Voluptua opened one eye to look at the sundial, which was of little use, since the drapes across the porthole were still drawn.

Raising her head from jojo's chest, she called querulously for Bulbul, only to remember the ghastly truth.

"jojo, honey," the queen lay her head back down, loving the feel of his warm flesh beneath her cheek, "I think we need to get up."

"Hmmmm, what's that, dear?" jojo's voice was still filled with sleep and his big arm closed more tightly around his wife."

"We need to get up, love. Today is Freya's Day, so it must be Rome!" Voluptua ran her toes up the king's leg and snuggled closer.

"Can't be time to get up, go back to sleep, dearest," the king drowsed. "Didn't hear Bulbul."

Voluptua sighed. "She's not here, love, remember? We left her in Babylon -- with that, that stud she's so hot after."

Jojo eyes flickered open. "Ah, that's right. I had forgotten."

"I can't remember a morning not being awakened by Bulbul," Voluptua marveled, uncertain whether to be glad or sad.

A smile suffused jojo's face as he rolled over and looked down at the beautiful Babylonian. "Neither can I," he laughed.

"Now are you quite sure you want to get up just yet?"