The Runaway Princess

Epilogue

"Hello Jocelyn."
"Mr. Jones, I didn't know you were coming today?"
"Well, I came to talk to your husband about the borders."
"Is everything alright?"
"Yes, Jocelyn." He laughs easily. "Just came to check on them with Connor."
"Well, he's out back. He's talking with his father, so just hang for a second."
"Of course." He smiles and walks towards the back sliding door.
Mr. Jones, or Alex Jones, is the king of Roseden. The country from the South that threatened us when Connor and I became leaders. It's been three years since we've became king and queen, and nothing related to a war has came upon us. We settled our rivalry by sharing our borders. Now the south can come in, for a price, and we can go into their borders, for a price.
"Sky, can Ashley and I go over to the golf course?" Landon rushes down the stairs. "Please?" His 'friend' comes rushing behind him.
"Sure." I sigh, louder than intended. "Just be back before dinner." I yell as they rush out the door. Within seconds it's silent, but he runs right back in and kisses my cheek before racing back out once more.
"You should've never allowed him to bring a friend." Ava comes out of the kitchen.
"I miss my little bro." I smile lightly. "I mean, he's ten! Ten! When did he get so- so old?"
"You mean when did you get so old." She snickers.
"Twenty-one is not old."
"But forty is?" She teases.
"Maybe older-" She pushes my shoulder with no force.
"I am still your mother." She sighs, holding her stomach.
"How's Tony?"
"I knew that was coming. You didn't ask my entire visit."
"He usually comes with you, and I didn't want to bring it up if you didn't want to talk about it...."
"He's getting worse, and it's getting harder for him."
"He's going to be okay though, right?" She sits beside me and takes my hands.
"I don't know..." She sighs, "Lung transplants are hard to find alone, minus the fact he won't accept one."
"Why not? He needs one!"
"I know; you don't think I haven't breathed that down his neck?" She looks away, "He blames himself; 'I was the one who chose to smoke.'"
"He's thick headed; stubborn! Like you." I poke her shoulder.
"Well, this thick headed, and stubborn mother needs to get going."
"Have you said goodbye to Connor?"
"No, but I'll see him next week." She stands up and gets her bag by the door. "I'll see you later, Skylar."
"Bye, Ava." She opens the door and waves as she leaves.
I lean back and take a deep breath.
I'm exhausted.
"You can't be tired now!"
"But I am!" I fake whine.
"I guess you do have a pass."
"Thank you, Johnny."
He comes down the stairs and helps me stand.
"How's minnie you?"
"Making me crave every since edible thing." I groan, feeling my tummy rumble.
"Well, we don't have everything, but we do have yogurt!"
"Do we now." I smirk, eyeing the kitchen door.
Yes. I'm prego.
About eleven weeks in and I'm eating everything out of the cabinets...
I've complained a lot. About the cramps, morning sickness... The emotions. Ugh, the emotions. Connor has actually accused me of being the baby. One moment I want a romantic picnic, and then the next moment the sun hurts and I want to live in my bed for the rest of my life.
Connor was more excited than me when we first found out, but only because I didn't think I could have kids. I was a little caught off guard, and maybe a part of me didn't want kids; but all that's changing now.
I'm readying myself, a little nervous and scared, but I got my man.
After Johnny helped me find the yogurt, he had a call from his own three year old. Yes, his wife had a baby. I padded out into the living room again, checking on my husband and our guest, barefoot; my feet have been hurting for the last two weeks. I see the two shake hands and I tip toe quickly back into the kitchen. I watch quietly while licking my spoon.
"Tell your wife I said goodbye."
"Thanks Alex, good luck."
"You too." They depart with laughter and the sound of the door shut. I watch Connor take a deep breath and lean against the door.
Our lives are hard. And constant. Never ending, never stopping.
"Hey baby." He stands straight as soon as I enter. "Barefoot again?" I shrug my shoulders,
"Sit with me." I pat the top of the sofa, and he obeys. I join him, laying my head on his shoulder and bunching my feet up beside me. "Do you ever regret it?"
"Regret- oh no. Of course not! I got to marry the most wonderful woman, and I'm getting a little rascal in the near future. It may be a little overwhelming sometimes, but I also got all of Maatira... She's one heck of a country."
"Do you like running it though?"
"Why are you suddenly asking all these deep questions?"
"I don't know... You seem, unhappy."
"Unhappy?" He snorts, which makes me smile. "I have all that I need." He kisses my forehead.
"You're sure?"
"I'm positive." He winks at me. I drag my hand through the side of his hair, and onto the side of his cheek. Right on cue, my phone buzzes, which makes me jump.
"Don't move." I point at him as I stand, and he surrenders as he lays down on his back. I check the caller ID, not looking forward to another prank call. It's number was unknown, but it could actually be someone important... Could be. "Hello."
"Oh my God..." I hear mumbles, that sound very familiar-
"Hello?"
"This can't be happening." Whoever it is, she's crying, hysterically. "Move, baby, move!"
"Who is this?"
There's silence, and then a squeal of sadness. Then shouting starts accuring.
"No! Get away! Stay away!" She's screaming, but out of nowhere she just shuts up.
"That'll teach her. Now come on, load him in!" A man with a deep voice instructed.
"No..." She sounds druggy, they probably hit the poor woman... What the heck is happening? Then my blood turns cold. "Gus! Gus!"
I barely made out his name, considering she's crying so hard and despair swallows her voice. Squealing from a distance fade off, like a vehicle of some kind.
"Mae?" My throat feels as if it closes up as I say her name.
"Hello?" She says as she continues bawling. "Who is this?"
"Mae, it's me...." My eyes tear up. I haven't heard from her in so long, and this is the reunion I get? "It's Skylar." She sobs more.
"They took him Sky... They shot him... And then shoved him in a van..." She continues crying; so hard I can barely hear her. "He wasn't moving...."
"We can help... We'll find him!"
"What if he's already dead Sky?" She sobs more and I feel a hand on my shoulder.
"What's going on?"
"Mae, I'm putting you on speaker so Connor can hear you." His eyes widen at her name.
"Connor..." She mumbles. "Help me. Please."
"What do you need? You know I will do anything for you."
"I need help." She breathes before crying more, "I need a lot of help."
"With what? Tell us and we'll help you Mae." I try to comfort my friend, but we also need to know what just happened.
"Gus got kidnapped."

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- Emuna_Jasmine