Ways Of Reality - The Untouched Scenes

Sweet Sweet Sunshine (Royal!AU)

Gil removed his hand from his wife's forehead, frowning still. "You are warm,"

"I know, my love."

"It will not go away..." He whispered, leaning back in his chair beside the bed and looking out the window.

It had been cloudy and rather chilly ever since they had been back to France, but it appeared to be clearing up some, the sun already starting to shine lazily over the fields nearby.

They would be going to Fontainebleau that evening to await their children the following day, but for right then, they were still in their little house in the country, and they would enjoy it for as long as they could.

God, their children... They hadn't seen them in such a long time, all they could hope was that those two were treated better than they were over the years. It had been six years. Six years already. Would their kids even remember them? And for their current state of health- would they even be able to recognize them?

Georges had been what the last time they saw him? Ten? Eleven? Oh, he must have changed so much, supposed to be nearly an adult now and they hadn't heard a word about him.

And Frances, hopefully she got better fast and was no longer ill as she had been when they first picked her up. There was the possibility that she might have died from it…

No, no, that wasn't true. Henry wrote and said that he was returning both the children home. Not just one, they'd be okay.

"Look Ariane," the Frenchman gestured to the window to show her what he was seeing.

She did turn her head, but didn't say anything in return. Just stared out the window to admire the sight. Yes, they had seen how the world just outside looked from that window time after time since they were teenagers and even over the last month, but it was different now.

With the sun finally shining that morning, even birds made sure to sing for the day. It was just so peaceful… they weren't trying to keep every window and door shut to keep out any drafts or rain today, that was for sure. Today, perhaps, the Sun would melt away their worries just for a while and loosen their stiff spirits.

"Let us go there."

"Oh, I am too sick to do that Gil, you know that…" Ari told her husband, holding out her hand in case he wanted to take it. "Do stay with me."

Although slightly upset with her reply, he nodded and took her hand, running his thumb over her knuckles as he thought.

Had her hands always been so small? Well, they were less small as they were boney, but that still wasn't normal. His wife certainly had never looked so frail and thin as she did now, it was just not possible. She was bright and lively and on top of the world like she owned it, but now she was sick and bedridden. It hurt him.

Stricken with a sudden urge to change their environment, he stood up and began to help his wife sit up in bed, aiming to get her out of it.

"What are you doing?" She had asked him, to which he only nodded his head back to the window. "Neither of us should be going outside, we could get hurt or more sick."

"I think," Gil responded, trying to muster up a voice louder than a whisper. "it will help."

He wanted to say more, about how the sun hadn't touched them in ages and that the fresh air would be good for them, or that he had never been one to want to stay inside all day, but he didn't. He had gotten accustomed to speaking again with Ariane around, but it was never much. It was always short and concise and to the point as to not waste time or breath. Ariane told him that that would change over some time, that he would be back to talking at light speed, and well, he could hope so.