Tristan was back, and Freya couldn't be happier. She'd had an opportunity to sit down and talk with Magnus who was very understanding. Albeit, she'd left out the part that Cossette had envisioned being sisters-in-law.

Cossette was better. She had her moments, but it was understandable. She was up and walking about and really working on figuring out a path for herself.

She'd confessed to Freya she'd only ever saw herself married, but after everything she'd been through, that was the furthest thing from her thoughts.

"There you are! I'm so happy to see you," Freya said as she jumped to hug her brother. "What's up with the grin? You're creeping me out."

"I have somewhat of an unexpected surprise for you."

"A surprise? Really? Well, what is it? You have to show me now." She giggled and playfully jabbed him in the gut.

"Come with me," he said, leading her to the room adjacent to his.

They walked in and closed the doors.

"Okay, I'm ready. What is this surprise?" she asked.

Her father walked out of the bathroom.

She didn't know what to think. Their father was there, in Martierra, in the Royal Palace of the Dahls. What on earth was happening?

Freya turned to look around the room, afraid her mother would pop out, but it was just him.

"Are you not happy to see me, sweetie?" Mark said as he made his way to his daughter, taking her into his arms.

She was utterly astonished. "How did this happen? I'm happy to see you. Of course, I am, Dad. But how?" she paused and asked, "Why are you here?"

It was an honest question, she thought to herself. "I've left your mom. I was going to stay at Tristan's place, while he was here. Then I received a phone call from the Queen extending an invitation to spend the holidays here. Next thing I know, here I am. I hope you don't mind. I wanted to tell you, but Tristan insisted on making it a surprise."

Freya's eyes were watery. Her dad left her mom? She knew it had to do with her. But she didn't want to pressure her father into telling her unless he was ready. And the Queen. She really was amazing.

"How did this happen? I can't believe she did that?" Claire wailed, as Will held their mother. "So typical of her. She must have one of you all to herself. Having you while we were growing up wasn't enough? Oh, but she'll hear it from me."

Doris sat at the dining room table with a cup of tea that had gone cold. The last few days were a maze of emotions. She hadn't seen it coming.

"Claire, you really need to get a grip on yourself. This isn't about you," Will said.

"How can you say that? Our parents are going to get a divorce, and you are telling me it is not about me? They are our parents; this is very much about me. About us." She paced the dining room. "And Tristan? I can't believe he has the gall. How could he so nonchalantly take dad to her? What business does he have coming between mom and dad? I swear..."

"Enough! That is enough, Claire. I don't want to hear one more word from your mouth about your father, Tristan, or Freya." Doris gently patted Will's hand that was resting on her shoulder. "I need you both to leave now. I have some things I need to do."

"What?! Mom!" Claire whined.

"Go. Now," Doris ordered.

"If you need anything, Mom, please, just let me know. I'll call you later if that is okay?" Will said.

"Thank you, son."

Will grabbed their coats from the closet. "Come on, Claire. Let's go."

Looking confused, Claire turned back to her mother but didn't get a chance to say another word as Doris stood and walked away.

"Thank you, so much, Your Majesty. I appreciate you inviting my brother and father to the Palace."

It had been three days since his arrival, and Christmas Eve was less than twenty-four hours away.

"No need to thank me, Freya. I like having you here, and your brother Tristan is so interesting to talk to. I think the King has a man crush on him. Your father loves you deeply, and when I heard from Tristan that he was considering not coming so your father wouldn't be alone, I made sure to invite him personally. No one should spend Christmas alone." She smiled as she gracefully lifted her teacup to her lips.

"I agree," Freya said. "I wish my family were not so complicated. I suppose there are worse things in the world." She smiled.

"Indeed," the Queen paused, "Freya, please forgive me for intruding upon your personal life. But like I've said, I've taken a deep liking to you, as has my entire family."

Freya wondered where the conversation was headed.

"I called your mother, Doris, and had a quite lengthy conversation with her. She's on her way here, now, as we speak."

Freya froze in her seat. What on earth did the Queen do? She clearly didn't understand how manipulative her mother could be. Of course, on the outside, she was all kindness and agreement. For heaven's sake, Freya thought, she's all about appearances.

"Your Majesty, I'm not upset, I'm just wondering why you did so?" She stared at the Queen who was taking a sip of her tea. Freya patiently waited as she put it down and carefully tucked her hands on her lap.

"Because, I cannot stand a broken family, and as I've said, I really like you. As a matter of fact, the entire family does." The Queen stood. "You are part of my son's life now, and while you may think it is because of appearances, it is not. Am I meddling? Yes, absolutely. Because I want to give you both the best opportunity in a relationship."

The Queen faced Freya. "I apologize, I really do. And I'll understand if you are angry with me. But will you at least consider sitting down with your mother when she gets here?

"For you, Your Majesty, yes, I will. Just don't be disappointed when you realize it was all a waste of time. I'm sure the only reason she is coming here is to make me feel guilty about my father leaving her. She needs to see me defeated after she lays on the guilt. Gosh, I really wish Tristan wouldn't have said anything." She rubbed her neck.

"I know you've had much patience with her. All I ask is that you please have a bit more. That's all."

Freya nodded her head.

"What did my mother do?" Cossette shouted.

"Exactly what I said. I hardly can blame the Queen. It's not good for your family's image that my family is falling apart, and worse, because of me."

"Stop it, Freya. You can hardly own the problems of those in your family. Sure, no one is perfect, but we all must take responsibility for our own actions. I mean, look at me." She laughed. "Hey, at least we can be the black sheep together!"

"Cossette! I'm not playing. I'm so stressed out. She's landing at any moment, and I'll have to speak with her straight away. I do not want to prolong the inevitable."

"That's the spirit. Just dive right in. But whatever you do, remember, she is and will always be your mother. Even if she is unreasonable, it doesn't mean you have to be the same."

"Indeed." She looked around the room; Freya hadn't spent too much time in the official library. "Just out of curiosity, what are you doing in here?"

Cossette smiled. "Well, you got me thinking about reading more. I devoured a few books which are apparently easy to do now with these eBooks. Anyhow, one of the stories triggered an idea. I'm not ready to share what it is, but I promise you'll be the first to know once I've done a little research."

"Wow! This sounds very promising. Can't wait to hear more."

"I can't wait to put my idea together. If all goes well, this time next year you might be staring at a business entrepreneur." She smiled, closing the book she'd been reading. "Don't look now, but I think your mom just arrived."

Of course, Freya immediately swung her head around.

Jean Paul was holding the door open as her mother, dressed in navy fitted slacks and a beautiful dusty rose blazer with a crème-colored mock turtleneck, was walking through the door.

Her hair was carefully fastened at the sides as the rest of her ashy dark hair flowed in soft waves down to her midback. Her skin was flawless, but Freya didn't recall seeing the worry creases around her eyes before.

She greeted Freya with a soft smile, and turned to Cossette and curtsied. "Your Royal Highness, my name is Doris Louise Sinclair, I am the mother of Freya and Tristan. It is very nice to make your acquaintance."

There was one thing Freya never had to worry about, her mother was very regal. Poised. Well spoken. And beautiful.

Cossette stood and extended her hand. "Very nice to meet you, Mrs. Sinclair. If you'll excuse me, I have something I must do. Hopefully, I'll see you later before dinner?" she said to Freya as she excused herself.

"Mom, have a seat. Can I have tea brought in? Water?"

"No, I'm quite all right. The Royal plane was wonderfully stocked, and the attendants were absolutely attentive to my every need and comfort." She smiled. "How are you?"

Freya wasn't sure if the question was small talk or if her mother really wanted to know how she honestly was doing.

Oh, heck, she decided.

"Sad. Honestly. Imagine my surprise when Tristan showed up here with Dad. Our family is falling apart, and I can't help but feel responsible in some twisted way that it is my fault. But the further I dig, the crazier I make myself. I can't understand for the life of me what I've done wrong." Her voice was strong and passionate, convincing.

"Freya, stop. I didn't come here to lay a guilt trip on you." Doris looked down at her hands for a moment, then raised her eyes to meet Freya's. "I came here to say I'm sorry." Drops rolled down her face, and she quickly pulled a tissue out of her pocket, catching the tears before they spilled onto her lovely blazer.

"I don't even know why I let this go on for so long. It was consuming and ruining our relationship. Yet, there I was, feeding that anger. Desperate for you to stop and see me."

"What do you mean, see you, Mom?"

"That I was lost. It wasn't your job, but I desperately needed you to need me as you'd always had. Somehow that loneliness and fear got away from me and turned into a vile anger, a resentment that you didn't deserve. Of course, it didn't help that Will and Claire had been jealous. They saw the opportunity to be closer to me and make your life miserable as if to justify for all the time they'd perceived you had stolen from them.

"But it wasn't your doing. I was the parent. I knew better. In fact, I know better. But my bitterness got the best of me. It wasn't until your father walked out of that house I truly felt the pain of isolation, and I realized how very wrong I'd been about how I'd been treating you, and worse, allowing your siblings to treat you.

"The Queen's timing in calling me was perfect. I was trying to figure out how to reach out to your father without calling the main line again. God, I am so embarrassed by my behavior."

Freya stood to pace and think, but her emotions had a mind of their own and somehow had taken control of her body, as she hurried to her mother's side, kneeled, and gave her a massive hug.

"Mom, if I ever hurt you, I'm so sorry. It wasn't my intention. Thank you for coming here and saying this to me. I know it won't be easy trying to repair the years of damage, but I'm willing to give it my best because I love you."

"I love you too, pumpkin."

They held each other crying, but Freya understood how symbolic it was: turning a new leaf. A new beginning. Hope.