Spencer watched the Queen as she laughed merrily at the texts from her new secret boyfriend. He'd had to cover for her the whole day whilst she'd been off in Paris and was now feeling more than a little slighted. As if to add insult to injury, when he'd brought up the topic with Helena she'd told him to decide if he really wanted to work for her and been totally dismissive of his feelings.

That wasn't his Helena.

And he wasn't going to let her get her heart broken by this Jack Parker guy.

He'd already witnessed the fall out from Alaistar Lacey and he cared about the Queen too much to let that happen again.

He knew he could trust Mr Hill. Whilst most of it was just rumour and speculation amongst the staff, everyone knew that James had been involved in Princess Eleanor's relationship with her ex-bodyguard- something about writing letters- and of course, Sara Alice had been asked for relationship advice by the young couple on several occasions.

Spencer knocked on the door of the head of security's office.

"Good morning," James said, "How can I help you?"

"Hi, I was wondering if you could look into someone," Spencer inquired, "Jack Parker, he's an American investor, from Los Angeles, California."

"Jack Parker," James said, "Bit of common name. Do you have anything more on him? What does he invest in? Does he own a second home or travel somewhere a lot of business?"

"Paris," Spencer said, "He owns an apartment in Paris, close to the Eiffel Tower."

"Good," James replied, "Might I ask why you want me to do a background search?"

"He's been getting closer to the Queen," Spencer admitted with a sigh, "I thought it important we found out for certain that the man isn't a psychopathic lunatic."

James nodded, "Fair enough. I'll get on it right away."

Spencer smiled, "Thank you."

BREAK_BREAK_BREAK_BREAK

"This is the least Princessy thing I've ever done," Eleanor said, before biting into a Big Mac, as she, Jasper, Rosie and Sara Alice sat in the car park of a McDonalds.

"We couldn't exactly go in," Jasper said, "The Princess, in a McDonalds, it would be scandalous."

Eleanor grinned, "Well, I think we've been going wrong for years. This is so good! I don't know why we didn't put the royal endorsement on McDonalds."

"Are you seriously telling me this is the first time you've had McDonalds in your whole life?" Rosie asked.

Eleanor nodded, "Yeah, Mum didn't like us eating junk food. I'm even rationed to three rashers of bacon a week."

Sara Alice looked at the Princess in disbelief as she played with her Happy Meal toy, "But you're the Princess! Surely you can have whatever you want?"

Eleanor shook her head, "No, even princesses have their rules to follow. My diet is decided by the royal chef- plenty of fruit and veg and fish. Can't have the Princess getting fat now, can we?"

Jasper shook his head, "Your family would die if they did a tour of the US."

"Maybe that's why they left the Empire," Rosie added, "To finally get some good food. I mean Full English is great, but the burgers out there- way,way better than McDonalds."

"Yeah, but don't they have weird bacon?" Eleanor asked.

Jasper shrugged, "Of course, bacon would be a deal breaker."

Eleanor grinned,"So did you enjoy going back home?"

Jasper shook his head, "It was just business."

Eleanor nodded understandingly, of course, the US just reminded Jasper of his demons.

"Does Prince Liam know you're back yet?" Rosie asked.

"Er, no," Jasper said, suddenly remembering, and reaching for his phone, "I was supposed to be meeting him for lunch, sh- shabang!"

Sara Alice gave Jasper a look like he was crazy, whilst Eleanor and Rosie tried not to laugh.

Jasper scrolled through his phone and unsurprisingly had received a string of texts from James and Liam.

Most of Liam's were asking where he was, before the Prince had finally given up and decided that he must be either cosying up to Eleanor or kidnapped by Sara Alice or his flight had been delayed.

The others from James weren't so nice. Most of them telling him to get his lazy Princess loving backside back to the palace immediately and actually do his job. But there was one message that got his interest.

'Sorry about my rant, Jasper, I need you to return to the Palace immediately. Shit has just his the fan big time.'

BREAK_BREAK_BREAK_BREAK

Liam slammed the door to the family gym open to reveal Robert.

"Did you do this?!" Liam yelled explosively.

"Calm down, Sparrow," Robert said, "Whatever it is, it's unlikely I've done it because I've been in the gym all of this week, or out with Kathryn, or managing a ton of charity arrangements. I haven't had the time to be involved in petty stupidity."

"Well someone told Crenshaw about Leni and Jasper," Liam said, "And not just the fact that he was a thief, or that his parents were thieves, literally everything!"

Robert frowned inquisitively, "What do you mean literally everything? How much more do I not know?"

Liam sighed, knowing it was better Robert heard this from his brother than from a newspaper, "Jasper. He's done a lot of er, inappropriate things. But before you have him strung up and arrested, just remember the guy his is now, and how great he's been for Len, and that he found out about Dad's killer and the guy who tried to kill you. And that he made the Len the most adorable Christmas present."

"Ok, what do I need to know?" Robert asked with a nervous sigh.

"Well, when he arrived here," Liam began, "He was in a deal with Samantha Cook, the daughter of this big Las Vegas conman to steal the Koh-I-Noor, he became Eleanor's security detail and of course, she, uh, initiated him into palace life. She threatened to fire him, and then he pretended he had a sex tape of her."

Robert sighed, "The damn bastard!"

"Then he slept with our mother," Liam added nervously, "Because she found out about his past."

Robert gave Liam a shocked and exasperated look, "And you're telling me that we have to like this guy? And then Len is love with this literal mother-fucker?"

"He did so he could be stay close to Len," Liam said, "Yeah, I know. It's a really shit reason. But he's tried to turn things around. When Mandy, I mean Samantha Cook turned up, he prevented her stealing the Koh-I-Noor."

"And you're telling me that Crenshaw now knows about all of this?" Robert asked, "How?"

"I don't know," Liam said, "But it explains why Jasper broke up with Eleanor and has been gone for two weeks. He's probably been doing some damage control. Oh, and also, an article about Jasper's father was released at the same time."

"Fucking journalists," Robert despaired.

"You need to see this," Liam said.

Robert looked at the image of Liam's phone, "Fucking hell!"

BREAK_BREAK_BREAK_BREAK

"HOW THE HELL COULD THIS HAVE HAPPENED?!" Eleanor yelled, tears streaming down her face as James gave a sympathetic look.

"The Queen, your mother, is doing damage control," James said, "And we will be arresting whoever reported this or informed the media on account of treason. Princess, everything will be ok."

"OK?!" Eleanor yelled, "The whole world now knows that my ex-boyfriend is a con-man from Las Vegas who had blackmail sex with me and slept with my mother!"

"I have to admit that the situation is complicated," James replied, "But we are trying our best-."

"DON'T YOU SEE THAT EVERYTHING IS RUINED NOW?!" Eleanor yelled, "The people aren't going to put up with this, they'll abolish the monarchy, and that we'll just be some shit-show family living on some council housing estate with no future…"

"Princess, that won't happen," James said, "But I need you to tell me if you've told anyone about any of this at any time. Even Sara Alice."

"What you seriously think I'd tell your daughter that Mr Caterpillar slept with my mother?" Eleanor asked in disbelief.

"What about Beckwith?" James asked.

Eleanor shook her head, "No. I wouldn't ever tell him that. This stuff was private. Except, no, it couldn't be."

"Rosie?" James asked.

Eleanor shook her head, "No, Sebastian. He asked me about Jasper and I's past and I told him everything. Literally everything. I thought I could trust him. I'm going to kill him!"

"Princess," James called after Eleanor as she stormed out the room.

But it was too late.

BREAK_BREAK_BREAK_BREAK

Sebastian waited outside of Eleanor's room, toying with his phone and letting only the faintest smile play on his lips.

The article had gone viral, right alongside another article about Jasper's father- which he assumed was Jasper's rubbish attempt at damage control.

"Hey, Len," Sebastian said, "What's up?"

The girl raced towards him, before slamming him back against the wall.

"You lying son of a bitch!" Eleanor yelled, before punching him squarely in the face, with enough force to break his nose, "How could you do that to me, to Jasper?! I trusted you!"

Sebastian laughed disbelievingly, "You'd seriously defend that worthless piece of trailer trash. Harper was right, you are an easy, little slut. I'm glad I sold you out to Crenshaw, if this is the way the British Royal Family is going then you don't deserve to be royal."

Eleanor slapped him again.

"Why?" Eleanor asked, "What did you hope to gain from this? Me?"

"Initially," Sebastian said, "But who would want a little slut like you. Oh I know, a guy who likes to watch you sleep, all creepy like, who also likes to sleep with your mum. You are right, you're not worthy of love."

Eleanor was about to take another swing at Sebastian when she stopped, shell-shocked, "You stole my letters?"

Tears glistened in her eyes.

Sebastian smiled, "Don't cry, Len. Crenshaw has them, and once he's finished publishing them, one every day of course, then he'll return them."

"I'M GOING TO END YOU!" Eleanor said, launching herself at Sebastian so forcefully that she knocked him to the ground, before punching him over and over.

These weren't weak and girly punches. In the three months since being clean Eleanor had not only stopped the drugs and cut down on the alcohol but she'd started training too. Months of not knowing who her father's killer was had made her realise just how weak she'd gotten. Whilst she never be muscular or anything but unnaturally skinny, she was stronger, strong enough to give Sebastian a few cracked ribs.

"Eleanor!" she heard a familiar voice yell, "Eleanor stop!"

But she was too blind with rage, it was only when she felt strong arms pull her away that she was able to snap out of that rage. That was when she started crying hysterically.

"Jasper, you take care of the Princess," James said, "I've left Sara Alice with Rosie, and I need to take Mr Idrisi to the police station."

"I'll help," Robert volunteered, "Can't let all my training go to waste. Jesus, Len, I never knew you could punch like that, well done, sis."

"Come on," James said, "I still have to call the Moroccan embassy to break the good news to them."

BREAK_BREAK_BREAK_BREAK

Eleanor didn't know how, but somehow she'd ended up in her bed in a clean pair of pyjamas, the TV playing Royal and Beautiful, not that she cared to notice it. Jasper sat beside her, gently washing her bruised and bloodied hands with a face cloth.

Eleanor knew that she was a mess and she also knew there would be no coming back from this.

"Jasper," Eleanor said in a voice barely above a whisper.

"Yes, Eleanor," Jasper said, face full of concern.

"I don't think I can do this anymore," Eleanor admitted, "I can't stay clean, it's too hard."

Jasper grabbed the TV remote, muting the programme, "No, you can Eleanor. I won't let you give up. Ever."

"I just don't want to feel any of this," Eleanor said, tears streaming down her cheeks, "It all feels too much to bare."

Jasper sighed, "You will be able to handle it. I'll help you. So will Liam, Robert, James, your Mum. Everyone."

Eleanor let out a shaky breath, "But we'll never have a chance now. We'll never be allowed to try again. You don't understand, Jasper. An American and a British Princess. That by itself is unpopular, throw in that he's fucked my mother and well you can imagine."

Jasper let out a shaky breath, there would never be a good time for this, but he needed to earn Len's trust, she needed him right now, and she needed to be able to trust him, "About that, I mean people who are sleeping with your mother…"

"You slept with her again?" Eleanor asked, betrayed.

Jasper shook his head, "No, God, no. After that night, it's only ever been you, Eleanor. No, I mean, Jack Parker, he's not Jack Parker. And he's not from Los Angeles either. He's from Angel Trailer Park-."

"HE'S YOUR FATHER?!" Eleanor asked, eyes wide with shock, "And he's been sleeping with my mother?"

Jasper nodded, eyes looking down in shame, "I'm sorry, Eleanor, so sorry."

"It's not your fault, Jasper," Eleanor said, "I bet it was that bitch of a reporter who set him up here. You couldn't have known."

Jasper nodded, "I guess that's true. But my past keeps on hurting you, and I feel powerless to stop it."

Eleanor nodded understandingly, "I guess if we can't hide it or run from it, or squash it down. Then we'll just have to face it, together."

"Together?" Jasper asked.

"Don't think I've completely forgiven you," Eleanor said, "But you've been there when I've needed you most, you stopped me killing that guy, you've looked after me, and you didn't have to tell me about your father, you could have gotten Liam or James to do, but instead you chose to be the one to tell me. You chose to be honest and open about something which must be so difficult for you. You're on the right path to earning my trust, Jasper, keep it up."

Jasper smiled, tears glistening in his eyes as he sensed that he was closer to getting his Princess back.

There was a knock on the door.

"I retrieved the letters from Mr Crenshaw," James announced, "And an official statement from Prince Sebastian revoking the claims made by the newspapers. They've printed an alternative article stating that it was all a messed up plan made up by the Prince to get you to marry him. A plan to disgrace your boyfriend."

"My boyfriend?" Eleanor asked, "So I'm guessing that part wasn't let out?"

"I couldn't leave that part out," James said, "Given one of your letters, with your handwriting, your highness, had been published."

"Shit!" Eleanor said.

"The people will know that Jasper has a shady past," James said, "There's nothing I can do about that. But as for the rest, it will been seen as nothing more than a dirty rumour from a foreign prince who overstepped his station. As for Jack Parker- I'm sorry, Martin Frost- he has been deported with a restraining order and an international arrest warrant."

"Good," Jasper said, "That's a perfect belated Christmas present for him."

Eleanor nodded, "So what can we do?"

"The Queen has arranged a meeting with another newspaper," James replied, "You and Jasper will meet with the interviewer, Mrs Johnson, at three, giving you an hour and a half to prepare. You will tell her that you two are dating and emphasise that fact that Jasper is a changed man. Oh, and may I offer some advice Princess?"

"You better," Eleanor said.

"Mention the storybook, and the letters, oh, and the painting dates," James answered, "Las Vegas grifter doesn't really fit in well with hyper-romantic couple of the year."

"You amuse me," Eleanor answered, "Ok, we'll play it that way."

"But what about if they ask about the pictures," Jasper said, "Do we mention Sara Alice?"

James pondered that for a moment, "You should mention her, yes, but no photos. And don't mention her name. Just mention that a little elf helped you out."

"So they'll start debating what kind of parents we'll be?" Eleanor asked.

"It's distraction techniques," James said, "And everyone likes the idea of a royal baby. You want to make it look like a modern day Cinderella story."

"I guess I'll have to get the mice to take the pumpkin carriage to the car wash," Jasper said, "And track down where Sara Alice put my tiara."

Eleanor laughed, "Ok, I think we can do this. Jasper?"

Jasper nodded, "No more running. I want to be honest."

BREAK_BREAK_BREAK_BREAK

Helena was drinking a large glass of brandy when Spencer walked in.

"Your majesty, I'm so sorry," Spencer began.

Queen Helena turned quickly to face him,"I know it was you who asked Mr Hill to investigate. I'm glad you did."

Spencer smiled, "I wasn't trying to make you miserable, I only wanted you to be safe. He seemed off, I thought maybe he'd been involved in tax avoidance or something like that I-."

Helena walked up to him, a flirtatious smile on her face, "Shut your god-damn mouth."

"No, you shut your mother," Spencer replied, before kissing his Queen.

BREAK_BREAK_BREAK_BREAK

Liam strolled into the breakfast diner, surprised that it was still open at this time of day, but not surprised to see Willow sitting at her usual spot near the cereal box art display.

"Liam!" Willow called out, with a vibrant smile, "Come here you! What a day, eh?"

Liam smiled, "Like you wouldn't believe."

"Apple Jacks will make it better," Willow said, passing him a cereal box, "If not, coco crispies are certain to fix the problem."

Liam grinned, "You're out of control."

"I know," Willow said, "But we all need to have some fun now and then. I know Robert coming back hasn't been easy on you. I could tell from the way you punched him at the boxing match. There's a big difference between brotherly banter and wanting to beat the living daylights out of someone. I'm sorry about what happened with Jasper and Eleanor too. I have to admit, they do look amazing together and that letter- who knew your sister was such a softy?"

Liam smiled, "I know, even I can't believe it. They have this exclusive interview this afternoon and James, our security detail, and my mum have been couching them into giving this insanely sappy account of their relationship."

Willow grinned, "What will they be calling it? You know the ship name?"

"Oh," Liam said, "Eleanor's already made one up- 'Jaspenor'."

Willow laughed, raising her mug of tea, "To Jaspenor."

"To Jaspenor," Liam repeated, "Willow, I've been meaning to ask, how are things with you and Maddon?"

"Er," Willow began, "He's good at mini-golf, but he's not really boyfriend material. We don't really have anything in common. I mean he's nice but, he's not you. I'm sorry, I shouldn't have been so blunt."

Liam smiled, "No I don't mind. It's what I wanted to hear. Do you want to do something tonight? I mean something other than getting wasted at that new night club in Chelsea."

Willow smiled nodding, "Yeah, I'd like that."

BREAK_BREAK_BREAK_BREAK

Jasper and Eleanor were waiting outside of the library nervously, holding hands. They had already gone over the pointers that Helena had given them but they felt anything but prepared. Eleanor could tell that Jasper was shaking, and realised that this of course was the first time he had ever been in the media. Even though he had been involved in #KingLiam the camera had never been directly on him. Eleanor squeezed his hand trying to reassure him.

Sara Alice was running along the corridor when she noticed the young couple and turned to face them with a beaming smile.

"Daddy said you have to talk to the nosey journalists," Sara Alice stated in a matter-of-fact tone, "So I thought I'd bring you something for luck."

Jasper grinned at the young girl, "Thank you, you didn't have to do that."

"Well, anyway," Sara Alice said, holding out a yellow soft toy, "Here you go."

Jasper took the toy regarding it with confusion.

"It's a minion, Jasper," Eleanor explained.

"And I chose Bell for you, Eleanor," Sara Alice said, passing Eleanor the Disney princess doll, "Because she looks most like you."

"Thank you," Eleanor said, hugging Sara Alice, "Now we'll be really really lucky."

Sara Alice smiled, "If all goes wrong you could just push the interviewer of the balcony I guess. Like you wanted to do with that Beck guy."

Eleanor gave Jasper a questioning look, before shaking her head.

"I've got to go now," Sara Alice said glumly, "I've got homework to do. But I'll see you later, I promise."

"Bye," Eleanor and Jasper said as Sara Alice waved merrily before running off.

The door to the library opened, "We're ready for you, please come in your highness, and er-"

"Jasper from Shoreditch," Eleanor said with a grin.

The journalist looked confused, "Shoreditch, I'm sorry I thought Mr Frost was from…"

"It's a family joke," Eleanor explained, "Jasper had to adopt a British accent to hide the fact that he was American, because you know his past and everyone else here being British. He also pretended he was from Shoreditch."

Jasper grinned awkwardly.

"So do you know London well now?" the journalist asked, "After all, you've been here how long?"

"A year and a half," Jasper said, "And at the palace a little over a year now. I know London well enough. Mostly the area around the Palace, the Embankment, Belgravia, South Kensington."

"So where all the fancy restaurants and shops are?" the journalist asked, "So you know where to go to get all the things your Princess needs."

Jasper nodded, "Something like that."

"So let's not avoid the skeleton in the closet," the journalist continued, "Your past. It must have been hard having that out in the media spotlight, and with such a fiasco happening at the same time."

Jasper nodded, "I actually chose to tell the media about my past. My father had tried to hurt Eleanor, to make us break up, and I wasn't going to just put up with it. I knew of a few crimes he was proud of and I felt that it was important that I didn't let those go unpunished. No matter the cost to myself. I knew people would always drag up the past otherwise, and they would never let Eleanor be happy. I just want Len to always be happy."

The journalist smiled, "Such a sacrifice. What about the Koh-I-Noor?"

"That was also regrettably true," Jasper said with a sigh, "I managed to stop Samantha running off with it. It's something I'd rather put behind me. Eleanor's forgiven me for everything and I'm so happy that she did. Our lives are so much better now."

The journalist smiled, "Yes, but we have far less to report about the princess now."

Eleanor grinned, "Well you have this, and the upcoming charity event. I'm no longer a party girl but that doesn't mean that I'm going to be invisible. I am grateful that Jasper helped me turn everything around. And of course I couldn't help but forgive him, Jasper's a softy, really sensitive at heart."

"Yes, not many guys would write love letters," the journalist continued.

"It was inspired," Eleanor mentioned, "Catherine de Valois and Owen Tudor. Catherine was a royal and Owen was her bodyguard. Let me just get something- this book- they used to hide letters in it. Eventually they got married and had two sons- one of them called Jasper, funnily enough."

The journalist smiled, "Well it's good that Jasper has a royal name. That will make everything easier with the other nobles. What does your family think of Jasper?"

"Well, he's Liam's security detail," Eleanor began, "And they're best mates, my Mum, she absolutely loves him, and she's always supported us, no matter what, Robert- he's always been protective of me, but once he knew that Jasper was the one who'd found out about Ted Pryce then he was completely ok with everything."

"Wait?" the journalist asked, "So you're saying Jasper was the one who found the King's killer?"

Eleanor nodded, "He knew how important it was for us to find out the truth and he did everything he could to make sure that happened."

Jasper smiled, and avoided the journalist's gaze, "Yeah, it's true."

"You must make a lot of the other bodyguards feel jealous then," the journalist added, "Not only did you get the Princess, you also found out the King's killer which is pretty impressive."

"I guess you could say I know how to play my cards well," Jasper said, "But no one was jealous, they've all been really supportive of Len and I."

"Well not everyone has been supportive," the journalist argued, "What was your reaction to the Prince Sebastian fiasco?"

"We were distraught obviously," Eleanor said, "Jasper's father had started to cause problems for us a few weeks ago, so Christmas was a hard time for us. We were just starting to sort things out when-. I can't believe anyone would be so cruel."

"It was despicable," Jasper added, "To even suggest that I slept with the Queen or blackmailed Eleanor. There will always be people who don't think I deserve to be with the Princess, that I'm not perfect for her, that it won't work. That isn't true. I understand that I'm always going to get haters- because I'm not of the same calibre as some of Eleanor's other boyfriends. But this is the twenty-first century, the royal family plays a different role now. Britain is multicultural- the royal family should reflect that."

The journalist nodded, "That is very true. Many do feel the monarchy has lost it's relevance over the years, hopefully you might be able to change that. So did you get to have a good Christmas after all?"

Eleanor smiled, "Jasper was away until today. I haven't been able to give him his gift yet. But he,- and a little friend of ours- they made this lovely storybook for me."

"The Princess and the Caterpillar?" the journalist asked, "And might I ask who this little friend is?"

Eleanor shook her head, "Her father wants to her to have as normal a life as possible and we support that."

"I guess it's been good practice for you two," The journalist said with a grin.

"Yes," Eleanor said, "We were both pretty clueless- me being the youngest sibling, and Jasper being an only child. We didn't know anything about minions, or Disney Princesses, and our knowledge of Frozen was horrendous. It's really prepared us- but we still plan to take things slow."

"Of course," the journalist said with a smile, "So, have you been on any dates anywhere special?"

Eleanor grinned, "We've been keeping mostly close to the palace. Our first date- Jasper helped me paint my room, you know new start and everything."

"And is he a good painter?" The journalist asked.

"Passable," Eleanor said, "But yeah, he could probably paint a nursery if he needed to."

Jasper gave Eleanor an incredulous look.

"Apart from that, just the palace gardens," Eleanor said, "Oh, and we did go to Electric Carnival but Liam was with us."

"Well you better make sure to take your princess on a proper date somewhere fancy," the journalist said.

"Of course, I will," Jasper said, smiling at Eleanor.

"Well, I think I have everything I need," the journalist said, "Honestly, Mr Frost. I was expecting you to be very different."

"Different?" Eleanor asked.

The journalist nodded, "Yes, scared of talking about your past, or in some way or another carrying some shadow of it. It seems you really aren't that man anymore and I'm glad that you could be so honest about everything. It's clear that you care about Princess Eleanor, and I'm sure the public will love you. Everyone loves a good Cinderella story."

Eleanor and Jasper smiled before saying thank you and leaving the library.

Jasper breathed a sigh of relief, "That went good, right?"

"Brilliantly," Eleanor answered with a grin, "And I am glad you were so honest, and that you trusted my suggestions and my Mum's and James's. I am going to hold you to that promise though. The date, I mean."

"Good," Jasper said, "Because I did arrange a little something. You know, after everything that happened today, I thought it was only right that we got some time away from everything. Just us- no reporters, no jealous boys. Just a guy and a girl, good food-"

"And good-," Eleanor said.

"Yes, and that to," Jasper said, "If that's what you want."

"Well, yes," Eleanor said, "But only if you meant what you said. About deserving to be with me, about being perfect for me."

Jasper nodded, "I want to believe that about myself, and I won't let anything stand in my way of letting me believe that about myself. So no more lies, I'll open and honest like I was with the reporter, and I'll ask you for help when I need it, because that's what's fixed things here, and you were right, Eleanor, no one thinks I was dragging you down. They actually like me."

"Of course they do, dum dum," Eleanor said, "Now come on. Let's go on that date."

THE END

Thanks for the reviews! Hopefully Jaspenor will get their happy ending very soon.