Royal Gardens, Palace at Amber, Late September

[kitchen_maid]

It's a good day for a picnic, in Amy's opinion. There's not really enough time to walk all the way to the Forest and back before the evening's obligations, but the gardens are a riot of late summer flowers, and that's a perfectly acceptable substitute.

Now, if only Amy could convince Susan that the mums are for looking at, and not for eating.

Comments

[kitchen_maid]

"A little too far from the ocean," says Amy. "From what I remember of seeing it, it would be very hard to pull off on the palace fish pond."

Susan babbles a reply of nonsense, cheerfully.

[obligatoryass]

"Possibly not invented yet here, either," Logan says. "And that could be problematic."

He sighs happily, and reclines on the grass. "It really has been a great vacation. I haven't had one so nice in years. Or possibly ever."

[kitchen_maid]

"I'm glad," she says. "And you know you're always welcome, as often as you'd like. I don't think Her Highness would have it any other way."

Susan offers Logan several torm flower petals.

[obligatoryass]

"Thanks," he says. "I'll probably take you up on it. Especially around exam time."

Logan accepts the petals gravely. "Thank you. They're pretty. But not as pretty as you."

[kitchen_maid]

Amy's eyebrows raise in amusement. "And will you be looking for extra time to study, or attempting to avoid the issue all together?"

She used to live with Anne Shirley, you know. She's heard a lot about exams. She kind of expects Logan will have a different approach to them. (Not that she can really say anything; her approach to her lessons was to run away from them as often as possible.)

Susan, in response, gives him a very big smile and offers him half a leaf.

[obligatoryass]

"Both," he says promptly. "Both are very important study tools, which I use as much as possible."

[kitchen_maid]

"I should not be encouraging this, should I?" she says, to no one in particular.

Susan favors Logan with a smile. "'ogan."

Someone has a new favorite word.

[obligatoryass]

"Probably not, but you know I'm irresistible," he says, grinning at her.

When Susan speaks, Logan resists dancing around the garden with her more, but just beams instead. "Susan understands."

[kitchen_maid]

"Far more than perhaps I would like her to," says Amy, but it's all amusement.

"'ogan."

[obligatoryass]

"I can't help it if you've got an unusually gifted daughter," Logan says loftily.

He scrunches up his face at the baby. "Susan."

[kitchen_maid]

Susan laughs.

So does Amy.

"No, that is one thing I do not think you can legitimately take credit for, Logan."

[obligatoryass]

"Indeed," Logan says, and he's quite dignified-sounding for someone who is making faces at a very small princess. "Nor would I want to, thank you. I'm quite happy to leave that credit with those who deserve it."

[kitchen_maid]

"ogan!" says the very small princess happily.

"I'll tell Perry you said so."

[obligatoryass]

"I'm sure he'll take the compliment in the spirit it was meant," Logan says, laughing. "Which is...you guys did good."

[kitchen_maid]

"Thank you, Logan," says Amy. "I certainly could not be prouder or more pleased.

"Even though I thought we had a few more years before visitors starting falling for her."

[obligatoryass]

"No, she's too lovable," Logan says. "It is impossible not to fall head over heels the instant you meet her. It'll probably be a few years before you have to start worrying about that kind of thing, though."