"How are you?" William greeted once he stepped through the apartment door.
Jo took a deep breath. Better she tell him now. "Billy acted up. I spanked him."
William looked at the sleeping figure on the sofa. "YOU WHAT!" he exploded.
"I spanked him," Jo said again.
Billy woke up. "Papa..." he called.
William picked his son up. "What gives you the right to hurt my son?" he accused viciously.
"I'm sorry for hurting him," Jo apologized. "But I'm not sorry for disciplining him. And when you leave him in my care I suspect you not only want me to look after him but make him behave as well."
"So you're turning this on me!"
Jo looked at him worriedly, sensing something had gone wrong. "I'm turning anything on anyone. Look, William-"
"You are to refer to me as His Royal Highness," William cut her off.
Derek, Chris, Diana, and Annie were chatting excitedly to each other when they walked through the door.
"You had your eyes closed," Di teased Derek.
"I did not!" her brother defended.
"Didn't you love the part where the guy head explodes and you get to see his brains fly everywhere?" Annie said to Chris.
"That was your favorite part too?"
Annie laughed nodding.
But all of them fell silent when they noticed William and Jo.
"What's going on?" Annie asked.
William continued to give Jo a loathing look. "We're leaving." he told his children.
"But you said we could stay for ice-cre-" Di protested.
"I said were leaving!"
"Um, bye Annie," Chris said, shaking her hand.
Murmured good-byes were spoken to Jo and Annie as they filed out of the apartment.
"Jo," William addressed before he left. "I think it best if you stay away from me and my children from now on."

"The nerve of her," Wills was saying to himself as the family piled into the car.
"What did she do?" Di asked.
"She spanked Billy," Wills informed them of the situation. "What made her think she could do that?"
The royal siblings looked at each other. Then looked at their brother sleeping on their father's lap.
"I'm glad someone got what he deserved today," Chris expressed. Shocking himself that he was taking Jo's side.
Wills gave him a warning look. "I'm not in the mood for that from you Chris. Not tonight." He looked out the window and was glad for the chauffeur. he wouldn't have been able to drive in the state of anger he was in. What hurt worse was... He was beginning to fall in love again. But like all the others Jo had disappointed him.
"I have to side with Chris, Papa," Di informed.
"What?" Wills looked at his daughter in surprise. "You approve of what Jo did?"
"Well..." Di prolonged the word. "Maybe she should've asked your permission first but I'm glad someone finally had the guts to show Billy who's boss. Besides you've spanked us before. What's the difference?"
"The difference is I'm your father," he stated.
"You told us to look up to Jo as a second mother," Tom reminded.
Wills shook his head. "I never thought she'd do something like this."
"You never spanked Billy." Chris observed.
Wills needed time to respond to this. he had accused Helen of playing favorites with Chris. Was he now guilty of the same crime with Billy. "Billy, never needed spanking."
Tom rolled his eyes. "Sure. When you're around."
"He's a monster when you leave Papa. Spoiled brat to the max." Di informed.
Chris was looking at his youngest brother. "You let him get away with murder Papa."
Being thrown accusation from your own children is not a pleasant situation.
"Mum, would've spanked him," Chris muttered.
There was silence till they pulled up to the front door of Buckingham.
The kid filed out. Cubby greeted Chris at the door.
"Papa," Di told Wills. "If you want us not to see Jo again we won't see her again. But I hope it doesn't come to that. I really like her Papa."
Billy raised hi head enough to mumble. "Can you tell Jo I'm sorry I was bad, Papa?" Then he fell back to sleep.
They went inside the Palace.

Jo watched from the window drinking a mug of coffee as Annie ran down the apartment stairs to the car. Jo had finished her drawings on time. She couldn't sleep and she needed something to do to occupy her mind so she wouldn't think of William. She knew she would breeze through the meeting that afternoon but it hardly seemed to matter now.
William opened the door, got out, and helped Annie into the car.
William and Jo had decided to carpool since the Annie and Diana went to the same school. And William insisted that he drop off and pick up his children. He wanted the hands-on parenting experience as much as possible. More so since he was making up for two people. And there was the promise he made to Helen. That their children were to feel loved.
Annie waved good-bye before getting into the backseat of the chauffeured car.
William looked up at Jo.
The gaze was held for a couple of beats.
William turned away first. He got into the car after Annie and closed the door loudly.
Jo watched as the car drove away.

Jo was surprised when at the end of the week William was at the front door. Her spirits lifted at the sight of him.
"I came to drop Annie off," he said impersonally. But, yes, seeing Jo again had given him some comfort.
The girl mentioned passed both adults and went to her room.
"She's still invited for dinner tonight, isn't she?" Jo asked.
"Of course she is."
"Am I?" she asked a little too boldly.
Wills paused before saying. "I don't think that would be a good idea."
Jo nodded. "I understand."
Annie went back out dressed formally for the night. "I'll be in the car." she informed going right out.
There was a small silence after her departure. Jo mumbled. "Um, Billy and the others they have a few things here. If they're not going to come visit anymore I suppose it would best if you pick them up."
"Yes, best," Wills agreed. He sighed. "Well, good -bye." he said and left.
Jo felt her heart break. "Yes, good-bye."

"...Queen Elizabeth II has passed away this afternoon. The reports were in at..."
Jo turned the volume of the set louder. The children were still in school. She had counted on a quiet afternoon all by herself. She looked at the set then at the phone. William, was her only thought, how was William coping with this loss?
As if she willed it the phone rang.
She heard his voice before he even spoke a word. "I need you."
"I'll be right over, William."

Chapter Eleven
It was after that day when Jo knew Wills looked at her with new eyes.
That she was someone he could turn to for comfort. And if he only thought of her as a friend. She was grateful for just that.

A few months later. ( See how I'm moving the story along?)
"I want to see you move around the court, Windsor," Annie told him as she returned his serve.
"I want to see you move Leary!" Chris returned.
"I am moving!"
Jo and William shared smiles as they watched the young teenagers play on the tennis courts. They said nothing. They only glanced at each other once in a while, enjoying each other's presence. The sun was shining brilliantly on London the bright afternoon.
"Jo," Wills said her name softly.
"Yes?" Jo turned to him anxiously.
"Do you know when two people get together..."
"Yes?"
"And they do stuff together..."
"Yes?"
"And they get to know one another better..."
"yes?"
"And there are NO kids around..."
"You mean like a date," Jo supplied the noun.
"A date. Yes, I believe that's what it's called," Wills ran his hand through his hair. "Well, we should do that sometime."
Jo was speechless.
William motioned to the empty pitcher. "I better go get us some more lemonade. Chris and Annie will be thirsty."

"You cleared your calendar for twenty-sixth, Saturday." Jo asked through the phone.
"Yes." Wills confirmed. "And you're free Saturday?"
"Yes." Jo said.
"Then Saturday night it is," Wills said. "I'll pick you up at five."
"I'll be waiting," Jo kissed him over the phone then hung up.
It had taken them over half a year but they managed to find a day where both of them were available. Fridays were sacred time to be spent with the children. Untouchable. The last month was filled with enrolling the children into new schools (Billy and Tom in Ludgrove. Annie and Di in St. Mary's. Chris in Eton). And since Jo's designs were beginning to get recognition, her schedule was usually full. And Wills had the royal duties he had been prepared to do since birth. The coming Saturday was heaven sent for them.
Annie entered the apartment.
"It's finally going to happen. I have a date with Wills on Saturday night," Jo couldn't wait to share the news.
"Oh rub it in!" Annie scowled.
"Calm down you don't have to be too excited," Jo laughed.
Annie gave her a bored look then went into her room.
Worried, Jo followed her. She saw Annie lying on her stomach, playing with a jigsaw puzzle on the floor. She sat next to Annie. "What's wrong?"
Annie shrugged. "Stuff."
"Can you tell me or do you want to call your mom?" Jo asked.
"We don't have to bother Mom. It's stupid anyway."
"What's stupid?"
Annie threw the pieces making them skip. "There's this dance that we're going to have with Eton and... No guy has asked me yet."
"I'm sure there's a re-"
"The reason is no boy will ever like me." Annie shot out. "I'm ugly. My accent won't go away. Every girl in school hates me..."
"Maybe they're jealous," Jo suggested.
"What do they have to be jealous about?" Annie wiped away tears.
"You're smart. Have a tennis title. And... Chris."
"Chris?" Annie scoffed.
"You have to admit he is a hunk."
"He is," Annie allowed. "But even that jerk hasn't asked me to the dance. And... in the girls' restroom today this girl Unis was telling Sandra that the only reason Chris talked to me was because Di was with me. And the only reason she was with me was because you're with William."
"Annie, you know that's not true."
"I know! I know!" Annie cried. "But want a date sooo bad!"
The phone rang.
Annie stood up. "I'll get it. It might be Di. She got asked out by this Prince of Luxembourg."
Jo waited.
"Did you say something to Chris?" Annie asked accusingly when she came back.
"How could I? I was here the whole time," Jo pointed out. "Why?"
Annie's smile was from ear to ear. "Because the jerk just asked me to the dance!"

When Jo came to the Palace the week before the dance. Di was pacing back and forth with the cordless phone in the kitchen while everyone else was in the living room.
"What's wrong?" Jo asked.
"Well, Paul, he's the Prince of Luxembourg, asked me to go to the dance with him this Saturday."
Jo nodded. "Annie told me about that."
"I already said yes. But Craig reminded me that I promised to take him to the dance three months ago. I said the first dance I go to he was going to be my date. I completely forgot about it."
"So..."
"So now I don't know if I should call Paul and tell him its off or summon Craig from the servants quarters and tell him its off."
"You have a problem," Jo observed.
Di sighed. "Big time."
"Who do you like more?" she asked.
"What?"
"Which of these two boys do you like better."
"It's hard to tell they're so different. Paul is this refined gentlemen. Grandpa and will be happy about that. He and I have the same life. Royalty and all. The public seems to expect us to go out. And Craig. Craig," she smiled at his name. "Craig can BURP!"
"I see." Jo said.
"What am I to do?" the princess wailed.
Jo turned to Di. "My advice? I think you've already made the decision in your heart. you just have to act upon it."
Di smiled. She kissed Jo on the cheek. "Thanks Jo." She paused at the exit of the kitchen. "You know, that sounds like something Mum would've said." She went out to her room to make the call in privacy.

"Look at you two," Jo gushed entering Annie's room. She put on the pearl watch William had given her as a present for her last birthday.
Annie and Di stood in the middle of the room. They were wearing the dresses she designed for them.
"Jo," both girls said in unison a little embarrassed for being made such a fuss over. Then they laughed.
They went in front of Annie's dresser looked at their reflections. They tried to improve on what the hair-stylists and make-up artists have already perfected.
"You think we're going to get corsages?" Di asked, putting on lip gloss. "I know Craig probably doesn't have the cash but I'm hoping..."
"Chris better get me a corsage!" Annie exclaimed, adding some mascara. "And a great big one too. I told him I wanted an orchid."
"What about you Jo?" Di asked.
Jo laughed, dabbing perfume on her wrists. "I think your father is a little too old to be giving me a corsage."
Annie took the bottle from her. And spritzed some of the scent on herself.
"Can I have some?" Di asked.
"Sure," Jo said, handing her the bottle.
"Moonlight Mist?" Di read the name. "I knew the smell was familiar but I didn't know this was the name."
"It's my favorite," Jo said. "I've been wearing it since high school."
"It's just that my mom used to wear the same sent," Di said. She shrugged and sprayed some too.
A servant came in and announced. "Your gentlemen callers await."

"I can never get this tie straight!" Chris complained as he struggled in front of the mirror.
Wills looked at his son's frustration as he finished tying his own bow tie.
"Ugh!" Chris yelled as he took it off to start al over again.
"Come here," Wills told him he sat on the bathtub to get to the boy's level. "You did fine." he said. "he tucked the bow here and there. "See? Great."
Chris turned to Cubby. "What do you think, boy? The tie looks okay?"
The dog barked in approval.
Chris laughed, then sighed. "I'm scared. What if I say something stupid? I always say something stupid in front of Annie. And the dancing! We have to dance! That's what kids do at dances! They dance!"
Wills did his best not to laugh. "You had a thousand pounds worth of dancing classes this summer. You were wonderful. Miss Bowen said."
Chris checked his hair in the mirror again. "That was different. I was dancing with an old lady then. Tonight I'll be dancing with....Annie!"
A knock was heard on the door.
"Harry," Wills greeted.
"You better get to the foyer," Harry told them "The girls are waiting at the top of the stair."
Chris groaned but gathered enough courage to walk out the door. Cubby followed after him.
Harry slipped him a handkerchief. "For sweaty palms." he whispered.
"Thanks," Chris said. He knew he was going to need it.
Harry watched him leave. "He's really growing up." he told his brother.
"They all are," Wills sighed. He looked at his reflection in the mirror. He was more nervous than he cared to admit.
"Chris would make his mother proud. He gets more and more like her everyday."
Wills managed a weak smile. "You noticed it too?"
"Jo looks great tonight. I hope you guys have a smashing time." Harry looked at Wills. "You're going to be all right?"
Wills looked at his wedding ring which hadn't left his finger in more than twelve years. He took it off and placed it in the drawer. "I'll be fine."

When the girls came down the stairs the boys mouths dropped open.
Christopher was the first to move and even it took him a while. "For you," he told Annie, placing the corsage on her wrist.
Craig approached Di. "Um, I got you this." he said. He pinned the flower on her dress. He leaned over to whisper loudly. "May I kiss you?"
Jo and William laughed.
"Papa? Can he?" Di asked for permission.
William nodded, being in a good mood that night. He watched as Craig kissed his daughter lightly on the lips.
When the kiss was over Di was blushing.
Chris and Annie looked at each other. Should they kiss? There was a moment of indecision. "No way!" they agreed in unison.
Jo watched as the two couples went through the dance ritual of young love. Oh, how she wished she had that innocence and romance again. She looked at William, who smiled at her.
"You look gorgeous," he mouthed.
Jo smiled to herself. Maybe she did have it. She called to the children. "Okay, everyone in the car."
The kids headed for the front door.
William handed Di her coat as the rest went ahead of them.
"Papa, why do you look so sad?" Di observed.
Wills sighed. "You look so grown up. I don't know. I just feel like I'm losing my little girl."
"Papa..." She kissed him on he cheek. She whispered. "I'll always be your little girl." Then ran to the limo.

Wills went back into the limo after giving Di and Chris reminders of what a royal can and cannot do in public. He closed the car door and sighed. He placed a hand on his forehead.
Jo smiled at him. "They went off okay?"
"Yes."
Jo's smile widened. "So Di, Chris and Annie are at the dance. Billy's at home with Paula. Tom is sleeping over at a friend's house. That means..."
"We're alone," Wills finished the sentence.
"Yes," Jo said. "Totally alone." She kissed him. "Utterly alone." She kissed him again.
Wills kissed her back. "Um, the driver?" he reminded, between kisses.
"That's what the tinted and soundproof windows are for..." Jo laughed.
"So we have dinner," Wills kissed her. "And dancing..."
"I love dancing," Jo smiled.
"And we go back to pick up the kids."
Jo calculated. "Five hours alone. Better than nothing. One rule: No talking about the children."
"Deal," Wills agreed. "So, how did your meeting with the investors go this morning."
"They were a little wary of me expanding my line to evening gowns. They wanted me to stay exclusive on wedding dresses but I managed to twist them my way. And how about your fund-raising?"
"I think we exceeded what we raised last year. Which is always good." Wills yawned. "Sorry," he apologized.
Jo kissed him on the cheek. Was she the only one who knew how hard he worked to juggle his unique lifestyle. "Go to sleep," she offered. "I'll wake you when we get to the restaurant."
He was already asleep.
Jo sat back. I understand, she convinced herself. She felt her eyes get heavy. I could use a few winks myself.

"Your Highness? Miss Conroy? We are at the WineGlass restaurant."
When he opened the door to the back of the limo both of his passengers were found sound asleep.

It was the soft beeping of the alarm on his wristwatch woke him up. He noticed Jo asleep on his chest. "Hey," he called softly. "Wake up."
Jo purred.
Wills stroked her cheek. His finger traveled to her lips which he outlined with no pressure at all.
Jo's eyes fluttered opened. She gave him a drowsy smile. "We missed dinner," she noted softly.
"We did," Wills agreed.
Jo attempted to sit up.
He touched her wrist. He kissed her. Not one of those casual pecks they gave each other so freely. This kiss had a life of its own. It was long, hard, and intense. It had been so long since he kissed a woman like this. Too long, he sadly knew.
Jo responded immediately. It was impossible not to. It was the first time a man, any man, kissed her with this much passion. This much wanting. And it gave her more pleasure than she could ever express. "Wills, Wills," she whispered his name repeatedly.
"Jo. Jo." he answered in kind.
"It's just that we have to," she tried to think as he kissed her again. "We have to pick up Di and Chris and-and," she forgot the rest of the names.
Wills stopped. "The children. Yes." He straightened his hair. He alerted the chauffeur through the intercom. "The school." He was a little disappointed. he turned to Jo to apologize but noticed her smile. "What is it?"
"I'm just wondering what would happen when the reporters ask what we did on our date and I'll reply: Oh, nothing. We just slept together."

Daddy: Chapters 11-13