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The girl's changed quietly for the most part, Emily in thought and looking for Annabelle while Martha tied tied her own nightgown, helping Nix put on her own gown.

Annabelle walked in already dressed, towel rubbing at her wet hair. "Oh, hi," she said with a yawn. "I smelled like a boy." and smiled sleepily. "I'm not like Martha."

Martha stuck her tongue out.

"Water, then." he murmured, and would have gone to get it but he really couldn't leave Lewis here in this state. He wished there was a servant around. All Alvaro could do was kiss the man's head again, stroking the short hair as Leo explained. "I wasn't aware we had a Retian guard." he murmured. Many people from Reta crossed the border, didn't they?

"No, no Lewis." He bent down, kissing him softly and whispering. "It's going to hurt, it's going to hurt but afterwards you're going to be all better. Elliot wouldn't do this without knowing what he was doing?" he kissed him again.

"Uncle?" Elliot was halfway through the door, paused, nervous, worried and waiting for some sort of confirmation he could enter. "Uncle Lewis?" he asked again softly.

"Oh. That sounds like a nice story. Unicorns are always really pretty." and climbed into the bed happily, smiling. "That's fine. Don't sleep beside me I don't want my hair wetting you.' she said, continuing to dry it.

"You can sleep between Martha and me." Emily said, crawling in the bed after and lifting the blankets for Nix.

Alvaro's eyes widened at the two words his son spoke. His eyes started to sting but he cleared his throat and nodded. "You can come in. Is the guard with you?"

Elliot nodded, watching the prime minister before entering. The familiar face of the guard entered, though instead of armor and civilian clothing he was wearing night clothes instead. "Uncle, Uncle this is Johnson." he said softly, walking toward Lewis and gently touching his shoulder. "He saved Leo's life."

"Prime Minister. King. Prince." he greeted. The trip to Falia made him aware Lily was Leo.

"We're going to have to activate the mark to remove it, all right?" Elliot asked softly. "Uncle don't cry, save them for later or I'll cry." He was still family after all.

"Come on now," Alvaro said. "Cut him some slack, Elliot. You've hated him these past ten years almost."

The girls had started out interested, but Annabelle was the first to fall asleep only minutes after it started, her hair still covered by the towel, albeit sloppily. Martha was next, passing out somewhere between the meeting and the gathering of the unicorns. Emily managed to stay awake through the whole thing, though it was obvious it had been a struggle, the girl going so far as to sit up and bob her head to try and stay awake.

"That's a nice story." she said finally, giving a large yawn before gently moving back under the covers. "Mr. Tsume, are there deer people in your country?" she asked sleepily, trying her best not to slur her words.

Elliot found himself pulled into an unexpected hug (it should have been expected, he thought in hindsight) and soon hugged the man back tightly. He knew this smell and this warmth and it hadn't changed. "I'm so sorry, Uncle. Really, I'm very, truly sorry." the silver eyes refused to give up their tears and remained glassy and wide. "I've been childish, Uncle."

Johnson shook his head, smiling. "It's all right. The prince was very worried, stormed into the bedrooms out of breath and shouted for everyone to awaken." he turned back to the two. "This is touching." he said softly. "I'm glad I could be of help."

Elliot pulled away as well though seemed hesitant in doing so, clinging to the fabric of the shirt and looking up at the guard.

"Lewis, Lewis you need to." Alvaro said. "We're not going to kill you, it's just going to hurt for a few moments and th--" but he didn't have time to finish, Elliot had touched the visible mark and backed away.

"Hold him down!" he shouted.

Alvaro panicked, almost frightened at the sight but held the Prime Minister tightly to keep him from breaking himself.

Johnson moved forward quickly, finding the spot on his neck and placing his hand over it, murmuring the words which had saved another's life in the same room. No more then one minute and Johnson pulled away, the mark gone, waiting.

Elliot hadn't wanted to watch, he saw raw pain rack his uncle's body much like it had done to Leo, the screaming. His father had struggled. Whatever servants were close by were starting to enter, blessed by not having to see the beginning, but only the king holding his lover, whispering into his ear how he was always safe with him. Always safe.

"No, there's this deer that's always outside," she started to say, but she was already lying down, he kissed her and started to hum. "He talks..." she murmured, head gently rolling as she fell asleep. She dreamed of Unicorns and tainted water, in the distance the Deer she'd been trying to talk to Tsume about, his antlers spreading wide and decorated with moss and flowers.

"Please, exit the room." Johnson said.

"He's had another episode, is all." Elliot assured them, ushering them out. "He'll be fine, a glass of water is all he needs. If someone could bring that real quick." and they slowly leaked out, leaving the five alone in the large room.

Alvaro had been most shocked at this, horrified, speaking loudly in hopes of being heard, though whether he was or not was unknown, but Lewis finally silenced and the king held him tightly. "You'll be all right." he whispered, pulling him closer. "You're safe. You're safe I promise."

Johnson stopped a black, rabbit eared servant, taking the tray. "Thank you, please retire to bed." and nodded at the teen before taking the tray to the king and Prime Minister, gently setting it down and pouring from the cold pitcher into the glass.

Elliot himself had moved toward Leo, asking silently if he was okay before leaning up and pressing his lips against his bangs, cupping his face and kissing his lips gently this time.

"That's fine. I'd be more surprised if you didn't react at all." and kissed him once more, spotting Tsume and motioning him over. "I need to take Johnson back to his side of the estate. Tsume could you escort Leo?" Elliot would really rather do it but he had to escort the guard back.

"No, no I'm sorry." Johnson backed away quickly, feeling more guilty then he should have.

"He won't hurt you, he just brought water, see?" Alvaro lifted the glass and gulped down a healthy amount to prove it wasn't poisoned. "Here, take a sip. Lewis you're safe, all right?"

"Johnson." Elliot said, touching the man's arm. "Let's go."

"I'm sorry." he said to the rest of the group before following the prince out.

The guard nodded a Leo, smiling back as he left. "He really is a kind boy."

"Do you have a family, Johnson?" Elliot asked.

"Yes, I have a family in Coshta but I was relocated here. They didn't want to move with me, said being near the capital was dangerous." he explained with a chuckle. "I miss them."

Alvaro looked over at Leo, smiling at the other as he helped calm Lewis down, showing him it was gone. really, his son was daft and stupid and stubborn, but he really did have a good heart, Leo's just as bright. "I can see, Lewis. I'm so happy, so incredibly happy for you." and kissed his head right before he passed out, making the king chuckle and soon lifted him up. He wanted to thank Leo, nodding and listening. "I won't die anytime soon." alvaro murmured. "he's tried. But thank you, and it's no worry. You need to get your rest. Like you said, you're pregnant." and smiled, looking back at Alvaro. Lots of rest, water and love. He could do that.

"I'll keep it in mind, Leo. I suggest you tell Elliot of your pregnancy soon." his face grew more worried. "I've made a terrible mistake, one that I cannot fix and if..." he paused. "Well, it'd be better if you told him you were pregnant. I've been a foolish and selfish old man." and nodded, exiting through a different door with the prime minister. "A foolish old man indeed."

The king entered his bedroom silently, prime minister being laid down and carefully undressed. Only the thicker outer layers were removed as were the shoes, the rest would stay on. No doubt sometime through the night the pants would be removed as they almost always were. Hazel eyes fell to the unblemished neck and reached to touch it only to stop. "I told you, Lewis," he leaned over the man, gently pressing his head against the cooler one. "You're always safe with me, but it seems my son has saved you this time. The prat." a low chuckle, kissing Lewis's forehead before undressing, night pants being put on and climbing into the bed carefully as to not stir him awake.

Elliot didn't understand why the housing for the guards was so far away, it made sense, but it was awful, walking across a courtyard. The way there wasn't terrible, speaking more of Johnson's family, turned out he was actually from a farming family. Well then, an interesting choice to change to but one Elliot would not disagree with. They bid each other a good night and it was back across the courtyard. He had no coat, no hat, no other means of warmth aside from what he was wearing, and it was a very terrible decision. Had he paid attention he'd realize the goose bumps on his skin, the bluish tint at the beginnings of his nails or even the pink end of his nose. There was no maid to be cross with him as he re-entered the building his resided in, moving quickly and quietly up a flight of stairs, twisting and turning through the hallways before finding his bedroom. The handle bent downward and the polished and decorated room slowly opened, revealing Tsume and Leo. "Thank you." he said softly.