A/N: So, the document I have saved for 'Lost' (the 1st story) will be deleted in 3 days due to inactivity. Wow, this has come a long ways since then. (to be clear, the posted story won't be deleted...just the document on my own account I uploaded from).

Aubrey: I guess problems just have to make themselves known as they come :P

Saberin: Maybe in the author's notes I start doing Did You Knows...Did you know that, like Gabby, Ace was originally supposed to just make a few appearances when people got hurt and not much else?

Raider. It's okay. My updates are going to lag in comparison to my usual times until I can finish getting stuff set up.

Disclaimer: I'm not John Flanagan.

Scout sat uncomfortably on Swift between Daniel and Warden. Kelly hadn't been allowed to come on this particular venture. With Gwen posing as Scout the maid would pose as a lady-in-waiting. Daniel and Warden didn't like each other. That was clear. What was even clearer, they fought for her attention. Scout hated being tugged. She deeply valued each friendship. Warden was one of the few people it was safe to be close to in Hibernia and Daniel…well, Daniel was Daniel. Daniel was the older boy who grew up next door and made her feel safe. And now became something more…

Shut it, Scout told herself mentally. He's too old and not interested.

Warden however…

He's your guard. Don't do anything stupid with the man who protects your life.

Scout sighed as they boarded the boat on horseback. It was a Hibernian passenger ship. Traveling on passenger ships was rare for Scout. Usually she had to get somewhere fast and therefore took either a Skandian wolfship or trade vessel that could be hired within a moment's notice. This time they were lucky enough to get aboard an actual passenger ship, one built for comfort as it sailed on various voyages. Scout traveled under the guise Lady Sarah who was going to meet her merchant father in Araluen. Warden and Daniel posed as employees of her father's, hired to watch over her on her journey.

Stable boys took their horses and porters led them to the rooms they'd rented. Scout was a little apprehensive about Daniel and Warden sharing a room but there wasn't a choice. A merchant wouldn't provide his employees with separate bedrooms on an expensive passenger ship and they didn't need any clever porters connecting dots. Scout set her pack down and then hurried over to their cabin before they could kill each other.

"Scout," Daniel said with a nod as she entered. Warden's face reddened.

"Lady Sarah," her guard corrected him. "Surely a Ranger knows how to keep appearances."

"We don't have to pretend behind closed doors," Daniel rolled his eyes. Scout physically stepped between them. She didn't think they'd start swinging because of the dispute but still she felt it was needed.

"Maybe I should just be Lady Sarah for this trip," she told Daniel gently. It wasn't that she wanted to take Warden's side…it was something her parents taught her. If one was in disguise than that person should stay in disguise no matter what. She didn't get a chance to explain her decision was based on past lessons, though. Daniel and Warden were already glaring daggers at each other.

"Whatever you say, Lady Sarah," Daniel muttered. Scout opened her mouth to say something comforting but caught Warden's smug look in the corner of her vision. She snapped her mouth shut. They were a lost cause.


Caitlyn held Elizabet's hand as they walked with Pauline to the medical wing. She felt somewhat surprised to see Jenny there with her sons, David and Dalby. Kane lay in his bed propped up by several pillows. Gabby sat on the edge of the bed and he rested his hand on her leg. Pauline rushed over and hugged him tightly. He grimaced with pain but returned the embrace. "I missed you too, Mother."

Horace stood nearby with his arms around Cassandra. Caitlyn noticed the queen had been crying recently. Rosalina must have too because she stood silently with Carissa Treaty near a window. William stood with a grim look on his face with his arm around Anamaria. Ace whispered with other healer apprentices in the back corner.

Elizabet ran to her mother's room and let herself in. Talia was in there holding Russ. As everything swirled around her, Caitlyn focused on Cassandra. The queen had been like extended family since she was little. The entire royal family was practically an extension of her own. Caitlyn's mother and the queen shared something nobody but those who knew about the past could fully recognize. Caitlyn wished she knew more about those times hardly anyone ever talked about. Only the oldest of her cousins had been told…and Scout. Caitlyn used to wonder quietly about all that had happened in the past. Those who knew rarely talked about it…or at least they didn't talk about it in front of the younger generation.

Caitlyn had seen her older sister's frustration with this fact. She wasn't there when Scout finally found out what their parents had truly done but knew what had come from it. Scout ran off out of anger and then she and their Hibernian cousins were captured and taken to Nihon-Ja as captives. Caitlyn was a naturally curious person but she also got her mother's patience. She could wait until the answer came to her rather than seeking it out the way Scout had. Caitlyn wasn't overly worried with what had happened long before she was born anyway. Her parents were strong warriors who seemed to always know exactly what to do. That was enough for her.

"Lord Duncan has passed on," Master Jonathan told them silently. "I just finished officiating it."

Caitlyn took a deep breath and glanced around. No wonder the royal family was so gloomy.

"The Rangers will need to be notified," William said after a long pause.

"We already sent a Battalion lady to tell them," William's father said evenly. "And we also sent a messenger to collect your mother, Caitlyn. The funeral will be in three days."

"Will foreign dignitaries not be given time to arrive?" Caitlyn piped up. Horace shook his head.

"He's not king anymore and the sooner the better," Horace replied gently.

"But Scout…"

"Sorry, Caitlyn," Ace said as he stepped over closer to her. Caitlyn clamped her mouth shut.


Ace went about his business the day after Duncan passed away. He knew nobody would blame him if he took some time off work but couldn't bring himself to do it. If he took time off he'd have to be with his family and as much he grieved his grandfather he hated being around mourners. He just always felt so…depressed around them. No, the younger Araluen prince preferred to keep working and let some good come out of his meticulous need to stay busy.

As he leaned over the washing station scrubbing sand against the instruments he felt someone bump him harshly from behind.

"Sorry."

"It's alright," Ace shrugged without turning around. He felt a hand on his arm.

"Ace?"

Great…Gabby. Ace kept washing. "Do you need something, Gabby?"

"No. I'm just getting some clean linens for the Hibernian queen's bed. Why are you working today? I thought you'd be with your family."

Ace took a deep breath. "I guess I should be."

"I know you don't like being around mourners but…this is your family, Ace."

Ace stopped working. He turned so he could face Gabby. "I don't want to sit around moping and talking about how good my grandfather was, alright? I want to work. They won't miss me anyway. I'm not the crown prince."

"That's what this is about?"

Ace sighed heavily. Gabby dropped her hand away from his arm and gripped her cane. Ace wiped his hands on a towel. "You know I don't care about being king."

"I do."

"I'm just different than my family, alright Gabby? My dad and William are both great warriors. My mother's stubborn but still she's an amazing leader. Rosalina's so beautiful people come from all over trying to court her…and then there's me. I'm not a warrior, Gabby. I'm not good at politics. I'm not attracted to those girls in court who only know how to dance and bat their eyes."

"No," Gabby told him. "You're not. You're a healer."

"Healers don't make good princes. I've always been different than them."

"You have."

"Right now they're having condolences paid and reminiscing. I don't belong there. I'm just too…too…"

"Different than them."

"Exactly." Ace walked over to the supplies closet and retrieved linens. "I can't just sit around talking about what used to be. I just can't. I have to be doing something or I'll go mad."

"Because you're a healer."

"Yes. I'm a healer, not a warrior or political leader or a vain figurehead."

He put the stack of linens in Gabby's open arms. She tucked them beneath one arm and traced his arm up to his cheek. She pressed her warm palm against it and ran her thumb over his forehead, smoothing out the lines that had creased as his rant built. "You don't have to explain what being different is like to a blind physician's assistant."

Ace suddenly felt terrible. He took Gabby's hand away from his face. "Gabby, I…I'm…"

"I understand, Ace. I always do." She shifted the linens in her arm and got her cane in her free hand. "If you need a break just let me know. I'll cover for you."

"Thanks, Gabby. You're great, you know."

Gabby allowed a small grin. "So I'm told."

Ace couldn't help chuckling at the slight humor. He guided her towards the hallway with private rooms though she didn't need him to. "You think Queen Kineta's going to make it to term?"

Gabby shrugged. "I don't know but she's got the desire now. That will make a big difference."

Ace dropped his hand from her arm and went back to the washing station. Gabby tapped her cane and slowly navigated the sea of apprentices, assistants, servants, and healers. All the beds needed to be changed today and with so many patients it was no small task. She made her way to Private Room 3 and opened the door. A set of small hands immediately took her wrist and yanked her forward. Gabby quickly caught herself and giggled.

"Good morning, Elizabet."

The girl's arms wrapped around her waist for a brief second before claiming all the linens under her arm.

"I think she wants to help change the sheets," Kineta's voice said with a hint of cheerfulness.

"Well I'll let her," Gabby laughed. "Do you need help getting into the chair?"

"No. I'm already in it."

Gabby felt Elizabet's shoulder brush her fingertips as she went away from her. "Can you switch linens all by yourself, Elizabet?"

"She's nodding," Kineta translated. Gabby made her way to the queen's side and listened carefully as Elizabet worked.

"How are you feeling this morning?" Gabby asked.

"Better. Elizabet arrived before the sun was even up to make sure the baby was still there."

"She knows it's a baby then?"

"Yes. She's clever. She's realized I've been getting bigger like Talia did."

Gabby rested her hand on Kineta's shoulder. "Don't worry. You've got the best midwife in Araluen tending you."

"Well I've had the best of Hibernia before…"

"According to King Horace Araluen's got better everything."

Kineta laughed. "I hope he's right this time. Just this one though."

Gabby squeezed her shoulder. "Don't worry. We do."

"I think Elizabet's finished. She wants to know where to put the dirty ones."

"Basket by the door," Gabby answered.

"She's fond of you."

Gabby felt Elizabet's small hands grasp hers. Gabby moved the child's hands to one of hers and stroked her hair. "Let's see if I remember how old you are…twelve?"

"Eight," Kineta corrected. "She had a birthday in Nihon-Ja." Gabby could hear the queen's smile clearly.

"My little niece is ten," Gabby told Elizabet. "Her name is Clara. I'd bet you'd get along with her. Maybe one day I can take you to play with her. Does that sound like fun to you?"

"You don't mind?" Kineta asked. Gabby shook her head.

"Clara's very energetic and there aren't many playmates for her where we live. What do you say, Elizabet? Would you like to come home with me and meet Clara at lunchtime?"

Kineta laughed. "She's nodding."

"Great. Now let's get you back into bed, Your Grace. You need to rest up."