Chapter 12: Reminiscent

Song Connections: "Are You Proud of Me?" | "My Everything"

Amber smiled as she watched her children sleeping. Little Alamea had a tiny smile on her lips, her long blonde hair loose and surrounding her like a halo. Amber's daughter was as kind as Desmond and as confident as the queen liked to believe she was. Pausing momentarily, she hummed quietly, her fingers threading through her daughter's hair. She then kissed her forehead before moving to her sleeping son across the room.

Dominic really was a little Desmond. Their features were undeniable, especially the cute nose. He was brilliant like his father but more outgoing like his mother. Dominic adored his family, but especially his Uncle James. James would spend a long time playing with him, along with Alamea, Arnold, Charlie, and Serena, so all the royal children got the experience of enjoying fun times with James—just like her brother Corban did more often when he was younger (and not the teenager that he currently was, which still blew her mind).

Amber kissed her son's cheek and stood, slowly turning to face a large painting on the wall. She eyed it with reverence, tracing her fingers over the smallest details, a sigh escaping her mouth. "Mom," she whispered, her eyes trailing to the eyes of her mother Lorelei in the painting, "am I doing all right as a queen? Am I strong enough to handle this situation?" She lowered her hand, wrapping her arms around herself. "Are you proud of me…?"

"Yes."

The blonde woman gasped, turning sharply toward the door, and she relaxed when she saw none other than Roland standing there, a calm smile on his face. "Daddy… What are you doing here?"

"I was walking by and overheard you." He held out his arms, chuckling as his oldest child embraced him. He kissed her forehead before tilting her head up to look her in the eyes. "Your mother would be so proud of you, Amber. I know I'm proud and always have been."

She let out a relieved laugh, sighing. "Thank you, Daddy… That actually means a lot…" She stepped back a bit, leaning against the wall. "Did Sofia and James tell you what happened?"

He nodded. "We've faced many dangerous enemies before, and with our role in this society, Amber… That's not likely going to change. It's all a part of the price we pay for being born a royal, I suppose." He cleared his throat, running a hand through his hair. "And apparently, even our own counterparts aren't off limits for becoming an 'enemy.'" He shook his head, taking his daughter's hands. "But Amber, please don't forget that you have all of us on your side. Miranda and I will be right behind you if you need us. I just need you to be careful and take care of yourself. I can't let anything happen to my baby girl or anyone else in our family, okay?"

Amber murmured a soft agreement, hugging him again. "Thanks, Daddy… I promise to be careful and help protect our family and friends." She eyed her sleeping children, her heartstrings tugging as she watched their little faces while they slept in complete obliviousness of what was now facing them. "I sometimes wish I could be that little again, you know. To have so little to worry about…"

"Tell me about it." Roland placed a hand on her back and guided her out of his grandchildren's room, stopping outside the door. "But remember what I told you, Amber. If you need anything…"

She nodded. "I'll tell you. Don't worry."

"I can't promise that." He squeezed her hand gently. "Night, Amber." With that, he turned and left, heading back to his room to Miranda.

The queen sighed. "Night, Daddy… Love you…"

In Exchancia, Jaime was trying to be as still as possible. He was in his own bed, but at the moment, so was Ember. They'd been planning together earlier, discussing how they could attack Enchancia and take down Queen Amber, but some of the tedious planning had given her a headache. She was only supposed to take a quick nap, but she'd been asleep for about two hours now. It was already nighttime, and he didn't have the heart to move her, so he resolved to just let her stay there that night.

She rarely sought him out anymore, now that they were older. He supposed it was natural. After all, how often did siblings call on each other to discuss the 'necessary destruction' of their alternate universe inverse 'twins?' As ridiculous as it sounded… It was their reality. Still, he wished she'd let him in and tell him more about what she was thinking. Reading Ember's mind was impossible, even though he used to be fairly good at figuring out her thoughts and preferred outcomes. These days, she was an enigma, and it was sad. He missed his sister…

Jaime lay down next to Ember, who was turned away from him, and he reached out to trail his fingers through her long hair, just like he did when they were little. As he caressed her back, he thought to himself about their relationship. He loved her so much. She was literally part of him and his closest friend, even if she didn't always act like it. Of course, she'd still never reciprocated the affection (verbally), and he sometimes found himself wondering if she did love him. Did she even have the capacity to love? Was something keeping her from expressing her affection for him like he always did for her? Had… Had something happened to her in the past that kept her away from that sort of affection…?

He shook his head vehemently, clearing his mind of those thoughts. No, no one would have dared to touch his Ember. He would kill them. She just…needed to know that she was loved, and maybe, someday, she'd finally tell him what he'd always longed to hear from her…

"I still love you, Ember," he murmured, his lips caressing the blonde waves of the queen before him. He admired how soft her hair was, his fingers disappearing into the locks for a few minutes. "Even if…you don't ever say it. I know you…care about me… You show it in your own way. But it'd be nice to hear sometime…"

The prince was growing tired, and he could tell. He shoved his shoes off, throwing them to the floor next to him. He then got up and changed into his night clothing, adjusting the buttons on his shirt, before sliding back into his bed. He snuggled next to his twin, one arm wrapped protectively over her as he rested his head on top of hers, his lips right near her ear. As he was slowly slipping into welcomed unconsciousness, he whispered to her, "I will never let you go…"

It didn't take long for Jaime to lose the battle to sleep, but not long after he'd closed his own eyes, Ember's had snapped open. There was an unreadable expression on her features, but she didn't make any move to leave her twin's embrace. She instead found herself more drawn to him: his warmth, his kindness, his love… A love she still couldn't express, and she wouldn't.

But for now, she was content with sleeping near the other half of her heart: her twin and, in a way, her 'soulmate.' He really did understand her and wanted to dig deeper into who she was, but she was scared. She couldn't show him something that deep and personal without unpacking it herself. However, as it stood, she had no intention of doing so any time soon.

Ember found her brother's arm and tugged on it a bit, pulling it more snuggly around her, as she settled back into place. Tired, she sighed softly and closed her eyes, sleep engulfing her once more.

To be continued…

Next Chapter: In the Depths