"So you're sure that Calliope isn't just trying to trick you again?" Aqua asked Rapunzel as she looked at the map. "What if Cassandra isn't really attacking the Spire?"

"Then we'll deal with it, but if she does need our help, we have to at least try," Rapunzel said and Aqua nodded.

"I chemically treated these thrusters so the flames will burn hotter and longer than any natural flame. You're gonna fly like the wind," Varian said before he saw Eugene touching the bucket of glue. "Don't touch that."

Eugene frowned and moved on to touch some of Varian's tools.

"Or that," Varian said as he tightened some bolts.

Eugene slumped before he went to try and touch the engine.

"OH MY- DON'T TOUCH THAT! IT'S GONNA BLOW!" Varian shouted and Eugene let out a scream as he fell back in the balloon. Varian laughed as he watched Eugene's reaction. "Gotcha! Just messing with ya."

Eugene got up with a grimace as Pascal laughed at him. "I knew that. And you're on my list, frog."

"Guys, focus," Rapunzel said and Aqua looked over at them. "Look at this. It took us weeks to get to the Spire on foot, but thanks to Varian's speed balloon and this direct route, we'll make it in a day."

"Hey, I helped with the balloon!" Aqua argued and Varian hummed. "Where's my credit?"

"Give yourself twelve percent credit, blue," Varian said with a grin and Aqua crossed her arms.

"Twelve percent?" She raised an eyebrow.

"An argument can be made for fifteen," Varian compromised and Aqua grimaced.

"Well good job to the both of you," Eugene said as he climbed out of the balloon and ruffled Varian's hair a little.

"Oh, wait," Varian started as he looked at the map. "This takes you over Kresten Loch." He looked at Rapunzel who didn't look fazed. "Uh, Kresten Loch? The frozen sea? Miles and miles of deadly wintry expanse?"

"That's the one!" Rapunzel confirmed.

"Well, if it were anybody other than you, I'd be worried," Varian said before he tried to move, but he fell with a yelp.

Aqua quickly looked down at Varian whose boots were glued down.

"Who glued my boots to the ground?" Varian looked at his foot and then at his boots.

"That's for your little balloon prank earlier. Eugene Fitzherbert never forgets!" Eugene smirked as he went to put the glue brush back into the bucket, but it was stuck to his hand.

"You're both dorks," Aqua said with a laughed before she helped Varian up and then helped Eugene get unstuck from the glue brush. "Now go on."

"Alright. See ya, Squirt!" Eugene smiled at her and then hopped into the balloon.

Varian and Aqua waved as they watched the balloon lift off.

"So, what's on the agenda for today?" Aquaria asked Varian and he hummed, slinging an arm around her waist.

"How about we take a nap?" Varian looked at her and she raised an eyebrow.

"You woke up a few hours ago," Aqua said and he hummed.

"Yeah, but I wanna snuggle. Please?" Varian gave her puppy dog eyes and she giggled.

"Then just asked to snuggle. I'm always up for snuggles," Aqua said and Varian pumped his fist in the air.

"Yes!" Varian cheered and he did a little happy dance before going back to Old Corona with Aqua.

🧪

Varian grabbed the blanket from his room and brought it down to the couch.

"I don't see why we couldn't just use this blanket," Aqua said as she patted the blanket on the back of the couch.

"Because this blanket is bigger and warmer," Varian said and Aqua hummed softly as she nodded.

Varian settled down on the couch, lying down comfortably before he started making grabby hands at Aqua. She laughed lightly as she lied down with her head on his chest, her leg bent as it was draped over him, and her hand resting on his chest by her forehead. Varian smiled and rested a hand on her hip while his other hand played with her hair gently.

"I wish we could just stay like this forever," Varian murmured as he looked down at her.

"I would love that. No worries, nobody comparing me to anyone, no princess duties. Just you and me," Aqua said quietly.

"What do you mean nobody comparing you to anyone? What are you talking about?" Varian raised an eyebrow. "Who's comparing you to someone?"

"Well... a lot of Corona... ever since Rapunzel came home it's like I don't exist to the people of Corona, but now everyone in Corona compares me to Rapunzel and I'm now known as Rapunzel's little sister. Before she came home, my life was so clear. I was gonna become queen, we would be together forever, and I would be the ruler my parents wanted me to be..." Aqua closed her eyes as she held onto Varian's shirt gently.

Varian frowned as he gently rubbed her back. He had no idea that she felt this way any it made him feel horrible because he was her boyfriend. He was supposed to pick up on this stuff.

"But now I'm not gonna be queen, which is totally fine! I have you and my family still loves me. That's all I need to be happy, but I just... I feel like I don't have a purpose anymore... I was so excited to become the queen of Corona, but now I'm just Rapunzel's adopted little sister... I'm the fake princess..." Aqua let out sigh.

"You are not a fake princess. You're my princess and it doesn't matter what other people say about you. I love you and I don't ever want you to think for even a moment that you are just Rapunzel's little sister. You are so much more than that. Your destiny is just leading you elsewhere now," Varian said as he looked down at her. "All that matters right now is that I have you in my arms."

Aqua looked up at him and smiled. "What did I do to deserve you?" Aquaria murmured as she gently put a hand on his cheek.

Varian leaned into her touch as a smile pulled at his lips. "I ask myself that all the time."

Aqua moved to kiss him softly and her eyes fluttered closed. Varian kissed her back as he held her close, moving one hand up to the back of her head. He felt so complete whenever she was around. Like nothing else mattered.

Aqua smiled into the kiss as Varian pulled her up closer to him. She giggled lightly before she pulled away for air.

"I love you so much," Varian said softly as he held her like a teddy bear.

"I love you too, Var. You mean so much to me." Aqua caressed Varian's cheek and he smiled bright.

Varian kissed her cheek and Ruddiger jumped up, snuggling on top of Aquaria's back. Aqua giggled a little and rested her head on Varian's chest.

The three snuggled together happily, falling into a peaceful sleep.

💧

"Come on, Varian. You're stronger than that," Aqua teased when she saw him going to pick up a small pumpkin.

"Are you kidding? Have you seen the sticks I call arms?" Varian joked and Aqua laughed.

"With all the heavy metal you lift for some of your machines, you'd think you'd have some muscle," Aqua said with a grin.

"Hey! I do have some muscles!" Varian reached for a pumpkin that was a bit bigger, picking it up with ease.

He took the pumpkin over to the wheelbarrow. He saw his dad working near the wheelbarrow.

"Oh hey, dad," Varian said as he set the pumpkin down in the wheelbarrow with the other pumpkins.

Quirin didn't reply, but just kept working.

Varian hummed softly and watched Aqua put a pumpkin in the wheelbarrow. "Wow, you sure have some muscles for a girl," he quipped.

"Oh, I'll take you down without my powers," Aqua challenged jokingly.

"You used to train with Cassandra so I don't doubt that you could," Varian said with a light laugh.

"Get back to picking pumpkins, freckles," Aqua said as she nudged him with a smile.

"Yes, your majesty." Varian bowed with a playful grin.

"Oh, so we're playing that game now?" Aquaria smirked and she put her hands on her hips. "Fetch me a chair and a cold glass of apple juice."

Varian laughed and kissed her cheek. "Nice try, princess."

"It was worth a shot," Aqua joked with a shrug. "Come on. We've got pumpkins to pick."

"Alright," Varian said before he grabbed a pumpkin.

"Then after we finish pumpkin picking, we can go back to the lab and continue working on your early warning system," Aquaria said.

"Rooster, Aqua. It's called the Rooster," Varian corrected as he put his pumpkin in the wheelbarrow.

"Or we could work on Project: Obsidian," Aqua continued, ignoring his comment as she looked at the ground. She didn't want to make Project: Obsidian work, but she knew that they needed it only as a precautionary measure.

"Hey." Varian put a hand on her shoulder gently. "I know that you hate Project: Obsidian and believe me, I wish we didn't need it, but it is only a last resort."

"I know, but... it's just that Cassandra is our friend. I've known her since she first became a handmaid. She babysat me when my parents were busy. Yeah, she never wanted to play with me, but she was still always there... I don't hate Project: Obsidian. I hate the thought that we may need to use it one day," Aquaria admitted.

"Me too. I don't think anyone wants to hurt Cassandra," Varian said as he wrapped Aqua into a gentle hug.

"Especially Rapunzel," Aqua replied as she wrapped her arms around Varian, resting her head on his chest. "They were definitely the closest of friends."

"Other than you and me," Varian said cheekily before he kissed her head.

"Yeah, but we met as children and you were my only friend." Aqua smiled as she closed her eyes and relaxed.

"And you were my only friend. Not that I'm complaining," Varian quickly clarified which made Aqua laugh a little.

"The other kids had no idea what they were missing," she said softly before she pulled out of his arms. "Now come on. I wanna get into the lab as quick as possible."

"I hear you loud and clear," Varian agreed and they both got back to work.

🧪

A few days later, Varian was working on the different parts for the Rooster when he heard Aquaria sneeze for the gazillionth time.

Aqua blew her nose again and groaned.

"Aqua, why don't you go rest?" Varian frowned as he looked at Aqua.

"I'm fine, Var. I promise. It's probably just allergies," she brushed it off.

"But you've never had seasonal allergies before. Aqua, it's okay to be sick," Varian said but she shook her head.

"I'm not sick, Varian. I don't have a fever or a cough. My nose is just a bit runny. I'm perfectly fine," Aqua assured him and kept working, sniffling every so often.

"If you say so," Varian gave in, not wanting to argue with her.

"Plus, we're setting this up on the palace in two days," Aqua said as she tightened a bolt. "We should be able to finish the parts tonight."

"Yeah, we're almost done which is good." Varian sighed and looked at the sun setting before smiling at Aqua.

"Then we get to have a sleepover!" Aqua smiled before she sneezed again.

"Yep!" Varian passed her another tissue.

"Thanks," she said as she took the tissue from him. She blew her nose and huffed softly.

"I really think that you're getting sick, blue," Varian said with worry.

Aqua shook her head before saying, "I appreciate your concern but I'm not sick."

🧪

"So what were you saying about not being sick?" Varian teased lighgly as he held Aquaria's hair up and rubbed her back while she threw up.

"Sut up, Barian," Aqua muttered, her nose really stuffy which made her sound funny.

"I kept trying to tell you yesterday that you were sick, but you didn't want to listen to me," Varian said and she wiped her mouth before sitting with her arms crossed over her chest.

Aqua started to sniffle and she pulled her legs up to her chest.

"Aqua? Blue, what's wrong?" Varian looked at her with worry.

"I don feew good ad you'we bakig fun of be," Aqua whimpered and Varian frowned.

"I'm sorry." Varian hugged her, knowing that he shouldn't have teased her. "I didn't mean to make you sad."

"I wawdted ta hewp you wif da Woostew..." Aqua sniffed and Varian rubbed her back gently.

"I know, but you need your rest," Varian said to her softly.

"What if I'b bettew tomowow?" Aqua asked Varian with a frown.

"Then you can help, but I don't know how much better you'll be," he said as he rubbed her back gently in a soothing manner.

"Can I at weast watch den?" Aqua pouted as she looked up at him.

Varian sighed, but nodded. "You can watch, but you're not gonna touch anything."

"Can I puwl da wope?" She looked up at him with a bright look on her face.

"Yes, you can pull the rope to reveal the Rooster," Varian compromised.

"Okay," Aqua agreed as she snuggled against his chest happily.

Varian hummed softly and kissed her forehead which was burning up. He picked her up bridal style and she closed her eyes, falling asleep as he took her to his house.

🧪

Varian yelped as he fell off the counter, a big book landing on his chest.

"Oof... ouch..." He groaned as he sat up and shook his head before looking at the book.

Quirin ran in after hearing the loud thud.

"Ugh! Not the right one!" Varian huffed and stood up.

"Are you alright, son?" Quirin asked with concern and Varian looked at his father.

"Yeah, I'm fine. I was trying to get mom's big recipe book from up in the top cupboard," Varian said as he pointed at the book.

His mother rarely cooked, but when she did, it was always really good.

"Why do you need her cookbook?" Quirin asked as he got the book down for his son.

"Aquaria is sick and I want to make the chicken noodle soup that mom always made when one of us wasn't feeling well," Varian said as he took the book and put it on the counter.

"Is Aquaria at the palace?" Quirin thought it was so sweet of Varian to want to cook for Aqua.

"No, she's here. She's asleep in my bed upstairs right now. She was throwing up this morning," Varian told his dad.

"She was throwing up this morning? Are you sure she's sick?" Quirin raised an eyebrow and Varian froze.

"I'm positive, dad. We've never done... that... I'm not ready for that and I know she isn't either." Varian kept looking through the book of recipes.

"I apologize. I just... I worry about the both of you," Quirin admitted as he put a hand on Varian's shoulder gently. "I know that you're not kids anymore, but I still just don't want you growing up so fast. You guys have already been dating for almost two years."

"Well... not exactly... I nearly ruined everything I had with Aquaria..." Varian's grip on the book tightened. "Mom would've been so ashamed..."

"Your mother would be proud of you because you learned from your mistakes and you've grown," Quirin said gently as he pulled Varian into a hug.

"I wish mom was still here..." Varian started to cry and Quirin frowned as he he held his son close.

"I miss her too, Varian... but she will always be with us. Your mother-" Quirin stopped and looked down at his son. "She loved you more than anything."

"I wish those bandits never took her from us... she'll never get to see me get married. She'll never get to meet her grandchildren if I end up having children. She won't get to see everything I've achieved..." Varian held onto his father as he thought about his mom.

Quirin hated that he lied to his son about Rosamund's death. He wasn't ready for Varian to know yet because he knew his son all too well.

He knew that once he told Varian the truth, his son would do anything to find out what really happened.

"Come on. Let's make Aquaria some soup. Your mother wouldn't want you to cry and be so sad." Quirin ruffled Varian's hair gently and Varian nodded.

"You're right," Varian agreed and he wiped his cheeks.

Varian turned back to the book and smiled as he started to think about the good times he had with his mom.

🌟

"It's all your fault, Aquaria!"

Aqua trembled as she clutched the bars of the cell she was locked in.

"No... no, it wasn't my fault! Please..." She looked at Varian who had a look of pure hatred in his eyes.

"Everything was your fault. I will never forgive you," Varian spat and she grabbed his hand through the bars.

"Don't leave me, Varian... please, I'm so sorry. I love you so much and I need you... I'll do anything," Aqua pleaded desperately.

"You made me hate you, Aquaria. I don't want you anymore. I gave you a second chance and you let me down," Varian pushed her away and she fell to her knees.

"I don't want you to hate me... I want you to love me... don't give up on me... I love you so much, Varian. I don't want to love anyone else," Aquaria sobbed as she looked up at Varian.

"Well I want to love someone else. I want to love someone who will do anything to help me when I need her most. Someone I can rely on and someone who is enough to be with me." Varian turned his back to her and started to walk away.

"I'm sorry! Please! You can't leave me! You just can't! I love you! Please stay with me!" Aquaria desperately tried to get out of her cell as Varian left her.

He threw the key on the ground, right out of her reach outside of her cell.

The ground under the key crumbled and soon the floor fell out until Aquaria was also dropped into the void.

🧪

Varian walked into his room and Aquaria was curled up in the bed, sobbing into her knees.

"Aquaria? What's wrong?" Varian quickly rushed over, setting the soup on his nightstand before wrapping Aquaria in his arms.

"J-just a bad dream... I don wanna talk about it..." Aqua said as she gently pushed him away.

"Did I do something wrong?" Varian frowned.

"No, I just don wanna get you sick," Aqua assured and Varian hummed softly.

"I made you some soup," Varian said and Aqua looked over to the bowl on the nightstand.

"Oo! Gimme!" She quickly took the bowl and started to sip some of the broth from the spoon. "Amazig!"

She felt so cold despite being wrapped in blankets. The warm soup seemed to warm her up inside and it sent a shiver down her spine.

"I'm glad you like it." Varian smiled with pride as he watched Aquaria enjoy the soup.

They talked as Aqua ate and she snuggled back down into the bundle of blankets.

"Princess, I know you feel like you're cold, but you are burning up. You're gonna make yourself sicker with all those blankets," Varian said as he took off the blankets from her body, leaving the sheet over top of her form.

"Okay..." Aqua didn't fight it, feeling exhausted again already.

She felt awful and just wanted the feeling to go away.

Varian took care of her dishes and refilled her glass of water that had been on the nightstand after he washed it.

He came back up with the glass of water and set it back down on his nightstand. When he heard Aquaria's labored breaths as she tried to sleep, his heart throbbed.

Aqua shivered as she tried her best to keep warm with only Varian's sheet.

Suddenly, she felt the bed indent and arms wrapped around her waist.

"Barian... I don wan you ta get sick..." Aqua whined, but she didn't fight against him or push him back, mostly because she really just wanted to be held.

"Too bad. I want you to feel better." Varian nuzzled his face into the crook of her neck from behind. He gently laced his fingers with hers, the palm of his hand pressed against the back of her hand.

Aquaria couldn't help but smile and she relaxed in his embrace, enjoying the natural warmth of his body against her own.

She drifted off into a peaceful sleep before Varian ended up doing the same.