Saving Prince James: A James and Sofia Love Story

Set in an alternate universe, James is now 20 and usurped his father as king and conquered every kingdom to create an empire, but he has lived his years as a lonely king with only power and wealth to keep him company. When Cedric summons a banished Sofia, 18, to the castle to secretly save the kingdoms and James, something stirs in James's heart the moment he sees a grown and blossomed Sofia. Can a banished princess save the kingdoms and a ruthless prince find his way into the heart of a princess he once lost?

Chapter 40: Eloping At Town Hall

James

Marry us today….

The three simple words echoed around in his head, replaying itself over and over again. His mind was having a hard time understanding what Sofia just said. He didn't know what to make of it, and he froze. James shook his head, trying to make sense of the situation, but it was to no avail.

Did… did he really hear Sofia just say that? She wanted to get married today?

Today?

Today.

Shit.

His heart jumped back to life and raced like a wild animal. Hell, it was beating like it was woken by a lightning strike after a hundred years' slumber. Sofia continued to talk to Mayor Roclaw, oblivious to James's shocked state. All the blood rushed to his ears and muddled his brain beyond operation.

James shook his head once more for good measure, but it did nothing to alleviate him of his shock and confusion. Hell, he was more certain that his ears were malfunctioning so badly that he surely must have he heard her incorrectly, or his mind was playing a twisted trick on him.

This is a dream. He was sure of it. It had to be. There was no way that the one thing he's wanted for so long would be so close to his grasp. Hell, not a year ago had he even dared to believe in this kind of dream.

But Sofia made him believe otherwise… and now their engaged.

When she said yes, he became the happiest he could ever imagine being. The fact that Sofia would agree to marry him made life all the better. So, he knew that they would eventually – and eventually is the key word here – be husband and wife.

If things were different and James understood Sofia's sudden desire to elope, then he would be all for this. But he didn't.

Why would Sofia want to rush this? Doesn't she want a wedding ceremony? To celebrate this with Amber and the rest of their family and friends?

This isn't like Sofia. What could possibly make her want to get married so fast? That thought finally got his mind somewhat back into order.

"Wh-whoa, whoawhoawhoawhoa," the words jumbled hastily out of his mouth, stopping whatever it was that Sofia was saying. "Wait a minute, Sofia. What do you mean by 'marry us today'?"

Sofia looked at him with a confused tilt of her head. "What do you mean, what do I mean?"

"I mean –" James stopped at the sound of cheerful humming. He and Sofia both turned their heads in direction of the sound.

It was coming from the Mayor.

He was standing there smiling like a grandfather who just learned he might be a great-grandfather. He was even lightly bouncing with glee at the fact that Sofia asked him to officiate their marriage. If the fact that Sofia's sudden insistence to marry today wasn't such a surprise, James would have found Mayor Roclaw's humming endearing and not so ill-timed because of the situation.

"I'm sorry, Mayor Roclaw, but may I have a private moment alone with Sofia?" he asked as politely as he could.

"Hmm? Oh!" He nodded with embarrassment. "Of course. I'll be downstairs looking for those marriage licenses if you need me. Maggie might know. She's the only one who files those blasted papers around here." He shuffled out of the room with an amused laugh that went well with his age and closed the door behind him, giving them the privacy James asked for.

James wanted to call after him to not do anything with those licenses yet, but he was gone before he could. As much as he wanted to hurry their engagement along, James didn't want to hurry it at this fast pace. He wanted to give her the wedding of her dreams and see her walk down the aisle in a dress that made her look a thousand times more beautiful – if that is even possible.

"What's wrong?" Sofia asked once the doors were closed.

"Why do you suddenly want to elope?" he asked, getting right into it. He didn't want to beat around the bush with this since it involves their future together.

"Because I want to marry you." Sofia said it so simply, as if that was the answer to all his questions.

"But don't you think it might be better if our engagement lasted just a little bit longer? You know, like more than three days? I mean, I literally just proposed to you thirty-six hours ago."

"I know…."

"So, what's the rush? We were supposed to get a ring today. Not a marriage license."

"But what if I want an elopement instead of a ring?" she teased with a bashful bite to her bottom lip.

"Don't you want a ring? A big ceremony? To walk down the aisle in a pretty dress? To share that day with Amber and Mom and all of our friends and –"

"I don't care about any of that…" she said, giving him a small smile that didn't look like her genuine light ones. She was hiding something from him.

He still wasn't understanding Sofia, but that doesn't mean he wasn't willing to take as long as it took to grasp just what was going on inside of her head right now.

"Sofia –" His words died on his lips when she stepped closer to him until there was not an inch between them. She cupped his cheeks and looked him in the eyes, the teasing glint in her eyes were gone.

Dammit.

James had hoped that he was strong enough to not melt at Sofia's feet before getting to the root of the situation, but…. just one touch from her – just one look into her ever blue eyes and he was already caving like a weak-willed puppy. James was liquid clay in her hands by the way she was touching and looking at him. If she kissed him, he was done for and he will find himself married before ever having the chance to understand why she was doing this.

"I don't care about having a ring or a lavish wedding ceremony or even finding the perfect dress, James." Her voice became like a whisper, softer than the gentlest flap of a baby bird's wings. "I don't care about not having any of that. All I care about – the only thing I care about – is you, James. Only you."

Despite himself, James felt his lips break into a smile at Sofia's words and his heart swell with joy. Selfish as it may be, James just can't help but enjoy hearing Sofia say that she cares about only him, that she loves only him. He soaked up all of her attention and love like a flower to the sun.

"But, don't you want the whole experience? The planning, the announcement, the wedding at the castle –" James pressed, wanting to remain focused instead of claiming her lips after hearing her little declaration.

She stopped him with a shake of her head and a smile, "I don't think a wedding is about any of that. It's not about having the perfect venue or the perfect kind of flowers to have in the bouquet or even who is attending it. It's about the bride and the groom and their love story. Two people in love…." Sofia rose and buried her face into the crook of his neck. He felt her thumbs start to stroke his cheeks. "It's about us."

His arms instinctively wrapped around her. "Sofia –"

"Don't you want this, James? Don't you want to marry me?"

"I do. You know, I do…." His voice lowered to her level, soft and barely above a whisper.

Of course he wants this. He wanted this more than anything in the entire world – save for having Sofia in his bed, but that was another thing entirely – but this just isn't making any sense to him. Wasn't it their plan to marry after they beat this villain? They were just to enjoy their long engagement and the blissful benefits of it until they can restore order back to the kingdoms.

So, why did she suddenly want to elope?

It's so unusual for Sofia to rush things like this. Sure, Sofia had her unpredictable moments here and there, but it's usually James that has it the most. It's usually James that would joke around that he couldn't wait to get married. Not Sofia. Hell, it was his idea of propose earlier than intended. It's not that he's unhappy that she shares the same feelings as he does, but Sofia is usually the sensible one here.

"Then why are you sounding like you're so opposed to marrying today?" she asked. He could hear the slight hurt in her voice and it made a shoot of pain strike his heart at knowing that he hurt her even in the smallest way.

"Because I don't think eloping is such a good idea. I want to give you the wedding of your dreams. You know, the nice kind with flowers and decorations and a big cake? I want to give you everything your heart desires."

"My heart desires you, James. I told you, I don't care about any of that –"

He cut her off and looked her in the eyes. "But why do you want to elope so suddenly?"

She went quiet immediately and James could see the hesitation in her eyes, as if she was unsure if she should answer him or not. It hurt him a little to see her so reluctant to talk to him. For a while, Sofia would just open then shut her mouth like she was having a hard time choosing her words and James started to worry if she wasn't going to answer at all.

Then Sofia took a deep breath. "Because of your mom."

His mother?

"What does my mom have to do with any of this?"

Her eyes were cast down, making her look all too vulnerable. "When she died… I don't know, I couldn't help but think about everything that's happened to us in the past few years and it made me realize how precious life is and how everything can disappear in the blink of an eye. It made me scared.…."

She tried to pull away, but he tightened his arms. He couldn't let her out of his arms when she was fragile and scared. He would never let her go when she is like this. It's physically impossible for him to do. Sofia didn't put up much of a fight and sank into him with a tired-sounding sigh, as if she knew that she wasn't getting out of his arms any time soon.

"Sofia…" James urged her to continue.

She rested her forehead against his chest with another sigh. "With everything that's going on… I'm scared that if I had the chance to marry you but didn't take it, then…."

James stilled and cold panic gripped his heart with icy claws. He knew just what she was leaving unsaid.

"No." He held her shoulders and made her look up at him. He stared into the only pair of eyes that he will love and made his voice as clear and hard as possible, hoping that it be enough to make her believe his words. "Listen to me, Sofia, nothing is going to happen to you. Nothing. I promise you that this man is never going to lay a single finger on you. You can bet your ass on that. He is never going to take you away from me."

"But –"

"No. Nothing is going to happen to you or me, okay? You're not going to die."

How could she even play at the thought that she might die at the hands of this madman? Did she not trust her own power and its strength to beat him?

She's the bravest, strongest, most courageous woman in his life and to think that this man made her feel even an ounce of fear made rage burn inside of him. Anger boiled in the pit of James's stomach. It made him furious to know that this man scared her into this. James wanted to go after him and kill him with his own two hands just for this. Anyone who frightens Sofia like this is a dead man to James.

This man… James hated him beyond any rational limit. He made Sofia fear for her life, that she could die either today or tomorrow or the next day that she needed to elope right this second. It was incredulous. She was afraid that she might die never having the chance to marry him and eloping could solve that problem in one easy go. This is her way of making sure that if she were to be killed someday soon, she would have at least died knowing she was his wife in the end….

As sweet as that was, it broke his heart knowing that Sofia broke down to that idea. How could she even think that?

Did she not know that he would never let anything bad happen to her? That wherever she went, he would go chasing after her like the lovesick idiot that he was? He would chase her and bring her back and give everything he owned to the sun and moon and stars just to make her smile again. Just to make sure that she was happy and healthy and safe.

He loved her too much to let her go.

Does Sofia not understand that he couldn't live without her, not even for a second. He refuses to go without her for even a millisecond. She was the very reason he breathes, the only person in this world that made his heart beat.

She is what makes his world make sense. Every morning is a good morning to him when he turns over and see her there beside him in bed. And every night when he holds her close enough to feel her heart beat with his, it's as if that is the only way he can sleep in peace.

Without Sofia - without her beside him and in his arms, he can't even function. Hell, he wasn't even a speck of a man before she came back into his life. She was his heart and soul and he can't even fathom a single moment without her.

So, he would just love to see this piece of shit even try to take her from him. There would be blood spilled, but not James's. Or Sofia's.

"But what if –"

"No 'what if,' Sofia. No, nothing. I'll be damned if I let you die." He was beyond angry now after knowing that this man made Sofia think like this that he was starting to tremble with a mix of rage and his own fears. He crushed her to him, not caring that she could feel him shaking. "You're not going to die. I won't let it happen. I will never let it happen."

"I know, but –" Her voice cracked.

"No 'but,' Sofia. You're not going to die because of him. The only reason you're going to die is of old age after you lived a happy and full life with me and our kids. I will risk everything –"

"But that's just it!" She pushed hard at his chest, breaking away from him. She turned her back on him and he saw her shoulders begin to shake.

James heard a sob escape from her. A pain that only comes when he knows Sofia was hurting crawled up his heart and stabbed it a thousand times. He hated that he wasn't able to protect her from her own fears. Now he was just as angry at himself as he is with this man.

He cursed at his own idiocy, but knew that reprimanding himself wasn't going to stop Sofia's tears.

Instead, James crossed over to her and softly pressed himself against her back. He slowly circled his arms around her and quickly found her hands, gently intertwining their fingers. James kissed the top of her head in hopes that it could soothe her before resting his cheek against her head.

He didn't try to force her to look at him or speak. He knew that they both needed to cool down a bit and Sofia just had to let herself cry out her fears. All he can do was let her know that he is right there, that he will always be right beside her.

James was happy that she didn't push him away. Rather, he felt her lean back into his chest and hold their laced hands against her chest like she was cradling a sacred piece of themselves in her arms.

He didn't know how long they stood in silence for, but he didn't care. So long as Sofia was taking the time to express her own pain and letting him be there for her, he would gladly stand like this for years.

After some time, she spoke again. Her voice cracked, "I don't want to you risk everything for me…."

"It's not like I am doing it against my own will," he said with another kiss to her head.

She released their hands and finally turned around. He saw pain and anguish and guilt fill her watery eyes. The tears looked like they were a breath away from falling down her cheeks.

"…I love you, James. I love you so much and I don't want to die without ever marrying you. I want to give you the one thing no one else can before… before the chance is taken away from us."

Raw fear gripped his heart. "Why are you saying this? Why do you sound like you're so sure you're going to die?"

What did she know that he didn't?

Sofia pressed the heel of her palms into her eyes like she could stop the tears that way. "I told you… I'm scared," her lips quivered as her tears ran down her cheeks, reminding him just how much pain she has endured for so long. It was as if that pain was all she knew of.

For the first time ever, James saw a different kind of fear in Sofia. One that was just as selfish as it was selfless. It was for all the things she might lose and all the things she wanted to keep.

Sofia sniffled, her hands still on her eyes. "Everything is going to change after tonight. I might get my powers or I might not. I know what is going to happen if I do – and I am praying to the stars that I do – but I don't know what will happen if I don't."

"Sofia…. I'm just as scared as you are, but even I know that you'll –"

She shook her head. "You don't get it. How am I going to save the kingdoms – save you if I don't have the only powers in the entire world that can stop this man? So many people will die if I don't. They're all counting on me to save them… and I don't even know if I'm strong enough to do it."

So that was it… James realized.

Sofia didn't think she was strong enough to save everyone, to keep all that she loved safe and sound. Her sudden desire to elope was her way of acting out on that fear.

"Sofia…" James pulled her hands away from her eyes and looked into the blue pools, hoping she could find peace and safety in them just as he does in her eyes.

All his life, he knew the pressures of what it took to be the crown prince and he always believed it was hard to deal with. Sure, his father did not announce who his heir was, but he and Amber had to learn what it took to rule anyway. Lesson after lesson, the obligations and regulations and knowledge of how to run a kingdom was pounded into his head.

But learning of Sofia's pressures to live up to everyone's expectations and now to save the kingdoms were horrible. Worse than anyone can possibly handle. How could anyone live with such a burden on their shoulders? James and Amber were born into it, so it was second nature to them, but Sofia was forced into it and was made to be molded into an ideal that no one can possess.

Yet she did and broke the ideal mold herself. She endured it day in and day out. She's proven everyone wrong and was still so humble about it. She's beyond strong. She's the epitome of strength and courage and humility and modesty. She's… she's more than words can describe.

Now to have everyone's lives on her hands? That is too much, but he'll be damned if he let her think even for a second that she was to carry it alone. He'll remind her every day that he is there for her.

And if there's anyone in this world that can handle it, it is Sofia.

"You are more than strong enough," he said, making sure the truth filled his words to the brim. "You are the strongest person I know. My mom believed in you it and so does everyone else. Hell, even your amulet. If it didn't, then it wouldn't have picked you as its owner. You're going to get those powers and we're going to beat him."

"...How do you know?" she sniffled.

"Because I just do." He softly placed a kiss on her knuckles. "My heart hadn't been able to beat and skip like it does now for nearly five years. But the moment you came back into my life, Sofia, it started up again like it had never stopped. If a person can do that to a heart as cursed as mine, then that person is strong enough to defeat this man."

Every word vibrated on his lips with a truth he knew was achingly real.

Sofia is too pure for this world. She held in all of her pain just to save any pain anyone else might have to face. She could do it all with a smile as bright as the day. She has known pain and grief and sheer darkness yet is still able to stand tall and keep her heart whole.

Not a single bit of her heart was chipped away or made hard against the world. She held her pain with a smile and that is something not even his bravest knight could do.

How can she doubt herself? How can she not see the light and life in her? The strength she exudes? The fire that is vibrantly burning in her eyes?

"I feel it in my heart and I trust what makes it beat every day." He brought her hands to his lips and kissed them. "Believe me when I say that you will defeat him and save everyone and live a long life with me. I know you will. I know it like I know my own name, Sofia."

"James…." She reached up and caressed his cheek with one hand, looking deeply into his eyes like she can see the truth that carried his words. She then closed her eyes and leaned further into him so that their foreheads touched, and whispered his name again.

He couldn't tell if she believed his words or not, but he hoped to the stars that she did. That she knew without a doubt that they will win and she will live to see herself old and happy with him.

James didn't know if this problem was solved, that she believed what he felt in his heart to be true. He wanted more than anything that it was and that she did. He wanted to be the kind of guy that could solve all her problems for her. Someone that she could rely on for anything and everything.

But he understood that he could do only so much at a time and that it was going to take some time for Sofia to believe him.

So all he can do until then was solve things as he went with Sofia's hand in his.

"Please," he whispered, "don't force yourself into eloping –"

"I want to."

Come again?

She wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled herself closer to him. A shiver involuntarily ran through him as he felt her lips brush against the skin of his neck as she spoke. "I'm not forcing myself to do anything. I do want to marry you today. I meant it when I said that I don't care about any of the extra things like a grand ceremony or a big cake or thousands of guests. I just want it to be you and me, no one else."

"You really don't care?"

"I don't. I never did. I may have been raised as a princess, but I was born a commoner. The only thing I care about are the seconds I'm spending right now not being married to you. So, let's just do it today… because I want this as much as you do. I want this life with you, James."

He closed his eyes, giving himself a moment to just soak in those words. He knew that they were to marry eventually – that kind of thing is inevitable really. It wasn't like he was going to continue on being with Sofia and not marry her – but he did not expect it to come so early. It wasn't as if he wanted a grand wedding himself. He wanted to give Sofia that grand wedding, something straight out of her dreams.

But somewhere in the back of his mind he already knew that Amber, being who she was, is bound to take over and make it hellish for them both. James went to enough weddings before the dark days to know firsthand at the kind of stressful crap couples goes through with planning a wedding. So add Amber into that mix and he knew that their wedding experience would be worse than most people's.

Yet Sofia was giving him the chance to skip all of the planning and the many annoying things Amber will most definitely cause and be married in an instant. How can he refuse her such a thing?

This was all he has ever wanted. To marry Sofia and share a life together for as long as they live, bound and connected from the very strings that are attached to their beating hearts.

Even if it was at a town hall, of course he would marry her today.

Hell, if she asked to marry while standing in a puddle of mud, he would. He would do anything she asked because he loves this girl on an insane level and would gladly give her whatever she asked for.

If she wanted to elope and forgo all of the stress of planning a wedding involved, then yes! A thousand times yes!

"James?" she said, sounding worried. He realized that he still hadn't said a word.

He was about to shout his happy answer, the sudden change in her voice stopped him. "James…" The sound of her voice became smooth and velvety.

Oh, sweet stars.

She must be thinking that he wasn't entirely convinced on the idea of eloping, so she was changing tactics to sell him on the idea.

Her breath was warm as she whispered into his ear, "if we marry today, do you know what that would make tonight?"

His body immediately reacted to her words. His heart roared to life like a crack of thunder while his skin became ignited, burning too hot. And his clothes were suddenly too tight now.

James looked her in the eyes, eyebrows raised to the ceiling and mouth hanging open.

"You do understand what that would mean if we marry today, right?" Sofia gave him an all too suggestive smile. Her fingers dug into his hair and began to tease him in a wicked manner. She didn't give him the chance to answer, not like he could have anyway. "Our wedding night, James."

Sweet. Blessed. Fates.

When he still didn't answer her, she leaned up and whispered against his lips. "Now… just imagine what we would get to do… all. Night. Long."

Stars, he loved this girl.

Nothing he could say would ever be enough to thank the Fates for a gift like Sofia, for this chance he was given to find his soulmate and feel a love that made the stars shine bright on the darkest of nights.

He looked into her eyes, wanting to make sure one last time that this was what she really wanted. All he saw looking back at him were two eyes that were strong and sure.

They were going to get married today.

"James…" she continued as if he wasn't already on board with this from the beginning.

A laugh broke free from him, loud and full.

"You can stop fishing, you already had me at 'marry,'" he smiled as big as the open sky. "Yes, let's get married today."

She squealed happily, bouncing in his arms and kissing him like she couldn't stop herself. She peppered his lips and cheeks and jaw and neck with a thousand more, giggling like he just gave her the most marvelous present on the earth when in reality, she was the one who had given him the greatest thing of all.

Who would have thought that the girl who was so hesitant to be engaged to him would be the one to convince him to marry her not even three days later?

"Okay, okay," he laughed with her, trying to stop her before things got out of hand.

His body was still buzzing with her promises of what they are to do tonight and he did not want to take her in the town's mayor's office minutes before they are to be married. Their courtship and engagement was already so untraditional, there was no need to make their wedding day unorthodox as it already is.

"I think we're supposed to kiss after we say 'I do.' Let's go find Mayor Roclaw so that he can marry us before I do something really stupid," James jokingly warned her. If they were to continue, it would be him that would need stopping, not her.

James kissed her one more time before taking her hand and letting her lead him back downstairs to the main lobby and running across the clean looking floors into another office where he saw a graceful elderly woman with glasses too large for her head filing away some stamped paperwork.

Her head popped up the moment they barged into her office and there was already a smile on her thin lips when she spotted Sofia. "Sofia! Dear, I hear it's your wedding day today!"

The crinkles and the age spots on her dark, coco-colored cheeks deepened as her smile grew. She looked to be as old and as short as Mayor Roclaw.

There were sparkles in her brown eyes, telling that while she may be older, she did not lose the youthfulness that kept her moving every day. There was a toughness in her eyes though, like she was a grandmother that no one can argue against.

To add to her stiff yet pleasant persona, there were flowers in her long silver braid. The corkscrew curls of her braid stood out with the many flowers that dotted her hair and made her look like an elderly fairy.

"Yes," Sofia beamed. The sound of her light jingling laugh made his heart burst with sheer joy.

"Congratulations!" The woman took Sofia's hands into her own and smiled like a grandmother to a granddaughter. She nodded over in James's direction, "and I take it that it's to this young man?"

"Yes –"

The old woman's smile faltered the moment their eyes met and the color drained out of her cheeks. "King James…." She snapped her head back to Sofia, eyes wide and frightened. "Sofia, please tell me you're not marrying King James."

James didn't like the sound of the woman's frightened tone. Since Mayor Roclaw and most of the town didn't recognize him, James believed that he was free of the judgement and fear from the citizens of this town.

But he might be wrong.

By the way she was staring at James, he felt like she was a second from running out of this room and into the town shouting his name like he was a monster. Like he was her nightmare come to life. James felt like a beast in her eyes, a rabid animal that needed to be wary of. He began to fear that she might try to stop their marriage today, convincing Sofia that she was better off without him.

"Yes, but –"

"Child, that is King James!" Her frightened face suddenly turned hard and angry.

"I know, but he's not the monster everyone thinks he is –"

"He's not? He's not the man responsible for my brother's death?" Mrs. Maggie pointed a shaky finger in his direction and he winced like she stabbed him with a hot spear. "He's not the man who seized all the kingdoms and killed all those who stood in his way? He wasn't the one who ordered all their deaths when they tried to stop him?"

Those deaths…. He never meant for them to happen.

He was selfish at the time. All he could think about were ways to stop the voice in his head. He didn't think about the consequences those ways would have.

Yes, it was The Evil's fault who made him so crazy and desperate to stop the voice that lead to the deaths, but James had to take some of the blame. It was his idea to conquer and lay siege on all the kingdoms and wreak havoc on all the lives there.

It was his desperate attempt to keep the voice at bay. He was blind to nothing else but his own salvation. He couldn't think of anything else but trying to save whatever remained of his sanity after what The Evil had put him through. He had begged to the stars every day to free him of the voice, but nothing happened. It never went away until it saw blood flowing in front of him. Blood that did not belong to him.

So, he grew so damn desperate that he took the lives in front of him. It was on his own willingness to kill all those innocent people with a simple order or with his own two hands.

The blood, the scared cries, the fear in all their eyes as he laid his sword down on their throats… it made the voice go away.

It was his fault.

All those deaths will be a guilt and regret that he will carry for the rest of his life, but he will make it right.

He understood that he can't bring all those who had died back to restore the people's faith in him, but he is willing to try to make amends for them all. It will take time and effort on his part to restore the people's trust, and he will do whatever it takes to be the right kind of king for them.

He needed to be. For Sofia, for the kingdom, and for himself.

James understood that if he wanted control back, he will have to fight for it. That he is capable of doing what is right and just for the kingdom. He wants to show Sofia that he is able to grow and be stronger without relying on a crutch, yet be not afraid of asking for help. He needed to act like a king for once.

If he truly wanted to be free from this man, he needs to be able to think for himself and make the hard decisions while trudging through the aches and pains, and knowing that there is always light at the end of the tunnel.

To take the good out of the bad and create something from it.

"Mrs. Maggie," James began, cutting off whatever she was saying to Sofia.

He took a step towards her. To his surprise, she didn't back away like he thought she would. She stood her ground and was able to stare him down with a cold look despite how short she was compared to him. She made him feel like he was the smaller one of the two.

"I know what everyone in the kingdoms think of me and I can't say that I wasn't the one who wronged everyone. I know what I did and I know that I can't change the past, but I am more than willing to prove to everyone that I've changed. If you give me just a little faith, I will prove it to you that I have changed. That I am not that monster everyone believes me to be. That I want to change for the better, to earn my place on the throne and become the right king for Enchancia…."

The speech didn't have the right kind of effect like he had wished. Mrs. Maggie didn't even blink an eye at his speech. He couldn't read a single emotion on her face. The only thing he can hope for is that she heard the earnest truth in his voice.

He wanted to sound like a king, someone strong and in charge. But not to even his own ears did he sound even remotely like one. He didn't know how to continue on to convince Mrs. Maggie otherwise.

James stole one glance at Sofia, not knowing what else to say to sway Mrs. Maggie's opinion of him even just a little. Sofia gave him a tender smile, encouraging as always and never wavering in the faith she had for him.

Sofia….

The one person who always believed the good in him when no one else did. The only girl who can make his heart do insane things. The only person in this entire world he was born to love and feel loved from. She's the only one who gave him the hope of seeing a future for himself. A good future, one where he is happy with the love of his life.

His one true love.

Something clicked inside of his head, and James understood why Mrs. Maggie wasn't buying his words.

To hell with sounding like a king. He's going to do this like himself, a simple man.

"But to be honest with you, the only reason I want to change is because of that girl standing next to you," James said. "I know my words are worth shit to you, but they're the only things I've got. And all I can say – the only words I can say are: I love her."

And for the first time since his impromptu speech, a flash of surprise sparked in Mrs. Maggie's eyes. She looked to Sofia then back to James.

"I know I'm probably screwing this up and I sound stupid, but Sofia makes me a better person and I want to prove to her that I'm the right kind of man for her. A man worthy enough to stand next to her. I've changed and I'm still changing because I want to be good enough to protect the heart she's given to me. I would give up everything just to see her happy. And I want to give that to her, a happy life. With me." James felt his heart stir again, beating crazily like it always does whenever he talked about Sofia. Hell, whenever he thought about her.

James turned his gaze over to Sofia, wanting to look her in the eyes as he said his next words. "I love her."

Sofia's eyes were watery and a smile just as beautiful as she is spread across her lips. Stars, forever will he count himself the luckiest man alive to love and be loved by this wonderful being. To have his heart connected to hers and share a love that could outshine even the sun.

"With all my heart and more, I love her," James said, clearly and proudly. His heart was singing, beating a beat meant only for Sofia. "And for as long as I am breathing, I'll say that to her every day just so she'll never forget it."

A sound mixed between a laugh and a sniffle escaped Sofia as she launched herself at him, nearly knocking him onto the floor. A surprising feat as James was a considerably large man who was very proud of the muscles he vigorously maintains because a certain brunette princess had once told him during one of their more passionate nights that she enjoyed the look and feel of his well-built body. James held her close, pressing his nose to her neck and inhaling her lavender and vanilla scent. Having her this close made him feel whole and wild every time.

"You're too much, you know that?" Sofia giggled as she buried her face into the crook of his neck.

"I love you," was all James said.

He felt her kiss his neck, "I love you too."

"Sofia," Mrs. Maggie's voice interrupted. She didn't sound as hard and angry as she did before. Instead, she sounded more confused and little relieved at the same time. "You… love him?"

Sofia turned around and spoke before Mrs. Maggie had the chance to say anything else. "I do. I really do. He's changed, Mrs. Maggie. He's nothing like what people make him out to be."

The hardness on her grandmotherly face earlier had softened. She still looked wary, but not as angry. It was more as if she was trying to terms with a revelation she didn't expect. "But what about the deaths?"

"Yes, a lot of people died under his orders, but you have to believe me when I say that he wasn't the reason for it," Sofia said. Mrs. Maggie looked like she was about to say something, but Sofia continued on. "And before you can ask about what the reason was, I can't tell you. It's not that I refuse to, but more of if you learn the truth, it can put you and everyone else in danger. So please believe me when I say that James is a good man. He's wonderful, funny, brave, sometimes too needy and a bit of a puppy, but he's everything I could have hoped for when I fall in love."

James couldn't help but hug Sofia even closer to him, savoring the feel of her warm body flushed against his. He was nearly giddy with childish glee after hearing Sofia's words. He might as well have been a child hearing praise about a drawing he made, that is what Sofia's words did to him.

The remaining hardness in Mrs. Maggie's eyes melted away and something warm and accepting replaced it. If he had to put a finger on it, he would guess it to be a lifetime of experiences she's had that made her almost understand them. "You really love him…."

Sofia smiled with an honesty that James recognized as a vulnerability that Sofia rarely ever shows the world, one that he sees only during the most intimate moments between them. "I do…."

Mrs. Maggie stood there staring at her, silent as though she was in her own thoughts for a brief moment. Then she turned her gaze onto James and looked at him as though she was judging and assessing him. He didn't know what to make of her intense dark brown eyes, but he wasn't about to look away. For some reason, he knew that if he did, it would be as though he was admitting defeat.

At least she wasn't looking at him as though he was the scum of the earth. That had to be some sort of win, right?

After a while, she spoke again. "I don't know whether or not I believe you, young man," he didn't know if her not addressing him as King James was a good thing or not, "but never have I met anyone who can make Sofia smile like that. And I know that look in your eyes anywhere. It's true and real."

His heart was beating so fast and so loud that he was sure it would jump right out of his chest and land with a splat on the floor. It was as though they were nearing the top of a hurdle and things were going to work out in the end after overcoming it.

They were so close.

And the truth of the matter was, James knew deep down inside of him that if they were to marry today, they needed her approval. Something that he was sure is hard earned. The woman had an intimidating air to her and could make just about anyone feel small with those pairs of dark eyes. If he knew any better, he was sure that Sofia learned that particular trick from Mrs. Maggie.

"Are you sure about him, Sofia?" Mrs. Maggie's eyes didn't leave James as she directed the question to Sofia.

"As sure as I am about the color of my brown hair," Sofia stood tall, her shoulders rolled back and her chin lifted. She reached for James's hand, holding on tightly.

There wasn't a single hint of doubt in her voice. She wasn't shaking or near tears like she was when she told their mother of their relationship. She sounded as if she was talking about whether or not the sun would rise the next day, or when the seasons would change from spring to summer, or if the leaves would fall like they always do in autumn.

Fates help him, he loves this girl even more.

Mrs. Maggie finally looked at Sofia and James was sure he saw something flash in her eyes. It was warm and almost too kind for this world.

Then it was gone and she let out a long, dramatic sigh. "Well, since there's no changing your mind, I give up. I really was hoping that you would marry Thomas someday –"

Excuse me?

"– because you two would have made such a nice couple. An incredibly handsome young man and a beautiful young woman together…." Mrs. Maggie sounded like she was teasing, but he wasn't sure by the way she was gushing about this Thomas. "Oh, I can already see how nice your children would come out –"

James never knew it would be possible to hate a guy he's never met before, but it was. He hated him with a jealous rage.

Why did she make this Tomas guy sound like the most gorgeously perfect man in the world?

"– That boy has been in love with you since the second he laid eyes on you, but…" Mrs. Maggie went silent for a moment. "I guess you really can't help who you fall in love with…." There was a secret in the small but terse smile she gave Sofia.

She sighed heavily again. All the teasing and hardness fell away and she dawned on a faraway look in her eyes, almost as if she was looking back at a time before James and Sofia.

"Mrs. Maggie?" Sofia asked.

Mrs. Maggie shook her head with an almost nostalgic smile. "I take it you two came down here to see where my fool of a husband went with your marriage license, huh?"

Wait, Mrs. Maggie is Mayor Roclaw's wife?

Who would have thought that such a gentle man like Mayor Roclaw was married to a tough-looking lady like Mrs. Maggie. And by what he's taken in from the few minutes he's been in her presence, he can say that even her personality didn't seem to match her sweet name.

"Come," she ordered. She led them out of her office and down the hallway, walking faster than he thought a woman of her age could possibly go. "Let's go find him so you two can get married already."

James and Sofia tried to keep up with her, but the lady was just so damn fast and it was hard to keep pace with her as they hurried across the main lobby. It was like trying to follow a small, speeding wee sprite.

"You won Mrs. Maggie over," Sofia whispered to him with a little squeeze to his hand.

"Really? Because it didn't feel like it," James replied.

"Trust me, you did. Mrs. Maggie may seem like a tough lady, but she's really a softy once you get to know her. Get on her good side and you'll have a life-time supply of sugar cookies."

"Let's hope I'm lucky enough that she'll give some after we get married," James joked, making Sofia giggle.

Mrs. Maggie led to an office that was adorned with large dark wooden doors that were so polished that he was sure they could gleam even at night. Inside, the room was large and round in shape.

There was one large, half-circle shaped wooden table with red plush seats at the center of the room, all facing in direction of a podium at the head of the room. Framed legal looking papers hung on the clean white walls with large portraits of some men James could only take as prominent men or maybe founders of the town.

The entire room screamed regal and professional, but with a hint of aged elegance thanks to the rose and feather carvings etched into the trimmings on the wall and the wide windows. Deep red and brown curtains were pinned back to let in lots of the afternoon sunlight.

This room was a council's delegation room.

Mayor Roclaw was standing beside the podium, humming to himself as he was writing something onto a piece of paper. He smiled warmly at James and Sofia as they made their way to him. "Ah! There you two are! I was starting to worry that you might have gotten cold feet."

"No, no, sweetheart. They were just busy with me," Mrs. Maggie said as she took her place beside her husband.

Looking at them together now, it makes sense that a gentle man like Mayor Roclaw married a tough woman like Mrs. Maggie. His softness made her sweeter and her hardness made him stronger. They balanced each other out.

"Did you know that she is marrying King James?" James heard Mrs. Maggie whisper to the Mayor.

"Yes," he looked amusingly at her. There was a mischievous gleam to his eyes, making them appear a lot younger in contrast to the crinkles around them.

He knew? The entire time? James was confused. If Mayor Roclaw knew, then why did he chose to not acknowledge it? Did the rest of the town know of him too and just decided to ignore it?

"I knew it was you, Your Majesty," Mayor Roclaw said as if he was reading his mind.

"You knew this entire time and didn't say anything? Why? Normally, most people would lash out at me or call me a monster."

"I recognized who you were the moment my eyes adjusted. And I don't hate you, boy. You were respectful and kind towards me. Nothing like what the rumors said you ought to be. And I can never hate the man that makes Sofia this happy. For as long as I've known Sofia, she always had an underlining sadness to her8," the Mayor said, "but it was never there whenever she looked at you. A man who can make a treasure like Sofia this happy can't be a monster."

James didn't know what to say. The man was a lot sharper than James gave him credit for.

Pride swelled in him to be known as the man who made Sofia happy, that he was the only one who can make her smile and laugh out of sheer joy. He wanted to be the one to give her thousands of reason to be happy, to feel the bubbling lightness of wonder and glee lift her up into the sky.

"Now then, are we going to get this wedding underway?" Mayor Roclaw clasped James's back with startling strength. "Do you have the rings?"

Oh shit.

"No, but we don't really need them right? James and I can get them another time," Sofia said shrug.

"But having rings makes this a bit more traditional," Mrs. Maggie said.

"Oh, Maggie, they're eloping. What is traditional about that?" Mayor Roclaw chuckled, motioning for James and Sofia to stand before him. "Why don't we get started then?"

"Yes, please," Sofia sighed with a smile.

"Well, at least let me give you something traditional," Mrs. Maggie stopped her husband with a hand on his arm. She plucked out several flowers from her braid and handed the small bundle over to Sofia. She then removed the ribbon from Sofia's hair, releasing the braid and gave it a good tussle. Her hair fell down in beautiful soft brunette waves.

Maybe it was where they were or what they were doing, but James couldn't help think Sofia has never looked more beautiful than she did right now. She surpassed all description. Every part of her was beautiful, from her long brown hair that was blessed by the sun to her blue eyes that matched the ocean waves to her lips that could rival that of the red rose.

"A bride always need a bouquet…" Mrs. Maggie smiled. Then she handed a quill pen and the marriage license over. "Just like a marriage license needs a couple signatures. Sign." There was already an official wax seal stamped down on the paper and Mayor Roclaw's signature as the officiate.

As James and Sofia signed, he noticed Mayor Roclaw take Mrs. Maggie's hand into his own and kissed the back of it. With the two of them officiating James's and Sofia's ceremony, it was almost as if they were blessing James and Sofia with a long, happy marriage just like their own. A wish and hope from one marriage to the next.

With both signatures finished, Mrs. Maggie gestured for the two of them to stand before the podium and ordered James to take Sofia's hand into his own. Then, Mayor Roclaw began the vows. He sounded clear and joyous as he said each word of the vows. And yet, even though James could clearly hear the words, the only thing he was aware of was Sofia and the soft, excited beating of his heart.

His gaze was solely on only Sofia throughout it all.

And nothing else mattered.

The bird chirped and the chitter-chatter of the townspeople outside sound like music to his ears, and the light in the room danced around Sofia like a spotlight from the sky itself, illuminating every inch of her beauty. She even the most common of commoner's gown seem like the most designer thing to wear to a wedding. Her beautiful smile was so bright that could light up the entire sky like the sun. He will forever love that incredible, loving smile that gave him a reason to believe in the impossible again. Those sparkling, wondrous blue eyes of hers that he never thought would ever look at him like he was deserving of her gaze.

Sofia…

This girl that made him so damn happy. She was the only one in this entire universe that gave him a reason to find the joys in life and a hope in love again. He can't believe that he's lucky enough to be able to marry someone like her, to find a home in her heart and new light in his future.

To be blessed with a happiness that could can only be dreamed about….

Every part of him was consumed by her. Every thought he had was about her and every decision he made was for her. She is the only one he is capable of loving, the only one he wants to love and cherish for as long as he exists on this earth. She captured his heart from the moment he met her eyes and he doesn't want it back because it belonged to her.

His heart will only ever beat for her, will love over and over and over again in this life and the next and whatever comes after.

Everything he had – everything he is – is all because of her. She came back and brought warmth and light and love back into his cold world. She had picked up the broken mess of what he had become and made him whole again piece by piece. Without her, he would still be little boy lost in the dark, drowning in his own desperation and craziness.

Now he was still crazy, but crazy about her.

He was hers. All of him. Every single part.

I love you, he mouthed to her as Mayor Roclaw spoke the lengthy vows.

Sofia smiled that smile he couldn't get enough of and mouthed, I love you, too.

Stars, he loves her.

He couldn't name all the things he loves about her because that list just gets bigger and longer every single day.

He loves the beautiful sun-kissed color of her hair and the way it falls down her shoulders and curled around her pink cream-colored cheeks. He loves the deep, ocean blues of her eyes and how it can steal his breath like he was drowning in them. He loves the softest rose petals of her lips and the way it came together into the most beautiful smile. He loves the sweet curves of her body and how she molds to him whenever he holds her, her heartbeat always matching his own.

Sofia is always so warm and soft and so tender….

But those aren't even the best part of her.

What he loves the most is her mind and how she always craves knowledge like it was a dessert. Sofia is so incredibly intelligent that it scares him at how smart she is. She is far wiser and more brilliant than even ten thousand of the greatest thinkers. She's able to understand anything with just a glance, but is always so open to learning and understanding more.

And her strength… That is one of the purest part of her. The way she can face pain and darkness and still be so perfectly humble and good inside.

Every part of her is so damn perfect. From her mind to her body to her heart. It amazes him every time that she can hold such a strength and courage and a frightening rage in such a tiny body.

But oh… what she can do to him with just one look. One smile. One touch.

She sets his skin on fire as if it were drenched in flammable oil with just a touch or a whisper to his ear. His heart is always racing a million miles a minute because of her, making him feel as if it might burst out of his chest. Just the scent of her familiar vanilla and lavender perfume would send his head into a dizzy frenzy and a blissful high as if it were in the sky, deprived of air.

And yet, in contrast to that, Sofia can always make him at peace. A peace like nothing he's ever known before. All he has to do is look at her and it's like everything is suddenly right with the world. She was what ceased all the chaos inside of him. So long as she is by his side, then he knows that everything is going to be okay and he wouldn't need anything else so long as he has her.

The best part of it all, though, is how they were meant for each other. They were like two pieces of a puzzle coming together or a simple math problem like one plus one.

And he was sure down to his very bones that this love between them will only grow as time passes. He was certain of it. Just like he was certain that with every breath he takes, he will protect that precious heart of hers and everything in between, and never let her go a day without a smile and knowing that he loves her with every fiber of his being.

James could feel his entire body impatiently itch for Mayor Roclaw to finish the vows so he can finally kiss Sofia as his wife. He didn't care about the words or anything else, he just wanted to be married to the love of his life already.

He should've asked for the shortest vows there was because it felt like this was taking too long.

And as much as he did want to remember everything about this moment – hell, who was he kidding, he already had it seared into his brain – he really wanted to get out of here and get started on what they had planned for tonight.

Mayor Roclaw was finally nearing the end of the vows and James's lungs couldn't handle it when it came time for him to say "I do" and rushed it out of his mouth because he couldn't contain it any longer. Then his heart burst bright sunshine and warm songs and sheer happiness when he heard Sofia say "I do."

When those two words leave her mouth, James just couldn't contain himself any longer.

He lunged forward before Mayor Roclaw got to the end of his sentence, "you may now –" and kissed Sofia like he's never kissed her before.

James and Sofia didn't need to hear the end of those words to tell them what to do next. Their lips fused together so fast that James was sure they must have broken some kind of record. Or maybe time itself. He wrapped his arms around her and squeezed her to him. She jumped up, circled her arms around his neck.

Stars, he loves her.

No matter how many times he said it, it will never be enough.

He never knew it was possible to love someone this much and to have her love him back. It was a love that defied time and reason, and he didn't care to put any explanation to it because all that is needed to be known is that they were meant to be.

He loves her. He loves her. He loves her.

He loves her like the stars loves the moon. She was the reason he lives and what made his world work. He loves her so much that it is enough to bring tears to his eyes.

And Sofia loves him.

That was the wondrous part of it all. That a woman like Sofia, someone so imperfectly perfect, would want to be in his arms and love a crazy man like him. Falling in love with her, having the honor to love her and be love by her… that is the greatest, most precious thing about his life.

She is his dream come to life and now he couldn't believe that he can share this life with her. That now he is married to her.

How greater can that get?

The sound of coughing interrupted James and Sofia's kissing. Amidst the vows and the "I do's" and the kissing, James completely forgot where they were and who else were in the room. Laughter bubbled from him and he felt Sofia's giggles against his lips.

James knew they should part, but his greedy side won out a little. He kissed Sofia one more time for good measure finally releasing her for air. It almost pained him to break from her, but he had to because of the way Sofia was using her tongue. As much as he wanted to continue the kiss and keep his arms around her, if they didn't stop and part, then he would be in danger of doing more than kissing her so soon after they said "I do."

And in front of a town mayor and his wife.

To keep their decency, James had to stop and wait until tonight to finally begin their newlywed life.

"Congratulations, dear," Mrs. Maggie said, taking Sofia into her arms for a hug.

"Now, here you two crazy lovebirds go." Mayor Roclaw handed James the marriage license. James folded it up and tucked it away into the pocket of his doublet for safekeeping. "Now, do go buy yourselves a pair of rings."

The smile on James's face grew to goofy proportions and he didn't care. He couldn't fight it even if he wanted to. "Will do. Thank you, Sir."

Mrs. Maggie gushed at Sofia, "I never thought I would see the day…." She sounded like there were tears in her eyes.

Mayor Roclaw put an arm around his wife, leaning on her instead of his cane. "Now, now Maggie. No need to cry. If it would make you feel any better, we can always renew our vows."

"Psh!" she shooed at him. Apparently she wasn't that emotional. "We can do no such a thing! It's their wedding, not ours. But more importantly, how will we ever break the news to poor Thomas. He will be so heartbroken."

As much as James hated this Thomas, his wedding bliss was high enough to make him not feel even the pricks of jealousy. For the moment, he couldn't even bring himself to care who in hell's name was this Thomas man. All he wanted was to get Sofia out of there so they could start on their new married life together.

"Pff!" Mayor Rowclaw scoffed. "That boy will do just fine. He is too handsome for his own good, his heart will mend. He doesn't even know that she's back in town."

"Oh, that's even worse…." Mrs. Maggie shook her head in pity.

"Ah-haha…" Sofia laughed awkwardly, moving to change the subject. "If it's alright, can I ask you two to keep this a secret until we officially announce it at a later time?"

"Of course! That's the whole point of an elopement, dear. The allure of secrecy," Mayor Roclaw playfully said. "Now, you two better go before my Maggie here tries to stuff you full of sugar cookies."

"Hey!" Mrs. Maggie playfully smacked Mayor Roclaw's arm.

"Oh, you know I love you," Mayor Roclaw said sweetly as he kissed her cheek. With her back turned to them, he waved his hands at them as indication for James and Sofia to run while they still can.

James had to give it to the old man, he was a lot slicker and a lot cleverer than he had originally thought. He was giving them the chance to go and have the fun they wanted before anything could stop them. Old age certainly hadn't crippled this man at all.

With a smile and a mouthed "thank you," James took Sofia's hand and ran out of the council's room as quickly and quietly as he could. But the moment they burst through the heavy doors, neither he nor Sofia cared about being quiet. The sounds of their laughter rang around the silent lobby, glee and wild happiness surrounded James and Sofia like a bubble of magic.

And in the spur of the moment, Sofia even tossed her bouquet behind her like a bride would do at a real wedding. Flowers rained down everywhere like out of a fairy tale.

Then, getting caught up in it all, James picked Sofia up by her waist and held her close as he spun her around in the middle of the lobby. She leaned down and kissed him again and again and again. They became harder and deepened as he felt her press against him and her hands dig into his hair. He didn't count how many times Sofia broke their kisses with her giggling and whispered "I love you," but he didn't hold it against her as he just ended up laughing along with her.

He didn't care that they looked like two spinning, laughing idiots in the middle of the main lobby at town hall.

They're married and in love. That's all that mattered.

He has never felt so crazy or restless before, he felt like he could fly with all of this energy running through him. It was as if eloping gave him a sudden rush of adrenaline that could last him for months. His blood was pumping and his entire body felt so alive. He wanted to go around town shouting and singing with a smile on his face that he is the luckiest man in the universe because he was now a man who just married his soulmate.

"So," Sofia muttered against his lips in her beautifully soft voice, "still think eloping is a bad idea?"

"Absolutely not," he said. All of the emotions he's felt today and everything he feels for Sofia gathered in his throat. His eyes burned and his nose tingled.

He brought Sofia down and held her closer, burying his face in her neck. He needed to feel her heart beat with his. "Being married feels incredible."

She's real and this wasn't all a dream.

Sofia chuckled as she pulled back and gave him a quick peck on the lips. "We should really get out of here before Mrs. Maggie finds us."

He smiled. "Then let's go." He didn't want to let her out of his arms, but he had the feeling that if they didn't leave now, Mrs. Maggie might not let them leave any time soon.

Anyway, they had the rest of their lives together to be in each other's arms, so he'll be able to survive this one moment. And if everything goes according to their plans at the First Tree, then by Sofia's promise earlier, they will get to do a lot more than be in each other's arms.

Hell, he just wanted to be alone with her.

In a private, sound proof room.

And get their honeymoon – their wedding night – started already.

If James could, they would be sneaking away right now. But he had to wait.

He let her out of his arms and they burst back into town together. Everything still looked the same. The people were bustling about from shop to shop and calm chatter filled the air along with the aromas coming from the bakery shops nearby. Carriages carrying fresh produce and sealed boxes scurried along the cobblestoned streets.

It was incredible how the town looked unchanged when everything about James's relationship with Sofia had.

"So where to?" Sofia asked. He looked down to see her eyes shining and it just made his giddy heart expand even more.

He lifted her hand to his lips and kissed her knuckles. "Why don't we get those ring we were supposed to be wearing right now?" James looked at the clock tower in the middle of town square. It was nearly eleven thirty, "we still have some time before we meet up with everyone."

As much as he wanted to forget everything else and have some privacy with Sofia, he needed to slow down a little for her sake. He didn't want to scare her with what he wanted to do to her right now. And maybe some idle shopping would keep his mind away from what is to happen later tonight in their bed.

Sofia looked at the clock tower too. "We only have half an hour to spend. I don't think that's enough time to pick out a pair. Why don't we just walk around town instead? I like that much better than buying a ring?"

"You sure you don't mind? We can still get it, you know. I like the idea of us showing off our rings."

"I'm positive. Anyway, just think what everyone will do when they see which fingers those rings are on."

Fates, James didn't want to think about that.

"They would give us hell," James frowned. "Especially Amber."

Amber would blow more than just a casket. She would burn down the entire town because, one, they eloped, two, they did so without her, and three, she missed out on the opportunity to have planned an extravagant wedding.

"Exactly. I really don't mind not having a ring right now. We can always get it at another time. So why not just window shop for now?"

James didn't bother to argue with that because he'd do whatever Sofia wanted. So long he was with Sofia, anything was fine with him.

With another kiss, they did just that. James and Sofia just strolled around town, hand in hand, looking at the many shops and boutiques the town offered. They spent the remainder of their free time just gazing at the goods on display in the shop windows and simply having a merry, married time.

They did a little bit of shopping throughout the thirty minutes. And by shopping, James really meant that they just bought little snacks from the little candy shops and fruit stands that were overflowing with apples and grapes and oranges and other refreshing delicacies.

There were a lot of knick-knacks around town, but they didn't buy so much as just played with them in the stores until the owners had to kick them out. The owner of the hat boutique was particularly upset at the ruckus James made when he saw one of the biggest top hats he has ever laid eyes on.

The fun part of it all wasn't just randomly going around town, but rather just spending his time with Sofia and watching her as she got excited over the simplest of things. Her entire face would just light up at the nearly everything, it was as if she saw everything as something amazing to look at. She would point out little things like the birds in the sky or the chimes above the store doors and make them seem like little marvels of the world. He could listen to her talk all day long about just anything because she made it all sound so interesting.

Bless the Fates, if this was what their new life together entailed, then he really is the luckiest man in the world.

As the day went on, James found himself in a ribbon boutique with Sofia. She was purchasing a ribbon to replace the one that she had accidentally left behind at Town Hall.

"You should leave your hair down," James commented as she paid the saleslady and they crossed the cobblestone streets to the large water fountain in the center of town square to meet up with everyone. "You look nice with it down."

She gave him a little smirk as she tied her hair into a ponytail. "Yes, but it's not so nice when my hair keeps falling in my face –"

"Hey!" Hugo's voice called out. He stopped the carriage in front of them and hopped down. "Oh, it seems like I'm not the only one early."

James would have normally said something smart-alecky, but he was more taken aback by the overflowing carriage behind Hugo. The damn thing looked like it might break at the number of bags and boxes stuffed in the small carriage. The swords Hugo took to get sharpened were bound together in brown fabric and seated at the front of the carriage.

"Crap, what did you buy? Everything in town?" James commented.

"That's all Amber's," Hugo said dryly as he made his way towards them.

"What's all mine?" James heard Amber say as she crossed over to them. Hugo jutted his thumb over at the carriage. "Oh," Amber said. "What? Sofia and I needed more clothes."

James was pretty sure that was more of an excuse for her to go shopping for new things.

"And Lucinda did say that we'll be staying at the First Tree instead at the estate," Amber shrugged.

"When did she say that?" James asked.

"This morning. Weren't you listening?" Amber gave him an eye roll. "Anyway, some things in there are Lucinda's too, you know."

"She's right," Lucinda's voice popped up behind James. A cloud of smoke billowed around him and assaulted his lungs, making him and Hugo go into a coughing fit. "The things I got today are what I need back at my cabin in the tree."

"See?" Amber said as she fluttered her fan to make the smoke dissipated away.

"Can we just go already?" Hugo coughed. "Amber has a whole basket of sandwiches in the carriage that I really want to get into and the magical smoke is really making my nose –"

"Sofia?" A masculine voice called from across the street.

Everyone turned in direction of the voice. It was a young man that looked to be no older than James.

"Sofia! It is you!" The man said with a wide smile. He sprinted over to them, running like a young boy to his crush.

"Thomas?" James heard Sofia say.

Chapter forty! Woo!

Hi everyone! I AM BACK! I know it's been an insanely long time since I've updated SPJ and I am so sorry about that. I had to go away for a while due to the fact that school and life became too hard and I just needed to focus on myself and my health for a while. SPJ had to be put on the back-burner for a while as I tried to get better. I am back, but still recovering. So please be patient with me while I'm trying to get back into the swing of writing again. I'm trying to get out my weekly updates, but I may miss a week or two.

Thank you to everyone who has stuck around since the beginning and to all my new readers out there. Thank you for being so understanding and patient. All of your comments and reviews about wanting more of SPJ really did my heart good while I was gone. It was nice to know that everyone was still reading my fanfic.

I really hope you all like this chapter. James and Sofia are MARRIED! AHH! It's not as steamy as I would have liked, but that will come a later time. Sorry if it's not the sex chapter you all wanted. That will come soon, I promise.

Read, review, etc.

Thanks :)