Epic: Alternative Ending

Chapter 13: Father of the Queen Bride

"I need to tell my dad." MK held Nod's hand as he left feathered kisses over her own hand.

"I'll go with you. In all honesty, I feel bad for not asking for your dad's permission to marry you."

"Well, technically, you never really officially proposed." MK gently elbowed Nod.

"Yea, I know. I just thought-"

"I'm just teasing, you don't have to go all out. Besides, you already had your fancy speech and everyone loved it." MK kissed Nod's cheek as he flushed.

"Yes, that was pretty shocking."

"It was amazing. But tomorrow, first thing, I want to pay my dad a visit. I haven't seen him in . . . a long time. Part of me feels guilty, but I think he'll understand why." MK sighed, Nod turned to face her.

"I did have something I wanted to give you." Nod quickly turned over towards his wooden nightstand, which was moved into MK's master bedroom. Nod opened up the top drawer and pulled out a small wooden box.

"What's that?" MK watched Nod turn towards her. He got on his knees and opened up the box to reveal a beautiful golden ring with a rather large diamond.

"Nod." MK gasped, covering her face with her hands.

"It was my mother's and I promised I would only give this to the woman I'd spend the rest of my life with, my soulmate." Nod gently took MK's left hand, placing the ring on her left ring finger.

"I couldn't have dreamed I'd be with someone as wonderful, and completely crazy, as you. I know I can be immature sometimes, and I may not fully understand how to rule the Forest, but I will give it everything I have to serve the people. But more importantly, I want to make you happy."
"Nod, of course I'll marry you. Don't think I expect you to make me happy; I am happy around you, but I expect to continue learning about being a good queen, and I don't want to depend on anyone for my own happiness." MK smiled as Nod rolled his eyes.

"Of course you'd respond that way. Well, I'm happy around you too." Nod scooped MK up and began kissing her. The two continued chatting until they drifted off to sleep. The following morning MK sprang out of bed—the best she could with her leg recovering—and made coffee. When she grabbed a blueberry muffin, she noticed Nod begrudgingly dragged himself into the kitchen.

"Good morning my love." MK purred as Nod rubbed his eyes.

"Mornin'." Nod gave her a small smile.

"Coffee?" MK poured some milk, a splash of cream, and a few sugar cubes.

"Thanks." Nod walked over to her, placing his chin over her shoulder. MK kissed him and handed Nod his cup.

"Mmhmm." MK leaned her head against his for a moment, then gingerly shrugging him off as he turned towards the counter and began drinking his coffee slowly. MK sat next to him after adding in some sugar.

"Man, we stayed up pretty late." Nod yawned, acknowledging that he'd likely need a second cup of coffee.

"Well, after our second cup, we're going to head out. Okay?"
"Breakfast?"

"We can have something at my dad's."

"Right." Nod took several long sips.

"Good morning MK and fiancé Nod." Lily smiled from ear-to-ear, it was almost as if she was glowing.

"Good morning to you Lily. My, you look rather refreshed." MK raised a brow as Lily blushed, she parted her lips when Ronin came in and wrapped his arm around her small waist.

"Oh?" Nod showed Ronin a devilish smile.

"Knock it off Nod." Ronin warned.

"Ooh." Nod began chuckling. Ronin ignored him and gave Lily a long lingering kiss.

"Cute." MK rested her chin on her hand.

"Morning all." Rose walked in with a smile on her face.

"Rose." MK quickly looked over at Rose with worry.

"Hello MK, it's been a while." Rose walked over to MK and bowed her head.

"Rose?"
"I apologize for being distant, I just needed some time to myself. Please forgive me." Rose asked as MK put down her coffee mug and embraced Rose.

"Oh Rose, of course I forgive you. And take all the time you need." MK gently embraced Rose, who embraced MK right back.

"Thank you. All's well, I've decided to accept everything and wanted to wish the two of you eternal happiness." Rose looked over at Nod.

"Thank you Rose." Nod smiled. They all had coffee and breakfast together when Prince Aragorn appeared rather bashfully.

"Prince Aragorn. It's so good to see you." MK greeted him cheerfully.

"Yes, I just needed to see Rose for a moment." Prince Aragorn blushed ever so slightly when Rose excused herself.

"Something seems to have been developing recently." MK looked over at Lily who simply shrugged. MK and Nod decided not to eat, but after their second cup of coffee, the two hopped on Nod's hummingbird and were off to see MK's father. He was out in the yard taking some notes and having a cup of iced coffee.

"Dad!" MK signaled him with the hummingbird moving to-and-fro to catch his attention.

"MK!" MK's father went to get his special helmet well-equipped to see and hear her clearly.

"Dad, it's so good to see you." MK embraced her father's finger as he smiled.

"Mary Katherine, you look so grown up. And I see Nod's with you too."
"Hi Bomba." Nod smiled at his, hopefully, future father-in-law.

"So wonderful to see you both. How have you been adjusting to life as the Queen of the Forest?" MK's father was beaming with pride when MK confidently responded, though he was rather shocked and frightened at the thought of MK being a prisoner of the Rebels.

"Oh my! Seems this royal life is more dangerous than I expected." MK's father sounded somewhat worried.

"Dad, I'm fine. The Leafmen have been doing a great job. And I uh, wanted to tell you something. I, I have to get married in order to ensure we have a future King of the Forest. And an heir eventually. But-"

"MK, please, let me ask. I just need a few minutes with your father." Nod cut off MK. He'd been wanting to ask MK's father for a while now to marry his daughter.

"Okay." MK excused herself while Nod took in a deep breath, got off his hummingbird, and looked straight up at MK's father.

"What was it you wanted to say Nod?"

"I, I want to ask permission to marry your daughter." Nod was flushed and tried his best not to stutter, his heart nearly leapt out of his chest by the time he finished asking his question.

"I see. Well, as much as I appreciate you asking for my blessing, that decision is entirely up to my daughter. I'm sure you know by now that no one can force her into anything she doesn't want to do or agree to."

"I know that, but I still want your blessing, and I want you to know that I will continue to take care of her."

"Yes, I trust that you will." The two finished their conversation and waved for MK to rejoin them. They all went inside for some breakfast and MK invited her father to the wedding. After they finished, Nod and MK made their way back and stopped to see Zeneba, giving her a personal invitation and having some tea with her.

"I am exhausted." MK sighed as she slipped into her tub.

"Yea, it was a busy day." Nod took off his shirt and told MK he was going to shower. Thirty minutes later, both of them were in bed and fell asleep rather quickly.