Chapter 25 (New Beginning)

"Mom's gonna be happier where she is now." I heard Alexios tell me as I watched my mother's coffin slowly descend. I sighed and leaned my shoulder against his tougher build. I could feel my emotions slowly coming up to topple over but I held them in check. This was not the time to get emotional. Later today, Alexios was going to go back to his home. Later today, I was going to be crowned king. Later today, everything could be new. Later today, everything will changed; for better or worse.

"I know she will." I told Alexios as I took a deep breath and stepped back. "Are you sure you don't need anything when you travel back?" I told him turning from her burial ground to stare out into the fields. My father wasn't buried anywhere near this beautiful cemetery. I'm not sure where he was going to be buried, but I just knew that he wasn't allowed anywhere near every wonderful person in these gardens.

"I'm sure," Alexios said, a slight chuckle to his tone. Jacan was back with his family, turns out that he hadn't seen them in almost three days. He slept with me through the night twice and was going to do it a third before I forced him to go home. Not only to make sure they were okay, but also so I would have time to bury my mother. He understood with a promise to meet up with me later.

I watched as the guards got my car ready and waited for me off to the side. I also watched as a small white Cadillac pulled into the cemetery and stop right behind my black car. A guard stepped out and slammed the door shut. This was the car that Alexios was to be taking on his way back. His way back home, as he seemed to call it. "I'll come back." Alexios told me. I turned to him as watched as his eyes were slightly slanted to hide beneath the rising sun. I glanced as I watched his chest rise and fall under his powerful breathes. He was in a dark blue t-shirt with blue jeans today. I glanced up at his face and noticed that he was almost two inches taller than me. This is when I first seemed to realize that he was leaving. Leaving me. That he is going back to where his... other family was and he might never come back. He chose to stay with them for a reason right? Never mind. It doesn't matter. Though, no matter how many times I told myself this, it wouldn't stay. I wanted him to stay. I wanted him to be my brother. Someone I could count on and lean on and talk to when I needed to–

"I'll come back." Alexios promised, a bit more forcefully as if he knew what I was thinking. My eyes blurred and he stepped over to me and gripped my shoulders, a watery smile on his face. "I'll come back and you'll get to meet Jen. And Martha and Ben and everyone else. I promise." I nodded and gripped him in a fierce hug. A few minutes after that, I watched him get into his car and drive off.

Then, I put on my mask and made my way to greet my people.

***

I turned to look down the hallway where I remembered leaving Jacan. He had come here earlier this morning to wish me good luck and I had left him in a room where he would get to see all that he needed to see and I would still be able to get to him afterwards. He was safe up there. I wanted him near me, but I still didn't trust everyone here. I didn't know who was loyal to me or who was an enemy. That was still something that I would have to figure out. Nana and Albert were at home with their new child, probably making another one. That caused me to shiver and shake my head to clear my thoughts.

I listened as the chatter of my people escalated. I couldn't pin-point a single conversation in it but knew that it was about either me, my parents, or Alexios. I considered it mostly being me, as now all the duty of the kingdom was about to fall on my shoulders. Before all of this began, I told myself numerous of times how ready I was to become king. How ready I was to rule over everyone and to do what was right. But, now that I am here, I honestly wished I had more time.

I wished I was able to live more. I wanted to experience what Alexios had. A girlfriend and now wife with a kid, (despite being gay). I wanted to be able to play around with someone and have fun with someone I trusted. I wanted to wake up in the mornings with someone I loved and be able to cuddle on the couch and not have to worry about duty or safety. I wanted to cook for him and watch him as he cooked. I wanted to hold him and watch him sleep. I wanted to love Jacan and be able to– I wanted to love Jacan. I felt my breath leave me all at once as the thought dawned on me. Everything that I just said, I wanted to do with Jacan. I wanted to be with him and I needed to see him. Now.

I turned to my guards and they all glanced at me curiously. "Give me five minutes." I told them. They looked at each other confusingly and turned to stare at me. I growled out, frustrated. "Stay here. I'll be back in five minutes." I said, turning away and running away from the crowd. Before I became king, I had something to do first.

I ran quickly as I turned the corner and ran straight for the room I knew Jacan was occupying. As soon as I found the door I felt myself pause as my thoughts raced once again. What if he doesn't feel the same way? What if he doesn't like commitment? What if me being a king is too much for him? What if he thought I had too much baggage?

I didn't have time to think anymore as the door sung open to reveal a startled Jacan. "Edward? What are you doing here? I heard heavy breathing outside and I know you said not to open the door, but I wasn't sure–" I barely heard him keep talking as my thoughts zeroed in on his lips. Then, before I knew what I was doing, my lips found his in a passionate kiss. Well, one I thought was passionate since I had never kissed anyone before. I felt Jacan stiffen and gasp as my mouth found his. I stood there for a few moments, barely moving my lips and I was going to pull back. Before I could do this, Jacan's hands went around my neck and pulled me to him, deepening the kiss. I moaned as I realized that I was not the only one who wanted had these feelings. That he also must've felt a strong connection towards me.

When Jacan started moving his lips gently against mine, I felt myself beam in happily. I felt tingles shoot throughout my body as both of our lips moved against each other clumsily. I moved myself into his room, wanting to do more but Jacan pulled away, causing me to whine. He laughed breathlessly as he pressed his forehead against mine and tried to even out his breathing. It was a little while longer as we both just stood there, taking in one another.

"I'm not trying to kick you out," Jacan started off and I frowned, "but don't you have people to talk to?" I frowned deeper and shrugged.

"They can wait. I've wanted to kiss you for so long..." I leaned in, but he shook his head and laughed, blushing slightly at my comment.

"Go out there. Talk to them. Then come back as King Teddy." I laughed at his nickname and straightened, clearing my throat embarrassedly as I realized I was pushing him.

"Ok," I promised and nodded before straightening out my suit. "Let's do this." I then gave him a kiss on the cheek and made my way back to the guards. I barely glanced at them before I made my way out into the balcony. The cheers that resounded throughout the courtyard caused me to laugh out loud as I beamed down at my people. This is the day that everything changed.

"Hello everyone!" I yelled out. The crowd boomed and I couldn't help but laugh again. I waited until it died down before I continued. "Wow. It's such an honor to be able to stand right here in front of you now. I can't believe how far we've come." The crowd cheered again and I hushed them quickly. "I understand but please, I'm just as excited as you are.

"As you all know, what transpired between me and my parents a while ago... and yes, both of them have died." I felt my voice crack at the saying but then I shook my head. "But that does not define who I am as I king. And I hope that you all will accept me as someone new. I hope you all realize that today–today is the start of a new era!" I crowd once again erupted into cheers and before any could realize it, a guard came out with a pillow that held the crown. I felt myself lose my breath as I stared at it. Today is the start of a new era. I reminded myself. Then, before I knew it, the crown was on my head and cheers rose up once again to greet their new king.

I know, not the most fulfilling chapter but I am having a bit of a struggle coming up with the last chapter of this story. (Yes, this does mean that the next chapter is the last one.) I know where I want to go but I'm having a bit of a struggle getting there. This is sort of a "filler" chapter as you guys wait for the last one. Thank you to everyone for getting me almost 6K reads! I can't believe how popular this story is! I am so honored! Thank you again! (1664)