"I don't know what to do!" Rosie despaired to her boss, turning around occassionally to check there was no one standing in the doorway behind her. She had barely managed to buy herself fifteen minutes time away from the Princess. Eleanor would be getting suspicious soon, but there was no other option, something needed to be said.

James sighed, looking at his computer screen, "It's not like I've tried to find something, anything. Prince Sebastian appeared to be one of the good guys."

"Like hell!" Rosie exclaimed, "He's a royal!"

"Charming," a familiar voice said, as Rosie turned around to face King Robert and Jasper, her face ashen.

"I'm sorry, your majesty, I never meant to imply-," Rosie began apologetically.

"It's no problem," Robert answered, "All families have skeletons in their closets, even royals. And your only intention is to protect my sister. That's mine and Jasper's intentions too. Which is why I need to ask you both if you knew about this little trip of Eleanor's?"

"Yes, your majesty," James answered, "I've been doing background checks on Prince Sebastian all morning, but there's nothing here."

"Eleanor's got her heart set on this trip," Rosie added, "I don't think you could persuade her out of it. Except- maybe there's one thing- how safe is Morocco? Surely, it's not safe?"

"I understand your argument," James replied, "But she'd have the best security in the world."

"Well what about sunburn?" Rosie added, earning a confused and bemused look from King Robert, "Well you know how easily the Princess gets burnt. Barcelona, Corsica, Naples, California, Miami- she won't be able to cope."

Robert grinned, "I'm sure that won't stop her."

"Well what about seismic activity?" Rosie suggested, "California sits on one of the most active fault lines in the world! And Naples is in the shadow of Mount Vesuvius. Or flood risks? They're all on the coast!"

James tried his hardest not to laugh, "As much as I respect your concern, those risks won't be enough to convince the Princess to not leave. If you want to persuade Princess Eleanor to stay, then you need to do something far more… personal… from the heart."

Robert nodded, "Yes, I remember the arguments Liam and Leni used to have when they were kids- who's the tallest, who's the best at table tennis… I was the only one who could get her to back down before it resulted in a bloody fight."

Jasper gave the King a surprised look.

"Yes, Jasper," Robert added, "My sister can definitely look out for herself. So you might want to reconsider creeping around in the shadows."

Jasper blushed.

"Yeah, the Princess has spotted you doing that," Rosie added, whilst Jasper gave an exasperated sigh.

"Do you know where my sister is?" Robert asked.

"Red state room," Rosie said, "Working on a little art project."

Robert nodded and smiled, "Thank you. Jasper?"

"Your majesty, would you mind if I borrowed Mr Frost?" James asked, "Just for half an hour or so."

Robert smiled, "Looks like everyone wants to borrow Jasper today. I'll be fine for half an hour, Crenshaw's not due until eleven and… well I'll have Rosie with me anyway."

"Thank you," James said as he watched Rosie and Robert leave the room.

"James, I'm so sorry," Jasper began.

"Sit down," James answered, "I've been talking to Prince Liam and he's convinced me to give you a second chance. Mostly for Sarah Alice's sake, she's got it into her head that you're her older brother, or something like that, and well, she hasn't had a good night's sleep in over a week. I'm also going to forgive you- on one condition. You need to see a therapist, Jasper, I can't have you keep hurting us."

Jasper nodded, "I respect that. And thank you, for the apology. I will see someone, you're right I don't want to hurt you or Sarah Alice, or Len or Liam or anyone. I should have come to you for help but…"

"But father and support aren't two words that fit together for you," James said, "I understand. I'll just have to be more patient with you."

Jasper smiled.

"But I'm not going to help you get back with the Princess," James said, "I've played piggy in the middle before and it didn't work out well. You need to fix this one yourself."

Jasper nodded, "I intend to."

"Just one other thing," James said, "One massive other thing of course. Prince Liam showed the emails, and the files. Are you absolutely certain?"

Jasper nodded, "Absolutely certain."

James paused for a moment, "FML."

"I know," Jasper said, "is there some order we could get, to interrogate Boon, I mean, he's keep on dropping this information every now and then, how much more might he know?"

James nodded, "There might be. Certainly some friends at Scotland Yard could speak to him once that article's dropped."

"Yeah, about the article," Jasper said, "Well it's not about the plane crash, I couldn't let it be that. Instead I told her about what King, Prince, whatever, Robert did."

James sighed, angrily "I understand your reasons, but you do realise you are condemning us to prison again, right?"

"No," Jasper said hastily, "Because I took some precautions to make it not look like us. The file I took originally, the one about the plane crash, I didn't protect us well enough. The time after that, I made sure to use everything."

"Everything?" James asked.

"Yeah, encrypted VPNs," Jasper said, "Private servers, not the palace one of course. I set it up to make it look like Russian hackers targetted the palace."

James nodded, "You could have just asked me for help. How many times do I have to tell you that?"

Jasper sighed, "And you would have believed me? Believed me when I said, 'Hey Boon told me that Robert paid his boss's boss to fake his death, and get Ted Pryce to kill his father, oh and by the way, Eleanor would be dead too if it weren't for the fact that I called time on her drugs one night to stop her from accidentally OD-ing. And the only reason why he didn't target Liam was because of me and Marcus- because we're too keen eyed, oh and to not make it look suspicious by bumping off the spare too early on it the game. And yeah, he did all of this because he's a bastard, a pimp's bastard'. Would you have really believed me?"

James sighed, "Well I didn't know about the Princess Eleanor part."

"Neither did I," Jasper said, "Until I did a little digging around. It's in your desk draw, underneath the empty Maltesers wrappers. And no, I didn't teach your daughter how to pick locks, she figured that out by herself."

James let out an exasperated sigh as he unlocked his desk draw to see the Maltesers packets, undeniably emptied but glued back together to make it look like they were unopened. He'd be having words with his daughter. Underneath of that was a single leather-bound notebook. James picked it up, looking at the first page.

"Robert's diary," James said, "You know how much trouble you'll get in for this, if he finds it's gone missing?"

"He has twenty servants and cleaners," Jasper said, "I won't incriminate anyone unless I find something dodgy on their files, but if he asks I'll just say it must have gotten moved by someone."

James flicked through it, "Shit! This is as good as a confession."

"Unless it's a red herring," Jasper said, "Something he intended for us to find."

"What kind of man jokes about trying to bump off his own family?" James said, "No, we have hard evidence on those files- we know without a doubt the he paid an army chief to fake his death and paid and manipulated Ted Pryce into killing his father. As for the Queen and his Uncle Cyrus I don't think they had any idea. But Princess Eleanor? I thought he loved her the most out of everyone?"

"Page 34," Jasper said, " 'I hate that I have to make her leave, but at least this will be a peaceful way to go. Her life is full of so much pain, as is mine. We both have to hide who we are, from the people that will never love us for who we truly are. I just want her to be free.'"

"That's some seriously twisted logic," James said, "So you're saying the journalist will publish this instead, for definite."

"On the day before the coronation," Jasper said, "So basically at midnight tonight, the article goes live."

"Shit!" James swore, "And then what happens to us?"

"They'll come looking for me," Jasper replied "And I'll show them the Russian hacking data. Make it look like I'm trying to fix the breach rather than cause it."

"This sounds far too risky," James said, "I really wish you had told me about this before. Shit, Jasper, do you not realise how dangerous this is? I'd be mad at you if I didn't suspected this was the best option to take."

Jasper gave his boss an exasperated look, "Robert's a psycho, James. How long before he twists it all around to make Sarah Alice or you or I a threat in his eyes? Jesus, he wanted to kill Len because he thought it was the right thing to do to help her."

James sighed, "Well I guess what is done is done. Let's just hope we can make it out of this."

Jasper nodded solemnly.

"Although on a better note," James said, "You can come in now!"

"Finally!" a familiar voice said, as the secret door to James's office opened to reveal Sarah Alice, "I thought you'd never stop talking!"

Jasper grinned, "Hey little elf!"

Sarah Alice beamed before running into Jasper's arms, "I missed you so much. Where did you go?"

"I had to save the world," Jasper told her.

"Is it saved now?" Sarah Alice asked.

Jasper nodded, "Yeah, I think I've just about managed to save it."

"Good," Sarah Alice said, "Because you still haven't given Eleanor her Christmas present yet. Don't worry I've been keeping it safe for you."

Jasper smiled, "Well then, considering you've been doing such a good job keeping it safe, it seems only right that you should give it to her."

Sarah Alice frowned, "Why?"

"Because I think it'll be better as a surprise present," Jasper answered.

Sarah Alice pondered that, then nodded smiling, "Yeah, it would. I'll go hide it in her room now."

Jasper smiled as Sarah Alice ran away to get the book.

James shook his head, "Just make sure you do things right this time."

Jasper nodded with a smile, "I will."

BREAK_BREAK_BREAK_BREAK

"No, Len, I'm not saying you can't go abroad," Robert argued, already knowing he was fighting a losing battle, "I just mean that you can't leave for six months."

"Why not?" Eleanor asked, "What exactly do I do here, Robbie? I can pay money to charities from abroad, I can visit charities whilst I'm abroad, I can give interviews over the phone or Skype. Six months is not a long time. Jeez, you were away for a year and a half in the RAF, the bloody heir, and no one gave a sh-."

"Your highness," Rosie interrupted, "I'm sorry but your brother is King and he is also your brother, he just wants what's best for you. And in all honesty, as your friend, I've got to ask you how well do you know Prince Sebastian?"

"We're friends," Eleanor said, "I know everyone's all team Jasper around here, but he's not a God. Not even close."

"Len," Robert said, "I'm not team Jasper. In fact, I wouldn't even be team Beck, and he's my best friend, for goodness sake. I'm team you. I want what's best for you, and I will make sure of that- no matter the cost."

"I appreciate the concern," Eleanor replied, "But I'm not a child. And I certainly don't appreciate being treated like one. I can look after myself, thank you very much, and if you remember Robbie, darling Beckwith learnt very well when he was just nineteen what happens when you make unwarranted advances to a princess. So you don't need to worry about that department."

"No you really don't," Liam said with a grin, "And Leni's right, it's her decision."

Eleanor grinned.

"Liam," Jasper whispered.

"I was wondering where you were, Jasper," Robert said, "Crenshaw will be here any moment and during that time I'm sure you'll be very busy party planning."

"Party planning?" Eleanor said, frowning, "Er, what party?"

"Er, Sarah Alice's birthday party," Jasper said, awkwardly brushing a strand of hair behind his ear.

"Right, erm, it's just," Eleanor began, "Well, Rosie and I are organising the party."

Jasper frowned, "No, Rosie and I are organising the celebration."

"Wait?" Eleanor asked, "Is there something going on?"

Robert rolled his eyes, "I thought I told you to keep your extra-curricular affairs in check, bodyguard."

"Wait…" Rosie began, "You don't actually think I'm dating Jasper?"

"I'll have to admit it kinda looks like that," Eleanor said.

"God no!" Rosie said, "Not that he isn't well… ya know… but no… what I mean is he's nice… just not that nice… well, I mean he's good with kids… no, I don't mean it like that… I'm just going to stop talking now."

Eleanor nodded, "Yes, you probably should."

"And he's yours," Rosie added, "If you, er, still want him."

Liam frowned, "Yes, well. Why don't we all just work together on party arrangements?"

"Yes, sparrow," Robert answered, "Sounds like the perfect solution."

Eleanor nodded, "Yup, I er, think it'll work."

"Jasper?" Robert asked.

"I was already in," Jasper said, "And for the record, Sarah Alice said that her dream party would have mermaids, princesses, and a casino."

"A casino?" Liam asked.

"Yeah, it wasn't actually entirely my fault," Jasper clarified, "You know those little people pretend to be grown ups places. You know where they have supermarkets and clothes stores and doctors and stuff like that. I took her to one of those when we went Christmas shopping and there was a casino there and she knew I worked in a hotel casino because apparently James told her that and she swapsied lessons in blackjack, and cheating at blackjack, for three milky way bars and a packet of my little pony top trumps, oh and silence."

"Christmas shopping?" Rosie asked, "Casino? Silence?"

"Oh, I'm getting the picture," Liam said with a grin, "Next time, just ask me for help, yeah?"

Eleanor bit her lip, "Do I want to know?"

"Erm, you'll find out," Jasper replied, "But in a good way, or at least I hope you'll think it's a good way."

Eleanor stepped close to him, "Jasper you're insufferable, you know that right?"

Jasper nodded, "I'm sorry, Eleanor."

"Three milky way bars, my little pony and silence, Jasper!" Eleanor said, shaking her head, "Well let's hope when I find out that I do actually like whatever it is."

Jasper watched as Eleanor and Rosie walked away.

"Did you really ask a seven year old elf for relationship advice?" Liam asked his friend.

Jasper nodded, "Not my finest moment."

"No, but in all fairness," Liam replied, "Probably one of your finer moments."

Robert grinned, "So what did you get my sister?"

"A necklace," Jasper replied, "And yeah, I know, she gets tons of jewellery, but I overlooked that, so instead Sarah Alice and I designed a storybook- because all princesses have stories about them."

Liam grinned, "A storybook."

"Yeah," Jasper said, "A storybook."

"You just left her for three weeks," Liam asked.

"Yeah, shit that's definitely not going to enough," Jasper replied, "What do I do?"

"Er, keep your extra-curricular affairs in check?" Robert suggested, "Like I told you to."

"Just be yourself," Liam suggested, "And play the sympathy card."

"Ok," Jasper said, before darting towards the door, "And for the record your majesty, I only said I'd keep my distance from your sister if I accepted being your detail permanently."

Robert and Liam watched him darting away.

"That son of a bitch," Robert said.

BREAK_BREAK_BREAK_BREAK

Jasper arrived outside of Eleanor's door, and was about to knock, but he didn't know if he should or shouldn't-

"I know you're bloody well out there," Eleanor yelled out, "So get your sorry arse in here now!"

Jasper opened the door tentatively to see Eleanor sitting in her chair at the coffee table, the present opened, and the book sat in front of her, turned to the last page.

"What is this, Jasper?" Eleanor asked, it was clear that she had tears in her eyes, "I told you to walk away. I told you that it's over."

"I know but…" Jasper began.

"I'm leaving in a week's time," Eleanor said, "I'm leaving for six months."

"Are you, really?" Jasper replied, "Because I don't think that Robert's going to let you."

"Yes, well," Eleanor said, "He's not the boss of me, even if he is going to be the boss of this country! And for shitsake Jasper this has to stop! I've moved on, now please do the same!"

"Eleanor, look at me," Jasper said, knowing this might well be his last chance, "Really look at me."

"I'm looking," Eleanor said, her emerald eyes staring into his light blue ones, "What I'm supposed to see?"

"A man who loves you," Jasper said desperately, "A man who trusts you. And a man who can't live without you."

"Shit, Jasper," Eleanor said, "Look I'm I still meant what I said. I'm done with this shit. I can't live my life waiting for the next bump in the road, the next stumbling block."

"I know," Jasper said, "And I get it, but Len, do you think all relationships apart from ours run smoothly? No, there's always bumps in the roads, stumbling blocks, but people face them together because they love each other. I love you, Eleanor."

"That's not fair," Eleanor replied, shaking her head, "None of this fair. I've given you so many chances Jasper- first you blackmailed me, then you slept with my mum, tried to rob from me, oh and broke my heart on Christmas fucking Eve to save your goddamn 'precious' arse from a nosey reporter. You know what I don't like Sebastian as more than a friend, but sometimes I really wish I did because you know what he says the right things, he does the right things…"

"If that what you want in a guy, Len, then I'll hook you up with a ton of guys I know from back home," Jasper said exasperated, "Shit, Eleanor, just because a guy says or does the right things doesn't mean he's a nice guy, or that he loves you or anything like that. It's when he comes back time and time again, find out who murdered his girlfriend's father, painted her room with her when she was too scared to go on a real date... Eleanor, I'm not saying this Sebastian is a bad guy, but he'll never love you as much as I do. It just isn't possible."

"Jasper," Eleanor began, tears in her eyes.

"I want to be with you for the rest of time and that's exactly what I intend to do,"Jasper promised her.

Eleanor looked at him shocked, "Is that supposed to mean what I think it's supposed to mean?"

Jasper nodded, "Yeah it does. I might not be doing things perfectly, but I never have, and the Eleanor I love knows that we don't do perfect by anyone else's standards, because we're perfect for each other and that's completely what we both need."

Eleanor blinked back tears, walking towards him, "Jasper, I promised Sebastian I'd go."

"Well unpromise him," Jasper said.

"What about the designing?" Eleanor asked.

"There's no reason you can't follow your dreams here," Jasper said, "I'm sure your family have beach side condos all over the world too."

Eleanor nodded, tears spilling down her cheeks as Jasper kissed her cheek delicately.

"I'm still not sure, Jasper," Eleanor admitted.

"Well just think about it," Jasper replied, "I'm not going anywhere."

Eleanor nodded.

"Len," Jasper began, "I've made a promise to myself, and I'm making a promise to everyone to be honest from now on."

Eleanor nodded, brushing her tears away, "Good."

"Which is why you need to hear this," Jasper said with a sigh, "Even though I really wish you didn't have to find this out, but it's better you know this now instead with everyone else at midnight tonight."

"Jasper?" Eleanor frowned, "What have you done?"

Jasper sighed, "I told the truth."

"About your past?" Eleanor asked, "To the reporter? Jasper you didn't need to tell them that."

Jasper shook his head, tears beginning to spill for his eyes, "No, I wish it was that."

"Jasper, tell me now," Eleanor said, looking at him demandingly.

"Robert tried to kill you, Eleanor."