(A/N): Thank you all for your wonderful reviews. I would like to give a special thanks to AmyGirl23 for her time-taking effort on typing up 1,000 'reviews.' and, of course, everyone else for providing me so much encouragement last chapter. I got 37 reviews!!! My treat: it's early! The song in here is called "Endless Love" and it's the theme song from the Chinese movie "The Myth", sung by Sun Nan and Han Hong. I'm not sure whether this is the original song or the changed version... I have a link in my profile that links to a version with subtitles (made by me :) since I can't find one with the right translations). I'll stop rambling now.
Disclaimer: Don't own it!
Chapter 27 – Happily Ever After
I was drowning again. Everything was numb and everything was dark. Faintly, I heard muffled sounds, but one of them was the clearest. It was the voice of an angel – he was sad, and his voice seemed to break several times.
As I tried to listen and get closer to that beautiful voice, I felt myself sinking more and more – the voices got fainter and fainter until only the voice of my angel remained. When that had begun to fade as well, I felt as if I had touched the bottom of a deep pool, and I was fading as well.
A few moments later, the angel's voice had stopped completely, but I had stopped fading. The next second, I was being lifted up from this desolate bottom to the surface at an amazing speed. The darkness became lighter, but when I broke the surface, I screamed from the onslaught of pain and emotions. There was a burning, scorching pain on my neck that was spreading faster with each beat of my sluggish heart.
My nerves felt scorched in the vicinity of my stomach. It almost felt as if I was being dissolved – burnt alive. I tried to scream again, but my throat had closed, and I only managed a weak whimper.
Cold hands held me, and I felt myself being moved away. It stirred something in my stomach, causing me to gasp in pain. By now, though, the heat of the fire had far surpassed the sting of the wound in my stomach. In fact, the pain from my stomach was gradually fading, as were the pain from elsewhere in my body, as if some unknown hand was sewing me back together.
At first, there were intense pains in my arms and fingers, but I was too delirious to truly realize that it came from the resetting of all the shards of my finger and arm bones. The raging fire roared in my body, only to be dowsed temporarily by a sudden freezing that had my temperature dropping to below zero in less than a second. Only, a moment later, it came back with renewed force. The sheer agony of it took my breath away. My throat was burnt too raw to scream, and my entire body was paralyzed. I could not move. I could not speak. I was in hell. My only comfort came from the soothing voice of my angel who stayed by my side throughout.
After immeasurable amounts of time, even time stopped for me. It was as if I was racing a thousand hours a minute and then suddenly going into a second a year. I was muffled under a blanket, and now it was removed. I heard the distinct last beats of my heart – thud…thud……thud…silence. Feelings gradually returned throughout my body, starting from my heart and moving outwards in ripples. Gingerly, I tried to move one finger, and had to bite back a giggle as I felt it twitch.
I opened my eyes – everything was much clearer. I did giggle then. I am alive! I'm alive!
There was a shuffling noise, and I saw the relieved face of Edward swimming into view. He looked terrible – purple bruise-like bags hung under his eyes and his face seemed to be lined with worry. However, when I smiled at him, the lines disappeared.
"Thank God you're okay!" he exclaimed.
"Yes, I'm okay. But, are you okay? You look too worried for your own good," I replied.
I reached up and cupped his cheek. "What happened?" His eyes fluttered closed as he leaned into my hand.
"I changed you," he said simply. He opened his eyes, staring into mine until I could almost feel his emotions. "I was too selfish. I can't follow my promise and live on as if nothing happened if you can't be beside me. I can't follow my promise of not making our story into a tragedy if you aren't with me to prove it. I want a sweet faerie tale, Bella, not a bittersweet one. And for all my selfishness, I couldn't let you go, so I changed you."
Part of me knew that he spoke the truth. His guilt and sadness was so clearly visible that he appeared to be shrouded in a light haze of blues and greens. "Don't be guilty. I am feeling nothing other than delight at the thought of being by your side for as long as time allows." I paused. "That is, if you still want me…" I was cut off by his lips crashing into mine. The kiss was so intense without inhibitions or barriers that I thought I would have fainted if I could.
When I broke away, I was smiling so big, I thought my face would crack, and Edward grinned back at me, the haze of blues and greens lightening into incandescent sparkling whiteness. "You look like a silly goose when you grin like that, you know?" I teased.
"If I am a goose, then what would you be? Mrs. Goose?" he teased back. I grabbed the first thing I could get my hands on, which happened to be a particularly large pillow, and threw it at his face. Thus started the first pillow fight of my…what would you call it…next life?
"That doesn't answer the question." He smirked and pinned me down to the bed.
"Nah…I'd rather be a Cullen than a Goose. Are you saying that your name is Edward Goose now?" I inquired with a British accent before giggling. He was struggling not to smile, though his happiness was so apparent to me – sparkling and shining.
"Hey!"
"You're not angry, so don't even attempt to pretend to be. You're glowing too bright and sparkly for that."
"Since when do I glow bright and sparkly without the sun?"
"Since I became your one and only sunshine without the sun!" I leapt up and threw another pillow at him.
Giggling like crazy maniacs, we raced around the room until he caught me by the waist and twirled me around. "Are you happy?" he inquired.
I only nodded, basking in his embrace. Little did he know that he was my sunshine and my stars – my heaven away from heaven…or maybe he did…. Who cared if I sounded so…um…clichéd?
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"Hurry up now, Bella, Edward's waiting, our families are waiting…heck, the entire peoples of two kingdoms are waiting!" shouted a flustered Alice dressed in her dark red rose bridesmaid dress.
I stepped out from the bathroom, the train of my gown trailing behind me. I took the time to reflect upon the past month. It felt like a true faerie tale. The entire kingdom was put to sleep and the city was encased by large bushes of thorns and dark leafless branches that disappeared as soon as Edward kissed me for the first time since my transformation. Since then, so many things had passed.
For example, the spilling of our engagement to our parents. I had never seen my parents happier when I told them that the curse was broken and that I had accepted Edward's proposal. Of course, the not-so-fun part was when Edward spent nearly an entire day with Father and Mother under the 'pretense' of asking for their blessings. To this day, the day-long conversation still remained a mystery to me although I could tell that whenever I asked of it, I only got part-truths that sometimes made no sense at all.
As a vampire, I discovered that my ability was to be able to see what someone was feeling and/or thinking (through auras). And, of course, I could always tell a lie or part-truth when I hear it. Carlisle thought it suited me well – I was so perceptive of others before. Vampirism also enhanced my blessings from at birth, according to everyone, but I only agreed on voice. I enjoyed my singing a lot better, although it still sounded foreign sometimes. There was one other trait of mine that carried over strongly. I guessed that the 'Vampire God' decided to be very nice to me and made me indifferent to the smell of human blood. Sure, I could tell their different 'flavors', as Edward put it, but I – for the sake of everyone – do not want to drink it nor have anything to do with it. It never smelled bad, I guess…it smelled like various flowers and grass and whatnot…but never smelled like something edible. I mean, even when a flower smelled so sweet think of lilacs, you would never actually want to eat it, would you?
Alice disrupted my thoughtful musings by pulling sharply on my hand. "I can't believe that you're being so slow. We have only fifteen minutes, and I still need to get you into the grand church with your bouquet and et cetera, et cetera. Would you spare me some worrying by starting to worry some yourself?!" I smiled. Trust Alice to always be there for you, taking your burdens. I smiled wider at my silent joke…Until Alice tugged on my gloved hand again. "Well? Stop smiling like an idiot and start walking! We don't have all day!"
I obeyed her orders, dropping back into my thoughts again.
The past month had been busy with wedding preparations. There was not a calm moment. Never once had I thought that weddings took so much time and effort to plan. Even working all day and night, we barely finished on time, but I finally made it through. My dress – the bride's dress – gave everyone the most headaches. I could have sworn that the women must have visited over a hundred clothing shops before finding the perfect one. It was strapless with light white sweater-sleeves, a dark red belt, and a flowing dress with little decoration that parted to reveal a white underskirt. Elegant, but simple – just the way I liked them. (A/n: dress and tiara pictures in profile) My tiara was a complex diamond one that held on to the thin veil trailing gracefully down my back. I still found it amazing that I was still alive after all that shopping and wedding pains.
At that precise moment, Alice gave me a little push, causing me to fall into the coach in a very ungraceful manner. "Alice!" I reprimanded her, but she only looked at me as if to say 'you're the one who's not looking!' I harrumphed while rearranging my white dress before giving her a smile to say I'm sorry.
My calm interior broke then. I was going to get married. Every single thought hit me like a sack of crushed bricks. To say that I was suddenly nervous was a great understatement. I was excited, nervous – beyond nervous, delighted, scared, and a thousand other emotions all at once. It was simply not fair how quickly some things catch up to me.
The ride to the grand church where the wedding was to take place seemed awfully short. I wasn't ready…I'm too nervous…was my dress on okay? Do I look good enough? When Father helped me out of the coach, he immediately noticed my panic. "Calm, child. You'll be okay." He was speaking the truth. I shall be okay. I will be okay, if it's the last thing I do.
(A/N: I hereby admit that I do not know the exact order nor vows and etc that are to be in a wedding. Please forgive me if some things are out of order or are wrong. I tried researching…but it got me more confused than before…so…cope with me! ;)
The big doors of the church opened just as the first chimes of noon arrived. The old creaky hinges sang lowly, presenting me with a sense of anxiety as well as calmness. A red carpet led from the door all the way to the altar at the far end where heavenly light was shining in from the sky window above. And there Edward stood – a beautiful god that was beyond beauty. In his dark pants and suit with a bowtie the color of my belt, the mere sight of him blew my breath away.
I hooked my arm through my father's elbow, allowing him to escort me down the aisle as my sweet lullaby was played. My eyes were always on his golden ones, trying not to melt under his gaze then and there. He was ecstatic, I knew, as well as slightly shocked. He reached for my hand when I approached the altar and there I stayed, staring into his lovely eyes and ignoring everything, especially the droning priest, until Edward suddenly said, "I do," breaking our eye contact a moment to slip a ring onto my finger.
"Do you, Princess Isabella von Swan, take this man, Prince Edward von Cullen, to be your lawful wedded husband, to have and to hold, from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness or in health, to love and to cherish 'till death do you part?" the priest inquired.
"I do," I replied, mimicking Edward's actions.
It was not until much later that Edward spilled the secret of the two rings – plain gold rings with a single topaz set in the middle. The faeries had bestowed them to Edward, insisting that he used these two instead of the much more extravagant rings he had bought. There was a small latch within the two rings that fitted together, should they be united. The single ring they would create, adequately named Hope, would help bring light and beauty to all that was dark and ugly; and help us (should we need it) in the most inconspicuous manner. It was one of the best wedding gifts we received.
"By the power bestowed on me from The Holy God, I pronounce this couple husband and wife. Prince Edward, you may now kiss your bride," the priest said.
His lips landed on mine before the priest had time to finish. Tentatively his tongue brushed my lips, seeking entrance, to which I gave. I had no idea how long we stayed there, lip-locked. We were interrupted after too short a time, by my eyes, when someone loudly cleared his or her throat.
I broke away suddenly, only to see a slight audience. I grinned sheepishly while Edward did the same.
"Their Royal Majesties of Austria and Italy, fellow citizens of Austria and Italy, and other guests, I present to thee Mr. and Mrs. Edward von Cullen," the priest said proudly.
There was a moment of silence before everyone loudly clapped their hands and whistled. Our grins became bigger as I stepped off of the altar, escorted by Edward.
(A/N: and now I'm completely clueless about what happens next…forgive me if I'm making/mixing stuff up…and I'm going to skip the bouquet-tossing, since I don't think I know how it works exactly…:)
Outside, in the bright churchyard, the reception began. Father and I opened up the first dance to the floor when he congratulated me, with tears in his eyes, and told me how happy he was at the moment.
When the first dance ended, Edward took over as my partner and a beautiful song from the other side of the Silk Road was played. We sang to the duet as we danced, smiling and bathing in each other's love.
(This is the translation of the Chinese-Chinese version of the song)
The familiar face in my dreams is the tenderness that I await.
Even though tears flood the skies and earth, I'll never let go.
Every moment passes in loneliness, because I have made a promise.
Deeply touched moments between us, love must wake up.
Throughout the ages only love will remain as a myth.
Perpetual motion of tides will never bring regret to the promise of true love.
After many painful toiling and struggling in the dark,
Hold our hands together, never to part again.
Yet, the pain is over. Happiness awaits, does it not? The source of our woes and worries had gone, and there should be none to tear us apart – our bond is strong.
Love that is capped by snow, will only be melted by the embrace of true hearts –
The flame of love on a lamp in the wind never decreases and dies.
Waiting for flowers to bloom, spring comes and goes, time laughs because I'm a fool.
Heart is as cold as steel, letting the world to ruin, but I'll always be missing you.
Together forever. That was every loving couple's wish. Forever is a long time, but everything is better with a partner whom you love.
Throughout the ages only love will remain as a myth.
Perpetual motion of tides will never bring regret to the promise of true love.
After many painful toiling and struggling in the dark,
Hold our hands together, never to part again.
I smiled at the lyrics. "I love you," I whispered to him as we sang.
Happy or sad times, its only love that's the eternal myth.
No one forgets the ancient promise.
Your tears become colorful butterflies on the sky.
Love in the wind letting both hearts to fly freely.
"I love you, too," he whispered back to me.
Happy or sad times, its only love that's the eternal myth.
No one forgets the ancient promise.
Your tears become colorful butterflies on the sky.
Love in the wind letting both hearts to fly freely.
You're the only beautiful myth in my heart.
"'You're the only beautiful myth in my heart,'" I quoted to Edward. He smiled in reply, holding me closer, twirling me around.
"And you, my dear Mrs. Cullen, are my heart and soul," he replied, sweeping me into a sweet kiss.
I knew it would be foolish of me to think that our eternity would be perfect. No matter how strong our bond and our love is, there would always be disagreements and disappointments. However, I know that our love and understanding would always win in the end…'till death do us apart.
And so, with tiny blemishes here and there, we lived happily ever after.
-----------------------------------The End-----------------------------------
First of all, I would like to thank all of my wonderful reviewers. Your reviews are awesome and they helped me keep going. I don't know what the story will turn out to be if I don't have your encouragement and tips and constructive criticisms. Hugs for all:)
It took me forever to find the song for this chapter. I must have switched between five thousand different beautiful duets before finally narrowing it down to two (the other one's called 'Somewhere Out There' by Linda Ronstadt and James Ingram). From there, I asked my mom and brothers to vote, and they all unanimously agreed to the one here. I do like the ending though, if I may say so myself. I'll just state here that I'm a helpless (and hopeless) romantic that can't really stand bad/bittersweet endings. (I can't believe how many of you feared that I was going to make her die! lol...jk.)
I would still like reviews on how this chapter/entire story turned out. Even if it's the year 2050 or something...it doesn't matter...I'd still like to hear it if I can.
The vote for my next story is over. The winner is...(drumroll) Beauty and the Beast crossover (applause now). It is titled A Little Bit of Love.Thank you guys so much, everyone. I couldn't have done it without you.
Until next time,
Cathy