Andrew smiled when he caught sight of Lisa's makeover. The gown he picked out was a long white piece of art that hugged my curves in the right places without making it look trashy. Lisa's added to beauty factor by making my makeup natural and pinning my hair up in curled braids with a few strains falling here and there in the front. She also placed a ton of white pearl rods into my hair making it look pretty with the candle glow.
I was just tugging on the straps of the skin toned heels she handed me when he barged in. His jaw hit the floor and well his eyes took on a tone I knew all too well. I winced slightly at his smirk, knowing tonight I would need to be on my best behavior and hope that's enough to keep him away.
Later that evening Andy's shuffled us to person to person introducing me to his colleagues, I made sure I was polite and spoke like he wanted me too. It wasn't until well into the ball that Rose and Shannon found me.
Both were beautiful beyond imaginable. Rose was dressed in a sheer red fabric dress that hung off her shoulders and ended at her knees. Her hair was clipped up with soft curls falling here and there like me. She matched the red gown with a pair of black heels that looked even more uncomfortable than mine.
Her mother on other hand was all kind of sass tonight. Shannon's long purple gown also hung off her shoulders, but there was a slit on both sides of it showing off her knee length boots.
When I asked where Patrick was Rose smiled at like she knew something I didn't. "He's setting up the stage up."
"What's that smile about?" I inquired. Her blue eyes looked up at Shannon's who shook her head.
"You'll see." Was her brilliant answer. Rose and I chatted for a little longer, Shannon leaving needing to go over things with the guys before starting the show. Not long after she left Andrew came over and asked me if I wanted to dance as a young blonde man started to sing. Rose looked at Andrew angrily as he kissed the side of my head.
Andrew caught this and greeted her. "Hello."
"Good evening." She sneered towards him. Andrew smirked at seeing the fire she had. I shook my head at her.
"You wanted to dance, Sir?" I asked him, hoping to get him away from her.
"Good girl. Love how tamed you've become." He countered, baiting Rose.
"Maybe some women aren't meant to be tamed. Maybe they just need to run free till they find someone just as wild to run with them." Rose smirked as Andrew gasped.
"Women should know their place." He hissed out.
"So should men." With that she walked away after throwing a wink over my shoulder. Andrew commented he didn't want me to speak to her again and swept me across the dance floor as the man sung about a man telling the audience he was under a spell.
When the song was over Patrick came up to us and asked if he could cut in. Andrew nodded and whispered in my ear to behave. He stepped a side for a moment well Pat pulled me close and danced me away from him.
I could see out of the corner of my eye Andrew sitting at a table with an older man who was gray haired and had many metals on his uniform. Andy's eyes would glance at Pat and I every so often.
Patrick pulled me closer causing me to cry out softly. I looked up into his brown eyes and saw my tears mirrored in his. His grip loosened. "Are you hurt?"
I shook my head. Pat straightened his shoulders and told me to listen as he looked at something over me shoulder, anger clear in his futures.
This time, this place misused, mistakes
Too long, too late, who was I to make you wait
Just one chance, just one breath
Just in case there's just one left
'Cause you know, you know, you know
That I love you
I've loved you all along
And I miss you
Been far away for far too long
I keep dreaming you'll be with me
And you'll never go
Stop breathing if I don't see you anymore
I whipped my head around looking for him, his voice sending butterflies down into my stomach and for once good ones. Patrick smiled and pointed to the stage where I found him, clean shaved in a suit looking dead at me singing. My feet went to step away from Pat, but he pulled me back and shook his head, his eyes glancing over to Andrew.
The tears I was holding back fell silently as I hugged Pat and listened to Monroe sing to me. My eyes never left his ocean blues, searching to see if he meant what he said. Was he telling me he loved me?
After the song was over he disappeared behind the curtain and Andrew came over. Pat wiped my tears away before Andy could see them and smiled down at me. For the first time in months I had hope.
For the rest of the night my eyes searched for those blues eyes. I could feel them, the electricity they created, but I couldn't find their owner. Patrick and the blonde hair man walked onto the stage as I got a drink from the bar. Andrew was somewhere talking one of his business deals when strong arms wrapped around my waist.
I tried to bite back my cry, but Monroe instantly let go and turned me around searching for answers. Shaking my head at him I smiled softly at him and felt a tear slip past me. I had missed him so much. Before I left I thought I wanted to die, that I was ready, but looking into the eyes now I knew I wouldn't be able to give up. Not if I had him by my side.
"Charlotte." He stammered out as his adams apple moved.
"You were supposed to go find a woman." I wobbled out, but he didn't answer just closed his eyes as I raised my hand to cup his face.
"This is one goes out to my brother and sister . . . to all those who have found something to live for in this hell hole." Pat spoke to the crowd. Monroe opened his eyes, placed his hand into mine before pulling me onto the dance floor.
I placed my right hand onto his shoulder well he intertwined the other with his right hand in the air. Monroe's left hand held my waist and as the song started he pulled me closer trying his hardest not to hurt me.
We swayed back and forth with the song content to be in our own little bubble.
Let me be your hero
Would you dance if I asked you to dance?
Would you run and never look back?
Would you cry if you saw me crying?
Would you save my soul tonight?
With each part of the song Monroe touched me somewhere. His eyes expressing how much the words of the song meant to him and the meaning they held towards me. When the song mentioned touching my lips, Monroe raised his hand, cupped my cheek and used his thumb to trace the lines of my bottom lip. I leaned into his hand and kissed his palm before he set it back on my waist.
Would you tremble if I touched your lips?
Would you laugh? Oh, please tell me this.
Now would you die for the one you love?
Hold me in your arms, tonight.
I can be your hero, baby.
I can kiss away the pain.
I will stand by you forever.
You can take my breath away.
Would you swear that you'll always be mine?
Would you lie? Would you run and hide?
Am I in too deep? Have I lost my mind?
I don't care. You're here tonight.
Seeing the love in his eyes I didn't care if Andrew saw me. Sebastian was here and even though I was in pain, I felt safe in his arms. As he began to sing the lyrics into my ear I kissed his neck, making him freeze for a second before pulling back.
His ocean blues meet mine asking permission as he dropped his soft lips against mine. At first the kiss started out innocent, hesitant, but I wasn't taking any chances. I threw my hands up around his neck and threw all my emotions into it. I slipped my tongue out licking his bottom lip, asking for entrance that he gladly gave me and moaned at his taste.
When I pulled back I kissed his lips a few more times and settled my head against his chest. He leaned his head down and whispered in my ear, "I already found the woman I wanted to settle down with, I was waiting for her to find me."
I nodded my head against his chest, not being in control of the tears that fell. Rose stood up on the stage this time and winked at me as Patrick stared playing the guitar starting another song.
[Rose:]
The day we met,
Frozen I held my breath
Right from the start
I knew that I'd found a home for my heart...
... beats fast
Colors and promises
How to be brave?
How can I love when I'm afraid to fall?
But watching you stand alone
All of my doubt suddenly goes away somehow
One step closer
[Chorus:]
I have died everyday waiting for you
Darling don't be afraid I have loved you
For a thousand years
I'll love you for a thousand more
[Patrick:]
Time stands still
Beauty in all she is
I will be brave
I will not let anything take away
What's standing in front of me
Every breath
Every hour has come to this
[Rose & Patrick:]
One step closer
I have died everyday waiting for you
Darling don't be afraid I have loved you
For a thousand years
I'll love you for a thousand more
And all along I believed I would find you
Time has brought your heart to me
I have loved you for a thousand years
I'll love you for a thousand more...
I'll love you for a thousand more...
One step closer
[Chorus: Rose]
I have died everyday waiting for you
Darling don't be afraid I have loved you
For a thousand years
I'll love you for a thousand more
[Rose & Patrick:]
And all along I believed I would find you
Time has brought your heart to me
I have loved you for a thousand years
I'll love you for a thousand more
Monroe held me close we danced to the song that seemed to fit our hearts. We hadn't said it yet, but we both knew the love we both had for one another. As Rose and Patrick finished the song I kissed Monroe's lips, not wanting to leave his arms, but could see Andrew make his way through the crowd, his eyes filled with fire.
He stopped just behind Monroe, making the man I had my arms wrapped around freeze. I didn't make any movements towards him, holding onto the man I loved for just a little bit longer.
"Come." He ordered. I nodded towards the dark eyes that were going to swallow me hole before this was all over and pulled back from Monroe. As my feet went to take a step towards Andrew, Bass grabbed my arm gently.
He eyed Andrew up and down. Almost instantly his frame and eyes changed. His shoulders squared back, eyes dark with a hunger in them; his words had me realizing maybe I was wrong. The man speaking down at Andrew wasn't Bass . . . no this was General Monroe.
I thought that Andrew was worse then the General, but as I looked into the blue eyes I love turn dark and murderous I knew without a doubt that Andrew may be the devil, but Lucifer had stolen my heart. My lips curled involuntary as images of the General killing Andrew flashed over my eyes.
Monroe glanced at me with a small smile on his lips, but when those black eyes of his lightened a tad I knew he was scared I would run from him when he's likes this. I shook my head and cocked it the side a little before glancing at Andrew with as much hate as I could.
"Who are you?" Andrew demanded watching the interaction between myself and Monroe.
Monroe's eyes lit up with humor as he looked the young man over. "General Monroe, President of the Monroe-Matheson Militia." He offered his hand toward Andrew.
Andrew's dark brown eyes glanced at me as he gulped slightly. "What are you doing here? Aren't you supposed to be dead?"
"Seems I have nine lives." I couldn't help the giggle that rose as I pictured the General as black cat. For some reason it fits.
"Why are you here?" He snapped at Monroe and then settled his eyes onto me. "Because of Danielle? Who is she to you?"
"What do you think?"
"She's mine." Andrew spit.
"Actually she's mine, legally. And her name is Charlie. She just so happens to be my wife." I smiled at that. If you would have asked me two years ago if I would be smiling at having the possibility of becoming Mrs. Monroe I would have laughed in your face, but now I couldn't help think how perfect that sounded.
"Not in Ireland she isn't." Andrew had enough and came over to grab my arm, but Monroe tugged me behind him. He yanked his arm back and threw it forward connecting it to Andy's face knocking him out cold. A few ladies screamed and a small crowd began to investigate.
Monroe grabbed my hand and smiled a real, genuine smile at me howling out, "We should run." I nodded as he pulled me through the school building with the O'Connell's and the blonde tailing us.
I couldn't help the laugh that escaped me as we pushed through the school doors and out into the night air. He saved me.
Sebastian traveled across oceans to find me and he saved me. Not caring about the pain it caused I threw my arms around his neck as we flew down the steps and ran into the street. He lifted me carrying me bridal style with a smile of his own.
"Told ya they loved each other. Now pay up!" I heard Shannon tell Rose and Patrick.
Looking up to the stars I thanked whoever was up there listening and held onto the fallen angel with my heart in his hands as he carried us god knows where.