Alice ran up the stairs, her black hair flying out behind her. She was getting married. No joke, honest to God, married. And she wasn`t going to back out of it this time. She knew that she couldn`t live one day without Seth, because she had tried. It seemed her whole world boiled down to him, now. There was nothing else.
She rushed into her private room in the girl`s dormitory and started ripping through her clothes. In two minutes everything was ready, and she was running back downstairs. Being human meant that she didn`t have inhuman speed anymore, but she was still fast. She was outside the front door a minute later, her two bags in hand. Seth would be coming out any moment, and then they were leaving.
Everything seemed to be going to fast, but slow at the same time. Things dragged on, the minutes seeming like hours. She wanted to be bound to Seth forever, legally. She didn`t care what anybody thought. She loved him and she would be d@mned if anyone was going to get in her way.
Today was the day that Seth was getting married. It was so spontaneous and he didn't care one bit. He was happy. He smiled from ear to ear as he ran up the stairs to fetch his best clothes. He put them in a bag and then took off back down the stairs. By the time he stepped outside the front doors with his bag over his shoulder, Alice was already there with her own belongings.
"I love you." He said, already out of breath from running around the castle. He stepped forward and kissed her carefully on the lips.
Alice flashed a bright smile and kissed him back softly.
"I love you too, Seth." She said softly, sort of breathless. She started to pull him toward the gate, then out past Hogsmead to where she could Apparate. She leaned in for another kiss and they were off.
A minute later they were in the back alley of some building that smelled. Alice shrugged and started off towards the lights. She held Seth`s hand and adjusted her hair and shirt with the other.
"Now, you`re serious, right? You`re not going to regret this tomorrow morning?" Alice asked, only half-teasing.
"I'm beyond serious." Seth replied. He sniffed the air and made a face. "Ew. That is some naaastay air."
He looked around at all of the signs and bright, distracting lights. He hadn't seen anything like this before. It actually took him awhile to adjust.
"I hope you have a place in mind, because I have no idea where to go."
Alice smiled and shook her head. The lights were bright and distracting, trying to entice people into the depts of different places, some safer than others. She scanned the area until she saw something.
"Come on, this way. Looks nicer than the ones you`d normally find." She said, leading Seth to the door of a churchy-looking place.
"This looks like a nice place." Seth said. He scanned the entire building and then opened the door, holding it open for her.
((BsgsdgdfgdsG.))
Alice smiled and walked in, carefully directing her larger bag in front of her. The front looked modern with a long white desk and a small woman sitting behind it. There were large windows on two sides and a big doorway that led to the main area. That part looked old, with wooden beams on the ceiling and a few pews. It looked like a real church.
"Wow." Alice said softly.
"Hi, can I help you?" The small, blonde woman behind the counter asked.
"Yes, actually. We would like to get married." Alice replied, smiled and leaning into Seth. The woman stared for a moment, shrugged, and waved them forward.
"Most of it is just papers, but some people like to have a little ceremony. It`s two-hundred dollars. You have to be over eighteen, though." She raised an eyebrow and stared.
"Of course." Alice dug into a large purse and pulled out a wallet, then an ID. It stated that she was nineteen. The lady didn`t ask for Seth`s ID, he looked old enough, much too old for Alice.
Seth reached into his wallet and pulled out one hundred dollar bill and five twenty dollar bills. He laid them down on the table and pushed them toward the woman. He had exchanged some of his money at Gringotts before Alice and Seth had collected their things. He had a thousand dollars in muggle cash on him. Well, now eight hundred, which was a lot to have in his wallet.
The woman eyed him for just a moment. Perhaps because of how he just whipped out two hundred dollars. Perhaps she had figured that Alice was marrying him for his wealth, which was something he didn't have.
"Thank you." She said finally, collecting the money and putting it in a register, which was printing off a receipt. She tore it off and handed it to him. "Just proceed through the main doorway when you're ready. Male's changing rooms are on the left, ladies on the right. If there's anything I can do, please don't hesitate to ask."
Alice frowned a little, heading towards the chapel part of the building.
"You didn`t have to pay for all of that." She said softly as she drifted towards the right side. "But I suppose you aren`t going to let me pay you back." She smiled and squeezed his hand before going into the dressing room.
A few minutes later she peeked out the door so just her head showed. She had pulled her hair up into a messy bun, but it looked pretty, somehow. She had put on a dark grey eyeshadow and red lipstick. Her dress was hidden behind the door. It was an off-white cream color, almost gold in hue, that billowed around her in gently waves. There was red velvet trim along the edges, and she held seven red roses.
"Are you ready?" The blonde woman asked her, surprising her.
"Uh, yeah." She said, slowly opening the door and stepping out. She was really doing this. She was reall getting married.
"Nope." Seth replied, winking at her.
Seth was already dressed in a black tuxedo with a red dress shirt and black tie. His hair was neatly spiked and his shoes shined. He waited by the altar, staring down at the ground, waiting for his bride to meet him at the end of the aisle.
The blonde lady led Alice to the doors that led tot he isle.
"When the music starts, just go. There`s a certified pastor and... Landon Seth Lockheart waiting for you." She nodded and slipped inside. She, in fact, was the woman who played the piano music for the procession.
Alice took a deep breath as she heard the first notes being played. She had dreamed of this for a long time, and she had wanted to marry Seth for almost two years now. Well, she finally got what she wanted.
She pushed the door open and smiled at Seth. He looked really nice-- he did all of the time, but especially nice now. She felt tears sting the back of her eyes, but she forced them back. She wanted to be able to see tonight.
When she finally reached the end, she wanted to kiss Seth now, but had to restrain herself. She faced him, then they turned together to face the pastor.
"We are gathered here today to celebrate the joining of two individuals, Alice Rowena Brokeheart and Landon Seth Lockheart. They..." The big man`s words seemed to blend together, and Alice could just feel Seth and joy.
Seth's was literally breathless when Alice stepped into the isle. For a moment, he could not breathe. She just looked so beautiful. He couldn't believe that is was possible to love somebody this much. They shared their ups and downs, but vampire or human, he would love her always.
The pastor proceeded with his words once they faced him.
"Landon has asked to say his own vows." The pastor said with a soft smile. "Take it away."
Seth turned to face Alice and cleared his throat.
"Gosh, where do I begin? I always thought that I would choose who I would fall in love with. I always thought that I would always be in control. But the day that we met, you had won my heart just like that. Before I even realized what was going on, I was yours. You were on my mind when I woke up and when I fell asleep. I dreampt of you and missed you. When I went home to take care of my Mother, I realized that I could not live without you in my life. Seeing you in that bookstore was fate. We are destined to be together.
And so, Alice Rowena Brokeheart, I give you this promise. I promise to be the best husband and give you everything you deserve. When the times are hard, I promise to always be there for you, to comfort you, to hold you. I promise to love you forever, until the day I die."
When Seth finished Alice had tears at the corners of her eyes. What he said had been simple, but he had meant it and it had all been true. It felt right for him to say that.
"Alice has also decided to say her own vows." The pastor added, nodding to her to procede.
"Well, what you said is the same for me, too. I knew that you were special that first moment I met you. I didn`t know that I loved you until much later, but I always have. You found a spot in my heart and never left, even when he tried to go our own ways for a while. But being apart didn`t work for us. We fit together, belong together. I can`t live without you in my life, and I hope that you feel the same about me.
So Seth, this is where I say that I`ll want you always-- all of you-- no matter what happens, until the day I die." She said, a tear running down her cheek. She swallowed heavily and looked to pastor.
"And now, if you will face each other and take each other`s hands...." The woman took Alice`s flowers and she gripped Seth`s warm hands. "And Landon, If you could repeat after me: Alice Rowena Brokeheart, if you will take this ring as a sign of good faith and love towards me, for always and forever, for better for worse, and in sickness and in health." He waited.
Seth noticed the tear. He had never seen Alice cry in all the time that he knew her. For some reason, that made him want to cry to, but he wasn't going to.
"Alice Rowena Brokeheart, if you will take this ring as a sign of good faith and love towards me, for always and forever, for better for worse, and in sickness and in health." He repeated every syllable without screwing up, which was rather surprising. He was scared that he would stutter or say something else. But everything flowed rather smoothly.
Alice couldn`t help but smile as he slid the ring onto ther finger. It was stunning, just like everything about him.
"Now Alice." The pastor said. She repeated what Seth had said but with his name in place of hers. She took his left hand and put a silver band on his ring finger. It sparkled with tiny diamonds, but was still distinctly manly. She curled her fingers around his. They were so close, it was ridiculous.
"And now I present to you Mr. and Mrs. Landon Seth Lockheart. Landon, you may kiss the bride."
"It`s Seth," Alice mumbled before she leaned forward and pressed her lips to his.
Seth didn't care about the pastor or the blonde woman standing there. To him, it was just him and his...his wife! Wow, that was something he would need to get used to. He kissed her with so much love and passion. And then he pulled away and tucked a loose piece of hair behind her hair.
"I love you." He whispered, staring down into her eyes.
Alice kissed him back with just as much passion. He was her husband, and they were bound together now by something sacred that people took advantage of every day. They didn`t see how special it was, but she could just then. This was the happiest moment she`s had in what felt like forver.
"I love you, too, Seth. Forever and always, whatever it takes." She was crying now, but happy tears, of course. Her hands trembled ever so slightly, but she didn`t notice. She didn`t even notice the other two people in the room. There was only him.
Seth hugged her and stroked her hair. Then suddenly he lifted her up into the air and spun around once before setting her back down.
"What do we do now?" He asked softly.
The blonde woman popped up with a smile.
"You just have to sign a few papers and a wedding certificate and you are married by law." She said quickly.
Alice nodded, still grinning.
"And you know me, I have something up my sleeve." She winked and they went off to sign the papers.
((I`m just skipping stuff we don`t need. =P))
A few minutes later they stood outside now. The air smelled faintly smoky, and nowhere near as clean as the air back at Hogwarts. It made Alice glad she didn`t have vampiric senses any more.
"Okay, two options. Do you want to go gambling, or to a restraunt and hotel? I don`t care either way, so you pick." She smiled devilishly.
"I want you to decide." Seth said, glancing at her. There was a light breeze and that pushed back his hair and cooled him off from the heat of the previous moment. He had put his jacket in his bag, leaving on the red shirt with a white vest and black tie. He took her hand and lifted it, so that his lips brushed the back of hers.
Alice smiled and squeezed his hand, her eyes sparkling. She was still in her dress, but it was pinned up elegantly so it wouldn`t drag on the ground.
"Okay, well... I`d like to get something to eat then relax at a hotel. I`ve never been much of a gambler myself, if you can believe that." She nodded towards a sleek black car that drove up to the curb and stopped. Alice opened the door and got in, careful to keep Seth hand in hers.
One they were in she spoke. "You know, you`re parents probably aren`t going to appreciate this."
Seth shrugged, leaning back into the black leather seat.
"Oh well. The point was to have you meet them. So they knew who you were. I wasn't expecting that at all. I think...my Mom was just over-whelmed. I don't think she was expecting that so quickly. I'm her only son and she has a hard time letting me go I guess." He smiled and closed his eyes.
"I've got you and that's all that matters."
Alice grinned again. Her cheeks were starting to hurt, but she couldn`t help being happy. She had everything she`s ever wanted.
"Mr. Lockheart, I do believe you spoil me sometimes." she teased. The car they were in had been crawling through traffic, but it stopped now in front of a large hotel. The driver got out and held open the door. Alice got out carefully and looked up.
"Wow."
The hotel had a huge waterfall in front of it and was easily a hundred fifty stories high. It was black with gold-plated windows. Alice felt so small compared to it.
"I enjoy spoiling you dear. I love you." Seth replied. He was staring out the dark tinted window and saw the huge hotel and waterfall. Now she was spoiling him.
Seth had got out after Alice and couldn't help but mutter "wow" also. It was just so...intimidating. Beautifully intimidating.
Alice laughed softly as Seth came up behind her. It all just seemed unreal, like a dream.
"Come on, loverboy. I bet it`s even better outside."
((Skipping. =P Pretend they checked in and got on an elevator. =D ))
The elevator finally stopped, and Alice had to move away from her spot in front of the buttons. She had tried to hide which button she pushed, but the little button with a fifty on it was still lit up when she moved.
Without waiting for Seth to follow on his own she took his hand and pulled him out of the large elevator and into the hall. There was thick black carpet underfoot and the walls were painted purple and white. They passed a door that looked like it was made out of stainless steel and Alice raised an eyebrow.
"Hope that`s just for show and not a necessity," she mumbled.
That one door was the only other one on the floor. At the other end of the hall, there was the other. Alice walked up to that one and passed the card the receptionist had given her over the sensor. The door gave a small click and opened.
"You first, me amour."
Seth stepped in and looked around.
"Oh." He said, his mouth dropping.
((XD))
((You know, you could have made something up about the interior of the room. =P ))
Alice follwed him in and stood beside him. Everything was amazing.
The were in a large room with a huge TV mounted on one wall and two black couches facing it. Paintings and mirrors were on the walls, and there were tables with vases and exotic flowers. Half of the floor was coated with thick black carpet and the other half had white wood. In that was of the room there was a sleek, stainless steel bar with an assortment of glasses to one side and a menu on the other. To the side of the bar was a small kitchen. Through an open doorway you could see a bedroom. A huge bed seemed to take up most of it, and everything was steel grey, purple, or black. Overall everything looked totally Las Vegas.
"Wow. When they say 'presidential suite' they really mean it," Alice siad softly. Also on the far wall there were to ginormous bay windows that looked out to the busy and colorful street below.
Seth walked up behind Alice and wrapped his arms around her waist. He kissed her cheek, then her neck.
"Would you like a drink or anything?" He asked her.
((I went to all that trouble of making up a pretty room and that`s all you put?! Okays. ;D ))
Alice smiled widely and nodded.
"Sure. Of course, I could always mix up a drink. You`d be surprised what and innocent-looking girl can learn about being a bartender when she lives as long as I have." She paused, a blank look falling across her face. "You know, this human thing is confusing." She faced Seth and walked backwards towards the bar as she spoke and sat down on a tall barstool.
Seth walked towards her, sitting beside her on a stool of his own.
"I'll help you adapt." He said with a soft smile. "You'll get used to it soon."
((I'm having some writer's blockage. =/))
Alice smiled and lifted a hand to touch the side of his face gently.
"I know you will, mon amour. You`ve helped me with so much already, and I really do believe that you are part of the reason I`m not part of the undead anymore." She leaned forward and kissed him gently. "Now, how about you just let me make drinks, hm?" Alice smiled and slid out of the barstool, moving to the other side of the counter.
She took two short glasses out and reached under the counter to get a bottle of clear liquid and something blue. Expertly she swirled the blue one around and watched it. "Don`t worry," she assured, "I`ve done this before." She put some ice in both of the glasses, then some of the clear stuff that instantly started to melt the ice. After pumping a shot of the blue liquid into each she swirled both drinks.
"Tada."
"I still don't understand how this happened." Seth smiled as Alice kissed him. Her lips weren't as cold like they used to be. They used to be like ice cubes. He watched her as she slid out of the barstool and moved to the other side of the counter. He traced her entire being with his eyes.
So beautiful. He thought.
Alice had made them each a drink. A blue drink. He eyed it and then lifted the glass, sniffing it. He wrinkled his nose. It smelled strong. But at the same time, it smelled good. The last thing he recalled smelling so strong and good at the same time was Dragon's Fire.
"Thanks." He said.
Alice nodded and seated herself in the barstool again. She lifted the glass and took a sip of it. This was the first time she had consumed alcohol since becoming human, and she wondered what it would be like. She had made strong drinks, and at first it tasted bitter. Then it dissolved into the warm taste of the blue stuff she put in it.
"Hm. Not too bad for my first one without hyperactive senses," she smiled.
Alice reached for Seth`s hand and laced her fingers through his. It was so odd to touch him now. His skin didn`t burn with heat any more, but intead he seemed to radiate warmth. A loving warmth.
"I love you," she said suddenly, "and I`m stunned that we really got married. It seemed to go by so quickly."
Seth took a small sip from the glass and was surprised. It actually tasted good. He assumed that by the smell it would taste awful. He smiled at her comment about her senses and helped himself to another sip. He suddenly found his fingers interwined with Alice's. A comfortable temperature between the two.
"I love you too." Seth replied. "I'm a little shocked too. It was a little on the...spontaneous side. But I can't tell you how happy I am." He looked at her lovingly and stroked her arm delicately with his fingers.
Seth`s touch made goosbumps rise on her arms and she took a deep breath. As a vampire his touch was overwhelming, and she figured it would become more normal once she lost her senses, but it didn`t. She shivered involuntarily and smiled again, meeting his gaze with the same expression.
"You know how you`ve affected my life since I met you, and you what I would have done to keep you in my life. Even with my annoyingly, abnormally large vocabulary I don`t have the words the describe how I feel for you. Love isn`t a strong enough word, but I keep thinking that maybe if I say it enough times it`ll work, but it doesn`t." She replied in a soft voice. Her electric blue eyes stared up into his. She didn`t even notice anything around them-- the large suite, or the fact that she was still in her wedding dress-- but she did know that she was now bound to Seth.
She had never been happier.
"It's not annoying." Seth's voice came out as soft as a whisper. "There is not a word out there that can express how I feel about you Alice. The best thing I can do is-is this." He pulled her close to him and had her place her ear against his chest.
"Can you hear it?" He asked her. "That's my heart beating for you."
Alice leaned back, and there were tears in her eyes. She gently squeezed his hand then pulled him closer, resting his head against her chest as. There her own heart beating surely.
"Because of you, my own heart beats too. I truely do believe that you`re the reason I am alive now, honestly alive. You have given me so much love that you brought me back from the undead. You loved me even when I logically had no soul. You believed in my humanity... even when I came close to losing it," she whispered to him with her lips near his hair. She squeezed his hand again and a tear fell from her cheek.
((Awww...this is so cute that I thought I was going to cry for a second.))
Seth listened to the heart beating strongly inside Alice's chest and it took the very breath from his lungs away. It was truely astonishing. Unbelievable. It was the perfect melody.
"I never thought that I would fall in love like this." Seth said. "I imagined myself being entirely different, living a different life. You changed that. You seriously have no idea how much of an impact you've made on me." He felt her tear fall from her cheek and onto his hand. The fact that she could cry was a gift in itself. He felt a tear escape his eyes, a secret tear that she would not see or feel.
(( ;D I just don`t know what to do.))
Alice wrapped her arms around Seth and hugged him tightly. More tears slid down her face, but they were joyous. She kissed the top of his head and squeezed him again.
"I have been dreaming for two-hundred and thirteen years for someone like you. When I met you, you were exactly what I had always wanted. But you have become so much more. You have excelled in your love, and for that I can`t thank you enough. Oh, mon amour." She leaned back slightly and lifted his head with her white hand. She watched him for a moment, then kissed him.
((Care to do do the next post? Lol.))
Alice awoke early the next morning. There was sunlight coming from behind the dark curtain, and she sat up slowly. Carefully so she wouldn`t wake Seth, she pulled her long hair over one shoulder and rubbed the sleep from her eyes. It took her a moment to remember where she was, but it didn`t take long. She gazed down at the ring on her left hand and smiled.
She was married now, and she was in a huge hotel suite. Alice layed down again and put a hand on Seth`s shoulder.
"Wake up, monsieur," she whispered, "mon amour."
Seth groaned and pulled the sheet over his head, though he was smiling. This was their first morning together as a a husband and wife.
"I don't wanna." He said through the sheet.
Alice grinned and hooked her fingers under the edge of the sheet.
"Oui, vous, mon amour." She said softly but insistantly in French. "Really you must, for today is a wonderous day that calls for celebration and happiness."
(("Yes, you do, my love."))
"What are we celebrating?" Seth asked in a groggy tone. He sat up, the sheet still over his body. He pulled it off with a single swift motion, his hair sticking up on all sides.
Alice smiled and sat up with him. She ran her fingers through his dark hair, taming it somewhat.
"Isn`t it enough to want to celebrate this day where we are together? Who says it has to be a holiday?" She asked with a mischievious grin.
"Nobody." Seth replied. He grinned and then grabbed Alice. "Come here you." He pushed her against the bed, hovering over her and kissed her lightly.
"I forgot to say good morning. So, good morning my sweet angel."
Alice laughed in her soft way and lifted one hand to Seth`s cheek.
"Good morning, mon soleil vengeur. This truely shall be an amazing day, or I will have waken in vain," she couldn`t help but tease. He looked so sweet in that moment that it took her breath away. She wanted to wake up to him every day.
((My avenging sun.))
"An amazing day it shall be." Seth kissed her once more before moving beside her,
((Gjfhjytgdhjud.))
Alice shook her head and turned onto her side to watch him.
"What do you deem this day to hold then, good monsieur?"
((Fdfjeoirjheonrfjeirhrfnj.))
"Our love?" Seth grinned and pulled the sheet back up and over the both of them. The air conditioning in the room made him chilly.
Alice giggled and pulled her knees up closer to her chest. She was wearing long, light purple pants and an orange tank, but she wasn`t cold. She hadn`t felt cold yet after turning back. Everything was warmer than what she had been, so she was happy with the change.
"Sure thing, kiddo. Whatever you say." She ruffled his messy hair affectionately, but paused. "You know, I still remember everything from before, all the vampire stuff, but I don`t feel... old anymore. I feel like a new person."
"You will always be the same person to me." Seth said. "Always Alice." He smiled. He liked how that sounded. He nuzzled her as she ruffled his hair, pretending to be a cat.
Alice laughed and ran her fingers through her hair again, taking a deep breath. She loved this. She loved being close to him, feeling him against her. It was extrememly comforting and much more ejoyable now that her senses weren`t overpowered any more.
"I love you," She said softly, blinking slowly. "We need to talk to your parents. They deserve to know," Her voice was barely a whisper, but she knew that he would hear it. He always heard her.