Page 256 of Savior
Now, as I stand in the shadows on the opposite side of the pond, looking back at our little gathering beneath the golden twinkling lights dangling above, I can’t help but smile to myself. After everything we’ve been through, separately and together, we really did make it. We really are getting the happily ever after we both deserve.
I’m about to walk back towards the reception, when I hear something in the shadows behind me. A shuffling of some sort, somewhere near the little Japanese Tea House in the darkness.
“Hello? Is someone there?”
I listen intently for another moment, before a faint sound resonates from the rice paper windows.
Clink… Ping… Clap… Clink… Ping… Clap…
Moving closer to the discernable sound of a zippo lighter, I’m about to cross the little bridge to enter the Japanese Tea House, when someone snatches my wrist, startling me.
“What are you doing over here in the dark, Vanna?” Dean asks.
I let out a sigh of relief. “You scared me.” I tell him, then gesture towards the little tea house. “I heard something in there.”
“Probably a racoon or something.” Dean says. “Come on, it’s almost time for our dance. I think I figured out what our song should be.”
I smile up at him. “You did?” he nods. “What song?”
“It’s a surprise.”
“Okay… But can we take a peek inside the tea house?”
“Let me go first… If one of us is going to get bit tonight I’d rather it be me.” Dean says, moving past me and heading into the tea house. I follow right behind him, only to discover it’s as empty as it was the first time we were in here together, more than a year and some months ago. “Must have been a breeze, doll.”
Only I know, it wasn’t. Especially not with the faint scent of cigarette smoke and incense still lingering in the air…
“Wait… what’s that?” I point to a small object in the middle of the floor. Dean crouches to pick it up.
“Looks like somebody lost a lighter.” He says, flipping it open and flicking his thumb over the striker. The flame springs forth, illuminating the empty little room in a soft, eerie glow. Dean squints as he inspects the lighter. “It’s dented, but the engraving reads True Love.” He says, flipping it closed with a ping and a clap. “Maybe we should keep it as a memento?” He tosses it to me and I catch it against myself, as the sound of a motorcycle, not too far off in the distance, revs to life and takes off somewhere into the night.
I already know who it belongs to.
“Wedding dresses don’t come with pockets, you know.” I tell him, tossing Legion’s lighter back to him. “Let’s get back to our reception before Viking tells everyone we’re screwing in the Tea House.”
“That’s not a bad idea.” Dean chuckles, shoving the lighter in his pants pocket.
“Husband.” I look at him wryly.
“Yes, wife?” he grins.
“You promised me a dance to our song.”
“Indeed, I did.” He takes a step closer to me, offering me his arm. “My lady.”
“Forever.” I tease him, tucking my hand around his bicep.
Once again on the dance floor, Dean’s arm slips around my waist, as his other hand takes mine and holds it against his chest, before the song he’s chosen for us, begins to play.
“I’ve found you in every love song I’ve listened to. There are so many that would make sense for us. But this one… This one really conveys the words in my heart.”
The instantly recognizable notes of the song, played first by a piano, brings a smile to my face, as I look up into his dark, loving eyes. It’s Bryan Adams, Everything I Do, I Do It For You…
He really couldn’t have picked a more perfect song. As Dean sways me slowly across the dancefloor, I try to fight back the next wave of tears welling up in my eyes. I may have stood half a chance at getting through this song without crying, until he whispers those famous lyrics to me. Vowing through our wedding song, to fight for me, lie for me, walk the wire for me, and die for me… I wrap my arms around his neck and hold him tightly, because I know it’s true, he mean’s every word, and has already proven he does, a million times over.
“I love you so much, baby.” I can hear the crack in his voice now, as he presses his lips to my ear. “Couldn’t live without you, Vanna. I need you like I need the air to breathe.”
“I wouldn’t want to live without you, either.” I tell him.
