#likecrazy-phff

Louise has never been the centre of attention. Growing up in a quiet and peaceful home made her very much her own person, a family person, with a few loyal friends who remained by her side after her parents death. When she moved to Africa with Florence, not so much changed. She was still on her own, always from home to school and school to home. A few years later, she stood out at university for her good grades and for Tom as he was always around her. Still, it was her choice to remain out of the spotlight. All she really wanted was to go back to Africa and do her job, after a few years working as an intern at the London Zoo.

Now she was everywhere.

It all happened like Harry said, now Louise and her family were known in the UK and she was known all over the world. The media tracked everything: from her grandpa George to the death of her parents and even Florence was in a few pages of many magazines.

They’ve published about her job, her school years and apparently friends she never had become “intimate sources” and talked about how shy and adorable she have always been. They talked about her parents, talked about her “incredibly sexy” grandmother and her “amazingly beautiful” sister.

They’ve published about Louise and Kate hating each other, which made both laugh as they talked for a few hours on the phone once Lou and Harry were official.

And that’s how she lived for the rest of the first year with Harry being part of her life. She had to deal with real life Harry: the Prince, the Captain, her boyfriend and the “party Harry”. Between royal duties and army training, Harry and Louise dealt with the many problems of living in a distance relationship. She couldn’t deny that sometimes she wished he was no one but her boyfriend, but although she always had a very quiet life, things were still not easy.

It was September 1st when she received a call from Mrs. Amelia Clark, the new director of the LZS - London soo, saying that they needed another wildlife zoologist with them for a few months as one of their asiatic lions prepared to give birth to new cubs.

“I can give you some time to think, Miss Bennett. But please, know that it would be a pleasure to have you here with us again. I was informed that you started your work with lions here and it’s a very important moment for us.”

“I’m really honored to be remembered, Mrs. Clark.”

“Your friend Andrea said she recently visited you and that what you and your staff have been doing over there is amazing to see.”

“Ha!” She giggled. “I’m glad she said that. But yes, our staff is really amazing and they’ve been helping me a lot to rehabilitate one of our lions.”

“I don’t mean at all to disrupt the hard work you’re doing over there, but your presence here would make sure that our new cubs will come to the world safely.”

“I’ll give you my answer tomorrow.”

“I’m looking forward to hear a ‘yes’ from you!”

And after they hung up the phone, Louise realized that a few months in London also meant a few months with Harry. She could leave someone in charge while she helped to bring new cubs to the world safely and got Harry as a bonus - the best bonus, indeed.

Louise obviously got a huge support from Maud and although Florence was a bit disappointed for not joining her sister in this short trip, she also supported her. Both grandmother and granddaughter talked for a few hours about who could be the zoologist in charge if Louise decided to go, and which would be the main priorities while she was out. Nash was doing quite well but he was still recovering and Nola wouldn’t be such a problem - since her daddy was back, she was spending a lot more time with him than with Louise. There was also two new pregnancies, five new cubs on the way and three lions would be released back into nature in two weeks.

“There’s so much do be done, gran...” Louise sighed.

“I know, bubbles. But you’re worring too much... You’re not always in charge of everything here. I have the feeling that now you want to be everywhere as an excuse for not going to London.”

“It’s silly to say I’m a bit scared?”

“Why is that? You’ve worked there before and there’s nothing new about lions for you.”

“Harry.” His name and the look on her eyes were enough for Maud to understand.

“Ohh...”

“Yep, ohh...” She sighed again. “We never spent so much time together.”

“And spending more time with him worries you.” Maud concluded.

“Hell yeah it does! What if the magic ends?”

“It won’t, bubbles. You’re both fighting distance.”

“What if being closer is harder than distance, gran?”

“Louise.” Maud held her granddaughter’s face, making Louise look straight at her. “If you really want to be with him or if he really wants to be with you, at some point, you’ll have to spend a lot more time together.”

“You know that means me moving to London for a few months or even permanently.”

Maud nodded. “I don’t really see a problem about you moving.”

“Are you serious?” Maud nodded again. “What about you and Florence? What about the park? What about Nola?”

“You weren’t raised to live with me and your sister for the rest of your life. And though you are the most important piece here, I know you and me could find someone good enough to replace you.”

That was the moment when Louise realized that if her relationship with Harry had a long future, she would have to leave. She would have to leave everything to be with him.

“You shouldn’t worry now, bubbles. Just take the job, spend some time with your boyfriend and wait to see what happens.” Maud said and reached her granddaughter for a kiss on her forehead. “I’m going out tonight. Mind to have a pizza night with your sister?”

“Not at all!” Louise celebrated. “Date night, Maud?” She teased her grandmother, laughing.

“Actually, yes. Date night!”

“Whoo-hoo! You go, Maud! Pizza night with Florence, then.”

“I’m taking the rest of the day off.”

“Have a good home spa day, gran.”

It wasn’t a busy day for her, so Louise went to her house and invited Florence to go shopping. Of course her baby sis wouldn’t deny a shopping day. Living in Africa had an advantage: she was hardly followed by the paparazzi. Usually, random people, probably tourists, took pictures of her thinking she was not seeing, but even that was quite hard to happen. She wondered how things would be if she went to London.

“What’s bothering you, sis?”

“Nah.” She shrugged. “Nothing important, I was just thinking how things would be if I actually decide to take this temporary job at the London Zoo.”

“Normal at the Zoo but not so normal if you want to talk about you and Harry.”

“Is there any normality about my relationship with him?”

“Ha! I think not! Have you told him?”

“Not yet, I still haven’t decided.”

“I can’t believe you’re still thinking! I would’ve accepted the moment I was asked.”

“I know you would, I just don’t want to rush.” 

“You think too much, Louise.” And she just nodded, agreeing with her sister because thinking too much sounded like her.

Louise’s phone buzzed with a message from Harry.

“How’s shopping with Florence? Heading to WellChild now. Love you xx”

And there was a photo of Florence and her laughing.

She didn’t replied. Louise decided to call him later, or once she made her decision about the London Zoo.

Withouth noticing, Louise bought most of stuff thinking about London - in which occasion she could wear that pair of shoes and if Harry would like to see her in a new dress. Not that he have seen her with many different dresses since she was always in her usual work outfit, but still, she thought about him.

First thing they did once they were home was to set the kitchen for a pizza night, which was something Louise was a pro. Cooking was an ability she was really proud having and also made both Florence and Maud happy, specially when the trio agreed it was pizza night, and cheese with extra cheese was their guilty pleasure.

An hour later, the two sisters were ready for their girl’s night without granny. It was only them, pizza, pyjamas and tons of movies to watch.

Though they were quiet most of the time, that was the best way of bonding for both of them. They were there next to each other, no words needed to feel like a sister moment - being on each other’s company was quite enough for Louise and Florence.

Between deciding and switching to the next movie, Louise got another message from Harry.

I’m home. Are you busy now? - Harry

Not really. Girl’s night with Flo, gran is out on a date, ha! How was WellChild? - Louise

Sounds fun! Inspiring, the kids were awesome. - Harry

Yikes! I made pizza! :P - Louise

Nooooo, can’t believe I’m missing it! - Harry

I might cook pizza for you really soon, ha! - Louise

I’d love that! - Harry

She thought about that during the movie. Talking about what they would do if they were together was something they got used to do, it was something that kept hope alive, that made them believe that in the near future they could really do all those things without worrying that he would have to leave. So yes, at some point, if they were meant to be together, she would have to leave Africa and move back to London.

By the time the second movie ended, her thoughts ended too and she came to a decision: going to London.

The two sisters fallen asleep together in the same sofa during the fourth movie. Louise was the first one to wake up with the door being opened by her grandmother.

"Hi gran, how was your date?" She whispered, trying not to wake up her sister.

Maud didn't said a word, but there was a large smile lightening her face, which obviously meant that her date was great and that made Louise extremely happy. Maud never had time to herself since her two granddaughters moved with her - she was always busy working or taking care of them, mostly taking care of Florence since Louise have always been the independent type of girl, plus Florence was only 3 when their parents died and she needed more attention from both of them.

Her grandmother left to her room and Louise decided to stay there with Florence - it was too comfortable to leave. She was lost in thoughts again about how things would be once she was spotted in London, either alone or with Harry. She thought about how getting even more attention could affect on the job she would do at the Zoo, thought about the things people would start to say and that Harry would most likely take her to meet his father and stepmother. It would be her first time there since they were official and although she was British, that wasn't her comfort zone anymore. Africa was.

Between thoughts and worries, but completely sure about what she wanted, Louise fell asleep again.