Chapter Two

Piper's voice, muffled, jolted Amelia awake. "Amelia, Phillip, wake up!"

Amelia sat up in the bed. Her green eyes wheeled over to Phillip, whose own eyes were snapping open. Phillip lurched to his feet and looked at Amelia on the bed.

"The picnic," they both said at once.

Panic made Phillip look around wildly while Amelia forgot how to move. "Piper wakes us when we have exactly thirty minutes to get dressed and eat," Amelia babbled, trying to make her legs take her to her drawers, "so that means that-"

"We're late!" Phillip leapt into action. He hurried to the drawers to her right, his hand grabbing her shoulder and tugging her off the bed. He yanked the dressers open while Amelia began to scramble out of her night clothes.

For a second, Phillip just tossed dresses on the bed, knowing Amelia took the longest to dress. Gowns that missed their destination landed on the floor.

"What's going on?" A sleepy voice behind them made the two freeze.

Rapunzel sat up, her emerald green eyes looking at them sleepily.

Phillip shoved Amelia behind him. "Morning, Rapunzel!" he yelped.

Amelia couldn't see Rapunzel's face but heard her ask in puzzlement, "Where's Mother?"

"She's getting dressed," Phillip answered and glanced behind his shoulder at Amelia. Amelia was pulling a gown down to her knees.

"I'm right here!" Amelia stepped around Phillip and began to shove the dresses back in the drawers.

Phillip stepped around Amelia to grab a pair of pants and a cotton shirt out of one of his drawers before ducking in the washroom.

Rapunzel looked at the two of them, rubbing her eyes. "Why are you moving so fast?" Her pink lips spread in an o as she yawned.

"Phillip, Amelia, wake up!" Piper called louder.

"We're awake!" Amelia cried, and then looked at Rapunzel. What would they say to Piper? How would they explain Rapunzel's arrival?

"Right," Phillip walked out of the washroom, "Rapunzel, erm. . ."

Rapunzel looked at Phillip and climbed off the bed. The dress, though it was small, swallowed Rapunzel up. The skirt of the gown laid around Rapunzel's feet and the long sleeves enveloped her hands.

Amelia and Phillip exchanged glances, knowing what the other was thinking. Phillip grabbed Rapunzel by the underarms and placed Rapunzel on the bed.

Amelia began to fold up the skirt of the dress, taking an offered belt from Phillip and securing the folded ends to Rapunzel's thighs. Phillip busily rolled up Rapunzel's sleeves to Rapunzel's mid-arm.

They admired their work. Rapunzel's hands and upper arms were now visible, as were her bare feet and knees.

"Shoes," Amelia said out loud and worry crossed Phillip's face. He dug into a drawer and pulled out a pair of long stockings. Amelia shook her head and Phillip put the stocking back. "Maybe we can ask Piper?"

"Maybe," Phillip said at the same moment Rapunzel asked, "Who's Piper?"

Amelia and Phillip turned to Rapunzel, mouths open to explain, when the door opened behind them.

Phillip and Amelia immediately stood in front of Rapunzel and on cue, Rapunzel ducked behind Phillip's back so her head wasn't visible.

Piper stood in the doorway, a crowd of servants behind her. Her blue eyes went to Amelia. "You're up?" Puzzlement filled her voice.

"I-I helped her," Phillip said, his voice shaking. He cleared his throat. "We're fine, Piper."

Piper's black hair shone in the morning light. "You look very. . . Pink. Amelia, are you feeling all right? I can call off the picnic."

"No, no!" Amelia said a little too fast. They had planned the picnic for such a long time. The entire kingdom was joining in for the picnic and it would be held at the lake. People were inclined to bring homemade dishes and their families. Phillip and Amelia had decided to plan such an event to bring the kingdom together, and to blur the lines of commoners and royalty. They couldn't cancel it.

The servants behind Piper looked relieved. Piper's sharp blue eyes went to Amelia's stomach. She looked at Amelia's eyes, shocked, but only said, "I'll help you dress. We put the finishing touches on the gown yesterday but. . ." But seeing that you are not with-child, we need to plan something else.

"All right," Amelia said and then looked at Phillip. "Can you give us a moment?"

Piper nodded and began to shoo the servants away from the door. "I'll find Jared."

"You do that," Phillip encouraged weakly and the door shut behind Piper.

Amelia exhaled her anxiety and turned to Rapunzel, who was still ducking. Rapunzel's green eyes were filled with excitement and her pink lips were a double curve as she smiled. "Why did I have to hide? Can we do it again?"

"I don't know about that last one," Phillip said nervously. "Amelia. . ."

She looked at him. "I don't know. . . Would Piper believes us?"

Rapunzel looked at door, curiosity in her voice. "Was that Piper?"

"Yes, darling," Amelia said to her, and then to Phillip, "Should we tell her?"

"Piper isn't superstitious," Phillip said thoughtfully, his green eyes on the door as well. "But I can't see her stomaching this."

Rapunzel stepped around Phillip and walked to the washroom. Amelia watched her go, and then she saw the gold petals on her legs.

"Phillip," Amelia grabbed at Phillip's shoulder, gesturing to Rapunzel's petals. "We need to cover those."

Phillip's hand went to his forehead. "I forgot about those. She looks normal and then you see her. . ."

His green eyes went to hers and Amelia looked over at the closet. "She might need long dresses."

"Ow!" A loud cry made Amelia and Phillip race over to the washroom. Phillip got behind Amelia and Amelia yanked over the door.

Rapunzel stood in the middle of glass from a broken basin. Her face was red and Rapunzel was biting her lip.

"Are you all right?" Phillip exploded and grabbed her by the shoulders, lightly stepping over the glass. He tugged her off of the glass and set her on the rim of the ivory tub; Amelia searched frantically for a brush.

"I-I-I. . ." Rapunzel stuttered, tears budding in her eyes. "I-I. . ."

"Shush," Phillip cooed and Amelia froze when she saw him peck Rapunzel's cheek, grabbing her shaking right hand. "It's okay, Rapunzel."

Rapunzel shook her head, "I-I b-broke it."

"It's okay," Phillip soothed and Amelia felt her heart warm at the sight of them, of Phillip and Rapunzel. "As long as you're all right."

Rapunzel looked at Phillip, her green eyes wide. "You're not mad that I broke it?"

"Not a bit," Phillip brushed a stray curl from Rapunzel's face.

Rapunzel's eyes lingered on Phillip's and then she turned to Amelia. "You're not mad, either?"

"No, dear," Amelia smiled and Rapunzel smiled back hesitantly. "But Piper will be the mad one if we don't hurry."

Phillip scooped Rapunzel in his arms and stepped around the glass. The three of them walked to the door, and the door opened before they reached it.

Piper and Jared stood in the threshold, and their eyes widened when they saw Rapunzel in Phillip's arms.

"We can explain," Amelia said nervously.

Jared looked at Rapunzel and Piper looked at Amelia.

"Explain," Jared and Piper said at the same time.

Amelia looked at Rapunzel and bit her lip.