To say it was quiet was an understatement. It was like a graveyard. Claire was certain she couldn't hear any one even breathe. But maybe it was just drowned out by the drumming of her heart beat in her ears. She did hear a small commotion in one of the pews though. Some one fainted apparently.
The priest's face had contorted from a one of shock to horror. People never really spoke up during that part. It was just tradition, a part of the ceremony. No one ever expected anyone to actually do it.
Everyone had turned to look at the figure who had dared stop the wedding.
He was standing up from one of the pews. He was the one with the shaggy brown hair.
"What is your reason against this union?" The priest asked, after regaining his voice.
"They don't love each other."
"Well, uh…" The priest obviously doesn't know what to do with this.
But the man obviously does. He continued, "I love Simone and she loves me." He wasn't talking to the priest anymore, the congregation. No, he had eyes only for Simone and he was only really saying it to her, never mind that there were several hundred people there who could hear too.
Claire turned her head back to the bride and groom. Peter looked surprised at first but then, well, pretty relieved.
Simone was crying. But it was the happy type of crying. Her hand was over in mouth in disbelief. "Isaac." She breathed.
Isaac walked from the pew to stand by the end of it. He offered his hand out, a choice.
Simone didn't hesitate. She didn't care how ridiculous she looked. She gathered her skirt in her arms and ran down the aisle.
Claire thought she heard a horrified gasp come from someone sitting close by.
The once solemn looking Isaac's face burst into a smile so big it looked like he was going to cry. He raced forward and caught her in his arms. His mouth fell on hers, cutting off one of her sobs. Claire heard murmured "I love you"s pass between them before they were also cut off by some more passionate kissing.
She thought she heard some one clapping. She had a good guess on who that was.
Peter was just standing there at the altar grinning from ear to ear. He was clearly enjoying this. Oh the scandal of it all. He was the only one Claire knew who could get dumped and act like he thought it was so cute, like something out of a movie.
Peter walked up beside her to take her hand. Claire's pulse soared. She had missed him, his touch. Claire actually found herself grinning up at him and he down at her.
Reggie leaned over from his pew which was behind Angela's to whisper in her ear. "Best damn wedding I've been to in years. Jolly good." Angela just clenched her jaw and sent death glares at the happy couple and a few at Peter for not stopping this scandal. She probably suspected what was between Claire and Peter too.
And they couldn't care less.
Claire looked at Isaac and Simone then back at Peter with a questioning look. He ran a hand through his hair. "The drugs, his ability, it consumed him. It was too much and they broke it off. I always suspected that there was a part of her that was still in love with him. She tried to let go but…he never stopped loving her either." He brushed her cheek. "There are some people who are just meant for each other no matter how hard they fight it." Claire knew he wasn't talking about Isaac and Simone anymore.
"Claire," Peter drew her up against him. Peter's eyes were filling with tears. He held her face looking into her eyes, needing her to understand. "I never stopped loving you. Never. I only-"
But she already did. What happened between him and Simone was just like what happened between her and West. Claire put a finger up to his lips. "I know." Claire felt the tears streaking down her face. "I loved you. I always loved you and always will." Claire felt like her legs were going to give out on her. "All this was so unnecessary. I meant it the first time I said it. I thought you knew."
"I'm so sorry for putting you through this. I needed you to be sure. I needed you to taste it before you said no, knew what you were giving up. It was the right thing to do. I had the moral obligation to at least try and give you up, see if I could live without you. Now I know I never can."
"Well, you know what they say. If you set something free and it comes back to you then it was meant to be." Claire's emerald eyes sparkled at him. Peter felt his chest tighten.
Peter's eyes lighted up and he rewarded her with his crooked smile which set Claire's heart into a spin. He pulled her as close as he could, never wanting to let her go. He kissed her harder, tenderly, passionately, everything more that he had ever done before, silently communicating exactly how much she meant to him.
It took a minute for anyone to notice what was taking place at the altar. Many were still distracted by the first couple's scene. There were even more horrified gasps.
Simone and Isaac were unaffected by the chaos swirling around them. He took her arm to lead her out of the building and she happily followed.
"To the happy couples." Reggie raised his secret bottle in a toast then downed half. Angela snatched it out of his hands and downed the rest. Reggie just smirked.
By now the church was in pandemonium. Some people were in utter outrage. Some stormed off.
Peter regretfully pulled away. He had already lost his jacket and tie. Claire's hair was already pulled free to hang loosely around her shoulders. The way this was going… well it wasn't something he wanted witnessed by a crowd of people in a church. He preferred something a bit more private…
A pale Nathan was putting all the pieces together, all the ones he choose to over look before; not wanting to see what was there until it was staring him in the face. Heidi, for all her female perception looked stunned. He could tell they were both thinking how much this explained. He really didn't want to be around when the fireworks started to go off. He really didn't care what they thought but it was one thing he didn't want to deal with now. And the way things were going with Claire…
Well they had some talking to do after making up for some lost time….
"What do you say we take a little vacation, just the two of us? Give them a chance to get used to the idea."
Claire wordlessly nodded. He guided her through the entrance.
Hopefully, though probably not, but maybe their family could come to terms with their relationship. But if not well it was their loss. They'd still be there if they changed their minds. They wouldn't lie anymore, sneak around. They weren't ashamed that they loved each other. There would come a day when they could be anybody they wanted to be and no one could say other wise. They had forever. Who knew what it held.
Claire stumbled in her heels knocking the flower table. Peter caught her instantly. Claire mumbled something about Simone's logic of choosing to have the bride's maid of honor wearing six inch stilettos. The ceramic cherub wobbled then fell with a crash.
"My hero." She smiled up at him as he righted her to her feet. He just couldn't seem to stop smiling. He kept his arms around her as he guided his telekinesis with a finger. The pieces began to reassemble in the air till it was a completely reformed ugly looking cherub statue, just like before only minus the fissures that ran through it now. He laid a hand on it, feeling the heat tingling through his fingers and into it. It glowed brightly. The power stopped and he presented a reconstructed cherub. Then he set it on the table.
Claire reached up on her tip toes to kiss him. He happily helped by leaning down, her having ditched the footwear.
"Whole." She murmured against him. "Forever."
"Unbreakable." He answered.
THE END
Author's Note: YATTA! I finished! Yay! Peter and Claire got their happy ending. Once again I couldn't resist after having them go through so much; they definitely deserved some happiness. There was that and it has been raining here for the past couple weeks so I wanted a bit of warmth. :)
I definitely plan on writing more. You can check my profile page for updates. Special thanks to mags for all the reviews you left me. Congrats on figuring out who the mystery guy was.