To be, or not to be: that is the question:
Whether 'tis nobler in the mind to suffer
The slings and arrows of outrageous fortune,
Or to take arms against a sea of troubles,
And by opposing end them? To die: to sleep;
No more; and by a sleep to say we end
The heart-ache and the thousand natural shocks
That flesh is heir to, 'tis a consummation
Devoutly to be wish'd. To die, to sleep;
To sleep: perchance to dream: ay, there's the rub;
For in that sleep of death what dreams may come.

Hamlet- William Shakespeare

It was roughly six am in the morning when James was woken up suddenly again.

This time it wasn't by his phone.

Not even by a cop.

And thank God it wasn't Jasper- or anyone else from the palace for that matter…

Not the source of the wake up call wasn't any of those. Instead it took the form a little elf wearing the elf pyjamas he'd bought her for Christmas and the hat with the bells on it, in her arms she clutched a toy reindeer with abnormally large eyes.

Her expression was miserable and a little afraid, and try as hard as she could to hide it, it was clear she had been crying.

"Daddy," Sarah Alice said quietly, "I'm sorry."

James smiled at his daughter, despite his sleepiness, "It's ok."

Sarah Alice raced towards him as he hugged her.

It had been the same story for a week now. Every morning she'd wake up a good hour and a half before she normally would and tell him she'd had another nightmare.

At first he'd believed her.

But after the third time he'd started to have his doubts.

After all he was a detective, he knew how to read people, and one day- when hopefully his daughter was much much older- Sarah Alice might have boyfriend or girlfriends and that would become a handy skill.

Of course it still was beneficial for understanding when his daughter was lying.

The real reason was easy enough to figure out.

She hadn't seen Jasper in over a week, and then the day before she'd heard that the Princess was planning to leave for six months.

Six months! James thought to himself, that couldn't possibly be allowed, could it? Either way that Prince Sebastian was going to be the first job on his list when he got into work. The Princess was like a daughter to him- and all of his daughters' boyfriends would have to go through clearance protocol to see if they made the grade.

"Will a hot chocolate and pancakes make it better?" James asked. He knew chocolate at breakfast time would make Sarah Alice hyper all morning, but it was the only solution he could think of.

Sarah Alice shook her head, "I miss Jasper Caterpillar."

James sighed. How could he tell her? What was a nice way to say 'your sort-of-ex-boyfriend- sort-of-a-caterpillar friend, nearly got me fired and sent to jail for fifteen years- twice the age you are right now- because, actually, he's not a British orphan but a Las Vegas ex-con man who tried to rob from his other ex-girlfriend and then broke her heart and stole confidential documents to trade with a reporter to save himself.'?

No…

Instead James went with, "He's just been very busy at the moment. Now that King Robert is going to be coronated, there's a lot to organise."

Sarah Alice nodded understanding.

James didn't understand anything. When he fired Jasper he should have known that wouldn't have been the last of him. Robert had asked for him immediately and then Liam only an hour after that. Robert of course, being King, needed a security detail immediately- so Jasper was his, albeit only a temporary basis- there was going to be a meeting to discuss who he'd be assigned to permanently.

James had a feeling it would be Liam, after all Robert and Jasper barely knew each other- and well, they say opposites attract but…

An ex-con man and a straight-laced King didn't exactly scream 'team' to James…

"Could you ask him?" Sarah Alice begged, "Just five minutes. Please."

James smiled, "I'll see what I can do."

BREAK_BREAK_BREAK_BREAK

"These ones?" Eleanor asked her bodyguard, "Or these ones?"

She held up two pairs of high heeled shoes- one sparkly and one with tiny silver studs.

"Erm, the black ones?" Rosie replied.

Eleanor raised her eyebrows, "They're both black. Ok, don't worry, I'm probably just projecting my nerves about the coronation onto my wardrobe."

"Your highness?" Rosie asked.

"I said you could me Len," Eleanor reminded her, as she arranged various makeup items on her vanity.

"Len," Rosie replied, "Are you really planning to go away for six months?"

Eleanor bit her lip, feeling guilty. She didn't want to abandon her friend, but she didn't know if Rosie would be allowed to join her. She nodded.

"Does the Queen know?" Rosie asked, "Or your brother, the King?"

Eleanor shook her head, "I don't think now would be the time, they're so busy. I'm so busy. Anyway I pencilled the date in my calendar- three days after the end of the coronation celebrations. So a week from now. Should be plenty of time to sort things out, and Sebastian's arranging transport. And it's not like I need to pack much. I'll be able to buy new stuff once I get out there."

"What's the first stop?" Rosie asked.

"Well first Barcelona," Eleanor admitted excitedly, "Then Corsica, Naples, California, Miami, oh, and Morocco of course."

Rosie smiled, "Sounds amazing."

"I know!" Eleanor beamed excitedly, "And I think it's going to be good for me. So much crazy stuff has happened over the past year. I just need to be able to do normal girl things for once. Like relaxing by the beach, shopping, designing things."

"Getting over ex-boyfriends?" Rosie added on impulse, "I'm so sorry, your highness, I shouldn't have said that."

Eleanor grinned, "It's ok. And yes, of course, Jasper. Good old Jasper. He came to see me a few nights ago. I told him to go away, but I still notice him, lurking in the shadows."

"Do you want me to say something to him?" Rosie asked, "Beat him up for you?"

Eleanor laughed, "No, no, it's fine. My brother, Robert, he used to tell me that time was the best healer. Hopefully with time we'll both get over it. Jasper will move on, it's not like I was his first, and as for me… well… I'll figure it out."

Rosie smiled sadly.

"I'll miss you," Eleanor said, "You're a great bodyguard, and a great friend too. Oh, don't start crying on me now."

Rosie blinked her tears away, grinning, "You're a great friend too, Princess. Even if you are really terrible at poker."

Eleanor smiled, "I'm not that bad, am I?"

Rosie shrugged.

"Oh, thanks a lot!" Eleanor said with a grin, "But anyway, it's only going to be six months, and then I'll be back."

"Six months of Prince Liam though, possibly," Rosie said with a smile.

"Yeah," Eleanor said, "Sorry about that. Now, let's get planning that little surprise. I can't wait when she sees it."

BREAK_BREAK_BREAK_BREAK

Sitting at the computer screen in Liam's bedroom reminded him of the time that he'd spent with the young Prince after that infamous birthday party. He'd spent days awake with barely any sleep, but that one time he'd fallen asleep he'd seen her- and she'd slapped him.

Now he wished she would slap him- if only to feel her hand on his cheek again.

If only to get some response other than silence.

He remembered that night vividly. The one she just stared straight ahead, eyes watering as she told him she was moving on and wanted him to leave.

He didn't know who she was trying to convince- him or herself.

Her tone was trying to hard to be steady, her posture was stiff, she didn't dare make eye contact with him.

Jasper might have trust issues. But that was only because he'd grown up around liars.

And of course, growing up around liars meant he had an oppurtunity to see the best at work, and understand them, and their weaknesses.

As for Eleanor Henstridge, well, he needed no special skill or years of training there. She was crap at lying to him.

If he could convince her to just maybe think about it one more time, really get her to look him in the eye. Then he could do it.

"What on earth are you doing in here?" King Robert asked as he spotted Jasper, "Did you forget who your assignment is?"

"No, no, your highness," Jasper said, quickly closing down the computer, "Prince Liam, he thought he'd downloaded a virus or something, wanted me to check it out when I could. I'm sorry."

Robert smiled, "Ah, he's been on those sorts of websites again. Don't worry, Jasper, I'll let it go this time. Now, our schedule today is going to be rather packed- first, I have an interview with Crenshaw, then at twelve I have a working lunch with the anti-monarchists. At two I have my parliamentary speech. At five back here to arrange coronation plans, and then of course at seven I'll be going over to Kay's. Kathryn and Angie are throwing a congratulations party, you're free to join us if you want to. It's just well, Beck's going to be there, and I know you two didn't exactly get along last time you meet."

Jasper nodded, "It's ok, I'm sorry, but I'll have to give it a pass. I'm actually trying to get back into Mr Hill's good books. After nearly getting him arrested. Sarah Alice's birthday is in a little under a week's time. Rosie and I are organising a small party for her."

"Just you and Rosie?" Robert asked, "Not my sister?"

Jasper sighed, "I'm taking your advice, your highness. Giving it some time. I understand the Princess will be going away for some time."

Robert frowned, "Going away? Eleanor didn't mention anything to me?"

Jasper frowned, "It's what she told me. That she was going away to be 'more than just a princess.'"

Robert glanced at his watch, "Well it's ten now. I'll go and talk to her. There's on bloody way she's leaving."

BREAK_BREAK_BREAK_BREAK

Liam passed the tablet over to James, who regarded it with a sigh.

"As much as I admire your drive, your highness," James began, "Getting Jasper to work on confidential files behind my back was what got him fired last time around, I don't think encouraging the same behaviour again is anyone's interests."

"Well I disagree," Liam replied, "It's all there. Just like I said it would be."

James opened the email, his face turning ashen, "My word…and you two thought the best way to share this information between yourselves was via yahoo mail?!"

Liam nodded, "I know it's not advised. But maybe you can understand why we couldn't use the private server. Yahoo mail is that last thing Robert would expect. If he knows we're on to him, this could end badly for all of us."

James nodded, "That much is true. But this ends now. Understood? You and Jasper are not vigilantes incorporated. This was my job to figure out. I have the permissions to access these files, or can acquire more if necessary, I have friends high up in Scotland Yard, no questions asked. So you tell Jasper that he stops this now, this is more than enough, any more of this and we all face time in prison for treason. "

Liam nodded, "Do you think you'll forgive him? I know he hurt you and Sarah Alice. But Jasper's a good guy, he truly does try to protect the people he cares about. He couldn't have known how things would play out. He never meant to hurt you, or Sarah Alice."

James sighed, "I know, but Jasper's problem is his problem to trust and confide in others. To ask them for help."

Liam nodded, "I know. But what can you expect from a guy who learnt to cook a full roast at age seven because his parents were too busy out cheating at poker to celebrate Christmas with him? Jasper had to do everything for himself growing up."

"I understand that," James said, beginning to feel guilty, "But he needs to realise that times have changed now."

"Yes, and you need to realise that you've known him for less than six months," Liam said, "How long did it take Sara Alice to start calling you Daddy?"

"Your highness," James began, "A year. It took a year, she could barely speak when I adopted her, though, she was only a year old."

Liam nodded understandingly, "But she never a reason to doubt you. Never had a reason to not trust you. Never had trust issues. And it still took her a year to be totally comfortable with seeing you as her Dad. Do you understand what I'm trying to say? It's going to take time."

"I tried to be like a father to him," James argued, "Tried to be the father he never had."

"I know," Liam said,"And I know that Jasper is grateful for that. But you have to understand that 'Dad' is a word that doesn't mean comfort or belonging or love to Jasper. He's going to instinctively push away anyone who tries to be a father figure to him. Even if he knows better deep down."

James nodded, "I'll apologise to him, for being harsh on him. But only if he agrees to see a counsellor. This has gone on long enough."

Liam smiled, "I'll convince him to see a therapist. Leave that to me."

"I just thought he knew he could trust me," James said, "I mean he seemed, so, normal, around my daughter."

"Yes, well he never had a little sister," Liam replied, "So he has no reason to have bad expectations of what will happen with her."

"Little sister?" James asked, "I didn't think they were that close."

"Do you mind if I?" Liam asked, before standing up and walking towards the other side of the desk.

"No, no, your highness," James asked as Liam knelt down to retrieve something under the desk.

He held out a scrapbook to James who took it from his confused.

Inside were several drawings- Sarah Alice, of course, her father, the royal family…

"My big brother, Jasper?" James asked, "What on earth?"

Liam smiled, "Jasper told me. It started when they went out at Christmas to buy the necklace for Eleanor. Everyone at the shops though they were related, so Sarah Alice went around telling them that Jasper was her older brother, because it was supposed to be a secret trip, and she thought it would be easier for them to keep up the secret if they were two siblings. I know. Over time, the lines must have become blurred."

James sighed, shaking his head, "I don't know what to do. On the one hand, everything telling me not to let him back in, on the other hand, I risk making my daughter even more upset than she is already."

"You used to be a detective," Liam answered, "Surely you can tell the bad guys from the messed up ones?"

James nodded, "Ok, but he sees a therapist. And as for the other matter, leave it to me."