Epilogue

"Iris," Axel says in a sing-song voice, striding into my office. I put down my pen and smile at him.

"What do you want? Can't you see I'm busy doing legal kingdom-y stuff?" I ask playfully. He grins and waves an envelope at me.

"Just wanted to let you know you got a letter," he says. He drops the letter in front of me and leans over to kiss my forehead.

"Don't you have work to do?" I ask, already knowing his answer. After I got out of the hospital and Demyx relinquished the throne to me, Axel gave his father's business to his cousin Reno, deciding to focus on what he loves doing: being lazy and annoying. I have to admit, for the past eight months, he's been doing pretty well at it.

"Nope. My main occupation is to bug you," he answers, walking around behind me and kissing the top of my head. I roll my eyes and pick the letter up, smiling at the untidy scrawl of my brother's. I slice open the envelope.

Hey, Iris!

I'm all settled into my dorm. My roommate's real cool, says he knows you, but who doesn't? Name's Hayner. I start my classes on Monday, and I'm pretty excited. You know how much I always wanted to get away and just be a normal guy for once. I wouldn't be doing that right now if it wasn't for you! You and Axel should come up here sometime soon so I can show you around. I know I've only been gone for a week, but I already miss you guys! Write back soon so I know how you are. Oh, and tell Axel happy late birthday for me since I missed it last week. 26-years-old? Yuck, what a cradle robber!

Love you!

-Demyx

I smile at his words and pull out a clean sheet of paper to respond.

"How is he?" Axel asks, his hands on my shoulders, his face in my hair.

"Fine. Misses us already. Says happy birthday. Called you a cradle robber," I reply. He groans.

"Five years. That's not a lot!" I chuckle at him before setting my pen to paper.

Demxy,

We're doing just fine. Not much has changed since you left. I don't know how many times I'm going to have to tell you this, but your going to college and being a "normal" guy because of you, not me. If it wasn't for you, I'd be dead right now, so don't thank me. Mom and Dad would be proud of you for all you've done and all you're doing. It's probably condescending of me as your little sister to say so, but I'm proud of you. Tell Hayner I said hi. Ask him how his parents are for me. I'd make this longer, but I have a certain cradle robber I need to pay some attention to. Wink wink.

Love you back!

-Iris

"Mmm. I'm gonna get some attention, huh?" Axel purrs against my neck. I smile, and try to swat him away.

"No. I just said that to gross him out. Some of us around here have actual work to do," I answer flippantly, gesturing grandly to the papers on my desk. He continues on, kissing my neck lightly.

"I think it can wait," he says. He leans down and scoops me into his arms. I squeal and laugh.

"Well if you're going to be so persistent, what choice do I have?" I ask, placing a kiss against his shoulder.

"Now that's more like," he says before carrying me out of the room. We get a few strange looks from the castle staff, but I just smile at them, never having been happier.

Hours later, I'm lying amongst the sheets of our bed, a wonderful summer breeze blowing through the windows. Axel runs his fingers along each of the scars on my face before dropping those fingers to the scar a few inches under my breast. I grimace, but he smiles and kisses my cheek.

"You're still beautiful, and these scars just show how brave you are. In fact, I'd say they make you even more beautiful," he says softly. I smile, finding comfort in his words.

Axel and I are happy together. He's been nothing but supportive since I took the throne. He helped me figure out the fastest ways to alleviate the kingdom's debt, disband the slave market, and clean up the crime rates and quality of life amongst the kingdom's villages. He's comforted me through times of frustration, calmed me down when I thought there was no way around a situation, and celebrated with me through each triumph.

Don't get me wrong. Our relationship isn't perfect. We still have our spats. We still stalk off to our separate corners of the castle and shout and throw things occasionally. Overall, though, we're doing amazingly well given where we started.

Will we last forever? Will we get married and have children and all that stuff? Who knows. Maybe we will, but maybe we won't. In a perfect world, all that stuff would happen and work out seamlessly, but the world isn't always a perfect place.

I look over at Axel. His hair has lost most of its style from his sweat, and pieces of it are in his face. His emerald eyes are hazy, and a content smile is on his lips. I smile.

The world isn't always a perfect place, but lately mine has been pretty perfect.

End

Author's Note: The...end? Already? Oh... Well...that went quickly. I feel a little empty now that I don't have a multi-chapter fic to spend every day on. I guess expect a string of one-shots from me soon...maybe? I have two ideas floating around for multi-chapter fics: one Kingdom Hearts and one Harry Potter. Maybe I'll start on those sometime soon. Ugh, I feel lost now! xD

Anyway, thanks for reading. I hope you enjoyed it!

Reviews might help me regain my sanity.

-J.M. Sparrow