The view from her room never failed to take her breath away. Even on a day as incredible as this one, it melted away any remaining tension or sadness that she had felt the last few months since Vincent’s death and her kidnapping. All that was left over was incredible joy and an unparalleled sense of peace. She’d survived. Fulfilled the prophecy and learnt things about herself from the most unlikely source that had changed her ways that she’d never thought possible. But she’d always be grateful to Vincent and for her stolen moment.
The snow fell in a whisper and covered the mountains in a white fluffy blanket. It reminded her of the day she had arrived in Glencoe with James and Adele. They had put her on a plane unconscious to get her out of Melbourne and away from the clutches of Vincent. She’d been utterly furious at the time, but now she could look back on it with a smile.
Had she been them, she could now acknowledge that she would have done the exact same thing. She was a difficult girl and a chuckle escaped her lips as she realised it was the only way they could have gotten her to leave.
The relationship she shared with James had gotten off to a very rocky start and if it wasn’t for his persistence and then his undying loyalty, love and understanding she didn’t know if they’d even be where they were today, soulmates or not.
He’d given her the choice about him and he’d been there by her side providing whatever it was that she had needed, and proving his life by making the ultimate sacrifice. He loved her enough, that he would’ve let her go had she chosen Vincent. Their relationship had been put to the ultimate test and they’d survived. Been stronger for it.
Her thoughts turned to the night she’d read his mother’s diary. The courage and heartbreak she had endured shone through the diary entries that she had read. James was incredibly lucky to have a mother like that, even if he never had the chance to meet her.
But Ally had a surprise for James after the wedding. She hoped that it would heal some of the hurt and soothe his soul in a small way.
A wave of excitement stole through her at the thought. There were so many things to be grateful for.
A knock on the door broke into her thoughts.
“It’s just me,” Damian called out through the door.
“Come in Gramps,” she replied.
He opened the door and started to walk in. His eyes landed on Ally and the sight stopped him in his tracks. “You look beautiful,” he said as his eyes misted with unshed tears.
“It’s the dress,” she said and turned to the mirror beside her to examine it again. She ran her hand down the length of the delicate silver embroidered lace that overlay the ivory satin underneath. It clung to her curves and fell down to cover her white satin heels, with a long train flowing behind. Her hand moved up to touch her hair, confirming it was all still in place. The gentle curls fell over her shoulders and down her back. Half of them secured up with a diamond encrusted clip that had belonged to her mother. “No it’s you, my brave and beautiful granddaughter.” He walked closer and drew her into his arms, careful not to crush the dress. “Your parents would have been so proud of you.”
Tears filled her eyes. “Thank you,” she replied. “I wish they were here.”
“Me too,” he whispered solemnly. “Me too.”
He let go and took a step back. “Are you ready to marry that little brother of mine?”
Her face lit up with happiness and she nodded. “Yeah I am.”
Damian held his arm out and she took it gratefully. “Then let’s go.”
They walked out the room, through the house out the back door onto the terrace where a white carpet of flowers awaited them. She lowered her head, took a deep breath and then took the first step towards the rest of eternity with the man she loved.
Hushed whispers, murmurs and gasps filled her ears. Her eyes scanned the large crowd of people, but she couldn’t see the alter or anyone she knew until the turned around the corner.
“Who are all these people?” She asked Damian.
“The immortals,” he replied with pride and a wink.
Ally frowned. “You mean the immortals that were in hiding?”
He nodded and patted her hand gently. “You brought them back, Ally.”
The astonishment shone on her face and she shook her head slightly in disbelief. In that moment, they turned the corner and there he was…
James.
The entire crowd of immortals melted away. She didn’t hear anything or see anyone from that point on. Every part of her being was focused on her soulmate waiting for her.
His face glowed with absolute joy and his trademark half smile made her melt as always.
She reached him, and Damian handed her over with a kiss on her cheek and placing her hand in James.
“So beautiful,” James whispered to her reverently.
She beamed and felt the warm rush of love spread throughout her body.
Ally barely heard what the minister said, but at the crucial moment she remembered to repeat the vows that she spoke with clarity and with love.
“I Alessandra, take you, James to be my husband, my partner in life and my one true love. I will cherish our union and love you more each day than I did the day before. I will trust you and respect you, laugh with you and cry with you, loving you faithfully through good times and bad, regardless of the obstacles we may face together. I give you my hand, my heart, and my love, forever.”
Kat passed Ally the wedding ring, and she placed it on James with finger with a nervous smile.
James smiled back and then repeated the same vows back to Ally.
“I James, take you, Alessandra to be my wife, my partner in life and my one true love. I will cherish our union and love you more each day than I did the day before. I will trust you and respect you, laugh with you and cry with you, loving you faithfully through good times and bad, regardless of the obstacles we may face together. I give you my hand, my heart, and my love, forever.”
James slipped the diamond encrusted wedding band onto Ally’s finger.
“You may kiss your bride now.”
James took a step closer and pulled her into his arms. “I love you, little one,” he whispered then took her lips with his mouth and poured all the love he felt into that kiss.
The guests roared and cheered the couple.
James laughed and Ally giggled with embarrassment. He took her hand and led her back down the aisle. Everyone wanted them to stop and talk, they wanted to wish them the best, give them tokens of love and share in their happiness.
Her bridesmaids, Kat and Mackenzie followed behind them with the groomsmen, Chase and Tristan, both couples clearly in love as well.
Ally pulled James off to the side. “I have a present for you.”
He looked intrigued. “What is it?”
She scanned the crowd and caught Isabella’s eye, then gave a short nod. It was time to introduce James to his surprise. “Come with me.” She took his hand and led him away from the milling crowd and up onto the terrace.
“Ally what’s going on?”
“Trust me.” She moved him so that he was facing away from the stairs.
She could see Isabella coming up the stair with an older lady and an older gentleman. The resemblance was there, she could see it. These had to be the right people.
Ally and Isabella shared a secret smile. They had worked together to pull this off for a man they both loved.
“Who is coming? The suspense is killing me,” James said with a laugh.
Isabella and the older couple stood on the terrace now, looking with anticipation in their direction.
“Ok,” Ally said. “You can turn around now.”
He turned and looked from Isabella to Ally with a look of confusion.
The older lady gasped and began to cry. “You have her eyes.” She rushed forward and took James’ hands in hers. “I can see her in you everywhere.”
“My mother?” James guessed. His mother was the only other person he knew of with his eye colour.
“Yes,” the lady said quietly. “I’m your grandmother, Sarah.”
The gentleman who’d been silent till now, stepped closer and laid his hand on James’ arm. “And I’m your grandfather, Patrick. We’ve been searching for you for over three hundred years.”
James stumbled a bit. “You have?”
Sarah nodded enthusiastically. “Your mother left no trace of you and we didn’t even know Isabella existed until she found us and told us the story of what had happened to you and who your father was.” She shook her head sadly. “We didn’t know what was happening with our dear, Olivia and then one day she was gone…We never saw her again.”
Patrick put his arm around Sarah. “We would’ve helped her. We would’ve done anything for her…and you. Your grandmother and I will forever feel like we let you both down, but we were hoping that perhaps we could all get to know each other and maybe make up for lost time.”
James was still stunned and grasped for words. “I think my mother would like that. And I know that I would very much like to get to know you better.”
Sarah cried out in delight and wrapped her arms around James. He hugged her back while Isabella and Ally stood together off to the side watching with misty eyes and holding each other in happiness and sadness.
Patrick looked at Isabella and Ally. “The same applies to both of you as well. We want to know both of you.”
Isabella and Ally nodded.
“Come on,” Patrick said to Sarah. “Let’s give the bride and groom some privacy. We can start getting to know Isabella first.” He winked and James and the three left them standing there.
James held out his hand to Ally. She walked closer to him and took it. He pulled her in and kissed her with everything he had.
“Thank you,” he whispered to her. “You’ve returned my brother to me and now you’ve given me a piece of my family back as well. I can never thank you enough or explain to you what it means to me.”
“James, I love you and I would do anything to see you happy.”
“I love you too,” he said and kissed her again.
Ally fell into his kiss and would have been happy to stay there forever.
“Come on, little one.” He said breaking the kiss. “Let’s go start living the rest of our forever.”
Ally smiled and looked deeply into his eyes. “Forever.”
The End.