Argument:

Back to normal?

Princess Eleanor liked to know what normality was. Because most of the previous year, after a terrible car accident, he had been in a coma. Until he woke up, finding himself among the overprotective arms of his family. And also in the arms of his spectacular Ex bodyguard, Jasper Frost with whom he had started dating just before the accident. But what did Jasper want from her? Why did not her family leave her alone with him? Determined to get answers, Eleanor knocked on the door

from Jasper's house. But what he got was one more question. Who was that newborn baby he had in his arms?

Chapter 1

"It's not ready yet" the words entered through Eleanor's bedroom window

"I agree, it is not!"

It was the usual tonic in the Royal family of the United Kingdom: Eleanor was never ready. Sitting on the bed, trying to put an arm through the strap of the shirt, but the hand refused to move and that meant he could not start the long journey down the stairs to meet the others at the famous family dinner in which, and not on her own initiative, she was the guest of honor.

"I guess they're right," he protested as he tried again. However, he knew that his brother Robert's comment had another intention. She meant that she was not ready. In general. And that ranged from discovering the truth about the Ratoncito Pérez at age seven until his first date at fifteen.

She remembered vaguely the previous summer when Robert had even questioned that she was ready to see the photos of Orlando Bloom's wedding published in a magazine. Why was not she prepared on that occasion? To return to work? Of course, not that. He still lacked enough time to re-teach riding lessons. Or create new fashion designs. To read the police report on the accident? For that, maybe I would never be ready. Prepare a tea?

That's where his brothers were wrong. I had practiced during the rehabilitation sessions and it was an ax pouring the tablespoons of coffee.

"Boys?" He called his brothers "Can you help me out?" From the terrace several exclamations arose and, in less than half a minute, Liam and Robert appeared, the living image of the anguish reflected in their faces.

Then James who hastened to help them "It's okay, Princess" reassured them "You can release the defibrillator and cancel the emergency call, I can not put my arm through the strap and people will be ready to arrive."

"Willow and they just came" confirmed Liam "and Jasper was following them closely."

"Jasper is coming too?" Eleanor's heart hit her hard against the ribs. An awkward silence settled in the room.

"He has behaved fabulously, right?" Liam spoke happily. "How many times did you visit the hospital?"

"Tell me," Eleanor teased. "I was unconscious most of the time."

"Do you have any memories of all that time?" Liam asked hesitantly. "The doctors said you could keep some memories even from the time you did not react."

Liam and she remained expectant, almost without breathing as Eleanor struggled against a strong urge to scream at them to stop worrying about her once and for all. "I would not call it memories ..." he answered at last.

"Do not...?" Liam encouraged her

"But let's not talk about that now, help me down, I'm very slow, my brain gives the order, but the muscles do not respond, it's quite an achievement to have put on these jeans."

Liam, his twin, and brother number two, hugged Eleanor tightly. Eleanor returned the hug and decided that she would have to give her sister some advice on how to take care of herself. Overprotection could work both ways.

"Honey, do not worry, we are very happy that you are well, that you are talking, that you are walking, that you are getting better every day ... and at home, where you belong".

"I know" Eleanor struggled against untimely tears and squeezed her mother's hand "I'm glad too."

When he finally managed to reach the terrace, Jasper, tall and athletic, with his blond hair emitting, was standing without evidencing any consequences of the accident that both had suffered nine months ago.

"But hey, look at yourself!" He grinned, hiding his beautiful gray eyes behind sunglasses.

"Yes" she answered "I have the grace of a ballet dancer."

His dance partner at that time was a walker from which he hoped to get rid of it soon with effort and hard work, as doctors and therapists had assured him.

"Do not be pessimistic" insisted Jasper "Even a week ago you were much worse."

"I know, and I'm not being pessimistic, believe me."

She felt tremendously aware of his presence, of the tall, stocky body. It had been a little more than nine months since they had passionately made love for the last time, but for her only a day had passed. He remembered perfectly how their bodies fit together, the warm, fresh masculine scent. He remembered the words he had whispered in the darkness, charged with ardent sensuality. Would he ever think about it?

Helena helped him to sit down and removed the walker. The terrace was in semi-shade and ran a nice breeze. A perfect day. Dev pulled up an armchair and sat beside him leaning against the backrest. However, she had the feeling that he did not feel as carefree as he pretended to look.

Were they dating?

Would it be correct to ask?

"Er ... excuse me, Jasper, I've been in a coma for almost eight months. Could you update me on our relationship?

Suddenly he remembered Helena's comment that she was not ready yet. Was not I prepared to know that Jasper was with another?

A cold hole opened in his stomach. A hole that should not be there since he had been completely frank nine months ago.

"I have nothing to offer you, Eleanor," she had said, "I'll only be here until Dad is back to America, away from you, where I can not hurt anyone." My career is in New York and it does not leave me time for a commitment. I love you, but, if what interests you is a lasting relationship, I'm not the right man ... Not for you, Robert will never leave us alone and I do not want any more problems "

What could a woman respond to that? Jasper had been well-meaning. He was not the kind of man who promised what he could not fulfill, or who tricked a girl with sweet lies to make him sleep with him. He said things the way he felt them ... To some extent ..

Nine months ago they had only talked about a brief adventure, to say goodbye with a broad smile and no grudges. However, in those moments he was sitting next to her, scrutinizing her face, examining her as if he worried that he could not do it. And in a way he could not.

Everything was going too fast. he got up to greet Robert's wife. Eleanor's mother came out of the kitchen, Willow, Kate, James and Sarah Alice greeted her with huge smiles and looks. expectantly, Sarah Alice hurried to pull her by the legs, Eleanor staggered to one side and Jasper hurried to catch her, held her until she was able to recompose.

"Sarah Alice!" her father reprimanded her and Eleanor made a couple of gestures to leave things as they were.

Kathryn and Liam who had disappeared when she set foot in the palace, appeared carrying two huge bags of diapers, a small portable park and a baby in a stroller. A lovely little girl of a few weeks. Eleanor was not even

known that his brother was going to have a baby, learning of Lucy's existence after birth, in another episode of "not yet ready", and still did not know his niece, they could not say anything unless a doctor will authorize it.

"She is asleep!" Grandma exclaimed "How beautiful it is, how it has grown in two weeks."

"Can we install it somewhere quiet?" he asked me, though it was too late, as the baby began to stretch, stretching the little body in the small space of the stroller and letting out an impressive shriek.

"He's hungry" explained the baby's mother "Where can I get?"

"Not here," Helena said reproachfully. She was a traditional queen and in her world, breastfeeding and changing diapers could not occupy the same space as a family dinner of the royal family.

"Liam, could you put some cushions on ... Where do I put myself?"

"In my room," Eleanor chimed in, "there's a lot of cushions and fresh flowers, and a rocking chair."

"I think I'll have to change it first ..." He looked around, but Liam had already disappeared. Holding Lucy with her legs dangling, she looked for the diaper bag while the little girl bellowed with an annoyed gesture "It's dirty, I still do not feel like it, where is the monitor, we're going to need it if you fall asleep. no idea if she wants to fall asleep, when she cries like that, everybody says it's harder to be a new mother "

"Easy, give it to me" was Jasper who stepped forward to take the baby in his arms, cradling her against the shoulder "Shh, shut up, nothing happens."

Eleanor felt a strange and involuntary tingle in her chest, and also a familiar longing in her heart. How could he look calm and confident with a tiny baby in his arms? Why was he still in London and not already in New York?

Suddenly, an image re-emerged in his mind. It was the first night they had made love after she returned from her trip with Sebastian. They had gone to bed on the first date. A good princess should never do something like that, but of course, it had not really been a first date. He had known Jasper for a couple of years and had succumbed to an eternity of hidden feelings, succumbed to the masculine hands that surrounded his body so well, to the familiar voice in his ears.

"Thanks, Jasper!" exclaimed Kathryn as she rummaged in her purse, not looking surprised that Jasper had taken control.

But Eleanor was. Not so much for control but for what I was controlling. In high finance, construction, sports or politics, Jasper Frost could take control in the blink of an eye. But with a baby?

What did he know about babies?

"He does not even want to have children." The idea came from nothing, from the memories before the accident.

"Have I suffered amnesia?" I had asked one day.

"Not like in the movies," the doctors had replied "But, logically, there are some gaps, many of them will fill up again with time, others never."

"Gaps like the accident?"

"Yes. You probably never remember it."

However, he did remember that Jasper did not want to have children. How could he remember something like that? While watching the man with the baby in his arms, he searched his mind. He was dressed in jeans and a gray polo that marked a sculpted body based on running and practicing outdoor sports. He had an impressive musculature and Eleanor's fingers remembered her, although she tried to remember something else, that of not wanting children.

If she did not want to have children, how could she focus all that male strength into the tender caresses and whispers needed to reassure a baby?

"Be careful, your back is wet," she observed as she handed the girl back to her mother.

It had been while they were having dinner, he remembered. They had gone out together, and had gone to bed, three times after Eleanor's return from her trip. For her it had been very deep from the beginning. He had fallen in love with him for a long time, when he was even his bodyguard.

He did not remember how the conversation about children had arisen during that dinner. Maybe because of something related to their rhythm of life. He lived in constant danger at the expense of his escort work.

However, that had happened in October of the previous year and it was still there. The accident could explain it in part. On October 8, they headed back to the palace after appointment number four, a walk in the mountains followed by a dinner, when a driver who was driving in the opposite direction had lost control in a curve. Jasper had broken his leg in three places and would always wear metal plates, but he did not even limp, so he could leave without problems to New York, or to Geneva.

And yet he was on the summer terrace of the castle, joking with Liam. On several occasions he had come to the hospital to visit her, after waking up, and had seen her in her most vulnerable moment, torn in tears and struggling to try to move and talk, fighting against his uncooperative body. At all times he had offered his consolation, showing himself cautious at the same time, without speaking of anything personal. And in those moments there was still a mess, without knowing what that might mean

"Is he out here? How is he?" until the terrace came the voice of Uncle Cyrus. Apparently everyone had been invited to the dinner and Eleanor was beginning to feel tired and somewhat overwhelmed. He had been discharged the previous day and would still have to go to daily rehabilitation sessions. For the moment, he had only spent one night in his bed.

"Uncle Cyrus .. is it weird is not it?"

"What, civilized behavior? It's a sign of peace .. For my favorite niece" he winked cheekily offering a glass of champagne

"If I remember correctly I'm your only niece" she gave him a mischievous look and accomplice. After a while Liam appeared with Lucy in his arms, fully awake and satisfied.

"Will you leave it to me?" Eleanor asked impulsively. "If you put a cushion under my arm, I will not have to use any muscle." I felt a strange surge of emotion,

"Would you like to hold her, dear?" asked his mother with a strange tone of voice.

Where did it come from? Was he watching? what the hell?

"Is not that what I just said?"

"Quick, have someone bring a cushion from the sofa," the woman ordered as if the baby were a hand grenade ready to explode if Eleanor did not support her on a cushion.

"I'm coming" James yelled, running to follow the order, Eleanor blinked a couple of times and frowned.

Immediately a servant brought several clutches with awkwardness and gasping breath. "Wow! Sure, if I ask for a convertible sports car with red leather seats, I'll have one this afternoon parked at the entrance," she thought. «I'll have to consider it ...».

"Hold her head" Liam placed the cushion between the chair arm and his sister's arm "If you're not sure, Ellie ..."

"Come now, Liam, it's not like the baby was going to bite me if I held him in my arms."

"Yes, but this is my baby," Liam joked in a trembling voice. That is, it was one of those things of first-time parents. However, there was a strange atmosphere in the air. Everyone, Mom, Liam, Liam, especially Liam, watched her intently.

The accident. The coma. That was the reason. When would all this end?

"Are not you exaggerating a bit?" his uncle murmured, although nobody paid attention to him.

Eleanor inhaled the sweet smell of milk that the baby held in her arms, the smell of her little head covered with silky dark hair, and the touch of lavender in the little cotton dress. He was sweet and adorable, and he did not care that everyone looked at them. It was one of the most perfect things in the world: a person cradling a newborn baby.

"What a beautiful and sweet thing," he murmured. "Thank you for not crying with your aunt."

He leaned down and kissed her head delicately while, on the verge of tears, inhaled his scent again. When he stood up, the aroma of fried onions also came to him. Sometimes his brain reacted like this. As if all his senses had been reborn. And suddenly it reached the point of saturation.

"Can you take her away, Liam?" My arms begin to tire.

"You have done very well," his Robert praised, seconded by the others.

"You're good?" Jasper asked, leaning over her.

"I need to eat something."

"That is all?"

"Well, I'm tired ..."

The baby yawned for her and the mother muttered something about taking her inside. "To the bedroom ... insisted his mother" No al ... "

"No, I know," replied the young mother entering the castle. "Of course I need to eat something," Eleanor admitted.

"Stay sitting," Jasper ordered. "I'll bring you something ... you did great with the baby," he added.

"And you too."

"Yeah, well" he took a deep breath "A little bacon?"

"Yes please!"

"You need to rest," Jasper observed. "Right now."

"I'm fine," Eleanor tried to say, though it came out of her lips like a croak.

"You're right, Jasper," his mother finally gave in. "We'll take you upstairs."

"But Lucy is sleeping in her bed" protested Liam

"With the sofa will be enough" answered Eleanor

"Come here," Jasper ordered. He helped her up and grabbed her without passing the walker. "Do not worry, I have you."

Eleanor leaned against him. For his newborn babies, he smelled of pine, cereal and wood. It was much better than the walker, much more solid and warm. And his heart wanted to stay with him for hours, although his body refused to collaborate.

They reached the sofa and he cupped her cushions and covered her with the crochet bedspread his mother had not yet finished. "Rest well."

"I will do it."

"I'll leave the walker by hand, in case you need to get up."

"Thank you, Jasper." The words were spoken with closed eyes so she was not sure if he had touched her, although she did seem to feel a caress. And he did not want to open his eyes to discover that he had made a mistake, or left.

He must have left, for there was a great sense of stillness in the room.

"James?"

"Yes, princess.."

"I need to go out ..."

"But pre-play I do not think ..."

"I do not want dogs, James, I need to breathe and here I feel terrible .. Everyone treats me like a cripple, they murmur behind my back and they think I'm going to break him if they look at me for a long time" he sighed when he saw the apprehensive look of the security chief " Please Foxy "a pout

"Okay ... Do you want me to accompany you?"

"No, thank you," he insisted to James with more kindness "If I have not returned in forty-five minutes, you can send a rescue patrol, and I'll take the cell phone and Rosie."

"Are you sure?"

"I'm sure, James, just help me down the steps to the entrance and prepare the driver."

It was great to be alone, outside the hospital without anyone watching. "Yes, you can do it!" She encouraged herself at every step.

«I could walk for miles!». Well, there maybe I had exaggerated a bit. It would take her time, she still needed a lot of concentration for each step and it was also very hot, but she did not give up easily.

I could walk to Jasper's apartment. It did not make sense. His father had already left ... why was he still there?

It had something to do with her, with the accident. She was sure of that, and yes, her family had managed to put him in the vicious circle of "we have to protect Eleanor who can not breathe on her own", she had to stop it.

Of course I was going to pay Jasper a visit. They were going to have a little talk.