On my last day of staying in the hospital, I was told that my sister Haley wanted to see me. I was walking finally and my stomach was beginning to grow. I was pushing Damon's wheelchair over to Haley's room and once I saw her lying there in the bed, my heart dropped. A male doctor suddenly approached me with a sad expression across his face. "How is she?" I ask and he looks down at his clipboard, running his hair through his blonde locks. "Things aren't looking so well." He admits and I sigh. I should've prepared myself for this and yet my mind still couldn't even wrap around the fact that she was even diagnosed. "How long does she have?" I ask, slowly and he turns away for a moment. "Maybe you should go and talk to her." He says and backs away to let me walk through the door. Her heart is beating steadily from what I can see. She has lost a lot of weight and her hair was turning grey. She was attached to many machines and her lips were chapped.

"Hey crippled," She teased slowly and I can't help but let the tears slip down my face slowly, but yet I smile. It was so hard trying to be strong just for her.

  "Hey beautiful," I whisper and swallow even though my throat is dry. I walk up to her slowly, Damon wheeling along beside me as I bend down to gently touch her forehead and she sighs in shakily. "Doc said you wanted to see me," I say with a low chuckle and she licks her bottom lip and nods. "Yeah, it's clear that at this rate, I'm not going to make it to see your wedding." She mumbles and I look down. My wedding was next week. 

My heart clenched together and my throat began to get sore.

Don't cry Merchant. Don't cry.

I shrug and look up at her as I find her staring at me dead in the eyes. "I'm too far along for them to even slow down the process. But I have requests." She says and tries to sit up but I rub her arm slowly.

No, you don't have to move. I wanted to say that but it was as if the words in my mouth were mute.  

"Anything," I finally croak and she blinks at me for a moment. "I wanted to be cremated." She says and I frown at her. "Any specific reason?" I ask and she smirks. "I'm not saying you have to keep me on your dining room table. I want to be cremated because in a way, I see that as a form of rebirth for me." She says with a shrug. Her body being burned into ashes? I couldn't even think about that, I wanted to burst into tears just thinking about it. 

I would keep her in my house, just not on my dining room table... "You want me to keep the ashes?" I ask and she nods. "We've been apart all of our life and I feel lke in some type of way, it'll keep me with you. I know it may sound creepy but-" "I understad Haley." I assure with a smile and she nods. "I have one more request." She murmers and sits back. "Yeah?" I ask and she smiles, "Dance. Dance like you've never danced before. Go with it. Make it your job. But the right way. Dance for me...dance for you." She whispers. Well that was an odd request. "Why do you want me to dance so badly?" I ask her.

  "Because it makes you feel alive." She says with a soft chuckle. The context of her words were running much deeper than she thought. All I could so was nod, I would give her that. I would follow and respect her wishes. "I'm proud of you and I love you so much Rosie. I admire you so much and I know you'll be a great mother. " She says and I lean down to press my lips to the side of her head. "You're beautiful Haley, a truly beautiful person and I love you too."

"I'm ready." She mumbles and I look up. Ready? Ready to die...

"Save a spot up there for me." I whisper and she nods, "I promise." And we hug, holding onto each other for life, Haley didn't realize, I needed her more than she thought....and it was time for her to leave.

Haley died two days before my wedding, which didn't complicate anything as much as I figured it would, due to her final request. It hit me hard and really complicated my actions towards the wedding.

"We can always push it back Angel," Raphael says as I finally sit up from the bed that seemed to be my best friend for the last few days.

"Rayleen can do it in a heartbeat." He adds, and leans over to kiss my forehead. "I don't know, I feel like I won't get the whole feel for it and I don't want to push it back, I'll be fine." I assure and smile softly. "No, you aren't and that's okay. I've waited all my life to marry you, a week or two will be worth it, trust me." He says, and picks up my hand, kissing my knuckle softly. "No, I'm not delaying this. Please, trust me, I'll be fine, I can do this." I assure and stare at his soft light brown eyes. "Are you sure?" He asks cupping my face and I nod. "I've been waiting way too long to marry you. I can't wait any longer." I whisper and he studies the planes of my face. He brushes his finger on my bottom lip and pulls me close, pressing his lips to mine.

The sudden feel of his lips practically knocks the wind out of me, it felt like so much more than just a simply kiss. I wrap my hands around his neck, bringing him closer to me as we breathe gently. "Enough, let's save that for our honey moon." I mumble into his mouth and I feel him smirk. "48 hours without being plunged deep inside you, how will I ever go on?" He teases and slowly takes my bottom lip between his teeth. "Mmm, I think you'll find a way." I whisper back, holding back a soft moan. I pull away and put my head down, glancing at the picture Haley and I took about a week ago. 

"I miss her so much already." I whisper and swallow the lump in my throat. "She's in a better place now. She's free from everything." He points out and I sit up. "I guess you're right. It's just hard to believe, because we were just starting to get close. I really thought, with her it would be easier to start over." I sigh and lean back into the bed, pulling the black comforter around my body as I felt Raphael press up against me.

"Well maybe if you go to the dance school, in a way it would be like you still getting close to her." He suggests and I close my eyes. "I don't even know if I'm going to go to the dance school." I admit quietly. 

"You promised her." He rushes out quickly and I immedaitely feel guilt set in. "I know I did, but I really don't know if I can keep that promise. Dancing? Professionally? I don't think I'm good enough, someone's going to be better, someone's going to get picked over me or something," I say and laugh under my breathe, it sounded so foolish but in a way I think I was just making up excuses. "With that mindset you wont get anywhere. Why don't you think you're good enough?" He asks me, turning for me to look at him.

"I never felt like I was good enough. My biggest fear as a female is to not being able to please, I don't want to go forth with what I want to do because I'm just afraid of rejection...maybe just rejection all together. But I'm afraid of hearing 'Oh we found someone better'. I just can't deal with the thought of being left." I say with a shrug and turn back away from him. "Angel, listen to me and listen to me good. I am not your father. I will not abandon you, I will never compare you because no one could compare to someone like you. I am not your brothers, I am not your sisters, I am nowhere even nearly close to them. I'm going to acknowledge you and celebrate you. I will not leave you and there is no one better, it can only be you."

Maybe I'm just going through really wild hormones, maybe it's because my sister just died, maybe that's what I needed to hear but for whatever reason, I burst into a fountain of tears. Not the cute little baby cry, I'm talking fresh out the womb, snot bubble cry. I felt the warmth of Raphael's skin on mine as I grabbed onto him. As if I needed him for support, which in every sense I did. "I love you so much Angel," He whispers into my hair.

I wanted to whisper it back, but I couldn't. I couldn't speak but I knew he already knew exactly how much I truly loved him and I couldn't wait to show him that for the rest of my days.

Wedding day came a lot faster than I wanted. I was so anxious that as I was waiting outside the alter doors, I felt my arms shaking as I turned around in my mermaid tail fitted dress.

"Calm down Aries!" Damon whispers to me as he turns his wheelchair around to look at me. I still wasn't used to seeing him in his chair, just hovered over me, instead I was looking down at him. "My body is so hot, I feel like I'm about to explode." I say, fanning myself as I lift my head back, feeling tears start to stream down my face. "No tears! You dont want to mess up your makeup." Damon reminds and I nod and look at him. He was right. "You are too flawless. Too much of a badass to cry now." He says and I nod. "Yeah. Yeah." I say and begin to smile. "Are you ready?" He asks me as we face the doors. "I'm ready." I whisper. "Try to keep up will ya?" He whispers with a smirk as the large altered doors open. The light that is coming off of the chandlier above my head is blinding, making me squint as all I see is white.

I hear music, I hear it playing softly in the background as my eyes fixate to the coloring in the room. I see many people fill the stands, many people, I knew I didn't know. 

I saw the girls all sitting in the front row, actually clothed which was a first. I saw Raphael's mom sitting to the right and a bunch of people I figured Raphael knew from work, models and such. I looked down at the ground as we walked slowly, my hands clutching the bouquet of flowers as I looked over to see Damon 'strolling' me down the aisle. Finally gathering strength, I lift my head up to glance at my groom.

God almight. He was mine? Seriously all mine.

Raphael had a fresh cut, his hazel eyes seemed to be almost outlined as his pink full lips parted slightly to gaze at me. His eyes widened and I noticed he swallowed hard. I loved a man in a tux...and I loved my man. It seemed almost too quickly that I reached the end of the aisle.

I looked up at him as I felt Damon touch my hand and put it in Raphael's. "Take good care of Aries. Or I may just have to kick you." He teases and I roll my eyes and we both chuckle. "I will." He whispers and turns back to look at me. Damon wheels himself to the right side of me as I look back up at Raphael. "Angel." He breathes. "Champ," I whisper back and he smiles. "Beautiful." He whispers. "Perfect." I reply back.

I was so glad that Raphael had finalized his divorce with Brooklyn already, I was ready to be married to him. The preacher began speaking but my mind was too busy focusing in on Raphael.

"Vows?" I hear the preacher say and I flinch and look over at Raphael, he smiles before taking my hand and sighing, "I didn't know love until I met you. All I had witnessed and experienced was a figment of lust and nothing more. I didn't know passion and a love so strong that I can feel you burning through my veins every waking moment. The mental agony I got when you weren't near, I didn't know life until I met you, finally I had something worth living for. And you saved me...you made me a better man throughout everything I've ever done. You saw me through the darkest moments. You made me realize what it was like to actually...dream...again. You truly are an angel...my angel...and I promise to nurture you, support you, celebrate you, honor you, spoil you...I promise to make you feel like an angel...and I will protect you always, for the rest of my days and on."

Okay Merchant, I think it's appropriate for you to cry now...

I heard the audience behind me burst out into a chorus of "Awhs' and I saw flashing from the corner of my eyes...certainly papparazzi.

"I have to admit when I first met you....I thought you were a cocky spoiled dickhead." I pause and everyone including him laughs. "To be honest, I thought you were someone who wouldn't give me the time of day. I thought I wouldn't even be allowed to stand in your presence...I thought you were beyond me....but I never knew that you were sort of just like me. Someone who has come across a lot of hurt...and I know you had a rough past...I know you blame yourself for things that aren't your fault...so for for the rest of my days...I want to encourage you. I want to make you feel like man, I want to make you feel like you're beyond everyone else. I will give you all of the feelings you give me ten fold...I'll make our past nothing compared to our future...our now. You're a champ...a champion..you can overcome anything and I'm proud to be able to be called your wife...I promise to see you through every dark moment...every night terror...I'll be there...always...for the rest of our days." 
Tears are in his eyes, visable and slipping down his cheeks as the audience roars to applause.

I crave him now. I need to hold him. I need to be able to touch him. "By the power vested in me, I now pronounce you man and wife. You may kiss the-" But the preacher is cut off because we're suddenly into each others arms. Raphaels lips pressed up against mine with a rush of passion that practically knocks the wind out of me...I whimper in need against his lips as I slowly pull away, staring at his eyes as he thumbs the side of my cheek. "You're finally mine Angel..." He whispers and I nod and grab behind his neck. "Yours...all yours." I promise.

The reception was lovely, many kudos to Rayleen and Damon who had planned out everything. From the colors, to scenery. It was beautiful. 

After speaking with Raphael's grandmother, I saw Rayleen's red hair move through the crowd, holding onto her daughters hand and her son in her husbands arms. I quickly follow her as I notice she's wearing a short black dress and her daughter's wearing a pink one with a bow in her hair. "Ray," I call out and her family turns to me. "There's the bride!" She chimes and reaches over to hug me. "You look beautiful." Her daughter Gabby says with a giant grin and I notice one of her teeth is missing. "Thank you, so do you, buttercup." I whisper, patting her hair back. "Thank you so much for everything Rayleen." I say and she smiles. "It's not a problem at all. I'm glad I could be apart of the wedding and I hope I can still be apart of your life as well. My mother in law holds holiday parties and I would love for you to start coming with your new husband and your babies." She says, glancing down at my forming stomach and I blush.

It was exciting to know that I was going to become a mother too."I would love to, give Amy my love to." I say and she nods. "Now go off and mingle, we'll be here to see you off." She says with a smile and I nod and wave by to Elliot and baby Evan.

I turn around to run dead into Raphael. "Mrs. Underwood, why are we both apart at our own wedding?" He asks and I smile and wrap my arms around him. "Absence makes the heart grow fonder." I whisper and press my lips under his chin. "Yes, but I have been waiting for weeks to finally get you alone. Everyone is enjoying the music and drinks, I think this is the time to make our getaway." He breathes into my mouth as I feel his arm tighten around my waist. "Are you implying that we sneak away Mr. Underwood?" I say in a dramatic gasp. "I don't know Rose, is that too much of a challenge for you? Or have you gone all soft and good on me?" He asks and I bite his lip teasingly. "I'm always bad for you." I moan softly and push at his shoulders, making him take a step back. 

"Come on Mr. Underwood," I add as we entwine fingers, as we head for the door, I turn around and see Damon in the middle of the dance floor and I look over at Raphael before heading towards him. "Yall don't want me to drop this thun thun thun." Damon says, as everyone dances around him. "Damon," I say giggling and he looks up at me and pushes his wheel chair towards me. "Hey there Ms. Bride, let me guess. You're both horny and want to go fuck like rabbits? Go fuck away little minx." He says with a smirk and I lean down and hug him. "You read my mind exactly." I whisper and stand up. "Turn up for me, okay?" I say and he scoffs. "Girl, you know the girls and I will. Turn down for what?" He says and I smile and go back towards the door with Raphael. "Ready?" He asks and I nod.

As we reached the hotel we were staying at as we awaited our week long vacation in the Bahamas, I was more than ready to perform my very last show. "So what is your surprise?" Raphael asks me as we reach the room. I bite the corner of my lip and look around the room, walking to where I saw all the candles lit and moved them closer to the bed. "Rose petals? Someone's feeling bold." He teases and I shove his arm. "You know, I should've picked up up bridal style and tossed you on the bed and began making love to you? That is how normal couples do this whole honeymoon thing." Raphael says I giggle and pull onto his tie. "But we aren't like normal couples are we?" I tease and sit him down on the bed. 

I had reserved this specific room and had something installed just for the night, I turned around and walked up onto a platform and moved my hands across the wall until I felt a light switch which I turned on to reveal a pole with a red spotlight. I turned around to see Raphael looking dumbstruck and I smirked to myself, this was all apart of my plan. 

I gracefully sauntered towards him, turning around and reached for my zipper. "I could use your assitance Mr. Underwood." I whisper and I could feel him practically shaking as he moved his hands  to my back as he slid my zipper down and I pulled the halter part over my head and slowly slipped my hands down my hips, pulling off my dress slowly as I revealed my very...sexy lingerie. I moved my dress to the side and walked over to the IPod that was sitting in the doc and pressed play.

(Authors Note Now you can play the song to the side. If you're on your PC, the song is called Bandz. One of my readers told me it reminded me of Aries and I completely agreed with her. So here you go ladies, this is Aries Anthem)

"Tonight I'm going to dance for you." I whisper as I see his eyes still widened, his mouth ajar as I walk towards the pole slowly, lifting my head back and pulling my legs up slowly, holding myself in place as I inched my way up the pole, feeling my husbands gaze on me. Of course as I turned around, I stayed upside down on the pole, spreading my legs and arched my back, even though I wasn't competely white, I repped every race as I succesfully began to 'twerk'. I smirked to myself as I slid down the pole quickly and dropped into a split, taking the lace that kept my top together and pulled it slowly as I lifted my legs up, sitting up, with my ass still facing him and I bent backwards, dropping my top to the ground but keep my thigh highs and garter belt on. I turned around slowly, covering myself as I walked towards him and straddled him, leaning down to unbutton his shirt slowly. He stared at me every second as I felt his erection under me, growing in size and I struggled to not just rip off his clothes in a complete. 

I pulled his shirt off and ran my hands down his beautiful abs and hooked my finger under his belt area and took off his belt, throwing it to the side, then unbuttoned his pants and leaned down to take them off, pausing and gazing at him as he swallowed hard and bit his lip as I tugged his boxers off. His erection almost hitting my chin as I backed away and kneeled between his legs. I smirked and kissed the tip of his erection before standing up to feel his hands on my sides, hooking my garter and taking it off along with my thigh highs. He leaned down to me and kissed below my stomach, causing me to shudder as I straddled him slowly. He wrapped his arms around my waist and switched our postions so I was laying flat on the bed. He kissed up my stomach and at my neck, as I wrapped my legs around his waist, grinding myself towards him, wanting more of him. "Raphael, please." I beg and hear him chuckle in my ear. "Patience." He urges and brushes my lips with his finger. "You're being so gentle, dont tell me you got all soft and good on me?" I tease, using the same words he had used earlier. "Trust me, I am never soft for you Angel. Always...hard." He whispers and brushes himself between my legs briefly and I gasp slowly. "Too gentle for you?" He asks and I nod, wanting more, wanting to feel him rush into me without warning. 

"You and I both know, I don't do gentle...but I most certainly will do slow." He says and leans down to kiss my lips softly as I feel him brush his tip against my sensitive folds and I moan quietly. He grips my thigh and pulls it around his waist. "I plan on filling you with every inch of me. I'm going to make love to you until you can't feel anything but me, as you walk tomorrow, you'll be thinking about his deep I was inside you. All of Atlanta is going to know my name tonight, because that's all you'll be screaming." He announces as he suddenly fills me and I moan instantly. Scratching at his back and I lift my legs higher and wider. God he was so deep.

I bite on his shoulder blade as I feel the arch in his back dip down and I feel him fill me again. "Oh God," I whimper as he gives me hard deep strokes, sliding in quickly and deep and then out slowly. "It's like you were made for me. God, you feel so good." He groans into my ear as I feel him suck right behind my ear...right there. His hips were twisting inside me as sweat rained on our bodies, I could hear how wet I was every time he slid in and out. My legs shuddered as I felt him beginning to go faster. "Raphael, faster please!" I beg as he sits up and grabs my thighs, pressing them into the bed as I feel my legs hit the headboard, I knew I was flexible but goodness.

"Take it Angel." He whispers. Oh Heaven Above, cast Angels around my ovaries please.

Too late, I was already pregnant.

"Raphael....Raphael..I'm gonna..." I warn but I can't talk anymore, I'm moaning louder...and louder. Hearing him grunt and groan as he continues to grind inside of me. I lift my hips and feel him release inside me, the feeling alone..of him filling me sends me over the edge and I break into an intense orgasm. My body feeling like it has left the Earth, I see stars- no fireworks as I clutch onto his body for dear live as I scream his name as if it's the only thing I know.

Finally as the world finally slams back down onto my body, I settle my breathing as I gaze up at him. "Why did that feel like it was our first time?" He asks as he nuzzles into my breasts. "Because in a way it was." I murmer. "That was the calmest sex ever....and I loved it." I say and he kisses my collarbone. "Any type of sex is perfect with you Angel." And he rolls over onto his back and pulls me across his chest. "I dont think the babies liked all that commotion." I say and run my hands over my stomach. "You feel nauseous?" he asks and I shake my head. "No." I whisper and take his hand to run over my stomach. "Kicking already in there?" he asks and I nod. "The doctors said it would be normal because there's two of them in there." I point out and he runs his hand across mine. "I want more." He suddenly says and I flinch back. "Really?" I ask and he nods. "So many different options they could be." He says and brushes my face. "You want to start a pack dont you?" I ask and he begins laughing. "Not saying a football team but how about four?" He asks and I lean back. "Well technically, I"ll only have to go through 4 pregnancies, so I think I can do that for us." I reply and he kisses me again, slowly at first and then deepining. "Hard already champ?" I ask and he pulls me on to straddle him. "I told you Angel, I'm never soft for you."

"Round 2?" I ask biting my lip. "Don't act surprised, we just might miss our cruise." He warns and I move my hips up against him. "Here's to many restless nights." I toast and I feel him slide at my entrance. "And here's to a sore throat every morning. Brace yourself Mrs. Underwood." And suddenly he's back inside me.

Lust was a great feeling...but Love...the Love I had for Raphael...and the love he had for me...couldn't even begin to compare.

~*~*~*~*~

Thats's a wrap guys! I'll post the Epilogue in a few days or so.

I also wanted to use this time to tell my readers from the Philippines that they are in my prayers! I send my wishes and love to all of you & your families!

Thank you guys for your non stop support through this book...I'll also post an authors note after the Epilogue. 

To the side you will also see Aries's dress....her very sexy outfit underneath and also her wedding bandzz <- hah. 

Enjoy and comment...it's the last chapter guise...time to go mope.

x flower out