Josephine

Coming home after two weeks on the Mediterranean Sea is the best feeling ever. I've been cuddling Silverbell and Pebbles from the moment I saw them again and according to their purring they missed me as well. And they certainly missed their puppy siblings. Nala, Estrela and Potter started playing with them as soon Oliver and me were ready to let them go. They've been running through Home Park the whole day. I guess they missed the cold England the same way we did. The Mediterranean was brilliant, but there's no place like home.

I walk through the patio with its calming Portuguese water fountain and into the kitchen with the sage green cabinets and marbled countertops via the open French doors. My husband's cooking dinner for us. "It smells heavenly!"

Oliver turns around with a smile on his lips. "I'm making blueberry waffles and banana pancakes."

My heart skips a beat at his words. "You're making me breakfast for dinner?"

My husband nods. "I know how much you love breakfast foods at any time of the day."

"And you're cool with that?"

"Yeah. I'm having my tomato soup."

"Can I have the blueberry waffles with a bit of your soup?"

Oliver laughs, "Whatever combination you crave, Tesoro."

I have the best husband in the world! I wrap my arms around his neck and pull him into a passionate kiss. "I don't know what I'd do without you."

"You'll never have to find out again."

Suddenly, tears start streaming down my face as the memories of our time apart appear in front of my inner eyes. It was the worst time of my life. Even worse than the time when Daddy left us. "Northern Lights."

Oliver smiles at me, "Northern Lights." His hands move down to my bump that's the safe space of two pineapples right now. "All three of you." With his thumbs he caresses the bump carefully.

I can feel how they wake up at his touch. Within seconds, they start kicking and boxing against the walls of their safe space. It feels amazing.

"I think they agree with me."

I rest my forehead against his and inhale his scent. I am the safe space for our twins but he is mine. In his arms, in this house... in this moment, there's nothing that can destroy us.

"How about you lay down for a moment in the living room? The soup still needs half an hour." He suggests. "I'll put your meals into our heated drawer so they don't get cold."

Dream kitchen with a dream husband. I let go of him and brush through my curls. I should use his good mood to talk about themes that might anger him. "Okay."

Oliver

"I think we should talk about the twins' future before they arrive. We're at 29 weeks now so if we're lucky they're going to be here in about seven weeks." Josephine tells me as she waddles into the kitchen. She's carrying a thick folder. I thought she took a nap on our sofa, but instead she's been working on whatever's in her folder.

I look up from the pot that's bubbling with a deliciously smelling tomato soup. Josephine's blueberry waffles and banana pancakes are staying warm in our heated drawer. "Now?"

She shrugs, "You're more relaxed when you're cooking."

I notice the thick folder full of papers that is laying on the kitchen island. Whatever she's going to say, I won't like it then. When the hell did she have the time to come up with all of this? "Okay."

"Our children will have a special status. Not just because of the titles they're going to have but because of their last names. With these circumstances comes responsibility. A lot of responsibility." My wife licks her full lips. "There are a few things we will have to teach them. Things your Mama hasn't taught you but my parents did."

I turn off the stove. This will take longer. "Good. Go ahead. I'm all ears."

"There are a few rules they will learn. It's about making sure they get a better shot being successful in the long term. It's about giving them the right tools to get an advantage in life. Like my parents gave me the right tools and my grandparents did the same thing for them. It's been done for generations in my family. It what makes the old money old and the new money new."

"Old money?" I ask her confused. I thought they were going to be royals. What does old money have to do with that?!

"It's the way we're being referred to. There's old and new money. New money stands for the newly rich. It's the people that like to brag with their wealth and spend it mindlessly. Old money stands for money being in the family for generations. It's the kind of money that isn't spend mindlessly - at least not all the time. There is no reason for us to brag about our status because we've had this status for centuries. Old money makes sure the wealth constantly increases. Children get the right education apart from going to school. They get groomed to take over the family's firms when it's their time."

"Like you were trained to take over Bolton's Enterprises?"

"Yes." She licks her lips, "But now it has to be one of my little brothers. By the looks of it, it's going to be Elias. He's pretty skilled with languages. It'll come in handy when to comes to business negotiations."

Skilled is underestimated. At the age of eight, he's already fluent in Spanish, Russian, German, Arabic and Portuguese. He's currently learning Chinese and Arabic at school. I look at the stack of paper, "Is that what that's for?"

She nods. "It's a rule book."

"You mean a contract." I hiss at her as the alarm bells shrill in my ears. "Our children are not something you can-"

"Oliver, just try to understand me. This is not about setting everything in stone. It's about guidance."

"Guidance?!" I spit out the word. "Like the deal we made when we first met?" The words have left my mouth before I know it.

Her light blue eyes turn dark within a second. I've crossed a line.

"I'm sorry. I didn't mean that."

"Just listen to what I have to say."

I pinch the bridge of my nose. "Fine. Go ahead. Present me your plan."

"Rule number one would be teaching them how money works. It might sound basic to you but it's a crucial lesson that my siblings and me had to learn. There aren't many people that ask themselves how do people make money, why am I being paid this much money by my employer, what factors determine my salary or revenue, how do taxes work, can that be optimised, what needs to happen to improve my finances." She starts throwing questions at me. "My parents made it a priority to discuss the value and importance of money in our household at a very early age. I think I was three when I got my first financial lesson. This familiarises kids in a young age with the concept of value in exchange for services provided. We were introduced to the household expensive by the age of twelve and put in real-life situations where we figured out rather quickly that money is a lot harder to earn than to spend. On the other end of the spectrum, poor people don't tend to talk about money at home. It remains a secret. And when kids do hear their parents talk about money it's because they're arguing of not having enough. This associates the entire concept with a negative feeling."

Weirdly, that seems to make a lot of sense. My parents never talked about money with my brothers and me. When my Dad died, I had to suddenly provide for my family and I had no idea how much money was spent where. "Okay. Number two?"

"The difference between an asset and a liability." She says to me.

"And what's that?"

"You never knew what was a good purchase and what wasn't. But we do. Because we were taught to differentiate between an asset and a liability. You don't spend your hard earned money mindlessly, you think in the long run. An asset makes you money while a liability costs you money. The problem here is poor people never realise what counts as a liability. For example, both the cars we drive and the house we live in are liabilities. They cost us money. They don't generate any revenue for you but demand money to keep running. Insurance, upholding, gasoline... that makes them a liability rather than an asset. An asset is for example buying a flat that generates rent, writing a book that generates revenue once it's published, purchasing a part of a business that's doing okay. The important connection here is that the assets pay for the luxuries. Wealthy people never buy luxuries from their own earnings, they pay it from the money that was generated by the assets."

I feel like my wife's giving me life lessons here. How did I not know about this stuff? Why doesn't school teach you this?

"Rule three is that we're not entitled to anything. Being born into a family like ours has it's advantages. You have access to better tools, better resources, you don't have to worry about basic needs but you also open yourself up to new threats, that poor people never have to worry about. The pressure to perform is always there. It was really important for my parents to teach us that despite us getting a head start in life the journey ahead is just as long and we need to remain focused on growth and not just maintaining the pace. Whether or not we're going to be successful in life depends on our own actions and Daddy's money can only go so far. Family's fortunes where children feel entitled usually crumble in the third generation: first there's someone who is really hungry and works incredibly hard to build wealth, second their children grow with a sense that all they need to do is maintain this wealth. Lastly, the third generation has lost its hunger, feels entitled to success without work or sacrifice and usually spends it all stupidly. But this downfall won't happen in our family because we got taught the right tactics and given the right tools to maintain and grow our wealth."

Okay, this is starting to make me want to learn more. I nod to signalise my wife to go on.

"Number four is how to be sociable and connect with other people. It's incredibly important to be able to have a pleasant conversation with others. Successful people, like us, socialise their kids before the age of four. And this is why: if your child gets socialised that early other kids will want to play with them. If they behave well with other kids, their parents will want to take care of them when they play with their own children. This has a massive snowball effect throughout life. If people like you and like being around you, this builds up and doors open up for you that otherwise wouldn't. Teachers will treat you better. You'll access to better job opportunities, you'll make better friends, so there's an entire tree of benefits that grows from early socialisation." Josephine explains to me. "Rule number five is to stop expecting immediate results and avoid magical thinking. Wealthy parents make it a priority to teach their kids to play the long game. Long term thinking is one of the differentiating characteristics of the wealthy. Trading with the future is a skill we employ in order to get ourselves an advantage over everyone else. Bill Gates once said 'Most people overestimate what they can do in one year and underestimate what they can do in ten years.' Rule number six is how to create daily habits that on the long run, give them incredible advantages. It's one of the most calculable skills we can teach our children. The power of habit is a tool that magnifies what you feed it. The rich simply choose wealth creation actions as their daily habit while the poor pick up negative routines. Children learn from what we do, not from what we teach them to do."

I nod.

"Number seven is money is a tool and it's a good thing. Money is not the root of all evil. Money is merely a tool which you use to navigate your life. It's just pieces of paper and plastic with drawings on them, which we exchange for material value. Nothing more and nothing less. It's very similar to scissors, you can cut hair with them or stab yourself. Number eight is increase income instead of lowering expenses. Number nine is that knowledge is more valuable than money on the long run. There's a saying my Dad always told me. Invest in yourself, it pays the best dividends. It's about increasing how valuable you are to the world. The world rewards people who are valuable, because valuable people can create value for others and in exchange for that value they can get whatever they want. The concept of becoming a valuable person is not taught by a lot of people. The only way to become more valuable is through the increase of knowledge, skill level and time. Learn how to better and then practice better at it for long enough that you started to see noticeable differences. Someone who has knowledge will always be able to generate money because they are valuable to the marketplace. Rule number ten is don't work for money, have it work for you. Poor people exchange their time for money and they spend it. The rich use the money they get to create more money. But having money does not make you a better person, it just solves some of the problems. You and I know that better than anyone. I was a horrible person when we met and I become a better person because of you. Humility and respect for others were one of the first lessons my parents taught me. Money pays for comforts of the body but not for comforts of the mind and soul."

I look at the stack of papers, the rule book I guess. "This doesn't contain future schools?"

"Well, it contains a variety of choices." My wife admits. "I think we should either send them to the Bolton Academy or Le Rosey. That way they would stay within the family or follow tradition."

"But these schools are in different countries!" I start arguing. "I want to help them with homework, I want to go to school plays, I want to build school projects with them. I want to be involved!"

"My parents were still very much involved in our lives and we went to a boarding school! They still visited us and were at every school play, sports competition or every other event." She argues back.

"I don't care. I want them here. This is not negotiable. They will go to school within the area. The schools here are excellent as well. I don't see a reason why they shouldn't go to a school nearby. They will leave this house when they're off to university but not a minute earlier." I set my foot down.

"Okay, fine. I guess the nanny can help them out at times as well."

"Woah, nanny?"

"Yes, of course they will have one. Preferably from the Norland College in Bath. Rory and Char's nannies are from there and they're excellent. George, Char and Louis were watched by a nanny from there when they grew up. We had a nanny before we went to Le Rosey. We can't work and be stay-at-home parents. We will have to visit commonwealth countries. We can't just take a break until they go to school." Josephine explains to me. "If they will go to school here then we will have at least one nanny." She sets her foot down.

So that's why Rory's nanny was in that brown uniform then. I guess it's the school for a 007 kind of nanny. One for the ultra rich. One for royals. One for us. I guess that's a compromise I have to make in order to have them grow up here in this house. "But my Mama-"

"Is their grandmother. She's going to spoil them and cook the best Brazilian dishes. But she won't babysit them all the time. She can't. I don't want to exploit-"

"That's what a big family is for." I point out. "I don't want my children to be raised by a nanny just because we can afford one!"

"I was not raised by my nanny!"

"No, you were raised by yourself in a freaking boarding school!" I hiss back.

Josephine's eyes turn dark again. "I said okay to no boarding school, but you have to meet me halfway here. You have to make a compromise here as well, Oliver."

She's got a point. I sigh, "Okay. One nanny."

"At least one. You never know with how many kids we might end up so we might need more than one. We can't ask one nanny to watch five or six kids."

"You want so many?" I ask her as my heart skips a beat. She really knows how to lift my spirits.

She shrugs, "It's a possibility with my genetics. We've got twins now, we might get twins or triplets the second time and third time. We could end up with a soccer team of kids like my Mum and Dad did. Besides I wouldn't rule out the possibility of adoption, too. My Mum and Dad adopted Ana and honestly, there are so many kids that need a home. A proper home filled with love, not sit in an orphanage until they're eighteen and no longer the state's problem."

"I never thought about adoption. I always wanted kids with my genes."

"We don't have to decide anything right now except for the future of those two growing within me." She says back.

"Okay but can we continue the discussion while I eat my soup? Your waffles and pancakes are ready in the heated drawer."

She walks around the massive kitchen island before pulling the heated drawer open that was designed to keep food warm. I set it to a fairly high temperature because I know my wife likes to enjoy her waffles and pancakes quite hot. "Oh, they look amazing!" She gets out the plate that's filled with a stack of blueberry waffles and perfect banana pancakes. "If you need help-"

"I need you to relax. That's your job. My job is to take care of you." I turn around and stir the tomato soup in the pot. It won't need long now.

"You're doing a marvellous job."

I look over my shoulder and meet her sky blue eyes. "I was born for this job." It's my destiny to be with her. To support her every step of our way together. I went through everything in my life to end up here: cooking dinner in our breathtaking home, living on royal grounds while being a royal myself and taking care of her just as much as our babies. She's my destiny.

I knew it in the moment I first saw her.

There's a thin layer of moisture that builds over my wife's sky blue eyes and she gulps. "Northern Lights."

"Sit down and eat your waffles. Maple syrup is in the fridge." I tell her with a smile on my lips. "Don't eat too quickly though, if I remember correctly you wanted to dip the waffles into my soup."

She tears one waffle apart and dips the tip into my pot. She bites it off and chews it for a moment before giving me her finale verdict. "It's good."

"It's Luigi's recipe."

"That man should get a job as a royal chef. We could hire him."

I chuckle, "No, I think he's fine with his restaurant."

"Maybe for a party then."

"When have you ever thrown any parties?" The only parties she goes to are charitable events.

My wife gets two bowls out of our hanging cupboards. "While I prefer living a cosier life, I think Caio or Johna or even your Mum wouldn't mind having an Italian themed birthday party. They loved Positano and Florence after all!"

I smile as I remember our time there. "To be honest, I think I fell in love with the Greek cuisine."

My wife nods in agreement, "I'll throw you a Greek birthday party next year. I could dress up as Aphrodite."

I roll my eyes at her joke before I pour the soup into two bowls. "Just the food. No costumes."

"I don't know. You'd make an excellent Greek God." She smirks before putting spoons into our bowls. She picks them up to carry them to our little eating area at the end of the kitchen island. I still can't believe that the magenta coloured chairs go so perfectly with our sage coloured kitchen.

"Wait, I still need to put in some basil."

My wife frowns in disgust. "Just in yours."

I chuckle before opening the window and picking some basil leaves from our kitchen herb garden. I sprinkle them on my soup just before taking a first taste. The basil balances out the freshness and sweetness of the tomatoes perfectly! "It's good."

Josephine dips another edge of the heart shaped waffle into the tomato soup. "It is. Want to try it?"

"No, I'll stick to non-weird food combinations."

"Your bad. You're really missing out on something." She gives me a grin that makes my heart stop.

It almost makes me want to try dipping a piece of waffle into my soup. Almost.

I pray that our children will inherit that very same grin.

"Why are you grinning like that?" She asks me.

I shake my head and put another spoonful of tomato soup into my mouth. Sometimes, I can't believe that this is my life.

"I want to go the natural way. A home birth." My wife announces, totally out of the blue for me. After our dinner, we've decided to end the evening on our sofa and some Netflix. "After all the research I've done, I have come to conclusion that this is the best option. It resonates the most with me."

"You want to give birth to them here in Chestnut House?" I ask her confused. Out of everything she could have told me, she chose this?

"No. I want to give birth to them in the Dominican. I want to be surrounded by nature. Palm trees, the turquoise coloured water... hear the parrots... I don't want the cold white walls of a hospital. I don't want doctors and nurses in scrubs around me. No matter how luxurious it is, it's still a hospital."

I can't hide the surprise in my face. She wants to give birth in the Caribbean? What the hell is she thinking?

"I'm open for a different country but I want it to be in a tropical space preferably near the ocean or in the jungle. Oh and it has to be a Commonwealth nation."

"Y-you-"

"I know it's unconventional and the press will dupe us as hippies. But I don't care. I feel safe and sound with this holistic approach. I don't care what the press writes about us - that's what our team is for."

"I-I-"

"I would have chosen Brazil but that's not a Commonwealth nation. Besides our children will be travelling with us through the Commonwealth anyway. They will grow up in different cultures and meet different people. I want them to be citizens of the Commonwealth. I want them to see how great and wonderful the world is. At least until they start nursery, I want the with us. I don't want them to be raised by nannies, go to a posh British school and develop my stiff upper lip. I love our home but I love the world and their people just as much." She explains.

I know I am staring at her with an open mouth but I just can't help it. This is the most shocking news she presented to me!

"I have phoned Dr. Ross and talked to her about my plan. She was very helpful and gave me the number to a few midwives and doulas. I want to create a team that I feel comfortable with, that I trust. Aside from the royal doctors team." She licks her full lips, "Whichever country we choose, I want to buy a home at the beach there and turn it into our own birthing centre. And when we're gone, I want other women to use it if they want to."

"Wow, you really thought it through." I think out loud. When the hell did she have time to plan all of this?

"Yes." She nods to emphasise her answer. "What do you say?"

"Do you want it to be just the two of us and this team of midwives and doulas?"

"I'm open to having more family around but considering my due date is during the summer holiday, I'm pretty sure they already made plans."

"What about our parents?"

She shrugs, "I don't think your Mama wants to leave Caio and Johna behind. And I don't think they want to be anywhere near us when I'm in labour."

"But they do love a beach. They'll take care of themselves."

"You're not against my plan?"

"Why would I have a say in it?" I hiss at her in defence. She's the one giving birth, not me, and she knows it. That's why she's come up with this plan.

"That wasn't a no." She points out with a perfectly plucked raised eyebrow.

I lick my lips, "I am just surprised by your plan. I thought you'd choose Lindo Wing because it's where you and your siblings were born. It's where Rory gave birth to her triplets. It's where Char gave birth to her twins."

"You think I'm breaking some sort of tradition." She reads between my lines.

I shrug, "What about our pets? We can bring our dogs to Dominican but Silverbell and Pebbles? What about them?"

She licks her full lips, "Perhaps Nate and Char can watch them while we're gone."

"And how long will we be gone? We would need to arrive at least four weeks before your due date and stay until our twins have developed their immune system, which takes another month at least. That's two months without our cats. Can you imagine how they will greet us when we come home with our Dalmatians and two newborns? They're going to hate us and punish us with ignorance. They're rescue cats, Tesoro. We can't abandon them."

She runs her fingers through her chestnut curls. "Well then maybe our dogs should stay here as well. Nate and Char would love to watch them. Or Caio and Johna can watch them along with your Mama. They can live in our home until we're back."

She really wants to do this. "Tesoro,"

"You don't want to do this with me."

"I don't think it has to be a foreign country. Why not Chestnut House if you want to have a home birth?"

"Because I want to be a tropical space. I don't want the gates of Hampton Court Palace to be flooded with journalists and cameras."

So, that's the real reason behind this. She's afraid the press is going to attack our twins and start spinning these ridiculous Louis-is-the-father-rumours. "We could invite a few journalists and do a private introduction."

"Remember the last time someone did this? Harry and Meghan got fried for their decision to not show their son after giving birth!"

"They got fried in the press because they announced she'd gone into labour after she had already given birth." I correct her.

"I am not wrong."

"But I'm neither." I stand my point before sighing. "How do you think the press is going to react to the decision to give birth on a tropical island?"

"It can't get any worse than what happened in the past."

I lick my lips as I think her suggestion through. Her ambition is noble and by all means innovative but this could - and probably is going to - backfire on us really badly. Just like at Easter. "Guyana." I decide.

"Guyana?" She asks me back with a raised eyebrow.

I nod, "It borders the North Atlantic Ocean. Its neighbours are Suriname, to the east, Brazil, to the south and south-west, and Venezuela, to the west. Guyana has a low-lying, narrow coastal belt, hilly tropical forest and high savannah uplands." I explain my decision. "But most of all, its citizens could need the PR and the birth centres you want to build there. It's an excellent boost of their image and tourism."

"Guyana it is."

"You're okay with it?"

"Yes. It's not the Caribbean which the press is likely going to staple as luxury. It's in Latin America and most importantly it borders to Brazil."

"What about our pets?" She asks me with a raised eyebrow.

I run my fingers through my hair, "They will stay here, perhaps with Char and Nate. We'll rent a house for the first days in Guyana and then hop on Sapphire to sail to French Cay if the attention gets too much."

"And your brothers and Mama?" She asks me. "The press won't leave them alone as soon as the birth of our babies was announced. They'll get chased down the streets."

"Maybe they should watch our pets here at Chestnut House. I don't think they've made plans for summer whereas Char and Nate surely have." I think out loud

She chuckles, "Yeah, Johna and Caio will love it here... and Maria will really love cooking in our kitchen."

"So, it's set in stone then?"

"Nothing's set in stone until it has the royal seal of approval."

Josephine

I let my heavy pregnant body fall against the soft cushions of our sofa in the living room. There goes my perfect plan of giving birth in a Commonwealth nation. It took 30 minutes for my plan to burst like a bubble.

I presented a detailed plan with security precautions, press information, photo appointments and flight plans. Yet it wasn't enough for His Majesty The King to say yes.

Chestnut House, said he, would be my only alternative to Lindo Wing.

I tilt my head back and stare at the ceiling. The stunning ceiling with its gigantic ceiling rose that embraces the sparkling chandelier is what I decide to focus on.

A home birth... at home. In Chestnut House.

The weight of my husband sitting down next to me rips me out of my thoughts. I can feel his green eyes staring at me for a moment before he inhales deeply and starts talking. "I know this is not really what you wanted, but-"

"I'll think about it." I interrupt him before looking at him. Oliver's green eyes are filled with understanding. He knows how much this meant to be - and how hard this has hit me.

He reaches out and fondles my right cheek with the knuckles of his right hand. "A home birth at home is the best scenario."

"No, the best scenario would have been to give birth in a freshly opened birthing centre in the middle of nowhere in Guayana. It would be a boost for the reputation of the nation, it would raise awareness of the health issues the nation has and provide a solution in the field of births. That would be revolutionary. No Royal has ever given birth in a birthing centre, let alone in a commonwealth nation." I explain to him.

"The King thinks otherwise."

"I know." I sigh.

"And if someone were to do it... I think it had to be Rory. You can't break the rules. It had to be a future Queen to really make that statement."

"Perhaps I should talk to Will about it. And maybe Catherine. Hear their opinions and maybe they know a way to convince Charles otherwise." I think out loud. It could be risky to turn to the Prince and Princess of Wales and try to have them on my side… but damn it, I really wanted it to be Guyana!

"You never give up, do you?" He asks me with a smirk on his lips.

"No."

"But would Chestnut House really be such a bad option?"

I sigh, "We are the president and vice-president of The Commonwealth Trust. It's our duty to shine a light on issues in the commonwealth and find solutions. It would have to be me - and I want it to be me - but the King has other plans."

"We can't go over his head. Char and Nate are one pair of shoes but us? Josephine, we can't do that no matter how much you want this."

I nod, "I know... I know."

"But you still want to talk to Will and Catherine about your plans."

I shrug, "It's worth a shot."

"If you can't convince them and the King otherwise then perhaps we should look for a location closer to us. Perhaps somewhere in Great Britain?"

"You mean a crowded beach in Cornwall?"

He shrugs, "Or the Scilly Islands. They look and feel Caribbean but aren't. Perhaps there are some houses available at the beach or along the shores."

I think about his words. "It's a really good idea. A really good plan B."

"I'll look into the real estate market there." He whispers. "But is our home really such a bad option?"

"No, it's not a bad option at all but it doesn't have the significance it had have if it were Guyana. I want to make it a statement and with our home I fear we'd be making the wrong statement."

"And what kind of statement would that be?"

"That we're hiding like scared kittens. That we're hiding them... that we have something to hide—- that we're hashtag not their royals." I shrug. "I just really wanted it to be special."

"And it will be special. Wherever you're going to give birth."

Of course it will be.

But I wanted it to be special in Guayana.

My husband rises from the sofa, "I'll get the iPad so we can have a look at all the options."

I watch him walk away from me. In the corner of my eyes, I can see the bushy tail of Silverbell swinging as she walks over to me. A moment later she's sitting on my husband's spot, purring to get my attention. I strike through her incredibly silly fur. Her light grey fur is sparkling in a silver colour. "I couldn't leave you and Pebbles alone anyway. Perhaps Chestnut House is the right choice after all."

Suddenly, the sound of lots of paws fills my ears. I turn my head to the right and see how Potter, Nala and Estrela walk over to me. Behind them is my beautiful husband with an iPad in his hands. "I think I found the perfect spot for us!"

"Already?" I ask him surprised.

"Yeah, I thought of Swansea and the stunning beach house you have there. Perhaps we should get our own weekend home at the beach. Dover is too crowded for it so the ranch is not an option. Rory and George have York Cottage in Norfolk and Char and Nate can always use Amner Hall. But we... we could need our own."

"And where?"

"On the Isle of Wight." He announces as he stops across me. "Oh, I see Silverbell has kept my place warm."

I pick her up so he can sit next to me. "The Isle of Wight?"

"Gurnard to be precise. It's just a two hour drive from here and you could have Liberty here. We can buy a house at the beach, you could use the harbour of the local sailing club. I found a glass house at the beach." He places the iPad on my bump before getting Silverbell out of my hands.

I pick up the iPad and look at the screen. "You found us a glass house at the beach?" I ask him surprised.

"Before you get any heart attacks, it's mirrored on the outside so no soul or lens can ever look inside. We could take our dogs and cats with us and spend the first few months there. Only five homes in the community open onto the sands of this private beach. The parcel of approximately one-half acre features 180 linear feet of frontage on the sand. The house sits on a hillside with a 45 degree angle. No one will get lost and end up there. A single wooden bridge and stairs lead to the sanded beach. There's also a dock for a sailing yacht to hoist the anchor there. It's perfect for us, Tesoro."

"The current owner wants half a million pounds for it, Oliver." I point out as I see the price. It's the same prize we paid to have Chestnut House built - without the interior.

"The house has six bedrooms with en-suite bathrooms, so our families could come and visit us any time." Oliver argues.

"You want that house?"

"I really want to have a look at it, at least. And then we can always decide otherwise. But we don't have much time left before they arrive. And the house is hidden in the woods. There are palm trees in the garden and even Brazilian plants and flowers! Tesoro, I really think this could be our weekend getaway house."

He really wants this house. It's so heartwarming to see him get excited about a house. "Okay, lets give the owner a call and make an appointment for a viewing."

"I'll make the call." He says with a grin on his face.

I can't help but mirror his grin. "Okay."

He picks up his iPhone from the coffee table.

"Oh, right now?" I ask him surprised.

"We don't have any time to waste." He says while dialling the number of the real estate agent. "After all, we're flying to the Bahamas in less than a week."

Two hours later, I stare out of the windows of our silver Range Rover. The whole Isle of Wight is pretty stunning. It is one of the most famous places for dinosaur discovery in Europe, earning the title of the "Dinosaur Island". For cyclists the Isle of Wight is a regular feature in the "Top 10 routes in the world", with varied terrains and contrasting landscapes making for some great rides I've never been on the island but I know Daddy went cycling with my little brothers here. The Isle of Wight measures 23 miles by 13 miles and is littered with picturesque villages and bustling small towns. One of these villages is Gurnard with several shops and two pubs. It sits on the edge of Gurnard Bay, which apparently is very much enjoyed by the Gurnard Sailing Club. Gurnard's pebble and shingle beach offers visitors lovely views across the Solent as well as stunning sunsets. The beach huts are a popular photo opportunity and Gurnard is a great place for a stroll, with the seafront walk leading all the way to nearby Cowes.

It's the perfect getaway.

Ralph drives down a long driveway that seems to be never ending. I haven't seen a house in the last ten minutes. It's an English island but it feels very Caribbean. Especially with the turquoise water that's surrounded the area and the countless palm trees.

"I have a good feeling about this." Oliver's voice interrupts my thoughts.

I tear my eyes off of the breathtaking view to look at my husband. "I feel very at home here." I admit. This village already gives me French Cay and Motu Tane vibes without having to travel for long.

"Me, too."

"We've arrived." Ralph announces from the driver's seat.

I tear my eyes off of my husband and look ahead. There's a stunning fauna that reminds me of the Brazilian jungle, the Amazon. A thin wooden path leads to the door of the floating glass house. The glass house is completely mirrored so the exotic trees get multiplied. The house is hidden, yet the dark wooden door tells me that there is in fact a real house. The real estate agent, Seth Nelson, is already waiting for us.

"Oh, I like it." I breathe out before getting out of the car.

Oliver follows me and we walk down the wooden path that leads to the front door and Seth Nelson. It's not humid but decent warm. It looks like we're in Brazil but it feels like we're still in England.

"Your Royal Highnesses, it's a pleasure to meet you. Welcome to the floating glass house." Seth greets us with a nod before shaking first my hand and then Oliver's. If we get the house, we'll have to rename it. Floating glass house doesn't sound good in my ears.

"It looks really good so far." I say before Nelson opens the door.

"Although the floating glass house isn't actually on the beach, its position on a hillside with floor-to-ceiling windows on every level make you feel like you're in the middle of the ocean and steps lead to the private beach." Seth explains as we step into the house. We get greeted by a glass spiral staircase. There's no entryway. Thanks to the atrium you get greeted by the ocean view right away. The panorama windows have a height of almost ten meters. It looks like the whole house is made out of a single block of glass. It's fantastic! "The staircase leads to the living area with an open kitchen, a powder room and a media room upstairs. On this level we have six bedrooms with en-suite bathrooms that have rain shower heads. The masters has a walk-in wardrobe. The lower floor has another entertaining area as well as access to the infinity pool. As you can see the facade is completely made of glass which is mirrored on the outside to ensure maximum privacy. Almost every room in the house has a view. Even the kitchen and some of the bathrooms have a view. You can look at yourself in the mirror and the ocean beyond." he says with a laugh. "The house is on offer with the furniture."

"Can we head upstairs first?" Oliver asks.

"Of course. After you, Your Royal Highness."

I follow my husband up the spiral staircase and get greeted by a massive open living space. But what really attracts me is the spectacular view of the ocean in front. This is not sterile and looks like modern architecture sometimes can be. It's warm and inviting... and the view is breathtaking!

"There's also a media lounge with a view, and when you need to block the sun to watch a movie, automated blackout drapes surround you with the push of a button." Nelson's voice fills my ears. "There's also a remote which controls the lightning, the closing of the pool cover, the jacuzzi, the fireplaces... the owner is a fan of technology."

Watching the sunrise and sunset here will be the greatest joy. Our dogs can play outside on the steps that leads to the private beach. They can swim in the ocean and our cats can lounge in the sun on the balcony.

It's perfect. Absolutely perfect.

"There's a button or app for almost everything in the six-bedroom, seven-bath, 5,300-square-foot home. And should you want to turn on the lights or music, adjust the temperature, or adjust the curtains and you don't have your device handy, Siri will do the honours. The home is voice-automated as well." Seth's voice is a distant whisper that I hardly recognise anymore as my eyes spot the first sailing boats on the ocean.

Sailing boats!

Liberty would look brilliant on the turquoise water. It feels like the Caribbean, especially with all the palm trees and other South American plants. The temperatures surely won't reach the forty degrees Celsius range but even with temperatures around the thirty degree Celsius range I'd be fine.

"Josephine,"

I turn around at my husband's voice and really take in the surroundings. The main living area is open-plan with a gourmet kitchen towards the back. Decked out with marble countertops, gloss cabinets and finished off with a luxurious chandelier, it's the ultimate cooking space. There's a big wooden dining table with navy upholstered chairs. Very different to Chestnut House, however it really fits this space. The interior design is almost entirely white. From cream carpeting to Turkish marble floors, the colorscape is as serene as the surroundings. The living area, which uses accents of pink and navy to add splashes of colour, leads out to a spacious entertaining deck. The expansive viewing deck looks out over breathtaking turquoise coloured ocean and the surrounding landscape. Easily accessed by bi-fold doors that have thermal blinds for keeping the sun out, they're perfect for integrating the inside and outside.

"The pool level, which is on the lower ground floor, has guest accommodation plus a large living space, study and another powder room. There's also an outdoor kitchen that leads onto another large entertainment deck which runs alongside the infinity pool." Seth informs us. "And then there are the wooden steps that cascade down the 45 degree angle of hillside the house is sitting on. At the end is a deck for a yacht and the private access to the beach. Perfect to take in the ocean's breeze and watch the yachts sailing through the wind. Have you seen much of Gunard Beach yet?"

"No." I answer as I look around. I really don't like the interior. It could use more greenery. But we can also give the furniture to charity.

"Gurnard Beach is a quaint traditional, pebble and shingle beach, within walking distance of Cowes on the north west coast of the Isle of Wight, with great views across the Solent, and some of the best sunsets you are likely to find! It is bordered by attractive, municipally owned beach huts, mainly painted green, on its sea wall that are leased locally. Behind the beach huts is a large sloped green with children's playground area. At the eastern end of the seafront is a popular cafe and restaurant, with a window ice cream service to those using the beach. Here too sits Gurnard Sailing Club where you can become a visiting member for the summer months. Sailing and watersports are popular pastimes at this beach, especially between here and Gurnard Marsh, the next seafront hamlet to the east. It's fun to bathe here when large ships are passing as the wash from their displacement in the water can make large waves on the beach. Keep an eye on little ones however, in case it catches them out!"

I blend out Seth's ever-chatty voice as I walk into the kitchen. Even the view from here is breathtaking. I don't know how Oliver found this but it's an absolute gem! Worth every penny, this is the perfect holiday home.

The perfect place for our family to spend their first months at.

"What do you think?" Oliver asks me.

"I don't need to see the lower floor or the infinity pool downstairs to make up my mind. This view with the sailing boats is enough."

"Do you sail?" Nelson asks me.

"Yes, I own a yacht. It's currently in Monaco but I could have it sailed over here." I answer before looking at my husband. Oliver found a real gem here. It's absolutely perfect!

"We'll take it." Oliver says, reading my mind. "We want to sign the contract as soon as possible. When can we move in?"

Nelson's eyes are filled with pound signs. "I can have the contract here in fifteen minutes. I suggest you have a look around in the two lower floors and take a stroll along the beach while I get it for you. Technically you could move in tomorrow."

"No, not tomorrow. We need to make a few adjustments to the interior first." I explain. "We'll call Marco when we're downstairs."

"I'll be back as quickly as possible. Check out the rooms. Envision your life here." With that Nelson walks down the spiral staircase. A moment later I can hear the front door shutting.

"It's perfect, isn't it?"

I nod with a wide grin on my lips, "I love it! We can have Liberty right in front of us and make sailing trips over the weekend. Our dogs and cats will enjoy everything here as well. And our twins..." I place my hands on my bump as they start kicking, "It will be the perfect start in life for them as well."

Oliver places his hands on mine and tilts his head forward so our foreheads touch. "Then welcome home, Tesoro."

I mirror his grin before kissing him softly. "Welcome home, my love."

"But I want to add lots of palm trees to the garden. I think it would look even lovelier if there were more tropical plants."

I turn around and look at the view in front of us. While it is beautiful now, it can be breathtaking with a few more plants. More greenery, more flowers… more tropical vibes and we have the best combination of Motu Tone and Chestnut House. "We will turn this into our very own jungle." I can vividly imagine how wonderful this will look. Lots of tropical palm trees and flowers... and on top this view of Liberty hoisting the anchor at her forever home. It will be the perfect weekend home and holiday getaway if we don't want to fly over to Motu Tane or French Cay. "We should also build a home for the security that's going to live here when we're here." It's a side effect of being a royal - security comes wherever we go.

"We have five hectares of land. Enough to build one or two houses for the security." My husband thinks out loud.

I smirk at his answer. Knowing he's grown up in a very humble way and seeing him finally spend some of our money makes my heart nearly explode. Not because he's spending money. But because he's spending it wisely. He's spending it for our family. "We should also add more solar panels and a water filter system on the property somewhere. To make sure we're sustainable and don't depend on anyone..."

"You mean so no one can hack into our system?" Oliver asks me with a grin on his lips.

"Yes. We need turn down all the tech a little bit. Too much technology makes us vulnerable."

"Can't Wlad and his team do something to make us extra safe?"

"Every system is hackable. Every password can be hacked. In the end it's always better to stay offline as much as possible. And with this view... we have a whole bay to ourselves, so we probably won't work a lot here anyway."

"You never stop working."

"Well, I'm going to do my best to slow down." I promise with a chuckle. "With this view it's going to be much easier done than said."

"So, is this an alternative to Guyana?" Oliver asks me after a moment of listening to the tweeting birds and inhaling the salty air.

"Yes." I confirm with a nod. This is definitely the place I can see myself giving birth. It's not Guyana but it's as close to the Caribbean as possible. "Thank you for giving me my very own tropical sanctuary in England."

"I'd bring down the sun and moon for you, Tesoro."

My heart melts at his words. "I love you, too."

Oliver

I slice through my perfectly grilled steak and take a bite. It's a warm spring evening and it feels good to have the whole family around. The Dalmatians are playing with Zeus and with my little brothers, sister-in-laws and brother-in-laws. The Bolton estate is enormous but it seems small when everyone is here. Troy and Gabriella built this home for their family but the love here is too big for these walls.

Whenever I'm here I feel peace, loved and at home like never before.

"Oliver and I have come to a decision regarding the twins' arrival." My wife starts explaining after she finished her tenth corn with chicken wings. She ate the chicken wings with more siracha sauce than Nate, making us all wonder how she doesn't suffer from heartburn.

However, I'm glad the vomiting phase seems to be a thing of the past now.

"Oh, really?" Gabriella asks us surprised.

"You won't be disappointed with Lindo Wing." Charlotte ensures us with a full mouth of salad. She reminds me of her husband when she's around family.

"It won't be Lindo Wing." My wife disagrees with her.

"Portland Hospital then?" Anastasia asks us.

I shake my head.

"A hospital closer to Hampton Court Palace?" Della asks.

"No, it won't be a hospital at all." Josephine answers the question of her oldest sister.

"What? No hospital? Have you chosen a birthing centre?" Nate asks us.

"No, Josephine has decided to do a home birth."

"You'll give birth at Chestnut House?" My Mama asks shocked.

"Not Chestnut House. Oliver and I have purchased a home on the Isle of Wight. In Gurnard to be precise. It's a small village on the beach. We'll be moving there in a couple of days. We'll work from home and take the pets with us. You're welcomed to stay there any time. The house sits on a hillside but it has a private beach. Daddy," she looks a her father, "could you sail Liberty over to her forever home?"

Troy smiles at her, "Of course."

"Thank you. And Ana, could you come by and do your thing? You always make my home feel even more like a home."

So that's what she meant by changing the interior of the house.

Her blonde sister nods, "I have tomorrow off."

"Great, we'll take the helicopter then."

"Have you informed Dr. Ross yet?" Gabriella asks us.

"Yes and all the royal medical staff. They have given us green light. Just like His Majesty. We explained our reasons and he agrees that this is the best choice."

"And do you want any of us there when it's time?" Gabriella asks her daughter.

"I haven't thought about that yet. I definitely want you guys to take care of the furry members of the family. Perhaps it were good if they were here. I mean, I won't give birth in an hour or so. It will take much longer and I don't think they should be present when it happens."

"Okay, we'll take care of the dogs and cats." Troy promises us.

"How does the house look like?" Nate asks, while chewing on his slice of steak.

"It's a glass house." Josephine says.

"But it's mirrored on the outside so no one can see inside." I chime in to calm everyone down. "Plus there's basically the Brazilian jungle around it so it looks really cool."

"Do you have any pictures?"

"No, we didn't take any photos but you are welcomed to visit us any time." Josephine tells us.

"Do you need help with the move?"

"No, we'll just pack the necessities."

"How long do you plan to stay in Gurnard?" Wladimir asks us.

"I'm due in mid June so I think we're going to move in mid May and move back to Chestnut House perhaps mid August or early September." My wife answers his question.

"Or maybe once the summer's over." I suggest. "We'll be on paternity leave until November. Our first royal engagement together will be the Remembrance Weekend."

"But the house will be ready for when you come back?"

"Yeah, we'll buy enough baby stuff." Josephine says with a nod.

"Do you want to make any major changes to the house in Gurnard?" Ana asks us.

"I really want a rooftop garden with solar panels. Like we have at Landmark Place." I voice my wish. It's my way to combine the past with the future. The glass house feels like an extension of Landmark Place, a development that mirror the growth of our relationship and family.

"I'm sure Marco will be delighted to take on the project. I'll make sure everything goes smooth as long as you're on the Bahamas." Troy says with a smile. "I can't wait to see it."

"And you guys thought I was crazy to built a treehouse as a home but look at you! You bought a freaking glass house to give birth at. Who's the crazy one now?" Nate asks us with a raised eyebrow.

My wife hits him with the elbow, "It's a cool house. You'll like it."

"Of course I will like it but it will drive the paparazzi mad!"

Char grins at her husband, "I think that was the idea, Darling."

It wasn't the main idea but certainly a factor when it came to buying the house.

"Does the house have a name yet? George asks us.

"A name?" I ask confused.

"Yeah, like Chestnut House."

I look at my wife who shrugs. "We're up for suggestions."

"I need to see it to make a suggestion." Nate insists with a grin on his lips.

Josephine rolls her sky blue eyes. "Alright, fine. You're coming along when we move."

"Yes!"

"But you will help. You will act as our donkey and carry all the heavy stuff."

Nate's grin drops and he leans forward, "You know, technically I am above you in the line of the succession-"

"There are no royals at this table, Nathanial." Gabriella interrupts her son in a strict voice. "We're just people. No titles. No hierarchy. No succession."

Nate sighs before leaning back. "Fine. I'll be your donkey."

This makes my wife grin. "It's always nice to make a deal with you."

Nate sticks his tongue out in response.

I can't hide the chuckle in my chest. These two are grown ups but together they're still kids. I just love the family dynamics that the Bolton Family has.

It's why I fell in love with the family I married into.

It's why my Mama and brothers feel so welcomed and loved.

Josephine

"How are you?" My Mum asks me in a calm moment after our dinner. The kids and most of the adults help clean up the table for dessert. It's amazing how quickly that can happen when there are enough hands involved.

"Pregnant." I admit with a shrug.

"I find it very brave of you to have a home birth."

"It's how I feel safest."

My Mum gives me a small smile. "I'm here for you. If you want to talk... or not talk."

"I know..." I nod at her words. "But I'm not ready to talk about anything right now. I have to take things in my own speed." I fake laughter. "It took me bloody 26 weeks to start talking about names!"

She grabs my hand and squeezes it softly. "There's nothing wrong with your speed."

"I haven't even thought about their nursery." I admit with a shrug. "We have bought no clothes, no diapers… no nothing!"

"You'll do so when you're ready." My Mum assures me.

I place my hands on the bump and feel them kick. "I swear, if Char's going to throw me a baby shower then I will kill her!"

My Mum chuckles and leans forward, "I haven't heard anything in that direction. You were crystal clear when you voiced your wish to not have a baby shower."

"I know, but I also know my best friend. She's all for celebrating. She probably celebrated her girls first poop as well."

This time, my mother even laughs. "Sometimes you sound so much like Nate, Sweetie."

"It's why Char married him. She married the male version of me."

My mother runs her fingers through my chestnut curls, "Always marry your best friend."

I smile, "I know you did and every single children of yours did as well. Including me."

"That's the secret to a happy marriage."

"That and lots of sex." I add with a smirk.

"Eight children are proof enough."

"Jo!"

I turn around and Char's voice. My best friend and sister-in-law rushes over to me with a plate full of creme brûlée's. They look absolutely amazing!

I might eat all twelve of them.

"I'll put that on the table." My Mum takes the plate from Char. My eyes follow the creme brûlées until they're out of my sight.

"Jo,"

"Yes?" I ask before looking at Char again.

"Nate wants a dog so I thought we could watch your puppies while you're on Barbados."

"Nate wants one and you want him to watch three?"

"Look, I loved our dog and I love Zeus and your Dalmatians, but a dog in tree house? That's nuts!"

I grin, "And you want Nate to come to that conclusion by himself?"

"Sort of yes. I know you wanted to split the puppies between Rory, Oliver's fam and us-"

"You'll get the dogs if Rory can watch the cats."

"Great! I'll talk to Rory." She kisses my left cheek.

"But don't be surprised if you fall in love with our puppies. Trust me, I was against having three puppies and two kittens at first as well, but now... now I cannot imagine my life without them." I gulp down the golf ball in my throat. "And you won't get one of my puppies."

She nods, "Thank you."

"You won't thank me when you take the puppies out for a walk at six in the morning."

She grins, "You mean Nate."

I return her grin. "It used to be Oliver as well."

Oliver

I spot my Mama standing at the enormous infinity pool, staring at our dogs and the rest of our big family chatting and playing in the grass underneath the pool. Nate is jumping on the trampolines with his daughters. The trampoline park is - just like the water slides park - something so unexpected that it looks extravagant. However, at the same time I know Troy had built this with his children and grandchildren in mind. So, it wasn't just his midlife crisis that was the reason why. The estate seems endless from this point of view, but I know that a few acres from here the Richmond Park starts. It's a stunning warm spring early evening. The sun has just started to set down.

"Everything okay?" I ask her as she takes a sip of her white wine. I never noticed how much my mother loved white wine because we never had the money to afford it. We used to buy one bar of chocolate for Christmas and New Year's Eve. But now... now we can afford the world.

Her brown eyes dance from left to right as she follows our puppies. "Sometimes it feels like a dream."

I smirk at her words and rest my head on her left shoulder. "It's the best dream ever and we will never wake up."

My Mama chuckles before running her long fingers through my hair, "I had all these prejudices... of rich people and of unconventional relationships."

I lift my head off of her shoulder, "Della and Wlad?" I ask her.

She nods. "I guess it's my generation. I was born to love a man roughly in my age. Ten years were regarded as unacceptable. But 23 years?" She fakes a laughter. "That was unthinkable!"

"You know when Josephine first told me about that age gap, I was hesitant as well. 23 years even sound like a lot to me and you know how liberal I am. But when I met them... and saw how they interacted with each other, I saw the love they feel. The love that surrounds them."

"I imagine they had a rough start in their relationship. If you were in love with my best friend, I honestly don't know how to deal with that."

I grimace at the thought of me kissing my Mama's best friend Sarah. She is an old lady with hardly any teeth and a bad smell. She used to teach me how to sew the holes in my shirts. "I don't fancy Sarah one bit."

My Mama laughs at my reaction. "But Della and Wlad somehow fit together."

I know what she means. The age gap is hardly noticeable. Just like Troy and Gabriella, Wlad does everything in his power to stay fit. Not to impress women or men, but to stay healthy and sane. "I'm glad Josephine and I don't have that age gap. I can't begin to imagine the constant prejudices they have to fight against."

"Parents' evenings." My Mama nods.

"Just going shopping or buying a coffee at a coffee shop."

"Eating out in a restaurant." My Mama takes another sip of her white wine. "Or watching a movie in the cinema."

"I think they've developed a thick skin over the years." I answer but then remember that Della used to work in Geneva for the last years. They barely saw each other and thus almost never went out. The commitment Wlad agreed to is beyond my comprehension. But then I think of Josephine and everything I did for her... and I understand. The things you do for love.

"I wish your father was here to be part of all of this. He would love the Boltons."

I embrace her with one arm. "I think he's looking down at us with a smile on his lips."

My Mama places her head on my left shoulder. "Soon my grandchildren will run around here."

"I can't wait!" I grin like a cheshire cat, but I don't care. The thought excites me too much.

"And you guys still don't want to know the sex?" she asks me.

"Well, we have a note in our safe that tells us the sex, but we've decided to not read it." I lick my lips, "But it's tempting to look at it, for sure."

"Jo still think it's two girls?"

I nod, "I don't mind two girls. Or two boys. Or one of each."

"But knowing the sex makes buying baby clothes easier."

"Mama, I don't need you to buy us anything. We could literally buy whole London and still be rich as hell."

"Perhaps I'll knit something then."

"Since when do you knit?"

"Gabriella's mother taught me that on Christmas Eve. I've been practicing ever since and I think I could knit you a blanket or something. Maybe with their names on it. Do you already have names?"

"We talked about names but we haven't set anything in stone yet. We want to make sure the names fit them and not just sound good." I explain.

"I guess, we'll have to wait until we meet them."

Josephine

I strike out the mediterranean places I visited in the last two weeks with Oliver and his family on the wall across me. The many real gold dots that Ana painted on my walls as well as the light grey thin stripe that goes all the way through my room. It symbolises the equator and my curly handwriting wrote coordinates and places I wanted to visit above and underneath the line according to their distance to the equator. I've crossed out all the places in the U.K. as well as France and now Spain, Italy and Greece but the rest, about 28 places, are left untouched. I place my hands on the bump as my unborn children start dancing in my belly. I will show them the world and they will see every single commonwealth country.

"There you are. I've been looking for you."

I turn around and my husband's voice. He's standing in the doorway.

"Ah, you've crossed through the places we went to." Oliver smiles as he walks into my bedroom. It looks small with him in it now but it doesn't feel crowded.

I nod, "I think we should tackle Australia next."

His fingers run over the coordinations and names of the cities in Australia that I've written on the walls of my bedroom. "Quite a lot. I don't think two weeks will be enough."

I sit down on the bed and stare at the cities. "It would take a month if not longer."

He looks at me, "Are you willing to do that? Live there for one month? Travel through the country with our twins?"

I shrug, "Would you? Flying for so long all the time is not doable as well."

"I... Yes. But not for a month."

"For how long?"

He sits down next to me, "Half a year, maybe? Think about the jet leg and the twins. We're going to take them with us on jobs within commonwealth countries anyway but I think it's going to be hard nevertheless. We should schedule our jobs with the notion of being there for at least three months. Anything shorter doesn't make sense."

"And how are we going to do that with our pets?"

He lays down with a sigh. "I don't know. Take the dogs with us and make sure the cats get babysat by your brother, sister or my Mama? Or have my Mum and brothers live at our property-" I lay down next to him, "When the press finds out your Mama and brothers live at Hampton Court Palace grounds then another scandal is going to ruffle the public feathers."

He looks at me, "What else are we supposed to do?"

I shrug, "Travel with all of them?"

"That's bonkers!"

I chuckle at the expression. "I believe that's the most British thing you ever said."

He grins, "Well, you're starting to rub off on me."

"Maybe we should relocate them to the glass house."

"And have them watched by whom?"

I growl, "I don't know!"

"But we have to decide how we want to move forward. Two weeks for one country is not enough. Our jobs will require us to be on the plane all the time. We can take the twins until they start kindergarten with us, but not the pets."

"They're family."

"I didn't say anything about giving them away. They're family to me as well."

"Perhaps the Dalmatians can be watched by Nate or Rory and the cats can live at Landmark Place with your Mama and brothers. How does that sound?"

"They will be so pissed whenever we will come home."

"I know." I lick my lips, "But it's the only option I can think of. I don't want to tear the dogs apart. They should stay together and so should the cats. Your family can't live in our house for months. The press is lingering in bushes around Hampton Court. We can't risk another scandal. And they can't have all the dogs and cats live at Landmark Place. It's too small."

"They could move to the penthouse."

"She hates our old place." I point out.

"No, she doesn't."

"Yes, she does." I run my fingers through my chestnut curls. "It felt too big for your Mama and too luxurious. Especially coming from Brazil. But the flat... that's more like her. She feels lost in luxury because it's not something she knows. She would feel uncomfortable in our penthouse."

"She loves Chestnut House and she certainly loves this house."

"Because they're not as modern as the penthouse."

"So, it's the interior she doesn't like. It's not the place itself."

"It's what it symbolises." I point out. "She loves this house and Chestnut House because it stands for family. But the penthouse... she sees the pain I caused you and hates it because of it."

"It's the past."

"Exactly. And this is the present and future."

"No, I mean she shouldn't hold such a grudge against the place or the past."

"She's your mother and she wants to protect you."

"She's protecting no one with that."

I brush through his blonde hair, "She won't live there, my love. And she can't stay at our house."

"So we'll split the cats and dogs?"

"Yes. The cats for your Mum and the dogs for Nate."

"Don't you think all three at once will be a little much?"

"Nah, Nate's the most energetic man I've ever met. He's got two girls and is living in a tree house with a chatterbox of a wife. He's got the energy and nerves to get up early in the morning and go for a walk with the dogs."

Oliver grins at me. "Okay."

"Okay. Besides, Char wants to watch the dogs while we're on the Bahamas anyway. To convince Nate a dog for them is not an option, but I reckon she'll fall in love with them." I nod before looking at the ceiling above us. The next time we'll be here, it's going to be four of us. On cue, the twins start kicking in my belly. A moment later Oliver's large hand is resting on the bump.

Suddenly a knock fills the silence. The door opens and I can see my little sister walking in. The voices of her children fill the room immediately. They're chasing each other down the hallway. It's this kind of sound that I want to hear in my house too.

"After-party at our place." Rory announces. "And you're coming."

"Along with whom?" Oliver asks confused.

"Nate and Char." My little sister says. "Poker Night."

"Poker Night?" I ask with wide eyes. I love our poker nights! We used to drink the best scotch while burning through gummy bears like crazy. It used to be paintings, cars and special books, but then I won Nate's electric blue Ferarri once and we got into an argument. Gummi bears are the safest option.

"Not for you. Only for your husband."

"Oh, that's not fair!"

"You're too good at it. You even bet Della a couple of times." She sticks out her tongue. "We're finishing the the evening in a whirlpool."

"Almost as good."

"You're getting one of my old swimsuits." Rory says as her bright blue eyes stare at the bump. "I loved being in the water in my second and third trimester."

I haven't spent much time in our pool at home yet but maybe I should make that a priority. More swimming rather than the typical workout.

Oliver

I take a sip of my scotch before throwing the gummy bears into the middle of the poker table. We're playing with gummy bears - I can't believe it! I'm not exactly a professional at poker, but Josephine told me some tricks. One of them was body language. Nate lifts the right cornier of his upper lip whenever he is bluffing and George always runs his left hand onto his left thigh. With these two signs, I played them even though I always had the worse cards.

It's about faking it better than the others.

And having all the gummy bears at the end.

"Has Jo started snoring yet?" George asks me before throwing more gummy bears into mine.

I chuckle, "Not yet."

"Lucky you! I've had that since day one!" George runs his hands through his blonde hair. "Rory's getting broody."

I widen my eyes at his words. "Aren't three enough?"

"For me, yes. For her, no. She wants at least one more."

"She wants a boy, huh?" Nate asks him.

"She wants to feel what her sister is feeling." George looks at me.

"Josephine is not enjoying this pregnancy as much as Rory did." I bluff, but then I remember the first trimester. She was not enjoying the nausea and heartburn.

"What's holding you up?" Nate asks George.

"Royal duties."

"Ah, that's something Char and I still don't know."

"You'll get your patronages." I roll my eyes at him. "You live in a freaking tree house with your two daughters. Be grateful for what you have!"

"Wow, that sounded like Gabriella." George grins at Nate. "Of course Jo had to marry someone that's like her Mum."

"Maybe I'm more like Troy." I bluff.

"You mean running around killing people and spying on others? Or do you mean the ice cold business man?" George specifies with a raised eyebrow. "Jo's like Troy. So it's only logical that she would marry someone with a heart bigger than hers."

I think the last part counts as a compliment but I'm not sure. "You can smear as much honey around my mouth as you want. I still won't share my gummy bears with you."

Nate laughs out loud, "He's a better body language reader than Jo!"

George presses his lips thin together. "Perhaps just the red ones?"

I chuckle, "Okay. To compensate for the weight of the future crown."

Nate laughs again, "It's pretty heavy so you might want to add the oranges ones as well."

"No, those are Josephine's favourites."

"Why don't you call her Jo?" George asks me.

"She doesn't like that." I only called her that once. When she broke up with me.

"She doesn't seem to mind with us. And we're her family."

I shrug, "I don't mind calling her by her full name or Tesoro."

George nods.

"Okay, that's it. I've had enough." Nate throws his cards into the middle of the table. "How about we join our wives in the whirlpool?"

"What? We've only been here for an hour and a half!" George protests.

"I love you guys, but I love your sister more."

This earns him an eye roll from George. "Fine."

I chuckle before throwing some of the green gummy bears into my mouth. There used to be a time in my life when gummy bears were a luxury - just like chocolate. But now, I play poker with them.

It's another pinch-me-moment.

I will be forever grateful for my wife coming to Rio and looking for me until she found me.

"Oli,"

I snap out of my thoughts and look at Nate. "Yes?"

"Everything okay?" Nate asks me.

I nod, "Yeah, I just... had a moment of gratitude, I guess."

"You're most definitely like my Mum." He grins at me before embracing me with one arm. "How about we go to the homeless shelter when you guys come back from Barbados?"

I nod. I could really need some non-royal people around me. "I haven't been in one since Rothschild hired the Arabs to rape my wife." I admit.

"Well, maybe it's time to get back to this habit again. It's good for all of us."

Josephine

I have to admit sitting in a whirl pool feels good on my muscles. I haven't even noticed how bad my back hurt until I sat in here. This, paired with the awesome company of my family, is the best way to end the night. While Char and Rory are sipping on a dry white wine, I decide to stick to cranberry juice.

"Why the hell have you decided to do a home birth?" Char asks me after emptying her glass. She immediately fills it up to the rim again.

I shrug, "I don't want a zillion reporters and news stations standing in front of Lindo Wing. I don't want that pressure on me or the babies."

"Well, you do realise that a home birth means no epidural." My best friends points out with a raised eyebrow.

"I'm planning a water birth, so there's no epidural for me anyway." I counter.

"Trust me, you will beg for it."

I look at my sister, "You did it without it and you've had three."

"It was tough." Rory says with a shrug. "I'll definitely take it next time."

My eyes widen at my sister's words. "What about the wave riding and the calming music?"

"Waves turn into tsunamis before you know it." Rory brushes through her chestnut curls. "But I didn't have a water birth, so maybe the waves stay waves in there, I don't know."

"Did you ran it by the King?"

"Yeah, I suggested Guyana first, but he said no. He said either Lindo or Chestnut House."

"And bought the glass house to piss him off?" Char chuckles, "Good one!"

I shrug, "Oliver found. It's the first time he spent money for… for no reason. And I wanted to support that. Growing up with no money has left him traumatised and I feared he would never spend money on something unless it's not absolutely necessary… But when we visited the house… It felt so perfect."

"Yeah, well I wouldn't sail Liberty over there. With the stormy weather here, I would think twice. Liberty's safe in Monaco."

"And it's closer to Italy and Spain." Rory points out. "Perfect for weekend getaways."

They do have a good point. This way the press isn't going to write something bad about our second home or Liberty. "I'll think about it…"

"Is there some space left for us?" My brother's voice reaches my ears before I look up. Nate, George and my husband have changed into bathing shorts to join us.

"Oh, I don't know. With Jo's mega bump it might get quite snuggling in here." Char grins at Nate.

"That's what you like the most." He winks at her before hoping into the whirl pool. He wraps his hands around my best friend before pulling ehr into a passionate kiss.

"Get a room!" I tease them.

"Oh, you're one to talk to." Nate sticks out his tongue just George and Oliver join us in the whirl pool.

"Who won?" Rory asks her husband.

"Oli." George says as he sits between her and me.

"Good job!" I kiss my husband softly. He places his hand on the bump.

"You must've taught him all your tricks!" Nate narrows his eyes at me.

"I didn't teach him a single trick. I just told him which signals to read." I counter back as my husband sits down next to me.

Nate rolls his eyes at my words, "Bloody Wlad!"

I chuckle at his words, "It's not my fault Wlad taught me all the cool tricks!"

"I'll talk to him the next time we see each other." Nate mumbles. "At least Oli didn't win another car of mine and sold it."

"Car?" Oliver asks me with wide eyes.

"It's been five years!" I hiss at him. "And these orphanages in Kenia needed the money more than you needed that bloody car!"

"You've given it to charity?" Oliver asks me with love in his eyes.

I shrug, "It's who I am."

"That's who you are indeed."

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

I can't believe I haven't updated since September. I apologise for the very late update, but life's just come in between. Nevertheless, I hope that with everything going on in the world right now, you find some escapism in my words. It's a scary time to be alive, so I hope my fanfics will give you some joy.

On a side note, I plan to finish A Million Times More this year.

Please review.

Stay safe and healthy where ever you are in the world!

In gratitude,

Nicole