Mi Princesa

Part Two - Chapter Twenty-Three: Nora Comes Home

Taking a deep breath, Fernando stood in the airport as he waited for Nora's flight to arrive and he was far from looking forward to this visit especially when he knew that Olalla and her husband were coming along. 

Fernando might have gotten along with his ex-girlfriend but his dislike for her husband had only grown recently, he had no idea why Aaron couldn't stay in London if he disliked what Fernando was doing so much. 

It was going to be awkward and Fernando couldn't imagine what it was going to be like having the man around for an entire week. 

Things were busy enough getting ready for Joseph's wedding which was going to take place in a matter of weeks and Fernando was still trying to get everything in place for when his daughter was born. 

"Papa," Nora shouted rushing through the airport away from her mother and step-father, a big smile on her face and she couldn't have been happier to be home. 

It had been a long visit with her mother but it had gone pretty well even if Aaron had spent a lot of time calling everything that she did with her father and step-mother pointless. 

"Did you have fun with your madre?" Fernando asked wrapping his arms around Nora, he had missed her so much and he was sure that she would be so happy when he told her that she was going to have another baby sister. 

Olalla watched Fernando awkwardly as she shifted her hold on Isabel, it had been a difficult flight with the infant and it hadn't helped that Aaron had refused to even help her try to settle their daughter. 

The last thing that anyone wanted was an argument breaking out, it had already been arranged for Olalla and her family to stay in a rented apartment to keep the peace with Aaron.

***

Vanessa smiled hearing Fernando and Nora come home, she was a little relieved that Olalla and Aaron weren't going to be staying with them and she couldn't imagine what would happen if they were. 

It was no secret that Aaron disliked anything royal and he wasn't going to make this visit easy for them since he thought that they were ruining Nora's chances of becoming a decent person and getting a good job. 

"Hola," Vanessa greeted carefully getting to her feet, she smiled knowing that it was nice to have Nora home again and Bojan had certainly missed his big sister while she was in London. 

The summer had flown by and with school starting back up in a couple of days for Nora, the couple knew that she would be happy to see all of her friends again. 

"Hola," Nora replied giving Vanessa a cuddle, she was happy to be home and she couldn't wait to tell everyone about the summer she'd had with her mother. 

Fernando set down Nora's bag, he was happy to be away from Aaron for a couple of hours and he knew that it was probably going to make a fuss over dinner. 

Vanessa had insisted that Olalla and Aaron come and join them on their first night in the country for dinner and Fernando could only imagine what Aaron would say about their home and the food. 

It wouldn't matter to him that the couple barely had five minutes to themselves and often had their meals made for them; he would make it personal and Fernando wasn't going to allow him to upset Vanessa in anyway. 

"Why don't you go and say Hola to Bojan?" Vanessa suggested knowing that her son would be awake now from his nap, she had been so rushed off her feet today that she knew this would cheer him up having his sister home.

***

"How are you Olalla?" Vanessa asked peeking across the table at the other woman, the dinner was tense and she was hoping to break it soon; she had no idea what would happen if they continued on like this. 

The last thing that Vanessa wanted was a situation that was going to affect Nora in some way, she didn't want the little girl to be caught between two sets of fighting parents. 

"I have been well... Isabel keeps me busy most days," Olalla replied politely, she elbowed her husband wishing now that he might have stayed in London instead of ruining her visit; she wanted to enjoy herself seeing what Nora's life was like.

The last time that she'd been in Andorra, Olalla had been so busy and she'd barely had any chance to enjoy herself; she was thankful that Fernando had insisted that she fly out for Nora's first day of school. 

The table settled back into awkward silent, the four adults all knew who was more than likely to cause a fight and none of them wanted to say anything that might set that person off. 

"How is wedding planning going?" Olalla asked knowing that it was going to be a very big occasion, it was to be the first ever royal same-sex marriage and everyone was talking about it. 

Turning on the television, Olalla hadn't been able to miss any talk about the impending wedding and she was sure Nora would look beautiful in her dress. 

"It's going well... Joseph is very excited," Vanessa replied smiling, she had never thought that she would see her younger brother so happy and she was so looking forward to his wedding day. 

It was taking a lot of work and she knew that it would be worth it, Vanessa had already decided on their official titles and she was sure Joseph and Ethan would love them when they found out. 

"Of course he is... he isn't paying for it, the tax payers are," Aaron muttered making everyone look at him, he glared across the table at Vanessa knowing that he didn't see why Nora or Olalla had to be involved in all of this.

Olalla closed her eyes wanting to strangle Aaron, she didn't know why he couldn't just let this go and it wasn't like Vanessa just sat around doing nothing; she helped run a country and her siblings did so much for charity and good-causes. 

"If you hate us that much why are you here?" Fernando spat not able to control his anger, he was tired of having Aaron talk down to them and he had no idea why Aaron had come to Andorra if he was only going to sulk around. 

Aaron pursed his lips, he was a little surprised that Fernando was speaking to him like that over dinner; he guessed you could give a man a royal title but it wouldn't change anything about him. 

"To make sure you don't get your claws into Olalla and Isabel," Aaron replied knowing that he was never going to allow his daughter or wife get caught up in this mess, one day there would be no royal families and that day couldn't come soon enough for Aaron. 

Vanessa and the rest of them would be done for and no fancy degree would save her then when she had to work in the real world and deal with real problems. 

"Would you shut up," Olalla snapped making everyone stare at her surprised, she was usually the quiet one and it was clear that Aaron had finally pushed his luck with his wife. 

Vanessa peeked at Fernando spotting the look on his face, she wondered if there was something that he wasn't telling her; he looked worried and she knew that Olalla must have said something to him. 

"I am moving to be closer to Nora, I want to be a part of my daughter's life... I am done with you," Olalla revealed making Aaron stare at her shocked, he had never considered that she was coming here to stay and he felt his stomach drop realising what was happening.