FFN is still not allowing me to reply to your reviews, although they are now showing on the page so that's a step forward. As a thank you for all your kind words, and an apology for not being able to reply, I've been working on something a little special that I hope to have out to you by the end of the week (if FFN allows it).

"That's not what People Magazine says, Killian."

Killian sighed, running a hand over his face to try and wipe away his frustration.

"Since when do you read People Magazine, Mam?" Killian didn't give her time to answer before rushing on. "I know what the gossip rags are saying. But surely the person you'd trust most on this issue is your own son? You know, the one who's supposed to be dating a princess?"

"Of course I trust you, Killian," she admitted, a little sheepishly. "I just don't want you to feel like you need to hide this from us."

Killian appreciated the sentiment. His parents had been nothing but loving and supporting ever since he realised his passion lied with performing. But this thing he had with Emma was definitely something he wanted to keep to himself for now. He couldn't exactly explain to his mother what was happening if he couldn't explain it to himself.

"I'm not. I promise I will tell you should there be anything worth telling. But, as it stands, Emma and I are just good friends."

"So you've been in touch with her since the date?" His mother was becoming curious again and Killian cursed himself. He was never gonna get her off the phone at this rate.

"Yes. We've spent time together since that evening. And yes, we're still in touch now. That's what happens with friends. I don't recall you being so interested in the time I spend with Robin."

"Robin doesn't look as pretty in a dress as Princess Emma does."

Well, he had to give her that one.

"She's just looking out for you," Emma chuckled, placing her laptop down on the bed, before climbing back into frame. "It's sweet."

"No, I'm pretty sure she's just making plans for the day she can blackmail me into bringing you round to the house. I'll bet good money that she's already planning on buying some 'good towels' for your visit."

Emma laughed again, her smiling lighting up her face in the most beautiful of ways. "I don't have a great track record when it comes to bets with you, so I think I'll pass on this one."

"Damn. I was edging for another date there," Killian joked. "So, what about your mother? Has she said anything to you?"

"Nope."

Emma had been quite surprised that Mary hadn't brought up Killian at all during their time apart. She knew her mother was kept up to speed on all of the rumours about Emma in the press. But she hadn't mentioned Killian at all.

"Either nobody's told her, or she's waiting me out. Either way, I'm stubborn, like my father, so she'll have a long wait."

"Now that I do believe."

Emma flopped back onto her bed after shutting her laptop. It had been ten days since Killian had left for Canada and she missed him more than she thought she would. But they had quickly fallen into a routine.

Emma would text as soon as she woke up in the morning, Killian would reply when he woke. They would exchange tweets or sporadic messages throughout the day until Killian's lunch break. He would call as soon as he was back in his trailer and the pair would talk until he was called back to set. There were a few more tweets, or texts, during the day, until Killian finished for the evening. Then, when he was back home, in his apartment, they would Skype until one of them started yawning more than they were talking.

While it was hard not being able to see him in person, Emma had to admit that the routine they had slipped into came easily. Like they had been doing it for years instead of days. And as often as they spoke, they never seemed to run out of conversation.

But there was one thing Emma had kept from Killian.

The day after he'd returned to Canada, she'd received a call from her grandmother, requesting her presence. Emma wasn't stupid. Her mother might not know about Killian, but she knew her grandmother had been told. So, she had steeled her nerve and made her way to the palace the next morning, ready to face whatever would be thrown at her.

Emma and Ruth were not the closest of family. Ruth had always had her own vision of what her granddaughter's future should be, and Emma's had not been the same. She was certain that Ruth's call would be to tell Emma that an Irish actor was not suitable dating material for the heir to the throne.

"Emma, lovely to see you." Ruth greeted her granddaughter with a kiss to her cheek, before pulling her down to one of the obnoxiously floral sofas in her private suite. "You look as beautiful as ever. How have you been?"

Emma kept her tone polite and formal. She might have been talking to her grandmother, but she was also talking to her queen. "I'm well, thank you Grandmother. How are you? Mother told me you'd had some issues with your hip."

"Nothing to concern yourself with, Sweetheart." Ruth's staff brought through a tray of tea and each woman took a moment to fix theirs to their liking before turning back to each other. "I hear there's a new man in your life."

So she was cutting to the chase.

"Possibly." Emma wasn't trying to be awkward. But she also wasn't planning on giving too much away until her grandmother showed her own hand.

"That's not what the media believe." Ruth's eyes were hard and cold, giving absolutely nothing away. "He asked you out on social media, did he not?"

"He did," Emma agreed. "But one date doesn't mean it's anything serious."

"You brought him to the gardens the next day? Allowed him to take you on a climb of the 02 Arena, the day after? That doesn't indicate casual dating to me."

Shit!

Emma should have known her outings wouldn't remain secret from her grandmother. Someone on her team was feeding information back to her again.

"It doesn't mean we're dating either. Friends enjoy spending time with each other."

"Emma, why must you make this so difficult?" Ruth sighed.

"Why is it so important?" Emma shot back. "Is it because he's Irish? Because he's an actor? Or is it because he's someone you didn't choose?"

"Emma, what do you think happened when your father returned home to me one day and told me about your mother? What is it you believe about me that I don't know?"

Emma laughed bitterly. "You know everything. I think you've just proved that. I know how you feel about my mother. How you don't think she was good enough for Dad, because she was a commoner."

Ruth sighed wearily, looking far older than she was for just a moment.

"I've never thought that, Emma. Your father loved your mother until his very last breath. How could I not support his love for her?"

"Then why do you avoid her so much?" Emma snapped.

"Because it still hurts, Emma. It may have been twelve years, but it still hurts. A parent should never have to bury their child. Seeing your mother, seeing how lost she is now without your father, hurts more than you can ever imagine. I don't avoid her because I don't like her. I avoid her because she reminds me of times with your father that I will never get again. I avoid her because it's easier to deal with than the pain that comes when I think of him. I imagine that's why she avoids me too."

Emma sat stunned into silence for a moment. Her mother had always brushed off the concerns Emma had about her relationship with Ruth. Neither woman had spoken about why they avoided each other the way they did, always using their duties as a valid excuse not to be in the same place for too long.

She had no idea just how much they were both still hurting.

Ruth dashed away the tears that had fallen before reaching behind her for a manila file.

"Here. I want you to have this. It's your decision whether you go or pass it along to your mother." Ruth stood from her seat as soon as Emma had taken the file from her hands.

Emma flipped it open; quickly skim reading the first page as her mouth fell open in shock.

"Grandma?" she called, stopping the older woman before she could leave the room.

"Yes, Dear?"

"Thank you." Emma wrapped her arms tightly around her grandmother, hugging her hard for the very first time in her adult life.

Ruth returned her hug just as fiercely.

"You're welcome here any time, Emma."

What's in the file?

Thanks for reading.