Chapter Text
January 1993
Anne and Tim were driving back from Balmoral after they had finally gotten married. Anne was happy. She smiled at people at the service station while they were getting some coffee for the last leg of their journey home. Their home. Anne had prepared the room, the closet and the en-suite for him to move in.
At Gatcombe the housekeeper, Mrs Cameron, was under the porch with the bull terriers.
“Your Royal Highness, Sir. Welcome home!” said the housekeeper greeting Anne and Tim.
“Thank you, Mrs Cameron. I would love to have a charcuterie board in our bedroom in half an hour, if it’s possible. I think my Lady in waiting sent here my schedule for January and my new agendas” said Anne getting into the house and looking at the ceiling.
“Yes, ma’am, all the mail is on your vanity table in your bedroom.” said Mrs Cameron
“You are so kind, thank you. We will be upstairs.” said Anne
They climbed the stairs and Tim said: “Can I carry you?”
Anne smiled softly at her husband and agree. She felt 23 again, when she had gotten married to Mark.
Tim smiled when he finally managed to get into the bedroom. It was quite modern. The bed was a king size one.
“Welcome home, Mr Laurence”
“Welcome to our bedroom, Mrs Laurence” replied Tim kissing Anne’s forehead and looking around.
“Do you want the grand tour now? Because I fear this month will be a very long one.” said Anne rubbing the small of her back and removing her boots.
“I am a bit tired.” said Tim removing his shoes.
“So, this is the walk in closet. This is my side and this is yours.” said Anne switching on the light and putting her boots on the shelf. “I got you these slippers.”
Tim smiled and kissed her lips.
Anne looked at the stack of paper on the vanity. She knew she needed to read at least the schedule for the following week.
Mrs Cameron arrived in bedroom with a tray and put it on the little table in front of a little sofa.
Anne and Tim sat down one next to the other and they enjoyed that little and simple meal together. Without any protocol. Anne was wearing a cardigan and a t-shirt with a pair of tracksuit trousers.
Tim was wearing a jumper and a pair of tracksuit trousers as well.
“Are you tired?” asked Tim looking at his wife who was rubbing her forehead.
“A bit. And tomorrow it’s Sunday, so we can go to church and then we can relax and have a nice walk with the dogs”
Tim loved Anne’s dogs, they were lovely bull terriers.
“What about the kids?” asked Tim
“They are going straight back to school because they are arriving back in England from Switzerland the day before term start.” said Anne sipping some coke from a glass and looking at her husband.
It was quite late, about 10:30 PM, so Anne took just a quick shower and snuggled into bed. She loved the thick duvet she had purchased before their wedding. Tim went into the bathroom to unpack all his stuff and looked around. He loved to see how Anne had emptied some space for him. She had also bought two hooks from Next saying “HIS” and “HERS”.
He had always thought royals had very expensive taste, Anne didn’t. She loved basic things, without many frills. But the bathroom looked very smart and very functional. He put the toothbrush next to hers and smiled softly. They used two different kind of toothpaste so he put his next to hers. He put away his shaving supplies and put in the shower caddy his shower gel and shampoo. Anne had all her pads and tampons in a basket near the toilet.
“Mr Laurence, would care to join me in bed?” asked Anne, teasing him.
Tim arrived back with his new pyjama set his mother had bought him before he moved to Gatcombe Park. Mrs Laurence was very proud of her son and she loved Anne.
Anne smiled at him and said: “Do you mind if we go over my schedule together?”
“Not at all.” said Tim, taking his planner and his fountain pen (Anne loved that he still wrote with the fountain pen).
Anne went through her schedule and Tim was amazed by her. She was going to be super busy and she was still trying to plan a couple of dates with him.
“Mrs Laurence, what’s that face?” asked Tim looking at Anne looking at a magazine.
“Nothing, don’t worry. Let’s sleep. Tomorrow will be a long one.” said Anne kissing his lips and breathing deeply in his scent.
“I love you, Annie” said Tim
“I love you too, Timmy” replied Anne, switching off the light and curling on his side.