More than two years later...

"Is everything ready?" I ask, standing up from my chair after closing all the folders of the papers and offers I was going over. In front of the desk there's Nora, waiting for me with a smile.

"Everything ready," she answers. "All the preparations were made and carried out perfectly. Now we just have to head there and the artists will arrive short after I'm told." I can tell she is doing her best not to smile too widely, but it's not really working. "They're all waiting."

"Oh, I'm dying to see them myself," I comment, walking up to where she's standing. "It's been a while."

Indeed it's been a while, probably a year since I last saw them all although I have kept in touch, I just haven't had the chance to pay them a visit. The drive to The Dream House is just around three hours, but even two years after I left that place, I'm still quite busy. However, things have settled somehow; in a way, I can say I got the hang of it. The company is still a lot of work, how could it not when it's so big? But I know better what to do, how to handle everything and above all, the biggest restructuring stages have been completed. I have people's trust and I'm leading the company in the direction I want and think it's better.

BEEB Group has changed a lot and our employee's increased satisfaction is an indication that's been a change for the better. My focus is to make it more transparent and reliable while at the same time eco-friendly. Little by little we keep doing things to reduce our carbon print and to become more self-sustainable with all our buildings and such.

There's still so much ahead, so much to do for the company, but it doesn't feel like such an overwhelming weight on my shoulders anymore. I feel capable and I don't overwork myself anymore, so I can organise my time better and do things for the people I love and that have changed my life, like everyone at the Dream House.

That's why now we are heading to the Dream House, not just to see the kids but also give them an early Christmas present. The kids have grown up a lot, the older ones I met back then have left to go to university, completely sponsored by BEEB Group. The smaller ones are all so big now, and sadly there are new addictions to the family, and I say sadly because it always breaks my heart that kids get abandoned. Clarisse says it's for the best, at the end, because in the Dream House the kids at least get loved by someone and manage to make a new type of family, whether that wouldn't have been the case if they stayed with irresponsible parents who didn't want them. I still think it's sad there are parents who don't want their kids.

Even if I can't go all the time to the Dream House to see them, I do try to do other things so they never think I've forgotten about them. For this occasion we prepared a small Christmas gig because I happen to know not only Sammy but also quite a few of the other girls really love the same artist. And I happen to have some shares for the company label and pulled some strings to get her to play at the Dream House.

Sammy will be so delighted when she sees Ariel Hamilton at the Dream House, and not only her but also her boyfriend! Just recently it was revealed that Ariel Hamilton and teen heartthrob Harry Styles have been in a relationship for years. They finally announced it when they released a collaboration album together for Christmas, also with the news of their engagement. It was both adorable and exciting at the time, I think they make a lovely couple and now they'll perform together. At first I only wanted Ariel for the gig, but when Harry found out what was the plan, he asked if he could join, too. I wasn't the one to reject him.

When we do arrive to the Dream House the kids are so happy to see us. It's been so long and they've grown up so much, but they are still my kids. Obviously, Liam, Danny and Sammy are the most excited to see us, running faster than the others.

"You're here, you're here, you're here!" comes the chorus of childish voices while I get hugged from different directions. "Now everyone's home!"

I smile and hug them all, asking how they've been and feeling so warm as they all speak at the same time telling me how things have been and what they've been up to. Sammy holds my hand and guides me to the house and I swear she's vibrating with excitement.

At first, I think it's because we're here and we're supposed to have an early Christmas dinner (they don't know about the gig yet), but once when are inside the house I learn there's also a surprise for me. After greeting the other kids, getting introduced to the new ones and talking a bit with Clarisse, Sammy seems about to blow up and she can't hold it anymore.

"Blanca, you have to come with me. Now, ahora, chigum!" she claims, in three different languages and I can't stop giggling at that. She has kept practising after we left to learn more languages.

I am dragged by the little girl (although she's not that little now), chuckling to myself until I'm in the kitchen and I freeze at the sight, my heart stopping for a whole second before taking off like a rocket. Sammy is a mess of giggles next to me, bouncing before she pushes me forward, towards him.

It's been over two years since I last saw him and although we've kept in touch, it's never the same. Furthermore, for the last year we've barely talked as he went travelling around the world, volunteering in different countries while working on his thesis.

But now he's there, taking cookies out of the oven and still unaware of my presence.

"Will! Stop with the cookies, Blanca is here!" Sammy screams and that seems to get to him, who stops moving and just holds still, like I'm doing.

Slowly, Will turns around, tray still in his hand, Christmas apron making him look so domestic. He looks exactly the same, but he also looks so different. The look in his eyes is heavy with life experiences and so many emotions. He looks more mature but he is still the same warm and kind person I met almost three years ago.

"Well, isn't this a lovely sight. Wellcome back, Princess," he says, the smile slowly spreading as his eyes seem to light up.

I want to run up to him, throw myself in his arms and tell him how much I've missed him. Instead, I stay where I am and grin back.

"Look who-s speaking. I thought you'd still be lost in some unpronounceable country, Guillermo," I say, and I heart flutters when he smiles in a way that makes everything in me feel made of warm gelatine.

"Wow, I really missed being called that," he adds, chewing on his bottom lip, our eyes locked. "You look great, Princess."

"You look like you need a shave, urgently," I point out, making him laugh. But I mean it, the whole beard going on doesn't suit him, although he still looks handsome. Or maybe that's because I'm biased and I've missed him so much.

"Man, and here I thought the beard would make me look more like a dirty hippy so you'd recognise me faster," he jokes and I can't help my grin widening even more. I watch him as he puts the tray aside, breaking the eye contact just briefly. "Well, Princess, don't you think you owe me a hug? Or is the beard keeping you away?"

"He looks stinky but he actually showered. Three times before you came," Sammy gives him away, in whispers, making me laugh harder at that, and the fact Will actually blushes makes it even funnier.

"You owe me like a thousand dates," I point out, my way to ask if this is it, when our hiatus ends or if we have to keep waiting.

"I'd love to start paying now. Do you have time to, let's say, go watch a movie together?" And I know this is his way to ask if now I feel like I have the time to be with him.

And the answer is, obviously, "I know exactly how to make room for you now. I've been waiting."

I can see relief, happiness and excitement in his smile, which I mirror as he opens his arms for me. And now I do run to him, like a cliche from a movie, I run to him until I land in his arms, tightly wrapped and sheltered. I sigh deeply, looping my own arms around his waist and holding on to him while taking deep breaths. I've missed him so much and I'm not even surprised my feelings for him have changed, because he's been a constant thought in my head, a motivation to keep going. I've been waiting for this moment and it's finally in my hands.

We pull away, just enough to look at each other, our smiles still playing. "I've missed you so much," Will whispers and I nod, mouthing a simple, 'me too.' And then he's leaning in, so I close my eyes to wait for the kiss that's coming.

Or that I thought, because I didn't consider the piercing scream that'd come from another part of the house, startling me. It didn't sound like a terrified scream, but it still surprised me. Will is obviously equally shocked so he just grabs my hand and leads me outside the kitchen, to check out what happened.

I should've figured it out, though, that it was Sammy when Ariel Hamilton and Harry Styles (and their manager, obviously, who would send these artists alone to an orphanage?) show up at the door, waving and smiling happily while holding their guitars.

Once Will realises that's what made Sammy shriek, he relaxes and then wraps one arm around my shoulders, pulling me closer, and I follow, getting comfortable next to him.

I meet Nora's eyes and by the way she's smiling I can tell she knew Will would be here and she looks so smug that I didn't figure it out. In gratitude, because I'm sure she helped Will to know I'd be here today, I just nod my head and she only smiles wider before focusing on the artists and welcoming them. The couple look so honestly happy to be here with the kids who can't stop looking awestruck, gaping like fish out of water. Give them five minutes, though, they'll be all over the new guests.

Ariel meets my eyes for a few seconds, smiling brightly and waving. I met with her a few times before this, to explain what I wanted her to do and to discuss the fees, but instead of accepting the payment she insisted on doing it on her own volition. It made me like her even more, realising she's not just a talented artist but also a great person and I'm happy my kids look up to her.

"I'm sure the moment Sammy wakes from her trance and realise you managed to bring her favourite artist home, she's gonna steal you from me," Will whispers in my ear.

"What do you suggest then?" I question back, smiling on my own.

He grins before pulling me away from everyone else, and I follow him without questioning until we leave through the back door and keep walking. Even if I haven't been here in a year, I know exactly we are heading to the corrals and soon I confirm it when I can spot the goats roaming. My smile only grows as we approach and I can't believe Heidi still remembers me.

"I haven't been the only one to miss you terribly, apparently," Will comments, hand on my waist, making me stop paying attention to the goat to focus on him. He makes me turn until my back is against the fence and he's in front of me. "But I've missed you more than Heidi has."

I bite my bottom lip, watching him up close with a fluttering stomach that won't settle.

"Now, do you think I get to kiss you before someone comes looking for us?"

"I guess we have to find out," I reply, looping my arms around his neck and grinning back at him.

Taking the challenge, he finally leans in to capture my lips in a sweet loving kiss. And it feels just like it did long ago, still perfect, warm, and like something I could do my entire life. As I kiss him back I can't help my own smile because there's no way to control the happiness I'm feeling. It's been so long, we've both done a lot and I'm sure we're not the same people that we were back then, but I still love him as much as then and I can't wait to get to meet the person Will's become. I'm also eager to let him see how much I have grown up because I'm proud of everything I've done and I know he'll also be proud.

Even if I'm still busy, I feel ready now. I've taken the reins of my life and I know what I'm doing, I feel confident this time I can give Will not just my heart but also my time. Sure, we waited a lot for this but I needed those years to settle in my life and get the hang of my responsibilities while knowing that Will would be there when I was ready.

And here he is now, with me because I'm ready to finally open this chapter in my life. This life of mine, although uncannily similar to a fairy-tale, wasn't like one; no one writes it for me and decides where to go now. My story hasn't ended like in the fairy tales and doesn't have a happy ending, it's still ongoing, I still have so much to do, so much to see, so much to grown, so much to live. There'll come so many other moments that'll feel like happy endings, but even then it won't be over.

There's a saying you only face in life what you can endure, and it must be true. Given, it's difficult and at the time you feel like you can't possibly with it, but after you've done it and look back realise that yes, you were always capable of handling that. I'm sure in the future I'll have to face situations that are worse than what I lived with Laura, but I'll face them head on and do my best to reach success again. Life isn't like a fairy-tale or a story, with limited amount of chapters and determined conflicts, quite the contrary, life is like a never-ending series. One book after the other, one episode after the other, one chapter after the other.

I know there're a bunch of chapter aheads for me, and I'm ready to open one after the other as I live my life.

I'm ready.

The End

❅ ❅ ❅

For everyone who was also having a crappy Christmas, I hope this cheered you up. For those who were having a good Christmas, I hope this was the cherry on top. For the ones who don't celebrate Christmas, there's still a present for you from me.

I want to thank everyone who read this story and joined me during the journey. I went through a lot this year, it made my books so irregular and I still feel I've lost the motivation to write, what made me work so hard for it before. I'm trying to solve that, but it's hard. Maybe I've changed too much.

I want to apologise for the long waits I made you go through, but seriously, thank you for putting up with it and still waiting for updates, even if they were so sporadic. You guys are awesome.

For the constant support and love, I'm forever thankful.

Have wonderful holidays, everyone! Let's hope for a better year and work hard for it, too. See you all then, remember I'll start posting two books in January. You can add them to your library if you want. One is Borrower, the first in the Chemical Mess Series. And the next one in the Aware Princess Series is Break Free Roselle.

Hope you see you on the comments there, guys.

Happy holidays,
Bel, xx