A/N: This story is in a world where Will and Alyss had a kid before she died, who is the same age as Maddie's younger brother and basically how they get together because they all deserve to be happy.

How it started:

Thomas Duncan Altman stood at the window of his room, which was situated in the royal suites of Castle Araluen. Tom had piercing blue eyes like his father, the legendary Oakleaf knight Horace Altman. But his strawberry blonde hair ruffled in the soft breeze which he inherited from his mother, Cassandra. Tom had fiery personality and quite a temper, his father joked that he got that from hanging around Crowley too much. He had been fascinated with the red-headed ranger since he could talk and often found himself sprawled on an armchair in front if the commandments fireplace when he wanted to get away from royal duties, or just simply when he was bored. His temper had shown various times throughout his young life, one where he beat up a young knight after hearing him talk bad about his parents. "That queen just sits on her but and do nothing and her husband is the picture of stupidity." that was all he really remembered then a red haze tended to bleed into his vision and memory. Next thing he knew, the boy was clutching his nose, which turned out to be broken and the battle master was shouting at him for spontaneously hitting one of his students, it ended with him being grounded for a week.

There was one person who could calm him in his seemingly uncontrollable state of rage and that was Will and Alyss daughter Elizabeth, Lizzie to him. Lots of people saw her as a careful woman, always planning for every scenario every option. But every time she was with Tom, she wasn't the diplomatic daughter everyone talked about, she was just Lizzie. A girl with a wild personality and untameable messy brown locks who dreamt of knighthood. He had loved her since 10, she was absolutely stunning and a couple years ago, he was going to confess his love, when everything went wrong. Alyss didn't return, died in a fire at the inn she was staying at. Everything happened at once and suddenly his declaration of love seemed very unimportant. The death took a toll on the little family, of course his famiky had also felt the death of the woman who had meant so much too all of them but nothing of what they had felt. Tom had witnessed a certain light die in the eyes of his uncle which in turn set a hard determinatIon aflame in Lizzie's. She cared for her father in his closed off state, he had noticed on his regular visits that she hadn't had time to grieve for herself. This had changed a couple months ago when in his older sister, Maddie's, first year of her ranger apprenticeship suffered a severe injury in battle causing all of Will's pent up emotions to be let out, apparently or at least thats how she described it. Elizabeth had then allowed time for herself, time she hadn't had 18 months ago and she was a lot better now, his sister was back in her Ranger ways she had come to know and love and Tom, Lizzie and all the other 15 year olds would be going into apprenticeships of their own in a week. Yes, he thought as he moved away from the window, life was good.

Elizabeth prayed as she dressed that day, hoping her father would agree to whatever she would ask him to become and she knew what she was going to ask. Elizabeth wasn't really religious, she was only christian by default because her father sorta was because Halt sorta was because Crowley dragged him into something which had resulted in a sort of Christianity thing. It was a very long story. Despite this she needed all the help she could get this morning as she demanded for the almost unobtainable, almost. Her father was already up and he planted a kiss on her forehead as she walked into the kitchen. Vaguely she could hear the thrum of bows hitting their targets as her sister from another mother, practiced outside. "Dad," she ventured carefully as she poured three cups of coffee and added a spoonful of honey to each. "You know how you always say follow you dreams." he remained silent but sat at the table as she served him the hot mug. "Well my dream is to become a knight and I'm ready to become one." he nodded slowly and smiled slightly,

"You're very stubborn you know."

"Is that a yes?"

"Yes, did you really think I was going to say no?" but she crushed him with a hug and chose not to reply to that end statement.

"Coffee, thank god." Maddie walked in and she to was nearly pushed over by an excitable hug from Lizzie.

"Maddie, I'm going to be a knight." she visible shone and the older of the two couldn't help but smile,

"Thats amazing, you're going to do brilliantly."

After breakfast Will had explained to his daughter that she knew too many people in high places and he wanted her to have a fresh start so, he would be sending her to Meric fief, next to Redmont, where she could train and if she ever got lonely, Gilan was the ranger stationed there so she could visit him. She promised to write often and with the next sunrise she was riding to the edge of the forest, looking back one last time before she set off, to her new future.

—

Thomas had practically given a presentation on why he should become a ranger, he was only halfway through when his father chuckled lightly and said, "Son of course we'll let you become a ranger, but are you sure you wouldn't rather become a scribe instead, this all seems rather complicated." He gestured to the pile of papers on the table.

"wait so you said yes?"

"Honey of course we said yes." Cassandra laughed and opened her arms which he flung himself into.

"Thank you thank you thank you!"

A couple minutes later Crowley heard a persistent knocking on his door, the person outside didn't wait for him to admit them and instead burst through the door, "Crowley, Crowley."

"Tom, what brought you here? Anything I can help with?"

"You can sign this," he thrust a piece of paper towards him and the commandment peered at it carefully, it was an application to become a ranger, signed by both parents and the ranger of Meric fief accepting him as his apprentice, none other than Gilan Davidson. He scratched the stubble on his chin as if considering it then said,

"I suppose I could,"

"Stop teasing Crowley sign the document." then he put pen to paper and it was official, he would leave to his apprenticeship the next morning.

Six years later:

They had graduated a year ago, both of them holding new titles with pride a knight who had then been promoted to chief and a ranger of the corps. Today was the day they were going to tell their parents, Lizzie fiddled with the simple gold ring on her fourth finger, her feet shuffling on the cobble in front of a stone slab. It read 'Alyss Mainwaring, mother, daughter and wonderful wife.' "Today's the day mum, I'm going to tell them. I know you would approve of me and Tom if you were here. I really love him mum, I think I've found the one. I know I've found the one." She placed a kiss on her fingertips and touched them to the top of the grave. It would bring her luck. She turned around when she heard the rhythmic hoofbeats approaching. Tom turned the corner, his bright blue eyes alive with the anticipation of what was to come. She smiled and mounted her horse momentarily brushing her hand against his and if it lingered for a little longer than needed, who was she to argue?

The three parents sat chatting in the comfortable apartments of the royal family as the engaged couple rode through the courtyard of Castle Araluen. Lizzie's gut twisted in fear and excitement as they climbed the winding staircase and walked down the hallway to stand outside the double oak doors. In the dim lighting her hand found his and she linked their fingers, using the feeling to ground her because among many other things, he was her rock, her tether to the present. She turned to him and locked her brown eyes with his, he tucked a stand of curly brown hair behind her ear, making the world fade away and there only be this moment, this lovely feeling of floating that occurred whenever they touched. She cupped a hand to his cheek, knocking his cowl down in the process, "Look at us, a knight and a ranger." he smiled at her and brought his arm around his waist, pulling her closer, she searched his eyes for any hesitation of what they were about to do, but only found love, the deep kind that only comes with years of dedication and determination because whatever happened next, they were going to make this work.

"And I wouldn't have it any other way." he replied. She kissed him, bringing her hand to his blonde locks.

"I love you Thomas Duncan Altman." she whispered in the dark.

"I love you Elizabeth Ivy Treaty." he whispered back, letting her go but still keeping a firm hold on her hand.

_LINE BREAK_

Their parents reactions were that of sheer joy and happiness, making the room alight with pure delight at the news. Tom threw himself at his mother and father, hugging them close and cherishing the warm feeling flooding his heart. Lizzie moved forward to hug her dad and just as she was about to pull away and hug her future parents in law, Will tightened his hold and whispered in her ear, "She would be so proud of the woman you've become." and she didn't even need to ask to know he was talking about her mother. She hugged Cassandra first who pulled back but kept her hands on the young girls shoulders, squeezing them one last time before she let her husband swoop her up in one of his bear hugs. Lizzie laughed, laughed for herself and her new future with the love of her life, laughed for her mother who knew that her daughter was going to end up a strong and worthy girl and laughed for the joy and adventures still to come.