Me: In what situation would they accidentally swap clothes?

Brain: -immediately goes there-

Me: Well then!

Ratja stirred and opened her eyes. It was dark so it took a moment for her eyes to adjust and as they did, she began to realise where she was. She was not in her room and by extension, not her own bed either. She was in the bedroom of King Mausinger. Her head was pillowed against his chest, which rose and fell with each breath and she could hear his heart beating within. He was sound asleep. His arms were wrapped around her, with one hand tangled in her hair and his breath tickled the top of her head. She snuggled her face into his fur and smiled; She was warm, and comfortable, and was very tempted to close her eyes and drift off once more but the sensible part of herself was telling her to get up. With great reluctance, she raised her head. She was loathe to wake him as much as she was loathe to simply vanish from his bed but eventually she made a decision. "Otto?" No response. She shifted into a sitting position. "Otto?"

He stirred. "… Ratja? What… what time is it?" His voice was groggy with sleep.

"It's time for me to go." His hands found her again and she laughed as he pulled her down and wrapped his arms around her once more. "Otto."

"You are not going anywhere."

"Otto. I have to work tomorrow."

"So do I."

"But I have to get up earlier than you."

"You have my permission to sleep in."

She laughed again. "Otto. Whatever will Mrs Tibbs say?"

He sighed. "Very well. Far be it from me to keep you from your responsibilities, dear heart."

She pulled away and planted a kiss on his forehead. "Thank you, love." She groped around in the dark to locate her underwear and pulled them on, groped some more, snagged the first article of clothing her fingers brushed against and pulled it on over her head. Wait hold on. This was way too long to be her blouse…

After a few more moments of fumbling around in the dark, he asked. "Are you managing all right, Ratja, or do you need some light?"

"Ummm… Yes please."

The room was suddenly bathed in the light of a small fireball. As he lit the lamp on his bedside table, Ratja glanced down at herself to discover that she had pulled on Mausinger's robe. Their eyes met and his expression became a smirk. He assumed a thinking pose and looked her up and down. "I must say, Ratja. Dark green is not your colour."

"As if you could pull off yellow any better."

His smirk only grew in strength. "I think I could." He dived for her clothes before she could react, pulled on her skirt and then wrestled on her blouse and jacket. He posed triumphantly. "Well? What say you now, Ratja? Still think yellow is not my colour?"

Ratja was helpless to the fit of laughter that had taken hold. "I can't believe that between you and King Leonhard, you were the more serious one."

He grinned. "I think you will find that I am as serious as the situation dictates, my dear."

"So I see." Eventually the laughter subsided and she said, "Otto. I really must be going."

His smile faded. "Yes… Of course…"

"If you would give me back my clothes?"

"Happy to, your blouse is throttling me, Ratja. Ugh, I can barely swallow." This statement was met with giggling. As he took off her clothes, she removed his robe, and then as she was changing into her uniform, he pulled on his nightshirt.

She took his hands in hers and smiled. "Good night, Otto."

He smiled back but weakly. "Good night… Ratja."

She kissed him, and then she was gone. He watched her retreating back and vowed that one day, it would be last time he had to watch her leave.