PLEASE NOTE MY CHANGE IN PEN NAME! EmmaClaire.x - Hemogasms, (Same as my Tumblr URL).
So here it is, the last chapter, at least as far as my (vague) following of the movie plot goes anyway. By all means keep this on your story and me on your author alert. I am playing with the idea of a sequel when I get a little more time to write again. Thanks so much to all who read. Suggestions or requests for oneshots or shorter fics are welcome, and my tumblr url is above if you wanna catch me there (:
A few people have asked about me not mentioning Britt's true status (her Parents were Nobles), this is for a reason, which will be made clear if/when I write a sequel ;). Plus, they sent the message love who you love, any one was free to marry anyone, regardless of gender or class, Brittany still being seen as a 'peasant' reinforced that message.
Hearing Molly calling up that one of the Queen's messengers were at the main doors, the Marquis jumped up from her position lounged on her bed in her chambers. As she quickly checked her reflection, making sure she was presentable, she could barely contain her excitement. She was convinced that their presence was about to be requested at the palace at once, and they were about to be informed that Queen Santana had finally chosen Jesse as her husband.
"Jesse" she called as she descended the spiral staircase, eager to hear the news from the palace.
Reaching the door she was met by none other than Artie Abrams, perched atop his horse, staring off into the distance as he waited to deliver his message.
"Good afternoon Sir" the Marquis purred, instantly switching on the charm. Although she was certain all their work had come to fruition and Jesse was mere hours away from becoming King, she was a calculating woman, and would hedge her bets and continue to play the crippled man until she was totally certain he could be of no further use.
"Afternoon" Artie barely leaned down from his horse as he greeted her, barely sparing her a glance before he gazed off into the woods again.
Perplexed by the sudden change in his behavior, the Marquis put on her most sultry voice and tried again to initiate conversation, "I hear you had a terrible accident on the eve of the coronation" she purred, "Were knocked unconscious and de-clothed, and yet here you are, hard at work again so soon, what a brave and courageous man you truly are."
Her flattery got her nowhere, as Artie gave her a stiff smile, before the moment was interrupted as Jesse came barreling through the doorway, Lauren hot on his heels.
Seeing the people his message was intended for finally gathered on the front steps, Artie delivered it, "Her majesty, Queen Santana has requested your immediate presence at the royal palace, along with all of your workers. A carriage will arrive shortly to drive you there."
Before another work could be spoken, the man wheeled his horse around and was on his was, trotting briskly down the long Driveway of Tubbington Manor and heading back to the palace.
Not even bothering to wait until the messenger was out of earshot, Jesse and the Marquis began to chatter excitedly, convinced that all their scheming had finally paid off.
"Hurry my Darling!" Terry told Jesse excitedly, "We must both look our best for when the royal carriage arrives!"
Jesse agreed and the pair hurried off, calling back to Lauren, telling her to inform the servants. The girl simply nodded sweetly, keeping her expression neutral. If Queen Santana was a woman of her word, which the brunette expected she was, then her Mother and Brother would not be going to the palace for the reasons they thought, in fact she suspected that they were about to get a long overdue, and rather nasty, shock.
When they eventually arrived at the palace, the journey seeming to take forever to an anxious Terry and Jesse, the family stepped out into the courtyard, all dressed in their finery, and were lead towards one of the larger council rooms by the guards, their bewildered servants following behind them.
When the doors to the meeting room were opened, and Terry saw almost the entire town gathered inside, seated on benches, while at the very front of the room the royal family sat on the thrones, her heart gave an excited lurch. She could barely breath due to the victory that was coursing through her veins, she had done it, her son was to be King, and all of the townsfolk gathered in this room were about to look on, with eyes full of envy as she was made the King's Mother.
With her nose in the air, Terry picked up her skirts and sashayed down towards the Queen, Jesse hot on her heels, a smug smile plastered across his face, as he met the eyes of the other young men in the room gloatingly. Lauren, Emma, Molly and Mr Figgins followed a little way back, still unsure as to what was occurring.
Finally standing before the Queen, Terry curtseyed low noticing Jesse bowing deeply at her side, and mentally praising her son for his ability to play the game. Looking up into the eyes of the Queen, the Marquis's hopes flew even further.
There was something different about Queen Santana she noticed. The beautiful Latina sat on her gilded throne, beside her another empty chair, (one which Terry was certain soon would be Jesse's) and on either side of those sat the Queen's Mother and Father. Her raven hair hung loose down to her waist, a faint hint of crimson in her cheeks highlighted her tan complexion, and along with the unfamiliar sparkle in her eye made her look radiant as ever. As she waited for the monarch to speak, Terry smiled to herself, she could only guess that the Queen looked so happy and well in anticipation of the announcement she was about to make - that Jesse was to become her husband.
Terry and Jesse's mouths dropped open in shock, their worlds crumbling around them, as it was the Queen's father, not the woman herself who spoke, "Marquis, did you or did you not lie to her majesty Queen-Mother of the Kingdom?" He asked, his voice as cold as ace as he stared the pair down.
It took Terry's brain a few moments to process what was happening, as her vision of Jesse sitting on the throne before her melted into something far less appealing, "I-uh, I" she stumbled over her words before Maria Lopez cut her off, "Choose your words wisely as they may be your last" the Queen-Mother threatened.
"Well your Majesty, whatever it is you feel I have done..." Terry started before Maria cut her off again, "Brittany Susan Pierce is not in Belgium, nor is she engaged to a resident of Belgium, or to anyone for that matter as you lead me to believe."
Stunned into silence, the Marquis floundered, unsure of how to proceed. She had been so sure she was just moment away from claiming her ultimate victory, so close she could taste it, she could practically reach out and touch the throne, yet there she was coming totally unstuck, and in front of the whole town no less.
"Your highness, there is not much a woman would not do for love of a son..." Terry began, desperately clutching at straws, knowing she was in serious trouble.
Jesse watched the situation unfold with horror, and as he stood by his Mother's side, watching as she practically confessed her guilt to the royal family, he felt his place in that family slipping away, and determined not to let Santana elude him again, he did what he had to do.
"Mother what have you done?" He shrieked, feigning outrage. Terry turned to her son, her face full of anger and disbelief, "You wretched little toad, after all I have done, how hard we have worked, all for you..."
Before she could go on, Santana's Father spoke again, "Silence" he commanded, "For the crimes you have both committed, you and your horrible son will be sentenced to becoming property of Caracus, and will be shipped out on the next vessel to the Americas to work."
"Work?" Jesse shrieked again, as if the term was something he had never encountered, let alone considered partaking in his entire life, "This is your fault!" He declared, turning to Terry, before the two began to bicker furiously, as almost the whole Kingdom looked on, both amused and disgusted by their behavior.
"Are they always like this?" Raymond Lopez asked Lauren, who stood a few paces back, looking on shame-faced at the spectacle her family seemed intent on creating.
"Worse" she clarified, and blushed a little as she noticed Noah Puckerman's eyes on her, from his position standing guard a few paces back from Santana's throne.
Hearing the girl speak, Terry whirled around to face her, "Lauren, dear, I'd hate to think you had anything to do with all this" she spat, her tone threatening.
"Of course not Mother" Lauren retorted instantly, "After all, I'm only here for the food remember?" She shot back, taking great pleasure in the anger she saw in her Mother eyes as she used her earlier insult to finally turn the tables.
From his position behind the Queen, Puck let out a hearty laugh at the comment, before he coughed awkwardly and fell silent as Santana turned around to give him a questioning and somewhat knowing look.
"Please your Majesty" Jesse cried out, addressing Santana directly, "I am not made for hard labor" he explained, "If there's any other way we would gladly take it" he begged.
Feeling nothing but loathing for the boy in front of her, who had made Brittany's life so hard, and pure hatred for the woman stood next to him, who had put the gaping red gashes on her wife's back, Santana found it was beyond her to feel any sympathy for the pair. Regardless she stuck to the plan and delivered her line, just as she and Brittany had agreed, "My Father has spoken, and there is no reason I should be inclined to disagree with his decision, that is of course, unless anyone is willing to speak on your behalf, and vouch for your character."
The Marquis looked around the packed hall desperately, trying to meet the eyes of even one of the hundreds of people gathered, though all remained silent and simply looked away. Jesse too glanced around in despair, seeing nobody but people that he and his mother had snubbed or belittled or manipulated - he knew they had no hope.
Just as it seemed all hope was lost, and both Terry and Jesse turned back to the Queen, ready to plead for her forgiveness, a voice neither of them expected to hear in their wildest dreams spoke up from the back of the hall. "I will speak for her, she is after all my step-mother."
Turning around, Terry could barely believe her eyes, walking towards them down the center of the room was Brittany. Her hair hung in soft waves around her face, she was dressed in the most beautiful silk and lace dress, of Red and Gold - the royal colors, and atop her head sat a glittering golden crown, encrusted with precious jewels.
As their new second Queen entered the room the whole of the congregation got down on their knees, heads bowed in respect as she entered.
Jesse and Terry were a picture in that moment, both their jaws hanging slack. Their eyes wide with disbelief as the watch Brittany float towards them, utterly stunned.
Rising from her throne, Santana stepped forward to meet the blonde, "I do not believe you have yet had the pleasure to be introduced to her majesty Brittany Susan Lopez-Pierce, my wife" she informed them proudly, glaring at them until they reluctantly submitted and fell to a bow and Brittany moved to stand beside Santana.
Seeing the people who had treated her so cruelly, although it would be expected, Brittany felt no satisfaction or victory, she merely felt sorry for the pair, for they were truly horrible people who would never love as all they did was hate.
"All I ask, love, is that you treat them with the same courtesy that they have shown me all these years" Brittany said to her wife, who smiled softly as their eyes met.
"Very well" Santana agreed easily, "You both are hereby stripped of your titles and shall live out your days in the workhouse." With that the Latina motioned to her guards, who dragged a kicking and screaming Jesse and Terry away, ready to be outfitted in their servants uniforms and put to work. As the rest of the occupants in the room watched the pair leave, Santana slipped her hand into Brittany's. Though they had treated her badly, she knew that the Marquis and her evil son were the only family the blonde had ever known, and the current situation couldn't be easy for her.
Watching Jesse and her step-mother being led away, Brittany felt a familiar twinge of loss, as although they had been awful, they were some of the only family she'd ever had, and once again they had been lost. She felt a light pressure on her hand that was linked with Santana's, and looked over, only to be met by big black coffee eyes staring back at her, full of compassion and understanding, and suddenly the loss building in her chest was gone, for looking into her wife's eyes, Brittany could her new family, and the promise of the family they'd be forever.
Once the commotion died down, Santana surprised Brittany, by calling Emma, Molly and Mr Figgins to step forward. "You have taken care of the most precious thing in my for many years before I found her" she told them, "And for that, I can never thank you enough" she said sincerely.
Emma and Molly smiled past Santana to Brittany, tears of joy and pride in their eyes, as they looked on at how happy and successful the girl they had helped raise from a child, had gone on to be.
"I could never repay you for the great service you have done me" Santana continued, "But I am going to try to at least make a start. As of today you are all free citizens of this Kingdom, no longer bound to work for any man or woman. You will each be given accommodation and a plot of land in the town, and some financial compensation to show you how truly grateful I am."
Emma let out an audible sob, as Molly and Arnold Figgins clung to each other, embracing tightly as they cried their tears of joy and relief, they could retire in security, and live out the rest of their days happy and free.
As soon as the news sunk in, all three former servants turned to Brittany, their arms open wide, and without any hesitation the blonde flung herself forward into a group embrace, her own eyes wet with tears, for the joy she felt for her friends, and also the pride and gratefulness she felt by her wife's moving gesture. Lifting her head from were it rested on Mr Figgin's weary shoulder, ocean blue eyes found deep brown ones that also looked on wet with tears and smiling up at the love of her life Brittany simply mouthed, 'Thank you'.
By the time the evening drew around, the great hall was decked again, and once more all the people of the Kingdom gathered at the palace, to enjoy even more festivities thanks to the events unfolding in the lives of their Royal Family. Santana had organized the celebratory ball, hoping to end her own and Brittany's wedding day on a happier note, after the unfortunate business of the Marquis had been dealt with. Waiting anxiously to make her entrance, Santana smiled to herself at the thought of the horrible woman and her son, who she presumed would now be doing laundry or laboring in the kitchens at the work house.
Her smile grew wide as she turned to the blonde at her side, who bounced on the spot, hopping from foot to foot almost with her excitement and nerves. "Relax" Santana whispered, kissing her cheek lightly, "Tonight is for you to enjoy, for the people to mingle with their Queens, everybody here is here because they support us" she promised, her voice soothing as big blue eyes met her own, and a knowing smile formed on Brittany's lips.
"You are my wife" the blonde said giddily, pulling Santana down into an unexpected kiss. Their moment was cut short as Santana heard her Father's voice announcing her entrance, "…my daughter, Her Majesty, Queen Santana Maria Lopez-Pierce."
"Later" she promised Brittany breathily, as she reluctantly pulled away, her cheeks glowing as she stepped through the heavy double doors and into the room, a smile forming on her face as her people cheered. When the noise died down Santana looked around, trying to catch as many of their eyes as she could, before she made an announcement of her own, "My loyal people, thank you all for gathering here tonight to show your support – it means so much to me, and as your ruler I promise to forever be fair but firm, and act in the way I truly believe best benefits us all." Many heads nodded in agreement around the room, and Santana fought the urge to blush as she noticed her parents who looked on proudly as she spoke.
Clearing her head, she turned back to the doorway through which she had just came, "And now" she spoke again, silencing the crowd, "It is my absolute pleasure to introduce to you, my wife, her majesty Queen Brittany Susan Lopez-Pierce." Again cheers erupted around the room, much spurred on by the wine that been flowing freely all night, as Brittany stepped through the doors, and seeing Santana there waiting for her, a hand outstretched, blushing, she walked forward and took it.
Standing there in that moment, her wife by her side, her people cheering and clapping around her, Santana felt a true sense of accomplishment, for she had accomplished so much. She finally felt she was on her way to becoming the monarch she had never wanted to be, she had been lucky enough to find love, and more importantly she had been lucky enough to hold onto that love and make the beautiful woman beside her, her bride – changing the way the Kingdom worked for not only her own benefit, but the benefit of many for miles around.
Brittany started a little, as she was pulled out of her awestruck state, when a light pressure on her arm, lead her forward towards the centre of the room, as the crowds parted and moved aside, eager to see their monarch's first dance. As she stepped forward, melting into her wife's arms as the soft music emanated from the string quartet, Brittany caught a glimpse of herself in one of the large mirrors hanging from the gilded walls. The girl she saw looked so much more like a woman than she expected, and she was nothing like the peasant that had worked at the Manor for so many years, so resigned to her fate. Her long blonde hair was intricately twisted a top her head, where a shimmering golden crown, encrusted with jewels rested. Her dress was a pretty pale green and ocean blue, and on her left hand, her wedding ring glinted as it caught the light as she twirled around the beautiful Latina in her arms.
Looking at her reflection Brittany saw that so much had changed, and it had changed beyond the possibilities of her wildest imagination. Yet as she caught her own eye, she saw that still so much of her was the same. She still knew what it was like to live less than comfortably, she was still compassionate and morally strong-willed. Seeing herself, both the old and the new, she hoped, the person that she was and who she had become would make a good ruler, that she would do her Father proud with the difference she could make by Santana's side.
Turning her attention back to her wife, her blue eyes once again met deep mocha ones, their gazes exchanging a million words that remained unspoken, as they continued to sway softly to the beat. Santana glanced around her, smiling to herself, as she noticed Puck in the crowd, his hands lightly on Lauren's waist as they too rocked to the music.
"I feel like I'm in a fairy-tale" Brittany confessed in a whisper, her eyes never breaking contact with Santana's. Still dancing, Santana chuckled softly, Brittany never ceased to amaze her, she was so pure, so unmistakably good, even after she had been through so much. She looked up into shimmering pools of blue, and whispered back her own confession, "You are my fairy-tale" she promised, before she joined their lips, for a kiss that said even more than words ever could, a kiss that promised everything and forever, because now they had found each other, their fairy-tale was only just about to begin.
It's been a great ride. Keep me on your author alert, I'll be back.
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