The Sergeant's Senator | Chapter 3

Play Pretend Part 2 will be very smutty. That’s all I’m gonna say.

definitely name the baby beth, like the kiss song. i read a tom holland fic once where the baby’s name was beth and i can’t get enough it’s so cute

I’m so in love with the name Beth! I want to name my daughter that whenever I have one

The Royal Family | Chapter Three

Summary: When two royal family’s decide to conjoin their countries, they arrange a marriage between their eldest children. Once the two royals meet, it takes a lot of convincing before they are ready to begin their reign together...

Warning: sexual tension, flirting, mentions of injury

Pairing: Tom Holland x Reader

Type: The Royal Family Series

MASTERLIST

The light streaks through the boughs in both brilliant and shadowy beams. In the summertime they were white gold, illuminating the greens into virescent riots; yet the gift of those warm days has passed for the season. On the wintry days, the togs cast those same beams of light into sepia tones, and the woodland becomes the most beautiful of photographs. The trunks of fallen trees bare icicles longer than my hand, no two of them the same- more enchanting than any work of man.

Every twig and blade of grass grows winter "leaves" of ice crystals, frost thicker than the fleece in gloves. And never is the woodland silent, though it is quieter than any village street for sure. There are the birds above, calling, pecking for grubs. There is the movement of mammals, mostly small, sometimes not. There is the water that flows quietly until it meets the sharp rocky scree slopes and forms the raging waterfalls. The winter season was upon them.

The young princess was standing near her bedroom window, gazing at the beautiful landscape. Her eyes followed the small snowflakes littering the morning sky. The princess's eyes softened upon watching the snowfall in the early morning breeze. It was calming, almost relaxing.

"Your Highness," Elsie called behind her. The princess had turned her head to look over the small stretch of her shoulder, staring directly at the young servant standing in her presence. The young servant was holding a neatly wrapped present in her hands. She had been told to deliver it to the princess’s bedchambers.

“Yes?” Princess Y/N spoke.

"This came for you," Elsie claimed. The young servant had carefully placed the present on a nearby table. She took a step back. She bowed her head in respect.

The princess had furrowed her eyebrows in confusion. She was quick to walk towards the nearby table. She dropped her gaze to stare down at the neatly wrapped present. She could see a small note attached to the side of the package. She squinted her eyes to read the fine print of her own name.

“Who sent this?" Princess Y/N wondered.

"P-Prince Thomas," the servant said, stumbling over her words. "Says he nearly searched all of England trying to find it. It's quite rare to find...this time of year," the servant further explained.

"Well, you send my regards to Prince Thomas. Would you do that for me?" the princess of the east questioned. The servant nodded her head before taking a step back, curtsying for the princess. The servant turned around and walked towards the door, preparing to leave.

The princess of the east had turned her attention back towards the large present in front of her. She had taken the top off the present.. She set it to the side. Then she leaned forward to look into the nearly hollow box. Her eyes widened in realization.

Carefully, the princess slipped her hands into the contents of the box. She took hold of the gift. She pulled the small gift out of the box. She stared at the beautiful creation in utter disbelief. In her hands was a crown made of mostly white roses, which were her favorite flower (changed that). She could feel a small smile growing at the corners of her lips.

The princess looked at the crown of white roses, marveling over the natural beauty. She quickly turned around and looked at herself in the mirror. She lifted her hands, placing the small crown on her head. She had only wondered if he had crafted this himself.

Without hesitation, the princess of the east had turned to walk back toward the present on the table. She grabbed the small note attached to the present. She brought the note closer to her face, flipping the note over to read the back of it. It read:

the smallest things can warm the heart

The princess's soft pink lips curved into a smile. She had strode towards her vanity, sticking the small note into the wedge between the white polished wood and the shiny mirror. She smiled to herself again. What a thoughtful gift...

The northern prince was currently laying on the back, staring up at the ceiling of his quarters. His younger brother (Sam) was sitting in a nearby chair, reading over a letter that his mother had sent to him that morning. His other brother (Harry) was standing near the fireplace, looking into the mirror that hung above the mantlepiece.

"Your mother is asking about you, Thomas," King Dominic said. The elderly man was sitting at his writing desk, reading over the last letter from his beloved wife. He turned his head and looked at the letter again, reading over her fine message. "She is asking about this girl of yours,” King Dominic claimed.

"She is not my girt...not yet," Thomas mumbled quietly to himself.

"Tell me, brother," Harry said. He found himself spinning around on the heels of his feet to face his brother. He folded his arms across his chest. "When are you going to start calling on her? It's been nearly six months since we arrived. She is of age now. It's not deemed inappropriate or forbidden. When will you start courting her?" Harry wondered.

Hesitantly, Thomas turned his head and looked at his younger brother. He breathed a deep sigh and shrugged his shoulders in defeat. "I am calling on her," Thomas said in a low voice.

"What?" King Dominic said. He had completely disregarded the letter in his hands now. His eyes widened in surprise. The other princes were slightly taken back. The two of them leaned forward in anticipation, wondering how their brother could pull off such a thing.  

"What? How are you calling on her?" Prince Harry asked. He took one single step forward in his place. His arms were still folded across his chest. He seemed to only narrow his eyes at his brother like he was trying to challenge his words.

"I sent her flowers and...a note," Thomas said quietly. He had shifted into a sitting position on the couch. His legs swung over the side of the couch and placed his forearms on his knees, leaning forward in his place. He looked down at his hands, twiddling with his fingers nervously.

"You sent her flowers?" Prince Sam repeated. He was trying to ponder and process his older brother’s words, playing them over in his mind to find any flaws. “And a note?” Prince Sam also added.

"Y-Yes, I sent her white roses. There are her favorite flower. She told me months ago that her mother used to braid them into her hair. They remind the princess of her mother. I-I thought she might like to have some. So I sent them," the prince said, shrugging his shoulders in defeat .

"Where on earth did you find wild roses in the month of December?" Prince Harry wondered. His lips tugged into a devilish grin. He was just teasing his older brother. He could see the evident blush on his brother’s face.

"It was an appealing thought. I am sure she greatly appreciated your kind gift," King Dominic claimed. He nodding his head in acceptance. "Though, I am afraid that is not considered calling on someone,” King Dominic concluded.

"It's not?" Prince Thomas wondered.

"No," King Dominic said. He shook his head at him. He was quick to stand to his feet so that he could approach his oldest son. He had lifted his hand to place it on his son’s shoulder. "Courting is not simply about sending flowers to your significant other," King Dominic explained.

"Then...then what is it?" Prince Thomas questioned. He had turned his head to look at his father for an explanation. He watched his dear father sink into the seat right beside him on the couch. He was trying to collect his thoughts on the matter.

“Courting...courting is about intentionally bridling a foundation for marriage. It is a period of agreement entered between two people in love for them to be able to know each other between. It is a period of clarification that both participants are read and suited for a life-long companionship,” King Dominic further explained.

The young prince had taken those words to heart. He nodded his head understandingly. He was heavily relying on his father for assistance and guidance. He wanted to do things the right way.

"It's clarity. You shouldn't make a permeant decision for your temporary emotion. It a time for both of you to hopefully realize that you two we made for each other," King Dominic added.

The prince had turned his head to look down at his hands. He forced himself to swallow the heavy lump lingering at the back of his throat. He was slowly nodding his head in confirmation. The king had not taken his hand away from his son’s shoulder, keeping a firm grip on it. He did not hesitate to look down at his dear son with the softest and kindest smile on his face. He spoke his name softly.

"It is your destiny to marry her,” King Dominic concluded. The young prince had turned his head to look down at his hands again. His shoulders had slumped down at his sides. He shook his head. He had denied his father's words.

"I am not so sure she agrees to that," Prince Thomas mumbled to himself. He had this unsettling feeling down in the pit of his stomach. He gnawed on the inside of his cheek. He was thinking to himself.

“It may take some time," King Dominic agreed with him. He had nodded his head understandingly. He had dipped his head down to get a better view of his son. He could see the evident look of conflict in his son’s eyes. 

"But father," Prince Thomas begun. "I have never called on a woman before. I haven't even had my first kiss yet. I cannot woo her or make any romantic gestures. I-I don't know how to act around her. How can you expect me to start courting when I have no experience at all?" Prince Thomas explained.

"You do not need experience to love someone," King Dominic said with a simple shake of the head.   

The northern prince had turned his head to look at his father, tilting his head to the side in bewilderment. He repeated those words in his head. He couldn’t seem to say anything in response. Instead, Prince Thomas had leaned forward and listened intently to his father's wise words. He was most eager to hear more.

"When you kiss her, take your time. There is no place you'd rather be. You should kiss, but not like you're waiting for something else to happen like your hands going beneath her skirt or tangled in her corset strings. Nothing like that," the northern king said, waving his hand in the air.

The other brothers had been quick to direct their attention to the conversation. The two of them were looking at their father with the same spark of curiosity. The princes’ eyes were practically sparkling, listening intently to their father's love written poetry. They were making mental notes in their head.

"You ought to kiss her with a curious childish delight. You should laugh into her mouth, inhale her sighs, and swallow her moans. You should kiss her with her face in your hands or your hands in her hair. You need to put her closer by the waist, embrace her, hold her,” King Dominic continued.

At the given moment, Prince Thomas was too caught up in his father’s beautiful description. He had dropped his chin into the cup of his hand. He was staring directly at his father with this look of childish curiosity on his face. He had audibly sighed at his fine words.

"Take your time with her, boy. Treat her like the princess she is. You need to love her, ravish her. You should kiss her like the first and last piece of chocolate you're ever going to taste. You should savor her and savor the moment shared between the two of you,” King Dominic claimed.

Slowly, the King of the North had shifted his hand from his son’s shoulder to his backside. He patted his back once or twice. He found himself leaning forward in his place to make some final remarks.

“Kiss her..until she forgets how to count. Kiss her silent. Kiss her passionately. Kiss her lovingly. Come away, ask her a question —any question in the world— and I can guarantee you...she will say your name in answer,” King Dominic believed.

The young prince's lips curved into a soft smile. He was quick to turn his head away from his father. He had tried to hide the evident blush flooding his cheeks at the moment. He silently laughed to himself. 

“You do not need experience to love someone. You should already know —in your heart— that she is the one for you. You do not need consultation. You do not need a previous failed experience. You should already know that she is the one. You should already know that you love her,” King Dominic concluded.

With great hesitation, Prince Thomas had dropped his gaze to stare down at his hands lingering in the contents of his lap. He nodded his head in confirmation. He had forced himself to swallow the nervous lump at the back of his throat. He was fiddling with his fingers in a nervous manner.

"Now the question is..." King Dominic said. He had shifted closer to his oldest son. He had turned his head to look down at his son’s face with a small hint of curiosity in his eyes. He spoke: "Do you love her?"

The young prince lifted his head and looked at his dear father sitting beside him. He didn’t even that there were fresh tears gathering in the corners of his eyes. He had blinked once to force the tears down his cheeks. He pondered his thoughts for a brief moment. He nodded his head in answer to his father's question.

"Yes," Thomas breathed. "I love her."

It was an odd time of the year. The white snow would graciously fall down from the heavens, but the snow didn’t like to stay on the earth for very long. The snow would easily melt away once the sun had risen over the line of the horizon. The temperature was still low, but it wasn’t low enough to keep the snow from staying a little longer. It had rained the night prior.

The sweet surrendering scent of the morning dew filled the forest with a scent that did not belong on earth. The leaves from the tall trees by scattered on the forest floor; each of them turning brittle brown; there was a sound that crunched underfoot, pushing their papery dry remains deep into the soft soil. The dark shadows of the voluminous trees and the surrounding bushes had become the backbone of the forest, standing as passive protectors of a peaceful place. 

The rain fell down the blades of grass into the already wet soil, the droplets pausing on the surface before being sucked into the dark particles. The soil was so damp that the worms had surfaced to breathe and the crows fluttered over the grass with their inky wings, each of them eating at the sudden buffet. The earth was the richest tone having bathed in the rain.

The young princess was seated side-saddle on her black horse. She had taken the time to admire the beauty of the forest around her. She was relishing in the sweet scent of the damp forest ground. She had planned to go on a ride with the princes. The two princes were sitting on their own horses, standing at a short distance. They exchanged a small look. 

"You must forgive us," Prince Sam began. The princess snapped out of her daze before directing her attention to the two princes in front of her. She raised her eyebrows at them, mentally questioning them to enlighten her.

"Our brother," Prince Harry explained. "He is usually not this late. We could have been off on the trail by now if it hadn't been for his unusual tardiness," Harry said, shaking his head.

"Tis fine," Princess Y/N claimed. "I am a patient person." 

The princess looked away from the two princes, humming softly to herself in contentment. She closed her eyes and breathed a small sigh. She was basking in the beauty of the forest. There, she convinced herself that she could wait a few extra minutes for him to arrive for their ride through the forest. 

In a few minutes, the older prince trotted down the long dirt pathway on his white steed. He slowly approached the small group on his horse, pulling the reigns until the horse carne to a halt. The prince did not hesitate to apologize for being late.

"I am sorry," Prince Thomas said. "My father wished to speak with me upon the matters of my inheritance. He would not let me leave the study until all the details were sorted out. I am here now." 

Slowly, Prince Thomas had turned his head to look directly at Princess Y/N. When he looked at her, it was as if every ounce of breath was taken from his lungs. He could feel the whole world coming to a slow stop. His bright brown eyes were sparkling at the mere sight of her, gazing at her with a hint of interest in his eyes.

The two princes had turned their heads to exchange a well-knowing look. They were easily able to see that the two lovebirds were lost in each other's gaze. They had planned something in their heads.

"Dearest brother," Prince Harry said. He gently tugged on the reigns of his horse. "I'll race you to the end of the small pond for thirty pounds," Prince Harry tempted his twin.

“You're on,” Prince Sam yelled.

Together, the two boys clicked their heels against the side of the horse. The two horses darted off down the pathway, racing each other to see who would reach the pond first The two boys had found themselves forcing their horses to run faster, whipping the reigns. They clicked their tongues to encourage the horses to race to the very end. 

Once out of sight, the prince and princess were left alone to themselves. They were unattended and unsupervised. Slowly, Prince Thomas dismounted his horse by throwing his leg off the side of the mighty steed. He jumped down off his horse, holding onto the saddle for support. He walked towards the princess's horse, staring deeply into her eyes. 

The prince had shifted to approach the side of the horse. He did not hesitate to lift his hand, stroking the horse's mane in a calming way. He turned his head and looked up at the young princess staring down at him. He offered his other hand to her.

Slowly, the princess had lowered her hands onto the prince’s shoulders for support. The prince placed his hands on her waist before hoisting her off the saddle of the horse. He pulled her closer into his embrace, holding her firmly for a brief second. They stared into each other’s eyes, feeling lost in the world of emotion.

The young prince lowered the princess onto her own two feet, setting her down on the ground. They held onto each other for a moment, staring into each other’s captivating eyes. The two of them were quite hesitant to pull away from each other. They stood in an awkward silence for a brief moment.

“I never had the chance to thank you for the flowers by the way,” Princess Y/N cleared her throat. She had sheepishly lowered her gaze to stare down at her hands, hoping to find the blush on her cheeks. 

“You're welcome,” Prince Thomas replied. His lips had curved into the most genuine smile in the world. He was just able to see the small blush on her cheeks. It made his heart soar.

“Wherever did you find them?” Princess Y/N wondered. She had lifted her head to look up at him with this spark of curiosity in her eyes. She had subconsciously shuffled on the heels of her feet, standing at attention.

“I have my ways,” Thomas chuckled softly to himself. He didn't want to spoil it for her, so he choose to be as vague as possible. He could see his two brothers growing smaller and smaller in the distance. He turned his head to look back down at the princess of the east standing in front of him. “Shall we take a walk?” Thomas suggested.

The two royals had chosen to take a different pathway for their walk. It wasn’t even a real path at all. The forest did not seem to have any path. In the forest the sky vanishes almost completely, only a few fragments of blue remain- like scattered pieces of an impossible jigsaw puzzle. The air is rich with the fragrance of leaves and loam. Even so many hours after the rains have passed, the soil remains quite damp.

The only movement is the occasional bird, startling in a trees or a squirrel dashing up a nearby trunk. The sound of running water in the brook has the same hypnotic quality as music. The huckleberries are mostly red tart but with just the right amount of sweetness.

The two lovebirds had turned their and looked at each other as if they could already read each other's minds. In an instant, the two royals had started running through the vast forest. They could feel the smiles growing on their faces as the adrenaline pumped through their veins. 

The air had that smell of woodland before a rain, perhaps above the canopy, there are clouds fit to burst. It was dark for that time of day, no perhaps soon the filtered light will be accompanied by water droplets. The woodland floor was a million hues of brown, the crisp leaves from the tree had fallen some time ago. Some acorns littered the ground, having tumbled down from the tall pine trees. 

The trees were veiled in the lightest of mists, their trunks sombre brown with sable cracks that gnarl the bark. The vines and roots twisted beneath the canopy of leaves on the damp floor of the forest. The trees grew thicker at the trunks. The couple raced deeper and dee er into the dark forest.

The prince had taken off his riding cap as they raced keeping into the forest. The princess was holding onto the skirt of her dress, making sure she didn't trip or fall as she ran. She turned her head and looked behind her, laughing at the prince chasing her.

The princess didn't seem to notice the small incline nearing closer to her feet. A small hill —nothing too steep— was growing closer as they farther they raced. In a split second, the princess's foot caught underneath an uprooted vine. The princess tripped over the vine, falling down the small incline instantly. She gasped to herself. She had hoped that the prince would catch her, but it was far too late now. 

The prince's eyes widened in realization. The prince extended his hand, hoping to grab onto her before she fell on her back. Their fingers brushed together, but it was not enough to pull her to safety. The princess landed in a heap of leaves, hitting the solid dam forest round hard. She could feel the wind getting knocked out of her. She lay there for a brief moment.

"Are you alright? Are you hurt?" Prince Thomas wondered.  He was quick to drop down to her side. He had lifted his hand to hover over her body, checking for any exterior signs of injury. But he wouldn’t touch her without permission.

The princess had lifted her hand towards the front of her face, roughly brushing her hair out of the way. She didn’t seem to tear her dress (thankfully), but the silky material was absolutely drenched in wet mud. She could feel this sharp white pain in her ankle. She whimpered softly to herself for the pain was growing stronger with each passing second.

"M-My ankle. I must have twisted it," Princess Y/N groaned. She had gripped onto the skirt of her dress, maybe hoping that it would relieve her pain. The prince turned his head and looked in the direction of her feet. He directed his gaze back to her, choosing his next words very carefully.

"Mind if l have a look at it?" Prince Thomas questioned.

The princess turned her head to stare directly at him in disbelief. She had half expected to find this smug look on his face, but she was greeted by this look of innocence instead. He wasn’t joking or teasing her. He was being serious. He was staring down at her with the utmost look of worry and concern in his bright brown eyes.

It was not proper to have some boy looking underneath a woman's skirt, especially if she was unmarried. If a woman lifted her dress to show her ankle, it was considered very provocative. It was even worse since it was a flirtatious practice to gain attention or arouse interest. It would be deemed as indecent. It was a scandalize thought.

She wouldn’t dare...

He spoke her name softly. The princess of the east had blinked a few times, returning to reality. She turned her head and looked at her prince charming, contemplating whether or not to allow him to see her ankle. She forced herself to swallow the heavy lump in her throat before slowly nodding her head in agreement. 

With some hesitation, Prince Thomas had shifted downwards to move past her legs. He maintained eye contact at all times; something only a gentleman would do. He turned his head and looked down at her large skirt. He reached down and grabbed a small handful of her dress skirt in his hands, lifting her dress to reveal her swollen ankle. 

The hemline of the dress was pushed upwards, though it traveled no farther than her knee. He was gazing at the princess, mentally asking for her permission to continue. She found herself shifting in her place uncomfortably, thinking of how wrong it felt.

"I won't look at anything else," Prince Thomas reassured her. He had lowered his hand to grasp onto her ankle. He lifted her ankle to slip her shoe off her foot. He set her shoe to the side. Then he had lowered her foot to place it in his lap. Her white stockings were muddy and dirty, seeing as though she was running through a forest. 

The prince's fingers wrapped around her ankle, drawing a gasp from her lips. He was quick to lift his head to her, staring directly at her with worry and concern in his eyes. He moved her ankle around to make sure nothing was broken. He grasped onto her foot with both his hands, feeling around for any broken bones. 

"It...is a bit swollen," Prince Thomas acknowledged. "Does it hurt?" 

"O-Only sometimes. I-It depends on where you are touching it," Princess Y/N explained, shifting slightly in her place. The prince nodded his head understandingly. He dropped his gaze to look down and examine her ankle once again. He tried to get a better view of her foot.

Her knees were bent in an upright position. The prince had to reframe himself from sneaking a peek at her bloomers which were almost on full display for him. He took a deep breathe, holding it for few moments. He could feel the rush of heat rising to his cheeks. He forced himself to look away, mentally acknowledging that the temptation was too great. 

"Please, tell me when it hurts," Thomas said. He turned his head and looked at the princess. He moved his hands around her small ankle, feeling for any source of pain. "Here?" Thomas spoke softly.

The princess kept silent. 

"Or here?" Thomas suggested. His hands had moved to another small point in her ankle. He tilted his head to the side for he noticed that she was not speaking up. Little did he know, she was still at a loss for words. He moved his hand again. "Here?" Thomas wondered.

"Oh," Princess Y/N said, moaning in pain. She flinched as soon as his hand pressed against the swollen mound. She had lowered her hand to grasp onto her skirt, shifting the material away from her ankle. Her eyes were squinted together, focusing on the pain in her ankle. 

"There it is," Prince Thomas whispered. His lips had tugged into a small smile across his face. He could see the bright blush creeping onto her fragile face. "Do you think you can walk back to the palace?" Prince Thomas questioned. 

She couldn't seem to form any words. She timidly shook her head in denial. She could only wonder what he would do if she couldn’t walk back to the place. He found himself smiling at her timid reaction. He did not hesitate to take her other shoe off her foot. He handed her the pair of shoes to hold for the moment.

Then Thomas had shifted to her side and laced his arm underneath her bent legs. He placed this other arm behind her back to support her. He lifted her into his arms like she weighed no more than a small child. He had started walking back towards the pathway. He was carrying her bridal style through the vast forest. 

The princess was gazing at him like he was some knight in shining armor that he just saved her from a ferocious dragon. She had placed her hand on his broad chest to steady herself. Her dress was effortlessly flowing in the wind. Her little toes peeked out from her dress from the angle her was holding her. 

Once the two royals had made it back to the path, the other brothers of the prince were waiting for them. The two of them were standing beside their horses. They were quick to step forward in their place. They stopped themselves once they saw the situation unfolding in front of them. Their eyes widened in realization. 

"What the hell happened?" Harry questioned. He had shifted to stand beside his older brother. He took into account how the princess’s dress was muddy and tattered. He could also see that her hair was frizzed and frayed. He had just briefly seen her toes peeking out from her dress. He could only imagine what happened deep in those woods.

“The princess took a small tumble off an incline. She sprained her ankle. She needs to have a doctor look over it," Thomas explained to them. The two princes were scrambling to gather the horses. They needed to get back to the palace immediately. 

"We can help you mount your horse, princess," Sam said, offering his assistance. The older prince had turned his head and looked at his younger brother in confusion. He furrowed his eyebrows at him.

"What? Are you joking? Do you really think she can ride her horse all the way back to the palace alone?" Thomas said, challenging his brothers. He could see his two brothers shaking their heads in response. "Of course not! She shall ride with me,” Thomas insisted with a nod of the head.

"Oh, t-that's not necessary," the princess said, pipping up. "I-I can ride my horse just fine. It’s only for a few miles,” the princess claimed.

"Nonsense," the prince said, stalking towards his white horse. He did not hesitate to hoist the young princess onto the saddle of his horse, securing her in place. He swung his leg over the horse behind her, mounting his horse properly. 

The princess was seated in front of him, lacing her arms around his neck for security while her legs dangled off the same side of the horse. One thing was for sure, sitting side-saddle with someone accompanying you was no easy task. The prince laced his arms around the princess's waist, grabbing hold of the reigns. He clicked his tongue a few times to urge the horse down the pathway with his brothers trailing behind him. 

Once the small group had returned to the palace, a flood of servants had hurried to them. The servants had been fretting over them. They asked a number of questions. The young prince dismounted his horse in an instant. He had shifted to take one single step forward in his place, but one footman had been quick to stop him. 

“Would you like me to carry her highness into the palace?” the footman wondered. He hadn’t meant to be rude or noisy in the slightest bit. He was only trying to be useful and helpful. He was also trying to be a gentleman.

“No. It’s fine,” Thomas claimed. He had lifted his hands to her sides, grabbing onto her waist in a secure manner. She carefully slid off the horse and stood on her own two feet unsteadily. She had practically collapsed into his grasp upon feeling the tense pain in her ankle. But he was sure to catch her this time.

The young prince had swooped down to lift the princess into his arms, carrying her into the palace with the servants trailing behind them. The King of the North must have overheard all the commotion because he came hurrying towards his dearest daughter. He stopped to stand in front of them, reaching out to brush a few strands of hair out of her face. 

"My lord," the King of the East exclaimed. He brought his hand to cup his mouth. His heart was practically clenching at her disheveled state. "What on earth happened to you, my girl?" the King of the East wondered.

"Really," Y/N sighed. She had turned her head to look at the various servants standing around them, believing that they were making a big deal out of absolutely nothing. "I'm fine. I just fell down and twisted my ankle. I-If it hadn't been for the prince, I wouldn't have ever been able to make it back to the palace. He saved me, father," Y/N claimed.

"Oh pish posh! No need to be so dramatic, my dear. If it hadn't been for your sense of clumsiness, you would have never been in this mess. Don’t go start making stories of your own,” the King of the East scolded her.

"Yes, father." Y/N agreed.

She hung her head down low. She was hoping to hide the tint of pink flooding her cheeks. She could feel a strong sense of embarrassment creeping over her. She choose to drop the matter. She didn’t want to argue with her father about it. 

"If you wouldn't mind, I would like to carry her up to her room now" Thomas said. He had been quick to step forward to offer his assistance. He could feel her shifting in his grasp. “She might need a doctor to look at her ankle,” Thomas concluded.

"She resides in the northern quarters of the palace,” the King of the East stated. He had pointed his finger towards the grand staircase behind him. He shook his head at her one last time. The young prince had dipped his head down in acknowledgment. He started to walk towards the flight of stairs while carrying the princess in his arms.

They walked down the hallways of the palace until they came across the princess's chambers. The prince opened the door and stepped inside, closing the door behind him. He walked towards her bed and laid her down carefully. He grabbed her shoes and set them to the side. He pull the large comforter over her body.

"I hope..." Thomas began. "You recover soon. That way we can walk in the gardens again...just like we used to," Thomas said. His voice had come out in a soft whisper.

"I am looking forward to it," Y/N said. She had slipped down into the comfort of her own bed, snuggling into the warm blankets. She held the comforter near her chin to hide the blush on her face.

"And..." Prince Thomas’ voice trailed off. He found himself rocking back and forth on the heels of his feet. His hands were laced behind his back. "In given time, I am going to need to ask you a question of importance," Prince Thomas said.

"Will this question have anything to do with our future together?" Princess Y/N wondered. She popped her pink lips into her mouth to hide the smile on her face. She could feel that her cheeks were burning this vibrant shade of pink. She was acting like a giddy schoolgirl.

"It might," Prince Thomas further teased. They smiled at each other and chuckled to themselves softly as to not be heard by the servants outside the bed chambers. Their laughter dialed down as they stared into each others eyes. They could both feel this unknown sensation growing stronger in the depths of their chests.

The young prince had carefully grabbed onto her hand holding onto the comforter. He pulled her hand towards his lips, pressing a small kiss to her knuckles. He had lingered just a moment longer than normal. He had lowered her hand back down onto the bed. He bowed in respect.

Slowly, Prince Thomas had started walking towards the door of her chambers. He grabbed onto the solid gold door handle. He had winked at her teasingly. He was sure to close to the solid wood door behind him. 

In that moment, the young princess had nestled deeper into her large bed. She didn’t hold back the squeal of delight that slipped past her pink lips. She pulled the covers over her head and grabbed a pillow, forcing the pillow to her face. She screamed to herself in absolute delight though her screams were muffled by the pillow. In that moment, Princess Y/N knew that she was utterly and hopelessly in love with the prince of the north. 

A few weeks later, the young princess was able to stand and walk without feeling any more pain in her ankle. There was a servant that opened the grand doors of her chambers. She popped her head through the door to encourage her fellow servant to hurry and finish up. The other servant was placing silver pins in the princess's hair, pulling it back nicely. 

"Your Highness," the one servant said. She had turned her head to look over the small stretch of her shoulder in fear that one of her advisors would come for her hide. “The prince is calling on you. You must hurry," the one servant persisted.

"I know. I'm coming. I won't be a moment longer," Princess Y/N said. She had lifted her head to look through the mirror of her white vanity, staring directly at the one servant standing by the grand door. She smiled at her kindly.

The servant bowed her head before disappearing into the hallway of the palace. The young princess did not hesitate to grab her most expensive bottle of perfume which conveniently smelled of wild roses. She picked up the silver dropped, squeezing it slightly to allow the pink drops to escape the dropper.

The rich liquid spread across the princess's silky skin, which would intoxicate her wrists and neck. The princess was staring directly at herself in the mirror, admiring her look for the night. She had gingerly lifted her hand to touch the diamond neckless around her neck, smiling at its beauty. She spun around in her chair, holding on the back with her hand.

"Do fetch my best gloves. I want to look presentable for the prince,” Princess Y/N instructed. The servant dipped her head slightly before turning around and walking towards one of the chests. She lifted the lid of the chest and pulled out the expensive pair of silk gloves.

The princess gently took hold of the gloves before slipping them onto her hands, rolling them up her forearms. She pushed her chair back and stood to her feet, smoothing out her dress. She looked up and fixed her hair once more, making sure she looked perfect.

"Can you believe it? He's finally calling on me," Princess Y/N said with a broad smile on her face. "It's been nearly six months. I'm surprised he has finally found the courage of asking me. At this rate, I was thinking it would be another two years before he called on me,” Princess Y/N teased.

The servant's lips tugged into a soft smile. "You look beautiful, your highness."

The princess turned around and tipped her head down, acknowledging her servant. She thanked the kind woman for all of her assistance. Finally, the princess turned her body and walked towards the door, opening it before stepping into the hallway of the palace.

Slowly, the young princess made her way around the palace. Her head moved from the left to the right, looking down each hallway in search of the prince. She twiddled with her hands nervously, anxiously awaiting to see the prince. The princess walked through the hallways until she found the prince standing near a fireplace in the northern corridor.

The prince was resting his forearm against the mantle of the fireplace, staring into the burning flames. He was thinking to himself. He was rehearsing the words in his mind for the thousandth time. The princess straightened her back in posture and clasped her hands together, holding them tightly. She cleared her throat, drawing away the young man's attention.

“Oh,” Thomas said. “I-I didn’t see you there.”

“Nor I,” Y/N said, chuckling nervously to herself. “I was informed that you called for me. Do you have something to ask of me?” Y/N questioned.

“Well,” Thomas began. He had pulled his hand away from the mantlepiece of the fireplace. He had taken one single step forward in his place. He was forcing himself to maintain eye contact with her. “Yes, I have something to ask of you,” Thomas said. 

The prince had found himself staring into the young woman’s eyes and feeling absolutely mesmerized by her beauty. She had a kind of understated beauty. And perhaps it was because she was so disarmingly unaware of her prettiness. Her large liquid blue eyes were basking in the form of intelligence and serenity that it was impossible to look away from her captivating gaze. She had the kindest pair of baby blue eyes that were trimmed by long gorgeous lashes. Her cheekbones weren't especially high. And her nose was a little small to be considered perfect. Nevertheless, there was an undeniable symmetry to her sparking features.

All of her features were placed together on her delicate angelic face. However, her awestruck beauty was running down to the very core of her heart. She was unwittingly kind and generous to the other students around her, never failing to smile at them. And she was a very likable person. Her laugh and smile were so captivating and contagious; it was impossible to not smile back. To be in her company was to feel that you had been warmed in summer rays regardless of the season. She was perfect.

For some odd reason, Thomas couldn't keep his eyes off her figure in the distance. His gaze was practically transfixed on her little figure, feeling a sense of slight control slip away from his own being. He was looking at her with a blank stare on his face, basking in the appearance of her beauty. He was entranced with her kind and sweet personality, knowing that there was a sense of gentleness in her heart. He seemed to admire all of her features. Though his attraction for her did not stop there, it ran all the way down to his core.

“Well...I-I was partially wondering if you...if you would like to...” Thomas’ voice trailed off again. He took another step forward in his place. He forced himself to swallow the nervous lump lingering at the back of his throat. He almost couldn’t bare to look her in the eyes. 

“Thomas?” Y/N spoke softly to him.

The young prince had taken his final step forward in his stance. With his head hung low, the prince had gingerly reached forward to take hold the princess’s delicate hands. He held them close to his chest before he gathered enough courage to look the princess in the eyes. As soon as they locked gazes, his thoughts had flown out the door. He found himself at a loss for words.

“I-I-I” Thomas stuttered. He wasn’t able to form any coherent words. “Can you...no. That sounds wrong. W-Would you...would you,” Thomas continued, correcting himself along the way. “Would you...allow me...to start...” Thomas stumbled over his words.

The prince groaned to himself. He threw his hands into the air. He spun around on the heels of his feet, striding back towards the fireplace. He was running his hands through his hair in frustration. The princess did not hesitate to comfort him during this hard time. She had taken to approach his side. She placed her hand on his shoulder reassuringly.

“I-I can't say it,” Thomas said. He had turned his head to look over the small stretch of his shoulder slightly. He could barely see her out of the corner of his eye. He wouldn’t dare meet her gaze in fear that she might see the blush on his face. 

“Thomas,” Y/N said. “You can tell me anything.”

Finally, Thomas had turned his head and looked her in the eyes. His eyes darted between her lips and eyes, contemplating whether or not to ask her the question. He had opened his mouth to speak, feeling the words falling out of his mouth.

“I would like to start courting you,” Thomas said firmly. His voice was clear and slow. He didn’t have to repeat himself. He was sure that she had heard him. In a split second, the princess’s lips curved into a pleased smile. She had laced her hands with his, holding them close to her. She gazed up at him with smiling eyes.

“I thought you would never ask,” Y/N said with the shake of her head. She could feel the tears forming in her eyes. She lifted her hand to wipe away her happy tears. He had been slightly taken back by her comment. He had shifted to straighten his back in posture, turning his body towards her. He was staring directly at her with the hint of disbelief in his eyes.

“R-Really? Are you going to agree to this? Are you really committing to me? Or is this all just some dream?” Thomas wondered. He was hoping to contain himself for the time being. He didn’t want to give himself false hope.

“No, Thomas. This is no dream. This...” she said. She lowered her gaze to stare down at their hands, holding his hand tightly. She looked back up at him with shimmering eyes. “This is real,” she claimed. 

“I-I didn’t think you would say yes to me,” Thomas confessed. His voice was shaky and unstable. His heart was fluttering in his chest, beating a million times per minute. He couldn’t contain himself any longer.

And then he did the simplest thing in the word. He leaned forward and kissed her. And the entire world cracked open. The kiss was very quick for it ended less than a second later. It was not a solid kiss. It was not forceful, heavy, or passionate. It was a gentle kiss. Their lips only brushed together, pecking each other’s lips. When the prince pulled away less than a second later, the two of them gazed at each other with wide eyes.

The prince could feel the strong sense of guilt and regret coursing through his veins. He was staring down at her with unsure eyes. His mouth had dropped open in disbelief. He had hoped that the kiss wouldn’t ruin their relationship with one another. The princess looked up at him in utter shock and surprise. He was scrambling to collect his words.

“I-I’m so very sorry. I didn’t mean- I just thought...I-I-I couldn’t help myself. I truly am sorry—” the prince was cut off when the princess stood on the tips of her toes and pressed her lips against the prince’s lips.

The young prince's eyes widened in realization. Instinctively, the prince wrapped his arms around the princess's waist, holding her closely in his embrace. His eyes fluttered closed to savor the moment. Their lips danced together as if the music was playing for them. Their lips locked together in perfect harmony, convincing themselves that they really were made for each other. 

Her plump soft lips were compelling against his slimmer warmer lips, molding in the perfect manner. She had wrapped her arms around his neck to draw him down closer to her. He drifted into a dreamy state of mind, responding to the kiss by allowing himself to loose control over himself. He was pressing his lips against her small mouth, kissing her back with the same amount of passion. Their lips were moving and bonding together in synchronized harmony. 

The feeling of epiphany and elation was percolating through their veins, surging throughout their entire systems. The sudden sensation of warm and comfort was coursing through their bodies at the same moment. The euphoric bliss was blossoming within their bodies, warming the coldest part of the soul. The sparks were bursting thorough the veins in their bodies, creating a warm sensation in the pit of their stomachs. It was a small and warm kiss.

The kiss obliterated every thought. For the first time, Thomas and Y/N's minds were locked into the present moment. The worries and concerns of life were evaporating within an instant. The worries, troubles, and problems were disappearing out of their line of sight, melting away from the entire picture. Their usual mode of working things out in a timely order was completely suspended for the moment; neither of them wanted the kiss to end. Nothing seemed to matter at the given moment. The two of them only seemed to be focusing on each other at the time.

The feeling was so strange. It was stretching throughout their whole bodies. The foreign feeling was so overwhelming. And yet, it made them feel complete. The unknown feeling has no bound, nor length, nor depth. It is just absolute. The happy feeling was able to make it feel like their hearts were dancing around their chest. And a hole (that they were not aware of) had been filled to the very brim. Although they were quite young (and most people would consider them to be foolish and naive), the two of them were more than certain about their feelings towards one another. 

The emotions of passions, love, and affection were coursing through the millions of veins in their bodies. The foreign emotions had managed to cause a warm sensation to rise in the pit of their stomachs. The little flutter of a feather was tickling every part of their bodies, causing their abdomens to crunch at the unbearable feeling of giddiness. With each touch, the sparks were flying in the different directions of their bodies. The feeling of love had never felt more comforting. The two of them were more than convinced that they were destined to be together. And that kiss was the beginning of a promise of much more to come.

When they pulled apart, they rested their heads together. They panted heavily, hoping to regain their breath. They gazed into each other's eyes, staring directly into one another’s hearts. They could feel their hot breaths mingling together in the tight space between them. The prince's nose brushed against the princess's little nose, nudging it gently. He reached up and cupped her face with one hand. 

"You...have no idea how long I have wanted to do that," Thomas claimed, breathing steadily. He didn’t mean to brush his nose against the tip of hers, nudging it gently. He lifted his hand to cup her face with one hand. "How long! have waited to kiss your lips. How I have longed to hold you in my embrace. How long I have wanted you," Thomas continued.

“Well, you have me. All of me,” Y/N whispered. She was gazing into the prince's dashing brown eyes. She was almost able to get lost in them. She could see his lips lift into a soft smile. She forced herself onto the tips of her toes, so she could press her lips against his once more. 

"This...commitment we have made to each other...it calls for something that I need from you," Thomas further explained. He had pulled away from her embrace for a brief moment. 

"What do you need of me?" Y/N wondered. She had furrowed her eyebrows in slight confusion, swaying slight in his embrace. She could see him lean forward to brush his cheek against hers, whispering into her ear seductively.

"A lock of your hair," Thomas whispered to her. He almost didn't want to pull away from her. He could smell the rich scent of perfume on her neck. He found himself savoring the moment once again. 

Slowly, Thomas had pulled away from her embrace. He knelt down to his knees. Their gazes never left each others. Her hands fell to his shoulders as he kneeled in front of her. He moved his hand towards his boot, pulling out a small knife. He slowly stood to his feet again. 

The prince had brought his hand towards the side of her face, plucking a small strand of hair near her slender neck. He was fiddling with her hair in his hands, feeling the smoothness of her silky hair. He turned his head and leaned forward until his lips brushed against her ear. His hot breath sent a cold shiver down her spine.

“May I?” Thomas asked for permission.

The princess nodded her head in response. She had lifted her hand to grab onto his forearm. She drew her lower lip between her teeth. Slowly, the prince pulled away from her ear. He had carried the small knife towards her head. He grabbed a small strand of hair underneath her ear, gathering it in his hands. He brought the knife towards it, effortlessly cutting through the hair. When he finished cutting off a strand of her hair, he placed his knife back into his boot. He pulled a handkerchief out of his coat jacket.

The prince placed the strand of hair into the handkerchief before holding the cloth over itself. He had decided to tuck the handkerchief into his coat pocket, securing it close to his chest. He patted his chest one time.

"I shall keep it here," Thomas said softly. "Close to my heart." 

She had lowered her gaze to stare down at her feet, hoping to hide the pink blush creeping onto her face. He had lifted his hand to place his fingers underneath her chin, forcing her to look into his eyes. He was staring deeply into her captivating eyes. He savored the moment as instructed by his own father.

"I shall call on you tomorrow," Thomas further explained. He could see the princess’s pink lips growing into a small smile across her face. He smiled back at her. He was quick to lean down in his place, pecking her lips once more. 

"I am looking forward to it," Y/N breathed. She really didn’t want to wait until tomorrow to see him again. She could only wish to meet him in her dreams.

The two royals had found themselves leaning forward in hopes of sharing one last kiss together. Suddenly, a familiar voice called out from the hallways. It was one of the prince's brothers, calling to see if he wanted to visit the stables. The young couple turned their heads to look in the general direction of the voice.

"I-I have to go," Thomas declared. He had turned his head to look back down at the princess standing in front of him. He hesitantly pulled his hands out of her grasp. He had only taken one step.

"Wait," Y/N exclaimed. She did not hesitate to reach forward to grab the prince’s hand. She watched him turn his head and look at her in slight confusion. She opened her mouth to speak. "Meet me tonight after everyone has gone to sleep," Y/N offered.

"What are we going to do?" Thomas questioned. He had furrowed his eyebrows at her statement. He had known that it was entirely improper to meet with a young woman after dark, especially if they were unmarried. But it had been proven in the last few weeks that they didn’t care what was improper anymore after her fall. She looked at him with loving and adoring eyes. 

"That's all up to you,” Y/N teased. She was staring at him with loving and adoring eyes. He had immediately raised his eyebrows in surprise. He found himself nodding his head in confirmation. He could hear the voice call out again. He pulled away from her with great hesitation. He had turned to race down the hallways of the palace, leaving the love of his life alone. 

The princess breathed steadily. She found herself lifting her hand towards the frontside of her face, feeling her fingertips brush against her soft lips. She shook her head in disbelief. She couldn't help but suppress the smile growing on her face. They were living in secrecy. Something that brought a rush of dangerous adrenaline into their beings. It wasn't a rebellious or forbidden love. It was a secret love; one that nobody knew about just yet.

At midnight, the prince turned his head and looked at the time. He stood to his feet. He was sure to grab a small candle to lead him through the dark hallways of the palace. He had quietly closed the door behind him. He had started walking through the dark hallways of the palace, hoping to avoid any guards standing by the doorways. He finally made it to her royal bedchambers. 

With hesitation, Thomas had raised his fist to the solid wood door. He knocked on the door of the room as quietly as possible. He took a single step backwards, waiting for a brief moment. He could hear the doorknob slowly jingling. He saw the solid gold door handle twist and turn in attempts to open the door. 

When the door had finally opened, Thomas had straightened his back in posture. He could see the young princess poke her head out of the door. She had turned her head to look up at him with a small smile on her face. She was quick to step out of her room, closing the door behind her. 

At the sight of her, the prince was forced himself to look away from her. He wanted to be respectful of her privacy. He could clearly see that she was only wearing her white nightgown. He was trying not to think about whether or not she was wearing her corset underneath her nightgown, but his best bet was that she wasn't. 

"I-I’m sorry. My servants wouldn't leave until I got in my nightwear. I had to change," Y/N spoke in a soft whisper. She had pulled on the ribbons of her robe. She carried the soft material over her white nightgown to hide her modesty, tying the ribbons together.  

"No," the prince blurted out. "No, it's fine. You look fine." 

The princess had lifted her hand to the side of her face to tuck a small strand of her hair behind her ear. Her long dark brown hair was stretching the bottom of her shoulder blades, dripping over her shoulders in a mesmerizing manner. Her hair was flowing down. It was not pulled back, curled, or pinned. It was free, flowing effortlessly over her shoulders. Her long hair reached down to her lower back. It was brushed until it looked silky. There were no knots or tangles. 

She could feel the heat rising to her cheeks, thinking it may not have been the best idea to invite the prince to meet with her. Her eyes drifted upwards to drink in his manly appearance. She could see that he was no longer wearing his formal jacket or uniform. His white button-up shift was loosely buttoned, showing off some of his broad chest.

The two of them were breathing steadily to themselves. They were taking the time to admire each other in the silence of the night. Their faces were glowing due to the small candle in the his hand. Slowly, Thomas had reached down to grab onto her hand. He had started leading her down the hallways of the palace, following the light of the candle.

“Where shall we go?” Thomas whispered in a soft tone of voice. She could feel the broad smile growing at the corners of her lips. She thought about his words for a brief moment. They had stopped in their steps. The two of them turned their heads and looked at the grand front door standing in front of them.

“To the stars.”

You look good in red, boys. <3

I always get the chills watching this!

“The perfect video doesn’t exi-” Credits to Voordeel on YouTube for creating this amazing and perfectly timed video you can follow @voordeel-ts the original creator of this video and check out their other awesome videos as well

spoilers below: 😁

YALL IM SO READY FOR THIS LIGHT SYMBOLISM

Literally one of my favorite series! Cannot wait for the final chapters😭😭😭

The last chapter of the Hunter Fic is queued. The saga ends on Sept 1st.

Thank you so much to all of you who have enjoyed the ride. Four chapters left!

Can this short summary rejog anyone’s memory? I know it’s a long shot but I’m having problem remembering...

Summary: Peter Parker’s childhood best friend is an artist, she paints and draws like an expert despite being blind. When an opportunity arises for her to undergo a surgery to give her back her eyesight, it takes Peter to convince her to actually go through with it…

All Grown Up | Hunter from The Bad Batch

Summary: Many years after Tantiss and after having settled down in Pabu, Hunter struggles to watch his eldest to go off and join the rebellion. He returns home to the comfort of family awaiting him.

Warning: SPOILERS FROM SEASON 3 FINALE BELOW THE CUT, Omega refers to the reader as her mum (though not biological), mentions of old age, other children are briefly mentioned, slightly suggestive, and just good old fashioned tears

Pairing: Hunter x Fem!Reader

Type: Oneshot

Word Count: 1.8k

The gleam of the  silvery moon pierced through the dark blue skyline. The cool summer breeze swept through the entirety of the island, caressing wooden chimes hanging outside homes. The crickets were out singing songs to each other. The warm yellow light twinkled in the homes of many who where still awake during the late hours of the night.

With one last look of the island, Omega began making her way across the sandy beaches. She listened to the sound of the waves crashing gently against the shoreline; her shoes leaving prints behind in the sand. A few light breezes swept the loose strands of hair out of her face. She made her way into the lower caves of the island.

Coming up over the rocks, Omega's gaze landed on the spot in which her ship was docked. She neared one of the many generators in the cave, kneeling down and flicking the switch on. The warm light that radiated from the generator brightened her face and signaled the other generators to illuminate the rest of the cave.

A low bark sounded near one of the other generators. She lifted her head and smiled to herself, knowing that it was Batcher calling out to her. She briefly spotted another figure looming and sitting beside the old lurca hound, causing her heart to clench slightly in her chest.

Slowly, Omega made her way over to the both of them. The gangplank of her ship opened to reveal Gonky waiting for her. She rounded the side of the rocks, coming up behind the two.

"Thought you could just sneak off?" Hunter questioned as he stared off towards the entrance of the cave. The corners of his lips tugged into a gentle smile. "Time hasn't dulled all my senses," Hunter reminded her.

She lowered herself to sit down right beside him, watching him carefully with a hint of nervousness behind her eyes. She didn't say anything at first, but she had a feeling he was about to give her one of his famous talks. Sure enough, Omega was right about that.

"Your mother would have woken up worried sick about you, wondering where you’d gone off to this time," Hunter stated. His eyes focused on his hands that where clasped together.

"This shouldn't be a surprise. I talked with mum about this a lot," Omega defended herself.

Her words pained him slightly. In the more recent years, Omega had found herself seeking the advice of her mother more often than him. It had a lot to do with her age; having questions about womanhood that her mother was more than willing to explain. If Omega had gone to Hunter, the conversation would have just turned more awkward than anything. And sometimes, she was afraid to ask him in fear that he'd shoot her down pointblank.

It wasn't a surprise because he had heard some of their conversations late at night when the others had gone to bed. He recalled one conversation that happened just last week. She'd said something along the lines of: "Mum? What were the Clone Wars like?" Her mother proceeded to tell her what it was like to be a field medic during the height of the war. That, despite all the bad things, Y/n had found her purpose in life and wanted to help the war cause by tending to soldiers on the field.

Hunter just really wished she hadn't said that because they wouldn't be here now if she had.

"The Rebellion needs pilots now more than ever," Omega told him. She always had that drive to help others; she was so much like her mother in that way. "I made my choice, Hunter. I want to do more."

"And we want to keep you safe," Hunter countered. He finally turned to look at her. The worry was so evident behind those beaming eyes.

His strong sense of overprotectiveness was starting to show. It almost reminded her of what he used to be like when she was much younger: how he never wanted her to go on missions and how he'd force her to stay behind on the ship. She appreciated his concern, but it wasn't needed now.

"You have, but I'm not a kid anymore." Omega weakly smiled at him. She placed her hand on her chest. "You don't have to worry about me."

He wasn't satisfied with this, slowly turning away once again. He lowered his gaze to stare down at the ground. She continued to watch his movements carefully, wondering what he was thinking about in that moment.

"You're our kid, Omega. You always will be," Hunter said plainly. She smiled at this.

"You’ve got your own kids to worry about now," Omega chuckled slightly. She thought about her three siblings, figuring that they'd be fast sleep in their beds right about now and dreaming about things far beyond this galaxy.

"And you all make me feel like an old man," Hunter huffed with a playful smile.

"Well, you kinda are." Omega teased him by bumping into his shoulder.

When he turned his head towards the light, Omega was able to see just how much time had changed his appearance. His beard had grown out and his hair was sprinkled with grey. She saw the crows feet that bunched around his eyes when he smiled.

He was frail too. He wasn't able to play with his kids as much since last summer when he injured his back. He just moved a little slower now and wasn't able to do any heavy work around the house. He couldn't even remember how long it had been since they settled on Pabu all those years ago.

Pabu was home. Omega had grown up here. His other kids were born on the island. His family and his life was here. He wanted nothing more than to keep it that way. But Omega was moving onto newer things.

"Hunter," Omega sighed. She scooted a little closer to him and placed a reassuring hand on his shoulder. "You've all fought enough. This...is my fight. I'm ready."

Slowly, Omega rose to stand to her feet. He watched her move away from him with so much worry and concern in his eyes. He now realized that she wasn't his little girl anymore. She was all grown up and ready to have adventures of her own.

"Yeah. I know you are," Hunter sighed to himself. His lips curved into a soft smile. He shook his head slightly. "But I'm not."

Now, Hunter stood to his feet in a slow manner. His strength wasn't like it used to be. She didn't hesitate to step forward and embrace him in a tight hug. He wrapped his arms around her, resting his chin against her shoulder. When they pulled away, Omega placed her hands on his shoulders. She sent him a warm encouraging smile.

"Say goodbye to the others for me," Omega requested. She didn't need to give names because he knew she was talking about her brothers, her siblings, and her mother. He gave a single nod of the head before gesturing towards her ship.

"Off you go," Hunter had finally let her go.

By the time Hunter had gotten home, he was little surprised to see one of the lights on from his view on the street. He climbed the steps of the porch, opening the door as quietly as possible so he didn't wake the kids. His gaze landed on the familiar figure sitting in one of the living room chairs. He closed the door behind him.

"Hey," Hunter called out softly. He took a few strides towards her, kneeling down beside the armchair. He gently grabbed her hand and brought it to his lips, kissing the back of it. "How come you're still awake?"

"I could ask you the same thing," Y/n scolded him slightly. There was a twinge of annoyance in the tone of her voice. "I wake up to an empty bed and a daughter missing."

"Ah, yes. About that..." Hunter's voice trailed off. He quickly avoided her gaze and wondered how he was going to break the news to his wife. But his silence gave it away.

"She's gone, isn't she?" Y/n said rather sorrowfully.

He nodded silently in response. He fought against the tears that gathered in the corners of his eyes, but the light from the lamp illuminated them perfectly. She went to cup his cheek and sent him a weak smile.

"It was bound to happen some day," Y/n tried to reason with him. She shook her head at the notion. "She couldn't stay your little girl forever."

"No," Hunter agreed. "She couldn't. She's all grown up now."

Ever so slowly, Hunter rose to his feet alongside her. He took her spot in the chair before gently guiding her down to sit in his lap. He went to drape her legs over his lap and have them hang over the side of the chair. She wrapped an arm around his neck and leaned down to rest her head against his shoulder. He cradled her gently in his grasp.

The two parent's gazes fell on the wall where each of their children's height had been marked over the years to show their growth. There were countless tallies and dates, including both of his brothers' and the lurca hound's. They studied each mark as a reminder of how much each of their kids had grown over the years.

But Hunter's sights were stuck on a rather faded mark on the wall. He remembered the day like it was only yesterday. He loved seeing how excited Omega was to have her height marked on the wall; how Omega tried to stand as tall as she could while he used a pencil to mark it. Then, seeing over the years, her tallies had grown until she was basically his height.

"They're all growing up so fast," Y/n said with a hint of sadness in her voice.

"Maybe it's our sign to have another one," Hunter joked. She sent him a warning glare so he pressed a little further. "Come on. The littlest ones about five years old now. We're due for another."

"I told you I am done having babies. We've had three; that's a good number," Y/n swiftly shut down the idea of having another little one. She could think of a million reasons why that wouldn't pan out great. "We're getting too old for this. And with your bad back..."

"I know. I know. You don't have to remind me," Hunter chuckled softly, just loving how flustered she had gotten while talking about having a kid again. He pressed a gentle kiss to her check to calm her nerves.

The two of them swayed slightly in the rocking chair, basking in each other's presence. Their eyes set on the wall. The house's memories over the years came flooding back to them. The children's laughter was an ever present sound that brought the purest form of joy.

Their eldest daughter was all grown up now and out of the house. They remembered every single memory they made with her over the course of the past couple years. She had drastically changed their lives, but all for the better. And they wouldn't change a single thing.

LITERALLY AM OBSESSED WITH THAT FINAL SCENE OF OMEGA AND HUNTER. HAD TO WRITE MY OWN VERSION AND I HOPE YOU LIKE IT.