A/N: Alright, final installment. Thanks to everybody again for sticking with me and I'm already working on something else, so we'll see how that goes. Take care and all the best! catalinaD
Martin and Katryn had three children, two boys and a little girl who had her mother's eyes and her father's affectionate nature. These three ended up being the link between Mia and Katryn. The princess loved her step-siblings and though the open hostility she had for her father's new wife waned, it took some time. Katryn was more understanding about this than Martin and it was the Elf that kept the Emperor from pushing his daughter. She had known from day one that Mia would remain fiercely loyal to the mother she barely remembered and as far as the Elf was concerned, the girl would have to approach her first. Mia, fully prepared to have to fend off an overbearing stepmother, was surprised when Katryn kept her distance and treated her with the respect that a princess deserved. This and the fact that Katryn was never overtly affectionate with Martin in front of others allowed for a grudging respect to grow within Mia. She would never love Katryn, never form the relationship that Martin had hoped might evolve as the years passed, but that respect was unmarred and mutual and it worked well for both women.
Gozrak was on the verge of following his ward to the City until she reassured him that she had no intention of selling the little cottage on the beach. He had teased her, unthinkingly, about keeping her place of retreat and when he realized what he was saying, started kicking himself. Katryn remained unmoved and instead smiled at him with a twinkle in her eyes that he had not seen for years. She promised that if she did have to retreat again, she wasn't going to be retreating alone and they left it at that. Not that both Marna and Katryn didn't quickly grow exasperated with his constant trips to the City 'just to make sure'. But seeing as Martin rather liked the Orc's protectiveness; shared it as well, and Katryn didn't have to heart to tell him to stop, they got to spend a lot of time with Hlara and she grew up practically another sibling to Martin and Katryn's children.
Deryl found that his life was greatly affected by his little 'hero' and if any of the nobles of the Great Houses noticed that their new Nerevar made more trips to the Imperial City than necessary, they remained quiet about it. Whatever the Nord happened to be doing, it was working well. Morrowind flourished under the Nerevarine's influence and though the decision to give the Ashlanders jurisdiction of the land that had been their ancestors' years before was met in the Houses with arched brows and murmurs of disbelief, it was very effective and, politically, a brilliant move. The people of Morrowind were in awe of the ancestors and the Dunmer tribes and with Deryl taking the chance and giving a little of their power back, he was suddenly quite popular. He still had… questionable trysts with more than one of the noble women he came in contact with, but he was improving. He happily gave all credit to Katryn and still lamented the fact that he never had a chance with her. This made Martin look at him rather sharply while the Elf rolled her eyes and was given the chance to go through her alphabet with new names so many times everyone lost count. Eventually, though, the visits began to lessen and soon, there was another wedding. Deryl married a quiet, steady woman: an Altmer with pale brown eyes whose glow had deepened with kindness and a serenity that the Nord needed.
Martin and Katryn's wedding ceremony, which took place in late spring, was quite small and very private and when Baurus took the initiative and asked why they planned it this way, Martin was the one to answer. He told his general that he would have been happy with just the two of them and he gave Katryn such a look that she flushed pale blue which amused Baurus to no end. He had always loved to see her flustered and Martin knew exactly where to push.
"He is becoming unbearably smug," The Elf muttered to Martin, leaning back against him.
He closed his eyes, pressing his cheek to her hair and inhaling what was distinctly his Elf. They were on their honeymoon, (how he loved that thought!) and sitting on the shore, watching as the sun melted into the sea. It was one of the few perfect moments in Martin's life and while at any other time he might have been annoyed at Katryn for talking about Baurus, right now, with her in his arms, he couldn't help but be happy.
"Well, he hasn't had you to keep him in check," He replied and shifted so his mouth was against her pointed ear. His voice had dipped into a huskiness that was unmistakable, "Matti has had a hard time of it on her own."
Katryn's breath hitched in her throat and now it was she who wondered why the hell she had decided to bring up Baurus at a time like this.
"I will see to that as soon as we get back," She said and was turning so she could wrap her arms around his neck.
"Going back?" He repeated and laughed thickly, his hands tightening on her when she made a small sound as his lips brushed the pulse hammering in her neck, "Why?"
"I kept this place for a reason," She whispered, holding him at bay when he tried to kiss her. His blue eyes were stormy with passion, "And you have readily discovered it."
He grinned and his eyes crinkled at the corners. He wanted to sweep her into his arms, crush her to his chest and stay on the beach forever but it wouldn't do for some unsuspecting soul to come across the Emperor and his new wife in a less than… public embrace. Martin was on his feet, pulling her with him and starting down the path to the cottage again before Katryn could blink.
"Let's take another tour of the place," He said with another smile tossed over his shoulder at her. A smile that sent her heart racing and a pleasant flush to creep across her face, making her eyes smoulder, "And this time, let's start with the bedroom."