Gwyn's here.

[palace-anna.livejournal.com]

Harry closed the door with a smile and wave, the look of panic coming into his eyes as the door clicked shut, fishing wildly in his pocket for his com and dialing quickly. "C'mon, Anna- pick up, dammit!" he muttered, pacing around the living room.

Anna grabbed her com. "Hey Harry!"

"Anna- Jesus fuckin' Christ-- okay, so we're going to get a bag together, and we'll just leave for a few days- sound okay?" Harry said in a rush, still pacing around the room.

Anna frowned. "Harry, what are you talking about? Go where? A few days? What's going on?"

"I- I didn't expect, and there was swearing and beer and then was just there, and I really think since I didn't escape, we should really try and get you out of the building."

"Escape? Harry, what are you talking about!? Why am I leaving?”

"No one knew was coming- just there all of a sudden," Harry shuddered.

"WHAT was coming? Harry, dammit make some sense!!"

"She's here, Anna. In Palace. I've met Gwyn."

"Gwyn? What the fuck? When was she....oh fuck what happened?"

"Taught Caeline what 'fuckwit' meant. She was practicing. Just as Gwyn walked in the door. And there was beer. And jeans. And bare feet."

"Oh fuck." Anna paced her room. "Oh fuck oh fuck oh fuck. Where is she now?"

"With Christian. Anna? I kinda swore at her. A little. A lot. I said 'I beg your fuckin' pardon'." Harry whimpered.

Anna went pale. "Oh shit, Harry! Harry, tell me this is a fucking joke. Seriously please tell me you're joking. No fire if you say so now.”

"There are things you joke about and things you do not joke about, and swearing at the Crown fucking Princess of Dnara isn't fucking one of them!"

"Oh shitshitshit. She'll be coming to see me than. Soon. Too soon. Fuck why didn't anyone tell us she was visiting. Why the FUCK is she visiting?"

"I'm guessing she's here to check out Caeline, because it was her that she came looking for and if she'd been remotely interested in me or Johnny, she'd have been here months ago."

"Why? Not like she can do anything about it. The deal is done. Just to see. Oh fuck!"

"It's not done- nothings official until Christian proposes." Harry stopped himself from pacing, throwing himself down on the couch. "Anna- I think I really fucked up with her, but she had me all nervous, and there were fingernail issues- have you seen them? They're terrifying!"

"Seen them!!! I've felt them"

"CHRIST!"

"She's a pincher, Harry. A sneaky one."

"I swear to god, Anna- I thought she and Caeline were going to go at it, claws swinging. And I really couldn't give you odds on who would have come out of that one on top."

The color drained from Anna's face. "Oh shit. Don't tell me Caeline's going to go alpha female against GWYN!!"

"Did."

"Oh fuck oh fuck oh fuck oh fuck. Okay, don't have a job around here yet. Could leave for while, no one be wanting me."

"If you abandon me here with that, Anna- I will..." Harry searched around wildly for an effective threat. "I will send a personal letter to Callan recommending you for his bride."

"HARRY SINCLAIR YOU WOULDN'T!!!! And you were the one suggesting I leave!!

"WITH ME!"

"Than how long is it going to take for you to get ready? Where the hell are you?"

"In my room- where are you?"
.
"HARRY! I'm in my fucking room! Why the fuck didn't you just knock on my door?"

"Because I didn't fucking know you were fucking... get OVER here!" Harry hung up his com with a huff.

Anna hung up and dropped her com as she hurried across the hall. She looked at Harry. "Okay, where can we go? Fucking Mark can come later I don't want to have to wait."

"You raid Orlando's closet- you're teeny, but there's got to be something there that'll fit you-- he can find us later. I'll leave him a note," Harry nodded, going to look for paper. "I finally figured out where he keeps the keys to his cars- you can drive, right?"

Christian stopped outside Harry's door, running his fingers through his messy hair before he knocked. He got no response which didn't surprise him, the sound of raised voices was clear. So he pushed the door open and stuck his head inside. "Harry?"

Harry froze seeing Christian, immediately looking behind him to see if Gwyn was following.

Christian rolled his eyes and stepped into the room. "I'm alone, Harry. Gwyn went out shopping about an hour ago. Is Caeline here? Oh. Hi sis."

Anna whirled around, stepping in front of Harry. "Christian what are you doing here?"

"Oh thank fucking Christ- Anna, we've got a bit of time," Harry said, sinking down onto a chair.

"I live here, Anna. As do you. What's all the excitement about?" he took in his sister's flushed face and figured it out. "Oh."

"Is it the full out shopping? Cause that'll give us some hours to use."

"You didn't answer me about whether you drive or not- I know Orlando said no one drives his cars but him, but I'm willing to deal with the fall out from that."

"Use? Harry, where's Caeline?" Christian was beginning to think he'd stepped into an alternate reality where everyone resembled relatives, but were all completely insane!

"Yeah, I can. I’ll be careful, but fast."

"She left a bit ago-- as it turned out, she actually did have a fitting with Madame Lianne," Harry said to Christian, distracted.

"Um, Christian? Tell everyone we'll be in touch. Um, yeah thanks." Anna kissed him than turned to Harry. "Okay, I get the clothes, you get the car.

"Guys!" Christian yelled. "Shut the fuck up! What's the bloody panic about?"

"I'll get the keys- I can't drive, Anna. We gonna need food, or have we got time to stop?"

"Oh no you don't." Christian grabbed Anna by the arms and forced her into one of Harry’s chairs. "Don't move, Sinclair." he threatened. "No one is going anywhere. Gwyn's only here 'til tomorrow. Deal with it."

"Deal with it!! Are you crazy?" Anna stood back up. "A full-on Gwyn tear in process and you want us to stick around for it?!!"

Harry shook his head violently. "Uh uh. We're out of here. Not sticking around for more of that."


"Yes I bloody do!" Christian paced the floor, hands on hips. "You're not bloody running out on me, either of you. Gwyn's having dinner with Johnny and I tonight, Caeline too if I can find her and she'll be gone pretty early tomorrow morning. There is no need to run." he said slowly. "Hide, yes, if you feel you must but . . .” he glared at them both. "Either of you try to leave the building and I'll have you arrested. Charged with cowardice in the face of sibling rivalry or something. Just try me."

"Harry, get the keys. Where's your suitcases?" Anna headed for the bedroom.

"Anna, I mean it!" Christian spat. "You try it and I'll tell Gwyn where to find Jared. I swear I will."

"You wouldn't!"

Harry looked appalled. "Christian!"

A fire column sprang up.

Christian simply looked at her and then slowly spun around to face Harry. "And you." he added. The back of his neck got warm and he turned around again. "Put. That. Away." he said succinctly.

"You leave Jared out of this." Anna's voice was serious. "I mean it Christian. You can fucking throw me under the train, but you leave him alone."

"Yeah- he doesn't deserve that- he's not done anything," Harry chimed in.

"I will. If you behave." Christian hadn't really meant it, but he would have their co-operation, about that he was perfectly serious. "Go out to dinner." he suggested to the pair of them. "Go out, come in late and, chances are, you won't even see her. That's my final offer."

"Say you'll leave him out of this Christian. Tell me that right now!"

Christian sighed. "I will. For God's sake, Anna, I didn't mean it. But you're both behaving like idiots!" He leaned back against the door and looked tired. "She's your sister, Anna. And Harry, she's no threat to you, no matter what she might say. For Christ's sake, can you just . . .” He waved a hand and let it drop.

"I know she's my sister. Why else do you think I'm acting like this? Just cause you're not the disappointment don't think you know how it is between us."

Harry looked down, embarrassed. "Sorry, Christian. I just haven't felt like the dirt underneath someone's frighteningly pointy shoe in a long time."
"I know, I know." Christian wiped a hand across his face, struggling to deal with his temper, with this on top of everything else. "I just . . . I love her, you know? And I love you too. Both of you." He glanced between the two of them. "But I'm sick of having to always run interference between Gwyn and the rest of the family. Cut me some slack, okay?"

"Why do you? How come you always have? It's never changed anything. Why do you keep trying?" Anna walked to her brother and put her hand on his arm.

"Because I don't want blood on my hands." Christian gave Anna a wry smile. "I'm sorry." he apologized. "For the crack about Jared, I mean. I've got a lot on my plate right now and it's no excuse but I'm getting a bit . . . yeah. Stressed. Sorry."

Anna leaned up to kiss Christian, than hugged him tight.

"If it helps, Caeline and I were getting along really well before she showed up," Harry piped up. "She's nice. Likes beer. Also knows the correct definition of 'fuckwit'."

Christian groaned and closed his eyes, tipping his head back to bang against the door several times. "Great. Just . . .” He began to chuckle and then to laugh. "Just what I need." he giggled. "A swearing princess to match the proper one while I'm running a damned country full of plotters and smartass foreign kings and . . .” he trailed off, wrapping his arms around his sister and still laughing.

Anna frowned at hearing her brother. He sounded a little too much like Father just than. She sighed, thankful that Gwyn had had the twins. "We're sorry Christian.

"Yeah, we're sorry," Harry echoed. "Sides, Orlando'll kill us if we take his car. Especially if we leave him behind."

"Just don't run off and leave me, okay?" He looked at Harry. "Okay?"

"Okay. We promise." She kissed him again, giving him a last squeeze before stepping back.

"Uh-huh. And he's not hiding in the gatehouse." Christian straightened up. "Just . . . stay out of her way if that's what you need to do. She's with me and Johnny tonight and gone tomorrow." he reminded. "Well, back to the grindstone. I'll see if I can't find Caeline later." He opened the door and then stopped, grinning back at Anna and Harry. "I tell ya, I dunno how dad does this. This is hell!" And he left.

Anna frowned. "And they wonder why I don't want the job."

Harry looked at Anna and sighed, then brightened. "Did you hear Christian say 'Harry and Anna... don't drink yourselves into oblivion’?”

Anna looked at Harry, than smiled. "No, I don't think I did."

"Fucking brilliant."

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[angie-palace.livejournal.com]

These two are just hysterical! Total panic, utter chaos, pointless dashing about.... LOL! I love how Harry tells Anna to get over to his room immediately, FROM her room, and THEN tells her to grab some of Orlando's clothes to take along on their flight. That just really typifies the level of coherent thought being generated in this scene. [sporfle!] Too funny!

Angie