Nathan searched the hallway for a specific best friend of his. He had a small box tightly in his hand, as to not drop it. He rounded a corner and down some stairs until he was met with the damp atmosphere of the cleaning chambers. He made it through the maze of laundry, past multiple maids, and he avoided the large tubs of collected water. He spotted a head of brown, choppy short hair and quickly made his way over to the girl with the tattoos.
"Hey, Jeanie," Nathan said, smiling a happy bright smile.
"Hello, your majesty," Jeanie said sarcastically, "When are you leaving? I hope soon." The girl was talking about his return to his kingdom. Jeanie said it with the same sarcastic tone, but a twitch in her expression made her look as if she wasn't as happy about it on the inside.
"Aww, you are going to miss me? So sweet," Nathan teased, "Don't worry, I'll keep in touch. And, for your information, I'm leaving tomorrow BUT a little birdy told me that your wedding is this evening. Can't miss that, can I?"
"I didn't invite you," Jeanie huffed, "Actually, I didn't invite anybody. She and I don't have much family, so we're keeping it one-on-one. No people unless it's a priest, and he's only there because he's necessary."
"At least tell me I get to see you in a wedding dress," Nathan smiled, but Jeanie pursed her lip and threw some dirty clothes from one bin to a tub. "No! Nononono- Don't tell- DO NOT TELL ME you're not even wearing a dress?!"
"Can't afford one," Jeanie sighed, "I'm not royalty, remember?"
"So you mean to tell me," Nathan started, "That you are not having anybody at your wedding, no dresses, and no rings?! What kind of wedding is that?!"
"A cheap one," Jeanie said, rolling her eyes.
"No, that's a freaking depressing one, if you ask me," Nathan huffed, "I can't stand it. I want you to have the best wedding ever."
Jeanie was not smiling, but she wasn't frowning...it was more like a sad, distant look.
"...which is why," Jeanie looked up at Nathan to see him displaying the small box he brought, "That, even if I can't throw you the greatest wedding day ever, I could at least give you these."
Nathan held out the box, and Jeanie took it, looking at it skeptically. She hesitantly took it in her hands, and slowly lifted the lid to the box.
Inside, on a small cushion, lay two rings: one plain, like a simple wedding band, and another sparking with diamonds. They were simple, nothing extravagant, but still beautifully feminine without being extreme.
Jeanie's mouth was wide open.
"I-Where did you get these?!" Jeanie asked, looking back up at Nathan with wide eyes.
"Let's just say I know a guy," Nathan smiled, "Do you like them? I thought they were subtle but pretty- perfect for the Queen of Tattoos and Lesbians and her mistress, don't cha think?"
Jeanie gave Nathan a one-armed hug, careful not to drop the rings from the box, and smiled.
"Thanks, idiot," Jeanie said, before pulling back, "I mean, really, thanks. This means a lot to me...and my fiance."
"Speaking of which, why haven't I met her yet?" Nathan said, "I mean, we've been best friends for what? A month? I should at least know who this mysterious 'fiance' is."
"For your information, her name is Iris Grace," Jeanie said, her voice getting a little lovey-dovey when she said her lover's name, " And she is a sweetheart with a killer pain tolerance."
"Oh really? Tell me more," Nathan said, teasing but honestly interested in what she was saying, "What does she look like?"
"She has this beautiful black hair that she never cuts, it's like her precious baby. But she lets me touch it and comb my fingers through it. She has tattoos all over her because of me, but she really loves my art and asks for them all of the time," Jeanie said, getting happy talking about her soon-to-be wife, " And now her name is soon going to be Iris Katz...or should it be Iris Katz-Grace? I'm still on the fence about that."
"Sounds interesting," Nathan said, genuinely smiling, "You'll have to visit the kingdom of Mare on your way back from your honeymoon! Unless there's no honeymoon?"
"Oh, trust me," Jeanie nodded, "I've saved up for the honeymoon. It won't be grand, but it'll be romantic, lemme tell you."
"Ooh, what do you got planned?" Nathan asked happily,
"How about I tell you during that visit you mentioned?" Jeanie said, "Don't want to risk jinxing it."
"You're killing me, Jeanie. I can't even come to your wedding, which I'm sad at by the way," Nathan pouted.
Jeanie chuckled, "Iris's brother is the same way. He's the only family she's got, but he's really overprotective and he thinks our wedding is basically considered eloping. Which it's not. We just want to be in the moment together, only us. But he's bitter because he's not invited."
"I'm bitter too," Nathan huffed and playfully crossed his arms, " We should form an alliance and rise up in protest at this ridiculousness."
"I would love to introduce you two, but I'm afraid that it will cause the idiocy to spread, "Jeanie grumbled, "How about this? After the wedding, I can sit you two down and give you all of the details you want."
"You'll regret offering me this later, but YES!" Nathan cheered, "Now if you'll excuse me, I got to get David prepared for our leave tomorrow, but before I go...I might not see you before you leave for your honeymoon so-"
Nathan gave her a full hug.
"Have fun!" Nathan said with a wink, and ran back through the maze of hanging clothes, almost tripping on a towel that was dropped on the floor.
"Idiot," Jeanie mumbled underneath her breath, but she was still smiling.
~{()}~
Nathan gave Derrick a hug, much to the prince's displeasure, but quickly retreated to David in order to avoid getting a black eye. He wrapped his arm comfortably around David's shoulders, making the younger blush. Jake came up and hugged David, making him promise to visit or vise versa every so often. Their friendship was important, but it wouldn't last long with so much distance between them. Jake was going to miss having his best friend at an arm's reach, but he was glad that both David and Nathan were together.
His vision had come true.
David was twisting a small brass bracelet on his wrist: Nathan's present to him on his birthday (AN/ -That the author forgot to mention in the B-day chapter oops...).
He was nervous but excited. David had never really traveled far from the forest, but now, here he was, going to live in a castle with his very own king. A king who would love him forever and ever until time ended by whatever means they face denouement, there and forever more will he have Nathan by his side.
It was a very crazy, mind-blowing thought, but it was an even sweeter fruit to taste when he realized it was true.
And after all of his past with ridicule, his present with protection, and, hopefully, his future with love, he will get to share every bit and piece with the person who's arm squeezed him into his side. This person, whose radiant smile could light up the room, let alone his heart, and whose smile was trained on him as they turned to leave the Castle of Mac Tíre
David couldn't wait to meet his new home
~{()}~
As soon as Nathan left, Derrick let out a sigh of relief, as if Nathan being at the castle had been exhausting. He dove into Jake's chest and wrapped his arms around Jake's torso and smiled a little.
Jake loved that smile.
"Now that he's gone I can be open without being teased," Derrick explained, nuzzling into Jake's shirt.
"I'm glad," Jake said with glee, "We can snuggle anytime we want now."
Derrick snorted and rolled his eyes, "If you're going to squash me with cuddles, I want a favor in return. You come horseback riding with me."
Jake groaned, "Fine. Anything for snuggles with my kitten."
That's right, Pickle said, Anything for our mans.
But what surprised Jake, even more, was the smile that Derrick gave. It was by far the biggest smile Jake had gotten out of him.
"Really?" Derrick said, like a little kid, his eyes lit up, "You really would?"
Oh now you have to agree, Pickle urged, If you don't, I'll smack you upside the head with my non-existant hands!
Jake had to chuckle at that.
"Of course I would, Kitten," Jake said, leaning into Derrick's bubble.
"Anything for you."
----------------------------
1708 words
LONG A/N BUT IT'S WORTH IT. MAYBE.
I was GOING to make a whole big shizzam wedding for the epilogue until I GOT to the epilogue and then I was like pffftt I'm a tomboy with absolutely no knowledge of stuff like weddings. I literally looked up on Google "How do weddings work?"
And then I messaged my friend, who's just like me and her only reply was "i dunno jack sh** bout weddings". And then I was like, well THEN IM NOT GONNA DO ONE 'cause I know I'm not going to do it right somehow. And then I just went through this epilogue not knowing what the freak I was writing about but I hope you liked it.
BUT DO NOT FEAR! I may add some short-stories or some random stuff after the end of this book, so you guys won't be starved of Derrick/Jake or Nathan/ David moments for long.
ANYWAYS!!! THE NEW BOOK I HAVE BEEN MENTIONING IS CALLED "Ghost Guardian" and it's going to be first Updated on April 11th (hopefully), this Thursday WHICH IS ALSO MY BIRTHDAY! I will be turning 16! Yay!
I have someone making the cover for me, but until they are finished, I will be using this cover that I made myself a long time ago!
HOPEFULLY, I GET TO SEE YOU THERE!!!
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR READING NO BETTER THAN THE BEASTS xoxo