A/N – Thanks for the reviews! I thought I'd give you another chapter for today. Enjoy!

Chapter 10 – Eyes Wide Open

The night seemed to fly by and still no one had claimed Elizabeth.

Alan and Monica looked at each other still hoping that a miracle would happen. They weren't sure what they would do if no one would claim her.

Alan motioned for the guard. "Has the Duke of Rothsbury shown up yet?"

"Yes milord. He arrived about a half hour ago."

"Please fetch him for me." Alan demanded. The Duke had purchased something for the Queen while he was in Italy and Alan couldn't wait to give it to her.

The music slowed and Jason asked Elizabeth to dance.

He moved her around the floor. They never stopped looking into each other's eyes.

"Ah Jeffrey, it's so good to see you." Alan said shaking his hand.

Jeffrey smiled. "It's wonderful to see you as well my King." He said carefully slipping him a box. He had picked up something for the Queen in Italy for Alan.

Alan smiled. "Thank you."

The music stopped and there was some kind of commotion at the back. The King and Jeffrey looked out over the dance floor just as Liz had turned and faced them. Jason grabbed her hand and pulled her towards him.

Jeffrey felt all the blood drain out of his face. He couldn't even move. Jason was leading her away and Jeffrey panicked. "Elizabeth." He yelled.

Alan frowned and looked up at him.

"Elizabeth." He yelled again.

Curious, Jason stopped to look back and Elizabeth turned and looked as well.

"Oh my God, my daughter." Jeffrey bellowed.

Monica stood up. Her mouth dropped open as she realized what was going on.

Elizabeth walked towards the man. She didn't even know why she did but it was like her feet were moving but she had no control over them.

Jeffrey had begun to cry. "Elizabeth, it's me, your father."

Elizabeth stopped and all of a sudden a million pictures fluttered through her brain. Her body started to sway and Jason ran up to her and caught her as she fell to the floor.

Emily yelped and ran towards her friend as Jason picked her up and carried her towards the back. There was a drawing room and he carefully laid her down on the couch and tried to wake her.

"What's wrong with her?" Emily asked confused.

Monica and Alan rushed into the room. "Is she alright Jason?"

"Get me some water." He yelled out as one of the servants took off to fetch it.

Jeffrey walked into the room and rushed to her side.

"Elizabeth darling, open your eyes." He said shaking her gently.

"She didn't remember who she was." Jason said softly before he stood up and backed away. All he could think of was that this man was going to take Ella away from him and his heart could not bear it.

Elizabeth stirred. Her eyes fluttered open. She finally focused on her father's eyes and she threw her arms around him and hugged him tightly.

"My baby." He said crying softly.

Jason rushed out of the room and Monica followed him into a hallway. "Jason, where are you going? She needs you."

He spun around. "Clearly she doesn't anymore."

Monica saw the hurt on his face and walked up to him and took his hands. "Don't run away from her. She finally has her family back. You can ask for her hand now. You two are crazy about each other. Please, stay." She begged.

Jason took a deep breath and tried to compose himself. "Okay." He said softly. All he knew is that he couldn't be without her and he felt like he was coming out of his skin.

Monica led him back into the room. Jeffrey stood up and walked up to Jason and shook his hand. "I understand I have you to thank for my daughter's safety."

"I would do it again sir. Your daughter means everything to me." Jason said softly.

Jeffrey looked back and forth in shock between Elizabeth and Jason. He then turned to Alan. "When did this happen?"

Alan smiled. "You know how the kids are in this day and age."

Jeffrey looked back up at Jason.

"I would like to ask your permission to court her." Jason said nicely.

Jeffrey chuckled. "Why do I have the feeling you already have been? Let us get our bearings and then we will discuss it formally."

Jason nodded. He looked at Elizabeth and smiled and then left the room. Emily kissed her on the forehead. "We'll talk later." She said following her parents out of the room.

"Thank God she is not a commoner." Alan said under her breath.

Monica smiled. "Yes."

As the party continued in the rooms around them, Liz told her father what she had been up to.

"So, you and the Prince?" He asked curiously.

Liz blushed. "Yes, I know it probably goes against everything I've always thought I wanted, but I'm crazy about him father."

Jeffrey smiled and started to laugh. "Oh my dear child you are always so full of surprises."

"Would you mind if I went and found him?"

Elizabeth had noticed that Jason seemed a little upset.

"It's okay my dear. Just don't wander too far off. I've just found you."

Elizabeth smiled and gave her dad a kiss on the cheek before she hurried off to the garden.

IiIiIiIiIiIiIiIiIi

"I thought that I'd find you here." She said walking towards Jason.

"I just needed some air."

"Are you upset?" She asked curiously.

"Not in the way that you think." Jason pulled her into his arms. "I just don't want to lose you, Ell… I mean Elizabeth."

Liz smiled. "Say it again."

"Elizabeth." Jason said before kissing her soundly.

Liz shivered and laid her head on his chest. "I don't think I can bear to part with you."

"Then don't." He said pulling back.

"Jason, I can't stay here. I will be expected to return home with my father."

Jason grimaced. "I wish there was another way."

"We'll find a way to make it work." She said looking up at him.

Jason kissed her again. "You better get back to him."

Liz smiled. "It's good to know who I am again."

"I had grown rather fond of Ella."

"Well, now you will just have to grow fonder of Elizabeth." She said grinning.

"Already done." Jason said softly.

Elizabeth tore her eyes away from his and ran back towards the castle. She was definitely in love with love.

IiIiIiIiIiIiIiIiIi

The next day, the Duke joined everyone for breakfast.

"Elizabeth, be a dear and go see what is keeping Princess Emily." Monica asked nicely.

Liz nodded and went upstairs.

"Emily?" She said walking into her room.

"Go away." She said sobbing.

Liz ran up to the bed. "What is wrong?" She said stroking her hair.

"Nikolas is gone. He has disappeared."

"What? But how could that be?"

Emily wiped her face with a handkerchief. "He's been gone for a few days. The guard told me that no one seems to know where to."

Elizabeth hated seeing her so upset. "I'm so sorry. I'll make an excuse for you."

"Thank you."

Liz left her and went back downstairs.

"Where is she?" Monica asked.

"She's a little under the weather milady." Liz said sitting down.

Alan cleared his throat. "Jeffrey, how long will you be staying?"

"I was going to head back today."

Liz choked on her bread. "Father, can't we stay one more day?"

Jeffrey chuckled and looked back at Monica and Alan who were smiling.

"One more day." He said as he watched Liz's face light up.

"Thank you father." She said looking over at Jason who was smiling.

They finished their breakfast and Jeffrey asked to speak to Jason alone.