Chapter's song: Latch by Sam Smith

ChaPtEr THIRTY-NINE _________________________

Epilogue

Our first date after the car accident was a visit to Sea Life's aquarium. It was Jason's idea. We went out on a Saturday morning. It was pretty crowded and a lot of people looked at us but Jason ignored everyone but me. That same day, he took me to a fancy pub to meet his closest friends. I had no idea I was meeting his friends and was pretty shocked that he wanted me to. They welcomed me warmly and no one treated me differently.

We dated for almost a year before I moved to his loft. My parents weren't exactly ecstatic about it. Especially Dad. But they supported and respected my decision.

And I was happy. Happier than I'd ever been.

Jason was so different and so much like the same Jason I'd met back in Mexico.

His memories never came back. He just got a few glimpses from time to time. You know what they say, that things happen for a reason. In this case, it was true.

If Jason hadn't crashed that night, things wouldn't be the same. I was completely sure about that.

He was following the "second-chance" theory by heart. He didn't stop himself whenever he wanted to do something special or be honest about anything. It was like he was being completely true to himself. And I was completely head over heels for him.

He kept surprising me day after day. He made sure to let me know how much he was into me. Every chance he could.

He was supportive and he attended any public event I asked him too. I knew he wasn't keen on the whole paparazzi ordeal, but he once told me that if that was something he had to go through to be with him, then it was a small price to feel loved by me.

He was the most amazing boyfriend I could ever ask for.

Even after seven years together.

We ended up to be one of the most public couples ever. Especially since he'd opened up an extreme sports business with one of his best-friends, Ryan. Thanks to that, we got to travel all around the world doing all kinds of stunts.

I was now a certified climber and a pretty excellent paddler. All because of him.

He complimented me in a way no one else could.

And after seven years, he wasn't fazed by the fact that he was dating the future heir of the crown. Yes. You got it. Dad was finally appointed King after years of struggles with Grandma Isobel. Three years ago, she finally gave up the crown and was now living peacefully in her manor. She stopped being so mean to everyone, especially since Mom made sure we all visited her at least once every two weeks.

Valerie and Peter were still together and soon to be married. Her wedding was a few weeks away when I started to worry about my own wedding. We'd never talked about getting married since we were living together...but honestly? I dreamt of my ideal wedding.

Which was just that. A dream.

As a princess I was doomed to be married in front of the nation in one of London's Cathedrals. If I ever got married.

Being Val's maid of honor, I got to help her choose her wedding gown, as well as the cake, the flowers, etc. You get the picture. And as happy as I was for her...well, I was all also a bit jealous. Especially since marriage hadn't been part of our conversations.

Jason noticed that I looked stressed and suggested a trip to Mexico. We loved to visit my Aunt. Her hotel was one of the most luxurious boutique hotels in Huatulco. Sol and Pablo never worked out. It was some sort of taboo subject. She didn't talk much about it and neither him. I think they dated for a month or so but for some reason they didn't click. Years after, Sol married Marcos, a restaurant-owner and she was pregnant right now. Like really pregnant. Her baby was due in a month or so. And Pablo, well...he turned out to be a complete play-boy. Every time I saw him he had a new girlfriend.

They both looked happy. Still, I always thought that working together and seeing all of this must have been hard for both of them.

On our second day back in Mexico, Jason wanted to see the sunrise. He literally jumped on the bed to wake me up and even though I really didn't want to get up, my eyes opened wide after he mentioned that we were also riding on horses.

By the foot of the bed, Jason smiled knowingly as his eyes trained on me for a moment. "What?" I asked self-consciously straightening my mess of a hair.

"You're beautiful..." he trailed on with that lopsided smile that drove me crazy.

I bit my lip, "thank you." He sat beside me. His left hand reached out to cup my chin, "you don't say that enough, you know?"

He burst out laughing at that, teasing he added, "I'll take that in mind, cupcake."

I smiled before narrowing my eyes, "do you want me to do something?"

He placed a hand on his chest in mock hurt, "what are you talking about? Can't I tell my girlfriend how pretty she is?"

Warily, I raised an eyebrow. "Yes...but you have that glint in your eyes that means that you're up to something."

"I do not," his brows furrowed while he stood up. "But seriously, we are going to miss the sunrise."

Groaning, I dragged the sheet up to my chest, "Did you know that tomorrow the sun will do the same?"

Laughing, he pulled the sheet off me. "I already arranged the horses and all that." He climbed on top of me, grabbing both my arms when I tried to grasp the sheet again. He placed them on my sides and a mischievous smile drew on his lips. Leaning closer, his eyes were intense as he bushed his lips on mine and kissed me lightly. My heart raced as he placed soft kisses down my throat, "let's go, Marianne..."

He got up pulling me with him. "Seriously?" I pouted.

He pecked me on the lips one last time, "Seriously." Sighing, I rolled my eyes as he let go of me smiling triumphantly.

"It's still dark..." I complained as he helped me get on the horse. It was a beautiful black horse. I leaned on him while brushing his mane as Jason climbed on his.

Completely ignoring my pouting, Jason smiled, "come on, beautiful, let's get going."

The sky was slowly changing hues as we rode on the beach. It was a beautiful sight. Although I didn't said it out loud. I was mesmerized at the disappearing stars above us as the sound of crashing waves soothed me.

I so needed this...

A fine light line appeared on the horizon making me turn to look at Jason. Light breeze teased my skin as I smiled excitedly at him. Surprisingly, he wasn't looking at the sun. He was watching me with so much intensity that my heart skipped a beat.

"I love you," he whispered softly as he directed his horse to stand beside mine. His hand grabbed mine as my heart completely melted over him.

I never knew that you could love someone with so much intensity.

I swallowed hard as I squeezed his hand in return, "I love you." My eyes turned to the beautiful sunrise, "even if you wake me up this early..."

He chuckled. Pulling me to him, he placed a soft kiss on my forehead.

That moment was perfect.

Wedding or not, being with Jason made me feel complete in every sense of the word.

We watched the rest of the sunrise holding hands in comfortable silence.

When the sun was completely up on the sky, Jason glanced at me with a mischievous glint in his eyes before blurting out, "race, you!" and kicked his horse sprinting towards a pile of rocks that we'd seen far away.

Rolling my eyes playfully, I shook my head, "really mature, Jason!"

I followed after him in a much slower pace. He'd reached the rocks when I saw him fidgeting with something in his side pocket when his hands let go completely off the reins making him fall off the horse. Panic washed over me as I kicked my horse to get closer to him.

My stomach plummeted to the ground as I reached him. His whole body was still as I got off my horse and I turned him over.

My breath caught in my chest as I noticed the wound on his head. Blood was already flowing down his right brow as I started to call his name, "Jason, baby, please wake up." I pulled off my t-shirt and placed it on the cut, "Jason, please..." With shaking hands, I felt for a pulse on his neck and I finally breathed out when I felt his pulse beat normally. His eyes fluttered open as he groaned. "Are you ok?" I helped him straighten up still pressing my t-shirt to his head. "Jason?"

His hand reached out to touch his head. He winced. Apparently, the shirt was effectively stopping the blood. But I was still pressing it hard. His grey eyes turned to me; he blinked confused. "Jason?" my voice was shaky as my heart started to race.

"Where am I?"

My heart stopped. My lips parted. A shiver ran down my spine.

No. No. No. No.

This can't be happening again.

"Jason?!" I asked more panicked than ever before.

His eyes stared at me for a long moment before his lips started to twitch.

My heart was thumping loudly as I breathed out. "You're such an asshole!" I shook my head as he burst out laughing before groaning and holding the shirt himself.

"I can't even-" I got up trying to even my erratic heart, "I'm so hating you, right now!" I started to pace in front of him breathing out, trying to calm myself.

"I'm so sorry," he got up still holding his head.

"I hate you," I snapped angrily.

He was still fighting the smile on his face as he stepped closer to me. "It was just perfect." He reached out for me with his free hand but I pulled away.

Facing away from him, I walked to my horse. My hands were shaking and my eyes were brimming with tears as I grabbed the horse's reins.

"Marianne," he'd ran to reach me. His free arm encased me on the waist. "I'm really sorry."

A sob burst out of my mouth as he turned me to him, "I thought I'd lost you..." I closed my eyes as the tears rolled down my cheeks, "again."

Holding me with both arms, he pulled me closer to him as I cried in his arms. "I'm so, so sorry. Please forgive me." He kissed my hair, "I'm not going anywhere, love." I held on to him closing my eyes.

Pulling away from him, I noticed the trail of blood on his neck. "You're still bleeding," I murmured grabbing my shirt from his hand and placing it on the cut.

"I'm really sorry," he cupped my chin as his thumb caressed my cheek.

"That was cruel," I looked into his eyes.

He sighed, "I'm so sorry."

"You might need stitches," I breathed out. "Let's go." I turned away from him before glancing at him once again, "what were you doing before?"

Jason reached out for his pocket, "I wanted to take this out." He pulled out a small wooden box. "I wanted to surprise you..."I glared at him and shook my head angrily. Completely pissed, I reached out for my horse when he grabbed my hand, "wait." His grey eyes looked down for a moment before he opened up the box, "this is not how I'd planned this...and I'm really, really," he stressed out, "sorry." My heart skipped a beat as I glanced at the inside of the box. A beautiful diamond ring laid on the bottom. I glanced at him as he smiled sheepishly, "could you forgive me and you know, marry me?"

My eyes brimmed with tears once again as I looked into his eyes, "I didn't know you wanted this..."

His lips tugged up on a boyish smile as he slid the ring down my finger, "baby, I'm an idiot, but I'm not that idiot not to notice how much you want this." He leaned closer to me, "am I forgiven then?"

A small chuckle left my lips, "barely."

He kissed me softly, "I'm sorry." I closed my eyes for a moment, before looking at him again, "I have another surprise for you."

"Please don't ride a horse this time."

His chest reverberated as he laughed. "We're getting married today."

My brows furrowed at his words, "what?"

He shrugged, "we will have to have the expected public religious ceremony in England," he passed an arm around my waist pulling me closer, "but I arranged everything for a civil marriage here." His eyes darkened as his lips tugged up lopsidedly, "I figured it would be nice to get married on the place where everything started...and I know you'd love this."

I swooned at him completely forgetting about his stupid joke. "What about my-"

"They're all here. Waiting for us back at the hotel."

"You need to see a doctor, Jason."

His hands gripped me tighter, "I'm really sorry."

Sighing, I stood on my tiptoes to kiss him, "just don't ever pull that stunt on me again." His lips twitched and I rolled my eyes trying not to smile too.

"I love you," he smiled warmly before closing the gap between us and kissing me.

We came back to the hotel and my family was all there waiting for us. Even Valerie and Peter were there. Pablo took Jason to the doctor as Mom helped me out getting ready for the wedding. Valerie kept gushing that I was getting married before her making me laugh at her every chance she mentioned it.

And it did happen.

My dream wedding.

My dress was a simple cut white silk dress. My hair was up on a beautiful messy bun arranged with flowers. Mom did my makeup and kept it truly natural.

Little shells and white roses formed the aisle. Dad walked me down as soft music mixed with the soothing sound of crashing waves played on the background. All the people I ever cared for smiled at me as we passed them. And at the end of the aisle, the most handsome man smiled at me.

Dad kissed me on the cheek with teary eyes as he handed me to my future husband. Jason's grey eyes glinted with so much love that my breath caught in my chest. A small smile played in my lips as my eyes trained on the blotchy spot where the doctor had just stitched him a couple of hours ago.

It seemed fitting that he had them on our wedding day. If he hadn't lost his memories we wouldn't be here today...

I loved Jason with everything that entailed.

I accepted him with all his faults and all his strengths. And even though we'd been together for the last seven years, he still surprised me.

...and I wouldn't have it any other way.

______________________________________________________________________________

I'm mean. I know. But I just couldn't keep smiling as I wrote this.

Hahahaha

This was one of the hardest chapers to write, though. I loved writing this story and I want to thank each and all of you for your constant support and love.

Hopefully, you'll get hooked on my newest story, writer's luck. I'm really excited about it...and hopefully you too :)

Thank you...

Gaby

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