Across the Palace….
Hans was making his way across the Palace when he heard over his comm device that Helena was there to see Antoinette. After their last conversation he knew he should stay away but he found that he could not. His heart would not let him. He needed to at least see her. He made his way quickly toward the front entrance. He saw her standing in the main foyer. She looked beautiful as always, he thought. Before he could make his escape, she turned and saw him. Their eyes met for a long moment.
"Excuse me ma'am, your daughter has been notified of your arrival and she will be with you shortly" A young guard informed her.
"Thank you" Helena managed to reply.
"Boss, do you have a moment" A guard asked Hans?
Hans broke eye contact with Helena, turned to face the guard and they spoke briefly before the two of them walked away.
Helena watched him walk away, sadness and determination coursing through her body.
Antoinette was preparing herself for the day in her suite when she was informed that she had a visitor. She made her way down the hall and down the stairs as she wondered who it could be. She was surprised when she saw her mother.
"Mama" Antoinette said as she went to her and they hugged briefly.
"I was hoping you could spare me a few moments" Helena replied seriously.
"Of-course. Follow me" Antoinette replied as they walked together into the drawing room. Antoinette shut the door and the two women walked across the room in silence and then sat.
"I need to know where your father is" Helena asked seriously? After her talk with Hans she realized the only way she could get her daughter out of the Palace was to find James. Her initial thought of making Antoinette leave the Palace was her now seemed like a plan that would only fail. She knew her daughter well. Antoinette would not leave voluntarily.
"Why? Has something happened" Antoinette asked with concern?
"Yes, something has happened. You lied to Palace security. You did not follow the plan and now, we have lost Hans as an ally" Helena exaggerated. She knew Hans would not betray her. She trusted him and she trusted he would keep his word and not tell Joseph about his suspicions regarding Antoinette.
"Mother…I…did he tell you that" Antoinette asked angrily? She was furious that Hans would go back to her mother and tell on her as if she were a child!
"I am not going to argue with you about this. There was a plan. And now, there is not. I have to speak with your father now" Helena rose her voice!
"Alright…" Antoinette gave in as she realized how furious her mother was.
"Tell me where he is" Helena asked again?
"I don't know but I do have a phone number" Antoinette admitted.
"Give it to me" Helena replied, her voice firm.
Pyrus….
The city was busy, traffic was heavy as he made his way across the frustration he had been feeling was building up. He could feel it in his body, he was tense and ready to explode.
"I want grandma" Alex cried as he sat in the back seat.
Before he could respond his cell- phone rang, the blue tooth picking it up and displaying her name across the navigation screen.
"Grandma" Alex exclaimed when he read her name!
Knowing he had to pick it up or Alex was surely cry louder and longer, he sighed deeply and answered.
"Grandma" Alex yelled before James could respond!
"Alex…" Helena practically cried when she heard his voice. Her heart thumping wildly in her chest. Her grandson was okay. She felt such relief, her tears escaped.
"Grandma, I want to come home. Come get me" Alex cried out as his own tears fell.
Taking Helena off blue tooth, "Alex, that is enough" James said sternly.
Alex bottom lip quivered but he remained silent. He did not know why his grandpa was always mad. And he did not understand why he could not go home.
"James, please…." Helena begged. She normally would never give him the satisfaction, but Alex was just a boy.
"The boy is fine. Where is Antoinette and why are you contacting me" James asked agitated?
"Antoinette is here" Helena admitted as she put him on speaker.
"Dad…" Antoinette replied before being cut off by Helena who quickly took her off speaker.
"What do you want Helena" James asked?
"To meet. We need to talk" Helena replied trying to remain calm.
"Very well. I will be in touch" James replied and then hung up.
Helena sighed, her heart breaking for Alex. She had to find a way to get him away from James, she thought.
She wanted to meet, he thought suspiciously, what was she up to he wondered? He glanced back and noticed Alex had stopped crying out loud. He sat in the back looking out the window, his face sad. He sighed wishing he did not have to keep Alex away from his mother and grandmother but for the time being it was for the best. If things went wrong, he could not afford for anything to happen to his grandson. The future heir of Genovia.
Palace….
"Mother…" Antoinette spoke quietly as she noticed her mother seemed far off in thought.
"I have to go" Helena replied as she began to walk away.
"Was Alex alright" Antoinette asked concerned by her mother behavior?
"Yes…" Helena replied simply. She did not see a reason to mention that Alex was crying. Antoinette was impulsive and she could further place Alex in danger without meaning to.
"Are you meeting with dad" Antoinette asked curiously?
"At some point, yes" She replied.
"I am sorry about you and Hans…" Antoinette tried to make amends but a stern look from her mother stopped her from talking further.
"Do not feed me your lies. I know you. Make no mistake I am doing this for Alex not you or your father" She snapped.
"We are all in this for the same thing mother so that Alex can take his rightful place in this Palace" Antoinette explained angrily. She felt hurt that her mother was insinuating that she did not care.
"That is where you are mistaken. This is more then just about Alex. You have no idea what Arthur Mabrey has planned. We will all suffer because of you and your father greed for power. Do not forget that I said this here today. When we have lost every-thing I want you to remember your role in it" Helena spat furiously as she stormed out of the room leaving her daughter in shock.
Helena did not turn around, she did not say goodbye, she did not hug or kiss her daughter. She walked down the corridor, her tears threatening to spill but she refused to allow them to. She was tired of crying, tired of feeling helpless, tired of it all. It was time for her to take control, she thought determined.
Hans watched her from the security hub as she walked away. He could see the stress etched on her face and the stiffness of her body. He wished she had not turned away from him. He wanted to help her.
"We should talk" Joseph said from behind him.
"Yes, we should" Hans replied as he stood up and the two men walked of the security hub and down the corridor together. Once they were safely away the two men faced one another.
Rupert office….
After the meeting, Clarisse decided to go to Rupert suite to meet with the doctor. Joseph had excused himself without her realizing until she had come out of the office. She briefly wondered if something was wrong before continuing her way down the corridor. She had two Palace guards with her. Once she reached the suite, she walked in alone the two guards standing outside along with a few other's as they were stationed there for the King.
The doctor was checking his vitals and writing on his chart when Clarisse walked in.
"Hello, Your Majesty" The doctor acknowledged her with a smile.
"Hello, Doctor. How is our patient today" She asked nervously as she walked over to the bed?
"He is stable" The doctor reassured her.
"Does this mean he will wake up soon" She asked hopeful? She knew that the doctor could not promise her that, but she found herself hoping anyway.
"I'm afraid that none of us have that answer. His skin is holding well, his vitals have been strong and good. His wound is healing well also" The doctor informed her.
"Then why has he not woken yet" She asked sadly as she looked at him?
"It could be a result from the trauma. His psyche may not be ready" He stated as it was something, he had been thinking about given that physically the King seemed to be doing quite well.
"His psyche? Do you mean he does not want to wake up" She asked worried as she instantly touched Rupert hand?
"He may not be ready to" The doctor replied.
"Is there anything else we should be doing" She asked? She wanted to make sure they had explored every option possible.
"I believe all we can do now is wait" The doctor stated as he put the chart down and walked over to his Queen.
"Thank you, Doctor. If waiting is all we can do then that is what we will do" She sighed.
Hallway…
"I think it is time that you are honest with me, don't you" Joseph asked calmly?
"Things are complicated Joe. There are…factors…that we must consider" Hans said vaguely.
"Such as" Joseph asked now curious?
"Arthur Mabrey" Hans replied honestly.
"He did this, didn't he? He tried to shoot Her Majesty" Joe stated confident that he was right.
"I believe so, yes. And, I believe he has several partners" Hans shared as he looked around to make sure they were still alone.
Joseph observed Hans behavior and instantly, he knew, there was spy in the Palace.
"Is Antoinette one of those partners" Joe asked determined to find out as much as he could.
"I don't know" Hans admitted. It was the truth. He knew Antoinette was not being honest and knew more than she was saying but he did not now how involved, she was in the shooting.
"What do you know? Come on Hans. I know that there is more to this" Joe insisted.
"All I know Joe is this isn't over. We have to ensure the safety of the monarchs at all cost" Hans replied.
"They are going to try again" Joe stated, a sick feeling to his stomach as he thought of Clarisse being in danger.
"I believe so" Hans stated honestly.
"Are Antoinette parents involved" Joe asked since he knew that home invasion was suspicious. In fact, Antoinette version of the event made it more suspicious?
"Her father is, yes" Hans admitted. He knew this could hurt Helena, but he had no choice. He had warned her that he could not allow the monarchy to be in danger.
"How involved" Joe asked as he felt anger towards this man for trying to hurt the woman he loved?
"I think he has a direct link to Mabrey, but it's not confirmed" Hans said honestly.
"And her mother? Your friend" Joe asked as he looked at him suspiciously?
"She didn't do this Joe. She is being set up. Her husband and Mabrey are behind this. I know it" Hans admitted. He wanted to help Helena as much as he could. He wanted Joe to know that she was not involved in the shooting.
"You better hope she is not a part of this and that you are not helping the enemy" Joe warned.
"I trust her Joe" Hans said putting his neck on the line.
"I hope for your sake that she is trust- worthy and doesn't prove you wrong. If she is involved and you helped her. You know what that will mean" Joe said firmly.
"I lose my career and possibly my freedom" Hans replied. He knew what was at stake. He knew he would risk it all for another chance with her. Instantly, he realized why she ended their relationship. She had known he felt this way and she had known that James and Mabrey would use it against them.
