Chapter Text
It was almost noon when Evangeline woke up. Since she and Jacks lived at the Hollow, for the past year and a half, it had happened that, sometimes, they woke up really late…this time the cause was that Jacks invited her to watch the stars together, and they stayed up until it was late at night. Jacks surprised her after dinner, asking her to follow him and she happily obliged, taking his hand, while asking him
«Where are we going, Jacks?»
As if I'm going to tell you, Little Fox. It's a surprise.
This damned man, never telling her anything…but this time she will let it slide, and just keep going until they reached just outside the Hollow, where a blanket was put on the ground, and near it there were little vases with something inside that was glowing…she kneeled on the ground, taking a closer look and then
«Jacks! Tell me you did not trap these poor fireflies inside vases.»
He looked at her, his usual smirk on that god-damned face, while acting all innocent
«I did not trap the fireflies in the vase»
«You liar—» she was interrupted by the man, who was, at this point giggling while looking at her
«You told me to say that, Little Fox, I just did what you asked me to do» he said while kneeling down near her, taking the vase in his hands, opening it, and in that moment she realized one thing: those were not fireflies.
«See? These are not even fireflies, my dear, they can seem like it, but they aren't. I bought these at a market here in the North…I thought you would like them.»
She smiled, ruffling his hair, and hugging him tightly
«I love them! They're adorable…» she pressed a kiss on his cheek, while Jacks closed the vase.
«So…did you just bring me here for the view of is there anything else you want to show me?»
«Hhm, there is another thing…tonight is very special…the stars align in a very peculiar way, forming the constellations of the Heart and the Arrow…they symbolize the search for true love» he smiled, dimples making their way on his face «I did finally found my one true love…and I wanted to share this view with you, my dear Evangeline»
The girl was already almost tearing up, just because Jacks wanted to share such a moment with her…she couldn't resist the impulse to kiss him, such a delicate and sweet kiss for her sweet Prince. Jacks put his hands on her waist tugging her near him, and making her sit on his lap, and after a moment he whispered on her lips
«I love you, Little Fox…I love you more than anything in this world…I am going to never let you go out of my sight ever again.»
«And I am never going to be too far from you, Jacks…always right next to you, forever»
After going through the memories of last night, just when she was about to get out of bed, she felt something — better saying someone — pulling her back into it. Of course it was Jacks, who else could it be…she looked at him, smiling as always. The boy was looking at her through his half-closed eyes, those beautiful blue eyes that shimmered of their own light, almost like two splendid indigo stars.
«Mhm, good morning Little Fox.» he opened his eyes, yawning.
«Morning to you too, my love» she smiled, pressing a kiss on his lips, something she dreamt of doing a lot in the past, and that now she could do with no problem at all. «Do you want to go and have breakfast with me?»
He didn't respond, Jacks just got up and took her up in his arms, going to the little kitchen while holding her like she was the most valuable thing in the world.
«You are indeed the most valuable thing in the world to me, Little Fox…you are my treasure and I will protect you, at any cost» he smiled, while kissing her, hungrily, like she was his breakfast.
«Mhm…Jacks…» Evangeline sighs into the kiss, she always loved the way Jacks kisses her, and, honestly, she can really get why his kisses were considered "worth dying for".
But now, they both know she is not going to die from his kisses, no matter how passionate they can be. She is his true love and they broke the curse that hunted him for centuries.
When they finally got in the kitchen, she noticed almost immediately a letter on the table: it was a missive written on almost beige paper with a sealing wax symbol she could recognise everywhere: it was the emblem of the Royal Family of the Meridian Empire. She wasn't the only one who recognised the symbol on the letter Jacks too, and his face was everything but happy about it.
Quickly, Evangeline got off from his arms and she takes the letter, and on the back of it it said
To Evangeline Fox
From Empress Scarlett and Princess Donatella Dragna
She took a deep breath, while Jacks, hugging her from behind, put his chin on her head, curious of the content of the letter. Evangeline proceeded to open the letter, breaking the sealing wax
Dearest Evangeline,
I hope this letter finds you well, it's been a long time since we last heard from you…we did not get much information about what happened to you in the Magnificent North, except the news of your marriage with a prince! Our happiest and sincere congratulations to you and your husband. We were hoping that you could come back to the Meridian Empire, to tell us more about your time in the North and to celebrate your marriage to this mysterious prince.
Please let us know when and if you will come,
Sincerely yours,
Empress Scarlett and Princess Donatella Dragna.
Evangeline widened her eyes, tightening her grip on the paper in her hands and her immediate reaction was to look at Jacks. She thought that he was going to be shocked or even a little disturbed about the letter, but no, Jacks was as impassive as ever, not a single thing in his face could make someone think that something wasn't right…but Evangeline knows him all too well.
«My love…» she said, caressing his cheek with her hand «I will not go, if you do not want…I know it could be difficult for you to have to see all of them again…especially Princess Donatella…»
«Oh, no no…on the contrary.» he grinned, something in his eyes shimmering of pure malice. «We should absolutely go.»
She knows that look in his eyes, she has seen it one too many times.
«It's not said that you could come too.»
«Oh, but wouldn't the Empress want to meet your husband?» he said, with a malicious smile, while raising his left hand, where, on his finger, was a gold band with a fox engraved on its side. «And besides that, I promised that I wouldn't let you go out of my sight, didn't I?"
Fates help her. No, maybe not Fates, as the ex-Fate standing in front of her was the problem.
«No, Jacks, I already know what that smile means. You want to cause a lot of trouble. And I am not letting you do that.»
«The sweet sweet Savior of Valenda, what would the Empire do without your aid? Who would save them from this horrible, terrific and evil Fate who wants to destroy the happiness of everyone and kill their newborns if you weren't here?»
She sighed. Here he goes. It's going to be a very long morning.
«First of all, you are not a Fate anymore. You are purely a human, just like me. Second of all, don't give yourself too much credit, you are not that awful anymore…you big softie who has a soft spot for both me and Princess of the Fluffykins?»
«How many times do I have to tell you not to call her that? It's an awful name for such a beautiful fox…» while Jacks said that, the fox in question entered the kitchen, clinging to the man.
«Speak of the devil…»
«You're the devil, not my poor Princess of the Fluffykins.» she pouted, taking the white fox in her arms.
«Do not—» he sighed «whatever, call her how you want…but we are going to the Meridian Empire. Together.»
«We are not.»
«We are, I promise I'm going to behave like a good boy, or whatever it is…come on Little Fox, don't you want to go back to your home?
Home, she thought…could she still call Valenda home? She doesn't have anyone left there, not her mom, not her dad…no one was there. Here in the Magnificent North she had Jacks, LaLa, Luc (even though he's still obsessed with biting her, but she does not pay much attention to that, he's still funny to hang out with).
In the last two years the Magnificent North became her home, her new house. She sighed, biting her lower lip.
«Why do you even want to go there? Everyone wants you dead.»
«I am kinda getting tired of the cold of the North…Valenda was such a beautiful place, and…well, you were invited, wouldn't it be rude to refuse such an offer? And besides, now I am harmless, my kisses aren't deadly anymore and neither do I have my powers…no emotion manipulation, no heartbeat control, nothing at all…just a dagger» he smiled, taking his new dagger, the one she gifted him, since she now had his. The handle had the form of a fox intertwined with a tree.
«I don't even know why I am saying this but…fine, I guess we are going back to Valenda. You better not cause any troubles. You may not have your powers but you still have that sharp tongue of yours.»
«I will behave as well as I can»
«I am going to regret this.»
«Probably but you agreed to it, so now there is no going back, Little Fox.» He grinned «Come on, let's go write the response for Her Highness»