Someone’s Someone

by Curious Girl

I've always been someone's someone. I will always be known as the sister of. The sister of the wonder child; the sister of the Nobel prize laureate; the sister of Princess Anastasia of Romanov; the sister of the next Queen of England; the sister of the Olympian... and the daughter of Troy and Gabriella Bolton. But I am so much more. I am Josephine Bolton.

32. Chapter 32

Josephine

I wake up with the sunrise the next morning. The stunning colour play of soft pastels is filling the bedroom as the red sun slowly wakes my hometown. I stare at the stunning sky for a moment. I really appreciate nature and this brand new day. A brand new day... another day of the life of the peppercorn growing inside of me.

Shit, this is really going to happen. I am pregnant. I am a Mum. Oliver's a Dad. We're parents.

I have never been more scared in my whole life.

I thought opening up to Oliver was scary. I thought being with him was scary. Well, I had no idea how scared I can get until yesterday morning. Pregnant. Being responsible for another human being. Growing another human being. That's what scares the shit out of me. I'm not a Mum figure. I fucked more men than I can count. I've made more mistakes than I can count. I got drunk more times than I can count. It took me over a year to admit my feelings for Oliver. I literally nearly married another man because I was running away from my feelings for my now-husband. I'm fucked up so much that I have no idea how this child will not grow up with the same issues.

I turn my head to the other side and look at my sleeping husband. He's not like me. He hasn't made the mistakes I made. He's patient and understanding. He's genuine and lovable. He has his heart in the right place. He is the epitome of a husband and I know deep in my heart that this man will be an awesome father figure.

I hope this is going to be enough to not fuck this peppercorn up.

I run my fingers through his beach blonde hair. I fell in love with a man that tastes like adventure but looks like the calm, beautiful morning after a terrible storm. He's a man full of contradictions. He is incredibly stubborn, understanding, protective, optimistic and simply the most beautiful soft soul.

We're two sides of the same coin.

He's been through so much in his life but he never gave up dreaming. He didn't get sour from the sticks and stones that life threw at him. He had a goal and he worked towards it. He wanted to bring his family to London. He wanted me. And now he's got me. He's got his family in London. And he's even having a baby with me.

But he also wanted to become a doctor and work in the emergency room. He wanted to help people. But instead of going to college like any other high school graduate, he had to help his Mum out after his Dad died. He had to bring money to the table in order to survive. Even when he came to London, he didn't thrive here. He survived. Barely, because he sent every hard earned penny to his family in Rio.

I didn't have those struggles. Compared to his upbringing I was a spoiled brat when we met. I grew up with luxury surrounding me but my parents also made sure I knew of the other side of life. They raised me to care for others but never in the world would I have thought I'd end up falling in love with someone from that world. I would've bet billions on me never marrying and having kids - and if it did happen it would have been with someone like Edward Rothschild, with someone from my world. But then I met Oliver and he has warmed up my stone cold heart. He has shown me what love is all about and that I am very much worthy of being loved and feeling loved.

He is my end game.

Well, the true end game is growing inside of me.

Suddenly, Oliver opens his eyes. His sea form coloured eyes fill with worry as wrinkles form on his forehead, "Why are you crying? Are you okay? Are you in pain? Are you bleeding?"

I place my hand on his cheek and fondle it. I can feel the stubbles of his beard coming in. I didn't realise I was crying. "I'm okay." I ensure him with a smile on my lips.

"You are?"

"Yes. I just got lost in a train of thoughts."

"Must've been very upsetting thoughts. Was it because of last night?"

It should've been but it wasn't. "I'm going to call my Dad today while you guys are having your doctor's appointment with Ana and give him a piece of my mind. I'll treat him with his own medicine. He can't act this way around you. You've done nothing wrong. You're not like my brother-in-laws. The only difference between you and I is your upbringing, your background. It's absolutely unfair and unacceptable for him to act like you're a criminal in disguise."

"Let's just wait it out. I'm sure they're just shocked by this marriage. They need to adjust, get used to me and my family. I'm sure the next family meeting is going to be better."

"I don't know about that. Perhaps on Thanksgiving my Dad's going to hold a gun to your head. Wouldn't be the first time."

"You're serious?"

"Yeah. Sasha would've been dead if my Mum and Ana hadn't stepped between them. Dad was quite upset when he found out about Sasha's past."

"But he accepted him."

"Eventually yes."

"Well then he's going to accept me as well."

"You're such an optimist."

"That's why you love me."

I do. I love this man with every single heartbeat.

"How are you?"

"Still no sign of morning sickness or any other pregnancy symptoms." I answer with a shrug. "But I'm not looking forward to that part of the pregnancy."

"But there is a part you're looking forward to?"

"No. If it were up to me I wouldn't be pregnant at all."

My husband sighs, "Well, I am very happy about that."

"I know. You want a bloody soccer team."

He chuckles, "While that would be quite nice, I think one is a great start."

My eyes widen at his words, "You're not pressuring me to produce more of those monsters?"

This time he laughs, "They're not monsters but children, our children. And secondly, I would never ever pressure you to do anything. This pregnancy was not forced, it was gifted to us by fate and God. This child is a love-child and you will see that as well. Maybe not today or tomorrow but the time will come and I will give you as much time as you need. You don't do great with change and you need time to adapt but there is no way I will ever put pressure on you. Besides, I couldn't even pressure you if I wanted to. You're tough and have a backbone made of steel. No one can make Josephine Bolton do anything if she doesn't want to."

While I feel flattered, I also see how wrong Oliver's view of me is. I run my thumb over his lips, "That's where you're wrong. You - and only you - can very much make me do things and pressure me. Because you've got my heart and that puts me into the most vulnerable place there is. You can break it or tear it in half. I depend on you and your happiness is my highest priority." I look into his sea foam coloured eyes. "I love you with every single heartbeat."

His eyes soften at my words and he kisses me softly, "I love you with every single heartbeat as well."

"You say that now but you won't say that when I'm round and fat."

He chuckles, "You won't be fat. You're pregnant. You're the most beautiful pregnant woman."

I roll my eyes at his words. I'm not looking forward to swollen ankles and hands.

My husband sighs before he rolls me on my back. The way he looks at me does not only make me feel desired and adored but also utterly and deeply loved. It fills my body with the most amazing mixture of emotions, a combination I only ever felt with him. While I was doubting us yesterday, my conversation with my mother and this look - and these feelings - prove me otherwise. There is no doubt. Not a drop of doubt on my mind or in my heart.

He's my other half. My soulmate. My partner for life.

He starts kissing his way down to my neck, knowing my erogenous zones by heart by now. He's the only one who knew how to spark my desire, not that it's ever really gone. "Does this make you feel less loved?" He asks before sealing his lips over my right nipple and pulling on it softly with his teeth. The sensations in my body go haywire. He lets go of my right nipple and moves on to the right. "Or this?"

It takes me a moment to catch my breath and calm down my heavily beating heart. "You say that now..."

"I'll say that for the rest of my life." He promises me before running his tongue through the valley between my already voluminous breasts. I have no idea how much these are going to grow but I hope not too much. Otherwise my back is really going to kill me. But if it's not my boobs then the huge belly, that I'll grow, will do that. I'm screwed no matter what.

When Oliver starts planting kisses on my still flat and toned belly, I freeze. I'm no mother potential. I never was and I'm probably never going to be.

My husband must sense my discomfort because he stops and looks at me, "What's wrong?"

"I can't raise this child alone. I'm not mother potential. I know nothing about babies!"

"That can't be true. You've taken care of your brothers and nieces. I'm sure you know how to change diapers, calm crying babies down and how to make them laugh."

"Yeah that I do but I don't know how to love them! Especially one with my and your DNA."

"You don't have to know how, you just do. You will love this child unconditionally."

"But what if it gets born and I fall into postnatal depression? My mother has been through that with Della, perhaps it's in my DNA as well! Maybe I'm going to give birth to a sociopath or a psychopath or a narcissist! What then?!"

Oliver stays totally calm at my worries. He just fondles my right cheek with his left hand. "You're not alone. You've got me. You've got our families behind you. This is our baby. Our child. It has both of our DNAs and that means I'm responsible for it as much as you. I am never going to leave you two behind. You are my world, the stars and moon... my universe... my everything."

I don't know how he does it but this look, these words and that touch calm me down.

"And I'll repeat that for the rest of my life if you need to hear it. Okay?"

I nod, "Okay."

He shows me the most wonderful small smile. "Good."

"But promise me to fuck me even when I'm round and fat." I demand. We haven't fucked since two weeks. The last time we had hard sex was on our wedding night when we used the bourbon. I didn't miss it but I want to know that I have the option.

Shit, this was probably the time that peppercorn was planted within me.

Oliver's laughter resonates in my whole body. I love hearing his lion-like roar. It's the most wonderful sound.

But I am not joking. "Promise me!"

"I promise." He says in a serious voice while staring deeply into my eyes. He makes me feel drunk when I'm stone sober. "And I'll start right now."

---

Oliver holds Ana's oil painting of us in Rio against the wall across the lift in the hallway. "Like this?"

"Maybe a bit higher." I answer. I've removed a framed print of some desert for this. It looks so much better than the print.

My husband moves the painting a bit higher. "Better?"

I pick up the hammer and the 6D nail. "Yes."

He removes the painting and I hammer the nail into the wall with two strokes.

"Hey, look at that!"

I tear my gaze away from the nail and look at the backside of the painting. Ana has left us a message: I wish you a marriage full of love, happiness and harmony. Lots of love and light to the three of you. Anastasia

"She knows?" Oliver asks me.

It doesn't surprise me one bit. "Of course, she does. She's Ana."

Ana always knows.

Oliver turns the painting around and hangs it up between a photo from my graduation at Harvard Business School and a photo of my graduation at Oxford University. My two biggest accomplishments in my life.

Until the painting in the middle happened.

Oliver

Josephine parks her silver Tesla on the grounds of the Saint Peregrine Laziosi hospital. The hospital was built by her family's foundation, however I don't see a big sign saying it's part of the Bolton Foundation. But I've come to understand that most charitable things the foundation does is in the dark. Not because they're ashamed but because they know what to put the spotlight on and what not. The Boltons' PR-game is second to none. Probably because of Josephine's expertise.

"We're here." My wife announces before switching off the electricity.

We all get out of the car. It's quite a chilly morning but thankfully there's no rain. Yet, I might say. We're all a bit grumpy because we haven't had breakfast yet because we need to be sober for the blood tests. I hope we're going to get treated quickly and don't have to wait in the waiting room too long. But I know how hospitals are. There are too many patients for too little staff.

We could wait for hours although we have an appointment. Because we're no priority.

We walk through the entrance doors of the Saint Peregrine Laziosi hospital. The name was chosen on purpose as he is an Italian saint of the Servite Order (Friar Order Servants of Mary). He is the patron saint for persons suffering from cancer, AIDS or other illness. Josephine told me they're researching for a cure for cancer here while treating patients with cancer for free as well. I expect it to be stuffed with people but when we enter, the hospital seems to be quiet. There are no long lines of people, no angry patients or inpatient people. It's a big lobby with white marble on the floor, a staircase and gallery. I notice the coat of arms of the Bolton Family hanging on the gallery. It's not this huge golden sign as on the gates of their home, but instead it's a subtle black print, almost a stamp. Clearly, promoting the foundation is not their aim here.

"Wow this is so cool!" My brother's eyes light up at all the glass and marble that's in the lobby. "Are you doing Frankenstein experiments here as well?"

My wife chuckles, "No, the scientists and doctors are pretty busy treating sick people here."

"Do we have to curtsy to your sister?" My Mama asks.

"No because you're meeting her on private grounds and occasion. But if it were out in public, then yes."

"I think I have to start practicing my curtsy." Caio mumbles.

"Men just bow their heads." I respond.

"Awesome!" Johna cries out with a triumphal grin on his lips.

Suddenly, Josephine's bigger sister appears. She's wearing a white coat and a deep purple shift dress and black stilettos. Ana's blonde hair is styled in big waves and she's wearing a golden cross necklace.

She's got Russian Royalty written all over her.

Her bright green eyes light up as she sees us and she walks a little faster, already holding out her arms to embrace her little sister. I saw lots of photos of them together yesterday at their childhood home. They seem close... Actually, they all seemed close. The Boltons are a real family, a real united front. The little ones might be attending a boarding school in Switzerland but they're still very much loved and involved in the family. I have no idea how the Bolton Family is managing that. "Come here! I missed you so much!" Ana says before embracing her sister very tightly.

"You just saw me two weeks ago." Josephine replies.

"And look what all happened in those two weeks." Ana says before leaning back and having a good long look at her little sister. "You look fabulous!"

This time my wife actually blushes, "I'm doing very good."

"I can imagine." Ana smirks at her before looking at me. "Oliver, welcome to the family. "

"Mum and Dad should've said that." I can hear my wife's mumble as Ana embraces me.

"Cut Daddy some lack. He's used to beasts and monsters. He won't start believing in unicorns even if they were standing right across him!" Ana replies before letting go of me.

"Thank you for the wedding gift. It was very... on point."

"I'm glad it was." She shows me a genuine smile, "I'm very, very delighted to be seeing you here."

"Me, too." Truth be told, there were times even my optimistic self started worrying. After all, I hadn't seen my wife for over a year.

"And you must be his brothers and mother! Hi, I'm Anastasia but you can call me Ana." She says before giving my Mama and brothers a long hug as well. She keeps her arms around my mother a little longer than Caio and Johna.

I have a feeling it's because of my Papa.

"Ready for the tests?"

"Can we do the blood test first? I'm starving and Jo promised us a traditional English breakfast." Caio asks her.

"Caio!" My Mama cries out in shock.

Ana smiles at him, "I'd say we do the blood tests and then you can eat something before we do the rest of the tests."

"What's on the agenda?" I ask her.

"CT, MRI, ultrasounds and x-rays if necessary... and the blood tests."

"The whole check-up then."

"Yes but I'm working with one very special nurse. You'll be out of here in the blink of an eye."

Josephine

Johan's eyes widen as the nurse puts the needle into Oliver's crook of the left arm. "No, I'm not doing that!"

"Don't be such a baby, it doesn't hurt at all!" Caio complains as Ana takes his blood. Maria is already done.

"You'll get a proper English breakfast for that." Oliver says with a soft smile.

"No, not even good can make me do that!" Johna insists while shaking his head. "No!"

I knee down across him, "How about we do it together? Nurse Hannah works on me and Ana will work on you."

My sister pulls out the needle and puts a bandaid on Oliver's arm. "I'll be extra gentle." Ana promises Johna. "You won't feel a thing."

"Okay but only if Jo's doing it with me." Johna insists.

"I'll even go first." I volunteer. I'm a regular blood donor as I'm rh-null, which is the rarest blood type in the world. Every sibling, except for Ana, has it. Roughly 50 people in the world have this blood type and it's an extremely dangerous type to have as we cannot have any other blood used when we're in need of some due to an injury or accident. I donate blood roughly once every two months and so do my siblings. Just not my father because he sometimes has to take medicine due to his liver transplant from uncle Luc.

Johna nods, "Okay."

I free my right arm and the nurse Hannah disinfects it before putting the needle into my arm. She's skilled and very gentle. I barely feel a thing. "See? Doesn't hurt at all."

Ana knees down in front of Johna, "Do you want to give it a try?"

"It won't hurt, I promise." Maria tells her youngest son while rubbing his left arm.

"Okay, let's do this!"

"You'll get ice cream for that." Oliver promises.

"Can I have Jo's chocolate cake instead?" Johna asks while Ana quickly inserts the needle into his arm after disinfecting it.

"He knows about your famous chocolate cake?" Ana asks me.

"He does but I haven't had time to make it yet."

"You were at home yesterday?"

I just nod. Putting yesterday into words would hurt too much. "But we can start making the cake after having breakfast." I promise Johna. Actually, we might should do two because I'm planning to pay Rory a visit after this. It's time Oliver gets the first taste of royalty.

My blonde sister carefully pulls the needle out of Johan's arm after the little tube has filled with blood. "Done."

"See? That wasn't so bad, was it?" Oliver asks his brother with a smile on his face.

"No, but I still want Jo's chocolate cake."

Ana giggles, "Trust me, nothing beats Jo's chocolate cake."

---

I get my iPhone out of my purse and decide to give my beloved Daddy a taste of his own medicine while my husband and our relatives still get their checkups.

He picks up after the first ring, "Everything alright?"

"Everything is not bloody alright!" I yell into the phone. "How dare you ask Oliver to give you samples of his hair and salvia! Oh and his fingerprints, don't forget about that! Did you ask for a urine sample as well?!"

"Don't be silly that would've been inaccurate because he ate and drank wine." My father answers in a cold voice.

I shake my head in disbelief. He is bloody unbelievable! "Oliver's not a bad person. He is no danger-"

"That's up to me to decide!" My father interrupts me in a steel hard voice. It gives me chills. "I don't think you understand what I have been through to make sure my family and all of it's members are protected!"

"Oh, so this is about you?! I'm sorry for a second I thought you were concerned about my safety and Oliver's capability-"

"This is not about me. It's about you and the constant danger you're in!"

"I'm walking around with levity. I have Ralph looking after me even though I can look after myself!"

"You don't know about the monsters that live among us!"

"Oh and you do?!"

"Yes, I bloody do! Because I've seen and killed them with my own hands! I've done unbelievable things for you!"

I let out a growl. He just doesn't get it, does he?! "If you keep on being such an asshole than I'm going to miss out on Christmas." I threaten him. I know Christmas is his and Mummy's favourite holiday. And it's mine as well. It's a family event and I love being with my family. Especially after being gone for half a year.

"You wouldn't dare!"

"You better not provoke me. Accept him."

"I didn't touch him or pointed a gun at him. I've improved!"

That actually makes me smile despite my anger. "Dad,"

"Until I have proof that he's clean, I will continue to assume the worst."

"Which is?"

"That he's a gold digger and after your name. Well, he's already got the access to both, your bank account and last name. That was very foolish of you."

I clench my teeth so hard that I fear I might explode with anger. "Fuck you!" I yell before hanging up. He's unbelievable!

"Everything alright?"

I twirl around at my sister's voice. "No, Daddy's being an absolute asshole!"

"Ah, yeah I had a feeling he would give Oliver a hard time." My sister embraces me tightly, "Don't worry, you will spend Christmas with us. Daddy will accept him."

"Yeah, I know. I'm just hoping it's this year and not the next... or even the one after that." I mumble the last part. Daddy and me are the most headstrong people in our family. It feels so good to have my sister's arms around me. "Can't you tell him that Oliver's no danger?"

"He won't listen to me."

"Maybe Mummy should punish him with abstinence again."

Ana chuckles, "I think she already is to be honest. Mum's sense of truth, her instincts are second to none. In a way, she can't even top me."

I let go of her, "Really?"

Ana nods, "I never told you guys this but when they first saw me in that orphanage... I didn't know they were coming. I didn't see them bringing me home. Before I came home, I stayed in a lot of households. 13 to be exact. People called me bad luck because of my gift. Because they didn't understand me. But Mum does. She always did. She was never afraid of my words. She wasn't afraid of my gift. To her it was never bad luck but very good luck. She knew I was part of the family the second she saw my photo. And her instincts saved my life. They brought me here. They gifted me a family, a life... a purpose. I wouldn't be here if it weren't for her."

I try very hard to hold back my tears. Shit, Ana's really going to make me cry in the hallway, isn't she?

"My point is, Daddy knows this as well. He knows her better than anyone. And if she trusts Oliver, if she accepts him and even loves him... than he will, too." She rubs my biceps with a smile on her lips. "And when they find out the other news than they will be over the moon."

"I won't use this pregnancy for my advantage. This... bubble has nothing to do with Daddy's affinity to hate my husband."

"Of course not. I'm just saying, you don't have to worry. Everything will be alright."

"You sound like Oliver."

"Oh, you know, this man has a pretty good sense of life." She winks at me.

I laugh at her, "You know how to cheer me up."

Oliver

We drive down Mulberry Avenue in the Windsor Castle's grounds. Just like the name suggests, the street is filled with mulberry trees. I'm sure in the summer the trees are blossoming with white, red and black mulberries. But now the leaves of the trees have a golden colour. There are street names like Queen Elizabeth Walk, Queen Victoria's Walk, Prince Albert's Walk, Adelaide Road, Frogmore Drive, Coronation Avenue, Evergreen Oak Avenue and Lime Avenue. Josephine even told me that they might name a street after Rory and George.

When we reached one of the many secret gates that surround Windsor Castle, Josephine had no problem to get through them with her silver Tesla. She greeted the royal security with a smile on her lips and just drove through the gates that had opened for us. It's the first time I truly see the power of the last name Bolton.

We drive past an old Victorian house in an icy blue colour with white windows. There are different bushes around the house but no car.

"That's Char and Nate's home." Josephine informs me. "They had to renovate it in record time after Char found out she was expecting but it all went down smoothly so they moved in after the wedding."

I've got a lemon cake resting on my thighs. After having breakfast, my wife baked two cakes with my brothers under my Mama's eyes. The promised chocolate cake and a lemon cake with raspberry and cream filling. The chocolate cake was delicious. Probably because of the Belgian chocolate that she used or maybe the self-made salted caramel sauce. It was a winner for everyone.

But the cake on my thighs has a different function. It's for her sister, Rory. I think it should ease the shock that will come in the form of me and the wedding bands that are wrapped around our left ring fingers.

"It looks very lovely. Are they home?"

"I don't know. They're next tomorrow but today it's Rory."

I can't help but feel a little nervous. I really hope she's more like Ana and less like her father. "Just her?"

"No, probably with George and definitely with the triplets."

I'm actually excited to meet my wife's nieces. I can't wait to see how she acts around toddlers and babies. It's going to give me a glance of how she's going to be as a mother. Not that I'm worried she's going to be a bad mother. I just can't wait to meet our baby.

My wife stops her car in front of the impressive building that's Frogmore House, her sister's home. It's a maleficent white rectangular building that's no castle but it still has a sense of royalty. It reminds me of Troy and Gabriella's house. The size is probably a little smaller than Josephine's childhood home in Richmond.

My wife switches off the electricity. "Ready?"

I tear my gaze off of the white home and look at her. "Is your sister more like your father or Ana?"

Josephine shrugs, "Depends on the situation."

That's no help. "Should I be worried?"

My wife gets out of her car and shakes her head. "No. Rory doesn't roar like a lion. She's more like a kitten."

My wife definitely roars like a lion. "What about you? Kitten or lion?" I ask as I get out of the car as well.

Josephine looks over her shoulder with a grin so seductive that it awakes my desire for her in the blink of an eye. "Ain't no kitten in my heart."

I laugh at her choice of words. "Oh, come on. Somewhere inside there has to be a teeny tiny kitten who can purr."

"Never said I don't purr. I'm just no kitten. Never have been and never will be."

"Every lion was once a kitten."

"Not me. I was born as a lion. Ask my parents. As soon as someone even gave my triplet siblings a weird look in kindergarten, they had my foot in their face."

"No, you're joking. You're not aggressive."

"Ask them. It happened. I was very protective over my family and I still am." She sighs and rings the bell, "That's also why I'm worried that I'm growing a beast in there."

Beast? Did she really just call our baby a beast?! That's worse than embryo!

But before I can say something, the front door swings open and we stand across an old lady in a brown uniform. "Miss Bolton, how lovely to see you again. Her Royal Highness is in the nursery, trying to put down the Princesses." Her mahogany coloured hair is neatly wrapped into a bun and she's wearing a black hat although she's inside. She's also wearing brown gloves, a matching dress and shiny black shoes. "We've been outside all morning, enjoying the rather nice weather this morning. We even watched the sunrise together before His Royal Highness had to leave for work. But they're still full of energy."

I find her outfit very confusing.

"Ah, I see. They're giving her a hard time? Oh, I cannot wait to see them again. It's been a month since I last saw them. Have they grown a lot?" My wife engages in the small talk like it's her everyday life.

"Running around like tornadoes."

I'm not sure if the old lady is a cleaning staff or the nanny. Or maybe even both.

The old lady looks at me, "Oh, I totally forgot to introduce myself. I'm so terribly sorry! I'm Rosa, Their Royal Highnesses' nanny." She holds out her hand and I shake it.

"Nice to meet you. I'm Oliver." I say with a smile on my lips. Perhaps nannies within the royal family have to wear these brown uniforms. A dark brown dress, dark tights, brown gloves and black shiny shoes. The word Norland College is stitched in white on her dress. The outfit looks so vintage.

"He's my husband." Josephine's grin is making my heart skip a beat.

"Is he? Wow! Congratulations! I wish you a marriage full of happiness!" Rosa says with a bright smile. "Well, I've been given the rest of the day off."

"Oh, enjoy your day, then!" Josephine says with a bright smile on her lips as well.

"It was a pleasure to meet you, Mr. Bolton." Rosa smiles at us before leaving through the black double doors. I still have to get used to being called Mr. Bolton - something Mr. Bolton senior still doesn't like.

"You as well." I mumble as she walks away from us. My wife walks into the house and I follow her. Just the foyer alone reminds me of Josephine's childhood home but it's even more open and therefore more welcoming. It has the same white marble interior but continues seamlessly into a wide open living area that has a window front which overlooks the garden with the Frogmore lake. It's where Frogmore House got his name from. There are supposedly lots of frogs around the lake. I wonder if that's still the case and if so I hope the windows and walls are extra soundproof.

This place looks like a sanctuary, an oasis even. It's a lot like Josephine's childhood home. It has the same warmth and although there are old oil paintings hanging in the foyer and open living room, there are lots of framed pictures as well. The furniture is modern and bright coloured. There's lots of ivory coloured wooden drawers and built-in bookshelves, which are full of medical books. I almost forgot that the Duke and Duchess of Oxford are doctors as well. But I guess you can easily forget it with the title and the work they do.

After all, they'll be the ruler of this kingdom.

"What do you think? It's no castle yet but I think it's very cosy." My wife asks me as we get out of our shoes and coats. She acts like this is her place but I guess with a tight family like hers home is anywhere the siblings live. Because home is where the heart is and my wife's heart definitely is with her family - and inside their four homes.

"This place looks a lot like your childhood home."

"That's exactly what I thought when I first saw it. It's just like home with the white furniture, the white marble on the floor and the window fronts. I love those transom windows so much!"

Her sister must be a big family person as well if she almost recreated her childhood home in Frogmore House.

"But we don't have these paintings of kings and queens. They even have a family portrait of Queen Victoria and her husband's family. It's pretty epic and was in the Victoria and Albert Museum for decades but George has loved it so much that the King decided to pull it out of the museum and gift it to them. It's in the library, above the fireplace."

I didn't know Josephine enjoyed antique and vintage furniture so much. Considering her home is decorated so modern, I just assumed it's what she loves. But now I'm starting to question it. Perhaps it was just some interior designer's idea and Josephine just went with it because she didn't bother to waste her time on making lots of decisions. "Did you decorate your home?"

My wife laughs, "God no! I just wanted it fully furnished and decorated when I moved in. All I added were the framed photos. But I did care about the bathroom a lot. And bedroom, obviously."

"What about the rest? The kitchen? Dinning area? Gym?"

"The gym was one of my interests. As far as the kitchen goes, I just told the interior designer I want white marbled countertops because that's what's in Della and my parents' place and I loved it. The rest was not something I really bothered to think about."

"Would you change anything?"

Before she can answer, the sound of light thuds fill my ears. That must be Lorelai walking down he hallway. She probably heard us.

I turn around and to my surprise Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Oxford looks nothing like on the many photos that I used to sell at the souvenir shop. This woman is not wearing fancy designer clothes that are tailored and in a blush pink colour. No, this is a woman in light grey joggers and a cosy navy jumper. Her chestnut curls are wrapped into a bun that sits on top of her head. A few strands are loose so they frame her oval shaped face. Her face is completely free from any makeup. I've always seen the similarities between her and her sister but now, especially seeing this blank canvas of Lorelai, it's so evident!

They share the same hair colour and structure, cheekbones, eye shape, lips and ears. Lorelai doesn't have Josephine's two birthmarks. She's also a little bit smaller than my wife, but only by maybe a few centimetres.

"Oh hi! I didn't know Jo would bring company, let alone male company." Lorelai stops across me and holds out her hand.

For a millisecond I consider bowing my head or actually curtsying. But then I decide against it and just to shake her left hand. That pink sapphire engagement ring is gigantic! In the centre is a twelve carat padparadscha sapphire from Sri Lanka in a deep pink colour with orange hues depending on how the stone catches the light. The three padparadscha sapphires surrounding it on either side are from George's great-grandmother, Queen Elizabeth II. She gifted them to him. They were originally a bracelet meant to be gifted to his future wife, but he thought they would fit the pear-shaped sapphire stone quite nicely. The stones are sitting on a golden band. The band is made out of the same material as her wedding ring, the Welsh gold that's become a royal tradition.

It stuns me so much that I forget to talk for a moment. "Hi, I'm Oliver."

"My husband." Josephine adds with a grin on her perfect plump lips.

Lorelai's royal blue eyes widen, "H-husband?!" She asks her back.

Josephine holds up her left hand and wiggles with her ring finger. The royal blue sapphires on her wedding band sparkle like crazy. "He's got one as well. No sapphires but platinum as well."

Before any of us can say another word, the big black double doors of Frogmore House swing open again. To our all surprise, Charlotte and Nate rush in. The Duchess of Windsor looks just like I remember: long dark blonde wavy hair and navy almond shaped eyes, long lean legs that are clothed in dark skinny jeans, a white turtleneck jumper and chestnut coloured moccasins.

"Told you it was Jo's car!" Charlotte tells her husband.

Nate looks just like Troy. He's a copy of him, from head to toe. It's almost frightening. But unlike his father, Nate dresses way more casual. He's in beige trousers and a cream coloured sweater that he paired with moccasins as well. The wedding band on his left ring finger is also golden and not platinum like Troy's or mine. "Oliver,"

"You know him?" Lorelai asks her brother.

"Sure, he's Jo's one big love!" Charlotte says with a bright green on her lips. Suddenly she rushes over to me and embraces me tightly. "I'm so glad Jo grew some balls and-"

"Married that stranger?!" Lorelai finishes Charlotte's sentence.

Charlotte lets go of me, "What? You guys are married?"

I nod with a wide grin on my lips.

Charlotte looks at my wife, "Wow, you really didn't want to waste any time, did you?"

My wife shrugs with a smile on her lips, "Took me long enough to find him in Rio. I wasn't going to let him go anytime soon."

Nate eyes me suspiciously. He has never been a fan of me. "Do Mum and Dad know?"

"I'm sorry, what the hell are you guys talking about?!" Lorelai explodes in a voice that reminds me of her father.

"Okay, I think we should let Jo and Rory talk. Come on, we're going over to our place." Charlotte suggests with a smile on her lips before dragging me out of the house before I can even protest.

Josephine

I sit down on the couch with a mug of hot chocolate in my hands. The fire is sizzling in the white marbled fireplace and there are framed photos of my sister's wedding day, honeymoon, her three girls and her Commonwealth country tour from last year on the mantelpiece.

To my surprise Rory didn't start grilling me the second Oliver, Char and Nate left. She offered me a tea - or hot chocolate. Either she's too mad to talk to me or she's too hurt.

I hope it's not the latter because that would break my heart. I never wanted to hurt anyone, certainly not a member of my family.

"Where's George?"

"At a Duchy of Cornwall meeting with William. I stayed at home this time."

"This time?" I ask her surprised. "You've been attending meetings as well?" For over 700 years the Duchy of Cornwall estate has existed to provide every Prince of Wales with a personal income – while at the same time, under the current incumbent at least, doing a great deal of good. It's now worth over 10 billion pounds, the last Prince of Wales, now His Majesty, grew the duchy to this extent. With land and property holdings twice the size of Greater London, the Duchy estate turned a modest profit of 21m last quarter. The Prince of Wales uses the money to fund most of the other royals and certainly his family. The devotion to supporting traditional farming methods and crafts, to maintaining vast tracts of near-wilderness for future generations, and supporting remote communities such as those on the Isles of Scilly. Despite half-chortled grumbles from tenants – an unusually happy bunch– about rent rises, the aim is to do good.

As for the future, the Duke of Oxford is being prepared for the tough task of inheriting the lot, along with the responsibilities. What might happen when he takes over what's still, in many ways, an old-fashioned institution will be explored in the future.

But you better not piss off George or Rory, otherwise your funds might get cut off. Since the Duchy of Cornwall is giving the Prince of Wales his income which he uses to fund other royals.

She nods, "We're getting ready for the takeover."

My eyes widen, "Takeover? Charles is resigning the throne?"

"In a few years, yes. George and I have been preparing for our future roles in the past."

I lick my lips. I can't leave their foundation then. "Well, will you take on the titles Prince and Princess of Wales?"

"We have to. Hampton Court Palace has been getting renovated in small steps for the last year and a half now so our household can move in."

"When are you planning to move in?"

"In about four years. After the change has happened. Or maybe before, I don't know. I think the King is going to give us five more years but things are moving already so the change won't be such a shock."

"What about Char and Nate?"

"They're going to move into Kensington. Apartment 1, right next to William and Catherine."

"Not Clarence House?"

"No, His Majesty is going to continue to live there while also living at Highgrove House at the weekend."

"Sounds like you've got everything planned. Are you scared?"

"No. Scared is not the right word. I'm excited but also... intimidated. I mean, William and Catherine had more than 20 years to prepare themselves for the roles of the Prince and Princess of Wales as well as King and Queen Consort. Whereas George and I only had a few years... it's a lot of responsibility. Not just the title but with the Duchy. We're expected to work more than we already are."

"It's a lot."

She nods, "Yes."

"What are the plans for the rest of the year?"

"Well the most interesting one would be the King's birthday party with you guys of course. Did you tell Oliver about it yet?"

The Bolton Family has been invited to the Majesty's birthday party ever since Rory started dating George - which was eleven years ago. The Royals, especially the Wales Family but also the King and Camilla, have become an extended arm of our own family. It's going to sound very bizarre to Oliver when I tell him that. "No."

"That's going to be his introduction to the Royals. It's quite important."

"I've had other things on my plate." Like my pregnancy. "But I'll let him know."

My sister nods, "On Thanksgiving we will be in Madrid and Barcelona upon request of His Majesty. After that we're moving on to Malta in our new roles of president and vice-President of Queen Elizabeth II's Commonwealth Trust. It's just a weekend."

"Wait, I thought that was Harry and Meghan's jobs." What the hell did I miss in the last two weeks?!

"Right, you don't know that yet. His Majesty has had enough of their hypocrisy, you know, preaching about saving the planet and then hopping on private jets instead of taking a commercial flight like the heir family does. If we can do that than they should be able as well. But not so the Sussexes. Or Ex-Sussexes."

"What do you mean?"

"He threw them out."

I don't understand. "Out of their home?"

"No, out of the family. It's the whole thing. He ripped them off of their titles before the petition in Sussex would have done that for him, he cut off their funding - which wasn't a lot anyway since the Queen at her time had made sure they get the bare minimum - and now he threw them out of their home as well. They're planning to move to Canada."

"Has that been publicly announced yet?"

"It will be in three days. Harry will get to keep his Prince title as it's his birth right. He is and always will be a royal but not so Meghan. She'll be known as Rachel Meghan Mountbatten-Windsor."

Wow, the King's not even allowing her to use her title in the future. After the Duke and Duchess of York got divorced, Sarah got to keep the title. She was known as Sarah, The Duchess of York. She was no longer a HRH, which meant her title came after her first name but at least she still had a title. Unlike Meghan. "That name is still worth a lot. She can make a lot of money with that."

"She has. In fact, they both have. With their foundation. Harry didn't know at first but Meghan registered the foundation as a company in Arizona. That meant they had to give away only 10% of the money that was being donated to them. So they kept the rest - well, Meghan did."

"She laundered money?"

My sister nods, "Nearly a billion, can you believe that?! They put shame on the crown and hey deserve it if you ask me. Harry didn't know and when he found out it was too late. The damage had been done."

"And he's not leaving her? Divorcing her? That would keep his vest family white."

Rory shrugs, "Catherine, William and Charles all talked to him but he seems as love drunk as ever."

"Wow, that must've been the biggest scandal since Prince Andrew."

"Yeah, well they made their own beds."

"You don't feel sorry for them?"

"I never liked Meghan. She had a bad aura. Ask Ana. She basically confirmed my gut feeling about her. She told me to stay away from her as far as possible. Char was very suspicious of her as well, ever since she first met her. And that was over 22 years ago. Kids feel when someone is fake."

"Just Harry doesn't."

"He'll come around. Sooner or later... well, probably later. I mean no one wants to see the love of your life unraveling as a narcissistic devil."

Devil? Rory never calls people bad names - not even in the privacy of the two of us. "Well, what happens after Malta?"

"After that there are a few events at the Royal Albert Hall with Char and Nate. I'm going to visit lots of hospitals and schools while George will be holding private meetings at Windsor Castle. George and I will cook for the homeless just a few days before Christmas."

"Do you need help with the girls?" I ask her. "I could watch them while you guys are in Spain and on Malta."

She nods, "That would be a great help. I like our nanny Rosa but I prefer you over her any time."

"Good, then Oliver and me are going to watch them while you guys are gone. I can always work from here and rearrange my appointments."

My sister nods, "Thank you. I will also participate in a project from Sleep Out on December the first."

"What's the organisation about?"

"They're helping the homeless. Basically they want to encourage people to sleep outside for one night in winter to see how the homeless cope with it every single day."

"So you'll be sleeping outside in the cold... in winter?"

"Yes. On cardboards. I'll bring a sleeping bag, a toothbrush and a toothpaste."

"And lots of thermal and cashmere clothing."

"Well yes, but not for myself. I want to donate quite a lot. There are over 320 thousand people living on the streets in Britain! 280 thousand just in England! And the number is rising!"

"That's horrible."

"I know. Which is why I want to take Sleep Out under the Oxford Royal umbrella. I even thought about talking to the King about opening up the empty castles to create a safe place for the homeless to at least sleep at. Or built homes, tents, cabins - whatever. Just anything to give them a safe haven. I want to help these people but first I need to know how it feels like to be in their shoes. I need to experience it first hand to know exactly how to help and not just talk. I'm not one of empty words. I never have been and I don't want to be that kind of Royal, that kind of mother, Duchess and future Queen Consort. George also sparked the idea to cook for everyone. It's going to be in Wimbledon on the courts. I'll be sleeping in the centre court."

"Where you won your third Grand Slam title."

She nods, "I chose the spot on purpose but we won't make a huge fuss about it. Nothing will leak online about it until the night is over. I'll do that with two security men."

"And George won't join you?"

"No, he has to stay at home with the girls."

"What about Rosa? She could stay here with the girls."

"For a few hours, yes. But not for a night."

"Well then I can stay here overnight. If the girls like Oliver then he can stay as well."

"We'll see how the girls react to your new husband." She smirks at the last word. She's very suspicious about new people coming into the family. I think she's got that from Dad.

"I don't know why you said that word so strangely. I'm not freaking out about it."

"That's what I find so odd about this whole thing."

"What do you mean?"

"You freaked out on your own wedding day! You eloped all the way to Brazil!"

"Oliver's not Edward. He never has been. They're two very different men."

"Obviously. They don't look very alike."

"It's not just that."

"I don't understand how you jumped from one man to another so seamlessly."

"I'm not jumping from man to man!" I complain.

"Just try to see this from my perspective for a second. The last man I saw you with was Edward, your future husband and now you pop up on my door with a ring on your left finger and a new husband. A man I have never ever seen before. A man I know nothing about. A man that's a stranger to me but you act like you know him your whole life!"

I run my fingers through my hair. "Rory, what do you want from me?"

"A proper explanation."

"You're like Mum."

My younger sister waves with her hands, "Of course I am!"

"Alright fine. I met Oliver shortly after I moved back from Boston."

"That's almost two years ago."

18 months ago, but I decide to not correct her. "Yes. It was after my run in Battersea. I went to a café there and the man in front of me forgot his wallet. I paid for his cappuccino and ordered myself a blueberry muffin and a black coffee without thinking twice. He wanted to pay me back but I didn't bother listening to him. I went my way... and after a month I met the same man again in the soup kitchen where I was helping out. He introduced himself as Oliver. He said he went to café for a month but I never showed up. I was a bitch to him but that didn't stop the universe or fate or whatever, to continue pushing us together. We met a few times in the upcoming weeks on random occasions. At a church, in Greenwich where I worked on Liam's social project..."

"And did you feel any sparks with him?"

I shake my head.

"No?"

"No, I just felt this extreme attraction and these... these atomic bombs exploding at every touch of his. That's why I also offered him a contract."

"He was one of your fucking buddies for a night?"

"I wanted him to be but he wasn't having it. He said 20 weeks or nothing at all."

Rory smirks, "Smart man. He knows when he wants something."

"I managed to get him to sixteen, I think. He signed, moved in with me because there was no way I was going to his place in Nottingham, and things went their way."

"He lived with you? As in actually lived at your place?"

I nod, "Yes. I don't know why I did it but it was logical. Oliver told me that he is a half orphan. His Dad got shot eight years ago before his Mum gave birth to her youngest. They fell into poverty afterwards. Lived in Rocinha. Barely made it to one warm meal a day. They won in the lottery once and his Mum used the money to send him to London. Illegally as I later found out."

"Did you pity him?"

"Strangely not. I should have, but I never did. I admired him for all that he was doing actually. He sent 90% of the money he made to his family so they could have food on the table and buy books for school. He starved himself at the end of the month just so they could have a full stomach."

"Wow, that's... that sounds horrible. No one should live like that. Did you offer him money?"

"I did but he didn't want it. It was very frustrating for me to see how this man struggled with three jobs, yet he didn't make enough to live."

"And how comes Ed into all of this?"

"I went to Paris Fashion Week with Ana. I met Ed at a Cartier party. He charmed me so I didn't hesitate when he asked me to spend the weekend with him. I didn't even think of Oliver for a second when I was with Ed."

"That doesn't sound good. Did you tell Oliver about it?"

"Yes."

"How did he react?"

"He understood me better than I understood myself."

"I don't get it."

Yeah I didn't either at first. "I asked him to come to Paris with me before I left but he said he couldn't and didn't want to. Because he had no passport. Because he was an illegal immigrant. But I didn't know that at that time."

"So you slept with Ed to get back on Oliver?"

I nod, "I wanted to hurt Oliver as much as he hurt me."

"Wow, that's... Jo, you've never been hurt by a man before. That must've shrilled your alarm bells."

"No it didn't. I brushed it off. I didn't believe it."

"And then happened what?"

"We had a good time. Flew to Finland together to see Northern Lights. Then came Nate's wedding where I met Ed again. I couldn't say no to him."

"Did you tell Oliver?"

I nod, "The moment I came home."

"I bet he wasn't so understanding this time."

"No. He was mad... and frustrated. We argued. He called my bluff that this was just sex. He told me he loved me. I threw him out and broke us up."

"What?" Rory asks me with a laugh. "He said he loved you - and you threw him out on the street?!"

"I was scared."

"And what happened then?"

"I eloped to French Cay. Got drunk for a week straight. Called Ed and told him to meet me in Mexico. We fucked for two weeks and I decided to give us a shot. From there on, you know what happened. He asked me to marry him, I said yes, we went on that world tour with you guys... I eloped on my wedding day and fled to Rio, where Oliver was living."

"So fate pushed you right back into his arms?"

"No, that was Wlad's idea and fate didn't do anything this time. I searched for him for almost six months. Two weeks before my flight, I found him. It was very hard to track him down. There's no security cameras to hack in Rocinha. No phones to track. It had to be done the old school way... by asking around. And Rio is a huge town."

My sister nods, "And he took you back?"

"No, he made me get on my knees and beg for his forgiveness."

My sister's icy blue eyes widen, "You went on your knees?"

I shrug, "I had nothing to loose at this point... and everything to gain."

"That man really has you under his thumb."

"To be honest, I've got him under mine as well."

"Seems so." She states at my wedding band, "How did this happen?"

"It was the only way to get him and his family out of Rio with me."

"So, it's not out of love?"

I decide to tell my family that I love him, because it's easier to say that rather than explaining how much more I really feel for him. "No. But I didn't know that when I signed the wedding certificate. Things moved quickly. One day after I brought them into my suite, we got married in our lounge wear. Then we went ring shopping and told his Mama and brothers at sunset at the Christo statue. After that it was a day by day kind of thing. I got to know his family. I bought them clothes, toiletries and all the stuff you need and they didn't have. We went to the beach together, saw the Sugar Loaf mountains, went to a Formula One race and a soccer match. We had two great weeks."

"And then you flew back home with them."

"Yes."

My little sister leans forward, "Who's better in bed? Ed or Oliver?"

I chuckle, "Rory,"

"What? I only ever had sex with one man and I ended up marrying him. I can't compare. I haven't jumped from bed to bed."

Unlike me. "Both are very skilled." I decide to stay diplomatic. Edward's not a bad man. He's very kind, loving and genuine. We just didn't fit together as well as I fit with Oliver. It's not his fault. It was mine.

"Oh come on, give me a little more!"

I lick my lips, "Let's just say that Oliver's endurance is second to none. He is the only man who can keep up with me."

"You're a sex machine?" She laughs, "Should've known from the way you brought a different man - and sometimes two - home back in Oxford."

Even then I was quite careful with whom I chose to gift my time. Over all my decisions there was the crown, the British Royal Family, my family and their reputation hovering. It's a feeling that haunted me for years. And then I met Oliver and I realised that I can open up, even fall in love, while having those reputations hovering above me. I shrug, "I fuck men to sleep."

"Even Ed?"

"Strangely, I was even half as attracted to him as I am to Oliver. I didn't had that insatiable appetite for him as I have for Oliver."

"So you guys didn't do it daily?"

I shake my head, "There were weeks of abstinence and it didn't bother me."

"But not so with Oliver."

I smirk, "No, definitely. He's the only one who fucks me to sleep."

"Trust me, those times are over when you guys have kids."

I'm about to find out.

"So to summarise this you were with Oliver, he got under your skin and that scared you so you broke up with him and leaned to Edward instead of dealing with your feelings."

That sounds awful. "I didn't just use Ed. I loved him."

"Did you?"

"Well, yes of course I did. I said yes to when he asked me to marry him. I wanted to marry him but then... then I had a panic attack in the car and couldn't go through with it."

"Yet you took Oliver's proposal and wedded him in loungewear."

"He didn't ask me."

Rory's mouth drops open, "What? You proposed to him?"

"Yes. I gave him options and told him to think about it."

"And he said yes because he saw the pound-signs in your eyes."

"Don't be like that! He's no gold digger!" I hiss at her. "And he signed a prenup."

"I'm sure that's not enough for Daddy."

I sigh, "No. He wanted his fingerprints, hair, salvia and blood."

"Wow, he's thoroughly."

"Yes and Oliver decided to dance after his pipe."

"Maybe not the worst decision considering how Daddy treated Wlad and Sasha."

"You're on his side?!"

"I'm for peace."

I roll my eyes at her words. "You sound like a Princess."

"Well, I am a Princess."

She rarely pulls out the Royalty card. I nudge her with my elbow and she giggles in response. "Shut up!"

My sister giggles in response. "True, ain't no royal when I'm around my family."

Oliver

Adelaide Cottage is a very cute and very big house. It might be called cottage but it's very far from a cottage. Villa would be more fitting. The icy blue coloured Victorian house is clearly small compared to Frogmore House or Kensington Palace, but it's still a mansion compared to my home in Rio.

Well, anything's a mansion compared to the house in Rio. It wasn't really a house but it certainly was a home - and now my home is my wife at Landmark Place.

"You have a very lovely home." I say as I look around in the large living room. It's furnished with lots of modern pieces, glass and shiny steel. The emerald green coloured sofa is standing across a big TV. The only antique thing in the room is the marbled fireplace. The mantelpiece is filled with framed photos of the Windsor, Oxford, Wales and Bolton Family. Whenever I see photos of them, I can clearly see how tight they all are. They're entwined so much... they're a big family.

"Thank you. Tea?" Charlotte asks me with a bright smile on her lips. "I want to know how you've been in the last year and a half. I had no idea Jo went to Rio because of you."

"Neither did I."

"Tea? He's not drinking tea! This news asks for some alcohol. Bourbon at least." Nate says to his wife.

"I would rather not drink." I tell him.

"Beer then."

"No, he just said no alcohol!" Char hisses at him and I watch them walking into the kitchen. I stay in the living room for a little while longer. It looks so different than Lorelai's home. I really hope she's not grilling my wife the way Troy did with me. He was brutal and I will never tell my wife what he said to me, how he insulted and provoked me.

But I hope Josephine's not getting a taste of that via her little sister right now.

"Oliver!"

Charlotte's cry pulls me out of my thoughts. I walk through the living room and step into the kitchen that has a huge olive green island with white granite countertops. The other cupboards are in olive green as well. They have a little round table with beige chairs standing at the transom windows. The kitchen looks cosy and almost normal.

The electric kettle rings as Charlotte gets out two white mugs. "Black?"

"Yes."

"Get out a third. I won't drink by myself." Nate tells her with disappointment in his voice.

Charlotte gets out another mug while Nate gets out black tea bags from one of the olive coloured hanging cupboards. He throws them into the mugs before his wife fill them with hot water.

It's so surreal to be here... in their home... on the grounds of Windsor Castle. I'm with the Duke and Duchess of Windsor - Charlotte and Nate.

Sometimes, I think I'm dreaming.

Charlotte hands me my white mug and I notice a royal coat of arms painted on the inside of the mug. I'm pretty sure it's their coat of arms. There's a lion and a unicorn as well as the Bolton Family's shield that I recognise. The other shield is Charlotte's. "Very pretty mug."

"Jo gifted us the mugs." Nate says to me.

"It's a very thoughtful wedding present." Char elaborates with a smile on her lips.

I should've known. My wife sees the little details of a person. She's very thoughtful.

"So, Oliver, how have you been?"

Horrible without my wife in my life. "After Josephine and I parted, I moved back to Rio."

Charlotte nods, "To your family?"

"Yes."

"How come we didn't see you when we were there two weeks ago?" Nate asks me. His navy eyes start burning holes into me face.

"Because I didn't know Josephine was in Rio. I haven't seen or heard from her since I left London."

"You didn't use your mobile to google her?"

"I didn't have one and we didn't have internet at home."

Nate leans back, "I don't believe you."

"It's the truth. Josephine lived in Ipanema while she stayed in Rio. I wasn't so lucky to grow up there."

"In which part of Rio did you live?"

"In Rocinha."

Charlotte's look on her face doesn't change but Nate's does. The name rang a bell.

"That's not good." Nate simply comments.

"I don't understand..." his wife's confused.

"Rocinha is not known for its luxury." I decide to shrug it off.

"It's known for criminality and drugs. It's the most dangerous part of whole Brazil." Nate explains to his wife.

Charlotte looks at me, "And you're from there? That's horrible! No wonder you wanted to bring your family here!"

She will never understand how horrible it was. She's a Princess and now a Duchess. She grew up behind palace walls. "They're now here as well."

"Really?"

I nod.

Charlotte's navy eyes brighten up, "I want to meet them!"

"I'm sure we can arrange something."

"Yes! You guys should all come by for dinner!"

I'm not sure if Charlotte can cook but there are staff for those sort of things. "Okay."

"How did you and Jo meet then? In Rio, I mean." Nate asks me. He's as suspicious as his father.

"She just stood in front of my home one day when I got back from work."

"Where did you work?"

"I worked at a banana plantage and coffee plantage. Wherever work was offered."

"And she just stood there? All alone?"

"No, with her team of security of course." I almost hiss at Nate.

"And what happened then?"

"That's personal."

"I just want to understand how Jo got from being engaged to Edward and leaving him literally at the altar, to being married to you." Nate shakes his head. "My sister's not impulsive. She's not like me. She thinks things through."

I decide to give him some bread crumbles so he can shut up. "She brought my family and me to her suite in Ipanema. I told her about my immigration status and that I was caught by the FEDs after we broke up. She called her brother-in-law to see what the options were."

"Sasha?"

"No, Wladimir." I say to Charlotte, who nods before taking another sip of her tea. "A day later we got married."

"So this is a marriage based on your immigration status not love."

"Don't be ridiculous! Of course it's based on love!" Charlotte says to her husband. "We all knew Jo was in love with Oliver. It's why I was so shocked when I found out she started dating Edward."

Nate gives me a dark look that gives me chills.

"I love your sister and she loves me as well. This marriage started unconventional but that doesn't mean it's fake. It's very real."

"Well, I am very happy for you guys." Charlotte gives me the brightest smile. "I always rooted for you guys. Jo has never been like this with another man, not even Edward. It had to be true love!"

Nate stays completely quiet.

"I mean, some people just belong together. Like Rory and George or Nate and me or Jo and-" Charlotte shuts up as Nate places his hand on her forearm.

"Enough. We all got the picture." Nate says in a stone cold voice. He even sounds similar to his father sometimes. "Did Jo already inform our parents?"

"Yes. We had dinner last night."

"Jo had the balls to tell them before us?" Char asks me shocked. "Well that had to be one unpleasant dinner."

I survived it. "We made it work."

"So, I expect my Dad ran a background check on you."

I nod, "He asked for some material to do further research."

Charlotte frowns, "Why would he ask for that?" She asks me before looking at her husband. "He doesn't have a file of Sasha or Wlad, does he? What about George? Or me! Does he have a file of me? What's in it?!"

Nate gives me a dark gaze before looking at his wife. "It's nothing bad. Besides your family has the same files of Rory and me - and the rest of my family. It's a standard procedure."

Charlotte looks back at me. "Troy doesn't trust you."

"No. At least not yet. I understand this is very hard and new to the rest of Josephine's family but I won't leave her."

Nate licks his lips. "Did you meet Wlad yet?"

"No. Why?"

"He's going to be a hard nut to crack as well."

Does that mean Nate's on my side now?

"Whenever Dad starts to believe you, he's going to make sure you start training with Wlad."

"Oh, right yeah. Jo told me about her shooting lessons once!" Char says with a nod.

Shooting lessons?! They want me to fucking shoot with a gun?!

"I'm sure you've got some experience with guns. I mean living in Rocinha comes with its advantages in some ways I guess."

Is he fucking serious?! I open my mouth to tell him off but before I can do so I can hear my wife and her sister walking in. I look between Nate and Charlotte and watch my wife entering the kitchen with a tiny girl next to her. The little girl has golden curls and bright blue eyes. She's dressed in a bright blue dress with ivory coloured tights and black leather shoes. It's the Princess of Oxford - one of three.

The little girl lets go of my wife's hand and runs over to Nate, who has already kneed down and spread his arms.

"Aw, I missed you little girl!" He says before hugging her and swinging her around. The little girl giggles in response.

Lorelai comes through the door with the other two girls at her hand. They look identical to the girl that's still giggling from getting swung through the air. I couldn't keep them separated even if I tried. They run off to Charlotte who embraces the two girls.

Lorelai looks at me. She has changed from the light grey joggers and a cosy navy jumper to a pair of jeans, an ivory sweater and chestnut coloured moccasins. Her chestnut curls are held back in a ponytail. A few strands are loose so they frame her oval shaped face. She's still not wearing any makeup but she still looks like the future Queen like she did in the joggers. Sometimes you inherit royalty and sometimes you were born with it. Lorelai is clearly the latter.

The Duchess of Oxford walks over to me before holding out her left hand. Those sapphires are still sparkling like crazy. There's also an emerald eternity band on Welsh gold between the engagement ring and the wedding band. "I'm sorry for the rudeness the first time we met. I'm Lorelai but call me Rory. No HRH title please. This is Grace." She points at the little girl with Nate. "And these are Alexandria - but it's Alex for you - and Eleanor, who you may call Leni."

I shake her hand. "Well, I'm still Oliver." I say without thinking.

Charlotte and Josephine chuckle.

"Good." Rory smiles at me. "Jo explained everything to me and told me everything about your story."

I raise an eyebrow at my wife.

"Don't worry, not everything. Just enough to make her like you." My wife smirks at me before placing a kiss on my left cheek. I don't know what happened between these two sisters but I like it.

"Jo, can I talk to you for a moment?" Nate asks his little sister.

I'm sure he's going to give her a hard time as well.

Josephine

I follow my brother into his living room, "What did you want to tell me?"

"I wanted to apologise."

I frown, "For what?"

"I was on Team Edward when I should've been on Team Jo. I'm sorry."

I stare at him in disbelief, "I'm sorry, what?!" I ask him again.

"I'm sorry if I made you feel obligated to choose Edward over Oliver."

I almost laugh out loud. "Nate, the world doesn't turn around you. My decision on being engaged with Edward had nothing to do with your perception of Ed, Oliver or me. I loved Edward."

"You did?"

I nod, "Yes but I love Oliver more. And differently. I loved Ed because I admired him and the simplicity of being with him. But I love Oliver from the depth of my heart. I love that man with every single heartbeat, not despite his background but because of it. He enriches my world in a way no one has ever done in my life. He's my soulmate as you would say." I shrug and blush a little. Nate and I never ever talked about love - because I had never been in love unlike Nate. He loved his wife his whole life.

Nate nods, "Okay. I'm going to try to convince Daddy."

I shake my head and place my hands on his shoulders, "We both know this is not how it works. Daddy has to come to terms on his own. Just give him your encouragement whenever needed."

"I promise."

"And don't be an ass to him just yet. He's very new to this royalty and wealth. He needs him to adjust."

"So, you haven't told him about the King's birthday party in two weeks?"

"No."

"I see, well I can answer his questions regarding the male side of royalty if you want to. I'm sure he's going to find it confusing to dress for Ascot or State Banquets."

"Right, I haven't thought about that yet."

"Maybe I can be the brother he never had."

"He has two little brothers. Johna is eight and Caio is 15."

"Well, then I'll be his best friend."

I smile, sometimes Nate thinks like a five year-old. Back then, you judged decided to be best friends and you became that. Without all the adult-thoughts. "I bloody love you, Nate!" I embrace him with tears in my eyes.

He returns my embrace, "I love you, too little sis."

I don't know why but the tears suddenly come in in full force and it takes everything within me to not cry. Probably the pregnancy hormones kicking in from that peppercorn growing inside of me.

Damn it, that's the other news I'll have to shock my family with.

I inhale deeply before letting go of my older brother again. "He's very important to me so you better not say or do anything to scare him off. He's now a part of this family."

"I got that. Besides, he didn't seem scared by me or this whole royalty thing at all."

"We'll know how he's going to cope with royalty when he meets the King."

"True. But until then I'll do my best to welcome him as best as possible."

I nod, "Thank you."

My brother's royal blue eyes widen, "Wow, you really do love him if you thank me!"

I chuckle and nudge him with my elbow. "Shut up!"

My brother chuckles as well. "No, seriously. I am very happy for you, Jo. Oliver seems like a great man."

He has no idea how great Oliver really is. "We should get going. I wanted to drive to Dover today to see how my ranch is doing."

"Yeah, sure. I was there in the summer with Char once. Mummy and Daddy are taking really good care of it, you shouldn't worry too much. I say, you guys stay for dinner and go there tomorrow."

"Tomorrow's Monday, meaning unlike you - Your Royal Highness - I have to get to work."

"Oh, I'm sure Rory and George won't be pissed if you come to work a little late."

"Not to Oxford Royal but to the Bolton Foundation."

"You're still doing two jobs?"

"Yes and I plan to continue doing both. Daddy actually offered Oliver a job at the foundation as well."

"He did?"

"Yes, I suggested he should work as a model but Daddy didn't like the idea of my husband's face plastered all over Piccadilly Circus or worse in underwear on Times Square."

Nate grins, "I don't say that enough but our Daddy is a bloody genius!"

I can't hide the smirk on my lips, "No, I'm sticking to my plan to drive to Dover."

"Jo, it's already four. Do you really want to drive to Dover for two hours, stay there for a couple of minutes and then drive back?"

"Yes."

"Okay." Nate gives up.

"Where are your girls today anyways? It's so quiet!"

"They're with grandma and grandpa."

"Wills and Catherine?"

Nate nods, "To gives us a day off. We're set to go to some performance at the Royal Albert Hall tonight anyway. So it's just half the day that we get off."

"And how were we supposed to have dinner together then?" I ask my brother with a raised eyebrow.

Nate shrugs with a boyish grin on his lips.

"You can't skip a royal engagement."

"Maybe you should be in my shoes to find out how fun it is."

"No, I'm pretty happy with my two jobs." I say before walking back into the kitchen. Oliver's in a deep conversation with my sister, sister-in-law and my three nieces. Two of them are sitting on his lap while Grace is sitting on her mother's lap.

For a second my brain plays tricks on me because I start imagining Oliver with our peppercorn. I shake my head, "Oliver, we're leaving."

He looks over his shoulder and I watch his pine green eyes transition into a sea foam colour. The look gives me a fuzzy feeling. He looks back at Rory and Char before helping my two nieces off of his lap. "I'll see you guys next weekend."

Next weekend? They already made plans without me?! "What's next weekend?" I ask him as he walks over to me.

"Triple date at Annabel's!" Char answers my question. "We'll arrange something with a babysitter."

"Oh yes! We're definitely going to do karaoke again!" Nate's voice fills my ears from behind. That man loves karaoke as much as uncle Ryan.

"Then it's set." I give in. I'd rather spend the evening at home with Oliver, but a nice evening with my family and delicious food is not a bad exchange. "See you then."

Oliver grabs my hand as we let ourselves out. "I really like your sister and nieces."

"They seem to love you as well." I say with a smile on my lips as we walk over to the silver Tesla.

"Can you teach me how to drive?" Oliver suddenly asks me.

I forgot that he doesn't have a driver's license. "Yeah, sure. But I have to warn you, I'm a horrible driver. My Mummy says I come after Daddy - we all do. We drive very fast and recklessly. Oh and we're very inpatient behind the wheel. We also curse rather much."

"Oh, well then maybe-"

"Sergej can teach you. He is a very patient man."

"Wlad's father?"

"Yeah. Or Ana but she's very busy right now." I think out loud. "But you can jump behind the wheel right now."

"Right now?!"

I hold the door open of the driver's seat, "Yeah, you can drive us to the gates. Don't worry, this is a pretty safe area for you to practice in. But remember, driving a car with gas is a bit different than driving an electric car."

Oliver

I watch how Josephine closes the door of the stables. We've been here in Dover, on my wife's ranch, for the last four hours. My Mama and brothers had their first times on the back of ponies. Josephine showed me all the good work her parents have helped her do while she was in Rio. The ranch was a gift from her grandfather and she uses it for therapeutic uses. The horses are all specially trained and there's even a huge hotel that was built for parents and their sick children to stay at. We even met a few of the current patients here. It's a wonderful thing my wife is doing here. She combined her heart of philanthropy with her love for horses.

"Ready to go home?" I ask her as she turns around.

The temperature has dropped, so we're all in warm coats, warm shoes and bobble hats. My Mama, Johna and Caio have already gotten into the car with Leo in it. He's going to drive them home while Ralph takes her of us. She sighs, "I wish I could stay here for longer than a few hours."

"We could spend next weekend here. After our triple date."

She smiles at me, "That would be nice." She looks very cute with that grey bobble hat on.

I grab her hand and place a kiss on the back of it. "I love you."

Her cheeks flush slightly, "I love you, too."

The sight and those words make my heart skip a beat. I love seeing this look on her. On the woman that claimed to be stone cold when we first met.

She intertwines her fingers with mine before we walk over to the black Jaguar. Jo told me it used to belong to her but while she was in Rio she started to question all of her belongings so she gifted the Jaguar to Ralph, who now uses it as an official car. She only kept the Tesla and the Aston Martin. The other cars - three I think - she sold and donated the money to charities all over England.

I'm glad she asked Ralph to drive us here instead of driving here as well. She looks rather tired and the last thing I want is for her to sit behind the wheel right now.

We get into the backseat of the black Jaguar that has a light beige interior and put on the seatbelts.

"I apologise for the bad smell." Josephine smiles at Ralph while taking off her bobble hat.

"Oh, don't worry, Mrs. Bolton. I'll get the smell out with a homemade recipe." Ralph nods at Leo, who starts the car. Leo drives off and Ralph follows him after starting the car.

I take off my hat. It's nicely warm here with the heated seats. The soft jazz music has a lullaby like effect on my wife. She opens her seatbelt and scoops over to me. With her long slim fingers she unzips my coat before cuddling into me. She wraps her arms around me and rests her head against my chest.

"Wake me when we arrive."

I don't think I can wake this sleeping beauty.

Josephine

I wake up the next morning in an empty bed. I roll over on my back and stare at the ceiling for a moment, thanking God for this day. Rory, Ana, Char and Nate are on my husband's side. Now, there's still the rest of my family to convince. Elias, Gideon and Calloway will be easy but not so Della and definitely not my father and Wladimir. Sasha could easily be on Ana's side. I'm still unsure about my Mum, but she could be on Oliver's side as well. And then there're my grandparents... Diana could accept Oliver with wide arms and probably Vicky as well but my grandpa will be a tough nut as well. He gave Sasha a hard time and did the same with Wlad. Just not with George because he's the future King of Britain. But Oliver's no future King. It shouldn't make a difference but it does.

It always does.

I growl and get out of the bed. Today's my first day back at Oxford Royal but I'm going to spend the first half of the day at the Bolton Foundation.

And it's the first day of school for Johna and Caio.

I run my fingers through my chestnut curls that have turned into a bird's nest overnight as I walk over to the closed bathroom doors. I open them and get greeted by humidity - and most importantly by my husband who is shaving at his sink. He's already in his black boxer briefs and his beach blonde hair is still damp from the shower he just took. His sea foam coloured eyes look at me and I can feel how the desire awakes within me. "Morning, Tesouro." He greets me with a smirk on his lips.

The nickname gives me goosebumps and make my heart fill with love for this man. "Morning. What time is it?"

"Six thirty."

School starts at ten in the morning in Britain, so there's still plenty of time. "Did you brought me to bed last night ? And changed me into your stuff?" I ask him as I'm wearing a black T-shirt that's way too big for me.

"Yes."

"I'll keep the shirt to sleep in." I tell him before walking over to the loo. I still smell like the stables I was in yesterday evening so a shower would be necessary for me as well.

"How did you sleep?" Oliver asks me as I walk over to the shower.

I strip out of the shirt and my panties before climbing into the shower. It's still quite humid in here. "Very well. What about you?"

"I'm kind of nervous about today." He admits as I turn on the shower.

I start shampooing my hair and watch how he walks over to me. I love his freshly shaved skin. "Don't be. Uncle Ryan is very chilled. It takes an earthquake and a tsunami to get him mad."

"And our marriage is not that?"

I little my head back to wash the shampoo out of my hair. "No. It's like a thunderstorm. It's scary at first but you get used to it and eventually the sky clears up when everyone has accepted you."

He runs his fingers through his hair as I put conditioner on mine. "I don't know. I didn't apply for the job. Your father just gave it to me. What if he hasn't informed your uncle yet?"

"Trust me, he has." I put shower gel on my loofah and start cleaning my body. "And you enjoy doing charity work, don't you?"

"Yes of course I do."

"Then where's your problem? You're not just a pretty face but also a very smart man who has a heart of gold. You'll do fine." I say as I rinse off the shower gel from my body and the conditioner out of my hair. Then I turn off the water and open the door of the shower again. Oliver hands me a big white towel that I wrap around my body before grabbing another towel for my hair.

My husband nods. "You're right."

"Of course I am." I say with a smirk on my lips. I should really come up with a nickname for him.

Oliver

I love a good English breakfast, especially if it was made by my wife. As with everything she does, she put her own spin on it by adding avocado to the scrambled eggs, crispy bacon and baked beans combination. There's also a bottle of Sriracha sauce standing on the table but Josephine was the only one to use it.

We're Brazilian. We like sweet stuff, not spicy.

I do however enjoy Mexican food with my wife. I'm not sure if it's really the food I'm enjoying or just being with my wife. Perhaps it's both.

"Are you guys nervous?" I ask my two brothers.

Caio just shrugs it off while Johna continues to eat his breakfast. They're already in their new uniforms. Navy sweaters with red Oxford shirts underneath and navy pants with black shiny shoes. They look so smart!

"That's an answer as well, I guess." Josephine mumbles before her ringing iPhone fills the living area. She gets up from her chair and walks into the kitchen, where she left her iPhone.

I blend out my mother's voice as I focus on my wife. She picks up the call and talks for the caller for a few minutes before hanging up. For a split second she looks concerned but then she puts on her mask again.

Something's wrong.

"Everything alright?" I ask her the second she's back.

"Yeah."

"Who did you talk to?"

"Your results are back in. Dr. White asked your Mum, you and me to come back. We'll go after we dropped off the boys."

"But what about work?"

"I'll send my uncle a text and tell him we have an emergency. He will understand."

Damn it, it's serious. "Who's Dr. White?"

"I don't want you to worry."

"Josephine,"

"He's an oncologist."

---

The wait in the examine room feels like forever. I asked my wife over and over if Dr. White said anything she might have forgotten but she didn't mention anything. We didn't tell my Mama what kind of doctor Dr. White is but she's freaking out as well. She's as nervous as the rest of us.

An oncologist is bad. Very, very bad.

My fear of having a bad first day has been replaced by a whole other fear.

Suddenly the glass door swings open and an old man with a white lab coat walks in. He has a stethoscope around his neck. The embroidery on his left breast says Dr. White, M.D. oncology.

"Mrs. Rodriguez, Mr. and Mrs. Bolton thank you for coming back on such a short notice. But this couldn't wait."

"Of course."

Dr. White looks at my Mama and my heart shatters into a million pieces. It's her. She's the one with cancer. My throat tightens and tears start burning in my eyes as I hear the word leukaemia. Blood cancer.

Fucking blood cancer!

It's my wife's hand that is wrapped around mine which gives me the strength to keep myself together. It's also her who translates everything, who gives my Mama the world changing news.

Everything's a blur. I don't see or hear anything. All I feel is this world shattering emotion. It feels like a tsunami that I didn't see coming. Just this morning I was worried about making a good impression on my first day at work.

Now, I'm worried there won't be another day for my Mama.

---

Thank you for taking the time to read this chapter. I hope you enjoyed it!

Merry Christmas everyone!

What do you think of Rory's reaction to Oliver? And Nate's reaction?

Do you think Maria's illness will be treated and healed?

This story is going on a break for a while as I'm going focus more on my personal life for a while. I can't promise regular updates but I'll try to update as often as possible.

Please review!

In gratitude,

Nicole