Hector comes into the gym...carrying his water bottle and towel..."You are up early...still cant sleep?"

Kenzie slowly lets out her breath as she smoothly glides into another movement "I slept alright" she said, inhaling as she moved, doing some kind of mixed exercise her father taught her.

He smiles...as he goes over to some free weights and starts his workout...letting her direct the conversation if she wanted to...

Kenzie continues her workout in silence. After a few minutes, she is breathing hard and takes a water break and a rest

Kenzie continues her workout in silence. After a few minutes, she is breathing hard and takes a water break and a rest

He continues his workout...he has removed his shirt as he works out...scars are visible on his back...

Kenzie tries to ignore Hector, but for some reason she couldn't figure out his presence calmed her. Once rested and watered she begins her set once more. Starting  back at the beginning she moves smoothly from one form to the next. As she moves she can still see Hector and after letting out her deep breath "I haven't slept well in a long time." she says softly

"Its not unexpected...given what you went through...have the nightmares started yet?"  He asks...giving him a light, comforting smile as he continues his workout...

Kenzie is quiet for a few minutes, keeping her breathing regular helps to keep the panic at bay "sort of" she says quietly 

"You know...if you decide you need it...the Duke has access to mental health professionals that could help you with all of this...Help you work through things...enhance what you are already doing with your breathing exercises...which I assume your dad taught you..."

Kenzie finished with her second set "thanks, I will be fine" she wiped her brow and walked out of the gym while drinking her water.

"There is no shame in asking for help..."  He calls after her...stopping in his workout and watching her as she walks out...

Kenzie walked out of the gym without looking back. She went back to her room and showered trying to forget.

When she emerges from the bathroom...there is a woman...around the same age as the Duchess...dusting in the room...she had already made the bed...and was unpacking more clothing and toiletries from a box...

Kenzie stopped in her tracks "Oh, um you dont need to do that. I can clean up in here" she spied the box wondering where it came from, she didn't remember getting that much from the failed shopping trip.

I need to know one thing from you...Are you staying...or moving on?

"who is wanting to know?" Kenzie asks instantly wary of the woman standing in what was supposed to her room.

"Oh...forgive me...Faith Orland...Head Handmaiden and personal assistant to the Duchess...I had forgotten we weren't formally introduced when you arrived..."  

"I didnt realize the Duchess needed an answer so quickly" she replied, warily eyeing the woman and the box.

Faith smiles knowingly..."The Duchess may prefer to give you all the time in the world to make a decision...however...I think we both know you have already made up your mind...I just need to know so I can plan the next step...be that finding you a permanent place in another kingdom...researching how to keep you safe...planning the logistics of getting you out of the kingdom un-noticed...or...finding you a place within the household here...finding and setting up quarters here...wardrobe..."  She pulls out a few bottles of various toiletries...

Kenzie continues to watch Faith "what makes you think I have made any decision? and will you please stop that."

Faith stops and turns to look at her.  "Because you want to get your life back...Someone stole your future...your parents...you cant avenge them from another kingdom...for that...you need to stay here..."

Kenzie stares at Faith for another moment "I think you need to leave" she gestures toward the door. So many thoughts whirling through her mind.

"You are not a fragile flower...you have a lot of fight in you...you are not the type of girl to wait on the sidelines...you are like your twin in that respect.  "  She says...not moving from where she was standing.  

Kenzie's door flung open on it's own "you need to leave" she says once more, barely keeping herself under control and not flinging the woman out of the room.

Faith raises a hand...and twists her fingers to shut the door telekinetically..."You have remarkable control over your gifts..."

Kenzie ignores that she shut the door "You are right, I am not a fragile flower. I am willing to fight, I also know when not to make life altering decisions. I was taught better than that." she states her gaze not leaving Faith's "Now, if you dont mind I would appreciate it if you left" the door opened once more and lifting her hand and gently pushing out Faith was pushed out the door and it slammed shut in her face

Faith smiles as she is pushed out from the room...she walks past the Duchess as she leaves..."She's a strong one..."

"Like her sister...and..."

"Their father..."

Kenzie sits on the bed and buries her face in her hands. Normally she wasn't fragile. But she felt so far removed from who she used to be, she wasnt sure she could find her way back.

The Duchess knocks softly on the door..."Kenzie?"

Kenzie groaned silently, scrubbing her hands over her face she stood and walked to the door and opened it, her retort died on her lips when she saw it was the duchess "uh, Yes milady?" 

How are we doing today...?

"Fine" she replies and steps back to let her enter

I see you have finally encountered Faith...

Kenzie made a noise "encountered is one word for it"

She can be harsh...but she means well...Her job is to make sure the household is running smoothly and efficiently...Which doesn't always translate well to my children...She has butted heads a number of times with all three of them...mostly Rommie...

Kenzie nods "I can see that. Is there something I can do for you Milady?"

I just wanted to stop by and see how you were doing...Do you need anything...?

Kenzie looked back at the partially unpacked box "do you know where that came from? I didnt purchase that much when Rommie and I had gone to the mall, and Faith wouldn't tell me where it came from before she started pushing for an answer"

The Duchess walks over to the box..."This is for the Lady Elsa when she visits...my eldest son's fiancee...She is coming to visit for the weekend...which is the other reason I stopped by...I would like to move you upstairs to the empty bedroom...

Oh, alright. If someone could loan me a suitcase I can have everything together in an hour or so

The Duchess smiles...and leaves the room...returning with two suitecases..."Between the two of us...less time..." she says warmly...

Kenzie gives her a small smile "actually everything should fit in one" she said as she took one of the suitcases from the Duchess and set it on the bed. She opened the case and went to the wardrobe to start packing her belonging's "Your eldest son is...Ryan right?"

"Yes..."  She says...sitting on the bed...taking a shirt from what Kenzie was bringing over and folding it..."He is 25...my younger son is Albus...he is 21....then of course...Rommie...is 18...."

Kenzie nods "all of your children still live here?" she asks as she folds the handful of pants she had purchased.

"The boys share the guest house...when they are home from deployments...The guest house will become Ryan's personal apartment when he gets married next year...Rommie moved into Ryan's old quarters after he joined the military."

Kenzie nodded as she folded the last piece of clothing. She moved to the bathroom and took out the few toiletry items she had and put them in the suitcase "That must be nice. To have everyone together when they are here"

When they are not arguing...its wonderful...

Kenzie smiled at that "I think that does it" she said looking around the room one last time to make sure she had everything.

"Alright then...follow me..."  Artemis says...grabbing one of the bags of bathroom stuff and leads Kenzie upstairs to the room she had originally had her daughter in...

The bedroom had a soft color pallet...with a large bed...curtain framed windows...a fireplace and its own attached bath and closet...