Third In Line

Chapter Forty Six - Familiar Territory

Kensington Palace, London, Mid July 2025

"Ellie, wake up."

The words burned her ears, despite how quiet they were. She slowly opened one eye, too tired to do it any faster. "Dad it's like three in the morning."

"It's quarter to two, but that's not important." Her Dad sat down on her bed. She wanted to complain, but the look on his face sent a chill right through her. Something was wrong.

Ellie sat up in bed and flipped the switch on her bedside lamp, squinting as her eyes adjusted. Her father's lack of reaction made it clear he'd been up for a while. "What's wrong Dad?"

His hand found hers. "I don't want you to worry sweetheart."

"Dad, just tell me." Ellie insisted.

"It's your mother, honey. We have to go to the hospital, they're bringing the car around right now."

Her hand was shaking, her lips trembling. It was the way he said it, fearful, worried, regretful. "Oh God, is it the baby? Is something wrong with the baby?" She almost didn't want to know the answer.

"You're mother doesn't think so. We won't know until we get to the hospital, but it could be the morning sickness again." Will's voice was more hopeful that time, but still with the same uncertainty.

Ellie breathed out slowly. "But you're sure it's not anything worse?"

"No, I know what you're thinking. It's nothing that bad, you're mother is far too calm for that." Will reassured her.

"So she could be perfectly fine right? This could just be normal? Right?"

"Right honey, this is just normal procedure when it comes to pregnancies in this family."

Ellie slid out of bed and rushed across the room to her closet, "And if Mum is calm then there's no reason to worry, right?"

Her father looked surprised when she turned around to see him. "Exactly, you're... spot on. I'm glad you're taking it so well."

She wasn't really. Or maybe she was, she couldn't really tell. Despite how her mother was feeling and what her father was saying, she was still worried. There was still a sense of urgency, still a situation that was unfolding.

It's hard not to worry when Dad is waking me up at quarter to two and talking about going to the hospital. But if Mum is calm, then I am calm.

"You don't have to come with us Ellie, we just didn't want you waking up in the morning and not knowing where we were."

"But Dad, I can't just go back to bed. I have to go too." Ellie insisted.

Her father smiled with that ever present proud twinkle in his eye. "That's what Alex said too."

"You've already told her?" Ellie asked, holding several different outfits worth of clothes in her arms and not realising she'd grabbed half her closet.

"I wanted to get the hardest done first. She and your mother are downstairs waiting." Will smirked at her. "Just wear something comfortable, we'll be there for a while."

Her father kissed her on the top of the head and gave her one last smile before leaving her to change. She joined the rest of the family in the living room a few minutes later, wearing jeans and a hoodie and expecting everyone to be better dressed, but that was far from the case. Everyone was a groggy mess, especially her Mum, who was sitting on the couch with her favourite bucket in her lap.

"It'll be all right Alex, honestly. You should be the one telling me that."

"I know, right, yes. It'll be all right?" Alex responded unconvincingly to their mother. Kate stroked her cheek affectionately and looked up at Ellie.