Santana watched as her daughter toddled around the palace, attempting to chase after her cousin. Her nursemaid was close by to make sure she didn't fall. She couldn't believe it had been over a year since her daughter was born. It was true that her daughter had plenty of maids who helped her raise her child, but they weren't a substitute for her father. And she was worried that Isabel would grow up without him in her life.

It was difficult with Charlie off on his military campaigns, and she couldn't believe how much she missed him. Simply getting to sleep without his presence had been difficult. It was the longest they'd been apart since they'd been married. Their daughter was getting so big, he had missed her first wobbly steps, Isabel had learned to run before she could even walk properly. The Empire was big enough as far as she was concerned, and the idea that Charlie was off risking his life conquering new lands that Lucas would rule over was no longer sitting well with her. Charlie was mortal, and she had to wonder what he would leave his daughter if he passed.

It didn't help that Russel was more than aware that Charlie didn't wish to be king or emperor, he wanted to retire to his palace and raise horses. She wasn't going to be the simple wife of a farmer, Charlie would make a fine king.

"It gets easier."

Santana looked at Rachel who smiled at her, "Them leaving for months at a time? Or seeing how fast they're growing?"

"Both? I imagine it'll get easier to know that our children can now get into trouble if we take our eyes off them for a moment. But the idea that they're gone, it gets easier."

"You're not worried?"

"About his safety? I worry about his safety everyday, I pray to the gods that he will be okay, that they will protect him. But Lucas always comes home, just like Charlie does," Rachel insists.

Santana was quiet for a moment, "There has been some activity in both the Eastern and Western region, rebellions have been sprouting up. The taxes could be put to better use, I believe that the Motta's are behind this, or at least funnelling money. The taxes are becoming punitive."

Rachel frowned, "Where did you hear that?"

"I attend the daily meetings with the Emperor's counsel," Santana said with a shrug. Charlie loathed attending, but she was interested in the state of affairs. She didn't need something as impractical as faith, she needed to know. She was going to push Charlie to make suggestions about how they were going to improve their citizen's life, instead of spending the taxes on an never-ending war. "It's something to do, and you do know how Charlie hates going," she says after a moment when Rachel gives her a look.

"Well I—" Rachel begins only to jump when there was a loud bang followed by the sound of Isabel crying. She turns quickly to the children as Isabel toddled over to her mother and blinked at the considerably hairy man who had slammed into the far wall. "Guards—Charlie?"

Charlie grimaces as he smacks the flames in his scraggly beard and looks absolutely horrified, "Isabel it's daddy," it comes out as a whine but he hadn't meant to scare his daughter. He had just hurried as fast as he could back to his family.

Santana picked up her daughter in mild surprise, she had felt the change in heat for just a moment, but she hadn't seen it. She flicks a look at her husband, no wonder Isabel had felt threatened, he looked awful and he smelled like he had spent the past three days riding. She soothes her daughter gently rubbing her back as she hiccups and cries and sends a death glare at her husband. "Bathe. Cut your hair, and that beard and then you can see your daughter."

Charlie scowled at his wife, "Santana, my daughter—"

"Is terrified of you because you look like a barbarian. How did you even get into the palace without your mother knowing?"

"Through the window?" Charlie responded with a shrug.

"You broke in?" Santana blinks, she shouldn't be surprised.

"No. I just took a route my mother wouldn't expect to make sure I got to see my beautiful daughter and my beautiful wife. It's been so long," Charlie said taking a step towards Santana.

"You smell," Santana informs him bluntly taking a step back. "And I do not find this barbarian look attractive. Your daughter agrees with me, find us when you look presentable."

"Santana!"

"Whining is unbecoming of a prince," Santana sniffed, keeping the amused smile off her face. He hadn't changed one bit. He sulks, before walking off to do as he was told and she relaxes. "Daddy's back," she mumbled to her daughter kissing her forehead.

~O~

It's after dinner before he finally makes his presence known to her, and she's already put Isabel to bed. She doesn't need to look up from the report she's reading. "You're a stranger to our daughter, I imagine it'll take some time for her to remember that you're her father. The same thing happened to Lucas, and I'm certain that it'll happen again once he arrives."

Charlie made a face, "She's my daughter—"

"You've been off conquering the world, while ignoring the lands you've already conquered. Motta is financing a rebellion, it's quite possible that there will be no rest for you and your brother this winter. Your father might finally push you to finish him." Santana glanced up once she feels the bed shift and looks to see her husband shuffling on the bed to get closer to her. She waits for a moment before smacking him in the face with the report. "I'm busy."

"You're busy?" Charlie said incredulously. "I honored our vows and now I have needs and—Isabel could use a—" He gets smacked in the face again and he groans before flopping onto the bed beside Santana. "Maybe you could use your hand?"

"No."

"Fine I'll use mine," Charlie says in response. He feels childish.

At this Santana finally gives him the attention he's seeking turning to face him. He brightens and she knows she has his complete attention, even if he is hoping to have sex with her. She had missed him, but there was clearly a chasm between them. "Charlie. You're going to be gone again, to put down a rebellion and by the time you come back it'll be time to go on another campaign, is this how you wish to spend our daughter's youth? She doesn't know who you are anymore, I don't know who you are anymore."

Charlie frowned and rubbed his jaw slowly, "When did she start doing what she did earlier? I thought it would be something you would send to me, in the letters."

"I didn't see what she did."

"She blew me back, with fire and wind!" Charlie frowned. "Where is the lightning?"

Santana smiled it was completely Charlie, "You scared her."

"She's my daughter we do not know fear—Santana!" Charlie yelped when Santana reached forward and poked him hard in the side.

"I'm glad you arrived in time to see her first use of her abilities." Santana said after a moment. "You've missed her first words, her first steps—what else will you miss?"

"If I continue to go? I do not have a choice, I serve at the pleasure of my father. If it is his will, then I must go," Charlie frowned. "I missed you. I missed our daughter, you think it doesn't pain me? To know that I've missed so much."

Santana rested her head against his, and finally chose to give in to what she was feeling. She had missed him just as much. She straddles his waist but stops him from immediately proceeding forward. "You must attend your father's counsel and advise him that perhaps the time for conquest has ended. That we should invest in the people." She licks her lips, she'd given this a lot of thought but Charlie's resistance was something she was worried about. "I want to be Queen—a queen. Rachel and Lucas show no interest in making things better, and I know you care for the people. I know being the emperor isn't something you want but I know you'll make a fine emperor. I have faith in you."

"I go away for a few months and you wish for a coup?"

"No, I don't want to be queen right now, your father wants to divide the kingdom for the two of you. But you've shown little interest in ruling, it's why he's favored Lucas more," Santana let go of his hands. He was upset, she could see it in his eyes.

"Why are you insisting that I tell my father this? It's your idea," Charlie said after a moment.

Santana frowned, she'd made a few suggestions but the men had simply ignored her. They hadn't heard her. "You are his son."

"His idiot son, and I'm perfectly fine with that. You will tell him what you have planned and I will back you. I doubt I'll have nearly the passion for this as you have. Plus, I imagine it'll make Lucas look bad, which is always a bonus as far as I'm concerned." Charlie reaches for Santana's cheek, and gently strokes it with his thumb. "If you wish to rule, then I will make it happen, but you will be the one ruling."

"I don't—"

"I'm not nearly intelligent to have come up with what I imagine are excellent ideas Santana, if I am to become a king for you, then you will be the one to rule. You will be the one coming up with the laws, the taxes, I'll raise my horses and the children and go to war if it calls for that."

Santana blinks and smiles, "You'll raise Isabel? She thinks you're a big hairy monster."

Charlie huffs at this, but he smiles when Santana leans in to kiss him, he had missed this.