"Thanks," Will said. "You didn't have to do this, you know."

"I know," Dahlia said with a faint smile. "It pleases me to do so."

"Well, I'm glad it does, then," Will said. He grinned at her a bit rougishly.

Dahlia blinked before she smiled. Having someone else around was kind of nice. And he wasn't exactly hard on the eyes.

"So," Will said, looking for something to talk about, "how are there so many bloody princesses in this town? Town's got more royalty than it knows what to do with, I'm amazed nobody's tried to off the others yet. You know, not counting the Evil Queen."

"Well I personally have no interest in offing anyone." Dahlia grinned briefly. "There's a set of twelve sisters who live here. They're all quite lovely."

"Twelve?" Will asked, surprised. "Blimey, I pity their father. How's a man end up with twelve daughters?"

Dahlia laughed at that. "I'm not sure, but I had a similar reaction," she said. "Apparently he didn't actually spend too much time with his daughters. Not a ton, anyway."

"I would bloody well think not," Will said. "He'd never have time for anything else if he did."

"Probably not," Dahlia agreed. "But that makes twelve princesses. There's also Snow and her daughter, and one or two others if I'm not mistaken."

"Yeah, we ran into that Ashley girl earlier," Will muttered. "Ana was not pleased about that. Got all up on her dignity." He hadn't asked who Ashley had been, because it had quickly become obvious when Anastasia had called the girl 'Ella.'

Dahlia nodded. "Far too much royalty in too small a space," she agreed.

Will nodded.

"Queens, princes, princesses, makes a Knave wary just thinkin' about them all," he said.

Dahlia chuckled. "Well, fortunately for you, you don't have to worry about most of them."

"No kidding," Will said. "I've got my hands full with Anastasia." He sighed. "Speaking of, I need to figure out how to get back into her good graces again."

"I'm afraid I'm not much help there," Dahlia said with a shrug. "Maybe if you stay away for a while she'll realize she misses you?"

"I've tried that before," Will said. "Anastasia's stubborn as they come, she'll let things sit just for spite. I tried last time to wait, and it took her bloody ages to come around."

Dahlia nodded. "Seems to me she needs to feel like she could lose you, rather than just you two waiting it out."

"I dunno, at this point," Will said. "I'll take a couple of days to think it over, see if she cools off by then."

"You can use the bed for as long as you need," Dahlia told him with a faint smile.

"Thanks," Will said, grinning a bit.

Dahlia nodded and then yawned, startling herself.

"Sorry. I guess I'm more tired than I'd realized."

"Go on and settle in, then," Will said. "I can take care of myself, no worries there."

Dahlia nodded and made sure everything was put away before she headed back for her room.

"Good night."

"G'night," Will replied. He headed into the guest room himself, settling in comfortably.