My alarm went off but I was already awake. I couldn't sleep last night. My entire suitcase was pack and I was ready to fly home, physically. I didn't want to leave. Especially after yesterday. I could never forget all the fun that we had; the feels I had. Between a snowball fight and a dinner with an escape from paparazzi; how could I forget? I rolled over in my bed and faced the door.

A soft knock echoed in my room. I pulled the blankets up tighter to my face. I wanted to sink away into this bed so I couldn't leave.
"Come in." I called to whomever was on the other side, I had a guess. Emma lightly padded in the room.
"Good morning Miss Leon, are you ready to go?"
"Physically." I answered her. She sat down at the foot of my bed.
"I understand. If I were you, I'd tell him how you feel." I shook my head.
"How I do or don't feel doesn't matter. I live in California and he is a Prince. We live completely different lives." I snuggled further into my bed. "All of this will pass." I tell her, but I'm not sure who I was trying to convince more. We both knew that wasn't true.
"Plane leaves soon, we should get you going." Another knock came at the door. I sat up quickly; that was Prince Hayes. I couldn't let him see me like this.
"Come in." I shoved my heels into my sneakers. Hayes stood in the doorway. He seemed small and lost.
"Ready?" I nodded even though that was a lie.

We piled everything into the limo. I didn't want to leave. I wanted to grab all my stuff and march back up to the room but at the same time my heart strings were pulling me home. Half of me felt like I belonged here, the logical half of me knew better. This was just a job attached with a mini vacation. Unfortunately, it could be nothing more.

As Ben drove us to the airport we didn't speak. I just watched Baltaver pass outside the window one last time. I also was trying to avoid crying. I'm not a very graceful crier. My eyes get red and puffy and I scrunch my brows together. Snot and tears make a mess on my face too. I wish I could hit a pause button but I probably would have used it yesterday. That's what made this even harder, yesterday was the best of all the days. I wish he would have been stuck in meetings all day. It's harsh to think that but it might have made leaving easier today.

Even though the airport was smaller than the one in California, it still haunted me.
"Thank you for everything Hayes. You really have been accommodating and very generous. You're family too." He smiled. I wish I could have said goodbye to the King and Queen but I think it only would have been harder.
"It was no trouble at all, really."
"Can I hug you or is that not okay?" He put his arms around me and pulled me in close. The fresh smell of him tickled my nose. I didn't want to let go. "Okay, well I have a plane to catch." I pulled back. Hayes nodded. "Thank you, again." He smiled softly. I got out of the limo but the door stayed open. Ben was holding it with my bags next to him. "It was nice getting to know you Ben." Ben smiled and stuck out his hand. I disregard that and threw my arms around him. He gently patted my back. I pulled back. My broken heart pieces sank out of my chest into my feet. I felt like I couldn't move. "Okay, well, bye." I smiled into the car at Hayes and then at Ben.
"I hope to see you soon, Miss Leon." Ben said softly. I smiled trying to hold in tears. I nodded. I grabbed my bags and started towards the doors.
"Autumn." Hayes said loudly from the car. I turned and looked at him. "If you ever find yourself in Baltaver again, please visit." I nodded with a smile.
"Of course." I said just loud enough for my words to reach him. "If you're ever in California, I hope you find me." His smile wavered with a nod. I turned back around. I don't think I could hold back the tears anymore. The lines were empty. I made it to the counter. The lady looked at me.
"Goodbyes are always rough, aren't they?" I nodded in agreement.
"You have no idea." I tried not to sniffle and wiped my tears with my sleeve.

I looked out the window at the drop off line. The limo was far gone and new people were unloading in our spot. I didn't want to know how long they sat before they finally left, if they waited at all. I squeezed my backpack straps tightly in both hands.
"Goodbye William, goodbye Ben, goodbye Baltaver." I whispered to the glass.

As I stood in the TSA line it took everything out of me not to run back to out of the airport. People were looking at me and whispering. My anxiety was rising. I nervously looked down at my screen. The news app popped up with an article about the Royal Family press conference yesterday. I clicked on it. There I was, in the headlining picture.

ROYAL FAMILY SPEAKS AND PRINCE WILLIAM HAS A NEW GIRLFRIEND?

That's why people were staring, I was all over Baltaver press. Maybe Hayes was right, I'm glad we didn't get seen together yesterday after the conference, I'm not sure I could have handled that much fame so quickly.

I made my way down the plane aisle. I saw Hannah, Becky, Gina and Mariah already in their seats. Becky was a row behind the other three since it was only 3 seats wide. A man sat next to her. I'm glad there was a person between the two of us.
"Well look who it is." Hannah smiled wickedly. I fake smiled back at her. "Where have you been?" She crossed her arms.
"The castle." I plopped into my seat.
"Seriously, that's not funny." She contorted her face with aggravation. I grabbed the back of her seat and pull us closer together.
"Seriously, check the local news about a press conference yesterday." I said just loud enough for her to hear. Then I let go of her. Hannah's chair shot her forward. I fell back into mine. Untangling my earphones I heard her fingers tap quickly on her screen. I shoved my last ear bud in just as she turned around to me. I gave her a vindictive smiled and started playing music. This was going to be a fun flight. Not. I glanced towards the window. Becky and the guy between us was staring at me. I turned my attention to the aisle and concealed a smug smile.

We were only a few hours into the flight and the guy between Becky and I was fast asleep. Becky kept taking sideway glances at me. I finally took my headphones out. I glanced around the plane. Some people were asleep, some were watching movies and others were reading. For the most part the plane was quiet.
"How do you know Prince William?" Becky asked. I turned around to face her. Hannah's chair reclined slightly, back towards me.
"We're friends." I loathed myself for using the word friends. We weren't just friends but we weren't anything more. Once I reach California and time passes we will be less than friends. We'll just be a memory for one another.
"Did you know each other before we got here?" I shook my head. I wish she wouldn't asked me about Prince William. I wanted to forget these past two weeks. Not that Prince William deserves to be forgotten but it hurts. I really felt a connection and the Royal Family and everyone in that castle really grew on me. I could even stand to put up with Count Edward from time to time. "Why did he invite you to the press conference?"
"So I wouldn't be alone in the castle, also we toured Baltaver after." Hannah sighed ahead of me.
"The Royal Family seemed awfully close to you." That poked a dagger into my heart. "Prince William especially." She pushed it in farther.
"They just brought a nobody to a press conference to be a headline again. They did it all as a PR stunt." Hannah growled. I swallowed hard.
"At least I was the nobody they chose." I got out of my seat and to the bathroom. It wasn't a big bathroom but it didn't need to be. Leaning against the sink my tears started to roll down my face. Hannah may not be my favorite person but that doesn't mean her words hurt any less. Or any of this for that matter. The hardest fantasy to get over is one you've already lived. I can now attest to that.

The rest of the flight was pretty uneventful. The man between Becky and I snored at one point. We looked at each other and she gave me a child like smile. For a moment she forgot she was on Hannah's side and I forgot about Prince William. It was a nice moment. It always sucks when reality has to cut back in. We elbowed and shuffled our way down the narrow isles and off the plane. Baggage claim was all the way at the end of the airport. The belt hasn't started moving when we got there. I was ready to go home. So tired, so homesick and so sad.
"Autumn!" The girls shouted. I could hear the echoes of their voices in the fairly empty room. Their energy only made me more exhausted. Savannah, Vanessa and Michelle were wiggling with excitement.
"Hey!" I tried to muster up as much energy as possible. They threw their arms around me. I hadn't realized how much I missed them until now. I knew I missed them but I didn't know this much. That's what happens when your mind is busy, I guess, it forgets about painful things. It felt so good to finally be home but I missed Baltaver already. Prince William too.

They talked my ears off on the way back. Once I got home I didn't bother turning on the lights. I just crawled into bed and fell asleep. 7:30 AM rolled around too quickly, regardless I got up and started my day. It was Saturday so I didn't have to work but I did need to get myself back into the routine of life in California. My apartment wasn't messy but it wasn't clean. It had been 2 weeks since I'd been home. I dusted and vacuumed. My suitcases sat by the door, begging to be unpacked and put away. After a small, snacky lunch I put away everything from Baltaver. Better to get that over with now than have a constant reminder.

My dad invited me over for dinner tonight so I didn't have to go shopping or cook. Plus it'd really be nice to see him. I still had a lot of chores to do but I really missed my dad. We had little communication while I was over in Baltaver.

I got over to my dads about 5. The house had Christmas lights hanging from the gutters. I loved seeing the house in Christmas lights. I went inside to find my dad in the kitchen.
"Hiya Pumpkin." My dad squeezed me tight. I missed his hugs. I cuddled in close to him. He smelled like he's been cooking all day. "We made your favorite." He pulled back a little. I smiled. My favorite was chicken parmesan from scratch.
"Daddy, you didn't have to go through all that trouble." He squeezed my shoulders with his hands.
"Pumpkin, you're worth it." My dad was a good dad. He really loved me and sometimes I could feel my mothers love through him. This was one of those moment. "I missed ya kid, Jenny did too."
"I missed you guys too." Jenny was at work so it was just my dad and I for right now. I was okay with that.
"How was Baltaver?" I drew in a deep breath as I sank back into a dinning room chair.
"It was amazing. The country is absolutely beautiful. They have cute little shops all over and good restaurants. There is this fountain! Oh I wish Hayes was here, he can say the name of it and can tell you more about it but it translates to Gods wealth and it's just, beautiful. Ugh. It was my favorite part of the country."
"What else?"
"Doesn't Jenny want to hear all of this?"
"She's just interested in Prince William." I nodded even though he was facing away from me. That broke my heart a little. The trip was so much more than a Prince but she didn't seem to find interest in the rest of it, I guess.
"Well the dance went amazing, after we went out and had some fun. The girls and I wondered the streets looking at a bunch of stuff. We got to go dress shopping, we learned about the Royal Family in a little tourist shop. The castle is beautiful. Snow was everywhere! I never thought I'd like the cold and snow but it wasn't bad. It made everything more beautiful and really settled in the fact that it was Christmas time." My dad turned and smiled at me.
"You really enjoyed Baltaver, Pumpkin." I smiled.
"Yeah, I wish I could go back."
"I've heard wishes have been known to come true." He said softly.
"I've heard that too." I answered. "Well, I have more important wishes to come true."
"Like what?" My dad crossed his arms over his chest.
"Like I wish dinner was done." He chuckled. I missed my dad's laugh. It was rich and comforting. "Can I help at all?" He shook his head.
"No, no. You've been a very busy lady, you relax. Go watch some TV. By the time Jenny gets home dinner will be ready." I nodded and stood up. I hugged my dad tightly before I walked into the book room. I found Romeo and Juliet by Shakespeare and started to read.

"I thought you didn't like Romeo and Juliet." Jenny was leaning in the doorway. I looked up at her. She was always so beautiful.
"I don't but a friend reminded me the beauty of the story." She raised an eyebrow.
"A friend?" I nodded.
"A friend." I confirmed. Jenny didn't look convinced.
"Dinners ready." I nodded again. I slid an envelope into the pages. Ive been known to use just about anything as a bookmark. The table was set and the food was all spread out already. I sat down across from my dad. Jenny always sat at the head of the table. "So tell us about Prince William." I knew that was coming.
"He's nice." I served myself some noodles.
"That's it? He's nice! You spent how much time with him and that's all you can come up with?" I looked at her. "Don't think I didn't see the picture."
"The picture?" I scrunched my face.
"The picture of you and Prince William at the press conference." My eyes widened.
"There's an article here too?" Jenny laughed.
"Of course there is. You looked very nice. There is also a picture of you and the Queen holding hands. They all seem very fond of you." I turned my hair nervously behind my ear. I obviously knew about it in Baltaver but I didn't look at the news. I figured it didn't leave Baltaver, boy was I wrong.
"They didn't want to leave me in the castle by myself." I spoke down at my plate. "I told them I was okay but they all wanted me to come with them."
"You almost look like you fit in Pumpkin." My dad added in. I wish he wouldn't. Sometimes he liked to feed into Jennys crazy fairytales. She was a day dreamer and often was encouraged by my dad.
"They had me tag along so I wasn't lonely." I assured them. "Nothing more." And that was the end of that.