Alrighty, final chapter.

Chapter Four: Right Here in My Arms

As they continued walking through the island, they picked fruits for dinner and dessert. Ro would explain the different ways they'd prepare them: grilled, stewed, teas. She enjoyed seeing Antonio's face brighten with curiosity the more stories she shared about their different pie concoctions over the years. She didn't even realize they made that many. Ro preferred banana pie but grilled pineapple was a close second, so that's what they prepared for their guest.

They talked so much. Ro and the animals shared stories about the island while Antonio recounted his adventures across the South Seas. There wasn't a silent moment until Azul, Tika, and Sagi started curling into themselves and snoozed, the fire flickered, and the sunset. They lost track of time bouncing off each other with their words and their laughs.

"Can I ask you something?" Ro says.

She scoots closer to Antonio beside the dying fire. Their only light sources left were the flickering embers, the stars littered in the sky, the full moon above their heads, and fireflies that bobbed around.

"So there's one thing I remember about where I come from," Ro continues. "It's a song. I forget a whole verse in the middle but I was wondering if maybe you recognize it? Maybe you know the missing part?"

"Could be an anthem," Antonio suggests, "or even a folk tale or fable. How does it go?"

Ro holds her knees to her chest as she looks up to the sky and starts to sing. Her angelic voice fills the island, harmonizing with the chirping crickets and matching the flight of the fireflies.

Antonio doesn't recognize the song but he notices the message in the lyrics about being reunited with a loved one; the eternal love still present despite being apart. No wonder it's all she remembers from home.

He misses his family. He knows they're worried sick, even more so that he's the heir. But if they never find him and he's stuck here, then what? Everyone back home will mourn and the kingdom will go to his sisters. He'll never watch them grow up to be wonderful and elegant princesses.

Antonio hasn't lost hope but he knows he'll manage here. Ro has.

And this is the life he's always wanted. It's why he explores and goes on adventures. It's not that he doesn't like his royal life and princely responsibilities, but it was so constraining. He's free out here and on the sea. He'd forget he was the Prince of Apollonia. It's life-changing to realize that the most beautiful moment is when people learn they could live without certain things, like his royal life, that maybe he never needed it. Sometimes, inspiration strikes but other times, he has to get it himself. Or wash upon it.

" … Antonio?"

Antonio didn't notice he got lost in his thoughts and Ro finished her song, waiting for his input. He recalls her humming in the middle of the words, assuming that's the section she forgot.

"I'm sorry, I don't recognize it," he whispers, "but it's a beautiful song. It sounds more like a lullaby than an anthem or proclamation."

Ro nods, expectant. "I figured. I always sing it when Tika's distressed during the night. Is there something on your mind?"

Antonio looks at her for a moment longer and sighs. "I don't talk much at home about my thoughts and feelings but I've wanted to. I've always wanted to say what's on my mind but - I don't know. People wouldn't like it."

"I know the feeling. It's weird to realize that you might've started outgrowing a thing that might've been your whole life."

"Yes!" Antonio exclaims but not loud enough that it'll wake the island. "Especially if you're not sure what else to do with yourself."

"Exactly!" Ro beams. "It's not that I'm getting tired of the island because I'm not. I don't think I ever could. It's just that ever since you came here, I've been wanting to know things about myself - where I came from, who I came from, how I got here, everything. I want to know. I need to know."

Antonio reaches out for her hand. He doesn't grab it but sees her look down at his gesture. Slowly, she accepts and he squeezes, holding their intertwined hands up to the small space between their faces.

"I will help you, Ro," Antonio whispers into their hands, "I promise. If a ship from my kingdom comes here to bring me home, I'll bring you along. We'll search every town and kingdom for your family. If nothing comes up or you don't like who you find, then I'll bring you back here."

Ro's lips part. Her grip on Antonio's hands tightens a little. He can tell by the way she broke eye contact with him that she's weighing her options.

"So, what do you think?" Antonio asks. "Coming with me?"

Through the dim moonlight, he sees her faint but wistful smile.

Thank you to everyone who read this story! Please let me know what you thought in the reviews. If you have a story idea for me to write or a story for me to beta, don't be scared to ask.

~ MysteryGal5