Tess's POV

It has been a month and a half since the surgery.

A month and a half since Matthew has been home and has been awake.

A month and a half since my last normal meal.

I used to cry every night of the last month. Now I'm empty of tears and full of nothingness.

I miss him so much I physically ache inside. My heart beats with a dull intensity, like someone has a fist wrapped tight around it.

"Your Majesty, what do you say regarding the monarchical threats in Italy?" Hindrop says.

To hell with the country. To hell with the world. This is all hell anyway.

"I have spoken with my brother, the king, and he has agreed with me that we shall send troops to protect and guard the palace, only if necessary," I say. "There is no need for violence. The troops are only there to make sure nothing gets too physical and drastic. We will also need to station the guards around the capital, in the city a little ways away from the palace. Disguise the troops so the citizens won't be alarmed. Conceal their weapons. We have dealt with pesky rebels before, we can do it again."

The advisers nod in consent, and as they nod, my head begins to pound. The world revolves around the sun and rotates on its axis. The problem is that I'm not supposed to feel it. I force a smile. "Thank you for your audience, ladies and gentlemen. This meeting is adjourned."

They collect their things, and I rush out to my office. I see the pile of papers stacked on top of my desk like a mountain waiting to be climbed, and I internally groan. On the very top of the mountain is Matthew's will. I work for interminable hours, approving some laws and denying some, until the room begins to darken with the setting sun. It's around seven o'clock, which means I'll eat a crumb for dinner and dress up to visit Matthew.

I dress up in one of Matthew's faded button downs and my most comfortable jeans. I wipe off every ounce of makeup and look at my face. My eyes are sunken, the eyebags are heavier than Eva, my lips are chapped, and above all that, my cheeks look like they've been deflated.

I am a hollow being in a hollow world.

I put on my flats and grab my bag. "Eva, Michael, I'm going to visit Daddy at the hospital," I call. My children run out of their rooms, dressed up and ready to go.

"We've been ready since an hour ago!" Eva says, her smile lighting up the room.

The two tiny things before me are the reasons I still have a reason to exist.

"Let's go!" I say, but even in my attempt to sound happy, I sound exhausted. They grab my heads, and I head to the car. We drive to the hospital, luckily not very far away or I would have cried while driving.

As I park, I stop moving for a moment to let the dizzying feeling pass over me. I'm not pregnant, I know that for a fact. I do know that vertigo is an effect of both starvation and sleep deprivation.

I unbuckle Michael and Eva from their carseats and carry Eva while Michael holds my hand. I put on my shades and go through the side door.

I greet the nurse at the front desk. "Hi, Nurse Jackie, I'm here to see Matt."

Nurse Jackie stands with a friendly smile, one that stretches across her dark skin. "Hello, Tess. And hello, children."

We've known Nurse Jackie since Matt has been admitted, and she is the only one permitted to take us to his room and also call us by our first names. That way the people in the waiting room won't be too suspicious.

Michael bows lowly, and she laughs. "My, already quite the charming prince I see."

I smile. "You're in a good mood today," I tell her as she leads us to Matthew's room.

"Everyone needs to be in a good mood today."

I shrug.

When she opens the door, I expect to see Matthew reclined in bed, flat on his back, dreaming his life away in the black hole of his coma.

But here he is.

Awake.

Matthew is awake.


Matthew's POV

I've only seen her in my dreams. Her voice echoing in the darkness.

Everyone misses you, you know, she always tells me. Mikey almost beat his fencing teacher. He's getting really good at it. And Eva wants to play Rachmaninoff. Our children, Matt. They're special.

I hear little bits of speech, then it's gone.

But now I'm awake. The lights are dim, and the lights from the hallway shows only her silhouette and our children's.

"Matthew," she whispers, in shock and wonder.

As much as I'd love to speak, to tell her I love her, to tell Eva and Michael that I'm alive and awake, I can't find my voice. My throat feels like it's been incinerated.

Nurse Jackie fixes my bed so I'm sitting at a 160 degree angle, and she gives me a glass of water that cools every bit of my throat as I drink it.

Tess walks slowly to me, as if I'm a ghost, and I pray to dear God that I'm not actually dead and not actually a ghost.

She touches my hand, and it's almost as if it gives me the power to breathe again. The beeping of my heart monitor quickens, and God, I missed her so much. I missed being awake.

I missed being alive.

Tess grins and throws her arms around my neck. "Matthew," she whispers in my ear.

"I'm home, love," I manage to say in garbled speak, but I'm speaking nonetheless. "I'm home."


Well, would you look at that. Matthew's alive! Yay! SO one more epilogue chapter, and this story will be officially finished.

First of all, my deep apologies for not updating in like half a year. I think. Idk I lost track. Anyway, thank you all so so so much for sticking with me. This has been an incredible journey.

Second, The Heir. Like. Whoa. People on Tumblr think it might be called The End, and if it is, well...I'm totally taking credit. Kidding. But that's pretty cool.

Third, I start school next week. That's gross.

Four, my Tumblr account is eadlynschreaveofillea. I post theories, analyses, gif sets, songs I wrote for the series, drabbles, one-shots, and other trashy things. So if you don't see me here, message me there because I'm on Tumblr literally everyday, and if you like my writing and are pissed at me for my inconsistent posting, you'll see more of my writing there :)

Five, QOTD: What is your ideal home?

I'm sorry I couldn't get to all the reviews, but you know your AcademicGirl, posting her shit at 11:22 pm and is still jet lag from England so it's like 4 in the morning there. Cheerio. But I want you to know thank you so so so so so much for the reviews! I love hearing what you have to say about it, and thank you for supporting me :)

Can I ask you guys for a huge favor? Is it possible to get this story to at least 700 reviews? I'd love you forever :D And if it gets to 800, I'm posting a bonus scene of when Eva and Michael are all grown up and Michael's getting ready to have his own Selection :)

Thanks for being cool, babes.

Love ya! - AcademicGirl