The 3rd season is over and I was surprised and angry... and had a bit trouble to think about this last chapter. My Robert is very different from the real one. Although it makes sense and I'm almost sure he is the one behind his fathers death... but, you know, they all have always praised him to heaven... and now he is this manipulative bastard. I think it's a great plot twist. ^^ But I'm more angry about the whole Jaspenor story line, I'm sick of this constant back and forth. It makes no sense to me. Also I'm not a big fan of Kathryn. I just prefer Willow for Liam. ^^

Well... okay... it took a long time (and I'm so sorry), but here is the last chapter.

Chapter 25: The last song

Paddy O'Malley was tired. He had been on his feet for 16 hours and after the night shift he was absolutely desperate to call it a day. There was only one thing to do before he could go home and take a looong nap. He shuffled through the corridors. 43 years in Wandsworth… and only two and a half more until retirement. The big key collar clattered as he slowly opened the massive steel door. He sensed something was wrong, even before he saw the legs dangling from the ceiling.

„Damn!" he cursed. Now he had to do a lot of paperwork before he could go home. „Why, the fuck, me?"

This morning the palace was like Grand Central Station. All were madly excited about the imminent coronation. And everything should be absolutely perfect, so there was still so much to do for the staff. Double workforce.

„Raaaaaaaachel!" Helena's voice echoed through the whole palace.

„Everything is prepared, your Majesty." Rachel replied. „The limousines will pick up your majesty and the Royal Highnesses in half an hour and take you to Westminster Abbey. The Archbishop of Canterbury is already there and prepares for the ceremony. On television is currently a special broadcast about the history of the monarchy. The press then begins to report in a quarter of an hour and will interview the Prime Minister and some of the attendant celebrities. This is followed by a live broadcast of the coronation ceremony and the subsequent state celebrations. Your Majesties will then attend the official State banquet in the palace with all important State guests and politicians."

„Pefect. Are the kids ready?" Helena was a bit nervous. Alistair would not be at her side at the coronation. It was too early and she wanted to make sure the press reported only about her children. But she would meet him at the banquet later.

„They will be here in 5 minutes, your Majesty." Rachel assured.

The drive to Westminster Abbey took much longer than expected. The streets were crowded with people, and all were celebrating exuberantly and everyone cheered at them. Eleanor had never seen so many people at once. The situation reminded her slightly of the Kings Cup, and she clung to Jasper's hand a little tighter than intended. He put his arm around her and she gratefully leaned back to him.

Liam looked out of the window and was amazed. „Whoa! I never thought, there were so many people in the world!" He pulled out his phone and took several photos. „Willow has to see this!" he explained.

„Why did you not bring her?" Jasper asked.

„Mom thought, this wouldn't be the right moment to announce our engagement." Liam smiled. „You know how she is. But I will see her later at the banquet."

„Guess you are lucky, you're on duty." Eleanor mocked Jasper. „Or you wouldn't be here either."

„Good. I wouldn't want to miss that for the world! My beautiful princess is going to be queen!" he said and looked Eleanor deep in the eyes till her cheeks began to turn red.

„Ding!" The noise came from Liam's phone. He looked at the display with an expression somewhere between disgust and amusement.

„It's Robert." He explained. „He says, we're almost there. And mum said, you should keep your legs closed when you get out of the car. We don't need another glance of the royal beaver to make this day special."

Jasper chuckled, but Eleanor gave him a poisonous look. Then she turned back to Liam. „Tell him, she is lucky she sits in the other car."

"Where is uncle Cyrus by the way?" she asked.

"Bahamas, whith Violet." he said, rolling his eyes but smiling. "Seems he is finally happy now he found true love. Who would have thought..."

The car stopped and a phalanx of bodyguards guided the 3 into the cathedral and into a small room where they could wait till the ceremony should begin. Robert, Helena and James Hill were already there. But they looked more nervous than it was appropriate.

Eleanor immediately sensed that something was going on. "What's wrong?" she asked. Helena kept humming and hawing, but Robert nodded to James who replied. "There was a message from Wandsworth prison 10 minutes ago. Patrick Hastings has killed himself. The prison guard found him dangling from the ceiling tomorrow morning." his lips had become a thin line.

Liam looked shocked but Eleanor was angry. "What an easy way out!" she ranted. "He deserved a worse punishment. Where did he get a rope at all? Why didn't they pay more attention?"

"It seems as if he had used dental floss." James raised his eyebrow. "He has always cleaned his teeth and consumed tons of floss. They just thought he had some sort of OCD. Nobody saw this coming. The prick collected it and tied a rope out of it."

Jasper gasped. "Bugger! Now we may never find out what happened with Dominique Stewart back then..."

James sighed. "We confiscated his property and took enough DNA samples ... but of course we can not ask him any more."

"Well, at least we know, he isn't our brother. That must be enough then." Liam grunted.

At that moment, the door opened and Rachel came in. "It's time!"

They gathered together and stepped out into the nave. At first Helena and Robert, then Liam and Eleanor, flanked by James and Jasper. Helena took her seat in the first row, James and Jasper stepped aside while the kids stood in front of the altar where the archbishop was ready to perform the coronation ceremony.

Soon Eleanor no longer thought about Hastings and enjoyed the festivities to the fullest. The crowd cheered, and it was so beautiful and uplifting. She was now queen and this were her people. The people to whom she had committed herself, and for whom she now wanted to do everything in her power so that they might be well and happy. It was a huge responsibility but she had her brothers by her side and she knew, she could be a good queen. She had her father as a guide and she would love her people just as much as he had. This was a promise. A promise she made to herself, to her father and to the people.

When Eleanor stepped on the balcony later, long after sunset, she was very happy. She was full of joy and love. The party had been fantastic, all her friends had come, she had her family and Jasper and finally she felt in the right place. Her search had come to an end. She knew who she was. She was the bloody Queen of England. And she knew it was right and it gave her an inner peace she had never felt before. All was well now.

"Are you happy?" Jasper stepped on the balcony behind her.

"Very!" she smiled while he put his warm armes around her.

"I love you!" he said.

"I know." she said, then she laughed and turned to him. "I love you too, Jasper! I love you so much."

"Then..." he fumbled around in his pocket "you may like this little present, I have for you."
And he conjured up a beautiful ring. White gold with diamonds and sapphires that shone so brightly that Eleanor had to blink.

Her eyes became big. "Jasper... do you... is this...?"

He went to his knees before her. "Eleanor Diana Victoria Henstridge... I love you more than anything else on this world and I will never leave you again and do anything to support you and make you happy... if you let me. You know I'm not a man of many words... but please, would you consider to marry me?" He then had this crooked, shy smile on his face, which she could never resist.

She looked at him skeptically. "Do you know how to cook bacon?" But when he looked puzzled, she laughed. "Yes!" she beamed at him. "I want nothing more than spend the rest of my life with you, Jasper!"

He then put the ring on her finger and kissed her long and passionately. Then he took her hand and led her to a moonlight walk into the garden where they got lost in plans for the future, love, happiness and laughter.

~ The End ~

I know, it's very cheesy... sorry... XD