Someone like you

After another long day, Zandra sat by her desk into her study. As she blankly starred into thin air and tapping her foot against the underside of the desk, she chewed on a piece of fruit from her fruit-salad.

By the conference-table sorting through the papers from their meeting earlier that morning, Oliver sat and sneaked a look at her once in awhile.

''So, what do you think about the new schedulers?'' He said suddenly, making Zandra snap out of her trance and looked at him.

''The what?'' Oliver chuckled and frowned his eyebrows.

''Schedulers? The new training schedulers.'' Zandra shook her head and giggled slightly.

''Yeah those. No I'm fine, I'm okay.'' She said and smiled over at him, even though it was a fake one.

''No you're not.''

''How could you be? Paris is getting married tomorrow.'' He added sadly. Zandra sighed and leaned back into her seat.

Back at the mansion, the wedding was also the big topic of the day. But on a slightly more positive level.

With the door sure to be locked, Paris sat into his chair behind the desk with Chel sitting across his lap as they both kissed passionately. But eventually they both had to take a break to catch their breath.

''Can we just skip the wedding and the go straight to our honeymoon?'' Chel smirked as she planted another kiss onto Paris's lips. He chuckled slightly and pulled her closer to her waist with his left arm.

''Only if you have a death wish. Musa and Amazonia would never forgive us.'' He replied her as he placed his free hand onto her collarbone and trailed it to the back of her neck and pulled her in for another kiss.

''You're probably right.'' She whispered before kissing him one more time before turning to the tablet laying onto the desk and picked it up. Paris frowned his eyebrows as he watched her scrolling down a long list.

''What's this over here? What's this about?'' He asked. Chel looked at him with frowned eyebrows.

''Lists. And more lists about what needs to be done between now and tomorrow.'' She replied him in a matter-of-fact like tone.

''What? I thought we were going to keep it simple.'' He said, earning a stern face from his bride.

''Do I look like I keep it simple? I'm all about the unexpected.'' She smiled before going back to her lists again.

''Okay there! That's dangerous, now I'm getting worried. You want to give me a hint or a clue?''

''If I were to tell you then it wouldn't be unexpected.'' She purred slightly and held the tablet to her chest.

''You know I'm starting to think that surprises are very overrated.'' He said and looked away slightly, pretending to get upset.

''To bad.'' She giggled and placed the tablet back onto the desk. She let out a small yelp as Paris pulled her back in such haste, close to his own body that the only thing of their upper bodies didn't touch where their faces, although there wasn't much of a gap. Chel could feel his warm breath onto her face.

''Hey, sure you still want to marry me?'' He asked. Chel bit her lip slightly and buried both of her hands into his brown hair.

''Don't even kid.'' She whispered seductively before she once again planted her lips forcefully but enthusiastic onto his.

Even though it really wasn't such a surprise to her, Oliver bringing up the wedding caught her slightly off guard. She knew that he didn't mean to be mean or insensitive towards her.

''I guess everyone knows now huh?'' She asks without bothering to look up at him. She just kept her gaze focused onto the black and golden ink-pen onto the desk.

''It's pretty much over the building.'' He answer her. That was one of the things about Oliver that she liked. No matter what, he always told it how it was. Even if that might be something that you didn't want to hear. Zandra let out a deep and annoyed sigh.

''It's okay. You're not supposed to be happy about the wedding.'' He added. For the first time, Zandra looked up to look at him.

''But Paris is happy. And that's all that should matter right?'' She asked.

Ever since they got back together, Chel and Paris had found it hard to keep their hands or lips for that matter of each other. But then, suddenly Chel pulled away with her mouth hanging wide open and there was a slightly panic written all over her face.

''Oh my god.'' She gasped.

''What?'' Paris asked, concerned about whatever could have worry.

''The honeymoon!'' She exclaimed. A wave of relief flushed over him as a small grin grew across his lips. ,

''We don't have anything planned! We don't even know what we're… doing.'' She noticed the grin on his face and she frowned her eyebrows and a small grin grew across her own.

''Where are we going?'' She asked.

''You've your secrets. I've mine.'' Paris shrugged his shoulders and turned his gaze away from her.

''Oh come on! Give me a hint! Please, pretty please!'' She begged and wrapped her arms around his neck and hugged him tight.

''No, no absolutely not.'' He chuckled as he shook his head.

''Is this the way it's going to be. You give me that pouty adorable face and then you get anything you want?'' He asked.

''Can you think about another way to keep your wife happy?'' Chel giggled. Paris sighed and smiled. His wife.

''No.'' He said and kissed her again.

''But I'm still not telling you.'' He added.

She threw the container with the rest of the fruit into the trash-bin before standing up and walked over to take a seat next to Oliver by the conference-table.

''I've spent the last three years being bitter and angry. I don't want to spend another three years like that.'' She said and sighed. She hated the power Paris could have on her. What she could only imagine he had over Chel as well. In fact, the power that probably everyone could have over you when you're in love.

''Life is just too damn short.'' She hissed slightly.

''Maybe I should just leave and never come back. Like Nick said he would.'' She looked over at Oliver, who looked back at her.

''Hey, we could even run away together.'' She said. But the look in Oliver's eye confirmed what she knew deep inside herself. She couldn't leave. Not ever. Leave the company over to Paris, that was something that she never could do. Not after everything Leon had done to build it up. His empire. Not with his blood running through her veins. This was what she was born to do, she knows that.

''A lot can happen in twenty-four hours.'' Oliver said, making Zandra from her eyebrows slightly.

''The bride can lose her voice or her dress could rip.'' He said. A teeny tiny smile started to grew across Zandra's lips. But she knew that it wasn't fair. If she was going to be completely honest, she couldn't be angry at Chel or hold her responsible for her own misery. And she would never wish her any harm.

''The groom can get cold feet.'' Oliver added quietly.

''That would never happen.'' She said. And it was true.

''Thanks for being my biggest supporter though.'' She said, earning a smile from him. He placed on hand onto the side of her head and brought it closer before planting a kiss onto her temple.

''Happy to be here for you.'' He replied her. And for the first time in what seemed to be an eternity, Zandra felt like she didn't have to fake or force a smile. It just came naturally.

Breanna walked up the stairs leading to the main-entrance of the mansion. She had barely stepped inside before she ran into Paris.

''Hey, what are you doing here?'' He asked and smiled over at her.

''I were just looking for Chel. I just finished my shift and I forgot my phone at home so I didn't know if she was still here.'' She replied him.

''Oh, but she already left. She's staying at the palace tonight.''

''Oh. All right, I guess it can wait until I get home.'' She smiled. The something caught her eye behind Paris. Jack walked out from behind the corner and spotted her. There was something odd about his face and he did something that surprised her. He looked sad by the sight of her. And instead of trying to get her attention, he just looked at her for a short second, sighed and walked away. Just like she didn't even exist.

''Hello?'' Breanna was snapped out of her thoughts by Paris. She shook her head slightly and looked back at him.

''What?'' She asked. Paris laughed slightly.

''I said I'm just on my way out. Do you want a lift?'' He asked. Breanna looked at him for a second, still she hadn't been able to shake Jack out of her mind. But eventually she smiled and nodded her head.

''Thank you.'' She said as she followed Paris outside.

Riven walked down the long corridor leading to his father's study with a large bunt of papers in his hand. Without knocking, he walked inside and to his surprise he found Chel sitting behind the desk instead of their father. He frowned his eyebrows slightly and it didn't long until she managed to make herself look up from the papers of her own.

''What are you doing here? I thought you would be in bed by now.'' Riven said with a almost not visible smirk onto his lips. Now it was Chel's turn to frown her eyebrows as she looked at the solid gold clock onto the mantel behind her.

''It's five 'o'clock.'' She replied him as she turned back. Now Riven's smirk grew wider as he placed the papers onto the desk in front of him.

''I know. But since it's your wedding tomorrow, I just thought that you would get as much beauty-sleep as you could.'' He placed both of his palms onto the marble surface of the desk and leaned down slightly.

''You could use some.'' He added in a whisper. And before he knew it, Chel placed her entire palm over his face and dug her newly manicured nails into his skin and twisted them slightly. Riven quickly pulled away again, leaving him with five small marks onto his face.

''Why don't you get some yourself.'' Chel giggled in satisfaction as she leaned back into the chair and crossed her legs, feeling quite pleased with herself.

''You cheeky little…'' Riven began but didn't finish his sentence, but soon his lips turned into a smile again. He sat down into the chair on the other side and looked at his younger sister.

''So, how are you feeling?'' He asked. Chel smiled widely and let out a long sigh in satisfaction.

''Everything is done. The dress, Breanna's dress, the flowers, the cake.'' She said.

''Now the only thing that could possible go wrong is that the groom wouldn't show up, but I have full confidence in Paris.'' Riven frowned his eyebrows slightly.

''What about Tulio?'' He said in a low voice, almost like a whisper.

''He has sworn that he won't take one single step out of place.'' Chel said.

''And he won't. Especially not when Amazonia's on guard.'' She added. Riven nodded. Both of them knew that the former mermaid and their sister-in-law could make sure that Tulio would be on his best behavior.

The was a short pause. Riven hesitated slightly with what he wanted to ask. Something that was complicated for many people involved, including himself to say the least. But finally, he just did it.

''What about Mista?'' He asked. And from just one second to the other, Chel's smile faded away.

Oliver had to other things to see to, leaving Zandra to clear up whatever was left. But she didn't mind. As a matter of fact, she preferred to be alone right now. She quickly gathered together the last papers from the table and walked over to the desk.

''I knew I would found you here.'' The sound of the voice made her entire body freeze. She closed her eyes and sighed quietly before turning around. Her honey colored eyes meet Paris's brown once.

''I already know about the wedding tomorrow.'' She said, trying to keep her voice as calm and stable as possible, and turned away again. Damn! Why did he had to look so terribly gorgeous.

''I'm sorry.'' He said as he took a step inside without being invited and closed the door behind him.

''I wanted you to hear it from me.'' Without thinking first, she said something without thinking.

''Why? So you could rub my face into it?'' She said in a slight cold tone, still with her back turned towards him. But the minute she had said it, she regretted it.

''Do you really think I would that?'' He asked her, and she could hear the hurt in his voice.

''No, I'm sorry.'' She said and turned back to face him again. Paris's eyes travelled to the large portrait of Leon hanging behind the desk.

''So this is where it went.'' He said and walked over to her, his gaze still focused on the portrait. The day Zandra left, so did the portrait.

''Yes. You don't mind do you?'' She asked and looked up at it as well. Paris shook his head.

''No. You should have it.'' He said in a low voice. There was a short pause of silence.

''Do you think he would be proud of us?'' Zandra said suddenly. Paris looked at her and sighed. He had to think a few seconds before finally nodding his head.

''I do.'' He said. Now when the small talk was over, he had to ask the question that he came here for.

''How are you feeling?'' He said.

''I'm fine.'' But the both knew that she was lying.

He could see it in the look of her face that just this particularly subject was still delicate to talk about. But also to his surprise.

''I've already spoken to her.'' Chel said and sat back up straight again.

''And we agreed that it would be best for everybody if they didn't come.'' She continued. And she was right. Chel and Mista used to be best friends. And she had always been a close friend to the family. But for everyone's sake, maybe this was for the best.

From the very first day they meet, Musa and Mista had pretty much hated each other. There were a short period of time when they seemed to come to some sort of truce. But then Riven and Mista had their… one-time thing. And then there was this whole thing with Chel's feelings towards Yatz and his towards Mista, that in the process made Tulio loath him.

''Yeah I think that would be the smartest thing to do.'' Riven said in agreement. Even if he and Musa were in a good place at the moment, he knew what the sight of Mista would do to her. And that was the last thing that he wished for her.

''Alright.'' He said eventually and stood up and walked around the desk.

''Make sure you get some sleep now ugly.'' He said and leaned down to plant a kiss onto Chel's temple. Of course he was joking. Chel would be stunning no matter what. She always is.

''I love you too.'' She called after with a huge smile when he left the study, leaving her all alone again. Well, not exactly alone. Chel looked down and placed both of her palms onto her small bump and stroke it slowly.

''Tomorrow little one.'' She said.

''Tomorrow we make it official. You, me and daddy. We're going to be a family.'' She said and bit her lip slightly as she smiled even wider.

Both stood and starred at each other. Zandra at him. Paris at her. They had know each other for over seven years. They had shared some of their worst, best and hardest moments with each other, but still neither one of them could find one single right thing to say.

''I'll never be able to forgive him for what he did to us you know.'' She said in a bitter tone. Paris didn't have to ask who she was referring to. Something inside him, told him that she wasn't referring to Nick. No. Paris knew that the bitter tone in her voice where directed to Jack.

''I mean he's one of the main reasons why we even split from the beginning.'' She added. Paris nodded.

''Yeah, he sure messed things up for us.'' He replied her. Paris didn't held any grudge towards Jack. He knew that Jack had played a part in Nick's little scam, however it was without his own knowledge.

''And so did Nick.'' Paris added. If he were to blame anyone, Nick was the first one that came to mind.

''But Nick's my brother. He's blood. I've to like him, I don't really have a choice.'' Zandra said and a small smile entered her lips.

''Jack on the other hand. Well, I don't have to like him.'' She added. Paris chuckled slightly.

''Oh lucky you, because I do. I'm stuck with him.'' But soon the awkwardness came back.

''I'll be fine you know? I'll get over you… eventually.'' She said.

''I know that I have to. Because I can't keep wishing for something that will never be.'' She said as a tear escaped her eye and ran down her cheek. The shame took over and she looked down onto the floor and wiped her cheeks. Paris placed on of his hands onto her neck, making her look up. Still with tears in her eyes, she was putting on a brave face.

He could see the pain he had paused her, and then there was the pain that he could help. He knew her to well, and to him she was like an open book. He knew that Chel's pregnancy were difficult for Zandra on so many levels, but the worst pain he think she directed to herself.

Paris knew that Zandra hated herself. Even though she couldn't help it. She hated that she couldn't have a baby on her own, even if she wanted one.

He pulled her in for a hug and rested his chin onto her shoulder. She tried to, she really did. But the tears couldn't be stopped.

''You will always be my best friend. You know that right?'' He whispered. Damn him. The tears only multiplied.

''I know.'' She whispered between the sobs.

Sorry it took so long. I've been very busy lately. But here was the next chapter and I hope that you liked it.

Next time. It's Chel and Paris's wedding day.