Chapter 379

Christian's coronation was the event of the decade. Pearl was filled with nerves and worries. She held Dylan's hand and kissed her oldest son on the cheek.

"This is your day, my son. And I'm so proud of you." She said. Dylan shook his hand and bowed. Christian smiled and hugged him.

"I am who am I am because of you both. And to you, daddy." He said, pointing up to the sky after kissing his hand. Pearl smiled. She wished so much for Sebastian to be there but she knew he would be so proud of who Christian had become.

"Mum!" Isla shouted as she ran into the room. She was wearing a bright green vintage dress that she had found at a thrift shop the summer before. Pearl smiled at her. She loved that she was her own unique person and doubted she had many designer label clothing in her closet. Isla loved what she loved and was who she was. She was the best of both Pearl and Sebastian and also a little bit of Dylan as well. They all were molded by his presence in their lives. Especially Christian. He and Dylan shared a special bond. One that even Sebastian was jealous of.

Isla hugged Pearl and smiled. "Christian is king!" She exclaimed.

"But he still is a little cry baby and can't cut his own steak." A voice said from behind them. Alexander walked around the group and stopped in front of Pearl.

"Hello, Alex. I have missed you," she said.

He looked down and nodded. "I know." He said.

She put her hand on his shoulder. "I'm glad you're here." She said.

"That makes two of us." Dylan said. Alexander looked up at him and gave a slight smile.

"Good to see you, too, uncle Dylan." Alex said. He walked around and stood behind them. He was dressed in a suit, which made Pearl happy. At almost 16, getting him to take anything seriously was difficult.

"Well, are we ready to change the world?" Christian asked.

"We are ready for you to do what you were born to do." Pearl said. Christian smiled.

"I love you, Mum." He said.

"I love you, too." She said.

***********************************

After the ceremony, there was a huge dinner and celebration. Dignitaries and politicians as well as celebrities and others were there. Pearl walked down the stairs with Christian for their grand entrance. Everyone clapped and cheered the new king and the queen mother. In an unexpected move, Dylan waited at the bottom of the stairs and bowed and then offered his hand to Pearl. Most of their private life was kept just that, private. But this was a very public display. Pearl wasn't sure what to do and Christian, being the strong leader that he was, nodded and bowed back and handed his mother's hand over to Dylan. The room was quiet. Christian looked up and cleared his throat.

"Most of you have talked about my mother's life and have incorrectly called the man standing here "her lover". But you have all been terribly wrong. He is her best friend. And he is our father, just as the late king Sebastian was. I will expect the same respect given to Mr. Dylan Lawrence from now on. I love him with all my heart and owe him a huge debt of gratitude." And Auggie walked over with a sword.

"In my first act as king, I wish to knight the man that raised me." Dylan fell to his knee.

Christian raised the sword and dubbed Dylan.

Dylan rose and told Christian that seeing him become king was one the proudest moments of his life. The room roared in applause after and Christian hugged Dylan and smiled. After handing him the knighted insignia, he bowed and handed his hand to Pearl's. Dylan lead her to the dance floor and they began a waltz.

Dylan held her tightly and spun her around. "You look incredible tonight." He said.

"Thank you. So do you, Sir Ponytail." Pearl said with a smile.

He pulled her closer to him. "You're done being an island, baby.

And I'm ready to meet your shore.

It's halfway to the right place

And I want to give you more

Stop opening windows to strangers

When I have a key to unlock the door

Pretty eyes, goodbyes and tonight

Taste bitter, and leave me wanting more." He sang into her ear. It was the chorus from the very first song they wrote together.

She smiled and wiped a tear from her face.

"Come upstairs with me." Dylan whispered. Pearl felt her body come alive. It had been so long since she had been with a man. She wasn't sure she would even know what to do. And how long for Dylan? In all the years, he had been alone. No woman was ever with him.

"Are you sure?" She asked.

"Yes. I want to show you how much l have wanted you all these years." He said, standing back and looking at her. "Let me make love to you, like the years never happened. Like we never stopped." He said. He took her hand and pulled her away from the party.

"Won't they wonder where I am?" She asked as he pulled her into his room.

"The time for them to care about that is over now. Now you're mine. I can finally say that you are mine." He said. He kissed her and gently ran his hand along the back of her neck and pulled her to him.

He closed the door behind them and made love to her just like he said, like the years had never happened and like she had always been his and his alone.

The next morning, she woke up to him smiling and looking at her, running his hands down her body and through her hair, twirling it around.

"Good morning." She said.

His smile was ridiculously big.

"What?" She asked.

"All these years and you've aged none. Look at how beautiful you are." He said, tracing the curves of her body.

"You are acting like a schoolboy." She said, covering her face with a pillow. He took it off of her and gently hit her with it.

"Don't you dare fucking cover yourself around me. I've waited 19 years to have you in my bed again. I'm enjoying all of this and you are going to let me."

"Has it been that long?" She asked.

"Yes." He said.

"Ten years celibate. I forgot how incredible love making is." She said.

He smiled. "Try 19." He said, rolling over onto his back and running his stomach. He was still sexy as hell, even in his forties.

"Are you fucking with me?" She asked, shocked.

He turned and ran his hand along her side. "When I tell you I've waited for you, I meant I have waited for you." He said. "You are still the only woman I have been with and will ever be with. Pearl, you're the love of my life." He said. "From the first night I met you and drove you home I knew that I was going to give myself to you completely. And I did." He said.

Pearl looked at him. "I don't deserve you. I never did." She said. He leaned over and kissed her.

"You've given me a life that I am proud of. The friendship we had over the years has meant everything to me. I was never lonely. I had you and this family that grew from it. Our friends. The kids. So what I couldn't make love to you. There was always so much more to being with you and having you in my life that mattered more than that. It was always a desire but being your friend was stronger. I tried to move on. I did. But when I couldn't, I realized that being celibate wasn't that bad. And I still had you. I always had you by my side and I was by yours. Soulmates aren't always sexual." He said.

His mind. His brilliant mind and way of thinking was always what attracted her to him. His genius level thinking and understanding was the only thing that held him to her in this rationalization. Most men would never live this way. His love was stronger than anything she could ever imagine. And she was in awe. She told him this and he just shrugged.

"Whatever is was, I'm glad for it." He said. She smiled. He kissed her and made love to her again. "Worth the wait." He said as he watched her sit up with the sheet wrapped around her.

"Totally." She said with a giggle.

They got up and around and went down to breakfast to find the crew there, smiling and applauding their arrival.

"Long night? We missed you about 10 minutes into the evening. Wherever did you two go?" Christian asked, sipping his tea.

"Yes Pearl, you look a little… overwrought… this morning." Auggie said. Maggie giggled into her napkin.

"A good shag will do that." Fi said. Everyone laughed.

"Ha ha very funny." Pearl said.

Ian high-fived Dylan.

"Aren't you a little old for that?" Pearl asked.

"I'm quite virile for my age, you know that." Dylan said, sitting down by Jim and smiling. Jim looked unenthused as always.

"Mum, you saucy minx." Isla said, growling.

"Ok, ok. You've all had your fun." Pearl said. "So, Christian. How does it feel to be king? It's official now."

"It feels the same only with more work. I already have meetings booked every day for the next month. How did you do it all these years?" He asked Pearl.

"I had a lot of help and support. Like you do now. Auggie and Louis are wonderful. And the others. And soon, Isla and Alexander can help as well." She said.

"No way. I have ZERO interest in that." Alex said, looking up from the copy of Kerouac he was reading.

"We know that, my love. But you can always be a support to your brother. And to the country." Pearl said.

"I will support him all day long but keep me out of the politics." He said. Dylan nodded.

"Understood, man," he said, patting his shoulder. Alex smiled.

"What a wonderful night," Dylan said. "I'm in a great fucking mood. Let's all celebrate. How about we get the band together and jam tonight."

Ian spit out his coffee. "Are you serious? What has it been, 12 years? 15?" He asked.

"You did that reunion concert when I was like 5 or 6 but I want allowed to go. I've never heard you all live and I want to. Badly." Alex said.

"Then it's settled." Christian said. "Let's get you guys back at it."

Pearl rolled her eyes. Dylan was such a shit.