Going straight into this.

"Ready or not, here I come!"

Francis left the throne hall, making his way through the castle on a mission. He stopped right outside and let out a disbelieving shake of his head when he saw the curtains shift.

Then he heard the giggle and whispers.

"Do you think he'll find us?" Xander asked.

"No, Papa will never think to look here!" James replied.

Francis crossed his arms and slowly walked up to the hidden figures. He contemplated exposing them, a smile playing on his lips. He heard someone and he turned his head, spotting Bash walking down with Cassius and Leith flanking his sides.

"Brother," Francis greeted him as the men bowed. "I am looking for multiple princes and princesses."

Bash smiled. "Are you now?" He asked, all men turning to the place where the childish voices ceased. "Perhaps I can help."

"Please do," Francis replied before they both pulled both ends of the curtain to reveal James and Alexander. "There you are!"

"Oh, no!" James whined. "How did you find us?!"

Leith laughed. "Perhaps you should learn to be a little quieter next time," he replied.

Cassius merely tapped the side of his nose. "I'll help you find better places, little princes. Go along, help the King find the rest."

The boys scuttered away, excited giggles in their wake as Francis turned to the men.

"Have you found James Stewart?" He asked.

Bash nodded. "I have him in a safe house - he'll come tomorrow morning into Mary's primary care."

"Does anyone know?" Francis asked. Has anyone sounded the alarm?

"His governess," Bash replied. "She came with us."

Cassius nodded. "They are loyal to the Queen, Your Majesty. They will not betray her trust and we have made arrangements to reward them for their efforts."

"Good," Francis said approvingly. "Relay this to Mary. I have children to seek."

He walked away, spots coming into his vision but he blinked them away. He'll play with the children first and then rest. Any day now, Paré and Nostradamus will find a cure.

...

"There you are!" Francis cried out, lifting Anastasia into his arms and wiping the sugary dust from her nose. "Decided to help out the cooks in your hiding?"

Ana giggled and nodded, wrapping her arms around her uncle's neck. "Yes, Your Majesty!"

"Well, what did you help them make?"

"I helped them make strawberry tarts," she said. "Aunt Mary and Maman love them!"

Francis grinned. "May I have one now?"

She pursed her lips in thought before nodding. "Yes, you may!"

Francis chuckled and put her back down before he swiped a tart from the serving tray and ate it in one gulp. He gave the cooks and Ana a nod of approval before taking the girl's hand and leading her out, thanking the cooks for accommodating the little child.

"I have found James and Xander," he told her. "Who do you think we will find next?"

"Urm," Ana hummed. "Rose!"

Francis beamed. "I think she'll be difficult to find but we will try," he replied, holding his hand out for James to take as Xander ran on.

They headed to the gardens, finding the Queen and her ladies and sister-in-laws stitching or doing embroidery. They giggled at the sight of the dishevelled children and King.

"Anastasia, look at your face!" Kenna cried out, getting up to wipe her daughter's face-off with her handkerchief. "So messy. I thought we spoke about this?"

"Maman, I'm having fun!" Ana cried out, making her aunts and godmothers laugh.

Mary looked up at her husband. "Who are you seeking next?"

"Rose," he told her. "She's taken to the outdoors lately. Perhaps we'll be lucky with a few hints?"

Mary smirked knowingly, looking back down at her stitchings. "Nope."

"Mary..."

"Francis..." She replied in kind, meeting his eyes. "You have three little helpers. I can't give you any inklings to where the others are."

Francis's eyes shifted over to the table full of champagne and sugary treats. It wasn't that windy but the table cloth moved and he smirked, turning back to his wife.

"Which one?" He asked.

Mary hummed, shrugging. "I do not know what you're talking about, Your Majesty."

Francis turned to her ladies. "Any hints, kind ladies?"

Greer scoffed. "I know nothing, Your Majesty," she replied. "Dumb as a dog, I am!"

"Children?" Lola queried. "What are 'children'?"

Claude raised her hands up. "Don't even dare to question us! I will never give my son's hiding spot up!"

Leeza nodded. "As Claude said. You have Robin, Rose, Anne, John, Kitty, Bella, Lawrence, Peter and Joseph to seek. I wish you all the-"

"Hello, boys," Francis said, lifting the table cloth up.

The twins and Lawrence groaned loudly, sending their mothers and aunts deep glares.

"We didn't give you up!" Mary cried out.

"You should have sent him away!" Peter pouted.

"Oh, Maman!" Joseph added, shaking his head at her.

Francis laughed, ruffling all three's heads. "Come along, you cheeky boys. Let's leave the women to their hard work."

The boys waved the women off before joining James, Xander and Ana in going to the stables. Francis bowed to the ladies, making them laugh and giggle before laughing himself and following after the excited children.

...

Robin's eye opened, keeping the other closed as he inspected his surroundings. He could hear a lot of chatter and he glanced down, spotting Francis and the six found children below him.

He laughed to himself quietly, closing his eyes once again from his position lounging up in the tree. They couldn't get to-

"Found you!" Xander cried out, staring right into his brother's green eyes with an evil grin.

"Argh!"

They all gasped as Robin fell out of the tree, landing with a sickening crunch.

"Robin!" Francis cried out, getting on his knees to roll the boy onto his back. "Where does-"

"My leg!" Robin yelled out, glaring at his younger brother who was climbing down from the tree. "Alexander, I will kill-"

"It's not my fault Papa taught us how to climb trees!" Xander said, kicking his brother's side.

"Alexander!" Francis cried out, resisting the urge to laugh at such a trying time. "Go to the others. Your brother needs space."

Robin glared as the boy pulled a face at him before scowling and crying out in pain. "It's broken, isn't it?"

Francis nodded warily. "Sorry, Robin. I didn't know you'd frighten easily."

"I didn't get a fright!" Robin cried out, blushing. "I was caught unaware."

"Of course you were," Francis said, chuckling. "Right, I'll help you back to the castle and find the rest to finish the game."

"Don't," Robin said. "I mean, end the game. Continue. It's been ages since you had all of this energy. Spend it with them. I'll be fine, as tough as old boots."

Francis smiled fondly, nodding. "Alright. Come up."

He stood and helped Robin stand, letting him lean on him for support as they all made their way back to the castle. Francis could feel his strength leaving him and he decided to go to the women instead, seeing Kenna stand in concern and rush over.

"What-"

"I fell out of a tree, Mother," Robin quickly said, blushing. "No reason to be concerned."

Francis sighed. "He broke his leg. I would help him inside..." His eyes met Kenna's and she nodded in understanding.

She took over with, "Lean on me, you silly boy," she muttered. "I'll take you down to the doctor and Nostradamus."

Francis smiled wryly, waving them off as Lola went to also support the two to see the healer and doctor. He turned to Xander and crossed his arms.

"Why did you kick your brother when he was already down?"

"He's annoying!" Xander cried out. "Because he's the oldest, he thinks he can bully me? He has another thing coming!"

Francis snorted. "You're so like-"

"Your mother," Mary breathed out in disbelief. "Jesus, these children take after their parents in so many ways, it's scary."

Greer chuckled, nodding. "Kenna used to give Robert and Douglas grief as children. She learnt how to stand her ground from an early age, it's no wonder Anastasia's such a fireball!"

"Well, perhaps we should take a short break to cool off before continuing," Francis said, taking Kenna's seat and sighing heavily in relief.

...

Anne stepped out of the secret door and dusted her dress off with a smug smirk as she walked down the hall. It had been almost two hours since the game started and she still hadn't been found.

She hoped they hadn't forgotten about the game.

"Psst!"

She halted, turned and saw Rose waving her over. She laughed when she saw Rose dressed in a servant's get up.

"Seriously?"

"You should do the same," Rose said, twirling around. "Keep your head down, they never question it because servants must never meet their superior's gaze."

Anne gasped. "You sneaky so and so! Alright, where's the dress?"

After getting dressed in a servant's dress and tying a bandana over her luscious locks after dirtying it to remove its shine, the girls kept together, heads down as they walked around the castle.

Catherine walked passed and she halted, turning to see the girls hurry on.

"You two, stop!"

The girls froze, hearts beating loudly as they shared a quick glance.

"I requested wine three hours ago!" Catherine said. "Where is it?"

Anne grinned as Rose tried to stop her laughter from coming out.

Anne quickly said, "Q-Queen Mother, Your M-Majesty..." A soft snort from both girls. "We will get it right away!"

"You better otherwise I'll feed you to the dogs," Catherine muttered, rolling her eyes and walking off.

"Dear Lord!" Rose breathed out.

"Thank God she didn't see our faces!" Anne replied, sighing in relief. "Come on."

They continued on and spotted Nostradamus's door wide open. They saw a bedbound Robin and frowned, his father berating him for falling asleep in a tree as his mother agreed with everything her husband said.

The girls giggled and continued on, shaking their head at their cousin's mishap.

Heads down, they passed Francis and the overexcited children. They held their breaths and they walked on before they heard footsteps following after. They daren't look up or back as they walked on.

Until they felt hands on their shoulders.

"Do you really believe I wouldn't recognise my own daughters' hair colours?" Francis asked, smirking.

Anne let out a frustrated scream, turning to face him. "You-"

"How?!" Rose cried out.

"Again, dirty your hair as much as you want but I know everything about my children. Every single detail," Francis told them, pressing quick kisses on their foreheads. "Come on, help me find John, Kitty and Bella."

"Urgh, fine," Anne mumbled, crossing her arms as she stropped.

...

John let out a sneeze from his position behind the thrones. It was genius, hiding in the one place the seeker wouldn't bother checking, assuming they all left the room.

He laughed to himself and stood, stretching his body out before making his way down the steps and to the centre of the room. He will miss this place when he and Anne go to Sweden and a fond smile played on his lips as he stuffed his hands in his pockets and made to leave.

But then the sounds of whispers stopped him and he turned to find Bella and Kitty emerging from the curtains sneakily.

"Oh, hello," he said, grinning when they stopped and saw him. "Got the same idea, did you?"

Bella nodded, smirking. "Of course. We figured the King wouldn't spend effort looking here."

Kitty giggled. "Indeed," she said, agreeing with her older sister's words. "Although I am quite tired of this game. It has been hours."

John nodded in agreement. "My back hurts."

"We should give ourselves up," Bella suggested.

John narrowed his eyes. "It's a trap," he said. "The reward was one thousand crowns and you want me to give up?"

"He's your father, he will spoil you," Kitty stated.

Bella shrugged in indifference. "We just want to buy a few nice dresses. We do not exactly have any wealth now with our father abandoning us."

John sighed heavily and crossed his arms. "Fine. We will share the reward."

The three made their way out of the hall, checking left and checking right. They began to sneak down, heading right just in case. Before they knew it, they heard Francis question the others about their hiding spots.

It didn't take long for him to find them ducking behind a wall.

"Isabella," he called out. "I saw you first. Now whoever I see next determines who gets the prize."

Bella stepped away from the wall and curtseyed, smirking as she saw that Kitty was behind John and practically covered by his frame. "Come and see for yourself, Tío," she replied coyly.

Francis walked down, his steps slow and calculated as he raised his brow. His hands clasped behind his back and he stopped, slowly turning to his left to spot Kitty first.

"Catherine," he said, making Bella gasp in surprise to see that John had quickly hidden behind the girl at the last second. "You are found."

"Damn it!" Kitty cried out, crossing her arms angrily before laughing with the others.

"That makes John the winner," Francis said, applauding with the children. "One thousand crowns, as promised." He placed the money pouch into John's waiting hands.

John grinned and turned to his cousins and half-siblings. "I'd like to share my winnings if it's all the same to you?"

"Yes!" They all cried out, coming to surround him and taking a piece from his winnings.

It wasn't much, amounting to eighty-three crowns each but it was enough for them all to buy treats when they next visit the town's pastry shops.

"Right, we've been playing for so long, it's time to eat," Francis told them. "Did we all have fun?"

"Yes!" The children said, the little ones giggling.

Francis beamed, lifting Peter into his arms as he brushed James's hair from his eyes and gave the older children a bright smile. This was home, surrounded by children, his and his siblings'.

It stung, the reminder that his life was shortening but this moment, times like these, made him more at peace.

Forgiveness was in his heart after all and the children's chatter music to his ears.

He placed Peter down and quickly excused himself, backing into a corner as the children hurried off to go and eat. Controlling his sudden panic attack, Francis let a sob escape his lips and covered his mouth in case one heard him and came back.

But he failed.

"Father?" Rose whispered, coming to stand in front of him.

Francis shook his head. "I'm fine-"

"Just hug me," she demanded, pulling his arms around her as she rested her face against his neck.

"God, you're so tall," he muttered, pressing a kiss on the side of her head.

Rose swallowed hard. "I know you are terrified," she whispered. "About death."

Francis took a sharp intake of breath. "Rose-"

"Never show it fear," she reminded him of his words to her. "But if you need to cry... I can handle it. Because of you, I am strong and I will never be weak. I am afraid of nothing. I have experienced things no one as ever..." Hers and Robin's kidnapping... "So I've wisened before my years."

Francis laughed softly. "Good."

Rose smiled, tightening her hold. "Cry, Papa, cry."

So he did, tightening his hold on her as she smiled sadly and closed her eyes. She will never forget her father's warm hold on her. Never.