The State Visit Part I
As Trent had anticipated, he was kept busy from the moment that he woke up on his first full day in London. Cormac had slept through the night, but woke when his alarm went off at 6am; as Rory was still asleep, Trent ensured that his son was changed, dressed and fed whilst he attended to his own ablutions. He shaved and dressed, sipping a cup of tea and keeping half an eye on his phone as he received updates about the progress of Air Force One, and a flurry of E-mails that needed checked. Rory woke up at 7am, and told his husband off for not waking him. He took over with their boy, and Trent headed downstairs for breakfast. He ate whilst watching the breakfast news on the BBC, noting the stories of the day, their coverage of the State Visit and the weather forecast.
The latter was the most important thing of all; a visit of this kind in January was a risky prospect, given the variety of weather that they enjoyed in London. The weather gods had been kind however; it was to be dry, if overcast, and unseasonably mild that afternoon, when the President would be reviewing the troops in the gardens of Buckingham Palace, after an open top carriage ride down The Mall from the Houses of Parliament. Trent could not help but smile about that latter part; unlike his predecessor, Kennedy was well enough thought of that he would receive that accolade; there would be no risk of protestors, riots, snipers or blimps. He made a note to himself that he needed to double check that the speech he had written for the arrival had been received by the President, and to suggest that a blanket might be placed in the carriage in case he required it during his ride along The Mall…
It was not long after that that he found himself dealing with two press secretaries, asking for hints as to what would be in the speeches that he had written for tomorrow, firstly when he would address the parliamentarians at Westminster Hall, and at the State Banquet the following night. Normally the latter would have been held on the day of the visiting dignitary's arrival, but the Palace had requested a delay, as the younger members of the family had previous long-standing charity commitments that night. There was also to be a lunch reception at Winfield House in two days time, and unusually, it would also be attended by Her Majesty. This was yet another blow to those that still sat in the Trump camp; the man himself would never know, locked away in his prison cell…
The reception would also be attended by a mixture of United States ex-pats, a generous selection of the best of the United Kingdom's talents, and of course, an Irish nun and Rory's nana. When that attendance had first been arranged, it had been expected that it would be the Prince of Wales would be the most senior royal to attend, with a few others; now it seemed it would be almost the whole family. Trent had not said anything to an already worried Rory, but he had his own misgivings about introducing them all to Agnes, his grandmother-in-law. At least he would be able to count on Niff for moral support. They had been amongst the first on the guest list; little Wes would be in the care of Miss Frobisher at kindergarten at the time. She couldn't help but feel that the number of times that they had been in the presence of royalty was outrageous, but understandable; they were two of the nicest young men she had ever met…
What they did not know though was that Miss Frobisher had seen a film the previous weekend that left her in awe of them. She regularly made a point of heading to the arthouse cinema in Notting Hill to see a film, and that Saturday there had been a new documentary film from America. The title had caught her eye for some reason, and she had purchased a ticket for it rather than the French film she had intended to see. It was only once the film had begun and she heard the names Jeff Sterling and Nick Duval that she recalled where she had heard the name Dalton before… She had smiled fondly at the brief appearance of Drew Symons, thinking at once about Evie, and wondering how the little girl was coping with life in New York. That he was seen sitting next to Ethan made her happy too. Then the film had moved on… She decided afterwards that she would not enlighten Nick and Jeff to the fact that she had seen the film and knew everything that had happened to them. She had gasped at the way they had been tortured, and had cried along with Jeff when he broke down. She had also recognised a little of Wes Montgomery in her young charge at school, not just in appearance, but in character…
The reception at Winfield House was for another day though, and Trent now had other tasks. He went with the ambassador to meet the President at Heathrow - proof again of how popular he was compared to Trump. Rory was also heading to the airport to meet the flight from Dublin, hoping that his nana had behaved herself on the mercifully short flight from Ireland. He hoped that she had not mentioned the fact that she was going to be meeting the Queen and the President to everyone; as a precaution, he had told Sister Mary-Agnes to inform everyone that his grandmother was insane if she started…
The two flights would be arriving within a short time of each other, and the ambassador had refused to countenance the idea of Rory sitting in a black cab with Cormac when they were heading there in a limousine at the same time. It did look a little out of place in the drop off zone at the terminal when they let Rory out though, attracting stares. Then the limo head on to the VIP reception, which had been cleared for the arrival of the President; it took its place in the convoy of vehicles, and then they waited for Air Force One to land.
When it did, there were the usual greetings on the tarmac; the President and his wife looked perfect - no air hostess held hostage look from the lady in question - and once it was time to leave, Trent was motioned over to join them in their vehicle. The President wanted to go over his speech for the following day; Trent pulled out his tablet, and began to make the alterations that he desired as they headed into the city, with police outriders to the fore. Mrs Kennedy also wanted to ask about her visit that afternoon to a state comprehensive school, and then asked Trent if he could polish up the words that she had written for that event. He agreed at once, serving the whole first family being part of his remit. Her words would in any case make a nice change form all the usual political fare…
As Trent headed back to the ambassador's residence, busily making the changes that were required, Rory was waiting at the door of the arrivals area for the slightly late flight from Dublin, with his son in his carrier. The slight delay had proved convenient for Rory, as it had given him time to take Cormac to the parent and child room and attend to his needs, with the result that his son was now far more content. It was just his father that was now filled with an impending sense of doom. His nana was at the best of times, a sassy and unpredictable woman, and he had managed to arrange for her to meet two of the most powerful and important people on the planet. That decision he attributed to a moment of temporary insanity…
He looked up on hearing the sound of Irish accents, and sure enough, the first passengers from the Dublin flight were beginning to come through the door; thankfully none of them were talking about the mad old woman on the plane, much to his relief. Then he heard an even more familiar voice, and his nana was walking out, with a thankfully unharassed looking Sister Mary-Agnes at her side. His nana stopped talking the moment that she saw him, and came over at speed, to pull Cormac from his carrier and into a hug; the boy seemed to recall her, as he did not panic at being yanked away from his father. In fact, rather than tears there were giggles…
"You have been relegated to secondary status I am afraid," remarked Sister Mary-Agnes as Rory stood shaking his head. "It happens whenever there is a baby in the family, even as they get older…"
"I guess that much is true; Carole does go to him first when she and Burt come to visit… How are you anyway Sister? Did she behave on the flight?" asked Rory.
"I heard that! Of course I did!" said an indignant Agnes. "Of course, it isn't a long trip, and the cheap seats were therefore adequate, particularly once they brought me a cup of tea…" Rory smiled at that, glad that he had contacted the airline and prepaid for the cup of tea. "I did not mention where we were going either, just as you asked. I can tell people more easily afterwards anyway, once we have the photos. Who would have thought it; my little Rory and his Trent, getting me in to meet the Queen and the President of the United States. Your mother will be absolutely livid…"
"Probably," admitted Rory, trying not to show that the fact made him happy. "So, shall we get you to your hotel? I am afraid that it is a four star establishment Sister…"
"Mother Superior knows that it probably would be, but given the circumstances she has accepted it. She is a distant relative of the Kennedy family after all, so she sees this trip as a kind of family mission."
"A lot of people in Ireland are distant relatives of the Kennedys," Agnes said in a slightly sarcastic tone. Rory himself said nothing, but wondered if there was anyone that Trent could speak to, and possibly have the Mother Superior added to the list of guests at the reception that would be held in Dublin in a few days, once the President went on there…
They took the express train to Paddington station, and then the tube on to Great Portland Street, to the hotel that Rory had himself stayed in on his first trip to London, which seemed so long ago now, before even Niff were married. He had paid for an early check-in, so the rooms were ready and made up for him to escort the ladies up to. His nana was most impressed with the room, and after Rory had made tea - he had been handed her teapot from the case, along with a box of Barry's Tea Bags - she sat down in one of the armchairs.
"So when will you need to be back at the ambassador's place for your husband?" she asked.
"Oh, there is no real hurry; he will be running about like mad until at least the initial welcoming ceremony and the review of troops. He will be having dinner with us all later. I have booked a table at a good restaurant that serves 'proper' food…." replied Rory.
"Good. I like a place that serves a good portion of normal food," Agnes replied, as the good Sister just shook her head.
"I was thinking that perhaps we could head down towards Victoria and pay a visit to Westminster Cathedral, then head back up towards Oxford Street; the sales will still be on…" said Rory.
"Now that does sound like a plan," replied his nana.
"Then tomorrow I thought we could go and see a few of the sights, whatever you choose, before I have to go and prepare for the banquet at Buckingham Palace with Trent. You will still be alright to have Cormac?"
"Of course! He will be company for me, as Sister has arranged to see her nephew for a few hours tomorrow night…" Rory nodded, and smiled, recalling that it was the trip that Sister Mary-Agnes had made to London to attend her nephew's wedding that had been the factor that had brought her into his life in the first place…
As Rory prepared for his trip with the ladies, across town Jeff had found himself with an unexpected visitor. He had just been putting the finishing touches to his latest batch of fashion illustrations for Vogue when he had felt the by now all too familiar draught. He had looked up, expecting Wes, but had been surprised to see Finn instead.
"I hope that I haven't disturbed you at your work, but I just wanted to come and say hello, given that I am going to be around here for a while. I don't think anyone told you, but I have been sent to the offices in England in the angelic realm, on a mission for Elizabeth, and so I will be here for a few months…"
"A mission? That does sound intriguing. I would be guessing that it is all hush, hush, top secret and you can't actually say anything more about it?" asked Jeff.
"Yeah… Thing is, I am worried that I am going to screw it all up already, particularly now that there is an added complication," said Finn, sitting down. "I have been given a liaison person in the offices, and it turns out that they are a woman called Emily, and well… I've only been there a day, and she is giving me goosebumps. She is so beautiful, and kind, and her laugh… I think that I have fallen for her, and I can't, because it would be so unprofessional, and what if she doesn't like me back, and even if she does, she is here, and I am there, and well… I'm sorry, I'm rambling…"
Jeff smiled, and before he even spoke a word, he knew one thing; whoever this Emily was, Finn Hudson had fallen for her, and that was that. He just hoped that the situation he was in would not create any issues… "I am sure that as long as you are still doing what you were asked to do by Kurt's mom, then no-one can really complain if you like the person that you are working with. I'm sure it is much more common than you think, given how it seems to be here on earth. Look at how many people you know that built their relationships at school, which is just like a workplace really; and of course, Beats met Elliott at the Spotlight, and look at the two of them now. As for the fact that she is here, and you are usually in Ohio, well see it as a holiday romance. You should invite her out for a coffee, or even dinner, if that is possible in the angelic realms…"
"Well there are restaurants and stuff, so I guess I could ask; I mean, if she says no, then I can just shrug my shoulders and move on, resign myself to nothing happening between us," said Finn sadly.
"Well, you will never know what she will say until you ask. Right, tell me all you know about Emily; describe her for a start…" As Finn told Jeff more about his fellow angel, Jeff headed for the cookie tin, and then poured them both a coffee, which Finn took with a grateful smile.
"It's the tingly feeling that really gets me," he said. "It is just the kind of sensation that people describe having when they meet their soulmate. I used to think that mine was Rachel, but maybe she wasn't. However, what if Emily is my soulmate? I don't want to leave the Ohio office in the angelic realm forever, and I don't know if they would even let me move anyway! Why does everything have to be quite so complicated?"
"Because it seems that whether we are in heaven or on earth, existence is meant to be a challenge," remarked Jeff sagely. "Maybe you need to go and see Elizabeth; tell her what is going on, and how you feel about Emily. There may be rules that would make a relationship like this a problem, but there might also be no restrictions at all, which would allow you the freedom to test the waters, as it were."
"I guess that I should speak to her, but I just have the feeling that she is going to be so disappointed with me; that by falling in love the way I have at the drop of a hat I have let her and myself down…"
Finn took his leave of Jeff once he had finished his coffee, and headed back to his little office. He was surprised as he walked in to find Emily sitting there, deep in thought. She jumped when he said her name, as she had not noticed him walking in, and he immediately apologised.
"It's okay, I should have been paying more attention," she replied. "Once I get my head buried in a book, or start to think through something, I lose all track of my surroundings. It is the reason that I was given the job at the archive and investigation office; I was always like that, back on earth…"
"Really… I was the exact opposite; I would have my nose in a book and something would distract me and the work I was doing was swiftly forgotten. I have grown up a lot since then; dying young does that to you. We get here, and we mature. If you had told me that I would go on to be one of the most used collectors in the United States section, I would have laughed at you though."
"I had heard a rumour about that; you will have to tell me more one of these days."
"I would be happy too - over a cup of tea, or maybe even dinner, if you would let me take you?" replied Finn, grasping the nettle.
"Well, I would like that… To be honest, when I first met you, I felt strange, but in a good way. I mean, if I believed in the whole notion of fate and soulmates, and of course, love at first sight…"
"I do, which is why the fact that I felt the same way the moment I met you is all the more confusing…" began Finn, and then he stopped, realising that Emily was staring at him, but with a smile.
"I think that having a talk about things over dinner would be a very good idea," she said quietly. "If you are free tonight then maybe we could go and have something to eat together…"
"I am free, and would love to have dinner with you tonight. Until then, however, we need to get back to our work and the task in hand. We have so many records to check, and not all the time in the world to find what we need," replied Finn, surprising himself with his own maturity. There was a time he would have suggested they just go right now after all… He knew he would still need to have a chat with Elizabeth, but for now he was content to know that the feelings he had might well be mutual, and that by the sound of it, Emily had fallen just a little in love with him…
In her office, watching over him, Elizabeth smiled at what she could see developing in the England section. Finn had always been her first choice for the job; when it emerged that his angelic soulmate was most likely in England as she checked his records, she was more convinced. The fact that the person her opposite number in London had chosen to assist Finn was his soulmate, she could have cheered with delight. That he should find his true love whilst working for her was an unexpected bonus. With her at his side, Finn would have a good reason to reduce the time that he spent on collections, and in Emily she would have an excellent potential researcher on her team. However, there was every chance that she might refuse to come to the Unites States on a permanent basis, and she doubted if Finn would ever agree to live in England full-time - not that she would ever permit that in any case…
For Trent, the first day of the State Visit had been a hectic one; after he had finished his work on the speeches, and had sent copy back to the Vice President at home in Washington DC, it had been time to join the entourage on their way to Buckingham Palace, whilst the President and his wife headed to 10 Downing Street for the first of several meetings. He had been let into the palace along with all of the others via the side door, then lead by a footman to a place where could be accessible if the need arose, had a clear view of proceedings, but was also away from the members of 'The Firm' that had been assembled to join the Queen. He had been about to pass through the last of the security checks when on showing his official ID, the gentleman stopped him, and asked him to step aside, and follow his colleague to another room, where he was to wait…
He sat nervously for a while, wondering what on earth he had done, and then the door opened; on seeing who it was that stepped through, he immediately bowed his head. "I am sorry to drag you away like this, but I just could not resist the chance to meet the fourth of the musketeers in private," said the Duchess of Cambridge. "Jeff has told me so much about you, all of it good. I wanted to put a face to the name now; tomorrow everything will be so formal, and at the ambassador's reception, well, I have been told that you will be on nana watch…"
"Yes, your highness, that is true," said Trent with a chuckle. "I will certainly have to keep an eye on my grandmother-in-law. She can be quite frank and outspoken at times, which is why we have invited a nun to accompany her…"
"Yes, I saw her name on the list; I asked Jeff, and he told me all about her and the role she played in your happiness. She also sounds like quite the lady. I wouldn't worry about the reception; her Majesty has met so many people, and she will take it all in her stride, as she always does."
"I do hope so; I would hate to be the one that caused a diplomatic incident by requesting her invitation," replied Trent, feeling his cheeks glowing red.
The Duchess saw that, and laughed. "I can see why they nicknamed you the Robin, with those rosy cheeks. Anyway, I must be getting back before I am missed. It was lovely to meet you."
"The honour was all mine, your highness," responded Trent. With a smile and a nod, she left, and then the footman returned to show Trent to his proper place with the others; they all regarded him with curiosity, but he kept his encounter to himself, sure it was all Jeff's doing… Not long after that, the President arrived, and he was able to witness for himself the gun salutes, and the military inspection, as dusk began to fall on London…
With everything that was going on, he was a little late at joining the others for dinner; he had been forced to amend the speech for tomorrow night again, after the Queen had given a particular gift to the President, as was the custom. The bond between the two of them had been immediate for all to see, with the elder stateswoman admiring the charismatic young man; he in turn had been more than a little in awe of a woman that had met his great-uncle and aunt when he had been in the job he was in now, and had met his great-grandfather too when he had been the US Ambassador. Back then, she had been a teenage Princess in a country at war….
Trent had watched it all from a distance, but when he had heard one of the palace staff turn to a colleague and remark, "It is like the Obamas all over again," he knew that all would be well on this trip. That made it all the easier for him to leave it all behind for a while and enjoy a dinner with his family and a woman that had become a close friend to him and Rory, the age gap being meaningless.
"So tell me, is the Palace as grand as it looks in all the photos," said Agnes, as she savoured her plate of goulash.
"It is in most places, but if you look carefully, you can see where they have to make economies. Beyond the doors of the state rooms as they call them, things are very plain and institutional almost. Even in the state rooms, the big marble fireplaces that once would have surrounded roaring coal fires at this time of year now are the setting for tiny electric ones, which can't heat the place properly in cold weather. It is no wonder that Her Majesty prefers to stay at Windsor Castle, where things are, so I am told, more homely. It is also where her husband, the Duke, spends all of his time now. That is where the Kennedys are going tonight, for a private dinner. They will get to meet him, at his request. He is apparently very frail, but was very keen to greet the President personally. In return, the President has personal messages for them both from the Obamas."
Sister Mary-Agnes nodded, and said quietly, "The man is 101 years old now; it is only to be expected that he would be frail…" She stopped, closed her eyes, and clasped her hands together; the rest of the table fell silent, as they knew she was saying a prayer for the Duke…
When Trent, Rory and Cormac got back to Winfield House, it was quite late, but the former still found himself being summoned to meet with the President, himself just back from Windsor. He mouthed the word 'Sorry' to Rory, who just smiled, and headed up on his own to put Cormac to bed for the night. He was surprised that when he was shown into the presence of the Commander in Chief, the man was alone, and looking thoughtful.
"Today was quite a day, Nixon. The Queen…she is something else, just like Michelle said. She knows so much, has seen so much; I mean, she has met virtually everyone of any importance since the Second World War. She is wise as a result, but she has troubles of her own…" The President beckoned Trent closer, and he came to sit by the President. "What I am about to tell you is between the two of us; nothing can be said to Michelle, or our spouses for that matter. The Duke is much, much frailer than the people are being told. Her Majesty was quite candid with me, and told me that it is probably only a matter of weeks until… I will be the last Head of State that he meets. To that end, I need you to prepare a statement for me to read out on behalf of the nation when that time comes, and the United Kingdom is plunged into a brief period of mourning…"
"Yes sir, and I understand the need for complete secrecy," said Trent, just a little stunned at it all. "Would you also like me to work on a statement for whoever it is that will attend the funeral on our nation's behalf?"
"I guess that we should. That will be Michelle, naturally, as she and Her Majesty have a longer relationship. All we, and indeed the world, can hope is that the Queen is not affected too greatly by his loss. It would be a tragedy for the world if she was to withdraw from public life like her great-great-grandmother." Trent had to agree silently that the President had a point; such a departure would leave the nation rudderless…
