Truly Charmed (Part 3/3)

Chapter 50

CHRISTMAS DAY, 5 YEARS LATER

"Anna! Get your butt down here now! I can't wait any longer!" Melinda called up to me.

I gave myself a twirl in the mirror one last time. My red dress flowed all the way down to my knees. When I twirled I looked like Marilyn Monroe. My brown hair was loosely curled and two Christmas tree earrings hung at my earlobes. My open toed black high heels glinted when the light hit them. I loosened the strap around my ankle which kept them on my feet. The charm bracelet that Chris had gotten me on my twentieth birthday jingled when I moved my wrist, now full with charms.
I turned on my heel and headed downstairs...

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Everyone was gathered in the living room. The Christmas tree stood in one corner of the room and Melinda, now 19 years old still sat at the bottom of it, like she did every year. Ed and Pandora sat on one side of the sofa, holding hands, Pandora rubbing her baby bump softly. Henry sat on the single chair with girlfriend sitting on his lap. The twins, Payton and Patty were lounging on the floor by the couches. Phoebe and Coop sat next to Ed and Pandora. Paige and Henry and Piper and Leo all sat on the large sofa. Wyatt was perched on the arm of the large sofa, next to his parents.

Chris sat in the other single chair, next to Melinda and the tree. When I came down I sat down on the arm of the same chair he was on.

"So where's Jules Wyatt?" Pandora asked him.

"She's spending this Christmas with her parents in Canada," Wyatt answered.

He and Jules had been dating for about a two years now. Jules had long golden hair and honey colour eyes. She was a student teacher in Magic School, which was where she and Wyatt first met.

After the day that I was resurrected on my twentieth birthday I simply explained to Wyatt my feelings for him. I loved him, I truly did, but I didn't love him in the way he loved me. I am not in love with him like I am with Chris. I have never loved anyone as much I have with Chris. I didn't know it was possible for a human to love another like I do with him. And I know he feels exactly the same.

Of course by now Ed knows about magic. I had to tell him. I couldn't keep it from him anymore. I also couldn't explain the gaping hole with a huge blood stain on my dress when he first saw me that day. But that was also the day he told me that he and Pandora were seeing each other and that he liked her.

They're now happier than ever with their first child expected to be born in the Spring.

Melinda was learning in Magic school, while also teaching younger students how to control their powers at young ages.

Henry was now a famous artist with many paintings sold in San Francisco's biggest art galleries.

Pandora had taken her career in a line of fashion, designing outfits for big companies. She's even starting her own clothing line.

Wyatt was on his way of becoming headmaster of Magic School, with Chris teaching students combat skills to the next generation.

I on the other hand have taken up the fascination of writing. I've been writing fantasy books about magical creatures like goblins, leprechauns and fairies. With malicious villains like evil doppelgängers, bounty hunters and a completely original creature called a Creeper demon.

Melinda began ripping open her presents, along with everyone else. I looked around at the manor, smiling to myself. Chris then nudged me. I looked down and small and conspicuous in his hands was a blue velvet box. His smile was gleaming, his eyes twinkling. I took the box slowly, making sure nobody had seen it. I concealed it away from everyone and lifted up the lid. Inside was a silver ring, a shiny pearl on top with tiny diamonds on the loop of the ring. The silver metal twisted around the pearl, encasing it.

I turned to Chris unable to stop smiling. I had to hold my hand up to my mouth to stop myself from squealing.

"So what do you think? Wanna go for it?" He asked me, a little worry in his tone.

I sighed.

"You know, one in three marriages end in divorce," I told him laughing.

"Yes but not all marriages have to fight demons, have magical powers like telekinesis and bolt projection and have to save their other halves from being turned evil by yet another evil spirit," he joked back.

We both started laughing.

"So, you want to marry me? Because once you have all this, there's no going back," he winked.

"I don't think I'll ever get rid of you now. And considering you have saved me multiple times from being stabbed, killed, shot and possessed by an evil spirit I'd say why not," I smiled.

I leaned in close to him.

"So when do you want to break the news to these lot?" I asked through smiling teeth, trying to look casual.

"I'd wait until after dinner so nobody can move to squeeze us because they've eaten too much. I don't fancy trying on my dad's wedding tuxedo a few hours after I just got engaged," Chris laughed.

"So what do we do for the time being?" I asked him.

"We smile, have a good time with our family until its time to break the news. I'll tell Pandora to keep her mouth shut because I suspect she already knows," he motioned to Pandora.

I looked down on him and he gazed up at me. He extended his arm so he was holding my chin. He then tugged me forward until my mouth was against his. I felt his thumb slowly rub against my cheek as we kissed. He smiled when we broke off, our foreheads touching.

"I never get tired of kissing you. And I never will. I love you Anna," he whispered against my mouth.

I kissed him again before replying.

"To the stars and back,"

"Maybe even further,"

This was my life. From now until I die I will be a Halliwell. I will be a Charmed One's wife. Bear a Charmed One's grandchild. And I'm a witch. I can shoot lightening bolts from my hands while making someone's brain explode. I fight demons. My family are the most powerful forces of good to ever exist but with great power comes great responsibility. With the good comes the bad.

My life isn't perfect. It never has been. But it is and truly will be Forever Charmed....