Disclaimer: All previous disclaimers apply.
Chapter 23: Do I hear Wedding Bells?
Burial Plot next to Bianca's Mother's Headstone
San Francisco, CA, USA
December 14, 2031
1:00 pm
The pounding rain on Wyatt's and Chris' black umbrellas drowns out the solemn voice of the pastor who is performing Bianca's funeral ceremony. Dressed in black suits, Chris and Wyatt watch as the coffin containing Bianca's body is lowered into the ground next to Bianca's mother's resting place and dirt is thrown over it.
"Wy, would you give me some privacy? There's something I would like to say to Bianca," Chris says after the ceremony.
Wyatt steps away from Bianca's grave and lets Chris have a moment to talk to Bianca. Chris gets down on his knees in front of Bianca's headstone and says,
"Bi, you've died twice and both times at Wyatt's hands, although the first time was at Lord Wyatt's hands. I loved you back then and I still do in many ways, but I love Aisling even more. I know I told you that we would come together again and perhaps, we will, but let's just be friends next time, if you don't mind."
Then, Chris stands up, turns around, walks towards Wyatt and says, "Wy, let's go home."
Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry
Emily's Bedchamber
Somewhere in Scotland
December 15, 2031
2:00 am
Knock. Knock. Knock.
Who could that be? Well, there is only one way to find out, Emily thinks as she places Hermione's copy of Hogwarts, a History on the end table next to the bed.
Flashback begins.
Muggle London, England
December 13, 2031
12:00 pm
"Rose, when was Hogwarts built?" Emily asks during their shopping trip in muggle London.
"I don't know, but Mum might know. I'll ask her," Rose replies.
Rose is only a couple of years younger than her. Does she still believe that her mother knows everything?
"Emily, I can tell that you think that Rose believes that her mother knows everything from the way you raise your brow. The truth is that everyone believes that Aunt Hermione knows everything. Aunt Hermione has always been labeled the smartest witch of her age and she works hard to keep that image. If she doesn't know something, she'll research it and then tell you the answer," Lily says.
Then Lily turns to Rose and says, "You don't need to ask Aunt Hermione. The answer is probably in "Hogwarts, a History." Just ask her if you can borrow it."
That evening, Rose visited Emily and handed a large brown book with pages that had once been white but were now yellowed by time.
Emily flipped through the book and saw that some passages had been highlighted with a yellow highlighter. Other passages were highlighted in green. There were also some passages highlighted in blue. Emily flipped to the first page of the book and found a little post-it note that had a dot for every color. Next to the yellow dot was written Harry in a nice slanting scrawl.
The green dots represented historical facts that Hermione found amusing. The blue dots represented information about house-elves and her thoughts about the Society for the Promotion of Elfish Welfare.
"Thank you, Rose," Emily says.
Flashback ends.
Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry
Emily's Bedchamber
Somewhere in Scotland
December 15, 2031
2:02 am
"I'm coming," Emily shouts as she pads over to the door.
Emily opens the door and is surprised to see Wyatt standing outside the door. He is wearing khaki trousers, brown leather belt and green dress shirt. Emily notices that the top button of the dress shirt is undone and that he isn't wearing his gun holster.
"Hi!" Emily says.
"Em, I don't know where else to go," Wyatt says as he runs his right hand through his hair.
Emily opens the door further and invites Wyatt into the bedroom.
Wyatt enters the bedroom and plops down onto the bed.
"Em, come over her and hold me, please," Wyatt implores.
Sensing that Wyatt needs her to comfort him, Emily sits down on the bed next to Wyatt in Indian style. She places his head in her lap. Then, she strokes his hair and sings a lullaby that puts Wyatt to sleep. When Wyatt has finally fallen asleep, Emily places Wyatt's head on the pillow, gets into bed and pulls the coverlet over both of them.
Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry
Emily's Bedchamber
Somewhere in Scotland
December 16, 2031
7:00 am
When Emily wakes up the next morning, she pats the side of the bed next to her where Wyatt was sleeping and touches a piece of paper. She picks up the piece of paper and reads:
Em,
There is something that I have to do today. Please meet me tonight. Cassie will escort you. It's important.
W.M.H.
Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry
Emily's Bedchamber
December 16, 2031
6:45 pm
"Miss Emmy, Sir wishes for me to escort you," Cassie says as she pops into Emily's bedchamber.
"Just a minute, Cassie," Emily says as she applies some red lipstick to her lips at the vanity table.
When she's ready, she takes Cassie's hand.
Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry
A Spare Room on the Third Floor Corridor
December 16, 2031
7:00 pm
The room has mahogany-paneled walls that make the room look small. A fireplace graces the western wall. The room also contains a large round scarlet area rug that covers a bamboo hardwood floor. Two large plush chairs rest on the rug. Wyatt lights the fire log in the fireplace with a lighter, waits for the wood to catch fire and burn and closes the screen.
Afterwards, he spreads out a red and white-checkered blanket in front of the roaring fire in the fireplace. He places a picnic basket on the right side of the blanket. Next, he stacks two hard-bound leather books with gold-gilded pages in the center of the blanket and places a small crystal lotus blossom candle holder with a red candle on top of the books. Just as Wyatt lights the candle with a lighter, Emily and Cassie arrive.
"What a surprise!" Emily says.
Wyatt places the lighter back into the pocket of his black tuxedo jacket and turns around to face Emily and Cassie. He eyes the slinky, mini red dress with a tie back that Emily is wearing and her matching high heels. Next, Wyatt stands up and approaches Emily. He bows, takes her hand and kisses it. Then, he brushes a few strands of her red hair back under her ear and whispers into her ear, "You look very beautiful, tonight, Emily."
"Thank you, Wy. You look very handsome, too," Emily says as she eyes Wyatt's black tuxedo and black, polished dress shoes.
Then, Wyatt pulls away from Emily, notices Cassie and says, "Thank you for your help, Cassie."
"Yous welcome, Sir," Cassie says as she pops back to the kitchens.
After Cassie leaves, Wyatt holds his hand out to Emily and asks, "May I have this dance, My Lady?"
"Certainly, kind Sir," Emily replies as she takes Wyatt's hand and they waltz around the room, while Wyatt hums a tune.
After dancing, Wyatt drags Emily over to the red and white-checkered blanket. Emily sits on the left side of the blanket, while Wyatt sits next to the picnic basket and faces Emily. He empties the picnic basket of its contents and fills a plate with some turkey, ham, stuffing, mashed potatoes with gravy, green bean casserole, corn-on- the-cob, fried apples and treacle tart for Emily. Next, he pulls out two bottles of butter beer from the basket and hands one of the bottles of butter beer to Emily. Then, he fills another plate for himself. As they eat, Emily tells Wyatt about meeting Peeves and how Al found her and led her to the kitchens, where she met Cassie.
After eating, Wyatt leads Emily over to the right chair on the scarlet rug. He pulls out a little black velvet box from a pocket sewn into the lining of his tuxedo coat and opens the box to reveal a gold band with a brilliantly shining emerald in its center. Next, he takes Emily's hand and gets down on his knees before Emily.
"Em, when I thrust Excalibur into Bianca's heart and she died, I couldn't help thinking that I could have died. I started to think of what I would be missing if I died and I realized that I would miss you. You complete me. I can't imagine my life without you in it. I love you. Will you marry me?" Wyatt asks.
"Yes," Emily says with tears in her eyes.
So, Wyatt slips the ring onto her finger, stands up and kisses Emily.
Saint Joseph's Catholic Church
Dublin, Ireland
December 25, 2031
10:00 am
Aisling is standing in front of a mirror studying her reflection. She is wearing a long white wedding gown. Her raven hair has been styled into an elegant coiffure. A few tendrils peek out from under her veil. On her feet are two white high-heel shoes. The Charmed Ones and Emily surround her.
"After I orbed you, your father and her back to your house from the Sanctuary after Wyatt defeated Ailin Callahan; your mother went to the master bedroom and returned with a red velvet box. She told me to give it to you on your wedding day," Paige says as she hands the red velvet box and an envelope to Aisling.
Aisling opens the red velvet box and finds a rosary and a pair of dangling brilliantly shining diamond earrings and a matching necklace. Next, Aisling removes the card from the envelope, opens it and reads aloud:
My Darling Aisling,
Today is your wedding day. Congratulations!
You might be nervous today. So, instead of concentrating on the eyes looking at you, look at your new husband and the butterflies in your stomach will disappear. I guarantee it.
In addition, you may be curious about the contents of the red velvet box. Knowing you, you probably opened the red velvet box before reading this card. The red velvet box contains the O'Neil family rosary. The rosary is something old.
Again, congratulations on your wedding! Have a happy and prosperous married life!
Love,
Mom
After reading the card, Aisling hands the card to Paige, hugs her and says, "Thanks, Aunt Paige."
After Aisling hugs Paige, Aisling slips the rosary onto her right wrist.
Next, Emily comes forward and hands Aisling a bouquet of a dozen fresh red roses and a sixpence.
"The bouquet of red roses is something new," Emily says as she slips the sixpence in Aisling's left high heel shoe.
Aisling thanks Emily and hugs her.
Then, Phoebe hands Aisling a length of blue ribbon and ties it into her hair.
"Thanks, Aunt Phoebe," Aisling says as she hugs Phoebe.
Afterwards, Piper comes forward and hands Aisling a small red velvet box. Aisling opens the red velvet box and finds a pair of diamond earrings and a matching necklace.
"The diamond earrings and matching necklace are mine. I wore them on my wedding day," Piper says.
As Aisling thanks and hugs Piper, Mark peeks into the dressing room and says, "You look beautiful, darling."
"Thanks, Daddy," Aisling replies.
Then, he points to his watch.
Aisling takes her father's arm and says, "Let's go, Daddy."
St. Joseph's Catholic Church
Dublin, Ireland
December 25, 2031
11:00 am
As her father escorts her down the aisle, Aisling ignores everyone's eyes and gazes into Chris' eyes as he waits for her at the end of the aisle.
When Aisling reaches the altar, the pastor clears his throat and begins the ceremony.
When the time comes for Aisling to say her wedding vows, she says, "I, Aisling Laura O'Neil O'Keeffe Halliwell-Wyatt, take you Christopher Perry Halliwell-Wyatt, to be my wedded husband, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better for worse, for richer for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, 'til death do us part: according to God's holy ordinance, and thereto I pledge you my love and faithfulness."
After the wedding ceremony, Elder Sandra materializes in little blue and white lights and says, "Chris, the Elders have seen how you have guided Aisling through her magical training all of these years and we have decided to make you Aisling's official whitelighter." Then, she disappears.
St. Valentine's Catholic Church
Juliana Landings, Maine, USA
February 14, 2032
8:00 am
Emily is studying her reflection in the mirror. She is wearing her Paige's wedding gown and the blue bracelet Phoebe gave her on her right wrist. Her hair is styled in an elegant coiffure and she is wearing a tiara instead of a veil. Gold hoop earrings adorn her ears. On her feet are two white high heels and she has slipped the sixpence Hannah gave her into her left shoe. Instead of the Charmed Ones surrounding her like at Aisling's wedding, Aisling, Marianne and Jackie are helping Emily get ready.
As Aisling puts a gold necklace around Emily's neck and closes the clasp, she whispers into Emily's ear, "Think of Wyatt, Em and take a deep breath."
"That's easy for you to say, Aisling," Emily says as she faces Aisling and notices the light flash off the diamond in the center of Aisling's gold wedding ring.
Then, Jackie steps forward and hands Emily two pink photograph albums with covers that are framed by a string of pearls and lace. Emily opens the top photograph album, flips through the pages and sees photographs of Grandma Christina and Grandpa Parker's wedding. Then, Emily opens the other photograph album and sees blank pages.
"You can add your wedding photographs to the second photograph album," Jackie explains.
"Thanks for the something old and something new," Emily replies as she hugs Jackie.
"You are welcome," Jackie replies.
St. Valentine's Catholic Church
Juliana Landings, Maine, USA
February 14, 2032
10:00 am
Emily's father escorts her down the aisle. When she reaches the altar, Pastor George begins the wedding ceremony.
When it comes time for Emily to say her vows, she looks into Wyatt's eyes and says, "I, Emily Sophia Blake Halliwell-Wyatt, take you Wyatt Matthew Halliwell-Wyatt, to be my wedded husband, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better for worse, for richer for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, 'til death do us part: according to God's holy ordinance, and thereto I pledge you my love and faithfulness."