"This is very interesting Vince. You should read it when I am finished. It has all sorts of herbs and vegetables in it. Did you know that witch hazel can be used to sooth and numb?" The prince watched as his beloved brushed the tangled curls of his hair out of his eyes for the third time in as many minutes.

"If it's all the same, love, I'd rather not. Do you want me to tie back your hair for you?" He asked. A little shake of the head was all the response he got. Alex was sensitive about keeping his hair down. Ever since they left he had been unnaturally quiet. Every time they stopped so far he had his nose stuck in that book.

"Urgh. I can't do it any longer. Stop. I need to stop." He dropped his head and pulled his horse to one side. Vincent watched as he clamoured off of his horse and ran into the bushes. He drew his own horse to the side and waited as the rest of the guards came to another stop. "Vince!"

He startled at the panic in the voice and hopped off his horse quickly. Ducking into the bush in the same direction, he came upon the pale face of his love as he stood uncertainly beside a rather large oak tree. He was shifting side to side and whining.

"Vince, what do I do? I have one of those! I don't know how to use that thing. What do I do? I'm going to pee myself. Oh gods. I can't." He mumbled. Vincent couldn't help it. He broke out into peals of laughter.

"Calm down Alex. You can't not pee. It is your body. It is fine. Just take a deep breath. You don't have to look at it. Just pull it out, aim it a bit in that direction away from you and let it out. I will turn around now. Be brave." He turned his back, heard a few whispered swear words with a smile and scratched his head.

"I can't. Vince. It's squishy. Help me please." He heard the panic in Alex's voice and sighed. Seriously, how far did she... no he... expect him to go?

"What do you want me to do?" He sighed as he turned around. Alex was standing there with his knees bent awkwardly and his fly open. And his eyes tightly shut. He came up, turned him towards the tree and then crossed his arms.

"Can you hold it?" Alex whispered pathetically. Vince snorted.

"You are kidding." He deadpanned.

"Please Vince?" Alex begged in a whiney voice.

"No." He replied.

"Pleeeease Vincey?" Alex whimpered. He sighed. He rolled his eyes.

"Fine, but you are going to have to learn to do this on your own. I am not doing this every single time. I get that you are new to this whole thing but you are going to have to adjust." He glared at the tree top as he reached around the front and dug into the front of Alex's trousers.

It was smaller than his, but he pulled it out confidently and had to hold back a laugh when he heard the sigh of relief and splash against the tree. He waited until the stream stopped, shook it a bit and tucked it back inside.

"Wait! Don't you have to wipe it?" Alex said alarmed. He snorted. That was such a girl thing to say.

"No dummy. Boys don't have to wipe." He retorted.

"Ew. Why not? What if there was still some pee on it?" He grinned at the words and leaned into Alex's ear.

"Then we are men and it doesn't matter. Come on. We need to get going." He countered. He snickered at the grossed out look on his beloved's face and pulled him by the arm back to the horses. They both clamoured up onto their mounts and the line of people began to move slowly again.

"I feel so dirty." Alex said. Vincent laughed at him.

"You will get used to it." He said kindly. He looked over at the sad look on his beloved's face.

"Vincent, I don't want to. I don't want to get used to it." A tear trickled down his face as he looked back at him.

"I'm sorry. I didn't mean it like that. It's just... it would be easier on you if you try to... I don't know." He backtracked with a sigh.

"I know. It just feels so weird." Alex had that far away look in his eyes again.

"I cannot imagine my love. What it must be like when your body doesn't feel like your own? I am sorry it was you, but you are so amazingly strong. You can do this. You can get through it. I will do everything in my power to keep you safe and we will figure this out. Okay?" He told him confidently. Alex nodded his head and wiped the tears from his face.

"Okay. I trust you."