CHAPTER 24
Six Years Eleven Months and Three Weeks Later…
A 24 year-old tawny haired woman was standing near a tombstone with a bouquet of fresh flowers laid beside it. Her tawny mane was done in a neat bun with few loose strands left hanging on each side of her face. She was wearing a velvet red pencil skirt matched with a business suit of the same shade. A pair of high heeled shoes was worn on her feet. Her crimson orbs were looking at the name engraved on the gravestone.
Beside her was a four year-old tawny haired little girl. Her tawny mane was left freely flowing down her little shoulder. Hairpins were keeping her short bangs in place. She was wearing a cream colored dress with red ribbon around her small waist. A red little boots were on her feet. Her emerald orbs were looking at the gravestone before flicking to the tawny haired woman to her left and back to the gravestone again. A wondering look crossing her innocent feature as she blinked her curious emerald orbs.
A few feet away from them, a black Cadillac Escalade ESV car pulled over. The driver seat opened and a raven haired man came out. He went around the car to open the passenger's seat. A raven haired little boy came out and he closed the door. He ruffled the little boy's raven mane as he led him towards the two figures near the gravestone.
The tawny haired little girl snapped her head to her right upon hearing the familiar engine stopping.
"Papa!" the tawny haired little girl called as she rushed to the raven haired man.
"Hello, my princess." The raven haired man greeted as he lifted the tawny haired little girl with his strong arms and kissed her puffy cheek.
"Natsuki." The tawny haired woman uttered upon looking at the additional occupants.
"Mama!" A raven haired four year-old little boy with crimson orbs greeted the tawny haired woman. Stopping a few steps away from her.
"Ara, what is my little Natsuki doing there? Is he not going to give his Mama a kiss?" the tawny haired woman asked looking at the raven haired little boy who was just staring at her with his crimson orbs.
The raven haired little boy started striding forward with his short little legs towards the tawny haired woman who bent down to his level as he came nearer.
"Yes, Mama." The raven haired little boy said as he kissed the tawny haired woman on the cheek.
"Ara, my little Natsuki is such an obedient child, is he not?" the tawny haired woman asked as she caressed the raven mane of the little boy and looking at his crimson orbs.
"Sorry for being late, dear. I got stuck in an emergency case." The raven haired man apologized as he approached the tawny haired woman and kissed her on the lips, the little girl still in his arms.
"Ara, there is no need for apology, dear. I completely understand." The tawny haired woman said, smiling at the raven haired man.
"Come, my boy. Let's greet your uncle." The raven haired man urged the little boy.
"Yes, Papa." The raven haired little boy agreed as he started walking towards the gravestone following the raven haired man.
They were now facing the gravestone, their eyes focused on the encryption. The raven haired little boy wrapped his little fingers around his mother's right hand while the tawny haired little girl wrapped her little fingers around her father's left hand.
"Happy birthday, bro." the raven haired man said looking down at the gravestone.
"Natty, you have the same name with uncle." The tawny haired little girl announced, looking at the raven haired little boy to her left.
"You can read, Nathalie?" the raven haired man asked looking down at the tawny haired little girl who was now standing to his left.
"Yes, Papa. Natty, too! Natty taught me." The tawny haired little girl beamed, flashing her toothy smile to the raven haired man as she looked at him with.
"Wow. That's great." The raven haired man said looking at the tawny haired little girl and the raven haired little boy.
"Ara, my little Natsuki did not tell mama. Mama is hurt." The tawny haired woman said, feigning hurt as she casted her crimson orbs to the little boy whose crimson orbs were focused on the encryption on the gravestone.
"Mama, don't cry. I want to tell it to you and Papa. But you two are always busy." The raven haired little boy said facing the tawny haired woman.
"Ara, Mama always has time for her little Natsuki and her princess Nathalie." The tawny haired woman said looking at the raven haired little boy.
"Yes, my boy. Papa and Mama always have time for you and princess. In fact we will go on a one month vacation. How does that sound, my boy?" the raven haired man said, grinning at the little boy.
"That's great! Thank you, Papa!" the raven haired little boy beamed.
"Now, greet your uncle." The raven haired man said turning his attention back to the gravestone.
The fraternal twins looked at each other then, nodded before turning their attention to the gravestone.
"Happy birthday, Uncle Natsuki!" the twins greeted in unison.
"Mama, how did Uncle Natsuki look like?" the tawny haired little girl asked, looking at the tawny haired woman.
"Ara, Uncle Natsuki looked like Papa, my princess. He was Papa's twin brother." The tawny haired woman answered looking at the little girl.
"I wish he is alive, Papa. He can teach me piano. Aunt Alyssa told me uncle played piano. I want to be cool like him." the raven haired little boy said looking at the gravestone.
"Your Uncle Natsuki can do almost everything, my boy." The raven haired man said looking at the little boy.
"but he failed to stay alive for her. His Shizuru…" the raven haired man added in his thought as he glanced at the tawny haired woman.
"Papa can play violin! Papa saves life." the tawny haired little girl chirped.
"Yeah. But Papa failed in saving uncle for Mama." The raven haired man thought bitterly.
"Well, I think we should go now." The raven haired man announced.
"Bye, bro." the raven haired man said in his mind as he regarded the gravestone one last time.
"Ara, I think we forgot something, did we not my little twins?" the tawny haired woman asked looking at the twins.
The fraternal twins looked at their mother before looking at each other and a knowing smile crossed their sweet little faces. Each held their mother's hand and faced their father.
"What it is dear?" the raven haired man asked looking at his family, curiosity apparent on his face.
"HAPPY BIRTHDAY, PAPA!" the twins greeted in unison with their mother.
"Thank you, dear, my twins. Now, where's Papa's hug?" the raven haired man said as he kneeled down and spread his arms wide.
The twins rushed to him and he enveloped them in a long hug. He let go of them and straightened up after giving each a kiss on the cheek. The twins distanced themselves from their father when they noticed their mother approaching him.
"Happy birthday, dear." The tawny haired woman greeted before capturing his lips in a passionate kiss.
"Thank you, dear." The raven haired man replied when the kiss broke, smiling at the tawny haired woman.
"Papa, Mama. Let's go!" the twins chirped in unison.
The raven haired man held the tawny haired woman's hand and intertwined their fingers. The tawny haired woman smiled at him which he graced with his own. The tawny haired little girl held her father's left hand while the raven haired little boy held his mother's right hand. The fraternal twins were swinging their short hands as they walked towards the black Cadillac Escalade ESV car that was waiting for them.
Natsuki's conversation with Shizuru at Chapter 7.
"Romeo and Juliet became known for its tragic ending, Natsuki. Changing its ending for a happy one will be like writing another fairytale. The demise that fell upon the two lovers was the plot that distinguished it from other stories. It was what made the story remarkable."
…..
"I just think that Lady Juliet should have lived. She was like what? Thirteen turning fourteen? She had a good life ahead of her. Who knows that Paris, her fiancé, might be a good man after all? All I'm saying is, if I were Romeo I'd rather see Juliet living her life happily than turned her into a cold corpse and be with me. And there was no assurance that they will actually be together."
"Ara, so, Natsuki let Lady Juliet lived with a heart burdened with despair?"
"Time heals things, Shizuru."
"Perhaps…"
THE END!