Topic: A Visit to Rhy'Din

Josh Stuart

Date: 2020-01-29 18:28 EST
It seemed like an age since Dru and Josh had set foot in Rhy'Din, their public lives in Tirisano having grown more hectic in the past year. With the prince still ailing but holding onto power to give them time to come to grips with being parents, they had been granted leave to come back to Rhy'Din for a few weeks, with the proviso that they return before Dru gave birth. That gave them three weeks, at the very least, time they were looking forward to spending just as themselves and not as the heirs to power in a small principality to the south. Having checked in with Lena and the others at the Cove, they had spent a comfortable night in their own house on the beach before making their way to Maple Grove together, braving the cold, wintry weather to knock on the door of the big house and say hello for the first time in months.

The door to Maple Grove Manor opened as soon as Dru and Josh knocked on the door, as if those inside were eagerly awaiting their arrival. Jon greeted the pair with a wide grin and stepped forward to wrap his arms around his baby sister in a warm hug.

"Welcome home, Dru. We've missed you!"

Startled by the quick response, Dru couldn't help but laugh as her older brother pulled her into a warm hug, unsurprised to see Vicki lurking behind him, waiting to pounce on Josh the moment she could.

And pounce she did, 5'6" of cheerful redhead throwing her arms around Josh and planting a big kiss on his cheek. "Good grief, you're frozen! Come inside, both of you!"

"We only just got out of the car!" Josh pointed out with a chuckle as Jon and Vicki pulled him and Dru inside. It was cold out, but they hadn't really had much time to freeze just yet. He waited for the inevitable stampede of children that never came and looked a little puzzled. "Where are the troops?"

"Three at school, twins with Dani," Vicki told him in amusement. "We didn't think you would particularly want to be overwhelmed with children right from the get-go. They'll have plenty of time to crawl all over you in the next couple of weeks."

Smiling, Dru pulled back from Jon, undoing her coat as she did so. "Where's Humphrey?"

"In the study," Jon replied, moving to help Dru with her coat, beating Josh to it. "He's, uh ..." Jon frowned. "He isn't getting around so well these days."

"Is he okay?" Josh asked as he shrugged off his own coat, a concerned frown on his face.

"Winter always slows him down," Vicki said with a gentle smile, helping Josh with his coat. "Arthritis and cold do not get on. And he would never admit it, but he needs his afternoon nap in the study."

"So we should wait a while before we go and say hello to him?" Dru asked, smiling gratefully at Jon as he took her coat, wrapping her cardigan warm about her by-now quite prominent bump.

"That's probably a good idea," Jon replied, smiling as he got a look at Dru's bump. "Well, look at you. That baby looks like it's ready to pop any day now," he teased. "Boy or girl, or aren't we telling?"

"According to the doctor, we still have a month to go," Dru managed with a rueful smile, glancing over at Josh fondly. "We decided to be surprised. And that way, Jamie won't slip up and let it out of the bag before time."

"Is he liable to do that?" Jon asked, only having met Josh's older brother a few times and not knowing him very well. He took Josh's coat from Vicki and turned to hang them both in the closet.

"Let's just say, my brother has a hard time keeping a secret," Josh replied. "Hey, Vicki, how are you?" he asked, finally getting a chance to give his sister-in-law a proper greeting.

"Genuinely excited to see you two!" was Vicki's exuberant response. "Come on upstairs, I'll put the kettle on and we can have a comfy chat." She gestured for them to follow her, claiming Josh's hand to pull him up at her side.

Cosmo was nowhere to be seen or heard, apparently busy keeping Humphrey company in the study. It was a good time to visit, as the house was pretty quiet this time of day.

"After you," Jon said, ushering the pair on ahead of him.

"We were going to visit Des and Piper as well, but Lena said something about them going on vacation tomorrow?" Dru said as they walked up the stairs. "It didn't seem fair to just show up the day before they're gone for a week."

"How long are you planning on staying in Rhy'Din?" Jon asked, taking up the rear as the foursome made their way up the stairs.

"A few weeks," Josh replied. "We're supposed to be back before the baby is due to be born," he explained.

"Well, so long as the baby doesn't make a surprise appearance, you should have time to see them when they get back."

"We've got about thirty-three days until the due date, so I'd say we'll be here at least three weeks," Dru predicted. "We need this break before everything gets so much more hectic with a baby around."

"But you'll have help, right?" Jon asked, taking his time going up the stairs so as not to rush his very-pregnant baby sister.

"To a degree," Josh replied. After all, they didn't want someone else raising their child for them.

"I'm not giving our son or daughter to a wet-nurse and then not see them until they turn five," Dru pointed out. Just from her tone, it seemed she and Josh had already won this battle back in Tirisano. "They're just going to have to handle having a ....a queen who actually likes her family." That queen did not come out easily.

"Wait ....queen?" Jon echoed, coming to a halt near the top of the stairs. "Is your uncle really going to step down?" he asked. Or whatever the proper term was for a regent stepping down once a monarch was of age to take over the throne.

Dru sighed, nodding. "He hasn't really recovered from his stroke, although we've been keeping it quiet," she explained. "He'll abdicate, probably by the end of the year, and Parliament has voted to make Tirisano a kingdom, rather than a principality. So instead of the Princess, I'll be ....Queen."


Josh Stuart

Date: 2020-01-29 18:28 EST
"What's the difference?" Jon asked, as Vicki led the way to their set of rooms, where they had all the privacy they needed right there inside the main house.

"None, really," Dru admitted with a shrug. "Not in the practicalities. But it might make the other countries give us a little more consideration. It's a definite declaration of independence that we haven't made before."

"Independence from whom?" Jon pressed further. He could hardly keep track of Rhy'Din politics, much less the rest of the continent. Once they entered their apartment, Jon make his way to the kitchen to put the kettle on. "Coffee or tea anyone?"

"Tirisano was once just a principality of a bigger empire," Dru told him. "When it fell, all the regions declared their independence in different ways. This is centuries ago. It's part of the reason Tirisano is so insular."

Vicki frowned thoughtfully. "That does make sense," she mused. "So does that mean you're going to be a king, Josh?"

"I could, but I've decided I'd rather remain Prince Consort. The crown belongs to Dru, not me. I'll help her as much as I can, but I won't be king," Josh explained. "Coffee's fine," he belatedly replied to Jon.

"Why don't you make yourselves comfortable, while I get the tea and coffee going?" Jon suggested.

"Can I help?" Dru asked hopefully. "No one lets me do anything in a kitchen at home."

Vicki snorted with laughter at the mental image of Dru in full ceremonial regalia baking a cake, and looped her arm through Josh's. "Let's go and warm up the sofa," she suggested with a grin. "You can tell me all about your ceremonial tight pants."

"My what?" Josh said, laughing as Vicki drew him toward the living room, leaving Dru alone in the kitchen with her big brother.

Jon chuckled, knowing Vicki had probably done that on purpose in order to give him a little time alone with his baby sister. "You hungry?" he asked, debating whether to put together a plate of cookies or make little tea sandwiches.

"I am always hungry," Dru answered, her smile returning as she looked up at Jon. "It's only got worse since I started training as a monkey mom." She patted her bump happily.

"A monkey mom?" Jon echoed, brows furrowing in confusion. "Not sure what you mean by that." His gaze darted toward her bump, but only briefly, as if just looking at her bump might be considered rude.

"You know, like you and Vicki," she said with a teasing quirk to her smile. "Wandering around with your babies attached to you in various places. Pretty sure it's not dignified for a queen to have a toddler on her head while she's on the throne, but they can suck it."

"Oh," Jon murmured with a sigh of relief. "Well, there's only one in there, right?" he asked, not wanting to assume. "I mean, the first two were single births, so it's not like it happened overnight." He moved over to the coffee pot to get a fresh pot brewing before he went about filling the kettle.

"Yeah, just the one," she assured him. "Want to feel it' It's doing somersaults in there right now." She gestured to her bump, happy to invite her brother to feel his niece or nephew in utero.

"May I?" Jon asked uncertainly. It was no secret that he adored his sister and was eager to be an uncle, but he didn't want to make any assumptions.

"Of course you can." Dru smiled, opening her hands to underline the invitation. This was her brother, not someone random on the street who just wanted to touch the royal bump.

"Are you hoping for a boy or a girl?" he asked curiously, as he moved closer, holding out a tentative hand, as if silently asking for permission again.

Taking hold of his hand, she directed his palm to the most active place on the curve of her bump, where he could feel the movement inside. "I haven't really thought about it?" she admitted curiously. "I mean, everyone would assume that a boy will be king after me, but no matter which we have, they'll expect another one as a spare."

"I can feel him," Jon said, smiling brightly. "Or her," he corrected himself, his fingers gently splayed against his sister's bump, feeling the child moving inside. "Do you want more than one?"

"At least two," she told him merrily. "I want them to have as much of a choice as I can give them. So more than one child, so that there's no certainty of who will have to take the throne."

"Will they have a choice?" Jon asked, his hand lingering against her bump for a moment longer, laughing again as he felt the baby kick. "You've got a lively one there, Dru."

"It bodes well, doesn't it?" she agreed laughingly. "I'm determined that they will have a choice. I didn't, and I really struggled with it. I won't put my children in the same position."

"But one of them will have to inherit the throne," Jon pointed out. What if neither of them wanted it, or what if they only had one child" Who, then, would inherit the throne"

"I won't force that on my children," Dru said firmly. "If one of them wants it, then great. If not, then we'll cross that bridge when we come to it. Monarchy is a little out-dated, after all, even a working monarchy like ours."

Jon furrowed his brows, looking thoughtful. "You're not thinking of abdicating, are you?" he asked, unsure how he felt about that. While he'd love to keep Dru here at Maple Grove, it wasn't his decision to make.

"Not me, no." She smiled at her brother fondly. "I'll be the first Queen of Tirisano. Whether I'll be the last isn't my decision to make. And I am absolutely fine with that."

"We'll just have to make the most of your visits here, then," Jon said, returning her smile. He missed her - they all did - but he wasn't going to make her feel bad about it. "You know ..." he said, pulling his hand back at last, "I don't approve of my father's philandering, but I'm glad you're my sister."

Josh Stuart

Date: 2020-01-29 18:28 EST
She giggled softly. "I still have days when I want to kill him, you know," she admitted, "but I wouldn't change anything for all the world. You're my family, and I am very proud to be your little sister, Jon."

"I guess it's a good thing he's gone then," Jon remarked. Not only gone, but deceased. Though he knew it was just a figure of speech, Dru couldn't do their father any harm, even if she wanted to. "They say everything happens for a reason. I don't know about that, but I do know I'm proud to be your big brother, and you will always be welcome here."
He slung an arm around her shoulders to pull her into a gentle hug and pressed a kiss to the top of her head, since he towered over her. Then again, just about everyone towered over her.

She leaned into him, some small bit of tension easing away. Dru loved her visits back to Rhy'Din, when she could just be Dru, and not Princess Claudia with the weight of an entire realm on her shoulders, but nothing could compare to knowing that her siblings were proud of her.

"You're going to have to visit when the baby's born," she warned him. "To hell with protocol, you're family."

Jon chuckled at her statement. "Yeah, but no one else knows that. I won't have to wear a disguise, will I?" The last thing Jon wanted was his face plastered all over Tirisano newspapers publicizing a visit. Then again, he'd kept a pretty low profile the last few years, and it was likely no one would recognize him.

"No," she laughed. "We've got a circle set up in the palace now; no one sees us leaving for Rhy'Din, but that also means that no one will see you arrive in Itana."

"Perfect!" Jon replied, a grin on his face. They wouldn't see much of Tirisano that way, but that wasn't really the point of the visit. "What about the rest of the family' I'm sure you don't want us all there at the same time." He moved over to check on the kettle, which was hissing its readiness.

"You, Des, Lena, and Jack," Dru said promptly. "And families, obviously. I actually get maternity leave once I pop for real, too. We were hoping to come back to Rhy'Din about a week after the birth for another couple of weeks, so we'll be around for the rest of them, too."

"That's quite a group," Jon remarked, but agreed that no one should be left out. "Des and Piper are in Hawaii right now, but they should be back in a week or so."

"Well, I'm not due for at least three weeks, so I'm sure we'll see them before we have to go back to officially produce the next "heir" in the right country." Dru flashed him a grin. "You haven't given me anything to do yet."

"What happens if you go into labor here?" Jon asked. Not that that would happen, but he was just curious. "Um, would you like to make the tea?" he asked, now that the water was ready.

"We'd have to rush back to Tirisano," she admitted, reaching to load up the teapot now she had a job to do. She might not be the world's greatest cook, but she could manage tea. "It's one of those traditions that we can't really skate around - royals have to be born in the country."

"And if they aren't?" he asked curiously. How would anyone know anyway' Would there be a crowd of people at her bedside to witness the birth, or was it just a matter of a few people bearing witness"

"It's a tradition, Jon," she said gently. "There probably wouldn't be any problem, but it's not something anyone really wants to risk."

"Just curious," he said, reaching into the cupboard to gather coffee and tea fixings. "I suppose if anyone knew your father was my father, there'd be a scandal."

"Yeah, there would be," she sighed reluctantly. "There was enough trouble over the fact that I was born out of wedlock. They're very ....conservative ....some of the influential people back there."

"So, how do you explain our visit?" he asked. There were probably a few trusted people in Tirisano who knew the truth of Dru's bloodline, but not many.

"The palace knows," she said gently. "And when I say "the palace", I mean everyone who works there. They all sign non-disclosures before they're hired on anyway, but I have no reason to think any of them would give away the truth. If you fuck over the royal family in Tirisano, even if the information is sensational, you're not welcome there anymore. Leaking the truth would be the same as forcing yourself out of house and home."

"And no one would be tempted to do that?" he asked, assuming the people who worked there were very well screened and trusted. And no one outside of the palace would even know they'd been there.

"Would you?" she asked in turn. "Would you give up a prestigious, well-paid job, and any chance of being welcome in your home country, just for a bit of ready money?"

"Well, no, not when you put it that way," Jon said, with a light shrug of his shoulders. He couldn't help but be a little overly cautious, but that was his nature.

"It must seem very trusting of us, but we've never had any reason not to trust them," Dru told him with a smile. "They could have leaked the information when we got married, but they didn't. Why would they do it now?"

"I'm just being a worry-wart," Jon said, waving a hand at her to dismiss his own worries. "That's what happens when you work in the entertainment business." Or maybe that's just what happens when you're a Granger.

"Xoren makes sure of everyone who works with us," she told him. If anyone could be trusted with the safety and secrets of the Iarocci royal house, it was her life-long bodyguard, who had risen to Head of Security in recent years. "And besides, we have ways to get all of you to Jamie and Keira's townhouse without being seen if you would rather not risk being around in the palace."

"You've made your point. I'll try to stop worrying," Jon said, smiling. It was hard sometimes, considering everything the Grangers had been through in the last decade or so, but he'd managed to travel to Edinburgh with Vicki for the holidays without having a panic attack, so there was no reason to think a visit to Tirisano would be any different.

"You'll never stop worrying," Dru predicted with an impish smile, nudging him with one elbow as she secured the lid on the teapot. "It's one of your endearing traits."

Josh Stuart

Date: 2020-01-29 18:29 EST
"Endearing or annoying?" Jon said, not really expecting an answer to that. He was getting better at it anyway, worrying less as time went on. He mostly worried about his family's safety these days, than that of himself, and that included Dru.

"Definitely endearing." She twisted to hug him, ignoring the enthusiastic wriggling in her bump that he had to have felt as well. "I like knowing you're worrying about me, and not just the whole princess thing."

"Of course, I worry about you!" Jon said, smiling a little as he felt the baby shift inside her belly. "Looks like Junior wants to add his two cents," he said, though they didn't yet know whether the baby was a boy or a girl.

"I wouldn't mind having a performer on our hands here," Dru admitted, giggling as she eased back. "Shall we take all this into the living room and rescue my husband from your wife?"

Jon chuckled. "I doubt he needs rescuing, but sure. Allow me," he said, moving over to take up a tray with the tea fixings. It was heavier than it looked, and he didn't want her to have to carry it when he was perfectly capable.

Perhaps Jon had spoken too soon, because as they walked back into the living room, Vicki was saying, "....a few good orgasms a day will do wonders for her tension, trust me."

Thankfully, Jon was so accustomed to Vicki's blunt honesty that he didn't drop the tray. He did chuckled a little to himself though as he set the tray on the coffee table.

"Thank you, Doctor Ruth. I'm sure Josh needed that bit of advice," Jon said, with obvious sarcasm.

"We've done this three times, we have great advice to give," Vicki said, without even a hint of shame. She grinned up at her husband. "Mind you, you could probably give Dru some advice," she added, knowing perfectly well that this was one story he had not shared with his baby sister.

Jon frowned, not terribly fond of that particular incident, though it did give him a better understanding and appreciation for pregnancy and childbirth. "If I recall correctly, there weren't any orgasms involved in that incident," he said, as he poured a cup of tea for Dru and then Vicki.

"What incident?" Josh asked, looking from Vicki to Jon and back again.

Vicki's grin did not fade; this was one of her favorite stories to share. "Oh, we spent a day a few weeks before Emily was born in each other's bodies," she said off-handedly. "He was adorably grumpy."

Dru snorted with laughter, looking between them incredulously. "Wait ....are you serious?"

Jon narrowed his eyes at Vicki. "Adorable, my ass," he muttered. "I will forever appreciate how hard it is to walk in high heels," he said, hinting that the story was true. One of the first things he'd done after the body switch was change shoes.

"I did warn you," Vicki countered with a low laugh, claiming her tea cup and leaning back comfortably.

Dru was staring at them both. "Jon ....you've been pregnant," she said, beginning to giggle. "That's amazing."

"Actually, no ..." Jon contradicted as he handed Josh the afore-promised cup of coffee. "I haven't been. I just spent 24 hours or so in Vicki's body. She's the one who was pregnant." As if there was a difference.

"And?" Josh prodded, still not sure he believed whether the story was true or they were putting him on.

"It was a baby shower present," Vicki explained. "Mataya's daughter, Juno, thought it was a good idea, but she didn't tell us about it. It just happened as far as we were concerned."

"It was a learning experience, for sure. And one I will never forget, but honestly' I have no desire to be a woman!" Jon said, laughing again as he poured a cup of tea for himself, fixed it the way he liked it and settled himself on the couch beside Vicki. "And you don't make a very good man either," he remarked with a grin.

"No, I was far too emotional," she agreed cheerfully, not half as annoyed by the memory as Jon seemed to be. "I honestly have no idea how you men walk with those things swinging in between your legs."

Dru choked, spluttering on her tea as she inhaled the drink trying not to laugh out load.

"Yeah, well, I have no idea how you manage to stay in that contraption from hell you call a bra all day," Jon countered, not even bothering to hide the smirk on his face. He wasn't really annoyed by the memory of what had happened so much as he was by the perceived humiliation of it.

Wiping her mouth, Dru settled back beside Josh, still giggling at the silly banter between the other couple. Whether it was the truth or not, it was entertaining. "Does Emily know she was carried by both her parents?"

Josh patted Dru on the back so she wouldn't choke while she wiped her mouth, still unsure if he believed their story. "Are you sure you didn't just imagine it?" he asked the pair doubtfully.

"Believe me, Josh," Jon replied. "I had the blisters to prove it."

"You can ask Humphrey, too," Vicki said. "He tricked Jon into giving the game away pretty early on in the day. He found it very funny."

"It wasn't a game, Vicki. I came close to giving birth!" Jon said, though that was a bit of an exaggeration. He'd felt some contractions, but he'd never been in danger of giving birth.

She snorted with laughter. "No, you really didn't, stud muffin," she assured him.

Dru rolled her eyes, glancing at Josh. "Should we find out if we could give that a go?" she asked her husband sweetly.

"Uh, no thanks!" Josh was quick to reply, apparently in no hurry to switch places with Dru. "I'm perfectly happy as I am, thanks very much!"

Josh Stuart

Date: 2020-01-29 18:29 EST
Jon chuckled at his brother-in-law's quick response. "Wise man," he muttered.

"Coward," was Vicki's comment, though it was offered with a grin and a wink.

Dru just giggled again, cuddling into his side. "I don't mind being the pregnant one," she admitted. "It's surprisingly comforting having a bump to cuddle when Josh isn't around."

"Even more comforting when the baby is born," Josh pointed out helpfully.

"More exhausting, too," Jon remarked, that knowing smirk still on his face. "But it's worth it," he added, looking to Vicki with a soft smile.

"Definitely," Vicki agreed, her own smile mirroring Jon's. "And you two did it in the right order, as well!" She grinned, sipping her tea, glad to be able to enjoy a quiet moment with family again.

"Well, we wouldn't want to create a scandal," Josh admitted, smiling knowingly. That wasn't really the reason they'd waited to have a child though; it was simply a matter of waiting until they were ready.

Dru rolled her eyes. "My mere existence is scandalous enough," she agreed. "And, you know ....I wasn't exactly a fully grown adult when we got married." Vicki smirked. "Grown up enough for a wedding night."

"I never thought I'd say this, but maybe it's a good thing my father met your mother. Otherwise, Tirisano wouldn't have an heir and we wouldn't have you," Jon pointed out.

"Maybe?" Vicki turned an incredulous look onto her husband, laughing at his turn of phrase. "Nice work downplaying how much you adore having a baby sister there."

"That's not what I mean, and you know it!" Jon argued, poking his wife in the shoulder. "Dru and I were just talking about that in the kitchen. I don't condone what my father did, but he did give me a couple of siblings I wouldn't have had if he'd kept it in his pants."

Vicki laughed, batting at his hand. "You're so easy to tease, honey-buns," she told her husband. "I love you."

Dru tilted her head toward Josh. "Are we that mushy?"

Jon smiled, so relieved Vicki was only teasing that he leaned in to brush a kiss against her lips in reward.

Josh laughed. "Yeah, I think we are," he told Dru, without apology.

"D'aww," Dru teased, grinning at her husband. "You're adorable."

Across the way, Vicki nudged Jon, nodding toward the younger pair. "Cutest parents ever."

"Cuter than us?" Jon asked, grinning in amusement. Younger, anyway.

"You are cute," Josh admitted, nudging Dru. "Can't argue with that."

Dru made a face at Josh before laughing a little helplessly. "You're impossible to argue with anyway," she pointed out. "You're always relentlessly logical in the face of my emotional outbursts."

Jon chuckled. "That's the exact opposite of us," he remarked, with a knowing look at Vicki. Maybe it was a Granger trait, but he didn't think so.

"I don't think I'm impossible to argue with," Vicki said thoughtfully. "I think arguing can be fun. Especially when you know the making up will be ....energetic."

"Oh gods, I do not need to know this about my brother's relationship!" Dru protested laughingly.

"Energetic is an interesting word for it," Jon muttered, snickering to himself. "You did not need to know that I spent twenty-hours as a woman either, but now you know."

"A pregnant woman," Josh interjected helpfully with a smirk of his own. "And no, thanks. I am perfectly happy as a man."

"Jon was pretty happy with the massage he got from me that evening," Vicki offered innocently. She knew perfectly well she was winding Jon up ridiculously at this point, but she wasn't worried. He always forgave her. Eventually.

Josh smirked. "Are you trying to bribe me, Vicki?" he asked, unable to hide the sparkle of mischief from his eyes. "Besides, wouldn't you feel a little awkward giving me a massage?"

Jon's jaw dropped open momentarily at Josh's remark before he broke into a fit of laughter.

"Not if you were in Dru's body," Vicki answered, sweetly deadpan with her own spark of mischief. "After all, there wouldn't be anything I haven't seen before." Dru snorted, rolling her eyes. "You are both incorrigible."

"I wouldn't trust her if I were you," Jon murmured a warning to Josh, loud enough for Vicki to overhear. The smirk on his face was enough to tell them both he was kidding. After all, it hadn't been Vicki's fault he'd ended up in her body; the person to blame there had been Juno.

"You're both awful, and I have no idea why I love you so much," Dru declared, tossing her head with a wicked little smile on her face.

Vicki's grin deepened in response. "Aww, look at that," she teased. "The little actress is all growed up!"

"Because we're family," Jon was quick to reply, though in truth that was hardly the reason. He'd learned that family didn't always automatically mean you cared about each other, even if it was an unbreakable bond. "I'm proud of you, Dru," he said, following Vicki's teasing praise. "Like I said before, you and Josh will always have a place here, whenever you want it."

"Our kids are going to know they're Grangers as well as Stuarts," Dru said confidently. "I don't want it to be a deep dark secret for the rest of my life. Once we're well and truly settled, with an heir and a spare, I have every intention of telling our people who my father was." She paused briefly before adding, "I will tell you in advance when I'm going to do it, though."

Josh Stuart

Date: 2020-01-29 18:30 EST
Jon frowned at the mention of their father once again. It was a subject that was something of a black hole in his memory, but one that he knew would not be a pleasant memory anyway. "I wouldn't blame you if you didn't," he confessed.

"I'm not ashamed to be a Granger," she said firmly. "To be your little sister, and to be a part of this amazing family. But I won't release any information without talking it over with the family first."

"I appreciate that, Dru," Jon replied, trying not to get choked up. He, too, was proud to be a Granger, but he wasn't terribly proud of his father's reputation. Then again, he didn't think the sins of the father should reflect in any way on his children. "Anywho, we really should go say hullo to Humphrey, you know. He'll never forgive us if we keep hogging you all to ourselves."

"Yes, he will be absolutely desperate to feel up your bump," Vicki agreed with a low chuckle. Humphrey's adoration of babies and children started with them in the womb, but she had yet to meet the woman who objected to all that twinkly-eyed charm of his.

Josh laughed. "So long as it's just the bump he's feeling up," he said, looking amused. "Maybe we should start charging a fee for each grope," he suggested, with a wink at Dru.

"Well, we'd get rich quick, but I think I might also be arrested for attempted murder," Dru answered, with the air of someone who had seriously considered all this a while ago.

Jon laughed. "We're already rich," he pointed out, speaking for all four of them. Not only were they Grangers - by marriage and by blood - but Dru and Josh were also royalty. None of them were in need of extra cash.

"And you can't be arrested, you have diplomatic immunity," Vicki added in amusement. "Come on, love birds. Let's go and wake up the guardian at the grate."

"Not to mention Cosmo," Jon remarked. The dog was getting older, but he was still pretty spry and would be as excited to see their guests as the old man.

"All right." Dru raised her hands expectantly. "Someone pull me up, I've sunk into the couch."

Vicki chuckled at this, remembering that feeling only too well. Jon had a lot of practise pulling her up from various sitting and lying positions while she was heavily pregnant.

Though Jon might have had a lot of experience at it, it was Josh who helped Dru to her feet, one arm wrapped around her waist. It wasn't more than a month or so before the baby was due, and Josh knew Dru was starting to get uncomfortable. Though he wished there was something he could do to help, he wasn't too keen on the idea of swapping bodies with her to give her a break. He wasn't even convinced Jon and Vicki weren't just pulling his leg about it. As for Jon, he only smiled as he looked on and went about gathering up cups and spoons and taking them to the kitchen for washing.

"Why don't you two go on ahead and we'll meet you there in a few?" he suggested.

"If you are sure," Dru said, leaning briefly on Josh as her head swam. The change from sitting to standing was a little woozy-making these days.

"Of course we are," Vicki said confidently. "Go on, he should be awake by now. He'll be so pleased to see you."

"He won't bite!" Jon assured them, though whether he was referring to Humphrey or Cosmo wasn't clear.

"But give him two minutes to find his teeth, and he might," Vicki called from the kitchen.

"Well, that's encouraging," Josh said, chuckling as he waited for Dru to let him know she was ready to move on.

Dru dissolved into giggles as she straightened up, sliding her hand into Josh's. "I think we should go before she gets even bawdier."

They might have heard Vicki squeal from the kitchen as Jon goosed her, as Josh led Dru into the hallway outside Jon and Vick's rooms. "I'm incorrigible?" Josh said, chuckling. "I do not want to know what's going on in there."

"Never let it be said that their relationship isn't healthy," Dru giggled, taking her time as they walked toward the stairs. "Have to admit, it's nice to just sit and talk without the children insisting on having attention every ten minutes."

"They seem pretty happy," Josh admitted, kids or no. "Five kids is a bit much though. I think I'd be happy with two," he remarked, though he thought it admirable that their fifth child had been adopted.

"Jon was fairly sure he wanted an even half dozen for a while there," Dru pointed out in amusement. "I'd like two or three, but I wouldn't object if we had more."

"Really?" Josh asked, brows arching upwards in surprise at her claim. "What's your magic number, then?" he asked curiously, as they started to slowly navigate the stairs.

"Four?" she suggested. She wasn't quite as set on a huge family as some of her siblings, but four seemed to be a magic number. And it offered a reasonable chance of not ending the monarchy one generation after it began for real.

"Hmm," Josh murmured thoughtfully. "Do twins run in Jon's family or Vicki's?" he asked curiously. If there was a chance they'd have twins, they might be able to hit her magic number with fewer pregnancies, but there was no predicting it ....unless they looked into the future somehow.

"Um ....Jon's, I think," she said, though she wasn't too sure. There were a few pairs of twins in the Granger family, but Gabi was an outlier there, having been adopted herself. "We might be due some, but on the other hand, we might not."

"There's no predicting the future, I guess," Josh admitted. As far as Josh was concerned, the future wasn't set in stone. Even if they could look into the future, they'd only see possibilities, not certainties.

"So long as my future has you in it, I really don't mind." Dru smiled at him as they reached the ground floor, gently nudging her shoulder against his arm. From the study came the sound of a quiet bark, and the murmur of Humphrey's voice indulgently disciplining Cosmo for his noisiness.

Josh Stuart

Date: 2020-01-29 18:30 EST
"I'm not going anywhere," he promised her, though she knew that already. As far as "Old Man Granger was concerned, Josh had only met the old man a few times, but as Prince Consort of Tirisano, he was accustomed to meeting with elderly statesmen, which, in a way, was what Humphrey Granger was. "Shall we?" he asked, looking Dru's arm through his.

"Oh, let's," she agreed, turning toward the study with a smile. "Maybe this time you'll manage to actually call him by name without letting him fluster you."

"To be honest, I'm not sure what to call him," Josh whispered back, in hopes the old man wouldn't overhear him. Mr. Granger" Humphrey' Uncle Humphrey' Hey, you?

"I recommend Mr Granger until he tells you otherwise," Dru suggested. "He's really not that scary, sweetheart, you know that. He's just an old man."

From inside the study, a familiarly grumpy voice said, "With sharp ears, young lady."

Nothing wrong with the old man's hearing it seemed. Josh winced, hoping to avoid a lecture. She might be the heir to the principality of Tirisano, but in this house, she was just another Granger. An intimidating old man, Josh thought to himself, but left that unsaid, lest the old man overhear him.

Dru, on the other hand, just laughed. "It's rude to eavesdrop, Humphrey," she called back through the door, greeted by the sound of the old man chuckling.

"Oh, I do beg your pardon, your majesty."

Dru rolled her eyes, looking up at Josh. "Come on, then."

Josh lifted his brows, a little surprised at the banter between them. Maybe he wasn't so intimidating, after all. Or maybe he just preferred sassy young women. He nodded his assent, taking a deep breath to prepare himself for the old man's scrutiny. "Ready when you are."

Smiling, Dru lead her husband into the warm, book-lined study, where Old Man Granger sat in his large, padded armchair by the fire, Jon's dog by his feet and a twinkly-eyed smile on his face. "You've put on weight, Drusilla," he said by way of greeting, tilting his head for her to kiss his cheek.

"I intend to lose most of it in a hurry in a few weeks, Humph," she assured him with a laugh.

Humphrey chuckled, nodding as he looked to Josh. "Am I still scaring you, your highness?"

Josh assumed Humphrey's eyesight wasn't so bad that he couldn't tell Dru was pregnant, and this was just more banter between the two. Josh actually flushed a little as the old man addressed him formally. "I'm just Josh in Rhy'Din, sir," he assured the man.

"Then why do you insist on calling me sir, hmm?" Humphrey seemed to be in a determinedly good mood today, offering his hand to greet Josh as Dru turned to tug a chair closer. "If you are just Josh, then I am Humphrey. Or Humph, as your cheeky wife insists on calling me."

"Humphrey," Josh repeated. Duly chastened, he leaned forward to take the man's hand and give it a brief but firm handshake. "Thank you for inviting us," he added, though he assumed the invitation had actually come from Jon and Vicki.

"You are always welcome here, Josh," Humphrey assured him. "It's wonderful to see you. And so soon to be a father, too - how is that weighing on you?" He smiled, gesturing for Josh to take a seat.

"I am twenty-six, sir ....er, Humphrey," Josh pointed out. Though he knew he looked younger, he felt a lot older than his twenty-six years. But that didn't answer the man's question. He took a seat near Dru and reached for her hand, a soft smile on his face at the man's question. "I am nervous, but excited."

"Speaking from experience, the nervousness never truly goes away," Humphrey said cheerfully. "But it is worth it, in its own way. There is something very fulfilling in raising a child and seeing it thrive. I assume you don't know the gender yet?"

"No, sir," Josh said, forgetting again that he was supposed to address the old man as Humphrey. It was a difficult thing to do when such a man held a position deserving of his respect. "We will be equally happy with a boy or a girl, so long as the baby is healthy," he replied, as most any new parent would.

To his credit, Humphrey let the "sir" go, acknowledging that this was a product of Josh's upbringing in its way. "And I understand that you are both expected to take full power by the end of the year as well?"

Dru looked surprised; that wasn't supposed to be general knowledge yet, but Humphrey did keep in touch with Josh's father.

"Uh," Josh mumbled, looking to Dru for a reaction. He wasn't sure whether he should confirm or deny that bit of news, as it wasn't public knowledge just yet.

Humphrey's expression gentled. "The information is safe with me," he promised them both. "I believe Oliver informed me so that I would not be surprised when it is made public in a few months' time."

Dru nodded, squeezing Josh's hand. "That makes sense," she agreed. "The Stuart men are incredibly thoughtful like that."

"Well, two of them are anyway," Josh remarked, with a smirk. He was purposely leaving his brother out of that equation, but his teasing was all in good fun, even if it was at his older brother's expense. Too bad the older Stuart brother wasn't there to defend himself.

Dru snorted with laughter, but Humphrey got there first with the comment. "Don't look at me, Drusilla, you married him."

This made Dru burst out laughing, leaning back in her seat as Humphrey grinned innocently at Josh.

"That is not what I ..." Josh started, a little defensively before heaving an exasperated sigh. "Never mind," he murmured. Dru, at least, had to know he'd meant his brother. He looked back at Humphrey to find the man grinning and realized he was teasing. "You know what I mean!" he said, relaxing enough to smile back. Though Jamie was the elder of the two and had been groomed to take over the duchy someday, it had been Josh who had unexpectedly been elevated to prince consort.

Josh Stuart

Date: 2020-01-29 18:30 EST
Humphrey chuckled, glad the younger man had worked out his joke had been turned around on him. "Naturally I do," he said, as though this was self-evident. "How long are you staying here with us" I'm going to insist on at least one dinner here with me while you are visiting."

And that quickly, the matter of his brother - incompetent or otherwise - was dropped. "A few weeks, at least," Josh replied, though a lot of his answer depended on the baby. "We need to be back in Tirisano for the, er, main event," he informed the old man.

"Understandably." Humphrey nodded in agreement. "But rest and relaxation before the main event is never unwelcome, I suspect."

Dru smiled as she nodded. "You're not wrong," she admitted, glancing at Josh. "I don't think either of us realized just how much Uncle Julius does in the running of the country, but we've taken over most of it now. Things shouldn't change too much over the coming months."

"And we'll have help," Josh pointed out, both in the way of child care and advisors to help them run the country. It was too much for just two people to do everything all by themselves.

"That is good," Humphrey agreed. "Any more troubles with your corporations or Parliament recently?" It seemed as though Humphrey stayed abreast of the developments in Tirisano, likely out of his protective instinct over those he was fond of.

"Not lately," Josh remarked, though he wasn't sure if things would always go as smoothly as they had recently. How would the people react to a true kingdom - or more accurately, queendom -  in place of a principality"

"That is good to note." Humphrey leaned back with a smile. "And popular opinion seems very excited about the idea of being a formalized kingdom. The few native Tirisans here in Rhy'Din are remarkably proud of you, you know."

"They are?" Josh asked, brows arching upwards. He wasn't even aware of any Tirisans living in Rhy'Din, though he supposed there must be a few. "How do you know all this?" he asked, curiously.

"I read your newspapers, Joshua," the old man pointed out, gesturing to his desk, where a small pile of news-sheets betrayed how he stayed up to date with everything that might affect his family. "And we employ those few Tirisans."

But not even the newspapers told everything. "And you know my father," Joshua pointed out. And presumably Dru's uncle, as well. But he wasn't too sure whether Humphrey kept informed about current events in Tirisano because of Dru or just because he liked to be know what was going on in the world.

"I do," Humphrey agreed. "We are both old men in a world where our children, and our children's children, will be taking a significant role. We like to compare notes from time to time."

"That sounds vaguely ominous," Dru murmured.

"Not necessarily," Josh remarked, overhearing Dru. "I mean, we should learn from our elders, so we don't make the same mistakes that have been made in the past," he said. He didn't want it to sound like he was blaming older generations for problems, but like the old saying went: If you didn't learn from the mistakes of the past, you were at risk of repeating them.

"So ....we should develop an international spy network?" Dru suggested with a smile. "That sounds like fun. We could be the hub of all expert espionage on Rhy'Din."

"Uh, that's not what I meant either," Josh said, as Dru turned his words around on him, just like Humphrey had. They really were too much alike, at times. "I mean, why do you think it's ominous?" he asked.

"The whole ....significant role in the world, and having these two keeping a close eye on us," she said, gesturing to Humphrey. "You don't find that ominous" Maybe it's a hormones thing."

"Well, it's not like they're telling us what to do," Josh said, though he did expect her uncle to advise them, at least, from time to time.

"I know," she said quietly. "But we have to stand on our own feet some time."

"But not just yet," Humphrey told them gently. "Independence is a fine thing, but it can be very isolating. You are not alone, either of you."

Josh opened his mouth to speak, but Humphrey beat him to it. In the end, the decision-making might be up to them, but he saw nothing wrong in seeking the advice of those who were more experienced than they were.

"Thank you," he told Humphrey, giving Dru a look that said, Be nice.

She rolled her eyes, muttering an apology to Humphrey because of that look. The old man bit down on a chuckle, showing only a grin to Josh at the surprisingly sulky response of a young woman who was going to be crowned a queen before the year was out.

Josh and Dru rarely disagreed, but it seemed they had slightly different expectations for their elders' roles in their lives. Maybe it was just the fact that Josh had never expected to fill this role, while Dru had been raised to it. He wasn't sure, but he assumed they might be discussing this again later.

Humphrey chuckled at their expressions. "You'll get used to this as parents," he warned them cheerfully. "The young rarely enjoy listening to the old, but the wise will take advice when it is offered."

Dru's sulky expression melted into a soft smile. "Point taken."

Josh thought telling their son or daughter to put away their toys was a little different than telling someone how to run a country, but he, too, got the point. "It's certainly going to be different than how things have been run in the past," Josh remarked. "And, no, I've decided not to take on the title of king."


Josh Stuart

Date: 2020-01-29 18:31 EST
"I did not think you would," Humphrey admitted gently. "The title of king suggests that the power lies with the man, somewhat diminishing the influence of the queen. In your case, the queen is the rightful heir. In this situation, queen and prince consort is the wise choice."

"I think so, too," Josh said, in agreement with Humphrey, glad the old man agreed with him on this. He knew there might be people who thought he married Dru for the power, but that wasn't the case. His father might have hoped for a political match to end this way, but he and Dru had married for love.

The old man smiled at the pair of them. "You are both doing remarkably well," he pointed out. "And it is lovely to see you both. I hope you have enough opportunity to relax while you are here."

"I hope so, too. We don't get much opportunity to relax back home," Josh pointed out, relaxing a little bit in the old man's company. "What about you? How are you doing" How are things in Rhy'Din?" he asked, shifting the focus of the conversation away from them.

"Ah, my favourite topic of conversation!" Humphrey was only too happy to fill them in on what was going on with the Grangers, with Rhy'Din, with the theater, anything they expressed an interest in, filling the afternoon with warm conversation to keep them entertained. He really was just a soft grandpa these days, once you got to know him.

After a few hours, it was Jon who finally interrupted their visit to let them all know that dinner was ready. Dinner at Maple Grove Manor was not always a fancy affair, but it was a time for those who lived in the house to gather together and share conversation and companionship with each other, including the children. Tonight, Josh and Dru were part of that gathering, witness to the organized chaos that was dinnertime at the manor.

With five children, it was never going to be a peaceful affair, but somehow Humphrey sat through it all with a happy smile on his face, eventually ending up with Chris on his lap, sharing his dinner with the youngest boy of the group. Dru was saved from having Maddie on her lap by means of the bump, but that meant that Josh got to be the throne for the youngest girl. Thankfully, Bea had Emily pretty much under control, so it was just the toddlers and Ben demanding the adults' attention.

Despite the chaos, most of the food ended up in their mouths and not on the floor, and there wasn't any food flying through the air either. Though Jon and Vicki were pretty lenient with their children, they had raised them with a decent sense of manners, at least where dinnertime was concerned. Josh observed how Humphrey seemed in his glory, and wondered if the family surrounding him wasn't what kept the man alive and vital, despite his age.

It made Dru wonder if this was what her uncle would be like in a few years, or Josh's father, Oliver. Surrounded by grandchildren and happy to be so. It didn't seem like a bad way to spend twilight years.

And if Josh and Dru could give them that, why not' It was the least they could do, when they'd done so much for them. The royal family had taken too many hits in the last few years. It was time to make it rock-solid again.