A/N: You ever have those days where you get home and feel like you could sleep the next 12-14 hours before you have to leave again? That's how I feel...I think my body is wanting to make up all the lost hours from the past couple of weeks.

Raider: Gabe has next to no experience, which is why the big dogs so readily volunteered to watch over him. No, they aren't all in the same village. They're in the same area, but not the same village. Lorelei will take a long time to recover...burns and all that. Sean didn't personally make Tammy go through the courts to see them. Generally, Elizabet traveled to see them instead of vice versa. Tammy was also always the quiet wife while her husband got them in. Reqular guards wouldn't recognize her and since the castle is on tight security she had to find the royals in a different way.

AER: Thanks :) More on Tammy later...a little more now.

Disclaimer: I'm not John Flanagan.

"How dare you!" the old hag that was Mistress of the House bellowed. She boxed Robin's ear, dragging her through the kitchens to the front. "To betray our kindness, giving you a job and taking you in! Giving you a warm bed to sleep in!"

Robin bit her tongue against pointing out her pallet in the pantry was neither a bed nor warm.

"Out!" she shouted. In one motion she threw Robin into the dusty street. It was well past nightfall and business was in full swing inside. "Off with you!"

From the ground Robin allowed herself one moment to glare at Russ. He hid his smirk behind his hand as he leaned against the front of the brothel. The princes sat in the window of their room at the inn enjoying the show below. Robin pushed herself to her feet and turned back to the woman.

"But how will I survive?" she asked, playing up the whiny tone she'd heard from several of the girls inside. It was how they played their clients. Mistress of the House often complained of them using it on her. The hag only let out an exasperated shout and returned inside, slamming the door behind her. Robin dusted herself and fled down the street, feigning tears to mask her laughter until she was in the safety of an agreed upon meeting point in an alleyway several blocks away. Russ arrived shortly after she did.

"Well done," he laughed. "I especially liked it when you threw the rum. Excellent work."

Robin gave a mocking curtsy, her grin wide. She'd gotten a rush from going undercover. Now that she'd done it once, however, she felt she could continue her life working for Aunt Lucy and be happy. The exit had gone almost too perfectly. Russ had let her know that when it was time for her to leave, he'd come to the brothel and purchase services that included dinner first. When Robin came to play waitress, she'd play along without flaw only if she were pursuing something inside she hadn't told him about yet. If she was clear, which she was, she'd mess up his order. He'd make a scene and from there Robin would ensure her reaction got her fired. It hadn't been hard for the siblings to bicker. A couple of times Robin questioned whether they had really began fighting, but in the end they had their desired result.

"What would you have done if I served everything appropriately?" Robin asked curiously. "Gone upstairs?"

"Perhaps," Russ teased, purposely making her uncomfortable. He laughed. "Don't worry, Robin. Dad made me promise when I graduated I'd never do anything I couldn't tell him about."

"What about Mum?"

"No promises on Mum."

That was fair. "So? What's happened? Why am I leaving?"

"Because we are leaving," Russ told her. He handed her his Ranger's cloak. She fastened it around her shoulders and brought up the hood while they walked the back way towards the inn.

"Why?"

"We've been here too long with no results. If he were here we would have found him by now."

"Does this mean we're going back empty handed to Roscrea?"

"No," Russ replied. "We're going to chase a lead."

"What lead?"

"Reese and I are going to loop around the area orphanages to see if she was dumped in any of them. You and Hazen are going to make rounds to the homes of large families. Hazen already has a story made up. He'll fill you in on the way."

Robin frowned. "I promised our parents when I came to join you I'd stay with you."

Russ opened the door to the inn for her to go in. "Since when do you always do what you promise Mum and Dad you will?"

He had a point.

Elizabet found herself pulled to duties that usually belonged to Mara an hour after discovering Tammy in the court room seeking help. Having that entire side of the family gone was really wearing on those left. Luckily Neil had lived with them in Roscrea long enough he was able to take on several duties usually left to Mason and Scout's children. He popped in on apprentice presentations, gave a speech (begrudgingly) to the people wanting updates on the search for 'Mara', and even comically hosted a luncheon for the spouses of service members away on assignment. That monthly gathering was actually on Elizabet's usual agenda, but she had to fill in for Mason at the ward being one of the team captains for an athletic game Neil didn't know how to play. Following the game was a meeting of ward staff to discuss budgets and assemble a list of needs, something Elizabet understood best of those left anyway.

The Araluen royals headed home as the search dragged on. Kane and Gabby stayed behind as planned, only instead of going to the Academy they remained in Roscrea. Anne spent most of her days in the care of Lady Carissa while Gabby tended Lorelei and Kane assisted in the search by managing reports each party returned. Captain Warden rallied those left to defend the city. Battleschool apprentices and even the pool of retirees joined the guard rotation as numbers on duty doubled. The royal family no longer wandered their home freely. Each one was accounted for and monitored at all times.

Elizabet wasn't able to reunite with Tammy again until it was almost time for dinner. She found her aunt sitting on a bench with her mother. Kineta still wore her crown from hearing cases all day and seemed focus on whatever Tammy was saying. Tammy had been giving a chance to clean up at some point, something Elizabet hoped was Alicia's doing but knew was more likely Carissa's. Elizabet hoped whomever had arranged for her to get cleaned up burned her old work dress and the boots that had likely been castaways from Calvin.

"You look better," Elizabet said as she joined them on the bench. "Much better."

"Thanks," Tammy replied, giving her a small smile. Her eye was still swollen and her lip still split, but the new dress and washed hair did wonders for her appearance.

"We were just discussing her future," Kineta explained. "Our chef has given some resistance to taking her on as a sous chef. You know how he likes to handpick everyone in his kitchen. We're now toying with the idea of her becoming a maid."

"You don't have to work, Aunt Tammy. I'd be happy to take you on," Elizabet insisted. Tammy, however, shook her head.

"No, Lizzie. I'd prefer to work."

"We've come to the agreement she'll rest until Gabby deems her clear for duties," Kineta added. Elizabet nodded understanding. Her mother must have offered to take her on as well. Gabby was an excellent healer, and better she was a healer who understood people. She wouldn't hesitate to prolong Tammy's orders to rest if she felt it necessary to her mental health. Tammy needed time to relax and process what all had happened. Keeping her hands busy would be good, but an actual job could do her in.

"You can be one of my maids when the time comes," Elizabet offered.

"I can never repay either of you for your kindness," Tammy whispered, casting her eyes down.

"Then think of it as me repaying you for your kindness. You helped me once, remember?"