Author's note: So, we come to the end of what has been, by far, one of my most favourite stories I've ever embarked on. If you have any energy left for it, one final review would be incredible.
I have to thank you, all of you, who have stayed with it despite the moments where it irritated your or annoyed you, and have read and reviewed faithfully. For those guest reviewers who don't sign in, thank you to you too. I'm honoured you read what I write.
Wild Mei Ling, thanks for all the laughs, criticism and encouragement you regularly throw my way and for helping me iron out the kinks in the story.
Thanks again. It's been tremendous fun.
Epilogue
It took a while to get there, over a year and a half in fact, but they managed it between coronations and schedules and Anna's wedding - where she asked her step-father, much to the appreciation of the small congregation in the Spanish church and the world's press, to walk her down the aisle. Clarisse had wondered what was in the wooden box he'd given her on the morning of her wedding but when she'd peeked inside to see a plethora of papers and colours she understood.
It was spring when they got to Madrid, and Maria had put new sheets on the bed and left the receipt for Joseph.
Clarisse wore white and sunglasses, he wore jeans and a black blazer and they visited the Museo Del Prado.
"The world went on without us for four days," she clutched his fingers just a little tighter, "But it was so different afterwards."
"It did and it was," he led her through the halls, an unspoken understanding of where they were headed between them.
They came to stand before the triptych, as vivid as it had been when they were so much younger, so much more selfish. It hadn't changed but neither of them felt it necessary to point that out. The garden was the same, the colour was the same, and hell was the same.
"We changed…a lot," she said, as if it needed to be said.
"I think we were punished enough too."
She nodded and, turning from him, settled on the bench across from the painting.
"I know a lovely tapas restaurant," he sat down beside her and took her hand, "And I have a tiny apartment where you can get lost in your own garden of earthly delights. I might even take you dancing if the notion takes me. What do you think Your Majesty, Clarisse, Senora Romerro?"
She smiled a crooked smile, "Sounds lovely."
He smiled too then and, taking her by the hand, led her away.