The morning light painted the landscape in a stunning gold as Wesley buried his toes in the shallow surf. He closed his eyes and basked in the warmth of the sunrise, grateful for the moment of peace it provided.
A few gulls called out against the wind as they scoured the beach for their breakfast, but apart from them and the shifting tide, all was quiet.
Warm arms wrapped around him from behind and Wesley easily leaned back into the toned chest of his mate. Soft lips met the nape of his neck briefly and a content smile crossed his own.
Valentine's arrival was followed closely by the pitter patter of tiny, unsteady feet slapping against the wet sand. Wesley turned his head to see Waverly's long, snowy hair graze the water as she stooped in search of washed up seashells.
"Good morning," Valentine's voice still rumbled with the deepness of sleep.
"Morning," he responded in an easy tone.
"Trouble sleeping again?" Valentine asked.
Wesley shrugged.
Their adventures had not been the most friendly to his mind, especially his subconscious. Often, when he closed his eyes his dreams were filled with lonely cells, bleeding hands, and harm to his mate.
Occasionally Valentine would rouse from a shattering dream of his own, but time and family were slowly taking the bite out of his bout in the afterlife.
"Daddy look!"
Wesley looked down at the girl next to his knee and crouched lower to examine the cream and pink colored shell she held in her hands.
"That's a pretty one," he smiled at the wide golden eyes that had stolen his heart. They sought his approval and he was more than willing to give it. She smiled wide at his words, turning to Valentine for his approval next.
"Papa?" She asked.
Valentine leaned forward with his hands on his knees and squinted as he exaggeratedly examined it with extreme particularity.
"Hmmm," he hummed after a few moments, keeping her on edge. Then, unable to stand the ruse any longer, he broke out in a smile. "I like it. Where'd you find it, princess?"
And just like that, Valentine was being dragged down the beach, his spine bent to accommodate the little hand that held his.
After leaving Aurelia, Valentine and Wesley had bought an island that was secluded, but only half a day's swim from the mainland. Wesley had sold his townhouse, and that revenue on top of the massive gifts of scales they'd received from the Aurelian people had been more than enough to build their own safe haven to raise the little princess.
Their little cottage faced east, while on the other side of the island, a cabin had been built for Andromeda and her newly freed mate Hectare. Neither seemed to mind watching their adopted granddaughter when Valentine and his mate needed time to themselves.
Wesley thought of Ambrose on occasion. He wished the man could've met Waverly before he returned to his duties beneath the library, but Wesley suspected that by now, the wielder had likely forgotten he had a son again.
It was a cruel blow to an already festering wound, but Wesley would just have to accept it and find solace in his new family and the overwhelming love they shared.
As Wesley eyed the man he loved talking animatedly with the daughter they shared, he decided they might be due for another day to themselves soon.
He smiled contentedly at the thought and walked down the beach to join his family.
----+------+----
Valentine lived a long life, but now that the end was near, it felt too short. He'd outlived Wesley by years, but that void, though always present, was partially filled by the presence of his, child, grandchildren, and great grandchildren.
The newest great granddaughter, only a few days old now, was named for him: Valeria. Like him, she had black hair and a black tail. Her eyes, though, were the same brilliant gold that carried through much of the family.
He was glad he lived long enough to meet her, but now, he could feel the icy breath of death breathing down his neck. He could feel time growing slower, and it seemed his family could feel it too. They gathered around him as he approached his eternal slumber.
Valentine remembered his time in hell vividly, and though he knew it was very possible that he was heading back to it, he didn't feel afraid. He had so many good memories to hold on to, and he had very few regrets to weigh him down.
He was ready.
"I love you, Papa," Waverly held his frail hand between hers. Beneath the waves, it was everything but the tears that told him she was crying.
"I love you too, princess," he said, despite the fact that she was a queen.
And then everything was fading.
He expected a darkness, like the first time. Instead his view of beautiful golden eyes bled to white. He felt like he was floating in a balmy sea made of ethereal light. It was warm and comfortable. Peaceful.
He closed his eyes and inhaled the familiar scent of the sea. He heard the gentle lapping of melodic waves forming foamy crests and collapsing again and again.
The light against his eyelids dimmed calmly, and when he opened his eyes, the sight that greeted him was a fluffy white cloud partially sheltering a warm midday sun.
Valentine looked down to see he was on the deck of a ship. His boots were a dark leather and a quick view of his hands revealed younger skin.
Clenching his fingers into a first, Valentine confirmed that they did indeed belong to him.
He looked ahead of himself, toward the taffrail of the ship, and found the billowing back of a cream colored shirt. It was tucked into a pair of brown trousers that led down to even darker brown boots. The man's hair was brown too, though as the sun caught it, it glowed like embers in a fire. He knew it anywhere.
Valentine's feet compelled him forward, and soon, he was standing beside the figure, staring out at an endless expanse of waves.
"Took you long enough," Wesley's voice drifted to him, a playfulness in his tone.
Valentine's lavender gaze twisted to meet a familiar blue. The man looked young and unburdened. He was happy and free in a way Valentine had never seen him be.
"Sorry," his voice cracked with the realization that Wesley was in front of him again. This didn't feel like hell did, but if it was a trick, it was bound to be the cruelest of them.
Wesley came closer and slipped his hand into the pirate's.
"I almost forgot what you looked like with a tricorn," the merchant mused, knocking the black leather hat upward slightly with his knuckle.
Valentine hadn't realized he was wearing one.
"Is this real?" Valentine asked softly.
Wesley shrugged. "I don't know. But it feels real." As if to demonstrate, he moved closer and connected his lips to his lover's. "And I'm happy, so it doesn't really matter, does it?"
Valentine nodded. It didn't matter. As long as he had Wesley, nothing else did.
"I'm glad you're here now," the merchant smiled. "I missed you."
"I missed you, too," Valentine agreed.
Wesley placed his hands on either side of Valentine's face and looked at him fully.
"Come," he said. "I think it's time for you to meet my mother and sister."
And Valentine did.
Fin.
----+------+----
A/N
Ah, the end of an era.
That's the end of Dark Waters Rising. I hope you enjoyed it.
Obligatory end of book questions:
1.) What was your favorite part?
2.) Who was your favorite character?
5.) What is the airspeed velocity of an unladen swallow?
Thank you so much for joining me on this journey. Please consider checking out my other stories!
Until next time,
-Mora Montgomery