A/N: Okay by request, I went back and finally got off my lazy tail and made the christmas tree scene! I looked and looked and the only place I found room to put it was part 4 chapters 149-150. I modified 150-151 by cutting 150 in half and putting half of it in 151. I did a small modification on 180 but nothing major, just one small paragraph.
After Diana finished they decided to exchange presents.
Maura gave Jasmine hers.
She opened it to find a gold bracelet that with a red emerald gem. "Oh, Maura, its beautiful. I love it thank you." Jasmine said.
Maura smiled, "I'm happy you like it. It took me forever to find the perfect thing." Then she handed Diana hers. She opened it to find a gold bracelet just like Jasmine's. But hers had a blue-green emerald gem.
"Oh, Maura. It's beautiful. It connects us."
Maura smiled even brighter. "Yeah I wasn't sure what to get at first but then I saw those."
Jasmine handed Maura hers. She opened it and gasped. "I guess we were in sync." It was a gold bracelet almost exactly like the one she gave to her sisters but her gem was a light blue.
Diana handed Maura her first gift. Maura opened it and found a small gold heart shaped locket. She gasped when she opened it. For inside the locket it had a picture of their parents; Maura was speechless, she hugged her sister.
Maura then sat up, wiped away her tears and handed Jasmine her next present.
Jasmine opened it to find an 8-sided faceted or octagon shaped perfume bottle. It was small and you pour just a small amount of perfume in it. Then when you lift the lid you can easily just use the bottom of the lid to lightly dab a small amount of perfume on each side of your neck. It was a clear crystal. Jasmine smiled and said, "Thank you, I love it."
Maura gave Diana hers. She opened it and was surprised to find the same type of perfume bottle that Maura had given to Jasmine, but her crystal had a light tint of blue to it.
Diana smiled, "I love it, thank you." Then handed her, her next one. She opened to find a beautiful silk white gown with gold details.
"Sorry to say little sister, but you'll have to wait until you grow up and out some before you can wear it." Jasmine teased.
Maura did love it. But she still glared at her sister for that comment.
"Our mother wore that at her coming out party. Now as you know we go through it at age 6; there prospective parents or prince's may chose us. But mother wore this at hers. She was 16. Her country of Avalbane, your coming out party is at 16 and most find their husbands there. She found dad there and married him six-months later." Diana explained.
"Avalbane?" Maura questioned. It'd been the first she'd hear of her mothers coming from another country. But then again now that she thought about it she never really knew much about her mother.
"Yes, it means White Orchard." Diana said.
Jasmine handed Maura her next gift. "This one is special. It's been passed down to every princess to wear."
Maura opened it to find a small gold crown with diamonds.
"You could wear it now, but it'll probably be a little big. But its important it is given to you at your coming out ceremony, when you turn 12. This is when your husband is suppose to officially crown you as his bride and princess or queen depending on the grooms status."
"I still don't understand. Why do we have to be married so young? I mean I barely even like boys yet." Maura said.
"I bet you like the kings brother though, don't ya?" Jasmine teased.
Maura really glared at her for that comment. "Just what is that suppose to mean?"
"Hey, it's all right. I'm happy my little sister has found a nice boy her own age to marry."
"You mean, Mokuba? Jasmine he is my 'little brother' nothing more! Do I love him? Yes, I do. But not the way you're implying. I love him as I do you and Diana and Yami. Even Seto." 'Though I still think he hates me.'
"Well the answer to your question is. Well from what I've learned most countries your coming out party is at 14 or 16 and if you wish to marry your sweetheart then fine. But few of those require by law you be married by that age. Some, where your coming out party is at 12 or 14, quite a few of those I've found require marriage by 16-17. Others I've seen look down at you if you're not married by 17. A lot of those countries though were shocked and a few horrified when they learned I was married to Mahaado at 12, a lot of them felt that Mahaado was a cradle robber." Diana said with a giggle.
"I know when Nitesh's family learned he had married me behind their back, they were furious. Then when they learned I was only 11 and he married me anyway. Well it caused a major uproar. They wanted to annul the marriage. But when they learned our stepmother intended to literally have me killed if I was returned, they still didn't like it but no longer contested the marriage."
"As I got older, it bugged me too as to why so young. I did some research and it seems it was once 16. But from what I've been able to determine centuries ago a king and his wife had a daughter. She failed to produce him a son. Later she died from unknown causes. Many suspected foul play as soon after he remarried. She was able to bare him a son. But that left him with the problem of what to do with his daughter. As the oldest she would inherit his thrown rather than his son. Neither he nor his new wife wanted that. They couldn't determine what to do till one day a young prince from a far away land came riding through. He said he was traveling looking for a bride. He had made a comment on how lovely their daughter was. This gave then an idea. The girl had just turned 11. They told him that their country had a rule that she must be married by age 10. But that they had violated the rules by allowing her to live beyond that, it was of course a lie, as there was no such law in place at that time. The prince was skeptical at first, but after more talks and them telling him that she could be trained to be what he wanted he agreed to take her. They were soon much to her dismay married. She couldn't believe she was being married so young. After talking with their advisors at the time it was soon made a rule that all the girls would have to be married by 10. This would leave room for the boys to grow up and take over; they must be married by 13, with the exception of the two oldest; they would have their choice of who and when to marry, except that they must marry either before or shortly before they take over. The second oldest baring the oldest is capable of ruling will be given a small partial of the country to rule. I've also discovered that not every ruler has followed that rule. Some have and sadly enough one or two kids were even killed defying the rule."
"That's terrible."
"We went through it and were later crowned queens of our counties at 14. Both of our husbands kingdoms it seems wont allow you be officially crowed until your coronation to announce you. Though we were already married it didn't matter. Its also said your not suppose to be married till you're at least 16. But they broke tradition on that one. It wasn't a law, just a tradition." Jasmine said.
Diana then pulled Maura close. "Well, I'm glad you're happy here. But…"
"But what?"
"But I've talked to Mahaado and he's agreed that if you want you can come live with us."
"What?" Maura asked stunned. Her sisters didn't want her to live with them before why now?
"I just felt that well it's not right that you should be raised by strangers. Besides this way you can help us take care of David." Diana said.
Maura broke away and looked at her. "Why? Why now? Because I'm happy here or cause you need a babysitter?"
"Maura that's not what I meant."
"No? Then what? When Hera was ready to marry me off, neither one of you were willing to help me when I told you Mako hit me and the fact that I didn't want to be married. Even when father told everyone that he was fighting the marriage law. Neither of you said or did anything."
"Maura please, at least think about it." Diana said.
Maura gathered her presents and said. "Fine, I'll think about it." Then she left.
'What do I do now? I do love my sisters. It might be fun helping to raise little David, but I don't know. I like my life here. Ryo said I was Mokuba's protector. What's he to do without his protector? He also seems happier since I first met him. I wonder if that's due to me?'