I don't own anything.
I've had an idea, as I love writing this story so much I thought instead of ending it I would just leave it as in progress, that way I can add a new chapter when I like, what do you think?.
Anyway in the meantime I still have a couple more chapters to go so I hope you enjoy this latest one.
CHAPTER 23
A week passed and Taj recovered quickly. He was down on Spargus beach doing some training with his father and brother one sunny morning. Jak finished his work out and plopped himself down on a towel on the sand. He crossed his legs in front of him and watched as Damas wandered up and plonked himself in the well in the middle.
Damas smiled and looked up at Jak "When do I get to be trained like Taj daddy?" he asked
"Another couple of years son" he smiled looking down at him
Damas nodded "And the arena?" he said
"You can start training at twelve like Taj did and you can start arena training at thirteen like Taj did" Jak said
Damas looked over at Taj and laughed "Taj looks tired" he said
Jak looked across and chuckled "He sure does...right Taj just do your stretches and then we'll call it a day" he yelled across
Taj looked up and jogged across to stand in front of his father and brother "Okay dad" he stretched his arms up above his head and looked at Jak "So I was thinking...maybe I could go back to school next week"
Jak raised his eyebrows "Really...you want to go back to school...what happened to you not needing school?" Jak chuckled
"It's kind of boring sat around here all day with nothing to do and no one to talk to...I don't know how you and mama do it" he laughed
Jak smirked "You think we just sit around the city all day do you...I don't go out into the desert artifact hunting or sorting out marauders or training wanna be wastelanders and KG...and your mother doesn't spend all day in a hot garage fixing cars and making improvements and gun mods and that's not to mention the trips to Haven to sort the garage out there" Jak laughed "And that's all after sorting you lot out first"
Taj laughed "I know you and mama work hard...but what I mean is its boring being in the city when everyone else is at school or at work...what do you and mama do when you've some time off?" he enquired
"We have sex" Jak shrugged
Taj lowered his arms and put his hands over his ears "Dad, I so did not want to know that"
"What's sex?" Damas asked looked at Jak confused
Jak laughed "Well Prince Damas...sex is something you have when you fall in love with some one...you make love to each other and out of that love if you are really lucky you get to make babies like you" he smiled
"Oh" Damas said frowning "And Taj and Anya and Lexa...so you loved mama four times?"
Jak smiled "Son...I cannot tell you how much I love mama...she's my heart and soul"
"When do I get to have sex then?" he asked
Taj burst out laughing but Jak remained calm "When you have found and truly fallen in love with someone, when you feel as though the whole world could stop and you wouldn't notice as long as you're with your true love" he smiled
Damas smiled "Sounds like ages away"
"Good...but speaking of which...how far away are you and Lucie?" he asked Taj as he watched him sit down in the sand and stretch his legs out.
Taj looked up and shrugged "I don't know...I think she wants to and I certainly want to but we had to go slow because of my injuries"
"Well you're almost back to normal" Jak pointed out
Taj nodded "I know" he sighed "I'm a little scared dad...I mean not for myself...for her they say it hurts the first time and the last thing I want to do is hurt her" he explained whispering
"Well all you can do is take your time...when the times right you'll both know...just be careful and don't do it somewhere you can get caught" Jak laughed.
Taj laughed "Yeah...won't make that mistake again".
"So Princess Anya have you and Taj decided what you want to do for your birthday?" Keira asked as she cleaned the kicthen
Anya sat at the table next to Lexa who was happily drawing pictures "I don't know mama...I guess we'll have to have some sort of party at the palace" she frowned and looked up "Why have you started calling me Princess Anya all the time?" she asked
Keira smiled "Because when you turn sixteen that will be your official title...until you take the throne and then you'll be queen"
"I'd rather stay a princess, being queen makes me sound so old" she said pulling a face.
Keira laughed and wandered over to the fridge. She opened it and pulled out two boxes of juice "Have you decided if you even want to take the throne?" she asked handing the boxes to Anya and watching as Anya pushed a straw in to one and handed it to Lexa before opening her own.
Anya shrugged "I don't know mama...can't I just be an advisor or something?" she asked
"If you don't take it you'll have to officially decline it and Damas would be next in line" Keira said
Anya nodded "I just want to be happy mama and I don't think running Haven City will make me happy" she said before sucking on the straw
"Well what will make you happy?" Keira asked pouring herself a cup of tea before sitting down at the table.
Anya smiled and looked out the window "Rio" she said simply
"Speaking of which...how close are you and Rio?" Keira asked
Anya frowned and looked first at Lexa then at Keira "What do you mean?"
"You know what I mean Anya...you've been together a while now and you're in love...it's only a matter of time" Keira said
Anya shrugged "I don't know..." she looked at her mother again "Does it hurt mama...I mean the first time?" she asked
Keira nodded "A little, your body needs to get used to it...but you soon forget"
"And what's it like having babies?" she asked
Keira laughed "Don't you remember when I had Damas in the garage?"
"A little...I remember you screaming" she said
Keira nodded "It hurt like hell...but like I said you soon forget...god if I didn't I would never had had more after you and Taj"
"I think I just want to be married and a mother and just be happy...and I could work with you in the garage" Anya smiled
Keira smiled "I'd like that 'Keira Mar and daughters' what do you think Lexa?"
Lexa looked up and smiled "I want to be a racer"
"I thought you wanted to be a monk?" Keira asked
Lexa shook her head "Nope...a racer"
Keira laughed and hugged her youngest daughter "Well I'm sure you'll be a great racer" she smiled.
Hours later Jak, Keira, Taj and Lexa sat at the conference table in Spargus palace. Ashelin and Torn sat across from them and Sig sat at the head of the table.
Sig handed papers around the table and they all looked down at them "Now this will be your official party...I know you probably don't know most people on that list but they need to be here"
"Can we invite people?" Taj asked
Jak smiled "Got someone in mind son?"
"Lucie of course" Taj grinned
Anya looked up "And Rio"
"Well this is only a party for the city officials and officials from the other villages and cities" Sig said
Keira looked up "I'm sure they can invite a friend each"
"Yeah...one each won't do any harm and Lucie and Rio will have to get used to these official parties" Jak said
Sig nodded "Okay...so you'll begin with receiving the guests and accepting gifts from them...then you'll circulate for a while before we open the kitchen and the food is brought out" Sig took a deep breath "After that you will be crowned and presented as Prince Taj and Princess Anya Mar of Spargus and Haven City"
"It sounds terrifying" Anya mumbled
Keira giggled and squeezed her hand "You'll do just fine"
"So we've organized a some child minders for the children...keep them entertained and fed and watered and things" Sig said
Jak nodded "Sounds like a plan but if Damas and Lexa want us at any stage they get brought to us... don't want them shut in a room and kept away from proceedings...this is their family as well after all"
"I know" Sig nodded "So how many kids can we expect?" he asked
Keira smiled "Well Damas and Lexa obviously and Tex..." she looked across at Ashelin "Will you be bringing Tory?" she asked
"I could leave him with the nanny...but it's up to you" Ashelin said
Keira nodded "Damas and Tex are his friends and they'll be well looked after so why not" she smiled
Ashlien nodded "So what about the ceremony in Haven?" she asked
"I don't understand why we need two?" Taj said shaking his head
Jak looked at him "Because you are the rightful heir to the throne there as well"
"So will it be just the same as the party here?" Anya asked
Ashelin nodded "Mostly...only the officials will be different"
Taj nodded "And Lucie and Rio can come to that one as well?"
"Of course" Ashelin smiled
Anya looked up "So when do we get to have a party that's just us and our friends?" she asked
"Well angel...mama and I thought you could have a party on the beach here...couple of days after the official parties" Jak smiled
Keira nodded "A huge bonfire and BBQ and all your friends"
"And will you be there?" Taj asked grinning
Jak nodded and smirked "Of course...for a while anyway"
"Grandpa is going to take Damas and Lexa for the night " Keira smiled
Anya looked up her eyes wide "Grandpa is coming?"
"Anya he's your grandfather...of course he'll make an appearance, as will Uncle Sig, Uncle Daxter and Aunt Tess" Keira said
Taj laughed "Doubt he'll be staying long though"
Keira nodded "He can stay as long as he likes...now we better start getting things sorted" she said getting up "Come on Anya let's go get you a dress sorted and we'll take Lexa with us"
Anya looked up and smiled "Okay mama...see you later Uncle Sig" she waved before leaning down and giving her father a kiss on the cheek
Sig waved and looked across at Jak "She's going to make a beautiful queen" he remarked watching as she and Keira left the room.
Torn nodded "She reminds me of Keira...beautiful, feisty, smart" he chuckled
"You forgot, bad-tempered and stubborn and argumentative" Taj chuckled
Jak frowned "Why don't you go get Damas son and we'll go get you a suit" he said. Taj nodded and got up waving at Sig before he left. Jak turned back to Torn and narrowed his eyes "What did you mean by that comment?" he snapped
"Just that she's like Keira...that's all Jak" Torn shrugged
Ashelin laughed nervously "Come on Jak he was just saying she's like her mother"
"Yes and I know what he thinks of Keira" Jak snapped
Torn shrugged "Jak...all I was saying is that Anya is very much like Keira...beautiful and smart and talented"
"She's my daughter Torn...do not look at her like that" Jak said
Ashelin stood up "Now listen Jak...Torn was only commenting on how much like Keira she is...he was not hitting on her or eyeing her up...for god sake she's only fifteen" Ashelin snapped
Jak stood up and placed his hands on the table leaning across and looking at Ashelin "I wouldn't put it past him...I've seen the way he still looks at my wife"
"Like how?" Torn asked getting up
Jak looked at him and narrowed his eyes "Like I do...only with a yearning because you know you're never going to have her again"
"Yeah well I had her first" Torn said smuggly
Jak stood up "She was young...you treated her like crap and lost her...well I'm warning you to stay away from my family or this time I will kill you"
Sig stood up and walked over to Jak placing a large hand on his shoulder "Right I think now you know about the security we will need and the plans we have made you can go" he said calmly but forcefully
Ashelin nodded and grabbed Torns arm who was still trying to stare Jak down. Torn reluctantly left with Ashelin.
Sig turned to Jak "What the hell was that?"
Jak sat down and rubbed the bridge of his nose "I don't know Sig...him saying that about Anya, about how beautiful and feisty she is...I don't I know it sounds stupid but that look in his eyes"
Sig sat next to him and chuckled "She's only just turning sixteen Jak...he wouldn't be interested in a kid"
"Keira was only a kid when he got with her...just started her apprenticeship at the palace garage and he was five years older than her" Jak sighed (A/N yes I just made an age up for Torn)
Sig grinned "You know what I think it is?" Jak raised his eyebrows "You see your little angel growing up and come next week she'll be officially an adult and you know men will be starting to take an interest and you don't like it"
"You think that's all this is?" Jak asked
Sig nodded "Torn is not going to make a move on your daughter...god any bloke would be made of pretty strong stuff to get past you" he chuckled "I'm surprised Rio got past"
"Rio's a good kid...he showed balls by coming and telling me how much he cared for Anya" Jak smiled Sig nodded "I was thinking maybe I'd start training him in the desert"
Sig nodded again "What about the KG?"
"I can try" Jak said getting up "Right I better go get Taj and Damas...I'll see you Sig"
Sig smiled and stood up "Yeah see you Jak".
"So how'd it go?" Jak asked laying on the bed in just his boxer shorts as Keira got changed into one of Jak's shirts ready for bed.
Keira pulled the shirt closed and began buttoning it up "We got measured and picked the designs and fabric" she smiled climbing on the bed next to him. She ran a hand up Jak's toned stomach "So Taj said something about you getting mad about something Torn said?" she enquired looking at him.
Jak shrugged and wrapped his arm around Keira bringing her to his chest "I over-reacted...but the things he said about Anya being just like you and all of a sudden I could see the way he looks at you...and I just snapped" he said resting his hand on top of hers as it stopped over his heart.
Keira smiled "You see where my hand is, over your heart?" she asked quietly, Jak nodded "Well, part of my heart left me the day I met you and joined with yours, our hearts are joined together and will always be that way" she gently lifted her hand and held Jak's moving it over her own heart "Just like yours is in here" she smiled.
Jak looked in to her eyes and smiled "I love you so much Keira...when I even think of someone else having you the way I've had..."
"No Jak...he never had me the way you have...he never had my love the way you have, the way you will always have, and he will never be able to love me the way you do" Keira smiled and reached up to stroke Jak's face.
Jak closed his eyes and leaned in to her touch "I'm sorry baby...I should apologize to Torn"
"Don't you dare...he never deserves an apology" Keira giggled
Jak laughed "Well if you insist" he said opening his eyes "You and the kids are my world you know that don't you?" Jak said
"Course I do" Keira smiled before pressing her lips to Jak's.
Anya tip toed out her bedroom and in to Taj's. She popped her head around the door and whispered "Hey...you awake?"
"Yeah...can't sleep" Taj said flicking the bedside lamp on and sitting up "You okay?" he asked as she entered the room closed the door and made her way over to the bed.
"I think mama and daddy are having sex" she said bluntly plopping down on the bed
Taj chuckled "It's a wonder they haven't had a million kids...so whats really bugging you?" he asked
"This whole ceremony...being presented to the city...it's kinda freaking me out" Anya shrugged
Taj reached for her hand "It'll be fine Anya...now why don't you tell me whats really going on?" he said raising an eyebrow
"I think Rio and I...I think I'm you know ready" she said quietly looking down at her fingers
Taj nodded "You mean for sex" Anya nodded "I'm just a little scared...mama said it hurts and..."
"You spoke to mama about this?" he asked widening his eyes, Anya nodded "Funny because I was telling dad that me and Lucie were gettng to that point earlier"
Anya nodded "Do you think it will really hurt...I mean really really?"
"I don't think anyone would do it more than once if it hurt that much Anya" Taj chuckled
Anya laughed "I guess not...how come everything is happening all at once?...it's seems like yesterday we were running around Spargus Palace and begging Uncle Sig to let us up on the roof"
"I guess it does happen all at once" Taj shrugged "You just be carefull Anya" he smiled
Anya got up and smiled "I will" she looked towards the door "Do you think it's safe?" she asked
Taj laughed and nodded "Their door will be locked anyway"
"I don't care" she shuddered before gently pulling open the door and making a dash for her own bedroom.
Taj laughed and turned the lamp off before snuggling back down in to his bed.
Okay as ever thanks for reading and let me know what you think. Couple more chapters to come. X X X X