There was always a certain prayer I whispered when the plane took off. You know the one- Please protect me. Please grant the pilot wisdom. Please get me home safely. And even if you don't, I know you are still God. It'd worked every time, so it'd become my ritual of sorts. A certain peace accompanied it as we flew.

The plane felt a little empty without the team; Vlad's imposing presence in the corner, Marek's chatter to the side or Patricja's mumbling about some other issue that'd come up. And even Cas' appearances, however brief they'd been, still was a part of the memories I'd grown so fond of.

But now was the time for home, for embracing my family again. For hugging my siblings and updating my mother with all of what had happened.

And there they were, looking like a bit of a motley crew in the airport area. Mum was in her wheelchair, Klara was on her phone, Feodor was looking bored and Justek was doing laps along the lines of the flooring. A big grin, an embrace here, and a hug there. A side joke about Klara's phone addiction and we were on our way. The tales they asked me of travelling to the different provinces, trying out new foods and meeting new people.

"What was the prince like?" Justek grinned, bouncing up and down in his seat.

"He was very cool," I nodded. "I didn't get to hang out with him a lot, he was working most of the time. Prince duties and all," Justek gasped, his mouth slightly open.

The questions eventually eased off and I watched the landscape blur by. How different Ardeena was to the flat plains or slight hills of the other provinces. I thought about the long car drives over the past ten days. Of hours spent going back and forth. The shaking hands, the smiles, the hanging from the shadows and carefully watching the cameras.

I was lucky to go unrelatively noticed, I knew that. Marek, Pratricja and to a degree, even Vlad all had researchable, public profiles. Marek had once complained about being swarmed by fans at a convention. Though it was one of those stories where you couldn't be sure.

For me? None of that. I didn't even want people to know my name. Working from behind the scenes was a hundred times more gratifying than working from the stage. Though I wasn't sure why.

The week passed quickly. Nothing of any, legitimate importance actually happened in Ardeena. Though, I did share a fleeting 'hi' with a few childhood friends on the street. Hanna and I spent an hour talking about all that had transpired.

"There's nothing really to report, aside from that," I shrugged. Hanna shook her head.

"I can't believe you yelled at his parents," She chuckled, "that's the first time you've met them!"

"I know, I know," For a moment, I wondered if I should tell her about what had happened afterwards. The Royal Waltz in an empty ballroom, the way he'd held my hand, the look that he'd given me as we'd parted.

"Sounds absolutely devious," Hanna chuckled, giving me a wink.

"You're terrible," I scoffed.

Hanna was somewhere in Finland, for now. Soon enough, she'd be jetting over to the Americas, then some of Australia and then some of Asia. She re-counted the tales she'd experienced. The men, the parties. Some of which she skipped over a little too quickly.

"I wish you were here," She gushed. Before telling me about all that she'd done in Germany, despite only being there for forty-eight hours. Some of which would've probably made her mother faint and fall to the floor.

"Be safe," I reminded her, she rolled her eyes.

The weekend went by quickly, though as I began to look forwards to really taking on my role, the days began to drag. We said goodbye to Feodor as he boarded the bus for university. Klara had to go back to school and Justek made sure we had an earful before we sent him off.

"Why can't I just homeschool," He whined.

"Because you're a big boy now," I patted him on the shoulder as he stood in front of his school, "you're in grade three. How cool is that?"

"Not very cool," His lip was set. Insisting that he wasn't going to have a good time. I recognised that look, I'd worn it once as well. I sighed, turning him towards the school.

"You've got nine more years to go buddy, better get used to it,"

Justek threw me a final, pitiful glare before dragging his feet up the school steps.

Same buddy, same.

It wasn't until Friday when I paused outside of Burbank Coffee. Justek had gone to school without relative drama and I'd begun to wonder when I'd receive that call to let me know. The thoughts had begun to swirl. Had his parents insisted on 'not again'? After the drama? Had there been a communication issue? Had he simply just forgotten about me more than anything?

I'd been following him on the news. He was doing well I guess. A lot of smiling and waving. And interviews! A lot of interviews, here, there, everywhere. He was smiling, posing and looking great. I wondered what he thought of it all. When the camera turned away and the lights dimmed ever so slightly. Did he change? Did he seclude himself? Forever chipping away at mountains of paper that would never end?

It's not my place to wonder, I'd concluded as I stopped outside of Burbank Coffee. Do I need a coffee? Perhaps for old time's sake.

Old time's sake, a part of me scoffed as I entered, what was it, like, two weeks ago?

A group of three women in the remnants of their activewear lounged on the couch. Over to the side two men talked, a hulking figure and-.

"Cas," I blurted out, immediately blushing and biting back a lip. That wasn't regulation. Patricja would be horrified.

"Sof," He looked up, standing quickly. In the week that we'd spent a part, he looked good. His hair was cropped back so it was a little neater. He wore a salmon coloured shirt with the sleeves rolled up and khaki pants down to his ankles.

He was standing in front of me in two strides and in the next second he was wrapping me in a bear hug. I tried not to audibly gasp. This was the first time that I'd ever really been hugged by Cas.

It felt good.

We took a step back from one another. "How have you been?" Cas words were alight.

"Good," I nodded, "good, Justek had his first day in grade three and Feodor is off to university so it's been a very exciting week,"

"That's great to hear," Cas grinned, "were you here to get coffee?"

"Yes I was, actually," I turned back to the counter, the barista was watching our exchange with an unmatched boredom.

"Let me shout," Cas moved forwards.

"You don't need to-,"

"Nonsense," He grinned, "medium chai?"

I shook my head, "You know it,"

Once I'd settled down with Cas and Vlad, they'd let me know of their tales. The two of them had decided to take a road trip. Taking the eight hour journey through farm fields and mountain ridges to say hi.

"Really?" I turned to Vlad.

"I'm just kidding," Cas chuckled, "no, I came to ask you something,"

"Oh,"

"Actually let's go outside," Cas threw a look at Vlad, before leading me out onto the street. My stomach churned, what was he going to ask me?

The street was no less quieter though was also relatively empty. An elderly couple on the opposite side passed with their dog in tow. A few cars passed back and forth.

"So," I turned to Cas, "what do you want to ask me?"

Not one to wait around or take his time, Cas took in a deep breath. "I need your help. I don't want to put you in any danger, consider this a form of... Espionage?"

"Espionage?" I raised an eyebrow. Cas gave a slight nod, his face grave.

"I need to ask something very dark of you, that I can't ask any other woman,"

"What's that?" My brow furrowed, anxiety stirring in my stomach.

"You don't have to do it-,"

"Oh just spit it out, you're giving me more anxiety building it up,"

Vlad bit back a laugh, Cas looked to the Heavens.

"I need you to dance with a sleazy man, and make a case for the funding,"

"Of course," I shrugged, my voice firm, "we're in this together,"

Cas nods slowly, a small smile dancing across his lips, "So, would you, be my date to the Military Gala for Servicemen and Women?"

"What?" I blurted out.

"Be my date?" Cas asked simply, "you don't need to walk the red carpet if you don't want to. You don't have to be interviewed or anything. I won't drag you up for any speeches or put you on the spot. Vlad will be able to sneak you in and out. But, would you be my date?"

Well I hope he wouldn't drag me up for a speech.

"Okay," I grinned, "sounds cool,"

Cas beamed, he looked to Vlad who was staring through the glass, up the street and then back to me. "Awesome," he huffed excitedly, "because we need to leave right now if we're going to get there in time,"

"What?" I asked, blinking in shock.

"Yeah, I mean we drove here because Ivan's using the jet for some Europe adventure and now we've gotta drive back and with stops and everything as well as a slight detour, we'll probably hit morning traffic,"

"Oh my goodness," I gasped, "I need to go home, I need to grab supplies and stuff,"

Cas bit his lip, "I don't know..."

"Have a shower," I told him, "you need to freshen up, how long is the trip going to take?"

"Mmm roughly ten hours," Cas said very quickly. I gave him a look.

"What are we, stopping through Germany as well?"

"I mean, if you want to,"

"Never mind, my house first, you guys freshen up and then we'll go,"

"Sounds good," Cas turned and nodded his fist to Vlad who quickly grabbed the two, sitting coffee cups. He turned back to me, taking in a deep breath, "you look good," His voice was soft.

Don't blush, don't blush, don't blush. I thought to myself rapidly.

"Thanks," I managed, I wasn't sure if my voice hitched or not. That would be embarrassing.

Cas and Vlad's car was a mess. It was of the same type that we'd ridden in on that first day to the barracks. This time however, it had a mini popup desk separating the middle. The floor was littered with wrappers and caked with mud. In the corners, crumbs and other grubby stuff had begun to pile up. It was a nice car, though I had to suppress an eye roll. Boys will be boys.

The ride to my house was a quick one and I made sure Vlad pulled up into the driveway. I passed to each of them a towel, and a change of Feodor's clothes that just barely fit them. I gave Cas a rundown of how to use the shower. For the briefest moments our hands touched. Instantly taking me back to the ballroom. Vlad chilled on the couch, resting his eyes for the journey ahead.

Sourcing the vacuum from the linen cupboard, I dragged it outside. There was work to be done. A quick vacuum of the car and then a wipe over the dusty console. Despite the glittering buttons and the fancy tech displays, a console was a console and it still had to be cleaned.

I'd barely packed everything up before Vlad took the shower next. Cas wandered around the house. A prince, in my house. I thought to myself.

Though, in saying that, a month ago I never would've guessed that he would've ran into me in my backyard either.

I set myself to work, making sandwiches, packing fruits. I added a few packages of chips and quickly got a few sets of spaghetti going, not only for the family, but myself.

"Where's your siblings?" Cas asked, wistfully looking at a collection of family photos. It was taken when I was only thirteen. My father and mother were in an embrace, mid-laugh. Klara, Feodor, Justek, me and... and my... older brother, were all in various stages of giggling and general happiness.

"Klara and Justek are at friend's houses," I answered simply, "Mum and Dad are on date night,"

"That's sweet," Cas smiled, "who's this?"

He pointed to Stefan.

A part of my stomach dropped. I took in a deep breath, my voice already cracking a little, "That's... Stefan, he's my older brother,"

Cas searched my face for more answers. I nodded, clipping on the lunches for tomorrow and leftovers for Mum and Dad if they deemed necessary.

"He... he died while on tour,"

Cas looked down, his face a brewing set of emotions, "I'm sorry,"

"Thank you,"

Our little moment was interrupted by Vlad walking out, one side of his hair was sticking straight up. I tried not to snort.

"My turn!" I managed brightly, wiping the last of the leftovers from the bench and putting away the remaining utensils.

I hoped the noise of the water covered my sobs.

After a quick rush of throwing my clothes into an overnight bag, a few quick jokes about my room, we were off. Vlad was on 'first shift' where the two would switch every two hours as the other got some rest.

"I can drive if that helps," I offered.

"Wouldn't be regulation, gal," Vlad spoke.

At the same time Cas spoke, "Thank you, we've got it,"

"Well, I'll be the dedicated person to making sure you guys stay awake while driving," I chuckled.

"Your help would be much appreciated," Cas nodded poshly. If we were standing in a room, he would've made a sweeping bow that would've touched the floor.

The first two or so hours were pretty uneventful. I spent the time texting Mum and Dad or playing menial games on my phone. After only twenty minutes I grew tired and spent the rest of the time watching the landscape blur past. The sun was setting a little slower, the mountaintops always providing the best view of a setting sun. The sky streaked pink, then turning to hues of orange, before setting in an angry red line on the horizon.

Red at night. I hummed, good luck hopefully is coming our way.

Realising we were almost two hours in and I hadn't prayed for the trip, I quickly spoke a hushed prayer. Cas had fallen asleep against the window and Vlad was listening to a podcast in the front.

"Here we are," Vlad pulled up to a service station. The sun had fully set and now the sky was leeching onto a fading grey. I looked to Cas who appeared fully alert.

Now that is a skill that I need to learn, I thought humorously to myself.

"Will you do the honour of helping me stay alert?" Cas nodded towards the driver's seat.

I beamed, "Of course, kind sir,"

Vlad fuelled up, grumbling about the quality of small town fuel stations. Cas mostly stuck around the car, keeping his hood up and head down, lest he be recognised. It was something that he hadn't needed to have worried about when he was serving. Normally the press said out of the way. But now, with all the fundraising and touring and campaigning and visits, Cas' face, the Shadow Prince, was becoming known again.

I wondered if he regretted it at all. If he considered the price of a non-existent private life to be worth it to his cause. Then I shut it down with a scoff. Cas would do anything for the cause. He'd string himself up on the palace walls if he knew that it would get him the appropriate reform.

Was that an attractive trait? I wasn't sure. Drive, ambition, all these things were admirable in the pursuit of greatness and charity. But to loose oneself. I wondered how long it often took.

I browsed the gossip magazines of the station. The only other car sped off into the darkness and it was just the three of us plus the store attendant.

"Looking for some drama?" Cas chuckled, appearing beside me. His words were low despite the store clerk being engrossed by the television screen, much to Vlad's increasing annoyance.

I browsed the magazines. Humouring myself with the flashy headlines and stark editing. The poor celebrities were probably just blinking and the magazine papers found a way to twist it into a drunken one night stand.

"I wonder how much of it is actually true," I hummed, flicking the corner of one magazine.

"Barely any of it," Cas muttered, "though sometimes they can be useful. Sometimes we 'leak' stories to them to garner interest or squash a bad rumour,"

"Really?" I looked to Cas. He nodded.

"Yep, that's a part of Marek's job. He wears many hats," I laughed at his dramatic tipping of his imaginary hat. "He's probably spinning some story at how I'm doing something or other right now," Cas snorted.

"Oh really?" I asked, an eyebrow raised.

"Yes," Cas nodded seriously, "its relatively rare for a prince to disappear mid-tour,"

"Well I appreciate the mysteriousness," I whispered back slyly. Cas' cheeks dimpled. Vlad gave us a wave that everything was finally finished and we continued on our journey.

Cas and I spent the first little while talking relatively casually. Vlad had quickly fallen asleep in the back, making sure to catching some legitimate sleep before the graveyard shift.

"Thanks for picking me up," I whispered to Cas. What a hectic journey to make.

"It was worth it," He turned to me, giving a slight smile, "I'm lucky you said yes,"

"Oh yeah, what would you have done if I hadn't?" I chuckled.

"Probably napped on the highway," Cas laughed, "or just kept annoying you until you gave in. So I'm glad you said yes the first time,"

"Well, everyone's happy now," I grinned. His face lit in the soft glow of the dashboard. The world wizzed past outside. Distant blurs. We were passing peak hours, the last of the working men and women returning home. Soon the truck drivers and those crazy enough to be out this late would be the only souls inhabiting this road.

Cas and I lasted into casual conversation. He told me a little about Daryna, about how when he was a kid, she was the only sibling around to play.

"I was unplanned," Cas shrugged, "of course you'd never admit that aloud and every child's a gift but I could tell... The tired look in my mother's eyes. The weariness whenever I needed something. She thought she was done with kids,"

Cas lapsed into a hurt silence. His eyes shimmering and his look cracking a little. There was something here that'd been building for years.

"I'm glad you're here now," The words felt like a release, "I'm glad you made it to here,"

Risking everything, he looked to me. His dimple was showing in the slightest. He looked back out to the road.

"So, why do you hate being in the limelight so much?"

I sighed, rolling my eyes. I knew this would come up eventually. I gave it a few moments, really thinking it through.

"I screw up whenever I'm in front of people," I tried to answer honestly, "I mean, two or three people is fine. But when it gets any more than that, you're trying to remember faces, names, it just gets-,"

"Overwhelming?"

"Yeah, really badly,"

"I get that," Cas shrugged, "I hate the spotlight too,"

"You're a natural though," I laughed.

"Would you believe that it was years of training, of smiling, of posturing? I hate it as well. That's probably one of the reasons I stayed serving for so long- I thought I'd be able to get away from it all,"

"Why did you leave it?" My voice was barely a whisper. It was still a mystery that I hadn't been able to crack. Why, would the prince with purpose and excitement and adventure return to, what many saw as the trials and tribulations of monotony?

"It was time to start contributing to the future," Cas smiled lightly, "helping others, and being a little selfish at the same time,"

The conversation lapsed into a silence. I couldn't decipher what that meant. We drove for a few moments in relative silence. The sound of the engine and the wheels on the road, our background music.

"I get that," I nodded.

"So Sofia," Cas grinned, looking towards me, "after the last two weeks, do you still want to be a housewife?"

"Was it your intention to convince me otherwise?" I raised an eyebrow.

"Not really," He spoke wistfully, "I just wondered if the world had changed anything,"

Great, what do I say to that? If I said that I still wanted to pursue my original dream would he think that I didn't want to work with him at all and fire me? Or, if I said that I was ready to ditch my original dream in lieu of travelling the world and 'making a difference' would he consider me a gold digger or a selfish brat?

"That dream will always be there, that the end goal. In the meantime, there's nothing wrong with making a bit of a side hustle and helping out people,"

"True," Cas gave a firm nod, keeping his eyes on the road. "Stick to your dreams, they'll arrive eventually,"

"True that," I nodded. We lasted into a comfortable silence. I recalled that I'd now been up for a long time. This morning had been a little earlier to get Justek and Klara ready for their various sleepovers and to school. What was it now... reaching ten o'clock?

I settled down into my seat, resting my head on the cool glass of the door. Summer was often blistering, but tonight had gotten cold very quickly. I dozed off, the light of other cars passing me by in long streaks.

I awoke some time around two am. The numbers were clearly stamped on the dashboard. I blinked away the last of my bleariness. We were at another petrol station, lights on the horizon. Cas was chatting with another figure just out of my view.

I'm in the back seat. I realised at the same time Vlad looked up from the front seat, "Hey there sleeping beauty,"

"Sorry, long day,"

"Tell me about it,"

That's right, Vlad and Cas had driven for eight hours to get here.

Maybe you should shut up. A part of me hissed.

The next leg of the trip was intermittently sleeping and watching as other cars streaked across my vision. I never ended up asking Cas what the meeting was about, not the package he placed in the back of the car.