Emma was about an hour into the party when she decided to abandon the picture she'd been painting and make her way around the room. Most of the kids in attendance had stopped by the table she'd been sat at for most of the afternoon to say hi to their Queen, but she'd noticed a few hanging back. And Emma always tried her hardest to make sure she gave her time to everyone that turned out to see her, even if it was just to say a quick hello. After all, her job was to serve the people of her country.

So after politely excusing herself and promising that she'd return to finish her painting, she stood up and made her way around the edges of the large space.

Most of the parents and guardians had hung back, lingering in small groups against the walls instead of actively coming forward to interact with her. But Emma was used to that. Kids didn't seem to have the same kind of doubts and fears as their elders did.

"Good afternoon," she offered, along with a polite smile, as she made her way towards the first group of people she saw. "It's so good to see you here today. Do you mind if I ask your names?"

A couple of the women's jaws dropped with their surprise, but an elderly gentleman in the middle of the group quickly stepped forward, offering his Queen a bow as he said, "Former Staff Sergeant Andrews, Your Majesty."

"It's a pleasure to meet you, Sergeant Andrews. Thank you for your service. Are you here with anyone today?"

"My grandson," he chuckled, pointing in the direction of a ginger-haired little boy who was tucking into some pizza with the new friends he had made that morning. Emma was pretty sure the kid had introduced himself to her as Toby, earlier that day. "His mother's pregnant and she wasn't feeling up to the journey here, so I offered to bring him along."

"I can understand that. Please send my best wishes back to her, will you?"

"She'll be thrilled to hear that, Ma'am," Sergeant Andrews told her, before he gripped the hand that she'd held out to him in silent offering and gave it a firm shake.

Emma then turned her attention to the others in the group, who seemed a little bolder now that she'd spoken so normally with one of their own.

It took her a while to make her way around the rest of the people in the room. Emma would stop and bend down to greet the children too scared to make the first move before she straightened up again to speak with their family members. But she didn't mind. It was perhaps the best conversation she'd had all month, and she'd gotten more hugs already that day than she had all year.

Eventually, her human needs made themselves known and Emma quietly slipped from the room as the magician they'd hired for the party made his way onto the stage. She nodded a greeting at each of the agents she passed as she made her way through the familiar corridors towards one of the private bathrooms in the Palace. But when she twisted the knob to open the door, it wouldn't budge.

Emma frowned a little at it in confusion.

The staff never used that bathroom. It wasn't proper. And as much as Emma protested that she didn't care who used what restroom, they wouldn't hear her objections. So that really only left one possible reason for its occupation. After all, it wouldn't be the first time a couple had tried sneaking away at a public opening to have sex inside the palace.

Emma's suspicions were all but confirmed when she heard a muffled voice from inside the room call out, "Hurry up, Oliver. We're going to get in trouble."

She fixed her most stern look on her face and positioned herself against the wall across from the locked door while she waited for the couple to finish. At least this way she could have a little fun, and probably give them both an afternoon they would never forget.

But when the lock finally clicked and the door was pulled open, Emma wasn't expecting the sight that greeted her.

"Come on Ollie we need… oh my God. Your Majesty, I am… I am so sorry," a young blonde stuttered out. "The uh… the bathrooms were all full. And Ollie really needed to go. One of your men said that we could use this one. I didn't…"

Emma held up her hand to halt the other woman's words and then offered her a small, reassuring smile. "It's okay," she told her. "Even Queens have to use the bathroom. I just wasn't expecting anyone to be this far down."

She then turned her attention to the wide eyes of the little boy hiding behind his mother's legs. Emma dropped back down into a crouch to meet his eyes, fanning her skirt out around her knees as she introduced herself. "Hi there. I'm Emma. You must be Ollie?"

The little boy nodded his head but didn't seem inclined to step forward.

"Sorry," his mother apologised. "He's really shy. And he's missing his dad."

"Of course he is," Emma affirmed. "I imagine that you are too."

The blonde woman flicked her eyes down to the little boy and then over to the Queen still crouched awkwardly on the floor before the meaning of the other woman's words finally hit her. "Oh… oh no! I'm not… I'm his aunt," she clarified. "His dad's a single father."

"I'm so sorry. That was rude of me to assume."

"It's fine," she chuckled. "We get it a lot, don't we, Ollie?"

Ollie nodded his agreement as he wrapped his fingers around his aunt's hand and took a small step out from her shadow. Emma took that as a sign of progress.

"My partner and his father are brothers. Both RAF men too. So it's just the two of us at the moment."

"Will it be just the two of you for the holidays?" Emma pushed herself back up to her full height as her legs began to protest, but she made no move to leave.

"Yeah. My parents were killed in a boating accident when I was a teenager, and Killian and Liam's mother died when they were little. The guys haven't seen their father for decades. So it's just us, isn't it, Ollie?"

Ollie nodded his head in agreement but his face seemed to crumple a little at the thought of a Christmas alone with his aunt.

"It's his first without his dad," she whispered, wrapping an arm around his shoulders.

"I'm so sorry. I'm sure your dad wishes he could be at home with you," Emma offered.

"He won't get my present on time."

The Queen's eyes flashed back down to meet Ollie's just as his started to fill with tears, and she felt the moisture begin to gather in her own at the sight of them. The little boy stood in front of her was far too precious to be so upset.

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