Prologue
Wills paced outside the room of Buckingham Palace as he waited for his third son and fourth child to be brought into the world. He wished his father, Charles, or his brother, Harry, was there to help him calm his nerves but they were out of the country.
Christopher, eight and the eldest watched his father walk back and forth with great earnest. It was nothing new to him. He experienced this when his other siblings were born. He was awaiting for the moment the baby would be born so he could talk with Mummy how funny Papa acted when she was in the room.
Diana was six, the second child and only daughter, looked at the closed door and knew her mother was in it. A lot of questions were burning inside her but she dared not ask her father who looked like a basketcase already without her inquiries.
Thomas was four and too young to know what was going on, but amused himself by walking behind his father and imitating his every step.
A cry was heard. Wills stopped pacing and his eyes snapped to attention at the door.
A nurse stepped out holding a tiny infant in her arms. "She bore you a son, Your Highness."
"A son," William's anxious face broke into a smile as he looked at the baby. The baby clutched his finger and attempted to bite it with his toothless gums. " Feisty little fella."
The doctor cam out wearing a grave expression on his face. "Your Highness, I need to speak with you immediately."
Confused and not suspecting anything, Wills handed the baby over to the nurse and his children crowded around to inspect their new sibling. "What is it doctor?"
"There was trouble with the birth... She's lost a great deal of blood... We did all that we could..."
"Papa, can I hold him?" Di asked.
"When you're older," Wills called. He looked at the doctor intently. "What-what are you saying?"
The doctor sighed helplessly. "We can't stop the bleeding... There's nothing... She doesn't have much time."
"Helen!" William called running into the room. He stopped when he saw he on the bed. She was pale the former exertion showing. Her hair was a mess on the pillows. But to Wills she was still the most breathtaking woman he had ever lept eyes on. His lips formed into a smile. This was the mother of his children. This was his wife. This was the woman he loved more than life. And she was leaving. He said her name softly. "Helen."
Helen gave him a faint smile. She felt so weak. "Hello, Your Highness. Or may I call you William?" It was one of their private jokes.
Wills pulled up a chair and held her hand to his cheek. He kissed it. He looked into her eyes. "I love you. You know that."
Helen nodded. "I do."
The three kids came rushing in.
Chris came in jumping into the bed enthusiastically. He prided himself in being her favorite. "Mum, I saw my new brother. Nana even let me carry him. And I didn't drop him."
Helen brushed his hair from his forehead and kissed him there. "That's my good boy. No matter what happens do as your father tells you all right? Will you do that for me?"
Chris kissed her on the cheek. "I will Mum." he got off the bed.
Helen looked at Wills. "He's going to make an excellent king one day. Like his father."
Wills smiled. For her sake and the children's he wasn't going to cry.
Di took Chris's place. "I'm still the only girl, right?" she asked.
"Of course, my love," Helen kissed her.
"That still makes me the best, right?"
Helen laughed. "If you say so." She ran her hand through the golden locks of her hair. "Isn't she beautiful, Wills?"
"She takes that from her mother," Wills said, helping Di off the bed.
"Mummy, Mummy. You gonna to eat dinner with us tonight?" Tom asked.
"Mummy's not really hungry right now. We'll see."
He gave her a wet kiss on the cheek. "I hope you can. It's McDonald's our favorite. Gotta go now. Cook has ice-cream." He ran out the door.
Wills looked at Di and Chris. "Mum's really tired. She needs to sleep."
They got the message and left.
"We have wonderful children, Wills," Helen sighed looking after them.
"If they're wonderful it's because of you. Because they had you as a mother." He held her hand again. A faint memory of his own mother stirred. The remarkable woman they named their daughter after. Careful world. You love Prince William; you die, he thought. He thought of his children. What misery will befall on them for loving him?
"Promise me..."
"Anything. Anything, my love."
"Promise me they'll enjoy their lives. That they'll be happy. That they'll feel loved."
"I will."
"Another thing..."
"Yes?"
"Stay with me tonight."
He kissed her hand. "No where else I would rather be."
Wills didn't step out of the room till the next morning.
Helen died the way she wanted to. Having her last memory be of William.

"Papa, where's mum?" Di asked.
It was after the funeral. They were walking through the halls of the Palace.
"I told you, Princess, she went to Heaven."
"Yeah, you told me. Is it nice there?"
"Yes. It's nice. It's a place where people go when they've been really really good."
"Can I go there?"
Wills looked at his daughter. "You can't."
"Why not?" she asked with the childhood belief that everything's possible.
"You can't because -because," Wills stammered.
"Because you have to be dead!" Chris exploded. He didn't like the way his father was pussy-footing around the subject.
"Oh," Di said. She thought this over. "Papa, can I die so I can go to heaven so I can be with Mummy?"
Her innocent curiosity made Wills want to cry. He kneeled down to her level. he straightened the collar of her dress. "No, princess, you can't do that."
"Why not?"
"Because Papa needs you here." Wills replied.
"You have Chris, and Tom and little Billy," Di replied.
"But I still need you," Wills told her. "Do you understand?"
Di nodded.
"Come here," Wills hugged her.
She began to cry. They weren't permitted to cry in public and they had held their tears through the funeral. Now was the time to let them out. "I miss her, Papa!" Di cried.
Wills was unaware of his own tears falling on her hair. "I know. I know," he cooed.
Tom didn't know what was going on. He only knew that his sister was crying and his father was crying which made him start to cry.
Chris turned away from the scene and went into his room. He looked at his father in disgust. Kings weren't supposed to cry.

It was later in the day.
Chris looked at the baby in the crib.
Wills walked in the room.
Chris raised his eyes to see who came in then he looked back at Billy. "I hate him, Papa."
Wills looked at his and Helen's youngest child. He was sleeping peacefully and had that baby scent of powder. Was that what Chris had been thinking all this time? How much he hated his brother? "I don't like you using the word hate to describe what you feel for your brother and sisters."
"I hate him!" Chris said again. "If he hadn't been born Mom would still be alive. She wouldn't have died!" His chest rose and fell with the passion in his words.
Wills closed his eyes. A strong sense of deja vu fell on him. He was no longer thirty-two with all the courage and wisdom that came with his age. Instead he was fifteen again, vulnerable and scared since the most important person in his life had passed away. He looked at his son. He went over to the great picture window. "Come here."
Chris walked over.
Wills pulled back the curtain slightly. "You see all those people out there? Placing flowers at the gate? That's the world." he placed a hand on his shoulder. "They've traveled far and wide to see your mum put to rest. There are countless more sending letters. They're doing this because they care."
"Papa," Chris said softly, moving away from him. "They maybe the world but-," he shook his head. "They're not Mum."
"I know," Wills sighed. "I know."
Chris turned to leave the room but collapsed before he reached the door.
Frightened, Wills ran to him. Chris was crying uncontrollably. He had been too proud to cry in front of the other children. Wills lifted him up and carried him as if her were a baby. The way he saw Helen ease his aches and pains when he was younger.
"I miss her, Papa," Chris sobbed on his shoulder. "I miss her so much! (gulp) (gulp) I want her back. I want Mum back! I want Mum back! Papa, bring her back!"
"Shh, shh," Wills said soothingly, stroking his back. "I know. I know, son. I want her back too. I want her back too..."

Chapter One
Time passes slowly when you've just lost someone you held dear to your heart. Time passes so slowly, a minute seems like a millennium. And there's nothing to do with that spare time except wait. Wait for the ache to heal. Wait and remember...

Wills could still remember when he first met her. He was twenty-one. It was outside of one of the classrooms in Harvard University. The moment he saw her he knew he had to have her. He took a deep breath and approached her. "Hi," he greeted, flashing her a smile. I'm-" He looked at her smile and for the moment he forgot his own name. What did people call him again? "I'm Your Royal Highness." No, wait. That wasn't right.
"You are?" she asked. " I didn't know I had one."
"I mean-" he stammered. He turned red. "Can I start over?"
Helen bit her lower lip to keep from laughing. "Be my guest."
Wills took a deep breath and recomposed himself. "I'm Prince William."
Helen raised an eyebrow. "Is that suppose to impress me?"
"Well...yeah!" he said.
Helen laughed. "I don't impress easily."
Wills gave her his boyish look. "Can I try?"
"Um, Actually I already have a boyfriend. I think you might know him." She looked behind Wills' back.
Harry came running. He kissed Helen full on the lips. "I'm sorry I was late, darling." He turned to his brother. "I see you've met my girl."
Wills's mouth dropped. "I-I have to get to class."
"Well, we have to enroll," Harry informed.
"See you later, Your Highness," Helen called as Harry pulled her away. She gave him a smile. "Or may I call you William?"

Wills could still remember how they first touched.
Helen ran out to the soccer field where Harry was hurt.
"Is he going to be all right?" She tried to push her way forward.
"Miss, stand back you're in the way," the paramedics said.
"She's his girlfriend. I'm his brother," Wills informed, appearing at her side.
"I realize that Your Highness, but we need to get him to the ambulance." Feeling sympathetic he informed. "You can both see him at the hospital."
"Harry," Helen called, reaching out to him.
Wills and Helen watched as the men lifted the stretcher into the back of the vehicle. They heard the siren wail as it drove away.
Helen buried her head against Wills's chest and sobbed. "Tell me his going to be all right. Tell me he's going to be all right."
Wills's strong arms were around her. He closed his eyes and just enjoyed the feel of her in his arms. "He's going to be all right." he told her.

Wills remembered how they first kissed.
There was knock on her hotel door.
"Har-" Helen's face fell. "William. Is Harry all right?"
Wills stepped inside. "Harry's fine."
"Well, then where is he?"
"He, uh, can't make it. All flights to Paris from London were canceled due to the upcoming storm. He sent me to apologize."
"Spending Christmas alone," Helen sighed. She flopped onto the couch. She turned on the TV and It's a Wonderful Life was on.
Wills looked at the candle lit dinner set for two on the dining table. "Looks delicious," he observed.
Helen shrugged. "Help yourself."
Wills piled a plate high and brought it over to the couch. "What's this?"
"Nothing," Helen replied, flipping channels.
"Hey, this is- Why don we watch- Seems interest-" Wills placed his hand on top of the remote to stop the madness.
Helen let him take it away from her. "He said he would come." she said. Sure, Harry comes while a storm is approaching. That would really be safe. She knew it was a wise decision for him to stay in London. But it didn't ease her disappointment. She went to the window and watched the snow fall gently on the City of Lights.
"I know he said he'd come," he looked out the window next to her. " Look, the storm's going to pass and you two can have another Christmas."
Helen gave him a half-smile. It wasn't the same, the smile said.
"Stupid idea," he muttered. He looked up. "Hey, mistletoe."
Helen stood on tiptoe to take it down. "I placed it there for Harry."
Wills held her hand in his. "Leave it." he told her.
She was crying. "Why? There's no point-"
"So I can do this," he said and kissed her.

He remembered how they got married...

Chapter Two
"I'm getting married!" the prince exclaimed.
"Calm down," his brother said watching the pre-wedding jitters get to the groom. "The family took care of everything. All you and Helen have to do is say 'I do'."
"Say 'I do'," the groom echoed. "Helen," the name of his bride left his lips.
There was a silence and it was broken. "You know you're marrying the woman I love."
"Yeah, Wills. I know." Harry said.
"At least one of us is getting her," Wills hugged his brother. "Good luck, man." He left the room.
"Is Harry, ready?" Charles asked.
"He's a little nervous. I'm giving him some time to be alone," Wills said.
"You know the public did count on you being married first," Charles said.
"We can't always have what we want," Wills said.
Charles looked at him with understanding. "No, we cannot."

The carriage pulled up to Westminster Abbey. Helen stepped out in a traditional white wedding gown. She was really happy with the beadwork the seamstresses put in. The bead glittered on the bodice and the long sleeves of the gown. She felt like a princess. And when she next time she would leave the cathedral doors, she will be.
"You can't go up there now." someone came to her.
"What?" Helen asked.
"The groom's not ready. He's not at the altar. He's still in the backroom of the church."
Helen paced around the front wondering what to do. Darn it! Harry, this wasn't the day to get shy!

Helen waited.
The people in the church waited.
The thousands of people outside on England's sidewalk waited.
Millions of people around the world glued to their television sets waited.
Inside Westminster the organist (as a hint to the groom) played Someday My Prince Will Come...
Helen sat on the abbey steps. She gripped her bouquet. Today would be a good day, Harry!

Wills banged on the door. "Harry, open up!" He paused. "I'm not joking around. This isn't funny!"
Charles came with the priest.
"Oh good the key," Wills said.
"Well, I'm not exactly sure which one it is." Wills tried several that didn't work.
"Here, let me. Too long. Too short To big. Too small." he tried five that seemed like the right size before finding one that fit. They opened the door.
The room was empty.

Wills came up to Helen on the front steps. He whispered something in her ear.
"Augh!" Helen screamed out in rage.
"I'm sorry," was all Wills could say.

Helen walked around the room. She looked out the window and saw all the people waiting outside the church. She turned to Wills. "How am I going to tell them?"
"I don't know," Wills said. his cell phone rang. " Excuse me," he told Helen before answering it.
"Bro!" a familiar voice called.
"Harry?!" Wills asked. He lowered his voice. "I could kill you right now. Leaving her at the altar like this- What were you thinking."
"That my brother loves her more than I do."
"Don't do that. It's not the time or the place." Wills seethed, "How did you get out anyway?"
"I jumped out the window. I flew. Does it matter?" There was happiness in his voice.
Wills looked at Helen.
"Save her Wills."
"What?"
"Save her Wills. Marry her." Harry said again. "You were always the Knight in Shining Armor. Go ride in on your white horse and save her." he hung up.

"That was Harry," Wills said.
Helen kept her eyes focused on looking out the window. "What did he say?"
"He's not coming."
Helen groaned. "What am I going to do?"
Wills got down on his knees. He opened the case holding the ring (he's the best man. The ring was in his care). "Marry me."
Helen looked at Wills. "I don't understand-"
"Don't reject a man on his knees, Helen. marry me."
The sight of him made her speechless.
From the church organ, the annoying notes of Someday My Prince Will Come found its way to the room. They no longer seemed annoying to Helen.
Wills looked at her longingly. "Your Prince is here."
"Yes!" Helen hugged him tightly. "Yes."

The public got their wedding afterall.

Chapter Three
Chris had his own memories to remember...

He was five and he was running a temperature. Di and Tom were sent to another part of the palace so they wouldn't get sick too. "Where's Mum?" he asked the nurse who was feeding him soup for dinner.
"You know she's in Canada," the nurse said.
"Can't she come home?" Chris asked.
"She told me she'll call later," the nurse said. She was sympathetic. "In the meantime..." she turned on the television. It was the news. The picture of his parents surrounded by people as they were going into a hospital filled the screen.
"The royal couple are will be spending the afternoon brining cheer and good sprits to the children's ward..." The announcer's voice informed.
Chris watched as children surrounded his mother. He watched as she kissed them on the top of their heads. Jealousy filled him as he snuggled under the covers. Chris muttered. "She's supposed to be with me."
How could he feel sympathy towards a world that stole so much of his time with his mother...

Di had fewer memories of her mother. She was really her daddy's girl. But there was one moment when she in all her being knew she was her mother's daughter too.
It was after her Uncle Henry's wedding. She had been given the responsibility of being a flower girl. At the reception she was found in the garden crying.
Helen came up to her. "Why, my darling? What's wrong." She took notice of the mud streak on her white dress. "What happened."
"I was wholloping Craig," Di sobbed. Craig was a son of the gardener who she usually had fights with.
"Indeed?"
"I was walloping him, and he was wholloping me back. But I was wholloping him better. And-And-," A new batch of tears fell. "It's so horrible."
"What? Did he hit you in the face?"
"No worse!" the little princess cried. "He kissed me!"
Helen paused for a moment. "Did you like it?" she asked.
Di said through her tears. "Yeah."
Helen hugged Di in her arms. "My precious. My baby." she crooned.
"I'm not a baby," Di objected, her crying subsiding a little.
Wills came out of the house. "What's going on? I was wondering where the two most beautiful women in the world were."
Helen placed a finger on her lips and looked at Di who she was comforting. "It's a girl moment." she whispered.
Di realized she would no longer have any more of those moments.

Tom, if he could be given time, and if he thought really hard, could extract a memory from the random fuzzy pictures and voices in his mind.
He was three and a half. They were in the Palace Gardens.
He handed her one red rose. "For you Mum."
Helen took it. "Oh, my love."
The expression on her face was the only thing he could vividly remember.

Billy had no memories of his mother.

Daddy: Chapters 4-7