#otwl

 As she emerged from the bathroom, her fists were clenched and her jaw was tight.  Jilian’s stare was cold and her breathing was ragged. She glared at Liam as if she didn’t have any love left in her.  She looked broken. Jilian looked as if she was ready to fight.

“Love, I’m so sorry, I didn’t mean to...I--”

Jilian took a step closer to Liam, and before he could say another word, she punched him in the face. *Smack!*

They both winced after the contact of Jilian’s fist met Liam’s left jaw.

“Jilian, what the hell!  Why did you hit me?”

Cradling her right hand in her left, Jilian looked up at him with no remorse.  “Why did I hit you?!? Liam you know damn well why I hit you.” The tears welled in her eyes, but Jilian refused to allow Liam to see them fall. She turned her head and quickly wiped them away. 

 “I. SAW. YOU!  I saw you with her.  Liam. I’m Your wife, Your Queen, the mother of YOUR child; and yet I turn around and I see you kissing her!!!” Jilian poked Liam in his chest with every word she spoke. Pushing him further and further away from the bathroom door, but closer to their bed. 

Liam knew there was no way of getting out of this.  He knew he messed up, and he didn’t know how to fix it. I could ask for forgiveness.  

“Love, I’m so sorry, please forgive me, I don’t know what--”

Jilian swung her left hand, but Liam quickly grabbed it. 

“Owwww,  let.me.go.Liam!” 

“No!” Not until you calm down, and stop hitting me,” Liam said with a stern tone.

“Oh, so I need to calm down? Now, I’m wrong? I’m the one at fault here, Your Majesty?  Is that what you’re saying, Liam?”

Liam loved the way Jilian would address him as “Your Majesty.”  She always had a sexy tone to her voice when she said it; and the look she would give him, always sent chills down his spine.  But unfortunately, not this time; this time he could hear the hurt and anger laced with sarcasm, in her comment.

“No, I just want you to listen to me.  Please Jil let me explain.” Liam's voice fell to almost a whisper.

At that moment, there was a knock at the door.  Jilian said “Come in,” at the same time as Liam said, “Not now.” 

The door opened slowly as Hana walked in holding Liana Eleanor nestled against her chest.  She was cradling the Crown Princess’ head so that she wouldn’t stir when she spoke.

“Sorry to interrupt, Your Majesties; but I have a little princess here that is starting to become incredibly fussy.”  Hana said as she looked from Jilian to Liam. It was obvious Hana noticed the bruise appearing on Liam's left jaw.

 He placed his right hand over it with great haste, to conceal the quickly forming bruise that Jilian had given him.

“Uhmmm, thank you Lady Hana; but do you mind watching our little princess for just a few more minutes?  The Queen and I are finishing up an important conversation.”

Hana nodded and turned to walk out, when Jilian asked her to have Mara get the SUV ready.  She wanted her and the crown princess to be on their way to Valtoria within the hour. 

Liam felt his heart stop at that very moment.  He knew Jilian was upset, but he didn’t think she would leave. 

“Ok, I will have her pull around to the front of the Palace.”

“Thank you, Hana.”  Jilian replied as she looked into the eyes of her closest friend; always communicating words that were never spoken, but heard loud and clear.

Hana gave a sympathetic nod and turned to walk out of the Royal quarters still cradling the crown princess.

Once the door closed, Liam took a few steps toward Jilian.

“Love, why are you leaving? Please don’t go. It’s late, and I don’t want you and Lily out this late without me.  I can stay in one of the many rooms here, or I can sleep on the couch.  Just please,” Liam took a breath, “ don’t leave.”

The whole time he was pleading with Jilian to stay, she never turned from the door. With her back to him, she drew in a breath to gain her composure, to solidify her decision.  She needed to focus and make sure she didn’t fall apart when she told him that she and Lily were leaving.

After hearing those words come out of her mouth, Liam felt as if the air had been confiscated from his lungs. He tried to reason with her, again stating that he would leave and that she could stay, but Jilian only moved faster.  She could tell Liam’s heart was breaking, as he sat at the console table near the door and watched her pack a bag for herself and their daughter.

 Jilian had just completed packing the last of the necessary items for Lily, when there was a knock at the door.  Liam stood up and opened it. 

“Hello Your Majesty, Lady Hana sent me to get Queen Jilian and offer to help with her bags. Mara is waiting out front.” said Natasha, one of the Queen’s guards and Mara’s second in command.

“Thank you, Natasha,” Jilian replied as she walked up behind Liam, “and yes, I would like some help please.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”  Natasha began to grab the bags Jilian had packed, she looked at the Queen and King and said “Lady Hana has Princess Liana Eleanor, she said she would meet us out front.”

“Thank you, Natasha,” the royal couple  said in unison.

Liam waited until Natasha had left, before continuing his conversation with Jilian.

“Love, please don’t do this. I know you’re upset right now, but if you would just relax and---”

“Relax?!?” Jilian could feel her emotions rebuilding.  She tried her hardest to contain them, but she couldn't hold back the tidal wave of hurt, pain, and anger she was about to release on Liam. 

“Liam, I fought for you, for us! I left everything I knew; I left my world behind to come and compete for you, for your love!!” Jilian said pointing to her chest.

“I know honey, but I just--”

“You just what? What Liam? What can you do to make this better? Can you wave a magic wand and make me unsee what I saw?”

“No, I can’t.”

“I didn't think so." Jilian dropped her head and let out a deep breath.

"Liam I love you, and I thought you loved me.” Jilian’s voice began to crack as the uncontrolled tears tumbled down her cheeks. She quickly wiped them away. 

Liam knew his Queen was heart broken. Never in a million years would he have imagined that he would be the one to cause her this much pain.

Jilian needed a moment before her strength resurfaced.  She held her head up high, drew in a deep breath, and looked Liam in the eyes and said, “Goodbye Liam.”

“Jilian, wait!  No, please don’t go. You can’t just leave, we have a country to run.” 

Liam's words escaped his lips before he could stop them. Knowing that this was not what he meant to say, he quickly tried to retract his words. Wishing he could unsay what he had already said.

Jilian slowly turned to face him with hurt and frustration in her eyes.  “We have a country to run?” “That’s what’s most important to you,....Constantine? Cordonia!"

“Jilian.  No, I didn’t mean it like that. I just wanted to..I...I.” Liam began to stammer his words. “I just need you to listen to me, let me explain.”

“Ok. Fine Liam, I’m listening.”

Liam finally felt as if he could breathe. So, he took a deep breath, to calm his nerves.

“Jilian, I know you saw me in a compromising situation.  I’m not denying that, but you have to understand that I never meant for it to happen.”

Jilian just stood there, with her arms folded across her chest, staring at Liam.  She tapped her foot to try to keep herself calm and composed; but the more Liam talked, the more her foot tapped.  Jilian tried really hard to focus on the words that were coming out of his mouth, but her mind wasn't able to process them.  

“I honestly don’t remember what happened. I mean, it all happened so fast, that I couldn’t….I couldn’t stop it.”

And just like that, Jilian erupted. “You couldn’t stop it!” “Seriously, Liam! You, the King of Cordonia, couldn’t stop someone from kissing you?!?!”

“No, I mean Yes!  I don’t know, Ok, I don’t know. You act as if this all falls on me,” Liam screamed!

“Excuse me?”

Liam knew at that point, this was not going to end well.

“Are you insinuating that I AM to blame for you kissing HER up against a wall?”

Liam just stood there, he didn’t agree or disagree.

Jilian let out a sadistic chuckle. “Okay, that’s fine.”

Those were the last words that were said before Jilian turned to walk out of the door of the royal quarters.  As she crossed the threshold, she removed her wedding rings and placed them on the console table.

*******************

The ride to Valtoria was long and quiet.  The crown princess slept the entire way, while Mara and Natasha tried to ease the tension by reminiscing about the last time they were on an all girls trip. Jilian looked out the window on her side and Hana sat quietly fidgeting with her hands.

“Jilian, you know you can talk to me….when you get ready, of course.”

“Thank you, Lady Hana.”

At that moment, Hana knew that something was really wrong, because Jilian never addressed her by her court name, outside of court.

********Back at the Palace*********

“Knock, Knock.”

“Come in.” Liam said as he sat on the couch, staring out onto the balcony.

“Hey Li, I was wondering if you and…….What the fuck happened to your face?” Drake said as he walked around the couch, seeing Liam hold an ice pack to the left side of his face.

“Who did this to you?”

Before Liam could answer, Drake began to run into the different rooms of the royal quarters looking for Jilian and Lily.

“Where’s Winchester and Lily?” Drake asked as he walked back over to check on Liam.

“They’re gone.”

“What? What do you mean gone? Define gone, Liam?”

Liam stood to his feet and walked over to his bar cart to pour himself a drink.  Drake waited as patiently as he could for his friend to tell him what happened to his friend and god-daughter.

Liam drew in a breath after he gulped the finger of scotch he poured himself. “She left, Drake. Jilian left for Valtoria and took Lily with her.”

“Wait. What? Why?”

Liam turned around and looked at Drake with sadness in his eyes and regret written on his face.

 “Honestly Drake, I’m really tired right now, and I just want to lay down and try to get some rest.  I will fill you in tomorrow, but right now I’m exhausted,” Liam said as he started to walk towards the bedroom.

“Ok. Hey Li.”

“Yes.”

“Whatever it is, it’ll work itself out. You two will be fine.”

Liam stopped and turned to look at his friend, with a smile that didn't quite reach his eyes, and responded  “Thanks.”

“Alright, I’ll let you get some sleep. See you tomorrow.”  As Drake turned to leave the royal quarters, he noticed Jilian’s wedding rings sitting on the console table.

“Dammit.” Drake stopped and took his phone out to text Hana.

Drake: Hey can you talk?

Hana: Hey back. 😉 No, not at this time. I’m on my way to Valtoria with Jilian and Lily.

Drake: Ok. Call me when you get a minute….alone.

Hana: 😊