I stared at the phone number on the sticky note in my hand. I was in my office at the Palace. It was a fairly slow day and I had been putting off this particular phone call for the better part of the week. Unable to take it anymore, I needed to make this phone call today. I just sat back, my stare alternating between the phone and the tiny piece of paper with the number for Dr. Walker. I took a deep breath and picked up the handset, dialing the number quickly before I lost my nerve. A receptionist picked up on the second ring.

"Hello, Dr. Walker's office. Can I help you make an appointment?"

"Yes, please. What is her first available?"

"Let me see…first available," I heard her tapping on a keyboard. "It looks like Friday at 2pm. Does that work?" I scanned my calendar. Edward would be out of town again, so that was perfect.

"Yes, that is perfect. Can I get your name?" Name. A name? Uh oh. This would be on the news in the matter of minutes if I gave my real name.

"Jessica. Jessica Stanley".

Just as I was finishing up with the details, Rosalie walked into my office.

"Okay, yes, see you then. Thank you," I said quickly hanging up the phone.

"Who was that?" Rose asked, raising an eyebrow.

"Doctors appointment. What's up?" I asked. I am a terrible liar. I had to give her as much of the truth as I could.

"Oh. Okay. Just finalizing the wedding details. Four weeks from today!" she exclaimed. I smiled, so glad to finally see her so happy. "Both Emmett and I are finally on board with televising the wedding, it is just part of our lives we have to accept. After we did that, everything else became so much less stressful". she laughed. "Which, brings me to why I am here. We need a last girls weekend. Since our last one got ruined and the boys ended up crashing it".

"Rose, it wasn't ruined". I reassured. She shook her head.

"Oh no. I still want to go somewhere, just the girls for two or three days. Nowhere far. Paris or Ireland maybe?"

"Oh yes. Lets go somewhere romantic without any boys," I laughed. She smiled kindly.

"Wherever. I don't care. Even if we just go up to the country for a few days. Any excuse to drink a lot and celebrate my last days as a single girl".

"I'll think about it. I don't know when we'd go, I am jam packed full of meetings and press showings of the Palace with your wedding coming up", I admitted, flipping through my calendar. Every day had something going on.

"Well, we will figure something out. Anyway. The reason for my invasion. There is a publishing company that wanted me to reach out to you with an amazing offer," she said excitedly, practically bouncing up and down in her seat.

"Okay, you have been hanging out with Alice too long," I observed with a wave of my hand. She ignored me.

"There's a publishing company that wants you to write a book about Princess Elizabeth! And the offer is amazing!" She said excitedly. My jaw dropped. On one hand, I was over the moon. But on the other hand, I would have to get the green light from Edward first before I could even consider it.

"Yeah. Which brings me to the bad news. I got a call from a representative from MI-6. They're opening another inquest into her death. So do you want to draw straws for who has to tell the boys?"

"Oh no. They don't know?!" I asked, the thought of the book completely out of my mind.

"No. I didn't have the heart to tell Emmett".

"What about Andrew and Charlotte?"

"Nope. Just me. I asked them to give me a week. so that I could tell the family. So family meeting on Friday afternoon".

"Oh, I have that doctors appointment at 2, so it'll have to be after 3:30 or 4. And I can't blindside Edward with that in front of the family. I'll tell him before then".

"So should we tell the boys together and then tell Andrew and Charlotte later?" she suggested. I thought for a moment.

"That might work better. When should we talk to them?" I asked as Rose flipped through her calendar.

"What about tomorrow night? Can you make a little time?"

"I can if we do it later, about 8?" I suggested. She nodded and scribbled something in.

"Okay, where should I have them meet us?" she asked, texting furiously on her phone.

"Lets meet at Edward's. I think he's going to have the hardest time, so let's give him home court advantage".

"Agreed. I'm going over there for dinner tonight, I'll let him know to meet us there". Rose sat back in her chair.

"This is going to go over like a lead balloon".

"What made them decide to re-open it?"

"Some kind of new evidence. They weren't really able to go into details until it's completed. I'm trying not to think about it. The wedding is keeping me occupied".

"Yeah, I'm sorry about the timing of all this".

"It's okay. I just want this to be over so they can all move on".

"Yeah, me too," I said sadly.

That night at dinner, conversation between Edward and I were lacking. As he did the dishes, I leaned against the counter with my second glass of wine, still trying to find a good way to tell him that we had some things to talk about without me spilling the beans completely. Why had I had so much wine?

"Edward, what does your schedule look like tomorrow night? After 8?" I asked, swirling the red wine in the glass, doing anything but making eye contact. I could see his brow was furrowed out of the corner of my eye.

"I'm free after six. Why?"

"Rose and Emmett wanted to come over". I said. Stick to simple. That would be good. Then I wouldn't have to lie. He set the dish down in the soapy water, grasped my hand and pulled me close.

"Are you all right?" he breathed. He took the glass of wine from my hand and set it on the counter behind me. His arm snaked across my waist, pulling me tightly in. I rested my head on his shoulder. I wasn't able to answer, just clung to him closely. I wasn't ready to tell him yet about everything going on. I would have to wait at least until the dust had settled about the inquest. I didn't want to put anything more on his plate unless it was absolutely necessary. He tried to pull back a little, to hold me at arms length to take in my facial expression, but I only held him tighter. We stood like that, dancing slowly in his kitchen for over an hour. No words were spoken, but it had been a long time since I'd felt closer to him. I slept soundly that night, with only the sweetest of dreams.

I walked into the office early the next morning with a coffee in hand, ready to tackle the very large pile of work that had been accumulating on my desk. Just as I was about to start in on phone calls, my very handsome boyfriend swept in and made me forget all about it.

"Good morning, you look beautiful," he said, leaning over my desk to kiss me.

"Good morning" I smiled back, pulling him back in for a second kiss.

"I'm just on my way to the other end of town but wanted to stop by and make sure you're okay?"

"Never better," I answered honestly. After last night with Edward, a peaceful night of a solid 8 hours of sleep, and a meeting with a psychologist on the books, I was feeling positive about life again. At least for the time being.

"I will see you tonight then?" When he spoke I could tell he was a little nervous for tonight.

"Yes, I will see you tonight," I agreed, stepping around my desk to give him a proper send off.

Later that night, as Rose and I walked up the steps of Kensington Palace to Edward's home, we were both nervous. Both Emmett and Edward's cars were parked out front, so they were both here. Rose stopped me down the hall from Edward's door.

"Wait, we need a game plan. How do you want to do this?" she asked. I thought for a moment, readjusting the strap of my purse.

"I think we should just sit them down and tell them. Let's rip off the band-aid right away". She nodded in agreement. We knocked at Edward's door, both a little bit hoping that maybe they'd somehow not hear the knock. Emmett opened it with his mouth full of food. He said something in greeting, but I couldn't even attempt to make out what was said. Rose only laughed.

"What?"

"I said welcome", he seemed to be aggravated that neither of us understood him. He stepped aside, allowing us to pass him. I set my things down on an armchair by the door, switching my cell phone to silent.

"Edward's just on the phone with my dad. Something's come up I think," Emmett informed us, looking a little worried. Rose and I exchanged a look.

"What do you mean?" Rose asked, but Emmett just shrugged.

"I'm not sure. I think he's got more appearances he didn't know about or something. He seemed kind of mad".

"Well, let's get a drink and wait for him in the living room," I changed the subject pouring both Rose and I very large glasses of wine.

When Edward did emerge from his study, he did indeed look angry. He kissed me on the cheek, but seemed a little cold.

"So what's this all about?" he asked, cracking open a beer. I tried to shoot Rose a look that conveyed I wanted out but she didn't quite understand and jumped in.

"I got a rather interesting phone call from MI-6. I brought it to Bella and we decided to let you guys in on it before I told your dad and grandmother". I took a seat on the arm of the wingback chair Edward was occupying, draping my arm across the back of it. Edward shot me a glare, but I didn't move. I knew he was just on edge already, steeling himself for something bad.

"MI-6?" Emmett laughed. "Edward, what did you do?" he laughed. Edward was silent. I could tell he smelled blood in the water. Rose eyed me to take over. I took a deep breath, turning my body slightly to face Edward head on. He barely met my eye.

"Apparently, some new evidence has come to light, so they are re-opening your mother's accident. They want to be sure they didn't miss anything," I said, looking between Edward, Emmett and Rose. Emmett seemed frozen, a little caught off guard. Edward looked seething mad. He shot out of the seat, nearly knocking me over.

"Oh, so now, almost six years after the fact they want to 'double check'. Is that it?"

"No, new information came to their attention. They want to be thorough". I repeated.

"Edward, sit down," Emmett commanded rather forcefully. "You aren't the only one here that's hurting". He stared down his brother for a moment before returning to the arm chair.

"I don't have any other information other than the fact that they've discovered something, or someone has come forward with something. He said it should take about 3-6 months and they would send over the results as soon as it was completed." Rose said, knowing Edward deals best when he has all the information. Edward only nodded.

"Okay then. And you'll let my dad and grandmother know then?"

"Sure," Rose confirmed. We sat in silence for a few minutes before Emmett stood, murmuring about he and Rose should get home. I only nodded, kissing each of them on the cheek.

"Are you going to be okay? Or do you want to come home with us?" Rose asked. I smiled, thanked her for the gesture, but I should really speak to Edward alone. She nodded in understanding, glancing one more time behind her before Emmett shuffled her out the door.

I sat on the edge of the coffee table, my hands on Edward's knees, not knowing what to say. His icy stare thawed after a moment and leaned forward, his hands on my hips. He pressed his forehead against mine. I don't know how long we sat like that, but it was a long while.

"Are you okay?" I breathed. He shifted, his lips trailing kisses from my ear, down my neck to my collar bone. I held onto his biceps, trying desperately to control my breathing.

"Stay with me tonight?" he asked, his fingertips tracing the waistband of my pants. The way he said it, I was unsure if it was a request or a demand, but I didn't care. I only nodded. He stood, holding his hand out to me. I stood, wrapping my arms around his neck, leaning in to deepen his kiss. He lead me to the bedroom, shedding my clothes as we walked.