Fallen From Grace

Part 13

When she awoke again it was with a start and she shot straight up. Taking in her surroundings she didn't recognize where she was. It was vaguely familiar but still different. She looked around trying to figure out which room in the castle she was in when a hand reached out and touched her shoulder. She jerked in response and let out a little squeak.

"Emilia, it is okay." A very warm and secure voice said to her. It was her safety and she looked up into those very heart melting eyes and almost burst into tears of relief. "You are safe now." She laid her head on his chest and listened to his heart, a heart that would always belong to her. She felt as he ran his fingers through her tangled hair and was about to speak when he spoke before her. "It did what you had to do so don't think for one minute it could have happened any other way.

"But I took another life." It was as if he could read her thoughts, her fears. "How do I come back from that?" He pulled her up until she was looking into her eyes once again.

"You think nothing more of it and you thank God that you were faster because it you hadn't been it could very well have been you. You are a survivor and always will be. That is one of the things I love about you."

"Well then I guess it is lucky I talked you into giving me those lessons so long ago." She said with a bit of a smile. This earned her first a confused looked and then she noticed the flecks of humor littering his features. He pulled her into a hug and held her as if he would never let go.

"Yes lucky for that."

"So what happens now?" She asked not really sure if she wanted to know the answer.

"Well your step mother will be dealt with."

"Even though she was unkind to me she was still my step mother and I do feel bad for her. She was desperate and doing what she thought that she must no matter how deranged."

"Now she will pay for that derangement, but enough about that I have a bit of good news for you." She looked up at him in surprise wondering what it could possibly be.

"What good could come from all of this?" She asked quietly.

"Apparently your father's fortune." It took her a minute to process what he was saying.

"What about my father's fortune?" This was the first she had of anything of the sorts.

"There was a stipulation in his will that if anything where to happen to your step mother and sister you were to inherit everything, including your father's boats that he used for trading. He also left you with a title." Emilia was speechless and completely unsure how to respond. "What does my little princess have nothing to say?" He smiled down at her.

"I am just unsure what all of this means."

"Well for one it leaves you a very wealthy woman. It leaves you with an assortment of possibilities."

"Such as...?" She asked thinking she already knew the answer to it

"Such as having a say in who you can marry." Her heart suddenly skipped a beat at the mere possibility of what he was saying.

"Are you saying what I think you are saying?" She looked up at him as he suddenly took her hands and slid to the floor on his bended knee. He looked up at her with all the love in the world.

"Emilia, my best friend, my love and my true companion. I love you with all of my heart and am so sorry that I haven't realized that until recently. You are my heart and soul. You challenge me and complete me. Will you do the honor of being my wife?" She wasn't sure what to say. She wasn't sure if this was even real. She felt as if she was in a dream but for once it was a good dream. Through her tears of happiness she gripped his hands even tighter and prayed that this was indeed very real.

"Sebastian my love, my savor. You complete me in every possible way. You have made me stronger and a better person. Of course I accept your proposal." The sentence was barely out of her mouth when he stood up and pulled her up to him giving her a kiss. As she smiled into his lips she knew that this was where she would want to be until the end of her days.

Epilogue

Five years later...

It had been five long and happy years. After Sebastian and Emilia had been married, with the Kings very ecstatic blessing, they had settled on a small farm not that far from court. They still ran her father's business of trading in several different locations as well as making occasional appearances at court. Their life was happy and fulfilled with a sense of peace unlike anything she had ever experienced before. She stood on the stoop of her home looking out at the two children who play out before her, twin boys four years old, both so much alike but also so very different. One with his mother's red hair and father's eyes, the other with his father's hair and mother's eye's. She smiled as they bother perked up at the sound of approaching horse hooves. Emilia looked up to see her husband approach with a big smile on his face as he caught sight of his ever growing family, soon to be one more.

"Papa!" The two boys shouted as they ran to their father who quickly swooped both of them up as he approached his wife. Setting the boys down he pulled her close to give her a kiss before kneeling to kiss the child that was growing inside her.

"So how are my girls today?" He asked as he looked up at her happiness and love filled his eyes.

"You are so sure it's a girl."

"Absolutely." He said with a grin before standing up and kissing her one more time before he stood behind her and pulled her back to him so that his hands could rest on her growing stomach and watched their boys play before them. She turned her head so that she could look up at him.

"How did it go?" He had just returned from duty at court.

"Well, Mary was asking about you. She would like to visit after the baby is born." She smiled at him before turning back to watch her boys.

"I think I would like that." He kissed the side of her forehead before he said the three little words she never tired of hearing.

"I love you." Which she returned before turning back to the boys calling them in for the evening meal. After a few groans and complaints they complied with a stern look from their father. Before she closed the door for the night she looked up to the sky and thanked her father and God for the turn of events that gave her such a good life. Emilia was finally able to come home.

THE END