Clarisse stared into her husband eyes, and she knew he meant what he was saying. Something happened of which she was not aware. Rupert seemed less willing to deal with Antoinette and she had no idea why. Prior to this, he had tried to keep the situation under control. What changed, her mind began to fill with ideas but, one stuck to her. They been having contact, meeting one on one, she realized just like that day she walked in on them. What did Antoinette say or do to make Rupert feel this way about her, she wondered?

Antoinette and Helena stood beside one another.

"Mother, do you think Henry took Alex" She asked worried?

"No, I do not" Helena admitted.

"Then who, Uncle Arthur" She asked her voice trembling with fear?

"I do not know" Helena admitted honestly.

Pierre walked over towards his parents when Antoinette grabbed his arm.

"Please, is there something you are not telling me? Do you know who has Alex" Antoinette asked terrified?

"No, you know what we know. And the only people I could think of are Arthur and Uncle Henry" Pierre admitted.

"Henry would not do this" Helena defended him.

"What makes you so sure" Joseph asked as he looked at Helena?

"I just am" Helena replied confidently.

"I find it interesting how trusting you are in him now after all these years of having no contact with him" Rupert stated not holding back his disapproval of Helena choosing Henry over Hans.

Helena looked at Rupert, the look in his eyes told her he knew that she chose to marry Henry, Hans had confided in him. She could not help but think, what else has Hans told him? Realizing, she had to keep the peace she stated, "Your Majesty, I do trust Henry and I do not believe he would take Alex."

Rupert did not seem convinced. In fact, his agitation seemed to increase.

Across the Palace….

Henry was in his suite awaiting news about Alex when Hans and Shades appeared.

"We need you to come with us" Hans said as he looked at the man he hated, the man who wanted to take Helena from him.

"Of-course" Henry agreed as he followed them.

After a few minutes he asked, "is this about Alex? Is he all right?"

"He is still missing" Shades admitted.

"Has something else happened, Henry asked as he wondered why they wanted to speak to him?"

"No, nothing else" Hans admitted.

The three men walked the rest of the way in silence.

Security hub…

Rupert felt a terrible feeling as he sat there waiting for news. Someone had his son and he had to do something to get him back. He was tired of waiting, tired of allowing things to happen to his family because of his fear that something would happen to one of them. He needed to act but to do that, he knew what he had to do.

His grip on Clarisse hand made her whisper, "Rupert, are you alright?"

"I do not trust Henry. I believe, he is behind this, helping Arthur and who knows who else. Whoever took Alex has access to the Palace, is still here…I need you and Pierre to leave here" Rupert said as he thought about their safety.

"No, I will not leave you here alone" Clarisse said adamant.

"I will have Hans here and the men he trusts. I want you and Pierre to leave" Rupert insisted.

The door opening stopped them from speaking further.

Hans, Shades, and Henry entered.

"Shall we start Your Majesties" The Commander asked?

Clarisse looked at Rupert who nodded his head and everyone sat.

"Before this gets worse, I want to ask you directly, where is Alex" Rupert asked Henry as he looked him in the eyes?

"I have no idea" Henry replied, his anger at being accused clear as he stared back into his brother's eyes.

"I am sure your friend, Arthur does" Rupert replied doing his best to keep his temper, but he was dangerously close to exploding.

Clarisse gripped his hand tight.

Joseph noticed but did not react his eyes glanced at Hans who had also observed the King reaction.

"Arthur? He did not take Alex and neither did I. We are wasting time sitting here when we should be looking for who is truly behind this" Henry stated firmly.

Helena reached over and touched Henry hand trying to offer him support and to calm him. She knew Henry and Rupert were heading towards a show down and she did not want it to happen now. She was worried for her grandson and wanted him to be the focus not their sibling feud that has lasted for decades.

Hans eyes landed on their hands; he felt his jealousy rise.

"Your Majesty, if I may" The Commander intervened.

"Yes, of-course" Rupert replied.

"The video footage places Alex with Leo in The Crown Prince suite. There is a shadow in the background, so we know they were not alone. The cameras are then recorded over as to prevent us from seeing what happens outside of the suite. Whoever was there knew that you were not there but, may not have known Leo was there. This was planned" The Commander said as he looked at Antoinette.

"I was being watched" Antoinette asked as she felt sicker to her stomach? The more time passed the more fearful she became about Alex. If Arthur and Henry were not behind this, where was her son and with who?

"I believe so" The Commander replied.

"Who knew your mother was coming for a visit" Hans asked as he thought about what the Commander theory was?

"I only told Leo because he came by to check in on Alex. I wanted an audience with His Majesty, so I asked Leo to watch over him" Antoinette admitted.

Clarisse realized she had been right they have been meeting one on one.

"Who else knew you wanted an audience with His Majesty" Hans continued?

"No one. I did not have an appointment. I went straight to his suite and back. Alex was gone when I got back" Antoinette admitted with tears now falling.

Helena placed an arm around her wanting to support her daughter.

Taking a few moments to consider all the information, the Commander, Joseph, Hans, and Shades sat together.

Helena and Antoinette sat with Henry.

Clarisse, Pierre, and Rupert sat together.

"The Palace has been locked down since we realized Alex was missing. Security is checking every room in the Palace" Joseph informed the Commander and everyone else in the room.

"We remain in lock down until we search every inch of this place inside and out" Hans announced as he knew it was what Rupert would want.

Over an hour later….

"Why take Alex" Charlotte asked Shades as they sat together having a coffee?

"I do not know but, Her Majesty believes it is to force their hand so that Pierre enters his ceremony with Lady Antoinette" Shades shared with her honestly.

"Do you think she is involved" Charlotte asked concerned?

"I honestly, do not know. She seems afraid but, it could be an act I suppose" Shades guessed.

"The ceremony is not until the end of the week. Do you think whoever took Alex will keep him from his parents until then" Charlotte asked heart broken for Alex who was a child, a scared child by now, she thought?

"It is possible" Shades said as he sat back and sipped his coffee.

"What do we do in the meantime? Who can sleep knowing the kidnapper/traitor could still be here somewhere" Charlotte asked? She could not deny the whole situation unsettled her.

"We stay here, we have no other choice. The Palace is on lockdown so you may be right, the kidnapper/traitor may still be here" Shades replied as he took hold of Charlotte hand to calm her.

Charlotte held his hand tighter as she stated, "thank you for not ending our friendship after everything."

"We will always be friends Char" Shades reassured her.

"Thank you for that. I know that I do not deserve you" Charlotte whispered, she still felt ashamed by how she managed everything.

"Do not say that. You are a good person, and you deserve to be happy" Shades said adamant.

Charlotte looked at him with tears in her eyes.

"I know you are not happy" Shades said feeling badly for her.

"No, I am not" Charlotte admitted as tears trickled down her cheeks.

Shades reached over and hugged her.

Sitting area…

Helena sat with Antoinette doing her best to keep her daughter calm.

Antoinette sat, she could feel her heart beating uncontrollably and tears threatening to fall again. She was scared and the more time passed the more afraid she became.

Henry sat across the room watching the two women. Part of him wanted to be beside Helena but, he knew Antoinette did not care for him. He did not want to make the situation worse. He began to wonder if Arthur was behind this and if he was, when was he going to contact them?

Library…

Pierre sat nervously as he thought about Alex and Leo. He knew Leo would protect Alex with his life but, he was worried about the fact that no one had contacted them yet. He knew that was not a good sign. If his mother was correct and this was some plan to force him to enter his ceremony with Antoinette than why has he not heard from anyone yet?

Rupert sat staring at the wall, lost in thought. His mind raced with everything that has been going on since before the shooting until now. If Pierre and Clarisse were right, then he was certain Arthur was behind this. He was the one responsible for that woman in France, the trade deal negotiations, and Antoinette being in the Palace. Rupert sighed, he had been the one to insist that Alex be brought to the Palace, and he know regretted that decision. He put his son in harm's way, and he only made things harder for Clarisse. He knew having them here was not easy on her although she kept up a brave face.

Clarisse placing her hand over his shook him from his thoughts. Rupert looked at her, his eyes filled with tears.

"Do not lose hope" She begged him.

"Why has no one called" Rupert asked keeping his voice low? He did not want to worry Pierre.

"Give it time. I am sure someone is going to call and make their demands" She tried to reassure him.

"If something happens to him…" He said as tears fell.

Clarisse felt her heart clench for him. "Nothing is going to happen to him. We must remain positive."

"Has anyone called Phillippe" He asked worried about their son?

"Security checked in as they do every day, and they are fine" She reassured him.

He nodded his head in understanding before stating, "I meant what I said earlier, I want you and Pierre out of Genovia."

"Rupert, no. I am not leaving you" She insisted.

Having overheard Pierre walked over to them and asked, "father?"

"I cannot risk anything happening to either one of you. It is best if you both visit Phillippe for a while" He said as he looked at his son then Clarisse.

"I cannot do that. The both of you put me in charge and I must be here to ensure that whoever did this cannot overthrow us and take over Genovia" Pierre said determined. He was not going to let whoever is behind this get away with terrorizing his family.

"I will resume my role and you can leave with your mother" Rupert explained, he was also determined.

"No Rupert, your recovery" Clarisse tried to reason with him.

"I already told you. My recovery is done. I have accepted that, and you need to accept it" Rupert said getting upset by his wife fighting him on this. He needed to keep them safe.

"What do you mean" Pierre asked confused? His father was still in the wheelchair, he thought.

"Your father does not believe he will walk again" Clarisse shared honestly.

Pierre eyes flew to his father eyes.

Rupert could see the disbelief in them.

"Sometimes son, we must accept things for the way they are. We continue and we do not look back. I have come to terms with this and there is no reason I cannot assume my role" Rupert said not wanting his son to feel responsible for his decision.

"I understand but, I agree with Mother, we stay and find the people responsible for all of this and bring them to justice" Pierre replied as he looked at both of his parents without hesitation or fear.

Clarisse could not deny she was proud of their son for wanting to protect his family and Genovia.

Rupert on the other hand although he felt proud for the same reasons, he was more concerned about the situation getting worse and more of his family being put in danger.