Of Kings and Queens

Part II/12/Emasculation/

•June, 2nd•

Robin knocked gently on Bill's open bedroom door. It was just as grand the ones from school, or even more so.

"Hey, got a minute?" She poked her head around to see him staring at a piece of paper with a frown on his face. When he looked up his face broke out into a smile.

"Sure." She stepped inside and took a seat on his bed. "So I have a favour to ask and I need you to not freak out."

"'You Pregnant?" He asked trying to make her laugh. He succeeded.

"No, but this is still kind of awkward. Come here-" Robin patted the bed beside her. He sat down.

"So?" He could practically feel the anticipation in the air. As thick as butter in the winter.

"Right," She made a cough-like sound as she straightened herself, "My period's going to start like-" She made a thoughtful face, "The second morning of the new month. And when I packed I hadn't anticipated I would be here this long. So-"

Bill's eyes flew wide open and jaw went slack. His nose crinkled and he started protesting verbally, "Why would tell me!" Yuck!"

She pursued her lips, and he noticed the look in her eyes. Maybe his reaction wasn't the best- For his physical welfare anyway. "It's natural! Stop being a soggy cabbage and tell me where I can get tampons, even though you live in the middle of fucking nowhere-"

He visibly recoiled, "Why do you have to use that word?"

"What? Tampons?"

"Yes. Please stop. It's making me uncomfortable."

"Get over yourself, every woman has to go through it." She was getting extremely frustrated. "What do you want me to call them? Blood sucking menstruation plugs?!" She gestured her hands around in exasperation, "Well?"

Bill hopped up from the bed, "Okay, Okay. I'll sort it out, don't worry." He was almost at his door when she spoke again.

"I always worry," She reminded him. He sighed, and leant his heaad against the wood of his door with a smile still resting on his face like a memory of happier times.

He said again, "I know."

•••

"So, dears, how was your day?" She asked everyone at the table. Before Christina could get an answer though, a snigger from farther down the table caught her attention. Robin was covering her mouth with her hand while Bill muttered something to her from across the width of the table. She glanced between them.

"I said how was your day, dear?" She repeated, now with a sly glint in her eye.

Bill started to answer her, interrupting the conversation in between him and Robin to answer his mother, "Well I-"

"-I was asking Robin, William." Christina chided gently,

"I had a lovely day, thank you for asking, Christina."

"Oh, I must inform you about an upcoming event. Of course, I needn't remind my son, who should not've forgotten," Her eyes focused in on Bill, "There's a Ball of some sorts to be happening on the 29th. I expect you both to join before you return home to America-"

"They're not going home, Mother. I've deemed it unsafe, end of story." Bill told her.

She and her husband seemed surprised. Her left eyebrow shot up, "Oh?"

Bill folded his arms, "Yes."

Christina excepted her son's determined look, but Martin seemed more reluctant. He gave Bill a long look.

After not a minute of silence, he announce to the twins in his usual friendly tone, "The more the merrier, right?"

Bill relaxed into his seat again, "Exactly, Father."

Robin and Perry both let out a silent sigh. The mood was pleasant and the conversation was flowing again at the table.

•••

It was only after dinner, when cleaning up with Christina that she realised something important. "Um, Christina?"

"Yes, dear?" She replied.

She coughed daintily to cover embarrassment, "I don't I think I have suitable clothing for this Ball,"

Christina turned to her, clapping her hand excitedly. "I was hoping this was going to happen," She said vaguely. "Follow me, I have some gowns from when I was younger. Although I fear I was a bit smaller than you, up top," She said.

Robin blushed violently at the thought of discussing that kind of topic with Bill's mother. She guided Robin to one of the higher floors in the castle, and stopped in front of a room Robin hadn't seen before. But that wouldn't be hard since Robin had only been there for a week. "Here we go," Christina announced as she opened the door.

The room itself wasn't very decorated, except from the grand wardrobe to the right. A dark, mahogany-looking wardrobe it was, in fact. The only other thing in the room was another door at the other end, and two soft armchair by a window. Robin stood awkwardly by the door while Christina started rummaging through the wardrobe in search of something.

A couple of minutes later, she came back to Robin holding up a gown worthy of a princess. "You want me to wear this? It looks like something a Queen would wear..." She trailed off. The dress was extremely soft under Robin's fingers, and it truly was beautiful.

"You are royalty, Robin, where we're going. Dar Daden is royalty, and you're the only living heiress left."

"What about my mother?"

"Well, you see, when one is disowned, they can never be reinstated to their name. But their children are automatically entitled to reclaiming the thrown, as long as an official member is present to vouch for them. To make sure they are indeed relatives." She stated in a monotonous tone, like from a handbook she had learned off by heart.

"So Perry and I are entitled to the Dar Daden fortunes?" Robin asked confusedly.

"Not unless your Aunt can vouch for you, but she's fallen off her rocker donkeys years ago," Christina laughed. "Oh please do were the dress, you'd look just darling in it."

"Okay, then. Thank you again, for letting me borrow it."

"Keep it, dear. I'm not going to wear it again." She handed her the dress with a smile, "Try it on."

"It's a bit... tight, Christina," Robin said as she stared in the mirror. Christina mumbled something about her hair being too short from behind her, with the curling iron hanging dangerously close to Robin's face.

"Don't mind that, Robin." She replied loud enough for her to hear. A few finishing touches later and Christina deemed Robin ready.

"What do you think?"