Things within the first month of announcing went smoothly and the entire kingdom of Corona was in a buzz over the new prince/princess/both to be born within months, many praying that their queen did not befall the same health as her mother.

Joshua was unsure of his parents for the first two months of the announcement and spent most his time in his room alone or with Elaine but finally he spoke to his parents and straightened things out with them. It's not that he was unhappy that he was to have a sibling, a sibling that would one day hold the throne instead of him, it was just that he disliked looking like such a fool in front of everyone with his actions of being caught off guard like that in the public setting, especially since people hadn't been too fond of him lately.

Elaine didn't take fondly to suddenly being ignored while Joshua tried to right himself in the eyes of the public, nor did it help that he still wanted their secret relationship a matter of the public eye. So often when he did come to court her, she would shrug him off with a cold stare and go about what she was doing.

"Elaine? What have I done wrong?" Joshua pleaded, as she went about his room gathering cloths for the wash and any other items, she found necessary to be cleaned.

"Oh, I don't know? Maybe wanted to blow the lid on our relationship, ignored me for months after your constant attention, and been a two-faced liar to the public?" Elaine spat venomously, glaring at him over her shoulder and beginning to walk out the room to continue her work elsewhere.

"You know I have to tell the people! It's either that or break up with you," Joshua gasped in exasperation, hot tears in his eyes, his nose running more than normal on this cold day in autumn. "And I can't always give you all my attention even though I would love nothing more, but then we would have to go public! And I wouldn't be a two-faced liar if we could just tell people!"

Elaine huffed, pursed her lips and sighed. "Just hold out a little longer. I like the thrill of being your secret mystery woman... Please? For me?" Joshua swallowed as she gazed at him with those pleading baby blues, he couldn't say no to her.

"Alright, just a little longer." He sighed, gasping when she quickly pecked his cheek and went off busily down the hall. Joshua rubbed the spot tenderly and smiled after her before clearing his throat and making his way to the library to study how to rule a nation as well as prepare as an older brother.

Just a month and a half before the royal child of Corona was due to be born Rapunzel was put on extreme and mandatory bedrest by the royal physician, the same physician who had been put to the charge of Cassandra not thirteen years before, in fact one of the few people who had been a part of operation Royale or save the queen and princess many years ago. Rapunzel hated bedrest, not as much as Cassandra but it was still not her favorite considering how she had always kept herself busy for the entirety of her life.

Cassandra gently knocked on the door to the king's private study, Eugene's tired voice answering her request for permission to enter. He smiled weakly at her and held his head in his hands, it had just been one of those weeks.

"Your Highness," Cassandra bowed low and tucked the letter within her bodice, perhaps now wouldn't be the best time. "So, how's your week been?" She tried with small talk, carefully sitting down across from Eugene who raised a brow towards her comment.

"Alright Cass what's up? You never ever come into a room just to make small talk, even with your family. Spill." Eugene sat up now, alert, he didn't need anything else that was awry today but as king and ruling head of state while Rapunzel was otherwise occupied, he needed to be invested into what was bothering his subjects, be it a crack in the boarder wall or equal rights for swine he was to listen and act according to the code of crown conduct.

Cassandra sighed and pulled the letter out of her dress and handed it solemnly across to him. Eugene took it with curiosity and quickly pulled it open, scanning down the contents, his brows furrowed. Reading the entire letter, he frowned. Setting the letter down he looked up at Cassandra desperately. "Please no. Cass, you can't quit now! We're already short staffed and spread thin as is after the war and now with Rapunzel! Please you can't quit on me now." To show just how desperate he was he took and grabbed her hands that had been resting upon the table and pleaded with her. "You're the best we have. I can't spare you."

Cassandra sighed. "I knew you'd say that," She produced a second letter, which Eugene read as a whole this time without skimming through, his shoulders dropping as déjà vu washed over him. "I am not risking this one. I know the guard is already short staffed and Lance and I have already talked about doing a job swap, but I can't go through what I went through with Flynn. Not again."

Eugene sighed and nodded, he knew what had happened about as well as any since he had been there when it happened and still partially blamed himself for the death of his would be second godson. "Alright," He sounded close to crying but held firm. "Alright Cassandra G. Strongbow, I hereby relieve you of duty, indefinitely, with permission of the crown and full pension and extended pay for the next year."

"Eugene you don'-"

"Ah-ah-bop! King's orders. I refuse to have you lose another child Cass. And I also refuse to let Lance work himself to death trying to provide, save it or spend it but it's yours to keep as a gift." Eugen cut her off and smiled sadly, he would miss his second in command, in fact with his position as King now he was considering promoting her to Captain of the guard to at least take a fraction of the workload he was bearing.

Cassandra nodded and gave him a smile. She stood, bowed and left, leaving Eugene alone to his stress, maybe it was time, Eugene thought, that he shared just a little of the workload, at least for a little while.

Wow, already things are heating up already.

I know Pregnant Cass Might seem like a reoccurring theme but it's fine. I am just a weird, strange person who likes to write some crazy stories for other people's enjoyment. Or just my own. That's why a lot of these are dead now. I don't enjoy them anymore.

Anyways back to the topic at hand.

So, Cass is pregnant again, Eugene is stressed, and Rapunzel is on bed rest, what could go wrong?

Joshua is still hesitating on revealing his secret, will he ever say it aloud?

Onto the next chapter!