Natalia stood at the kitchen counter, a pot of boiling lasagna noodles on the stone, and a tub of ricotta cheese, meat and pasta sauces on the table in front of her. She set down a stoneware lasagna pan in front of her, humming softly as she looked at the cookbook.

Viviane walked into the kitchen, sitting up on the bar stool. "I'm done with my homework," She paused, looking at what her mother was doing. "What are you doing, Mum?" She asked, folding her arms on the counter.

Natalia turned around and looked up from stirring the noodles. "Oh, Viviane, glad to have done your homework." She walked away from the pot and set the pasta spoon on the counter. "I'm making lasagna, or at least trying. It doesn't seem to be that hard to make." She smiled, tapping her nails on the counter.

Viviane raised her eyebrows. "You? Cooking? Is that what you have been doing all day?" She asked as her eyes went down to the dishwasher that was almost done.

Natalia nodded, confirming that was what she had been doing. "Yes, I have. I've made a lot of food for the week and I must say, it's not that hard. I enjoy cooking and wished I would have done it sooner." She smiled, walked over to the stove, and turned off the burner.

Viviane leaned on her arms that were folded on the counter. "Have you done that before?" She inquired skeptically, pressing her hands on the counter and lifting herself to see into the pot.

Natalia smiled softly, thinking back to any memories she could recall. "A few times I assume. I once made a cake for my father before he passed, it looked awful. Nathaniel tried to fix it the best he could, it was unfixable though. Father was pleased and it tasted surprisingly good, at least that's what he said, not that I believed him."

Something clicked in Viviane's head as if a lightbulb lit up over the top of her head. "Why didn't we tell Uncle Nathaniel and Tori that we left?" She asked, pushing a piece of hair behind her ear.

Natalia bit her lip, draining the pasta into the strainer over the sink. "It's not that I don't trust my brother, I wanted to tell him what was going on but your father made it clear he didn't trust him." She replied, a downcast expression growing on her face.

Viviane had recalled a few times how her father had been hostile towards her uncle, possibly that was. "Does Dad think Uncle Nathaniel has something to do with our situation?" She hesitantly asked, biting her lips.

Natalia whipped her head up as she set down the pot. "What? No! Of course not! Nathaniel wouldn't do something like that. He-he loves us all. Yes, he was upset he couldn't be king despite being the eldest, but he wouldn't go to that extent." She defensively exclaimed, shaking the strainer to get the water out of the pasta.

Viviane sank back into her seat, and looked down at her lap, playing with her fingers. "I didn't imply I thought that, I was just saying - knowing how Father is I-I was just wondering . . ." She trailed off, picking at her nail polish.

"I'm sorry for snapping at you, I didn't mean it." Natalia sighed softly, setting the strainer down on the counter. 'It's just, I have no doubt Vincent thinks that but I just can't see why he would think Nathaniel would do something like that.' She thought to herself with a downcast expression growing on her face.

Viviane could tell that her mum even had doubts. "It's all right, things have been kinda crazy since we've left and without knowing who's behind this whole thing, it's stressful."

Natalia decided to switch the subject since she wasn't in any mood to continue. "Are your brothers home yet?" She asked, beginning to layer the tomato and meat sauce and the pasta.

Viviane shook her head, folding her arms and resting them on the table. "No. Daniel texted and said that Cooper caught up at school and will be home around six-thirty. He also said he texted you first but you didn't read our reply so he texted me instead."

Natalia nodded, wondering what her son could be doing at school. "I haven't had a chance to check my phone," She informed Viviane. "Your father should be home around that time too."

Viviane knew he had a new job but didn't quite know what it was. "What does Dad do again?" She asked, not knowing what kind of job he could get with his experience of being a king.

Natalia was wondering when her kids would ask what Vincent was doing. "He's consulting at a law firm. It's a divorce law firm. Owned by the very people who own this house we are staying at. Before you start, he's got a degree for it. Spend months taking online courses to prepare for this very exact thing."

"Wait a moment!'" Viviane exclaimed, shooting up from her seat and swiftly placed her hands on the counter. "You knew for months we'd be leaving to come to America and you told us on the day we were leaving?" She asked, jumping up from her seat.

Natalia's stern look signaled Viviane to sit back down. "Calm down. It wasn't set in stone. We were hoping it didn't come to this but it was the last option available to take." She replied, working on another layer of lasagna.

Viviane slipped back into her chair and rested her elbows on the counter, then rested her cheeks in her hands. "I'm sorry. I'm still upset about this whole thing." She asked with a heavy sigh at the end of her words.

Natalia's expression softened. She kept forgetting how hard this must've been on her children. "No, no, you have every right to be upset." She shook her head and pushed those thoughts out. "Anyways, we should have told you sooner but chose to keep it a secret. By not telling you, you had no time to prepare, which, looking back, wasn't the smartest move."

Viviane hopped off her chair and walked around the counter. "Oh Mum," She wrapped her arms around her mother's waist, hugging her. "But, now looking at it, if I was in your place I would've done the same thing. Telling us was risky, we could have accidentally told someone. Also, the fewer people that know the better chance we had of escaping. I understand."

Natalia stiffened at her daughter's hug but loosened up. "I'm at a loss for words, Viviane. I - thank you." She was surprised yet touched by her daughter's actions.

Viviane pulled away, lacing her fingers together behind her back with a bright smile. "It's nothing. I honestly find this whole thing exciting and just wish we'd be able to stay longer. I finally have a taste of what it's like to be normal but soon that will be all taken away, not that I'm complaining, I do enjoy being a princess, I just prefer moments like these." She beamed, twisting her body back and forth.

Natalia pressed a soft kiss into the top of Viviane's head. "I know what you mean. Your father is taking this whole adjusting thing better than I am. I suppose it has to do with him not being royalty or even nobility before we married." She said, turning back to the lasagna and putting it into the oven.

Brian walked into the kitchen just as Natalia had ended her words. "What are you guys talking about - hmm, what's that smell?" He asked, getting caught off guard by the smell of the lasagna, although he hadn't a clue what that was.

Viviane replied to Brian quicker than Natalia could. "We were talking about Dad and that would be lasagna. Mum's been making it for dinner." She replied, watching him take a seat across from her and their mother.

"Hmm, sounds good," Brian folded his arms on the counter. "I'm done with my homework. Allison is still working on hers. I offered to help but she shot me down before I could finish asking." He replied, recalling the frustrated expression on her face and not wanting to compromise her pride to ask for help.

Viviane snorted followed by a short, dry laugh. "Classic Alli. It would probably kill her to ask for help. She's like Dad, her pride is her biggest issue." She added, folding her arms and leaning them against the counter.

Natalia saw much of her husband in her youngest daughter. "She'll break the habit one day. Perhaps she'll learn what your father hasn't." She mused, loading up the dishwasher.

"We can only hope." Viviane said, pushing off the counter and popping the P. "I don't think she even asked help when we were unpacking. I had to offer and insist to help, she's stubborn sometimes."

Natalia closed the dishwasher and placed her hands on her hips. "Well, since dinner is now in the oven I think we can spend a little time by ourselves before dinner. I have a book I've been wanting to read for quite some time but never had the time." She smiled, making her way out of the kitchen and to her room.

Viviane pursed her lips and looked at her brother who seemed to be pondering what he wanted to do. "Oh, want to play that racing game Kwan has been talking about? I found it under his bed."

Brian's eyes went wide and a smile graced his lips. "I'd love to. It's that one where you collect power-ups and it has different levels of difficulty?" He asked to which his sister nodded. "I get to pick the character first!" He exclaimed, dashing for Kwan's room.

Viviane grinned as she dashed after her brother. "No way, you always get to pick first! It's my turn! You'll take the best one there is!" She exclaimed with a laugh.

〰️♛〰️

Dinner time finally came around when Vincent, Cooper, Kwan, and Daniel had come home. After cleaning up, everyone sat down at the table as Natalia with Viviane's help set the food down on the table.

Vincent's eyes were wide as he looked at the spread before him. "Oh, you must've spent all day in the kitchen. It certainly looks like a typical American dinner." He said, seeing the lasagna, breadsticks, salad, and roasted vegetables.

Natalia smiled as she sat down at the other end of the table, across from her husband. "Yes. I did spend the whole day preparing meals for the rest of the week. I also prepared lunches for the children since I've read some disturbing articles about school lunches."

Cooper hadn't seen his mother ever cook or bake before, the spread before him looked delicious. "Thanks, Mum, you have out done yourself ekth this spread." He flashed his mother a smile.

Natalia turned the smile with her own soft one. "It's never a problem. Now, let's eat." She said, passing around the dishes so everyone could fill up their plate with the food.

Kwan eyes became glossy and his mouth stared watering could hardly wait to dig in and savor the food. "You are too kind." He beamed, begging into his lasagna as soon as he placed it on his plate. "Hmm, so warming."

Brian took a bite out of his piece of lasagna. "Oh, this is good. I didn't know you could cook, Mum, it's quite a delight." He smiled, feeling more comfortable with calling her mum instead of mother.

Allison was also enjoying the meal, seeing as she was stuffing her face unladilike. "It is very good. It's most certainly picture-worthy." She complimented Natalia with a smile after she swallowed her food.

Natalia was glad her children so far had enjoyed the meal. "Thank you," She looked to Viviane and Daniel, who hadn't said a word yet. "What about you two?"

Viviane looked up, chewing up a mix of breadsticks and lasagna that puffed out her cheeks. "Oh, it's very delicious." She swallowed, giving a sheepish smile. You've got a hidden talent."

Daniel nodded, setting down the breadstick on his plate. "Hmm, it is unlike anything I've had before. I can truly feel the love that went into the cooking." He complimented, knowing it sounded a little cheesy, but he was nothing but the truth.

Natalia was glad to hear that everyone was happy. "Thank you," She truly meant it. The thankfulness in her heart from their kind words made her feel warm. "How was school?" She wanted to move on to a different subject.

Allison was the first to answer her mother when she asked about how their school day had gone. "School was all right overall, but I am a bit upset that some of the kids said my accent sounded like a bad fake British accent. I was thinking I am not British, I am Amaryllian, this is my accent, like how dare they. But I said nothing because I can't blow our cover."

Viviane shook her head as her sister spoke with a frown. "Whoa, now just wait a moment, did you forget about the part where I stood up for you? Or did that just slip your mind?" She asked, feeling a bit jaded that her sister had forgotten how she defended her.

Allison glared back at her sister with a deep frown. "It didn't slip my mind, I-I-I was going to get to that." She defensively responded, taking a bite out of her breadstick.

Vincent raised his eyebrow and exchanged looks with Natalia. "That was your only qualm with school, Allison?" He asked, as he turned his attention back to Allison.

Allison nodded her head, a matter-of-factly expression on her face. "Yes. That was the only issue I had. Other than that, I had a good time and I even made mates! Well, I haven't had time to get to know them but I think we'll be good mates soon."

Natalia wanted to move away from the subject so she changed it. "Did you too spend time together at school?" She asked, wondering if her daughter's spent any time together, although she figured it was a slim chance.

Viviane shook her head, confirming her mother's thoughts. "No, I kept my distance. I don't want to have the same friends that Alli has. I've learned from experience that sharing common mateships doesn't do the best." She proudly declared, eating her dinner.

Natalia nodded as she took a sip from her glass and set it back on the table. "Boys, what about you?" She asked, wanting to hear how school was for them.

Brian exchanged looks with Cooper and Daniel then spoke up. "I wouldn't say I made mates but I do have a few guys I can hang out with. School was fine, but the amount of homework we are giving is ridiculous. Do they think we have several hours of spare time to focus on nothing but homework and then have time to study and get decent sleep? Homework should be abolished."

Allison nodded matter-of-factly. "I agree. Whoever thought of homework was a blundering bloke, because any normal person wouldn't think to burden kids with loads of useless papers." She explained with a groan at the thought.

Cooper piped up, interrupting Brian or Allison from saying another word. "I made the lacrosse team. Tryouts weren't that hard and the coach was pretty desperate so everyone who tried out made the team."

Natalia was glad that someone had good news. "Oh, that's wonderful, Cooper. Lacrosse is where they have the sticks and scoop up the ball, run around and toss it to each other?" She asked, trying to make sure that lacrosse was what she was thinking it was.

Cooper nodded, recalling vividly how Kwan explained it to him. "Yes, that's the one. I'm hoping it's not as brutal as everyone says, which I doubt considering our team is a rag-tag bunch." He explained with a smile on his face.

Vincent was pleased to hear Cooper had gotten himself involved with a sport that promotes teamwork, relying on and trusting others. "Teamwork is a good skill to learn, especially when it comes to ruling a whole kingdom. It's not just a king or queen who makes the decisions but a whole team of qualified counsel members who help."

Daniel wanted to add that he was on a sports team too. "I'm going to try out for the chess tomorrow. I wanted to watch Cooper's practice and he is naturally good." He grinned, excited, and could hardly wait. "I'm looking forward to some friendly competition and learning how others decide to play chess."

Kwan decided to pipe in and add how his day had gone. "I made some connections, and got a log of good information." He said with a cheeky grin.

Natalia smiled, relieved that everyone had been having a good time at school. "That's good to hear. I'm glad you all have been having a good first day. Hopefully, there will be many more to come." She thoughtfully smiled. "Have you made any mates?"

Cooper exchanged looks with Daniel and Kwan, wondering if he should bring up Sabrina, Kiki, and Lacy. "I wouldn't say we've made mates but we have met a few people. I'd like to make mates on my terms, not swamped by try-hards who just want to be our mates because we're foreign or rich."

Vincent listened quietly, partly glad they were wanting to make friends on their terms. "Understandable. But do remember, once the threat is lifted we have to return home and that means leaving our American mates behind. Chances are, you won't see them again and yes you may be able to keep in touch via text or call, but at the end of the day long distance will grow you apart."

Natalia shot her husband a disapproving look. "Not always. However, if that does happen at least you'll have good memories of your time together to think back on. But we shouldn't worry about the future when it hasn't happened yet and focus on the here and now."

Cooper thought about what his mother had said. 'Good memories. Hmm, what good memories can I make during my time here? I should be the one to take the initiative and talk to people. I do have the upper hand, considering people aren't flocking to be my mate, which is a good thing. Even if I don't have mates, acquaintances are just as good as mates sometimes.'

'Although Sabrina and Lacy aren't ideal mates, Kiki seems nice and it would be good to spend time with other kids my age. They haven't exactly done anything other than Lucy's little slip-up about Stephoné which could have been nothing. I'll try and get to know them better, perhaps I'm just misjudging them."

'I should also try and speak to Stephoné, she seems like she could use some more friends. I would have to try and find a chance to speak with her without her brother and friend there. I can't get it out of my head that she was staring at me, I wonder why . . . does she need help? Someone unbiased to listen to her? I need to find an opportunity but that'll be hard. I should ask Kwan for help - wait, no, that would be an awful idea. As much as I love Kwan, chances are there would be a miscommunication on my part.' He thought to himself.

He had a lot to get in order before school the next day.

Hopefully, things would turn out in his favor, if not, he would be fine with whatever life had in store.

〰️♛〰♛〰♛〰♛〰♛〰♛〰

A/N:
Sorry, sorry, I've been procrastinating. It's also been a bit of writer's block and I've been busy, but I'm trying my best and will be better at updating next year. I've been thinking up some good ideas on what to do next and I have some pretty good ideas.

Chapter Talk:
I thought it'd be interesting that Viviane was the one to bring up that Vincent might think Nathaniel is behind it. Which is true but they don't know that and I wanted to show a little backstory between Vincent and Nathaniel. I hadn't thought about it before, but realized that would make the big reveal a whole lot more juicy.

Thanks for reading!