A Different Path In Life

Rifiuto: Non Miriena

Summary: She was the product of an arranged marriage that had blossomed into love. When her parent's journey ended, hers was just beginning. It would take her from her home to her mother's birth country, where secrets would be revealed, lies would be uncovered, and the journey of the two people she loved more than anything in the world, would be exposed.

A/N: The lyrics belong to Within Temptation. Had to remove the lyrics otherwise my account would be terminated.

"Mama, I want to come! Please, take me with you!"

The little girl grabbed onto her mother's arm, but the servant grabbed her around the waist, lifting her up and making to remove her from the room.

"Put me down! I don't want to go with you! I want to go with Mama and Daddy! Please, Mama! Take me with you! I promise I'll be good!"

She tried again to grab her mother's arm, but only succeeded in grabbing the strand of beautiful black pearls around her mother's neck.

"Take me with you, Mama, please!"

Her mother pulled away; the strand broke, sending jewels in all directions; skidding across the floor, hitting the vanity, rolling under the bed. The woman turned from her child, refusing to acknowledge the tantrum. When the girl's screaming got to be too much, her husband raised his voice.

"Phillipa, that's enough!"

"Daddy, please! Take me with you! I want to go! I'll be good, I promise I will!"

"Take her back to her room, Katila, please." Her mother ordered, refusing to look at the girl before allowing her husband to help her into her coat.

"No! I don't want to! I'll be good, Mama! I promise! Take me with you, Mama! Please!"

It took several minutes- she struggled, managed to escape twice, and was eventually forced into her room, where she promptly began screaming and throwing a tantrum, not at all unlike the ones her mother had thrown as a teenager. Eventually, having worn herself out, she climbed onto the bed and pouted, watching the stars through the window. she didn't acknowledge the door opening or her parents entering.

"Phillipa?"

She refused to look up as her mother sat on the bed; flinched away as she reached out to touch her.

"Go away."

"Phillipa, sweetheart, you couldn't come, even if we wanted you too. This dinner is for the royal family."

"I'm part of the royal family." The girl said, finally making eye contact with her mother- however brief.

"What I meant was, it's a dinner for the grown ups. Grandmama and Grandfather and Daddy and I. No children allowed. I'm sorry, sweetheart." She didn't look over as her mother sat beside her, wrapped her arm around her, brushed her hair off her forehead. "I know you want to go. Daddy and I both know. And we promise, when we get back, we'll go down to the kitchen and make ice cream sundaes with Candle. I promise." She waited, before, "Okay?" After a moment, the girl nodded. Then, she pressed a kiss to her daughter's dark hair and got up. After her husband kissed their child, she followed him to the door. "We love you, Pippa."

"I love you too." She whispered.

Later that night, after returning from the dinner with the ambassadors and sundaes with Candle, they stood in the doorway, watching their child sleep. The netting lay about her bed, shrouding her from the moquitos that carried the deadly Vinkun flu that had ravaged the country over the summer. The same netting lay about her parents' bed and her grandparents', protecting them as well.

"She's beautiful, isn't she?"

He nodded, meeting her eyes as she turned to look at him.

"Like her mother."

A soft chuckle escaped her throat, and she accepted his kiss, closing her eyes briefly before letting go and turning back to the little girl. His arms went around her waist and he held her close, burying his face in her dark hair.

"I'm not beautiful, but our child is." She replied, watching the little girl sleep. He breathed in her familiar scent, squeezing her waist appreciatively. When he returned his gaze to his daughter, he whispered,

"Let's go to bed. It's late."

When they closed the door behind them, he scooped her into his arms, and carried her towards their bedroom. A startled cry escaped her beautiful lips, and he kissed her, silencing all protests that would have reached his ears if he hadn't acted quickly. When they broke the kiss, their bedroom door had already closed, and they were protected by the netting. She lay beneath him, watching as he worked, running his hands down her sides, caressing her curves and familiarizing himself with her, even though it wasn't needed. He knew her by heart.

Her breathing began to quicken as he kissed the swells of her breasts. Somehow, within the familiar space of time involving his caresses, their clothing had been removed. Only in her underthings, she held him to her, tangling her fingers in his soft, auburn hair as he buried his face within her heaving bosom. Out of habit, he closed his eyes, refusing to look at her as he undressed her further. Her body quivered underneath his as he parted her legs and began to enter her. The familiar sensations ran through her body as he moved further, deeper; she cried out in ecstasy as she closed around him, as they danced together within the blankets of their marriage bed, reaching their peak.

They came together- a familiar tugging of their souls as they became one. When they collapsed in each other's arms, and their souls returned to their seperate bodies, she whispered,

"She's beautiful. She's the most beautiful little girl the Vinkus has ever seen. And she's ours."

He pulled away and looked at her, his breathing ragged, his heart pounding in his ears. He traced her features with his eyes, allowing his heart to slow to normal before answering.

"She's not the most beautiful. There was one before her that rivaled her beauty."

She met his eyes, knowing he was talking about her. Knowing that he was talking about when she came to the Vinkus as a young bride, an unwilling partner in a marriage arranged by their parents. Before she could reply, he captured her lips, drinking in her taste.

"I could get drunk off your kisses, Dove. They're sweeter than the finest wine."

She giggled softly, cradling his face in her hands and deepening the kiss. When they sat up, she reached behind her and removed the pin that held her hair in place. A cascade of raven curls tumbled down her back like a waterfall, it glistened like the stars in the night sky, and he reached out, tangling his fingers in the raven strands of spun silk. She nudged her nose against his, kissing him deeply. They fell together on the bed, he beneath her this time, her long raven locks falling about them, in a shower of soft, thick, silky raven rain.

His daughter possessed the same raven hair, and as they once again made love, he found himself counting his blessings that his child was as beautiful as his wife. She was right, after all.

Their child was the most beautiful little girl in the Vinkus.