Disclaimer: I do not own Balem or the Jupiter Ascending universe (though I wouldn't mind owning Balem =D) but I do own Amoya.

A.N: So unless anything changes, there are only two more chapters after this one. But a little bonus to look foward to, I will be posting the "unoffical soundtrack" to this story (basically a playlist) in conjuction with the last chapter. There will be songs in it that weren't listed as inspirations for the chapters. So a treat for ya'll. Without further ado, please enjoy this chapter!

Song inspiration:

Simply Falling - Iyeoka

Conjure One- Dying Light

Chapter 20: The Wedding Night

Amoya didn't know how much more shocked pleasure she could take.

After the toast, the new couple stuck around for a short while before finally Balem thanked everyone for coming and they left. To Amoya's surprise the ship was already packed. As they boarded she was separated from her new husband. The former Earthling was a bit confused by this but rolled with it. As the ship left Callisto, Amoya assumed that they were returning to Jupiter.

The new Queen tried to find out if that was true but everyone hedged around the answer. Eventually one of her attendants told her it was a surprise.

Translation: If we tell her majesty, his majesty would kill us.

Literally.

It wasn't until Amoya was looking out of the window did she see an unfamiliar planet looming. It was then her attendant told her that she and Balem were to have a week stay on Europa. (Apparently it was then she was allowed to tell her.)

Amoya prided herself on not being a squealer (and she managed maintained herself) but she had to fight the urge to do so. Urge fought and won. Although they'll forgive her for her silly grin that popped onto her face.

A week stay on Europa, another of Jupiter's moons, for their honeymoon?

That was beyond Amoya's wildest dreams! (Barring the fact, that most everything that had happened to her so far was beyond her wildest dreams but that was moot point.)

They were staying in a vast compound located in Europa's crust. Amoya had practically pressed her nose up against the glass when she saw the moon. It was far prettier than the photos she had seen.

The ship had descended onto its smooth surface and actually began to go into it. Watching out of her window, Amoya had seen that the crust looked like smooth rock until eventually it turned into what Amoya thought looked like ice.

And still they went down until they were actually under water. The water shimmered and shined seeming to bounce off the rock and ice from above.

"You can't pay for this sight", she murmured once again astonished at the beauty the universe held.

Beauty she was now a part of.

Amoya had yet to see her husband as she boarded off the ship and was taken to her quarters. The room was huge yet it had a quaintness about it. It was white and blue toned, to match the planet colors, but the best part of the room was the view. When Amoya looked outside she all she saw was water. It reminded her of an aquarium, the one that seemed to be underground with water on all sides.

Amoya's attendants had helped her out of her wedding dress into another dress. This one was light blue in two pieces. The long embodied skirt drifted to the floor along with a sleeveless crop top. Both were embodied with white gems that sparkled. (Gems made from moon-dust fairies, one of her attendants answers after Amoya's inquiry.)

She became increasingly aware that the attendants seemed extra careful not to disturb her golden choker. Her earrings were exchanged for what looked to Amoya like diamond feathers, if there was such a thing. When she asked about them, one of the attendants told her that it was made from Europa's crust. Finally a rectangular long piece of light blue fabric to match her outfit was given to Amoya. She wrapped it around her shoulders like a scarf.

When Amoya was able to survey herself in the mirror, her first thought was that it reminded her of Middle Eastern dresses she has seen one Earth. That thought made her chuckle.

Once that was done, an attendant had come over with a silver box. Amoya watched curiously as she opened it and picked up what looked like a glue gun except there was a needle sticking out of it.

"Hold on, what is that?" Amoya took a step back looking at it warily when the attendant turned to her.

"Your majesty, forgive me." the attendant sketched a curtsey, " but Lord Balem has insisted that you are given this shot."

"What. Is. It?" Amoya persisted, holding up her hand.

The attendants quickly realized in dealing with their new Queen they had little to fear. She wasn't as violate as Balem or prone to temper tantrums. In fact some of the attendants were amused at their new Queen's constant curiosity.

The attendant blinked and glanced at the needle gun before she began stumbling over her words, "My Queen it will not harm you. Its purpose is to create a barrier in your...system."

Here the attendant stopped and looked a little uncomfortable.

Amoya smiled once, "Please, just tell me what it does. I will not be mad. I just want to know why I'm getting poked." she ordered politely.

"Yes your majesty", came a nod from the young lady. She paused and looked up at her new Queen, "It's liquid blocks... the sperm from meeting the egg. With this you only have to get a shot once a month."

The attendant ducked her head after speaking. Some of the other attendants blushed though they looked amused at their new Queen's dumfounded look. Amoya took a moment to think about that before she finally wiggled her nose. She opened and closed her mouth once before speaking:

"Are you trying to tell me that you are giving me space birth control?"

Amoya stood on the balcony of her room. The balcony jutted out from the room and reminded Amoya of an underground aquarium back on Earth. She spent a lot of time looking up trying to see if she could see the top.

She couldn't of course, as they were too far underground but the view was breathtaking. She nervously shifted on her feet, bringing the shawl to absently nib on it. She had placed it over her head and wrapped it loosely around her shoulders.

Amoya was told to wait in her room until Balem arrived. She had no idea what to expect but for some reason she was nervous as jack.

It seemed an eternity before the door rose to the ceiling. Amoya took a moment to collect herself before slowly turning around.

Balem had forgone his wedding outfit. This new one, was the most simplest outfit that Amoya had seen him wear so far. It was a sleeveless knee length vest, that was open exposing his chest with some simple black pants. Apparently like her, he didn't feel the need to wear shoes. Still he wore his gold collar and gold wrist bands.

Amoya took in his appearance and then smiled, all of a sudden awkward. They stood staring at each other for a bit.

"This is a really nice place", Amoya said when she finally spoke.

"It is...suitable", came the soft reply.

Amoya rolled her eyes and turned to face the water. "Are you kidding me? I mean maybe you can't appreciate it because you've been here before but I'm on Europa. Actually in Europa!" She gave a delightful chuckle as a shadow fell on her.

Amoya glanced over at Balem who had made his way to her side and was standing next to her. He looked around slowly, "We came here when I was a child. Quite frequently. It is also where my parent's honeymooned. It is tradition."

There was silence for a bit as Amoya thought of the ramifications of saying what she had in mind. "I wish I could have met your mother...and your father", Amoya stated quietly after a moment.

Balem seem to tense as he glanced at Amoya who was careful to stare ahead. Finally he spoke, staring straight ahead, "My father was assassinated when I was a young boy."

He felt a soft weight on his shoulder. Glancing out the corner of his eye, he saw Amoya rest her chin on his shoulder, her arms resting over his shoulders loosely.

"I'm sorry."

Balem relaxed slightly looking back at the scenery before them, "It doesn't matter. I barely remember him. My siblings never met him."

"Still...I know what it's like to have wanted a father around. I often wondered what my father is like."

Balem was silent a long while before speaking, "My mother made me not miss having him. In the end she was the only parent I needed."

"It's good to know that you loved your mother."

"I did."

Amoya was surprised that Balem had allowed himself to be so vulnerable in this moment. She felt humbled at discovering another side to her new husband. But then a thought occurred to her.

The former Earthling and new Queen pulled back and asked, "Hold on...um, you say your siblings never met your father. How is that possible?"

Hazel eyes turned to her and she looked up at Balem curiously. Balem blinked and it took a moment to realize just what she was asking.

When he figured out, he gave a small chuckle as he explained, "My parents had frozen some of their sperms and eggs. After his death, she used artificial insemination to give birth to Kalique. For Titus, he was created in an artificial womb, rather than my mother carrying him for 9 months herself."

Amoya mouth dropped open as she tried to process that. Gentle fingers shut her mouth. "You must learn to control such actions, Amoya. You are Queen now", came the soft order.

The Caribbean girl simply rolled her eyes. Balem stared unblinkingly down at her as he dropped his finger.

Amoya Abrasax began to squirm the longer that Balem's hazel eyes bore down on her. "What?" she asked ducking her head and going to move away.

A hand shot out and grasped her wrist. Amoya looked up at Balem realizing that his eyes were vacant as he watched her. The elder Abrasax's mind was thrown back into a time long gone:

"Someday my son, you will seek to carry our name forth", Seraphi smiled from across the desk.

It was the eve of Balem's 21st birthday and Seraphi had set him down to have a talk.

"Mother..."Balem groaned only to stop when Seraphi held up her hand.

Seraphi lowered her hand when she saw Balem still, "You will have to choose a Queen, Balem and for all of our sakes she must be the correct choice."

"But how do I know if she is the right one? How did father know that you were the right one?" Balem asked.

The monarch was silent for a bit before answering.

"I had the fortunate encounter of falling in love with your father during the course of his courtship. Originally he chose me for my lineage but love came to us. Love is all well and good but above all there must be a sense of loyalty."

"Loyalty?"

Seraphi sat forward, folding her hands together across the desk and stared her son in the eye, "My son, we can trust very few people in this world, including our most faithful subjects. Always will there be those that will seek to bring down the house of Abrasax. And even the most faithful of subjects could be swayed from their path given the right incentive. The moment you think otherwise is the moment you lose everything."

Seraphi's eyes flashed as she continued, " In addition, Balem, she must process a sense of strength. Do not marry a weak woman, my son. Weak women will be a thorn in your side before you know it. She must be able to stand on her own as well as with you. And finally, you must be able to trust her. Only two people in this entire universe are you should be able to trust explicitly. Your mother and your wife. That is it."

Balem nodded, taking everything in.

Seraphi pressed on, "Loyalty, strength and trust are the key. If you find love then cherish it but not to the point of ignoring these traits. But if you ever sense a seed of betrayal in your wife, I expect you to find the truth and nip it in the bud if it is so."

Here she sat back in her chair relaxing, " In the end, make sure your choice is worthy of you."

"But how would I know she is worthy?"

Seraphi's gaze gentled as she answered, "Only you can answer such a question."

Balem nodded absently his eyebrow furrowed.

Seraphi sighed once, "I wish your father was here to give you this talk about these new and future obligations you have but as such it falls to me."

Balem looked at his mother who looked sad for a moment before shaking it off.

She looked at her son, "I have every faith that you will choose wisely, Balem." Seraphi nodded absently before she sat forward conspirationally,, "Mostly because I have trained you well."

Both mother and son shared a laugh.

Amoya manage to twist her wrist away from Balem who allowed her to, still in his own mind. She watched Balem who seem to still for a few minutes his eyes unfocused.

Then all of a sudden he tense in some anger only he was aware of. His fist clenched into a fist.

Trust.

Trust only your mother and your wife, that is what his mother said.

And yet in the end, his own mother betrayed his trust. Used the love a son has for his mother against him knowing he would do what she asked.

Even to the point of heartbreak.

She put this sin on his head and left him to deal with it alone.

It was the first time he had hated his mother.

Sometimes he wondered at his own actions of marrying this girl. He had promised himself he would not allow himself attachments of any kind. And here he was attached once again.

It had started with a spell, worked its way to fascination (the kind he was sure his mother warned him about but he was past the point of listening to her advice at this late date) and now to love.

And yet without trying, Amoya pulled something out of him. It irritated him once he realized what had happened, and yet it fascinated him that she stood so innocently having done the impossible without even meaning to.

And that innocence, as much as his first response was to strangle it, a deeper part was drawn to it, wanted to protect it. He had long ago lost his innocence to a cruel world, there was no reason Amoya had to do so.

Yet the fact he actually cared about, what should have been an insignificant life, to this day still baffled him. She showed him excitement about life that he had forgotten existed. Living as long as he did, the weight of his sin, of betrayal, in particular, made him lose whatever zest he had or would have had for life.

Amoya watched Balem go from tense to sad, then from anger to confusion in the space of minutes. He was still checked out and Amoya was beginning to worry. Gently she reached up and lifted his chin. It was then that he snapped out of it and back to reality. Brown eyes searched hazel as much as hazel searched brown. Amoya sensed he was searching for something, she didn't know what only that she hoped he would find it.

She couldn't tell if he did or not but his eyes left hers and looked her up and down once before he spoke, "She would have liked you."

Amoya gave a brilliant smile before looking back at the water floating lazily around her. Her smile began to disappear, "You are lucky to have known your mother. I sometimes wish I would have known mine. Is she alive? If so, does she think about me? Does she have other children? Is she dead?"

Amoya gave a sad chuckle, "I dunno. I guess it ceased to matter long ago."

Balem's hooded eyes watched her as she spoke, "If you could know for sure, would you?" he asked softly.

Amoya shrugged, "I'm not sure I want to. Part of me does but another part doesn't. If she tossed me away so callously...does she regret it or does she not care? That used to keep me awake at night when I was a child but now...I..."

Amoya shrugged helplessly and trailed off.

A hand came under her chin and her face was turned. Balem ran the back of his hand over her cheek repeatedly, "Perhaps...you should be made to face the truth." he spoke absently.

"What?" Amoya whispered confused.

Balem's eyes came to hers. "You will see eventually." He filed away that thought for later. He would not let his new wife be saddled with such conflicting thoughts when the truth would settle her mind.

The Entitled knew that Amoya may not think so but she was his Queen and wife and such he would do best by her. He would not allow her to carry this weakness any further than strictly necessary.

"Balem..."

Said male snapped out of it. Amoya smiled once, "You checked out on me again. Circling the universe were you?"

Balem's eyes became more hooded as he slowly pulled off the shawl on Amoya's head. Unconsciously, she went to grab it but Balem's warning eyes stilled her hands. He pulled the shawl gently away until it fell off her shoulders.

Amoya shivered once it was gone. She fought the urge to cross her arms against Balem's prying eyes as they slow moved over her. Instead she focused her eyes on a fixed spot which happened to be Balem's golden choker.

She heard the softest of chuckles before an hand settled on her hip against her bare middle. The cold warmth had her instinctively pulling away, the smallest of movements.

"Don't..." came the soft command.

Amoya still but her gaze didn't waver from his golden choker.

"Look at me."

Amoya took a moment but eventually she was able to lift her head. She found she had a hard time staying her eyes on Balem's face as they kept darting around. Balem's other hand came to the other side of her hip before they pulled her closer.

Balem growled, "You are better than this Amoya. Don't back away now."

Amoya turned a glare on Balem. "Watch it."

Balem's eyes flittered in approval but he released her hips but did not step away from her. "Do know you are here as long as you fascinate me. The moment you stop..." he trailed off with a simple shrug.

Amoya's eyes narrowed. She had long ago learned to speak Balemnese, as she dubbed it.

Instead of being hurt, as the case would have been with any other man, what he said made her angry. "You won't play me Balem, let's get that straight. You either care or you don't. You keep me or you drop me. But you won't play me."

Balem's mouth twitched and Amoya thought he was fighting a smile. Instead he replied coolly, "Don't threaten me Amoya or you will reap the consequences."

Amoya shot up and grabbed his choker in a threatening gesture. Brown eyes bore into hazel ones who looked on mildly, "I'm sorry, this is a threat as follows. I may have put up with many things in the course of my life but one thing I promised myself I would not put up with was an unfaithful man. I will not be a repeat of my mother!"

Was Balem's eyes laughing at her?

Amoya snorted and released him, turning her back on him to cross her arms.

Two hands came on her shoulders and pulled her back. The Caribbean girl felt a soft voice next to her ear, "Don't sulk, Amoya. It's unbecoming."

"Then stop irritating me."

Amoya was turned around and she glared up at Balem who looked down at her with a small smirk, "Once you stop irritating me."

"Oh please. I'm a perfect angel!" Amoya stated flippantly and dramatically.

A small chuckle escaped Balem's lip.

"Was that a laugh?"

Balem's face went straight and he glared at her.

"Oh it was! You can laugh." Amoya smiled.

"Shut up, woman."

"You gonna do something to make me?" was the smart reply.

It was both the wrong and right reply as it earned her a soft kiss. She gasped softly in the kiss, as Balem pulled her closer to him. When they broke for air, Amoya tried to fight the heat rising in her cheeks. A finger tipped her head up and hazel eyes bore into her, his other hand grasping her hand.

Amoya found herself captivated by his eyes as he pulled her into the room. When he stopped, he reached both hands up to rest on her shoulders, looking down at her. There was a brief moment before he slowly reached behind her neck and unhooked her golden choker.

Her crown.

He turned and laid it on a dresser.

All the while he moved slowly, deliberately.

He straightened and reached down and grabbed her wrists. Still Amoya stared up at him, unable to tear her gaze away. Balem raised her hands to placed them on his shoulder, gently touching his own choker.

It took Amoya a moment, but wordlessly, she slowly moved her hands behind his head. She couldn't help but flex her fingers in his hair before sliding down behind his golden choker, his crown, to unhook it. Just as Balem did, Amoya slowly turned and laid his golden choker on the dresser next to hers.

When she turned back to her new husband, there was a small smile on his face. Amoya was pleasantly surprised to see such open-ness on his face. It was something that she had not seen on his face before and marveled at it. She reached up, running her fingers over the contours of his face.

And then Amoya remembered nothing and everything at once. She thought she knew her body but that night she realized that she knew nothing. The stars whirled overhead as she soared among them. Amoya felt the universe still and then shatter completely becoming nothing but dust.

Until that very dust, began to piece itself together once more and Amoya felt the universe start up again.

TBC...