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Helena was surprised to say the least at how easily Simon had maneuvered them outside of the palace walls with no security detail. She had commented on the relative ease as they had reached the gates to which he simply shrugged his shoulders and kept walking. Dressed as casually and inconspicuously as possible in jeans, a dark sweater, and boots Helena was doing her best to keep pace with the King as they wandered the half empty streets.
"Where in hell is he taking me?" she thought to herself as she hurried along. "First, he asks me to go for a walk in the bloody middle of the night, then he won't speak."
They had been walking the better part of ten minutes when she finally decided to break the silence, "It's cold, Simon. What are we doing out here?"
King Simon stopped walking and turned to her, "Look around, Helena. Look at the people that are out tonight. We're simply inconsequential to them. They have problems much bigger than ours and they're struggling to get by every day."
Helena glanced around, unsure of what to say. "I'm not sure I understand what you're trying to tell me."
Simon sighed, "I'm trying to tell you, to show you the rest of the reason I want to disband the monarchy. Our family, our children, even you Helena, are going to be my first priority whether I'm King or not. But these people, my people, hold a dear place in my heart too. I come out here, I walk around and listen. I get on the tube and just ride, listening to them talk about their days, telling others about their problems. They're struggling to buy food and my wife is spending a small fortune and fancy knickers."
Simon began to walk away as Helena processed what he had told her. Quickly she fell into step beside him. Curiosity got the best of her as she asked, "How often do you do that?"
"Come out here? At least once a week, sometimes more." Was all the answer that she got.
"And you're always alone?" Helena questioned. "No detail or anyone else?"
"Ted and I have an arrangement; he'll look the other way when I decide to take a walk. And yes, I'm alone, who else do you think would be with me?" Simon asked glancing at his wife.
Helena was silent. But to herself she thought, "maybe that little meekly ass maid."
As if reading her mind, Simon said, "Are you serious, Helena? Prudence? Really?"
"Well you've been fawning over her for weeks, I figured maybe you'd brought her out here. Seeing as you've never brought me before." Helena said sarcastically.
"I'm not the one who cheats, dear." Simon answered with just as much sarcasm. "And I doubt you would have come even if I'd have asked you."
Helena stopped abruptly as his statement hit home. She reached out and grabbed Simon's arm all the while looking him straight in the eye, "I'm sorry about, Jasper. Honestly, I am."
Simon remained expressionless, "And the others?"
Taken aback, Helena was at a loss for words.
"I've known about all of them, Helena. I've always known. To start with, I blamed it on you being young and going straight from your parent's home to mine. And then the twins were born and it seemed like you had sowed all the wild oats you needed to. I thought we were happy; we had a beautiful family and we were in love, or so I thought. Then time passed, and I guess it was the little things. A missed call here, an extra day on a trip there. Before you know it we were a couple that shared a room, and not much more. We took each other for granted, and I quit bringing you those flowers." Simon gave her a sad smile, "So when you would have a small affair here or there I let it go. I allowed you that space when I shouldn't have, mostly to keep our family together. Any other man would have put his foot down, but I am now Helena. I meant it this morning, the affairs are done with."
A tear escaped the corner of her eye, as she listened to her husband recount his knowledge of her sins. With a gloved hand, Helena reached up and wiped it away. The remorse that she felt was almost too much as whispered, "I'm sorry. So very sorry."
Helena, spotting a park bench, walked over and sat down. Simon followed suit waiting for her to speak.
"I never knew that you knew. I always thought I was being careful." Helena began as another tear slipped down her cheek. "But I have no real excuse. You gave me anything and everything that I wanted and then some. I was selfish, and I'm just sorry. And I'm sorry that you had to know what I was doing."
Simon looked at her and nodded, as she continued, "You're a good man Simon. In case you didn't know that, you are. I never deserved you, and if this doesn't prove it, nothing will. I was frivolous with your feelings, and with our family. I used to be so different. When we first met none of the glitz or glamour mattered, I had hopes and dreams and ideas of what life would be like. What our kids' lives would be like. I never thought I would be one to cheat or ignore my children, but I have and I do. I let the prestige and power dictate who I've become, and for that I'm ashamed."
There was a truthfulness to her words that spoke to Simon deeper than even he could have imagined. It was as if Helena was finally seeing herself through a mirror and realizing that she could be better, that she had more to offer. Listening to her, he found himself hopeful, and full of forgiveness.
"Helena, look at me. You do deserve this. And it's not too late, especially with the twins. Do you know why? Because at the end of the day, you're still their mother. And even a bad mother, is always going to be their mother." He stopped himself, "Wait, I'm not calling you a bad mother, just maybe a slightly misguided one. But it's fixable. I'm not saying it's going to be easy, Eleanor is a god-damn mess. You just have to make up your mind to mend that relationship. Underneath her bad attitude, she's nothing more than a girl that wants her mother to love her. As for Liam, every boy has a special place in his heart for his mother. He may be the easiest relationship to mend out of us all."
Helena looked at him with questioning in her eyes, "Out of us all?"
"Yes, us all, Helena. I brought you out here so you could see just how little the monarchy matters outside the palace gates. They don't need us, but we need each other. If we're ever going to survive as a family, we need each other and love. No more do I want us to be viewed as a pack of zoo animals, I want us to get our lives together and be happy. And if that takes a referendum passing to do it, to do away with this life we lead, then so be it."
Without giving her time to absorb everything he said, Simon kept on, "We've already lost one child. With every breath I breathe I miss him, I can't lose another one. So this is where we stand, Helena. I spoke to the people this morning, asking them to let it pass. They've heard my reasoning as have you."
Simon stopped as if trying to find the right words to say, "I'm giving you a choice, Helena, you can choose to stand with me in support of the vote and work on repairing your family and your relationship with your children, or I divorce you for infidelity and you can disappear probably completely losing the twins in the process. It's your call, just let them vote. They may decide to keep us, but as long as they vote on it I'll support whatever decision is made."
Helena's face held a shocked expression as the ultimatum she was just given sank in. She eyed Simon for any sign that he was joking with her, but his face held a seriousness she would recall for the rest of her life. It was now or never.
Simon stood up from the bench, watching her as he did. He held out his hand, "Just choose love, Helena, what do you say?"