Shirayuki breathed in deep, readying herself for the explanation.

"Basically, a few days after returning from Tanbarun, I had started not feeling well. I hadn't thought that it could be a residual effect from, what happened between you and me a few days prior, so... I didn't do anything, that is, until one morning when I went in for work. Chief Garak asked me to allow her to examine me. I hadn't thought it wise to go against her so, I allowed it. She ended up telling me that I was pregnant. After some time, Obi showed up, not knowing any of this, and escorted me back to my room. Once I got there, I decided to leave.." Shirayuki explained. She was worried about what Zen would say, but she needed to be strong. To not crumble under pressure.

Zen had no words. He remembered that Obi had come that day, saying that Shirayuki had been acting strange. Thinking it was still just her embarrassment, he had decided to wait till work was done to go see her. If he would have gone then, it's possible none of this would have happened. He couldn't function. He was literally just told that he was a...father.

I'm...a father. That means that Shirayuki didn't have a child with another man.

Zen was looking at the ground, Shirayuki silent. Kiki pulled Mitsuhide with her, and they both left to give the two sometime alone. As Zen looked up, he heard Shirayuki gasped. The last time he had cried was when he learned that Shirayuki left, but it was much worse crying right in front of her.

Shirayuki was conflicted. Should she try to comfort him? Should she not?

"Prince Zen I-"

"Stop. Stop calling me prince. I said you never had to. Please, Shirayuki, tell me why of all things you thought you had to leave." Zen pleaded. He sounded so pathetic.

"Well, how would it have looked for you? 2nd prince of Clarines kingdom not even married, yet with a child of a commoner. I left because I would have shamed you for your entire life. You might not have cared, but I don't think you should have to sacrifice your social status just for me." Shirayuki replied.

"My status? That's what you cared about? So you're saying I'm nothing without my title? And? Did you ever think about what...Akamori...would have said when you told her she is, as of this moment, the only heir to the Clarines kingdom throne?" Zen demanded.

This is going downhill fast. I need to stop yelling at her, but I can't. I understand why she left, but it still hurts so much.

"Look, I don't think you've noticed but," Shirayuki was getting that look in her eye. She was probably going to start yelling at him now. Great, today couldn't have gotten any worse right? "Akamori doesn't know anything about you. She asked me once who you were and I told her that it was someone I love very much. You may feel hurt at the fact that I left for the sake of your title, but it was hard. Every time I had the wondrous feeling that a piece of you and I was right there in my arms, It crushed me. I was so thankful that my father and the lions welcomed me, Dad is the only one who knows she's your child."

Shirayuki stood, taking the cups with her over to her sink. She began quietly cleaning them. It was calming to her.

What am I going to do? Zen Isn't going to just go without doing anything. At the very least he's going to want me to come back with Akamori.

"So you didn't tell her a single thing about me? Why?" Zen was leaning against the wall, watching the apple clean.

"She's only 7 you know. I thought that if I told her who you were, she might accidentally tell someone and gain even more unwanted attention as the child of a prince."

More unwanted attention? What could that be from?

"Why would she have unwanted attention? Does she have your hair or something?" Zen questioned.

"Well, with my red hair, I gained much unwanted attention. Did you think she was any different? She gains more attention than I do or did either way. She practically lives in that hood of hers." She replied.

Just as Zen was about to answer, the door opened and running in came Akamori. She ran right into Shirayuki's arms.

"What are you doing here? I thought you were with your grandfather?" Shirayuki asked her daughter.

"Grandpa had something he had to do so I came back here to you. Is that bad?" Akamori asked.

When Akamori had run into the house, her hood had come off. Zen, in that moment, understood what Shirayuki had meant about unwanted attention. Akamori's hair was short, just coming to her shoulders. It was white with red strips and streaks. Her hair was like a winter day, ruined by a bloody massacre. The attention now made sense.

Shirayuki noticed Zen's realization and turned back to her daughter. Before she spoke, she also noticed Akamori with a strange sense of fascination as she looked at Zen.

"Why don't you go up to your room while this gentleman and i have a talk, sound good?"

Akamori nodded and dashed up the stairs. Shirayuki went back to the couch, with Zen following.

"So, where do you want to go from here?" Shirayuki asked.

"I...I would like if you came back to Clarines with me, but I would never force you. Or Akamori. However, I would request that she know who I am. I would also like to give her the option of staying here or coming back with me." Zen explained. He was worried about what Akamori was going to say. And more so about what Shirayuki would say.

"I...I suppose that should be mostly okay. I'll go get her." Shirayuki stood and ascended the stairs, disappearing around the corner. Zen took the chance to look around some more, but almost instantly, they were walking back down. Akamori in tow behind Shirayuki, the sight was glorious. Zen felt such sadness that he hadn't seen his own child grow up.

Akamori pulled her mother over to the seat, sitting directly next to her.

"Akamori, I...we have something to tell you." Shirayuki began. "This man here, is Zen Wisteria, 2nd prince of the neighboring kingdom, Clarines."

Shirayuki waited for an understanding glint in her daughter's eyes. She had learned over the years that her daughter may have been able to hide her feelings from her expression, but those eyes always sang true. A lot like a certain prince she knew too.

"Ok." was all Akamori replied with. She seemed not too surprised.

"He...Is also...your...um" Shirayuki couldn't get the word out. This was harder than it seemed. "F-Father."

It was a dead silence. Something like pride shone in Zen's eyes. His apple had gotten a little better over the years with talking, but he was also looking for Akamori's emotions. Yet she showed nothing.

"I already know, Mommy." Akamori spoke softly and gently. Both the parents were surprised with this statement.

" How...I never said a word, how did you figure it out?" Shirayuki questioned.

"The way mommy looks at him. It's the same look you had when I had asked about him." For once, Akamori turned to Zen. She looked nervous but a spark slid through her eyes. A spark of joy.

The next 5 second were both the most joyous and the most pained moments of Zen's life.

"Daddy!" Akamori cried, tears bursting from her eyes as she leapt up, and ran into his arms. She grasped onto his clothes, crying into his chest. The sight nearly brought Zen to tears.

"Akamori..." Zen wrapped his own arms around his daughter. She was so small, and Zen was just so happy to be able to hold her.

"Akamori...with your mother's permission, I would like to ask if you want to come live at the castle with me. You don't have to if you don't want to." Zen said.

"Could I...have till morning to decided?" she asked. Zen nodded, and looked out the window. Wow it was late, as he saw the sun setting.

Akamori got up, and she left. For the next few hours, everyone, including Mitsuhide and Kiki, just talked. It was almost like the old days too. Shirayuki had gotten them all rooms, and at the moment, she was just enjoying the look of the moon.

"May we talk?" Zen came out of the shadows with his question. He startled Shirayuki, but she nodded.