Flame Inside ✿ Damien and Matthew

Bonus Chapter: The Wedding and Reception

The venue was set. The preparations were complete. The day had finally arrived.

Is this really happening? Emma couldn't help but wonder. She felt elation run through her entire body at the thought. She had waited for this day for years, and yet her mind couldn't believe it. She had to keep telling herself: Yes. This is happening. You're not dreaming.

She was going to marry Matthew. She was ecstatic to marry one of her best friends. Matthew was funny and caring, making her feel happy every moment of her life. She was thankful to have him and to be his for as long as she already had. To tie the knot with him today was an adventure they would both share.

Emma stood in her waiting room, staring at her reflection in the mirror. She couldn't take her eyes off herself. Am I imagining myself standing here? Did I die in the demon world and am now seeing a dream instead? Anxious thoughts passed through her mind.

Hearing her thoughts, Thalia quickly made her way to her best friend and fellow bride's side. She grabbed Emma's hands and squealed, "We're getting married!" Emma giggled at Thalia's words before they both froze, a sense of deja vu rushing through them. Those were the words Thalia had said before they had been taken to the demon world.

Thalia sighed and released Emma's hands, turning to the mirror. She, much like Emma, was going to be married that day. Married to Damien. Damien had happily become part of her life as she had become part of his. They supported each other and held each other up through everything in their lives. Even more so, he finally got to be human alongside her. They were both living a fantasy made into reality.

There they stood, elegantly wrapped in beautiful wedding gowns. Emma had her platinum blonde hair in an elegant low bun that had a lily pin made of silver and amethyst tucked in the center. While, Thalia had her ginger hair flowing down her back in loose waves. Diana's flower, still as healthy and magnificent as it had been the night she'd received it, adorned Thalia's head and sat gracefully in the crook of her ear.

Thalia felt her body quiver in anticipation. Her soul couldn't make up its mind on how to feel. She was ecstatic, joyful, scared... every emotion she knew of hit her all at once and she wasn't sure how to handle herself. She was going to walk down the aisle and see the man of her dreams at the end. She grabbed Emma's hand tightly, knowing she must be feeling similar emotions at that moment.

Feeling her friend's hand in hers, Emma felt every thought of that day began to collide in her head. Everyone was so supportive of them and their marriage that it shook her to the core. Emma's mother had made them a custom wedding cake, determined to give them the best celebration with her backing skills. Thalia's father had organized the reception. Both girl's mothers helped deliver invitations and guided their pre-wedding party, unable to stop themselves from crying at the thought of their children being married. Emma felt herself shake and begin to cry. Everyone was so proud of her, she could predict her legs giving out. And they did.

Thalia caught her friend by the elbows and slowly lowered her to the floor, kneeling in front of her. Emma held a hand over her mouth as delighted and overwhelmed burbles escaped past her lips. This was happening. She had waited for so long. She couldn't control the rush of emotions pounding through her like a storm. Her body was overthrown by her mental struggle and she had begun to break down. "Am I capable of doing this?" She questioned, "Am I strong enough?"

Thalia frowned as she heard those thoughts pass through her friend's head. She took Emma's face into her hands, careful not to smudge her makeup. "Yes, you are strong enough." She reassured the blonde, "You have been strong enough to push through every obstacle in your path. You fought off a devil, and your father in a way. You went to the Demon World and escaped its world war to see this day come. You've been through so much and you beat everything the universe has thrown at you."