Epilogue
(a month after the last chapter)
Blair's POV
"Blair! You're going to be late!"
"I'm coming down, stop yelling." I tell her stomping down the stairs of the little house that we were half moved into in Keystone city. I'd had to find my concealer for the bags that I'd had under my eyes. Unlike the rest of the month last night I had slept alone, my mother had insisted that I sleep without Nik on the night before my first day of school, I'd slept fitfully and most likely looked like the opposite of bright eyed and bushy tailed.
"It's your first day of school. At least try to make a good impression. Dawn said she'd show you around."
"Oui."
She sighs, "No French, remember no one here will speak it."
This earns a sigh from me.
"Blair."
"I don't see the point of going to school for the last month of the semester."
"Humour me."
I roll my eyes as I pull on my shoes.
She thrusts a bag at me, "Here's your lunch."
"Since when do you make me lunch, you haven't done that since I was little."
"You're still little." She jokes considering my height of 5,9 ft
"Mom." I groan.
"Go to school you're going to be late."
"And this is where we eat lunch." My cousin tells me as she flops onto the bench, she'd given me a tour before school started. The corridors were empty of my contemporaries.
"How American." I say staring at the banners adorning the walls about prom and proclaiming, go keystone Dolphins!
"Let's go to the office and get your schedule and Locker number." Dawn says dragging herself off the bench.
The fluorescent lighting reminded me of the lower levels of the base, the levels most Falcons didn't get to see. Unfortunately, there was nothing secret about Keystone high, everything was big and lockers a rust red lining the walls that weren't covered with posters of someone named Tera who was running for senior class president.
And I technically am not a falcon anymore. I was a reserve and currently inactive unless I was really needed. The thought made me sad, but it was probably for the best, I did go rogue.
Dawn towed me through the winding corridors she'd spent the last four years in to the office. She was telling me how Don was always in there for some misdemeanor.
Eventually I ended up at my first class.
God being the new kid was worse than being shot.
And I would know I have been shot. I'd prefer that to this.
"This is Blair Worra-west. Everyone give her a warm welcome to America, she's from Adornovica in Europe-"
"That explains why she's so hot." A guy in a baseball cap shouts from the back row.
The teacher introducing me looks flustered. "Right as I was saying Adornovica is a small European country, known for its work in clean energy system and well trained military."
I smirk at this, they wouldn't think we were well trained if they went inside the base, and caught a game of smashball being played.
"Perhaps you can answer some questions about your home country? It would be interesting to have the perspective of an insider." the teacher asks me.
"Er… I guess." I don't even know what class this is. I look around for clues, a textbook or something.
"Have you ever met any Falcons?" one girl asks, "apparently they're gorgeous."
I raise an eyebrow, "I'm going to take that as a compliment seeing as I am one."
"Dayyyymmm Europe." The guy from the backrow shouts.
I roll my eyes at him. My classmates murmur in excitement. A few start speaking at once and the teacher looks out of his depth and tries to call for silence. He's ignored.
"Why are you here, some kind of secret mission?" someone asks.
"No." I say making a face, "I'm currently on a break. I moved here with my mom so I can't really be on active duty."
"Are you like really good at skiing?"
"I prefer boarding, but I'm alright at skiing, you need to be good at both to be a Falcon."
"Have you ever been shot?"
"Alright that's enough questions for this lesson. Ask her later, I'd actually like to teach you guys something this lesson." Our teacher stops the Q&A session.
I almost make it through to lunch without any disasters. Almost. I mean when the disaster hit it was the beginning of lunch, so technically I did.
I was walking towards where I was meeting my cousin for lunch, when I hear a shout.
"You there!" a large balding man waddles up to me, he's about three inches shorter than me, and had sweat frothing on top of his head, his face was red and puffed up like a Fin's old goldfish before the cat ate it.
"Me?" I ask.
"Yes. You." He snarled.
I raise an eyebrow at his attitude, "Is there a problem."
"Yes, you are in violation of the school dress code."
I look down at my clothing, "I am?"
"Yes, you insolent child." He sneers
Okay, he's rude. I give my polite smile, "Would you like to tell me what exactly is wrong with my outfit?"
"That top is oversized, I can see your bra strap."
I fake gasp, "Oh no, not my bra strap! What a horrible crime I have committed." My voice thick with sarcasm.
"Enough of that. And just what do you think you are doing, that is clearly a man's shirt have you no self repect, parading yourself around like a tramp."
I don't know who this pathetic little excuse of a man is but he needs to be taught a lesson, "I beg your pardon?"
"You heard me, that is clearly a man's shirt."
"Okay, hold up one second. Three things; One, why should my attire have anything to do with my education? Two, calling a girl a tramp just because she's wearing a man's shirt is despicable, not to mention rude, and three, this is a military shirt, as in Adornovican military, Adornovica which is where I'm from. I don't think you're giving me a very good impression of this country if there are pathetic men like you running around in positions of power over young people." I turn on my heel and walk away before he can respond.
I meet my cousin at the benches, she'd shown me earlier, still fuming from my encounter with the foul man who dares to call himself and educator of children.
"You're the talk of the school." She tells me
"Fascinating." I say looking at my phone, I have a message from Nik. I open it.
Hey babe I hope you're having a good first day. I love you.
I smile down at my phone, suddenly being greeted by a wave of home sickness.
Not so good, I just had a run in with some god awful man. I love you too, I missed you last night.
I send back my response.
"What's got you so upset?" Dawn asks as I pull out my lunch.
"I just met the foulest creature who just told me my shirt was too big for my body, at least mine isn't soaked through with sweat like his." I fume in my seat.
"Calm down before you spontaneously combust. What happened?"
I take a few breaths before opening my mouth to tell her about the foul man.
Suddenly, Don rushes in, "Is it true that you just told off the vice principal for being rude?" He's grinning like an idiot.
"You did what?" Dawn shouts
"He called me a tramp, because I'm wearing a shirt that's too big and obviously a man's, he was implying that I was a slut. This is Nik's shirt. He was trying to make me feel worthless, I know people back home worth a million of him."
"Yeah, one of him's bad enough let's not ask for an army of Vice principal Nagard." Don complains.
I make a sound of disgust, "Yes he's rather foul."
Don laughs and Dawn looks worried.
I sit there picking at my sandwich for a few minutes.
Baseball cap from earlier slides in next to me, putting an arm around my shoulder. I glare at his arm.
My cousins exchange a glance.
"Hey babe, wassup?" He nods at me, "I'm Roman, but you probably already heard about me."
I roll my eyes, I open my mouth to respond.
"Dude, get off my girlfriend before I remove your arm from your body." A voice growls from behind me. I turn to see Niklaus, I smile.
Roman also turns, "Was that a threat bro?"
"Not a threat, a promise. I won't tell you again." He narrows his eyes, his accent slightly appearing behind his words. Roman stands up, but compared to Nik he looks like the size of a ten year old, he stares at his arms, they're the size of his head.
He stares dumbly for a moment, "Bro, how much do you bench?" he asks.
"More than you." He says before walking past him to me.
"(Hello beautiful.)"
"(Aren't you meant to be in training.)"
"(I let them off for the day.)" he says leaning in to kiss me, he pulls me closer,
"(You should probably stop doing that.)" I murmur to him as we break apart.
"(Letting the trainees off or kissing you in public?)"
"(the former)"
"As cute as this, our esteemed vice principal is on his way over." Don says interrupting the moment.
My cousin is right, the balding man is on his way over, on a mission his face looks like a pulsing tomato.
I sit down, pulling Niklaus behind me, but he stays standing, keeping a hand on my shoulder, a reassuring touch.
"You!" he points screeching attracting the attention of the people walking near by.
I lean my head on Nik, feeling his reassuring warmth.
"Can I help you?" I ask.
"What's your name?"
I smile slyly, "Shouldn't you know your student's sir?"
"Answer the question." Unimpressed by my behavior, "You know what, I don't care. You're coming with me to the principal's office."
"Actually sir, that's impossible." Nik says.
"And why is that? You aren't even a student here!" he screeches.
"I'm here on official business of the royal family of Adornovican royal family. She's needed for official business."
"This is preposterous."
"What's preposterous is your behaviour to a special envoy of the Adornovican government. Or were you unaware of this fact, you are talking to two of the highest ranking agents of the Adornovican Falcon service? Not to mention one of the future king's best friends."
He looks gobsmacked, and tries to back pedal, "If I'd, er… If I'd have known I wouldn't have reprimanded you for wearing that shirt as upon further evaluation it appears to be military issue. We won't speak of this incident again, but in future do not wear that shirt."
Nik stare him down.
"I mean- Er, you can wear that shirt but it would be better if it fitted correctly."
Nik glares at him as the man backs away.
"What the heck did I just witness?" Don asks.
I visit home at the weekend, the storm that had been raging last month had torn down a tree or two but that was bout the worst of the damage that could still be seen. Ric and Lacy were getting married tomorrow and our little group was lying on the beach of the lake in the sunshine.
Ric had spent the afternoon taking pictures and playing with Mila who was burying Nik up to his head. But as usual the royal family had caught the attention of reports who were visiting for the biggest event in the news at the moment, all the world was watching at the moement.
"Alaric! What is this?" Bree shouts as she thrust her phone in his face.
"The picture I put on the internet of my favourite people?" Ric responds calmly holding Lacy in his arms.
Bree shoves her phone in my face, "Read this."
I prop myself up on my elbows and take her phone, it's Ric's blo- tales of a prince.
It's a picture of almost all of us playing with mila, Bree and fin are throwing water at one another, Kate and Tate are sitting together hands held, Lacey and I helping Mila build her castle, Nik flipping food on the portable barbeque chatting to Kent and laughing.
The post read:
Tomorrow I'm getting married and I'm spending my day with some people who are very important to me.
Tomorrow, I get married, officially, my best friend (the red head) likes to joke that Lacey and I have been married since we were young. I'd like to share my thoughts on my family, (which does include my parents who unfortunately are stuck at the palace sorting out the last few details for the wedding) I'd like to share with you all my hopes for the future of my family.
My blood siblings are here, I've shared my life with them all of it right from the beginning, we came into this world together, and I hope to meet my new siblings soon. My twin siblings, Bree and Fin are a part of my soul, we've gone through every other adventure together, but unfortunately this is one adventure they can't come with me on. All three of us have started to go on adventures the other cannot follow, but that's okay because unlike my sister I'm not good at ballet and don't desire to be in the Parisian school of dance. But I know my siblings will always be there to help me on my adventures as I embark upon them and occasionally need a hand.
Mila's in the middle because she has us all wrapped around her little finger, somehow she's currently managed to convince the muscle heads that are Nik and Kent into burying them in the sand up to their necks. Mila has a beautiful soul and a mischievous mind, she's curious and always wants to learn how things work, she's persistent and impossible to dissuade once you set your mind upon the task. I hope that when I am fortunate to have children of my own they look to their young aunt for inspiration to stick to their guns.
Bree dances like an ethereal creature, and holds herself with such grace and poise, elegance radiates from her, Fin and I like to think she stole it from us in the womb, I am proud of my sister for following her dreams, for believing in herself and her abilities, for her talent and I hope with all my heart that you may continue on your journey to greatness.
To my clone, I know you aren't my clone, I just like winding you up, Fin, you are my quiet consul, the man I aspire to be, you have an old soul and a genuine kindness, even if you are currently dumping Bree in the lake because she put sand in your burger, you are the man who ensures I always stay grounded and true to myself and others, you help me make the not so easy decisions.
Kate, Tate and Kent who have laid down their lives for me more than once, often almost making the ultimate sacrifice on my behalf, people who would protect me until their dying breath. They've taught me so much in my years. They've taught me that what's right is worth fighting for.
Kate's taught me that change although often confusing is okay, it's better than okay, it's magnificent and should be embraced, people should be embraced for their differences and we should be proud of who we are no matter what. Change can be feared, change can be exciting, change can also make you want to vomit, but it's often for the best.
Tate has taught me how to throw a punch and defend myself physically, Tate taught me discipline although tough and grueling is often worth the pain, the benefit far outweighs the costs, discipline teaches you to stay humble and enjoy the simple thing that you don't get very often. For me that's time with the people I care about. But time with them is often well spent
Kent has taught me strength, and how our love for others changes us, our love of others drives our protective nature. Protect your love ones fiercely, be their safety net to catch them when they fall, because everyone falls, but its strength that keeps us getting up and keeps us going, I suppose some might say that way of thinking is masochistic causing yourself pain to do better. It's not it's love.
Blair and Nik have taught me that if you love someone, if you share their thoughts, if they complete you, you must fight for it, and when you have it don't let go, share your strengths. They taught me love can cause you pain, love can tear you to bits, but it also it can heal.
Blair has been my best friend for 17 long years, the whole time I've known her she's been s stubborn fighter, she's taught me that love makes us mad. Love makes us do crazy irrational things (like go running off to the other side of Europe on a hunch), love make lunatics of us all. Blair taught me that you have to fight for what you want, you have to go for it and adapt to survive.
Niklaus has taught me to watch out for people, to help those who need it. He also taught me that I must do everything I possibly can to save people , even if it means screaming down the phone to someone at 2 am because she's dying and you can't breathe without her there, and that we'd be lost without those we love saving us from ourselves.
To my parents (this includes you Artemis), you taught me that no matter what they write about you they can't change who you are, you guys taught me about loving people we have lost, and holding out hope for those we have lost to return. You taught me that I will never be alone even when I feel like everything is crumbling.
And finally to Lacey, My world, my love, my other half, my soulmate,and every other clichéd lovey thing, I know I'm being soppy, I fell in love with you at the age of five, I knew you would be my queen from the age of eight, my feelings for you grow stronger every day. I used to worry that you'd hate the aspect that every inch of my life is scrutinized, but you did something barely anyone else did, you understood. You taught me to be a good friend, husband, king I must show compassion and understanding, you taught me the meaning of the word love.
Thank you my beautiful family for teaching me about love and for always, always having my back.
My eyes prick with tear as I read Ric's blog post.
"God is it that bad?" Fin asks getting out his phone to find the post.
"You were right about one thing Alaric; you are such a sap." I say wiping a tear off my face.
Everyone gets out their phones to read his post and one by one each of us start to hug each other and refuse to let go. We may be messed up and some of us are broken and scarred.
Who knows what the future holds where we will be in 10 years' time, but right now this is family and this is home.
A/N: so super sappy ending, I'm so sorry this took so long if any of you are still reading. I've had exams and basically been on lock down. Do you guys want deleted scenes I have a few.