Two: Peace and joy

How did they get into the observatory?

The children rubbed their eyes before Sofia spotted Miranda with blurry eyes.

"Mom!" Sofia exclaimed, getting out of bed and ran to her mother's arms.

"Easy Sofia. That goes for Amber and James too. You three had a rough night last night," Miranda muttered, stroking her hair.

"Then why don't we remember it?" Amber asked, reaching for her tiara.

"That's because you three had alcohol in your system," Roland explained, turning to Miranda. "Try explaining that to the royal physician with a straight face. I'm only glad he was able to help with their hungovers."

"That explains the tea you brought Dad," James groaned, putting his hands on his head.

"I feel a little sick Mom," Sofia added before Miranda handed her a bucket and held her hair.

"Why is it hot in here?" Amber whined, waving a fan to her sweating face.

"You're just going through a symptom of being hangover Amber. Your brother has a headache and poor Sofia is vomiting," Roland softly explained, handing her a cup of ginger tea.

"Can we trade?"

"I'm afraid not sweetheart."

Amber groaned, siding under the covers just as Sofia stopped vomiting.

"I know Wassalia ended yesterday but you three weren't well enough to enjoy it so why don't we have a Wassailia party up here?" Miranda suggested.

"Without the tree? Or the candle?" Sofia frowned.

"Not even the treats?" James groaned, taking a sip of his cup of ginger tea.

"We may not have all those things but we have each other and the presents," Roland smiled.

"Presents?" Amber, James, and Sofia grinned despite their current plight.

Miranda gave her husband a playful roll of her eyes before helping Sofia out of bed with James and Amber following suit.

So having Wassalia a day after was a little unusual but it lifted up everyone's spirits.

Especially the children's who spent their afternoon recovering from their first (and hopefully last) hangover.