chapter fourteen      A week and a half went by and Harry had heard nothing from Ellie. By now, the family had made their way back to London and St. James Palace. Harry and Charles tried everything they could think of to cheer William up. They tried telling him his favorite jokes, making his favorite foods, talking to him, etc. but all Will wanted was Ellie, and to be by himself. Finally, one evening, Charles went up to his son's apartment to talk to him. He found his son curled up on the couch in the dark. He walked in, turned a lamp on, and sat down next to his son.      "Will, I'm really worried about you. I wish you would talk to me."      "I know dad. I appreciate your concern, but there's nothing that you can do."      "How do you know? You know, I've had my fair share of broken hearts, everyone has."      "Not like this dad, not like this."      "I know it feels like the pain will never end, as if your life is over, but it's not, I promise you, it's not; it will get better."      "I don't want it to get better, because having it get better means that I have to admit to myself that she's never coming back, and I can't do that, I just can't…" his voice trailed off, as he succumbed to the tears and the tiredness plaguing his body. Charles patted his son's knee, and covered him with a throw blanket. He bent over and kissed his son on the forehead.      "I love you," he whispered as her rubbed his thumb across his son's forehead. "And that's one thing you'll never have to fear losing." He turned the lamp off and left. .:.      Meanwhile, downstairs a taxi was pulling up to St. James Palace. The driver received access and drove up the drive to the door. The passenger stepped out and was welcomed by a butler, knowing the visitor, he instructed the other butler on duty butler to remove the luggage and to take it upstairs. He directed the visitor towards the main private living space, where Harry was watching TV.      The visitor walked into the room, quietly…      "Hey Harry," she said. He spun around quickly and sat, dumbfounded, staring at her.      "You came?"      "How could I not, I love your brother." He smiled the widest smile she'd ever seen him smile.      "He's up in his apartment."      "Thanks." She left the living room after giving Harry a hug. She walked through the dark house, remembering the first time she'd been to his apartment. She climbed the stairs to his door.      She breathed deeply and knocked on the door.      "Go away." She heard from inside. She knocked again. She didn't hear anything this time. She tried the handle, the door was unlocked, so she opened the door and walked inside. She could see him on the sofa, curled up like a child. She walked over to him and knelt in front of him.      "Will," she whispered to him. His eyes fluttered open and a small, relieved smile formed on his face.      "What are you, what you are…" he muttered as he sat up on the sofa. She knelt between his legs in front of him and held his face with her hands.      "I have to tell you a few things, so don't say anything until I'm through, okay?" He nodded. "I love you." He smiled. "I love you so much it hurts. I've never loved anyone the way I love you. That scared me. I hid behind rules that probably don't even apply to you, because you were never, technically my patient. I was scared and stupid to walk out like that. But I'm back, and I don't want to leave ever again."      This time, both of them were crying, but it wasn't from sadness or pain, but joy. He kissed her and wrapped his arms around her. He stood up, lifting her into his arms. He never stopped kissing her all night. .:.      The following morning, she was cooking eggs in nothing but socks, her panties and one of Will's old rugby shirts. She was humming softly to herself. She didn't even hear the front door open.      "It's good to see you Ellie," she heard Charles say from the door of the kitchen. She jumped at the sound of his voice and turned around to see him.      "Hey," she said, a weak smile forming on her face. "Let me explain." He held up his hand to stop her.      "No need, my dear. All I know is that without you, William was miserable. Now that you're back, everything is perfect. It's good to have you back." He smiled.      "It's good to be back," she replied as he turned to leave. She turned back to her eggs, feeling happier than ever before. back