A/N: Short chapter because...well, I'm busy, I'm tired...but I'm also addicted to your reviews.
Hammy: Boy do they grow fast.
TheRanger'sDaughter: Clara's around :) Also all grown up!
AER: Haha...I've fallen asleep writing some of these.
Disclaimer: I'm not John Flanagan.
Elizabet smiled to Noah as she held Neil's hand. Her new husband knelt in front of Mason and Scout on a pillow while she stood at his side still tied to him by the wrist. Though traditionally Scout, being royal by blood, would preside over the coronation they opted for Mason to crown him. Mason and Scout had taught their children, especially their son, that marriage was meant to be shared between equals who respected one another, not a man owning his woman. Mason crowning Neil drove that lesson home to all of Hibernia…and it seemed right for a king by marriage to crown the prince by marriage.
Noah, as teenage boys tended to, tried to act as though such an important occasion was beneath him. Mason and Scout had told Elizabet of their plans to title him as Earl of Davenshire sometime over the next couple of days. She hoped he'd drop the charade when his time came. The last thing she wanted was for someone in her new family to insult someone in her old family, even if Mason and Scout were hard to offend.
Mason crowned Neil with a slender gold circlet, a smaller version of his own crown. Elizabet would debut her new tiara at Gabe's wedding in seven days. Mara turned thirteen just a few months later, giving Elizabet plenty of time to decide if she'd pass it down early or not.
Neil rose and Mason and Scout guided the young newlyweds to turn to face the crowd that had followed them into the courtroom. The applause rivaled that of their first kiss as husband and wife. Mason held his hand supportively on Neil's shoulder while Scout held Elizabet's free hand. The girls giggled together while Mason gave Neil a supportive, brotherly shake. Noah finally gave the slightest of grins.
"Welcome to the family business," Sean said as the four came down the steps to join them. Servants came out with trays of champagne and ale while everyone began chattering about the new couple. Sean stood with his arm around his wife. They would be keeping the little girls with them tonight so that Warden and Carissa could have a night off from all their duties including family obligations before coming back. For now, Hazen held Mara's shoulders, restraining her to their family until their parents dismissed them to rejoin their friends. Mara was already looking across the room giggling with Anne over no one knew what while Hazen eyed. Elizabet guessed Scout's son would use his little sister to get close to Robin. He wanted her first dance. Elizabet wondered if that had to do with his rivalry with Reese or if he genuinely wanted to impress Robin. Sometimes it was hard to tell what his true intentions were. He got that from his father.
"Neil, can I go now?" Noah asked as he shadowed them.
"No Prince Neil?" Neil teased him. Noah frowned and pursed his lips. Neil sighed. "Go ahead. Don't forget, you and Max are staying with Hazen tonight."
"Prince Hazen," Noah echoed. Neil chuckled lightly while Noah bounded off towards Max and Horace III. Scout motioned for Hazen to release Mara (though he directed her instead).
"He'll come around," Scout assured Neil before taking Mason's arm.
"I know he will," Neil agreed. "It's just a lot of changes at once."
"If he ever stops teasing you we'll worry then," Sean added. He stepped forward to hug Elizabet, though he kept speaking to Neil. "Take good care of this one."
"Don't worry, I'll take care of the other one," Lorelei said behind them. She laughed and went in to hug Elizabet the moment Sean released her. "Congratulations."
"You're next," Elizabet giggled. She couldn't wait for Lorelei to join the family.
"Come on," Gabe said, pulling his fiancée away. "Let them have their fun."
"Goodnight," Lorelei called over her shoulder as they went in search of drinks. Neil's new crown was almost identical to Gabe's. The tiara Lorelei would be presented with at her coronation complimented the one Elizabet planned to debut at the next wedding.
"Congratulations sweetheart," Kineta told her daughter. She smiled to Neil. "Welcome to the family…and the family business."
Neil just laughed. "This family's been nothing but good to me. I'm glad to be part of it, as is Noah though I'm not sure he'll ever admit it. He doesn't admit to a lot."
"Boys coming of age are a special brand of stubborn. We know that well," Kineta assured him.
"Quite well," Scout added. Elizabet followed her cousin's gaze to where Hazen and Reese were clearly competing in front of Jin and Robin. The girls had just as clearly caught on and Robin was egging them on while Jin shyly giggled behind her hand. Mara and Anne huddled behind them watching as though mentally taking notes for a few more years when they were the ones teasing boys.