Amberly

My eyes were heavy when I tried to open them and I felt the tiredness weigh down my limbs. Everything ached and all I wanted to do was sleep for eternity but I knew I couldn't stay this way forever.

When I finally pried my eyes open it took a while for the room to come into focus. Immediately I looked for the men who had been holding me prisoner, I searched for the smell of the damp room, but instead, I found that I was back in my room at the castle. There was faint light sneaking in under the curtains telling me it was early morning.

I shifted slightly, my body still stiff from sitting in the same position for so long and then I saw him. He was slumped in a chair beside my bed and I wondered how long he had stayed awake searching for me. The tired circles under his eyes told me sleep hadn't come easily.

'Anthony?' I croaked and he immediately stirred despite how soft my voice was in the emptiness of my room.

'Amberly,' he breathed, moving from the chair and kneeling so his face was level with mine.

'You came,' I tried to smile but my body was just too tired.

'Of course,' he smiled wearily, gently caressing my face and I let my eyes fall closed for a moment before they snapped open again so I wouldn't miss him.

'How are you feeling love?' He asked, pushing up and sitting on the bed beside me and I pulled my hand out from under the covers in search of his. He quickly wrapped his own warm hand around mine and I felt the sense of security wash over me.

As I looked at our joint hands, my eyes were drawn to the bandages on my wrist and I felt a panicked flutter in my chest as I remembered why they were there.

'You're safe now love,' Anthony assured me noticing my discomfort. 'No one is ever going to take you from me again.'

'Anthony?' I whispered and he waited patiently for me to continue, running his thumb across my palm comfortingly. 'I lied.' I admitted and he looked at me curiously before I could gather my composure to continue.

'What do you mean love?'

'I was afraid,' I revealed, casting my eyes downward as I felt shame wash through me. I felt Anthony's hand tighten around my own when I tried to pull away and then his other hand was beneath my chin until my eyes met his.

'Amberly, I promise you whatever you were feeling was nothing compared to the terror I felt at the possibility I might never see you again. I'm selfish love, I want you all for myself and I know, I've always known I could never live without you,' and before I could stop it I felt a traitorous tear run down my cheek.

'Don't frown love, I won't tell anyone,' then he reached over and wiped the tear from my cheek as if it was never there at all but a second soon followed the first and suddenly I couldn't stop them as they fell rapidly from my tired eyes.

'Come here,' he soothed, gently lifting me up from the bed and enclosing me in his arms, his warmth filling the coldness that had wrapped around me. He whispered calming words and rubbed soothing circles on my lower back as the tears continued to fall, my mind finally feeling the weight of everything that had happened press down upon it.

When my eyes were dry and my body had stopped trembling I pushed back from Anthony and looked up into his bloodshot eyes but it wasn't that I focused on. He was looking at me with adoration, his eyes telling me one thing.

'I love you Anthony,' I murmured before pressing my lips to his in a gentle kiss. I felt his love swell in my heart dislodging anything else inside and when I pulled away and rested my forehead against his I knew all I wanted to do was stay in his arms forever. I reluctantly pulled free from his arms moments later when the door opened. My mother entered the room, a worried look on her face until she saw that I was awake.

'Queen America,' Anthony said formally, getting to his feet and I frowned as he tried to pull his hand out of mine.

'Just America Anthony, we'll be family soon,' my mother dismissed walking over to us and Anthony tried to pull free from my hand again.

'I should give you some time together to talk,' Anthony muttered as he leant down and placed a gentle kiss on my forehead.

'Stay,' I whispered, not even trying to hide the pleading in my tone. He pulled back from me his eyes locking with mine for a moment and then he nodded before taking the seat beside me again, his gaze never leaving me.

'Amberly, I can't believe we have you back,' my mother said cautiously, approaching me slowly as if I were just a mirage, an illusion.

'Mom,' my voice broke and suddenly I was safely wrapped in my mothers arms but my eyes were dry. Her embrace was different than before, something had changed. When she pulled back I knew she felt the shift too. She wore a warm knowing smile and I looked up at her puzzled.

'I'll always be your mother,' she whispered, looking over at Anthony who hadn't taken his eyes from me. 'I love you Amberly, so much but I think he can protect you better than I ever could.'

'I don't need protection mom,' I answered in a low voice.

'You don't even know what he's holding,' she answered cryptically. 'You hold his too and you protect it without even realising. All of us a need a little protection sometimes Amberly.'

'This is one of those conversations I'm never going to understand, isn't it?' I frowned, searching for the wisdom in my mother's words.

'You understand Amberly,' she answered, bending down and pressing her warm familiar lips to my forehead. Then she backed away before sending me another knowing smile and leaving the room.

'Alright love?' Anthony asked moving to sit beside me again and I nodded, looking after where my mother had been as I absently reached for Anthony's hand again.

Maxon

'How is she?' My father asked walking into my office agitated. It was still a shock to see him like this even after all these years. The fear and concern in his eyes a stark contrast to the man I had known in my childhood and my early adult life.

'She's awake,' I replied feeling the relief wash over me again. I wanted nothing more than to leave it all behind and go over to London to be with my daughter but I knew I couldn't. I had responsibilities and I couldn't risk all of my family travelling to a place our guards didn't know. The threat was too high.

'Good,' my father nodded trying to regain his composure but he didn't do it as well as he used to.

'You could have gone father.'

'No, she wouldn't have wanted me there, not after...' He trailed off.

'She will forgive you, she would have wanted her grandfather there.' I replied gently, knowing Amberly couldn't help but love her grandfather, no matter his past.

'She has Anthony and her mother, she doesn't need me.'

'You're wrong father,' I answered as he looked through me, lost in his thoughts.

'Maxon, have you ever forgiven me?'

'Have you forgiven yourself?' I countered and he paused, his thoughts playing out across his face something I knew he would have never allowed several decades ago.

'What happened with Aisling? I haven't seen her since the ball? Was she injured?' He asked, changing the subject.

'She left,' I answered still uncertain by my sons decision. 'Nicoletta and Tony took her with them.'

'Why? Does Adam know?' He asked confusion furrowing his brow.

'Adam sent her away,' I sighed.

'I don't understand.'

'Neither do I,' I muttered pushing out from behind my desk.

'Did she do something?'

'I don't know, something happened during the attack and then he told us he was sending her away.'

'That doesn't make sense,' my father frowned as he followed me out.

'I don't know why Adam made this choice but he believed it to be the right one for him.'

'I liked her,' he stated and I looked back at him in surprise. 'I thought Adam would choose her.'

'So did the rest of the nation.' I mumbled as we both climbed the stairs to the royal family's rooms.

'What are you doing about the attacks Maxon?' He asked and I felt the discomfort return to my chest as I thought about all the threats that were facing my people. Honestly, sometimes I wasn't sure how to protect them all.

'I didn't know there were two groups,' I sighed. 'I thought we could maybe manage them when there was just one, we could focus all our efforts on them but now…'

'I know you don't want to hear this Maxon but-'

'No father,' I cut him short, knowing he was going to start a familiar argument about how America and I rule our nation.

'You're running out of options Maxon,' and I shook my head as I pushed on Harmonia's door.

'Har-,' I stopped suddenly as I took in the sight before me.

'Dad?' She exclaimed as she jumped back from where she had been sitting beside Justin on her bed.

'What's going on here?' I demanded as Justin shifted behind my daughter. She was trying to shield him with her body but he was tall.

'Nothing,' Harmonia tried to cover.

'Don't lie to me Harmonia.'

'I was just…well…'

'Maxon, what's going on?' My father asked as he stood beside me and took in the scene of two very red faced teenagers.

'Harmonia, would you like to explain to your grandfather what you were doing?' I asked raising my eyebrows at my youngest daughter.

'No,' she muttered, looking away from me.

'You,' my father accused pointing a finger at an alarmed Justin. 'With my granddaughter?'

'I-' Justin stuttered and Harmonia slid her hand into his giving it a reassuring squeeze but all I could see was my baby girl and she wasn't ready for any of this.

'Let her go,' my father growled taking a menacing step towards the two and my focus quickly shifted.

'No, grandfather,' Harmonia said firmly.

'Father,' I said warningly and he looked back at me with fury in his eyes.

'You can't condone this Maxon, she is a princess. She is your daughter.'

'I don't,' I said meaningfully looking at my youngest daughter who was glaring at my father whilst still holding a shaken Justin. 'Justin, I need to talk to my daughter, alone.'

'Yes, your majesty,' he squeaked, quickly ducking around Harmonia with his head bowed. My father watched him the entire way and I was sure the boy was aware of it.

'You too father.'

'Excuse me?' He asked looking back at me.

'I want to talk to my daughter alone,' I repeated and he looked at me for a second before nodding. He shot Harmonia one last look before he disappeared from the room.

'Dad, let me explain,' Harmonia tried to placate but I held my hand up for her to stop.

'Give me a minute Harmonia, I need a moment to process what I just saw.' Harmonia nodded weakly as I tried to control my breathing. My youngest daughter had been sitting on a bed with a boy. He had his hands on her, his lips on hers. I felt my anger spike again and tried to calm myself before I said anything I would regret.

'Dad?' Harmonia prompted and I took in one last breath before I spoke.

'How long?' I ground out, not sure if I really wanted to know the answer.

'Since the ball,' she said softly looking down at her clenched hands.

'Were you hiding it from your mother and I?'

'No, it was all new. I didn't even know he liked me and then he kissed me,' she tried to explain but I had to cut her off again.

'Please don't, you're my daughter. I don't want to hear that you've been kissing boys.'

'It's Justin dad. You've known him his whole life,' she reasoned and I felt a frown crease my brow as I glared at the floor.

'You will always be my little girl Harmonia.'

'Daddy,' she sighed and I heard her little feet pad over to me and her arms wrap around my middle tightly.

'I'm not ready to let you go yet,' I whispered, pulling her closer.

'What time's good for you dad?'

'Never,' I chuckled.

'Dad,' she groaned and I could almost feel her eyes roll against me.

'Fine,' I sighed defeatedly knowing I didn't have the ability to stop time no matter how much I wanted to. 'But a few things are going to have to change.'

'What do you mean?'

'No boys in your bedroom,' I answered firmly.

'Sounds reasonable,' she agreed reluctantly. 'Do you think mom will be as mad as you?'

'I'm not mad Harmonia, I'm terrified. You're my baby, you're not meant to be kissing boys. You're meant to be running around after unicorns and chasing the garden trolls. You're meant to need me.'

'Daddy,' she murmured burring her face in my abdomen again. 'I'll always need you.'

Aisling

'Aisling,' I heard a soft, deep voice say beside me and I reluctantly opened my tired eyes. At first I was disorientated and I looked over at the person beside me in alarm. Seeing the warm smile on Tony's face caused everything that had happened to come flooding back. I was on a plane to Italy. I was finally flying but it wasn't as free as I thought it was going to be.

'What's wrong?' I mumbled rubbing the sleep from my eyes as Tony's smile grew.

'We're almost there,' he replied. 'In a few minutes you're going to get your first glimpse of Roma. I thought you would want to be awake.'

'Really? We're almost there?' I asked, looking out the window excitedly. There were rolling hills of vibrant greens and trees filling the empty spaces. Small houses dotted the country side, with small winding roads linking them all together. As we continued to fly the houses became more frequent and the trees began to recede until finally over a final hill there was a sprawling city of concrete and endless stories. Even from high above I could feel the history of the place hang over the rooftops. Streets that had been traveled by millions for thousands of years. Streets I would soon be walking on.

'It's amazing,' I gasped, my eyes wide and hands pressed up close to the windows.

'You like it, mia cara?'

'I can't believe I'm actually here,' I beamed turning back to Tony.

'We can't believe you're here either,' Nicoletta chuckled from where she sat across from the two of us.

'Where is your home?' I asked turning back to the window and I felt Tony tentatively lean across me and point to a spectacular building in the distance, surrounded by sprawling gardens. The entire palace appeared to be encased in ruins from the past.

'It was once the great colosseum. During one of the World Wars we were attack and nearly all of Rome was burnt to the ground. In the aftermath we were faced with rebuilding our homes from the ground up but then we found the ruins.' He explained and I could hear the smile in his voice without even turning back to look at him. 'It was only fitting that something which had survived so long and had seen so much history would remain to tell its story again. Our history is who we are. We build ourselves from it and create new history because of it.' I nodded numbly as I tried to take it all in but my eyes couldn't rest on one lone place, trying to absorb it all at once but instead absorbing nothing at all. It was all so magnificent I thought my mind would overload with all the beauty the city of Rome held.

'There are so many places we want to take you Aisling,' Nicoletta said and I turned back to see a longing look pass across her face. 'We want you to feel at home here passerotta.'

I looked at her for a moment and smiled before looking back out at the approaching city. People were finally starting to come into view, walking around the city like little ants scurrying across the concrete, cars zipping in and out of tiny streets. I couldn't wait to explore but I couldn't help but feel deflated knowing I couldn't share it with someone who I wasn't sure I would ever see again.

'Santo,' Tony said warningly as I tried to pull my hand politely from his vicelike grip.

'Uncle Tony, you can't blame me for wanting to hold on to such a beautiful woman,' Santo winked and I tried harder to pull my hand from his. When I looked over at Tony he had an angry look on his face before he started speaking Italian in a low threatening voice. Santo replied in less serious Italian and my head darted between the two of them as I tried to understand what was going on. I was looking at Santo when his face dropped after something Tony said and he reluctantly released my hand.

'Come on mia cara,' Tony sighed. 'I'll show you your rooms.' I nodded and quickly moved to his side eyeing the now grinning Santo the whole way.

'I'll see you around Aisling,' and it sounded like a threat.

'Don't worry Aisling, he's harmless. He's just excited to have someone new around the palace.' Tony said quietly as we walked away from the foyer where Santo had been waiting for our arrival. Nicoletta had disappeared moments after we arrived when a man in a tight suit and wide rimmed glasses came hurrying out. He whispered something that filled her face with worry.

She had nodded tersely and then turned to both Tony and I. She muttered something to Tony in Italian before placing a quick kiss on his lips. When she turned to me I had shifted uncomfortably before she leant over and placed a kiss on my forehead and I fought hard not to step back in alarm. I couldn't deny the warmth that spread through my body and I wondered what the feeling was that was blossoming inside my chest because I hadn't felt anything like it before.

After she left I was faced with Prince Santo and he was nothing like his uncle and aunt.

'He's…interesting,' I offered as I took hold of Tony's offered arm.

'He's a handful,' Tony smirked, shaking his head. 'He somehow created a scene at the engagement party of Princess Amberly and Prince Anthony. Apparently it was quiet the blow up between those two.'

'I've never met Adam's sister,' I frowned, wondering what the princess was like.

'Oh she is not one to mess around with,' Tony said gravely.

'I wouldn't mess around with any of the royal children,' I murmured.

'No, they are very good at getting what they want, much like their mother and father.' I nodded absently as we walked through the halls of the marble palace. It seemed every space was filled with flowers and every window allowed warm streams of light to bathe the inside of the palace. It was magnificent and I couldn't wait to explore further on my own.

'These are your rooms Aisling,' Tony announced as two maids opened a set of doors. When we stepped inside I felt my breath run from my lungs. It was magnificent. We were standing in what appeared to be a large sitting room with ornate furniture and bookshelves filled with old, leather bound books. There were glass windows all across the wall and doors which led out onto a balcony overlooking the sprawling gardens and the ancient ruins of the colosseum.

'This is mine?' I whispered.

'We want you to feel comfortable mia cara,' Tony smiled as I released his arm to further explore the room.

'It's so big,' I exclaimed as I stopped beside a closed door. Gingerly, I pressed down on the handle and the door swung open to reveal the largest bed I had ever seen. It was even bigger and more inviting than the one I had back at the palace in Illea.

'Do you like it?' Tony asked hesitantly walking over to stand beside me and I looked up at him, unable to wipe the awe for my face.

'It's wonderful,' I breathed and I found myself wrapping my arms around him before I gave myself the time to think about my actions. I was about to step back from him when I felt his strong, comforting arms wrapped around me, holding me a little tighter. He muttered something in Italian and even though I wasn't sure what it meant a felt a sense of peace wrap around me.

After a few more seconds we stepped back from each other and I didn't miss the strange expression on Tony's face as he looked down at me, considering something.

'Tony,' I said hesitantly, playing with the folded pleats in my dress. 'I was wondering, why are you doing all of this for me?' My eyes darted up to his to gauge his reaction and his face fell into guarded confusion as if he didn't want to answer my question. He was silent for the longest time, so long that I thought he might never answer but then his warm accented voice shattered the silence that had entombed us.

'Sometimes Aisling, we get to choose our fates, whilst other times they find us,' he answered cryptically before bending down and placing a gentle kiss in my hair as my brow furrowed in confusion. 'You are beautiful, mia cara, and you deserve more than what has been given to you in this world.'

Then he silently left the room as my thoughts swirled chaotically in my mind. How had I been so lucky?

This long gap between chapters is becoming a habit, and I don't like it. I'm sorry I wanted to update this chapter two days ago but I don't really know what happened. So, sorry for the delay and I hope you enjoyed.

T, Antherly are back and I promise more fluff in the future and maybe an overprotective Anthony who may or may not get on a certain princess's nerves. Not to mention the childish behaviour between her brother and her fiance. I think both of those boys need to start acting like men, although Adam did just let Aisling go so he's going through a bit at the moment. She won't be gone forever I promise :)

Theoneforever, thank you so much for your review and I'm glad you enjoyed my present :) I'm sorry I couldn't update sooner, I'll try to improve for next time.

To the wonderful guest who can't wait to keep reading, thank you for your support and I'm sorry I have impeded you from your ability to read this story. I'm so happy you like it and I hope you enjoy the latest chapter :)

Leah, here is me updating whenever, hope you enjoyed :)

As always thank you to everyone who is supporting this story, you're all wonderful. Happy reading beautiful people :)