My ship docked and I was brought to the court

The guards opened the gate for my carriage. They announced my arrival

"Queen Alexandra of Italy, Princess of Scotland and France has arrived"

One guard announced

As I go down my carriage, my dearest friend whom the only person I told I was coming home escorted me.

"What a queen!"

He said

"Lord Marcus"

I smiled

"Why are we so formal?"

He joked

"Enough with it"

"I need a hug from my dear friend!"

He said

I laughed and hugged him

"Welcome back, Alex"

He whispered

"Thank you"

I whispered back

My ladies-in-waiting came

"OH MY-"

Rebekah said

"Gosh!"

Ana continued

"If it isn't our best friend from Italy!"

Belle smiled

"WELCOME HOME ALEX!!!"

Anne ran and hugged me

"GIRLS!"

"I missed all of you!"

I said

"And we missed you too"

Belle hugged me

"Why didn't you tell us that you're coming?!"

Rebekah asked

"Because it's a surprise! And if I told all of you, my mother would probably know about this by now!"

I laughed

"I have to agree though..."

Ana laughed

"So where is she?"

I smiled

"She's inside"

"With your not-so-baby brother"

Marcus said

"Oh my!!! I can't wait to see James!"

"Speaking of James... How about Uncle James?"

I asked

"Oh, he's out. I think he's checking the towns"

Marcus answered

"When will he be back?"

I asked again

"He'll be back later"

Marcus smiled

"C'mon! Let's go see you your mother"

Ana said

We walked inside after our chat.

"Mother!"

I said

She looked back with a surprised look on her face.

"Oh my! Alex!"

She said

I ran to her for a hug.

"I missed you so much, mother"

I whispered

"I missed you too, darling"

Queen Mary said after hugging Alex

"Why didn't you tell you're coming??"

"I could've told them to make your favorite cuisines"

She added

"I uhm... what's the point of a surprise if you'd know about it already?"

I laughed

She poked me

"Ouch, mother!"

I laughed

"Your brother missed you"

Queen said

"Of course! Probably, he missed seeing her sister's pretty face"

I joked

"Oh Alex"

"Why are you like that..."

She shook her head

"Anyway, where is he, mother?"

"Marcus told me you were with him?"

I asked

"Yes! I was"

"But I had to have him fetched by his babysitter because I'd be going back to work"

She said

"Come, let's go upstairs"

"It's either he's asleep or playing"

She added

As we are walking I said,

"I bet he is playing. Betting my Italian pieces of jewelry on him"

I laughed

Queen Mary stopped and looked at me.

"And since when are you into betting games, young lady?"

She raised her eyebrow

"Shhh, mother, I am old"

I smiled at her

She squinted her eyes and continued walking.

The door was opened by James' babysitter.

"Your majesties"

She bowed to us

"Is he awake?"

Queen asked

"Oh, very much awake, your majesty"

She smiled

I walked in seeing my baby brother looking like a big boy already. He's ten months already! Wow! Time flies by so fast.

"James!"

I called him

He looked at me smiling and crawling towards me so I sat down on the floor.

"My handsome baby brother, did you miss your beautiful sister?"

I smiled

He giggled

"Did you miss playing with Alex?"

Queen asked

He smiled at her then gave me his toy

"Aww, this is cute!"

"I'd like to have one like this for my baby too!"

I said

"What?"

Mother asked

"Oh! I said I'd like to have this one for my baby in the future."

"I-If I have one already..."

I smirked

"Mhmm"

"Don't worry I kept your baby toys before and you actually have a toy like that too"

She laughed

"Oh really??"

"I can't remember!"

I scratched my head

I tried to move away a bit from my brother because of course, I have to protect my soon-to-be growing stomach.

Mother and I stayed with James until he fell asleep.

"So Alex, why did you decide to come here all of a sudden?"

Queen asked

"Oh... nothing"

"Can't I go visit my loving mother and not-so-baby brother?"

I smirked

"Hmm..."

"Okay, that's a valid reason"

"But I sense something..."

"Something that you're hiding from me"

She squinted her eyes again

I laughed

"Tell me"

"Are they treating you right in Italian court?"

She asked seriously

"They treat me perfectly, mother"

I replied

"Did Marco hurt you?"

"His mother?"

She asked again

"Mother, need not worry"

"I am good"

"No one did hurt me"

"I am perfectly fine"

I assured her

"Okay, Alex"

"I trust you with that"

She said

I nodded

We rested in James' chamber. I plan to tell her about my pregnancy tomorrow. Mother can really sense if I'm lying or not but I guess I was able to make her believe in whatever I said. I can't wait to see her reaction once she finds out!