The Selection Epilouge

I'd just like to preface w a disclaimer, this was written so long ago. i apologize for the childish plot and funny mistakes. i still get joy from reading and writing this so i hope whoever finds this does too.
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"America!- I mean, your majesty!"

I turn to find my little, now big, sister, May, rushing towards me. Her fiery red hair flows behind her like flames, and her youthful cheeks are flooded with joy as she immediately attacks me with a hug.

"Don't," I warn, "call me that. You're my little sister! You don't have to!"

She takes a look at me for a second before nestling back into me.

"I'm so happy Ames!" She says.

I don't say it out loud, but I'm beyond happy as well.

Not much later, Gerad and my mom come follow, never sparing an inch of personal space. We stay like this for a while, the absence of my father prominent, and I remind myself this is all I have left. Kenna has her own small family now, and Kota was bound to leave at any moment, but I'll have to remind myself to appreciate them as well.

"You have a nice family," Maxon laughs behind me.
"Sorry I took her away for so long."

Our wedding took place only a month after the king and queen's deaths, not only making the entire thing rushed, but kept us from having a lot of room to grieve. We waited another two months to have our honeymoon, agreeing our kingdom was in need of its Leaders. Upon deciding we were ready, our first stop was Italy, where the Italian royals had invited us to stay with them, going as far offering one of their seasonal estates, to which Maxon was advised he should decline; for political reasons anyway.

"Oh," my mom mumbles, "It's alright you."

Although brisk and unruly back at home, mom had transformed completely in the castle.

The lush, colorful clothing frames my family members like second skin, as if anything before this simply did not exist. Mom and dad would be so happy here together.

"Kota! James!" I hear a familiar voice.

"Hurry up Amer- the queen and king are here!" my older sister Kenna calls, a pink bundle nested in her arms.

Sarcastically, I huff.

"Oh my god! Seriously?! Maxon can you please make a law that states that the queens family has to call her by my name and treat me like a normal person?" I laugh at my ridiculous request.

Suddenly, we're all laughing. My brother and my brother in law standing closer to each other than i've ever seen them be without wanting to reap each other's throats open.

I guess the castle did that to people.

"Fine. I'm sorry," Kenna says, rubbing my cheek with her thumb. "I'm happy your back kid."

I feel Maxon nod behind me, and forget about whatever snarky comeback i was about to fire. I feel his fingers lightly resting on my neck, and a shiver runs down my spine. Memories of our trip flood in slowly, and I have to physically resist from making any faces.

*~*~*

"Your sister is a lot like you," Maxon observes, turning his head over to me.

Looking over I see May; a plate full of pink and red sweets sitting before her; beside it, a small salad plate containing a single serving of mac n cheese.

The Great Hall seemed just the way we'd left it, with Illean colors happily adorning the walls, and paintings of previous rulers hung above the doorways. Servants bussed about, placing warm food in front of us, the sweets being placed too close to May for anyone's liking.