The room was empty when she stepped inside, save for the five bodies dressed and laid out in their coffins. She had requested she be alone, a request the guards were apprehensive to allow. But the ornate coronation crown she'd been wearing had been replaced with a more simplistic one that the late Queen Adirenne had worn plenty of times was a reminder of who she was.
She sat among the dead for a long time, letting her thoughts wander. Did they really need to die? Certainly not Jakob, the boy who had become a brother during those long months of traveling. Certainly not Mike, the man who had stepped in to be her father like figure while she was here. Certainly not Tre, the man who became a friend and strived to always make her smile. Certainly not Joseph, the one who despite everything had a piece of her heart. Even Adrienne didn't deserve to meet death like this.
But neither had Vic's brother Mike. Neither had her father Pete's closets friend Ryan. Neither had Halsey, neither had Hayley, neither had any of those innocent people Astoria had heard about in whispers.
And that was the price of war.
She never return to that room. Not even when she was asked if she wanted to ensure that they looked like they should before the coffins were closed for the last time.
*
"Mommy, grandpa says it's time to wake up," the two year old squealed in delight as he struggled to climb onto the bed. Two hands reached down and scooped the little boy off the floor and toss him into a pile of pillows. He giggled, attempting to swat away the hands that were tickling him, but how could he when there were four hands and he only had two?
"Stop!" he begged.
The little boy's parents stopped almost immediately and settled back into bed, cuddling the newest addition.
"What does grandpa want, baby? It's too early to be up," Astoria muttered as she attempted to fall back asleep.
"Not a baby," he said stubbornly, crossing his arms over his chest and pouting adorably.
Astoria cooed at the sight, and brushed her son's black hair away from his eyes. "I'm sorry, big man. What does grandpa need?"
"You!" he shouted and before either parent could react, he was flying off the bed and zooming out the door.
"Well," Astoria sighed. "He's got your father's personality."
Milo laughed as he watched her get out of bed. "Hopefully this one get's Dallon's."
"Hopefully."
The castle had changed a lot over the past five years. No longer was it filled with darkness and the haunting memories of the past. Instead laughter and light filled the halls, erasing everything that had taken place.
"Let's go see what everyone wants before Casey comes back," Astoria said as she tugged Milo out of bed.
Nearly everyone had crammed themselves inside the large dining room by the time Milo and Astoria made it down stairs. The two looked around curiously, but after a chorus of Happy Birthday they both understood.
There had never been a set day for Astoria's birthday, but Mikey was as good of a guess as anyone, so they went by his calculation every year, resulting in a less-than-accurate birthday.
"You guys," she said with a blush. "Do we have to do this every year?"
"Of course we do, love," Oli said, pulling her into a hug.
Hugs and kisses were exchanged with gifts and food. The kingdom would be hosting a celebration soon, and everyone would have to be there.
The people who had once been oppressed by the late King Billie and his family happily accepted their new queen. Those who had lived lavishly had tried to revolt, to have her crown taken from her; however, Astoria had been married to Joseph, something no one could deny. And after it had been pointed out there was no argument after that.
So Queen Astoria had married Milo two years after she became queen, and their son Casey was the first of the royal children. More were following—Milo was hoping for twin girls this time around—and in no time they would need a bigger castle.
Copeland had found a husband of her own, one of the guards she'd met during her time as Astoria's lady in waiting. Alex and Alan continued to be part of Astoria's personal guard, Jack, Austin, and Oli joining. Gabe and William had started a doctor's office in town. Taylor had gone off in search of a greater calling, though she still kept in touch. Brendon, Dallon, Pete, and Patrick all hung around the castle day in and day out, working on spoiling Casey rotten and extending relations with other nations and planets to increase trade production.
And Astoria ruled her nation firm but fairly for the rest of her days, writing the first pages of a new dawn. And when she silently passed away just shy of her 97th birthday, the entire galaxy mourned.
The End
