So who waits like 3 seasons to update a whole story? Raises hand sadly. I finally went through, fixed all the errors, updated the chapters, and finished this story. Since I did start writing it in season 1 I think? It hadn't come out yet that Ted Pryce was really the bad guy, and Robert isn't coming back, so most everything is complete fan fiction. This first chapter is a spin off of one of the episodes, so don't worry if it seems like it's a copy from season 1. The last little bit of this chapter sets up everything, which would allow me to tell this story how i wanted to. Also, the last part of chapter one is how i wished the scene would have ended. Yet again, this is before everything changed and we realized Queen Helena does actually love her kids. Just give it a chance! and happy dance, it's finally done!

As queen Helena pushed the off button on her TV remote unable to listen any further to the continuous discussion of her infidelity and the news of her children's illegitimacy, she heard a slow but steady clap. Turning, she saw her only daughter, Eleanor, leaning against the door, her usually smudged eyeliner further smeared by the tears she had ultimately shed and a look of shear disdain on her face.

"Bravo Queen," she seethed.

"Darling I can explain," said Queen Helena as she watched Eleanor slowly walk into the room.

Eleanor moved towards the couch, stopping to pick up a pillow, as her mother sat down on the nearest loveseat. "Explain what exactly? Oh, Oh, how you and Cyrus fixed the whole thing?! Is that what you mean, mother?!

The Queen, seemingly unfazed by her daughter's accusations simply folded her hands, "If only that were true."

"Oh I think we both know that you did. But what I can't figure out, is what kind of person would allow herself to face this kind of global ridicule if it weren't true," and with that Eleanor slowly ripped open the feather pillow she had been holding.

"Eleanor," shouted that queen, that pillow is older than America!" Even as she scolded her daughter, she sat unmoving, as she watching Eleanor pick up the next closest pillow.

The princess, completely deaf to her mother's tone, kept on, "One that couldn't give it all up, the money, the power, the pillows," and with that she ripped open the second pillow, feathers landing in her dark, unruly curls.

"You know I care about this family's image, Eleanor."

"No Queen, not the family's imagine, the monarchies image. No monarchy, no queen, no pillows." with that Eleanor, reached and grabbed another pillow. "Don't," said Helena as she jumped to her feet. Instead of ripping the pillow, Eleanor threw it to her mother, who caught it and hugged it tight.

Eleanor eyed her mother as she ambled slowly towards the fireplace only stopping to pick up the framed photo sitting on the mantle. As she stood studying the young king and queen with their three beautiful children, she couldn't help but think how happy they looked. Without looking up from the photo she continued, "I've been up all night thinking about it. I walked the streets that my father walked and somewhere out there, in the middle of the night it all made perfect sense. The paternity, the kings attack, Robert's death." Only then did Eleanor look up to meet her mother's eyes, " Did you kill Robert mom?"

Queen Helena hugged the pillow even tighter as she said with contempt in her voice, "walk away." With that she turned her back on her daughter, only to be met with further accusation, " I think you did. I think you and Cyrus have been planning this for a long time, a military accident wasn't it? That's clever."

Turning back to face her daughter, Helena coolly replied, " I said get out before I get angry.'

Eleanor taking steps towards her mother replied with a smirk, " Not until you admit it. Admit you killed your own son, and then you tried to kill your husband. "

" I said walk away, Eleanor."

Not relenting at all, Eleanor pushed further, "Admit it mum, maybe it will help you if you just say it out loud."

Queen Helena closed the distance between them, "No one killed Robert, because Robert killed himself. He committed suicide. Now, you tell me does that make you feel better hearing me say it out loud? "The Queen said through gritted teeth.

The smirk on Eleanor's face gave way to both shock and surprise as her mother admitted the truth; her beloved brother's death was a suicide. Even as Helena said it, Eleanor knew what her mother spoke was true. This wasn't a lie or manipulation; this was her mother showing a rare crack in the facade, emotion evident as she spoke.

Leaning further in, until she was almost touching nose to nose the queen whispered, "While I may be a lot of things, can manipulate most any situation, even wear the crown of Queen Bitch with the best of them, there is no way in hell I would have my own child murdered. You may hate me Eleanor, and God knows I've given you every right to, but even you know that. Nor would I have attempted to have your father murdered. I may not tell you often, in fact I can't even remember the last time I did say it actually, but I do love you Len, and if I need to rip every goddamn pillow in the palace to prove it I will."

With that, the queen tore the pillow she'd been holding from end to end leaving feathers floating everywhere as she turned and strode out, leaving behind her bewildered daughter to contemplate what she'd just been told: Her brother committed suicide, her mother had just used a term of endearment that she hadn't uttered since Eleanor was small, and for once, she actually believed the Queen.