I'll Protect You (Re-Edit #2, 2016)

Epilogue

this is dedicated to everyone who has kept with this story until today 

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May 17th, 2014

"If only you saw what I can see!"
"You'd understand what I want you so desperately!"

"Right now I'm looking at you and I can't believe!"

"You don't know-oh-oh!"

"You don't know you're beautiful!"

The background in the music faded, and Zen and Alec took dramatic poses, then--

"That's what makes you beautiful!"

The boys resumed jamming as the beat came back on, grooving along to the rhythm of 'What Makes You Beautiful' in the most ridiculous fashion known to mankind, throwing confetti all over the stainless floors of the Cross mansion as they danced. 

"Archer," I groaned in misery. "Please shut them up."

I set a box of decorations down in front of my brother, who merely glanced over my shoulder to take a look at the boys before plucking out a spool of silver cloth. 

"The leader of today's activities is you and the responsibility of dealing with such nuisances falls to the leader. So, little Sparrow, I happily inform you that getting those two to shut up is your problem today." He looked a little too smug as he unwound a long strand from the spool and cut the material. 

"Since when did I become the leader? Everyone knows the leader should be the oldest of the group," I argued. 

Archer gasped, a hand flying dramatically to his chest. "How dare you call me old! I am twenty-one. My golden years. Elijah is old. Go ask him if you're going to be mean."

Elijah only snorted as he continued on with his artwork, craftily tying the strands Archer was throwing at him into perfect ribbons. The pieces were hung up on the pillars and walls of the mansion, brightened by the sunlight of the spring that filtered through the spotless windows . 

"Elijah is twenty-six in a few months," sighed Flynn as he came around the corner, bearing an armful of gold and silver streamers. "He's not old. And besides, neither of you should be claiming responsibility for anything. You're the least responsible pair in this house. Especially you, Arch."

"Flynn's right." Archer grinned, ignoring Flynn's subtle insult and walked over to prop an arm on Flynn's shoulder. "I am so irresponsible. But Flynn here is both the legal age of drinking in America and clear-headed. He definitely qualifies as a leader. Elect him, Park, he has my vote."

"Aren't you going to be Crown Prince when your father becomes king?" Flynn noted. "Shouldn't you be prepping to become more like a leader?"

Archer frowned. "As my best friend, you're supposed to have my back."

"Then where were you when I was falling over a cliff?" Flynn's grin was lopsided when my brother couldn't come up with a response fast enough. "Another press interview? A private dinner with a pretty girl?"

"I've been forced to go to those! It's not my fault, don't make it sound like I wanted to leave you!"

Seeing that the conversation was going nowhere, since Archer and Flynn were now arguing passionately about who committed the more dangerous stunts on missions, I dumped the supplies out and walked off to collect more. Elijah tapped the black watch on his wrist but I only shook my head and held a thumbs up. We still had time to touch up on decorations before Logan came home. 

Well, hopefully, I thought as I watched Alec and Zen neglect their balloon duty just 'Best Song Ever' blasted through the speakers. The two of them kept on dancing, wiggling their bodies along to the lyrics. Alec was waving one of his crutches in the air, and Zen was performing some spirit dance around him, the both of them looking more possessed than anything.