touch me and you'll burn..♔

Oh, belle, they are but young hommes. Surely they can have their fun with a little mischief. 

Right, well, I can’t say I’m quite at that point again yet. ‘Tis alright, Lizzie, everything is supposed to get chunky while you’re pregnant, you’re only just noticing.

Ye mean to tell me I'm not only getting older but I'm getting fatter.. and I only just noticed this.. Well, as long as I make it look flattering...and God knows I make everything look flattering..   

Well, poison was always our method of choice. I still wear the ring, of course.

As I do mine. Now, of course with being pregnant my finger is getting quite chunky but nae, still on. Just a little tight... But alright, who first?  

People. Such bloody nuisances. Especially those closest to us.

Right. Don't know when to tell when one wants some private time to remember - what was it? Gruesome memories of days spent locked in a dungeon. Such irritating people. Whatever shall we do with them?

Well, it would not be the first time, would it? Forgive me for thinking I could reflect on the gruesome details without interruption. 

Oh, same sister, I just hate when that happens. 

Good thing I didn’t ask if you were just getting fat… I only jest. So, this means I will be an uncle a 20th time again, yes? I am not even trying to exaggerate. Aidan and myself lost count after the sixth one. Sometimes, I think you do not care for me at all. That is just cruel. I can barely handle my own children let alone thinking about Lucrezia coming in and driving me even more off the border of Portugal. I tell you, I’ll go mad. Maybe it’s just best if I kept to the ale. I’ll let Addi handle the whole cigar ordeal. Sim, after this visit, I’ll go back to England with you then. I need something different.

The 20th time. Yes,that only means that. Though - I'm not quite sure where the other 14 are.  Stop your exaggerations ye big bumbling idiots. There's only.. 1..4..6?..Oh god..  I can always send Donatie towards ye too. Pull your hair, bite your leg, never leave ye alone - that one is terrible.  What? I would think sending your nieces towards ye would show that I do care instead of otherwise...Having them spent some time with their darling uncle is showing I care.. Oh! Ye are coming back with me? Lucrezia, Henry, George, Richard! Uncle is coming back with us!

Sounds like the opposite problem I have with Noah— believes he is above playing with the others because he’s thirteen now. Headaches I tell ye, headaches.

'Tis one of the moments where Amelias tea would probably come in handy. 

Well, look at that, ye were obviously wrong. Addison. 

Well, I do hope that they grow out of this soon— I’m too old to be chasing after them at all hours of the day. ‘Tis good to see ye again too, Lizzie.

Donati - one of my youngest, that's my biggest headache. Wants to run around with her brothers and sister and can barely catch up.   All ye can hear are her little feet stomping on the ground and then a loud wail when they don't take her with them.  Please, too old - look at ye, 'tis like you have not aged on bit.  How have ye been, Mar? Besides the pains of motherhood. 

Si, Hello.. - Still have that murderous look don’t ye? I shall inform Lena I’m sleeping on the ship while we are here. 

It's always going to be there, ye don't get to be Queen without a murderous look.  And ye still an idiot, I see - ye know if I wanted ye dead t'would have happened long time ago by now.  A tinge of poison in your wine, in your food, at war and made it look like t'was  done by the opponent or in a playful joust.. but I have never wanted ye dead, Gabriel. Ye can rest easy, Your Grace. 

No…

Yes.  Hello. 

Oh, not to worry. I have plenty of those in my beard — all the more reason why I shave. See, you are alone in the process of getting old. Do your bones crack yet? I am… not too sure on that one. Give it a while… And that is more like it. I must say, sure is odd being back, but I’m happy.

My bones? They might though that might be the fact that I'm with child again... Ye are lucky  - some shaving here and there and 'tis like ye have not aged one bit. --  The day Henry picked up a cigar was the day I yelled out your name over at England, George picks one up, I swear it I'll send Lucrezia to live with ye and ye know the headache she can give ye. I'm happy ,too, Don.. Incredibly so. Gives me more time to steal ye away from Max and Addi and bring ye home with me. Yes - still planning on that.