I'm sorry! I had food poisoning and well, it wasn't the best feeling in the world, haha. Here's the next chapter coming right up after the replies.

Replies to reviews:

Guest (1) [chapter 8]: Haha, yep! That won't be the only bit we see of cheeky little Anne.

BlerBlerBler [chapter 8]: They aren't as interesting as babies, so I wanted to start their exciting lives with them as young kids. James will be a baby for the foreseeable chapters as his sisters get up to mischief.

elder441 [chapter 8]: Thank you! Enjoy the next :)

Guest (2) [chapter 8]: Yeah, the time jumps was only to get them to the current ages of their childhood. They are more exciting at this age. Thanks so much and the parents will bond with their children in this chapter, mostly Francis as Mary takes care of James.

Guest (3) [chapter 8]: Thank you so much! Sorry for the short delay, here's the next chapter!

Guest (4) [chapter 8]: Here it is! Sorry for the delay!

Guest (5) [chapter 8]: Here it is! I will be doing it in two parts :)

Quick thing, Anne is five years old and Rose is four. Rose is eleven months younger than Anne and James is a newborn.

"S-Swimmimg, Papa?" Rose asked nervously as she eyed the running water. "It's too cold!"

Francis chuckled, lifting her up into his arms. "It's fine! Look, Olly likes it."

"Olly is a dog, Papa," Anne said from behind him. "I want to stay with Mama."

"Girls," Mary called out. "Swimming can be fun! Your father is a great teacher."

Rose turned to her. "Did he teach you, Mama?"

Sharing a glance with her husband, Mary nodded at their daughters. It was alright to tell a white lie if it got them learning something new.

"If not for your brother, I would be in there before Olly!" Mary replied, stroking James's cheek. "Go on, my loves. You are safe with your father."

Sending his wife a grateful smile, he lifted Anne into his other arm and slowly weaned himself into the lake. He nearly jumped as the girls started shrieking at the feeling of water wetting their feet.

"No...!" Rose cried out, trying to leap back to land.

Anne, however, calmed down and started giggling, kicking her legs in the water. They weren't even fully submerged, their feet just under the surface as they were held by Francis.

"Let me down, Papa!" Anne told her father, leaping out of his arm for a different reason than her sister. "Let me down!"

"I can't," Francis said, laughing. "I don't want you to drown."

"Drown?" Rose asked, her eyes widening. "Oh, no...!"

Mary, who had heard them, looked up from studying James's face. She gave Rose an encouraging smile.

"You will not drown, Rosie. Your father will make sure you are alright-"

"I want out! I want out!"

Deciding not to distress his younger daughter any longer, he waded over to the bank and let her down. He watched as she ran towards Mary, snuggling her face into her side.

"Papa, teach me!" Anne's call came and he turned to her with a wide smile. "I want to swim!"

"Alright, my sweetheart. We should leave your sister, for now."

Not once did he let go of Anne's hands, Mary noted. Francis stayed in the shallow end with her and taught her how to paddle.

Their little girl was a natural, like a fish. Even when Mary had given James to the governess so she could prepare their lunch, Anne refused to leave the lake.

"Anne, shall I let go?" Francis asked his daughter.

Anne shook her head, her grip tightening on his hands. "Not yet, Papa. I want to go in the water! Can I go under the water, now?"

"Are you certain you want to?" Francis asked.

She nodded. "I can hold my breath!"

Anne then proceeded to show him, her face reddening as each second ticked by. Just as her father counted ten seconds, she released the breath and gasped. She then grinned at Francis.

"See, Papa?"

"Alright then. I will-"

Before he could even count her in, she ducked her head underneath the water and he followed after, giving her a smile.

His daughter had her mother's feistiness and his willing nature to learn new things. If it was possible, she could have been queen.

A wonderful, sweet and fair queen, he thought to himself.

Anne would be a great queen. Perhaps he should find a match with a king because he knew his daughter was meant to lead and not follow. She would be the great mind behind a great man and with the world in her hands, there was nothing she couldn't do.

When they arose from the water, they saw Rose staring at them in awe.

"Papa, can I try?" She asked, reaching both little hands for him.

"Of course, my Rose," he replied, leading Anne towards the edge to pick Rose up. "Something is scary if you make it scary."

Rose nodded eagerly. "Like when I am scared of the spiders?"

Francis nodded in reply. "Spiders are just as scared as you. You will make them scary if you think they are scary. Just like the lake. It is quite a calming place to be..." He looked up at his wife. "Your mother and I would make visits to lakes and waterfalls with little picnics..."

Mary's eyes watered and she bit back a smile, continuing to butter up some bread. She remembered those days before they had the girls and James. Those days when it was only him and her.

She adored her children, but she adored her husband's company as well. She missed their closeness and time spent together.

She ought to ask if Kenna and Bash could relieve them for a full week of the children. Perhaps, she and Francis could visit the waterfall together with a picnic.

No guards, no children - just Francis and her.

"Mama, the water is not scary!" Rose cried out to her happily. "Look, I am swimming, Mama! I'm swimming!"

Mary laughed, almost snorting very unqueenly. Her daughter was not swimming. At least, as well as Anne was doing, still holding onto her father's other hand. Rose was flapping around with her free arm, her little head bopping up and down.

"Well done, Rose!" Mary replied, clapping. "Well done!"

...

Mary jolted awake, her husband sheepishly grinning at her.

"F-Francis?" She asked groggily. "It's too early in the morning - what is it?"

"Shh," Francis whispered. "Everyone is asleep."

She nodded, rubbing her eyes. "Francis, I'm tired-"

"Bash got two horses ready for us. I've got some food and wine-"

"Francis, what do you mean?"

He got out of the bed and pulled her up. She almost swayed, her eyes closing as she yawned but he shook her. He grinned when her eyes snapped open again and her expression became livid.

"Francis!"

"Shh!" He quickly said. "Come on, get your best dress on. Well, not your best. Well, the best you do not mind getting dirty."

Mary moaned in disdain, following his orders. "What are you doing, you crazy man?"

"I am doing something spontaneous!" Francis replied, giving her a wink. "Come on, wife. Where is your sense of adventure?"

"In my dreams," she replied without emotion. "My lovely dreams where I had my lips on a blonde prince-"

"What blonde prince?" Her husband asked, grinning.

She blushed. "Well, he isn't a prince anymore and he's grown more annoying than before."

"You married me for a reason, my beautiful wife," Francis told her, kissing her lips. "Come on. I promise it will all be worthwhile."

"What about the girls and James?" Mary asked, finally putting her corset on.

"Kenna agreed to look after them with the governesses. I am sure the girls would like playing with Robin than follow us."

Mary nodded. "Horses?"

"Yes, is that a problem?"

She shook her head. "I ought to wear something of comfort then. My bottom may be sore if this journey is long."

Francis winced, heading over to the door. "Do not worry, I have ointments for that."

"You have really prepared for this, haven't you?" She asked, smiling softly. "Will it be a lovely surprise?"

"Of course. Only the best for my wife and queen. The only Mary that matters-"

"We have daughters with-"

"One of the Marys that matters to me," he reiterated, watching her get dressed. "Now, hurry up! Before Anne makes her way here and finds out we are leaving."

It dawned on her. "She is only independent when she wants to be. We really ought to wean the girls off sleeping in our bed."

"I blame you," Francis teased her, crossing his arms. "You spoil them too much."

"Pardon me? You spoil them!" Mary replied, laughing. "It is okay because when they are older, they will stand on their own two feet. It just hurts me that Anne will not be able to be the queen I know she can be. It is better this way, James is our heir. At least he has two older sisters to protect him no matter the cost."

Francis gave her an approving smile. "I love you so much, Mary. Every day, I may not say it but I do."

"I know you do," Mary replied, beaming. "And I love you, too. Thank you."

"For what?"

"You being you and our children... For making me happy," she told him, walking over to him. "For being wonderful. Some men treat women horribly, but you treat me with respect, love and care. Tonight will be the first night of many secret getaways. Just to reaffirm our love for each other."

"Yes, what a nice idea," he replied. "You seem to be giving me all of these wonderful ideas. Let's move on, we need to go before Anne comes."

She giggled, turning around so Francis could help her with her laces. When he was done, she kissed him and put her cloak on.

The only thing that was heard at the dead of the night was a pair of footsteps hurrying outside, soft laughter following them.