It was the next day as Evelyn's eyes fluttered opened. She was in absolute paradise. Literally. She could see the stream of light come through the bungalow as she rubbed the sleep from her eyes.
Day one - they decided to just stay in their own private bungalow and swim in the ocean that was surrounding them. They were both in their swim wear taking turns jumping in the ocean or sun bathing. The water was pretty warm but at a comfortable temperature. William held his beer in one hand as they were enjoying the sun. Evelyn decided to play a joke on him as he was close to the edge of the boardwalk so she tried pushing him which knocked him off his feet slightly but he was able to catch himself before going in completely. Instead he grabbed hold of Evelyn's hand making her eyes widen in surprise as he was making his way to the ocean. Evelyn tried squirming out of his grip but he wouldn't let go and instead they fell into the ocean together with her sunnies still on her head to cover her eyes.
When they reached the surface she let out a gasp of surprise as William laughed wiping the saltwater from his eyes and Eve doing the same.
"You jerk, I can't believe you did that," Evelyn told him in a mocked mad voice.
"Darling, that was exactly what you were trying to do to me but failed. Was it not?" He asked now swimming over to her.
"Okay," she pouted even though she was only joking. "I s'pose you're right."
Her legs were now wrapped around his waist as her arms around his neck. They would steal kisses every now and then enjoying their time in the sun and each other's company.
On one day William had booked Evelyn a trip to the spa which was the Miri Miri Spa by Clarins that was in the hotel while he would be going scuba diving one day. He took his underwater camera with him and had a supervisor with him as well as Paul. She received the Polynesian massage which felt heavenly as the windows were glass and gave a clear landscape of the beautiful scenery outside. Her ears were filled with soft ocean waves as well as an instrument that was being played to fill the room with relaxing spa music. On her bed were a couple of beautiful tropical flowers that were an orange sunset colour.
William had allowed her to choose whatever service she wanted and she was very intrigued by the Polynesian massage as they used medicinal plants for a full-body relaxing traditional Taurumi massage. Using traditional Polynesian techniques as well as dancing forearm movements to bring you into a world of peace, relaxation and rejuvenation.
Another day, the couple had decided together as they lay in bed with just their white robes to do an all-inclusive package to snorkel with sting rays and sharks. Evelyn was hesitant at first but when William assured her that these were not Great Whites or harmful sharks, she agreed. She was mostly looking forward to swimming with the sting rays. These would be Bora Bora's famous black tip reef sharks. They also are giving everyone on the tour the option if they want to swim with the bigger sharks that are the lemon sharks.
Evelyn shivered at the thought and opted out of swimming with the lemon sharks. William wanted to stay with her and opted out of it as well.
They were now changed in their swim wear as Evelyn was changed into her white bikini with a cover up as he was changed in his blue swim trunks and a shirt. They met their tour guide on the boat along with four others who would be joining them. People knew that the two were here on the island but they left them alone and let them enjoy their holiday to which the young couple appreciated that. They treated them like they were normal people that they didn't know.
Evelyn could feel the wind blow against her face and the bumpiness they felt every time the boat hit a new wave. They had finally reached their destination which could almost be the middle of nowhere in the body of the ocean. The water was clear blue, almost like a turquoise colour as they were able to actually see all the marine life below them.
Snorkeling with sharks and sting rays had been a lot more exciting than she thought it would be. She was thankful William had brought his underwater camera with him as they took pictures during their time in the blue ocean.
One night they decided to have beachfront dinner at the restaurant that was right on the beach at the hotel. They were pretty tan from their days in the sun. Evelyn was putting on her makeup in the bathroom when her boyfriend decided to come up behind her and wrap his arms around her middle causing her to pause what she was doing.
"You look beautiful," he murmured to her and pressed a kiss to her head.
"Thank you, you look handsome and so tan," she grabbed hold of his forearm making him chuckle.
"I'm quite surprised with how tan we are. I reckon it won't let long after though."
"Don't jinx it. You never know how long they last."
Her makeup was done lightly this trip only to accentuate her features. Having a tan now, meant she couldn't use her liquid foundation as it was a couple shades lighter than what she was now.
Tiki torches were lit as the palm trees were swaying due to the slight wind. The tables were spread out allowing room for each family or couple to have their own space. Here on the island, they didn't run into the problem of having people know who they were and coming up to them asking for a picture. Everyone who came here was used to famous people staying here as this resort as well as the other resorts on the island were notorious for that. It was so beautiful that it reminded her of Hawaii but it was even more exquisite.
The couple held hands as she put her free hand on the inside of his arm to keep her warm. She was wearing a red dress that was below her knees and had thin straps. Evelyn decided to wear flip flops and have her blonde hair in a low neat bun with some bangs framing her face. William settled for some khaki pants and a white button down wearing flip flops as well. The couple was laughing and smiling as William was telling her some corny jokes that made her laugh and tip her head back with laughter. She also had her handbag with her and in it she had her polaroid camera to take pictures with.
"Hello, I am Keala," a gentleman came up to the couple to greet them. "I will be your waiter for tonight. Can I get you both started on something to drink?"
"Can I try the Bora Mary and have a glass of water as well, please?" Evelyn asked Keala.
"Of course," he nodded his head writing it down. "And for you sir?"
They didn't have his favourite type of beer on hand so he settled for the next one he wanted to try which was a Polynesian brand.
"I'll take Hinano Tahiti beer please," he tells Keala.
"Excellent choices. I will have them both out momentarily."
"Thank you," they say simultaneously as the waiter leaves to get their drinks.
Eve had heard that the Bloody Mary here was the best on the island and she wanted to try it based on the recommendation from their website. She had read that watermelon was it adding a sweet sensation to the cocktail beverage.
"Are you going to let me try some of your drink," William asked his girlfriend as he played with her fingers making her shiver slightly.
"Absolutely not old man," Evelyn teased slightly knowing it would rile him up.
"Old man, really? I didn't hear you saying that last night or the night before or the night before that. . ." he trailed off with a smug look.
"William," Evelyn feigned shocked making her giggle as her eyes shined bright.
Throughout dinner she would take pictures. Some of the exquisite Polynesian food, William holding her hand across the table on his heart, the tiki torches, William smiling and laughing and William would take some of her too as well. She kept the pictures in her handbag after they would come out and kept them safe. The couple had both ordered traditional Polynesian food, enjoying their night.
It was the next morning - their final day in Polynesia. They were both saddened by it as they had enjoyed their time on their holiday. Eve couldn't believe how fast the week flew by and then they would have to return to their real lives of Evelyn's obligation to her business and William's to the military and his Royal engagements that he still had to attend every now and then.
Her boyfriend was still soundly asleep as part of his face was smushed against the comfy pillow and an arm wrapped around her waist. She very quietly got out from his grasp as she got his button up shirt from the night before and put it over her loosely as she then walked back over to the bed and straddled his lap and began peppering kisses up his chest, his neck and kissed his face when he started stirring.
"Mmm," he moaned, his eyes squinting open. "Up already?"
"Mhm."
He flipped her over so that she was now laying on the mattress and was under him as she let out a shriek at the sudden motion.
The week before Christmas. . .
Evelyn's apartment was nicely decorated with Christmas decorations as well as the Harry Potter village which took years to collect. She still didn't have the complete village as she was missing set of Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes shop but it felt complete finally with her decorations. The couple would be staying at her place as it was quite chilly outside and had Evelyn had seen little snow flurries starting to swirl outside as the fireplace was turned on in her apartment.
It was their last day together as they had spent the whole week pent up in her apartment. Today they would be opening up their present for each other and Evelyn hoped he liked everything she got him. She also made some things for him to bring to his family as she knew that the Royal family wasn't big on buying each other gifts that had a big price to them.
They were also watching all of the series that were out so far of Harry Potter as well some other Christmas movies. They were still waiting on Harry Potter and the Order of Phoenix and Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows.
Eve was sipping on her hot cocoa as Wills was sipping on his hot tea. She had biscuits in front of them as they were just finishing Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban movie. They were both Harry Potter obsessed as every year around this time Eve would also read the series, even though she had already read them more than once. She felt as though there was always new information to grasp that she hadn't noticed before and it was a series she never got tired of.
"D'you want to open up presents now?" William asked his girlfriend as they had been putting it off, just enjoying each other's company and watching Christmas movies.
"'Course. Let me get mine closer to us."
"This one's for you," she bit her lip nervously as he opened the beautifully wrapped parcel. It was wrapped in a wrapping paper that had tiny small Christmas trees on it that were in gold foil.
Some were wrapped in the same wrapping paper and others were wrapped in silver packaging that had blue snowflakes on it, making it look very festive and classy as well. He first shook the parcel as he heard something move in it making Evelyn laugh and shake her head at her boyfriend as he had a goofy smile on his face.
"Let's open it shall we?" He asked as he tore the paper from the tape on both sides and taking the package out.
It was two small separate boxes that were coloured in black and sleek looking as the words in silver foil Bennett & Co. shined in the middle of it. He could tell it was something from her father's company but he didn't know what. Opening the first box open, he noticed it was a new tie in a blue colour which was perfect for any day. The next box he opened was a black leather watch.
"Look at the back," she murmured.
Engraved in small cursive font was something his mother had said long ago:
Family is the most important thing in the world. July 1, 2007
It also had an engraved open heart underneath. It was the day that she truly believed that they became a couple, even though William didn't openly ask her that day. He knew that the quote was something mother had said and that the day was his late mother's concert - the day that him and Evelyn revealed their feelings for one another.
"I love it, darling," he told her as he pressed his lips to hers in a sweet kiss. "Thank you," he pressed his lips to hers thrice more as she enjoyed the feeling. Now this one is for you."
He handed her the parcel that was quite large and she did the same that he did, shaking it as he gave her a smirk. Opening up the package, tears started to well in her eyes from happiness. He had bought her the final piece to her Harry Potter village: Weasley Wizards' Wheezes shop. She put her gift down and lunged her arms around him in a big hug making him laugh.
"I love it, thank you so much! But how did you know? I didn't tell you," she asked as she pulled away.
"Well, I wasn't quite sure what to get you for Christmas this year so I called your mum. She told me that you collect the Harry Potter village and only this piece was missing."
"I love it. The absolute best present I've received."
"Well, we still have quite a few more to open," he nodded his head to others down by the tree."
"I made your granny, dad and Camilla some maids of honour tarte with raspberry jelly in the middle and I also made your granny hot chocolate bombs."
"Hot chocolate what?"
"It's a hot chocolate bomb. I'll show you some left over that I have," she said getting up and going to her fridge as she opened it and took out the chocolate. "It's a round sphere chocolate shape and has hot chocolate mixture in it as well as tiny marshmallows. After that you just put it in a cup and pour warm or hot milk over it until it melts and there's your hot chocolate."
"Interesting, mind if I try one?"
"Go for it," Eve handed him a hot chocolate bomb and a cup as she turned the burner on as she got out an oven pot and poured some milk into it, letting it sit on there a few minutes as she stirred it. When she was happy with the amount of warmth the milk had, she handed it to her boyfriend and he did as he she said and poured it onto the hot chocolate bomb watching as it crumbled and the cute little marshmallows popping up to the surface. He gave it a good stir before trying it himself.
She also got some funny gifts for Harry and some of his cousins like Eugenie and Beatrice. Evelyn got a little something for everyone and she wished she could be there to see their reactions but she also understood that the Queen had her traditions and didn't want to interfere or voice her opinion when it wasn't wanted.
Christmas Eve & Christmas. . .
"Are you okay, my sweet girl?" Natasha placed a hand on her daughters shoulder softly as they sat in front of the fire in the living room.
The lights were turned off so that the only glow was from the Christmas lights and the fire lighting in the fireplace. A Christmas scented candle filled the house that made Evelyn fill all warm and invited.
Kate was here as well and the two girls were making it an effort to get to know each other the way it should have been done, especially Kate. She apologized profusely to Evelyn and they hugged, letting each other know it was over now and they could move on.
Eve was wrapped in her favourite sherpa blanket as the soft glow from the flames glowed on her pale skin. She was drinking her hot chocolate that had small pieces of candy cane in it as well to make it more festive.
"I'm alright," Eve told her mum with a smile on her face. "How have you and dad been lately? He seems good."
"We've been well," her mum told her with a smile on her face. "He does seem pretty content with everything, doesn't he?"
They looked at her dad, Peter, as he was having a chat with Kate. His smile lit up his whole face as you could see the wrinkles on his eyes more prominent the more he smiled at whatever it was she was saying. Both parents from Natasha's side - Addison and Arthur were both there as well as Peter's mum Cecilia was there as well. He never wanted his mum to be alone on any holiday - not since his dad Tobias had passed away years ago.
"He does," she nodded her head in agreement.
"How was your holiday? You'll have to show us pictures sometime."
"It was honestly one of the best trips I've had in a while and I'm glad it was with William," she told her mum with a blush on her cheeks starting to form. "We'll have to do it soon, maybe after the holidays?"
"Yes, we'll have a chat on when that will be."
Eve and Natasha felt it would be inappropriate to do it when Kate was here as her dating Eric was still pretty new so they decided to put it off until a later date. Christmas music was playing softly in the background filling Evelyn with joy. Christmas was her favourite holiday as her dad always made a traditional Christmas meal with turkey and goose (they gave both options in case anyone didn't want goose) served alongside sage and onion stuffing, gravy, pigs in a blanket, cranberry sauce, roast potato, vegetables and for dessert they had Yorkshire pudding.
It was a lot food but there was a lot of them and they had a new person this year, Kate, to help them eat it all. What they didn't finish off eating today, they would have for leftovers the next couple of days. The boys always helped her dad cook as the girls sat and chatted.
Christmas was the one time of year that everyone in her family tried to get together as much as possible. Vivienne had asked for Christmas Eve and Christmas day off a couple of months ago and was granted that wish as another coworker promised to come in. She didn't mind working the holiday's and was grateful for any extra money as she would get time in a half.
"This is so good, dad," Evelyn commented enjoying her cranberry sauce on her turkey to make it sweeter.
"Hey, what about us?" Noah whined as us looked at all the guys making the twins let out a giggle as Mia smoothed their hair down.
"Yeah," Theo added jumping in. "We helped too. Reckon we ought to get some credit."
"You're right," Eve said laughing. "My sincerest apologies," she said teasingly. "Thank you dad, Noah, Theo, and Eric."
"What about me?" Jake piped up.
"Sod off! You didn't help at all. You were with Mia and the twins."
Mia shook her head at the sibling rivalry as they all continued to eat their dinner that they enjoyed.
"Your welcome, I would like to propose a toast if you all don't mind. "I just wanted to thank you all for coming round here during Christmas and being able to spend time with us all. Although we are missing one other person who we wished was here," he commented meaning William to which brought a sad smile to Eve's face. "To new loved ones and old ones we miss dearly wherever they may be. Happy Christmas my loves and my darling wife, Natasha, for putting up with me all these years and a very happy New Year!" He then drank some of his wine to which the whole table did the same as rounds of Happy Christmas and happy New Year were being made round the table.
They had finished with dinner and were now back in the living room where the Christmas tree was along with all the parcels under the tree. They all either sat on the couch or on the floor as presents were being passed round.
"Some of these gifts are from when Will and I went to Bora Bora and some of them are from before the trip," Eve told her family as she had picked up some gifts for them all during their holiday.
Eve even bought something for Kate as well, hoping she would like it and she knew it would mean a lot to Eric if she included Kate. Despite the fact that Kate was her boyfriend's ex-girlfriend, she liked her so far from what she gathered.
She had bought her mum a Chanel handbag knowing that it was her mum's favourite designer. For her brother Eric: working out gear as she knew he loved to work out and stay in shape. For the twins she bought them little kiddies books of the series Paddington Bear knowing that they didn't have those yet and they loved them. For her sister she booked her a trip to the spa and for Kate she brought home another banana oil that could be used during facials or spa night in from her trip to Bora Bora that she also bought for Natasha, Vivienne and Mia as well. For Kate she also bought her a trip to the spa as well. Theo's present was his favourite movie set which was the Band of Brothers and for Jake she bought him some new dress shoes in case he and Mia ever have a date night sometime soon and also bought him a Louis Vuitton wallet. As for the grandparents she bought them some books that were from their favourite collections. Some of them were rarities where only one hundred copies were made and so on. Noah received a pair of moccasin slippers and a new laptop case which he desperately needed.
For her dad she bought him a game called catch phrase. She had to explain it slightly as it was different in the United States.
"I know it seems a bit odd but this was a game I used to play when I lived New York. What you do is once you press play it sets a timer automatically after you choose a category. After that you have to think of a way that describes the word without actual word itself. It's quite fun and it's even better with a big group."
"What if we played it tonight? After we've all finished unwrapping our presents?"
"Sounds perfect."
--
A/N:
https://www.cheatsheet.com/entertainment/the-1-shocking-word-on-prince-harry-and-meghan-markles-christmas-card-you-probably-didnt-notice.html/
^ in case your wondering why i chose to say happy christmas instead of merry christmas this is why. i make sure to look things up how the royal family does things because i don't want to get it wrong :).
https://www.boraboraislandguide.com/bora-bora-sharks-and-stingrays.html
^ this is the link to the excursion i wrote about earlier in this chapter with the sharks and sting rays. i had so much fun writing this chapter!! i was not expecting it to be this long but enjoy this early Christmas present to you all. Merry Christmas and Merry Christmas Eve Eve, Happy New Year and happy holiday's.
just letting you all know there will be drama in this book but it will be a relatable amount - nothing made up too much to where it takes away from the story so i hope you all are okay with that :). also i can't remember which grandparent i had passed away in the earlier chapters so i'm going back and reading but this is what it will be so i'll change the earlier chapters.
thank you to everyone who has read, voted and commented on my story so far! it means so much to me and i hope you all still enjoy it :) buckle up though because we are in for a longggg ride. there will be over 100 chapters in this book.