Where the Story Ends (ending to the Story of Her Life trilogy)

Where the Story Ends: 14

The five of them stood at the end of the bed and stared at the sight in front of them. It had caught them completely by surprise, but they couldn't be any happier.

Harry had been in the room since last night. Chealsi went to see what was going on because everything was too quiet. She found them asleep, cuddled close together.

Her head was resting on his bare chest. Her hand covering his stomach, like she was trying to protect him from something. His arms wrapped around her, holding her close to him, like he was trying to protect her.

Joy lit up Chealsi's face, but others tried to hide their disappointment, and emotional aching.

They began to make waking noises, and everyone shuffled out of the room.

He gently rubbed her arm."Good morning." he said with a lazy smile.

"Good morning." she returned the gesture, but she still meant it.

"Do you think that everyone is still here?" he tried to look at her, but couldn't because he was lying down.

"I doubt it. They probably went home sometime last night." she propped herself on her elbow so she could see his face.

"Probably. Do you want me to check?" he offered.

"If you don't mind." she kissed him before he rolled out of the bed.

//\\

She looked up and saw him walking down the hallway. "He- Woah, Harry, put some pants on!" she exclaimed when she saw him in only his underwear.

"I do." he looked down.

"No, like some," she searched for the word, "trousers." she said with frantic hand motions.

"Oh, sorry. I didn't know anyone was here." he stood there after he said.

"Well, get to it."

"Oh, right." he ran back to the room to slip on his clothes.

"I'm guessing by the yelling that they're not gone." she sat cross legged on the edge of the bed.

"Nope." he closed the door behind him.

"Why didn't you put any clothes on before leaving the room." she watched him dress.

"I didn't think anyone would be here. Besides, you're use to seeing me without clothes on."

"That's only because we've been married for forty years." she played with him.

"We're not married at all." he pointed out.

"Yes, because that's what's wrong with that sentence. Now, get out while I get dressed." she started pushing him toward the door.

"How come you can watch me dress, but I can't watch you?" he asked on his way out the door.

"Because you let me." she pushed him the rest of the way out the door and closed the door behind him.

"Did you get kicked out of the bedroom?" someone called from the other room.

"She's just getting dressed." he explained.

//\\

She stopped in front of the vanity mirror on her way to the closest. She pushed back her hair to see a scar, usually buried in her eyebrows, hiding behind her bangs. She looked lower in the mirror to see a longer scar that crossed her ribs. Running her fingers over it, she could nearly feel the pain again.

It had a ghostly appearance. Now, it was just a reminder of the past, as were the matching ones on her arm and forehead. The memory sent shivers down her spine.