The damages weren't too bad but there were shattered windows, stolen items and vandalism done. My room had just been upturned, nothing taken, I didn't have anything for them to take. The repairs were made swiftly in the space of three days and everything was restored as to the way it was, aside from the items that were stolen and never returned. Maxim had been busy in the days of restoration in the Palace. Breakfast was taken in our rooms and all seven of us hadn't dined together since, no discussion thus had been made to the attack. Maxim had sent me a small note on the third day of the Palace being repaired and stabilised. He wrote: My dear Eden, I have been unable to see you these past few days due to being heavily caught up with the aftermath of these attacks. However breakfast tomorrow morning we will all be dining as we have done before and things will be back to normal, giving us time to sneak away more often. I shall see you at breakfast and remember to keep discreet. Love, Maxim.

The next morning I slipped into a black pinafore dress with a white shirt underneath and headed down to breakfast. I sat in between Slightly and Maxim as I had done before, Maxim placed his hand on my knee as I tucked myself in and I stifled a smile. Peter was silent at the head of the table, he did not talk to Nibs on his left or Slightly at his right. We had our usual pick of colourful fruits and fried bacon and eggs as well as a choice of sliced fresh bread. I was eating better than I did at home, the cook my parents hired didn't give us as much range as I had here. For breakfast I would have had porridge, lunch would be a sandwich or cold meats and dinner would be a roast meat of some sort. In the Palace I was given every sort of food imagined and all was beautifully cooked and prepared.

'Miss Booth.' Peter snapped me out of my thoughts and I looked up at him. 'I would like you to walk with me in the gardens after breakfast to discuss some matters.' He stated, I guessed it was an order and not a choice. I finished my bread and then Peter excused us from breakfast. Maxim stared out after me and watched me leave with Peter with a hopeful look on his face. Peter wore a very pale blue shirt with grey trousers and he walked with his arms behind his back. I caught up with him in the garden due to his rather fast pace of walking. 'Were you scared during the attacks?'

'Not really.' I replied honestly. Of course I had to be quite scared but I wanted to grab a sword and join those fighting downstairs. 'I wouldn't have minded joining you downstairs with a sword in hand.'

'I'm sure you would have.' Peter said, his blue eyes vacant. 'Twins keeps pressing me about your ability. I don't know why, if I didn't know any better I'd say he has a soft spot for you.' Peter gave a slight smirk.

'Of course he doesn't, he can't stand Mortals.' I covered for Maxim, Peter was catching onto Maxim's affections.

'Precisely.' He agreed. 'Perhaps he is just impressed by your seemingly extraordinary ability.' Peter shook his head. 'However I wanted to talk about different matters. Twins told me that your brother had stated we would hand you over after this attack.' I gulped, hoping Peter would disagree with my brother. 'If I did hand you over that would make the Palace and us Princes look very weak and in complete mercy to the pirates. Naturally I would keep you here on my own decision. I doubt you would want to join the pirates anyway, if you do say so now.'

'No, no I wouldn't want to join them.' I said.

'Good, now your brother also said that even if they have an exit home, he wouldn't take you home, is that correct?' I stayed silent for a moment and then nodded my head. 'My proposition is that you remain in the Palace for now but we shall find you a boy to take care of you and then you may live with him. Once you are settled with this boy you can have a vile of fairy dust and become immortal.' No! I wanted to scream at him. If he had said this before Maxim's confession I wouldn't have been too keen on the idea but probably would have accepted it, but now? Maxim was the boy I would want to take care of me, and equally, I of him. 'I wouldn't want you feeling out of place when all the Princesses come to the Palace, but as we help you choose a boy, we will be choosing our Princesses as I have been pressured to do by Birch, one of our advisors.' Peter rolled his eyes. 'So you won't be alone, we will all go through the same process. I've heard the Chief has a few eligible sons, I could put in a good word and you could be an Indian princess.' But I was Maxim's Princess. He said he wanted the crown he had for his Princess on my head. I couldn't say anything to Peter about Maxim. We were sworn to secrecy. I simply nodded and Peter smiled widely, probably glad to be rid of me once and for all. I just wanted to tell Maxim about this as soon as possible.

After our walk about the garden I rushed inside and walked the halls in search of Maxim. I couldn't find him in any of the halls so I went up to the top floor to his bedroom. I possibly shouldn't have been up there, it was the Royal floor with all their bedrooms, strictly off limits to Mortals. I tapped on the wooden door and it opened swiftly, Maxim pulled me inside and closed his door. 'You shouldn't be on this floor, someone could have seen you.' He shook his head but embraced me tightly. 'What did Peter want?' He asked as he pulled away from me and led me by my hand over to his bed which we sat upon as we did the night of the attack. He pulled me against his waist and I rested my head on his shoulder.

'I won't be handed over to pirates.' I said and then I sucked in a breath. 'Maxim, we have a… problem.'

'What's wrong?' He whispered and narrowed his eyes.

'I have to find a boy… when I do I will be immortal and out of the Palace.' I said quietly. 'And you will have to find a Princess.'

'But you're mine…' Maxim said quietly.

'You said so yourself that Peter would be furious. He wants me to find a boy elsewhere-'

'No, I refuse to choose a girl who is not you as my Princess.' He growled. 'I also refuse to have you choosing another boy! Who would even be a suitable match?'

'Peter said he could ask the Chief if one of his sons-'

'The Chief's sons?! Ha! Although a lot of girls drool over them, they are the most sexist boys I have ever met except pirates. And you think I'm bad giving my stupid comments! You'd be slaving after them, you'd be so miserable and they'd strike you for giving your opinion. That's why Princess Tiger Lily hates it there so much.' Maxim's face was flushed with anger and his eyes darkened.

'Yes, I'd be miserable with anyone who wasn't you. But you and I both know what would happen if Peter found out about us, you'd be-'

'Damn Peter!' He spat and stood up. 'I'll have to tell him about us sooner than expected.'

'But you'll get kicked out of the Palace.' I reasoned, getting kicked out of the Palace would result in ultimate shame for him not to mention the ridicule from Randal.

'You'll be immortal when you're a Princess! Why can't I have you?' He sighed. I stood up and kissed his cheek, resting my head once more on his shoulder.

'I am yours, as you are mine. Maybe, Peter will put his past aside and see reason. You've said so yourself he's not always been this uptight person.' I also thought maybe Peter would be so in love with his new Princess he'd have sympathy for Maxim and me. Maxim pulled me into his arms and rested his cheek against mine.

'Maxim, Maxim, Maxim…' Our heads both turned to the door to see Randal leaning against the door frame, smirking. Maxim pulled away from me and I saw his fists clench. Randal stepped inside and closed the door. 'I knew it from the moment I saw you stood by her at the party there was something going on with you Maxim.'

'You have no right to enter the Palace. Who let you in?!' He demanded but Randal chuckled to himself.

'I have my ways. Nothing about you slips me by Maxim. I have known you since the day you were born. I know that you tap your foot when you're eager to do something, I know you tuck your hands deep in your pockets when you're nervous and I know that side glance you give girls that you like when you're too shy to look at them directly.' Randal stepped closer to Maxim, so close that his nose almost touched Maxim's. 'You can't put a brick wall between us. I know far too much about you.' Randal gave a brief glance at me. 'What will Neverland say when they find out you love a Mortal?'

'She'll be immortal soon.' Maxim stated. 'I will tell Peter of it.'

'How sweet, looks like everything is all set for your perfect new life here.' Randal sneered at me. 'If you're going to break the news to Peter it looks like I won't have to.' Randal smiled spitefully. There was a knock at the door and Maxim gazed over.

'You may enter.' He called out and a servant entered with a tray and a drink upon it, he bowed briefly before he spoke.

'Your drink you asked for your Highness.' The servant smiled at Randal and placed the tray on the dressing table in Maxim's room.

'It's about time...' He muttered and shooed the servant away. Randal also made his way towards the door.

'I should leave you now, I wish you the best my dear cousin and I hope to be invited to your ceremony when the Mortal becomes your Princess.' He mock bowed and smirked. 'Enjoy your drink.' He said and slammed the door behind him. Maxim marched over to his drink and took a large gulp.

'He gives me a headache.' He growled and too another swig from the glass. I observed the lime green liquid swirling around in the glass and frowned.

'What drink is that?' I asked, I'd only ever seen Maxim drinking it, never the others.

'It's my special drink, no one else likes it. I have it ordered in especially for me. You're welcome to try it.' He handed the glass over to me and I took it, smelling the liquid. My nose creased as a slight hint of alcohol hit my nose. I didn't have a taste for alcohol very much and passed on tasting it.

'It's an… acquired taste.' I said and handed it back. 'I think I'll pass.'

'Sorry our meeting was ruined with Randal.' He said, and finished off his drink as he threw the liquid to the back of his throat. 'I promise we shall spend more time together and we will tell Peter our secret soon. You should leave before anyone suspects a thing about us being in here.'

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