By Didi
Disclaimer: Anyone out there that still thinks that I might actually own anything in association with this story after reading the other hundred disclaimers for every story I've ever written to have their reality checked for stalls. Thanks.
Timeline: I have no idea where the hell the timeline is on this thing anymore. This started out as a ten chapter max story and kind of grew legs of its own and ran with me trying to catch up.
Rating: It's probably R for this chapter. Tell me if you disagree.
Author's Note: Wow are we ever off topic now.
Summary: What would you do in the name of love? Escape to merry ole England.
10:15 Hours to Take Off
"Darling?" watching with much amusement as Jules scrambled around with last minute items that needed packing before their flight this evening. Having already packed his necessities away three days ago, he had been watching as she threw everything in one corner all week along and waited until last evening to begin her packing. "Shoes?"
"Oh shit!" grabbing the gold sling-back shoes from where Matt dangled off three fingers. "Don't stand there snickering like an idiot, get your coat, we're late for work."
"You should have…"
"Shut up already about that," she glared at his grinning face and muttered something unpleasant under her breath.
"Temper, temper…" shaking a finger at him.
"Did you give my sister all contact information?" she asked as she grabbed stuffed the shoes away and reached for her coat.
"Yes, yes, all the lovely numbers to all the hotels and resorts and other assortment of things have been typed and delivered into your sister's delicate hands to be placed on her icebox if she should feel the need to get in contact."
"And did you give the hospital…"
"I've taken care of everything," he replied grabbed her face and planting a lingering kiss between her brows. "Don't worry your pretty head about anything, I've handled it all. Just you go to work, make some miracles happen then we're off to jolly ole England."
She gave him a look. "Are you taking charge here?"
"Yes," giving her a solid nod. "I'm taking charge."
"I'm not sure I like being taken charge of."
He grinned at her. "I know."
8:42 Hours to Take Off
"Betty?"
"Yes, Doctor?"
"Where are the reports on the blood work?" Harriet asked as she flipped through Jules's charts. She was leaving this evening if she remembered correctly and she wanted to catch her before she leaves. "It's been five days, where are the results?"
"Which patient are you referring to?" Betty asked, coming around the counter slowly.
Harriet glanced around the nurse's station. "Dr. Keating," she replied quietly. "And keep this under wraps, please."
"Of course," as if affronted by the fact that Dr. Lenning thought she would do otherwise.
"I mean it, Betty," Harriet responded seriously. "The last thing Jules need right now is everyone in the hospital nosing about her business. It's going to get ugly real fast and I don't want her to have to deal with it one minute sooner than she needs to."
"Yes, doctor."
"Good," glancing at her watch. "Could you run upstairs and ask the lab where those results are. I need them before five today."
"Yes, doctor."
6:13 Hours to Take Off
"Mother, we are not having this conversation again."
"But Matthew…"
"No, Mother," he replied in his firmest Doctor tone he usually only reserved for his most ridiculously stubborn patients. "And that is the end of this discussion."
"I don't see why…"
"Because it's a bloody four-hour drive away," Matt said exasperated. Why he had called his mother with his flight plans now escapes him.
"But you would be so much more comfortable if you simply came home and…"
"No, Mother," wondering if he could signal someone outside his office to save him from this phone call. "We're staying at Lexingburg Castle and that is the end of it."
"Your father will be…"
"Much relieved I would think," Matt cut in with a sigh. "Mother, I will see you on Sunday morning for the wedding and not before then. I must be off; I have patients to see before I leave tonight."
"If you must," she huffed into the phone.
"I must," he replied with much annoyance. "Good-bye, Mother, I will see you Sunday."
"Oh darling, who are you…"
But Matt hung up before his mother could complete the question that he had no intention of answering.
4:00 Hours to Take Off
Nick Kokoris made his way down the hall with his long legs carrying him at a speed not to be matched unless one was above the height of five feet eleven inches and can move as gracefully as the surgeon can in a pace that should have made him look ridiculous but didn't. Catching his quarry by the arm, and propelling her protesting all the way along the hall, Nick finally shoved her through the door of her now empty office and shut the door behind them with the heel of his shoes. "May I ask a question?"
Staring at him as if he's just lost his blinking mind, "I guess."
"How many besides your immediate staff, who apparently can keep a secret when no one else in this hospital can, knows that you are taking sick leave for two weeks?"
Jules made a face and sat on the edge of her desk. "How did you find out?"
"I have my own sources," that included a confused technician who had wanted to know why Dr. Keating's patients' X-Rays were being sent to Dr. Cummings's office. "And let's assume that I don't intend to strangle you with my bare hands for leaving me with three patients in need of major surgeries and no primary physician to be had, when were you planning on informing me?"
Giving him a wary look, Jules crossed her arms and informed him, "From a phone on a plane halfway across the ocean."
The glare he was giving her could have burned her alive. "Thank you, Doctor. It's so warms my heart to know that you are ever so diligent in your duties."
She raised a brow at the implication. "Do you really think that I'd be leaving right now if it weren't completely necessary?"
Since Nick had already realized that he had crossed the line with the last comment, he was quick to shake his head. No one was as dedicated to her patients as Jules Keating was. And for him to be even suggesting that she would abandon her patients was akin to blasphemy. He was going to get his ass kicked if he didn't go some major back pedaling real fast. "So why are you leaving?"
Heaving a sigh and was both weary and annoyed, "Doctor's orders."
"Which doctor?"
"Harriet," she complained without a thought. "And Slingerland has this annoying habit of taking her every word as gospel."
"Why would she…" then two major pieces of two puzzles fell into place, leaving him reeling. "Oh my god."
Jules looked up startled, "What?" and then realized what she had done by the stricken look on the other doctor's face. "Uhm… Nick…"
"Why didn't you say something?" he asked sitting down, suddenly flooded with sympathy. Now it made sense why Dr. Lenning had steadfastly refused to disclose the name of her patient until after Friday. And it certainly made sense that Dr. Keating would want to be gone with then news breaks. "When do you leave? No, let me guess. First thing Monday morning."
She glanced at the Tweety clock with its moving eyes that ticked away the seconds. "Actually, I'm gone in four hours out of SFI."
"To where?"
"Somewhere away from here," she replied with a sigh. "I've left instructions with Cummings on how to reach me if an emergency comes up that absolutely needs my attention. Jamie also has the information, but she's the only nurse around here that does, if something that comes up that I need to know about. And let us hope that that doesn't happen."
"We can only be that lucky," Nick studied her for a moment in silence. "Can I ask…"
"No, you may not," she replied, busying herself with paperwork. "There is a reason I wanted to keep this under wraps until I get the hell out of here for a while. I don't want the whole hospital walking on eggshells around me, you included." The last thing she needed was everyone acting all weird around her.
"Can I offer my sympathies then?"
"Not necessary," she informed him with a grime smile. "But thanks anyways."
"Anything I can do to help?"
"Yeah," glaring at him, "Stop treating me like I'm an invalid and get back to work. Claris Winthrop isn't going to do her own evolution, you know. And don't think I didn't know that you haven't gotten around to that case yet. Time is valuable on that case."
Nick sighed and nodded his head. Perhaps it would be easier if he simply ignore this new data. "Have you bumped her up on the donor list?"
"She's still number six," Jules informed him, opening a drawer and pulling out a folder. "I talked to Jesse from the board yesterday, they won't move her any higher with her numbers the way they are."
"And have we run a full work up yet?"
"Every three days," Jules smiled and stared at him a look in her eyes that spelled trouble. "By the way, have you seen the lasted test results yet?"
Sheepishly, "No."
"You going to any time in the near future?" she asked sweetly.
Nick smiled brightly and headed for the door. "I was just on my way."
"Good," Jules replied with false enthusiasm. "I thought you were."
3:31 Hours to Take Off
Feeling eyes drilling holes into the back of head, Jules turned and caught six nurses gathered not five feet away, watching at her as if she was so fascinating creature in the zoo. They were quick to jump into action when caught blatantly staring. Their busy hand didn't belie the fact that they had been watching her.
"Clare?"
"Yes, doctor?" jumping to attention so fast that Jules was slightly startled. "Is there something I can get for you?"
"Um… yes," she eyed the nurse carefully. "I need these transferred to Dr. Cumming's box by the end of the day. Make sure that happens, will you?" handing over several clips.
"Of course," she replied with strange hint of sympathy. "You look a little peaked, would you like some water?"
"I have some fruit in the lounge, would you like something to eat?" Helen offered her eyes soft with maternal understanding.
"No," shaking her head slowly and eyeing them warily. Okay, this was a little too much attention now. "Thank you though."
"You should keep your strength up," Melinda advised with a weak smile as she dipped her hand into her scrubs. "M&M's?"
"No, that's okay," Jules replied returning the weak smile, not sure what the hell is going on now. "I've got patients."
"You work too hard, Doctor," Helen said with a smile. "You should take come time off and relax a little, build up your strength again."
"I didn't realize that I had lost it," she muttered then left before anything weirder can happen.
She didn't miss the sudden increase in whispering the minute her back was turned. Oh something was definitely up.
3:16 Minutes to Take Off
"Jules, wait up," Dr. Brennan handed off her charts and ran to catch up with her friend. "I want to talk to you a minute."
"What's up?" Jules managed to ask with a straight face. She had been on her way back from the labs and on her way to her office to clean up and head toward the garage. With all the strangeness around the hospital, way too many people expressing a sudden concern for her pallor and her diet, she just wanted out.
Rae looked down both sides of the corridor, noting the curious faces of the passing nurses and motioned to Jules into her office. "I want to talk to you a second."
"Okay," a little cautiously. When an oncologist wants to talk to you, it's not always a good sign; especially when they are wearing that 'I'm afraid we have some bad news' face. Shuffling her way into Dr. Brennan's office, she glanced over her shoulders and noted that many faces were now appeared more than a little curious. "Something I need to be worried about?"
"Rae! Jules!" Dr. Jordan hurried down the hall, her eyes dark with concern and a frown wrinkling her brows. "Wait for me," then paused to drop patient charts on the nurses' station before following the two into the room. "I want to be in on this too," she informed Dr. Brennan in no uncertain terms.
"Why don't I like the sound of this?" Jules commented as she took a seat, carefully positioning herself so she was facing both doctors.
Rae took a deep breath and prepared herself.
Letty didn't bother to hide around the bush. "Gossip mill is working over time today. Word is that you're the patient that got shafted during the power surge incident."
Jules winced at the chosen words. "God, that just sounds awful when you say it like that."
"It's a talent," Letty replied dryly. Her brows came together into a frown as she noted that Jules just avoided the topic neatly. "Now give me the scoop. Are you?"
"Jules," Rae said softly, her eyes soft with concern. "We don't mean to pry into your business…"
"Sure seems like it," she replied with mock cheeriness.
"But we are concerned," Rae continued with a quick look at Letty. Word just reached her through the grapevine an hour ago when the hustle and bustle of the day died down slightly. "And this is serious business what Dr. Lenning is contending. And if it's one of our own…"
"Relax," Jules said with a smile, getting up, "I'm fine. No lawsuits pending. No worries. Now, if you ladies will excuse me," making for the door.
"I take that as a confirmation of the rumors," Letter commented as Jules got one foot out the door.
She smiled and replied, "Any way you want to take it is fine with me," then hastened out of there before either one can ask any more questions.
3:09 Hours to Take Off
"Yo, Keating!"
Jules winced and turned. "Hey, Jackie."
Grabbing the pediatrician's arm, Jackie Colette ushered her away from the nurses. "Is it true?"
"Is what true?" came the question in the same conspiratorial whisper as she was shoved into her own office for the second time today. "What's with the cloak and dagger routine?"
"Everyone is saying that you got the short end of what happened last week."
"Who is everyone?" she asked calmly. It was strange that this would get around so quickly when Harriet had promised that it would be leaked until… Nick. She was going to have to a good talk with the… then again, Kokoris wasn't ever known to be a gossip hound. So how did…
"Everyone!" Jackie shook her head. "And I do mean everyone because I've even over heard David from Administrations talking about it. Can you believe it? It's gotten all the way to the top. I heard the Dr. Lenning isn't confirming nor denying." She stared at Jules fixedly. "Well?"
"Well what?"
"Aren't you going to say anything at all to refute it?"
"Refute what?" she replied obtusely.
Jackie's eyes went wide. "Are you saying that it's true?"
Jules rolled her eyes. "You know, one would think that with the intelligence that comes with practicing medicine, some of these people would find other things more stimulating that listening to rumors and gossiping in the halls."
"You didn't answer the question," Jack said doggedly.
"And I don't plan on doing so," making a shooing motion. "If Dr. Lenning isn't talking, nothing I say or do is going to make a damn difference. Now, get. I've got paperwork to complete and I'm already off too."
"But…" Jackie managed to get out before she was shoved out and found herself facing the immovable door that was slammed shut behind her.
Jules leaned against the door and heaved a sigh of relief. Between the nosy co-workers and the whispering of the nurses, she was beginning to be ten times more thankful to Matt for suggesting this extended trip than before. Any more of this and she would officially need to be medicated.
2:57 Hours to Take Off
"Jules?"
She wanted to scream. She really, really, really, wanted to scream. "Yes?"
Harriet saw the look in her eyes and groaned. "I take it it's already made its rounds in the hospital?"
"Like wild fire," Jules replied and opened the door to her office once more. She had been so close to escaping. "Did you need something?"
"I wanted to tell you what happened at the administration meeting," she informed her with a quick look around. "I won't stay long. I know you have a plane to catch."
Nodding her thanks, "Tell me what happened. And how the hell did the rest of the hospital get a hold of it so fast."
"The administrators or the attorneys have big mouths."
"Apparently," she replied dryly. "So what did they say when you told them."
"Well, William and Charles went ape, as predicted. Arlene was aghast, but she's usually in that manner. And David called the attorneys."
"So it was a typical clean up meeting?"
"Unfortunately. When do you leave?"
"I was on my way out actually."
"Then I wouldn't keep you," Harriet said as she got up. "By the way, the lab wants to know what you'd like to do with the rest of the stem cells extracted for Charlie."
"Oh…" she hadn't consider it at all. "I guess I'll sign off on dumping them. No need for them anymore."
"Had you wanted to save them for something?"
"No, not really," Jules replied, pulling her door closed. "I had thought about donating the rest for research. Stem cell usages are still pretty rare and controversial around here… and everywhere else. A little extra data never hurt the field." She smiled. "Hey, did the admin ever learn where the stems came from?"
"They were looking into it when this eclipsed that little problem."
"Lucky me," she gave a mirthless laugh. "Okay, I better go find Matt before we miss our plane."
"Have fun at wherever it is Slingerland is whisking you off to."
She gave her a weak smile. "I'll try."
2:29 Hours to Take Off
"If we don't get out of here right now I will go nuts!"
"Hello to you too, luv," Slingerland greeted mildly as his pen made deathly scratching noises across the form he was filling out. "I'll be with you in just a minute."
"You have any idea what's going on out there?" shoving a thumb toward the door.
"If you're experiencing anything like what I've been experiencing, I would assume you're ready to shoot someone," Matt replied calmly as he finished the diagnosis and moved onto his last chart.
"It's a zoo out there," she sighed and sat down across from him. "Are you about ready? We're going to miss our plane if we don't take off soon."
"Oh, so now you're looking forward to the trip," he glanced up, eyes twinkling with amusement. As of last evening, she was still insisting that he tricked her into going to the wedding half way across the world. In fact, they got into a rather spirited debate of it while she packed for the trip.
She raised a brow at him. "I'm having a really lousy day. Everyone around here thinks that the hospital technicians killed my kid. Everyone is offering sympathies without actually saying a word about it. And everyone wants to know what they can do to help, like there is anything they can do. So could you not go into that with me right now?"
"I love you," he informed her with a grin as he finished signing off on another order.
She glared at him but felt butterflies in her stomach. "So how was your trip through hell?"
"An interesting one," Matt sighed and stacked the medical charts neatly. He felt exhausted all the way to his bones. "How they managed to discover that I was involved in this was beyond me. I've had no less then six nurses and three doctors offer me their condolences."
"Just their condolences?" she asked with a sly grin. It felt good to tease him. It felt good to be in his presence. Something about him makes it easier to deal with the fact that they loss something.
"Among other things," he replied wickedly. "And how was your day?"
"Pretty good, only got corner three or four times; the nurses weren't so quick to off me their condolences as they seem to be to you."
He glanced up, wondering if she was seriously jealous over the amount of female attention he receives. But her face was serenely calm and her eyes twinkling with teasing laugher. Finish up, he came around the desk and lifted her chin. "The only condolence I want is from you, for sentencing me to fall horribly into your hands."
Blushing, because it was sentimentally sweet, she pulled away and glanced around the office. "If we go now, we still might catch that taxi that's suppose to arrive at your…" the rest of the sentence was cut off as Matt slanted his mouth over hers, possessing it for a moment.
When if finally pulled away, he was wearing the smuggest look possible, which effectively clear the haze that had settled across her thoughts. "One day, darling, you will learn to accept my words and not blush like a virgin going to her bridal bed." He dropped another kiss on her nose then grabbed the medical charts. "Come, we have best be off."
2:02 Hours to Take Off
"Is this all you are bring?" Matt asked as he stared at the loud magenta suitcase with a lime green handle. Where his darling managed to find such an obnoxious traveling case was beyond his comprehension. Well, it would make locating it at the airport much more convenient than his own standard black. "You do realize that it will be two weeks, correct?"
"I do know that," she checked her purse once more for all the necessities. "And I pack light."
"Light?" grabbing his coat as he handed the handle of the suitcase to Jules. He had packed twice than she, and he knew there were clothes in his parent's home for him to wear should he need more. "Darling, unless you plan on being naked half the time we're there, you will need to purchase…" he stopped, stared at her blankly for a moment. "What am I saying?!?" Was the thought of a naked Jules what he was protesting? The ultra strong cleaning fumes at the hospital have finally managed to kill all his brain cells.
Jules laughed as she kicked him lightly in the calf. "Shut up and get moving. We're late."
0:22 Hours to Take Off
"Why don't you apply for a US passport? We could have gotten in and out of that line a lot faster if you had one," she complained as they made their way down the terminal. As luck would have it, their plane happens to be on the opposite side of their check-in area. They were late. More than just late, they were really, really, late.
"Did it ever occur to you, luv, that I may not be eligible for one?" he asked as he took her hand and pulled her back in time to avoid a collision with a family of four. He's notice this about her of late, she seem to become ten times more accident prone when distracted.
"We're never going to make it," she muttered as she skidding around two nuns and lifted her purse out of the way as a small child had his escape from a diverted parent. "And what do you mean ineligible?"
"In case the accent didn't inform you of my origin, I'm British."
"So?"
"Nationality wise, Sunshine." He pointed to their turn off point. The few times he's had to fly in and out of San Francisco International Airport had a various degree of reaction from him. When it was a good day, it was a very good day. But when it was a bad day at the airport, it was horrid. And today looks to be… "We're almost there," a good day.
Resisting the urge to count her chickens before they were hatched, "Let's hope they don't close the gate early."
"Wouldn't they check to make sure all passengers that have checked in are actually on board before they close the gate?" he wanted to know. Okay, those ten extra minute they took in getting charts signed was coming back to bite him now. If he missed this plane Andrew would no doubt have him maimed.
"I don't think it works that way," she spotted gate just as they rounded the corner. "There it is!" and picked up a little more speed. She was feeling slightly giddy with the prospects of escaping the watchful eye of the gossiping hospital staff for a while.
"Oh good, we made it," he sighed as they arrived at the gate and handed their tickets over to the nice lady with the fake smile. "And just so you know, I'm on a work visa. Handy little thing, that."
"You're kidding?" taking her ticket stub back and glancing at the seat number. She's always assumed that with the many years he and she had worked at the hospital that he was an immigrant that had migrated across the Atlantic. "Why haven't you applied by a green card yet?"
"Hadn't really thought about it, really," he said with a shrug. "I suppose I always thought this would be a temporary move." Plus he wasn't exactly certain what his mother's reaction would be were he to give up his British citizenship to take up permanent residence in the colonies. "And now… well…"
"The thought off anything less than an ocean between you and your parents brought that to mind?" she teased with a sly grin that made her look pixyish.
He gave her a glance, all humor pushed aside, as they made their way into the plane. "Among other things."
Zero Hours to Take Off
"Darling, what did you do to Kokoris?" Matt asked as he buckled himself into the seat and turned the over head air vent down. He despised flying. There was nothing pleasant about having to get into a tin can for hours on end to defy gravity and Mother Nature. But it was this or three day in a train followed by two weeks on a giant tin can floating on the sea to get to England. He should know, he checked. He wasn't sure which tin can would be worse.
"What do you mean?" Jules asked, taking the little pillow from her back and setting it against the arm rest next to her. "And was it really necessary to fly business class? Economy would have sufficed."
"Yes it was necessary," Slingerland informed her as he helped her adjust the blanket around her legs. "My legs are too long for those tiny spaces. I would have gotten first-class had they not been booked solid."
"That's just a waste of money."
"I make pretty good money," he informed her with a roll of his eyes. "Now stop complaining and relax, we're about to take off."
"Oh, I hate this part."
"We'll go on a cruise next time."
"There better not be a next time," she warned him with a growl. "I still say you tricked me."
"Yes, darling," he replied indulgently.
"Oh, shut up," she said as she rested her head against his shoulder and brace herself for the acceleration of the plane to hit her. "And what was it you wanted to know about Nick?"
"Oh, it's Nick now is it?" he inquired mildly.
"Oh course, what else would I call him?" she asked distractedly as the engine roared to life. Her hands instinctively tightened on the arm she was clutching. "Oh god, I really hate this part."
"Good lord, you're a worse flyer than I am," extracting his arm, mostly because he was afraid she would draw blood. He pulled her into his arm, forcing her head down into his lap and held her there. "Relax, it'll be over in a minute or two," covering her exposed ear with the palm of his hand to muffle the sound of the whirling engines. This part usually bothered him too, but for reasons he couldn't explain, seeing her fears made him stronger… or at least made him feel that he needed to be stronger for her.
"Another blanket for your wife, sir?" a helpful stewardess asked with an envious smile. Amy has been watching them for the last five minutes now. She liked to keep an eye out for potential new 'friends.'
Jules turned her head, obviously startled by Amy's sudden appearance. "Oh, we're not…"
"In need of another, thank you," Slingerland managed to fill in quickly and with a smile of great appreciation. "I'll keep her warm," and gave Jules's shoulder a quick squeeze of affection.
If the young pretty stewardess wasn't jealous before, she certainly was now. Amy's goal in life was to marry and marry well and never have to work again. To that end, she got this lucrative job that gave her plenty of contact to the plenty of wealthy men young and old. She had noticed him the minute he walked in. Classic cut Italian suit, no less then three hundred dollars unless she's missed her guess. Hand painted silk tie, fifty dollars at a steal. A titanium Rolex watch with diamond ticks for hours stops. Soft leather shoes that looked Spanish. And wide competent hands that looked like he's never done any harsh labor in his life. Young, handsome and with an accent to die for; Amy thought she had hit the jackpot… until he saw that one of those beautiful hands had a firm gasp on the slender fingers of another. Cursing her luck, she hadn't been swayed from at least attempting to find out more.
"Well, is there anything else I can get you?" she asked politely watching with curiosity as the woman turned to the handsome Brit with a questioning look. Hum… intrigue.
"No, thank you," he replied with another smile and gently forced the woman's head down once more. His fingers threaded through slowly through her soft auburn hair in a reassuring manner. "Will we be taking off soon?"
"In a moment," Amy replied, feeling her smile tighten slightly. The good ones are always taken. "We're waiting for an all clear from the tower on the runway."
"Lovely," Matt replied cheerfully.
Amy nodded her head and turned quickly. She didn't want to stay near that sugary scene any longer. It only depressed her.
Jules sat up the minute the stewardess left; plus that was when Matt finally released the near death grip on her. Curiosity had her watching the woman for a moment before turning to Matt, "What was that all about?"
Rolling his eyes with a sigh, "A vulture if ever I saw one," he informed her in no uncertain terms.
"Huh?"
"Darling," pulling her to him once more. "You are too good by half."
"Matt, make sense please," she pleaded as she settled against his chest once more and tried to ignore that fact that the engines outside their window was whining distressingly… or at least it sounded that way to her.
"If she didn't know approximately how much every piece of clothes I am currently wearing at first glance, I'll eat my shoe."
"Fortune hunter?" she asked curiously then glanced toward where the stewardess had gone. "Really?"
"Yes," he said with a look of annoyance. "In this, my mother and I are in utter agreement. They are the worse of the worse and I for one do not plan on becoming ensnared in their pretty traps."
"Matt, I think you're exaggerating."
"I think not."
"Fine, fine," closing her eyes as the captain announced their departure and asked the flight attendants to prepare for take off. "By the way, did you tell your parents that you're bring me along for the trip?"
"Um…"
"What was that?"
Matt cleared his throat and glanced at his watch. "We're ten minutes behind schedule already. Oh and I only reserved one room for our stay at Lexingburg Castle."
"We're staying at a castle?"
"Yes, a lovely place it is as well. Andrew wanted to be married there."
"A real castle?" she asked in delight, her eyes sparkling with amusement.
"Yes, a real castle."
"Does it have a moat?"
Frowning at that question, "I'm not sure."
She grinned and settled back down. "Cool."
"Glad you're happy," he replied and heaved a silent sigh of relief that she didn't press him on the question in regards to his parents. That would have been slightly awkward.
To be continue….
Okay, that was a cop out chapter yes. I'll do better next time. Promise.