Run Away From The Pain

Letting Time Slip Away

February 14th, 1985.
San Marqui palace, Samarinia.

"Darling, wake up."
I groaned and rolled over, letting the cool silk sheets tickle me lightly as my eyes slowly opened, one by one, so I could gaze into the eyes of my husband.

"Good morning, Antonio." I smiled as he leaned down to kiss me.

"And how is my beautiful principessa on this fine winter morning?" He asked, in his thick, sexy Italian accent.

"Tired." I yawned, as I sat up.

"Have you forgotten?" He gasped, taken aback. "It's your 30th birthday, my love."
He grinned, and pulled a single red rose from behind his back.
The more time I've spent with this man, the more I've fallen for him.

"I'd rather not be reminded." I sighed, letting my head flop back onto the pillow.

"Don't be such a grouch." He giggled adorably. "Get up, I've made you breakfast, and I have a little surprise for you. Meet me at the garden gazebo, I've got breakfast on the table."

"Oh no..." I chuckled, stretching as I sat up, allowing the silk sheets to pool around my waist.
Eventually I climbed out of bed shuffled to the grandiose bathroom to check out my tired complexion.

I never knew 30 could look this... well... good. Not trying to be conceited, but I look genuinely happy. I have this natural glow that just makes... ahh I can't even put my finger on it.
My long brown hair was thrown up into a floppy bun, and moments later I found myself shuffling back out of the bathroom.
In an attempt to make myself decent, I slipped a pair of sweatpants on over my panties, considering I only sleep in panties and a large t-shirt.
I slid my feet into my fluffy slippers and then shuffled out of the bedroom, and made the long journey to the garden, where Antonio was waiting with god-knows-what.

I made my way past the bridge, which was sparkling with morning light, and eventually reached the spiral staircase leading down to the foyer.

"Jesus, you'd think I'd get used to this walk..." I huffed, trying to catch my breath as I padded down the spiraling steps.
Eventually, I found Antonio waiting in the enclosed gazebo with a full spread of breakfast.
There were apples and strawberries and all kinds of fruits. There were toasts and jams, and different a butters to go with the pancakes and eggs and different bacons and hand that were strewn across the table. Multiple quiches were spread out, and even bottles of breakfast champagnes, and two glasses of mimosa were waiting near sparkling white china.

"Baby, this is beautiful. You didn't have to go through all this trouble!" I giggled, bounding over to him. He caught me and spun me around kissing me passionately.

"Anything for my queen." He chuckled pulling out a chair for me to sit on.

Oh yeah... queen. I forgot I'd been coronated almost 5 years ago.
It honestly seems like forever since my life completely changed... well... since the treaty.

My mother, the former Queen Isabella, and father, the former King Andrew, signed a treaty with the king and queen of Italy saying that their youngest son, Antonio Alessandri, and I will marry to unite Samarinia and Italy.

Because their oldest son is already the main heir to the Italian throne, Nicholas kindly stepped down from the throne and allowed Antonio to become king, so I could become his queen.

To think, I'm the same person I was almost 8 years ago, but I'm entirely different. Instead of just a terrified child, fleeing her kidnapper, or instead of being just a princess, I'm now a queen.
Of course I still listen to rock, of course I still go to concerts and fucking shred on my guitar when I get the chance, but I'm also still a queen.

I've done everything a queen is expected to do; I've also mastered 3 different languages, including French, Italian, and Samarinian.

As I took another forkful of quiche, my sweet Antonio broke me out of my nostalgic reverie.
"Babe?"

"What... yeah?" I shook my head, bringing myself back down to earth.

"I was just talking about our plans for the day..." he chuckled, shaking his head. "And Steven then, you don't listen to me."

Woah...
"What?" I asked, taken aback.

"I said, and even then, you don't listen to me." He have me a very perplexed and worry some look. "Are you okay?"

"Y-yeah." I sighed, setting my fork down on my plate. "I'm just nostalgic, that's all."

"What are you thinking of?" He took a sip of his mimosa, seeming genuinely intrigued about my thoughts.

"How all of this came to be... the treaty, the marriage, how it feels like just a few days ago, I was some captive, and now I'm a queen..." I sighed. "It's a little unnerving."

"Well darling, time flies, when you're having fun." He smirked, and winked.
Ugh. That wink, after all this time, send a chill up my spine and a delicious knot in the pit of my stomach.

"Hey guys, mind if I interrupt?" Claudia came bounding through the garden, carrying a newspaper, and plopping down next to me at the table.

"I guess we don't have a choice." I laughed as she unfolded the news paper.
Oh yeah, incase you were wondering, Joe and Claudia got engaged for a bit, but then broke it off, because Claudia caught him cheating with his ex girlfriend Elyssa... apparently him and Elyssa ended up getting married on some tropical beach out in Maui somewhere.

"So what did you guys have planned for today?" Claudia asked, opening up the print. "It is your birthday after all."

I wasn't paying attention to her, but rather what was displayed on the front page of the morning paper;
'Aerosmith getting back together for European tour. First stop; Samarinia!'