Chapter 20- A Divide in the Royal Family
As Danny headed back to his room that night, he passed by Lucas talking to Felix.
"You really get to still see Wiley?" Felix asked. "That's great that you and Michael are still trying to work things out."
"Yeah, well he goes by Jonah now, but I'm just grateful I still get to be in his life," Lucas said.
"Hey, if you're not busy tomorrow, maybe we could meet for dinner," Felix said.
Lucas grinned. "I'd like that. That padded room at Ferncliff got pretty lonely."
Danny continued walking but stopped when he turned a corner and saw his parents talking.
"I know that wasn't your intention, but it really upset Willow," Sam said. "It's different if you're spending time with Danny or Scout, but if you're making it a family thing, I want you to include her."
"I'm sorry, I should have known better," Drew said.
"Yes, you should have."
"All I was thinking of was how much I missed you and the kids. But I do want to include Willow, I do."
"Good, because if you want to marry me, she's part of the package."
They walked inside Sam and Kristina's chamber. Danny continued to his room. Leo was lying on his bed, staring at the ceiling.
"Hey, what's up?" Danny asked as he climbed onto his own bed and kicked his shoes off.
"Dad and Lex are fighting again," Leo said.
Danny scrunched his face. "Really?"
"Yeah over stupid stuff. Dad spent all day in the library again and Lex didn't want me to explore the island on my own."
"Weird."
GHGHGH
"You don't want to live with us?" Alexis sobbed into Julian's… or Valentin's old sleeve when Danny and Leo walked into the dining room the next morning.
"It's not that," Sam said. "Come on, it's a small island, we're going to see each other all the time."
"But the Crown Princess can't live in the village," Julian said. "She has to live in the castle with the other Royals."
Sam rolled her eyes. "Look, Mom, you've said before that your wish is for your daughters to be independent. I want to be a good example to my kids. This isn't about leaving you. It's about doing what's best for my kids."
Danny and Leo sat at the table while Sam continued talking to her parents.
"And it's best for them to be away from us?" Julian asked.
"No," Sam said. "Listen, Willow is struggling. Wyndemere is depressing her. She likes you guys. She just doesn't like Wyndemere."
"But it's been three years," Alexis cried.
"I know. But you should understand more than anyone. Remember the lengths you went through to get me to live with you?" Sam laughed. "You bought a house for me based on a virtual online tour."
Alexis nodded. "I remember."
"And I needed that back then even though I didn't see it at the time. But it's not like that anymore. I mean, I'll always need you, just in different ways. Right now, it's Willow who needs that safety net and I want to give that to her."
"But we were separated for three years…" Alexis pressed. "More than that actually. Your childhood, your teen years… I don't want to miss any more time."
"Mom, we still have lots of time together, but I'm 43 years old. I can't live with you forever."
"But what will our people think?" Julian asked. "Molly and TJ want to live in the village too. They'll think there's a divide in the Royal Family!"
Sam sighed. "Have either of you been outside much since we arrived? You're both still really pale and thin. And what little you eat you can't keep down…"
Danny looked across at Leo who was still rather gaunt looking as well.
"I've tried, but it's just so bright out there," Alexis said.
"And I've been busy researching our history," Julian said. "It'll help build up our army."
"What army?" Sam asked. "You haven't been training them at all. If we want to get off this island eventually, I wonder if someone else should lead the army so you can focus on gaining your own strength."
"Get off this island?" Julian scowled. "This is our queendom. We're not leaving here. And I am the king, so I will be leading the army."
Sam groaned. "You do realize if Mom is the reigning queen, you'd technically be prince consort not king, right?"
"What utter foolishness!" Julian pointed his index finger at her. "Go to your chamber right now, young princess!"
Alexis set her hands on her hips. "You know, I think you're the one pushing our children and grandchildren away with all your royalty baloney! Maybe you should be the one to leave instead!" She turned to Sam. "You're not leaving, but your father is." She turned to Julian. "Get out of my castle right now!"
Sam slammed her hand against her forehead and Danny sniggered a little.
"Excuse me?" Julian placed a hand over his chest. "I'm the king, you can't kick me out."
"Oh, yes I can," Alexis said. "I've had enough of you these past three years sending our son up alone to get food and now you're trying to take advantage of my inheritance. So, you can either leave calmly and rationally or I will I have you escorted out."
Sam scrunched her face. "Okay, this isn't what I meant when I came to talk to you—"
"Well, maybe I've enough of you smothering my son!" Julian shouted.
Alexis gasped. "You said he was my son too!"
"I think if you just let Lucas give you a checkup and maybe talk to Kevin—" Sam started to suggest.
"You know what?" Alexis said. "They just finished building two new homes in the village last night, one of them was supposed to be for the Drakes, but you need to leave right now so one of those houses is for you!"
Danny's mouth dropped slightly.
"Mom…" Sam's eyes grew wide. "You can't be serious."
"Fine, then I'm taking our son and daughter with us!" Julian said. "Come on, Sam. Come on, Leo."
"I don't want to leave Lex," Leo said.
Alexis walked over to Leo and squeezed his shoulders, glaring at Julian.
Julian groaned. "Then I'm living with our daughter and our grandkids. She said she doesn't want to live with you anyway."
"I didn't say it like that," Sam said.
"Come on Sam, Danny," Julian said. "Let's get settled into our new home."
"Well, I'll need to talk to Drew first if you plan to live with us…" Sam said.
"But we're already going to be crowded as it is," Danny said.
"Then Drew and I will share a room, so I can keep an eye on him," Julian said.
"Dad…" Sam groaned. "You know Drew and you know he's not going to hurt me. He and I will be sharing a room."
"Fine, then Danny and I will bunk in the basement."
Danny sighed and shrunk his shoulders.
