When you tell the world you're mine

Chapter 45, part I: Wisdom

Carol was eager for the weekend. 

Even though she wouldn't go out with Hailey, shop at small stores nearby her apartment, or go tourist London and try to live every experience the city has to offer, she was eager for the time she'd be able to go to another... home.

She and Harry had decided to have a quiet weekend in. They'd cook (she finally convinced him to learn how to), watch some TV shows, take naps and chat.

If you asked her, she'd say there was no way in hell she was dating Prince Harry. 

But in reality, they were dating. 

Harry knew it, his staff knew it, her family knew it and even she knew that their relationship had gone to another level. But she wouldn't admit it. 

She'd correct anyone that referred them as a couple. They were friends. That's what she repeated over and over again trying to finally believe it with all her heart.

But...

Of course, they'd talk to each other about important decisions, they spent most of their weekends together, they made plans to have another trip after her mom's wedding in April, they slept together almost every time they were around each other, he'd pick her up from work in the middle of the week just because, he'd send flowers, she'd leave notes spread around his house so he'd remember her when he found them. They'd call each other by loving names... They had a very solid relationship.

What bothered Carol was really the word: relationship. Commitment.

She had suffered enough for a lifetime, her role models (aka her parents) didn't have a good and inspiring relationship and she didn't want to live in a war zone anymore.

But she knew it wasn't fair to throw all of it on Harry because he didn't have any fault at all. He was nothing but a great gentleman to her. He reassured her, he comforted her, he supported her and he loved her with all of his being. He protected her (she was sure it was his doing the fact that the press hadn't found out who she was up until now). He cared for her and there he was almost quietly offering a whole new perspective of what a relationship would be like.

With no need of a war zone.

Deep inside she knew he was different and it all would be different.

Deep inside she knew that they'd be official by now if he wasn't a prince. If Harry wasn't His Royal Highness Prince Henry of Wales.

But that title was so damn heavy and imposing that sometimes it suffocated her.

Whenever he entered a room, his staff would bow and curtsy even when he told them it wasn't necessary. He attended meetings with important people, stakeholders of changes in this community she was a part of. He was a grandson of a Queen. Of The Queen.

And she was just.... Carolina. He literally had the world at his feet, he'd get everything she wanted in a blink of an eye. And what did she have to offer him? Nothing but just herself.

She thought it wasn't a big deal. He only wanted her and the normalcy and serenity that came together.

Because even though he lived in a Palace, everything inside that cottage was normal. His friends (the ones she had met at least) were normal people. Wealthy, but normal. She had already bonded with Lara and Skippy – who took her under their wings -, she was actually helping Lara plan Tommy's christening that was settled to happen after her mother's wedding. 

Their routines somehow fitted each other like a glove. She was fully adapted to her new job, to her home, to visit her little sister whenever she could and to go out to happy hours (in the middle of the week sometimes) with a few colleagues from work here and there. She had already applied to her master degree and was quite looking forward to it.