Mi Princesa

Part One - Chapter Twenty-Seven: Happy Birthday

Resting a hand on her large bump, Vanessa waddled through the house with a smile on her face; she wanted to surprise Fernando since it was his thirty-first birthday and she wanted it to be special.

Vanessa was thirty-seven weeks pregnant and she couldn’t believe how much she had ballooned in the past few weeks, she felt huge and she was relieved that she had been removed from royal duty for the last few weeks of her pregnancy.

Fernando had gone to pick Nora up from school and Vanessa was preparing to spend the evening with her fiancé and his daughter; she was sure that things would be okay.

The media was abuzz since the palace had announced that she would be stepping down from royalty duties for a couple of months; everyone was gearing up for the birth of their future monarch and trying to guess what Vanessa was having.

The majority of people thought that Vanessa and Fernando would be having a little girl and that the baby would be born the same day as the Duchess of Cambridge’s.

Vanessa doubted that it would happen, she was sure that she was a lot more pregnant than Catherine was; she felt like she was ready to pop right now.

“We’re home,” Nora called making Vanessa smile, she had been preparing a small party for them since Fernando had left; she’d had help from the chef since she couldn’t stand for long periods of time without her feet killing her.

Vanessa carefully walked into the living room where Fernando was with Nora, he looked surprised at what she had managed to do and she hoped that it was a good thing.

“Amor,” Fernando whispered looking around, he didn’t know how she had managed it but he couldn’t help but be impressed; he had been busy lately and had barely had any time to relax.

The couple had been so busy preparing for the birth of their son, their impending wedding and Fernando was taking royal classes to be prepared for his life after his marriage to Vanessa.

“What do you think?” Vanessa asked walking into the room as best she could, she smiled at Fernando knowing that he deserved it and they had all weekend to focus on him now that Nora was finished with school for the week.

Fernando smiled, he knew that this would be his last birthday as Mr Fernando José Torres Sanz and that fact was sort of daunting; he had no idea what he would be called in a matter of months and he wished that George would give him a clue.

“You didn’t have to do this amor,” Fernando said walking over to Vanessa, he wanted her to rest while they could and he was hopeful that things would go well in three weeks’ time.

Vanessa’s due date was quickly approaching and the couple were determined to make sure that everything was in place for when their son was born.

***

“So Bojan or Joshua?” Vanessa asked looking at Fernando while they enjoyed some birthday cake, Nora was playing with Biscuit and sneakily feeding the puppy some of her vanilla frosted cake.

Fernando looked at his fiancée, they had settled on the final two names and now they were stuck; he had no idea what they would decide upon when they had the baby in their arms.

“I don’t know… they’re both great names,” Fernando said watching Vanessa, he wasn’t sure on what would happen when Niño was born but he was hopeful that it would be an easy birth.

Vanessa nodded her head, she felt so torn between the names and she hoped that when she saw her baby for the first time then she’d just know what his name would be.

“I guess we won’t know until he’s here,” Vanessa said brushing her fingers against the bump, the baby was so active now that she often found it hard to get comfortable.

Fernando smiled, he looked forward to that moment and he couldn’t believe that in three weeks they would get to hold their baby for the first time; it seemed so unreal to think about that.

“It’ll be fine… we’ll know what to call him when we see him,” Fernando said knowing that the name was important, the palace was eager to have it so that they could prepare an announcement for the birth but the couple had yet to decide on one.

***

Vanessa pouted to herself as she sat down on the bed, she couldn’t reach her feet anymore and she would need Fernando’s help taking off her socks; she sulked as she waited for Fernando to get off the phone with his parents.

Flori and José would be flying out to join the couple a week before the baby was due and Fernando’s siblings would arrive later after the baby was born.

Fernando was a little nervous and he knew that it would be the first time that the two families had come together; the next time that they did would be for the wedding.

“My madre is very excited about her next visit,” Fernando mused walking into the bedroom, he wasn’t surprised that there was no sign of Biscuit since the puppy slept in Nora’s bedroom every night.

Vanessa smiled, she was glad that her future in-laws were starting to get a little more comfortable with everything; she didn’t want them feeling pushed out and she spoke to Flori every week about the wedding plans.

“She thinks we should go with Bojan,” Fernando said knowing that his mother loved the name, she was sure the couple would pick it while his father preferred if they named the baby something a bit more Spanish.

Joshua was a very English name and José had been sending the couple hints to name their son something more in line with Fernando’s heritage.

The baby would be the couple’s eighth grandchild and their fifth grandson, something which excited them to no end; they loved the idea that this could be the first of many for Fernando and Vanessa.

“They’re already talking about what we should name the next one,” Fernando said with a role of his eyes, he didn’t see them having another for a couple of years; this year was busy enough for them right now.

Vanessa laughed softly as he moved to take off her socks for her, she knew that Flori wanted at least ten grandchildren and it was clear that she wasn’t giving up on that idea just yet.

“I think she’s determined to see us pop out five children in the next few years,” Fernando grumbled looking at Vanessa, he knew that they would expected to have at least two since they needed and heir and a spare but he wasn’t in any hurry.

Vanessa smiled softly, she didn’t think that they would have quite that many but she’d be happy with three; she knew that Nora would love more siblings to play with especially a baby sister.

Olalla might have been having another baby of her own, but she barely spoke to Nora anymore and the little girl would miss out on so much being in Andorra while her mother was in London.

“Let’s just do this one step at a time,” Vanessa said brushing her fingers through Fernando’s hair, she didn’t know what she would have done without him by her side.

Fernando looked up at her, he was so lucky to have her and the next few weeks were going to be so busy for them; it wouldn’t be long now until their baby boy was born.