8A/N: Hiya everybody. Surprise! Instead of Wednesday, you're seeing me on a Tuesday. This is what I promised you.
When I had joined FanFiction earlier this year, I had promised myself that I wouldn't leave Joe ever out of my stories even though I am more of a Francy girl. And today, I intend to fulfill it.
DISCLAIMER: I do not own Joe, Iola, Vanessa, Frank, Nancy or anyone you can recognize. Do I wish they were mine? Hell, yeah.
CW: Iola's death.
Moving On
Seven years ago, whenever I heard the mention of dead people, I wondered what happened to them. That was when I was alive. Now, I know exactly what happens because I am one of them.
Afterlife is difficult. Roaming around without any aim, just to attain peace is painful. Very excruciating. Because you have no power here to control your life. You can only wait for that right moment where someone on Earth does something to provide you closure. You are powerless here.
That's why these seven years, two months, twenty days, twelve hours and sixteen minutes (as of now) have been bittersweet. It hurt so much when tears poured down from the eyes of the people I loved so dearly. I had no privilege to prevent that. My wandering soul ached at the sight of nothing but the pain of losing me being reflected from the eyes I loved. Mom, Dad, Chet, Joe, Frank, Callie and so many others…
It never stuck well with me when someone was hurt, either physically or emotionally, because of me. So, I have to admit, that it was a bit relieving when everyone learned to heal and move on; slowly and gradually, bit by bit. It was an agonizing journey, for all of us but, some part of the burden and regret that I had been carrying around on my non-existent shoulders began to vanish when I saw it myself that Mom, Dad, Chet, Joe, Frank, Callie, and others were learning to grieve me and remember me with fondness and less of sadness. And I learned to grieve too. As the time passed, I learned to mourn the loss of the contact of my loved ones, the people around whom my world once revolved on Earth; it still does too, just a different place.
My sweet old Mom and Dad found church and religion as an outlet or rather a way to remember me and find solace with me. And to love me, despite my absence. To be honest, it feels good to be loved from far away. And it makes me lighthearted.
Another part of my burden was relieved when Chet found Madeline Stevenson. It was one of the best days of my new life when he married her and now, I can see a little version of myself running around in the church along with other little kids. She is actually me because Chet and Maddie named her Iola, and she has apparently, (And I mean it, because what are the odds?) inherited her silky, curly, brown hair from her aunt.
And…there he is. My Joe is bickering, getting ready for his wedding right now. A part of me, seven years ago, has envisioned myself in a beautiful flowing white gown standing beside Joe, standing there, exchanging vows and speaking 'I do' looking into his aqua eyes. But the explosion snatched that dream along with countless others from me. I was left with nothing but a nomadic spirit and so much hurt and regret.
"Iola."
Huh? I gaze down in a moment of confusion. Joe is standing alone in his room. He is standing alone in his room. It seems he has made everyone leave. He puts his hand in his pocket and takes something out, though it is difficult for me to see what it is from up here. His hand is clenched tightly around something. I can do nothing but wait patiently and listen.
"I- I still miss you, Iola," he begins, and his confession breaks me, again. "And today, if you were here with us, then I think you'd have been happy for me. I know I don't need to justify my choices to you but, I still want you to know that Vanessa makes me feel so loved. There are some moments when she reminds me eerily of you. Sometimes when she kicks my ass or makes me sad or takes care of me, I can witness your love in her. If you were here Iola, you'd have loved her too, she's just so great. She has a huge heart and I love her so much, Iola."
I nod, even though I know he can't see or hear me. I nod because what he is saying is so true. I owe her everything because she loves and takes care of the person I adored so much. Sure, it definitely hurt, in the beginning, to see Joe with someone else but when I saw the amount of happiness and joy, she brought in his life…it was incomparable. She's been through it all, standing beside him, never leaving his side, treating his concussions, kicking his butt when he needed, and providing him comfort. And in a way, I approve (Joe would die laughing if he'd have heard this)
Below, Joe opens his hand and, in his palm, lay a set of car keys that had been fused together by extreme heat. My car keys. Tears gather in my eyes despite my reluctance to cry on his joyful day.
He continues, "Before I begin my life with Vanessa, I want to say something to you because I know you are somewhere out here, Iola, looking out for me. Before the…explosion, I never quite told you how much I love you and how sorry I was for- for being reckless with your emotions. It killed me every day knowing and regretting what I did and what I didn't."
Joe looks up at the ceiling like he knows for sure that I'm up here and closes his eyes. My eyes too close as we both relive everything that happened.
Joe flirting with Val, the blonde he'd been hitting on. Me stalking off in anger. Joe trying to stop and apologize to me but instead of turning, I put up speed and yank open the car door. Sound of a taut wire snapping and then just a huge explosion. Heat scorching my arms before consuming me entirely in darkness.
Tears slip down before I can stop myself. These pictures have been burned on my eyelids since forever. Everytime I close my eyes, I can't stop re-experiencing all that happened. I look down and despite the blurred filter in front of my eyes, I can see moisture on his cheeks too.
"I knew that you loved me, Joe," I whisper. "I knew that even before. Don't regret it. I've always known it."
Both of us are interrupted by someone knocking on the door. Joe quickly wipes his eyes with the back of his hand and puts the keys back into his pocket. I am still mimicking his actions when Frank enters the room. He stops in his tracks and quietly assesses his brother.
"Joe," he begins carefully. "What happened?" he asks looking into his brother's slightly bloodshot blue eyes.
"Nothing," Joe says quickly but, thankfully Frank doesn't take any shit from him.
"Don't you 'Nothing' me, Joe. Tell me," Frank orders.
His throat is still caught so instead of trying to answer, Joe pulls the keys out again and shows them to his best friend.
"Oh, Joe." Frank pulls him for a hug and pats his back consolingly and soothingly, all together.
"I just wanted to tell Iola that I loved her, and I am sorry before I said, 'I do.' I owe Vanessa a clean slate," Joe tells him.
Frank doesn't say anything because he knows what I meant to Joe and what Joe went through. He had seen it himself. He just continues holding his baby brother in a brotherly hug.
If you look at them right now, you wouldn't be able to tell that they are brothers. They are just so different, yet their bond is the strongest. And maybe that was a reason out of many that Callie and I, two high school best friends dated two brothers. Maybe that was the charm. Which had begun disappearing ever since I'd been laid in the ground. While spending time with Joe, trying to be his rock, and not letting him self-destroy himself, Frank had parted ways with Callie amicably. She is now married to a Californian businessman while Frank is dating the Hardys female counterpart but singular- Nancy Drew. They both have a magical connection and Nancy challenges Frank in a way Callie would have never. And believe me when I say that Nancy Drew has Frank Hardy wrapped around her fingers. But, nonetheless, I am glad for them. They make a striking couple.
Joe pulls back from the hug. "Okay, that was enough mush for now. Gotta save something for when I see my gorgeous bride," he says, beaming at his brother.
Frank's face also breaks into an identical grin when he senses his brother's joy. He shakes his head as he remembers something. "Anyways, two women will be out for my life if I don't make sure you pin this up. Wait make that three." He produces a blue carnation and hands it to Joe.
"Three?" Joe asks, his eyebrows arched up high. He takes the flower and pins it to the lapel of his satin black tuxedo.
"Yeah, the only three women of my life- Nan, Mom, and Van. All three will kill me if you show up on the altar without the boutonniere," Frank deadpans.
Both of them look at each other and lose it. A few moments later, after steadying himself, Frank asks, "You ready to go out?"
Joe replies with a twinkle in his blue eyes,
"Definitely."
I see Joe swaying on his knees as waited for the ceremony to begin. I chuckle to myself when I see fearless Joseph Hardy a little green around his gills. He is definitely nervous. He catches his brother's eye and flashes a nervous smile. He elicits an encouraging smile from Frank when the orchestra begins to play and the music swells.
Nancy and another friend of Vanessa's walk down the aisle in a stunning blue bridesmaid dress and take their positions. Frank's jaw drops a little on the floor at the sight of his girlfriend but Joe nudges him with his elbow (hard too, poor Frank) and he snaps his jaw shut. Callie follows the bridesmaids.
The orchestra begins to play 'Here Comes the Bride' and Joe perks up. And then she enters.
Vanessa walks in, holding to her mother, Andrea's arm. Joe takes a sharp breath. She really looks dazzling in her gown dotted with intricate beading. Her veil was just as beautiful. It partially hid her face, but I could see a smile as bright as her groom's. In fact, her eyes are sparkling with tears of joy. She is a beauty.
Joe meets them at the end of the aisle. When Andrea places Vanessa's hand in his, I can make out his shiny eyes too. He murmurs earnestly, "Thank you."
Andrea returns with a watery smile and says, "Take loving care of my girl, Joseph."
"I will," he promises softly. As the music ends, the pastor, the one who had seen the Hardys grow, holds his hands up. "Friends and family, brothers and sisters in the Lord's eyes, I welcome you here this evening to witness the entry of this young couple into the sweet bond of matrimony."
Before I knew it, the sermon was over, and the pastor is now looking at Joe expectantly.
He chokes briefly when he realizes what he has to do. He clears his throat and turns to Vanessa. "Um, so you know me Van, and it is not me to learn and memorize so I'm going to wing it and paraphrase what I thought I'd speak."
A few snickers echoed in the environment and Vanessa rolled her eyes good-naturedly.
"I see these vows not as promises but as privileges, Van. I get to laugh with you and cry with you; care for you and share with you. I get to run with you and walk with you; build with you and live with you. I get to bring you your favorite food and hear Taylor Swift with you." Joe looks into Vanessa's grey eyes, intently.
"I promise I'll help you cook the most delicious turkey because I know you love to eat it but hate to cook it alone. I promise to bring you coffee every morning. I promise to catch you if you clumsily fall. I promise to always come up with wild business ideas because you know, just in case one of them works. I promise to always communicate, to be honest, to work through a disagreement, and makeup within 10 minutes of arguing...I promise to take care of you in whatever comes our way and to love you this much for the rest of my life."
It is Vanessa's turn. Unlike Joe, I know she has memorized and practiced her vows. "Joe, Of all the people you've met on your journey, of all the people you've helped on your cases and of all the places you've been, somehow and some way, you ended up here—with me. It is the most powerful and humbling fact that I can accept."
It was only them now. Both of them look at each other with emotions, forgetting that everyone exists and is watching them. "I used to think that we met by chance when you were investing embezzlement in my office but now I know without a doubt that the universe put you in front of me because we were meant to spend our lives together. You have filled my life with joy and have given me a sense of peace that I have never known."
"Although today marks the start to the rest of our lives, I know it will not be enough time with you. I will not take our time together for granted. And because words cannot do justice to my love for you, I promise to show you, for the rest of my life, how much I love you. I promise to encourage you to follow your dreams. I promise to hold your hand through the good times and through the bad times. I promise to be loyal and faithful and to put you before all else. And I promise that when we are old and grey, we will look back on our lives together and we have no regrets...From this day forward, you will never walk alone," she whispers steadily, her voice just loud enough to be heard. I beam at the lovely couple.
Both of them exchange their rings in a daze of their love. And finally, the pastor declares, "You may now kiss your bride."
Joe sweeps Vanessa around in his arms and dips her in a flourish to lay a huge kiss on her lips.
I clap along with others lovingly and happy tears fall from my eyes as I realize what I have achieved today, now. A sense of release, closure. Vanessa just made a promise to Joe, and to me in front of the whole world. Finally. I am relieved. Because the burden from my shoulders vanishes completely. I've achieved my soul calm and now I can rest in peace.
A/N: Thank you so much for reading. I love hearing your thoughts and feedbacks and compliments. And what I love even more is getting back to you with a note of thanks to interact with you guys.
I'll meet you tomorrow with the fourth chapter of Back to You. Till then, take care.
Nan girl