I rewrote this chapter 3 times. 3 times! O_O the last time I rewrote it listening to Les Miserables soundtrack because I'm excited for the movie and THAT soundtrack with Hugh Jackman! (yeeeeeee!) My biggest problem was making it work as a nice ending that was not too busy or chaotic and ended with a kiss like the movie because I'm a sucker for happy endings and ending kisses hehe.

This chapter is short I'M SORRY but it is a nice ending and I like how it is. I'll speak more at the end. But for now, I want to thank you all for having stuck with this story, reviewing it, and enjoying it :) I am very grateful! Here is the last chapter of the story (not including extra) so until I actually get those chapters written, I'll say, enjoy!

Usual disclaimers

Epilogue

Standing by the grand windows of her bedroom suite, the Grand Duchess Katherine slowly swayed back and forth, humming softly. The little bundle in her arms continued to sniffle, fighting a losing battle against sleep. He was a stubborn born, like his mother. He wanted to stay up despite being cranky because he was tired. Really, he should have been in bed hours ago, but the guests would not give her leave to put the little prince down. So he decided to be contrary and stay awake being fussy despite being as exhausted as his poor mother.

Katherine rather wished she had just left the stupid party, but it was her anniversary party and the guest of honor could not simply leave without a good excuse. And how finding a wayward youth who might have simply wandered off was a better excuse than putting down a baby whose tantrums were legendary, Katherine did not know. Certainly by the time the party had ended everyone was wishing she had put the baby to bed. He had screamed his head off for a good quarter of an hour.

But a quick bath and some alone time with mommy was curing him right up. Soon he might even been in a well enough mood to nurse which Katherine was sure was the reason for half his fuss.

When he yawned, Katherine switched to singing the lullaby she had previously been humming. It was the final straw. The sniffling and whining stop and Katherine was able to settle into the rocking chair and nurse. More asleep than awake at this point, the baby drank out of reflex. His little tummy was almost full when the door opened and his dad walked in.

"Is Mary asleep?" Katherine asked, keeping her voice to a whisper.

Nightlight nodded and came to stand next to the pair. One bleary blue eye opened at the sound of his dad's approach, took one look up at the man and huffed before turning away. He was full and ready for bed now. Katherine snickered.

"I think Jack's a bad influence on Little Jack," she commented as she tucked the baby into his crib beside their bed. "He always seems to try to prove himself whenever you're around."

Nightlight rolled his eyes and caught his wife around the waist. They stood in silence for a moment, simply watching Little Jack finally fall asleep. Little Jack took after his father in all but temperament, the exact opposite of his older sister Mary who looked like her mother but acted like her father which caused Katherine endless amount of grief when Nightlight and the elder Jack would get into fights that little Mary insisted on being part of.

There was a gentle knock and a head appeared in the doorway. "Kids all sleeping?" North inquired. The couple nodded. "Good. Jamie just fell asleep a few minutes ago so I'll tell Jack and Elisa to go to sleep since there are no whining brats to worry about." Katherine whispered thanks. Elisa, her maid and dearest friend and Jack's wife, had just had their first child not long after Little Jack was born. Jamie was a very fussy baby and kept both his parents busy though Elisa still insisted on doing her job as maid to the Grand Duchess which included helping to deal with the prince and princess.

The two had just begun to relax when the door opened against without the person bothering to knock. Katherine gave her brother a half hearted glare. "Knock," she hissed.

Alexei smiled apologetically. "I am sorry, but Sascha is asking for you and will not leave until you speak with her." Sascha was a child of the neighboring Constellation and was currently engaged to young William. She and Katherine had become friends and the girl sought Katherine's advice on anything involving love and marriage. She had recently been coming and visiting more often, obviously getting nervous about the impending wedding.

"Very well, I shall see her, but," she added as she left Nightlight's arms, "no one else."

The siblings went down to a parlor where guests waited. Sascha was worrying the sleeve of her dress and biting her lip. When she saw her friend, she leapt to her feet and hurried over. They hugged each other briefly. "Whatever is the matter?" Katherine asked, clasping the girl's arms. She was shaking.

"Oh! Will has just told me he picked his eldest brother as his best man and that made me remember I haven't gotten my maid of honor or the dresses and we haven't picked out the flowers for the wedding and…" she might have continued on had Katherine not shaken her.

"Calm down Sascha. Now, let's take it one at a time. Why did you want to see me?"

"Because I want you as my matron of honor!" Sascha exclaimed, still shaking and still clearly in a panic because the music was not selected either!

Katherine was elated. "I would be happy to!" Hugging her friend again, she grinned. "Do not fret Sascha. I will help you. Now clam down and go see Young William, he's probably panicking because you are not by his side."

"Oh thank you Katherine! You are a life saver. I know you'll make the perfect matron of honor!" With that she hurried away, calling for her future husband.

A snort from the other door to the parlor had Katherine turning around. Bunnymund and Toothiana stood in the doorway. "She panics much too easily," Toothiana observed, walking in. Bunnymund followed with a tray of tea and cakes. Sanderson followed a moment later. "She'll need a tranquilizer on her wedding day."

"Young Will shall no doubt calm her down somehow," Katherine replied. When offered a cake she shook her head. "I am going to bed. I shall see you all in the morning. If Elisa attempts to get up before Jamie does to assist me in any way, do stop her please." They assured her they would and Katherine left.

She stopped briefly at Mary's room. The little girl was fast asleep in a nest of blankets, pillows, and stuffed animals. Her favorite, a Himalayan goose, was tucked under her chin. Katherine kissed her daughter, gently brushing aside the locks of brown hair so much like her own. "Good night my dear," she whispered. The little girl did not stir. Smiling, Katherine slipped out and returned to her room.

Nightlight was standing by the balcony windows, looking out at the starlit, moonlit sky. She joined him, relaxing when he wrapped his arms around her and rested his chin on her head. It was a brief moment of peace the two so rarely got with a palace and Constellation to help run, and two children to keep up with.

"You know," Katherine whispered, pulling out of Nightlight's hold, "Amongst all the fuss of tonight, we didn't get to dance more than once." She went over to the music box. A few twists of the necklace and the music began to play. Setting it on the night stand, she returned to Nightlight. They danced through the room, to the melody of the music box, under the light of the full moon. Nightlight pulled her close as the music began to slow and fade, dipping his head just enough to press his lips to hers. Katherine smiled against the kiss, bringing her arms up to wrap around his neck.

The night brightened as falling stars shot across the sky. Katherine pulled out of the kiss, laughing softly and pointing excitedly at the stars as they streaked across the night sky. Nightlight grinned and spun around, sweeping her up into his arms. He nodded his head towards the shooting stars.

"Why do I need to make a wish?" she asked when he glanced at her then at the stars. "I've got everything I want right here." Cupping his cheeks, she pulled him into another kiss as the music box finally fell silent.

Any time I imagine Katherine and Nightlight having children I imagine them named Mary, Jack, and Tom. I grew up with my mother reading Mother Goose rhymes and stories, and she had VHS tapes with them as well so I had a very imaginative childhood. The most common names were Jack, Mary, and Tom and with Katherine being Mother Goose she would name her children as such and Nightlight has no naming sense so he lets her decide the names XD

Anyways, I'll probably throw up an extra chapter with more on the children but let's get this straight:

Mary is the eldest, Jack (Jackson) known as Little Jack being the second. He is slightly older than Jack and Elisa's son Jamie. They later have a daughter named Sophie.

If anyone remembers the 1970's Jack Frost movie, Elisa is the woman from that, so she's not technically an OC, rather an AU crossover XD

I can't think of anything else important to mention right now, except how thankful I am to all my readers! I hope you enjoyed this story as much as I have. I'll start on those extra's soon but it will have to wait until after the holidays. Family and such. Happy holidays, Merry Christmas, whatever you celebrate and if you don't celebrate anything, Happy New Year!

Until the extra/next story! Do svidaniya!