A/N: Thanks to all my readers and reviewers- you all rock!
The Princess Diaries doesn't belong to me!
Meanwhile, in Scotland…
"Can I get in contact with my mother now?" Pierre turned to his former bodyguard after watching the news- of course, the 'alleged assassination attempt' of the queen of Genovia was news around the world (and he had expected that considering his own past experiences with the press) but while he was somewhat reassured that the police and other investigative operations would eventually solve the mystery, Pierre wanted to know that his mother was alright and that he could talk to her.
"I'm sorry, Pierre, but it's impossible to even connect with anyone in Genovia, let alone the palace."
"But I'm sure you're in contact with them… I'm sure you would have had to let them know that I was safe."
"True enough," Adam bowed his head for a moment. "However, we have been informed to keep communications between us and the palace limited, in case people could make connections."
"So you can't or you won't?" Pierre said challengingly, surprising both of them. "I realise that this is a matter of national security- I appreciate that, goodness know I do but Adam… she's my mother, my mother! I'm her only living son and I want to know that she's SAFE!"
"I can assure you that she is safe…"
"But you don't know that 100 percent, do you?"
Pierre was aware that he was over reacting, not acting like a man of the cloth or even a former Prince of Genovia at this precise moment but he also knew that he was acting like a man, a son who wanted to know about his mother and he didn't care how he acted or how other people would saw him- all that mattered that he received proof that Clarisse Renaldi was safe- and that meant speaking to her on the phone.
"Your Highness… Your Grace…" Adam amended hastily, he wasn't sure he could call him Pierre at this moment, the younger man was clearly annoyed. "Believe me, I can understand your worry and concern about Her Majesty, yes she is your mother and I would want to know where my mother is if there is something like this going on- any loving son would be as worried as you…. But I also need to add that this is a situation that needs to be dealt with by the professionals- and the professionals, as such, have decided that all those in danger need to be protected and as part of these protocols, they…"
"Yes, yes, yes- security protocol dictates that communication between those in danger should be kept to a minimum," Pierre said impatiently. "But…"
"Pierre, I'm sorry sir but I cannot allow any contact between you and the palace…" Adam was firm and stern, standing and looking down at the younger man and Pierre realised that he couldn't argue with the older man- from childhood experience, he knew that when Adam looked and sounded like that, there was nothing more he could say or do. "I'm sorry, son," he said in a gentler voice. "If I could, I would- you know that, don't you."
"I do…and I'm sorry that I behaved inappropriately."
"I wouldn't call it inappropriate, I would call it appropriate behaviour for a son worried about his mother."
"I suppose I couldn't contact the Princess in America either, could I?"
"I'm sorry, Pierre," Adam shook his head regretfully- he could understand the younger man's restlessness, he wouldn't like being confined in a house, isolated away from his family, friends and responsibilities, even if it meant keeping him safe. "Although I can assure you that she is just as protected as you and Her Majesty."
"Good, good," he said almost to himself. "Although it is a terrible introduction to her life as the Crown Princess of Genovia…"
"I'm sure she's more than alright…"
"I'm sure she is too… if she's her father's daughter, she would be," Pierre said with a warm smile, remembering his younger brother and missing him more…
0
Meanwhile, in San Francisco…
"Oh my goodness!" Mia gasped after the news story ended and an ad break came on. "I actually didn't think that assassination attempt theory was real!" she added as she sat back on the sofa, situated between Michael and Lily, her mother hovering. "I want to call the palace," she added hastily, starting to rise from her seat, looking frantically around for the phone, before Michael pulled her back down next to him.
"You know you can't," he said simply, taking her hand and squeezing it in his. "You know you've been told…"
"I know what I've been told, I know what I can and can't do!" Mia snapped, pulling her hand away from his and folding her arms across her chest. "I've been hearing that for the past couple of days, if not since I decided to accept my title and I'm already getting a little tired of it."
"You will be listening to those words for a long time to come," Lily teased and Mia rolled her eyes.
"Thanks for the support, Lil," before she turned towards Helen. "Did you believe that it was an assassination attempt before they confirmed it on the news."
"I didn't want to- and I honestly hoped it wasn't true -and it still may not be true, may I point out, the palace hasn't confirmed or denied the report…"
"As if they can, I bet they are in total lock down over this," Lily said.
"They would be….but I'm sure that your grandmother and uncle are safe no matter what, they have great teams of security around them and Joseph knows what he's doing."
"Did you ever have this happen when you were married to Dad?" Mia had been wondering about it since they had been 'locked down' (although she could still go to school, which created complications of its own).
"No, not in the brief time we were together…When we first met, I wasn't aware of who he was- although I had to wonder about the two men that followed him around- but when I knew who he really was, it didn't bother me…although if I had known then what the potential hazards were, I'm not sure I would have followed him to Genovia."
Helen had never really expressed her thoughts around that time- although she had ensured that Mia knew about her father (although not that he was royal) and that she was loved by both of them- but now that she had had time to reflect (and watch their child learn about her heritage), she realised that she probably wouldn't have gone to Genovia, knowing what she knew now.
Retrospection was always good in hindsight, but when she was nineteen and in love with a handsome, kind, intelligent man, no matter who he was, she wouldn't have followed anyone's advice, even her older self.
"Really?" Mia looked stunned- she hadn't expected that, although she wasn't particularly surprised…who had really ever dreamed of being royal in real life? Or wanted to marry into to royalty? Even after eighteen months, Mia still wasn't sure she was suited for the royal life…. "You wouldn't have married Dad if you knew about all of this?
"In retrospect, I wouldn't have… but, then again, I was stubborn, wilful and hopelessly romantic when I met him at nineteen and I don't think I would have listened to any advice from anyone else."
"Not even from your parents?"
"Not even from them… but would you take advice from me if you were in love?" Helen gently teased and Mia laughed.
"Depends if he was a prince or not."
"Anyone, not just royalty."
"Hey, your current boyfriend is sitting right here!" Michael said in a teasing tone and Mia turned to him with a smile.
"Sorry…. So, Mom, do you approve of Michael?" she turned back to Helen.
"Of course… even if he wasn't sitting right beside you, I would still approve of him," and Helen smiled kindly at him, her words easing the tension that had been building in the room after the news broadcast.
"Thanks, Ms Thermopolis."
"Please, you and Lily and Mia have all practically grown up together, you can call me Helen."
"So…What are we going to do about…?" Mia waved her hand back to the television, where another news story, muted by Lily, was on the screen.
"There is nothing we can do at the moment," Helen said firmly. "We just have to let the professionals do their jobs and wait and see what will happen….you know that the palace will let you know when they can."
"I know, I know… I just hate waiting, feeling helpless!"
0
Meanwhile, in an undisclosed location on the outskirts of Pyrus…
"So if the press has already released the information about this being an assassination attempt, why can't we go back to our own homes?" Lord Fricker complained to Sebastian Motaz after watching the news broadcast- they had been evacuated into one of a member of parliament's houses only the day before but the fifteen men were already on edge, driving each other crazy- and they had never lived in close proximity before.
Of course, it hadn't helped that their wives had been taken to their families, and the already strained situation was getting more and more strained- most of them barely got along during the parliament sessions, but now that they were confined in close quarters, explosions were inevitable from a group of men who enjoyed power and had big egos to match.
"You know we can't, Lord Fricker," Sebastian explained for what seemed liked the tenth time- the other men had already approached him about it and he had continually explained that they couldn't leave, not until the perpetrators had been caught and the situation had been resolved, but still… some of them were determined not to understand.
Sebastian himself had thought that he had plenty of patience to deal with parliament- he had watched their Majesties deal with parliament and other diplomats with skill, diplomacy and patience and he modelled his own dealings on those- but at the moment, with a group of demanding men, he was rapidly running out of patience.
"But why? It's the Queen they are after, not us."
"We don't know that, and I would appreciate it if you don't spread that rumour to the rest of the men," Sebastian suddenly turned stern.
"But…"
"Enough," his tone turned sharp and even the older man knew that he had pushed the Prime Minister too far. "We are still going to be staying here and I will always let you and the other gentlemen know when there is anything to inform you of."
"Fine," Lord Fricker muttered before he slowly turned and shuffled toward the study where some of the younger men had settled in to a never ending game of poker and scotch, not necessarily something Sebastian approved of but if it kept them off his back…
He was only relieved that Viscount Mabrey had be relocated to his own house with another group of men- he didn't think he could handle him in such close proximity…
"Sir?"
"Yes?" he turned to see one of his own personal bodyguards (he too had his own before this emergency).
"There is a phone call for you. The palace."
Sebastian walked into the private study that had been allocated as the security team's hub as well as the base for any communications between them and the palace.
"Scott?"
"Sir, I just wanted to give you a call and inform you that the palace will be releasing a press statement in regards to the news broadcast and I wanted to run it past you."
"Fine. I think that's a good idea. Fax it to me and I'll take a look at it and call you back. When were you planning on releasing it?"
"As soon as possible… Is there anything you need there?"
"No, we're fine… and the others?"
"They're fine as well."
They were being short and succinct on the phone- while both were confident that the phone lines were secure, it was better to be safe than sorry.
"Fine. Fax it now."
"Yes sir."
0
Meanwhile, in yet another undisclosed location…..
"So, have we got anything?" the words were terse on the phone- who knew was listening in on the phone lines?
"No- the palace is definitely on lock down, no one in or out."
"Do you know whether Her Majesty is there?"
"I have a feeling that she could be- her bodyguards usually don't tend to let her out too often, and her Head of Security, Joseph…." the second man's voice sounded disgusted and the other man sensed that he had no admiration for the second most powerful man in Genovia, the man who was situated by the side of the Queen.
"I'm sure the old man would be right on top of the situation, he would love being the man in charge…."
"So, what happens now?"
"Unfortunately, there have been no serious injuries and parliament refuses to confirm or deny the assassination attempt theory- which is pretty stupid of them- so I think we are going to have to up the ante slightly- we need them to come to us."
"Do we have to?" the other man sounded rather wary and the first man almost growled in frustration.
"We HAVE to, we NEED to…."
His voice sounded so stern and determined that his colleague immediately backed down- he didn't want to see what his boss was like when he was severely displeased.
"Is the result even worth it?"
There was a long pause before the other man nodded grimly on his end of the phone.
"Absolutely. It's more than worth it."
