A/N: Thank you everyone so much for your reviews and support! I loved writing this, and I loved your input! It has been so fun! PLEASE review this final chapter and let me know what you think!

17. Don't Let Me Go

"Briden? Briden!" Aaron shouted, watching the light go out of her eyes. Then they closed, and he felt her body go limp. He stroked the brown hair as he stared into the white face. What was happening? He put his ear to her chest and listened, but there was no sound. Tears stung his eyes and ran down his face.

"Briden!" he choked one last time. He held up her face, and his tears fell onto her cheeks.

"Briden, come back to me," he whispered. "I love you." He bent down and kissed the white face in his hands. The pink lips were still warm. He kissed them as he cried. And as he cried, his whole world stopped.

He pulled the lifeless body into his arms and squeezed it tightly. He couldn't believe the love of his life, his only true friend, was gone.

Gone.

Something tickled his chin. He pulled away and stared at the still face, but it wasn't still. The eyelashes twitched and the sea green eyes blinked open. They stared at him in surprise.

The pink lips cracked open. "Aaron?"

Aaron stared in disbelief. He felt her move inside his arms. He let go as she made to brush her bangs out of her eyes, but her hand froze in front of her face. She stared at her wrist and then at him.

"Aaron, did you...did you kiss me?"

He nodded slowly, certain he was imagining things—praying with all his heart that he wasn't.

Briden's eyes filled with tears as her lips curved into a hopeful smile. "Aaron, do you love me?"

He finally found his voice. "Yes, Briden. I do. Sorry it took me so long—" But he was cut off. Briden's hands flew to the back of his head and pulled his face to hers. As soon as her lips touched his he was gone. He kissed her with all his might. She tangled her fingers in his hair, and he cradled her in his arms, never wanting to let go. As he kissed her, he recalled the lifeless face he had kissed a minute ago. A stab of pain tore at his heart at the thought of losing her. He immediately shook away the horrifying memory, treasuring the miracle in his arms. He was so confused about what had just happened, but he knew one thing for sure: He was completely in love with Briden.

xxx

I reveled in his touch, his kiss, his breath on my skin. Aaron kissed me with such passion, and I was happy to return the favor. I was utterly confused but overwhelmingly happy. I couldn't believe it. Aaron loved me. He'd kissed me, and broke the spell. I knew it was broken because the mark of the spell was gone, and I was alive. After what seemed like ages of bliss, we parted. I stared at Aaron's face inches from mine, gazing into the blue eyes I thought I'd never see again.

I felt different. There was an unfamiliar warmth consuming me—unfamiliar, yet tremendously soothing. It tingled all over, and I knew what it was; something I'd been missing for half of my life. It was love, and I was healed.

"What just happened?" Aaron breathed, staring at me as if I would disappear any second. I smiled, and said the words I had failed to mention.

"The thing that would save my life after the spell left was a kiss from my true love," I explained. "I was fully prepared to die in love with you, because I didn't realize you felt the same way."

He stroked my face tenderly. "You came here tonight, knowing you were going to die?"

I nodded.

His eyes grew wide in shock. "Oh my. Briden..." Aaron shook his head and glanced up at the sky. It seemed to have an especially large number of stars twinkling against it. Then he looked back at me. "You should have told me."

"But I didn't know you loved me, and I didn't want you to worry."

Aaron stared at me, horrified. "You didn't want me to worry? I watched you die, Briden. I was worried sick!"

"Yes, but I didn't know you loved me."

Aaron looked at me in a way he never had. "I love you Briden. I will always love you. Never doubt that, and never forget it."

A final tear rolled down my cheek, and I smiled as Aaron pulled me close and kissed me again.

We smiled at each other as we parted. I got lost in those blue eyes, unable to get enough of them.

Aaron took my hand. "Come on. I want you to meet my parents."

I looked up at him as he stood. "Your parents? You mean the king and queen?"

Aaron chuckled. "Yes."

I looked toward the Grand Hall nervously and then back at him. "Are, are you sure?" I wanted to stay with Aaron in this moment forever. Plus, I was nervous in front of royalty. Well, for the most part.

"I'll be by your side the whole time," he assured me.

I stood and wrapped my free hand around his arm for support. I felt unusually weak and tired. I guessed dying and coming back to life had that effect on a person.

Aaron leaned in and kissed me once more. My weak body seemed to fill with fireworks, giving me the strength to move forward.

We walked back into the Grand Hall, where nothing seemed to have changed. I took in the scene, realizing it was a miracle that I was alive now.

As we made our way around the edge of the dance floor, the couples swayed together like grass in the wind, oblivious to anything that may have happened outside. As I looked across the room, something caught my eye. A couple was dancing at the far edge of the crowd. The man was tall and slim with light brown hair and sparkly eyes. The woman was strawberry blonde and quite short with the same unique eyes. They were twirling around to an unheard rhythm; they weren't following the music at all. Both of them had perfect round faces, and both of them had the tiniest feet I had ever seen.

As I observed them, the man looked over at me and caught my eye. I blushed for staring, but I couldn't look away. The man whispered something to his partner and the woman looked my way. She smiled when she saw me, and I smiled back. Then the couple twirled around once more and vanished.

I stared at the spot they had been dancing in and all around it. They were nowhere to be seen, and I seemed to be the only one who noticed. They had to be fairies. Perhaps they had come to find out the outcome of the spell. Perhaps they had known it all along.

Aaron's hand released mine and I was brought back to reality. I looked forward and realized we were standing before a low platform, on which sat two occupied thrones. I looked into the two dignified faces as they smiled back at me.

"Mother, Father, I would like to introduce to you my dear friend, Briden."

The King stood and bowed. I did my best at a curtsy. "Briden, it is a pleasure to meet you." He had a strong and stern face, but it softened when he smiled.

Then the Queen stood up and surprised me by hugging me. She whispered in my ear. "Aaron hasn't been the same since he met you. Your friendship has meant more to him than you know. Thank you, Briden."

She pulled away and looked at me closely. "Briden... You know, you look kind of familiar. What is your last name honey?"

I shrugged. "Actually, I don't know my last name. My family died in a fire eleven years ago when I was a kid. I don't remember much of my childhood."

The Queen looked at me curiously. "I see... Will you come with me? I want to show you something."

I nodded. "Of course, Your Majesty."

Aaron watched curiously as the Queen led me through a set of double doors. There was a long, bright hallway on the other side, and she led me forward, stopping at a door about halfway down. She opened the door and I followed her inside. It looked like a study. There was a desk in the corner and pictures everywhere. The Queen went straight to the desk and opened the top drawer. I watched her take out an old book and flip through the dusty pages. She slipped something from the pages and came back over to me.

"Do these people look familiar to you?" She held out a small photograph that was ripped on one side.

I took the picture from her and examined it. Gazing back at me with laughing smiles on their faces was a beautiful brown-haired woman and a gentle looking dark-haired man.

I gasped. I looked down at my dress and stuck my fingers into the tiny pocket Carolyn had sewn into my skirt. This pocket was made just for a certain picture, so that I could keep it with me on this night. I pulled out the photo and held it up next to the first one.

They fit perfectly. I couldn't believe it. Smiling back at me for the first time in eleven years, was my family.

"Oh my goodness!" I looked up at the Queen, who was smiling at me with tears in her eyes. "How did you know?"

"You mother, Linda, was one of my best friends. She was the maid of honor at my wedding. You look just like her. Your parents, James and Linda Hays, were very good people. When their house burned down eleven years ago, I sorted through the wreckage and found this torn photo. I never found the other half. But now here you are, holding it in your hands." She paused, smiling at me. "You probably don't remember, but I met you when you were just a little girl."

"You know..." I racked my brain as filaments of my past began floating back to me. "I think I sort of do." I looked back at the photo in my hands. My whole family was there. I couldn't quit staring at it. "Oh thank you so much!" I hugged the Queen graciously and felt the tears coming. I hadn't expected to cry again tonight. I hadn't even expected to live.

"Today's my birthday," I said out loud, not meaning to. I realized I hadn't expected to be able to say that, but there it was.

"Happy birthday, dear."

"Thank you. So much." We went back into the Hall, and I immediately searched for Aaron. He wasn't far. I ran to him. He caught me in his arms and we both laughed as he spun me around.

"What's that?"

I held the two picture pieces up to him and explained everything.

Aaron smiled at me, sending my pulse racing. "Wow Bri. I had no idea."

"Neither did I." I said, thinking over the past month. I smiled. "I love you, Aaron."

Aaron answered with a kiss, in front of everybody, but I no longer minded the attention. Nothing could make me unhappy in this moment.

We parted, and he grinned at me. "I love you, too."

I stared into my true love's eyes. He looked to be deep in thought. "What are you thinking about?"

Aaron gazed back. "I'm trying to figure out what I'm going to get you for your birthday."

I shook my head. "You've already given me the greatest gift."

He smiled. "And what is that?"

"You saved me."