"Are you sure you don't need to sit down?"

Trying not to chuckle, Mickey smiled at Minnie as they moved down the garden path. Despite her continuing encouragement, her arm was tucked securely in his and she hadn't taken her anxious eyes off him once.

"I'm fine, Minnie. The doctor said it wouldn't be a problem if we took it slow, n' we took it slow."

She sighed and leaned her head against Mickey's shoulder. The warmth seemed to spread all through him, and he lifted his free hand to caress hers. A lingering twinge of guilt came to him… he knew Minnie missed her home, but she was still too concerned about him to leave.

"You know I'm glad you're here, Minnie," he said softly. "But are ya sure you don't want to go home now? I know you've been wanting to see your dad, n' I don't wanna hold ya here."

Minnie turned her head to look up at him, and for a second Mickey worried that he'd sounded ungrateful. But she just smiled and gently rubbed his arm.

"You're not, really. I do want to see Father, but I want to be with you too."

Those words made Mickey's heart beat so fast it almost jumped into his throat.

"Gosh…"

She giggled at his response and leaned her head against his shoulder again.

"So no worrying about me, all right?"

Mickey chuckled sheepishly, then took a deep breath and sighed. After over a week stuck in his chambers, it felt great to step outside.

"Boy, feels like forever since I got some fresh air."

He heard Minnie giggle as she squeezed his arm.

"You make it sound like a prison sentence."

Mickey chuckled drily.

"Might as well be." He squinted and began speaking in a dry voice, pushing up imaginary glasses. "I must insist, Your Highness. Movement at this point is highly unadvisable."

Minnie burst out laughing, making him laugh too. A sharp ache in his side forced him to stop with a grunt, and Minnie gasped. Mickey took a deep breath and squeezed her hand.

"It's okay, I'm fine."

Minnie tightened her hold on his arm, still watching him with concern.

"Are you sure? Maybe we should go back inside…"

Mickey gave her a reassuring smile.

"Minnie, I'm okay. Some pain's normal, remember?"

A little of the unease on her face faded, but she tugged his arm and guided him to a nearby bench.

"Here, you should at least sit."

Mickey sighed and did so. Even if it was a pick up to have Minnie here, he couldn't help feeling a bit down at his condition from time to time. A hand on his made him look up; Minnie had sat down beside him and was looking at him in concern.

"What's wrong?"

For a moment Mickey considered shrugging it off, but the earnestness in Minnie's eyes quickly made that impossible. He sighed again and took her hand.

"It's nothin', really. I just… can't get used to bein' like this. Sittin' around all day, not goin' anywhere without having t' rest. Just not bein' able t' do anything."

As soon as the words were out of his mouth, he realized that what he was complaining about was pretty darn close to what Minnie had gone through for months.

"Oh… gosh, Minnie, I'm really sorry. That… that was kinda insensitive."

He glanced away, but looked back when Minnie gave his hand a gentle squeeze.

"It wasn't insensitive at all. Nobody can expect you not to feel like that, especially after what happened to you."

Mickey looked down, uncertain, but Minnie's warm hand on his cheek drew his eyes back to her.

"And I know you feel like that because you want to be there for the people you love."

Mickey felt his cheeks heat a little, but her tender gaze and sincere voice seemed to make all his insecurities melt away.

"Gosh…"

The sound of footsteps interrupted, drawing their attention to the path.

"Mornin', Goof," Mickey said, smiling. Goofy smiled back, tipping his hat.

"G' morning. Hope I'm not disturbin' but I got a letter here."

To Minnie's surprise, he held it out toward her.

"For me? Who would…"

As she took it, her words broke off at the sight of the seal. Mickey sat up straighter in his chair, trying to get a look.

"Minnie? Are you okay?"

Minnie opened and closed her mouth a few times, then looked up with wide eyes.

"It… it's from Father."

Mickey raised his eyebrows in surprise, then smiled; it was barely a few weeks since Daisy left with Minnie's letter. For a reply to come this soon, King Marcus must have replied almost as soon as he got it.

"Guess he was real glad t' hear from ya." He shifted on his seat. "Want me to give ya some space?"

Minnie immediately looked up and shook her head. Mickey could see concern behind her smile.

"No, it's okay. You just stay there."

"Umm… what 'bout me?"

Both mice looked up and chuckled when they saw Goofy awkwardly shifting from one foot to the other. Minnie smiled at him.

"It's okay, you don't have to leave if you're not busy."

Mickey watched as she broke the seal on the letter and started to read, her eyes moving slowly across the page. Suddenly they went wide, and Mickey straightened up in concern.

"Minnie? You all right?"

His concern grew when she didn't answer, continuing to stare at the letter with a stunned expression. Mickey glanced at Goofy, who looked equally worried. He was about to stand when Minnie looked up at them.

"Father is… he wants to come here."

Mickey's ears twitched in surprise and he stood from the bench, ignoring the resulting ache.

"Really?"

Minnie handed him the letter, and he felt her hand on his arm as he read through it.

"Whut's it say?" Goofy asked, cocking his head curiously. Mickey looked up, but Minnie had already started to explain.

"Finalizing the treaty was delayed again, and since he's well enough now Father was considering coming here for it, once Mickey's up to it."

Mickey lowered the letter and reached out to squeeze her hand, smiling.

"N' it looks like the decision's made now that you're here."

Goofy scratched his head.

"Gawrsh, nobody's heard anything 'bout it."

"Ya probably will pretty soon," Mickey replied with a grin. "It's just not final yet."

As Goofy chuckled, Mickey looked over at Minnie and his smile faltered at her quiet, uncertain demeanor.

"Minnie?"

She blinked and looked at him, as if she'd forgotten others were there.

"Oh, I-I'm sorry… I just…"

Thoroughly concerned now, Mickey placed his hands on her shoulders.

"Are ya okay? If you're not ready yet…"

Minnie quickly shook her head.

"Oh, no, it's not that, I just..."

She lowered her eyes, shifting on her feet.

"It's just, since I left, I've wondered why he wanted to send me away. Now that I'll have the chance to ask, for some reason… I'm afraid."

Mickey felt his heart ache as he looked at her; even though she loved her father, he knew being sent from home had hurt and confused her. To be honest, he couldn't understand it himself. He had only met King Marcus in person once, and other than that he just had letters to go on. But even so, he hadn't seemed like the kind of person who would be that intolerant. Mickey took a deep breath and sighed.

"Minnie," he said softly. She looked up at him and he smiled. "I can't tell ya the reasons behind that, but I can tell ya what I do know."

"The thing that made him decide t' come wasn't some political thing, it was 'cause you're here. And he misses ya a lot, I can tell just from reading this."

He rubbed her shoulders gently.

"And if Dad trusted him, I know he's a good guy."

Minnie glanced down at her feet for a moment, then nodded.

"I know…" To Mickey's slight surprise, she suddenly hugged him.

"I think I just needed to hear that. Thank you."

Mickey found it easy to ignore Goofy's chuckles as he returned Minnie's embrace. All that mattered to him was that she felt better.

The sound of happy barking drew everyone's attention, and Pluto came romping down the path with a grinning Oswald following. Both Mickey and Minnie laughed as the dog trotted up to them, tail wagging.

"Hey there, pal!" Mickey said as he scratched Pluto's ears. "You out for a walk too?"

Oswald's grin widened as he walked up to join them.

"Oh sure, now he's happy. Every time I take him out, all he does is mope."

"Aw, lil' fella was just worried is all," Goofy replied, patting the dog's head. "You were pretty down too, 'member."

Oswald's face went a little red, but then he shrugged.

"Okay, so I was."

Minnie stifled a giggle and smiled as Mickey and Goofy laughed. During her time here, she'd seen just how unique the three's friendship was. They were different in many ways, especially by birth, but it didn't matter to any of them.

Just then, something she hadn't thought of before came to her: if her father came, then odds were so would her stepmother. She rubbed her arms, trying to ease the surge of unease filling her. Mickey's hand rested on her shoulder, and she looked up to meet his warm, reassuring gaze.

"Hey, don't worry, okay? Whatever happens, I'll be here."

"And us too," Oswald said with a smile as Goofy nodded.

Looking between them, Minnie felt her anxiety start to fade. But at the same time, she thought she could see some on Mickey's face too. Her brow creased a little in thought; considering that the alliance was all but finalized, she couldn't help wondering what he had to be nervous about.