Chapter 17
It had been a night full of nightmares for Louise and each one had been about the same man but in different scenarios. Even though Louise hadn’t mentioned the name, Guy was certain that they had been about the man who had caused her so much pain in the past. With his arm wrapped around Louise, Guy smiled weakly, looking at her. For now, he was going to allow her to sleep- even if her family had disagreed.
Hearing a faint tapping noise, Guy frowned slightly, seeing the door opening to reveal Hope.
“Hope,” Guy whispered, “What do you want?” He asked, annoyed with the intrusion.
“Guy,” Hope said quietly, noticing that Louise was still asleep, “Sorry for barging in. I thought you were both downstairs.” She admitted.
“No, she quite a few nightmares last night,” Guy explained, “I think they were about him.”
Hope nodded in understanding, “That can be expected. He was an evil man,” Hope said, truthfully, “I was hoping to find a coin of hers.”
“Looks like a coin but isn’t?” Guy asked, as Hope nodded her head.
“Do you know where it is?” Hope asked, hoping it was somewhere in the house.
“It’s in her jewellery box at Locksley,” Guy replied, “You are welcome to come for it when we are back home.”
Hearing the reply, Hope couldn’t believe what she was hearing but his reply caused another worry in her mind, “You are not returning to Locksley straight away,” She asked.
“No, we’re not,” Guy replied, “It’ll be after the new year when we’re back,” He explained, “But why?”
“I was going to come a protective charm on it so that if Louise was on her own at Locksley, she would only need to say a word and we’d be notified,” Hope explained, “But I fear I may be back at Hogwarts before you return home.”
Hearing Hope’s reply, Guy’s eyes widened, not really understanding what she had just said but he knew it wouldn’t help to have additional protective measures in place for while he wasn’t able to be at Locksley. “Go there when Archer returns. If anyone stops you from going in, tell them you have my permission,” he replied, “And thank you.”
“You’re welcome,” Hope said kindly, “Anything for Louise,” She continued, leaving the bedroom, closing the door quietly.
With Louise being asleep, Guy removed his arm, from around his wife before getting up. Quickly getting dressed, he tried to be as quiet as he could be as certainly didn’t want to disturb Louise. Taking a quick glance towards Louise, he was surprised to see that her eyes were open.
“Morning,” Guy said quietly, sitting on the edge of the bed as Louise sat up in bed, running a hand through her hair.
“Morning,” Louise said, a small smile appearing.
“You look like you’ve hardly slept,” Guy commented, placing his hand on his face.
“I feel like I haven’t,” she said truthfully, placing a hand on his.
“Then go back and get some. You were restless for most of the night,” he suggested, “I’m sure they won’t mind.”
“No, I can’t,” Louise said quietly, “I’ll have a lazy day tomorrow,” She suggested.
Guy smiled hearing her reply. Why did she have to be stubborn all the time?
“Stop being stubborn,” Guy blurted out.
Hearing his words, Louise’s eyes widened, “I’m not being stubborn,” she protested, realising that she was but she certainly wasn’t going to let him know that “And if I am, blame the family downstairs,” She admitted, gazing into his eyes.
Entering the living room with Guy, Louise glanced around, noticing that all her family was there. To her it was perfect, especially after the year she had.
“Well look who it is,” Kol said quite mischievously.
“Kol,” Louise said sternly, taking a seat on the settee beside Hope.
“I was meant to give you this last year,” Freya explained, handing a small present to her.
Taking the present, Louise didn’t know what to say. Unwrapping the present, she found a small box and with opening the lid, there was a necklace with a heart shaped pendant which was open, revealing a photo of both Sirius in one heart and Lily in the other.
“It’s beautiful,” She whispered, keeping her gaze on the necklace, “I’m sorry I wasn’t here to receive it last year,” She admitted truthfully.
“You were helping to protect your brother and your parents would be proud of you or doing that,” Freya admitted, “Now you’ve always got them close to you.”
Hearing Freya’s words, Louise wiped a tear away, “And you will always be my mum, the one who brought me up with this amazing family. I couldn’t have asked for a better family,” Louise admitted, taking the necklace from the box, glancing to Guy, “Will you?” She asked, with Guy taking the necklace.
Seeing the faces of Louise’s adopted parents, Guy glanced down to them. Even though Freya had said it was a present from a year, he knew that it was a thoughtful present and seeing how emotional Louise got only amplified that.
“I’ll look after her,” Guy whispered, closing the locket, placing the necklace around Louise’s neck.
With the necklace being placed on her, Louise moved her hand towards the locket.
“With help,” Hope said hearing Guy’s words, “You’ve got a very special lady there. Someone who seems to have been to hell and back,” Hope said as Louise gave her a scolding look.
The rest of the day had gone by with relative ease. With the sun now setting, it was almost time for Rebekah to light the bonfire she had been setting up the previous day.
“It’s almost ready,” Rebekah proclaimed, glancing around the living room, “Although I reckon, we should wait until Sleeping Beauty wakes up,” She glanced at Louise and Guy. It seemed that Louise had gone to sleep, while resting her head on Guy, with his arm around her.
Glancing down to see Louise’s eyes were closed, a sly smirk appeared, glancing to Rebekah, “She had an unsettled night,” he explained.
“I’m not surprised,” Freya said, “Anything to do with him, always seemed to knock her back,” She explained, “Although I’m surprised, she hasn’t had more nights like last night.”
“Ginny reckons she had one like that before the wedding,” Hope admitted, with everyone turning to look at her.
“But why?” Guy asked, wondering what could have happened.
“It was Bill and Fleur’s wedding day,” Hope said, “It was also the day when four people disappeared along with the day when our world changed,” Hope explained, glancing to Guy, “Louise was one of the four people who disappeared. I can still remember the words as if they were spoken yesterday,” Hope said truthfully, “And for some of us, it was the first wedding we had attended.”
Hearing the explanation, Guy’s eyes widened in realisation and understanding of why Louise had been so hesitant with marrying him. It wasn’t down to her having second thoughts- it was all down to this one day which had seemed to have had an impact on her, especially if it had been her first wedding she had attended.
“But she went through with it?” Guy asked.
“After she had a wobble. It was just before Louise entered. She thought it was going to end just like the other wedding.” Hope replied, glancing at Guy.
“But it didn’t?” Guy asked.
“No, to Louise, it had been her best day,” Hope replied, “In her words, tiring and fantastic and with no regrets apart from one,” Hope said truthfully, “But if there was one thing I learnt from that day and that was she was madly in love.”
Hearing Hope’s last words, a small smile appeared as he glanced down to his wife. He was madly in love with her, although there were times when he couldn’t show it or even admit it.
Waking up to find that a blanket had been put over her, Louise looked round to find that she was in the living room. She had fallen asleep- there was no denying that as the last thing she remembered was sitting beside Guy. Where had everyone gone as the living room was deserted. It wasn’t until she heard voices that she realised they had all gone outside.
“Let me just see if she’s awake,” Louise heard Kol say, “She probably won’t be happy if she misses it.”
“Just let her sleep,” Guy said with a tone of authority in his voice.
Hearing Guy’s words, a smile appeared. In truth, she should have listened to him in the morning, but she had been too stubborn.
“And if she’s asleep- you’ll probably wake her up,” Klaus pointed out.
“Fine, I’ll stay away from the living room,” Kol said, retreating into the house, “But you all know this was one of Louise’s favourite things to do at Christmas,” he said, reminding his siblings of that fact.
“And yours too,” Elijah reminded Kol.
Hearing the conversation, Louise couldn’t help but smile, sitting up, placing a hand on her stomach, feeling the baby kick. Walking into the kitchen, Louise was surprised to see that the bonfire had been lit already. Had she missed it- the part in where they had wrote down the wishes for the family. Closing the kitchen door, Louise smiled to herself, walking over to the fridge, getting herself a Butterbeer. At least Hope had managed to persuade them in getting some of there favourite drinks in.
“Louise,” Kol said surprised, “Don’t worry, we’ve waited for you.”
“Kol, if you’ve gone and woken her up,” Klaus started.
“I haven’t,” Kol proclaimed innocently, standing in the doorway
“Can’t a girl simply wake up on her own?” Louise asked, standing behind Kol, “And plus I heard the whole conversation,” Louise admitted, seeing that everyone was looking at her.
Klaus rolled his eyes, glancing around at the family and seeing the knowing looks he was receiving, he smiled weakly, “Just like nothing’s changed.”
“But things have changed,” Rebekah commented, “The family is growing. Louise married and pregnant. We would have never though that was possible a few years ago.”
“Trust me, I wouldn’t have thought it was possible at the beginning of the year,” Louise admitted feeling Kol’s arm around her, “A lot has happened. Good and bad but I think mostly good,” she said truthfully.
“Definitely good, you returned to your family,” Kol said.
“But the reason why wasn’t good,” Elijah said, looking at Kol.
“Enough looking back on the past. I just want to look forward to the future and, “Louise paused, looking at Guy, “that is starting a family with my husband.”
Hearing Louise’s words, Guy glanced at her, a warm smile on his face. This was the Louise; he was used to. Walking towards her, Guy couldn’t help but keep his gaze on her. As soon as they were within touching distance of each other, Guy wrapped his arms around her, picking her up, kissing her passionately.
Wrapping her arms around Guy, Louise kissed him back, looking into his eyes, a warm smile appearing.
“Oh please,” Hope said quietly, rolling her eyes in disgust.
Being placed back down, Louise smiled looking round at her family, Guy’s hand in hers. “Something wrong Hope?” Louise asked, raising an eyebrow seeing Marcel enter the garden.
“I haven’t missed it?” Marcel asked, standing beside Rebekah.
“No, you’ve got Sleeping Beauty over there to thank,” Rebakah said, casting a look at Louise.
Hearing Rebekah’s words, Louise raised an eyebrow. That was definitely a new nickname for her. “Sleeping Beauty?” Louise asked, keeping her gaze on her aunt.
“Shouldn’t you be at the castle?” Guy asked, surprised with Marcel being there.
Hearing Guy’s words, Louise looked at Guy, scolding him, “We are not thinking about that place, especially today,” she said sternly.
“Looks like Louise has spoken,” Kol said mischievously, “And believe me, you don’t want to get on her bad side.”
“Should be,” Marcel replied, “He said, he didn’t need me for the rest of the day,” He explained, glancing to Louise who seemed to have a murderous look on her face, “Sorry Louise,” he said quietly.
“Just like the good old times,” Klaus chimed in, quite amused with how evening was going.
“Niklaus,” Elijah said sternly, glancing to his younger brother.
“I should have done this the old-fashioned way but will you Rebekah Mikaelson,” Marcel started, dropping down on one knee, bringing an antique ring out, “Do me the honour of becoming my wife?” Marcel asked.
Everyone was stunned and all eyes were on Rebekah and Marcel. Too right, he should have asked permission from the family- Louise hadn’t as when Guy proposed to her- he wasn’t aware of this family.
“Yes,” Rebekah replied, a huge smile on her face, “Yes I will be your wife.”
Hearing the response, everyone had let out a sigh of relief- well everyone had either been brought up or born as a Mikaelson, as they all went to offer there own congratulations to the couple.
To Guy, it had been peculiar timing, especially with the plan they had devised in keeping Louise safe. Seeing how Louise had reacted to the proposal, he knew that she wasn’t part of the plan. Even Hope seemed happy which put thought in Guy’s mind that this proposal of marriage was genuine.
“Right, there’s no more surprised is there?” Rebekah asked, glancing round at her family who didn’t respond, “Good, shall we do what we always do?” She asked.
After being given some time to write down there wishes, the family was all back around the bonfire. Louise was stood in front of Guy, with his arms around her, placing his hands on her stomach. Noticing that Hope was stepping forward, Louise knew it was her turn to throw her wishes in the fire. With the past few months so fresh in her mind all she had wrote was for everyone to find love and happiness.
“Your turn, Louise,” Rebekah said.
With Guy releasing his grip on Louise, she stepped forward, throwing her wish into the bonfire. As she did, it was like she was throwing away the past sixteen months of uncertainty, sadness and hurt which had followed her around. Today was a fresh start and she had her family around. Going and standing beside Guy, Louise watched as the rest of the family put there wishes into the fire.