A/N: Hey everyone! It's been a while, I know. So, I hope everyone is ready for this rollercoaster ride of emotions! This chapter is pretty much the last storm that our lovely couple will have to go through. Just one chapter left after this one. And, though I honestly want all of you to enjoy the ending, there's a special surprise at the end of this story for those of you who follow all of my stories. I'm very excited about this all. Enjoy! Oh and the documents and on camera thing are not mine...I just altered them a bit.
Chapter Ten: The Separation of Violet and State
"There comes a day when I don't have to be a Princess. No rules, no expectations. A day where anything can happen. A day where I can change my fate."—Disney Pixar's Brave
January 20th, 1964
Tate woke up to kisses; they were inundating him. He opened his eyes and saw a smiling Violet on top of him.
"Happy birthday, Tate."
He smiled at her in return and closed his eyes again.
"Oh no you don't."-She said. "I have some things planned for today."
Tate groaned. "I thought you were going to the U.N."
"Believe it or not, that's not until this afternoon. Right now, I'd like to take you to the Met."
"The Met?"
"Yes. The Met. I know you've been there before, but not like this."
He eyed her suspiciously. "What did you do?"
She gave him an impish look. "You'll never know if you stay in bed."
"Isn't this my birthday? Can't we just stay in bed until you have to leave?"- He said hugging her body to his.
"Ok, how about this? I already have this surprise planned for you. I say we go…stay a little while and then we can come back and you can make love to me all you want."
He started kissing her neck. She sighed in contentment. "All I want?"-He asked between kisses.
"Yes."
He chuckled. "Can I put a candle in your mouth?"
Violet pulled away. "What the fuck, Tate?"
"Not lit. I just want to pretend you're my birthday cake."
She laughed. "No candle. And I'm your cake if you want me to be."
He smirked and whispered in her ear. "Can I get a taste of my cake?"
She smacked his arm playfully. "Not before breakfast…or lunch."
"Aww, Vi."
She laughed, framed his jawline with her hands and gave him a peck. "I have a good reason, I promise."
"Ok."
She got off of the bed and helped him through his morning routine so that it could go by faster.
They were driven to the museum and when they arrived, the doors were opened for them. Tate then noticed what the surprise was. The Met was devoid of visitors.
The Museum curator, a serious man in his late fifties, had been waiting for them in the lobby and he bowed a bit when he saw them.
"Your Highness, Mr. Langdon. Everything has been set up."
"Thank you."-Violet said. Then, to Tate: "We have our playground."
She grabbed his hand and steered him toward the collection of Greek and Roman art. The lighted space surrounded by beautiful sculptures always made Tate smile and feel at ease. Violet knew him all too well. Then he saw a little table for two had been set up with some finger foods amidst the exhibit.
"Perfect place for brunch, don't you think?"-She said.
"You're insane and I love you."-He said giving her a kiss.
"You don't think I'm being excessive?"
"You're being completely excessive and you know that."
"I do. You deserve the excess."
He was about to say something but she clasped her hand over his mouth. "Don't complain. Just enjoy it."
He shut his trap. Sure he thought it was ridiculous that she was going overboard for his birthday, but all he wanted was for her to be happy. Even on the day she wanted him to be happy, he just wanted her to be happy. Ok, he wasn't going to deny that having an art museum all to himself wasn't one of the best things that had happened to him in a long time. He loved the Met. And now he and Violet could frolic through it as if they owned the place. Well, after their brunch, anyway.
"So how did you do all of this?"-He asked after they ate.
"I paid some people off. And it helps that Moira knows the curator."
He smiled and shook his head momentarily. "If you two ever planned an invasion, the enemy would never know what hit him."
She laughed.
"I'm serious. The things you and Moira keep amongst yourselves could fill Fort Knox."
Violet rolled her eyes.
Though he'd originally wanted to stay in bed with her, the idea of having the museum at his disposal threw that desire out the window. No, now he had a better plan. After all… it's not like anyone was watching them.
They passed various halls of paintings and they held hands as they looked at some of Tate's favorites. Tate would tell Violet what he loved about them and if he saw them differently now than he did the last time he had seen them. She listened intently to what he had to say and then commented about the pieces herself.
However, when the time was right, Tate pushed Violet into a slightly darkened corner, started kissing her and ran his large hands along her body in a highly sensual manner. Violet broke the kiss.
"What are you doing?"
"It's my birthday and I wanted to spend the day in bed with you. You took me to an empty art museum. No bed, but you're here."
"You're insane."-Violet said in a breathy voice as he pressed scorching wet kisses on the nape of her neck.
As he pressed his lips to her skin, he managed to mumble. "You love me crazy."
She shuddered: "I do."
The museum was all but a tomb: priceless artworks to take onto the next life, cold atmosphere and a deafening silence. And it was this palace of icy beauty that they defiled.
They soon found themselves on the floor, moving their underwear aside and rutting against one another in a mad frenzy. It was quick, rough and inflamed by the fact that they were doing something that was expressively forbidden. She dove her face into his neck to muffle the sound of absolute ecstasy when she climaxed; he, in turn, bit his lip. They looked at each other. Half astonished that they had fucked on the floor of an art museum, half smitten by each other. Violet chuckled.
"I thought this was supposed to be YOUR birthday."-She said.
"Yeah, it is. And?"
"You ravished me. Shouldn't it be the other way around today?"
"Frankly, my dear, I don't give a damn."
She feigned a swooning gesture. "Oh Rhett." They laughed.
"I think we should get up and out of here."-He said after their laughter had settled down.
"Good idea. It's a miracle no one has found us yet."
They got up, Violet put her panties back on and smoothed her skirt down, he zipped his pants up, they held hands and left. In the foyer, the curator stood smiling.
"Leaving so soon? The museum is at your disposal for the whole day, your Majesty."
"I know and we saw quite a lot. I thank you, but we've had an emergency back at the hotel. My advisors need me, and my beau refuses to leave me alone."-She said with a pleasing smile and with a small cuddle to Tate's side.
"It's true. I don't like the way those advisors speak to her...and I don't like to be away from her for too long."-He looked down at her and placed a kiss on her cheek.
"That is a sweet sentiment. Well, have a nice day. And thank you again for your contribution to the museum, Majesty. We are at your disposal."
"I appreciate it. Good-bye."
The two left and returned to the hotel.
Violet's faux U.N. meeting was in two hours. Tate wanted his birthday cake.
When they closed the door of the room, Tate held her by the waist and whispered dirty somethings in her ear; things that got her more wet and ready for him. Her eyes widened at the sudden rush of fluids between her legs and the tingling sensation that came with it. A sensation she loved not nearly as much as what came after it and because of it.
He took off her clothes and guided her to the bedroom. He laid her on the bed, face down and kissed every inch of the skin of her back and neck. He placed kisses on her that were soft and slow. He would lick her softly as well. After all, it was a tasting that he was after. Once done with her back, he turned her around and began suckling on her neck. Slowly, he moved down to her chest and to her breasts. He took them both in turns, laving, suckling and tasting at her skin. He was ravenous and insatiable but, he was gentle all the same. Once he had been satisfied with the attention he gave her breasts, he kept moving down. He treated her stomach to his licks for a brief moment before going further south. He paid particular attention, then, to her hips. He made sure to tickle her with his tongue along the outline of the bone before diving between her legs in a split second. Violet gasped at the sudden sensation and her hands immediately gripped his blonde locks as her eyes shut.
Tate stopped momentarily. "No, no Vi. Keep your eyes on mine."
Violet opened her eyes and did as she was told. Or at least, she did what she was told for a while. For when, with a stroke of his tongue, she climaxed for the second time that day, she couldn't help but shut her eyes. His mouth left her pussy and, in an instant, his cock sheathed itself inside her.
"Tate!"-Violet half screamed. She was still so very sensitive.
"That's right. Scream for me, my naughty little Queen."-He said as he started moving in and out of her.
"Shut up!"-She yelled, her teeth gritted.
"Only if you keep screaming."
She slapped him across the face. "I hate you!"
He smirked. "I love you." She slapped him again. He bit her neck. "Harder Vi! I like it rough."
Every once in a while, for an inexplicable reason, they behaved in a rough manner towards one another. It had been months since this had happened and, by the time they were finished, Tate would have stinging scratches on his back, purpling hickeys on his chest and neck, and the imprint of Violet's hand in a shade of stinging red on his cheeks. Violet would come out less unscathed, just a stinging bum and purplish bruises in the shape of his long fingers on her waist and thighs.
They lay in bed, askew and panting. Violet looked at the clock, sighed, turned to Tate, gave him a kiss and got out of the bed. He frowned.
"Do you have to go?"
"It's the U.N. What do you think?"
"Ok."-He got up and followed her as she went to the bathroom. "Do you have any plans for tonight?"
"Yeah. You and I are going to dinner at the Oak Room."
She got into the shower and turned the water on.
"Ok."
"You don't sound enthused."- Violet poked her head out. "Do you want to do something else?"
"No, not really. I'm not as into birthdays as most people."
"You celebrated my birthday with fireworks…literally."
"Ok, let me rephrase that. I'm not into my birthday."
"Why not?"
"I'm old."-He said. Violet rolled her eyes at him and ducked into the shower again.
"Your insecurity is showing."
"I'm thirty-eight years old, Vi."
"What's your point?"
"That's old."
"It's not old, Tate. It's only old if you compare yourself to me and that's stupid."
He climbed into the shower with her and took the soap from her and started cleaning her back.
"I know, I know. But I feel old. I can't help it."
"You can. I promise to make you feel young."-She said looking at him over her shoulder.
"You already do."- He kissed her cheek.
"Well then, age is nothing but a number. However young you feel inside, that's what you are."
"In that case, I feel twenty-five."
"Good."
"I mean I have the same libido that I did at that age."
"Oh really?"
"It's kind of worse, actually."-He said getting closer to her.
"I just bring out that side of you, don't I?" She said in a husky voice, arching her neck back.
"Yes. And if you keep talking like that you will be at risk of being late."-He pressed himself to her back and she felt his hardness.
She made a sound of delight. "Later, Tate."
He kissed her hair. "Ok. You owe me."
She finished washing and got out. Some time later, he finished showering and, when he got out, she had just finished dressing and was putting on her jewelry. He wrapped his arms around her.
"You make me happy, Vi."
"You make me happy too."
She put on her make-up and left promptly after.
Tate was upset, but got over it by grabbing the book he had brought with him. No more than an hour had passed when there was a knock on the door. He looked and it was Moira, along with two men and a rack of clothes. Tate arched his eyebrow in inquisition but opened the door, anyway.
"What's going on, Moira?"
"These men are here to outfit you for this evening?"
"What are you talking about?"
"A tuxedo, Tate. They're here to outfit you."
"Am I missing something? I thought Vi and I were just going to dinner at the Oak room."
"You are. She's dressing formal as well. Just play along."
"This is a present, isn't it?"
"Yes."
Moira and the two tailors entered the hotel suite. He wasn't usually a rabid fan of clothes, but he made the most of it. He had his fitting and after a while his outfit for the night had been chosen. Moira's approving eye told him that Violet would approve of his choices as well.
The tailors left and Moira remained.
"You and I don't hang out much, do we?"-He asked her.
"No. At most, we've cohabitated in silence. But I've always liked you. Anything that makes Violet happy makes me happy."
"Even if I'm closer in age to you than to her?"
"I don't care about that."
"You're like her big sister, you know."
"I know."
"I'm happy that you approve of us. That you've always been there for us."
"And come what may, I always will."-Moira said looking at him kindly.
Moira kept him company for a long while until later that very afternoon when there was a knock on the door. Moira answered it and she was given a letter addressed to Tate. Moira gave him the letter.
Dear Tate,
I'll be running a bit late and the reservation at the Oak room is for eight o' clock. Go ahead without me. There's a surprise waiting for you there. I hope you picked a dashing suit.
I love you and happy birthday,
Vi
Moira checked her watch when Tate asked for the time. She informed him that it was five past seven. He bid Moira adieu and thanked her for the company (even though he knew she had actually stayed as part of some, no doubt, devious plot constructed between herself and Violet).
Tate took his sweet time getting ready and, by the time it was 7:55, he descended to the Oak Room. There, the host had apparently been expecting him.
"Ah, Mr. Langdon."-Said the elderly man. "You are right on time. Follow me."
Tate followed the host but noted that he was not being taken into the dining room, but somewhere else.
"Excuse me, sir. I thought the Queen and I had dinner reservations."
"Oh, well, you do, sir. But the locale is a bit…different."
He noticed that they had stopped in front of the ballrooms. The host then turned to Tate and said:
"Wait here. She will come for you in a few seconds."
"Excuse me?"
"Please, wait."
The old man walked away, leaving Tate confused. What the hell was going on? He heard one of the ballroom doors open, looked in its direction and from the room came Violet, wearing a lovely black dress with a cream colored bodice that was covered in black lace. She looked absolutely stunning. She smiled as she went over to him and grabbed his hands.
"Hi."
"Vi, I thought you said you were going to be late."
"I lied."
Tate looked at her face for a moment while he considered something.
"Did you really have something to do at the U.N.?"
Violet gave him an smirk and shook her head. "Also a lie."
"And there never were reservations at the Oak Room."
"Nope. There's something better. Much, much better."
Tate chuckled. "I knew there was something devious going on. I mean, Moira was keeping me company."
"It's not like she said anything."
"No. She wouldn't, would she? I've said it before and I'll say it again. You two are the CIA."
"Don't forget our base is Fort Knox."
He shook his head.
"Come with me, Mr. Langdon."-She said as she drug him towards the ballroom door from which she had emerged. She opened the door and once they were inside, Tate could see nothing but darkness. He felt Violet let go.
"Vi, what's going on?"
"SURPRISE!"
The ballroom lit up like the fourth of July. It was well decorated and gathered in the room were all the people that Tate actually cared about. All his friends were there and so were the family members of his that he actually gave a shit about. His mother, of course, was nowhere to be found. But his Aunt Nora was there as were his brother Michael, his older sister Adelaide and his stepsisters Margaret and Angela. He was so grateful to Violet that she had gotten all of this together for him. He saw her smiling face in front of the crowd and gave her a peck before saying hello to everyone.
He gave Nora a big hug.
"How did she get you to come here?"
"Oh it wasn't that hard. She told me that she was holding a surprise birthday for my son, that's the phrasing she used...son, and I couldn't say no. She even knew that I'm terrified of airplanes and arranged a car and a train for me. She's such a sweet girl."
"Yeah, she is." He briefly looked at Violet. "I'm so happy you're here!"
"So am I, sweetheart. So am I. Now, go and chat with your friends. No need to stick with this old woman throughout the rest of the night."
"You're not old Aunt Nora."
"Always the charmer."-She said rubbing his cheek momentarily.
After Tate had said hello to his guests and the small orchestra had commenced to play a slow tune, everyone sat down to dinner. It was a lavish affair and it had been especially catered for this party to meet the strict requirements sent by Moira, who had researched the likes and dislikes of the birthday boy as well as any allergies of the guests.
Champagne and wine were passed around as if it were an endless supply. The seven or so courses of the dinner were much to the tastes of all the guests. Aside from music, there was laughter and lively conversation echoed throughout the room. By the time that the cake was to be served, everybody at the party was full of mirth. The best part, however, came after the cake.
A band had been setting up without much notice from anyone at the party. And after everyone had had cake, they started to play. Tate was thrilled. Violet had gotten the band he liked to come play at his birthday party all the way from England. As they danced, he playfully squeezed her.
"How did you do all of this?"
"Magic."
The band was rocking and they even performed some of their newest songs…ones that were going to be released in a few months. Everyone at the party was having fun. The band was around until early into the morning and most people danced that long.
When Violet and Tate finally decided to go back to their room, it was nearly five am. Violet grabbed one of the open bottles of champagne and she and Tate went upstairs all the while they took turns drinking from the open bottle. They sang and drank, forgetting that they had to keep their voices down out of politeness. He wrapped his arms around her and they half danced, half walked in a drunken high back to their sweet.
"Hold me tight/ let me go on loving you/ tonight, tonight/ making love to only you."-He started.
"So hold me tight/ tonight, tonight/ it's you-uuu, you, you, you-uuuuuu."-She finished.
She turned around and gave him a sloppy kiss.
"Love you."-She mumbled against his lips.
"Love you too."
Somehow, they made it to their room and to their bed. They fell asleep in the same clothes they had been wearing, though his suit was completely askew and had been for hours and her dress was crinkled. Neither of them cared, though. They were just happy and exhausted.
They woke up sometime in the afternoon. Violet opened her eyes and automatically got a stinging sensation in her head.
"Damn."
Tate groaned and looked at her through barely opened eyes.
"You ok?"
"Mhm. Hung-over."-She whispered.
"Me too."-He said.
And they spent the rest of their day in bed.
While they spent their day in bed, the story had broken out to the press. All over newspapers and tabloids was the report of the big birthday the Queen had celebrated for her ignoble boyfriend. There was always a rat that was willing to spill all the secrets they had of the young royal. Especially in exchange for a large sum of money. When Moira woke up in the morning and saw what the tabloids had to say, she called up the hotel manager and had him rally up the staff working at the party. She wanted to know who had leaked the story. They caught the rat, but the damage had been done.
The Queen was being accused of spending money from the country's budget to fund the party. This, in turn, turned into articles questioning the capability of the young queen and her horrible choice in suitor. Many speculated that it was her beau that had tainted the Queen's good judgment. The criticism seemed to thrive off this one event that, in reality, had been paid for with her personal inheritance.
So, the next day, when Tate and Violet finally emerged from their hotel suite Moira quickly escorted them out of the hotel through the back. Then they into a private car. At first, they had no clue what had been going on.
"Things have gotten bad."-Moira said.
"What are you talking about?"-Asked a confused Violet.
"I'll send for your belongings later but things have gotten bad. One of the members of the kitchen staff told a member of the press about the party. Then what the kitchen man said spread like wildfire and it's been mixed in with vicious lies."
"Am I being accused of being corrupt?"
"Yes, that's it exactly."
"This is a bunch of malarkey."-Tate said.
"Malarkey?"-Violet asked.
"I was around Nora a lot recently."-He said shrugging it off.
Tate, Violet and Moira returned to Washington, D.C. Once there, Moira and Tate were separated from Violet who entered a media and political blitz. Once the evidence was provided to the president and once it spread down throughout the government, the Queen was cleared of guilt. She had proof that the money she used for the party had been from her personal account. That she had used a bit of the fortune her father had left her to pay for the festivities.
But there seemed to be a coup going on in the government. The power struggle seemed to go on for hours. No one wanted her in power, not even the president, who had once sided with her. They argued fiercely.
"You wear the crown, but that doesn't mean you know what you're doing."
"And I suppose you do? And you say this merely based on age and experience, I suppose. I don't lack intelligence. And I am your better, so you'd do well to respect me."
"You don't lack intelligence, but you are a kid. That lover of yours is more capable of ruling this country than you are."
"Is he? Do you want to offer him my job?"
"Absolutely not. He is not fit for it. But he is more fit for it than you are."
"Sir, know now that it is only out of the love I have for my father that I have not given you a pink slip."
"You can't fire me! This is a democracy!"
"Oh, but it's not, remember? You all changed the government into a monarchy. And besides, you weren't even chosen by the people to be president. You're sloppy seconds that this country has received because some maniac killed the two decent men who ruled this country. They had an equal partnership because they respected each other. You and I don't have that ease and clearly you have no respect for me, though I had once thought otherwise."
"I was polite to you when I needed to be, but I will not sit idly by while some love-sick girl ruins the government of this country."
"Love-sick girl?"
"Yes, you heard me."
"Well, this love-sick girl is not going down without a fight. My father would have put his trust in my hands and I am not about to fail him. You and I and all the men in Congress are going to structure this government together. We are going to coexist and we are not going to fail."
"I follow your orders only because I have to."
"Good."
"And you'd do well to send your boy away. He's not wanted in D.C."
"He is wanted. By me."
"Do yourself a favor and make things easier. Send him to California. Once everything is figured out here, you can have him back."
Violet thought about this for a moment, gave Johnson a stern look and said: "Fine."
Unfortunately, sending Tate back to their home in California did nothing to alleviate the people's protests. Or the complaints in Congress.
Tate went away but not before he told Violet:
"If you want to leave me, feel free to do it."
"Stop it. I'm not going to leave you."
"They all want you to leave me and I'd understand it if you did."
"Tate, stop it! I have been constant to you for nearly three years! I wobbled once when I found out what happened in the past, but I stuck by you. I am not going to desert you because they want me to. I didn't before and I won't now."
He reached to touch her shoulder but she backed away from his touch.
"I'm sorry, Vi."
"Sorry doesn't do anything. Do you doubt me so much?"
"It's not you. I'm just afraid."
"Of what?"
"That one day you're going to wake up and not love me anymore. That you'll resent me for making you go through all this trouble. Afraid that after all the resentment, you'll grow to loathe me."
Violet gave him a look. "Tate, you're smarter than this. I'm never going to resent you because I am making my own decisions. This is something that I'm doing and even if I am concerned with your feelings, I'm still doing what I thin is best for me. Sometimes I view me as 'us', but you're never forcing my hand. And as for me waking up to not loving you…I'm afraid of the exact same thing."
"You think I might stop loving you?"-He replied.
"Absolutely."
Tate scoffed. "You're crazy. I could never."
She smiled. "And neither could I. Have a little faith in me."
"You're right." He sighed. "I'm sorry."
She just shook her head, gave him a kiss on the cheek and whispered in his ear. "Wait for me. I'll come back to you."
He smiled and gave her a final, lingering kiss before leaving her.
It wasn't until he was on the plane that he fully realized what she had said. Violet didn't say anything about him coming back to D.C. She said that she would come back to him. He shuddered at the thought that she would give up her throne for him and prayed that it would not come to that.
Even with Tate in California, things in D.C. were getting steadily worse. There was uproar in Congress that Violet couldn't tame. Nothing she said or did made them happy. They wanted her to be stripped of all power. In fact, they didn't even want her as a symbol anymore, because the general public despised her. She had tried to keep things going for her father, but she knew that it was all but a lost cause. Rather, she knew that if she left the crown to her brother, things would get better in the end. Everyone hated her and she felt the pressure of the country on her shoulders. They were begging her to give up everything she had ever wanted so that she could rule and be miserable for the rest of her life. As such, she decided to do what was best for everyone. This was what was best for her, for Tate, for her mother and…everyone else, it seemed.
She made the announcement in Congress and they drew an instrument of abdication. It read:
"I, Violet the First of the United States of America, do hereby declare my irrevocable determination to renounce the Throne for myself, and my descendants, and my desire that effect should be given to this Instrument of Abdication immediately.
In token whereof I have hereunto set my hand this twenty-fifth of February, nineteen hundred and sixty-four, in the presence of the witnesses whose signatures are here subscribed."
She signed it and her witnesses did the same. She had not called Tate. She hadn't told him that she had come to this decision. He would find out at the same time as the general populace of the country. He would find out the following day, when she would go on camera and tell the world that she would no longer reign.
Violet took a deep breath as the camera stared her squarely in the face. She knew that what she was doing was good. It wasn't just for the country that hated her guts, but it was for herself and Tate. She had to do this so that they could have normal lives together: to be married and to live without shame or guilt. And so, when she was given her cue, she spoke:
"You all know the reasons which have impelled me to renounce the throne. But I want you to understand that in making up my mind I did not forget my country, which, as Princess and Queen, I have for three years tried to serve. But you must believe me when I tell you that I have found it impossible to carry the heavy burden of responsibility and to discharge my duties as Queen as I would wish to do without the help and support of the man I love."
All the way in California, Tate and Moira watched Violet's speech and he could not believe that she had actually done it. Violet had always been brave and strong, but he never truly expected her to renounce the throne for him. He had tried to give her a way out. He told her to leave him, to do what was right, but she had chosen otherwise. He was overjoyed at her decision, but he was still shocked. If it was at all possible, her sacrifice made him love her all the more. If he knew her at all, and he suspected that he knew her a great deal more than she knew herself, she would need someone to hold her right about now. He hated that he couldn't be there for her. However, a large part of him was singing. He knew, that in a day or so, Violet would be in his arms. They were both finally free and able to make their dreams come true.
It won't be long, yeah, yeah, yeah
It won't be long, yeah, yeah, yeah
It won't be long, yeah,
'Til I belong to you
[...]
Since you left me, I'm so alone
Now you're coming, you're coming on home
I'll be good like I know I should
You're coming home, you're coming home
[...]
Every day will be happy I know
Now I know that you won't leave me no more
As Violet left the pressroom, she met her mother outside. She was about to say something, but Vivien interrupted her.
"As Queen mother, I banish you from these fifty states."
"Excuse me?"-Violet said in shock.
"You heard me. You want to be a traitor to your family, so you will live like one."
"You're banishing me because I won't take your idiotic side of the whole what happened in the forties incident?"
"You're taking the side of a rude, indecent man who obviously has corrupted you."
"I have not, you rapist!"
Vivien smacked Violet across the face.
"I'm not going to take away your fortune. That's cruel. But you and that disgusting boyfriend of yours have seventy-two hours to pack up and get the hell out of here!"
Violet gave her a smug look. "You said only the states, right?"
"Yes. Feel free to live anywhere else. Go to Kuwait for all I care."
"I will. You're a hateful bitch if you really think of yourself before me…or Jack."
Vivien gasped at the name-calling.
"Oh stick your gasp where the sun don't shine. I hope Jack grows smart enough to know what you are."
"A hateful bitch?"
"Not only that, but a vicious, life-sucking bitch from which there is no escape."
Violet started walking away. She suddenly turned and said the last words she would ever speak to her mother. "Oh wait, but I am escaping you. Newsflash Vivien, I never want to see you again."
Vivien said nothing and Violet walked off with a satisfied smile. Violet went to her room and started packing everything she would need. She left some things but made sure to take all the essentials. As she was getting ready to leave, there was a tiny knock on her door.
"Come in."-Violet said sweetly.
As expected, it was Jack. Jack, who had tears in his eyes that were threatening to stain his cheeks. He ran to Violet and she gave him a hug.
"Mommy said you're going away forever."
"Not forever. Remember, you'll be king when you're eighteen."
"I will?"
"Yes. And if you want, when you're King, you can invite me to come visit you and I will. Or me and Tate will, anyway."
"Tate's going with you?"
"Of course. We can't get married if he stays here."
"I can invite you both when I'm King, then?"
"Of course you can…"-Then Violet curtsied in front of him. "Your Majesty."
Jack giggled and gave his big sister a hug. Violet placed a kiss on the top of his head.
"I love you Jack. Tate loves you too. We're going to miss you."
"I'm going to miss you too."
She smiled at him. A few members of the White House staff arrived to take her bags to the car. Once everything had been taken, she gave her brother a final hug and said:
"I'll see you later, kid."
He smiled. "See you, Vi!"
Violet walked away and made damn sure to leave with her head held high and without having spilt a tear. She got on the first flight to California.
That evening, she was back at her beloved home. It would now be a home that would now be left without anyone to live in it. She walked to the door and Tate opened it quickly and took her into his arms. They hadn't seen each other in a month. It was the longest they had gone without seeing each other since they had started living together.
"I missed you, Vi."
"I missed you too. I love you."
He kissed her in response. Violet broke the kiss.
"My mother banished me."
"She did what?"
"She banished me from the states."
"What about me?"
"Well…she didn't say it directly, but it's safe to say that you're banished too."
"Even if I weren't, I wouldn't stay behind. I go where you go."-He said while embracing her.
"We have two days to get out of here."-She said as she took in his warmth.
"Ok. So…are we taking Moira?"-He said in a joking manner.
Violet laughed. "She's not a pet. She's staying here."
Moira had been eavesdropping from the other room and chose the perfect moment to pop out.
"I'd very much like to go with you. I doubt Mrs. Harmon would let me help her."
Violet knew that it was true. Her mother wouldn't give Moira a job. Vivien knew that, when push came to shove, Moira's loyalty would always lay with Violet.
"But Moira, what about your family?"-Violet asked.
"You know my mother's been dead for years, Violet. And I don't have anyone else."
"But..."-Violet started.
"No, buts. I am leaving with the both of you and that's final."
"Well, what about the house?"-Violet said.
"What about it?"-Tate retorted.
"It'll be left abandoned."-Violet noted.
Tate thought for a moment and then had a brilliant idea.
"We can give Nora the house."
"Your aunt Nora?"
"Yes! You know how supportive she's always been of us."
"Who's gonna help her with the house, though? It's so big after all."
Moira butt in. "I know who to contact to help her around the house."
"It's settled then. Nora's going to have the house."
"Yes. Except...Moira? Could you stay behind for a while? Just until Tate and I are settled? That way when Tate and I get married, you can bring Nora over with you. You'd make it much easier on her."
"Where are you two going?"-Moira asked.
Tate and Violet shared a look. They knew where it was that they were going. They hadn't spoken a word, but they knew. It was somewhere they could easily go away to and get lost in. Once before they had talked about vacation spots and then talked about places they'd go to if they needed to escape forever.
"You'll see."-Violet said.
"I will, won't I?"-Moira said with a smile.
Without a bigger fuss, Tate, Violet and Moira packed up their things. Some things were packed in boxes and Moira was to send them to their new address…whenever they had a home that was. The next afternoon, Moira drove the lovers to LAX. And so, Tate and Violet got on an airplane towards their new home.
A/N: So...I'd love to hear your guesses. Where do you think that Violet and Tate are going? ^_^