Chapter 10 – Reconciling

Authors Note: If I don't update this story again until January please yell at me over tumblr

Eleanor was ripped out of her dreams not very gently by the doorbell.

She was used to servants or her Bodyguards waking her up – or letting her sleep - but they are always careful not to cause her to fire them so they try to be as gentle as possible. But the loud ringing in Jaspers apartment was new and very unpleasant.

With a groan she rolled away from her husband, pulling the warm blanket with her and over her head.

She could hear Jasper mumbling weak protest before she felt him get out of bed and – hopefully – put on some pants.

Her dream almost had her back when she heard a familiar voice at the door.

Instantly she was wide awake. Apparently Ted had told her twin where she was and now Liam was causally chatting with his now brother in law in the living room.

Quickly she grabbed the first clothes she could find – which were her own for a change – and hurried out of the bedroom.

Jasper was just fixing Liam a cup of tea when she came in. She was a bit hesitant to get closer to Liam. Her mother's reaction yesterday had been obvious but Liam's? No idea. Was he angry? Was he here to tell her she didn't need to come back ever? Did he care at all?

But Liam made the decision for her as he got up from the couch and hugged her tightly. She felt instantly better, knowing her twin didn't hate her.

When they both had settled on the couch Jasper excused himself saying he had ‚stuff to do. Eleanor knew he wanted to give them some time alone to talk about everything and she was thankful. Even though she didn't miss the weird looks her brother threw at her husband as Jasper closed the door behind him.

After all Jasper was not the only person being extremely protective over her.

„Does Mother send you? "

„No but you can't escape her forever, Lenny. "

Eleanor sighed.

„Then why are you here? I would have called you eventually. "

„Eventually? I've been trying to call you since you left and you didn't answer. I was worried about you. "

„I know, I'm sorry. "

She really felt guilty for causing so much trouble for Liam. Her twin had enough things – more important things – to worry about than her.

„Come home Lenny, please. I promise we'll figure it out. We can talk to mom together if you want. "

Home.

She knew he meant the Palace but the Palace hadn't been her home for quite some time now, possibly even longer than she had realized herself.

It was the easiest solution for everyone involved.

Go back with Liam, calm down the Queen and wait until everything went back to normal.

But her usual `normal` was a mess. Her normal wasn't healthy, it wasn't happy, it was most of all lonely and cold and it made her physically sick.

Liam and Robert have been the only reasons she didn't go insane in all those years but with Roberts's death everything changed. She and Liam had used each other as an anchor during their time of grief but even though they were twins the two of them were very different.

Liam was a lot better at letting go and not being stuck between memories of her happy Family and lost hopes. The world was turning and he turned with it while Eleanor tried to run in the opposite direction.

For a while she thought her life had ended.

Everything had changed from one Minute to another and there was no way to change that but no way to move on as well.

Her `normal` was tired and she missed being wide awake.

„I'm not going back to the Palace with you Liam. I can't. "

She knew her brother had a hard time understanding her.

Now it was Liam's turn to sigh.

„So, you and that Bodyguard, huh? "

Eleanor looked at him in surprise

„Wait, you didn't know we had a thing going on all those months? "

„Of course not! How could I have known that? "

„I'm pretty sure the entire staff knew and so did mom, by the way. "

„Well that also explained why he was your Bodyguard for a lot longer than the others. "

Eleanor laughed. If Liam only knew the entire story. But she certainly didn't plan on telling him.

„So you're not angry at me? "

„Angry? Why would I be angry? "

„I know you and Mom are trying your best to keep the monarchy going and try to tame Cyrus. And me? I run off to Vegas and marry an American. "

But Liam only laughed.

„First of all I don't think it's possible to tame Cyrus. But as your brother – your twin – the only thing I'm angry about – no, sad, not angry – is that I couldn't be by your side at your wedding day. "

Eleanor felt hot tears running down her cheeks.

„Thank you, Liam" she whispered.

„Are you happy with him? "

„Yes and I know I'm being naive but if I could I would stay with him even though we both know that isn't possible. "

„Why not? "

„Why? That's pretty obvious, isn't it? Mom would literally kill me if the press would ever came to find out. "

„She'll get over it. I want you to do what makes you happy and if it's him you want than there is nothing Mom or the media can do about it.

Since the paternity test both of us thought not to be royal was a bad thing but maybe it's our chance to do all the things we never were allowed to do, to be whoever we want to be and to be with who we want to be.

I've seen you sad long enough, Lenny, and now I can see this spark in your eyes that hasn't been there for a very long time. Be happy. Do it for me. Please, Lenny. "