Seventeen Years Later
Ezra's POV
"Daddy, Daddy, wake up!" I hear an adorable little voice say.
My blue eyes flutter open and I smile when I see my beautiful eight year-old daughter, Kate Ella Fitzgerald, hovering over me.
"Why? Is there something important going on today?" I ask in a teasing voice.
"Yes Daddy! It's time to pick the boys up from the castle, remember?" Kate asks as her hazel eyes twinkle.
As promised, Aria and I send our children to live with Wes every summer after they turn twelve. Today marks the end of the summer, and Kate is thrilled to be reunited with her three older brothers.
Our oldest son William turned seventeen this year, and on his eighteenth birthday he will inherit the kingdom, and move into the castle permanently. The thought of losing her baby boy upsets Aria, but we both know that he is going to make an excellent king. He is an exceptionally smart boy, and he always looks out for his younger siblings. (Especially Kate)
Three years after Aria gave birth to William, we welcomed our second son into the world. Charles turned fourteen this year, and even though he takes his schooling very seriously, he loves to relax and have a good time. The teenager never fails to put a smile on my face, and he's always the one who lightens the mood in our household.
Our youngest son Louis celebrated his twelfth birthday this year, and this was his first summer at the castle. He's much more shy and reserved than both of his older brothers were at twelve, so we were nervous to send him away for so long. Aria constantly refers to Louis as "her little sweetheart" because of the boy's gentle and loving nature.
Last is my little Kate. She came as a complete surprise to both me and Aria, but we wouldn't trade the eight year-old for the world. Kate looks like a carbon copy of her mother, and she reminds me so much of Aria. According to my wife I spoil Kate way too much, but she has me wrapped around her little finger.
I glance over at Aria, who somehow managed to sleep through Kate's shouting. I don't want to wake Aria up because she looks so beautiful in her sleep, but I know she's excited to see our sons again.
"Aria honey, it's time to wake up." I whisper into her ear.
Aria let's out a tired yawn before her hazel eyes shoot open.
"Ezra, why didn't you wake me up earlier? We need to get on the road..." Aria starts to ramble.
"Woah there baby, I just woke up too. You can thank Kate for that." I say as I glare at my daughter.
"Yeah Mommy, Daddy was sleeping just like you! I woke him up because I want to go to the castle and see my brothers, eat yummy food, and ask Uncle Wes to buy me a new pony." Kate says with a toothy smile.
"Kate, you don't need another pony. Daddy just bought you one for your eight birthday." Aria says as she rolls her eyes.
"But Mommy, why can't I have two ponies?" Kate asks with a pout.
"Because it isn't necessary." Aria says as she pulls Kate close to her.
"If ponies aren't necessary, what is?" Kate challenges.
"Love. You're lucky because you have three older brothers, a Daddy, and a Mommy who love you very much." Aria says before she plants a kiss on Kate's forehead.
"But maybe a pony needs me to love her." Kate tells her mother.
"I'm impressed, you come up with excellent arguments Katie-cat." I say with a proud smile.
"Does that mean I can have a pony?" Kate asks as her little face lights up.
"I don't see why not." I say with a shrug.
"Ezra, please back me up on this. I'm sick of always having to play the bad cop when it comes to you and our daughter." Aria tells me seriously.
"Kate, you're not getting a second pony anytime soon." I say with a heavy sigh.
"That's okay Daddy, I still love you!" Kate says as she jumps into my arms.
"That's my sweet girl." I mutter as I stroke her dark curls softly.
"Kate, why don't you get dressed while I make you something to eat? The sooner we get going, the sooner we can get on the road." Aria tells the girl.
"Yes please Mommy! I'm very hungry this morning." Kate says as she rubs her little tummy.
"Okay, I laid the beige dress on your bed." Aria says as Kate sprints out of the bedroom.
"She's perfect Aria." I mutter as I breath in my wife's delicious scent.
"Isn't she?" Aria asks as she cuddles closer to me.
"Yes, just like you." I tell my wife truthfully.
"I still think you spoil her way to much though." Aria says as she raises an eye brow.
"Please, you spoiled our boys plenty when they were Kate's age." I say with a chuckle.
"I did not!" Aria argues.
"You can fight me all you want, but we both know it's the truth." I tease.
"You're right, but it's only because I love our four little miracles so much." Aria says as she ruffles my curls.
"I love them too, just like I love their mother." I tell Aria truthfully.
Aria's POV
After a long carriage ride with a rambunctious eight year-old, we finally arrive at the beautiful castle. Wes and the boys are waiting for us in front of the gate, and we sprint over to them with open arms.
"Oh my boys, I missed the three of you so much!" I say as I kiss them repeatedly.
"We missed you too Mom." William says as he pulls me in for a tight hug.
"Did you enjoy your first summer at the castle?" Ezra asks as he lifts up little Louis.
"Yes, I had so much fun with Uncle Wes." Louis says with a wide smile.
"Everything's finer at the castle. Finer food, finer wine, finer women..." Charles starts to ramble.
"Charles that's enough." I say cutting him off.
I hate the idea of Charles growing up and chasing after girls. I know he's fourteen, but he's still a little boy to me.
"Sorry." Charles mutters as he picks up Kate and gives her a big hug.
"I want to go to the castle too Mommy." Kate tells me with a smile.
"The rules still apply to you Kate, when you turn twelve you can stay with your uncle at the castle." I tell her seriously.
"Can't we break the rules for Kate? I'd love to have her here for three months." Wes says as he takes the eight year-old from her brother.
"Absolutely not! Kate is my last baby, I'm not giving her up that easily." I as has I glare at Wes.
"Can you at least stay for dinner? I asked Catherine to make a big supper for my favorite little niece." Wes says as he tickles Kate playfully.
"Ezra, do you have any students to tutor tomorrow?" I ask as I glance over at my husband.
"No, I cleared my schedule so I could catch up with the boys." Ezra says as he shakes his head.
A few months after we had William, Ezra started tutoring the teenagers in the village. He's helped literacy rated go up immensely, and I couldn't be more proud of him.
"So it's settled! You're staying for dinner!" Wes exclaims.
Line Break
I enjoy a delicious dinner with my family in the castle's dinning halls. It's weird to think that I used to serve Ezra and his family in this very hall.
"I'm full Momma." Kate says as she shoves her plate away from her.
"To full for dessert?" Ezra asks as he raises an eye brow.
"No way!" Kate says as she shakes her head vigorously.
Everyone laughs at Kate and her lovableness. It's times like these that I appreciate my wonderful life, and the people in it.
"It's getting late Aria, we should probably head out soon." Ezra says as he rests a hand on my shoulder.
"Already?" Wes asks with a frown.
"Ezra's right, it's a long journey home." I say as I give Wes an apologetic smile.
"Mom, can we stay at the castle tonight?" William asks me hopefully.
"Yeah, can we please?" Louis begs.
"I'd love to have you all for the night. Ezra, I'll even let you and Aria stay in the room where you conceived William." Wes says with a wink.
"Gross." Charles says with a wince.
"Daddy, what does "conceived" mean?" Kate asks Ezra curiously.
Ezra stares at me, obviously hoping I'll take over.
"It's when God puts the baby in a Mommy's tummy." I say with a blush.
"You make it sound like every child is a baby Jesus." Wes says with an eye roll.
"Wes, would you please knock it off? I don't want my little girl to find out about these things to early." Ezra tells his brother seriously.
"What? It's the facts of life Ezra! If you hadn't conceived William, you would have never escaped from the castle." Wes reminds us.
"What do you mean? Why would you have to escape from the castle?" Louis asks with a confused expression on his face.
Ezra and I exchange an uneasy glance. We haven't told Louis and Kate about our love story, or my past life in the castle.
"It's a long story honey." I say with a small laugh.
"I love stories!" Kate exclaims.
Part of me wants to tell my children about how I met their daddy, but the other part of me wants to keep it a secret for a little while longer.
Would it scare them that their own grandfather kidnapped me, and enslaved me in this very castle? Maybe my undying love for Ezra and his undying love for me will move them.
Ezra seems to read my mind, because he begins to speak.
"It all started when I came back from boarding school..." He starts to say.
"No, back up! It started one evening when I was your age Kate. Grandma Ella sent me out to pick berries, and it became an adventure that would change my life forever." I say as I stare at Ezra lovingly.
So that's the end! What did you think of the last chapter, and my story in general? Thanks to everyone who stuck with it, and supported me. I hope you had as much fun reading this as I did writing it! I'm posting my next story called "Couples Retreat" in two weeks, so keep your eyes out for it. Thanks again for reading this story, I couldn't have done it without you!
-Erin