"Nora?" Her brother asked.
"Yes. He is." Nora said.
"Nora, why didn't you tell us?" He father asked.
"I thought we just did?" She said.
"Oh my god." Mary said. "I can't believe I didn't recognize you. I am so sorry, you highness or your majesty. I'm sorry, I'm not sure how to address you."
"Christian, please. No need for any formalities." Christian said.
"I'm trying to process this as best I can, I apologize." John said.
"It's ok, Daddy." Nora said.
"How in the hell did you meet and fall in love and get engaged to this man? It's, it's… "
"Wonderful." Christian said. The shock still filled their faces.
"I was at a bar for my 21st birthday. I had on normal clothing. A hat. Nora was there for her friend's wedding. She didn't know who I was. Not at first. I kept it from her, to protect her, of course, and because I didn't want her to think I wasn't a normal man. We kind of just… fell in love and didn't even realize it. It was greater than we were, as people." He said, holding her hand and kissing it.
"I'll be damned." Her father said.
"Crazy right?" Nora said, laughing nervously.
"And you want to marry her?" John asked.
"More than anything." Christian said.
"And what does your family think?" Marcus asked.
"My mother knows about her. But they haven't met her yet. That's next on the agenda. We needed to get your approval first, while we were in the states." Christian said.
"Nora, you do realize that this will blow up, right? You're going to be famous. And that isn't necessarily a good thing. Your entire life will be laid out for public scrutiny. We all will be ran through the ringer. Our lives put out on display. Are you sure you are thinking this through?" Marcus asked.
"I can't help who I love, Marcus. I thought about that, yes. But what can I do? I can't just say that I don't want to be involved with all of that and cut him out of my life. I love him and I have to find a way to get through it. And I hate that you will be exposed as well, but giving him up is not an option for me. For either of us." She said.
"And what about your mental health, Nora? What about the depression?" Marcus asked.
"We will cross that bridge if we have to. And I will hold her hand the entire way. But I promise you, I won't let anything happen to her." Christian said.
"Are you moving to London?" Her father asked.
"I will be eventually, yes." She answered.
"That's too far." Her father said.
"We have 26 homes throughout England, Wales, Ireland and Scotland. You can come and visit or move to be with us, whenever you'd like." Christian said.
"Are you serious?" Marcus asked.
"Very much." Christian said.
"Wow. This is all so insane. I don't even know what to say." Marcus said.
"I do." Her father said. "I want you to be happy, Nora. That's all a father wants for his child. To be happy and protected. And it sounds like you have the means to give her that. You have my blessing and I guess I'll have to come and see the homes sometime so I can figure out where I want to stay when I'm in town." Her father said.
Nora smiled and hugged him. "Thank you, Daddy." She said.
"Thank you, sir. I promise to take care of her." He said.
"Good." John said. "I'm counting on it."
They packed up after dinner and Christian helped Nora into the car.
"That went well." Christian said.
"It did." Nora said. She seemed unusually quiet.
"Everything alright?" Christian asked.
"Yes. It's fine. I'm just, I'm just feeling how real this is now and I'm nervous about it. Not going through with it but losing it. Losing you. I really do love you, Christian." She said.
"It's such a relief to hear you say that, that's been foremost on my mind this entire time. I don't want to lose you." He said, looking into her eyes.
"I'm not going anywhere. I promise." She said.
"Nor am I" he said. He reached for her left hand and showed her the ring. "I promise." He said. She kissed him and wrapped her arms around him.
"Take me home, wifey." Christian said with a smile.
"Gladly." Nora said. They pulled into her drive and she lead him inside.
"Derek can have the couch." Nora said.
"I'll let him know." Christian said, kissing her. "Will have to be a little later, though." He said with a smile.