Chapter 11

I woke up early Christmas morning – around half six in the morning – with Theo spooning me again. The room was incredibly nice and cosy. It was quite small, but I guess it was only a small annexe for friends and family who were staying with Grace and Luke so it was more than what was needed. The wall behind the double bed was made from small logs. In front of me, there was a cream wall with two builds in wardrobes down the far end and a chest of drawers near the head of the bed made out of oak and had a small potted plant on top. I felt Theo's hands run up and down my waist.

'Morning.' He whispered to me softly and I grinned, rolling over onto my back before hugging the blanket to cover my chest. Theo smiled down at me as he propped himself up on his elbow before he kissed me again.

'Morning,' I mumbled, blushing. 'Merry Christmas,' I added, remembering what day it was.

'How did you sleep?' Theo asked me, running his finger down my face before resting his hand on my shoulder.

'Good, yeah.' I said and he frowned. 'You?'

'Brilliant.' He said continued to look at me.

'Right, I'm going to have a shower.' I whispered, wiggling out of bed and standing up.

'Ellie?' Theo said ever so tenderly, and I turned around. He opened his mouth, before looking up and down and he closed his mouth. 'Forgot what I was going to say. You know what, I need a shower too.' He said.

'There are two showers in this place?' I asked as Theo also got out of bed.

'Nope, just the one.' He said and I grinned.

/\\/\\/\\/\\/\\/\\/\\/\\/\\/\\

Just over an hour later, we were both changed and had unwrapped presents, and began heading back up to the main house. Theo gently held my hand before he frowned at my Christmas jumper. He held my hand, occasionally bumping my shoulder as he walked.

'When did you get this Christmas jumper?' Theo asked me softly as we followed the gravel path. 'I don't remember any parcels coming of that size.'

'I got it when I was on break one day,' Theo nodded. 'Went to Primark and found the most outrageously hideous jumper I could find.'

'Well, somehow, you're still wearing it perfectly.' He said smiling slightly.

'It's awful!' I laughed, 'That's what you're meant to do… isn't it?' I mumbled.

'You've never had a Christmas day with people before?' He laughed. I just remain silent and looked down at the floor. Theo stopped in his tracks. 'You've… never had a proper Christmas day?' He asked me seriously. 'Why didn't you tell me, Ellie?' He whispered.

'I dunno what happened before I went to the care home… so perhaps there was twice that I might have before my parents decided to leave me for dead. The care home? Not a chance. University – everyone went back home for Christmas and I either stayed put or went back to the care home, and after that when I had my place it was just a welcome day off.' I told him. 'I had no reason to celebrate.' I told him and he looked at me. I looked down at the floor upset with bringing up the past. Theo gently took a step forward and kissed me.

'Oh, sweetheart.' He said before he hugged me tightly. I sobbed slightly, and he held me tighter. 'I'm so sorry.' He said his hand through my hair. Theo pulled away and gently wiped my tears away for me. 'I promise you, from every year from here on in, you will have a brilliant Christmas starting from this year. I will never let you down, I will never let you go back into that life. You will be by my side for as long as we both live.' He kissed the top of my nose.

'Thank you.' I whispered, and he smiled at me. 'But seriously… you didn't need to buy things like this.' I whispered as my fingers gently caressed Tiffany's necklace he got me – a beautiful dipped heart with gems in it on the longer chain. The Pandora bracelet sat on my wrist with three charms on it; a Disney Mickey Mouse Face, a rose gold Christmas Tree and a silver heart with a gold Mickey Mouse and Minnie mouse on jingling around. 'It isn't needed.' I told him truthfully and he shrugged.

'I was talking to Grace about the Disney collection at Pandora and I asked her what Pandora was and that's how this all happened – I saw it and knew you would look brilliant with it on.' Theo told me gently. 'I didn't buy it for you because I was trying to impress you, I bought it for you because… it was you. Same with the necklace.'

'Thank you.' I whispered again and he kissed me gently. 'Come on then, beautiful, Christmas day starts here.' He told me gently.

We entered Grace and Luke's house through the back door and without even stepping foot in the kitchen, Lila came running around the door in some Christmassy onesie and jumped at us, hugging us both whilst shouting "ITS CHRISTMAS" at the top of her lungs. Theo bent down and picked her up, kissing my temple as he walked past, kicking off his Timberlands and heading into the lounge. I kicked off my trainers and jogged to catch up with him. Luke was sitting on the sofa, arm around Grace who happily laid against him.

'Merry Christmas.' The two of them said in tune with each other. Grace had an orange juice in her hand and Luke something fizzy; perhaps alcoholic.

'You too,' Theo said. 'Found an excited child running around.' He poked Lila's tummy and she laughed happily before he bent down and placed her on the floor. Theo then gently took my hand and led me to the sofa on the other side of the lounge onto the other cream sofa that was against the wall under the stairs. Grace met my eye, nodded to the bracelet and I smiled and blushed.

'Go on then, Lila, you can open your presents from Santa.' Luke told his daughter who grinned before running to the pile of boxes wrapped up perfectly under the tree.

'You made your three year old daughter wait to open her presents from Santa? Do you have no heart?' Theo asked his younger brother. Grace got up leaning from Luke and went to sit down on the floor with Lila. Luke sat on the sofa too.

'We were expecting you to come over earlier.' Luke told us with a look and I must have blushed as Luke just grinned at us before he shook his head, focusing on his daughter.

'Had a lay in.' Theo lied fluently.

'Mmm… not what Ellie's face said.' Luke mocked.

'Oi, Luke, not in front of Lila.' Grace said sharply as Lila unwrapped a kitchen set, holding it up excitedly.

Lila, being a very grateful child and wanting to play with every single toy she had, took almost over an hour to open all her presents. It got to the end and Luke threw a small soft present at Grace, who caught it off reflex before he grinned at her. Theo frowned as he looked at me.

'What are those two up too?' He whispered to me. I watched as Grace handed Lila the present, whispering to her quietly and Lila grinned, walking out the room happily.

'What are you doing?' Theo asked Luke.

'What do you mean what are we doing?'

'Where did Lila go?' Luke and Grace looked at each other with a grin. I frowned as Lila walked in wearing a shirt that was a few sizes too big for her. Across the front had the words "BIG SISTER TO BE" across the front. Grace held her arm around and Lila came over to her hugging her.

'Really?' Theo asked and I just clocked what it meant.

'You're pregnant?' I asked Grace and she grinned and nodded.

'Really early days – about five weeks if that.' Luke said. 'But yeah. The midwife has said on August 31st but we have to wait for the scan. We have one booked in beginning in January.' Luke took a photo on his phone. 'We don't know whether to tell Mum yet or not.' Luke got up, picking up Lila on his hip, kissing her cheek before helping Grace up. I knew Theo took a photo before getting up, going over and hugged his younger brother and Grace.

I got up as well, standing slightly awkward. Luke caught my eye before holding his arm out. I walked over and hugged him too.

'Congratulations.' I whispered to him and he smiled.

'Thank you, Ellie, it means a lot.' He told me honestly. 'You too.'

'Luke.' Grace told him off. I walked over and hugged Grace too.

'Congrats.' I mumbled, 'Thought you didn't want to be heavily pregnant in summer again.'

'We 100% thought after the complication and surgeries last time it wouldn't happen this quick. Doctors said it would take a good seven or eight months… but hey ho.' Grace told me, shrugging. 'Just got to hope for a cold summer.'

'Lila, how do you feel about it? Are you excited to be a big sister?' Theo asked his niece gently and she nodded.

'Ya! I'm going to have a sister or a brother!' Lila seemed over the moon.

'Oh hey look, an older sister who will like their sibling when they're born.' Luke aimed at Theo and he rolled his eyes.

'I have apologised for hating you.' Theo mocked, 'Not my fault if you have issues over that still.'

Theo and Luke continued to mock each other before Christmas dinner started to be cooked. The adults seemed to head out into the kitchen whilst I sat in the lounge, playing dolls with Lila. I wasn't even too sure when Theo had entered the room but when I looked up, he was leaning against the doorframe smiling at me, a deep look in his eyes.

'Lila, Nanny's going to be here any minute now, do you want to go out and get dressed into the dress on your bed?' Theo said and Lila nodded, running up the stairs.

'Guessing we're going with we're not telling Caroline then?' I asked Theo as he came over, taking my hand and helping me stand up.

'They've decided to wait for the scan to make sure everything is all good before telling Caroline. She will be crazy when she finds out – she has wanted another grandchild for about a year now, she wants another baby to hold and pander over.' Theo kissed my forehead. 'Probably best not to excite her too much at Christmas.'

So no one even mentioned it at Christmas dinner which was cooked to perfection again. No one even questioned why Grace had orange juice and water at the table whilst everyone else had wine. After dinner, Luke took Lila upstairs as she fell asleep on Grace and we all sat around and watched the Queen's speech – despite Caroline being in the room sitting beside me.

'I'm just going to call Joel.' I said as Grace fell asleep against Luke who hugged her, his hand occasionally resting on her lower abdomen where their baby grew. Luke smiled at me as I got up and Theo nodded. Caroline was also asleep on the settee next to us.

'Tell him I said Merry Christmas too.' Theo whispered as I walked out the room. I went into the garden, dialling Joel on my phone. He picked up on the fourth ring.

'Good morning, Ellie.' I heard Joel say on the line and I smiled, 'Merry Christmas.' He said to me softly.

'Merry Christmas Joel.'

'How is everything going at Luke's place? Everything going fine? I can come and pick you up if you don't feel comfortable – I'm less than an hour away from Windsor and I don't mind –'

'Joel, Joel – everything is going brilliantly. It's all been fine.' I told him and I knew he was smiling. 'I think I like Christmas.' I added.

'You should do, and I am so glad you finally have someone to celebrate the season with. I have to admit I was very wary of your relationship with Theo but he has appeared to prove himself worthy.'

'God, you're like a stereotypical mother and a father rolled into one, Joel.'

'I will act forever as your stereotypical mother and a father from now on in, then – I can totally do that. Guess we have to have the contraception talk soon then –'

'Oh my god.' I simply said.

'Unless…'

'Joel!' I hissed and he laughed.

'Oh my God.' He repeated and I didn't reply. 'You little Devil… really?'

'Joel please, not here.' I whispered and he gasped dramatically.

'That's it! Tomorrow, we're having THAT talk. Sara gave it to the girls for me but I just have to step up to the mark this time.' I blushed so much I hung up the phone on him as a mock way to get him to shut up. I couldn't help but grin though; Joel was not only my best friend but to me, he was also a paternal figure I could trust on… and he would totally give me the talk yesterday.

My phone rang and I picked up, thinking it was Joel.

'Listen carefully, Ellie. You will not have anyone to rely on anymore if you do not follow my instructions. You will be a dead girl walking if you do not comply. Do you understand me?' The voice was deep and authoritative and it brought chills to me. I teared up.

'Who is this?' I said weakly and I regretted it. The man laughed.

'You don't know me. Don't tell anyone about this conversation and I will be in touch with you soon – but for now. Cut ties with Prince Theodore.' The man hung up. I sat there for a while wondering what had happened.

Someone – probably related to Damien O'Scotte – had got my new phone number, only known to about four people, and had threatened me… and the man on the whole also knew about Theo. What do I do?

Numbly, I turned around and walked back into the living room. Theo looked at me, hearing the sound of the door closing from the kitchen to the hallway next to the living room but his face dropped.

'Ellie, what's happened?' Theo said, standing up and coming over to me, hugging me tightly as I stood there in shock. Luke immediately looked at me and frowned. 'What's happened?' Theo asked again and I saw Luke wake up Grace before he got up too.

'She's in shock, Theo.' Luke said, coming up to me as well. I looked at him – his words made sense but it also seemed like he was talking through a block of jelly – his words were bouncy but not making much sense. The boys lead me into the kitchen, sitting me down at the table. Grace appeared.

'Can you tell us what has happened, sweetheart?' Grace said softly. I couldn't. My brain wouldn't work. Instead, I just passed her my phone. She frowned, looking at the phone before quickly darting into her office. She came back a few moments later, whilst the boys had given me a glass of water and a blanket that was thrown over my shoulders and plugged the phone into her laptop. It was about three minutes later of rapid typing that Grace managed to play the recording of the message on my phone. I had let her record all my phone calls when she gave me this phone – I remembered signing the agreement letter wondering if that had ever come in useful.

The recording played out loud and everyone in the room visibly shrank. Theo put his arm around me, holding me tight as Grace just stared at the table for a moment wondering what to do.

'We'll work something out, Ellie.' Theo told me.

'I shall be back in due course,' Grace said before she left the room with her laptop to no doubt do some super-secret and no doubt super-shady work too on the phone call but I just remained hollow. I didn't know what to do, what to say, what to think. Who even was that? I started to shake. Damien and his merry men were on remand in prison, none of them had got bail. No one had my number. I heard Luke mumble something and Theo nodded, and Luke exited down the hallway to where Grace went whilst Theo lifted me up in the bridal lift again, taking me past the lounge, up the stairs, down a lovely wide hallway and into a spare room. He moved the duvet with his mind and laid me in bed, covering me with the thick winter duvet before he sat on the side.

'Theo, they want to break us up.' I started to cry and Theo rubbed my side.

'That's not going to happen, Ellie, I promise you now I will not break up with you. I will marry you tomorrow if that is what it takes. I promise you – I will not break up with you.' He told me.

'But…'

'No buts.' He said firmly. 'I love you. We are not breaking up because of an anonymous phone call. We might have to hatch a plan, depends on what Grace finds, but I am not breaking up with you and I am not leaving you either. Have I made myself clear?' Theo told me with authority and I nodded. He kissed my forehead. 'Lovely. I did kind of worry I would have to marry you tomorrow. You deserve the best wedding possible – not a wedding in Vegas.'

'I wouldn't mind.' I whispered, and he smiled at me.

'Trust me, when the time comes, you'll have the best wedding you deserve.' He told me.

'I don't care about big fancy weddings with thousands of people watching. I'd care about marrying the man I love.' I said, sitting up in bed. Theo climbed into bed with me and smiled and nodded, pulling me in tight.

'Oh, I one hundred percent agree with you. I'd care about marrying you, the perfect women I have ever laid eyes on.' He kissed me gently. 'I love you, Ellie, and I promise you now, we can get through this.'

I was hesitant about that but moved on with the conversation before Theo doubted my silence. 'I think Joel finally properly accepted you and said he likes you.' I said and Theo smiled.

'Really?'

'Yeah, and then said he'll give me the contraceptive talk tomorrow.' I said and Theo laughed.

'Let that slip then, did you?'

'No… the silence as I went beetroot and was too embarrassed to speak told him.' I said.

'You're so cute.' He mocked, holding me tight. 'You're still blushing,' He laughed.

'Sorry for ruining Christmas.' I mumbled and he shook his head.

'You haven't ruined Christmas. Shit happens.' Theo said. 'And Grace will get down to the bottom of it before long.'

'But she's pregnant and I've ruined her Christmas.'

'I honestly think she is secretly thanking you. Lila will be intolerable again once she's awake from her nap. At least this way, Luke will have to deal with it and not Grace.' Theo said, lying down. I lied down with him and rolled over into his chest. 'I have no idea who called you, and what they meant, and what they want, but I won't let you go, Ellie. I'm not letting this go. We're in this together.'

'Theo, you're the only thing I have now left to lose.' I told him honestly. 'I can't lose you, I can't cut you off.'

'Exactly. With whoever it is throwing threats at me, the only bargaining chip they have – something to motivate you to do this – is gone. They can't threaten you to break up with me and then threaten you with me again.' Theo said and I frowned – was he aware he was making no sense.

'You've watched too many crime shows on Netflix.' I said and he laughed at me.

'I am too busy to be watching Netflix, Ellie, if you haven't noticed I am a Prince.' He mocked.

'Theo, I have seen your watched list on Netflix. You are awful at finishing programmes.' I told him and he laughed.

Silence fell on us quick as both of us were in a half-asleep state for a good hour or so before we heard Lila run down the corridor and Theo chuckled under his breath.

'She's adorable.' I said and Theo laughed.

'I love her so much. I can't believe how much she's grown up. It honestly seems like yesterday when I saw her in the Palace after she was born. She was tiny, Grace carried her in and she fit completely in her arm and she was just so perfect.' Theo said and I smiled. 'I had literally no idea what to do with her when she was born, though, I held her and I just sat there completely numb and Luke took the piss out of me for not knowing what to do with a newborn baby.' Theo told me. 'And it will all be repeated in August, but this time you will be there too.' Theo told me softly.

I blushed. Theo sounded like he wanted kids so much – it was crystal clear how much he loved his niece and how much his niece loved him too. I heard someone run up the stairs to Lila – it sounded like Luke. And someone followed him up.

We both sat up on the bed as Grace knocked on the door. She poked her head around the door.

'Sorry, Ellie – can I have a moment with you?' She asked.

'I'll come with.' Theo said.

'Nope. You stay here. Better for your sake if you don't hear what I was about to say.' My heart started pounding as I got up. I looked over at Theo who looked hesitant before I followed Grace. We got to the top of the stairs. 'It really isn't that bad, but Theo will ask too many questions.'

'Did you find out who it was?' I asked her.

'Let's go to the office to talk.' Grace said, running down the stairs, through the kitchen, down a long hallway and into a room, she nodded to a chair that was in the middle of the room as she opened up her laptop.

'I tracked the phone. It was a burner sim used in Aberdeen.' She showed me the map of a town.

'Aberdeen?' I asked and she shrugged.

'Yup. The sim card was brought in a convenience store in a tiny village about four miles out of Aberdeen on bank card – so whoever done the phone call clearly is either new at this whole intimidation thing or framing someone else. So I requested the bank detail of the card whoever it was paid. It came back linked to a student account. I ran the name through all databases and it came back clear. She wasn't even flagged for anything.'

'Who is it?'

'York Padello.' I frowned at the surname and Grace nodded. 'Yeah, she's Anastasia's older sister.' Grace told me gently and I frowned. 'Went to university in America, graduated, couldn't get a job and now lives in Scotland with her father. I then went to track Anastasia's movement too to see if she was involved and as far as I can work out, she is in Scotland with her family over the holidays. I've put all of their bank cards on a tracker, the second they buy anything I get immediate notifications. I think it was a completely hollow threat from either Anastasia using her older sister to play games, or it's York standing up for Anastasia. Anastasia probably got your number from Joel's phone – he saved your number as "Daughter number 2" but if Anastasia knew the names of Joel's daughter he would have known the third number was a fake. But I have them under surveillance regardless.' Grace said and I nodded.

'So why would they do this?' I asked and she shook her head and shrugged.

'Revenge. Anastasia wants to be you, she's jealous of you. I don't think she would know what to actually do threat wise. But, just in case of something more serious, keep this in your back pocket at all times – so only wear jeans from now on in until I can get my hands on York and Anastasia.'

She handed me a card for a car break down cover. I turned it over, and again and frowned. 'I don't have a car.' I told Grace and she laughed, taking it from my hand. She put it down on a blank space desk and put some rubber gloves on. She pushed down one of the sides of the card which made a satisfying crunch noise. I frowned at her before she placed the card in the palm before moving one hand up and one hand down.

She then dropped the card down into two pieces and inside was some really small pieces of metal and a copper-looking sticker.

'What the Hell,' I said scooting closer.

'It's a tracking device – as long as you are within a thousand miles we can track you. If not, we will get a rough area where you are. It's waterproof because of the casing, once I put it together I will cover it with the epoxy resin. It sits very snug in jeans pockets and won't fall out and whenever someone looks at it, it just looks like someone in the street gave you a breakdown application card and you kept it for later.' Grace explained, putting the two pieces of the card back together. 'Don't tell Theo, though, just say that we dismissed it as a hoax.'

'Why not telling Theo?' I asked.

'He will go insane, become protective – rightly so – but he will just ask questions and try and find motives and he is so not qualified for that. It's just saving you a hell of a lot of questions. But I agree with Joel – contraceptive.'

'Oh my God.' I got up and walked out the room. 'Thanks, Grace.' I called back.

'Thank me later when I give you the number of the sexual health clinic.' She called back and I shook my head. I forgot – behavioural psychologist. She would have known the second I walked in.

She came back into the room a few minutes later. I had sat down next to Theo who frowned, and I shrugged but he wouldn't ask any more questions, not in front of his Mum. It appears that the boys never wanted to make their mum feel bad at any costs, so they kept her out the loop. Grace came in a few moments later.

'You dropped this, Ellie.' She said handing the card to me. Sure enough, it was sealed again and looked like a breakdown insurance card given out on the street. I smiled as I took it, sliding it into the back pocket of my jeans.

The six days between Christmas Day and New Year's Eve went perfectly; Theo went along to family events and I joined him in all kinds of fancy dresses as he felt comfortable enough to introduce me to his extended family as his girlfriend. Overall, they seemed pleased to meet me but some seemed extremely jealous. Theo just shook his head as he walked away and told me half of his family was jealous of both Luke and him. He told me to ignore it.

Everything went lovely; every day Theo and I grew a bit more in our relationships, every night we spent together in the same bed hugging each other. Everything seemed to go perfectly.

'New Year's Eve walk?' Theo suggested at around ten in the morning on the last day of the year. I was sitting on the end of the bed in a thin vest top and pyjama shorts as Theo got out of bed in just his boxers. We were due to go to a black-tie event tonight at Buckingham Palace but until we had to start getting ready, we had the day free. Because, apparently, I was now run by the rotas of Royalty. I pointed it out to Theo and he shrugged and apologised, telling me that was how his life was run now and he was trying to work out a way to stop it.

'Walk… where?' I asked.

He thought for a second.

'Winter Wonderland.' I laughed and he frowned. 'What?'

'You're the future King, Theo if you haven't noticed. You just can't stroll into Hyde Park.'

'You've watched "Designated Survivor" with me – it's not true BUT it is very representative at the time. There are two ways out of this building for me and Mum, the Queen and someone who had something to hide from the media. We either leave in police parade and blackout window cars… or we wear baseball caps, fluffy hats, big coats and stuff and we blend into the crowd with a member of security in front of us. So, let me get on my lovely duffle coat and a bobble hat and let's go winter wonderland.' Theo said and I grinned, getting up. He came over to me, his hand running around my waist as he kissed me gently. 'I shall go and make some coffee for us, we can get some food there.'

I smiled gently as I quickly found a thermal base layer to wear under a plain khaki t-shirt and threw them on, before a lightweight hoodie. I then wiggled into a pair of skinny jeans, checking how I looked in the mirror. I grabbed the breakdown card from the side of the chest of drawers and slid it into my pocket like Grace told me too always – even though there were no calls back, Anastasia and York had stayed in Scotland, it all went to the ground much like Grace had said. But she was still hesitant and made me wear the card at all times.

It was barely an hour and a half before a black cab dropped us off at an already bustling Hyde Park. Theo was in an adorable beanie with a scuff around his neck and he kissed me as he got out the taxi. He held my hand and I looked around nervously; there were hundreds of people and no one gave a second look to the Prince, the man first in line to the Throne, the man destined to be King, went completely unnoticed in a crowd.

'Beanies do miracles.' He told me, moving his arm around my shoulders. 'I heard there is a wonderful food cart just up here… they sell perfect soft pretzels like we're on the streets of New York, so you can try the New York food without going across the pond.' He handed in our entry tickets and he guided me down the crowded pathway.

'I can't believe….'

'Can't believe what?' Theo asked gently to me as we stood in the line.

That you, Theodore, have just managed to get into Winter Wonderland and no one has noticed any difference. You're just chilling in line waiting for a pretzel and the people behind us know no different. I telepathically told him and he smiled.

The miracles of a beanie hat, Ellie. It's a wonder what they do. He nudged me before kissing my cheek. And not just any pretzel – a lovely soft pretzel. Theo told me.

In his fairness the pretzels were lovely. We spent four, five hours at Winter Wonderland heading on ride after ride, splitting the ride fees, before heading ice skating and heading to the ice bar for a drink too. The security guy, who I only just noticed, wandered around forty feet in front of us, occasionally stopping to take a photo to blend in with the Instagram happy crowd. Theo took my hand and led me down one of the smaller streets in Winter Wonderland, leading to smaller food stands. Theo hesitated before taking a left which led to an employee entrance.

'I think we're lost.' I told Theo and he nodded before he turned left again – finding a back alley with some bins.

'Yup, we're lost.' Theo joked. 'Hey ho, U-Turn time.'

'I don't think so.' Someone said and Theo immediately pulled me to his side. I gently touched my bum, feeling the card and was hoping Grace had added some conversation recorder.

'Who's there?' Theo called authoritatively.

'Theodore Edward Albert Evans, and Ellie Laura Paisley. I see you didn't listen to our friend's wishes. That's a shame. Now we have to punish you.' A man came out of the pathway we had just come out of in a long coat.

'Look, mate, turn around and leave us alone.' Theo said and he guffawed.

'No.' He said simply. 'You both have information we need to keep us safe. Give it over.'

'What information?' I asked shocked.

'Ellie…' Theo mumbled.

'Don't play ignorant, Ellie. You always were an idiot but even you aren't this dumb.' He said.

'Leave her out of this.' Theo protested and the guy frowned at us; he had a long face, dark features, the hood of his coat covering the majority of his face.

'She's the issue. Good night for now.' The man said curtly. I suddenly went lightheaded and blacked out, able to feel my head cracking on the hard concrete floor before the darkness embraced me.

/\\/\\/\\/\\/\\/\\

'Ellie… Ellie sweetheart you need to wake up now. Please, Ellie.' I heard someone say vacantly above my head and I tried to swat away the noise. My head felt awful and heavy and I was freezing. I honestly thought I was dying.

But I remembered what had happened; Theo and I had got lost at Winter Wonderland, we ended up at the back of an eatery and someone had ambushed us in that alleyway and knocked us out. Theo might be in grave danger. He was so much more important that he was and, given all he had done to protect me, it was my duty to protect him. I just about opened my eyes, causing agonising pain to my head. Theo was sitting in front of me, leaning over me with a very nasty looking cut on his forehead. How did he get that? When I fell backwards and hit my head on the concrete, did he fall forward and cut himself?

'Hey.' Theo said softly, helping me sit up as I coughed, and embarrassingly enough I coughed up some water too. 'Get all the water up.' He whispered to me.

I looked around wherever we were and it didn't make sense. The floor seemed to be rocking gently – how concussed was I? The floor was soaking wet and had a layer of dark water on it; the entire room seemed to be made out of dark, damp wood and there seemed to be no entrance or exit. Theo sat with his back against one of the wooden walls, his clothes soaked through; his coat was over me to try and provide some form of warmth, but it was soaked too. It was freezing.

'Where the Hell are we?' I whispered to him, my throat sore from coughing up water.

'I haven't a clue.' He said, and I leant against him and he hugged me. 'I'm sorry I didn't protect you, Ellie.'

I kissed him sharp to make him shut up.

'It is not your fault.' I told him before I got up. I stumble immediately and Theo got up quickly to stabilise me. 'Is the floor rocking or am I really concussed?' I joked and he smiled, holding my arms.

'No, the floors rocking… I don't know how.'

The water, dark room, cold – and the floor was rocking.

'We're on a barge or a boat or some kind.' I said and he met my gaze.

'A boat? But I don't think we're moving.' Theo said to me softly. 'And why would someone put us on a boat?'

'The man who found us in the alley – how much of him do you remember?' I asked Theo as I rubbed my forehead. Everything seemed blurry about the past and my vision wasn't holding up too well now but I had to focus. I looked around; my boat hypothesis seemed to be a likely bet; now I focused I could feel the boat rocking steadily from left to right almost like we were on a river or the ocean, the dampness of the floor would probably indicate we were on the lower levels of the boat and the coldness meant it was night – we had been out for a while then. During the days, the days were warm but the water was bitingly cold and was icy. Our breaths were fogging in front of us; so it was a Winter's night.

'A bit… he said we had information he needed.' Theo met my gaze with his eyebrows furrowed.

'He said I was the issue, didn't he?' I asked and Theo nodded. 'But why? Damien and his men, the other workers, are all in prison. I asked Grace that a few days ago and she assured me that they are on remand and they cannot get bail. As far as I know, Damien had no other contacts. Why do they want me?' I asked him near enough in tears.

'Let's not dwell on that for now. We need to find out where we are and work on a plan to get the hell away from here.' Theo said softly and my eyes lit up. I touched my bum and felt the card in there. I pulled it out and grinned. 'What's that?' Theo asked. 'Ellie, breakdown insurance won't help us now.' Theo touched the card and went to toss it in the water and I tugged it back.

'No!' I said and he frowned at me, gently touching my forehead as I flinched. 'After the phone call on Christmas, Grace gave me this and told me to keep it in my pocket at all times. Inside is a tracking device. As long as we're in a thousand miles of where she is, she will be able to track us down.'

'Providing she knows we're missing.' Theo said.

'Yes, but it's night, it has to be. It's so cold and damp… it has to be the night!' I said and it was crystal clear Theo didn't understand a single word I was on about and I eye-rolled at him. 'We're meant to be at the New Years Eve ball at the Palace. Grace is meant to be there. The second she realised we aren't there she will start asking questions.' I said and Theo grinned.

'Oh, you brilliant women!' Theo said, picking me up and twirling me around.

'But we need to get out of this weird room, get to the surface before we get hypothermia.' I said, knowing there was a real chance that both of us had hypothermia already. Despite the freezing temperatures, neither of us was shaking or really noticing the cold or having any adverse effects.

'There's no stairs or anything.'

'There will be a doorway somewhere, the wood is all rotting away, they didn't build this around us just now, this boat is old.' I said and Theo smiled at me, walking to the walls and running his fingers through the panels trying to find a break in the woodwork.

'I knew there was a perfectly legitimate reason why Grace wants you to work with her.' Theo said and I blushed before I done the same thing as Theo did, running my hands across the rotting damp wood. 'Here.' Theo said a minute or so later and I jogged across the room to him, my sodden trainers splashing in the stagnant water. Sure enough, there was a very thin crack heading in the wood and a notch in the wood. Theo put his hand into the notch – well, three fingers – and pulled it. The wooden panelling made a horrible noise.

'Stand back.' Theo said, and he did the same. The door made the noise again and shifted but he shook his head. 'Okay, remember what I taught you about telekinesis?' He told me gently and I nodded. 'I need your help to open this door.' He came over gently rubbing my shoulder before he kissed my temple. 'What would the wood feel like?'

'Damp, cold, parts of it flaking because of the rot.' I told Theo and he nodded. I felt Theo's hand on my shoulder running down my arm and then resting on my hip – his hand was freezing. I turned around to him. He was standing only a few centimetres away from me. He kissed me gently. 'You're freezing.' I whispered to him and he shrugged.

'We both need to get out of here.' Theo told me gently. 'So imagine opening that door. Close your eyes. I'll be here with you all the way, Ellie, but only you're strong enough to open this door.' He told me. I frowned.

'I'm not.' I mumbled and Theo kissed the crown of my head.

'Close your eyes.' Theo said softly and I shivered. Theo moved to hug me. 'You are strong enough to open the door. I think you know you have it in you. Your telekinesis has improved so much since you've started practising. You moved a boxing bag with Grace in the gym, Ellie. I saw you.' Theo whispered and I frowned – he wasn't there. 'You thought I wasn't there. What did Grace teach you about two-way mirrors?' He asked me. 'She taught you how to check between a mirror and two-way glass, but you never checked all the glass in that room. I was always there when you went there. I know the power you have.'

'I saw you pick up that boxing bag that Grace dropped on the floor. That was 60 odd kilograms, Ellie.' Theo whispered. 'You are strong enough to do this. You're incredible. I know hundreds upon thousands of people and you are the most kick-ass person I've ever met. You've had a completely shit time in life but here you are, kicking ass.' Theo whispered in my head and I had to take a deep breath. 'Focus, Ellie.' He mumbled and I shook my head. 'You're incredible and I love you to pieces. I love you, however, I cannot do most of the things I want to do with you when we're in this tiny ass cold room – not all sexual, dear Lord girl I have corrupted you. No, I was on about going out for dates properly, moving out of the Palace and into a lovely home together. Eventually getting engaged and getting married in a few years. Perhaps have kids but maybe not on the last one, depends.' My heart almost stopped. 'But I cannot do any of that if we are stuck in this room.'

'I can't do it.' I whispered to Theo.

'That was because I was motivating you. Now close your eyes. Focus. You know you can do this. So, feel that notch in the wood. The ridges that are covered in water. The moss growing. And pull it.' I head the noise of the wood cracking as Theo held me tight. 'I know you've always wanted to go to Disneyland. So, you open that door and we're going to Disneyland – alone. Forget Lila she doesn't need to you. Me, you, Disney.' I heard the door crack tremendously and I flinched back into Theo and he caught me. I felt him wipe my cheek and under my nose. 'We'll get a golf cart to drive around the resort – but you can drive. I'll teach you how to drive – not that they apply to golf carts. They have a nice place in Kensington I've been looking at. Three-bedroom apartment. Probably not our end house but it's lovely for now. Very modern. Got enough space that Joel, Sarah. Anya and Elisa can stay over if you want to spend the day in London with them. I've even spotted a lovely engagement ring –'

There was a massive thud on the floor and Theo pulled me back suddenly but we both got covered in water. I opened my eyes and I saw the wooden door laying on the floor. My mouth dropped and Theo looked at me, kissing me sharply before he came up to me and wiped my nose promptly. I noticed there was blood on his hand as he wiped it on his jeans. My hand went up to my nose and it came away covered in blood.

'It's just a nosebleed from the strain.' I looked at Theo and he kissed me again. 'I am so proud of you.'

'Shall we get out of this hell now?' I asked, my head throbbing.

'Good plan.' Theo conceded before he took my hand, gently walking to the now open doorway. The piece of wood on the floor was half a foot thick – no wonder why it was so hard to open it up – but on the other side, there was a lighting fixture and rich polished wood.

'What the fu –' Theo said and I elbowed him in the ribs. The door opened up into a lovely enclosure; it wasn't very big, perhaps stemming six foot in front of us and leading to a wooden staircase with metal rungs up the side. A two-foot corridor stemmed to the left and had around fifty cellophaned wrapped parcels with wires coming out of it. 'Are they?'

'Explosives?' I asked.

'There's no clock. I think it's a dummy set up.' Theo whispered.

'You sure?'

'Nope.' He asked. 'But we need to get out of here because I'd rather jump overboard then be blown up.' He kissed me again before dragging me over to the staircase. 'There's a step about… six up that has wires coming out from it. Don't step on that stairs and try and avoid the metal on the top of every stair.' He jogged up the stairs, skipping the sixth stairs before running up the rest. Theo looked around and gestured for me to come up as well. I followed his footing, skipping over the sixth step and there was no noise; no sounds from downstairs, none from upstairs, the floor continued to rock but there was nothing.

We ended up in some form of living quarters with all the lights turned off but there were some windows. I wandered off to the first window I could find and I nearly passed out when the I looked out the window.

'Oh my God… Theo.' I whispered and he came over to me.

'Yeah?'

'… we're on the Thames.' I mumbled.

Out the porthole, I saw the river in front of me. It was pitch black but I could make out big ben to the left of the view, and thousands upon thousands of people standing and huddling on the other side of the embankment, some with flashlights, some with their mobile phone cameras on torch mode. Theo frowned, looking through the same pothole as I did before he realised something and ran to the other side of the boat.

'London aquarium.' He whispered before heading to the top end of the boat. 'And there is the London Eye.'

'Oh my god.' I whispered, realising where we were. I checked the clock on the wall; 11:57.

'What?'

'We're on the firework barge for the New Years firework display.' I told him and his mouth dropped. 'The fireworks will go off, and it's easy to explore this barge as an accidental rogue firework.'

'We only have three minutes to go.'

'Two.' I said, pointing to the countdown clock on the wall, which must have been linked up to the fireworks. Theo looked at me and nodded to the stairs heading up. I nodded and as he jogged up the stairs I followed – rather than a door there was a flat piece of wood that Theo lifted up and popped his head out the top.

'Fuck, you're right. Fireworks everywhere.' He told me and I came up beside him.

Sure enough, we were on the firework barge; on the top of the barge was hundreds and hundreds of fireworks in neat lines all propped up with lines of detonation to each one. I looked at Theo and he knew what we were thinking; if we didn't get off this boat we were dead. But we were so high about water that even if we jumped into the water we were dead. We were so far from the embankment too that no one was focusing on us, they were focusing on Big Ben. Of course, the other embankment next to us was closed due to the fireworks display so no one was keeping an eye out for people who might have been kidnapped and placed on the barges.

'What do we do?' I whispered to Theo and he shrugged.

'I don't know.' He looked panicked. People in the street started cheering and I knew we were down to the last minute before the new year; meaning we were only a minute away from going to up with this boat in smoke. 'Look, Ellie, in case we don't get off this boat alive –'

'Shh, no we are.' I said.

'How?' Theo asked and I looked around. A very valid point. 'I love you so much.' Theo said and I kissed him.

And then there was torchlight on our faces. I flinched before looking to the embankment outside the London Sealife Aquarium. Four black SUV's came barrelling down the road. The torchlight stopped as the front car rolled into place and Grace got straight out the car wearing black leggings, black top, thick black boots and a thick waterproof jacket.

'You two, off there, now.' She shouted at us. 'You have 38 seconds until that boat goes up in smoke.'

'How?' Theo shouted as the two cars behind them got out a ladder.

Three men extended it and then levered it against the side of the boat before the men knelt on the floor holding it in place. Then came the wooden boards across the ladder. I looked at Theo and he ran up the rest of the stairs, leaning down to pull me on top of the boat. The crowds on the embankment started the chant, counting down from thirty and my heart sunk.

Another car came racing up to Embankment and Grace gestured for the team of men behind her to go up to that car.

'Down. Now. Both of you.' Grace shouted before heading over to the new car; a black Nissan. Three men went to get out the car, one pointing a gun at us but sure enough, somehow, they all collapsed in the car.

Four.

Three.

Two.

One.

Happy new year! People called from across the river.

'Get down now.' I told Theo and he shook his head.

'Not before you.' He shouted and I sighed knowing he wouldn't leave before I did.

'You better follow.' I shouted over the sound of the first several fireworks going off on the London Eye, then along firework with silver colouring went off beside me, scraping up my arm. I could feel it burning. I Jumped down the side of the boat onto the board and very slowly walked over the board. I was barely halfway down when I felt Theo jump down on the board.

Grace held out her hand as I got down the bottom of the board and pulled me into a hug immediately.

'Your arm!' Grace said. 'You are freezing too. Get them both ambulances.' She shouted to the men behind her. Another man came up to me and wrapped a blanket around my shoulders as Grace helped Theo down, who hugged her too.

'It's nice to have you back, ma'am.' He said to me and I gave him a small smile. Theo came straight over to me and hugged me tightly, kissing me. The ambulance must have been just around the corner as paramedics suddenly appeared with their loaded bags. Surprise, surprise, Luke was one of the paramedics.

'Fucking Hell Ellie.' Luke said to me when seeing my arm. I looked down and flinched – the cold had taken away the pain but it was nasty. There was blood dripping down my arm and the majority of my left arm was red and inflamed. Theo looked down and his mouth dropped. 'You, with me – we need to get that treated ASAP.' He said, gesturing to a stretcher next to us. It was hard to hear over the fireworks.

'Guys evacuate the area back to the safety line.' Grace called and Luke smiled at me.

'I love when she gives commands.' Luke said.

'I don't want to leave her.' I heard Theo arguing with Grace but she walked away with Theo following her, arguing with her the entire time. I turned around and Luke was already half the way across the embankment heading to the corner near the bridge. I turned around and looked at the firework display that was happening only feet away from us. The music blared from speakers and the buildings next to me were lighting up in sync with the bangs.

The boat then exploded dramatically and everything seemed to go in slow motion. The boat was deemed to explode. I just assumed now I was off the boat I was safe but the explosives still existed on the boat. People on embankment screamed. I ended up being blown down onto the floor and I smashed my head on the floor and blanked out cold.

/\\/\\/\\/\\/\\/\\

Happy New Year! Hope you all have a brilliant year!