The Bodyguard - Completed.

Chapter Twenty-three

Princess Johara wrapped against her chest in a carry cocoon wrap, her arm firmly under her tiny body, Jodie held Xavier's hand and guided him down the passage and took him to the great hall that had portraits of generations of leaders. The one whose name had been wiped from all records, his portrait taken down and replaced with Xavier and his family, even white Malteses seated proudly at their feet. A new royal tradition, Xavier had laughed. They stopped where the portrait had been, shifted up one, and replaced with a tall distinguished man, holding a baby.

"It dawn on me who it was. The only reason your mother would have hidden it away. Your father and you. He was at your birth and look how proud he was."

Stunned, he stared at the portrait. "Where did you find that?"

"Your mother hid it away in her writing desk, in an envelope by sticking it on a bottom of a drawer. You're so like your father. Not a portrait, by a photo, and had this commissioned off the photo."

He arched a brow. "Commissioned? You do not say?"

"By crown princess orders," she stated smugly.

"And who paid for it?"

She eyed him sideways with regard. "You did."

"Good to hear," he smiled, squeezing her hand slightly, "Thank you, habibti, the gesture is very sweet."

"That's your father, Xavier. I do believe he was a good man. What had Buruq's father said in the letter, you were a great man, just like your father. No matter what he tried, he couldn't turn your true nature. And you are a splitting image of him. I look at him and I see you."

"Do you not mean the other way around?" he asked curiously.

"No, I don't know him, but I know you, and I see you in him." Closing her eyes, he pressed his lips onto her forehead.

"Thank you."

"And I was thinking we should start a line of portrait of our puppy on the other side." He looked down upon her innocent big blue wide eyes. Zaid and Flossy, at their feet, tail wagging, and tongue hanging out.

"Well, that's not going to happen," he said walking away, taking his wife with him who dared to laugh. "Jodevea Clementine Al-Hussein," he warned.

"Xavier," she moaned as in pain. "Jodie, only ever Jodie," she growled, followed by a cry from their daughter. "Now you have upset our little princess," Releasing her hand, they stopped and with ease, Xavier removed their daughter from her safe cocoon and cradled her in his arms and instantly she settled. "Oh, I can see who's daddy's little girl." Flossy whimpered to be picked up and cuddled.

"Good thing." Together carrying their babies and they headed back towards his office.

"Zaid," she called and he come running back from wherever he had disappeared to. He did tend to wander off.

"You are spoiling them," he looked down and smiled.

She placed a hand on Flossy's swollen belly. "Due any time soon and needs to be pampered. You used to massage my ankles and oil my belly". She rubbed her underbelly. "Oh, kicks," she grinned. She tickled the bottom of the feet of her daughter to get little kicks and sounds, blowing bubbles.

Xavier eyed her closely. "Is mummy giving you a hard time, you would get used to it," he cooed over Johara.

"Never," she laughed.

Entering his office, Jodie placed Flossy into a chair, Zaid jumped up to sit at its side. Jodie sat down in another, where her daughter was placed in her arms and went to see to feeding her. Xavier settled behind his desk and looked upon his family. He really was the luckiest man in the world. His country was recovering in leaps and bounds. The people's needs seen to before anything else, and opening doors to the world that had been closed.