(Hi everyone! Sorry for the delay! Had some serious writer's block. I wanted to thank all the people who have been favouriting, following and reviewing my story! I really appreciate it! Also if you have any suggestions/ideas for future chapters, I'd love to hear them! You can either leave them in the reviews or PM me. Here's the next chapter, enjoy! I'll try to update more often!)

Frederic's chest became wet with tears as Arianna continued to sob loudly.

All the heartbroken king could do was stroke his wife's silky hair. It delicately ran through his fingers, comforting the sobbing queen.

"My love, everything will be alright."

"You said that when Idunn had heartburn from the fish. She's in an even worse state now." Arianna mumbled into the king's chest.

She turned her head to the side, the steady sound of her husband's heart echoing in her ears, soothing her heavyhearted feelings.

"And now your work is going to piling up because of me."

"Nonsense. My advisors are handling it. They understood completely that the queen takes priority over anything." Frederic replied.

Arianna sniffed, peering down at the wet patch on Frederic's chest. "And now your outfit is wet and completely ruined." She sighed loudly.

"You should know by now that I have at least twenty sets of the same outfit." Frederic laughed.

"Doesn't every royal?" Arianna asked. She motioned to the open cupboard, where her point was clearly proven.

Frederic burst out laughing. "There's the Arianna I know and love!"

Arianna tried to smile through the tears, still sniffing. "I just feel so useless…Idunn looks so helpless. I'm her sister, her protector for life! Her guardian because Mama is no longer around!"

Frederic looked at her sympathetically. "Yes, the love and care you have for your sister is important and admirable, but you need to remember that your health matters too, my darling."

He reached for the tea and brought it to her mouth. Strawberry tea, her favourite.

The teacup clinked gently against her teeth as Frederic tilted it up so that the warm tea ran down her dry throat.

At last Arianna relaxed, the taste of tea masking the disgusting smell of vomit, much to her relief. She sat up and rested the teacup on her lap. She continued to inhale the sweet smell of tea in an attempt to steady her breathing.

Frederic reached into his side table drawer and pulled out a packet of chocolate biscuits while Arianna was distracted, staring at her tea.

He quickly and carefully shoved one of the biscuits straight into her mouth. Whole.

"MMPH!" Arianna pulled it out, the crumbs spilling onto her chin. "Fred!" She said, in fits of giggles.

Frederic giggled, shoving one into his mouth and looking equally as silly. "You're adorable when you let loose a little."

Arianna laughed and threw the cookie at him. "You're making me sound like a rebel teenager again."

Fred put his hand over his mouth, in a fit of laughter.

"HAHAHAHA! YOU'VE GOT CHOCOLATE ON YOUR FACE!" Arianna laughed hysterically.

"You're going to spill your teeeeaaaa-hehehehe!" Frederic replied.

He pulled his wife closer, feeding her another cookie. He rested his arm against her head.

"Thank….thank you." She swallowed.

The kind king smiled down at her. "You needed that, I can tell."

"The tea…?" Arianna asked. "Oh yeah, the biscuits. Sorry…sorry. My mind is still processing everything."

Frederic gave her a gentle smile and kissed her on the head. Then he shoved another cookie in her mouth. Then it dropped into her tea with a satisfying plop.

"You absolute goof!" Arianna laughed hard.

Frederic pulled her close. "I wanted to ask you something."

"If it's 'Will you marry me', I'd have to remind you that you already said that." She held her out her ring finger, giggling and showing off her wedding ring.

"No, my love. I have to open a new school in the village tomorrow. You haven't left Idunn's side and I think you need some fresh air, to get out the castle for a bit. I'd love if you'd join me.

Arianna's eyes widened. A public appearance. Looking like this.

She peered at herself in her hand-held mirror. Her face still looked terrible and she looked beyond exhausted.

Arianna took a deep breath. "I suppose so."

Frederic smiled. "You're really brave."

"I'm not brave, Fred….Idunn is the brave one. I've just been the one trying to support her."

"And that takes a lot of bravery. You've been very strong for your sister. You've been lionhearted, courageous and daring. It's admirable, Darianna."

Arianna blushed at her nickname. "I love you."

"I love you too, my darling." He kissed her crumb-filled lips.

"Mmm….chocolate." Arianna giggled. She put her hand behind his head and kissed him again, removing the crumbs.

Frederic giggled. "That's one way to do it!"

"Mmm…chocolate." Arianna giggled. She cuddled up to the king and snuggled into his embrace.

"You're so brave, my darling, and I want you to always remember that."

"I love you Freddie."

"I love you too Ari."

There was a knock at the door. Frederic tucked Arianna back under the blanket and put his arm around her.

"Come in!" Frederic called.

Rapunzel ran in, worried sick. She ran to Arianna's side and squeezed her hand.

"Mother!" Rapunzel gasped. "Are you alright?! I was worried sick! Violetta told me what happened, when I came to get you from the infirmary and you weren't there!"

Still filled with anxiety, Rapunzel crawled into the bed and snuggled next to Arianna. She pulled her arms around her mother and hugged her tightly.

Arianna felt Rapunzel hyperventilating against her. It broke her heart that she was causing this to happen to her daughter.

"My baby…..I'm okay." Arianna stroked her daughter's hair.

Rapunzel flinched at the touch of her mother stroking her hair. "Please….don't"

"O-oh….I'm sorry." She immediately moved her hands to her daughter's back and rubbed it instead.

"I'm sorry…I can't seem to do anything right today." Arianna muttered.

She hoped she wouldn't make the same stupid mistakes that imitated Gothel's actions. How she would have loved to beat that sorry witch's ass.

"Much better…" Rapunzel snuggled into her mother's embrace. Being able to snuggle in her parents' bed was strange.

When she was in the tower, Gothel's bed was strictly off limits. Even when she had nightmares as a child.

How relieved she was to be back with her parents after all those years. Parents who actually cared.

And she knew she cared about them…

(That's it for this chapter! Thanks for reading!)