Hi, so here is another story from me, my first for this fandom that i discovered I loved after watching the movie.

I am going to keep this short and sweet-I am including the songs here, I am not great with spelling and grammar and I am planning to make this about twenty chapters long.

There is going to be some swearing-it wouldn't be a story without that from me so if that offends you stop now.

I tend to do a mass update of my stories all at once so please keep that in mind.

Disclaimer-Nothing is mine.

Please Read and Review.

The Slipper And The Lily

Chapter 4-When I Was Your Age

In which his sister is growing up. And John does not know what to do with this information.

He had known that it was happening of course. The law of nature dictated as much but he had not known that it would happen so fast. How could he? He was sure that when he had left just before Christmas it had been so that his sister was knee high surely? And now she was talking about boys and love and flirting with the other maids, turning into some gossipy young woman and less like his little sister.

The Prince was no help.

When he had snapped one day just after the Valentine's Day ball and asked John just what on Earth was wrong with him he had ended up confessing everything. Not just Caroline but his sister.

"I don't understand" the Prince said as they took in the air around the castle. "Lilibet is a baby"

"Thank you Sire" John grumbled. "But I fear she has grown up some since I last saw her and now she is talking about boys"

The Prince looked rather disturbed by that and John could not blame him. Maybe it the change in weather?

He stopped suddenly and then.

"What?"

"Do you think someone's taken advantage?"

The Prince looked rather alarmed by that and then. "Do you trust Lady Caroline?"

"Yes"

"And you trusted her with your sister right?"

"Yes"

"And you think she sees everything"

John thought on this for a second and then.

"I know she does"

"Then I don't think you have anything to worry about in that regard. I think it's just a rather frightening thought to think of your sister with a young gentleman caller"

"You know what she was doing the other day? Drawing love hearts"

The Prince winced and John sighed. "I thought I'd have more time for this" he said kicking a stray rock. "I really did think that I would have more time for this, I thought I would get a couple more years before I'd have to worry…to be honest I was rather hoping for a religious vision that would lead to a convent"

"No you weren't"

John sighed and admitted defeat.

"Fine I wasn't Sire but…eugh"

The Prince patted him on the shoulder. "I know" he said in a comforting kind of tone that he used on the younger palace staff when they were terrified of him. "But all little girls have to grow up"

John wondered briefly how much trouble he would get in if he pushed his boss into the duckpond and conceded probably more than it was worth.

"Have you heard the latest?"

"What Sire?"

"He wants me…and by me I do mean us…to undertake another trip"

John carefully kept his opinion to himself. It was not his place to pass an opinion on this regardless of how his heart sank at the news. Maybe it showed on his face because the Prince laughed.

"Don't worry John I told them no. It's not the right weather to head up north."

"Not sure how long Sire that will keep them at bay"

"No I suppose not. But then again I just…I wish that I could fall in love with someone"

"Your parents are not what one would call love's young dream Sire respectfully and they seem to make it work…maybe it would not be a bad thing to settle for comfortable companionship in a marriage. Mutual respect and all that"

That was after all how the King and Queen worked. Everyone knew they had been married young. Had two babies lost in the cradle, the Prince, a truly dreadful miscarriage and then had stopped trying all together. They had been fond of each other…God knows the King would never dream of taking a mistress but they both were good friends rather than the love's young dream that the Prince wanted and craved so desperately for himself.

Maybe that was enough. John had always assumed his parents loved each other but now he was forced to think of it he had never stopped to consider how they had met or gotten married. He had never asked them…he had stopped being a child when they had died and he had only been ten then.

"Do you believe that?" the Prince asked interrupting his inner thoughts.

"No" John said thinking of Caroline. "No I want love just as much as the next man but I live a realistic life Sire. I cannot marry the woman of my choosing because she is a Lady and I am a servant"

The Prince watched him for a second longer and John nodded as he turned his expression to stare over the fields. The snow had melted now and the grass was slowly turning green again with the promise of spring and new life. Soon the lambing would begin and then the harvest. Not that anyone in the castle really understood what that was like, if you lived outside of the castle walls then you were bound by a certain amount of time with the seasons. It was hard for the Prince to see land as anything other than good hunting. The King even less so.

That was just the reality of Royal life.

He sighed and tapped his foot against the edge of the stone bench.

"I just wish sometimes that she didn't grow up so fast. I was…I don't know how to do this bit on my own Sire"

The Prince looked at him for a second and then he slung an arm around his shoulder.

"You are not on your own John" he said with a smile. "You have me. I love that girl like a sister and woe betide any bastard who hurts you, you have my word"

John grinned.

"Promise Sire"

"Promise…a nice long voyage overseas will be in store for the braggart"

John laughed.

It was nice to have an employer who cared.

Carefully he did not think of Caroline.

That was a conversation he did not wish to enter into easily. Life to coin a common phrase, sometimes just was hell.

And love…love was worse.

She was seeing to mending an old pair of gloves sat in the light where she could see better when she felt a shadow come over her.

She looked up to see one of the stable boys smiling at her. He too was a very good looking man with curly dark hair.

"Hello Lili"

"Hello Glenn."

"Thought you might want to know that I had a look at Dourcette and I think I've gotten the leg right"

"Oh glory! Thanks Glenn I know that she's been a hassle for you"

"Ah I don't mind that much, she's a gentle enough creature, she just doesn't like the cold…that being said who does right about now"

She smiled and put down the gloves. Glenn was the stable boy and he was more effective with horses than half of the guards and much so with people.

"She's going to ride okay?"

"I'd not have her in the jousting field but she'll do good…give her a couple more weeks and take her on a good run and then we can see but other than that I think she's going to do well" he nodded his head and she smiled back. His eyes were a lovely shade of brown and they were sparkling at her in a way that made her feel oddly faint…maybe it was the change in the weather…yest that had to be it.

"I should thank you Glenn"

"Do you want to see her?"

There was a pause where she stood there and then Flynn came out of the corridor. He took stock of the two of them and then bowed at her. Suddenly she felt terribly awkward.

"I will see her when we next go hunting" she said and Glenn with a scowl now marring his pretty face bowed and disappeared the way he had came. Flynn watched him go with a rather mean smirk on his face that she really did not like.

"What?"

"Didn't think they let his sort come up this far"

"What sort?"

"You know…servants"

"Like me you mean"

"Your different" he said scoffing. "Don't compare yourself to him"

"I don't like you when you talk like this" she said finally.

Flynn looked at her and then.

"Sorry…I just…I just wish everyone would know their place. It's becoming a theme now in the council chambers, everyone thinks that if he won't marry a Princess we should look at the nobility"

"You mean the Prince"

Flynn snorted.

"Right now I've got a few other names for him" he said finally. "He's keeping me away from what is really important"

"And what's that?"

"You"

Two days ago that comment might have made her blush. The issue with it now was that it rankled her ands he did not know why. She did not know exactly what had happened between now and then but something quite fundamental had happened she knew.

"Oh…well I have to wait on the Dowager Queen"

"Can I walk you there, you might need protection"

She really didn't think she did but that was besides the point. So she nodded her head and he walked her to the chambers.

The problem with John was that he was not a woman, that was the main issue she thought and so she put on her big girl shoes and went to find Caroline. If the Prince was the closest thing to a bigger brother then Caroline was the closes thing she had to a sister. However Caroline was deep in conversation with her brother and so she stood there in the corner holding her goblet and watching them and wondering how complicated love was.

"How now little Lilibet what's wrong?"

She turned and saw the Prince standing next to her and she curtsied at once.

"Nothing sire"

"Nothing? You do not have a good look on your face, is all well?"

"I just…" she sighed. "Do you really want to be married for love?"

His brow furrowed.

"I do indeed. Why?"

"Because I am beginning to think that it might be a crock of horse dung"

The Prince who had just taken a big gulp of his wine spat it clear across the room. Lili stared at him in horror. She was quite sure that this was one of those moments that would likely get her slung out of the palace. John was by his master's side in a flash offering a handkerchief and shooting her a look that promised her death by a thousand lectures.

But the Prince was laughing. He took the napkin and waved to His Royal Father.

"Something got stuck down the wrong pipe, please do not worry yourselves, carry on"

Slowly the conversation began to resume.

"Oh God Sire I didn't mean to—"

"Oh no don't apologise" the Prince said beaming. "That's the most fun I've had in months…you should be in parliament Lilibet you really should, the Lord Chamberlain is wasted not having your views in council"

"Sire I really think that my sister does not need any encouragement" John said flashing her a long look.

"No but she has a wonderful way of putting things" the Prince slung one arm around her shoulder. "Lilibet you are a treasure amongst us…don't leave us too soon"

"And where am I going?"

"If I have my way nowhere" John said with another grin.

Wonderful

"Wonderful" she said and then seeing the Dowager Queen crook a finger at her she took one step forwards to see what was going and to no doubt be lectured for nearly killing the Crown Prince with his own goblet of wine and shovel full of truth.

"Now John" the Prince said seeing the look on his face no doubt. "All little girls have to grow up"

John stared at him and then.

"If you ever have a daughter I will remind you that you know Sire."

"Steady on John. One thing at a time"

John snorted and took his wine back off the table and watched his sister out of the corner of his eye.

He knew all little girls had to grow up.

Didn't mean he had to like it though.

And he did not.

Not at all.

And there you go, see you soon.

Next Chapter-As spring begins in season Lili goes to the graves of her parents and comes across another young woman leaving flowers. It would be nice to make friends...if her brother wasn't with the Prince jumping on graves of course.