A/N : I'm glad you all enjoyed chapter 11, it was one of my favourite chapters to write! I quite like this one too, so I hope you do too. Thanx to all my reviewers - you lot are the best. Thanx to; ndblue123, Angel, Cassandra Anthemyst, Crazy Canuck, Slytherin Chick, Starbright Moonlight, sapofbks2002, Becca, KrystinePotterLover.

Now, we've got Phillippe and Diana together, I think there's another couple we should deal with.....

(Disclaimer : see chapter 1)

"What was that?"

The silence between Jackie and Lars was broken by a loud thump directly above their heads.

"I don't know" Lars replied to the woman opposite him. He moved over to the stairs and looked up. From his current position he could see nothing.

"Maybe it was..."

Jackie was not allowed to finish her setence, as Lars raised his hand to silence her. He was not sure what had made such a sound ad being the head of the palaces security it was his job to find out. He crept silently up the stairs and Jackie started to follow him.

"Go back down" he whispered to her.

"No way" she told him, "I'm not letting you go up there alone. Anybody or anything could be up there"

Lars decided to let her follow him. He knew from experience it was easier than arguing with the woman he loved so much. She had a severe stubbornness that he couldn't compete with and a nasty temper too, when she felt like it. It would be quicker and easier just to let her go with him. Plus it gave him a good feeling to know that she cared enough about him not to let him go on his own.

"Just stay quiet and be careful" he whispered as they continued to climb the stairs.

Half way up, Lars could see, on the landing, his daughter in the arms of the Prince, and Jackie's bags in a heap on the floor. He guessed what had happened. he had suspected something between Phillippe and Diana and he approved. he knew that the prince was a sensible and kind young man who would treat Diana well, though how such a man was going to cope with this miniature version of Jackie, was anybody's guess.

Lars smiled and turned to Jackie.

"I think we were worried over nothing" he said, pointing to the couple.

Jackie smiled too. She was amazed by what she saw, but from what she knew of the Genovian royal family, and in particular the young Prince, she was not unpleasantly surprised.

"I think we should leave them to it" she whispered and started to creep back down the stairs, with Lars close behind.

When they reached the bottom, he realised she was laughing to herself.

"What's the joke?" he wanted to know.

"Oh, nothing" Jackie sighed, "they just reminded me of some other young people I once knew"

Lars knew exactly what she meant. Jackie and himself were the young people she referred to, and she was right. Diana was the spitting image of her mother and the prince, being tall and well built, did bear some resemblance to the young Lars, from the back at least.

"We're still 'young people'" he smiled, making it obvious that he knew what she'd meant.

"Don't be ridiculous" she continued to laugh at what he said, "We're not kids anymore, Lars"

"No, we're not" he told her, looking at her with perfect sincerity, "but you admitted we haven't changed"

She stopped laughing and turned to look at him properly.

"So?"

"So, my feelings for you haven't changed either" he admitted. She blushed under his gaze, but then looked up and smiled.

"You have no idea how much I hoped you'd say that to me" she looked into his eyes, "I was scared about coming here, because I thought I might still have feelings for you, but as soon as I saw you, I knew it was true. Lars, I don't think I ever stopped loving you..."

Jackie did not get a chance to say anymore, as the man before her wrapped his arms around her and kissed her soundly.

As they broke apart, they both smiled.

"I never should have left you" he told her, pulling her close and hugging her tightly.

"I never should have told you too" she replied, hugging him too.

"We both made mistakes" he said, "but I don't want us to make anymore. I love you Jackie and I want us to work it out this time" he concluded, pulling back from her and looking into her eyes again.

"I love you too" she told him, honestly, before kissing him again, "and this time, it will work out" she added, as they broke apart.

They both smiled as they stood in the palace foyer in each others arms, quite content to stay that way forever.

A/N : More coming soon. Please don't forget to REVIEW!