Epilogue

"Gosh, that's quite inexpensive, isn't it?" Alice marveled the handmade necklace that she had managed to purchase for a handful of change from a screaming vendor. She got Jasper to put it on for her. "How do I look?" She smiled for her husband.

"Marvelous," he whispered into a kiss he stole from her.

Edward looked up when he heard the low rumble. Clouds sat threateningly across the sky as far as he could see. Rain was imminent. But this bustling marketplace seemed to think otherwise. Shopkeepers were yelling at customers to garner their attention. Vegetables and fruits lined the narrow, muddy paths, as did earthenware, clothes and toys. The smell of sweat and sugar hung thick in the air. Throngs of shoppers were moving in either direction, only a few with stern purpose while all others meandered. Rain or shine, he supposed.

"You should get something, Edward," Alice called out over the thousands of voices mingling in the congested bazaar. "A souvenir."

He examined the carvings on the rickety table. The vendor was still screaming at him, badgering him for money. He wouldn't mind parting with some. He was just about to pick up a wooden charm when thunder rumbled once again, this time louder than before. "It's going to rain," he murmured to himself. He glanced out. People were starting to surge forward now, finally accepting fate from the weather gods. Vendors fortunate enough to have plastic tarps started to pull them out from behind their chairs. Others started collecting their merchandise to stow them into damp cardboard boxes. He picked up the charm. He didn't bother bargaining when the sweaty lady yelled a price at him. He fished a bill out of his pocket and handed it to her.

Alice tugged at him as soon as the transaction was complete. "Let's go. It's going to be madness if we don't leave soon." She led the way out of the little corner shop.

Edward felt the first drops of rain against his cheek. It wasn't entirely unwelcome. It had been so clammy for the past two days. Some actual rain would do good. But the natives did not seem as fond of the weather. The crowd pushed forward with more ferocity, carrying people in waves towards the front and back gates that led out into main roads. At least there would be shelter there. Edward didn't fight the flow. He let himself get carried away. He got separated from his siblings, but he didn't worry.

He brushed his thumb against the wooden charm he had bought. It was round, about the size of a bottle cap. Black tendril-like curls were etched on one side while the other side lay smooth. It was very pretty.

He slid the charm into his pocket.

Like the crack of a whip, pain slashed the back of his hand, sending him stumbling with a frightened gasp. "Oh."

"Maybe you'll get over it."

His black hair was plastered against his face and neck from sweat. His sharp green eyes were as striking as before, standing out against his deeply tanned skin.

The crowd surged on.

Edward was pushed forward, away from Harry. "Ah, no…" He struggled to find a way out of the throng of people. But it was raining hard. He wasn't able to force through. It was suddenly stifling in there. Suffocating. He glanced over his shoulder desperately.

Harry was laughing.

Even as he was jostled and wrestled through the mud, he was looking back at Edward with a hand raised in a wave and a crinkled smile of amusement and disbelief at his lips.

Has it been a lifetime already?

"I'll wait," he shouted over the din. "I'll wait down there." He pointed at the main gate.

Edward felt relief rushing at him and he stopped fighting the crowd. Harry would wait. Of course he would wait.

A lifetime, wasn't it?

Alice flicked her eyes at Jasper with a sly smirk. He simply sighed, mumbling, "Not again…"