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"I thought it impossible to be this happy." and held back a snarky comment about Leo's belly stopping him from kissing Elliot, instead giving a stifled laugh until his hair was grabbed and pulled forward for this kiss, happily returning it. "You know," he murmured, breaking the kiss "You've become rather forceful since this pregnancy. What have the twins done to you?" and chuckled, kissing him again.

"Oh, I couldn't become a teacher. I can barely read or write my name." he explained "I need to be educated for that, no, I'd rather become head butler." Kashi shrugged as though it wasn't really a big deal, and considering what he'd been through it really wasn't. "I like people is all. It's hard to hate someone so I like to learn about them."

"You know he is bad with words." Megan said.

Alvaro nodded. "I won't leave you lone, I promise. I won't let them hurt you in any which way, shape or form. I won't leave you. If I'm not with you Megan will be with you, all right?"

The prince laughed hearing Leo. "Well you've been just darling and beautiful. "It's hardly needy if your body demands it. You're just doing what's best for it." and kissed his lover again, his fiancee. "And you just had me before we left, perhaps it is needy? I certainly don't mind." and kissed him again.

"Well they're necessary qualities here in Nalaenir! I am unable to get any other job without them!" Just forget about them? Clever or not Kashi couldn't do that! "But it was an odd teaching, since I used my arms as pseudo-wings." he laughed at the memory.

"Our lives would be different, but empty." the king murmured, kissing the man's head. "We do it because we love you. Very much so."

Megan held his hand in return. "You're welcome, Lewis." she murmured.

Red covered the prince's face, ears flattening and he looked away. he tried to speak but nothing came out, too embarrassed so he just looked away again, giving a huff. "I don't mean to be." he muttered finally, "I'll try to keep quiet in the future, then." and moved to sit across from Leo now, still red, still not looking at him. "Eat your almonds." he muttered.

"Tsume!" Kashi called, standing before sitting again, worried what had happened. He didn't see anything, no threats.

"What happened?"

The teen turned, Henry having slowed down their carriage.

"Tsume just ran off..." but then the wolf was back, showing the small squirrel. "Oh."

Henry chuckled, snapping the reigns gently, allowing the horses to trot faster to go back to their original pace.

"He won't eat you." Kashi assured the small animal "He hasn't eaten me yet." and smiled, reaching out before gently stroking the small mammal.

Alvaro laughed. "That quickly, eh? I would have never guessed considering Elliot. For a while I thought him asexual."

"I told you your son loved men, Alvaro." Megan said, "A woman can sense these things."

The king chuckled, kissing Lewis's head. "I'm glad you didn't seduce me when we first met, you are too precious to use in that way."

"If I'm no worse then don't point it out." he said with a small whine, ready to move back to nuzzle Leo until he felt the carriage slow. "Did something happen?" He hadn't felt them run over anything. Leo investigated, Tsume quickly in front of the door with something furry. "Is that a squirrel?" Elliot asked, watching Leo stroke the little creature, Tsume then soon leaving. "I take it he does this a lot?"

Kashi smiled and even gave a small laugh. "He grew used to you faster then I did. You could swallow him whole and he's not frightened in the least."

Alvaro laughed and nodded. "I was somewhat flattered by it though, there's no worry."

"You've yet to stop hitting on me." Megan said, eyebrow raised. "If I recall a few days ago you still asked me into your bed with you and the king."

"His past?" Had Tsume been abused and hurt? "as long as he's saving lives no one minds." and listened to the story, imagining this full grown middle aged man walking around like the fairytale princess Cinderella with birds coming to his beck and call. Leo soon faded off into his memories, Elliot wrapping an arm around him and letting him think.

Kashi listened with a smile, glancing at the squirrel before back at the road. "Yes Tsume, you told me this yourself." and leaned over, placing a quick kiss on his cheek. "You've told me that yourself. You're a very sweet man, trust me. I'm glad you've saved the squirrel."

Megan laughed and gave the man a quick kiss back, still giggling. "Oh I shall resist long enough, Lewis. Trust me. You have yet to find my limit, Lewis."

Alvaro stared, listening and processing. "The only person you haven't had sex with in our group?" Alvaro asked. Him... Reinette... "You've had sex with Henry?"

"Yes, exactly that." Leo was too adorable, even when pregnant. "Would that make Nix the princess Snow White? Well she'd need to eat a poisoned apple for being so fair and lovely. My guess is Annabelle gave it to her." and chuckled. "Then we'd need to find her a prince. Where would we find one of those? I believe the two largest countries to the west and southwest only bore daughters." and thought a moment, "A daughter epidemic." and laughed again at his own odd sense of humor.

"Yes, you told me while you were helping me with my duties one day, but I suppose with information that secret you wouldn't tell many, I understand." and heard Elliot's laughter from inside, unable to hide a chuckle himself. "He's a loud man when around people he likes. Similar to his father."

"You had said 'the one person I haven't had sex with in our little group' and you know as well as I you are terrible at lying, Lewis." He looked at the other for a moment, knowing he had to tread carefully, "I am not angry with you Lewis, just somewhat hurt you'd bother to sleep with such an old man when you have my young and abled--" he was cut off by the wheel running over something. "Henry!"

"Lost my focus for a second." the man replied "Because I am so old and losing my mind."

"Look at you all high and mighty." The prince grinned while looking at the other prince. "That is how I feel about Emily so Justin be damned." and took a few almonds for himself. "I pray all they have his friendship and that's all it grows to be. They may be older than Nix but they are still my little sisters."

"Oh it is not so bad. There's some wine under the seat if you'd like some. It might cure your illness." he suggested, "And you've been under a lot of stress of course you wouldn't remember."

"Calm yourself, Lewis." Henry warned as the window was opened, "You'll panic yourself into another episode. and this was before we came across Megan, Alvaro. The night before, actually."

Alvaro pulled the other close, holding him tight. "It's all right, it was a long time ago I forgive you. You were still very ill back then but you've gotten so much better, Lewis. Trust me I forgive you. You've been a very good person keeping the secret for all of these years." and kissed his head. "It's not a concern or a worry, Lewis. I trust Henry and it was a long time ago."

"My father's mouth but my mother's looks, what a curse. I look intelligent but am a dolt." and chuckled, shifting so Leo could be more comfortable against him. "I shall nap as well, Leo. You just focus on getting the rest you need." and kissed his head, keeping an arm around him.

Kashi exhaled through his nose before speaking. "We have a long trip. Everyone is going to be losing their minds. We just need to hold onto them for as long as possible."

"We must do our best to stay calm. Remember your position. You are Prime Minister of Nalaenir, the second most powerful country in the world and your King will protect you." He murmured, lacing his words with his ability, "But you will be strong. I believe in you." Perhaps it was a bit unorthodox but anything to prevent the other from having an episode. He trusted Lewis, and the words would fade with the ability to where it would be useless when the time came, but he trusted this man so much.

>> Four Days Later >>

The carriages were pulling up to the Retian king's castle, Henry looking at it warily. "We're here." he called back to Kashi before knocking on the wooden window.

The brown eye looked up at the place, coughing lightly with the polluted air of the industrialized country, a cloth having been tied over his face to help filter it. "I already dislike this place." he murmured to Tsume.

Megan finished cleaning and making presentable the King and Prime Minister, making sure their clothes were on properly, buttons, buckles and shoes shined. "There. You are both presentable." she murmured, looking at them both.

Alvaro nodded, holding himself with the grace and authority of his position but he turned, kissing lewis fiercely before breaking away. "You are strong." he murmured, exiting the carriage as Henry opened the door.

Elliot was fixing his own clothes before adjusting his 'wife's' clothes. "Remember," he held Leo's hand, kissing the ring. "This will protect you." and slipped on his own ring he'd bought in Loslith thanks to Leo's and Kashi's bantering. Mostly Kashi's. "I won't step on my cape if you won't step on yours." and chuckled, Leo's cape also made to be a jacket. Kashi knocked once before opening the door. "Let us go." and kissed his lover before kissing the womb, walking out, helping Leo out and offering his arm.