YEEEEEEEESSSSSSSSS! Hahaha! Here we are at last, the very last chapter! What a ride this has been, thanks for being so great and staying on it with me!

I'm overjoyed and just a little bit sad that this is finally coming to an end. This story was such a huge learning experience for me, I may have to come back later and rifle through it for typos or something, just so I can visit these characters again! I'm going to miss them, but I couldn't think of any better way for their story to end and they made me write exactly what they wanted for this last chapter. My daycare will just feel so empty now! I'll have to fill it with more characters. Another fanfic is soon to come!

Rhonwen was in her room, packing her bags for a journey. She'd always preferred to do so herself instead of letting a servant do it, another habit she'd picked up from her father. This way she knew she had everything that she'd need rather than trust someone's word only to find they'd forgotten something later. She turned and walked across the room to get her hair brush from her vanity and stop in front of the mirror.

Her hair had been cut again, but this time by her command. Aega had only cut off about six inches, and now that there wasn't anything to be lost by cutting it she'd rather not carry the weight. It only reached her upper legs now, just below her hips, and she still couldn't get used to how short it was. She looked at herself for a few moments, playing with one strand of hair in her fingers, before turning back and putting the hair brush in her bag.

So much had changed so quickly that sometimes Rhonwen still felt like she was going to wake up and find it was all a dream and she was still out in the woods on the journey with Emile and the others. Not only her hair, but Emile and then her entire life around him changed as well. She smiled as she remembered that day, almost six months ago now, that Emile had been freed from his curse.

After Emile's clumsy greeting his mother had run forward and grasped him as tightly in her arms as she could, Rhonwen's own mother taking her example to heart. The other parents had been around the same way when the rest of the children had found their way out, some scolding, some laughing or crying for joy, most somewhere in between. Rhonwen had been so happy that she thought she had to be imagining it all, that Emile couldn't just come back after he'd died before her eyes and she hadn't been able to save him. But he didn't disappear, and the more she saw him the more she knew he wouldn't.

Her smile faltered as she remembered the next moments sadly. Ala' had run out a few moments after the others, yelling in Arabic to his father. Aladdin had run inside the castle and Rapunzel looked up and followed them swiftly. Eugene had come to Rhonwen's side then, and while there was a parental scolding still present in his eyes the only thing he said was that she'd done well. Rhonwen stood and followed after her mother, Emile standing clumsily behind her and following as well. The others grouped behind them and they caught up with Rapunzel and Aladdin just as the song was ending. Rhonwen had never seen her mother's face as sad as in that moment, and she knew without looking that it hadn't worked, that it had been too long or the tear simply wouldn't heal him. The tears had always been selective, only healing someone who was recently dead and sometimes not even them. Ahmed was gone.

The next journey had been a short one, as they traveled by Genie snapping his fingers. Everyone agreed that they should return with the children to Emile's castle so the other parents who couldn't come would be able to rest easy. Rhonwen held Emile's hand as Genie counted to make sure everyone was there, then he snapped his fingers and they were back where they'd started, getting another eager greeting from the parents there. Aladdin gathered all his boys together around Ahmed, and asked Genie to take them home, but Melody had called out to Akram and he'd separated from the group, running to her and hugging her tightly. She asked if she could attend the funeral and Akram said that they couldn't very well deny his fiancé attendance. Melody's mouth had fallen open, Aladdin blinked a couple times in surprise, and the Genie smiled in a melancholy way. Akram finished by falling to one knee and saying life was too short to be cautious. Melody's eyes filled and she'd said yes. Rhonwen couldn't help but think that it was one of the most romantic things she'd ever seen, even though it was also one of the saddest.

But Melody was not the only outsider to attend. As soon as she answered Akram, Edward stepped forward and asked that they delay their departure for one day so that he and his fiancé could make ready to attend. As soon as it was out of his mouth, Red had come forward, dragging Augustine by the arm as she did so, and repeated his sentiment. One by one, every royal family said that they would be present for the funeral, and that in one day's time they wished for the Genie to take them all with Aladdin and his sons back to Agrabah. That journey had been hard. Rhonwen remembered the procession, walking a respectful distance behind the royal family with Emile and the other children, as Akram had convinced his father to allow. These were all the brothers' best friends and they'd witnessed Ahmed's courage, he'd said. Melody was the only one not walking with the group, as she was walking beside Akram in a black dress. Akif, the second son and now the oldest prince, walked beside his father behind the casket carried by his brothers, with his mother and sisters trailing them. He looked scared and lost, an absent look on his face through the whole ceremony and Rhonwen's heart went out to him. After the funeral, Aladdin invited the families to stay for a short time so that the few problems that they'd not yet settled could be finished quickly. Rhonwen had the pleasure of meeting Jasmine, the Queen of Agrabah, and the princesses and three young princes who'd been left behind. She could only wish that it had been in better circumstances. Then the Genie had taken every family home, one by one. She'd hugged Emile goodbye and left right before his family did.

After that the world seemed to take on a reckless speed. Everything was happening at once. She'd gotten home and had her hair cut to where it was now, her mother, eyes tearing, behind her telling her how beautiful she looked. The week after they'd arrived at home, word came from Emile, which Rhonwen smiled at, knowing that he must have sent it as soon as he got home. It was a letter of proposal, written up in the fancy handwriting and embossed paper that all the other's she'd received shared, but this one had something different. Emile had signed this one at the bottom, signed it "With all my love," and Rhonwen smiled as she remembered how excited she'd gotten. She'd started writing the reply that day, telling her parents that she was going to say yes to this one. Her mother had screamed and run to hug her in joy, and her father looked somewhat disgruntled, but happy all the same. She'd sent the letter by courier and received a confirmation as quickly as could be humanly expected.

Rufus and Emilia were married that month, as Rufus seemed to have lost his patience with the last events and wanted it done already. All the children from the journey had come, and Rhonwen smiled when she thought of the joyful event and the reunion between her closest friends. She regularly received and sent letters to all of them, but seeing them again so soon had been an unexpected delight, and she'd realized just how much she'd missed them all when she saw Red's carriage arriving and run out over the lawn to meet it. Of course, seeing Emile again had been the best part. She'd run out to his carriage too. But unlike Red's which had come to a stop and then allowed the tall girl to jump out and catch her in a bone crushing hug, the door of Emile's carriage had flown open as soon as she was in sight of the window and he'd jumped out, rolling to regain his balance and running to meet her. They barely left each other's sides during the two week of celebrations, and she'd cried when he had to leave again. She watched his face in the back window of the carriage until he was out of sight and waved significantly after. She couldn't believe how lonely she'd felt watching him go again.

But she didn't have to wait long, and she was glad for that. As she was now to be the future Queen of France, she was invited by Belle and Vincent to come and live in the castle, so she could learn of the customs and how the kingdom was run. So she'd had to relent and let the servants pack for her then, safe in the knowledge that they were packing everything she owned so they wouldn't forget anything important. She and her parents traveled to France together, and she smiled looking back on how her mother had given her nonstop advice all the way over and her father had been uncharacteristically quiet, only throwing in quirky comments when they couldn't be left out. They'd arrived and this time it was her jumping out of the carriage, although she didn't have to courage to do it while it was moving so she'd screamed STOP at the top of her lungs first. The memory brought a giggle with it, and she smiled merrily and she checked her bag one last time.

This time, the journey was to Andalasia, for a very long overdue wedding. She was looking forward to in immensely, as she knew she'd see all the others there again after four months of only letters from them. And Edward and Dianna were going to be so happy together. She'd packed several dresses, asking Madame de la Grande Bouche politely that she be allowed to pick her own. Lucy, who'd been assigned to be her first lady's maid, much to the little girl's excitement, was the only person she'd let in and out of the room, as she'd had her run and get things that she needed. She was probably on her way back now, and Rhonwen knew she'd have the book with her that she'd sent her for. After all, she'd need to spend at least some of her time there studying, or else she'd never memorize the royal line of France. A small knock on the door confirmed Rhonwen's supposition, and she said come in absently. But the person who entered was not a blond headed little girl with a textbook in tow.

"Almost ready?" Emile said, and she looked up at him in surprise.

"I should be done pretty soon," she responded after a moment, looking back down at her bag ponderously, "I'm just trying to remember if there's anything I forgot."

"Well if you'd truly forgotten it," he responded, coming to her side, "You wouldn't remember it, would you?"

Rhonwen smiled and looked up at him, raising an eyebrow at his smart aleck smirk. He was so handsome now, sometimes she just stared at him when she saw him. He was wearing a loose shirt and brown pants at the moment, with his brown hair tied back in a tail. He smiled down at her and she smiled a little wider back at him.

"Shouldn't you be tending to your own things?" she asked, putting her hands on her hips and looking up at him challengingly.

"Cogsworth has solemnly informed me that I'm not qualified to pack my bags," he replied, his smile growing, "Not that I object. I can bother you for a while now, while they're occupied."

"Oh," she said, putting a pointer finger to his chest accusingly, "So you know you're bothering me and you continue to do so? How unchivalrous."

He laughed a little at that and put his hand to the side of her face, brushing her hair back behind her ear.

"I should probably make sure he's not packing me a powdered wig," he said after a moment, not moving his hand despite his words, "He's determined that they will come back into style, and if he gets it in the luggage it will be one more argument once we get there."

"Well, then," Rhonwen said, taking his hand in her own and putting it to his chest, "You're off to save your fashion sense."

He smiled and nodded, turning to leave and only letting go of her hand at the last moment. She smiled dreamily for a few minutes before Lucy returned and she focused on her packing again.

Emile swore that he would never get used to large groups of people. And if anything could be said for Edward and Dianna's wedding, it was large. There were hundreds of people present; the cathedral was full to the point that some of the invited guests had to stand. Outside was a huge crowd of the kingdom's people, excited about the wedding of their darling prince, who was loved by all. There were also some travelers there from the Northern kingdom, but only the most devoted followers of royal events traveled to attend the young Princess Dianna's wedding, since it was not an affair of their own nation. Emile was uncomfortable in the extreme.

Even though he wasn't the Beast anymore, he still felt out of place amongst other people. He still felt that he was stared at wherever he went, which was probably true given that he was a prince. And all the noises he couldn't identify and all the people he didn't know were enough to make the hairs on his neck stand on end. He knew he'd have to get used to it if he was going to be a king, so he put on a brave face and managed to come off as only slightly skittish. He stood as Edward's best man, an honor he'd accepted grudgingly since it placed him at the front of the church where everyone was looking. Augustine and Akram both stood with him as well, along with Rufus and several other men he'd been friends with before the journey. And Emile got a perfect view of Rhonwen from where he was, so it wasn't a total loss.

Rhonwen was one of Dianna's bridesmaids, and he couldn't help but stare at her as the ceremony went on. She was wearing a light pink dress that matched those of the other bridesmaids and Emile made a note to himself to compliment Dianna's taste. She looked radiant; the dress reaching the ground in a graceful cascade of fabric, with what he was told was a sweetheart neckline that flattered her shape perfectly. Her long brown hair was braided off her face but allowed to hang down in an elaborate pattern of pins and twists in the back. She wore the engagement ring he'd had made for her and a diamond necklace his mother had given her when she'd first arrived at the castle. Her eyes were full of tears, but her face was smiling and blushed, suggesting that these tears were anything but sad.

He realized that he must have been staring for some time when she looked back at him, those large green eyes meeting his and a playful smile coming to her face. She winked at him discreetly and he blushed. For once, he was unhappy that his fur was gone; he'd felt so much less visible when he'd blushed before, but now everyone could see his face turn red. He looked down and through his peripheral vision he could see Rhonwen do the same, so he glanced up at her again. She was looking at the ground in front of her with a very amused look on her face, and he looked back down as he felt the heat return to his face.

As the couple said their vows, Emile watched them and dreamed of when this day would come for himself. He smiled as Edward pulled Dianna in for a huge kiss when the priest permitted it and cheered with the others when it lasted for more than a few moments. And he laughed and rolled his eyes with the others when Edward sang that song again down the aisle, carrying his laughing, happy little Dianna with him like she was a china doll. He had no doubt that they would be happy together.

The music began and he reached out to take Rhonwen's arm, walking down the aisle in pairs with the rest of the bridesmaids and groomsmen. Rhonwen took his arm in both of hers happily, and pulled his down so she could whisper in his ear.

"This will be us soon," she said, smiling secretively.

"Nothing will make me happier," he whispered back.

They both smiled all the way back to their carriages, and then reluctantly separated so that they could travel with their families. Emile took the first step up into his carriage and looked back to see Rhonwen running and hugging her parents first and then Rufus and his new wife. He smiled and settled into the carriage, glad that she was so happy.

When they arrived at the reception, they were together again, but not entirely. Rhonwen ran to and from friends as she saw them, and he smiled as he watched her talking boisterously with Melody and Red. He heard someone clear his throat behind him and he turned to be face to face with Eugene.

"Oh, sir!" he said, dipping his head in greeting and trying not to be too nervous at talking to Rhonwen's father alone, face to face.

This was the first time, when he thought back on it, that Rhonwen hadn't been with him when they were around her parents. And especially around her father. He didn't fear the encounter, Eugene was a good man and Emile quite liked him. But he had been wondering what would happen when he finally did have this conversation.

"Rhonwen looks like she had a really good time today," Eugene said, smiling disarmingly and looking over at his daughter.

Emile followed his gaze and nodded. Eugene reached up to rest an elbow casually on Emile's shoulder like an old friend.

"She looks just like her mother did at that age," he said, smiling appreciatively.

"She'd truly amazing," Emile replied, glad this conversation was going so well.

"That she is," he said, his light tone unchanged, "And if you ever hurt her I'll kill you."

Emile's smile dropped but Eugene just kept talking on in that light, friendly tone that was completely at odds with his words.

"It would actually be a mercy if I did it myself," he said, smiling roguishly, "If Rapunzel got ahold of you they wouldn't be able to identify the body. And I'm not even going to mention my son."

Emile nodded nervously, not knowing what else to do. Was Eugene serious or just messing with his head? He couldn't tell with that look and tone of voice, the man could have been talking about the weather in France with the same tone! Eugene noticed how stiff he was and laughed, which set Emile more ill at ease. Was he laughing because he was joking, or because he'd accomplished his goal?

"Relax, kid," Eugene said, taking his elbow off Emile's shoulder and punching said shoulder in a comradely sort of way, "If I thought you'd hurt her, you'd already be dead. I'm just letting you know where I stand, that's all."

Emile nodded again, still tense. Eugene laughed again and sounded like he was going to start up again, but Rapunzel's voice cut in just in time to stop him.

"Eugene," she said, sounding disparaging, "Are you scaring our future son-in-law?"

"Who, me?" Eugene replied, putting on an innocent face, "I'd never!"

"Because I thought I told you," Rapunzel said, coming up beside Eugene to face Emile, "That's my job. Hello dear!"

"Hello," Emile replied quietly, sure that his face was red again.

The couple laughed and Rapunzel patted his arm and promised him that they were just kidding while Eugene mouthed no, we are not behind her, and Emile smiled. He loved these people. They were so much like their daughter.

Speak of the devil, Rhonwen had just said goodbye and was running over to Emile again with a suspicious look directed at her parents. Emile smiled and put out his hand to her, which she took without a thought when she arrived a few steps later.

"Hi, Mom," she said, "Hi, Dad. What are you guys talking about?"

"We were talking about how glad we are that the wedding was in Andalasia," Emile supplied, smiling down at her, "Given the weather in the Northern kingdom this time of year."

"I see," she said, giving him a disbelieving look as her father smiled conspiratorially at him and her mother looked at the ceiling conspicuously, "Well, the next song if one of my favorites and I'd like to dance, if you don't mind."

Emile smiled and followed her to the dance floor. He danced happily with her, leading her around the floor of the ballroom. He noticed Red and Augustine dancing close by and couldn't help but watch for a few minutes as they got into an argument over who was supposed to lead. Then he looked back down at Rhonwen and smiled. The two danced until the song was over, Rhonwen's dress swirling gracefully as they turned, and left the dance floor together, walking out towards the refreshments. Melody and Akram were there already, kissing at the end of the table, and Emile smiled as Rhonwen took a dessert, inspired. Before she could bite the baked pastry she'd taken he tugged the braid in her hair gently, and then she looked over her shoulder at him he smiled. He took advantage of the fact that she wasn't paying attention to her pastry at the moment and snatched it from her hand, taking a bite of it himself. She raised an eyebrow at him as he held the rest of it out of her reach, then she grabbed him by the collar of his blue jacket and pulled him into a kiss. He wrapped his arms around her back and she reclaimed her pastry, but didn't seem to be in any rush to eat it as she continued to kiss him. Yes, he couldn't wait until their wedding day. And he had the feeling that neither could she.

And that's all folks! Thanks for reading, it was great writing, and I can't believe I'm actually finishing this story! Gaaaahhhh!