A Leap of Fate

He could sense something was wrong, he wondered if Aubrey regretted sleeping with him. As he tossed and turned, Aubrey rolled over to him and cuddle into him in her sleep. He drifted off and awoke in the morning, with her head still on his chest.

Two months later....

Will sat down at the kitchen table and sighed. It was littered with a few of the day's tabloids and a few baby magazines. He caught one that mentioned the pregnancy but he could still pull off that there wasn't one.

*&*

Harry sighed as he walked around his bedroom, trying to find something to wear.

William opened a baby magazine and sighed as he read. It had been a stressful two months.

*&*

He smiled slightly when he saw Aubrey laying on their bed, still in her pajamas. They had no slept together since the afternoon in the meadow, though the awkwardness did fade after a week or two. Now they were getting on well, they were friends most of the time, sometimes depending on their mood, they were very much a couple.

"How was your run?" She asked, pausing the old black and white movie she was watching.

"It was good." Harry smiled and kissed her cheek, he walked into the closet and called, "Hate to interrupt Audrey Hepburn dear, but we really need to get ready. Last minute wedding plans with Camilla this morning.

Aubrey pulled herself out of bed and walked into the closet, shifting to find a dress.

Cady walked into the room, noticed him and turned around. She went into the kitchen and grabbed some orange juice. They'd been fighting horribly the night before. Everything had been fine for the two months until one of her "friends" had leaked to the tabloids her pregnancy.

*&*

Harry smiled and pointed at his favorite dress, "Please?"

"Can we talk?" William sighed.

*&*

Aubrey smiled, "Sure." She slipped into the dress.

"Ouch." Harry laughed, Aubrey was frustratedly shifting through shoes and tossed on aside, accidentally hitting him.

"Sorry!" She chucked as she slipped the pair she had chosen. Aubrey gave me a quick kiss.

Cady looked at him and shrugged. She sat down across the table, "What?"

"My grandmother wants to see me." Will said softly.

*&*

Harry smiled slightly, "So, I thought we could do something later."

"And?" Cady scoffed, waiting for him to elaborate.

*&*

"Sure, have anything in mind?" Aubrey said.

Will frowned deeply, "I'm going to talk to her. And get lectured."

Cady rolled her eyes, "I don't care."

*&*

Harry shrugged, "I don't have anything in mind."

"But.."

"It takes two people to make a baby, William. Please stop acting like this is all my fault." Cady muttered.

(*(

"I want to....go swimming!" She smiled.

Will sighed and reached for her hand, "I dont think it is your fault and I am so very sorry if it seems so. I just...I dont want to upset my family by a scandal. I love you. I want to marry you, and not because of the baby, I had a ring picked out for you before we found out. I don't know...this is just hard on me."

&*&

Harry grinned, "I love this idea."

Cady sighed, she did understand where he was coming from. He had a lot on his plate, an entire monarchy's legacy.

*&*

"Great." Aubrey smiled, "Let's go pick out wedding flowers now." She chuckled and they went to meet their wedding planner.

Cady pulled her hand away and stood. Will felt tears spring to his eyes. Everything was just getting to him and the thought of her walking away again was just too much. He put his head in his hands and took a few deep breaths. He was surprised when her arms wrapped around him.

"William, I'm sorry that this isn't going the way you planned. Hell, nor the way I planned. I didn't want a child until after I'd been married for a few years. But I refuse to let anyone believe that we're marrying for the child. I want there to be not an ounce of doubt to me or anyone that it is because you love me."

*&*

Harry grinned. He could feel himself falling for her.

William swallowed. She had a very valid point. "I love you." He said.

*&*

"So what were you two thinking?" The wedding planner asked as they walked through a flower market.

"Whatever she wants." Harry said simply.

She smiled, "I know. Go talk to your grandmother. I will not budge though. And your father is on my side."

(*(

She smiled, "So sweet."

William kissed her, "I'll be back soon."

*&*

"Sunflowers?" Aubrey smiled.

Cady smiled and shrugged slightly.

*&*

Harry nodded, "I like them, yes."

William spend the whole ride to his grandmother's just thinking about what to say.

*&*

"You two lovebirds getting excited?" The planner asked. The fact that this marriage was basically arranged was a very well kept secret. There was talk and gossip, but everyone acted as if things were normal.

Aubrey nodded and smiled politely. Harry sighed, he may be falling for her but he could tell she still wasn't ready to marry him. She looked terrified. He had a knot in the pit of his stomach, he never wanted Aubrey to grow to resent him.

William walked into his grandmother's library and sighed. She was looking at him with an expression filled with loved and disappointment.

*(&

He thought of calling off the wedding for a moment.

Will kissed her cheek, muttered hello, and sat waiting for her to speak.

(*(

He sighed and took her hand, he knew that wasn't an option.

"You will marry her." She said finally. Will sort of scoffed.

"That's not an option." He muttered.

"NOT marrying her is not an option either."

(*(

He frowned for a moment longer.

"She's not ready to marry." William said.

"Quite frankly I do not care." She said simply.

*&*

"Are we done?" Harry asked.

"Just a few more things." The planner said.

"Can you decide quickly?" Harry smiled at Aubrey.

"Sure." Aubrey took the list of decisions and skimmed it over.

William looked at his grandmother, "Well, I suppose then that it is a good thing that you cannot do a damned thing about it. She won't marry me. I can't force her down the damned aisle. What do you propose I do? Anything would help me at this point!"

&*&

She pointed to the ones she wanted.

"Then we'll just have to make this go away somehow." She sighed.

*&*

"Let's go." Harry smiled. They said goodbye and left the planner.

William stared at his grandmother before he stood up, "How?"

"She disappears."

"WHAT?" William exclaimed. He knew what his grandmother meant. Sending Cady to a castle in the middle of no where.

"Or you lose your spot in the line to the throne." His grandmother said coldly. William stared at her and nodded.

"Fine. I give it up." He turned and left.

*&*

"Should we grab a bite to eat first?" Harry suggested.

"Fine." She said simply, "I'll tell your father to tell Harry he is now the heir."

*&*

"Yes please." Aubrey had been eating more lately.