You're Not in this Alone *The final book in the We'll Carry on Series*

Drinking by the mausoleum

 I walked up a stone path way, wondering to myself why Gerard wanted me to meet him in the cemetery of all places considering I was dying more or less. My black velvet heels echoed against the stone beneath my feet and my plaid dress was caught in the wind as I approached the weeping angels. I stopped in front of Elena’s gravestone and looked around fixing my arms around myself.

“You look amazing, baby.” I heard Gerard say from behind me.

I turned around quickly to greet his lips with my own. He wore a black button up and jeans, with a dozen roses held firmly in his grasp, the moon making his pale skin glow.

“Thank you, babe. What’s going on?” I questioned as he handed me the flowers; Black and red roses.

“Happy four year anniversary, Mrs. Way.” His smile gleamed as it hit me. He remembered our anniversary, even after everything that had been going on. I was touched.

“Happy anniversary, Mr. Way.” I crashed my lips to his as the chilly wind hit the exposed skin on my back, causing me to shiver in his arms.

As we pulled apart, he pulled me down onto a silk blanket, placing his hands on my waist carefully but firmly. It was a beautiful night in New Jersey. We had moved here after we found out that my oncologist was moving his practice to Belleville. I refused to change doctors and our friends refused to live across the country while my leukemia was still progressing. I followed my doctor and they followed me, Gerard, and Bandit back home where all of roots lied.

***** 

“Baby, are you scared?” Gerard spoke suddenly, looking me in the eyes.

“Yes, I guess I am, but I’m not afraid of dying. I’m terrified of leaving you and Bandit.” Bandit had turned four a few months ago. She clung to me now that she knew I was sick and so did Gerard, Frank, Mikey, and Lindsey. I really was terrified of leaving Gerard and Bandit though. I had fought so hard to stay alive for them, and to give up now would seem ironically stupid.

“Then never leave me.” He stated simply yet pleadingly.

“I’m doing the best I can. I’ll never leave you Gerard.” I stated, leaning my head on his shoulder.

***

Just as I had gotten up and turned to walk towards the car for Gerard and I to go home, I felt him grab my hand. I turned around only to be shocked into tears. Gerard was down on his knee with a simple red velvet box in his hands. My hand covered my mouth as I stared down at my husband.

“Stormy Onyx Way. I don’t give a fuck that you’re sick. I still love you just as much, if not more than the day I married you. You brighten up my world and make me happier than I knew was possible. You’re such an amazing mother to Bandit and a remarkable friend to our loved ones. More than that though, you’re my soul mate. I don’t ever want to know what it’s like to have to live without you, not even for a second. I know this is stupid to a lot of people, but I want to make you as happy as I possibly can. I want to rekindle anything that we might have lost in this tsunami of sadness. I won’t treat you like you’re sick, I won’t look at you any differently than I do when I tell you how perfect you are to me. You’re still my Stormy. Baby, will you marry me again? Will you renew our vows with me?” His hazel eyes shimmered under the glow of the moonlight as he stared up at me.

“I wouldn’t miss it for the world. Yes, yes I will.” I kneeled down so we were the same height and grabbed his face, pulling him into a heart melting kiss. A moment that Elena was present and smiling at us for. We were at her grave after all.

He gently slid the ring- that was once mine but had mysteriously gone missing and came back with a few more diamonds- onto my finger, kissing it once it was firmly in its rightful place. I smiled at him as we stood up, entwining our fingers together and saying goodbye to Elena. He wrapped his left arm around me and held my left hand with his right, holding me against his side as we walked out of the graveyard and to our car.