After they started moving down the road again Walter began working with Ralph on his school work. This time Ralph settled down as he felt his parents were telling him the truth about not going to Lancaster to get rid of him. He still occasionally looked at Walter and asked for a hug.

Walter smiled each time and hugged him as tightly as he could without breaking anything and then he would toss him up into the air and catch him several times before putting him back on the buckboard to resume his school work.

Happy kept teasing Toby about it, "Looks like the great teacher got through to him huh?"

Toby grumbled each time. He grumbled a bit more when Alicia noticed Walter was tossing Ralph up in the air and catching him. Each time she saw him do it she squealed in delight as she asked for Toby to do it to her.

Happy enjoyed every minute of it. And it only took five slaps to the back of Toby's head to stop the grumbling.

Lady Paige had Sara make sandwiches for lunch as they rode so they could just keep riding. She wanted to make it to the border outpost to turn the wagon and goods over to her people there before going on to the lake to camp.

Sister Ann was a bit sad to leave the company as she had enjoyed socializing with everyone. The outpost master took charge of the wagon and goods. Alicia was upset she wouldn't be riding in the wagon with both of her parents. But she settled down after they reached the lake and they began setting up their camp.

Things moved a lot quicker without the extra six horses to care for and Walter dismissed Ralph to start his homework instead of having to help care for any of the other horses.

Happy walked over and whispered quietly to Walter. "Every time you play with Ralph tossing him up in the air Alicia is making Toby do the same to her."

Walter laughed lightly. "I'll try to moderate that in the future."

Happy grinned. "Hell no, I want you to do it more if you will. Toby doesn't do enough physical activity as it is. It's good for him."

Walter grinned. "I'll see what I can do."

Walter walked over to where Paige was putting up one of the tents after taking care of his mare and her charger. "Would my Lady be interested in a hug?"

Paige looked up and grinned before she stood up. "From you, anytime," she reached around Walter's shoulders as they embraced. They kissed tenderly a few times. "How is Ralph now?"

Walter smiled as he looked over and saw him working on his homework. "A lot better, I think he has finally accepted we are telling him the truth about not going to leave him in an orphanage."

Paige nodded. "It nearly killed me when he said that was what he thought we were doing. Of course I don't know how much better the truth is really going to be. To find out your grandfather is some evil necromancer and has stolen your father's body."

Walter slowly nodded. "I agree. We might need to spend several days here to help him through it."

Paige nodded. "There is wisdom in your words. Plus the time here away from other distractions can help us bond more as a family."

Walter grinned before helping Paige to finish setting up the tents.

Sara had picked up some fresh deer steaks from the outpost and was in the process of fixing them for dinner when Ralph ran over to Walter.

He smiled proudly as he held out his homework. "I'm done Dad, if you are ready to grade them."

Walter looked up from where he was soaking his feet at the edge of the lake with Paige. He smiled as he reached up like he was taking the papers and then his hand shot past the papers and grabbed the front of Ralph's tunic and pulled him quickly up and over his head to land on his thighs.

Ralph laughed from the sudden somersault like movement tickling his stomach and Walter began tickling him causing Ralph to squeal in laughter.

Paige laughed as she grabbed the papers so they didn't fall into the water.

Walter finally stopped tickling him and just hugged him for a few moments. "Your Mother and I would like to spend a few days here at the lake with you. Are you agreeable to that?"

Ralph looked back in surprise at Walter and then over to his Mom and she smiled and nodded. Ralph turned and threw an arm around both of their necks and hugged them.

The small family sat together beside the lake just enjoying each other's presence until Sara rang the small bell letting everyone know that supper was ready.

After eating Walter pulled Ralph's homework over and began going over it as Paige removed her armor and began examining it for anything that needed to be addressed or cleaned. Walter smiled at Ralph as he finished. "You did really well Ralph, I expected you to get a couple of things wrong in the subjects we double covered to try and catch up but you got everything correct again."

Walter reached out and poked Ralph's nose while he smiled.

Ralph grinned and ran over to tell his Mom.

Alicia finished her pudding and Walter looked at her and curled his finger towards himself and Alicia smiled and got off her chair and walked over. Walter picked her up and put her over his ankle and began kicking his leg up and down as Alicia began shrieking in joy.

Happy grinned as she watched. She looked over and glared at Toby as he groaned. She leaned over towards him. "You know I'm beginning to think you regret we had a child."

Toby looked shocked at her. "Never, I love our little girl. Just sometimes the physical things are a bit much on me."

Happy huffed. "Then maybe you should start exercising with Walter."

Toby looked at her as his eyes narrowed. "That's what this is about. You're conspiring against me."

"Hey, you're the Dr, so you tell me. If one of your patients came to you exactly as you are right now what would be something you would recommend for them to be healthier?" Happy looked back over from Alicia to him.

Toby huffed. "It is very rude of you to use my medical training against me."

"And it is very rude of you not to do everything to ensure you are healthy as long as possible." Happy eyed him.

Toby finally surrendered. "Fine, I'll talk with Walter and see about doing some of his exercise routine."

Happy smiled and leaned in close and kissed him. "Thank you."

After their extended convalescence Lady Paige declared that she would stand the mid watch with Walter so everyone else could relax a bit more. After two nights of just sleeping together the newlyweds decided it was time to make up some of their lost time.

Happy and Toby looked across the camp site and smiled at the sounds they heard from their tent.

Ralph woke up early the next morning and found Sara just getting prepared to start breakfast. He looked around and frowned.

Cabe looked at him with a smile on his face. "And just what is it that has you frowning so early?"

Ralph sighed. "I was hoping Mom and Dad were up. They promised to tell me about why were going to Lancaster."

Cabe looked at Sir Sylvester in surprise. He looked back to Ralph and nodded. "Well if there is anything about what they tell you that you want to talk about I'm here for you if you want another point of view."

Ralph nodded. "Thank you Cabe."

It wasn't long before Walter emerged from their tent and walked over to the table. "Good morning."

Everyone turned and nodded. "Good morning."

Ralph jumped down and ran around and hugged him. "Are you ready to tell me what is going on?"

Walter laughed. "As soon as your Mother is awake and ready."

Ralph sighed.

Walter grinned and messed his hair. "It won't be too much longer Ralph."

Ralph frowned. "Why are you wearing your sword?"

"I'm going to work out for a bit. Three mornings without working out isn't a good thing." Walter explained as he turned to walk down to the water's edge.

Ralph sat down at the table and watched as Walter laid the towel and wash cloth down before he removed his sword and started stretching. He removed his tunic before he moved on to exercises.

Cabe ticked his head as they watched. "Well that explains all the talk I heard in the Keep."

Ralph looked over at him. "What talk is that?"

Cabe coughed a bit nervously.

Sara and Sir Sylvester both laughed. "Yes, what talk was that?" Sir Sylvester asked.

Cabe looked sternly at Sir Sylvester which made him just laugh harder.

Sara looked across the table as she worked at Ralph. "He's talking about how everyone at the Keep was impressed with Walter when they saw him exercising."

Ralph nodded as he looked back and continued to watch.

Happy and Toby stepped out of their tent and she frowned. "Leave it to you to be late for class. You better take notes so you know what to do next time."

Toby rolled his eyes. He'd hoped she would have forgotten.

They walked on over and got a cup of coffee.

A short bit later the Lady Paige stepped out of her tent and began walking over to the table when she saw everyone staring towards the lake. She looked down and saw Walter as he continued his morning exercises and she grinned. She stopped behind Ralph and kissed his head. "Good morning."

Ralph grinned as he tilted his head back. "Good morning Mom."

Happy stepped over and nudged her and winked as they watched.

Paige smiled as she hugged her with one arm.

Walter finally got done with his exercises and picked up his scabbard and drew his sword out of it and began practicing.

Cabe leaned over to Sir Sylvester as they watched and whispered. "Damn Sly, you're lucky he wasn't trying to hurt you the other day. If they were just to fight with swords I've got a feeling he might be able reach a draw with our Lady."

Sir Sylvester nodded as he whispered back. "I can't believe he can use that blade so easily one handed."

Cabe grinned. "With arms like that, I'm not surprised."

Happy looked at Paige. "He's actually a lot better than I thought. Lady Benji was lucky he wasn't really trying to hurt him."

Paige smiled at Happy and shook her head.

Most of the group continued to watch as Sara finished breakfast. Paige finally walked on down to the bank where he was. "Good morning Love."

Walter turned as he smiled at her. "Good morning Love. Did you sleep well?"

Paige nodded. "It got a little cold after you left me though."

Walter smiled as he slid his sword into the scabbard and dropped it to the ground. He stepped up and took her hands in his and kissed her. "Sorry for that. I was a little stiff and it had been several days since I last worked out."

Paige nodded as she kissed him back.

Walter bent over and grabbed the wash cloth and soaked it in the lake and wiped down his torso while Paige just watched with a grin on her face.

Paige grabbed the towel from the ground and as Walter turned around she smiled as she stepped up and began drying him off. They kissed many times before Paige finally stopped and stepped back away.

Walter bent over and grabbed his tunic and after putting it on picked up his scabbard and walked up to the camp site hand in hand with Paige.

Walter kissed Paige as he took the towel and carried it over and put it and the wash cloth in one of the basins. As he turned to go put up his sword Toby had stepped up behind him. Walter smiled. "Morning Toby, how are you doing?"

Toby nodded. "Morning Walter, not too bad I guess. Happy is after me to start exercising more and thought maybe I should try working out with you from time to time."

Walter nodded. "If you like to join me when I work out that is fine. Or if you'd just like me to show you some exercises that you can do when you want."

Toby shook his head. "I doubt she would trust me to do them on my own."

Walter grinned. "The day after tomorrow we can work out then if you want."

Toby nodded as he looked out at Happy as she talked with Paige and the others. "Alicia really enjoys what you do with Ralph."

Walter smiled remembering Happy's words from last night. "It is a good way to help bonding, plus as a child they bustle with energy and it can help quell boredom. Not to mention in a few years Ralph will be a teenager and his interests will change and instead of chasing after his Mother or I we'll forever be chasing after him."

Toby looked at him and nodded. "That's true. I sometimes forget that."

Walter grinned. "Your lucky as the old saying goes a daughter is a daughter her whole life."

Toby slowly nodded. "But it certainly can't hurt entertaining her as you do Ralph. Thanks for making me remember that."

Walter smiled. "Of course, anytime the Lore master in me can be of assistance."

"I just need to apologize to Happy for being a grump about doing things like that for Alicia." Toby turned and walked over towards the table.

Walter put up his sword and then joined the rest of the company for breakfast.

Sara made up eggs with sausage and pancakes and everyone dug into it. Toby started to go back for seconds when he saw Happy staring at him with one eye brow raised and he swallowed and stopped.

Finally unable to put it off any longer Paige stood with Walter and Ralph standing with her. She reached out and took Ralph's right hand and Walter took his left and they walked down to the lake before walking along the lake's edge.

Happy grinned. "They bonded so quickly. It is amazing."

Cabe looked over. "Well right now they are about to explain to Ralph why we're going to Lancaster."

Happy looked over. "Seriously?"

Cabe nodded. "Ralph got up early and was disappointed that they weren't up yet and told me when I asked why he was frowning."

Happy sighed, "Poor kid."

Sara looked over. "What is happening?"

Happy looked over and then over at Toby. "Why don't you take Alicia over to wash the syrup off her face and hands before she gets it on her clothes."

Toby nodded and led Alicia away.

"We found out Sunday that Drew didn't die as we were told. His Father used some kind of magic to cast Drew's soul out of his body and then put his own soul into Drew's body." Happy explained quietly.

Greetings! Hoping you are all well. We're doing okay. Sorry for my lack of posting but things have been a little weird. I started writing this new story and after 2 chapters and editing and rewriting and editing some more I'm just not sure about it. I decided to take a few days and then this story spoke. After talking with Lucy over on Twitter I think I am going back to posting every other day and see if that doesn't help make a difference. I got 2 new pieces of artwork. One is a really cute Chibi render of Lord Walter and Lady Paige with Ralph following their wedding and a scene from the birth chapters of Knight's Tale I'll call Winter Scene. I'll have links on my bio page if you want to see them on Twitter.

To the Adventure! -Tim