The only moment I'm worried about now is getting down that aisle tomorrow. That and that I look fabulous in my dress...that's just imperative." - she grinned.

"And what about saying 'I do'?" - he questioned jokingly. "Is that imperative as well? Or did that not make your list of priorities?"

Rolling her eyes, "Of course it did." - she shifted in his arms so that her back was to his chest. "It's just not as important as me looking fabulous in my dress. I'm going to say 'I do' regardless, the dress makes an impression. And seeing as how you're going to rip it off the first chance you get, it has to be a good impression."

Smiling against her neck, "You know me so well." - he confirmed his intent to get her out of the dress. His strong hands began to rove the exposed front of her body. "You're not wearing any clothes now." - he whispered against the shell of her ear. Mimi's hands instinctively rose above her head and entwined in his hair in a reverse embrace. They needed to get to sleep. Their wedding was in a few short hours, but with her husband's body pressed to hers, his hands roaming, his fingers teasing, the fire roared within and she knew it would never quell.

Shifting so that his body was on top of hers, Mimi stared into Shawn's eyes and smiled.

So the wedding would start a little bit late...they'd be married by the end of it.