A Christmas Walk

24.

My arms stretched out in front of me as I blinked into the sunlight. My limbs tingled. Yesterday felt like a dream. I rolled over. The Prince of Baltaver, William Hayes Winterhaven laid next to me. My heart about leapt out of my chest. He was still asleep. I couldn't help but smile. The small piece of normalcy he was ever going to feel was in this apartment. Part of me wished he could abdicate the throne so he could leave all the crazy behind. I grabbed my phone and crept out into the living room.

I made a fresh pot of coffee and poured myself a cup. Quietly, I slipped out onto the balcony. I looked at all the notifications on my phone. Vanessa has texted me a link asking if I'd read the article yet. I clicked on it. The headline read:

LIFES 3 L'S; LEARN, LIVE, LOVE.

I smiled to myself. Prince William really did use my three L's in his most recent press conference. My heart did flips of happiness. I grabbed my phone and googled to see if there was a video of the conference. There was. He stood tall at the podium and told everyone about a girl he met in a diplomatic fashion. He went on to talk about politics and his hopes for his country. At the end of the conference he repeated the three L's, and he gave me credit. I was grinning from ear to ear. I replayed the last few second over and over again while he slept.
"I've learned that life have three great L's; learn, live and love. Autumn Leon taught me that. Now if you'll excuse me. I have a girl to chase after."

The door opened to the balcony. I jumped a little.
"My apologizes, I didn't mean to scare you." I shook my head with a smile.
"It's okay, I'm not used to having people around." I glanced down at his 'secret pajamas'. "I hope you wear those more often." He laughed and sat next to me.
"Only if my fiancé requests it." I smiled. I am his fiancé and will be his wife someday.
"I request it every night." He smiled and leaned in to kiss me.
"Deal." He whispered against my lips. I kissed him again.

We sat out on the balcony drinking coffee. The California sun warmed us the more it rose.
"You Americans drinking coffee is so weird to me." I smiled at him, holding my mug closer to me.
"Well I think America is the red headed step child of the world." Hayes pulled my chair to his.
"I think you're going to have a lot to get used to." I groaned and sank lower in my chair.
"I hated having Emma follow me around for like two weeks." He studied me for a moment.
"Autum," Hayes straddled my legs in his. "I know this is a lot of change and going to be overwhelming. You're life is literally going to change darasticly, whatever you want, it's yours. Just ask." I smiled at him. Hayes really was Prince Charming and I lucked out.
"Did my heart love till now? forswear it, sight! For I ne'er saw true beauty till this night." He turned his head to the side.
"Is that Romeo and Juliet?" I blushed.
"I've read it twice since I've been back." He smiled.
"I read Taming of the Shrew." I gave him a surprised smile. "Then I bought Cyrano De Burgerac and read that too." I rested my hands on his knees.
"Wow, look at you." He tucked a piece of hair behind my ear.
"You are right, Taming of the Shrew is a beautiful story, but I would never want to tame your strong mind. I think that might be what I love most about you." My heart did a flip in my chest. He loves me, I know that since we're engaged but he said he loves me.
"I love you." I whispered. He kissed my forehead.
"I love you too. Now I'm going to shower, I feel messy." I laughed and sank back into my chair.

Hayes took a long shower. I did that too when I came back from Baltaver. Showers are a magical cleanse. I sat in the living room writing back and forth with Ryan on the newest dance routine. Hayes and I agreed that we would stay here until the performance was over.
"Do you have normal clothes I can wear?" I looked up to see Hayes in just a towel. Beads of water dripped from his hair to his chest. I swallowed hard.
"Uh, yes." I ruffled my hair a little. In my closet I had a box of old boyfriends clothing I would sometimes still wear. I pulled out a pair of jeans from when my cousin stayed here and a loose gray t-shirt. "Here." I left them on the bed. "Okay, I'll let you get changed." We nodded to each other. Even though we're engaged, there is still some awkwardness.

Hayes came out wearing one of my few baseball caps. I smiled at him. He wasn't paying attention, he was too busy patting himself down.
"How do I look?" I curled up into myself.
"Normal." I said softly. Hayes eyes connected with mine. He smiled. If I didn't know better I'd say he was just another guy, not the Prince of a small country. I sucked in a deep breath and slowly exhaled. Learning to be a Princess then a Queen will easily be the toughest things I've had to do, but with Hayes by my side, I can do anything.