**Disclaimer** This chapter delves into some 'rated M' territory. I updated my rating to reflect it. Just wanted to give those of you already following it, the heads up ;)
Chapter XXIV: The Here and After
With unending astonishment, Edward willed his fingers to move again. The bandages recently had come off. Seeing as how fast he healed, he no longer needed them. Currently, his favorite pastime was to watch the movements he could create with his hands and fingers. Giving his new hands a test-run; he had moved them in every way he could think of. If there was a superlative to ecstatic, that is how he felt about finally having them. It was such a great new feeling for him that he couldn't stop moving or watching them.
The only thing missing was the sense of touch; he couldn't really feel anything yet. The sensation of moving his fingers was there, but not of any of the textures he touched. Vee's father had assured Edward that he was progressing as expected, and would gain the rest of the feeling in them very soon.
Holding a wrist in front of his eyes, he inspected the seam to where the hands were attached to his arms. You could hardly see it, unless you were really looking for it. Vee's parents had done phenomenal work, and Edward made sure to show his gratitude toward them whenever he could.
Vee had been acting very secretive the last couple weeks, running out of the room to answer and make phone calls. He wasn't sure what to make of it, and was very curious. All she would tell him was that it was a surprise. He didn't know if he liked surprises; especially if they meant being forced to forgo seeing her.
Leaving a couple of days ago, she promised to be back as soon as she could. He had talked on the phone with her, and he even held the phone himself. Which was a monumental accomplishment for him, worthy of his delighted smiles. He had given up asking her where she was, and what she was doing. Instead, he would talk with her about his progress and enjoy the sound of her voice. Vee had even sang to him over the phone the night before. He loved it, but would love it much more if she were there with him. Even with hands, he was incomplete without her.
Edward's attention was pulled from his hands when Vee's mother came walking in with several bags. She grinned at him and declared, "I went shopping, and bought you some proper clothes. Feel like getting out of those hospital gowns and pajamas?"
He excitedly grinned. "Yes, very much so. Thank you so much for your kindness and hospitality."
She handed him the bags. "You're welcome. I'll take any excuse to shop." She laughed at her own comment. "I will leave you to manage on your own, you're coming along so splendidly. I've got to get back to work. If you need anything call."
Edward thanked her again, and saw her out. As he watched her drive away, he admired the snow-covered scenery again. Vee had promised to show him real snow, and had stayed good to her word. Not that he ever doubted her; he trusted her completely. They had even put on extra clothes and gone outside to enjoy it. It was like he had been transported to yet another strange and mysterious land. He smiled at the memory, and missed her some more.
Turning away from the window, he dejectedly sighed. He was all by himself in another big, empty house again. At least now he had something new and interesting to do; trying on clothes. With a grin, he ran back to his room and tried every last article of clothing on. He picked an outfit that best suited him; black slacks with a black button up shirt. It took him some time to master the buttons, but eventually got them all fastened. With a proud grin, he strutted over to the mirror and gazed at himself. It was one of the first times he didn't want to smash the reflection he saw. He looked...human. His grin broadened as he viewed his new look with satisfaction.
Leaning closer to further inspect his reflection, Edward pushed the hair out of his eyes. He ran his fingers though it, trying to free some tangles. While Vee's mother had been caring for him, she had tried to comb down his unruly hair. Decades spent without combing it had given it a mind of its own, and it refused to be tamed. She had smoothed it down a little, but it had remained wild and messy looking. Vee seemed to like it, so he didn't mind too much.
Returning to the clothes flung on his bed, he neatly folded them and put them away. He then sat in the chair near his bed, and picked up the tv's remote. Flipping through channels, he lingered on one every now and then. Eventually, he turned it off and opened a book.
Poe found his lap and jumped up onto it. Edward was grateful that he didn't have the cast on any longer. Poe had been a bit reckless with that thing, and had been known to clobber Edward and Vee on countless occasions. Poe had also healed quickly, and had basically ripped the thing off of himself before it was due to come off. Edward pet the peaceful kitty as he continued reading.
A few hours later, he finished the book and put it down. He was officially bored and wondered, yet again, where Vee was. As he was about to get up to call her, he absentmindedly pet Poe and gasped. He could feel the softness of Poe's fur. He immediately rubbed the fabric of the chair he was sitting on, and laughed as he could feel the roughness of the upholstery. He abruptly stood up, dropping a startled Poe to the ground.
Edward continued to touch anything and everything he could. He walked the entire perimeter of the room, reveling in the tactile experience of everything he felt. A gasp from the door got his attention. He looked up to see Vee with a look of admiration on her face.
She approached, looking him up and down. "Wow, you look so handsome."
They embraced each other as if they had been separated for weeks rather than days. Edward's hands encircled her waist in their embrace. He ran his fingers under the back of her shirt, to feel the soft skin of her back. Pulling slightly away, he raised an arm and held the side of Vee's face in one hand. He ran his thumb over the thin scar there, and passionately kissed her. At the same time, he allowed his sense of touch to relearn who she was. He ran his hands all over her, until she breathlessly pulled away. Her reaction reminded him of how he felt the evenings that Vee had slept next to him, and caressed the bare skin of his back. He had wondered if she understood just what that did to him.
Vee gazed into his eyes with happiness, and laughed. "I guess you got the feeling in your hands, after all, huh?" She grabbed one of his hands and held it up to her lips, kissing it.
"I did." He lovingly smiled at her. "I find it excruciating to be without you. I am so happy you are back." She continued to hold his hand in hers. His other arm remained wrapped around her, not wanting to ever let her go again.
"I'm happy to be back, and to be with you again." She glanced around the room and asked, "So, are you ready to leave?"
He looked at her with confusion. "Leave?"
"Yeah, I think it's about time we went home." Her eyes lit up mischievously.
He really liked the sound of Vee calling the old manor 'home'. After all, it now was her home as well. "Yes, I am ready," he said as he reluctantly let go of her to quickly pack his few belongings. Vee helped him pack, then they found her parents to say goodbye and thank them for the hundredth time.
After hours of driving, Edward viewed the surroundings with familiarity. He unclasped Vee's hand and pointed to a building. "I know this place."
Vee laughed. "Well I should hope so. It's your hometown." She made a couple of turns, until the very familiar sight of his hill came into view. She pulled onto his driveway, and up to the closed wrought iron gates.
Edward viewed it with confusion. The gates used to be crumbling and on the ground. And now here they were, hung in place and looking brand new. Vee rolled her window down letting in a gust of cold air, and pushed some buttons on a keypad that stood on a podium which had never existed before. When she finished she rolled the window up, as the large doors opened on their own.
He gasped as they drove past the gates, which automatically closed behind them. The driveway, that used to be completely over-run, was now freshly paved. Flowering bushes lined each side of it. Vee continued to drive until she reached the top of the hill, and parked next to the castle.
Edward got out of the car, and astonishingly took in the sight of the newly renovated building. The stained glass windows were all back to their rightful places. The pieces of loose and missing stones from the side of the castle, were replaced. The roof was completely brand new, but matched the old one perfectly.
With bewilderment, he started to ask, "How did-"
Vee cut him off, excitedly saying, "Come inside, there's so much more." She couldn't stop smiling as she put a key in the door and turned it. Opening the door and holding it for him, she let him walk through, before shutting it behind them and setting Poe down. Vee walked behind Edward (who's mouth was open in shock), and rubbed his back. She whispered in his ear. "Welcome home, Edward."
Edward could hardly focus on what she said, he was so mesmerized by the transformation of his house. Upon entering, the first thing he noticed was how very warm it was inside. Such a strange sensation in a castle that had been cold for many, many long years. Sure enough, a fire blazed in the enormous fireplace. Everything that used to be there still was, but it was all perfectly clean. There were a few new things amongst the old, like some furniture that was arranged around the fireplace. It matched the time period of the house beautifully, just like everything else that had been added to it. The hauntingly beautiful photographs taken by Vee, were framed and hanging throughout the castle. He was relieved and happy to see that they weren't lost to the fire forevermore. Vee's cello was also on display in the main room, another survivor of the fire.
With an excited grin, Vee grabbed him by the hand and guided him up the stairs. Everywhere he looked,everything was either cleaned to look like new, or had been replaced to match what used to be there. It was like a magic spell had been cast on the house, and had reverted it to the grandeur that it used to possess. Although, it was now better than it had ever been before. It felt more like their home. He loved that Vee had left her own mark upon it, and that the house now reflected both of them.
When they reached the top of the stairwell he was astonished to see that instead of two rooms, the attic was now all one giant open room. It was the only thing he had seen so far that was completely changed. Instead of rubble and dust, it now was overflowing with all manner of things. He gazed around, taking in instruments of every kind; some of which were completely unfamiliar to him. He walked to a guitar and ran his fingers along its strings, making it sing. Grinning, he walked to the other side of the room, an easel with canvas catching his eye. This side of the room was full of various kinds of art supplies, desks, and easels.
He gasped, looking up at where the walls used to be. There was now a row of windows circling the entire room. The fireplace remained in the same place, but now had a lovely fire to liven it up. Edward looked back to the new windows, and noticed a couple of glass doors. He walked up to one of them, seeing the balcony beyond it. The balcony also wrapped around the house, and was illuminated with several glowing lights. The music of wind chimes could be heard through the glass. He turned to Vee to see her satisfied, smiling face watching him. Her eyes were bright with tears, and he realized that he was also crying. He was so happy and amazed by everything, that he didn't even know it. "You did all of this." He wiped the tears off his face, and then with wonder in his voice asked, "How?"
She approached him and clasped his hands in her own. "I recently fell into a lot of money. I knew exactly what I wanted to do with it. This whole time I was thinking of what you would be giving up by losing your scissorhands, that I never stopped to think of what you may gain. Of all the things that you can now try. I wanted to do something for you; to make you as happy as what you've made me."
He pulled her to him and wrapped his arms around her, holding her close. Edward gave her a strong kiss, looked into her eyes, and solemnly asked, "How is it that you still don't understand? Just having you in my life has made me more happy than I have ever been before. I was so utterly lonely and numb; sleeping here for ages. Then, you came and woke me up. You cast your spell on me, and I have since been enamored of you. To have your love in return is more than I could ever hope to have. It's all I could ever need. You didn't need to do all this for me," he motioned to the room with his eyes, "but I am grateful you did. I didn't think it was possible to love you more, but you relentlessly surprise me." He kissed her again, pleased with himself for being able to express his feelings to her.
She passionately returned his kiss, before pulling away to intently gaze into his eyes. "I love you so much, Edward. I promise you, that for as long as I live, you will never need to feel lonely. I have loved you for so long, and I feel like such a fool for never showing or saying it sooner. There are more reasons than just my own issues for that. I always wondered how it would work between us. You don't age, and you will live forever; I won't. I was too busy contemplating the future, and not focusing on the present. That's what I have decided to do. Live for today, and worry about the future once we have to cross that bridge. For now...I just want to enjoy being so very in love."
Having the perfect opportunity to tell Vee what he had inadvertently done, he contemplated doing so. She needn't worry about that issue, if she too were immortal. Yet, he still couldn't be sure. Only time would tell. She did say that she was going to only focus on today, and not worry about that. And if she ended up not being so, he could always choose to not take the tonic; thus face mortality. He knew that he would either live, or die with Vee. She was his life now. And like a man drowning, he reached out, held her in his arms, and kissed her as if his life depended on it. They continued to kiss each other, until they were interrupted by Poe bunting against their legs. Vee laughed and bent over to pet him. "Poe will have to get used to this place all over again too."
Edward looked at the section of the room that used to be his bedroom. "Where will I sleep now?"
"Well, I figured you may want to share a bedroom with me. And we needed a bigger space than that cramped little room that used to be here. I had your old bedchambers redone; I hope you won't mind sleeping there with me." She paused, then teased, "If you do mind, I'm sure I can find another room to sleep in."
He squinted his eyes at her, catching on to her joke. "You know how I feel about that matter." He had pretty much demanded she stay with him in the spare room at her parents house. Not giving him an argument, she had brought her suitcase there and had made herself at home with him. Keeping him company, reading to him, staying by his side while he slept (which he had found he needed to do every few hours), and sleeping next to him every night. Their evenings were spent much like the first one; Edward needing to sleep on his side, and force his arms to be away from Vee. It would be nice to now have her in bed with him without needing to worry about his bandaged, healing hands. It would be very nice, indeed. The more he thought of it, the more he wished he was there with her now. He coyly said, "Maybe you ought to show me our new room."
Vee gave him a suspicious grin and clasped her hand with his, weaving their fingers together. It was another sensation that had become one of Edward's favorite. He was sure to most people it was such an insignificant thing; holding hands. To him it was an amazement. Pretty much any chance that he was able to actually touch Vee, was an immeasurable delight to him. She led the way down the stairs, and to their room.
Vee held the door open for him as he walked into the room that he had neglected for so long. He hardly recognized it. She had transformed this room to match the rest of the house; a little of the old, but with some new touches. The bed with the ornate bed posts was the same, but it looked like there was a new mattress, pillows, and blankets. Nearby, a fire crackled invitingly in the large stone fireplace. Walking up to it, he held his hands out like he had seen other people doing when getting close to a fire. She stood next to him and wrapped her arm around his waist. He put one arm around her shoulders, pulling her closer. Using his free hand, he ran his fingertips along her jaw and traced her face. He watched the flames dance in the reflection of her eyes.
Smiling at his touch, she continued to gaze at the fire. "I thought I may feel differently about fires after being in one, but I don't. I still love them. The one that I had to live through was so completely different than this. Besides, I can't feel scared when I'm with you. You being my hero and all." He smiled, turned her face to his, and kissed her; not knowing how else to respond to being called a hero. She smiled back at him. "That night I vowed I would show you how I felt about you, if I ever got the chance."
It seemed to be Vee's turn to hold onto him and kiss him as if her life depended on it. She had tucked her hand under his shirt, and was caressing the small of his back. Jealous of how she touched him, he was hit with the overwhelming urge to also be touching her skin. As if she could read his mind, she stopped their contact long enough to pull her shirt off. His eyes hungrily took in the sight of her with so little clothes on. This time he didn't feel as shy about it as the last time that he saw her half naked. It was also far more thrilling having her actually knowing and wanting him to see her this way.
As he admired her, she unbuttoned his shirt and pulled it off his arms. As soon as the shirt hit the floor they were embracing each other again. This time not only his hands could feel her, but his bare skin could also feel the contact of hers. The warmth of her skin touching his, and the swell of her breasts up against his chest made his breathing even more irregular than the sight of her had caused it to be. As he explored her exposed skin with his hands, he noticed that her breathing matched his own.
Edward was not as naive as he sometimes seemed. Even though he had lived a sheltered life, with hardly any experience with women, he still knew where this was heading. With interest, he had read of love-making, and had also seen such things while watching tv as he healed. Having so much spare time, he had fantasized about it a lot. It had been a very enjoyable pastime of his; daydreaming of loving Vee that way. This, however, wasn't in his mind anymore. The realization of what was happening filled him with absolute joy and excitement.
Vee kissed Edward just below his ear, and then trailed kisses down his neck and across his collarbone. One hand stayed on his back, while her other ran over the back of his pants, and pulled him closer to her. He found it hard to breath at all, and when he did so, he gasped for air and exhaled a moan . He could feel her lips curl up into a smile against his flesh. Seemed she did know exactly what she did to him, and liked it. Placing a hand on the back of her neck, he pulled her face to his, kissing her until she was also breathless.
She ended the kiss to lean her head back and peer into his eyes. He could see her pupils were dilated, and the desire on her features was unmistakable. No one had ever looked at him like that, and he had never dared to dream that she would be looking at him that way. With wonder he gazed back at her, sure that she could also see the desire he felt for her.
Taking him by the hand, she led him over to the bed. She unbuckled his belt, then unbuttoned and unzipped his pants, before yanking them down off his legs. As he stepped out of them, he stopped her before she could do the same to hers. Giving her a proud look, he unbuttoned her pants to show her that he was now a pro at buttons. Vee raised her eyebrows and gave him an amused smile as he knelt down, helping her step out of them. He placed his hands around her ankles, and stroked her bare legs as stood up. Once he was standing, his hands rested on her hips and he let his thumbs run over her hip bones.
He pulled her by the hips, until they were pressed up against each other, making Vee gasp. She found his lips with hers, and encircled him with her arms. She let one hand run down the length of his spine, while the other furrowed into his hair at the nape of his neck, giving him delicious chills. She backed up to the bed, and pulled him onto it with her. Edward pulled at the contraption she wore under her shirt, not knowing exactly how to remove it. Smirking a little, she put her hands behind her back for a second, and like a magic trick, it was off. He smiled in appreciation at her beauty, further exploring her body with his eyes, hands, and lips. He placed several kisses all over her, loving the feel of her warmth underneath him. This time it was her gasping for air, and making small moaning noises. She hastily pulled his underwear off, which was a sign to him that he could also remove hers.
They made love to the firelight dancing across their skin. It was the happiest moment either one of them had ever experienced. They professed their love to each other again, as they lay exhausted and entangled in each others arms. If Edward had thought it was impossible for him to love her anymore, he was wrong. As he lay next to her he stroked the scars on her wrist, and then moved his arm to her stomach so he could caress the ones at her side. His fingers could feel that her side was slightly moist with sweat. He leaned down and kissed the scars there.
Vee pulled his face up to hers and smiled at him. "What are you thinking of?"
Edward sighed, leaning back against the pillows. "Of how much I love you." Picking up one of her hands, he looked at the scars on her wrist. "And that nothing like this will ever happen to you again. I'll make sure of it." He knew then that he needed to live another lifetime, but one with her in it. A life that could be as good as this moment; one he could actually enjoy. That he needed her to be immortal, so that this could last forever. And that he would do everything in his power to enable it.
Vee contentedly snuggled up against Edward as he put an arm around her. His other hand still held hers. After placing a kiss on his pale chest over his heart, she rested her head there. "I didn't think it was possible for me to feel the amount of love that I have for you. We are going to be very happy together. I wish it could last forever." He smiled in agreement and stroked her hair, watching her fall asleep in his arms. He knew that they would be happy. Forevermore.
Thee End
**Author's Note**
Here is a playlist I made as a soundtrack to my story. Music is such a strong muse for me, I thought I would share it with all of you. These songs have all inspired my writing, and I've listened to them a great deal while creating this tale. It's an eclectic mix; but, hey...I have an eclectic taste. Some of these artists are quite unheard of, so please check them out!
"Clean Break" by Jenny Owen Youngs (this video is also very cool)
"Haunted" by Poe
"Like a Song" by Lenka
"November" by Azure Ray
"A Quitter" by Rasputina
"What If" by Emilie Autumn (thanks to Sakura Neko-Chan 13, for recommending this)
"In My Mind" by Amanda Palmer
"Siren Song" by Devics
"Flames" by VAST (thanks to foxotr, for sending this one)
"The Songs That We Sing" by Charlotte Gainsbourg
"Displaced" by Azure Ray
"Goodnight Moon" by Shivaree
"Night Patrol" by Searson
"Flowers In December" by Mazzy Star
"I know" by Trespassers William
"A Better Son/Daughter" by Rilo Kiley
"Wind In The Mountain" by Liz Phair
"Seven Nation Army" by The White Stripes
"Walkin' After Midnight" by Patsy Cline
"Awake In My Dream" by Serena Jost
"Heart and Hands" by Devics
"Lost In A Dream" by Shivaree
"I Thought I Saw Your Face Today" by She & Him
"Safe and Sound" by Azure Ray
"Amazed" by Poe
"The New Zero" by Rasputina
"To Be Free" by Emiliana Torrini
"Broken" by Trespassers William
"Orphan Girl" by Crooked Still
"Song Of The Sea" by Cake Bake Betty
"Whistle For The Choir" by The Fratellis
"Lie In The Sound" by Trespassers William
"Afraid Of Loving You" by Devics
"I Wish I Was The Moon" by Neko Case
"Why Do You Let Me Stay Here?" by She & Him
"Ring Of Fire" by Johnny Cash
"Amazing" by Johnette Napolitano
"In the Cold, Cold Night" by The White Stripes
"Little Shadow"(acoustic version) by Yeah Yeah Yeahs
"Dance Along The Edge" by Concrete Blonde
"Frozen Angels" by Zoe Keating
"Got Me" by She & Him
"Billie Holiday" by Warpaint
"Soft Shock"(acoustic version) by Yeah Yeah Yeahs
"Haunted" by Unwoman
"Wish You Were Here" by Rasputina
"Souvenir" by Pretty & Twisted
"Fountain Of Youth" by Emily Wells
"Howl" by Florence + The Machine
"Eleanor" by Cake Bake Betty
"If You Go Away" by Emiliana Torrini
"Nothing And Nowhere" by Emily Haines & The Soft Skeletons
"Look for me (I'll Be Around)" by Neko Case
"One More Time With Feeling" by Regina Spektor
"Different Stars" by Trespassers William
"Hardest of Hearts" by Florence + The Machine
"Here Is A Heart" by Jenny Owen Youngs
"Heart Is A Beating Drum" by The Kills
"Fingers" by Great Northern
"Watch TV" by Rasputina
"Honest" by Band Of Skulls
"Hysteric"(acoustic version) by Yeah Yeah Yeahs
"We Will Not Grow Old" by Lenka
"Cosmic Love" by Florence + The Machine
"Waltz Of The Dearly Beloved" by Emily Wells
"tHe heRe aNd afTer" by Jun Miyake
And any of Danny Elfman's amazing Edward Scissorhands Soundtrack songs :)
...long list, huh? Heh, well that's just a sampling of it ;)
Thank you for reading, and please leave a review to let me know how you felt about it. I'm toying with an idea of a sequel. If that's something that would interest you, let me know. I am also considering writing stories inspired by some of Burton's other movies. I now should have the time in my schedule to devote to writing, and it won't take me nearly as long as this one. In the amount of time that it took me to write this I moved four times, started a new school, graduated and then immediately got a full time job in my field (making manager status within a month), studied for and passed my board exams, and had some pretty major awful things going on within my love life...so, those are some excuses ;)
I need to give a huge shout-out to all the awesome people who have left reviews, and added me and/or my story as a favorite; you rock!
Thanks most of all to my awesome beta, foxotr, for becoming such a great friend and sticking in there with me and my story after all this time. I really appreciate all the work you have done for me, and I love you a bunch! :)