-If absolutely must read the disclaimer, it is in chapter 1 & 2

- Review, reviews, reviews, the more you do, the better I do.

Chapter 12

Six months later

"Do you think they're coming?" Ned asked.

"We'll find out"

On the other side of the door, Marguerite and Veronica prepared to make their entrance. After giving birth to their children six weeks ago, the physician gave them both a clean bill of health and happily informed them that they could move beyond the confines of their suites.

It seemed coincidence that hours after Marguerite began her labor, Veronica began hers. With her uncle by her side, Marguerite delivered on her promise, a healthy baby boy. Named his Royal Highness, Prince William Henri Arthur III, the boy was equal parts his mother and father.

Hours later, a similar scream came from Veronica's room.

"You can do it, Veronica" Thomas coached his daughter as Abigail used the birthing techniques taught to the protectors for many generations.

"It's a girl" Abigail's joy was obvious as she passed her newborn granddaughter to the assistant behind her. The legacy of the protector would live on.

"And a boy" with a final scream, Veronica pushed her son into the world.

Named Her Royal Highness, Princess Aundrea Abigail Margaret and His Royal Highness, Prince James Thomas William, Ned and Veronica's children were welcomed as warmly as their cousin.

After checking on their children and leaving instructions with the wet nurses, they stood at the doors to the ballroom.

"Their royal highnesses, Queen Marguerite and Princess Veronica" the crowd bowed as they made their way to their seats.

"Majesties, I hope I am not the first to congratulate you on the birth of your children" Lord Calderon, Ambassador of Elevyn, along with his daughters Elena and Jenna, approached the throne.

"Thank you my lord, you are far from the first" Veronica smiled, ignoring the fact that the ambassador's daughters were openly flirting with her husband and brother in law.

As the orchestra played, Marguerite and Veronica joined their husbands on the dance floor.

Hours later, the palace was quiet and the ballroom, packed hours before, was empty.

"Majesties, I bid you a good evening" George, with his coat on, bowed and walked out.

As soon as he was out of sight, Marguerite and Veronica yanked their hands from their husbands.

"Did you notice, Marguerite, how pretty the ambassador's daughters were?" Veronica asked.

"It's too bad there young, every royal needs a slut once in a while" the doors to their suites slammed behind them, the silence echoing throughout the halls.

The brothers looked at one another with frustration. In public, Marguerite and Veronica had what every woman in the kingdom wished for; married to the royal brothers and mothers of the heirs to the royal line. But when the doors to were closed, that was a different story. Although the children were born without complications, their anger simmered still beneath the surface.

"John, I didn't see you there" before going to bed, Marguerite stepped in to check on her son, not knowing that John stood over Will's crib.

"You looked beautiful tonight".

"Not tonight" he started to reach for her, but she pulled away, again. Watching her walk away, he wondered where the woman he fell in love had gone to.

"Thank you for coming tonight" Ned stammered out, not sure what to talk to Veronica about. Like his brother, he found his relationship with Veronica died the moment the vows were complete.

"Did you honestly believe I would stay up here while you had all the fun?" she asked icily.

"I noticed your parents weren't there" he searched for something to talk to her about.

"My father threw his back out" she replied with the same tone.

"I hope he feels better" Ned walked out, feeling dismayed.

The brothers faced each other in the hall, sharing the same expression. Maybe one day they would actually live happily ever after.

"Marguerite, how are you?" Abigail entered the nursery a few days later.

"I'm fine" .

"You have a fine son; he must make you and John proud".

"He does" there was no hiding the sadness on her face.

"Mother, what are you doing here?" Veronica walked in, with the nurse and her children.

"I've been spending so much time with your father that I needed to get out" she kissed her daughter lightly on the cheek before reaching for her grandchildren.

"If excuse me, I think he needs his nap" Marguerite left mother and daughter alone.

"Abigail, there you are. I was going to send over our family physician" the tension between Ned and Veronica was palpable as he walked in.

"Thank you Ned, that's not necessary, he should be out of bed in a day or two" Veronica remained silent and her eyes turned down.

"If you excuse me, I have something to attend to" Ned walked out, not looking at Veronica.

"You know that he didn't sign that order" Abigail knew well of the troubles between her daughter and son-in-law.

"I still hear their voices in my head…".

"You must forgive him, Veronica, not only for your children, but for yourself".

"I can't".

"I know you love him, tell him so" Abigail left, hoping that her daughter could finally be happy.

Hours later, Veronica knocked on Marguerite's door.

"When did you know you loved John?".

"When I knew we connected" she smiled for a moment, remembering the butterflies in her stomach when she realized how much she loved him.

"When did you know you loved Ned?"

"When he kept coming back, knowing how dangerous it was" Veronica also smiled, remembering the man who despite the obstacles and no knowledge of who she was, won her over.

The women looked at each other, realizing that they could no longer hate their husbands.

A few days later, Veronica saw her chance. Lord Calderon was finishing up his business with the council. With the council meeting breaking for an hour, Ned took his children for a walk in the garden. While Jamie was content to stay in the carriage, Aundrea, nicknamed Andy for her outgoing nature, lay happily in her father's arms.

"Majesty, you have beautiful children" Jenna approached him slyly.

"Thank you, milady, I'd like to think so" Andy happily giggled.

"Ned, there you are" hiding her nerves, Veronica walked up to them.

"Princess" Jenna bowed.

Responding with a polite smile, Veronica turned back to her husband.

"If you excuse me, its time for their nap" she started to wheel the carriage away.

"Ned, one more thing" she kissed him gently.

Not looking at his face, she walked away, wiping away the tears.

"Excuse me" he ran after her.

"Veronica?" he knocked on the nursery door.

"I wonder what your children will look like?" she asked

"Whose children?".

"Yours and hers".

"I have only two children, with you and I want more, only with you" he replied.

"Why were you flirting with her?" she faced him, fighting off tears.

"You can't fault me for wanting female company, we rarely talk or spend time together and when we do, it's not the way we should be together".

"I'm sorry" she cried on his shoulder.

"No, I'm sorry" he kissed her and she kissed him back, months of separation and pain disappearing in an instant.

As Ned and Veronica were making up, John was talking to Lord Calderon and Elena, who was eagerly asking John about his country.

"I apologize, majesty, my daughter is far too bold".

"I have learned, my lord, that a strong woman is an asset, you should be proud of your daughter's nature".

"Thank you, majesty" Elena's face turned bright red.

"John, can I talk to you for a minute?" Marguerite appeared in the hallway.

"Your Highness" the lord and his daughter bowed.

"Excuse me" they disappeared into an empty corridor.

"What?" he asked shocked that she was not barking at him or pushing him away.

Unsure what to say to him, she kissed him with everything she had and walked away.

"I wonder sometimes what they might think of Will" she heard his footsteps as he entered the room.

"Who, love?" Will shifted his head to her shoulder to comfort her, already knowledgeable of his mother's many moods.

"Our parents".

"I believe they would adore him and any other children we may have. I also believe that they knew what they were doing when they betrothed us" at the sight of his father, Will cooed and reached for John, who took him from his mother's arms.

"What would have happened if they hadn't betrothed us and we just happened to meet?" for the first time in months, he saw the real Marguerite, the woman who stole his heart and had yet to return it.

"I believe we were destined to be together, with or without our parent's decision".

"I'm sorry, I was scared, you're my husband, I have no right to deny you…" everything that she held in was let out in a fury of tears.

"You and I were meant to be and no one can ever change that fact" they kissed for the first time in months and as they leaned into one another, they finally felt like they were a real family.

Two days later, after Lord Calderon and his daughters started on their journey home, the children were packed up to Tom and Abigail's for a few days as their parents went their separate ways to celebrate their marriages the way they should have been celebrated months ago.

As the sun rose the next morning, it seemed like the whole world was smiling and they could finally live happily ever after.

There, done, finally, it's over. I feel sated, how about you? Now can I have a review, please?