Chapter 51 – Jesse Flynn

Jesse couldn't stop staring at his wedding ring. It was made of white gold, the edges shiny, and the middle part was brushed. He had picked up the habit of spinning it around his finger whenever he was bored or deep in thought, or when talking to someone. Well, it was pretty much all the time, to think of it.

He smiled and sighed, content. It was still early in the morning, but now that Spring was just around the corner, dawn had been coming in earlier every day, and the birds were also singing. He could hear them from the opened window in the trees around the house.

His beautiful wife was sleeping peacefully next to him, her chest rising softly as she breathed. He smiled and placed a tiny kiss on her bare shoulder before slipping out of bed and going to the kitchen to make coffee and breakfast. He tried not to do too much noise and when everything was laid out on the kitchen table, he sat on a chair and picked up his phone.

First, check out his social media accounts and see if there was anything new. There were also a few messages and one reminder from his agenda: Silas's BD: 7 pm. Right: he and Nevaeh were going to the Palace for dinner. Ever since their wedding, they hadn't set foot there, keeping blessedly away from there and only seeing the royal family on Friday mornings, at the Studio. And Jesse had to admit: he was much less stressed and slept better now that the Selection was over.

Life as everyone knew it had resumed – with some changes here and there – and Jesse was happy about it. Now he was a married man, living in a nice house he could never have been able to afford before, and he was happy.

The coffee machine beeped and he poured himself a cup of coffee.

"Why are you always up so early?" his wife asked, coming over and rubbing her eyes.

Jesse shrugged and smiled. She was extremely beautiful when she got out of bed with no makeup on and just wearing her pink pajamas. Her belly was popping out just above the pants' elastic, and her hair was all over the place. He couldn't resist the urge to take her in his arms and kiss her. "I'm just happy and I slept enough."

"Ah, yessss, you made coffee." She wiggled herself out of his embrace and grabbed his cup on the table before sipping.

"Hey, that was mine," he said, pouting slightly. But Nevaeh just smirked and continued drinking. "You're not supposed to drink coffee –"

"Wrong. I can have 2 cups max in a day. I checked."

"Hmph," Jesse said, pouring himself another cup. "Fine." He sat on another chair and started buttering some toast and spreading some strawberry jam on it. He put it on Nevaeh's plate. "Here you go."

"Aw, thank you," she said. She continued to sip on her coffee while he made himself a peanut butter and jelly toast. She made a face at the smell and quickly buried her nose in her coffee cup.

"It's March 19th," he said. "We're going–"

"It's Silas' birthday, I know," she said. "I wrapped his gift last night. Please help me remember to take it when we go."

Jesse nodded. "Yeah, okay. So, what do you want to do today?" he asked.

"I have the 20-week ultrasound today," she replied. "We're going to find out if it's a boy or a girl… "

"Wait. What? That's today?" Jesse asked, burning his tongue with the coffee. "I thought that was next week!"

"No, it's this morning." She paused. "Should we find out the baby's gender? Or should we wait?"

Jesse stood and started pacing along the kitchen floor. "Uhm, uhm… I don't know. Crap, this is stressing me up– I mean– we should? Or wait, no… Yes? It could help to paint the nursery walls, no?"

Nevaeh laughed softly. "Jesse, calm down. We don't have to find out today." She buttered another toast. "We have three options. First, we can wait for when the baby comes to know if it's a girl or a boy. Second, we can find out today."

"What's the third option?" he asked, sitting back down and frowning, confused. Of course, Nevaeh always had everything thought out. She was the brain of this house. He was… well… he was the entertainer.

"We can ask the doctor to write the gender on a piece of paper, seal it in an envelope, and then we can decide when and how we want to find out."

"Oh! A cake or balloon gender reveal! I like that!" he said. "I've seen so many videos about couples finding out like that. Yeah, we should do that! I mean– only if you're okay with that…"

Nevaeh nodded. "I'd like that, too. But only if we do a cake gender reveal."

Jesse grinned. "Deal. Cake it is."

They finished eating their breakfast while chatting about the baby and how they wanted the nursery, and of more and more silly names. Nevaeh said she wanted a name that could be easily pronounced in French and English, and not be too different in the two languages. After that, they got dressed and Jesse drove them both to the doctor's office for the ultrasound. They had the doctor seal the gender in an envelope for future use, and then came back home.

Jesse had a few things to get ready for the next morning's Report before they left for the Palace while Nevaeh went through paint colors for the nursery. There was no way she was going with pink or blue, and for now, she was more leaning towards a light gray with splashes of either yellow, green, or teal. She still had a few months to decide, but at least she knew the walls would be a light gray.

-o-0-o-

Later that evening, Jesse and Nevaeh were welcomed with open arms by Ximena and Silas in the entrance hall. Ximena hugged Nevaeh and asked her how the baby was.

"Fine! I did an ultrasound this morning and everything is perfect!"

"I'm so happy to hear that!" Ximena said.

"Do you already know if it's a boy or a girl?" Silas asked as the two couples walked towards the dining room.

"No, not yet," Nevaeh replied.

"But we're definitely going to do a cake gender reveal!" Jesse said. He was almost bouncing up and down, excited at the prospect.

Ximena laughed. "Are you going to film it and post it on Social Media?"

"Yes!" Jesse squealed.

"No!" Nevaeh countered. "We don't share our private life."

Jesse rolled his eyes. "People are going to find out anyway."

"You can take a picture of the cake color, but you do not share a video. And that's final." With that, Nevaeh walked faster to the dining room, leaving Jesse with Ximena and Silas behind.

"What's wrong with her?" Ximena asked. "Did I say something wrong?"

"You did nothing wrong," Jesse said. "She's just very picky about what I post on Instagram." He paused. "She doesn't mind me putting out there other people's love stories," he looked at Silas and Ximena to make his point, "but she doesn't want ours to be public."

"I see," Silas said. "Though you still posted pictures of your wedding."

"Yes, but only after she had gone through the ones I wanted to post and selected a few." He sighed. "I guess she still hasn't forgiven me for the fall, and she's not ready to put that past us."

Ximena giggled. "That was mean, Jesse. But I don't think she would have married you if she hadn't forgiven you for that." She looped her arm in Silas's arm as they stepped into the dining room. "Maybe she just wants to keep your story private, for now."

Jesse nodded. "Yeah, maybe you're right." He looked around. "Nathan is still in France?"

"Yes," Silas said. "Though he did send me a text message wishing me a happy birthday." He paused. "Do you have any news through Henri?"

"Not really," he said. "Nevaeh has talked to him a few times, but apart from knowing that they're both still alive, we don't know much more." Jesse bowed to the queen – who was now his aunt through his marriage to Nevaeh, and that was still something completely otherworldly! – and he joined his wife around the round table.

Val was there, too, talking with Nevaeh, but Essie was not there either: she had gone back to Yukon to sort out some things – like finding someone to take over her flower shop and do the paperwork for her apartment – and then she was planning to go back East to see her family and make amends with them before marrying the young prince. Val, on the other hand, was back on campus and in the middle of his last Bachelor's Degree semester before his final exams in June. After which, they would get married and he would continue on to his Master's Degree while she found something to do in LA. They had it mostly all figured out, and Jesse couldn't be any happier for them.

Dinner was fancy and nice as always, and then they all went to the royal family's private living room for the party. There were champagne and Birthday Cake, and Silas opened his gifts.

He got some new silly socks from his wife – and after asking them what the silly socks thing was about, Silas finally told everyone about his sock collection, which made everyone laugh –, a new luxury Swiss watch from his mother, a bottle of wine from his father, the latest Nespresso capsule pack of the darkest coffee they ever made from Val, and the whole piano music score of the movie UP from Nevaeh and Jesse.

They spent the whole evening drinking champagne – some stayed with apple juice or water, though – and eating cake, and genuinely enjoying themselves. Jesse and Nevaeh left around half-past eleven, claiming Jesse had to get up early the next morning for the Report. That, and Nevaeh was tired. Being halfway through pregnancy was tiring.

-o-0-o-

"I have something else for you," Ximena said when they had closed the door to their room. Silas just sat on the bed and looked at her smiling. Granted, he may have had a little too much champagne to drink, but he was still clear-minded enough for what she was about to tell him.

"What is it?" he asked, smiling. He was already taking off his suit jacket to have freer movements.

Ximena sat next to him and placed a small kiss on his lips. "What would you say about being a dad?" she asked softly.

Silas froze. "What? A dad? But that would mean you'd have to be–" he looked down at her belly, then back at her face. "Wait. Seriously?"

"M-hm," Xi nodded. "Seven months from now, you'll be a dad!"

Silas didn't know what to do. Or say. He just stared at her and grinned like a happy idiot. "That was… quick," he said. It had been the first thing that came to his mind and the wine and the champagne usually took out the filter that went from his brain to his mouth.

Ximena laughed. "Yes, well. It happened sometime in Hawaii," she said. "I guess all those coconuts and mango juices helped."

Silas burst out laughing. "I doubt that, but I'm glad we did something right!" He took her beautiful face in his hands and kissed her. Damn, that woman was amazing. And he was going to be a dad! Wait. He stopped kissing her and frowned.

"What's wrong?" she asked, slightly breathless from the kiss.

"I don't know– I mean, I've never even held a baby– I– what if I'm an awful father?" Now he was beginning to panic.

Ximena took his hands in hers and smiled warmly. "Silas, we have seven months to prepare. And besides, you've already had puppies, no?"

He snorted. "It's not the same thing. You can't compare a baby to a puppy. Can you?"

Xi shrugged. "You can, a little, I guess. Hey, listen," she said, searching his eyes. "We're going to learn together okay?"

Silas nodded. "When is it due?" he asked softly, putting a hand on her belly. Of course, there was absolutely no bump yet, but if she said it was there, then it was there. He trusted her. And she wouldn't trick him with something this serious.

"Around mid-October."

Silas took a deep breath and let it you slowly. "Have you already been to the doctor?"

"No, I only took three tests," she replied, giggling. "I wanted you to come with me the first time. But for now, let's keep it to ourselves, okay?"

"Okay." He nodded and kissed her again. Then they both got ready for bed – Silas in his boxers and t-shirt, and Ximena in her short silky nightgown – and Silas curled up behind his wife, his face buried in her hair that smelled of vanilla and orchid. He wrapped his arms around her, resting his hands on her belly. He loved being the big spoon and he usually fell asleep very quickly like that.

Only, not this time. He knew the exact second Ximena fell asleep when her breathing became slower and regular. But Silas couldn't stop thinking about that tiny baby in her belly. Did they really do that? Made a baby? He smiled and a burst of love filled his heart. For his wife and for their child, his Heir. He didn't care if it was a boy or a girl, all he cared about was that it was theirs and that they would have a little family of their own.

He only hoped he would be able to be a good dad. There were things he already knew he would do differently than his parents had done with him, but that was something to worry about later. For now, he was just happy, and he loved it so much already.

It took him a good hour and a half to fall asleep, but when he did, he dreamed of babies and children and dogs and he woke up the next morning completely rested, with just a tiny hint of a headache due to the many flutes of champagne from the previous evening. He looked at his sleeping wife and a wide smile spread over his face. He placed tiny kisses on her shoulder, her cheeks, her brow until she stirred and open her eyes. She rubbed her eyes and smiled at him.

"Hey," she said in a sleepy voice.

"Hey, little momma," he replied, chuckling softly.

Ximena giggled and snuggled against his warm chest. "Just five more minutes."

"You can have all the minutes in the world," he whispered, holding her in a bed-warm hug. "I love you so much," he whispered. "Did you know that?"

She nodded and just buried her face against his heart. She mumbled something he didn't quite catch.

"What?"

"I love you too," she said, lifting her face away before putting it back against him.

If Silas could wake up like this every morning for the rest of his life with Ximena by his side, he'd be the happiest man on earth.

-o-0-o-

"Goodeveningladiesandgentlemenboysandgirls!" Jesse said, booming his usual welcome phrase on the Report stage. "My name is Jesse Flynn and we are here today with the amazing Royal Family for some weekly news!" He sat on his usual armchair, next to where the queen, her husband, Silas and Ximena, and Valerian were sitting on various couches as if they were sitting in a small living room. Sydney had decorated the area with flowers, lamps, and different vintage objects.

"Your Majesty," Jesse said. "It's been a while since our last Report chat."

"It has, yes," the queen replied. Jesse had always focused the past Reports on the princes and all, but this time, he wanted to have a little conversation with the queen as well. She was his aunt now… Oh, dear, that was still too weird to fathom.

"Eight months and a half ago, you were opening your home to thirty-five Selected for your three sons. Now in March, one of your sons is happily married, another engaged, and the third one… well… He needed some time to think, I guess."

The queen laughed softly. "I'm glad at least two of them found happiness in the Selection. It's always been like that for generations, anyway." She paused. "I knew Nathan wouldn't quite like the idea of settling down with a wife, but a tiny part of me wished that he did."

"I understand," Jesse said. "But I'm sure he's taking the time to think about it." He turned to the Prince Consort for his next question. "Your Highness, how do you feel now that two of your sons have brought in more ladies to the family?"

Prince Tobias chuckled. "In my humble opinion, the ladies in question bring much-needed gentleness and softness to this family of brusque men."

"Brusque men?" Val said. "Thank you very much!"

Jesse and the others laughed.

"What I mean is that I'm happy to have a more feminine presence in this family," Tobias explained.

Val laughed at that and shook his head.

"Your Majesty," Jesse continued his line of questions. "This might be a little farfetched and please let me know if it is, but you've been ruling for a little more than twenty years. How long still are you planning to be our amazing queen before you let Silas take over?"

The queen thought for a moment. "I don't want Silas to be burdened with the country's weight on his shoulder before he really got to live his marriage and start a family." She paused. "So I guess when that happens, I'll see what we'll do. Does that answer your question?"

"Yes! Thank you very much," Jesse said. He stole a glance at Silas and Ximena who were looking at each other with a knowing smile. Jesse didn't press them: they had only been married for two months; it was still too soon to pry into their lives… although…

"Your Highness," Jesse said to Silas. "What is it like to be a married man?"

Silas became red in the face in an instant. "Very pleasant," he said. "But you'd know about it, wouldn't you?" he retorted, teasing.

"I do indeed," Jesse said. "And let me tell you, I've never been happier in my life. Have you?"

"No," Silas admitted, looking at his wife. He smiled warmly and kissed the back of her hand. "I was just telling myself that, this morning: waking up every day next to Xi is the highlight of my day."

"Aw, that's the sweetest thing!" Jesse said, cooing. "Princess Ximena, do you share the feeling?"

"Yes, absolutely." She kept her eyes on her husband, and Jesse could almost hear Nathan rolling his eyes and gagging from the other side of the planet. "Prince Val," he continued. "How's college?"

"Much better, now that I'm back on campus!" he said. "I had missed it so much, but I have to work extra hard, now."

"Oh, why is that?"

"You know… exams coming up? I want to finish my Bachelor's degree with flying colors."

"I'm sure you will," Jesse said. "Any news from Odessa?"

"Yes! I called her last night, before Silas's birthday party," he said, sitting at the edge of his armchair. "She told me that she found someone to take over the shop, so now there are lots of paperwork to be done. And then she needs to give back her apartment. But once that's done, she'll go back East for a bit." He paused. "And then there's also the wedding to prepare!"

"Oh, yes! And when's the date again?" Jesse asked.

"June 27th."

"I see," Jesse said. "I wish you both the best of luck on all those projects! And on your exams as well, of course!" When Val thanked him, Jesse took out his iPad. "Now, I have a little surprise for everyone!"

The royal family looked at each other, confused, and then Jesse made a sign for the screen guy to link his iPad to the big screen: his Call App appeared with the name Nathan Schreave in the middle of the screen.

A few seconds later, he answered and his face appeared on the screen. "Hey, Jesse! My man!" he said, holding his phone in front of him. Behind him, the décor was very Mediterranean-like, with white walls, light brown wooden beams above him, but mostly, there was the ocean behind him with a magnificent orange sunset, visible through the large patio door. "How are you doing?"

"Your Highness! What a pleasure to see you again!" Jesse said. The floor of the Report stage shifted and the royal Family found themselves in front of the big screen.

"Oh, hey, mom! Dad!" he said, blowing them a kiss. "Silas! How's your wife?"

Silas and Xi shared a smile. "We are well, thank you," he replied. "Where are you?"

"South of France, living my best life!"

"I can see that," the queen said. "I hope you're not enjoying yourself too much, though, and that you're planning on coming back…?"

"Eeeh, yeah probably," Nathan replied, shrugging. His shirt fell open on his chest, but he didn't seem to mind. "Val, when are your exams?"

"In a few months," his little brother said. "Hey, are you bringing me a souvenir?" he asked, smirking.

"Uhhhh… should I?" he said. "I mean, yeah sure! I'll bring back a bunch of seashells. You like seashells, right?"

Val rolled his eyes. "Whatever."

"Jesse!" Nathan said. "How's that pretty wife of yours? I hope you're taking good care of my cousin and her baby!"

"Our baby," Jesse corrected, "but yes. She's fine, the baby's fine, and we're all fine! Thanks for asking." He paused. "What's new on your side of the world?" he asked.

"Eeeeh, nothing much," Nathan replied. "Same old. Beach, parties, booze, girls, … you know me!" He laughed loudly.

But Jesse saw a shadow pass in Nathan's eyes, even through the screen. Was he okay? Maybe he'll call him privately some other time. "I see! Have you had any contact with the girls from the Selection? Or none at all?"

A beat passed before Nathan replied. "No, none." He smiled. "But hey! There are other ladies in Europe, so I'm good!"

"Nathan Alexander Schreave," the queen said. Though she had a bright smile on her face, she seemed pretty threatening, and Nathan knew it because he sobered up quickly. "I hope to see you at Valerian and Essie's wedding at the latest," she said. She didn't word the rest of the threat, but Nathan seemed to know it.

"Yeah, I'll be there," he said lightly. "I wouldn't miss my lil' brother's big day! Don't worry."

The queen nodded. "Good."

"Well, Nathan, thank you for your time, it was really nice chatting with you!" Jesse said. "Good luck on your travels, and we'll see you soon, I hope!"

Nathan mock-saluted and blew air-kisses to his family before Jesse terminated the call. The screen guy interrupted the link with the iPad and the floor shifted back to its original position, with Jesse and the others facing the Audience. Well, there was no more Live Audience, since the Selection was over, but there was still the Report Crew and the cameras.

"That was a really nice surprise, Jesse," the Queen said. "To see Nathan like this." She shared a look with her husband, and Jesse understood that either they had tried to call him but he hadn't answered, or they hadn't even tried.

"I'm glad it was appreciated," Jesse said. He turned towards the cameras. "Well, Ladiesandgentlemenboysandgirls, this is the end of our Report today! Don't forget to like, share and subscribe to Instagram and the Blog, and to get your hands on the newest Illéa Weekly on Monday! Have a great weekend and see you next week! Bye!"

eeeeeek that was so uwu, right? I hope you thought, too! ;)

thanks for reading, reviewing, supporting, and all that. love you guys! and see you on Saturday for another chapter! ONLY 3 left after thissss! omg...

See ya! byeeee~