AN: So this one is a continuation (future-set) of Notting Hill. I also plan to do some with small Anna and Will ones after the press conference but this is when their daughter is four. Don't worry. I absolutely adore Hugh Grant as an actor and kind of as a person but I'm not going to be following his wishes and writing about a divorce. Hope you enjoy.
Also, although Notting Hill is my third favorite movie, my second favorite is Love Actually so let me know if you'd be interested in a David/Natalie story for that one as well. ((my absolute favorite movie is Moulin Rouge but that one is somewhat depressing to write).
The People Want To Know
Chapter One
William Thacker had gained attention in the media over the last six and a half years. He had been published when the pictures had come out and a handful of interested people had come to his travel bookshop to ask him questions about Anna, but after the press conference and their relationship had started, he had found that the media wanted to focus on him. Because of his marriage to the Academy Award Winner, he had been contacted and asked to consult about countries he had never been to, his shop had done so well that he had to open a second, third, and finally a tenth one to capture the interest of the both British and American people interested in his story, and he had put together enough money to take a personal trip abroad at least once a year. Will preferred to go with Anna and later with Elizabeth – their daughter named after Elizabeth Bennet – but Anna insisted in these individual trips.
He had been to all the countries which he had never had a chance to including Turkey where he had experienced authentic kababs. This month Anna was filming in Canada and the bookstores were doing so well that Will didn't necessarily have to go in. Again, Anna had encouraged him to go on a vacation by himself and Will had chosen to go to New York by himself. He had been planning on secretly surprising Anna after he explored the busy city. It had to be a good surprise.
However, that meant that he was going to be leaving Elizabeth and he hated to do that. Even two weeks was too much time to have the little girl without his parents. However, Bella had wanted it and Bella would be an amazing mother. She and Max had been thinking about adoption and taking care of Elizabeth was a good test before they entered the process.
As Will hugged his daughter close, he kissed her forehead. "I've packed everything you need, sweetheart," he told her as he gently brushed back her thick and slightly curly brown hair. He gazed into her eyes, the same color as her mother's. "All of your favorite toys, some books, clothes. You'll have all that you need."
"Except you," Elizabeth said as she tried not to cry.
"I will be back before you know it," Will told her as he hugged her again. "You'll have a lot of time to play with your cousins," he said referring to Honey and Spike's unique twins, "And you love your Aunt Bella, you told me that the other day."
"Yeah," Elizabeth whispered.
"We'll make sure to spend lots of time together," Bella tried to encourage the young girl she saw as a niece in her life. "Uncle Max wants to teach you another recipe."
"Let's hope that your mother will allow you to eat fish," Max commented and William rolled his eyes. Anna might be a vegetarian but she never placed rules on others of what they could and could not eat. She would substitute some meals and Will would make sure they ate healthily and at least three vegetarian meals a week. Anna had even admitted that protein was most likely a good thing for a growing child.
"You know Anna would allow her," Will said before sighing. "I wish that I wasn't going."
"You always say that and then you have a great time," Bella said as Will looked back at Max's car where his luggage was. "Listen, you have to make sure to check in on time."
"Just don't get caught on one of those American's Gone Wild videos," Max joked and Will rolled his eyes.
"Let's hope not and let's retire that ridiculous joke. I just hope that nobody will recognize me when I'm there. Laying low, keeping a low profile, that sort of thing will be good for me." Will sighed before hugging Elizabeth closely again. "Be a good girl for me, okay?" he asked as he kissed her forehead. "Daddy loves you."
"I love you too, Daddy," Elizabeth said and Will stood. He said goodbye to Bella before leaving with Max so his friend could drive him to the airport. He sighed. He wished that he wasn't leaving. Whenever he did leave his family it was as if he could never get home quickly enough.
After the goodbyes were said, he sighed as he gazed out the window of the car. Anna always told him that leaving on these journeys would be good for him and though each one left him a little mournful, this particular trip gave him a bad feeling in his chest. It felt like he might never be able to come home again.
ASWTASWTASWT
It was raining. William hadn't expected it to be raining in New York as he arrived but that's what it had been doing and looking out of the window of the taxi cab provided him with just as much mournfulness as he had had in Max's car. The driver was taking him to an expensive hotel where Anna had secured him an excellent room but explained that it would just be for her husband so that the press wouldn't gather for him.
"Is it very far?" William asked as he leaned forwards whilst sitting in the back seat with his hands pressed against his knees. "I only want to get out of the weather, maybe put on a cup of tea."
The cab driver laughed as the rain beat heavily against the windshield and the wipers quickly tried to beat it away. Will was glad that he hadn't rented a car and driven himself. He had heard horror stories about New York public transit but he was going to suck it up. It couldn't be that different from the London Underground.
"Not too far at all," the driver said and Will nodded with a hum, "You British and your tea. I mean, I've heard that you bathe in tea, is that correct?"
"Quite a embellishment," Will replied before hearing a heavy honking behind him, "What the hell was that?" he asked as he tried to turn around and then had a deep sinking feeling in his gut as he felt the driver start to turn to avoid the large truck behind them. "That really must be illegal," he commented and the driver sighed.
"Welcome to America," he said in an exhausted manner. "It won't be long until we get you to the hotel."
Will nodded but heard the honking again and felt a vibration through the car. What happened next happened so shockingly that Will couldn't get his bearings on it. The taxi he was in skidded off to the side and another car slammed into it. That wasn't the worst part though. They had been about to take the bridge and as the car skidded across the street, it felt off of the bridge. It landed in the dirt on the side and started to roll down towards the water.
William attempted to make a movement but as he reached for the door, his body was pushed away from it. He saw the water beneath him but he couldn't move. His eyes started to close and he lost consciousness. His last thoughts were about Anna.
ASWTASWTASWT
Anna turned towards the director as they finished the shooting for the day. The location was Victoria in British Colombia and she knew that if the shooting went well, she would finish about the same time that Will would have checked into the hotel. If she got dressed then she would have the time to call him. Without speaking to any of the other costars, she went to the room and prepared to get changed.
She had felt a weird coldness in her body just a moment ago but had been able to shield it whilst acting. Actually, if she thought back it was most likely an hour or so ago. She had already checked on a computer and had verified that Will's plane would have landed. She took a deep breath as she put the clothes back into the garment bag and wore her own. She dialed the number for the hotel.
"Hello," a man answered as he gave the name of the hotel as well. "How can I help you today?"
"Hi," Anna said slowly, "My name is Ms. Tinkerbell, I was wondering if you had Michael Willis working today. I've been in talks with him."
"Of course, he was just about to clock out but I'll get him for you," the man said and Anna heard the phone being placed on hold. It was only moments later she heard a familiar voice.
"Ms. Tinkerbell?" he asked and Anna took a deep breath in, "How may I help you today?"
"My husband, has he checked in yet?" Anna asked. She didn't want to feel that she was spying on him but she was worried. He should have called her to tell her that he had landed. "The reservation is under Thacker."
"I can look that up for you, ma'am," the man said. There was a moment of silence before he replied. "He hasn't checked in yet, I'll have someone let him know that you've called. Is there anything else that I can do for you today?"
"No," Anna shook her head, "That will be all. Thank you again, Michael." As the two exchanged goodbyes, Anna hung up her phone and held it to her chest. Where was Will? Had he gone somewhere after the airport or had something delayed him? She hoped that it was one of those but her heart didn't betray her in showing her her fear and sadness. Something had happened, she just wasn't sure what.
End of Chapter One
Thank you for reading
