Hi everyone! I am sorry that this chapter is so late! This week I had a headache for four straight days and I ended up having to go to the doctor about it... It turns out that I was completely over-stressed, so that was a thing. But that wasn't the reason that I wasn't uploading. I had a ton of homework and I got some really cool ideas for the sequel so l started to plan that out a little bit as well. There will still be two chapters tomorrow, but I thought that I should upload this one tonight. So! Without further ado, here is Chapter 36!

Goodbye. It's a hard thing to say, especially to someone that you love. I don't understand how other people can say goodbye to their friends and just move on. To me, I only see my friends once a year maybe two times at most. Their constant companionship is what makes my life so much better. The thought that they will one day rule beside me as my allies means the world to me.

But saying goodbye is always the hardest part.

"Madelyn!" I exclaim, "I hope everything goes well with you and Christian, I am excited to have an invite to the wedding!"

She smiles and says, "Thanks Emma, I can promise that you'll be a bridesmaid."

I can feel myself tearing up, "Awe, you know that you'll be one of mine too."

We hug and when we pull away Madelyn gives me a tissue, "Hey, no chick flick moment, Emma. We'll see each-other sooner than you think." She winks and walks away towards her plane.

I walk back to the guards and they lead me over to Olivia's plane.

"Emma, darling!" Olivia says as she wraps me in a hug.

I smile and say, "I'm going to miss you so much."

She laughs, "I will miss you too! Xavier was so excited to play tennis this trip with Alex."

I chuckle, "We better keep an eye on those two."

She nods and says, "I hope you have a safe flight home, and I will call you when my schedule allows."

I nod, "Thanks Oliva, and even if it's three in the morning, I promise that I'll answer."

She laughs as she walks away.

The guards lead me to my plane where the rest of my friends are waiting.

"Emma, come here!" Sabeena says.

I walk briskly over to her and she says, "I am so going to miss you. Alex is such a perfect match for you and I really hope that you guys will be happy."

I hug her and say, "Thanks, Sabeena. I am really going to miss you."

She laughs, "I am going to miss you so much, Emma. Don't hesitate to call ok?"

I nod and say, "I promise."

She walks away, back to her family as Cassandra says goodbye to me.

"Emma, I can't wait to see you and Alex get married!" she says.

I smile, "Thanks Cassandra! When Sheldon pops the question, I better be the first one that you call!"

She laughs, "Who else would I call first?"

We hug and she walks away. Carolena comes over and her eyes are filled with tears.

"Carolena, what's wrong?" I ask, worried.

She shakes her head, "I'm just going to miss everyone so much, I don't know. It's going to be so lonely in the palace…" she trails off.

I say, "Hey, don't think about that. Think about how you can literally jump on your plane and come visit any of us at any time."

She chuckles, "Yeah, I guess so. So you'll answer the phone if I call?"

I laugh, "Carolena, you should know that I would answer the phone at any time or any place."

She laughs and hugs me, "Thank you for being my best friend, Emma. You have no idea how much you're friendship means to me."

I squeeze her tighter, "You're my best friend too; you mean so much to me. It's not that hard to be a good best friend when your friend is like your sister."

We hug for another minute until one of the guards comes up to me and says that I have to board.

Carolena wipes her eyes one more time, "Bye, Emma. Call me when you're home, ok?"

"Of course," I say as I turn to walk in the plane.

I start toward the steps that lead up in plane, thinking about how much fun this summit was. I can't wait until next year. As I ascend the steps, I look into the sky and I can see that it looks like cotton candy. Pink and blue hues are painted across the horizon and the clouds look like angel hair and ice cream castles dancing in the wind. I take a deep breath of Italian air and I walk into the plane.

I take my seat next to Alex and I snuggle into his side, looking out the window. He always let me have the window seat because I get so fascinated with the clouds and if he sat there, I would constantly be making him sit back so I could look out the window.

The plane takes off and he kisses the top of my head, "How was the summit, baby?"

I say, "Amazing, wonderful, absolutely magical. But you made it so much better." I look up into his blue eyes and I smile at him, my gorgeous fiancé.

He put his arm around me and says, "Can I borrow a kiss? I promise I'll give it back."

I chuckle, "of course."

As I lean up toward him and I realize that there a moment that happens before the kiss does. A moment when your lips are anticipating the touch of another's; when the world slows down. You feel so entranced that you never notice it but it is still there. When my lips touch Alex's I feels a warmth spread throughout my insides that would melt any iciness or cold in my body. This is the feeling I crave, his love and affection that matches my own for him. When we break apart I realized that the anticipation of the kiss isn't the beginning, the beginning is the moment after. When you realize that there are more kisses to be had.

I sit back into the crook of his waist and he leans his chin on the top of my head. We stare out into the painted night sky as the plane drifts off on its course to Illea.

I stand in front of the door. I haven't been here for a while because all it does is bring back memories of a time when I was confused. I raise my hand to knock but I put it back down. I contemplate knocking and I finally decide to knock.

Knock knock.

"One minute," the voice on the other side of the door calls.

The door swings open and I am met with stunning green eyes.

"Emma," he breathes.

I smile, "Christopher!"

He hugs me and says, "What are you doing here?"

I chuckle, "Can I come in?"

He nods, "Yeah, definitely."

I walk into his little apartment and I sit on his couch. He closes the door and sits on the chair opposite the sofa.

"So, you're probably wondering why I'm here." I say slowly.

He nods, "The thought has crossed my mind, it's not that I don't like seeing you, it's just that this was a bit random."

I laugh, "I had a favor to ask of you."

He looks at me confused and says, "Elaborate?"

I nod, "So you know that I got shot," He nods, "Well I think that I know someone who can find out who shot me."

His eyes grow wide and he says, "Who? This is a huge breakthrough."

I look into his eyes sternly and say, "You're dad."

He looks shocked and he doesn't say anything for a while. I sit back on the couch and let him contemplate the request.

He says, "Emma, I don't think that Dad ever wanted to come back to the palace."

"Not to help his god-daughter?"

He chuckles, "You know, when he heard that you were shot, he called me right away to make sure that you were ok. I hope you know, Emma, that my parent care about you so much."

A thought clicks in my mind, "Christopher, why did you decide to be a guard."

He looks down and says, "I grew up with my parents telling me that I was your god-brother. So to me, it meant that I was supposed to look after you. I would watch the report all the time, I personally felt responsible for your well-being. When I was a bit older I heard about the palace guard and I decided that when I was old enough, I would enlist because I thought that I could protect you." He takes a deep breath, "When I was old enough to enlist, I did. It was what I wanted to do. I got to the palace and I felt like I was making a difference. I could protect you like a guardian should. When I met you, Emma, I fell for you instantly. You just have this personality that no one can hate; it's like no one can ever say that they hate you because it would be like saying they hate all things good in the world. As we got closer, I realized that I was letting go of the real reason that I came here: to protect you." He chuckles, "I guess I did a really crappy job then, because of your accident and everything."

I shake my head and touch his arm, "Christopher, no one blames you for that. Please understand that it wasn't your fault."

He nods, "Anyways, when you got hurt, I distances myself from you so that I could focus on the reason I came here. I met Carissa and she was so sweet and nice, but I realized that she only liked me because she wanted to get the latest gossip on you."

I perked up, "I knew it! I knew that she was a no good lying –"

"Emma, its fine. I'm happy now. I found someone else." He says.

I look at him confused, "Who is she?" I ask extremely interested.

He blushes, "It's not a she…" He trails off.

"He?" I ask.

"His name is Cade Ithican and he is another guard at the palace." He says looking at the floor.

I smile, "Christopher, I am so happy for you!"

He looks up at me confused, "Really? You still want to associate with me now that you know that I'm gay?"

I laugh, "Who do you think I am, Christopher? I'm not to judge, I think that love is love. Also, I'm like your God-sister so you couldn't make me un-associate with you entirely."

He chuckles, "Thanks Emma. You always know how to brighten the mood."

I smile. "I've been told that I have such a great personality, it makes it natural."

At this he burst into laughter, "Ok, I'll give you my phone so that you can call Dad. He's more likely to pick up if it's on my phone instead of the palace phone."

He walks over to his room and rummages around his room for a minute until the door opens and he walks back into the living area.

He hands me the phone, "It's already dialing so it should ring in a second. Usually Mom answers the phone so you'll have to ask for Dad."

I nod as the phone starts ringing and I can feel my heart start to pound. I have never talked to these people in my life, but they care so much about me. It seems like of weird that I am calling them under these circumstances.

"Christopher!" a female voice says.

"Hi," I say, "Is this Lucy Leger?"

She waits on the other end of the phone, "Who is asking and why do you have my son's phone?"

"I'm sorry but he gave it to me," I say apologetically, "This is Emmalina Schreave."

"Emma?" She says, almost in tears, "Is that really you?"

I smile and say, "Yeah, I was wondering if I could talk to Aspen?"

"Oh of course, honey. Let me get him." She says sweetly.

"Don't tell him who I am though, please." I ask.

"Sure thing."

I wait on the line until I hear Lucy's muffled voice in my ear, "Aspen, honey, there is someone one the phone for you."

I can hear the sound as they're transferring the phone and then a deep male voice says, "This is Aspen Ledger."

I take a deep breath and say, "Uncle Aspen. It's me, Emmalina Schreave."

Soooo, how did you like it? What did you guys think about Christopher? Their relationship was totally brother-sister like in the beginning even though it seemed romantic at first but I never intended it to be that way! So anyways, we are going to be seeing more of Aspen! Did any of you guys think that Aspen was going to be the one that Emma called on? Haha, ok here are some reviews!

Roses323- I wanted to give some sort of background to Aspen and him being Emma's god father before I dropped the Christopher bomb on your guys, haha! I'm glad that you liked it!

XOStarbrightXO- Thank you so much for reviewing! I was laughing so hard when I made the "Tiler Swift" Album name, haha! Lucas was such a fun character to write! I am so glad that you liked Alex in the end!

Deeptha13- Thank you so much for reviewing! I am a huge Taylor Swift fan so I had to throw that reference in there :)

Thank you guys so much for being patient with the chapters because I have been in school!

Read, Review, Favorite, Follow, Fangirl, and ill see you tomorrow!

Happy Reading,

xoxo, Rosie

Question- What is your favorite quote?

Answer- "Don't let anyone look down on you because you are young. Instead, set an example for the believers through your speech, behavior, love, faith, and purity." 1 Timothy 4:12 -The Bible