The Next Day

The plane had taken off about half an hour before and Jasper and Eleanor sat together in one the reclining chairs watching as they flew above the north part of France. Jasper had tried as hard as he could to not show his fear of flying, but the turn they'd made over the Channel Sea had made him almost throw up. Leni, of course, absolutely loved flying and seeing her so happy had taken his nerves away.

"Do you think you would have been a pilot?" Jasper asked, as Eleanor rested her head on his shoulder, "If things had worked out differently."

"Maybe," Eleanor pondered, "But it's unlikely. I wouldn't have been allowed I don't think."

Jasper frowned, "What makes you say that?"

Eleanor sighed, "When I was at uni. Well, everyone suspected long before that… It's just at uni it became more noticeable. There were students who partied hard but none quite on the same level as me. I was ok at school, but I wasn't great like Robert or Lizzie. I just couldn't focus, couldn't just sit still."

"ADHD?" Jasper asked.

Eleanor nodded, "Yeah, apparently. It explains the whole drugs, booze and guys thing. ADHD makes you impulsive, take more risks, you get addicted far more easily. I don't know… I was always just the crazy one."

Jasper sighed, "How on earth are you going to cope with bed rest for the next two weeks?"

"I won't need bed rest for the next two weeks," Eleanor argued, "I'll be just fine. Which is good, because our calendar is fairly packed. Boat trips, visiting the castle, oh, and the capital, and…we may even do some hiking."

"You do remember what Dr Cohen said," Jasper began gently, "The methadone helped to tone things down but you're still going to have to detox and it's going to take some time. You might not feel up to doing much."

"Nonsense!" Eleanor answered, "You know me. I'll be just fine."

BREAK_BREAK_BREAK_BREAK

Two Days Later

Eleanor buried her head under the pillow just as the wave of nausea arrived again, she grabbed for the bucket, knowing that she didn't have much time.

Jasper was beginning to get worried about her. She hadn't kept much food or water down, and although the IV was keeping her hydrated, he worried about what would happen if she didn't eat soon. He was worried about her breathing too, which was often fast and rugged. The doctors had reassured him, but he hadn't slept much in the past few days.

He held her hair away from her face and rubbed her back. He just hoped this would be over soon. He could see how much this was taking out of her and he wanted nothing more than for it to just stop. And to think, Eleanor had wanted to go cold turkey! She'd had absolutely no idea what it was really like and neither had Jasper. Nothing could have prepared them for this.

Jasper grabbed the blanket on the end of their bed and placed it carefully around his fiancee's shoulders, "You'll be ok, you'll be just ok."

Len gave him a small smile, "I just want this to be over."

Jasper nodded sympathetically before helping her to stand. Her legs were shaky and she had to lean on him heavily.

"Come on," Jasper said, before deciding to just carry her, "There's something you need to see."

Eleanor gave him a confused and tired look as he carried her into the adjoining room.

The villa was small by royal standards- only five bedrooms- but Eleanor thought it was cozy, although she hadn't had much of a chance to really enjoy it.

A laptop stood on a small desk in the corner of the room and a comfy arm chair sat in front of it. She looked at the screen and gave a small squeal of delight.

Robert grinned back at her.

It's the day of the coronation, Leni remembered, she'd completely forgotten.

"You swore you'd be here for the coronation," Robert said, "Well now you can be. And you're getting a far better view than you would have got if you were actually here."

Len smiled, proud tears glistening in her eyes, "Good luck, bro."

Robert smiled, "Thanks, Leni. How are you doing?"

Len stared at the ground, "I'll be ok. You just enjoy your special day."

Robert smiled, "I will."

"Hi, Len!" Liam yelled, jumping in front of the camera, "Wow, is Jasper's cooking really that bad?"

Leni laughed, "You can't even begin to imagine how terrible it is!"

Jasper shook his head, offended, "You two are insufferable."

"Oh, well, only another twelve days," Liam replied.

"Thanks for reminding me," Jasper answered.

"But you are ok, Len?" Liam asked, worry clear on his face, "Because if you want me to fly out, I can."

"No, no, I'm great," Leni said reassuringly, "You and Willow enjoy Monaco, just make sure Lizzie and Toby don't get into trouble."

"Oh, they won't," Liam said, "No unless there's a massive bookstore or something like that. Lizzie might end up bankrupting the monarchy."

"Oh, well," Len answered, "I guess it's better than Mum and her fifty-thousand pound lingerie."

"I heard that!" Helena protested, giving her daughter a warm smile, "You better be looking after her well, bodyguard."

"I am, your highness," Jasper answered.

"Good, because Charlie Jones has been missing Eleanor," Helena continued.

Eleanor rolled her eyes, "He's worse than a pining lover! Just give him some apple crumble and he'll be fine until I get home."

"Apple crumble?" Jasper asked in confusion.

"Eleanor's recipe," Robert explained, "Charlie loves it."

Jasper rolled his eyes.

"Hey, Leni!" A familiar voice said.

Lizzie looked stunning. Once again she was wearing blue- only this time…

"Is that my dress?!" Eleanor asked, a look of betrayal on her face.

Lizzie looked at her feet awkwardly, "Sorry."

"Don't be!" Eleanor exclaimed, "It looks amazing on you! How's Toby?"

Lizzie blushed, earning a grin from Eleanor and Jasper and some kindhearted teasing from her brothers. It was the palace's worst kept secret.

"He's a- he's good," Lizzie said.

"How good?" Eleanor asked with a sly smile.

"Seriously!" Lizzie exclaimed, blushing bright red.

"You should know me by now!" Eleanor yelled, "Ok, whatever. Just have fun in Monaco."

"I will," Lizzie promised, "You get better soon, and have fun in Slovenia."

"I will," Eleanor promised, "Now when is this party starting?"

"Hold on," Robert answered, "Just a few more minutes and then we'll be starting. Long live the King, I guess."

"Long live the King," Eleanor echoed.

BREAK_BREAK_BREAK_BREAK

"Will you solemnly promise and swear to govern the Peoples of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Canada, Australia and New Zealand, and of your Possessions and other Territories to any of them belonging or pertaining, according to their respective laws and customs?

"I solemnly promise to do so."

"Will you to your power cause Law and Justice, in Mercy, to be executed in all your judgments?"

"I will."

"Will you to the utmost of your power maintain the Laws of God and the true profession of the Gospel? Will you to the utmost of your power maintain in the United Kingdom the Protestant Reformed Religion established by law? Will you maintain and preserve inviolable the settlement of the Church of England, and the doctrine, worship, discipline, and government thereof, as by law established in England? And will you preserve unto the Bishops and Clergy of England, and to the Churches there committed to their charge, all such rights and privileges, as by law do or shall appertain to them or any of them?"

"All this I promise to do. The things which I have here before promised, I will perform, and keep. So help me God."

There was a cheer from the crowd as the crown was placed on the newly coronated King Robert's head. He beamed with giddy excitement as his siblings, mother and cousins watched on both from Westiminster Abbey and from the villa at Lake Bled. He had never felt so happy.

Leni cheered but the noise from the microphone was drowned out by the crowd.

Then a chorus of God save the King sounded loud and rauchously. Leni and Jasper of course joined in, Leni wincing as Jasper sang terribly out of tune.

KIng Robert stood up and waved to the crowd before descending the steps and walking towards the doors of the abbey.

"So what do you think sis?" Robert asked.

Eleanor grinned, "I'm so proud of you. I'm so happy for you."

"As am I, your highness," Jasper added, "I mean your majesty."

Leni rolled her eyes, "Don't worry, he'll figure it out eventually."

BREAK_BREAK_BREAK_BREAK

It was four days after the coronation and finally Eleanor was beginning to feel a little more normal. Jasper had insisted on them taking a short walk down by the lake before breakfast and now Eleanor was starving hungry.

She hoped she might be strong enough to actually do some of the activities on her list. The boat trip was only short and she knew she didn't suffer from sea sickness. Hopefully she might be able to at least do that.

"So when are you going to admit this is better than Nevada?" Eleanor teased.

Jasper grinned, shaking his head, "It's only better because you're here."

Eleanor blushed, "Race you to the water!"

"Leni, seriously?!" Jasper yelled, before darting off after her. He never thought she could run so fast.

Eleanor was standing in water that was up to her knees when Jasper finally caught up with her.

"You took so long!" Eleanor complained, "Now I'll have to come up with a way to punish you."

Jasper shook his head, "It'll have to wait until after breakfast."

Eleanor nodded, "Yeah, breakfast first."

Jasper took her head, running with her up the beach to a small area shielded from view by a group of pine trees.

There was picnic table decorated with a red cloth and on it a picnic basket made of woven wooden strands.

Eleanor ran excitedly towards it before taking a seat in one of the reclining sofa/ sun lounger chairs underneath a parasol. It was only the early morning but she knew it wouldn't be long before she burnt badly.

"Bacon!" Eleanor yelled as the servants started to serve the food, before Jasper waved them away.

Jasper pilled several rashers of bacon onto the princess's plate.

"Wow!" Eleanor yelled, "Are you trying to fatten me up?"

"Maybe," Jasper said with a shrug, "Wouldn't do you any harm. Anyway, you haven't eat much in the past week."

"True," Eleanor answered, before devouring one of the rashers of bacon.

Jasper smiled, "I'm glad you're better now. I really wanted us to enjoy our time here."

"Oh, we will," Eleanor said with a cheeky smile, before kissing Jasper exuberantly.

"Yeah, you're definitely better," Jasper answered with a laugh.

Eleanor grinned before taking a slice of fried toast from the table, "What do you think Robbie is doing? I mean, he couldn't go to Monaco with the others."

Jasper shrugged before scrolling through his phone, "Oh. Well, he's organised the date for your fashion show, and holy shit, Len, you should see who some of the designers are."

Eleanor took the phone from Jasper, "Oh my God! What am I going to say around them? What am I going to do? You can't begin to imagine Jasper! All my life…"

Jasper grinned, "Now you know what it's like for us. When we meet you or your brother or your mum."

Eleanor smiled, "I guess so. Oh, God, Jasper did you see this?"

Jasper looked at the news story just below the stories about King Robert, "Princess Elizabeth and her boyfriend were spotted whilst on the family's annual holiday in Monaco this weekend. The princess was seen enjoying the view from Monaco castle with her boyfriend late yesterday evening, a far cry from the antics of her playboy brother, Prince Liam, and his girlfriend last year, and from the notorious antics of Princess Eleanor."

Eleanor pouted, "When I return I'm not going to be notorious anymore, am I?"

"I don't think you'll ever become an angel," Jasper replied, "And notoriety doesn't just up and disappear."

Eleanor sighed, "Yeah, I guess so. I wonder who I am now. I mean I can barely remember the girl I was before booze and drugs."

"I'm sure you'll find that girl again," Jasper reassured her, "I don't think you ever lost her completely."

"What do you mean?" Eleanor asked confused.

"The improptu room decorating," Jasper began, "The fashion shows. The collage you were going to make of those reviews. The dresses you designed for yourself. What was your major again?"

"Major?" Eleanor asked, "Oh… I studied economics."

"Seriously?!" Jasper asked with a laugh, "No wonder you dropped out. No, I was wondering… maybe you'd like art school?"

Eleanor shook her head, "I'm not that good an artist. My work isn't brilliant or original."

"I began to differ," Jasper replied, "I've never seen the British flag made out of-."

"Ok, ok," Eleanor interrupted, "It isn't a terrible idea. I'll think about it."

"And then there's Charlie," Jasper said.

"You sound jealous," Eleanor teased.

"I can't stand the idea of you being with another man," Jasper replied, "Human or horse."

Eleanor grinned, "You're hot when you're jealous."

Jasper shook his head, "Whatever, Len."

Eleanor smiled, "Yeah, art and horses sounds good. But I don't know. I mean Robert has his charities, Liam has polo and darts and his studies, Lizzie is obsessed with Greek and books. I just feel so lazy in comparison."

Jasper held Eleanor's hand, "You can always try something new. You are the princess after all."

"I guess my snowboarding wasn't terrible," Eleanor contemplated.

"No, it really was," Jasper answered, "Don't you remember?"

Eleanor thumped him, "You can't speak badly of me. I'm the princess. Now I'm going to have to severly punish you."

Jasper smiled, holding Eleanor in his arms.

"I'm serious, Jasper," Eleanor added, "I'm not letting you off this time."

Jasper laughed before Eleanor took his hand and they raced off down the beach.

TO BE CONTINUED