The Borrower and the Fairy Prince

Epilogue (Part 2): That's... That's too Much Feeling

CW: a whole hecking lot of anxiety

Virgil tapped the same steady beat against his leg that he had been taught to do to help himself breathe. Still, with each step it got harder to do so. He felt himself slowing down, a familiar and annoying sting in his eyes as his vision blurred. Breathing was difficult and his chest hurt as if there was a pressure on it.

"Virgil, hey, it's going to be okay," Roman said, recognizing the signs instantly. He cupped Virgil's face, pushing hair out of his eyes. "I know this is scary, but I'm going to be by your side the whole time. I won't let anything bad happen, and if something bad does happen I will do everything I can to help."

"What if she doesn't want to see me?" Virgil asked, trying to blink his tears away.

The question shocked Roman, making his shoulders dropped a bit. "Why wouldn't she want to see you? Didn't you tell me she tried to fight your father when you were kicked out?"

"What if she changed her mind about me? What if she'll only see a thief when she sees me? I stole food, I got into fights, I disappeared! It's been 12 years since I've seen her! What if she's been avoiding me for a reason? And that's why during the eight years I lived alone, I hadn't seen her once?"

"Oh Virgil..." Roman felt his heart breaking, wiping a small tear away as it slipped from his borrower's eyes. "I don't know what's going to happen, I don't know what your mom has been thinking all these years. But if you don't want to do this, we can always turn back."

"I feel like I shouldn't though..."

"You don't have to do this, you shouldn't unless you want to. We can turn back and tell Thomas and Nico that we couldn't find her."

"I'll regret it if I don't try though. I'm just really scared of the answers to my questions."

Roman pulled Virgil into a hug. "That just makes you so brave to be standing right here right now. I don't know if I would have been able to if I were in your shoes. But whatever you decide to do, I'll be with you the whole time."

"Thank you," Virgil said. He pulled away from the hug and wiped away his tears, taking a deep breath to compose himself. "I-I can do this."

Roman gave him a kiss on the forehead. "There you go, now let's go find your mother to invite her to our wedding."

Virgil gave him a smile and they continued their walk. He still felt nervous, but it was easier to breathe. Whenever he started getting too anxious, he would just squeeze Roman's hand and the prince would run his thumb over his knuckles.

Virgil thanked the stars when he remembered they lived at the edge of the colony. The more borrowers he can avoid, the better. Unfortunately, the one person he wanted to avoid the most was his father.

When Virgil finally reached his childhood home, he froze. The hole was still there with the rock cover, moss had grown over it slightly. There was a wooden sign sticking out of the ground that said their family name, one Virgil didn't claim anymore. "The Monroe's" with a heart at the end.

"Virgil Monroe, huh?" Roman asked, trying to cut through the tension.

Virgil laughed nervously, shaking his head. "Not in less than a month it will be. Well, let's go."

The two walked closer, and Virgil reached down to knock on the stone. He stood back up awkwardly next to Roman, curling and uncurling his tail as he anxiously waited.

In a few seconds, the stone was pushed aside and a woman peaked out. She had purple hair and eyes, just like Virgil.

When she saw them, she froze for a moment. Her eyes landed on Virgil, and she couldn't help but stare. Tears filled her eyes and she slowly climbed out, putting a hand over her mouth.