"Prince Nickolas," Rose called out. "Oh Prince Nickolas!"

"Yes?" He appeared from behind a tree.

"Oh my!" Rose jumped a foot.

Nickolas chuckled. "I didn't mean to scare you. I'm quite sorry."

Rose tried to catch her breath. "It's all right," she told him.

"Did you ever," Nickolas began, "did you ever swim in a stream?"

"Swim in a stream? Certainly not!"

"Oh, I was just wondering!"

"Well, the Queen sent me to get you. Let's go now." Rose turned and began to walk away. She looked behind her and saw that Nickolas wasn't following her. He was standing next to the stream, just watching her. When she made eye contact with him, he grinned. She felt her own lips turn upwards when his did.

"Prince Nickolas" Rose started, but was interrupted.

"Please don't say Prince."

"Oh, I'm sorry Prince Nickolas." Rose blushed.

"You look very pretty with color in your cheeks." Nickolas told her, causing her to blush even more.

"Now your cheeks match your name. Both roses and your cheeks are red."

"Please stop Nickolas," Rose said softly.

"Stop what?" he asked innocently.

Rose shook her head, surrendering.

Nickolas grinned at her again, and this time not only did his lips smile, but so did his eyes. "By the way," Nickolas began, "could you please call me Nick? I've always wanted to be called Nick, but up at the castle it's thought of as not propriate. So, it could be a secret thing. A name only you call me."

"A name only I call you," Rose repeated softly. Having a secret between her and Nickolas, or now Nick, was very pleasing.

"Will you call me that?" Nick whispered, tilting his head to the right.

"Of course."

"Well, now that that's settled, how about going swimming with me?"

"What?!"

"Come swimming with me. Here in the stream. I've always wanted to, but I thought it would be dull to go alone. But now that you're here, it would be fun."

"Nick, I couldn't! It would b-be, um, it wouldn't be r-right," Rose stammered.

"Come on, please Rose."

He said my name, Rose thought dreamily.

"I guess I could put my feet in" she said.

"Great!" Nick jumped in the water, splashing her.

"Ahhh! Nick! I am soaked!"

"Then you might as well, come all the way in, instead of just putting your feet in."

"I'm not going to. I'm sorry Nick, it's just, I could loose my job and" Nick grabbed her by the ankles and pulled her in the water with him. "Oh my goodness!" Rose coughed up water.

"Are you okay?" Nick asked, laughing.

Rose didn't answer, but put both her hands on the top of his head, and dunked him.

Nick came back up, water dripping off his face and hair.

"Maybe your not quite as shy as I thought!" he pushed hair out of her face.

Rose froze. He hadn't just touched her hair, had he?

Nick leaned forward and kissed her gently.

It was the best moment in Rose's entire life.

When he pulled away, he grinned at her once again. She studied the grin. She studied his lips, his teeth, even his tongue. Her eyes then moved upwards and she studied his eyes. They were so blue. They mesmerized her.

"I love you Rose." He said softly. "I've loved you for a few months now, but I was too cowardly to tell you. I thought you would laugh at me." Like a servant girl dare laugh at a prince. Rose thought.

"Nick," she spoke softly also. "I love you too. And I've loved you not only for a few months, but for a few years. Ever since I came to work at the castle, when I was fourteen."

Nick said nothing, but drew her close to him, and kissed her once more.

When they pulled apart, Rose gasped. "Nick! How long have we been gone! Your mother will surely be mad!"