Queen's Princess

PART V: Chapter 32

"What do I owe the pleasure to see the Queen of Junkertown like this?" my father asked.

"Nothing at all, sir," Odessa said. "But Y/N and I did want to talk to ya about something."

"If it's about my blessing, consider it yours."

"What?" I asked my father.

"I-Is this not about tying the knot?" my father looked between the two of us.

"No," I said.

"But it's good to know I have your blessing," Odessa chuckled.

"Oh, t-then what are ya here for?" my father asked.

"Is mum around?"

"Yeah. Let me get her," he said and walked inside.

"Hey, honey, Y/N and Odessa are here. They want to talk to us."

My mother and father came out and we grabbed the log stumps and sat underneath the shade.

"What's this about? Are you two finally coming together?" my mother asked.

"Why do they think we're finally announcing we're coming together?" I looked over at Odessa.

"We have been together for quite some time. We might as well," Odessa said.

"R-Really?" I asked.

"Yeah. But you'll still be my princess," she smirked.

"O-Ok, l-let's get into the matter of why we're here," I cleared my throat.

"Yes," Odessa turned to my mother and father.

"Has word gotten out here?" I asked.

"It has since Mason Howl got here," my father said.

"Good to know he has a loud mouth," Odessa said.

"Always had."

"He came out here grumbling that a Wastelander won the Reckoning when you should have been defeated and such. Sore loser," my mother said.

"Well, with that being said," Odessa began. "Things are going to change and for the better in Junkertown. Last night, I thought about extending an invitation to come back to Junkertown. To live a better life in there instead of out 'ere."

"That is very kind of ya, Odessa," my mother said.

"But I think we will pass on your offer," my father continued.

"Y-Ya don't want to have a better life?" I asked my parents. "After Mason kicked us out, you don't want to go back?"

"Y/N, ever since you were little, you grew up in Junkertown and when Mason came into power, he saw us as nobodies. I don't know why, but he did. And ever since we were thrown out of Junkertown, we finally saw the world for what it is out here. We took everything we had in there for granted because we never would have thought of someone throwing us out for no reason. But living out here, we finally saw how precious life was and how we needed to cherish it. We were working too hard there, not giving ya enough of our time since you were always with your grandparents. And out here, we finally gave you the attention ya lacked from us. And look, ya even found yourself out here thanks to Odessa," my mother smiled. "We'd love to come back, truly we do, but I don't think we can with the life we have out here now. Not to mention, your grandparents are buried out here. We'd like to be buried out here when we pass."

"Dad?" I looked over at him.

"Your mum is right. We've learned a lot out here. Learned so much more than what we would have in there. But don't take what Junkertown has to offer for granted, such as their education system."

"We have an education system?" Odessa asked, her eyebrows raising. 

"Yeah. Not the best, but it'll do. Learn what ya couldn't since you were out here for such a long time. Make that place better and I know with Odessa running Junkertown, everything is going to be changing for the better," my father looked over at Odessa. "Even you, Y/N. Ya might not see it, but you will. I can already see it now."

I smiled, "T-Thanks, dad."

"Before ya go, there was a place that I had a name to," he stood up and walked over to his workbench. He grabbed something from a locked metal container and he handed it to me. "The keys to the old repair warehouse."

"I remember that warehouse," I gasped.

"Its yours now. Take good care of it."

"I will, dad."

I stood up and hugged my parents. My mother hugged Odessa and she did the same with my father.

"Odessa," my father called before we parted ways.

"Yes, sir?"

"Take care of her. Make sure she doesn't get into any trouble," he joked.

"She's going to have to do the same for me," Odessa laughed, placing her hand on my back.

"Make sure ya visit too, Y/N," my mother called from the house.

"I'll try to, mum."

They headed inside and we slid down the sand dune that led to Odessa's house.

"Dez?" I asked.

"Yes, Y/N?" she asked.

"Were ya planning on proposing?" I asked.

"I was, but I think we gotta settle in to Junkertown before I do that, right?"

"Yeah, I suppose ya have a point."

"Besides, ya should know I'm gonna ask ya with how long we've been together," she smiled. 

I chuckled, that smile always making me feel giddy inside. She pressed a kiss to the side of my head before opening the back door.

"Mum!" Odessa called.

"Dez!" her other siblings called and ran towards her. 

She gathered them up and pulled them into one big bear hug.

"How are all of ya doin'?" she asked, setting them down.

"Great!"

"Fine!"

"I beat someone in the face today!"

"Ya did?" Odessa asked, a hint of pride in her voice. "Were they doing something wrong?"

"You bet they were. They were tryin' to steal from someone's stall."

"Now that's how ya do it," Odessa said, high fiving her sibling.

"Y/N!" they all cried and walked towards me, greeting me.

Her mother came into the room and smiled at Odessa.

"Oh, Dez," she came over and hugged Odessa. "Word spread so fast around here. When we heard you won and became Queen of Junkertown, we knew your dream had finally come true."

"That it did, mum," she smiled. "But I had the help of Y/N. It was a group effort," she turned and reached out her hand for me to take.

I looked down at it before looking into her eyes, an overwhelming feeling of joy and love coming from them. I smiled, my heart racing a million beats a second before extending my hand out and taking hers. She pulled me towards her and I ended up in her side.

"Couldn't have done it without her," she looked over at me, smiling once more.