At the end of the week, the newfound friends met over at Aleck’s in a fallow field where Jareth and Aleck agreed to teach Ben and Odette some of the Royal Rillian martial arts style.

Jareth nodded approvingly at the field Aleck had shown him. “The leaves piles will make a good break, and it's far enough away from the farmhouse we shouldn’t be interrupted.”

Ben started mimicking Tri-di's exaggerated martial arts moves as he asked Jareth and Aleck, "What should we start with? Flips, kicks, and throws?"

Jareth rolled his eyes and chuckled, "Falls and rolls." Odette and Aleck joined in on the laughter.

"I don't think Ben needs help with falling," Odette teased playfully. Ben sheepishly nodded in agreement, knowing all too well his clumsiness.

Jareth let out a sigh, "In a fight, you need to know how to fall without getting hurt and get back up quickly to defend yourself."

Aleck stepped forward and clapped her hands, "Enough talk, time to get started. I'll demonstrate first, then you two try."

Odette and Ben groaned as they watched Aleck effortlessly perform a series of falls and rolls. Jareth ordered them to do it again and again until they got it right. "Who knew there was a right and wrong way to fall?" moaned Odette as she dusted off her clothes.

"Another ten sets," commanded Aleck, to which Ben let out a defeated sigh. "Can't we take a break? We've been doing this for hours," he complained, wiping the sweat from his forehead.

Just then, Aleck's Aunt Karla came out and called. “Time for dinner.”

“Saved by the dinner bell.” Odette's nose twitched at the smell of seasoned chicken and roasted vegetables wafting from the kitchen. They made their way to a big, white farmhouse with a wrap-around porch. As they entered, Jareth took in the cozy interior - dark green couches and polished wood floors. A warm fire crackled in the fireplace, casting a golden glow on a middle-aged man sitting in a wooden rocking chair. He was reading to a little boy who sat on his lap, enthralled. Jareth stood in awe at the seen. It reminded him of an idyllic painting he had seen in a museum once.

Uncle Donald set down the thick leather-bound book he had been reading to the little boy and stood up, extending his hand with a warm smile. "Hello there. Let's see, Ben, Odette, and you must be Jareth." Uncle Donald said greeting each friend.

The little boy practically bounced with excitement. "Hi, I'm Brock!" he exclaimed, jumping down from his chair. "I like school. Do you? Do you want to see my room? And I have a fort in the backyard! And..."

Jareth smiled at the boy's contagious enthusiasm. Brock reminded him of his own nieces and nephews at that age – eager to claim any new friends of their older siblings as their own.

Uncle Donald's smile reached all the way to his light brown eyes. "Easy there, Brock," he chuckled. "You'll have plenty of time to show them around another day. Right now, I bet they're all hungry." He turned to the group of friends. "Why don't you follow Brock and wash up before dinner?" Without waiting for a response, Brock eagerly grabbed Ben's hand and dragged him towards the nearest bathroom.

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As Uncle Donald surveyed the dinner table, his sharp eyes took in each of Aleck's friends with keen observation. He had heard about Ben and his reputation for integrity around the small town of two thousand people; it was a rare trait in young men these days.

Odette caught his attention with her puffy eyes and slumped shoulders, giving away her recent struggles. Uncle Donald knew that her parents' divorce had taken a toll on her, and he could see the signs of emotional distress. Her introverted nature and observational skills were evident, as she seemed to take in everything around her.

Uncle Donald's eyes immediately honed in on Jareth as he entered the room. He noted the faint red streaks in his hair, a trait shared by many Rillian youths. Having served in the military during the war with Rillia, Uncle Donald had encountered enough of them to be familiar with their physical characteristics that he was not fooled.

Jareth was no youth. His tall build, with the broad shoulders, the distinctive wave to his black hair along with his eyes the color of pure gold gave him away as being one of the royal family.

Specifically the one prince who scandal with his ex-wife had been all over the news network. However, he also knew that media coverage of Jareth's recent divorce had been biased and unfair. As someone who cared deeply for his nieces Aleck's safety, Uncle Donald needed to have a private conversation with Jareth to ensure everything was in order. His brow furrowed as he observed the prince closely, sensing there was more to him than what met the eye.

As dinner came to an end, the friends were pleasantly stuffed with Aunt Karla's delicious cooking. Ben looked up at the clock and noticed it was almost nine. He politely excused himself, knowing he needed to be back home by curfew.

"I'll walk you home," Odette offered.

Ben nodded and said his goodbyes to everyone before leaving with Odette.

Jareth was about to make his own excuse to leave when Uncle Donald spoke up.

"Jareth, I could use some help with one of the tractors in the barn. Think you could lend me a hand?"

Jareth hesitated for a moment before agreeing. He didn't want to seem rude by declining, but he also didn't want to impose on Uncle Donald's time.

"Of course," he said, standing up from the table. "But I do have a curfew of ten."

"Understood," Uncle Donald replied with a knowing smile as they made their way out of the house and towards the barn.

As they entered the barn, Uncle Donald went straight to work on fixing one of the old tractors while Jareth stood idly by, unsure of how he could be useful.

Finally, Uncle Donald broke the silence. "So...how are you liking Vandar so far?"

"It's...different," he admitted cautiously. "In a good way, though."

Uncle Donald nodded understandingly. "I can imagine it's quite an adjustment coming from Rillia."

Uncle Donald, looked him in the eye. "You want to explain to me, your highness, why a grown Rillian prince is attending high school?"

Jareth's heart skipped a beat as he processed Uncle Donald's blunt question. He had known that eventually someone would bring up his presence at Marville High, but he hadn't expected it to happen so soon.

He swallowed nervously, unsure of how much he should reveal. But something about Uncle Donald's directness made him feel like he could trust him.

"I came to Vandar to...escape," Jareth finally admitted, knowing it was a vague answer but not wanting to disclose too much just yet.

Uncle Donald raised an eyebrow. "Escape? From what?"

Jareth took a deep breath before answering. "From my past in Rillia."

"After I caught Cassia with one of my officers in my own bed," Jareth began, his voice tinged with anger and pain. "I immediately had the guards arrest them both."

"It was all so humiliating and painful," Jareth admitted, his voice barely above a whisper. "Especially the way the press made it sound like I actually abused her. I couldn't handle the constant scrutiny and judgment from my own people."

Unfortunately, my divorce and the bad press followed me here. I tried four different jobs but got treated like I was a monster at all of them. Finally, I came here. “Jareth went on to tell Uncle Donny about the circumstances that landed him at the school and how he, Aleck, Ben, and Odette met up earlier in the week.

As Jareth finished telling Uncle Donald about his past and how he came to be at Marvel High, Uncle Donald nodded thoughtfully.

"That's quite a story," he said, running a hand through his graying hair. "I can understand why you wanted to leave Rillia behind."

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Jareth felt a wave of relief wash over him as Uncle Donald seemed to accept his explanation without any further probing. He had been worried about how people would react once they found out the truth about his identity and past.

Uncle Donald looked at him with an almost sympathetic expression. "And what about your interest in Aleck?"

Jareth's cheeks flushed slightly at the mention of Aleck's name. "She is...intriguing, sir," he admitted.

Uncle Donald raised an eyebrow. "But she is still a child."

Jareth nodded in agreement. "Yes, sir. I respect that and I would never do anything to make her uncomfortable."

Uncle Donald seemed satisfied with his answer and didn't push for any more information. Instead, he changed the subject.

"I have noticed that you tend to stick close to Odette and Ben," he observed.

Jareth shrugged casually. "We just met up earlier this week but we ended up get along pretty well even though we are all really different from each other.

"I see," Uncle Donald said thoughtfully as Jareth rubbed his palms nervously on his jeans. He knew that Jareth had Alecks best interests at heart, but he couldn't help but wonder what would happen when Aleck turned eighteen and entered her last year of high school. Would their relationship change? Would Jareth see her as an available adult then?

Uncle Donald paused as he considered something and then extended an invitation, "Why don't you come by tomorrow? We need some extra hands to bring in the harvest."

"Yes sir, I'd be happy to help," Jareth replied eagerly.

It was a strategic move to have the Rillian prince work on the farm and keep a close eye on him. After all, some good old-fashioned hard work would do him some good. Uncle Donny had no idea how accurate his assumption was - Jareth had been pampered his whole life. But he was about to get a lesson of a lifetime from a humble farmer that would leave a lasting impact on him.

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Jareth arrived at the farmhouse just as the sun peeked over the horizon. He couldn't help but smile as Aleck stumbled into the living room, her hair tousled and eyes still heavy with sleep. She raised her eyebrows in surprise at seeing him already there, joined by the rest of her family who were gathered around a large wooden table.

Uncle Donald entered the room, bringing a hush over the group. He announced the day's tasks, assigning each person to their chores. The older boys would help load bales of Flav wheat onto the truck, while the girls and Brock would assist Aunt Laura in gathering ripe Aphan apples from the trees. They would then work together to pack and load the crates onto the truck. With a clap of his hands, Uncle Donald dismissed everyone to start their assigned tasks for the day.

Even in the chilly autumn air, sweat trickled down Rillian's forehead as he finished loading the last bale of wheat onto the transport truck. "This is harder than the Naval academy," he grumbled, exhausted. The twins snickered at his comment, making him scowl at their slender frames. They effortlessly tossed bale after bale into the truck, while Aiden, at least, was sweating but still managing to load up quickly. "I thought I was in good shape until now," Jareth muttered to himself. Aiden heard him and gave him a reassuring pat on the back. "Farm work builds different muscles than the ones you train in the gym," he explained. "Here, you keep going until the job is done, which leads to stronger muscles and more endurance. You'll get used to it." Hearing this from a thirteen-year-old who was outperforming him did not do much for Jareth's confidence.

The loud ring of uncle Donald’s call echoed through the farm, and Aiden's head snapped up. "Looks like Old Betsy needs rescuing again," Aiden said with a sigh. Aiden quickly jumped out of the truck and ran towards the sound of a distressed cow. Curious, Jareth followed behind at a slower pace. When they reached Uncle Donny and the trapped cow, Aiden immediately jumped into action, while Jareth hesitated, unsure of what to do. Uncle Donny barked at him in frustration, "Quit gawking and come help!" As he struggled to free the cow from the ditch, Uncle Donny glared at Jareth until he finally joined in and handed him a rope.

Jareth stood by the edge of the ditch, his arms crossed and a scowl on his face. Aiden was waist-deep in mud trying to free Old Betsy, their stubborn cow. Uncle Donny stood next to Jareth and shook his head disapprovingly.

"You did not ask me to help," Jareth protested in an almost wounded voice.

"Shouldn't have to," Uncle Donny retorted sharply. "You see someone who needs a hand doing somethin', you help. That's it, period."

Jareth felt a pang of guilt and embarrassment. He had been standing there watching them struggle for a few minutes now, waiting for them to ask for help. But that wasn't how Uncle Donny operated.

"Now stop feelin' sorry for yourself and move it!" Uncle Donny barked at him.

Jareth was flabbergasted. Uncle Donny didn't care that he was a prince and used to having servants do everything for him. Neither did Aiden, who glared impatiently while waiting for Jareth to come down and help in the ditch. Sighing, Jareth jumped in and joined Aiden’s efforts.

As they struggled to pull Old Betsy out of the ditch, Jareth discovered that he hated that cow with a passion. She kicked back and hit him in the shin, causing him to fall back in the mud with a grimace of pain and anger.

Jareth gritted his teeth and spoke through them, "Just give me the gun, Uncle Donny. We can have a nice steak dinner tonight."

"And waste a perfectly good milk cow? I don't think so," the grinning farmer replied. "Besides, Betsy is family. If it comes down to choosing between you or her, well..." Jareth scowled up at his uncle from the bottom of the ditch. He muttered something about turning the cow into jerky before finally managing to get her out with Aiden's help. As they climbed out, the ungrateful bovine kicked at him again and he quickly moved out of the way. Uncle Donny just laughed as he led Betsy away.

After the exhausting ordeal with Old Betsy, Jareth was more than happy to hear Aunt Karla ring the bell for snack time. He quickly joined the rest of the family at the porch and made a beeline for the bucket of water to wash up. As he scrubbed off the dirt and sweat, he couldn't help but notice that even the girls had come back from picking apples looking just as sweaty as the boys.

As they all sat down on the porch to enjoy some fresh apple cider and homemade cookies, Jareth couldn't stop staring at how much work had been accomplished in just one morning. He had always taken farmers for granted, assuming that their job was easy and required no skill. But now he realized how wrong he had been.

"Wow, you guys really know how to get things done," Jareth remarked, still slightly in awe.

"We have to," Aunt Karla replied with a smile. "Farm life is hard work but it's also very rewarding."

Jareth took a sip of his cider as he pondered her words. As they finished their snacks and got ready to head back out into the fields. As they walked out into the fields once more, Jareth rolled up his sleeves and got right back to work. He smile when he finally got to work with Aleck.

He followed Uncle Donny's lead as they worked together. As he learned more about farming and the daily tasks involved, he found himself slowly letting go of the pain that had been weighing on his heart. Uncle Donny was a patient and wise teacher, showing him the ropes and sharing practical advice.

It was clear that this simple family had something special - a closeness and warmth that his own family lacked. And for the first time in a long time, he felt a sense of belonging and contentment. As lunchtime rolled around, they gathered around a picnic table, swapping stories and jokes while enjoying homemade sandwiches and lemonade. He couldn't remember the last time he laughed so freely and genuinely.

Soon it was time to clean up, and Jareth sat there. Aunt Karla turned to him. “What do you expect to be waited on hand and foot? Get up and clean your spot.”

“Sorry, I am used to having servants, so I’m not sure what to do.” Jareth apologized in a much humbler tone of voice than he had at the start of the day.

“Come on; I’ll show you. I’ll let you give me a hand in the kitchen,” Aunt Lara said as she patted her swollen stomach with a smile. At that, Jareth was doubly embarrassed at letting a pregnant woman do all the work. For the first time in his life, he found his hands in suds, washing dishes. As he finished the dishes, he heard a knock on the door. It was Ben and Odette. They were going to go out to the fallow field to practice.

Uncle Donny's voice boomed across the yard, stopping Jareth in his tracks. "Hey boy, I need your help with the tractor in the barn. Shouldn't take more than an hour, then you can go join your friends." Jareth followed Uncle Donny into the dimly lit barn, the earthy smell of hay and motor oil filling his nostrils. They stood in front of a faded green tractor, its metal body showing signs of wear and tear.

"Open up the hood for me," Uncle Donny said before leaving to grab some tools.

Jareth tugged on the lever and struggled to lift the stubborn hood. In a fit of frustration, he kicked the side of the tractor, causing a door to pop off. Just as he was about to kick it again, Uncle Donny walked in and sighed. "Son, if you don't learn to be patient and control that temper of yours, you'll never get anything done."

Feeling embarrassed and ashamed, Jareth took a deep breath and started learning how to fix what he had broken. With Uncle Donny's guidance and watchful eye, he slowly learned to take his time and do things properly. After an hour, Uncle Donny kept his promise and let him go.

As Jareth walked back towards the house, he considered Uncle Donald blunt but kind words. “If you are going to stick around this farm and succeed, you need to learn patience and determination - and there was no better teacher than an old but reliable tractor, so I want you to come and spend an hour a day working on upkeep on it.”

Later that day, when Jareth's friends asked if they could head into town for a bit, Uncle Donny gave them permission with a nod of approval towards Jareth.

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Payton and Shem stood by the tall maple tree, watching their sister's friends leave. "It's a good thing she has friends; it helps with her recovery," Payton remarked, crossing his arms over his chest.

"But it also puts her in danger. And that is no ordinary Rillian," Shem added, mimicking his brother's actions unconsciously. "Aleck doesn't know he's our father's brother. General Wallock would love nothing more than to see a Rillian Prince killed, especially by a girl who is falling for him." His face scrunched up in worry as he watched his sisters friends walking down the road.

Payton tilted his head in thought. "That may be true, but for now, she needs the friendship. We'll make sure to handle him carefully. We'll watch over him without being too obvious about it. Her innocence will protect them both. The colonel did a good job keeping her that way," he said, forcefully kicking at the tree trunk.

“Agreed,” said Shem, pulling a leaf off the tree and twirling it thoughtfully. “But I wonder if he guarded her innocence too well. Her complete ignorance may save her from General Wallock. But from a divorced Rillian prince whose hungers have been awakened by marriage. That I wonder, the day will come when she is no longer legally a child, and he is drawn to her.”

“Yes, but Aleck will not understand what she would be agreeing to,” said Shem.

Shem raised an eyebrow and grinned. If they were going to guard the prince from a distance, they might as well have some fun with it.

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Never before in his life had Jareth wanted to strangle two thirteen-year-olds more than he did at that moment. He sat humiliated, super glued to the porch swing. The girls went inside so Uncle Donny could cut his pants off of him. "Well, those boys have a strange way of looking out for their sister, that is for sure," said Uncle Donny, chuckling as he approached Jareth with a pair of scissors in hand.

Jareth hissed unamused through his teeth as Uncle Donny persisted with cold hands and scissors to get him out of the swing.

Soon helping with the farm became a regular weekend routine and on school days Aleck, Odette, Ben, and Jareth would meet to study together. Their friendship tightened into the kind of bonds that last a lifetime.

A few space months later…