The snow had finally stopped falling.
The hidden sun desperately swimming through the thick grey cottons, possessively suffocating its rays with dilatory caresses.
A still peace overcame the small town as its streets and sidewalks were covered by infinite seas of frosty rain. The large rooftops on the Victorian houses near the town; shrouded with snow.
It was December 20th.
A sweet yet cold chill in the air brought by the December wind.
The ring had arrived the night before.
It was resting in a small crimson box, carefully tucked away within the protective confines of his study room.
Edward had seen to all the arrangements that were necessary; working like quick-silver as he fastidiously worked on one errand after another, eager for the main event to unfold itself together with the winter season.
The ceremony would be beautiful, simple but beautiful. But to Carlisle, every moment seemed endless; an array of one idyllic minute after another. A beginning of a new life. A new hope for the future, one that had no end.
The days had new meaning and brought some secret surprise that awaited him with hidden rapture.
He had finally found his Holy Grail of happiness.
And it was she.
She had uttered the words that his lips could not speak. Felt the pain of his secrets that he dared not reveal to another soul.
Felt his heart beat when it no longer did.
He was dressing later that afternoon.
His fingers eager with the promise of a new day to begin as he closed the buttons that lined his shirt. He felt as if some dark cloud had been rolled away, some archaic fear dissolving with the coming of day and the faint whispers of sun.
He adjusted the tie around his collar and smoothed out the intricate wrinkles. The silk cloth of the tie slipping through his fingers easily as he tucked it in with a single motion.
He looked out his frosted window with delighted curiosity. Down below he could see Edward walking in from town and heading towards the house.
The ceremony would begin soon.
The air seemed inexpressibly lighter that day. A deep tranquillity that resonated in the cold air.
Giving him that familiar feeling of sheer excitement. For the first time in 300 years, he was alive again.
He finished dressing and ran a comb through his golden locks; neatly brushing his blonde hair away from his face when a knock briefly interrupted the still silence in his room.
"Come in." He said as he adjusted the cuffs on his cream-white dressing shirt.
"Everything's ready. They should be here in 30 minutes." Edward said as he walked inside the room, closing the door behind him.
"Thank you son." Carlisle said smiling at Edward as he walked towards his adoptive father, lightly patting him on the shoulder.
Carlisle was about to put on his black coat, "Here, let me help you." Edward said as he helped him into the dark garment, fixing and smoothing out any creases.
Carlisle noticed the unusually pleasant expression on his son's face as he turned to face him.
Instantly Edward read his thoughts and replied without taking an upward glance, "I'm just happy for you."
"Thank you Edward, for everything."
Carlisle watched as his son gave an infinitesimal nod as a shy smile slyly found its way onto his lips.
"How do you feel?" Edward asks.
"Happy. I feel happy." He replies quietly, his golden eyes naked with the simple truth.
He pulls out the little crimson box from his pocket as he opened it. He took out its content and held it in his palm.
"Do you think she'll like it?" He asks Edward.
"Yes, she will."
He smiles lightly as he held the golden wedding band between his fingers. The word 'Je T'aime' engraved subtly in the ring.
Esme was sitting in her dresser. An unwavering smile delicately placed upon her lips as she combed her hair; a small bouquet of white roses sitting on her lap.
She was dressed in a wonderful silver-white frock that was meticulously beaded with pale-pink crystals and pearl embellishments.
She wore very little make-up, and the only jewellery she wore was the gold necklace he had given her years ago.
She glanced at herself in the mirror, and for the first time recognized the eyes that stared back at her.
She had been found.
Despite the darkness she had gone through, there indeed was the light.
Esme sat there for a long while, thinking.
Thinking about the event that lay ahead. Feeling that somehow this was her past, her present and her future.
That incredulous feeing of familiarity; feeling as if she had lived through this before yet was experiencing it all for the first time. It felt strangely exhilarating, yet oddly it gave her peace as if a missing part of her was returned, and she was whole again. Giving her permission to live again, whatever that meant.
She thought about Carlisle.
His smile.
His touch.
The strength of his love, his heart.
How he had saved her.
She knew there was no one else, no one her heart could belong to. It was him from the beginning, him till the last human breath she drew and him when her golden eyes opened for the first time.
There was only Carlisle.
Her missing soul, and it was him.
When he looked at her, really looked at her with those kind eyes, it was as if the world disappeared and it was only the two of them. Lost in a world of their own. Somehow if she said something, he would know the answer; even if it was just a look. But to her it was eternity in a fleeting glance.
He was like the infinitely restless ocean, calling her out to him with loving pleas, asking her to drown in his love.
He was like both the dawn and dusk. Tragically beautiful.
His lips like ambrosia.
There was a knock on the door.
"Come in." She softly calls out.
Edward stepped inside, already fully dressed in an impeccably tailored black and white suit as he gently smiles at her. "They're waiting for you and Carlisle wants you to have this." He then walks over to her and hands her the white envelope.
She takes it and watches him exit the room. She stares at it in curiosity and then opens it. It was a letter, a letter from Carlisle.
Esme, my love.
Darling before our wedding takes place, I wanted to write this to you. To take a moment to share my thoughts with you my dearest but most of all to thank you.
Thank you for your kindness, for showing me what it meant to live again. Thank you for teaching me there was more to life than this darkness. For sharing with me your secrets, your fears, hopes, and dreams.
For returning my heart to me with your love.
For giving this lost soul a home.
For giving this hopeless wanderer refuge from a world so lonely and unforgiving.
Leaving you that night I returned for the second time was the hardest decision I had to make.
But there was never a day I didn't think you of you.
I was in the dark for so long, until you came and lifted the rags I hid myself in.
Then I saw your face.
And you saved me.
But most of all my sweet Darling, thank you for giving me thine love as I hath given you mine which is eternally yours to have and to hold infinitely.
Forever yours,
C.
They were ready to begin.
There were four people in the large foyer: There was an elderly priest, his younger black-haired brother serving as the witness. Edward of course, looking charmingly handsome in his suit. Then there was Carlisle who stood next to his adoptive-son, looking equally handsome in his black and white ensemble. He looked every bit of the handsome groom yet his eyes seemed tense.
Edward could easily tell what he was so anxious about.
"She's not going to get cold feet." He joked.
Carlisle shook his head as a smile unbidden passed his lips. He drew in a breath and leaned close, "Did she say anything? Anything at all?"
"Carlisle. . ." Edward said, his eyes glancing at the top of the stairs.
Carlisle looked at Edward strangely, "What is it?" He asks, slightly distracted.
Edward nodded to what he was looking at, and Carlisle followed his gaze, his breath constricting in his throat.
There she was. Standing at the top of the stairs smiling down at him fondly. Looking immensely beautiful in a vision of white.
She made her way gracefully down the stairs; the hem of her dress delicately trailing behind her, sliding down softly against the carpeted floor.
She was beautiful, absolutely lovely to behold.
As she made her way down, Edward stood there at the bottom of the steps; a delightful smile on his face as he watched her. He was standing poised and chivalrous, extending his arm for her to hold as he escorted her through the cavernous foyer.
He then lead her towards the latter as they stood underneath the large renaissance styled chandelier.
Carlisle and Esme stood there smiling at eachother.
"You look beautiful." Carlisle mouthed to Esme as he watched her give a silent giggle.
The priest then began reciting, "Dearly beloved, we are gathered here today to join this man and woman in holy matrimony. . . ."
Esme stood there. Looking deep into the eyes of the man she loved, thanking God over and again for a chance at life. A chance at love.
The priest continued, "Let us not forget that God reuinites those who have loved before. . ."
Carlisle was holding her hand; gently stroking her fingers with his thumb affectionately, his eyes never leaving hers.
"And let us not also forget that Love is patient; love is kind; love is not envious or boastful or arrogant or rude. . ."
"I love you," Esme whispers to Carlisle as she smiles at him.
"Love does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice in wrongdoing, but rejoices in the truth. . ." The priest's voice echoed through the room.
Carlisle looks at her with shining eyes, tugging her closer to hear his reply.
"Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things." The priest concluded.
"Je T'aime." He replies.
The priest clears his throat, "Preferably in english, my son."
Carlisle chuckles, "I love you too."
The priest had a frisson of mirth before motioning Edward for the rings.
Carlisle then takes the ring from its velvet pillow and then takes Esme's hand and says, "With this ring I thee wed." Then slips on the golden band onto her ivory finger.
It was her turn as the priest nodded to her. She takes the ring from Edward and turns to face Carlisle, "With this ring I thee wed." She then places the ring onto his right finger, a radiant smile on her face as she looks at him.
"May the Lord Jesus Christ bless and keep you as I now pronounce you husband and wife, you may now kiss the bride."
Edward watched as Carlisle kissed Esme for the very first time.
And he knew when he saw the look in his father's eyes; that look of ethereal euphoria, knew in his heart that these two souls were meant to be. Some strange celestial fate assigned to their destiny, vowing that these two hearts would never part.
And he secretly wondered if fate would be so kind to spare him the same destiny. To truly find that one person to share his heart and soul with. Giving him that pivotal moment of truly finding the peace he too so longed for.
Edward stood there smiling as he watched the newly-weds break from their kiss.
". . . . They were both a wonder to look upon. Like two lost souls finding eachother again. Like a ship lost at sea with the feral waters threatening to overcome them, yet after a long and trubulent storm finds land at the last moment when all hope seemed lost; despite the odds that were turned against them in the beginning. And I wondered in secrecy to myself, if love could find him, could it find me too? Can someone truly love someone as cursed as I?
A/N: Hey guys! I am so sorry for the delay. I've been busy the past couple of weeks due to the fact that I'm moving to a new house soon so my deep apologies haha! Anyways I wanna take this moment to thank you all for your lovely reviews and your continued support of this story. I truly appreciate you guys and I love you all :)
On that note, I'm truly sad to say that I will be following up the final chapter for this story sometime later next week 3':, as much as I would LOVE to prolong this story more, I have another waiting and it's an original story I am working on and will be posting in Wattpad in maybe a month or so, I'm still in the editing process of the first few chapters :) So for those who are interested in reading that, just pm me for more info :)
God Bless and stay tuned for Chapter 28 :)