LIWDF chap 7

Disclaimer: The day Victor and Emily are together will be the day I or one of the many fans who feel the same as me own Corpse Bride. Has this happened yet? I thought not. Therefore, it is not mine. :(

Okay, hi there. Sorry for the long silence, but University makes me very busy. I'm almost finished this story now, probably only one more chapter after this one. I know I said that before, but now I'm sure of it. ;)

The following was posted in all my stories.

REVIWERS PLEASE READ: Thanks so much to my reviewers! All the help and advice you give is wonderful. I really feel that you are helping me improve my writing style and spelling, though I know I'm still not great at the latter. The positive feedback is also awesome. It's a fantastic feeling to open a review and find that the person loved your story and wants to kill you if you don't update soon, lol. But seriously, without you guys to encourage me I would probably still update, but I wouldn't know whether people liked my story or not, and for what reasons. You, the reviewers, really aren't appreciated enough for what you do. It only takes a few minutes of your time and may seem like little to you, but just know that every review I get, whether it gives me helpful advice, update entreaties, or just tells me I'm doing a good job raises my spirits and lets me know there are people out there who like my story, even if I make mistakes. Remember, it's the little things in life that count. Every time you take a moment to do something for someone shows them you care. So thank you, and know that you are appreciated, for where would the authors be without the reviewers? (Very lonely.)

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Finally Victoria pulled away from her skeletal comforter. Embarrassed, she spent a few minutes on the hopeless task of fixing her hair, not looking at him.

Sitting beside her on bony knee-caps, Bonejangles was silent as well. Those who knew him would have thought this next to impossible; he was usually so raucous, even crude at times. Nor could he have explained it to them. The fact was that he hadn't met someone he wanted to help this much in a long, long time, since the day another tearful, bloody bride to be had stumbled into the afterlife.

Emily had been the first person he had let himself care about after his death, some fifty years before. Until then he had focused on his music. Pour yourself into something that can't reject you; he had it all figured out.

And then she came, and all that mattered was her. She wrecked his carefully sewn façade of lightheartedness, but it was alright because it wasn't important any more. Only she was. Bonejangles helped heal her while she healed him, and for a while he thought they might have something more than friendship, but it was not to be. They just didn't click that way and once this was clear to both of them they stayed as friends. She was the first real friend he'd ever had.

And Bonejangles was happy. The carefree attitude his friends saw now was himself, no longer a mask. His music was a joy of his he shared with all, and he was always able to help the newly deceased with his odd, but cheerful banter.

Now this young maid struck a chord deep inside him. She had sobbed most of her story to him as she cried in his arms, and it was very familiar. Victoria had spent her whole life doing what was expected of her to the best of her ability, but had never been satisfactory. Her life had ended in tragedy at the one time she stood up for herself.

Quite familiar indeed.

Bonejangles tilted his head, his eye rolling from the left socket to the right in its comfortingly habitual manner as he studied the girl. She really was pretty; not a raving beauty, but pretty. Her eyes were large and her crying had not made them red rimmed, death had put a stop to that. Her brown hair had come tumbling out of its severe bun and now framed her face, softening it overall so that her eyes no longer seemed to bulge.

She looked none the worse for her violent death except for the left side of her forehead where part of the flesh had come away, revealing a patch of white bone.

She was a slender little thing; delicate looking, as though she were made of porcelain. No, that wasn't right. It was more as if she had been treated all her life as though she were porcelain and now, having received a fall, believed herself to be broken.

Her small hands, one bare and blue, one still gloved, were gripping her thin arms as she hugged herself, eyes fixed on the floor.

He couldn't bear to let her stay like that.

"Miss Victoria?" She started, as though she had forgotten he was there. She looked up, and he half expected her to start again upon seeing him, but instead she gave him a wan smile, her ungloved hand snaking up to brush back her wayward hair once more.

"I don't even really know what I'm crying so much for," she said shakily.

"Now what d'you mean by that, lit'tle maid?" Bonejangles asked. He kept his voice as soft as hers, not wanting to startle her.

"I had absolutely nothing to live for." Victoria gave a sudden harsh laugh which turned into a sob on its way out. Bonejangles was astounded.

"What abou' yer family?" Another little laughing sob from the young girl.

"Mother and father were always ashamed of me. The only thing they'll be disappointed about is that no money will be forthcoming from Barkis." Victoria paused, thinking. "At least I'm not married to him anymore," she said softly.

She held up her left hand, the once white glove soiled and torn, and touched the plain, gold ring on her finger with her other hand. Bonejangles watched her as she took hold of the ring in two fingers and gently worked it off. It sat in her palm for a moment, still beautiful and shining, even while the rest of her had become torn and grubby from her forced march through the woods. Then she turned and violently flung the metal circle to the farthest corner of the room. It clinked reproachfully against the far wall before falling to the dusty floor and becoming lost in the decay.

"Miss Victoria…"

"Is Victor happy?" she asked suddenly. Bonejangles considered her for a moment, unsure how to answer.

"Completely," he said then.

"In hell?" Victoria spat out.

"What?" The skeleton's jaw hung open and he had to put a hand up to make certain it didn't fall off.

"This is hell, isn't it?" Victoria said. "It can't be heaven." She hugged herself more tightly, peering at him from between the hanks of hair that trailed over her face.

"No, no," Bonejangles said quickly, almost laughing. "You've got it all wrong, Girlie. 'Ell an' 'eaven ain't places. This place right 'ere, this is the only place ya can go to." He smiled at her kindly and ventured to take her hand in his own, feeling the soft flesh beneath his finger bones. She did not pull away. "'Ell an' 'eaven are states o' mind," he explained. "Victor an' 'is bride, they're in 'eaven. Neither of them would want to be anywhere else." He squeezed her hand slightly. "But it seems to me that you're goin' through 'ell right now, Miss Victoria." A shuddering sob escaped the kneeling bride, and Bonejangles squeezed her hand again. "Would you like me to 'elp you out of it?" he asked. Her head came up a little and she smiled slightly through her tears.

"Yes," she said, than added "on one condition."

"What's that?" the skeleton asked, perplexed.

"That you call me Victoria."

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"A toast! To the Newlyweds!" Albert held up his goblet. He was sanding on his chair in order that his dwarfish stature should not prevent him being seen by the host of dead surrounding the huge, black table. Victor chuckled as he raised his goblet.

"What is it, darling," the corpse bride inquired, lifting her own.

"I was just thinking about the first time I heard him say those words," Victor replied. His voice was soft and filled with warm amusement to match the smile on his thin face. Emily chuckled a little herself at the memory, and clinked her goblet with his.

There was a roar of delight round the length of the table as one and all drank, glittering goblets grasped in ghastly hands. Victor didn't know what the liquid they were toasting with was, and had a sneaking suspicion he would have found it revolting when alive, but now it was delicious; frothy, slightly bitter, also tangy, and with a hint of raspberries. He savored the flavor, allowing it to flow over his tongue, and gazed around at the company.

Skeletons clinked cups with corpses, telling jokes and laughing. The Ball and Socket Pub had been transformed, black streamers festooning the walls and ceiling. The long table groaned under its weight of decaying provender.

Victor couldn't remember when he'd ever been this happy; his beautiful bride at his elbow, surrounded by friends. Friends. He let the word roll around his mind for a moment, savoring it. He had never had friends before. Either other boys were of a higher or lower station than him, in which case he was forbidden to associate with them by his mother, or their parents disliked his parents.

These people liked him for who he was, and he could be himself around them. Already when he looked at them he saw them as his friends. Undead visage could not mask a large heart and kind personality. Figuratively, in any case.

Noticing something hard bump his leg Victor put one arm under the table and felt Scraps' skull nudge his hand. The young corpse scratched the back of his dog's skull absently, still taking in the wedding party with his eyes.

He felt a delicious sense of freedom knowing he needent answer to his parents ever again. He was his own person now, well; he supposed he was Emily's person as well. He gazed at her where she sat, smiling in rapture at the delights her friends had prepared for them.

Hesitantly, Victor snaked his right arm around her and Emily snuggled into him happily, resting her head on his shoulder. Joy flooded through Victor's tall, lanky body and his heart fluttered as he held the lacy, dark beauty. He felt that he could stay like this forever.

Unfortunately this was not to be, for after a moment a loud crash emanated from the far end of the pub and the poor young man started so violently his chair overbalanced and he fell backwards with a sickening thump, taking his new bride with him.

Lying on his back with Emily on top of him, it took exactly three seconds for Victor to realize that he wasn't hurt, and another two seconds to remember the reason for this. He tried to pick himself up, but Emily, after the brief shock of the fall, was planted firmly on top of him and in the middle of a full-out giggle fit so strong she was gasping like a beached fish.

So that's the way she wants it, Victor thought. He felt extraordinarily daring, but decided to take the plunge. Using all of his admittedly diminutive force, he managed to flip them over so that he was on top. Then he attacked, long fingers dancing down his love's torso as though her ribs were the keys on a piano.

"V-Victor, stop!" Emily laughed, wheezing and struggling playfully. Of course she wasn't really out of breath; that was impossible. But the game would only be half as fun without the gasping. "I'll m-make you stop if you don't!" she cried to him.

"And just how will you do that?" Victor enquired mildly from on top of her.

"Like this!" And she suddenly seized his arms, pulling him closer and locking her lips with his. When she finally pulled back Emily smirked, resting her head on the floor. Victor's face was frozen in an absolute stupor. After a moment he shook himself.

"Darling, you can stop me any time you like," he said, still in a slight daze. There was a ripple of laugher from above them, and both lovers looked up to see that the entire wedding party was crowded around them. Coloring slightly, both bride and groom rose, brushing each other off as they did so.

As Victor finished shaking the dust out of his suit jacket he noticed that the members of the skeleton band, the only individuals not gathered around himself and his wife, were hard at work setting up their instruments at the far side of the pub.

"What are they doing that for, Emily?" Victor asked. Emily turned and when she saw what was going on her eyes lit up, sparkling like fresh fallen snow in the moonlight.

"It's time to dance," she exclaimed joyfully.

Victor Froze. "D-Dance?"

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Woo! That was my longest chapter so far in this story! I hope everyone enjoyed the V/E fluff (I did), and isn't too mad at me for the cliffhanger of Victor having to dance. ;)

Bonejangles and Victoria were very difficult to write in this chapter, but I really like how they came out in the end. What do you think? Believable?

Give me some feedback and I will do my best to come up with the (hopefully) final chapter more quickly than this one.

Thanks for reading and see you next time.