The Rise of The Royal Rogue

Countdown.

I studied the picture carefully. His father had blonde hair and blue eyes. His nose was slightly crooked - probably because of a battle. His mother was a brunette with brown eyes. She smiled all the way to her eyes. They were so in love... their bodylanguage in this picture proved it.

"They were the best... ", Xander began to speak.

I sat on the couch while he grasped his words. I was not going to force him to spit it out.

"I have my father's eyes and my mother's smile - I don't want their fate as well...They say death is the hardest on the living - although it's been so many years since they past away... I can still feel their absence . It's like a missing puzzle piece. I don't know why but I could never speak about their death - until today... I guess somethings need to be said... you have to tell somebody how you feel. Somethings speak for themselves. ", he spoke while he was deep in thought. I felt as if he wasn't even talking to me anymore.

I walked up to him and crouched down bellow him. I took his hands in mine and looked into his eyes.

"Tell me everything... ", I gave him a supportive smile.

He inhaled deeply.

"The tragic love story - a grey fairytale with a bittersweet ending... that's how I describe it. My parents and I were taking a break from responsibility for a day - a family vacation - an escape. ", he paused and looked at the photograph in my hand. It was during that moment that I saw something flicker in his eyes. I realised that when you want know what someone fears losing the most, you should take a look at what they photograph. In Xander's case, it was his family.

He took a deep breath.

"We were on our way to a lake... we suddenly stopped and my father got out of the car to see what the hold up was. My mother looked outside briskly and then looked at me. ", he closed his eyes and his face was full of pain.

"I remember it like it was yesterday... My mother told me to get out of the car and run - run as fast and as far as I could and hide.She said she'll come find me. We were playing a game. I did as I was told and I ran. I must have hid in a forest for three hours before I realised No.one.was.coming. I went back to the car and my heart shattered. My father was dead and a trail of blood ran all the way to into the forest. I followed it and called out to my mother - I didn't think it was possible for shattered pieces to break even more - but they sure as hell can break... my mother - she suffered the most. Decapitation... ", he squeezed his eyes and opened it again. He need not say more.

I never saw this side of Xander. I felt it so odd that someone who is so sad can bring so much of happiness.

I hugged him... I wanted to put all his broken pieces back together. I wanted to save him from all his demons - even if mine was destroying me.

"I love you.... so- so much.You touch me without even using your hands... ", I looked at him. He looked up at me with gleaming eyes.

He kissed me slowly, and deeply. This kiss was different - it was needy yet meaningful.

We sat together for a while before Dr Harrison told me that visiting time was over. Doctor Harrison said that Xander was surprisingly fully healed but it would be good to keep him for one more night.
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I went on with my daily responsibilities... I attended meetings and filled in for Xander when it was compulsory. I even went to the gym. Everywhere I went, whispers followed... people were still talking about what happened during the court case and some people were excited about my coronation that was around the corner. The palace was busier than usual because of the planing. People were coming in and out of the palace and making arrangements for my big day. I didn't really worry about them - my attention was on Xander and when he would come home.

The day went by as slow as a snail. I was counting down the minutes until tomorrow...

Dinner was the slowest. Storm and Liam kept arguing about whether or not the meteor that crashed onto the earth and killed the dinosaurs many years ago was really a UFO and whether or not we were the aliens that was left behind.

Storm naturally thought it was true and Liam - disagreed. I just laughed at them.

"Tell him that he's wrong! ", Strom scowled at me.

We were the loudest group at the table - as always.

"I am not getting involved in this. ", I laughed.

"That's her way of saying she doesn't agree with you. ", Liam smirked at her and sipped some wine.

"I didn't say that. I didn't. You two discuss the craziest things. ", I smiled and protested.

Storm was starting to show her baby-bump.It was the cutest thing ever.

"You should be so happy that the voice in my head swears more than I do. ", Storm pouted and said to Liam through gritted teeth. I laughed and almost spat my drink out of my mouth. Liam and Storm were like my personal circus performers.

I took a deep breath and looked at the two of them.

"This is why I have more friends than you two. ", Liam said while glaring and ponting at us, "You scare them away, Storm- and you - you're just weird. ", he shrugged and began eating his food.

" By making friends, you've disobeyed your parents as they told you not to talk to strangers. So I've listened to my parents. You didn't. ", Storm smirked.

"God, I love you. ", Liam laughed and said aloud.

I couldn't help but laugh too but at the way they fought over silly things but still spoke with so much of love.