Grace's POV

A couple of weeks had passed and I was finally released from the hospital. Niall visited me every day, but I made sure to kick him out after so long since he needed more time to grieve with his family.

"I just can't help but feel horrible. The last moment I had with him was when I told him how awful he was. He wasn't awful! I—I was just angry!" Niall cried as I held him in the back of the car.

"It's normal to feel that way, but don't feel bad about it. The situation wasn't in your control,"

He held me tighter as his cries grew silent. "I shouldn't be so selfish," He started. "You lost your father as well and I—"

"Niall, look at me," He turned his tear-stained face toward me. "You are not in any way being selfish. You are allowed to grieve."

It was a hard time for all of us. I had to figure out what to do with my siblings now that Victoria was finally locked up, and the late King and Queen's assistants were busy trying to get everything in order.

"Take a left turn up here and it's the first house on the corner," I explained to the limo driver. Niall and I were being escorted to my house to sort some things out as well as move everything to the palace. Bedrooms were being prepared for Milo, Cooper, Oliver, and Amelia. They were to stay on the third floor, as well as with Niall's friends who were to take care of them.

"Are you ready?" Niall asked, taking my hand.

"Ready as I'll ever be."

I'd been on edge this whole week knowing I had to go back to my childhood home. I didn't want to be reminded of the gruesome month I had experienced only weeks before.

Niall and I walked into the house along with a few bodyguards. Everything was the same as I'd left it; papers scattered across the floor, beer bottles shattered on the kitchen counters, and wine stains on the couch. Niall shifted uncomfortably as he took a look around the house. "We're going to have to get some maids from the palace to tidy this up,"

I took a deep breath and made my way toward Dad's room. It was the place I had been dreading looking through the most, so I thought it would be best to get it over with first.

There were papers scattered all over the floor as well as desk and dresser drawers left open. Dad's old writing desk was taken over with Victoria's makeup and jewelry.

"Niall, do you want to start with the boxes in the closet? I'll look through the papers in the desk."

We separated and got to work. Most of the papers were bills that Victoria never bothered to pay since Dad died. Still, after getting past the first stack I found grocery lists, receipts, coupons, and more memorable papers such as Milo's old school projects and the picture books I used to write when I was three.

"Gracey?" Niall called. "I think you'll want to see this,"

I walked over to where Niall was sitting crisscrossed on the floor. In his hand was an old shoebox labeled: "To Gracey, Love Mom".

I sat next to him as I opened the shoebox. Inside were pictures of little me, as well as letters and souvenirs for each of my birthdays. The letters stopped at age eight, but I began to tear up when I noticed an eighteenth birthday card.

"Dearest Gracey Anne," The card began. I realized then why the fake name I gave myself had sounded so familiar before: Mama used to call me Gracey Anne since I was little.

"It's your eighteenth birthday! Happiest wishes from the past. It's strange writing this, thinking the little baby in my arms right now will eventually grow up to be as old as eighteen. Your little coos will soon become words, soon you'll be able to walk, and you won't be dependent on me anymore, as you are while I write this.

I wanted to write you a letter for every birthday, as it's what my Ma did for me. I hope you enjoy reading through all the letters that will have been collected through the years!"

The ink, which had been black before, switched to a dark blue.

"I'm writing this now, after your eighth birthday. In 10 years, you'll be getting this letter.

I'm already proud of the little girl you've become. You're so kind to your brothers and so unimaginably helpful to me. I know that as you get older, you will only continue to wow me even more. You've already done that, at the mere age of eight.

I hope that now, you're still dreaming big. I love your innocence, and I want to protect it and cherish it as long as I have it. You've always wanted to be a princess, and while, as you know now, that's probably not likely, I hope you'll find a man who treats you like one. I hope you're still working hard to fulfill those dreams.

Most of all, I hope you know how much I love you. I hope that at the age of eighteen, we'll have grown even closer. You're my little girl and you always will be. I'm proud of you and I never stopped being so.

Love you, baby girl,

Mom. "

I tried to control my tears, but they wouldn't stop coming. "She—she never got to finish the rest of my letters," I cried to Niall. "She never got to see me turn eighteen!"

Niall held me in his arms, rubbing his thumbs against my hand. He didn't say anything, he just let me cry.

"Niall," I whispered, looking up at his tear-stained face. "I never want to lose you," My voice cracked at the thought of losing another loved one.

"You're not going to lose me," He said softly. "You won't get rid of me that easily."

I smiled as I leaned back into his chest. "Can we stay like this for a while longer?"

"Of course, darling," He replied, resting his head on top of mine. "We can stay for as long as you like."

~~~

"Do I get to wear pretty princess dresses?" Amelia bounced up and down the seat of the limousine.

"Yes, you get to wear princess dresses!" I smiled as Niall contained his laughter.

"I don't think I've seen anyone so excited before," He whispered. You'd think he would remember what non-royal children were like before he was a prince, but it seems that memory was wiped.

Oliver and Amelia were practically bouncing off the walls with excitement. I don't think I've ever seen the bodyguards so annoyed before. Milo and Cooper were discussing in hushed tones what type of activities they think are hiding within the palace. "I bet there's a swimming pool or a bowling alley. Or better yet, I bet they have a whole movie theater with endless popcorn!"

I rested my head on Niall's shoulder. Things had been much less stressful after finally getting the house organized. I got to keep my parents' belongings and say goodbye to the horrible memories of Victoria. I was more at peace knowing I'd get to live with my siblings. They were under the care of wonderful, though chaotic—I'm mainly talking about Reeja and Louis—people.

I was finally at rest.

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a/n

stream memories by conan gray

now u may be wondering, "elise??? what have you been up to !!! you must be so incredibly busy and have such a cool life to not have updated in over a month!!!" 

and to that I say, I do have such a cool life!! yes!! my busy, non-update-filled days, consist of watching seinfeld, watching skincare videos on Pinterest and then crying because I'm too poor to actually buy skincare products, and lastly listening to 60's music on my record player and pretending I'm a 60's housewife!!! so exciting i know!!! 

anywho. i hope y'all enjoyed the update! i thought it would be nice to add in some closure with grace and her mom so there's that. and honestly it was so fun to write her mom's letter because i am her mother. i created this character. so it was cool to pretend to be her mom ehe

also BRO we have one chapter left and then the epilogue- I CAN'T BELIEVE IT'S ALMOST OVER CRYING WHAT but do not fear (or do, if you so choose) they will be kinda long chapters lmao

anyways ilysm and thanks for the support! continue to comment and vote as well as share this book! it would mean a lot to me to get the book out there now that it's coming to a close. (and hopefully i will have the motivation to finish it quickly so i can enter it into the watty's lmao i might need y'alls help for motivation) OK NOW BYE ILY