#MG/sister beatrice | Explore Tumblr posts and blogs

legxllyblxndc · 2 years ago

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royals flashback || @foreverwednesday

JC MG CH EH BC: Beatrice laughed as she listened to her sister and she nodded her head, "This is going to be your life for the rest of forever - are you sure you're up for that?" She raised an eyebrow. Although the pair weren't engaged yet, Beatrice - and just about everyone else - knew that Frankie and Alfred were going to be together for the rest of their lives. She didn't think that she had ever met two people who were more suited for one another. Beatrice was a pretty protective sister. She watched over her big sister, no matter what. But it was easy to give her to Alfred. Because he was pretty much perfect. She didn't think that anyone would ever say a bad word about him. And she thought that he was going to make the most amazing king. "He'll be here soon, i'm sure." She shrugged. "But I am too. I haven't eaten for most of the day because I knew we were coming here." They usually had so much to eat at the palace - she hadn't seen the point in having too much throughout the day. "Could you imagine if we tried to turn up in these? The King would kill us!"

JC MG CH EH BC: "How is anyone voting for this?" Caroline exclaimed as she looked to Hugo. There weren't many people in her circle who had the same kind of views as she did - and there were even less that voiced them in the ways that she did. She made sure that everyone knew what she was thinking. She was so far down the list of who was to become king or queen that she didn't think that it mattered if people knew what she thought. It wasn't like Alfred ever expressed those kind of things outwardly, after all. "Do you think i'd still be wearing jeans if I was expected to have dinner with my aunt and uncle?" she asked, raising an eyebrow. Caroline hated the idea of all of the royals. She didn't think that a family such as theirs were any better than anyone elses. "We can stay here. You and me. Or we can make something, if you want? I'm sure there's something we can rustle up?"

JC MG CH EH BC: "I'm absolutely sure." Jaxon nodded his head. He had been extra careful to make sure that no-one followed him, no-one saw where he was going. He had never thought that this would happen. He had never intended to fall in love with the Princess but it had been all but impossible. There was this pull to Alice that he didn't think that he would ever be able to explain. He raised an eyebrow, though, as she spoke, because he didn't think that he had ever expected this - at least not this soon. He had thought that they would wait until Alfred took the throne, until it was clear that the King was happy with this. "I'm - We'll tell them whenever you want us to tell them, Alice. It's your decision." He nodded. He was happy to wait, if she needed him too and he was happy to tell the world. He just wanted to do whatever it was that Alice felt like she was ready for. "You mean i'll be invited to one of your families dinner?" He chuckled, raising an eyebrow.

JC MG CH EH BC: Edward laughed loudly as he heard Verity - and then instantly regretted it as his head started to ring. He had known that he shouldn't have gone as hard as he had the night before but he and Verity had been enjoying themselves. It wasn't very often that he would allow him to let his hair down like that. He and his father had, had the same fight over and over again and he was really trying to be better. He didnt' want to make things harder on the people that he loved. How he acted was reflected on them - at least that was what his father had always said, anyway. "I thought it would take the edge off. Seems we took things a little too far." He chuckled, shrugging his shoulders. He moved onto his side, so that he could look at Verity, a fond smile on his face, "You did great, though, I promise." He whispered, reaching forwards so that he could kiss her cheek gently.

JC MG CH EH BC: Matthew nodded his head as he listened to James, "Yeah, that sounds like that would be something that's gonna happen, right?" He raised an eyebrow. He figured that they had all been waiting on an announcement from the crown about Frankie and Alfreds wedding. It only made sense. They'd been together for so long, after all. "It isn't like anything is going to change Alfreds mind about her now, is it? He seems pretty set on her. And she seems nice enough. She'll make a good queen, by his side." He nodded. He thought that it was so obvious how good a queen Frankie would make. The people already loved her, after all. "It would definitely raise eyebrows, that's for sure."

OT AH HK FC JH VR: Frankie laughed as she heard her sister, nodding her head. "Oh, I'm so ready for it." There was a cheesy smile on her face as she spoke; she knew it was sappy, but there was just absolutely nothing that could ever sway her from the life that she and Alfred were going to have together. She loved him with every inch of her being, he was her best friend and she loved everything about him - even when he would make her hours late by stopping to greet every single adoring person that wanted to shake his hand. "Me either. I never want to be rude by saying I'm full before dessert comes out, but oh my god - my stomach is growling." She laughed, putting her hands over her stomach in pretend sadness. She giggled as her sister spoke, nodding her head. "I'm pretty sure we'd be banished, I --" She cut herself off as she heard a knock on the door. "Come in!" She called, smiling as a member of staff walked into the room. "Their majesties the king and queen request your presence in the drawing room." Was all that was said before the man left. "Looks like we're needed." She smiled, getting up and holding out her hand to her sister.

OT AH HK FC JH VR: "Because rich people just want to look out for other rich people." Hugo rolled his eyes. He never wanted to be like that, he always wanted to make sure he looked out for everybody, that he pushed for what was best for the whole world and not just his tiny little part in it. He was privileged, he knew that - and he didn't fight against it, he enjoyed his life, but he was nothing like his father. He would never be anything like his father. "That is a good point, but knowing you - you would be. You don't exactly conform to the expectations do you, my love?" He chuckled, looking over to his girlfriend with a fond shake of his head. There was a smile on his face as Caroline spoke and he nodded his head. "Sounds perfect. Whatever you want." He was happy just spending time with her, if he was honest. He turned as they were interrupted by a knock on the door, listening to what was said before he looked to Caroline. "What do we think is happening here, then?" He smiled.

OT AH HK FC JH VR: Alice knew that whatever she decided, Jaxon would be okay with it, he would understand; he had made that clear to her so many times and she loved that about him. She trusted him with everything, she had never once felt pressured... But she was so ready for them to have something real. Something they didn't have to constantly hide behind closed doors, as though it was something wrong - because to Alice, it was the most right thing in the world. "I know. But I don't - I don't want to hide this forever." She told him, holding her hand to his face gently. "Hopefully one day." She laughed softly, nodding her head. "Or maybe I'll just have to join in with your staff dinners." She smiled, shrugging her shoulders. She knew that would never be allowed, but if it meant spending more time with Jaxon then she really would. A knock on the door made her jump slightly and she instantly panicked, looking over to Jaxon with wide eyes. She jumped to her feet and moved over to the door, stepping out so that the staff didn't have to come into the room. She listened to the instructions, then moved back into the room, her expression confused. "We're needed in the drawing room. All of us." She raised an eyebrow.

OT AH HK FC JH VR: "Too loud!" Verity complained as Edward laughed, although she was laughing along with him. One of her favourite things about their relationship was how much fun they had together; whether they were just lying in bed making each other laugh or out partying together, they always had the best time. "When do we not take things to far, Eds?" She laughed, shaking her head. She turned as he did though, closing her eyes happily as he kissed her cheek and scooting forwards so that she could cuddle into him. "I hope so." She smiled, shrugging her shoulders. She was quiet for a second then, just lying against him, enjoying the moment - until it was broken by a knock at the door. "Ughhhh...." She groaned, burying her head back in the pillow. When she heard what was happening though, she sat up. "Is this a joke? We have to go down now?" She groaned, but she knew that when the senior royals requested you - you didn't hang about. She sighed and sat up, sticking her feet into her boots and waiting for Eddy to be ready.

OT AH HK FC JH VR: "It's only a matter of time." James shrugged his shoulders. For a while now, they'd all been speculating about when it was going to happen; and it was exciting because this would be the first royal wedding in their lifetime, the first time they would all experience something of this magnitude. He and Edward would be groomsmen, Alice would be a bridesmaid... They would have some of the biggest responsibilities possible. They would be proving themselves. "Yeah, she will. She's a nice girl." He nodded, shrugging his shoulders. He opened his mouth to respond to Matt, his phone interrupting the words with a ring. "For gods sake, if this is -- Oh. It's coming from the palace. One second." He muttered, picking up the phone and holding it to his ear. You didn't ignore those kinds of calls, he knew that. At first, James was sure what he was being told was a prank. It was a sick joke. But as it went on... He knew it wasn't. "No." The sound he let out was choked, like it had forced its way out of his chest. "No. No. It's not possible. I'm - I'm coming now. It'll - it's not possible. It's a misunderstanding." He ended the call and jumped to his feet, barely even acknowledging Matt. "We have to get to the palace. Now."

OT AH HK FC JH VR: Everything had gone by in a blur for Otis; he felt as though he had gone from answering the phone, to suddenly being sat in the drawing room, but he knew that wasn't at all what had happened. In reality, he had gone straight to the master of the house, who had gone straight to the king and queen and now they were all in the drawing room, about to change everybody's lives for good. He had been asked to be there, because he was the one that had taken the call - but he didn't want to be. He couldn't bare it. He couldn't bare what was happening, he couldn't bare to see their faces when they all found out. He couldn't bare to look at the king and queen; her a broken shell, sobbing quietly into her hands, him attempting to stand strong, his hands quivering by his sides. He couldn't look up as everybody filed into the drawing room, clearly wondering what was going on. Once the last person had gotten in, the king began to speak. "Please excuse my informality in calling you all down here at such short notice, but I'm sure you will understand... that this is an emergency." The man took a pause to breathe, placing a shaking hand on his wife's shoulder. "A few moments ago, we received a call... A terrible call. Alfred has been in an accident, a car accident. As it turns out, th-- the accident was... it was fatal. Alfred is dead." The king, usually so cold and precise in nature, was clearly struggling to suppress his emotions - it looked as though they were going to burst out of him at any second and the air in the room had turned cold, claustrophobic almost.

JC MG CH EH BC: Beatrice was about to respond to her sister when she heard the knock on the door. She raised an eyebrow once they had gone, "Is this what I think it's going to be" She giggled. Beatrice figured that they had all been waiting for Alfred to propose. She definitely thought that tonight was tonight - especially since they were all being called to the drawing room. She quickly made her way there, with her sister by her side and as she saw the look on the king and queens faces, she knew that she was wrong - though she hadn't expected what was said. "What?" Beatrice asked, unsure if she had actually heard what it was that was being said to her. "Alfred is dead..." She repeated. And it was that - the confirmation that he was gone - that caused her to jump to action. Because whatever she was feeling, she knew that her sister would be feeling ten times worse. She quickly turned to look at her and took a hold of her sisters hand. She needed to be there for whatever the other girl needed.

JC MG CH EH BC: "Very true." Caroline nodded. She didn't think that anyone would actually argue with that. She thought that it was pretty obvious. And she hated it. She wanted to be someone who could give back a little more. She didn't think that she and her family were any better, just because they were born into the family that they were. Caroline smiled as he spoke and went to respond before she had to listen to what was being said to her. They were to come to the drawing room... it didn't make sense. But then it dawned on her. It was the only possible thing that it could be. "They're engaged!" She laughed. She quickly clambered up and held her hand out to Hugo. Once they had made it to the room, though, the atmosphere felt so different than she thought it would. She narrowed her eyes as it was explained to her what was happening. "I --" She shook her head and reached out a shaky hand to one of the chairs, "I need to sit down." She whispered. She didn't know how to comprehend the news that they had just been told and it felt like she had completely gone into shock. Her body felt cold as she stared at the same spot on the floor. Those words from the king - 'Alfred is dead' - going round and round in her head.

JC MG CH EH BC: The last thing that Jaxon wanted was to let go of what he and Alice had. He knew that telling people was going to put a spanner in the words, it was going to change things so drastically ... but Jaxon desperately wanted to shout it from the rooftops how he and Alice felt about one another. They were in love. It was supposed to be a good thing. Hiding it behind everyones back wasn't something he was ever going to enjoy. "There's no rush, though. Whenever you feel like you're ready." He shrugged his shoulders. If Alice didn't feel like she was ready, he would make her. He jumped at the knock of the door but as he heard what was happening, he made his way over there. "Lets go." He nodded. There was no point arguing, he thought. He clapped a hand on Otis' back, smiling slightly at his friends before he looked around at the others. He was - just like the rest of them - shocked as he found out what was happening. "Your father?" Jaxon asked, knowing that he would have been with Alfred. He knew that he shouldn't show too much emotion - he was working, after all - but his heart hurt for Alice and her family, for Frankie. Alfred was a good man. He didn't deserve this.

JC MG CH EH BC: Edward really didn't want to have to get out of bed but he knew that his parents wouldn't call him unless it was something serious. He wondered if it was something about how he and verity had been that morning. "Come on." He sighed. Climbing up from the bed. Though he wished that he had never left his room as he listened to what was being said. "You're lying." Edward growled, shaking his head. "He's not - He's - Where is he? Where is my brother?" He asked, looking around the room frantically. Because the idea that this was some sick joke was much better than the idea that his brother was dead. How could his brother be dead? He was young, he was healthy. It was impossible that his big brother - the person that had been there his entire life - would be dead.

JC MG CH EH BC: Matt was glad that Alfred and Frankie were going to have something good coming soon. He thought that it was sweet. He thought that it was absolutely something that they all needed. A royal wedding was always an interesting and fun event to attend. Though as he watched James speak on the phone ,he had to wonder what exactly was going on. He had no idea what it was that would upset James like that. "What's going on?" Matt asked, looking to James. Because it was clear that something had happened, he just had no idea what it was. "Yeah, of course. I'll call the car around." He nodded, pulling out his phone. His phone buzzed a couple times as he was speaking.

OT AH HK FC JH VR: Even three years on, Frankie hadn't stopped being nervous when she was around the king and queen - especially without Alfred by her side. She hadn't been one of those people who had grown up knowing she would marry royalty, it had never been in the plan and so now... It sometimes still all felt completely insane. She had a polite smile on her face as she walked into the room, but it was immediately obvious that something was wrong. Whatever had happened wasn't good - and when she heard what it was, Frankie's whole body went cold. Alfred is dead. Those words didn't make sense, because her Alfred was the most alive person she'd ever known. She didn't hear anything after that, just a whirring in her ears. The room began to spin, everything was blurry and her body... Felt light. As though she wasn't real. As though everything was happening around her but she wasn't a part of it. She couldn't feel her sisters hand in hers, she couldn't even comprehend what was going on. How could he be dead? How could her Alfred, who she had kissed goodbye only hours ago, be dead? Wordlessly, Frankie sank to the floor, unable to do anything at all. If she didn't sit, she felt as though she'd fall or even just fade away. Nothing felt real in that moment.

OT AH HK FC JH VR: "Oh shit, I bet that's it!" Hugo laughed, nodding his head. He was so excited; and so happy he got to be here for something like this. They'd all been waiting for so long for this to happen, he couldn't wait to see the looks on their faces - Hugo didn't think he'd ever seen two people so in love. There was a huge smile on his face as he walked into the room, but it quickly dropped... Because it was clear that wasn't the case. As soon as those words left the kings mouth, Hugo clasped his hand around his own mouth, his stomach flipping. How could this have happened? How could this ever be the case? He turned to Caroline quickly, putting his hands on her shoulders - he had no idea what to do, how to be there for her, but he just wanted to do something. What else could he do?

OT AH HK FC JH VR: Alice had always been a very intuitive person, she could usually sense what was going on from a subtle look or the vibe of somebody's voice... And it was no different right now. She knew immediately that this wasn't good, something was very, very wrong - and when she saw her parents faces, she instantly took note of who wasn't there. Alfred and James. Something had happened to one of them and she was sure of it. Her eyes were already filled with tears, but as she heard what her father was saying, a strangled sob ripped its way out of her chest. "No." It was a half scream, half whisper and Alice had no way of controlling what was coming out of her mouth. The sounds were like screams of pain, because she knew without a doubt her father was sure and that meant she was never going to get to see her big brother again. Her big brother, who was one of the most important people in the world to her, was gone. That was that. And Alice didn't think she was ever going to be able to cope with that.

OT AH HK FC JH VR: The atmosphere in the room was something Verity had never experienced before; she had been around numerous times when Eddy and his father had been in a blazing row, she had been around when he and James went at it, when everybody was in trouble... But nothing like this. Hearing what had happened, Verity's eyes were as wide as saucers; it didn't make sense. Alfred was their leader, he was the strong one, he made sure nothing happened to his siblings - so how could this happen to him? Her instinct was to protect Eddy, to keep him from being hurt; but there was no way of doing that here. No way at all. This was going to tear him to shreds. She looked between him and Caroline, wanting to go to both of them - but then she saw Hugo with Caroline and heard Eddy shouting and she knew who needed somebody most. "Eddy..." She whispered, eyes full of tears, turning to him helplessly. For one of the first times ever, she had no idea how to help him and she hated it.

OT AH HK FC JH VR: Up until now, Otis had been able to hold it all together - apart from that moment on the phone, he had been as strong as he could be... But seeing them all like this was threatening to break him. He cared about all of the royals so much, they had treated him like family on so many occasions and he had loved Alfred, he had thought of him as the most amazing person. There were tears threatening to spill over and he was grateful when Jaxon spoke to him, looking up and nodding his head. "Was the one who called." He whispered hoarsely. He thought that was enough to confirm that his father was alive, that he had survived the accident that had so cruelly taken their future king. He wished there was a way to help, he wished there was something to do - but he knew there was absolutely nothing.

OT AH HK FC JH VR: James had never moved so fast in his life; it was as though something in him thought that if he got there fast enough, if he was quick, then there would be something he could do to save his brother. He would be able to help Alfred. He just had to be quick. "They're saying Alfred is dead. They're saying he's - We have to go." His voice was thick with emotion but he couldn't stop to focus on it, he had to get there right now. He was sprinting by the time he got out of the bar and he was sure people were photographing him, but he didn't care. As soon as he saw the car he jumped in, slamming the door shut. "Palace, NOW." He shouted, seconds away from grabbing the wheel himself. "Faster, you have to go faster!"

JC MG CH EH BC: Alfred dying hadn't been something that had ever been on the cards. He was supposed to be king. He was going to marry her sister and give her the best life he possibly could ... and now he was gone. It didn't make sense to her. But as much as she was feeling, as much as she was hurting, she knew that she couldn't let it show. She knew that she just needed to be there for her big sister. Alfred had been in Beatrices life for such a long time now, he was a part of her family too. And she couldn't believe that she was never going to see him again. "Frankie.." Beatrice whispered, tears spilling over. "Franks, what do you need?" She wanted whatever she could do to help. She needed to help her. She needed something to do. She couldn't just stand there with everyone else. Because what were they supposed to do? "Was it an accident?" Beatrice asked, without really thinking about it. This was the future king, after all. She didn't think that it was particularly unreasonable to think that this might not be an accident. She knew that it wasn't the time and if she had thought about it, she probably wouldn't have said it. But she wasn't going to take it back now that she had said it, either.

JC MG CH EH BC: It didn't make sense to Caroline. None of this made sense to her. As she was sure the case was for her cousins. But she couldn't focus on them, she couldn't think about them. "He's dead?" Caroline whispered, glancing up at Hugo. It was so clear how much pain she was feeling. Her cousin was one of her most favourite people. He was the first person that anyone went too when they needed someone. He was always there with a kind word and a shoulder to cry on and the thought of not having that person, never seeing his smile again, never hearing his voice again, was too much for her to bare. Carolines head went into her hands as the crying properly started, sobs shaking her body. She couldn't think of anything else that was going on around them.

JC MG CH EH BC: Edward couldn't focus on anything else. He couldn't think about anything else. Nothing made sense because the words that his parents were saying simply couldn't be true. His brother couldn't be dead. He was going to be king. He wasn't dead. And as he looked around the room, as he took in everyone else, he couldn't help but feel angry. Because he didn't understand why they were all just taking this, why they would all believe it. This couldn't be true. He was in some sort of nightmare. "Don't!" Edward shouted, shaking his head, "Don't cry, Verity! Because he's not dead! You're LYING!" He cried at his parents before he looked at his girlfriend again, his eyes wide, "He's not dead, Verity." He sighed. "He just - he isn't. He can't be."

JC MG CH EH BC: As Alice started to cry, Jaxon wanted - more than anything - to be able to comfort her. He wanted to scoop her up in his arms and keep her close to him. He wanted to be there for her while she grieved for her brother. But he knew that he couldn't. Even in this situation right now, he knew that it would cause more trouble than it was worth and he couldn't add more issues to her plate, especially since she was going to be Queen now. That realisation hit him like a truck. She was going to be Queen. And the two of them being together, being out in the open, felt that much further away now. He knew that, that was the last thing on anyones mind, though. It didn't need to be thought about. "Okay. Good. Good." He nodded. He tore his eyes off of Alice so that he could look at Otis, "Are you okay?" He asked the other. He didn't know how to think . The idea that the Prince had died didn't feel like it had properly hit him just yet.

JC MG CH EH BC: "Wait - what?" Matt sighed as he heard what James was saying. Because that didn't make sense to him. This all seemed so sudden and so strange. Not for a second, though, did he really believe it. Because how could something like this be true? Rumours surrounding peoples death happened all the time. That must be what was happening now. Though he knew by the look on his friends face, the other believed it. Matt felt his phone buzz a few more times before he looked at it. And as he opened the notifications, as he looked on twitter, he was greeted with what had been the Princes car. It was completely destroyed. "Fuck..." Matt sighed, not wanting to show the other his phone. He didn't think that it was fair for James to see that.

OT AH HK FC JH VR: To Frankie, all the commotion around her was a blur, all the words just buzzing in her ears; she couldn't focus on anything that was happening because all she could think about was that she would never see Alfred again. Her Alfred, the love of her life, the man she was going to spend her life beside. The man she had planned that whole life with. Gone. Just like that. How could she even pretend to be interested in a life without Alfred? She didn't even realise there were tears pouring down her face, or that she had her arms wrapped around herself tightly like a small child trying to hold herself together. Her sisters voice broke through the trance and she looked up, gulping down a breath she hadn't realised she'd been holding. "I need to see him." She whispered, looking from her sister to the king and queen. "I want to see him." She wanted to be with him now, no matter how bad it was. How bad he looked. She needed to see him.

OT AH HK FC JH VR: Hugo's heart broke as Caroline looked up at him, because he wanted to badly to be able to tell her that she was wrong, that Alfred was fine; but he couldn't. He just nodded sadly, feeling his stomach clench at the thought. "I think so, Car." He whispered, leaning down to wrap his arms around her tightly and hold her to his chest. He couldn't even imagine how much the whole world was going to change now, how much everything was going to turn upside down.

OT AH HK FC JH VR: As Edward shouted, Verity quickly dried her eyes with the back of her hand - she would do whatever he wanted right now, if it had any chance of making him feel any better. His world was about to be torn about and Verity just wanted to keep him together, but she knew even now that the chances were slim. "I'm sorry Ed, I'm so sorry..." She whispered, shaking her head. She took a step towards him as he started to shout, but the king had soon cut in front of her, grabbing his youngest son by the shoulders. "Pull yourself together, for gods sake! Do you think I would lie?! Do you think this is a joke?! He's dead! Pull yourself together!"

OT AH HK FC JH VR: Alice didn't know what she wanted to do, she didn't know who to go to or what to say... There was nothing to say. Nothing at all. Her brother was dead. Her favourite person, her confidant, the person she went to with good news or bad. She'd cried on his shoulder, they'd laughed until they couldn't breathe. And he was gone. All she could do was sit and sob, her head in her hands. She felt her mothers arms around her and she fell into her like a small child, clutching the woman as though she might slip away too if she let her go. "You have to hold it together, Alice. You must. You're going to be in charge now. You're going to have to lead the way." But that only made her cry harder; how could she be the queen? How could she do the job that her brother had been so perfect for?

OT AH HK FC JH VR: As much as Otis knew Jaxon was just trying to help, he couldn't help thinking it was a silly question - how could any of them be okay right now? But even so, he nodded. He didn't think he had a right to say anything else, not when the whole family were going through something this earth shattering right now. "Are you?" He asked quietly, shrugging his shoulders. He couldn't bring himself to look around the room properly, to take in all of their reactions. It was the worst situation Otis had ever been in. It was only then that he became aware of the fact that his phone had been buzzing pretty much constantly and he pulled it out, heart falling as he saw what it was. "The media are already on it. There's a photo circulating." He sighed.

OT AH HK FC JH VR: James couldn't sit still in his seat, he felt as though everything was moving so fast and yet still too slow, too slow for them to get there in time. "What?" He snapped as he heard Matt, not waiting for an answer before he snatched the phone. He instantly felt sick, as though he was going to throw up there and then. He let out a broken, shaky breath and dropped the phone, shaking his head. "Fuck." He muttered under his breath. "FUCK. Go FUCKING faster!" He screamed at their driver, yanking his own phone out of his pocket as it started to ring. "No, please. Please don't. Please wait until I get there to put the announcement out." He begged into the phone, voice full of desperation.

JC MG CH EH BC joined the chat

JC MG CH EH BC: Beatrice loved Alfred. He was like the big brother that she had never had. And he was gone and she was so, so sad but she had to think about her sister right now. She had to make sure that Frankie was the enter of attention. She could grieve Alfred in her own time. Her eyes went wide at her sisters request, though, because she didn't know if that would be too much for the other girl right now. "Are you sure?" She asked. Though she thought that she could understand it. This was all such a shock. She didn't think that she would be able to do it though, if she was in her sisters position. She thought that it would hurt too much. She glanced over to the King and Queen and then to Otis and Jaxon, wondering if anyone had an answer for Frankie. If she could even see him right now.

JC MG CH EH BC: Hearing how everyone was talking around them, Caroline was struggling. Because people kept repeating it. There didn't feel like there was a second of respite. Alfred was dead, he had died in a car accident and Alice was to be queen. It felt too much. "What?" Caroline questioned as she heard Otis. She held out her hand to him - having left her own phone in her room "Let me see." She huffed. She didn't know how she would fare seeing it but she thought that, that would be enough for her to confirm that she wasn't in some kind of nightmare right now. She thought that it would be enough to make it feel real. Her hand shook as she held it out but she wasn't about to back down.

JC MG CH EH BC: "Shut UP, Verity!" Edward shouted. He didn't want to hear her apologies. He didn't want to have to listen to it. Because he couldn't wrap his head around this. His brother couldn't be dead. This was all some kind of mistake. Even as his father grabbed ahold of him, Edward still couldn't quite bring himself to believe it. How could his big brother be dead? How could a force such as him be gone? "Don't you speak to me - Don't you dare speak to me as though I am a child!" He growled. He and his father had always had a difficult relationship and now, it felt like Edward just couldn't trust him. As he heard Frankie, he nodded his head and looked over at her. "I want to see him too." He glared at his father, "Let us see him. Now. Let us see him now." Because then he would know that they were wrong. because then he would see his brother sitting up, laughing at them all for ever having believed this.

JC MG CH EH BC: Jaxon knew that it was a daft question but he hadn't known what else to say, what else to do. It was all that he could think off to say. If anyone had been paying attention to him, they would see that he couldn't stop looking at Alice. That he was watching her every move. It was taking every ounce of his self control not to run over to her, to scoop her up in his arms and hold her whilst she cried. But he knew that he shouldn't - he couldn't. Especially not with her parents in the room. Especially as her mother spoke to her. "Alice. Pull yourself together." The Queen sighed, "You need to set an example. To yourself, to the others. You have to see people through this. You need to pull yourself together."

JC MG CH EH BC: "James n-" But the other had pulled Matthews phone out of his hand before he could do anything about it. He sighed as the other looked at the phone, as he took in the sight before him. It was clear that it was Alfreds car but there was no sight of the Prince - Thank god. Not yet, anyway. He was sure that someone had a photo, somewhere. He was sure that it was only a matter of time before that was posted everywhere. The back of the car was completely destroyed though - exactly where Alfred would have sat. "What's happening?" Matt hissed as he heard James, as he saw the look on his face, heard the desperation. He wished that there was more that he could do for the Prince.

OT AH HK FC JH VR: Frankie nodded, standing up on wobbling legs. She was sure; she wanted to see Alfred, she wanted to see him with her own eyes and she wanted to be with him right now, even if it might be the last time. She needed it. "Please. Please let me see him." She whispered, her gaze fixed firmly on the king. She knew it would be his call, it would be his decision and she needed him to see how much she needed this. She felt out of her mind, as though this wasn't really happening. "I need to see him! I need to see him now!" The longer she went without an answer, the more desperate she was becoming and she felt as though she might run out of the palace and find him on foot if somebody didn't say something soon. She looked like a madwoman, face streaked with tears, eyes wide and desperate - but she didn't care. "Please!"

OT AH HK FC JH VR: Hugo turned as he heard Otis, wincing slightly - because he understood that the other had only spoken out of shock, but he wished he hadn't. Because he knew Caroline would want to see, he knew how her mind worked and if Otis wouldn't let her see now then she would just find another way of looking. "Caroline, it's not..." But he didn't know what to say. Because of course it wasn't going to be nice; nothing about this was nice. They had lost a great man, somebody everyone in this room loved - there was no rectifying that. He didn't think he wanted to see the picture though, he couldn't stomach it. He didn't want to think of Alfred, so regal and strong, in such a weak and vulnerable position.

OT AH HK FC JH VR: Verity just nodded as Edward shouted, a tear rolling down her face. Usually, she was a spitfire; the loudest in the room, never letting anybody raise their voice at her or tell her something she didn't like... but that was all gone right now. She just had no idea what to do with herself. She felt out of place, like she shouldn't be here, but she also wasn't going to leave Edward. Not like this. She cringed as his father grabbed him; she hated how he spoke to him, how he grabbed him so roughly. But she knew there was nothing she could do. "Shut up, boy! You shut your mouth right now! My son is dead, he is dead! He is gone and you are here. How dare you stand here and shout, how dare you think you have the right to speak to me like that?" The king boomed, shaking his son by the shoulders as though he wanted to shake some sense into him. "Nobody is seeing him. Nobody is leaving the palace. An announcement is about to go out, the whole country will know and they will have their eyes on us. We must keep it together, we must have control."

OT AH HK FC JH VR: As her mother spoke, it all began to sink in for Alice; not only was her brother dead and she was going to have to deal with that... But she was now the first in line to the throne. The rightful heir. Except it didn't feel rightful, it was never supposed to be her. She couldn't do this. But she had to. She held her breath as she slumped against her mother, trying to quell the sobs that were falling from her chest. She knew the woman was right; she had to keep it together, she had to see the others through this. When she thought she could manage, she pulled away and took a deep breath, wiping her eyes. "Father is right. We have to keep it together, we have to - I have to be strong." She breathed, her hands shaking as she clasped them behind her back. "Where is James? He needs to be here, you can't put out an announcement without him here." She looked to her father pleadingly, but he only shook his head. "It's already done, Alice. We can't have the public finding out from the media before we've said anything."

OT AH HK FC JH VR: "I --...." Otis had no idea what the right thing to do was; should he let Caroline see the picture, or should he try to protect her? She was a grown woman, fully capable of making her own decisions... But he didn't think anybody should have to see that picture, to see the wreckage of the car their cousin had been in and imagine what kind of state he must now be in. But he knew Caroline and he knew she'd made up her mind. "Here." He whispered, handing over the phone. He wanted to say so much more; he wanted to tell her how sorry he was, he wanted to hold her and make it better, but he knew that was Hugo's job. He was just a member of staff, he was there because he was paid to be. But it didn't feel like that. These people felt like a family to him now.

OT AH HK FC JH VR: Hot, angry tears rolled down James's face as he put his phone back into his pocket and he covered his face in shame, trying not to let himself lose it whilst he was in Matt's company. "They're putting out an announcement as we speak. Before I've even fucking got to the palace." He breathed into his hands, chest heaving with suppressed sobs. "My brother is dead. He's dead. He's dead, he's dead, he's dead." He was speaking to nobody now, the words were just forcing their way out of his mouth and he had no control. He was going to have to get out of the car in front of a whole world of people that knew about his brother and he had no idea how to face that.

JC MG CH EH BC: "Franks..." Beatrice sighed before she moved to wrap her arms around her sister. She wished that there was more that she could do for her. She wished that she could help her more but it seemed pretty impossible at this point. But as she heard the King, she saw red. "What?" Beatrice hissed, looking over to the King. She knew that they were all supposed to follow what he said. She knew that none of them were supposed to go against him but she hated this. She hated this for her sister and she thought that letting her see the man that she loved was the least that she can do. "Frankie isn't going to face any member of the public! She needs to see Alfred. She wants to see him. Let her see him!" She didn't understand how they could keep her away from him when all of this was so sudden, so unsure. It didn't make sense to her.

JC MG CH EH BC: Caroline didn't know if she actually wanted to see the photo but she didn't feel like she had any choice. This had all happened so suddenly and she needed to see something - something to make all of this feel a little bit more real. "Caroline - what?" She hissed, looking up at Hugo for a second before she looked back over at Otis. She knew that Hugo was only trying to watch out for her right now but she didn't need that right now. The worst had already happened. How much worse could it be to see what had happened? But as she looked over the photo, as she took in the state of the car and she imagined how bad her cousin must be, Caroline threw the phone on the table, "I'm going to be sick." She huffed, pushing past Hugo so she could reach for the bin. She knew that it wasn't regal, that she needed to pull herself together before she was faced with the public but she just couldn't. She felt so broken.

JC MG CH EH BC: "And my brother is dead! You don't get to tell me how I respond to this!" Edward snapped. Because he refused to let his father tell him how he was supposed to act when he was grieving his brother, when he was just finding out this news. "Get your hands OFF OF ME!" Edward roared, pulling himself away from his father. "You announced it without James here? Are you seriously that heartless?" He and his brother argued more than they got along but he would always have his back when it came to it. But he couldn't believe this. He couldn't believe that they would let him walk into this building with the amount of press that was bound to be at the other side of the door. "Your son died and you don't even think about the one that is still alive? Are you SERIOUS?!" He was frustrated and trying to kick out at whoever he could and it wasn't like he and his father hadn't had this kind of fight before.

JC MG CH EH BC: As he watched Alice, Jaxon saw the change in her whole demeanour change as she realised what it was that this meant, as she felt the weight of the situation. Alice was going to be queen and while it was never supposed to be this way, Jaxon was sure that she was going to be absolutely incredible. He wished that this wasn't the way but he was already proud of her for how she was acting. He knew that he shouldn't think that way but he couldn't help but think that the two of them wouldn't have a moment together for a long time now. Jaxon had no idea if he would even be her bodyguard for much longer. Being the bodyguard to the Princess was very different to being the bodyguard to the heir apparent. "Maybe people need to take a step outside? A step away?" Jaxon suggested. He knew it wasn't his place but this situation was only going to escalate the longer they stood there.

JC MG CH EH BC: Matt wished that there was more that he could do for James. He wished that he had some way with the palace, so that he could make sure that they didn't announce it until James was back there. He couldn't believe that anyone would think that,t hat was a good idea. "I know." Matthew sighed. He shifted a little in his seat, not sure what to do .He didn't know if he should do more to help James or if this was something that he needed to go through before he could face the public. "We're just a couple minutes away." He sighed. He figured that the other probably needed a warning. Matthew could already see the media that was parked outside of the palace.

OT AH HK FC JH VR: Frankie felt something inside of her break as the king told her she wasn't allowed to see Alfred, that she had to stay there. She didn't understand how they expected her to be strong and keep it together, when she wasn't even allowed to see him. She wasn't even going to be allowed to tell him everything she needed to before people got their hands on him, before they changed him and made him look ready. She wanted to see Alfred, her Alfred. Not the future king, dressed in his uniform, ready to go. "Francesca, I'm sorry. But you must understand." The queen told her softly, shaking her head. Frankie shook her head; she didn't understand, she would never. "I have to go. I can't - I have to go." She pushed past the people in her way, heading out of the doors of the drawing room and breaking into a run, not even realising where she was going before she found herself outside Alfred's door. His quarters. She placed her hands on the door, doubled over with the strength of her crying. She wanted to badly to push open the doors and see him in there, to find out this had all been a sick joke... But she couldn't bring herself to open them. Because she knew he wasn't going to be in there.

OT AH HK FC JH VR: "Nothing." Hugo shook his head, admitting defeat - he didn't think any good was going to come from Caroline seeing those pictures, but he wasn't going to stop her. He knew from the look on her face that it had been a mistake, but he also knew that if this were him - he would probably want to see, too. He would want to know, need to know what had happened. He tried to reach for the bin as she spoke, but Caroline got their first; and as ridiculous as it seemed, he was glad she'd made it in time, because he could only imagine the kings reaction. If they were telling Alice to keep herself together, what would they think of Caroline throwing up everywhere?

OT AH HK FC JH VR: Verity spun around as soon as she heard Caroline, instinctively swiping the girls hair out of her face and rubbing her back gently; she was her best friend and their moves were so in sync they barely had to think about it anymore. She just wanted to look after her. "Could somebody get her some water?" She asked gently, looking over to Otis. She didn't want to boss him around, but she just wanted to do something, to be helpful in some way. She looked up as Jaxon spoke, nodding her head. She thought the best thing they could do would be to get Eddy out of there right now, before he did something stupid... But she had no idea if she'd be able to convince him. "Get out of my sight, you insolent boy! How dare you!" His father snapped, turning so that he didn't have to face his youngest son. "Eds... Do you want to go? We can go for a walk, we can go and sit down, I don't... Anything." She whispered, reaching out to put a hand tentatively on his shoulder.

OT AH HK FC JH VR: It was as though a switch had been flipped within Alice; the hurt and pain and anger she felt was still there, she still felt it so desperately... But the best thing she felt as though she could do to honour her brother right now, was to do what he would've done. Be the perfect royal. Lead the way for the others. Act like the woman who was to become the future queen. "Eddy, please calm down. Please." She sighed, looking at her little brother sadly. She understood so well how he was feeling, but she didn't think any good was going to come from this. She looked up as she heard Jaxon, nodding her head. "I'd like a minute. Would that be okay?" She looked to her mother and then her father, who nodded. "Will you come with me, Jaxon?" She didn't think it was an unusual request, he was her bodyguard after all - and she just needed his comfort right now.

OT AH HK FC JH VR: James felt completely and utterly betrayed; he'd always felt as though his parents didn't care for him the same way they did for the others, as though he had more to prove... And now the whole world knew about Alfred before he could even get there and see his family, before he even had a chance to process what had happened. He nodded as Matthew spoke, feeling his stomach lurch as the car pulled up in front of the palace. "I can't do this..." He muttered, hands clenching his own thighs tightly. He knew that he had to, though. He needed to. He cleared his throat, pulling open the car door and shielding his face from the cameras with his hands. He broke into a run, knowing that by tomorrow videos would be everywhere, not partly not caring for once in his life. He just wanted to get inside.

JC MG CH EH BC: Beatrice shook her head even as the Queen spoke to them. She couldn't understand this. It wasn't fair. Alfred had died so suddenly and Frankie deserved to see him. She deserved to have this be made real for her. She hated that this had to be how it was for her. As Frankie left, Beatrice wondered if she should go after her or if she should leave her be. She decided on the latter. She figured that if this was her, then she would want a little bit of time on her own as well. She thought that her sister needed some time to get her head wrapped around all of this. And even as she thought it, she heard the door and thought it might be her sister coming back. She sighed as she saw it was James. "James..." Beatrice whispered, stepping up so he knew that she was there if he felt like he needed someone. She could only imagine how any of this felt. It was hard enough being in the room when it was announced, never mind having to hear it else where, have to walk through the throngs of people outside of the palace.

JC MG CH EH BC: Caroline hated this. She hated feeling so out of control in a situation with her family but she couldn't think to keep herself under control. Because this felt too much. This whole situation felt too much. "Thank you." Caroline whispered to Verity. She sat back in her chair, closing her eyes for a moment. But whenever she did that, she just saw the photo. She hated that that was circling, that people were giving that attention. She hated that her cousin was going to be reduced to the car crash that took his life and not the incredible man that they all knew him to be. How could this be real? "I need some air." Caroline sighed, standing up on shaky legs. "I'll be back in a moment, okay?" She whispered to Hugo. She glanced over at Otis for a second before she left the room. She headed towards the gardens. She could hear the people gathered around the front of the palace and it only made her cry harder. She didn't know if they were fellow mourners or if they were there to get pictures of the royal family in this time but she didn't care. It made everything a little more real.

JC MG CH EH BC: Edward shook his head. "I'm not going anywhere." He huffed, standing up to his father. Deep down, he knew that it was probably best for him to not be there. It was probably best that he left that room and didn't come back until he had calmed down. But he refused to let his father boss him around right now. His brother was dead. He was allowed to react however it was that he felt like he needed to react. As he saw James coming through the doors, though, Edward shook his head. "Your turn to deal with him now." He huffed, nodding at their father. He moved so that he could rest against the wall. He wasn't going to miss this. He was pretty sure whatever was going to happen between James and the King was going to be fireworks, "We had no choice. We couldn't wait for you to get back here. We needed to get out in front of it." The King explained. "And I do not want to hear another word about it."

JC MG CH EH BC: Jaxon was proud but worried about Alices reaction. Because he thought that it made sense. He thought that this was probably exactly how she was supposed to respond ... but she shouldn't have too. She should be allowed to be a person with feelings. She should be allowed to grieve for her brother however it was that she wanted to grieve for him. Jaxon nodded his head, "Yeah. Yes, of course." He had no idea what would happen but he wanted to be able to comfort her, to let her cry when she needed it. He hated that she had to put on some kind of face for the public but he hoped that she knew that she didn't need to do it when it was just the two of them.

JC MG CH EH BC: "I'll be right behind you. Alright. You can absolutely do this." Matt nodded. Because that was all he could say, all he could think to stay. He and James were friends but they weren't this kind of friend. They didn't do the mushy stuff. He just hoped that his friend knew that he meant well, that he wanted to be there for the other. He hopped out of the car after his friend, just wanting to make sure that James knew that he was there. He stayed outside of the room, though. He didnt want to intrude on whatever it was that was going on in there. He didn't think that it was his place.

OT AH HK FC JH VR: Verity nodded as Caroline thanked her, squeezing her friends arm gently; she knew they would talk about everything at some point, but she knew that point wasn't right now. Caroline wasn't ready and Verity didn't know what to say; if she wasn't being made to stay in the palace, she thought she would probably go home and wait for one of them to need her... But she had no choice. There was so much paparazzi outside, she could already hear them and she was sure none of them would be allowed to leave anytime soon. She turned quickly as she heard somebody coming in, her heart hurting as she saw James - it was obvious just by the look on his face that he was broken, that he had struggled and she knew that he had walked past every single camera, every single journalist and she couldn't imagine how hard that was. She could only imagine how this conversation was going to go.

OT AH HK FC JH VR: James had known where they would all be and he hadn't stopped running until he got to the door; he was a mess, breathless and tear streaked, his hair standing up on all ends... But he didn't care. He had no idea how he would feel when he saw his family, his parents... But as he opened the door and saw his father, all he felt was rage. Hot, blinding rage and as the other man started to speak, it only got worse. "Don't you DARE try and excuse yourself to me, father! You don't get to tell me what ot do, you don't get to not face up to what you did!" He was screaming, he had never been like this to his father but he had never felt anger like this before. "I was minutes away when that announcement came out! Minutes! You could've waited and you chose not to. You didn't care. You only cared about him, father. Not me, not Edward. You couldn't even let me be here when the rest of the world found out. You are unforgivable."

OT AH HK FC JH VR: Otis wasn't quite sure what to do with himself, especially as he watched Caroline leaving - but he saw her glance at him and he couldn't help wondering if she wanted him to follow, if that was a subtle way of her telling him she just needed a moment with somebody who wasn't a part of her family. "I'm going to make sure the Princess is okay." He told the royals with a nod, straightening his tie before he walked out after her. "Caroline?" He called softly, following her out to the gardens. "I'm sorry, you can tell me to go back inside if you want but I thought - maybe you would want some company?"

OT AH HK FC JH VR: "Thank you." Alice nodded, waiting for Jaxon to lead the way before she followed - that was the proper way, after all. She had always been the girl that felt everything; the sensitive one. Her brothers would make her cry with the simplest of jokes, she would be sobbing over Christmas adverts, wiping her eyes over beautiful songs in musicals... But ever since her mother had reminded her of her duty, of who she needed to be... She felt as though there was something blocking the tears. She still felt every bit as sad, as broken, but she just couldn't show it. In a way, she was glad. She nodded at Matt waiting outside of the room, waiting until she and Jaxon were around the corner and on their own before she looked up at him. She had no idea what to say, she just wanted to be with him.

JC MG CH EH BC: It was very rare that James and Edward saw eye to eye but he definitely felt like they were on the same page with this. Their father didn't care about them. "Don't you come into this room and speak to me like this. You wretched child!" The king growled. It was like he couldn't understand why his younger sons were reacting this way. "I lost my son tonight!" The King roared, in a voice that Edward didn't think that she had ever heard before. It was so full of pain, of hopelessness. But even that couldn't shake how he felt as he looked at his father. He didn't understand how the other man could stand there and talk to his sons like that, when it was so clear that Edward and James were hurting too. "We're your sons too. And you don't even care." Edwards huffed, rolling his eyes. He thought that it was so clear that his father didn't care about the two of them. He didn't even know why his parents would continue to have children after Alfred, after they had their heir. Because it seemed so clear to him that Aldred was the only one they cared about.

JC MG CH EH BC: Beatrice didn't think that she had a place in that room anymore but she didn't want to leave. She didn't want to leave James on his own without someone by his side. He was her friend and she needed to look out for him. She took a step back, simply observing the argument between a son and his father. But it was only as the king shouted back, that Beatrice decided to step up. She didn't want her friend doing something, saying something that was going to ruin things completely. She wanted to make sure that James could be in a space where he could express feelings however he wanted to express his feelings. "Lets get out of here." Beatrice whispered, looking up at her friend, "James, come on. Your father - there's no talking to him. We can go somewhere? Away from the rest of them?"

JC MG CH EH BC: Caroline didn't know if she wanted to be alone or if she had wanted someone to follow after her but as she heard Otis' voice, she was glad about that. She felt relieved, knowing it was him who had followed her outside. She loved Hugo but how she felt when she was around him was very different to how she felt when she was around Otis. It was different and she wasn't completely sure why. "Otis..." Caroline whispered, but she shook her head. She didn't have any other words. She crumbled against him. She knew that it wasn't proper. She knew that the two of them shouldn't act like this but Otis was more than just staff. He was a friend. And right now, that was all that she could think about. Her friend, Otis.

JC MG CH EH BC: Like Alice, Jaxon nodded as they passed Matthew. He didn't know the other very well but he knew that he couldn't be trusted. He didn't really know if anyone was trusted. There was a reason why Alfred had been the only person to know about what had happened. Jaxon knew that what had happened would hit him later, when he was alone. Right now, he had a job to do. "What can I do?" He asked her. He would do anything for her. He hoped that she knew that. Jaxon didn't want to do anything that would make her bolt, that would make her clam up. He wanted her to tell him what it was that she needed right now. They had a lot to discuss, he thought. But he also thought that, that could wait for a later date. They didn't need to talk about everything right now.

OT AH HK FC JH VR: "You're not the only one who lost someone, father! We all did! He wasn't just yours!" James roared, fists clenching at his sides. He wasn't a violent man, not by any means, but he had no idea what he'd do right now. He had never felt like this before. "Of course he doesn't care. You know what? If this was Edward or I, I doubt there'd even be an announcement. He might show up at the funeral for an hour or two, if we were lucky. Just to save face." He laughed bitterly, shaking his head. "I will never forgive you for this, father. Never." James promised - and he meant every word of it. Even if they got past this, even though they were going to have to put up a united front for the public; James knew he was never, ever going to be able to forget this. "Fine." He told Beatrice, nodding his head before he turned and began to make his way out of the room. He didn't even want to look at his father right now.

OT AH HK FC JH VR: Like Beatrice, Verity absolutely felt as though she shouldn't be there anymore - but she couldn't leave Edward on his own, not like this. Until he told her to leave, she was going to be there, even if it was vastly uncomfortable to witness this altercation between James and his father. She felt so sad as she heard the middle Howard speak; it was clear he meant what he was saying, he really didn't think his father cared. And Verity wasn't sure if he was right or not. She moved forwards then, taking one of Edward's hands in hers. "You don't have to be here. We can go. You can go." She told him quietly; she just wanted to remind him that if he didn't want to be around his father right now, they could go. Wherever he wanted. She knew they weren't supposed to leave the palace, but if he wanted her to - Verity would fight off the paparazzi herself.

OT AH HK FC JH VR: When Otis and Caroline had first struck up a friendship, his father had warned him that it wasn't proper - his father and the king had become friends after years of loyal service, but it was different. They weren't boy and girl, they weren't young and reckless and whatever else. But he just loved being around Caroline, he thought she was amazing - and over time, his feelings had grown a little, but he was never going to address that. He was staff and she had a boyfriend and he was happy just being around her. A wave of sadness washed over him as she said his name and he wrapped his arms around her instantly, as tightly as he could. "I know... I know." He whispered, stroking her hair gently with one hand. It was all he could do, even though he knew it wasn't right - he could get in trouble for behaving this way when he was working, but he didn't care. He just wanted to comfort his friend.

OT AH HK FC JH VR: Alice shook her head at Jaxon's question; she really didn't know if there was anything at all he could do. So many things were running around her head in that moment; her brother was gone, she was going to be the queen... and effectively, that meant the end for she and Jaxon. She thought they both knew that. With Alfred on the throne, they'd had a chance; but her family were never going to allow that to happen, him to be king and that meant it was the end. She had lost everything in the space of one night, most of all her best friend and big brother. "I have so much to do. I'm going to need to make a statement in the morning, as the new heir apparent. We all need to make an appearance. Somebody will need to make sure James and Eddy don't strangle my father and I..." She sighed, shaking her head and looking up at Jaxon sadly. "Will you just hold me? For a moment." She said softly, shrugging her shoulders before she wrapped her arms around his middle, sighing quietly.

JC MG CH EH BC: Beatrice definitely didn't blame James and Edward for acting the way that they were with their father. It was like he was only thinking about how he felt about this whole thing, about what he needed. And he wasn't letting his children be exactly that - children. They'd lost their big brother. It was going to tear them completely apart and they weren't allowed. It broke her heart. "Okay." Beatrice nodded. "Alright. Lets go." She sighed. She had no idea where the two of them would go but she thought that getting James away from his father was the most important thing to do. "Alright, what do you need? You wanna go to your room? Spend some time in privacy? Do you want to break stuff? I can get you some stuff to break?" She asked, wanting to do whatever she could. She couldn't help her sister so she wanted to help James. She just had no idea where she could even start.

JC MG CH EH BC: Like James, Edward didn't know what he would do to his father. He didn't know how he was going to be able to stand there and deal with this man. The longer that he stood there, the more annoyed Edward became. "I don't want to be near him ever again." Edward spat at his father before he turned to Verity. "Can we go to your place?" He knew that they were supposed to stay there, they were supposed to show a unified front but he didn't want too. He didn't want to be anywhere near his father. "No-one is allowed to leave this palace!" The king shouted. But Edward wasn't listening. He took a hold of Veritys hand and he just hoped that she was willing to bend the rules with him as well.

JC MG CH EH BC: This wasn't proper, Caroline knew that. This wasn't proper and yet she couldn't pull herself away from him. She needed his support. She needed someone. Otis had been in her life for such a long time. He was one of her constants. And she needed his support right now. She loved Hugo. He was one of her favourite people. They understood one another better than she thought anyone had ever understand each other ... but how she felt around Otis was completely different. She felt so safe when she was around him. And it was because of that, that she felt like she could completely break down in front of him. "I don't understand how this has happened, how he's just gone." She whispered, her voice shaking a little. She couldn't stop crying.

JC MG CH EH BC: Jaxon had no idea what it was that was going to happen after tonight but he thought that he and Alice could at least have a moment together. "None of that matters right now, Alice. None of it. What matters is what you need right now. What you need to do to grieve your brother." Because he didn't think that she was going to get many moments to be by herself, to be able to grieve. He thought that if he could give her a moment now, then it was important. "Of course." He nodded before he stepped a little closer to her and wrapped his arms around her. He would do whatever she took but he needed her to know that he was there, that he would always be there. No matter what happened between them, he would be there for her, no matter what.

OT AH HK FC JH VR: James had never felt much of a connection with his parents, either of them - but especially his father. He'd always wanted the other to be proud of him, he'd wanted him to see how much potential he had, but he'd never seemed to... And right now, looking at the other was like looking at a stranger. James couldn't even remember if they'd ever hugged before, if his father had ever told him he loved him. He'd said it to Alice, he knew that. Probably Alfred too. But never him. "I don't want to break anything." James snapped, shaking his head. He knew Beatrice was trying to help, but that just sounded childish to him. He didn't need to do that, he wasn't that out of control. "I just want to go to my room." He nodded, starting to walk that way. He didn't mind if she came or not, he just knew he didn't want to be around the others right now.

OT AH HK FC JH VR: Verity knew that they weren't allowed to leave, she knew how much trouble they would get in if they walked out of the palace right now... But even so, she nodded her head as Edward spoke, ignoring the protesting from the king and queen around them. "Let's go." She nodded, squeezing his hand gently and beginning to walk through the door. If Edward needed to get out of here right now, then she would make it happen, whatever the cost. "There's a lot of people out there, Ed." She whispered to him as they neared the front of the palace; she could hear them all, people talking, shouting their names, the cameras flashing. She knew some of them would be well wishers, fellow mourners... But some wouldn't be. And she was still willing to go, she just wanted him to be aware of what they were about to walk out to.

OT AH HK FC JH VR: No matter what his feelings for Caroline were, right now Otis knew what she needed more than anything was a friend - and that was what he was there as. "It doesn't make any sense." He agreed, nodding his head. He couldn't put together the fact that he'd seen Alfred only that morning, they had laughed about something they'd seen on the TV, he'd brought him his morning tea... And now he was gone. Never coming back. It was a nightmare, except Otis knew they weren't going to wake up from this. "I'm so sorry, Caroline." He whispered, still holding her tightly against him, just wanting to give her any sort of comfort - even if he knew they shouldn't be standing this close, he shouldn't be showing this kind of physical comfort to the princess.

OT AH HK FC JH VR: "I can't. Not right now." Alice shook her head, swallowing past the lump in her throat. She knew that nobody but her family would understand, nobody would get that she didn't have time to let herself grieve and feel right now, because there was too much to do. There were plans to be planned, speeches to make, flowers to lay and she was going to be the figurehead of everything. Her father had always told them that when you were the heir to the throne, when you were in line to take over, you had to separate yourself into two people - yourself and the Queen or King. They couldn't be the same person; your royal self couldn't feel the things that you felt. Alice knew she needed to work on that, because right now she still felt too much. She sighed as Jaxon's arms went around her, feeling safe and comforted for the very first time tonight. "I love you, Jaxon." She whispered into his chest. She wanted him to know that; because she really thought this was going to be it for them now.

JC MG CH EH BC: Being an outsider to the royal family, Beatrice felt like she was able to observe them a little more and it was clear to her how overlooked James was at all times - Eddy too, but especially James. And because of that, she wanted to protect him a little more than the others. She knew that he was big enough and old enough to fight his own battles but she didn't think that many people were in his corner. She wanted to be. "It was just a suggestion." Beatrice retorted, scoffing. Though she wasn't about to comment further on that. She didn't know what she would want to do if she was in James' position. It was impossible to know how anyone would react. As he started to walk away from her, Beatrice wondered if she should stay where she was. But she figured that if James didn't want her around, he would've told her. So she followed after him. She knew that she needed to find her sister soon but she thought that she could spend a little time with James before she had to leave him on his own. "What they did was abhorrent." Beatrice commented. "They should have waited for you. I'm sorry that they didn't."

JC MG CH EH BC: The only thing that gave Edward hesitation about leaving was the potential of seeing his brother. He wanted to see Alfred so badly. He wanted to look over his brothers face and take in what had happened and he knew that, if he left, his father could hold this against him. The King could stop him from getting to see the Prince at all. He turned his attention to Verity as she spoke, though."Give me your keys." Edward muttered, holding his hand out to Verity. He didn't want to go out there until he knew that they had a short dash to the car. He didn't want to have to battle through a million different people. He didn't want to make things harder on Alice - with her becoming the heir apparent - but he couldn't stay in that place. He couldn't be near his father.

JC MG CH EH BC: In the back of her mind, Caroline knew that the person she should be like this with was Hugo. She couldn't imagine how he felt, stood in the drawing room with her aunt and uncle and the rest of her family. And it was that thought which, finally, made her pull away from Otis with a sigh. If she was some other girl - not a royal - she would stay in his arms for as long as he would let her. But she knew that she wasn't allowed, that she shouldn't. She had a boyfriend back in the palace. She needed to be with him, to show a united front with her family. She stood up a little straighter then and wiped the tears from her face. "Thank you. For coming out here." She whispered, as she looked back up at Otis, "But we should probably go back inside." It was like a switch had been flicked. The switch that her family had been drilling into her for her entire life. She was sure that they wouldn't let the night end without some kind of speech and she knew that she needed to pull herself together so that she could be there for that - so she could be there for Alice and the rest of her cousins.

JC MG CH EH BC: Jaxon sighed as she protested but he didn't say anything further. How could he? It was clear that Alice had some imagine of the crown, of what she needed to be, that he just didn't understand. He couldn't understand how a man could shout and treat his children the way that he had when they were so clearly grieving their brother. Jaxon thought that Edward and James had just acted like any normal person would. But, he supposed, that was the point. "I love you too, Alice." He whispered, kissing the top of her head. He had no idea what was going to happen between them. He had no clue if they were going to ever be able to be together again, if he was even going to be her bodyguard tomorrow so he was treating this last moment together as a goodbye. If this was all that they had, then he wanted to remember every last moment of it.

OT AH HK FC JH VR: After he'd let himself into his room, James wasn't completely sure what to do with himself. The anger just felt too much now that there was nobody to direct it at and he was starting to realise that he was actually never going to see his brother again. "I know." He muttered quietly in response to Beatrice, sitting on the end of his bed and putting his head in his hands. "How did they tell you all?" He asked, looking up at her and raising an eyebrow. He felt as if he needed to know, as though finding out how he was supposed to find out would give him some kind of closure.

OT AH HK FC JH VR: Verity nodded, realising what Edward's plan was - they had to head straight for the car, they couldn't give the press a moment of their attention because that was exactly what they wanted. They wanted a reaction out of them, they wanted to see them cry. She rifled in her bag for a couple of seconds, pulling out her keys and handing them to him. "Here." She muttered, pressing them into his hand and looking towards the door. "Ready?" She asked, holding out her hand to him. She thought they would maybe regret this tomorrow, but that was tomorrows problem - Edward was allowed to deal however he wanted and nothing would take her away from his side.

OT AH HK FC JH VR: Otis almost felt the switch in Caroline as she pulled away and he cleared his throat slightly, smoothing down his uniform and trying to make himself look professional again. "No, of course - it's absolutely fine. I just wanted to make sure you were okay." He nodded his head. He had no idea they'd been seen, no idea anybody at all had taken a photo of them. "Of course. Let's go." His duty right now was to be there for the royals, whatever they needed - and he knew that meant heading back upstairs and taking whatever orders he was given. He was sure that by the end of tonight, the family would've had to have spoken out to the country and they would need all the support they could get.

OT AH HK FC JH VR: Although she hadn't said anything, Alice hated how her father had treated her brothers; she hated that the announcement had been put out without James being there with them and she wished her father could display some more sympathy towards his own sons on a night like this, but she knew there was no way she could address it now. There was no way. She had to be in control, she had to think about all there was to do... Except right now, all she could think about was that this was probably the last real moment she and Jaxon would ever spend together. From tomorrow, they would be princess and bodyguard again and nothing would ever be the same. She closed her eyes as he kissed her head, before she leaned up and kissed him gently, waiting a second before pulling away. "I'm going to go back in."

JC MG CH EH BC: Beatrice could only imagine how it felt to feel like the black sheep of the family - as she was sure that James did. And she didn't think that anyone could blame him for feeling like that, either. Alice was the only girl. Edward was the party boy that was forever in the press. Alfred had been the heir apparent. James had been the one that they forgot about. She sighed as he questioned her but she knew that she couldn't deny him. Not now. "They called us all to the drawing room where your mother and father were." Beatrice started. "He told us that they'd had a terrible call and that Alfred had been in an accident and that it had been fatal." She wished that she didn't have to repeat those words but if it was the one thing that she could give James right now, now then she was happy to do it. "Edward didn't believe them - I don't think he believes them even now. Frankie - She wanted to see him but your - The King said no." It was clear by her tone how she felt about that decision. "Alice and Edward tried to get them to wait for you to come home . But he didn't tell them that the announcement had gone out until afterwards. They didn't have much of a chance."

JC MG CH EH BC: Edward knew that this was going to put more bad press on him and just annoy his father further but in that moment, he didn't really care. If his father wouldn't give him what he wanted - if he wouldn't let him see his brother - then he wasn't going to comply with the others rules. Especially when he didn't understand why they were in place in the first place. So the public see them upset, so what? He had just lost his big brother. Why was it such an issue if the public saw them as really people? "Ready." Edward nodded as he took a hold of Veritys hand. He knew that they needed to be quick. He just wanted to get to her place and be done with it. Edward was almost certain that there would be people waiting there for them, too, though.

JC MG CH EH BC: If she had it her way, then Caroline would stay there with Otis for a long, long time but she knew that, that probably wasn't practical. That people would come looking for them sooner or later and they couldn't let anyone find them like this. Because it would raise more questions than it was worse and she never wanted to let Otis be in a position where it could make things difficult for him. "Thank you." She whispered to him before she turned around and started to walk back into the palace. She had no idea what the state of affaires were in there and if it wasn't for what she feared was going to come, then she wouldn't be going back at all. But if they were going to make Alice make a speech, then Caroline wanted to be there for the other girl. She thought that it was important for them to be there.

JC MG CH EH BC: The Prince had meant a great deal to all of them. Jaxon didn't know anyone who thought badly of him and that was why he hated what had happened so much. It didn't quite feel like it had hit him yet, though. He thought that he needed a moment to himself. A moment away from the royals to process everything that had happened tonight and to figure out a plan going forwards. That was why he simply nodded his head as Alice said she was going to go back inside. "Okay. I'll follow in a second." Jaxon nodded.

#chatzy #royals

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