✓The Secret Princess✓

✨Bonus Chapter 2 ✨

Dinner was amazing. Everyone ate and had fun. The parents spoke about some kingdom matters while Nate and Bryan were making sure Keith never went next to Bea while eating and Bea was having a hearty conversation with Joanna. He kept staring at her and winked everytime their eyes met, making her giggle. They also had conversations in their minds. Little Julia was glued next to baby Arnold the whole time. She kept poking his chubby cheeks and squealing. Arnold laughed and squealed along with her.

“Mama!! He's so cute!” she laughs. Havana smiles at her daughter as Julia plays with Arnold.

“Our babies look so cute and happy.” Ashley smiles as she rests her head on Havana's shoulder.

“Yea...they do...” She smiles as her gaze never leaves the kids.

Then suddenly Jonathan and Andrew pick up their children and set them on their laps, making the children squeal. Then they start playing with the kids.

“And we have amazing husbands as well...”

Ashley agrees.

“I'm so happy I have Andrew. I really don't know what I would have done without him.”

“You did the right thing Ashley.” Havana pats her head.

“But what made you choose him?”

The girls turn to see Joanna sit next to Havana and Bea sits next to Ashley.

“There were two reasons, Joanna. First, it took me a long time to realise that I loved Andrew. I got the feeling but I thought it was because he was my best friend. When I realised what it was, I knew I had to choose him. I couldn't lose my best friend and the love of my life! I don't know when I started loving him, but I'm glad I did. He's a gem. Second, I knew Keith loved Bea way before he did. I saw it the first time I met them. I knew that if I married him, I'd ruin four lives—she says holding Bea's hands and caressing it— I'm glad I didn't do that!” She laughs.

The girls smile.

“I think it's time for us to disperse. It's already late and it's a big day tomorrow!” Bea's mom exclaims standing up. Everyone stand up with her.  Since they would be tired,  Havana sent Bea's and Keith's parents back to the castle.  Then, Havana and Ashley went to Havana's room to put the children to sleep. Bea and Joanna cleaned the kitchen and the boys cleaned the garden.

After a few minutes, Havana and Ashley come out and start washing the dishes.

“Havana, I'll do the dishes. You go rest.” Bea offers.

“No!!” All the three women in the room shout.

“Why?” Bea asks, surprised that the three shouted at her.

“You're getting married tomorrow! You need to keep your hands pretty! So no. You're not doing the dishes.”

Bea rolls her eyes as she continues to clean the kitchen.

“Don't you roll your eyes at me young lady!” Havana exclaims. Everyone laugh.

“Let her go to her room Havana. Let her rest! She has a big day tomorrow!” Joanna smirks.

Bea looks at Joanna, her eyes wide. Joanna knew that Bea was waiting to see Keith leave.

“Joanna....you little—”

“Joanna is right! Come Bea let's go!” Havana puts her arm around her shoulder and smiles.

“But...I wanna stay! Can I stay for a little while longer?? Please!!” She whines.

“Aww Bea...you need to sleep my dear. Go sleep. You must be really tired too. Go.” Ashley smiles at her.

*What's wrong with these women, even though they're my age, they're behaving like my mom!!*

*They're mothers! Of course they'll behave like that!*

*Ohh*

Havana and Bea walk up the stairs. They hear Joanna and Ashley laugh. Havana guesses Joanna told Ashley about Bea wanting to see Keith. She sees Bea pouting.

“Why are you pouting Bea?”

“Nothing.”

“It's okay. Don't worry. Just one night Bea. Then you can be with him forever! And don't forget. It's Joanna's turn next.” She laughs.

“I totally forgot! It's her time now!” Bea laughs.

“Did you have fun tonight Bea?”

Bea nods happily. Havana pats her head and smiles.

“You know that you're behaving like a mother to everyone right?”

“I'm not! It's just toward you.” Havana smiles.

She remembered when they got Bea home the first time, three years ago. Bea was unconscious and bleeding. Even though she didn't know her then, she felt the need to protect Bea. She remembered the time when Bea went missing in the forest on the rainy day and  how her heart almost stopped when she saw Keith carrying Bea and running towards her, the time when Bea was unconscious and Keith never slept, the time when Bea had returned to Dandilia without telling anyone, the time when Alistair threw her off the cliff and all the other memories of Bea, both happy and sad. She remembered it all. Bea had a special place in Havana's heart. She snapped out of her thoughts when she felt Bea hug her.

“Thank you Havana. Thank you for everything.”

Havana smiles and hugs her back. Both the girls are startled when two arms wrap around them. They relax when they see Jonathan hugging them.

“What are my girls doing?” He asks.

“Jonathan, don't act as if you're blind!” Havana teases as he hugs the girls tighter and laughs.

“I love our family.” Bea whispers.

____________

Bea wakes up from her sleep. She hears light knocks on the window. She smiles as she gets up and walks to the window and opens it. She steps back.

“Were you sleeping? I'm so sorry!”

“I guess I must have slept waiting for you.” She giggles.

“I'm so sorry snowflake, the guys never left my room and I had to make sure they were asleep before I left.’ Keith kisses her forehead.

“It's okay!”

Both of them sit on the windowsill, wrapped in her blanket. It was a cold night. Bea snuggles closer to Keith as he wraps his arm around her shoulder.

“Remember the first time we sat here Bea?”

“Yea! You brought chocolate cakes for me! They were yummy!”

“You only remember the cake?!”

“I remember everything.” she laughs.

Silence enveloped them. A comfortable silence. They could hear the insects and the owl. The full moon shines bright tonight, stars twinkling here and there. It was a beautiful night. Bea laid her head on his chest and listened to his steady heartbeat. It calmed her. She smiled.

“You know that this is our last night of sneaking around right?”

Bea nods.

“What will we do next?”

“Hmmm.......we'll sit on your balcony at night or we can go to your secret hideout in the garden!. We can sit and stargaze till we fall asleep!”

“Yeah we'll do that. And it's our hideout now. Okay?”

Bea nods as Keith kisses her forehead and pulls her closer to him.

“I'm so happy that we're getting married tomorrow Keith.” She says as the snuggles into his chest.

Keith smiles. He's been waiting to marry her for three years. Ever since he saw her, he's loved her. He was willing to do anything for his love. He is beyond happy to marry the love of his life. His Bea. His Snowflake.

“Me too, Snowflake. Me too.”

***********