Disclaimer: No- E! owns the Royals. I don't own them.

To Superdani4Ever: Good thing they've got the nannies- Mary Poppins and Nanny McPhee- haha! As a matter of fact there is really a Norland Nanny College where they teach you traditional and very specific skills to care for children; they work for high-profile celebrities and royals- Prince George and Princess Charlotte's nanny graduated from there. And yes, they do self-defence and kick-boxing and learn how to drive at top-speed to avoid paparazzi and criminals.

I think Helena really is jealous of Aglaia- not just because she's got the public- and the family's love and support more than Helena ever did- even in her good days, but unlike Simon and Helena's marriage- where Simon admittedly loved his late girlfriend more than Helena and she had affairs- Robert and Aglaia's marriage is very happy, very deep and loving. Aglaia represents all that Helena once hoped to have and all she lost or never had. To learn something from her would be the best thing, but even so, that's hard to get over. She's a representation to Helena, of what could/might have been once. And she got to raise her kids right.

Oh, the bombshell's going to drop pretty soon- I'm pretty sure Robert knows, he's not stupid and Aglaia's warned him about her family's reluctance. Apart from episode 1, I think when a foreign monarch visited, I believe the other royals are mostly avoiding the Henstridges- too much scandal and danger to risk. The Greeks are just appalled because they know, even though Robert is a great guy, the family she's marrying into is not a good one- she's not just the king's daughter, she's a princess and one of them.

Cyrus and Veruca are either diabolically lucky at times or really evil and scheming.

Yes, she wills spend more time with Eleanor. And yes, it would have been much, much better if she had met Robert while he was still a prince, instead of Poor Kathryn. Her mother is every bit a schemer as Helena- if not more so- but the difference is, she actually believes in duty and worships her family more than anything.

As for the brothers and the couple- Well, things are going to get that much complicated, I'm afraid I'll have to warn you!

Hell is Empty and All the Devils are Here

"What's going on? What's happened?" That was Robert.

"There's been an explosion sir- near the hotel where the Greek Princes were staying." James explained.

"WHAT?!" That was Liam and Robert. Helena stood, shell-shocked (no pun intended at such a terrible time) at the doorway with a horrified Eleanor.

"We have police and security guards scouring the area." James explained. "Make sure you find them- please." Robert nearly begged him. James nodded and promptly left.

Just then someone came running in. "Sirs!" Robert turned. It was another security guard. "The princes' car… They were bombed."

Robert inhaled sharply. Shit. This was not good. "Have they been found?" The guard shook his head. Shit.

"What's happened?" To everyone's horror, Aglaia stood in the doorway. "What's happened to them- Robert-" he instantly was at his wife's side supporting her.

"Go-please!" Robert nearly snapped, while everyone, except for the Henstridges hastily cleared the room. "Inform the Greek embassy!" He called out to them as they left. They nodded.

Anastasia burst into sobs when she enveloped her daughter- her only remaining child- in her arms. Aglaia was no better.

The two of them- mother and daughter alike- wept in the privacy of the room. This was a nightmare. After a while, Anastasia composed herself. It would not do for the enemy to see her weak.

They would pay for this; the Henstridges would pay.

She cleared her throat and forced a smile for her son-in-law. "Robert," she asked quietly. "Will you two… Stay with each other for a while?"

"Mother?" Aglaia looked up at her. "Where are you going?"

"Of course," Robert said hastily, compassion in his eyes. He couldn't possibly imagine what she was going through. "Your majesty."

Anastasia turned and left.

She spotted Helena. "YOU!" She snarled. "YOU- YOU DID THIS, DIDN'T YOU? WHAT DID YOU DO?!"

Helena stood, eyes wide, taken aback. "Me?! I did this? What on earth made you say that?!"

Anastasia laughed harshly. In full view of Liam, Eleanor, Jasper and a few others, she reached forwards and slapped Helena on the face.

She no longer cared if it provoked an international diplomatic crisis.

Helena stood aghast, clutching her cheek. "Ma'am, please!" James Hill tried to reason.

"You didn't think I didn't know," Anastasia spat venomously. "You didn't think no one would ever guess- would ever find out?!" She snarled. "All those things you did and were capable of? But my sons?! Never would I have dreamt- as appalling as you had been as one- that a mother could actually murder another mother's sons!"

Helena was even more aghast than normal. "What on earth- why in the world would you think I killed them?"

"You don't think anyone knows?" Anastasia hissed. "The whole world knows! Ask yourself when was the last time you were ever invited to a Nobel Peace Prize- or whether or not anyone would have come to the wedding if we had not invited them to our daughter's nuptials! Ask yourself when was the last time anyone paid a cordial visit to your palace or invited you to go somewhere overseas! To another palace, royal or presidential. Do you think the whole world doesn't know?" Anastasia went on, desiring nothing more than to inflict pain on the woman and the family she felt not only destroyed themselves and their country but her own.

"Your twins' wild life could easily be overlooked, but the fact that your former head of security killed your husband based on a grudge held by his late wife is another thing!" Anastasia had no remorse, no malice was barred on this woman. "Because you could have saved her! And because Dominique Stewart- your husband's love of his life- died in an 'accident' not long after which you were engaged to Simon!"

Helena gaped and the twins froze.

"And what was the maid's name?" Anastasia asked mockingly. She wanted this woman- and her brats- to squirm. Anyone who ever did their dirty work as well. They killed her children- her own babies! "Was it Prudence- no, that was the one your brother-in-law blackmailed into having sex with him and impregnated, thereby marrying her- or trying to, before you stepped in and interfered with the legal proceedings!" Eleanor and Liam watched in horror as the Greek queen went on. "No, Violet. Violet whom you had killed-"

"That wasn't her," Liam defended his mother. "And I suppose it was Cyrus who dealt with Alistair Lacey?" Anastasia drawled. "You're a group of murderers and spoilt brats who grew fat, soft and greedy on glory and status! Of course you killed my sons! Why? Because you wanted her out of the way too- my daughter!" She howled.

Helena's- and everyone's eyes- were massive. "You think I would kill my sons' wife?" Helena dared, regaining her nerve. "The mother of his children? My grandchildren?"

"I don't know what to think!" Anastasia snarled. "Only that with my sons removed from the Greek line of Succession, my daughter- the youngest of my brood- the only child I have left- is now first in line in our succession. And she can't be queen consort of Britain and queen regnant of the Hellenes at the same time!"

Helena stared at her in horror. "What do you mean?"

Anastasia drew back. "Consult your Privy Council." She said. "Members of our Ministerial Council are already preparing to speak to them and to the king about this matter. Either way, I didn't think my daughter is finished with her grief just yet."

The Greek Ministerial Council and the British Privy Council sat opposite one another. The king of Britain sat with them. The king of Greece was conspicuously absent- with his wife and daughter.

Helena, Liam and Eleanor watched warily, wondering what this was all about.

The leading Greek minister took a deep breath. "Your majesties, your royal highnesses… I assume you have already guessed that this is about the line of succession."

"Both lines of succession." A Privy Council member cut in.

The Greek minister nodded. "Correct." He took a deep breath. He did not meet the royals' eyes. "The laws are very clear. Perhaps if we have lived in an earlier century…" He sighed and shut his eyes. "Enough grief has been dealt with. Soon the world media will find out exactly what happened to the princes. Their bodies have not yet been recovered. But the blast was undisputedly strong. As of this moment, the heiress presumptive to the Greek throne is Her Majesty Queen Aglaia."

Robert did not take his eyes off him. "And?"

"And that a future regnant queen of Greece or any other country cannot have her duties divided- she cannot be queen consort and answer to another monarch, of Britain or anywhere else in the globe." The Privy Councilman stated. The ministers, Robert suddenly realised, none of them would meet his eyes.

"And so, it is with our deepest pain to inform you…" The Greek minister hesitated. "That we cannot recognise your majesties' marriage if it interferes with both lines of duty." He did not want to say it.

Robert froze.

"As your majesties must know, the Greek royal family was one of the most violently targeted during the most recent civil war," the minister continued, hesitating. "Most of the family, including His Majesty King Konstantinos' brothers, sisters and cousins, were wiped out. Their Majesties thankfully provided the line of succession with three offspring, though in recent events… Two of them have died. This leaves only one, unless we count the other royal houses who have married into the Hellenic royal line but do not carry the name, and are only distantly related." He hesitated.

"And as Queen Aglaia cannot become the future queen of Greece and continue to be the queen consort of Britain, and that there are no other heirs…" The minister trailed off.

It hit Robert like an ice-and-frost-coated dagger stabbing deep within his heart, repeatedly, again and again. A bottomless pit of despair and horror seemed to swallow him up.

"So what are you saying, minister?" He found himself asking, without really comprehending that he was saying anything.

All the ministers in the room winced. "That it is…" "With our enormous regret," a British Privy Council member muttered. "With our great pain and reluctance that we inform you that your majesties' marriage must be legally terminated."

WHAT?! More horror and shock with life-threatening pain seemed to overwhelm the frozen Robert.

"And that… Considering the line of succession here in Britain is not as critical… The unborn children of your majesties must be added to the Greek line of succession as Crown Prince Alexios and Prince Dimitri- God rest their souls- have not managed to marry and produce legitimate offspring. They must be brought to Athens." The minister winced. "And recognised as the next heirs to the throne, as per tradition."

Horror, shock, agony, anguish… All those and more that could not be described were inside of Robert. The turmoil, the horror and shock, the fear… Of going back to what it was before Aglaia…

"So you just don't want to say it then?" Robert said, still not processing what he was saying, except that he wanted anything- anything to end what he was feeling right now. "That you want us to divorce?"

"That… Is not what we wish, your majesty," the British minister mumbled. "But the plain truth is that the British line of succession already has Prince Liam and Princess Eleanor, and the former king Cyrus along with the Princesses Penelope and Maribel, but the Greeks…" He trailed off.

"You expect me to not only to lose and put aside my wife but my children as well, before they are even born?" Robert's eyes flashed with… Pain? Grief? Rage? Nobody knew, but it was terrible and painful to behold.

"If I may, the divorce is able to wait until after the children are born," the Greek minister added hastily- as if that made anything any better. "That way they would be considered born legitimate and in wedlock, but they and their mother must leave for Athens right after that. Or have the babies there, if that is to be preferred."

Liam and Eleanor watched in horror along with Helena as this transpired. No, surely they couldn't mean, there had to be a mistake…

But the faces of every minister there were deadly serious. Grim, saddened, but serious.

Oh shit, this isn't a joke…

And if it was, it wouldn't be a very funny one.

Robert certainly didn't think so.

Aglaia had sunk into a depressive state, sobbing and breaking her own heart more and more.

Nobody was stupid enough to approach her yet. Even her mother and father couldn't. Heavily pregnant with the children due prematurely, Aglaia didn't stand much chance to restrain her own grief.

Only Eleanor managed to walk inside the room. "Aglaia?" She asked quietly.

Aglaia turned. Even weeping, heartbroken and pregnant she was beautiful. Beyond lovely. Eleanor could see why Robert would rather tear everything apart rather than lose her. Why he would have died to possess this woman.

Aglaia took a shaky breath. "They're gone." She managed to mumble. "My brothers…" Eleanor said nothing but merely dropped to her knees beside her and held her close.

Aglaia broke down again. "I'm not worthy to be anyone's queen- consort or regnant." She mumbled. "Not in this state." "Sshhh," Eleanor tried to soothe her. "And now… We're going to have to divorce- isn't it? Unless one of the triplets stays here or the four of us go in which case my children will never know their father."

"That's not going to happen," Eleanor tried to reassure her. "That's not going to happen." But there was nothing she could say or do. Eleanor had already lost Robert once. But even this pain Aglaia went through didn't come close to comprehension. Two brothers and a divorce she didn't want from a husband she loved, while pregnant… This would not be beyond many people's nightmares.

And there was no way to break it.

"Surely they don't need them to divorce," Liam tried to stay upbeat and optimistic. "They just… Need an heir and a spare. Which they could provide them with."

"Mum already suggested that," Eleanor admitted. "But they need quite a few heirs and spares. And they have to be brought up Greek. Not British. Besides, I've looked into the background of Aglaia's family. Most of them were…" She winced. "Butchered."

"Why?" Liam spun around towards her. "Royal blood." Eleanor stated. "Apparently there was a coup… Sometime during the elections just when the army, navy and air force were at war somewhere… The only ones left to protect the country were the reserve army and they were the ones who did the coup. The king then- Aglaia's granduncle- tried to stop them, so they killed him, his wife, his children and grandchildren and anyone remotely connected to the Greek royal family."

"And now they've taken two of them again." Liam said quietly.

"And only our sister-in-law's left and her children and they're already in the British line of succession, so…" Eleanor trailed off.

Liam shook his head in disgust. "But does it mean they have to break up?" He demanded.

Eleanor sighed. "We don't know for sure. But Robbie was a real mess before she came along- we all were. And now, I don't want to go back…"

The twins left it off in silence.

Robert saw Aglaia on the floor. Trying to keep it together. That was when he broke.

In a single instant he went over to where she was, swept her in his arms and held her tightly. He could feel the babies kicking inside of her. Three children- totally unaware of the dangers they would face and that they would be living in a broken family where their lives were at risk.

He was never going to let her go- never. Not anyone of them. If that meant handing over the crown to Cyrus, or Liam, then damn it that was exactly what he would do! He would rather give up the crown and his kingdom than give up his wife, the life they had together and their children.

For once, he knew why his father felt that way.

"This won't happen," he swore. "I swear I will look after you- all of you. And we'll bring the bastards who did this to justice, I promise you, my love. Nothing bad will happen anymore."

His dark blue eyes darkened further and whoever did this had no idea of the storm that was about to come.

"You call this a honeymoon suite?" Cyrus whined.

"Well, my dear, it wasn't as if you booked anything better," Veruca remarked breezily. "What with your already vigorous expectations… It appears you've gotten used to the soft life being a king. You didn't battle hard enough to keep it."

Cyrus scowled, but Veruca breezed past him, not even bothering to wait for him to sweep her off her feet- literally- and carry her over the threshold. They had no illusions. This marriage- for the second time around- would not be for love. No matter what they made the media think. Let them all think this was a happily ever after.

Cyrus' face soured. Great. He was stuck with this old cow again. And she called him cold and heartless.

"I'll be in constant contact with Penelope and Maribel," Veruca said, matter-of-factly, in her breezy voice. "They're going to work on impressing everybody. Sometimes people can surprise others. Liam certainly did-"

"Before he proved himself an emotional clod," Cyrus muttered. "And Penelope and Maribel can as well." Veruca finished. She turned towards Cyrus.

"As far as the world is concerned, you didn't want to be king- and you gladly relinquished that title to Robert," Veruca informed him. "People don't like or trust anyone who wants to be king- and who can blame them?" She asked coolly. "You'll never get anywhere, least of all the throne back, if you make no illusions about wanting it. As far as anyone knows, you want and prefer a simple life and a quiet one. Wait until you're stable on the throne."

"Oh?" Cyrus said sourly. "What about Robert's unborn babies and his breathtakingly beautiful wife? She's carrying triplets, you know."

That was when Veruca gave him a glistening-cold smile. "I take it you don't watch the news on the plane."

Cyrus looked confused for a moment, until she handed him the newspapers.

His eyes bugged. The glaring headline:

GREEK PRINCES DEAD. QUEEN AGLAIA NEXT IN LINE.

"So now she's the queen of England and she's going to be the queen of Greece?" He whined.

"Wait for it," Veruca advised him. She handed him more tabloids.

SPECULATIONS RAMPANT: BRITISH KING AND QUEEN TO DIVORCE RELUCTANTLY.

Eyes wide, Cyrus scanned the papers. Aglaia's brothers- the two sinister and brutally handsome princes Alexios and Dimitri had died without leaving any legitimate issue. That placed their younger sister- Aglaia- as first-in-line, heiress presumptive. But both countries' governments couldn't stand the idea of sharing a queen, so Aglaia and Robert would have to divorce while it was speculated that their unborn triplets would be raised as next-in-line to the Greek throne- not the British.

Cyrus gasped comically. "You mean this?" He asked incredulously. "Is it really true?"

"Why don't we ask the girls?" Veruca said with an enticingly dark smile.

"Oh, um… Yeah. Aglaia's brothers are dead." Penelope said dopily.

"Alright, so…" Their mother pressed.

"And um… There is talk that Robert might divorce… Apparently, they don't want to divorce."

"I don't want them to divorce, Mummy," Maribel whined. "I rather liked the wedding."

"Well, they're not divorcing right away, so we've still got a while until she stops being queen."

"Meaning…" Veruca pressed.

"Wait, why aren't they divorcing right away?" Cyrus asked, crossly, leaning into the skype.

"Oh, um…" Penelope and Maribel looked stupidly at each other. "I dunno," Penelope admitted. "I think it's because…"

"They want the children to be legitimate in order for them to inherit the Greek throne," Veruca deduced. "So… No triplets… And all there is to do is… Eleanor and Liam?"

"Huh?" Both sisters asked, simultaneously.

"Nothing dears. Have a good night, don't do too much LSD. And don't take Roophyllin. Heavens knows how terrible and disgraceful it will be if you turned up pregnant." Veruca trilled. "Before marrying! Toodles!"

"Um… Cheers Mum." The screen went black.

"Well," Veruca announced cheerily. "You, my dear, have another diabolical stroke of good luck."

Cyrus smirked before it was wiped off his face. "But what about Liam?" He demanded. "And Eleanor. What are we supposed to do about them?"

Veruca sighed. "Well… No chance of a DNA paternity scandal. Britain will be sooo heartbroken at the king and queen's tragic ending as opposed to a happy one. Forbidden love. We'll just have to cut our honeymoon short and return to the palace to offer our comfort… Not so soon while they're conducting investigations and yet not too long as for them to suspect us."

Cyrus sighed. "Fine." He ground out.

Now that the heir to the throne and the king and queen were in Britain, the Greek Armed Forces were making their presence around the heavily pregnant Aglaia who was mostly shut up in her room with few to see her, except for Robert.

They had barred Liam and Eleanor from entry along with most of the British security guards- under whose orders it was no question- and Aglaia had sunk into a deep depression.

Robert was with her- Konstantinos and Anastasia believed he was probably the one Henstridge who would do anything to keep her safe and not harm her and her unborn children. But of course, there was nothing Robert could do, was there?

The world media had learned about it. Horror, shock and sympathy flooded to both royal families- and Aglaia who would soon be forcibly parted from her husband.

And in the meantime, the other royals shook their heads and silently cursed. The Henstridge rot was spreading everywhere it seemed, now that poor Aglaia had the misfortune to fall in love with and marry one of them, even though he was the best of them. Those poor Greek royals. They had no doubt Cyrus or Helena were to blame- they were the prime suspects.

And maybe even Liam as an accomplice. Or Eleanor.

The only Henstridge apart from Simon who had his name clean was Robert.

Robert who was currently holding onto his grieving, pregnant wife and trying to put off the inevitable.

And to make things worse…

"Create two more perimeters around the Crown Princess," Captain Leonidas Dimitriou called out. Aglaia- though still queen of Britain and only heiress presumptive, was called that by him. "One closer to her, and one much, much larger. I want snipers on every rooftop, vehicles ready to go, easy, planned access to the private jets in the airports, where they'll be escorted by the military jets-"

"Do we have clearance for that, sir?"

Leonidas smirked. "I think that the British government has given us clearance enough to take their queen and make her ours."

"Who is this guy?" Jasper grumbled.

"Leonidas Dimitriou- navy, air force and now army- he's the queen's ex-boyfriend." Someone hissed.

Jasper blinked. Boy, that was why he seemed so happy she was coming home.

"They what?" Robert demanded later on.

"It was under the orders of Captain Dimitriou, easy and quick access to the airports." Robert scowled horrendously. "And fighter jets?"

"He was given all the permission he needed, sir." Robert's face was like thunder. "Including to take my wife away?" He retorted. "I don't think so." He stood, and prepared to walk off before he froze. "What did you say his first name was again?"

"Leonidas. Leonidas Dimitriou, sir." Rachel replied.

Robert stood very still. "And he's a captain? Was he in any chance in the Hellenic Navy?"

"He was one of their best, sir."

"And how does he know my wife?" Robert asked, feeling his temper rise.

"He, um…" Rachel hesitated. "Dated her, sir. When she was sixteen, until she was eighteen."

Robert swore inwardly. He whirled around and slammed the door shut.

"Aglaia?" A frighteningly familiar voice asked.

She blinked, barely out of her haze. "Leonidas?" She asked incredulously. "What are you doing here?"

He smiled sadly at her. "Your parents and the government gave me orders to oversee your security and quick departure once the children are born." Aglaia turned away.

"For all it's worth," he said gently. "I'm sorry."

"Ha." Aglaia said bitterly. "I've lost my brothers, I'm going to lose my marriage, my children will barely ever know their own father… And my new family will be lost to me as well."

Leonidas' face darkened. She always did believe in the best of people, even while they were all rot, like the Henstridges. Who knew she would fall for a bloody Henstridge, of all people?

He opened his mouth, about to say something when the door flew open. There was Robert, looking at the scene in front of him. Aglaia still crouching down and Leonidas advancing towards her, his hands held, placating, out towards her.

He froze for a moment before his eyes darkened considerably.

"Robbie." Aglaia said numbly. She was still in a grief.

"Love," he knelt in front of her, taking her into his arms.

He didn't miss the way, Leonidas' eyes darkened and his mouth tightened into a thin line. Damn him.

So that was exactly what he was doing. Trying to seduce and comfort her. Taking advantage of her grief for her brothers and the impending divorce.

"Captain Dimitriou, is it?" Robert asked, his voice a deadly-calm.

"Yes, your majesty." The captain bowed.

Robert regarded him, his eyes flashing and his mouth pressed tight. "Just what were you doing in our private quarters, may I ask?"

"I needed to give the Crown Princess a run-down of all our security measures and assure her that everything was going to be alright." He said smoothly.

"Really?" Robert crossed his arms. "Well, I'm not sure how everything is going to be alright, considering these past events, but she will and always has been well-protected. In any case, I thought she had not yet taken the Crown Princess title."

Leonidas' eyes were chips of ice. "One can never be too prepared."

"Quite," Robert drawled back. "I see the divorce isn't even being started yet, and here you are trying to seduce and convince her to take you as her consort- a Greek native with an impeccable name, I'm sure," he said sardonically.

Leonidas smirked coldly.

"I think," he said, stepping forwards. "That their majesties would like her to be safe and secure. Scandals is one thing, but danger from within… How does one guard against that? She and I both know the meaning of loss, we have lost countless family members when we were children, we saw our people's bodies line the streets and the fields rot because there was no one left alive to harvest the crops and bury the dead. We heard of our people and our families tortured to their deaths, safe to say, I would spare her of any more pain if I could. We both know the price of a throne- it's a big price- much too big, I'd say. But love and comfort… That's priceless. And the honour that comes with duty." He bowed and went on his way.

Robert stood there, absorbing his words and silently fuming. Damn him.

Now he was sure as hell not going to let her fall into his arms even if he had to tear the monarchy apart.

And whoever did this… Would pay.

"I can't imagine what she's going through right now," Eleanor said softly.

"Why are we not allowed to see her?" Liam demanded.

Eleanor shrugged, sourly. "You know why. Our reputation is so bad, that no one trusts us anymore. Least of all with somebody's daughter."

Liam sighed and shook his head.

He was in a real mess right after Robert came back and now he would do anything to take it back.

A throne… Wasn't worth what his brother must be going through right now…

A throne isn't worth losing Aglaia, you mean. A voice inside him taunted. Face it Liam, you're still rotten inside. You want your brother's wife. You crave her.

"Shut up," he growled.

"Liam?" Eleanor sounded concerned.

"Nothing," he lied. "I'm fine. I just… Need some air, that's all."

And some space to think about this stuff.

Somehow, Liam wasn't able to think about the fact that the Greeks- and other royals- were blaming them for the princes' death. Or the fact that his mother and he were prime suspects in this.

All he could think about was Aglaia's anguished, heartbroken lovely face, crumbling and falling… In Robert's arms…

At least he can't have her, the voice taunted. If you can't have her, at least Robert can't have her, even if he does have the crown… Which you will eventually get anyway. Looks like dear brother doesn't get everything after all…

Liam growled at it to shut up. It sounded suspiciously like Cyrus.

You don't have anyone, it kept taunting him. At least somebody is suffering a loss… Like you. The big brother who always got everything… Whose shadow you've stood in for so long…

You're wrong, Liam told it. And I'll prove it to you.

I'll find a way to keep Aglaia with Robert. And our monarchies intact.