Out From the Shadows

Epilogue

2 months later...

My wife brutally closes the bedroom window that I had mistakenly left open. This winter seems to be light with snow and missing its bite . Almarie still blames the cold for the flu she has gotten, leaving her achey and with an upset stomach.

"Spring can't come fast enough," she groans as she flops onto our bed and bundles herself in blankets. I laugh at her comment and earn a glare.

"What happened to the girl who loved nature?" Almarie thinks about it for a moment.

"I never said I didn't, I just don't enjoy vomiting and feeling sick," She snarls my way and burrows deeper into the warmth of the blankets.

"I told you we can go see a medic. He should have some tonic or another to help," I say in a matter-of-fact tone.

"I survived this long without help and I'm not going to start now," she says. I can barely make out her words through all the layers she is under.

"You don't give me enough credit. What if I wasn't there to catch you when you almost fell out our bedroom window last week?"

"I wasn't the one to leave the textbook on the ground in front of an open window which I didn't leave open," she snaps. I see her logic and refuse to keep this banter up. She needs to rest and get better before the Winter Party next week.

"Fair point Al," I concede and from my position sitting on the bed, I lean down and dig through all the blankets. After finding her head, I settle a kiss on her forehead and she can't hold back her smile.

"I love you Almarie."

"Go away! I'm trying to sleep," she mumbles but deep down, I know she enjoys my company and loves to tease me.

"Alright, I'll go down and tell father that you need to be confined to bed for a couple more days and can't come to Aunty's with me." I rise from the bed and head for the door. Shuffling goes on behind my back and the wood panels on the floor creak as Almarie runs and tackles me.

"I'm up! Just don't leave without me." With that, she runs to the bathroom to shower and dress for the trip to Aunty's, Almarie's favorite place besides here.

She hasn't forgiven her parents for giving her up to me, but I know that she is relieved Camille didn't go along with their execution. The Queen let them leave with me and we haven't seen them since, although I suspect they went back home to try and return to normal.

Once I arrived home from the palace, I was greeted by Almarie and my father, who both seemed happy after such a trying week. It may have something to do with the bond they created in my absence that at first startled me, but I am now grateful for.

The wedding was pulled forward and we married a month after the fiasco. It was a beautiful ceremony and one that was wanted by all members.

Almarie returns from the bathroom drying off her hair with a towel. She had on slacks and a comfortable blouse, lazy attire compared to what she usually wears. I watch her, fascinated that this beautiful woman was my wife. She looks at me and smiles, teeth and all.

"We better get going; don't want to keep Aunty waiting," she says. Aunty just adores Almarie and it almost rivals my own feelings of her.

I take her hand in mine and we leave for Aunty's.

*******

"Almarie!" Aunty comes barreling from her home and gobbling her in a ginormous hug. I feel a bit upset that I don't receive this treatment, but I know that they have a special bond.

"Careful Aunty, Al has been sick lately and I don't want her to have a setback," I say as it seems that she is suffocating my wife. Aunty lets her go but Al is smiling and all signs of being ill is gone.

"Why didn't you send for me? I could have taken care of her," she scolds me with a scowl.

"I think it's just a flu, nothing too much," Al says while putting a loving hand on Aunty's arm to calm her down. It works.

"Alright, well I better make you some herbal tea." She leads the two of us inside and we sit in the well sized living room on the worn couches from her own childhood. My mother and her grew up in this house and was passed down to Aunty when my grandparents died.

Al snuggles into me and I wrap an arm around her shoulders. Aunty makes an appearance from the kitchen with a tray of tea and small cookies. She then proceeds to sit on the leather chair opposite of us and just stares.

"You two make a fine couple; I just can't wait until you have kids!" She says with a huge grin displayed on her face. "Those darlings are going to be so adorable and you'll  have to bring them over so they can play with their Aunty!"

I smile at the thought of little rascals running around, but I don't understand why she would bring up such a random thought.

"Ooh, come now! You both aren't that naive!"

It must dawn on my face because Aunty's smile grows even bigger and she takes a cup of tea and sips it innocently. I look over at Al and she seems to reach the same end that I have. Her smile lights up her face and the look in her eyes is the same as when we were up at the alter, saying our vows. I squeeze her closer to me and kiss the top of her head.

My family is now complete.