The Royal Scandal | Prince William |

Miracles

January 4, 2007

Caleb ran as much as his little legs would allow through the snow that was slowly turning to mush, and Jaclyn chased after him shrieking every time he tried to eat it. William stood on the other side of the fenced in backyard throwing a tennis ball for Mara to pounce on.

It was calm, easy, and the perfect way for their mini vacation of four days to end. Across the yard the siblings rolled in the soft and dirty snow together, and William saw how close Jaclyn held her brother. Each time leaving got closer the more clingy she got.

So he always tried to make every moment perfect. That meant more of her dad's breakfast that morning, Revenge of the Sith playing in the background, and time outside in the country because while she thrived in the city the countryside rejuvenated her.

Jaclyn playfully blew snow at Caleb who squealed in delight and ducked his head into the pile that was behind them. Her eyes wandered to William, who was teasing Mara with her ball. For a second her mind wandered to their future where this would be the normal morning routine with their own little family.

It was perfect

Little eyes, light as robin eggs, danced over the yard to where the swings sat, so Jaclyn read into his pleading and lead him in that direction.

The breeze pushed and pulled the swing in the air and Caleb smiled to the point it stretched off his face. Blonde wisps splayed with each arch the swing took, and he kicked his legs excitedly clearly wanting to go higher.

"Are you ready to go home?" William asked as he ducked under the swing making Caleb cheer. Mara pranced on the edge still apprehensive of the playground equipment like the oddball pup she was.

Jaclyn pressed her brother gently into the air. One push, then another, and another.

"Is it bad if I don't know?" She asked, voice narrowed out. Arms closed on her waist, a wall of protection behind her that she could lean into, and as Caleb obliviously cackled in the breeze that helped carry him the couple silently rested on the other.

William breathed in that crevice of her neck right under her ear, and Jaclyn's spine lengthened with the warmth of his words. "Not at all, there's a lot going on over there." She nodded, hand absentmindedly reaching out for the swing. "My shows, your training, planning the concert, The Dance Awards, Balmoral this summer..."

The clenching around her heart unravelled slightly, it was good to talk.

"Which are all good things, and there's no reason to be nervous about going to Balmoral," William teased lightly, his hands reaching out momentarily to push Caleb.

Right because it's just Balmoral... Like there weren't actually Balmoral tests that everyone went through. The bounds started to wind up again, choking out the life of her heart as she thought of all the ways she could and possibly would screw up. No matter how many times William swore his family liked her she couldn't believe him.

"It's just... We go back and we're apart again." It wasn't a flat out lie... But it wasn't the whole truth either. How could she admit to being scared of things he found so fundamental?

As if reminded of the distance William pulled her in closer, "Only for a few weeks."

Even then it would be weeks at a time, where he would be off in Devon training with the Blues and Royals, and thinking back on it Jaclyn couldn't think of a single time where one of them hadn't needed to run off for a period of time.

"I just wish you would be there as I screw up all these lessons I have to go through."

"You'll be doing it with Lady Mountbatten, and if you have to do it with anyone be thankful it's her," he laughed.