Deciding it was best not to argue, James left Mabrey and walked to his car shaking his head in disbelief. There was something truly, wrong with Arthur Mabrey, the man was capable of many things and part of him feared that his daughter was in harm's way. He had no intention of having Antoinette go back not when things were about to get worse.

"James" Baron Von Troken called out before he could get into his vehicle.

"Baron" James replied bothered.

"Is it true what the reporters are saying, a security member was severely injured" Von Troken demanded to know?

"Ask Arthur" James deflected, it was not his plan after all.

"We are all involved in this. If that person dies…" Von Troken rose his voice angrily.

"It was Hans" James informed him.

"The Palace Head of Security. Have you both lost your minds" Von Troken screamed?

"Keep it down" Arthur snapped as he walked out after hearing the commotion.

"You are going to get us all arrested for not only treason but attempted murder or murder if he dies" Von Troken spat confrontationally.

James was taken aback by the way the Baron was challenging Arthur. Who knew he had it in him? He was impressed.

"No, that will be you who will get us arrested if you continue to yell" Arthur said menacingly as he approached him.

"I did not sign up for this" Von Troken hissed.

"No one would ever believe that. You knew exactly what you were agreeing to. Do not try and play innocent now. We will follow the plan, all of us" Arthur insisted as he turned around and walked back inside.

"You do realize what this means" Von Troken asked James?

"War" James replied as he got into his car. Without looking back, he sped off down the path.

King Suite….

Pierre sat with his father as he read the bible. He knew that it worried his father whenever he saw him with the book, but he could not think of a better time to have it with him. When Shades informed him that his father had woken up, he realized that his prayer had been answered, this was not the end, he would have a chance to make things better with his father.

A knock on the door distracted him as he turned around and saw Shades.

"Come in" Pierre said as he stood up.

"Sorry for the interruption but I wanted to inform you that I spoke with Helena. She came to the Palace inquiring about Hans" Shades replied honestly.

"Oh…I didn't realize they knew each other that well" Pierre replied surprised.

"Neither did I. She requested to speak with Her Majesty or with Joseph, I contacted Joseph. Apparently, Leo took the boy back from his grandfather and now no one knows where he is. Leo is being held somewhere by Antoinette" Shades stated as he saw the shock cross Pierre features as his mouth fell -open.

"Antoinette" Pierre asked?

"She is involved in whatever is going on. Leo would not tell her where the boy is" Shades replied.

"I can't believe this. I knew that she was selfish, but I had no idea that she would use her son never mind hold Leo against his will" Pierre said as he sat back down still in shock.

"I have a license plate number that I'm having tracked hopefully we will have an answer soon" Shades replied as he approached the King bed.

"Do you think she was a part of what happened to father" Pierre asked? He had his doubts after he had seen how devastated Antoinette had been but know he wondered.

"I do not know" Shades replied as he watched the King.

"Any news on when Mother and Joseph will return" Pierre asked?

"I have to call Joseph back" Shades admitted and the way he said it made Pierre look at him.

Shades did not disclose anything else. Instead, he excused himself and left the room closing the door behind him quietly.

Pierre sighed deeply, looked at his father and said, "I think it's time you woke up."

Pyrus…

"Tell me where Alex is" Antoinette insisted as she faced Leo.

"No" Leo replied simply as he folded his arms.

"He is my son" She spat angrily.

"Then act like his mother and put his well-being first" He spat back.

"I am" She screamed.

"No, you are putting yourself first" He said remaining calm.

"You don't know anything" She hissed.

"Apparently not. You have kept a great deal from me" He replied but the hint of disappointment was obvious.

"I did it to protect us all. Why can't you believe that I am looking out for all of us" She asked?

"I think you are looking out for yourself. You let your mother and I both believe that Alex was in danger and all along he was with your father" He answered back.

"That was father plan. I told you that" She said losing her patience.

"And you just went along with it not caring how worried we both were" He spat upset by her excuse.

"Leo, please. I told you why I went along with it. I am sorry for worrying you and not telling you the truth. But Alex is still my son. I am his mother and I have the right to have him back. What you are doing is kidnapping" She said deciding she was tired of going back and forth with him on this.

"Have me arrested then. I will be happy to speak with the police" He replied back as he looked at her in a piercing way.

"You will do no such thing" James interrupted as he walked in on them.

Leo looked at James in a disgusted way.

"Give my daughter her son back or you and I are going to have a problem" James said firmly.

Lake House….

"You should get some rest once the Commander is here; we will be heading back, and it may be some time before you get any rest" Joseph said as he watched Clarisse from the doorway of her bedroom.

"I will try" She said as she sat holding her hands on her lap.

Joseph walked in and sat beside her, reaching his hand out to cover both of her hands.

"I fear what we are going back to. What if Mabrey and his co-conspirators use more violence" She asked worried? She did not want anyone else to get hurt.

"I am hoping this will deter them from hurting anyone else" He shared as he squeezed her hands.

"Have you heard anything about Phillippe and Helen" She asked? Ever since they left to the United States they had not been in contact and she understood why. Her son was still hurt by her decision to send them away.

"They are well. They went to see the Doctor and had their first ultrasound" He said wanting her to know everything.

"Oh…" She whispered a small smile crossing her lips. Her eyes pooled and a single tear slid down her cheek.

"Clarisse, soon you will talk with Phillippe" He reminded her.

She nodded her head, but more tears came.

"You will be a part of your grandchild life" He promised her.

Clarisse did not reply she simply placed her head against his shoulder and closed her eyes. Her heart ached. Somehow, she knew things would not be so simple. It never was. Not in the life of a royal.

Joseph soothed her back softly with his hand. He found himself hoping that Clarisse and her family would finally have some happiness once this ordeal was over with.

Hospital…

Helena sat anxiously in the Trauma Center waiting area hoping to speak with a doctor or a nurse. She knew it was a slim chance that she would get any information or be allowed to visit. Palace security was there and had greeted her when she arrived. Shades had already contacted them to inform them that she would be arriving. She could not deny that it made her feel better knowing security was there to protect Hans.

A female doctor approached her, Helena stood up and greeted her.

"Thank you so much for taking a moment to speak with me. I wanted to check in on my friend since I was told by the Palace that he was here due to a head injury" Helena admitted hoping for once honesty would help.

"Yes, we received notification of your visit. You are cleared to visit him if you like" The doctor said kindly.

"Yes, please, thank you" Helena said relieved as the two women walked together.

"How is he" Helena asked the worry evident in her voice?

"He is a bit better" The doctor admitted but did not disclose anything else.

Helena did not push the issue since she knew confidentiality would not allow the doctor to tell her anything.

The room was dimly lit but there was a calm feeling as she walked over to the bed and looked down at him.

Hans head was bandaged, a big black and blue mark covered one of his eyes and cheek bone.

"Oh, Hans I'm so sorry" She said as she sat beside the bed.

Hans eye began to open slowly.

"Don't overdo it. I just wanted to see you. I hope it is okay that I came. I was so worried when I heard you were injured" She explained once his eye focused on her. The other eye was swollen shut.

"Helena…" He rasped. His throat hurt it was so dry.

"Do you want some water" She asked as she stood and grabbed the cup with the straw and led it to his lips?

He took a sip. After a moment he realized her eyes were full of unshed tears. He tried to smile but it hurt so he winced instead.

"Please don't ever scare me like this again" She said as she took his hand in her hand again squeezing it tight.

"Palace…" He said trying to speak but it hurt bad.

"I spoke with them and told them everything" She admitted.

"Thank you" He said relieved.

"Thank you for everything" She said grateful for all he tried to do for her.

"Alex…" He asked?

"Leo has him" She reassured him but did not go into the rest of the details because she did not want him to worry or stress over her daughter involvement.

"Good" He said feeling weak. His eyes began to close.

"Rest now" She said hoping he would. She stayed sitting with him, holding his hand and looking at his calm face. Some tears escaped but she did not try to stop them. He was awake and she knew that he would be okay in time. As she sat there, she glanced at her wedding ring.

Pyrus….

"Then we have a problem" Leo challenged him.

"Don't make this harder" Antoinette begged Leo, but she knew he would not give in.

"Leave us" James demanded.

Antoinette sighed and then walked out shaking her head as she shut the door.

"Do you think being a hero is all there is to life" James asked him?

"What do you know about being a hero" Leo spats angrily?

"I know that they live and everyone else dies" James replied harshly.

"If anyone dies it is on your hands" Leo said as he glared at him.

"And yet here you are being a martyr. Remaining silent and judging everyone from that chair. You know nothing about what is happening. I mean, you are not even of her class. You have no idea what she and Alex will have to deal with if we all just sit back and do nothing" James stated adamant.

"You're right I don't know what it's like to be of her class. I would never know what it is like to be the illegitimate child of a King. But what I do know is Alex deserves better. He deserves a family that will protect him not endanger him" Leo spat angrily.

"No one is endangering him only you. Alex was fine with me" James insisted.

"Alex was scared. He's a boy who needed his mother and grandmother" Leo challenged.

"You don't know who Helena is. Do not be a fool. She would turn on you in a heartbeat" James said as he looked into Leo eyes.

"I know she is worried about Alex and Antoinette. She isn't part of this, what you're doing is treason" Leo replied as he held the older man eye contact.

"You don't know as much as you think you do" James smiled.

Leo did not react but inside he thought, please do not be a part of this Helena.

Lake House….

Clarisse fell asleep so Joseph covered her with a blanket and then stepped out of the room leaving her to rest. He went downstairs and packed everything since he knew at dawn the Commander would be here and they would be heading back to the Palace. It was going to be a long day tomorrow and he needed to get his mind straight. He had no time to dwell on things. His phone rang a moment later. He answered it quickly hoping Clarisse did not wake up.

"I got a trace on the car" Shades informed Joseph.

"Is it anyone we know" Joseph asked? He knew Shades was behaving differently toward him, but he knew Clarisse was right it would be best to discuss things in person.

"Antoinette father" Shades replied.

"Is there a valid address" Joseph inquired as he continued to pack?

"The address is a business, so I don't think so. But I have some men checking on it to be sure" Shades said honestly.

"Hopefully, we will get a lead. Shades, we will be going back to the Palace in the morning" Joseph replied wanting to be honest about their travel plans.

"I will be sure security is aware and the staff is prepared. Should I inform the Crown Prince" Shades asked?

"Yes, Clarisse will want to see him" Joseph replied without a second thought. He knew she needed her son.