Royals: Part 2

Chapter 5

"This one's great."

Jackie leaned over to look at the photo Harry held in his hand. It showed Jackie as a little girl, about 4, wild blonde curls and the same shy smile. She was wearing a sweet pink sundress, and stood up against her mother's prized hydrangea bush, surrounded by it's huge white blooms.

"I like that one too," Jackie agreed. Harry tossed the photo onto a small stack the couple had begun to build up. It was customary for the family of the royal bride to release childhood photos, and since Jackie's parents were dead, and she had no aunts or uncles, it was up to her to go through her mother's old albums and find a few good shots.

Jackie reached for one of the leather bound albums, labeled '96-'97. "I want one with my parents."

She flipped through the glossy pages, in which her mother had so carefully arranged the photos. Jackie smiled at a photo of herself, her mother Mary, and father George in Paris. Jackie was about 13, looking baby-faced but nearly the same, standing between Mary and George, who, in their early 40s, looked healthy and happy, just a few gray hairs beginning to grow in. They were standing in a side street of the city, surrounded by beautiful old apartment buildings and cafes. Looking at the photo brought the familiar ache of loss in her chest.

"Do you like this one?" Jackie asked, handing the photo to Harry.

He examined it with a smile. "I love it."

"She's wearing the necklace," Jackie pointed out. The small diamond pendant she now possessed was encircling Mary's neck in the photo. Jackie planned on wearing her mother's necklace on her wedding day, so the photo was a great choice.

"Well, that's it then, right?" Harry asked. He picked up the photos and shuffled through them. There were four in total. First, the two Jackie and Harry had just chosen.

Another was a slightly blurred Polaroid photo from Jackie's university days. 20 year old Jackie was sitting on a couch in the flat that she, Kate, Will, and another friend had shared at St. Andrew's. Her blonde hair was longer, and she wore a little blue dress she would have only wore in university. And sitting next to Jackie on the couch was a certain red head, his cheeks looking flushed and eyes bright. Young Harry and Jackie- just friends- were grinning wildly, probably getting ready for a night out on campus with friends when the photo had been taken.

The final photo was the most precious of all, the one Jackie and Harry had discovered in Mary's diary. Princess Diana held baby Jackie, looking at her with a fond smile. Jackie felt it was only fair to share the photo with the public. Though it was a wonderfully private possession, she knew it was an important part of the monarchy's history.

"I'll have my lady in waiting send them to the press," Jackie said, standing up from the dining room table in her Kensington Palace flat where she and Harry sat and striding to the phone that sat on the kitchen counter.

She pressed 1 on the speed dial and the line rang only once before there was an answer. "Jacqueline Baker's office."

"Hello, Elizabeth, it's Jackie."

"Ms. Baker! It's 10 am and you're already awake! This must be a personal best."

Jackie couldn't help but to laugh at Elizabeth's sharp sarcasm. Her first impression of Elizabeth during her etiquette lesson hadn't been the best- she didn't like the woman's rigid demeanor and blunt criticism. But Jackie had realized that Elizabeth really did want what was best for her, and wouldn't cushion the truth in order to tell her what she wanted to hear. So, Jackie had called Elizabeth and asked her to take on the demanding role of lady in waiting, which she had graciously accepted- with one condition: If Jackie ever used the improper silverware in public, Elizabeth could retire immediately with full benefits.

"I've got the childhood photos for you to release to the press," Jackie said.

"Wonderful. You can send them down to me and I'll have them out immediately."

"Thank you, Elizabeth, for everything. It means so much to me that you've agreed to this."

Elizabeth sniffed. "Oh, don't get emotional. But, you're very welcome, Ms. Baker."

---

"Lupo! Get back here!" Kate called, running after her and Will's little black cocker spaniel.

Jackie laughed as her friend nearly slipped in the slushy snow, lunging to get ahold of Lupo's collar. "I see the training is still coming along," Jackie commented to William, who couldn't help but to laugh.

"We've been working with him quite a bit, but it's hard," Will agreed.

"Good practice for children." Jackie looked over the grounds of Kensington Palace where she, Will, and Kate had run into each other while taking their respective dogs out. Rupert had fallen asleep on Jackie's feet after the energetic Lupo had worn him out.

Since Jackie had a moment alone with Will while Kate chased Lupo, she decided to ask him something she had put a lot of thought into. Because her father had passed away, and she didn't have any living family members, there was no one to walk Jackie down the aisle at her wedding. There was only one man she could think of for the job, a trusted and beloved friend- William.

"I know Harry's already asked you to be his best man, but I was wondering if you'd be willing to take on another job at the wedding," said Jackie.

Will raised an eyebrow. "What is it?"

"I was hoping you wouldn't mind walking me down the aisle. Besides Harry, you're the man I love the most, so I think it's fitting."

Jackie looked at Will, who she could tell was genuinely touched. He immediately gave her a tight hug and pulled back with a grin. "Of course I will, Jackie."