"So, what was it like?" Patricja grinned, her hands wrapping around her tea. Berna easily could've brought me breakfast but after last night, I needed a bit of 'commonness'. The two of us sat at a nearby cafe, letting the traffic pass by.

"I-I can't," I burst out laughing, "do you want to see after?"

Patricja's eyes lit up a little, she grinned into her tea. "When they gave us orientation, they showed us some rooms but not all of them. Apparently each one has a different theme and it's super awesome,"

"It was," I nodded, sitting back, my chai turning lukewarm. "So, what's on today?"

Patricja was only our tour co-ordinator. Since we'd returned to the palace, Cas' regular staffers would take over in the morning tasks. Patricja had told me about how this might be her one day off to meet up with her husband before launching back onto the second leg of the tour.

"P.C.S was hoping that you'd be able to join him on a morning engagement," I flushed at her wording, "after that, we'll go into the city to pick up a dress for tonight's dinner and then at seven you'll be eating with the royal family!"

"I'm sorry, what?" I blinked, Patricja nodded, grinning.

"It's a common thing for when they entertain guests. Nothing too crazy, just a small dinner,"

"Pat," I struggled, my mind racing a million miles an hour, "I don't know anything about dining. I'm just a common girl. Like, what?"

"Don't worry," Patricja drawled, "the queen and king won't be there. Like I said, very casual,"

I honestly wanted to run. Run and throw myself under my bed at home. Even if that meant walking the several hours back to Ardeena.

"But you said that I needed a dress and Pat, I thought you were going to meet up with your family! I don't want to get in the way of that!"

"Sof," Patricja hissed. She sat back in her seat, "don't freak yourself out. You'll only make it worse!"

She waited a few moments until I'd steadied my breathing.

"Okay, first of all, my family couldn't make it. Too much security and too much traffic," For a briefest moment, I wondered if I'd imagined her voice faltering at the end. "Another point, we want you to look your best, no matter what you're doing. I can't believe you have a budget to splash and you're worrying about dinner,"

I breathed out. Get a grip, the people around her dine with the royals ever other day!

What if you pick up the soup spoon that was meant for the desert? Another part of me wondered.

"You got that? P.C.S will pick you up in about half an hour and then after that we'll go shopping!" Patricja grinned.

Should I tell her the last thing I brought, was a dress, eight months ago?

"Okay, sounds good, thanks heaps Pat," I grinned.

"No problem!" She eased into her chair, "I wonder how you'd do in pink,"

Half an hour later, I heard a soft knock on the door. It would almost be inaudible to the person who wasn't waiting for it.

"Coming!" I called, my voice hitching like I was rushing across the room or something. Cursing my stupidity, I opened the door. Cas stood there, in a classic jeans and plaid look.

"Hi," He smiled.

"Hi there!" I patted my pockets, hoping my phone was still there. Patricja was pretty vague with what was happening so I figured a nice looking sundress wouldn't hurt. The two of us began walking.

"You look nice," He managed. Don't blush, don't blush, "I was expecting the classic dress pants and office blouse,"

I didn't know what to say to that.

"Dress pants suck," I blurted out, ten days of my hatred building, "they serve no other purpose that to show off your butt and fall down your back when you lean over,"

Was that too much?

Cas chuckled at that. I looked away, and breathed a sigh of relief.

"Do you want to?" Cas threw his thumb in the direction of the hallway that I hadn't gone down yet.

"Um, yeah!" I grinned, "let's go,"

We began walking at a casual pace. The hallway was even more spectacular throughout the day. Cas led me into a larger hallway on the left and then another left turn we hit a grand staircase.

"Woah," I let out quietly. The steps reflected a gold surface. An elegant, red carpet dripping into the green marble flooring that reaches up the walls. The gold accents turned to an intricate ceiling. This room alone could fund the Ardeena military base for a hundred years.

Cas walked ahead, gliding down the stair like he'd done a hundred times. "Come on," He turned back, pausing.

I didn't want to step forwards. This was a place for the highest lords and ladies. For elegant affairs. Even for Cas, when he made an effort. This place wasn't for me, in my several years old sundress. I bit my lip.

Cas saw my creased frown and looked down.

"Sofia?" His words were gentle, tinged by his upper class accent. I looked to him. He gave me a small smile, "let's go outside,"

Look away from it all, I scolded myself, he's seen this a hundred times. You're probably weirding him out.

So I raised my chin, attempted my best 'Cas face' and followed him out.

Outside wasn't much better. We'd gone through the back entrance when arriving last night. As a result, I saw the sight with the best view. Cas and I were on the other side of the epic double doors. A stone staircase ran down into both a garden and a courtyard.

"My grandmother complained that the courtyard was mostly useless," Cas explained, "she told her husband, the Crown Prince at that time, that she didn't like going into her garden and always being watched by the guards,"

Cas chuckled.

"As a result, the first thing he did when he became king was to let her do her thing here,"

"It's pretty awesome," I nodded. A driveway cut through the hedges and welcomed us at the bottom of the stairs. On either side of the driveway, an elegant array of Apolia's favourite natives and non-natives flourished. Late Summer meant that every possible flower was in high bloom. Reds here, oranges there, spots of this, a rare hybrid there. Cas and I walked through the artwork. I tried listing every species I knew, lost count and then tried again.

I kneeled at the Corn Poppies, gasping.

"Do you know what this is?" I turned to Cas, who was watching me. He shrugged. "This is a blue corn Iceland poppy," I gasped, reaching out tentatively, then pulling my hand back. Its icy blue petals humming in the slight breeze.

You're on an engagement, a part of me hissed, you're supposed to be working.

I stood, bursting off my dress, throwing Cas an apologetic look.

"Sorry, they're just relatively rare," 

He chuckled. "That's okay, usually people don't care what's in the garden. Just what's pretty,"

"Their loss," I shook my head, looking around, "there's so much history here, I doubt you'd find a lot of these anywhere else. Just so casually blooming,"

Cas shrugged and we began walking in step again. "That's the way it is sometimes," We eased into silence again. A lot of which I spent wondering if he was going to say something. Should I brush his hand? A part of me hummed.

Wait, what? Another part of me scoffed.

"So," I managed, hoping to start a conversation that didn't involve me hanging out in my own head, "what's up?" Internally, I cringed. Great, now he's going to think that you're impatient.

"I wanted to ask you how everything's going," Cas spoke simply, "how did your ten days go, what do you think is our biggest problem going forwards, stuff like that?"

I nodded, taking a few moments, "It was good. The team was great,"

"Travelling wasn't too crazy?" Cas asked, a joking aura to his words, "because, for a gal that's never left her hometown you were managing pretty well,"

I flushed, scoffing "Hey! I've gone to other places than just Ardeena before!"

"Ah," Cas nodded slowly, his eyebrow raised, "of course,"

"Travelling was great, thank you," Mentally, I flipped through all of the towns we'd visited. The people we'd met, the foods I'd tasted. The little moments where the team was tired but we created a new joke or a moment that would last forever. "It was really great," I admitted after a little while.

"So the biggest issue that I should address first," Cas trailed off.

"Definitely a linear something on easing veterans back into their civilian lives," I spoke thoughtfully. Apolia's current system was terrible. Six weeks for eval. while technically still acting as a reserve and then you're dumped back into the local community. "I'd change it to four weeks of evaluation and then two weeks stationed at home base where they can have family and friend meetups,"

Cas was silent, reflecting on another world. I remembered to my own home when I was six, my father had returned from a tour. He would wake up in the middle of the night, pacing around the house. Sometimes he'd stand in my doorway before dropping to the floor. My heart would seize. Sometimes I'd wake up in the middle of the night to yelling. It took my mother a little while to explain why. Some families fight one another, she'd explained softly, your dad needs to fight the enemy.

We found a seat under an elaborate fountain. I explained this to Cas and watched his eyes shimmer throughout the story.

"I'd lock my doors sometimes," I admitted, the serenity of the garden such an odd place to bring up an emotional memory. Was I defiling the greenery and the cheerfulness by reciting these shadows? I looked to the sky above, hoping the prickling tears wouldn't fall. "I wouldn't be able to sleep for hours. I was just so scared,"

Immediately as I said that, I wanted to take the words back. I shouldn't be admitting that to a prince. My father's words on honour and upholding the name hissed in the background. He would be ashamed of me. I pulled my hands away from resting on my knees. I'm the worst representative of my family name, the illustrations in my suite would be disappointed in me.

Cas breathed out lightly. "I had the same issue," I looked to him slowly. He was looking down at his calloused palms, "sometimes I'd wake up in the middle of the night, screaming. Sometimes I'd still think that I was on the front lines. Sometimes my fears turned to reality and I'd think that the darkness was the shadows of a hiding enemy," He took in a silent breath. My dad did the same thing when he worked through especially painful memories.

Without thinking, I reached forwards, taking his hand in mine. His hand was warm, yet his fingers trembled. I gave a supportive squeeze.

"We're going to make this better for other people, okay?"

"Does that mean you'll join me on the next leg?" He looked up, a playful smile dancing across his lips.

My eyes narrowed, "What next leg?"

"Going to the front lines," Cas answered simply, "going international. Meeting with other charities and federations. The work doesn't just end here,"

"I figured that," The work doesn't just end here.

"So," Cas asked, maintaining a small grin, "will you be my consultant for veterans returning to civilian life?"

"That's a very fancy job title," I chuckled, my mind racing at a million times an hour.

"Well I've thought it through," Cas nodded, putting on his best gameplay face, "I'm a veteran myself, so I've got veteran experience firsthand. But I need someone who knows what it's like to represent the community,"

I blushed, "You speak too highly of what I can do,"

"But your idea!" Cas jumped immediately, "of easing veterans back into their lives through visits first. Usually when you go home, you'll just want to drop the ball and go all in! Though being in a new environment is probably a massive trigger for a lot of veterans. Though if you get them back to their nearby base, that'd be a great way to ease them back into it!"

"What if we had more than just the RVL? Or at least give the RVL some structure!" I suggested. The RVL or Returned Veterans League was a service that doubled as a charity. It did a tepid job at best in making networks and support systems for veterans.

"Actually recognise it as an appropriate body to support veterans," Cas nodded, the two of us getting on a roll. "We could grant each branch land to build a communal place to gather,"

"That's a great idea! Instead of just relying on council halls and stuff!"

"I don't know, a pub of sorts? Then they can generate income if needed!"

"Making it easier for other branches to expand, and then they become self sufficient. You don't need to worry about constantly sending money there!"

The two of us stilled. Cas had a beaming smile on his face.

You're still holding his hand. A part of me pointed it out, I pulled away.

"Sorry," Cas opened his mouth the say something, then closed it. A moment passed between us as I let a million thoughts run through my head.

"So does that mean you'll come with?" He asked, his voice small.

I bit my lip, looking to him. This had been unexpectedly fun, and incredibly fulfilling. Life on the road was fun, having its moments. However, the majority of the day was spent in boredom or uncomfortable situations. It tested any sane person's sanity. I thought about home. About Mum. Stuck in her wheelchair, unable to hang up the washing. I wondered if Klara was helping her. If Justek was getting to school on time. If Feodor was properly ready for university. I missed Ardeena. I longed for the simplicity of a place that I knew. A lump stuck in my throat. I thought about the years spent playing on the playground by the Chesno Forest. About the adults who would quickly disappear. How this just might help, even one person from giving up. I sighed, looking at my hands, still humming from touching Cas'. "May I, think about it? Just for a week,"

Cas nodded, "Of course," Was he disappointed in my response? I wasn't sure.

"I mean, I'll probably say yes. It's just that, I've been away from home and I'd just like to see my family. If that's okay,"

"Totally," Cas nodded, "I completely understand. You'll get flown home early tomorrow,"

"Thank you," My voice was hoarse, "the past ten days have been nothing short of incredible, so, thank you for that," Cas beamed. After a moment, he stood, offering me a hand.

"Well, to the future," I accepted it. The two of us basking in the sunlight.

"I guess I'll see you tonight?" I managed a small smile.

"I'll drop by at ten to seven," Cas affirmed, his eyes flicking past me. I turned, Patricja stood at the bottom of the stairs, "I guess it's time for me to leave,"

"Until then," I nodded, catching on last look into his eyes. They were the colour of depth- the deepest blue of the sky. They matched the colour of what I'd imagine the ocean to be on a sunny Summer's day right out of an American surfing flick. I wondered if our adventures would take us to the ocean. Then I could really see if the airbrushed lifestyle was true.

Cas and Pat shared a nod before she approached me.

"Productive conversation?" She asked cheerily.

"Saving the world," I joked, "one conversation at a time,"

"Well, that's what we're here for," Patricja went back to tapping her tablet. I used the few, brief moments to drink in the last of the gardens. Cas said we'd be travelling internationally, probably for long bouts of time as well. That probably meant we wouldn't be anywhere near the palace. The next time I'd return, the seasons might be well into Autumn.

Patricja began to walk, tapping at a hundred miles an hour. "Sorry," She finished her final email, "duty calls, ready to go shopping?"

My stomach flipped but I managed a grin. "Let's do this,"