(A/N: This is the last chapter. I know that it's short, but it's pretty much an epilogue rather than an actual chapter. It's been a lot of fun writing this story, and I'm glad you liked it. So enjoy the last chapter.)

Disclaimer: I own nothing

Chapter 18: A New Beginning

The pain of Grandma Witch's death slowly faded over time. As the days turned into weeks and weeks turned into months, things slowly returned to normal. Actually, that wasn't really true. The castle was never the same again. Things just weren't the same without the kind old woman.

But time moved on. As Howl and Sophie's wedding approached Justin and Beatrice insisted on throwing them a big party. Howl and Sophie had been reluctant at first, but the future king and queen had insisted. So they finally agreed. Markl was the ring bearer, Calcifer was the best man, which most people found strange, and Lettie was the maid of honor. The wedding wasn't as big as the royal wedding, but it had been more than what Howl and Sophie could have hoped for.

As lovely as the wedding appeared, Sophie had a major problem that she voiced any chance she got.

"I'm fat!" she cried, looking at her reflection in the mirror. At six months pregnant, she had a large belly that was visible through the wedding dress.

"Sophie, you're not fat." Lettie insisted. "That's merely your son pressing against your tummy."

"I'm fat!" Sophie repeated, ignoring her sister. "I can't go out there like this!"

Lettie sighed. "Sophie, we've been through this every time you've put on your dress. You look fine. Don't you believe me?"

"No!"

Lettie growled in frustration. She couldn't deal with this anymore. She stormed out of the room and shouted at the top of her lungs. "Mother, I can't get through to her! Come in here and talk to your daughter!"

Sophie was still fuming about her large stomach when Honey entered the room, as energetic as ever.

"Sophie dear, you better hurry up." She said. "You don't want to miss your own wedding."

"Mother, I'm fat!"

Honey laughed. "Oh, this again. Don't worry so much."

"Look at me!" Sophie cried, holding her stomach. "I wouldn't even have been able to fit in this dress had it not been for my magic."

"That's it!" Honey cried, startling the bride.

"What's it?"

"Magic!" said Honey. "That will solve all our problems. Now you stay here, I'll be right back."

Sophie began to panic. Normally her mother's crazy ideas meant bad news.

"Mother, wait! What are you going to do? Mother!"

The older woman didn't answer as she hurried out the door. Sophie sighed and looked at herself in the mirror, chanting "fat" repeatedly to herself.

The door burst open. "I'm back!" Honey cried. "I've got the answer to all your problems right here."

Madam Suliman walked in the room. "You really worry too much, Sophie." She said.

"But I'm fat!"

"Yes, your mother told me of your concern. Don't worry, I'll take care of it."

She pointed her staff at Sophie's stomach. There was a flash of light and Sophie's stomach deflated to its non-pregnant size.

"What did you do?" Sophie cried in horror. "My baby! What did you do to my baby?"

"Calm down." Said Suliman. "It's merely an illusion. Your baby is fine. The illusion will fade away in twenty-four hours, so don't worry."

Sophie sighed in relief. "Don't scare me like that."

Honey crossed her arms. "See, Mother knows best." She smiled and poked Sophie's stomach. "And you'll be a mother soon too. And I'll be a grandmother! Oh, I'm so happy, but that makes me feel so old!"

"Mother!" Sophie cried.

"Oh, I know. I'm rambling again. I'm sorry. I don't want to ruin your big day. You're finally getting married! I better go take my seat, it's starting soon."

She hurried out of the room, leaving Sophie and Suliman alone.

"Nervous?" asked Suliman.

Sophie nodded. "A little… Ok, a lot."

Suliman smiled. "It's just wedding jitters. It's perfectly natural. I was nervous when I married Benjamin. But everything is as it should be. You and Howl are truly meant to be. I'm glad you found each other."

Sophie smiled. "Thank you."

Suliman nodded. "I'll see you out there."

She left the room, leaving Sophie alone. She walked over to the mirror and looked at her now perfect form. She blew on the glass, fogging it up, and drew a heart with her finger.

"Howl and me, together forever."

The music began playing. Sophie picked up her bouquet and headed for the door.

"Well, here I go." She said, and stepped out of the room, ready to begin her new life.

The romantic atmosphere was ruined the moment Howl saw his bride and cried, "WHERE'S THE BABY!?!"

THE END

(A/N: I would like to thank CelestialAng for that final suggestive line. And with that my story comes to an end. I hope you enjoyed my story. I want to thank everyone that read my story and left me reviews. Thank you very much. I hope to see you all again when I begin my next story, which will either be a 'Castle in the Sky' story or a 'Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind' story. I'm not sure which one it will be yet, or when it will get started. Give me some time to get a plot going and I'll be back. I'll see ya around, and thanks again.)