htr17: Thank you! I'm glad to be back writing this story. Oh and I love your avatar! The Tudors is such an awesome show and I think Natalie Domer is my favorite Anne Boleyn yet.

Lance-

I held Jayne in my arms for a long while after she accepted my proposal; feeling her breath on my chest, against my heart, one hand in her now tangled hair, and the other wrapped around her waist; happy in knowing that soon she'd be mine completely.

I reluctantly looked up to the sky, noticing the way the sun was beginning to fall. "Jayne." I whispered into the top of her head and then kissed her forehead, "Love, we should really head back soon."

"Hmm?" she mumbled into my embrace, almost asleep. She eventually pulled slightly away from my body though and stretched her limbs. I swallowed at the sight of her naked breasts pushing into the air, "Yes, I suppose your right." She sat up, and then turned to me, a lustful smile on her face, "We should probably head down to the river real quick and wash up though. No need to give Mary more to tease about." She winked.

I stood up quickly, before I pulled her down for another round of love making. I threw my clothes on, as Jayne tied the front laces of her bodice. I couldn't help the disappointment at seeing her flesh covered. She looked up at me, a look across her face that mirrored my thoughts, and then stood on tip toes to kiss me. I made a move to bring her closer into my chest, but she pulled away before I had the chance.

"Come." She demanded, grabbing my hand to pull me along with her.

When we reached the stream, she stripped again, her back to me and I swallowed roughly as her body slowly met my eyes. She walked into the waiting river, and once she was waist deep she turned to me, grinning, "Well, aren't you going to join me?"

Nothing could have made me move faster.

Once I threw off my clothes and waded into the water, I grabbed her quickly around the waist, picking her up into the air while she squealed.

"Lance!" She giggled out, "Put me down."

A mischievous thought crossed my mind and I smirked at her, "Is that what you want?" I walked further into the water.

Jayne must have read my thoughts clear on my face for she answered quickly, "Don't you dare…" and with that I threw us back into the water, soaking us completely.

When we reached back to the surface she splashed me in the face, "Brat." She pouted, but I kissed the expression off her face.

I wrapped my arms around her waist, pulling her back into me as I nibbled on her neck, causing a moan to escape from her mouth that brought a smirk to my face, "Think we have a few minutes to spare before we have to head back?" Her only response was wrapping her legs around my waist and kissing me passionately. It was answer enough.

000

Zeke leaned against the wooden side of the cabin, as Jayne stood by my side with Lily in her arms, eyes full of questions. I found I could not stay still like them and began to pace.

"This trip to the highlands has offered me some fresh ideas." I said then turned to Zeke, "I'll need your help to make this work, if it can be done."

"Of course." Zeke answered simply, my ever faithful friend.

I shook my head though at his easy agreement, "Your part in this won't be a simple favor, my friend." That made his eyebrows rise, "I'm going to ask Highlands for help in protecting, Jayne."

"Why would they do that?" Jayne asked skeptical, as she shifted the baby to her other hip.

"We have long been treading on dangerous waters with Highlands, as you both know." It was true, our political interests varied much and we had already stopped trade with them fifteen years prior, because my father felt insulted by them over their blunt request that we abolish slavery as have the other countries on our continent. At the time I had agreed with my father and felt contempt towards the country who thought they could tell Benbourgh how to rule. Now I felt ashamed for such feelings. "But if we can offer openings of trade again for their help in protecting Jayne, plus agree to ending slavery, they may be willing to help."

Jayne sucked in a deep breath, "You wish to end slavery?" I nodded at her, shocked she'd even ask. Of course I would after her. Her smile grew and I could see tears in her eyes. I walked over her to run my hand down her cheek before continuing.

"I'll sign a contract with them so that if they protect Jayne until I become King, they will be aligned with us once again; this would not only help them financially, but still the tension between our countries, which I'm sure they'd welcome."

"Do you think they'll risk King Cole's wrath that way?" Zeke asked.

I nodded, "I hope they'll find the investment worth it. They're feelings for my father are not well hidden. I think they'll be willing to work with me to create a better future under my reign."

"What other precautions will we need to take?" Jayne asked.

I turned fully to her, "I'll have Zeke go with you and Lily, along with three other loyal soldiers who have fought with me before. I'll send word to them once Zeke comes back from his visit to the Highland Capital City to present our plan to their Majesties."

"I'll protect them too." A voice said from behind us and I turned around to see Drake standing there. He had snuck up on us which was no mean feat. I had well-honed senses.

The words he spoke finally registered, "I beg your pardon?"

"I'll go and protect Jayne and Lily as well." He answered calmly. I stole a glance at Jayne who seemed slightly nervous by the interaction between Drake and I.

"And why should I trust you with my wife and daughter?" I asked.

Drake scoffed at me, "She's not your wife."

I bristled at his words, as if I needed to be reminded of that fact, "She will be and you haven't answered my question."

"Lance…" Jayne said, a hint of disapproval in her voice.

"It's alright, Jayne." Drake said, "I don't need you to stick up for me." He gave her a wane smile that made me want to pummel him. I don't think I had ever had so many violent thoughts before, "I don't care much for your trust, only Jayne's. It is her I am loyal to and I would never allow her to come to harm. I will fight for her much more strongly than any man you pay for loyalty."

Jayne-

Lance stiffened at Drake's words; whether it was from the passion towards me or the insult that he pays for money or both I wasn't quite sure, but I knew I had to step between them before this got out of hand.

"Drake…" I started, standing in front of Lance, deciding getting between them literally might be a good idea as well, "You cannot just leave your home for…God knows how long, to watch over me. I could never expect that kind of sacrifice from you."

Drake looked down at me and Lily, blinking for a second as if to clear his mind and find the right words, "Jayne you are one of my dearest friends. Right now you are in grave danger and need someone who will protect you and your daughter for no other reason than that they think you are worth protecting." He inhaled sharply before continuing, "Your Prince here may feel that way, but I guarantee his guards won't."

Zeke cleared his throat at that, "That is not true. I do this for Jayne just as much as I do this for Lance. I've known Jayne for a long time."

Drake turned to him, "So you would have protected her from any harm had Lance never shown the slightest bit of interest in her?" Zeke didn't seem to know how to answer that, "I rest my case." Drake ended simply.

"Can you even fight?" Lance spoke again at last. I turned around and shot him a warning look against his tone. Being condescending right now wasn't entirely helpful.

"I can." Drake answered simply. And it was true, after all he had saved me that day I had crossed the border to highlands and I have seen him since practicing with some of the other men of the village. He may not be a soldier, but he could protect himself from one if need be.

"Prove it." Lance said.

"Maybe later after we've finished sorting through this plan we can all pull out our weapons and beat each other up. But for right now could we please just work this out, without any more disgruntled behavior?" I asked heaving an exasperated breath. I heard Zeke chuckle, but otherwise he stayed quiet.

I felt Lance's hands on my shoulders and then his lips against the top of my head, "Sorry, love…where were we?"

"Zeke will ask Highland's for help." I helped.

"Ah yes," Lance said, and he began to pace once again, "If they accept their role in this plan, Jayne and Lily will move there and stay under their protection. In the mean time I will head back to Benbourgh and begin to manipulate my father out of his role as king."

I raised my eyebrows at that, "And how exactly do you plan on accomplishing such a task?"

He shrugged and smiled, "Be a good son for now, make him believe he will getting his way. He had already planned on giving me the crown soon after I arrived home. I'm sure it won't take much to quicken up the process."

"You make it sound so simple." I answered, not believing it could go down that easily.

"Jayne…" he moved closer to me, cupping my cheeks. Then he bent down to kiss Lily on the forehead, "I know it will not be simple, but you must have faith in me that I can make this work. I will protect the two of you and I will push my father out of his position. I know this because I have never wanted anything as strongly as I want you to be safe and happy. I will fight as hard as it takes." He said it all so softly, but then his voice grew a tad firmer, "For now though your safety is the top priority. We need to get you two out of here and in protecting hands. Highland's castle will be the best place for that." He kissed me on the lips lightly, "Trust me."

"I do." I whispered, the words coming easily to my mouth.

"Good." He let me go and turned to Zeke, "I hope you do not mind another couple of long trips my friend. I would go myself but I feel it would be best if I didn't leave Jayne alone here."

Zeke smiled in response, "I will only mind if you have me miss the wedding."

I saw the brotherly love spread over Lance's face at that, "I wouldn't dream of it."

A/N: Short chapter but I'm already working on the next one and it'll hopefully be up by this weekend. Strangely enough when I know exactly how the rest of the story will go I have worse writers block. Not sure how that works out.