When Ryan got done with his session with the doctor, he quickly made his way down the hall towards his room, to get cleaned up for dinner when he heard raised voices further down the hallway.
Curious, he peeks around the corner and spots Emily and Sofia arguing about what he had no idea, but sounded pretty heated, and then he gasped when Sofia reached her hand back and without any thought slapped Emily hard across the face, making the older girl's head turn.
Just as quick as it happens, Sofia went pale with shock and regret on her face as she tried to apologize but Emily must have said something, because the guilt on Sofia's face quickly shifts back to fury and soon they storm off in the opposite directions towards their rooms, slamming their doors hard enough to rattle the pictures and lights.
Ryan was so rattled by what he just witnessed as he slides down to the floor, unaware that there had been another witness to this incident as the Head Maid, Mary was busy cleaning when she saw the girls talking and jumped in shock when she both heard and saw Sofia slap Emily, she quickly stops cleans and makes her way quickly to where the King and Queen were talking with the children's therapist before the King could say anything about her coming in without notice, she quickly said: "I saw Princess Sofia strike Princess Emily just a few moments ago, sir."
Both Roland and Miranda went pale with shock and worry at hearing this as they were just trying to come to terms with all the information about Sofia's hiding her night terrors, insomnia, and panic attacks, but now to hear that their normally sweet and gentle child hit someone out of anger and now just anyone, her sister whom she held a great deal of respect for.
"We have to do something that has gone too far, this isn't just about her not getting enough sleep anymore, we need to do something, any advice Doctor?" Miranda asked.
Dr. Kevin thinks for a moment and then says, "Normally I would recommend a few weeks stay at the hospital to help her with one on one therapy and group therapy, and medication."
"Not! I refuse to let my child be put in the loony bin and given drugs to keep her cationic!" Roland exclaimed, slapping his hand hard on the desk, but Dr. Kevin didn't even flinch or blink in surprise at the outburst.
"Roland! If the doctor thinks that wouldn't help Sofia he would have said so" , please be reasonable, if I heard correctly she has been struggling and we have just been putting a band-aid on it, she needs professional help, more than we can give her right now." Miranda said.
Roland stood there for a few tense moments, but then he slumped back into his chair and said warily "Is this what's best for her, doctor?"
Dr. Kevin sighs and looks Roland straight in the eye saying, "Yes, I do, but it will take time to find the best treatment for her, she might not even need medication, just therapy, but I will tell you this, just because it's a treatment does not meet she will be completely cured or that it will work instantly overnight, she will need support from you, her family and friends, don't set any unreasonable expectations, just be there when she needs you or when she falls apart, be there for the good and the bad and the ugly."
Roland nods rubbing his eyes tiredly as he said: "When should we bring her over?"
Dr. Kevin look in his book and then said "Tomorrow at 1 pm, when Sofia asked where you are taking her, just tell her the truth, she will not like it and expect her to have a tantrum or cry, but once it's explained to her about why we are doing this, she might be more willing, but I don't expect her to be open right away."
"Tomorrow it is, should we pack a bag for her?" Miranda asked.
"Yes, simple clothes for both day and night, make sure that they have no belts, lases or strings on them, slippers or slip-on are allow, no drugs or alcohol, books are allowed if they are age-appropriate, stuff animals are allowed in once search, no jewelry of any kind, but I will give you a list of the rules and regulations now so you know the do's and don'ts, I must take my leave, see you tomorrow at 1 pm." Dr. Kevin gives them a list of the rules and regulations before leaving the office and the couple to talk.
Meanwhile, Ryan was running towards James's room after he got over his shock and burst through the door startling James, Michael, and Amber who all played a game of Go Fish.
"I...just...saw...Emily...Sofia..." Ryan panted out of breath from his short run as he was firmly guided over to a chair by Michael, while Amber got him a glass of water.
"Calm down little brother, drink some water, and then tell us what you want to tell us," Michael said as he gently rubs Ryan back to help calm him.
Ryan takes a long drink of his water and then slowly breathes in and out, before saying more calmly.
"I saw Sofia slap Emily."
The silence was deafening for a few seconds then...
"WHAT?!" Michael exclaimed in both shock and anger.
"That can't be true, Sofia would never hit anyone, human or animal," James said.
"Yes, it is simply impossible, are you sure that your eyes weren't playing tricks on you?" Amber said
Ryan gives her a withering look as he said: "My eyes are fine and I am not lying if that is what you are implying."
"Are you sure?" Michael asked calmly, almost too calmly, but Ryan wasn't fooled when he looked in his big brother's eyes and saw the simmering rage and protectiveness in them.
"Yes, I am and no you are going to park your butt on the floor, before I put you there, I don't know why Sofia slapped Emily just because it happened, so going after her isn't going to make the situation any better, and your big brother is going to calm down right. now."
Ryan stares into Michael's eyes as if to challenge him, but after a few moments Michael just sighs in defeat and sits down cross-legged on the floor, his arms crossed and the typical pour of not getting his way was evident on his face.
Rolling his eyes at his older brother's childish behavior, he ignores him and talks with James and Amber for a bit and after a while they decide to leave it alone for now, hoping that it was just a one-time thing.
The next morning was a cool and cloudy day which suited Sofia mood just fine, as she got up from her bed, her eyes sore from crying so hard last night as she goes to get clean and ready for the day, knowing that she had to try and apologize to Emily again when she saw the young wolf-girl again.
She was unaware that she wasn't going to be able to get a chance for a while.
Meanwhile, in her parents' room, they were busy getting ready for the day ahead both arguing about the appointment they had later that day, "I am just saying Miranda once the press finds out about this they are going to think they we are ashamed or hiding the fact that Sofia was mental unwell for a while or something."
Miranda still glares at him "Well I think you are being ridiculous, just tell the truth, ignore those idiotic camera peeping tom news-hungry sharks, and focus on our family, we need to all heal from everything that has happened." She holds her husband's face in her hands, smiling when he kisses one of her palms as he lets out a sad sigh saying, "How did I get so lucky with you."
Miranda just smiles as she gives him a quick kiss and says, "Love is mysterious my dear husband, now go shave."
Roland smiles and goes to do just that and soon he was dressed and ready with Miranda by his side as they left their bedroom, meeting James, Amber, Michael, and Ryan along the way, when they finally got to the dining room they spotted Emily and Sofia sitting as far away from each other as possible, the redness of the slap from yesterday was still visible against the fair skin of her cheek as she greeted them, Sofia said nothing as she kept her head down, ignoring everyone in the room.
Breakfast was a tense affair as they all chatted a little here and there, but as soon as they were allowed to, all the children left the table, leaving the adults alone.
For the rest of the morning, Roland and Miranda asked Michael and Ryan to keep Sofia busy and out of her room, they were curious about why but did as they were told and soon they were playing dazzle ball with her, while the parents were busy packing a small suitcase for Sofia to bring with her.
When it was about 12:30, Roland and Miranda told Sofia that she was coming with them on an important mission just for her and when she asked about the suitcase, they said that this mission would take a while to complete, which she accepted as they got into the car and left.
As they got closer and closer to the building, when Sofia got suspicious when she read the signs and when Miranda saw that look she knew that they had to come clean.
Meanwhile back at the castle, Emily was busy working on an art project in the observatory, when she was confronted by Amber, James, Michael, and Ryan about Sofia hitting her and how Ryan saw it happen.
"Emily, what did you do to Sofia last night?" Ryan asked as they sat around Emily.
Emily sighs her face painted as she said "I told her to "Go to Hell and that she was no longer my sister." I realize now that I didn't mean it, but when she slap me my wolf was ready to tear her a new one, so I had to restrain Luna at that moment, but I was so angry and hurt by her actions that I didn't even acknowledge her apologize and when she tried to again, I rebuffed her, she broke my trust, she will have to earn it back.``
"You need to talk with Sofia, Emily, please." Ryan pleads to give her the puppy eyes, which always got her cave pretty quickly as she grumbles, "Fine, but she will have to work hard to earn my trust back."
When James decided to jump in and say "Anyway, did you guys notice that Mom and Dad were acting a bit weird this morning, they kept looking at each other and then at Sofia."
"Yes, but just figured that they somehow found out about the fight between Emily and her, not sure how though," Michael said his eyes concern and curious at the same times as he tried to figure out the puzzle presented in front of him, only for them to jump a bit when a knock came to the door and Baileywick came in said
"Princess Emily, you have visitors waiting for you down in the main entrance."
Curious and surprised by this unexpected news all the children followed Baileywick out of the observatory shutting the door close behind them.