Jeffrey woke up in the hospital wing, he was tired of spending time in there, but they said they needed to keep him for observation since he had lost a lot of blood. He sighed as he stared at the IV pumping morphine through his veins, he didn't want to think about how much it would hurt without it. He sighed as he rolled onto his good side, he just wanted out of the hospital wing, he could deal with the pain. But his mother wouldn't allow him to be released so he was stuck there. The door to his room opened and Annalise entered the room with the doctor.
"All right, Jeffrey, after your bandage is changed today, you'll be discharged. We'll have a nurse come right by and do that for you, how does that sound?" the doctor asked.
"That sounds good." Jeffrey replied as he sat up in the bed.
"I've also prescribed some anti-anxiety medication and some sleeping pills to help you cope with what you've been through." The doctor said.
"Just ask for them if you need them, honey," Annalise said as she ran a hand through Jeffrey's hair.
Jeffrey nodded; he was just glad to be getting out of the hospital wing. He knew why he couldn't be trusted with his medicine, but still, he found it annoying.
"I'll go get a nurse to change that bandage, then you can go," the doctor said, then left the room.
"Mom…can I tell you something?" Jeffrey asked hesitantly.
"Of course, honey," Annalise said as she sat beside him on the bed.
"I…I'm gay…" Jeffrey said quietly.
"I know," Annalise said as she gently wrapped an arm around her son. "Is Ethan your boyfriend?"
"Y-yeah," Jeffrey said as he glanced down. "Is that okay?"
Annalise nodded, "If I had a problem with it, I would have put a stop to it a long time ago," she said as she ruffled Jeffrey's hair. "I just wish you had of told me sooner."
"Sorry, but after Uncle Rupert and grandpa Atticus, I just….couldn't." Jeffrey said. "I've been thinking a lot about grandpa Atticus…he told me he didn't approve of me being gay…is that why he was willing to let me get shot?" Jeffrey asked quietly.
"I-I don't know, Jeffrey," Annalise said, then kissed Jeffrey on the cheek. "I certainly hope not."
"I think it was why he didn't care," Jeffrey said bitterly. "I want to talk to him."
"Are you sure that's such a good idea?" Annalise asked.
"I want to," Jeffrey said determinedly.
"Fine, I'll set something up," Annalise said with a sigh. "Do you mind if I tell the Elite? I want to make sure whoever I marry is on board with you."
Jeffrey nodded, "Joel already knows, he's fine with it."
"Great, I'll take to Greg." Annalise said as she stood.
"Mom, do you know who you're gonna pick?" Jeffrey asked.
Annalise shook her head, "I have no clue, do you have any preference?"
Jeffrey shook his head, "I don't really care,"
Annalise nodded, then kissed him on the cheek, "All right, I'll see you later, okay?"
"Okay," Jeffrey said.
Annalise ruffled his hair once more and Jeffrey groaned and pushed her hand away.
"I want you to spend some more time with Greg's daughter and Flora and Dawn, one of them is going to become your stepsister, you should get to know them," Annalise said sternly.
Jeffrey nodded, "All right." He said as a nurse entered the room. Annalise left the room with a slight smile, surprised the Jeffrey had agreed to spend more time with the children of the Elite. She knew he was already friends with Cypress, so she didn't have to force that friendship.
That afternoon Annalise gathered Jeffrey and Callum in the kitchen. Jeffrey sat on a stool, scrolling through his phone as they waited for Greg and Jane. Finally, they entered the kitchen. Greg kissed Annalise on the cheek as they hugged. Jane walked up to Jeffrey.
"I'm sorry you got shot...you're really brave," Jane said.
Jeffrey shrugged, "Not really," he said. He didn't feel brave, he was terrified the entire time and he felt a flicker of fear just thinking of his time in the boardroom, with his hands tied uselessly behind his back while someone held a gun to his head. All because his grandfather couldn't back down.
"I'm just glad that you're okay," Jane said.
"Thanks," Jeffrey said. "How about you? Are you okay?"
"I guess…during the daytime anyway." Jane shrugged.
"Nightmares, huh?" Jeffrey asked as he bent down to her level. "Wanna hear a secret? I get them too."
"Really?" Jane asked in surprise that the prince had nightmares.
Jeffrey nodded, "Yeah, have you told your dad about them?"
Jane shook her head.
Jeffrey frowned, "You should talk to him, that way he can help you out with them."
Jane shrugged, "He has a lot on his mind."
"Still, you should talk to him, he needs to know this. I tell you what, I'll give you till the end of the day to tell him, and if you don't, then I will. Do we have a deal?" Jeffrey asked as he extended his good hand.
"Okay." Jane said as she shook the prince's hand gently.
"All right, let's make this cake," Annalise said.
"I've never baked before," Callum said. "Is it hard?"
"No, we just have to follow the recipe!" Jane said.
Jeffrey resisted the urge to roll his eyes, he really didn't want to bake, especially with his arm in a sling, but he knew there was no getting out of it. He sighed as Jane started assigning tasks. Annalise poured herself and Greg a glass of wine.
"Well, this is going better than expected." Annalise said with a smile, watching as her sons and Jane worked together to bake.
"Shouldn't we be helping?" Greg asked as he took his glass of wine.
Annalise shook her head, "Heavens, no, I hate baking."
Greg chuckled, "Then why did you agree to it?"
Annalise shrugged a shoulder, "Because I wanted the kids to spend some time together. I wanted to see whether or not they got along."
"I see," Greg said.
"Annalise, do you wanna taste some of the batter?" Jane asked.
Annalise smiled, "I'd love to." She said as she approached Jane. Jeffrey took advantage of the opportunity to step away from Jane and sit on one of the stools. He pulled out his phone and started texting.
"How are you holding up?" Greg asked, he could see the bags under the teen's eyes and could tell that he hadn't been sleeping well.
Jeffrey shrugged, "It's not me you should be worried about, Jane told me she's been having nightmares."
"Really…I'll have to talk to her about it." Greg said with a pained look on his face.
"Just…give her till the end of the day to tell you herself," Jeffrey said.
Greg nodded, "Thanks for telling me. Now, back to you, how are you doing?"
"I'm fine," Jeffrey lied as he stared down at the counter. "My arm hurts a bit, but I have medicine for that, I'll be fine."
"Okay, just know that I'm here if you wanna talk about anything." Greg said, trying to give the prince his space.
Callum came over to the two, "We just gotta put it in the oven!" he said excitedly.
"Great, that means I can leave." Jeffrey said as he stood.
Annalise frowned, but allowed her eldest son to go, knowing that the afternoon probably wasn't that much fun for him.
"Hey, Callum, can I talk to you for a moment?" Greg asked.
Callum nodded.
"How are holding up? After the rebel attack?" Greg asked.
Callum sighed, "It was really scary, I mean, they're always really scary, but then I heard that Jeffrey got shot and I got really worried about him. Why would they shoot him? He didn't do anything, he's not even king yet!" Callum rambled on.
"The fact is that sometimes, there are bad people who just want to cause trouble because their lives aren't good, so they take it out on everyone else." Greg sighed as he put his hand on Callum's shoulder.
"But I don't get it, he was with grandpa Atticus, why didn't he protect Jeffrey?" Callum asked.
"Your grandfather is a human being and sometimes, human beings make mistakes. The difference between good people and bad people is that when good people make mistakes, they can admit to their mistakes and learn from them." Greg explained. "Hopefully, that is what your grandfather will do."
"Then why haven't I seen him? Mom said he's not allowed in the palace anymore, and whenever I ask Jeffrey about it, he gets mad and stops talking to me. When do you think I can see my grandpa again?"
"I'm not sure Callum." Greg replied as he shook his head, wondering how to explain what Atticus had done. "Sometimes…when grownups do bad things, they have to go away for a while. I believe that deep down, your grandfather does care about you and Jeffrey. He did a bad thing though in not protecting Jeffrey and now he has to be punished for it…like when you do something bad, and your mom punishes you. Does that make sense?"
"I guess so..." Callum trailed off.
"All you need to know is that you have people who care about you." Greg assured the boy. "You have your mom, me, Jeffrey…and Joel." He replied as he tried to hide a look of forlorn on his face.
Annalise approached and placed a hand on Callum's shoulder, "Just what are you two talking about?" she asked.
"Nothing really," Callum said. "Can me and Jane go watch a movie?"
"Sure," Annalise said. Callum and Jane left the kitchen, abandoning their cake that was in the oven. Annalise sighed and leaned against the counter, "There's something I need to tell you about Jeffrey," she said to Greg.
"What is it?" Greg asked.
"He's gay."
"Really?" Greg asked. "But Darren was so…anti-LGBTQ."
Annalise nodded, "And so, unfortunately is Darren's father. Jeffrey thinks Atticus was willing to let him die because of his sexuality…"
"What in God's name is wrong with that man?" Greg asked in shock as he put his head in his hands.
"That's just what Jeffrey thinks...he wants to talk to him, and probably against my better judgement I'm going to allow it." Annalise said with a sigh.
"If that's what you think is best, I'll support you…but you should at least be there to mediate the conversation." Greg insisted.
Annalise nodded, "I will."
"Maybe it's not my place but…if you want me to sit in, I could keep an eye on them?" Greg offered.
"I would love that," Annalise said. "Thank you for offering, I'm not sure how Jeffrey's going to act, and I need all the help I can get."
"I'll make sure they both behave themselves." Greg assured her.
Annalise sighed, "I feel like that's an impossible task, I'm already regretting agreeing to this."
Greg wrapped an arm around her, "I hope it goes well, but I think you're doing the right thing, Jeffrey needs closure from all of this."
"Thanks, Greg," Annalise said as she rested her head against him.
The next day Annalise decided to have her kids spend some quality time with Joel, his daughters and his adoptive son. Joel decided to teach the kids how to make survival gear. Callum seemed interested enough, though Jeffrey's participation was limited on account of his injured arm. But still, he sat and watched.
"Dad, we're gonna make flower crowns instead!" Flora decided.
"Yeah, you can count me out of that," Jeffrey said.
"Same," Cypress said.
Joel chuckled and Annalise smiled as Flora and Dawn began to make flower crowns. They eventually allowed the children to do as they pleased. Callum talked with Flora and Dawn as they made their flower crowns, and eventually decided to join in. Joel sat back with Annalise while Jeffrey and Cypress went off and talked.
"You know, the point of this was for all of us to do something together," Annalise teased Joel with a smile.
"I'm afraid my daughters had other plans," Joel said with a laugh. "Besides, they're spending time together…sort of."
Annalise nodded, "How are your kids holding up? Since the attack?"
"Flora and Dawn seem to be handling up just fine, I can tell that Cypress is a little wary," Joel said.
"I'm sure Jeffrey can help him with that, lord knows he's been through his fair share of rebel attacks." Annalise said as she ran a hand through her hair. "Hopefully they'll come to an end soon, I meet with their leader next week."
"And you think you can negotiate peace?" Joel asked.
Annalise nodded, "I think so, I'm not going to absolve the monarchy, but I've talked to Jeffrey, and he agrees that we should dissolve the castes, hopefully that's enough to get them to back off."
"I hope so," Joel said. "But is Jeffrey really ready to face the rebels? The same rebels who were ready to kill him?"
Annalise shrugged, "He said he was, but I can't be sure, he could just be being strong."
"He's only fifteen, Annalise, maybe he should sit this one out." Joel suggested. He glanced at Jeffrey and Cypress who were talking just out of ear shot.
"He needs to do this," Annalise said.
"All right, I trust your judgement," Joel said.
Annalise gathered the children, Flora and Dawn were done making their flower crowns and Jeffrey and Cypress reluctantly ended their conversation and made their way over. Joel then decided to teach them how to forge for their own food and use whatever they could find to cook.
"I'm sorry, but when am I ever going to need to know how to do this?" Jeffrey asked.
"I think it's cool!" Callum said.
Flora rolled her eyes, "Dad likes to show off his survival skills whenever he can."
"Clearly," Jeffrey said, and everyone chuckled at that.
"You never know when it could come in handy, it's best to be prepared," Joel said.
"Right," Jeffrey said sarcastically, then turned his attention to his mother. "My arm hurts."
Annalise nodded and waved down a servant that she sent to get his medicine.
Joel continued with his lesson, and when he was done he sent the kids off to find some edible food that he was going to teach them how to cook. Jeffrey sat out on account of his arm and sat with his mother and Joel.
"How are you holding up?" Joel asked.
Jeffrey shrugged, "My arm hurts a bit, but that's normal."
"How long do you have to wear the sling for?"
"A couple of weeks, I hate it," Jeffrey complained.
"I know, honey, but it'll help you heal," Annalise said.
Jeffrey nodded, "I know."
Callum called Joel over for help and Joel went over to the younger prince, who was holding up a plant.
"Can I eat this?" Callum asked.
Joel took it from him and examined it, "If you wanted to get really sick, you could." He said with a slight smile.
Callum shook his head, "I don't wanna get sick!"
Joel chuckled, "Let's find something you can eat."
Joel spent the afternoon helping Callum. Eventually it was time to go to dinner. Annalise led everyone into the dining room. The Elite sat with their families while Annalise sat with her boys. Annalise kept stealing glances at Greg and Joel, she knew one of them would be her future husband, she just needed to decide who.