Chapter 18 - Till the end of time

The sun shone brightly that day. Its image shining down to the world below, catching her so that its light touched her hair like a halo. At least, that was the way I can always remember it.

She had wanted it to be different, something unusual yet beautiful at the same time. I suppose that describes Kori in allot of ways.

Instead of choosing a traditional church setting, Kori had requested a beach set at sunset.

There are allot of things I remember very clearly about that day. For once, Bruce wasn't giving me a hard time about my decision to leave the business behind and start a new life with Kori. He sat on the side lines, a very small reluctant smile tugging on his mouth as he watched me. I suppose the expression on my face must have shown true wonder as I watched her approach me, her hand on the arm of her Uncle who lead her down the aisle towards me.

The sea behind me crashed into the moss covered rocks, its spray darting up into the air. Surprising me, I hadn't seen one seagull, and a hush was about the crowd which was odd since Gar and Vic couldn't usually keep their mouths shut for more than 3 seconds.

They both stood to the side of me, broad smiles on their faces. Rachel and Karen stood on the opposite side, in a lavender coloured dresses. I was also surprised to see Rachel so emotional as she smiled at Kori, but then again they had helped each other through tough times. I wasn't surprised to see that her stomach was starting to show signs of pregnancy. She and Gar had been delighted to announce the news.

Toni and Alain were married, and had a child of their own. I could hear the squeals of delight that came from their 1 year old son as Kori passed them by.

Xaviour and Rose had attended the wedding. A slight smile was on Xaviour's face as he glanced at me, and I was secretly glad through that one glance that I had decided to invite him. He had certainly changed since high school, and now that he was with Rose and had a new life, he was a new person as well.

Jenny and Wally sat at the front row, who were currently the only couple not engaged or married. They were happy and Wally was ready for commitment, he was just waiting for the right moment. Jenny took photo graphs every moment or so and I couldn't help but smile as I looked around at the friends I had known since high school.

When Kori finally reached me I extended a hand which she gracefully took. Her eyes stayed locked with mine as we held hands in front of the vicar who began to speak. In all honesty, I wasn't really listening. I was too preoccupied with watching Kori, and as the vicar muttered the marriage vows which we repeated, I couldn't help but think about our life together.

Our first impressions of each other weren't exactly love at first sight material.

Flashback:

I had seen her before anyone else. Her eyes drifted from the piece of paper she was holding, to up and around the halls. As I watched her approach I was filled with the strangest emotion. It wasn't love, but it was certainly enough emotion to scare me. The way she looked around so timidly, her emerald eyes so unsure and yet she was so beautiful in her own way. I found it heard to look away from her as I paused at my locker. But when I suddenly realised that I was starring, and feeling emotions I shouldn't be feeling, I became angry.

I mean, who did she think she was commanding my attention like that? Why on earth was I so fascinated by her and yet I hadn't even met her?

I crammed all of my feelings down and hid them away, putting on my sunglasses.

When a hesitant voice asked "Um.. excuse me," and I turned around, it was her and for one miner moment, which know one else would have noticed, I felt...shy?

I brushed the feeling off just as quick, frowning at her when she continued "can you tell me where-"

I knocked her shoulder as I walked past her, muttering impassively "sorry, cant help you princess."

End flashback:

So to anyone else, the meeting might have seemed like I was rude for no reason at all. But I had blocked out all of my feelings for so long because of Bruce, the school, and my parents...but she got past my wall of defence so quickly.

But as time went by, she did more than that, she healed my old wounds and made me a better person.

She looked up at me timidly.

"And your parents?"

I looked away, avoiding her gaze, if I told her....everything about my past, she would definitely trust me, but that didn't make it any easier for me.

I was the sort of person to keep the past where it belonged, but in doing so I never told anyone the truth. They all thought they knew me, but the fact was...they didn't. Underneath my cool and collected armor, I was the lost little boy walking around in the ash of a ruined circus tent. I shuddered recalling the same nightmare that haunted me in my sleep for many years. However, I felt a hand rap around my own, and my skin tingled in response.

Kori smiled, hoping to comfort me. She understood my pain because she felt it too and I took comfort in that knowledge. She wouldn't judge me, she would just listen.

"What I'm about to tell you...you have to keep to yourself...and well" I rubbed the back of my neck in nervousness. "I'm urr not very good at this" I paused and Kori smiled, squeezing my hand.

"Its okay."

I smiled and sighed before beginning my story which I had held in since I was seven.

If that wasn't enough, she had loved me back. Even when I had to leave her for three...oh heart wrenching years. Some would call my actions unloving, and sometimes I wondered, how could I love her, if I had done that to her?

There was a time once, a few months after we got together and it was soon to be graduation. We were happy, in fact we were more than happy, we were complete.

I can close my eyes and see that one moment so clearly. I suppose that was the moment when everything made sense.

It was Kori's birthday, and I had taken her to dinner for the occasion. The restaurant that I had chosen over looked the sea, and the setting was perfect.

Of course, the night had been one to remember anyway. We had never spoken so deeply of our feelings for one another, or our fears and ambitions for the future. I guess on that night, after everything we'd been through, it finally made sense to me that perhaps Kori and I could be together for good. I regret to say that I did not purpose to her on that night, but instead I gave her a necklace made of sapphire.

I remember that her face beamed up at me once she had opened the box. I had smiled politely back at her, though inside I was a whirl of emotions. Perhaps in a way it was good that we separated for awhile, though I wish that it had never happened, I was a different man when we met again years after we broke up.

No longer was I afraid of commitment like I had been back at the restaurant. I had become cold and isolated, much like my adopted father. But a secret promise had been etched into the necklace I had given Kori that night.

It went unspoken of course, but the necklace secretly promised Kori my hearts desire. Since I couldn't find the courage to purpose, it was sort of like a hidden engagement present.

As I slid the ring on her finger that would bind us together for all time I thought about the man I used to be, and the man I was now. It was all thanks to the women before me that I hadn't turned out like my adoptive father Bruce. And although I had strived to try and gain his love and respect as a young man, I now saw and accepted who he was and who I wanted to be.

But more importantly, I knew that Kori was all that I wanted.

And as she looked up at me with joy alight in her emerald green eyes, all I could do was kiss her. She returned it with as much passion as I gave her, and the vicar said rather uneasily

"um, you may now kiss the bride?"

Gar and Victor snickered under their breaths, but Kori just pulled me closer and my hands moved of their own accord around her waist. The crowed of family and friends clapped and a few whistles rang into the air.

When we broke apart, Kori's hands lingered on my face for a moment and she whispered lightly "your mine now Grayson. Think you can put up with me?"

I laughed "I love you enough to put up with your unusual ways. Where was it you wanted to go on a honeymoon to again?"

Kori's eyes lit up again and she giggled "I was thinking Switzerland."

I rose an eye brow and she pulled away as confetti was chucked rather ungraciously over us. I spoke over the bustle of everyone saying choruses of congratulations. "Why again?"

Kori grasped my hand in hers and we began to make our way down the aisle as husband and wife. She said softly "well I've only been there one other time, and the last time I went it was the best holiday of my life."

Smiling I squeezed her hand and whispered "even though we got stuck in a snowstorm and nearly died, you still think of it as a great vacation?"

The wind lifted her flame like hair so that it danced in the wind, her song like laughter drifted along the breeze in response. "It was the best holiday because when I came back, I had you as a souvenir."

As everyone around us took photos, laughed and continued in the banter of conversations, I couldn't help but watch my new wife. Her carefree smiles were contagious and her rhythm of movement was graceful and elegant. And best of all, she was now mine to have and to hold forever.

I knew that I didn't deserve her, and she certainly could do better than me as a husband. However, I would make it up to her, I would do everything I could to try to make her life as wonderful and beautiful as she had made mine.

And as she glanced my way for a moment, all I could do was smile. Our lives together, truly began now and throughout everything we would have to face, I'd never leave her side again.

The End

Dedicated in loving memory all the pets Ive ever owned, especially Shadow the shepherd, Marmalade and Rusty the cat twins, Tilly the kitten and Lotty the fur ball tea cosy.

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And that's that! I must say that even though the high school in a nutshell/what happened next mainly revolved around Kori's feelings for Richard, I thought he should have the last chapter. After all this was about him finally having his own happy ending and finally ending his jerk like ways XD

I hope u enjoyed the ending, and I'm sorry it took so long getting it up. Things have been hectic lately, but I now have 2 weeks off, which means 2 weeks of updating stories! Woo woo!

Please review!xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Thank you to everyone who read this story, I love u all!

Standard Disclaimer applies on all my stories... I DON"T OWN THE TEEN TITANS!!