fairy tale au } { of towers and lanterns

[impetere]

Stiles: [No, really the frantic work to set up for the returned princess was all this thief needed to get into the castle and go after jewels. Ethan and Aiden were on the lookout, but Stiles had the stickiest of fingers and they were really more dumb brute force. But now they were running and splitting up to be able to evade the legion of soldiers chasing them into the woods. Which is where Stiles will stumble into a grove with a huge tower that is totally the perfect hiding place once he climbs that ivy to get to the window because why there is no door he doesn't ask]

Cora: [hears rustling outside her tower and is confused that her mother didn't just call for her to let down her hair like she always does. so she grabs her trusty frying pan, just in case, and hides along the wall so that she isn't obviously seen]

Stiles: [and he will climb in the window, looking out and then ducking aside as he sees soldiers because NOPE he's totally safe here, right?]

Cora: [oh totally. Until the isolated princess sees STRANGE MAN and aims a solid hit to the back of his head with the frying pan]

Stiles: [what the - and then blackness as he slumps to the ground]

Cora: [waits a beat, moves forward and nudges him with her toe to make sure he actually is unconscious]

Stiles: [no, he's down for the count. possible brain damage]

Cora: [don't worry, she'll fix that later. but right now, she's going to mildly freak out a little because GUY IN HER HOUSE but then she realizes that maybe this'll get her what she wants so she does the sane thing and ... shoves him in her closet. I'm sure this'll be fine]

Kate: Cora! Mommy's home, let down your hair.

Cora: [and she'll do as she's told, taking a deep breath and bracing herself for both this conversation and having extra weight on her hair]

Kate: [and once she's up in the window] Look, I brought your favorite! Squash!

Cora: Yay. [sort of. She pulls all her hair back in, playing with the end of it for a moment, before glancing back at the closet. strange man in the cupboard give her strength] Uh, Mother...?

Kate: [and is going to pretty much talk about all the things from the village today while looking for them]

Cora: [clears her through and a little louder] Mother, I was wondering ...

Kate: This isn't about the lanterns again, is it?

Cora: I just think if we went together, I would be fine. I can take care of myself more than you think.

Kate: I'm not going to repeat myself, Cora. We're not going.

Cora: But ... [she starts like she's going to gesture back towards the closet]

Kate: [and she will turn and yell] That is it, Cora! You're never going to leave this tower!

Cora: [and her eyes drop to the floor, because she didn't mean to make her angry] I'm sorry.

Kate: And now I'm the bad guy. [sighs]

Cora: I don't want you to be. I just don't understand.

Kate: Because it is dangerous out there, and if people knew what you could do, they would kidnap you and hurt you.

Cora: How would they know?

Kate: They will. It is safer here.

Cora: [and she looks down at her hands again, dejected and still not really understanding, when another idea occurs to her. she's mostly quiet as Kate goes back to whatever she was doing, occasionally glancing back at the closet, and then finally] What about those shells you got me that we ground into paint?

Kate: The white ones from the sea?

Cora: [she nods before glancing back to her] Maybe you could get me those instead?

Kate: That would be a three day trip...

Cora: [she gives a small shrug] I thought it might be a more acceptable present. It is my birthday.

Kate: [looks at Cora, and then nods] If that's what you really want.

Cora: [its not, but she can't get what she really wants without it sooooo...] It is.

Kate: Alright. [and they can go about making her a lunch basket and then Kate will be off on her way]

Cora: [and she will wait until she's sure she's gone before opening the closet and darting to the side, like she doesn't know what is going to jump out at her]

Stiles: [aaaaand will just slump out of the closet because totally has brain damage]

Cora: [so she will hide his crown and tie him up with her hair and then wait patiently for him to wake up]

Stiles: [which he will when a stupid lizard licks his eardrum and he jolts awake] What the.... wait...is this hair?

Cora: That's not important. Who are you? [she is totally brandishing her frying pan in case she needs it]

Stiles: [blinks because someone's speaking] Where are you?

Cora: [hesitates for a moment, before stepping out into the light, frying pan in hand] Answer the question.

Stiles: [oh hello pretty lady. He'll give her the charming smile] I am Stiles Stilinski. You may have heard of me.

Cora: ... No.

Stiles: Really? I mean, there are posters of me up all over the kingdom. [you haven't heard of him?! sadness]

Cora: I don't get out much. Why are you in my tower?

Stiles: Honestly, I was just looking for a place to hide. There were these people after me, and this looked like a good hiding spot.

Cora: And that has nothing to do with the satchel you had with you. [eyebrow raise]

Stiles: The satchel I had.... [and he will look around] You took my satchel?

Cora: Yes I did. And I hid it, where you will never find it.

Stiles: [looks again] You mean in that pot over there?

Cora: [and CLUNK the frying pan hits him in the head again and she goes to move the satchel to a really good hiding place before she lets Pascal wake him up again]

Stiles: [and he will yelp at that, and then look at her incredulously] You really need to stop doing that.

Cora: I will. And I will give you your satchel back, if you do something for me.

Stiles: And what would that be?

Cora: [And she scrambles up to her painting and pulls back a curtain so he can see] If you take me to where the lights happen and bring me back again safely.

Stiles: What, the lanterns?

Cora: Yes. You take me to see the lanterns and bring me back and I will give you your satchel back.

Stiles: And that's all?

Cora: That's all.

Stiles: And you will give me back the satchel and everything in it?

Cora: Yes.

Stiles: [thinks a moment, then nods] If that's what you want, Blondie.

Cora: [and there is a smile of literal sunshine because finally she's going to get to see the lights up close. So she unbinds him from her hair, before nodding] Let me just get ready.

Stiles: .... Ok. [and he is going to snoop around and figure out just how he can pull this off without having to actually take her there]

Cora: [well he definitely doesn't find his satchel, and it doesn't take her long. she doesn't have a lot of stuff] Okay. Ready?

Stiles: Sure. [and he will climb out the window to start going down the ivy] Watch your step.

Cora: Do you want to just use my hair?

Stiles: ... Use your hair?

Cora: Yeah. [and she'll drape it over that little hook hanging from the roof and fashion a bit of a loop that he can put around his foot] I'll lower you down.

Stiles: Isn't that going to hurt?

Cora: [she shakes her head] My mother does it all the time.

Stiles: [blinks, then nods] Okay, Sure then.

Cora: [so she'll just lower him to the ground, nice and smooth and without even a little bit of wincing, and then hesitate at the window because oh god oh god this is it she's really doing this]

Stiles: [and he is going to go check on that ivy covered archway to make sure there are no guards around before looking back up at her] You know, if you're having second thoughts about going, that's perfectly all right.

Cora: [his voice snaps her out of it, and she shakes her head, before lowering herself down] Nope. No second thoughts. [and once her feet actually touch grass there's the thrill of freedom coupled by the fact that she was defying her mother and it's basically the first part of this]

Stiles: [and just.... wow, that's a wide range of emotions and he will keep walking along or waiting as she does her moping and finally he will come and sit beside her] You know, she probably will be very worried. There's nothing wrong with going back before she even knows you left. That can stay between us.

Cora: [she takes a deep breath as she looks up at him for a moment, before shaking her head] No. This is the only chance I'm going to get. If I don't do it now, I'll never get to do it at all.

Stiles: Alright. But just remember this isn't going to be an easy journey. It's full or peril at every step.

Cora: Really?

Stiles: Oh yes. You never know what's hiding in these woods. Thieves, pirates, monsters.... they will snatch you before you even know where they are coming from.

Cora: Well, I have you. That's part of the deal. You can't let monsters snatch me, or you never get your satchel back. [a beat and she holds up her frying pan] And I have this.

Stiles: No, the deal was I take you to the lanterns.

Cora: The deal was you escorting me. Part of that involves having my back.

Stiles: You seem to be very good at doing that all on your own.

Cora: Well, you can never be too safe.

Stiles: Mmhmm. Well, I don't know about you, but we may want to get something to eat soon.

Cora: Is there a place we can get some? I'm a good cook!

Stiles: I think there's a place just down the road that will show you everything that the outside world has to offer you.

Cora: ... Oh. Alright.

Stiles: [and off they go to the Rubber Duck Inn]

Cora: [where Cora immediately makes friends with all the barbarians]

Stiles: [and Stiles gets hung on a coat hanger because he's got a price on his head and they want to cash him in]

Cora: [but she wins them over and convinces them to let Stiles go because THIS IS HER DREAM GUYS and they all buy it]

Stiles: [and then the guards are coming and they have to escape]

Cora: [and there's a wild escape through the catacombs until they get stuck in a crevice that is rapidly filling with water]

Stiles: [and he is going to look around and yeah, they are totally screwed. No getting out of this one, Stiles] Listen, I'm sorry. I didn't want to put you in this much danger.

Cora: No, this is my fault, I was stupid. I thought I could handle this.

Stiles: No you were handling it jut fine. Better than I thought. I'm actually kinda amazed that you did.

Cora: [sighs heavily as the water keeps rising and the ceiling keeps getting closer] Still. I didn't think we would end up like this.

Stiles: Neither did I. If only we could see under the water to find a way out..

Cora: Yeah if ... oh! [Cora, you dummy] Okay just ... don't freak out.

Stiles: Water is about to claim us. I think we're past freaking out...

Cora: [and she'll close her eyes before starting to sing very quickly under her breath and as she does, her hair starts to glow brightly]

Stiles: [......] What is that? Are you doing that?

Cora: [no time to explain, water's too high, time to swim, Stiles!]

Stiles: [which he will, going to push a heavy rock out of the way for them to swim out and he will slice his hand open on it but they are free!]

Cora: [and they will continue to escape and eventually make a fire to dry off]

Stiles: [and he will be trying not to act hurt as he tries to warm up] So how did you pull off that trick with the light?

Cora: I've always had it. [she pauses before reaching out of for his hand because she saw that blood] Let me show you.

Stiles: [and he will let her take his hand, but he will be looking at her skeptically.]

Cora: [and she will just wrap her hair around it] Again, don't freak out. [and she won't give him a chance to comment, just start to sing and her air will glow and when she pulls it off - look! his hand is fixed!]

Stiles: [and he is... totally about to freak out because how in the hell?!?!?!?!?!]

Cora: Don't freak out!

Stiles: [eeeeeeehhhh deep breath and plastering a smile on his face] That is totally something I wasn't expecting how long has your hair been able to do that again? [his voice might be a tad higher than normal]

Cora: Forever? My mother taught me how it works, but if you try to cut my hair off it doesn't grow. [and she pushes her hair to the side to show him]

Stiles: Well, that explains the very long hair now. But if you could do this, why would she keep you locked away? You could help so many people with a power like that.

Cora: She was worried that people want to kidnap me. She said that the world was a dangerous place. Which ... maybe when I was a kid, yeah, but I'm older now.

Stiles: Well, yeah the world is dangerous, but people should learn to protect themselves, not stay hidden away in towers.

Cora: [she shrugs] She was my mom. I didn't know any better. But I always wanted to go.

Stiles: What will she do to you when she finds out you left?

Cora: I'm hoping she won't. The trip I sent her on is three days so hopefully we'll get there and back and she'll never know.

Stiles: Well, we will be there tomorrow, so after the lanterns we can start back and make it before she ever knows.

Cora: [and her face softens a bit as she reaches forward to place her hand on his arm] Thank you. This really means a lot to me.

Stiles: [and he will smile back, nodding] I can tell. And you're going to see those lights tomorrow, I promise.

Cora: [and there's another bright sunshine smile because you just legit became her best friend, congrats Stiles] Good.

Stiles: We should get some rest, and maybe something to eat. Let me go see if I can find anything.

Cora: Okay. [and she'll settle and keep the fire going and best laid plans because Kate will show up to have a little argument with her about what she's doing and give her the satchel to test her "protector's" loyalty. and she'll ... panic, and hide the satchel before Stiles comes back]

Stiles: Look, I found some wild carrots and well, I hope you're not squeamish because I also caught a rabbit...

Cora: [she shakes her head] Nope, not squeamish. [A beat] I've never had rabbit.

Stiles: Well, then you're in for a treat because it's the one thing I know how to cook over a fire. [grins and he goes to do it, but making sure she doesn't have to watch him do the whole killing and skinning bit because she's too sweet to want to see that]

Cora: [nope, not really, she'll just nibble one one of the carrots and get lost in thought a bit]

Stiles: [and once it's cooking and all that's left to do is turn it] Penny for your thoughts

Cora: [glances back to him before shaking her head] I've just ... never had a friend before. Except Pascal. But ... he doesn't count as much because he's a chameleon.

Stiles: Oh, I don't know. He seems pretty dedicated to you, and that's an important part of friendship. At least that's what I hear.

Cora: Yeah, but it's really hard when you just want another person to talk to when you're stuck in a tower day in and day out.

Stiles: Maybe you don't have to go back. Maybe you can convince her to join you in town and find a place there. Of course you may need to figure out how to do up your hair a bit.

Cora: [she shake her head] If she had her way I would never have even met another person.

Stiles: Well, you've met a lot of people already. She can't take that back.

Cora: No, I guess she can't. [but she's still worried, and Kate's words are still lingering in her ear, so after she eats her rabbit] We should probably get some sleep. Big day tomorrow.

Stiles: You can sleep first. I'll keep watch.

Cora: [she nods, and then goes to curl up on her side]

Stiles: [and when it starts to get chilly he will get his dried jacket and pay it over her]

Cora: [and she will just curl into it absently, completely trusting]

Stiles: [and he will eventually fall asleep and not wake her for her shift]

Cora: [but it's okay because she'll be up with the sun because ITS HER BIRTHDAY AND SHE'S GOING TO SEE THE LIGHTS COME ON STILES, LET'S GO]

Stiles: [omg need coffee but nope being dragged by blondie to the city and look there is a celebration and people with flowers and dancing and telling stories about how one lost princess returned so maybe this will be the year the other does as well!]

Cora: [and she gets her hair braided and does chalk art and just has the best time in the world being out among the people and then dancing there has to be dancing and naturally Stiles has to dance with her]

Stiles: [and he has no idea how to dance but he will go be pulled along and she's having a good time and it's making him have a good time]

Cora: [and eventually it will start to get dark and closer to the time for the ceremony]

Stiles: [and he will go and surprise her with a boat that they can take out onto the lake so she can really see it.]

Cora: [which she'll love and she'll lean on the bow and just watch in amazement as the lights fill the sky]

Stiles: [and then he will surprise her with two lanterns of their own to let go]

Cora: [and this is all so good and great, and she hesitates for a moment, before glances over to Stiles] I have to give you something.

Stiles: Oh?

Cora: [she nods, before reaching behind her and placing the satchel in his hands] I know we're not done yet, but ... I ... I don't want this to be about that. I know that it started that way, but ... I don't want it to end that way. I want you to be my friend.

Stiles: [and he will look at the satchel, then her and put it to the side before taking her hands] I want to be your friend too, Cora.

Cora: [and her eyes brighten a bit because she really hoped he'd day that] Really?

Stiles: Yeah. I mean, seeing you yesterday, you're a lot more than I thought when I first met you. I'd really like to keep spending time with you.

Cora: [and she'll just surge forward and hug him because HA! proving her mom wrong]

Stiles: [and he will hug her back, and then he will row them back to shore so they can head back to get her home on time, but Ethan and Aiden show up so he slips away a moment to be able to try and give them the crown to get them to stop chasing him, but they have other plans and he's knocked out and tied to a boat]

Cora: [and she's just waiting for him to come back, doot doot doot]

Ethan: Well, what do we have here...

Cora: [turns around and frowns] Who are you?

Aiden: We're friends of Stiles.

Cora: You are?

Ethan: Yeah. We worked with him on the job to get the crown.

Aiden: And he said that he found something worth just as much for us to have. [smirks]

Cora: [her brow furrows and she reaches for her frying pan] You're lying. No he wouldn't.

Aiden: See for yourself [and he will point where the boat is sailing away, and it's obviously Stiles' profile and the crown is in his hand. She can't see that he's tied to the steering wheel and he's unconscious, but that's the point]

Cora: [and at that her face crumples, because he said he wanted to be her friend]

Stiles: [he does! This isn't his plan!]

Aiden: Now we can do this the easy way, or the hard way. [and he holds a burlap sack]

Cora: [and now she's sad and mad - she's smad - so she's just going to whirl around and try to knock them both out with her frying pan because this frustration has gotta go somewhere]

Aiden: [doesn't make his save and gets hit and is down]

Ethan: [nope, he dodges and goes to grab her]

Cora: [and she will wriggle and kick to try and get away from him, trying to make another swing again with her frying pan]

Ethan: [nope, that's a nat 20. you ain't going nowhere]

Kate: [but then she will come up and totally ring his bell, making sure they are both faking unconsciousness before going to check on Cora] Are you okay, dear?

Cora: [and she doesn't really know what to feel at the moment, but her mother is currently the only person she feels she can trust, as complicated as their relationship is and she just falls into her mother's arms and bursts into tears]

Kate: [holds her tightly] It's ok, Cora. But let's get out of here before they wake up.

Cora: [she nods and will just let Kate take her home and unbraid her hair and she will just mope in sadness]

Kate: [and there will totally be slight i told you so comments]

Cora: [yeah, yeah, she gets it, and when she's finished she'll just flop back on her bed and stare up at the ceiling until repressed memories start to line up with some of the artwork she saw when she was at the kingdom, as well as the art that she's painted on her walls, and there are faint fuzzy memories of a man who looks an awful lot like the effigies of the king, and she suddenly sits straight up with a realization she had not anticipated] I'm the lost princess.

Kate: [from downstairs] What was that, dear?

Cora: [and she'll come out on to the landing, and a bit louder] I'm the lost princess.

Kate: That's ridiculous, dear. Do you even hear yourself?

Cora: It was you! You took me, didn't you?

Kate: Everything I did was to protect you.

Cora: Protect me? You stole me! All this time you had me worried about people who would use me for my power, and I should have been worried about you!

Kate: [laughs] And just where do you think you'll go? Hmm? To him? He won't be there for you.

Cora: Maybe I'll go to the king.

Kate: You're not going to leave this tower. You want me to be the bad guy, Cora, then I'll be the bad guy.

Cora: You can't keep me here anymore. [and she'll go and try to get past her to the window where she can let herself out]

Kate: [and there will be a fight that will end up with Cora in chains just as there is the sound of someone running through their glen]

Stiles: [yes, he escaped somehow. Don't ask. It involved the guys from the duckie and a crazy horse] Cora! Cora please be there and let down your hair!

Cora: [and she will struggle against the chains and try to shout for him to leave but she's gagged too so that isn't working]

Kate: [totally grabs her hair and lets it down because it's time to get rid of this boy]

Stiles: [yeah, no idea anything's wrong and he will climb up] Cora, Cora I thought I was never going to see you again. Are you...?

Cora: [sitting there, bound and gagged trying to shout out a warning but not able to get through]

Kate: [too late! Stabby times]

Stiles: [ow you bitch]

Kate: Now look what you've made me do, Cora...

Cora: [and she looks appropriately crushed there, pleading with Kate, even though the words aren't discernible yet]

Kate: Don't worry, dear. Our secret will die with him. Let stop fighting me and let's go.

Cora: [and she manages to work the gag off to say:] Please let me heal him. Let me heal him and I'll stop fighting, I'll go wherever you want to go.

Stiles: [groaning, because OW] No... don't...

Cora: [ignores him, focuses on Kate] Please. I'll do whatever you want.

Kate: [thinks, and then nods, releasing her] Fine. [and she will go to chain Stiles instead to something] So you don't get any ideas on following us.

Cora: [and she'll settle next to him, pulling him into her lap and starting to place her hair against the wound] It's okay, Stiles. It'll be okay.

Stiles: I can't let you do this...

Cora: If I don't you'll die. she gives him a small smile and brushes a hand over the top of his head] It'll be okay. [and she'll get ready to start singing ...]

Stiles: If you do this... you will die. [and since no one checked him for a knife, he's been pulling it out and with a burst of strength he will cut her hair off]

Kate: [screams]

Cora: [and she'll just look horrified because YOU COULDN'T HAVE WAITED TWO MINUTES FOR HER TO FIX YOU, STILES?] No no no no no ...

Stiles: [nope, he's not that smart, Cora. Come on. But he will smile at her] Now you're really free... to see the world.

Cora: [behind her somewhere Kate is panicking about her hair and Pascal takes her out by tripping her out the window but Cora can't even think about that right now, trying to take her now useless hair as though maybe it might still work, eyes filling with tears] I wanted to do that with you.

Stiles: I know. [struggling to breathe] You... you were my new dream, Cora.

Cora: No, no, no, stay please. [and then she'll try to sing the song as if t might work, somehow] Please don't go.

Stiles: [and he will give her one last smile, and then fade away]

Cora: [and that's when the tears really start flowing and she just collapses, sobbing into his chest as her whole world just got wiped out in one fell swoop]

Stiles: [and magic glowing tears totally do the job and he starts breathing again] Cora...?

Cora: [and she pulls back in surprise, eyes wide] Stiles?

Stiles: [and this should be where he totally professes his love and romantic shit] Did I tell you I have a thing for brunettes?

Cora: [and she just shakes her head for a moment before leaning in to kiss him because she's so happy he's alive again]

Stiles: [and he will kiss her back, smiling but he's still sore and tired, but this is good. this is really good]

Cora: [and she likes kissing kissing is nice, but after a minute she pulls back because she has to tell him:] I'm the lost princess. [a beat] The other lost princess. The one that's still missing.

Stiles: [and he will blink at her, and then he will laugh softly] That actually makes sense.

Cora: Does it? Because until she confirmed it I basically thought I might be a little crazy.

Stiles: Same age, same birthdays, and now with the brown hair, you look like them.

Cora: [nods because oh, okay. then she looks down at her hands] Do you think I should go back?

Stiles: They're your real family. You should at least go back and let them know you're okay. But what you do after that should always be your choice, not anyone else’s.

Cora: Will you go with me?

Stiles: Wherever you go, I will follow.

Cora: [she grins and then she's just going to kiss him again because that kissing thing was really nice and also she doesn't know how to get out of this tower without her hair]

Stiles: [they can figure that out later, but the kissing is good, especially since he can just lay there and recover]

Cora: [yep, lots of kissing but not too much kissing, and eventually they'll decide enough kissing and figure the way out of the tower and off they go to head back to the castle]

Stiles: [yup because there is a set of closed off stairs that Kate had uncovered and not relocked yet, and they can make their way back to the city with none of the pomp and circumstance that Laura had]

Cora: [nope, and once they get there, though, she doesn't know what to do because ... well ... how do you tell the king and queen you're their daughter]

Stiles: [well, he'll make it easy, and when he gets there the guards are all like HEY WE HAVE BEEN LOOKING FOR YOU] Guys, you can rearrest me in a minute, but first - I've brought the lost princess back. Can we at least let her see her parents first?

Guards: [very confused looking]

Cora: I'd also prefer if you didn't rearrest him too, but I get that there's an order to things.

Guards: [..... okay, they're going to just go with this because Laura came back last week and she kinda looks like Laura so they are going to escort them to the throne room, while one has run ahead to warn Talia and Thomas]

Cora: [and she'll just follow and look around curiously, and playing with her hair a lot because it's weird that it's so short now]

Thomas: [and he is going to look at Talia because can they really get both daughters back in one week?]

Talia: [gives a small shrug because anything is possible right?]

Stiles: [and he will hold Cora's hand, squeezing it gently as they are shown into the room] Go on, I'm right here.

Cora: [and she'll make her way in and wow this throne room is way bigger than she thought it would be, and she has no idea where she's supposed to look, and still playing with her hair, the shortness is bugging her so much]

Thomas: [and he will walk in with Talia and stop because no, there is no mistaking that face because she looks just like her mother]

Cora: [totally distracted by this cool looking statue that she's just going to break from Stiles to get a closer look at also Kate never really taught her the manners for meeting royalty so she's just doing what she would do anywhere else]

Thomas: [finally he will take a deep breath] Cora?

Cora: [whirls around at the sound of her name and is appropriately embarrassed because oh hey, that's the king. hi king.] Hi. Sorry. I was just ... it's a very nice statue. [that she totally almost just knocked over]

Thomas: That's okay. It is a nice statue. [and he will come forward slowly]

Cora: [and her eyes will go from him to Talia and back to Stiles again, her fingers winding together in front of her as she doesn't quite know what to do and unfortunately has no memory of these people and wasn't raised to have a relationship with them so she's just ... at a loss. But she doesn't back away as Thomas gets closer] I really liked the lanterns. I mean, I didn't really understand it, but I used to watch them every year from my window. [and she's rambling. mostly because she's nervous. and while part of her wants to move back to Stiles again, she stays where she is]

Thomas: [and that will make him smile, and he will hold his arms open for a hug, hoping that will draw her close] We never stopped loving you, or hoping you'd find your way back to us.

Cora: I didn't ... I didn't know I was ... [there was a pause and she doesn't feel right accepting that hug yet, because part of her feels like she should have known in her bones] I thought I was hers.

Stiles: [leans in next to her] You can explain later.

Cora: Oh. [and she looks down at her hands and while she won't go for the hug yet she will reach out and take the King's hands like okay. Physical contact. I can do this, though she still has no idea what she's supposed to say or do. Maybe this was a bad idea after all]

Thomas: [okay, he can deal with that. Forgive your father he is very giving with the hugs] It's alright. You didn't know, and you didn't choose to leave us. We understand.

Cora: [she nods and then glances back to Stiles, and then her eyes widen because OH YEAH] Please don't arrest him. Again. Not that I really know what he was arrested for the first time but he said "rearrest" when we were coming in.

Thomas: [looking up at Stiles where the guards are hovering very close to him] You were the one who stole her crown.

Stiles: Yeah, but I brought it back. Maybe not intentionally, but you do have it again, and I also brought her back so we can be even?

Cora: Please? [a small pleading smile] He's pretty much the only friend I have.

Thomas: [looks at Stiles and nods] I will pardon you from all your crimes against the crown. [motions with his guards to leave the boy alone]

Stiles: Thank you, your highness.

Cora: [and there's a bright beaming smile] Thank you.

Thomas: You both must be tired. I can show you to your rooms.

Cora: Okay. [yes, good, a room. that sounds like a good plan]

Thomas: After that, when you're ready, I'm sure your siblings would like to greet you.

Cora: [she nods] I've just basically known two people my entire life? And he's one of them and I just met him two days ago so I'm not really sure ... how this works.

Thomas: [chuckles] Well, you and your sister can lean on each other then, since she just returned to us a week ago with a similar rearing.

Cora: Good to know.

Thomas: [and he will introduce her to her mother because Talia you need to stop hanging in the background, love.]

Cora: [look, it's just A Lot, okay, and when that happens Talia will take the approach that Thomas didn't and just kind of pounce on her youngest daughter and that seems to work in terms of hugging! So ... there's that]

Thomas: [and he will smile and he will hug them both once Cora looks comfortable with the hug]

Stiles: [just going to stand there, smiling at it all]

Cora: [okay, this is good. Kate didn't really hug her much, but this is actually really nice. she likes this]

Thomas: [and when the hug is done, he will go show Cora to her room, and then Stiles gets a room in another hallway because unmarried ladies do not share rooms]

Cora: [that's fine, but when they escort her there, her eyes bug a bit] This is all for me? It's bigger than my whole house!

Thomas: Yes, dear. It's been waiting for you to come back and claim it.

Cora: [what is she going to do with all this space ... wait, she knows what she's going to do with this space. if she's going to stay] Can I paint on the walls? And maybe the ceiling? [a beat] I did murals all over the house ... it'll make it feel more like home? [she might as well make it her own, right?]

Thomas: Of course! This is your room. You just let the royal designers know what you need and they will get it for you.

Cora: [and that is exciting] Thank you!

Thomas: You're welcome. I will also have a court lady come and get your measurements and you can design yourself a wardrobe of clothing.

Cora: [she's about to protest that she has some and that she could get them from her tower, but she realizes after the fact that those dresses might not be fancy enough for living as a princess] Okay.

Thomas: Now, we'll let you rest. [looks at Stiles] And I will show you to your room.

Cora: [she nods and flashes Stiles a small smile, and then will close the door behind them and go ... flop on the middle of her bed to try and figure out what she's going to paint on the ceiling]

Stiles: [and because he's a sneaky thief he will sneak back to her room a bit later] Knock knock.

Cora: [pushes up when she hears his voice and smiles] Hi.

Stiles: [sneaks in] Yeah, all the bedrooms in this place are this huge.

Cora: I kind of like it, though. I don't feel as closed in as I used to be.

Stiles: Wait until you see the rest of this place. It's huge. You're going to need a map to learn your way around it.

Cora: I still can't believe I actually get to live here.

Stiles: It's a lot easier to get to than your tower, that's for sure. Oh hey look, little painted eggs... [those would bring a lot of money]

Cora: [omg Stiles do not steal from her new room. but she will push up and make her way closer to try and see what he's look at] They're beautiful.

Stiles: [what it's a habit?!] So there's also a library here. A really big one.

Cora: Really? I only ever got to read what my ... [a beat as she tries to get out of the habit of saying "my mother"] ... what she brought me.

Stiles: Wanna go check it out? [he knows his way around this place a little too well, Cora. Don't ask why]

Cora: Yeah, sure. [exploring sounds like a very good idea. she doesn't want to be cooped up in her room all day]

Stiles: [and he will take her hand and off they go to explore a bit, finding their way to Derek's wing and his two story library]

Cora: [THIS IS AMAZING. she's just going to run around and look at all the titles and the pictures and the covers and totally pay attention to where she's going and when I say totally I mean totally not]

Derek: [and he is totally in his little book reading nook on the second floor near the window. He hears the sounds of people in his library and gets up to investigate]

Cora: [and may be pulling a stack of books that she'd like to read and can't see around, and may round a corner without realizing anyone is there ...]

Derek: [and yup, going to collide with a floating stack of books]

Cora: Oh no! [and the books fall to the ground, and there is Cora, cringing at the whole situation] I'm so sorry!

Derek: [and he will pick himself up off the floor] It's fine, but what are you... [and he will look at her face and blink because he knows that face somehow] Who are you?

Stiles: [and coming up to help and oh shit nope ducking behind a bookcase]

Cora: [oh he looks a lot like the king. her dad. that thought process is still really strange. and she would have hoped that her siblings might have at least gotten warned about her existing but maybe not] ... I'm Cora.

Derek: [he was hiding in the library. People have a hard time finding him in here which is why he hides in it] Cora? You're back? [there's a smile on his lips, uncertain but wanting it to be real]

Cora: Yes? [is she supposed to recognize you, fill in blanks please?]

Derek: I'm your brother, Derek. [he licks his lips, going to pick up a book] You probably don't remember me though, do you?

Cora: [shakes her head a bit as she goes to help] I don't really remember anyone, though, so it's not personal?

Derek: Yeah, you were only a few months old when you were taken, so I'm not surprised. I was only seven when you were born.

Cora: Oh. Well ... it's nice to meet you?

Derek: Same here. Welcome home.

Cora: Thanks. It's ... a lot to get used to. My old house was ... much smaller. And had a lot less people.

Derek: I wouldn't know. I'm the one sibling who's managed to stay here my whole life. You'll have to tell me about it all one day.

Cora: There's not really much to tell. I was stuck in a tower day in and day out, I didn't really ... do anything.

Derek: A tower?

Cora: [she nods] A tall one, about a day's travel from here?

Derek: [shakes his head] I've never really been beyond the palaces walls. At least not on my own to explore off the main roads.

Cora: Me either. My tower, I mean. She was worried about me getting hurt or taken, which I now realize was more abut me not realizing that she wasn't actually my mother and that she'd kidnapped me.

Derek: [nods] Yeah, our parents had that same fear for me. But more taken or cursed.

Cora: [she nods] At least you had a nice big place to be stuck in.

Derek: Yeah, I guess.

Cora: [she nods as she finishes collecting her stack and then looks back at him] You don't mind if I borrow these, do you? I haven't really had a lot of chances to read.

Derek: [looks at the pile and nods] You can. You don't have to take all of them at once - you're welcome in here anytime.

Cora: Oh. [and her head ducks a bit] I guess I got a little excited.

Derek: [chuckles] Understandable. Just make sure you know the language the book is in. I have them in a few different languages.

Cora: Oh. Okay. [and she'll take her stack to the table to make sure they're all in English]

Derek: So how did you find your way back to us? The lanterns?

Cora: Sort of. I made Stiles take me to the festival and then ... some stuff happened that help me put two and two together.

Derek: Stiles?

Cora: [she nods] He's my best friend. [because that's what you call someone you kiss sometimes right?]

Derek: [..... totally.] Did he come with you here?

Cora: [she nods, then frowns because she's not sure where he went] He's here somewhere.

Stiles: [well crap, he'll have to come out of hiding and wave at Derek]

Derek: [and his eyes will narrow] Thief. [angry brother a go]

Cora: [and will plop herself right in the middle of the two of them] He got pardoned! The king pardoned him because he brought me back and I asked him to.

Derek: [huffs] Just be careful of him taking things that aren't his.

Stiles: [gulps because that is a death glare]

Cora: [and she's going to glare right back, because no impugning the honor of her only friend!] He saved my life. I wouldn't be here if it wasn't for him and he almost died protecting me so leave him alone.

Derek: [closes his eyes and takes a deep breath] If that is true, I am sorry.

Cora: [the if grates at her, though she understands that given the circumstances, she isn't the most reliable source. So, she'll glance back to Stiles and see if that's acceptable]

Stiles: Well, he isn't wrong. I did steal the crown. And maybe a few other things. But hey, bygones are bygones and we're even. You're welcome.

Derek: [eyebrow up]

Cora: [sighs] Maybe we should just take these elsewhere. [she means the books]

Stiles: Yes, that's a great idea. I'll help.

Cora: [small smile towards Derek as she gathers up her load] It was nice meeting you.

Derek: Come back whenever you want.

Cora: [nods and then nudges Stiles ahead of her and towards the door that leads to the courtyard and they find a nice tree to sit under and read]

Stiles: [well, she can read. He'll just enjoy the pictures thanks]

Cora: [fair enough, and they'll stay until it starts to get dusky and she will get him to help her take her books back to her room]

Stiles: So what do you think they'll serve for dinner? I'm hoping for tacos.

Cora: What are tacos?

Stiles: Oh, it's meat and salad in a crunchy shell.

Cora: Oh. Are they good?

Stiles: Very good.

Cora: If they don't have them here, maybe you can take me to try them sometime.

Stiles: Totally do that.

Cora: Good. [and she'll sit down on the edge of the bed and look around] I still can't believe all of this is happening.

Stiles: Are you happy?

Cora: I don't know. [a beat] I'm glad I'm not in the tower anymore. But ... this doesn't really feel like mine yet.

Stiles: You just got to give it some time. It's only been a day.

Cora: [she nods, before looking back at him with a smile] I'm glad you're here, though.

Stiles: Me too. But you do know I am a thief, right? You can't protect me from what I used to do and could maybe do again.

Cora: [her face falls a bit, looking down at her hands and then back at him] Can you not steal from them? Or their guests? I don't want them to find a reason to make you leave.

Stiles: I'll do my best not to. [reaches into his pocket and pulls out one of the pretty eggs] Probably should give this back to you then.

Cora: [sighs and takes it, going to put it back where it was] I know it's going to be hard to change overnight, but I wasn't lying when I said you were my best friend. I don't want to be here alone.

Stiles: I wasn't lying either.

Cora: Good. [and once the egg is back in it's place she'll come to sit next to him again] If they give you any unwarranted trouble, tell me.

Stiles: Sure. Totally will.

Cora: Good. [and she will run out of things to say and just sit there with him for a moment, One hand sneaking out of her lap and reaching for his]

Stiles: [and he will take her hand and hold it] It's going to be alright.

Cora: [smiles softly] I know. This just all seems ... really big right now. And you're the only person here I actually know.

Stiles: Well, you're the only person I also know here. At least, know in more than reputation.

Cora: All the more reason we should stick together.

Stiles: Yeah. And for me to stay out of the dungeon. [smirks]

Cora: Definitely that. [and she'll play with his fingers a bit as she sits there with him]

Stiles: And hey, I'm sure it's going to take them some time to get used to us, but once we're used to each other, we'll be great.

Cora: Yeah, I know. [she nods, because she totally doesn't know how to do this when she's not heat of the moment kissing him]

Stiles: [he smiles and squeezes her hand] Come on, let's go find something to eat.

Cora: [and she nods and lets him lead, but doesn't take her hand from his]

Stiles: [and they end up wandering into a butler who was coming to tell them dinner has been served and guides them towards the dining hall]

Cora: [and they will follow the butler's lead and he'll keep being amazed with how pretty the castle is]

Stiles: [and he will stop trying to price everything he sees and focus on her instead]

Thomas: [and the family has gathered for dinner and he has made sure both her siblings knew she had returned - and surprised that Derek already knew. When they arrive, he will motion them to two empty seats] We were wondering if you were going to join us tonight.

Cora: Sorry. I'm just used to taking care of myself. [and she'll go to take one of the seats]

Thomas: Well, we weren't sure if you would be exhausted by now and choose to rest.

Cora: Oh, no, I'm fine. I mean, there's a lot to see which is a little overwhelming, but I just have to keep reminding myself that there's no rush.

Thomas: Of course. And yes, there is no rush. We're not going anywhere, and the castle does tend to stay still.

Cora: [she nods] And I don't have to go anywhere. [a beat] But I could? If I wanted to? There's a lot I've never gotten to see.

Thomas: [looks at Talia, nodding slowly] Of course, but perhaps once you've gotten yourself more comfortable with here first...?

Cora: No, of course. I didn't mean right away. I just ... I never got to go anywhere. I was just locked in a tower all day. [she wants to make sure she's not a prisoner again - that she's free to leave if she wants to]

Thomas: Oh. [laughs] Then no, that will not be a problem. I travel often and you are more than welcome to join me.

Cora: [she brightens] I'd like that.

Thomas: [returns her smile] Good.

Cora: [and she looks over the food and will start to just reach forward and take what she wants because that's how dinner usually works?]

Thomas: [and as long as it's jsut the family, it actually is! when they don't have guests that are visiting dignitaries that is]

Cora: [they will have to educate her on that then later]

Thomas: [oh she will be having a lady in waiting by morning, don't worry.]

Stiles: [and don't mind this one who was raised in a barn. or Orphanage. Same difference]

Cora: [so basically they are the perfect uncultured pair]

Thomas: [sighs. Going to have to do a lot of work to prince up this little ex-con]

Cora: [Cora at least will adjust her behavior when she learns it's not appropriate, she just doesn't know better. She didn't get etiquette lessons.]

Cassandra: [don't worry, honey, we'll work on that]

Cora: [thumbs up sounds good, for right now om nom nom]

Derek: [and eventually, when dinner is over and people retreat back to their corners of the castle... he is going to grab his cloak and sneak out the servants quarters while wearing his peasant clothing he's acquired]

Cora: [and this is where we skip fairy tales again?]

Derek: [for now because Stiles is at a loss of what to do, and Derek wants to go to the pub and get a drink and people watch]

Fiona: [that's fair Derek, you do that, while Fiona is hiding out from her stepsisters/making some extra money for the household by pulling some shifts at the pub, greeting everyone with a smile and trying to ignore the assgrabs]

Derek: [and his head is down in a journal as he writes his observations, the hood hiding his face for the most part. But when she brings him his drink, he is nothing but gentlemanly and smiles, giving her a good tip] Thank you, m'lady.

Fiona: [ah politeness. refreshing] You're very welcome.

Patron: Oi! Fiona! Get me another pint!

Fiona: [sigh] Coming.

Derek: [and he will watch her a moment before going back to his journal]

Fiona: [and she'll keep carrying pints and people will keep getting drunker, and as she is serving the table just ahead of him, one man's dirty hand comes out and yanks her forward with an eep!]

Derek: [and he will look up at that, his eyes narrowing a bit]

Fiona: [definitely looks uncomfortable as the drunk man leans in to breathe in her face]

Patron: What do you say wench? Care for an extra tip?

Fiona: I'm good, actually. [braces one hand against the booth to try and push away from him] But thanks for the offer.

Derek: [he's seen it before in the pubs: men trying to get what they want from the barmaids. He knows a lot of them can handle themselves with a knife in their garters, but that doesn't mean he likes it. There is a moment of worry that he could end up revealing who he was, but instead he tried another approach] If you're done, sir, I'd like to put in my dinner order with the lady.

Patron: Nope. Not finished yet.

Fiona: A shame. I'm finished with you. [and with that the tray will come and smack him on the back of the head - not too hard, but hard enough to startle him into letting her go and giving her a chance to step away]

Derek: [and he will raise a hand to his lips, smiling a bit. He know you had it in you, Fiona]

Fiona: [look if she beats them up too quickly, she get her job threatened. that's no good. She turns back to Derek and sighs] What can I get you?

Derek: [oh, that's right he was faking a meal. He's not actually that hungry but well... crap] Meat pie please.

Fiona: Coming up. [and she'll head off to get that]

Derek: [and he will go back to his journal]

Fiona: [and a little while later she'll swing back over with the pie]

Derek: Thank you. [and another good tip. And that thing smells delicious that he will find room in his stomach for it]

Fiona: [and she will keep waitressing and eventually they'll start kicking the drunks out as it's time to close up]

Derek: [and he will get up, putting his journal into a pocket in his cloak and go to head out once the rowdy ones are outside]

Fiona: [and the owner of the pub waves her off early with her pay for the night and she'll pull on the cloak she brought with her and head back to her stepmother's house]

Derek: [and normally he wouldn't follow her, but he watches two of the drunken men from the pub notice her and start to follow her, so he goes to start to follow them]

Fiona: [oblivious and is just walking on the path, as she does, doot doot doot]

Derek: [and the drunks are going to try and grab her, because they think they can have something they want, and he's going to pull his dagger out to go help save her]

Fiona: [and there's a shriek because she didn't see that coming, her legs flailing a bit before she manages to find her footing and slams one foot down on one of their insteps]

Derek: [and before the second one can join in, he will pull the man back by his shirt and slam a fist into the man's face to get him to back away]

Fiona: [and she'll rear back and elbow the other man in the face to see if that will force him away]

Derek: [it will, and move him close enough for Derek to throw the man at the drunk with the now broken nose and position himself between them and Fiona] You gentlemen best go home and sleep off the ale, and leave the lady alone.

Fiona: [well, hello there, surprise stranger. she's just going to keep her mouth shut and see what they decide to do first]

Derek: [the drunks with spit and mutter idle threats, but they will head off and leave them alone. Once they are out of sight, Derek sheathed his knife and half turn to Fiona] You should be safe to head home now, m'lady.

Fiona: Thank you. You didn't have to do that.

Derek: I know. But I saw what they were planning and I couldn't walk away.

Fiona: I appreciate it very much.

Derek: Have a good evening then. [and he will start to head back towards where he had been going]

Fiona: [and she will head back to her house to collapse into bed so that she can get up early to make her family breakfast in the morning]

Derek: [and there may be the sounds of guards looking for the prince who has slipped out of the castle again and didn't return home before being discovered and yeah, he is maybe trying to borrow a horse from her family's stable to try and outrun them because his horse threw a shoe]

Fiona: [and she hears the distressed sounds of her father's poor old horse, and she makes her way into the stable before taking her own shoe off and chucking it at his head] Stay away from him, thief!

Derek: Ow! [rubs at his head] I'm sorry, m'lady, I don't have a choice.

Fiona: There is always a choice! [so that's a bullshit excuse, and she will make her way closer and force him off the horse's reigns and let a hand rest against his muzzle to soothe him]

Derek: I promise I was only borrowing it. Mine slipped a shoe. [the sound of the guards makes him duck a bit out of the line of sight.]

Fiona: [frowns and squints at the sounds, before she glances back over her shoulder at him] Are you running from something?

Derek: I'm just not ready to be found yet, that's all.

Fiona: Most criminals don't want to be found.

Derek: I assure you, madam, I am not a criminal. [he turns to look at her, but a branch from the tree pulls his hood back to show her his face]

Fiona: [and given her current slave girl status she's not as up to date on what the prince looks like because she crit failed that knowledge check] You were stealing my horse. I beg to differ.

Derek: [sighs, and he will reach into his cloak and hold out a purse filled with gold coins] Here, consider this payment for our misunderstanding. All I ask is that you tell no one of my presence here.

Fiona: I don't want your money. This horse isn't for sale. [but that doesn't mean she won't keep her mouth shut anyway]

Derek: This is not for the horse, this is just for your silence.

Fiona: You don't need to pay me for that either.

Derek: [and the sounds of the guards again make him look over his shoulder] Then I shall leave you. Thank you. [and he will leave her property because they are getting closer]

Guard: [riding up moments later] You, woman. Have you seen a man come through here?

Fiona: A man other than you, I'm assuming?

Guard: Yes. We're looking for Prince Derek. Have you seen him?

Fiona: [ .... Prince. Oh. oh. But she's true to her word and shakes her head] Nope. No princes here. Unless you count the horse. [she gestures to her father's horse] Second cousin of some fancy royal bloodline, or so the lady of the house tells me.

Guard: [huffs, and then turns his horse around to head to the next home to check for the Prince who is already long gone]

Fiona: [watches him go before shaking her head] Good night to you too. [and hopefully she can actually go to bed now and not dwell too much that she may have thrown a shoe at the prince's head]

Derek: [she can totally go to bed now. He's off befriending Leonardo DaVinci and will return to the castle that evening amused at his own antics]

Fiona: [well you do that Derek. she's going to sleep]

Derek: [and as long as no one in the castle stops him before he gets to his chambers, no one will even see his peasant clothing. Though they will eventually hear Thomas yelling at him]

Cora: [nope but his sisters may wind up having a silent conversation around the yelling over what to make of it]

Javi: [and while Stiles isn't as aware of what's going on, Javi knows exactly what Derek is doing and just shakes his head]

Cora: [either way, welcome to having three children under your roof again, Hales, have fun]

Thomas: [if his daughters are half the trouble his son is worth, he will be happy for it.]

Cora: [here's hoping]

Thomas: [but after he has royally reamed Derek out for once again shaking his guards, he will go and slump in his throne, rubbing his forehead]

Talia: [and she will make her way over and rest her hand on his arm gently]

Thomas: what are we gong to do with him, Tali? He refuses to marry his betrothed, he runs around the village without a single guard even knowing what could happen to him, and he laughs it off like sport!

Talia: He's young and he's trying to make his own way. I'm sure you did the same when you were his age.

Thomas: When I was his age, I was preparing to marry you and take over this kingdom. He should be doing the same!

Talia: And you never once were tempted to sneak out and find your own fun.

Thomas: Perhaps, but I also did not grow up in a time where my siblings were kidnapped or cursed.

Talia: No, you did not. Which means you didn't feel the constriction of having your parents restrict your actions and movements day to day.

Thomas: It's for his own safety.

Talia: I know that. And he knows that. But there are a lot of experiences he never got to have as a result, and maybe there's a compromise that we can find that will make both parties happy.

Thomas: Maybe. But his recklessness can't go unpunished either.

Talia: [sighs] I will speak with him about it. But in the end, he's fine, Thomas.

Thomas: He better be, because the next time he does this, Tali, I'm sending him to Spain to be married whether he likes it or not.

Talia: [holds up a finger] That might not come to pass if Prince Javier decides he wants to marry Derek's sister and his father approves.

Thomas: It would not be the first time siblings have been married to siblings.

Talia: Magdelena wasn't thrilled with being the second choice for this treaty to begin with.

Thomas: I know, but I'm not sure Laura will be inclined to marry after being asleep for ten years. And Cora... she will need years of court training before she would be able to.

Talia: We'll see what Ernesto says.

Thomas: [sighs] Yes.

Talia: [pats his shoulder] Perhaps, if he decides to honor our original arrangement, we should give Derek a chance to make a few of his own choices for a change.

Thomas: If that is how it proceeds, then yes perhaps we will let him.

Talia: [she gives him a small smile, before taking his hand] Come take a walk with me. It will help you clear your head.

Thomas: [sighs and gets up to go with her] Yes, my love.

Talia: [smiles and off they go to have a lovely walk in the gardens. And hopefully won't run into Stiles and Cora doing anything that might interfere with Thomas' plans to marry her to a prince]

Stiles: [why would they think that? He's totally prince material, you know?]

Cora: [so there totally won't be a problem if they get caught kissing in one of the groves]

Stiles: [it's totally a normal thing friends do, right?]

Thomas: [is going to need to start taking antacids]

Cora: [doesn't know any better and she really likes kissing Stiles, so ... sorry dad]

Thomas: [clears his throat]

Cora: [turns at the sound and her eyes widen] Oh! Hello.

Stiles: [oh shit yeah um bright smile!] Highnesses.

Thomas: Cora. Mr. Stilinski.

Cora: [she knows that tone. she is very familiar with that tone] Did I do something wrong?

Thomas: I just was unaware that you two were more than friends.

Cora: Oh. [she looks over at Stiles, because she didn't really know to call it that]

Stiles: [rubs at his neck] Well, we are. We're best friends. Who are wanting to be with each other. [looks at Cora, help him out here]

Cora: [LOOK SHE DOESN'T KNOW HOW CONVEY THESE THINGS SHE GREW UP ISOLATED FROM EVERYONE IN A TOWER] Yes. What he said.

Thomas: [looks between them, then nods slowly] Alright. [looks at Stiles seriously a moment] We will have to talk privately soon then.

Stiles: [gulps oh shit]

Cora: [glances between them confused] Why?

Thomas: If he intends to be a potential suitor, he and I will need to know each other much better.

Cora: Oh. [back to Stiles. That's not a bad thing, right?]

Stiles: Yeah, we can totally hang out one day. [hopefully not one making him disappear from the world]

Cora: Good. [small smile] We didn't mean to interrupt your walk.

Thomas: You did not interrupt anything.

Cora: [glances to Talia]

Talia: [shakes her head behind Thomas' shoulder] It's fine. But we are going to continue now.

Thomas: We'll see you later. [and he will take his wife's arm and please get him somewhere to stave off this headache]

Talia: [don't worry, darling, she'll walk you back to a nice dark room]

Thomas: You know, I'm not so sure I would have survived raising all three of them.

Talia: I think you would have been fine. You're still just adjusting to having them here.

Thomas: And I'm very happy to have them both, but still. Oy.

Talia: [pats his arm] Don't worry. And at least Laura is interested in a prince.

Thomas: My one saving grace.

Talia: And if Cora marries for love, then she doesn't have to leave the castle and you get more time with her.

Thomas: Also true. As long as that boy doesn't lead her into a life of crime.

Talia: Maybe the reverse will happen and she'll turn him into a prince.

Thomas: We can only hope.

Talia: [gives his hand a squeeze as they walk] Our children will be fine.

Thomas: I just hate that their childhood was stolen from both of us.

Talia: [sighs] I know. But we have time with them now. That's what matters.

Thomas: That is true. And I need to remind myself not to waste it trying to control things I cannot. They came back to us as their own people, and I can't change that.

Talia: No, you can't. But they also need time to adjust to things too.

Thomas: We all do.

Talia: So give them time. They'll get there. And until you're ready, you can continue to spend time with your wife.

Thomas: I am always happy to spend time with my wife.

Talia: [smiles softly] Good.

Thomas: Because I love her so much. [pulls her closer] And a little more every day still.

Talia: [smiles wider] The feeling is mutual.

Thomas: And tonight after the children as asleep, perhaps I can show you?

Talia: I would like that.

Thomas: Good. [and he will lean close to kiss his wife]

Talia: [and she will kiss him back, and off they will go to continue their walk]