The castle was different after Bellamy arrested Murphy. No one talked about me or the fact that I was still alive. The guards looked after me for Bellamy, but they didn't touch me. They hardly looked at me. I had a feeling Murphy wasn't getting special treatment and they didn't want to be at the wrong end of Bellamy's wrath for harming me. Part of me was glad he was getting his punishment, the other part felt bad because he had been doing what I came here to do in the beginning.

Getting justice for his sister.

I pushed those thoughts out of my head as I looked out the window of the castle. I was sitting in the common area, watching the sky darken. Bellamy had called me down, telling me there was something special being put on. Raven was there with Finn, they were sitting together talking. I wondered if she had told him yet, but I wouldn't ask until we were alone. I wouldn't put her on the spot like that.

I gave my hand maid a smile as she looked at me. She excused herself from Finn and hugged me tightly, "you're okay?"

I nodded, even though she had seen me this morning and afternoon she still kept asking me if I was okay. It was nice to have a friend, nice to have someone who truly cared about me. I knew Bellamy cared but it was different with Raven. She was my friend.

I sat down on the couch running my hands over my knees. The night air was still heavy and thick with heat. But watching out the window I could still see the stars up in the sky. I smiled as they sparkled, reminding me of my village. I used to take Octavia out to look at the stars. After our mom died it was the only way to calm her down. We would look up at the bright lights and she would know our mother was up there watching over us.

I missed my sister. More than I thought I ever would. We fought like crazy, but we were still family. She was my baby sister, she was practically my child. I had taken care of her for so long it was hard to remember what I could do without her following me around. My heart hurt, I could only hope Lincoln was looking out for her. I kept wondering if he was holding her hand or if he was letting her cause trouble the way she always seemed to do.

"So what's the big surprise?" I asked Finn as Raven sat back down beside him.

He sighed and then shook his head, "I have no idea. But Bellamy's pretty excited. I haven't seen him this excited since he got back."

I smiled, knowing that he was excited for me. Last night had changed things between us. We had been moving in that direction, towards friends and then maybe more. Now we were in the gray area, afraid to touch our feelings but we knew there was no more hostile feelings towards each other. It was nice to know that he was on my side.

I saw Finn reach for Raven's hand and I smiled again. They were adorable. Raven blushed as her eyes caught mine, "well I hope whatever it is happens soon, because I was looking forward to looking through the big bookshelf in his room."

Raven laughed, "I'm sure you'll like his surprise. I hear when he gets like this, they're the best surprises you ever get."

I looked around, Bellamy wasn't here. I felt a little jealous of Raven, her hand sitting in Finn's as I sat there alone. Whatever this surprise was wouldn't be the same without Bellamy here with me. I ran my hands over my knees once more, swallowing the lump in my throat. I was becoming homesick. I loved the castle, I loved Raven and I was warming up to the idea of falling for Bellamy. But that didn't mean I didn't miss my family. It was nights like this, when we were all together as if we were a family, that the ache opened up.

My father used to gather us around the bonfire on warm nights and tell stories. They weren't the same as my mom's stories, but he was trying to fill her place in our lives. He would tell ghost stories, the shadows would dance across his face. He would laugh and cackle, he would take on another persona. My father would make us laugh and cry all within one night. Octavia would hide in my side as we forgot about our problems and remembered how wonderful family was.

Miller came into the room, snapping me out of my trance. Bellamy followed behind him. Finn and Raven both stood up, I stayed seated. He nodded his head at his cousin and then smiled at me. I stood up as he came to a stop in front of me, his hands holding my face gently as he kept staring at me. I hadn't seen him since this morning, when he asked me five times how I was. Then Miller had summoned him for some business and I was left alone to wonder what exactly had happened last night.

I smiled at him, "my king," I whispered so only he could hear.

His smile was crooked, it felt out of place. I had only seen him sulk and smirk, never a real smile coming to those lips. It was beautiful, a smile any girl could fall in love with. I couldn't stop staring, it reached his eyes and lit them up from within. He didn't look tired or drained. He looked alive and dare I say it — in love.

"My grace," he kissed my cheek and then I turned my face towards his.

I pressed my lips to his gently, testing out his reaction. He didn't pull away, he wasn't afraid to let his castle know we were finally together. I smiled as he pulled his hands off my face and wrapped his arms around my waist. I hugged him close, realizing the time away from him had made me crave his touch, his scent.

Finn cleared his throat and we pulled away. Bellamy laughed, "don't be jealous Collins," his voice was deep and harsh, "just because my wife is so beautiful and breathtaking I can't keep my hands off of her."

I blushed as Raven raised an eyebrow, watching us together. I shook my head, laughing as I buried my face in his shoulder. This was nice, it was a real moment between us. Ever since I had arrived at the castle I had been moving. I had been thinking of a way to stay alive, I had been trying to outsmart the king or his guards. I never had a moment to stand still and realize I was here in this beautiful place with a handsome husband. I never got to slow down and see how truly amazing it was here.

This was the first moment we shared together where we weren't trying to find each other's motives. We weren't trying to pry into each other's secrets. We were standing together in the castle that was our home as husband and wife. It wasn't forced, it was a choice we had made. I wanted to be here in his arms, I wanted to kiss him and tell him how I felt.

"So," I cleared my own throat as I pulled my head back up and looked at him. He was still smiling as he laced our fingers together, "what's this big surprise you have for all of us?"

His eyes lit up again, "oh just wait. They should start soon."

He waited for me to take my seat again and then took the cushion beside me. He pulled me into his arms, clasping his hands together at my stomach. I smiled as he pressed a kiss behind my ear. I couldn't stop smiling. Despite what had happened yesterday there was nowhere else I wanted to be. I was still here, I was happy and alive. I never wanted to leave this moment.

I jumped when the first firework started. My eyes went wide as the colors bled into the night's sky. I had heard about these things, I had seen them in dreams. But I had never seen real fireworks. Our village didn't have the same celebrations as the kingdom. Sometimes we could hear the booms from the show, but we never saw the colors.

"Bellamy," I whispered his name as we all watched the sky fill up with lights and shapes made by the fire raining down around us, "I've never seen fireworks."

He smiled, kissing my cheek, "I know what happened last night has to be dealt with. I know that we can't pretend like we aren't racing against an invisible clock. But for now, I just wanted a moment where you are my wife and I am your husband. I want to be eighteen for a few minutes."

I smiled as Finn laughed I could feel his eyes watching us together. His voice was full of something I couldn't quiet put a name on. Admiration, or maybe jealousy, "happy birthday Bellamy."

Bellamy pulled me closer and looked at his cousin, "it is a happy birthday," he said as the fireworks got higher and the world seemed to fade away, "probably the best birthday yet."

My heart fell when I realized I didn't even know my husband's birthday. I ran my fingers over his hands, they still held me close against his chest. It didn't matter, the little things would come to us. All that mattered were the big moments, the moments when I couldn't imagine having anyone but him standing beside me. Like this moment, the first time I saw the kingdom's fireworks everyone raved about.

The colors melted together, the stars blended in with the show. I laid my head back against his shoulder and I looked into his brown eyes. I didn't beg for things, I didn't believe in begging for something you had no control over. But when he looked at me, I asked him silently to never ever think about letting me go.

The slight nod of his head before he pressed his lips to mine, told me he had no intentions of ever letting me get away.