A/N: Has anyone noticed how much high school students in TV shows get done before school? I KNOW they don't get up early...how late do their schools start?

Gold: I understand being busy. I wish I was busy :/ Unfortunately too many failed plans at the last minute. Kane and Gabby are a lot of fun :) I think they're the most 'normal' couple in the whole fanfiction. Neither was in dire need of the other's help nor did they grow up together.

Saberin: A blind person scared of scaling a wall to the balcony above when they're already high off the ground? Yeah...I think I'd be freaked out too.

Raider: If only I had the day off, you would have gotten your string of updates :) As for holiday...literally everyone in my family is heading off for the holiday and I'm left feeding animals. I guess that's what I get for being the only one unmarried. Oneshot of Flynn Masque...we'll see. I don't have much time to write right now. I've not seen Parks & Rec...nor do I have a Netflix account. Big Brother has someone from a city I used to live in on it so I've decided to let that be my addiction for the summer. Psych I love :)

Disclaimer: I'm not John Flanagan. And still not Australian.

"All set?" Sean asked. Scout nodded. They would soon travel to Araluen for the wedding.

"We're just waiting on your wife and daughter," Scout teased. Sean frowned.

"I know."

"Sorry," Kineta said as she joined them with Elizabet on her hip. "We spilled perfume on our dresses, huh Elizabet?"

Elizabet turned pink and buried her face in Kineta's shoulder. Sean just laughed and took her into his own arms. "It's alright, honey. We'll just blame it on Scout."

"Why?" Scout asked with exaggerated offense. "What'd I do?"

"I'm sure by the time we get to Araluen you will have done something worthy of being blamed."

Scout opened her mouth to protest but quickly changed her mind. "Probably," she shrugged. "Elizabet who do you want to ride with?"

Elizabet studied her choices before pointing to Sean. She wrapped her arms around his neck and smiled widely.

"Daddy's girl," Kineta and Scout muttered. Elizabet just smiled wider. They mounted up and rode on. They went to the vessel that would carry them to Araluen. Each cared for their own horse before walking to the stateroom they'd share. There were two beds, one for Sean and Kineta and one for Scout and Elizabet. The entourages were scarce since Araluen was an ally country and of the four three were used to minding themselves anyway.

Scout liked Elizabet. Sean and Kineta were definitely happier with her in their lives. Elizabet seemed to always be smiling too. Sean and Kineta spent time with her every day, going out of their way to ensure she had special time with each of them. If they had a meeting, she went along. Scout made time for her too, most often at lunch when her cousins scheduled mealtime meetings. Elizabet went with Kineta on some adventure after breakfast at least twice a week. Sometimes they went to the beach, other times they went to a garden.

Scout really hoped Elizabet would begin speaking soon. She'd looked into the girl's condition out of curiosity. Sean and Kineta hired on an expert to come up with treatment but the woman wouldn't be traveling with them. It was called selective mutism and without explicit therapy it wasn't likely to get better as she got older. All in all, Elizabet needed to feel safe and secure with a very select amount of people. Sean and Kineta got her tutors but held off on maids or a guard. The only ones who really got close to her were them and Scout. She needed to build confidence and have trust built. Basically Elizabet needed a family that loved her.

She was currently on the second step: using her voice. She wasn't up to words but she tried hard to get her voice back. According to the expert the first step was sounds, then whispers, then words, then sentences. It was like learning to talk all over again. Scout once walked in on Elizabet sitting with her beloved Flynn Masque book opened in her lap. She stared at the words trying to read them but the only sound was air. She'd cried and had a frustrated fit when she failed. Scout had rocked her when she calmed down and assured that she'd do better next time.

Elizabet still hadn't made actual sounds but the fact that she was trying was something. When she first came, Elizabet couldn't make sounds no matter how badly she wanted to. Now there was new confidence and trust that granted her the ability to make the smallest squeaks if she concentrated. It seemed pathetic to strangers but to the family it was a huge step in the right direction.

"You're going to like your family in Araluen," Sean told her as they settled down. "But when you see their king if you feel need to scream that's alright."

Elizabet smiled widely and shook with silent giggles. She looked to Scout and pointed at her.

"What?" Scout asked. Elizabet pointed to Sean and Kineta. Scout twisted her head to the side in confusion. "What about them?"

"Want to try making the sound of the first letter of the word you want to say?" Kineta asked. Elizabet looked down at her lap and pursed her lips. She seemed to be making a real effort but nothing but soft air passed through. However the soft air was noise and noise meant progress.

"Good try," Sean commended her. Elizabet dug through the canvas bag that she'd taken to carrying everywhere she went. It held paper, a pen, ink, her Flynn Masque storybook, and currently two other books she'd opted into bringing with her. She took out her pen and a sheet of paper that already had words from earlier conversations scribbled all over it.

Will we meet your parents?

Elizabet's grammar, spelling, and penmanship had vastly improved and were far beyond the skill of the average seven year old. Since it was her usual form of communication it made sense.

"Yes," Scout told her. "I think you'll like them and my little sister, Caitlyn."

Elizabet smiled and cuddled up next to Sean. She pulled out her Flynn Masque book and flipped to Flynn Masque and the Grand Heist. She put it in Sean's hands and snuggled closer. Scout smiled at the scene. She remembered curling up with her own father when he read to them from a Nihon-Ja storybook. Of course, he didn't actually read from the book. He could speak the language well enough but reading it was a whole other concept. Her mother had translated most of the stories and tucked the papers between the pages so the girls could look at the pictures while their father read.

Kina leaned over and kissed Elizabet's forehead. Elizabet just smiled and tucked her tiny hands beneath her chin. Kineta kissed Sean before motioning for Scout to follow her. "Come on it seems like daddy's girl wants some time alone."

Scout followed Kineta to the upper deck. They leaned against the railing and let the sea spray against their faces. "Excited to be going home?" Kineta asked.

"Hibernia's my home now, remember?"

Kineta smiled gently. "Home's where you heart is. Where's your heart?"

Scout bit her lip and nodded her head towards the stairs that led to their stateroom. "Elizabet."

"Didn't expect that answer."

Scout smiled and looked back towards the sea. "I'm not really sure where my heart is anymore."

"Seems like you're growing up," Kineta told her.

"I was scared of that."

Kineta wrapped her arms around Scout and rested her chin on Scout's head. They leaned against the rail and giggled wildly. "Whatever you choose to do with your life, you're going to be great at it."

"How do you know?" Scout asked.

"You're seventeen."

"So?"

Kineta hugged her tighter. "I wasn't much older than you when I became second-in-command of the people who saved the Araluen Rangers and then played key roles in uniting Hibernia."

"I'm just a crown princess. Nothing much."

"The point," Kineta went on, "Is that you're at the age where your decisions will define the rest of your life."

"No pressure."

"I followed your father because he was a very good friend and made a lot of sense...I followed my heart thinking that if we won I'd be a military leader of some sort and if we lost I'd be dead. Instead I became the queen of Hibernia."

"What are you trying to say?"

"I'm saying that you have a lot of choices in front of you. Just because you decide to become the future queen or huntress or Royal Scout or whatever it is you choose doesn't mean that's what you'll actually become. Choices are important but they aren't the only things that define you. They simply show what sort of character you possess."

Scout smiled. "I've never heard it stated quite like that."

Kineta leaned up and squeezed her shoulders. "I didn't think so."

"So…what does all this mean?"

"It means to be yourself. That's all anyone can expect of you."

Scout looked back at the water. She really did have a lot before her and for the first time she was given basic advice on how to handle all of it. "That's so simple," she told Kineta.

Kineta rubbed Scout's back. "You'll figure it out. I'm going to see if Elizabet changed her mind about daddy-daughter time."

"You know she didn't," Scout said as Kineta put her hand on the door. Elizabet was a lot of things but indecisive wasn't one of them. When she settled down with Sean she'd refuse to leave his side until she decided it was time to go cuddle with her mother or cousin.

"Let me hope," Kineta jabbed. Scout shook her head and turned back to the sea. She was vaguely aware of Warden coming and leaning next to her.

"Princess," he said.

"I'm sorry I don't remember you," Scout teased.

"It's been awhile."

She smiled at him. "I've been busy with my new cousin."

"Elizabet? She seems like a sweet enough girl…very shy though. I haven't heard her say a word."

"She can't speak," Scout told him.

"What?" Warden asked.

"She's got this disorder called selective mutism. She was there when her birthparents died. The trauma took away her voice. When she tries to speak, I mean really tries, she breaks into a cold sweat and gets so anxious she trembles."

Warden shook his head. "That's terrible."

"There aren't many experts on it but she's slowly getting better. We're told all she needs is people to really act like her family and build trust."

"Seems like your family's done that."

"We're up to the actual using her voice steps now. She's getting better…slowly."

"Well I think she's charming."

Scout tucked a stray strand of hair behind her ear. "She reminds me of my little sister."

Warden brushed against her arm. "I think she's like you."

Scout spun and faced Warden squarely. "You think I'm charming?"

Warden swallowed hard. "You're a very beautiful girl, Scout. And you're normal, unlike other princesses I've met."

"I've been called a lot of things but normal isn't one of them."

Scout turned on her heel and tried to walk away but Warden caught her wrist. "I know it's inappropriate but I had to let you know."

"I understand," Scout replied. Beaten, he released her. Scout walked quickly to the bow of the ship. Warden didn't follow. She hadn't thought he would. She gripped the railing and stared at shining water. She swallowed hard. Warden made her feel things that were foreign to her. The feelings made her nervous and she wanted to run from them. She wasn't sure how long she was there but soon tiny hands tugged at her skirt. She looked down into Elizabet's dark eyes. Her new cousin smiled sweetly and held up her Flynn Masque book. "Which story?" she asked. Elizabet turned the book over and flipped around.

She stopped on Flynn Masque Meets the Rebel Leader. Scout smiled and nodded towards a large pile of grain sacks. The cousins climbed onto the top of the stack and shifted until they were comfortable. Elizabet, as usual, snuggled up to Scout's side. She grinned and kissed Elizabet's forehead. The child smiled widely and pointed impatiently to the book. Scout laughed and settled down as she began to read.