The Once Future King
Part One: The Boyhood
Chapter XIV: Understandings
By: Evenstar
Rating: PG13

--

The dinner Bill insisted upon was a very fancy dinner at one of the glitziest restaurants in town. To Greg it was one of the nicest restaurants in the world and to him the nicest place he had ever seen. He dressed as his stepfather wanted in a black suit, which fit him well and a blue silk tie to match his blue silk vest. He twirled himself around near playfully looking at himself unable or unwilling to believe it was him he was looking at.

However, he was nothing compared to Lily. God, he thought she was gorgeous in the brilliant golden silk dress she wore with her light brown hair in little ringlets around her face. She was beautiful. In Greg's eyes, she represented right then everything elegant.

Bill arrived a short while later wearing a bright smile upon his face. "Shall we?" asked Bill, directing them to the black limo now waiting under the overhang.

Dinner was fabulous. Greg had never dined at such a fine place in his life. Eating wonderful food, having merry conversation with the only family he had known, this must be heaven. This is what he had always dreamed of doing.

Dinner was over and they arrived back at the hotel. Greg walked to the door only to be stopped by Bill before entering.

"Ladies first," mentioned Bill and shut the door behind Lily.

--

Greg flashed him a very confused look, but again asked no questions as he followed Bill up the narrow staircase to the roof. There was two wire chairs placed there with a small table complete with alcoholic beverage. Greg looked at it cautiously, now just barely eighteen and fully aware of the age limits.

"Take a seat kid," Bill patted the seat next to him. Bill poured two glasses of the white wine and handed the second to Greg just after taking a seat.

There was an expression resting upon Bill's face, which Greg had never before seen. It wasn't of joy or happiness, and it certainly wasn't of anger and hate. The stern look he normally got was vanished and gone leaving Greg to wonder even further.

After a large sigh, Bill's sad blue eyes looked ever so lovingly into Greg's.

"Gregory," he started with an uncertain voice. "I am sure you probably hate me for what I did. Frankly, I don't blame you. I know I was an ass to you, but you have to believe me it was all for the best."

He risked a quick glance over to the youngest child within his care. "I was afraid, Gregory. I was afraid for you, and of myself."

Bewilderment hit Greg almost as hard as a ton of bricks being heaved hard into his gut. Such solemn pitiful voice, which Bill Stokes was speaking in, was almost heartbreaking. Greg had never heard such a voice from him, nor with such a placid expression.

"Seventeen years ago, you were left upon my doorstep without even a family to take care of you. All that linked you to your past was the small note attached to your chest. It asked it of me Greg, to take you in as my own, to raise you as my own, and to provide you a room in my house. I loved you Greg, much more than any person should. Up to that point, you have to understand Greg, I was driven by money. I was gloating with greed and I was afraid of myself, because of my want to use you. I promised myself then, that I wouldn't allow myself to do that to you. Not to you, because that day Greg, you chiseled a hole in my heart and I fell in love with you on that day. On that day I took you in I made two promises. One promise I made to Olaf Sanders and one to myself. I promised myself I would not spoil you as if you were my own flesh and blood. I wouldn't dote upon you and treat you special. I was hard on all my sons, in very specialized ways. Do not misunderstand that. I was no harder on Nick than I was on you. The methods may be different, but I was hard on all my sons. To Olaf I promised I would keep you safe and I would keep you secret. I am sorry for having you locked up in that room with virtually nothing. However, I wanted your name to be the last name on the lips of the town. Small town people talk and I most certainly could not have them talking of you. I didn't want you in sports, or anything that would bring undue attention upon yourself. I wanted you to excel in your academics and to make your name for what's between your ears."

"Why Bill? Why go to such extremes as to lock me up for hours on end with nothing to keep me out of the mouths of others? Why Bill?" The anger was nearly tangible in Greg's voice. He was confused, highly, and not understanding of the mistakes of an old man.

"Because, Olaf Sanders made it clear to me that your life was in danger. He made it clear that people of significant power and authority would be tracking you. I took your proper surname away and you were left with no first. I kept you downtrodden to make sure your name never got heard, and it was the only way I knew to do it. Greg, our family is very well known and very well connected. I was scared that if I showed emotion to you. If I gave in to you, I would not have the strength to pull back. I could see me that day Greg, bragging about you to the people in my inner circle. Very dangerous people I walk with Greg, very dangerous and can be bought for the right price for the information they carry. I was not going to let them get the keys to you. Greg, if they knew what I knew, they would have sold you out and gotten the reward off the price of your head."

Bill's voice never wavered during this story. Greg listened intently to every word Bill said and realized just what Bill did for him. Then he began to wonder about something, now that Bill had paused and his eyes fell towards the ground.

"What do you mean the price of my head?"

The sigh from Bill was nearly audible.

"There are things in this world Greg that I do not know. I do not know why there is a price on your head, I just know that there is, and that you are in danger because of it. I do know that you are of a line of men much nobler than myself, and you are the son of KINGS, Greg. You are the last true living heir to the throne of this kingdom."

Greg sat there in disbelief. A king, him, it was nearly unheard of.

"But, I, I can't be a King," he pointed to himself still wide eyed and not understanding.

"You are Greg, you are a king, the true king, and heir to the throne of the Far North Kingdom," informed Bill. "That was why I couldn't sell you out Greg. I couldn't use you for profit, for my own stupid selfish greed. I wasn't going to allow that, and I'm sorry for how I treated you boy. I just, I didn't know what else I could do to distance myself and you."

He paused for just a moment. "I also promised myself that I would not use my reward money on myself. I promised that all the money Olaf promised me would go right back to you. Unto that I held true. Your tuition to Stanford is paid in full, a lifetime supply of clothes, and the new car you will have parked outside the airport waiting for you in San Francisco. Greg, I'm sorry I couldn't do more for you. I thought, I thought if I kept you away from people you would be safer. I thought, if you had little personal belongings you would feel less ambitious. I thought if I just kept you downtrodden enough that you would go through life as anonymously as possible. Forgive me, if I was wrong," he stopped his sad eyes gleamed for just a moment longer. The love could be seen now as clear as day. A sight Greg could never recall seeing before today.

There was an honesty in his voice that Greg had heard a few times before. He watched as Bill stood up and left him there thinking about the words still resonating in his head.

--

The morning came and Greg still sat up there watching the sun peak above the horizon and rising high into the morning sky glowing beautiful red. It was not the first sunrise he had seen. However, it was the first one he has seen without Nick in his arms.

"How are you doing?" asked the sweet feminine voice of Lily called from behind. Greg didn't even attempt to lift his head to see her.

There was no answer, because he didn't know if he would ever be okay. The bombshell Bill Stokes laid upon his chest and shoulders was huge. Not only that, the gravity of the situation seemed nearly dire as he emphasized hiding him. During the night, he had made the decision that no one else was to know about his lineage.

"I'm fine," answered Greg standing up and stretching his arms above his head. Was he fine? He doesn't have a clue. He took her hand and walked back down the narrow staircase to find a new luggage set and about four trunks that will be going with him to Stanford.

"Take care of yourself Greg," cooed Bill lovingly and drawing him into a loving bear hug. "I really do love you," said Bill very succinctly and more important sincerely. The glisten in his aqua blue eyes only revealed the truest compassion and deepest of feelings. Greg knew his love was the truth.

The scene at the airport was saddening for Greg as he hugged Lily goodbye and walked mournfully down the long tunnel to the big metal flying device that would fly him across the country. He took his seat and looked over sadly, as one phase of his life was ending and another began.

La Fine