Moonlit Awakening

Chapter 24

Alice

A few hours later, Alice and Liam head down to the reception area. "Mommy!" Alexander yells, running towards her, "Mommy, you look pretty!"

"T...thank you, Alexander," she whispers.

She sits down at the table that's set up. Shortly afterwards, Margaret brings out the food. Once all the food is placed on the table, she sits down next to Alice. The food is passed around and everyone takes a portion.

Alice's eyes light up as she digs into the food, hungrily. "It's nice to see you hungry for once, my dear," Margaret says.

"Y...your food always makes me hungry," she replies softly.

Ember suddenly interrupts the chatter in the room. "I'd like to congratulate my baby sister on getting married."

Alice flushes a deep red. "E...Ember!"

Ember looks at her, smiling proudly. "I'm so proud of you, Alice. You finally found someone who will love and cherish you the way you deserve." Her expression saddens. "I'm so glad that you were willing to give me a second chance, even knowing how terrible I was to you while growing up."

"Ember...I...I never blame you for anything you did to me. You were six years old when you found out our father wasn't who you thought he was. My arrival shattered your happy family. You never treated me as badly as father and mother did, despite that fact." She smiles happily at her older sister. "I'm so happy we're able to have a proper relationship now."

Tears fall down Ember's face. "Me too, Alice." Conversation picks up again, Alice tries to participate, but eventually fatigue begins to grasp at her.

"Alice," Liam whispers, "let's get you to bed. You're tired. Excuse us." He stands up, taking Alice's hand. They head upstairs to their hotel room. Alice is so tired that she doesn't even change out of her dress before falling into bed.

Liam

Liam watches his wife fall asleep on the bed. He laughs softly before gently undressing her, putting her pajamas on. Afterwards, he changes out of his suit, before laying down next to her. "Good night, my love," he whispers, "sleep well."

The next morning, he wakes up before she does. He quietly slips out of the hotel room to bring her breakfast in bed. When he returns to the room, she's beginning to wake up. "L...Liam?" she murmurs sleepily.

"Good morning," he says, "I've got you breakfast." He sets a tray that has eggs, toast, and a glass of orange juice on it.

"O...oh, thank you." She nibbles at the food. "L...Liam, are we leaving for our honeymoon today?"

"Yes, as soon as we say goodbye to everyone."

After finishing her breakfast, Alice quickly gets dressed and follows Liam downstairs, where everyone else is eating breakfast. "Mommy!" Alexander yells, "Mommy did you eat breakfast?"

"Y...yes, I did," she answers, "erm..."

"We're here to say goodbye to everyone," Liam states, "before we leave to go on our honeymoon."

"Mommy? You're leaving?"

"Y...yes, just for a while. I promise daddy and I will come back." He looks uncertainty at her. "We'll call you, okay?"

"Okay!"

Ember comes over to her. "Alice, don't be afraid to call if you need to, okay?" she says.

"O...okay, I'll miss y...you."

"I'll miss you too, kiddo."

Alice glances over at Margaret, who's expression seems to soften. "Alice, my dear," she states, "try to have fun, alright?"