𝐒𝐇𝐎𝐖 𝐎𝐅𝐅, ᵐᵃˣ ᵛᵉʳˢᵗᵃᵖᵖᵉⁿ

FORTY-FIVE

23rd january 2024, monaco

 

         "VICTORIA!" Max was shocked to see his sister when he opened the door. Victoria gave him a hug. "Luka, Lio!" Max smiled and embraced his nephews. "What are you doing here?"

"Didn't Mum tell you? She swore to me she told you!" Victoria sighed, Max stared in confusion but invited his sister and her sons inside. "Millie! Ella!"

"Where are they?" Victoria nosied, Max explained that they had all been watching a movie in Max's bed when the doorbell rang. Ella and Millie made their way to the living room hand in hand, Millie had excitedly dropped her hand to run when she caught sight of her cousins and Auntie.

"Luka! Lio! Auntie Vic!" Millie cheered, hugging each of her family members. Ella hugged Victoria tightly and quickly caught up. "Mum is on her way too, she told me you knew we were coming!"

"I didn't, but it's okay. Will you all be staying here or do you want me to book a hotel?" Max inquired, Victoria wasn't sure; Sophie had planned the trip. Soon enough, Sophie had arrived. "Lovely to see you, darlings!"

"Nice to see you too Mum, not to be too rude... But why are you all here?" Max inquired, he tried to ask as gently as possible but it wasn't a very nice question. "Well we wanted to see you before the season starts! I know there's practically another month but this was the easiest opportunity for Vic and I!"

"It's funny you say that, we had planned a trip in the middle of February," Max had wrapped his arm around Ella as he was explaining to his mother. Sophie looked so excited, she loved seeing her son and granddaughter. Sophie loved her family immensely, and it was growing everyday. She hugged Ella tightly and stroked her hair. "And how are you, love?"

"I'm great Sophie, really great. And yourself?"

"Amazing dear." She smiled, Ella nodded. She loved Max's family, even just watching Millie play with her cousins she was at peace, Max made his way over to Ella and wrapped his arms around her. "You two look cosy," Sophie winked knowingly, Ella's cheeks went pink as Max grinned devilishly.

He took every opportunity to be close to Ella, and that meant they were generally holding hands, or linking arms. But most of the time, Max would messily wrap his arms around her and rest his head on her shoulder from behind. He loved resting his hands on her waist, and kissing her nose. Max really just loved Ella. "You've raised quite the gentlemen, Sophie, clingy as he is." Ella joked, making Max pout and his family laugh.

"So I was just about to put dinner on, what would you guys like?"

"Nonsense! We'll all be going out for dinner tonight, my treat!" Sophie insisted, Ella and Max couldn't exactly refuse. Ella let Max catch up with his mother and sister by taking Millie to get changed for dinner, and then to get changed herself. Ella decided to wear a short, turtleneck sleeveless dress with a black winter jacket and her favourite knee high boots. She was just finishing putting her earrings on when a gentle knock on the door echoed around the room. She ushered them in, and was glad to see her handsome boyfriend, smiling profusely. "You look stunning."

"Not too bad yourself, amore. Want me to do your top button?" She offered, Max shook his head and informed her he was going for a more casual look. Ella smiled warmly, the couple shared a quick hug and made their way back into the living room. "Are we ready to go?"

At the restaurant, everyone was enjoying themselves. The food was excellent, the company was amazing. It was a family. The table was full of laughter and love. "Now that the kids are with your husband," Sophie spoke to Victoria. "I have a question for all of you..." She said suspiciously, her eyes narrowed. Max sat up straight in his chair, but his hand remained on Ella's thigh.

"One of you is pregnant. I know it! A mother always knows! Both of you are drinking water, and I can feel it. Which one?" Sophie interrogated. Ella was shocked, that's the last thing she expected Sophie to say. One thing she knew for sure; it wasn't her!

Max's head had snapped towards Ella and he hadn't yet found the strength to look away, Ella had noticed of course. Oh god, she thought, did Max think it was her?

"How did you know it was me?" Max joked, burying his head in his hands. Sophie dismissed her son and refocused her attention on the two girls. "It's me, I'm pregnant." Victoria admitted, Ella gasped and congratulated the woman, Sophie gushed over her beautiful daughter.

Hugs were shared, and tears were shed. When the kids returned, Max had an odd look on his face, as he stared at Ella. Ella turned to face him, and furrowed her eyebrows in confusion. Max lifted one eyebrow, and tilted his head towards the three children. Ella knew what he was asking. "Don't even think about it!"

"Too soon?"

"Years too soon!" She spoke in a hushed whisper, Max laughed lowly, and insisted he was joking, but Ella wasn't so convinced.

Max and Ella had returned home alone, Millie wanted to stay at the hotel with her cousins and Auntie. "So, we're alone." Max said casually, Ella shrugged her shoulders. "So?"

"About earlier, I was joking. It's too soon for us to have a baby I know that. But... it's not too soon for us to practice making one?" He bit his lip, looking Ella up and down as his hands lay tightly on her waist. Ella tilted her head up towards his face, and stroked his jaw.

"I doubt you need to practice. You already made one before, remember?" She teased with an evil smile, "Goodnight," she quickly left the room, Max was shocked. "You can't use that against me! Hey! That was a long time ago!" He hurried after her.

Ella said nothing, as she walked down the hallway she heard Max's footsteps getting quicker and quicker, suddenly she had been lifted up into the air and the pair were laughing continuously. Max carried her to the bed and kissed her gently.

They each got ready for bed, Max pulled Ella closer to him, and wrapped his arms around her small frame. "Goodnight, gorgeous." He kissed her forehead as he whispered.