chapter two      Emma stepped out of the car, and out onto the tarmac. The wind was blowing pretty hard, and her hair was sticking to her lip-gloss. She tucked her hair behind her ears, and pushed her sunglasses up as a makeshift headband. A baggage handler unloaded her bags from the trunk of the car and took them to the plane. She turned around and removed her purse and her carry-on from the backseat.      "Emma!" she heard someone call out. She turned around to see Charles walking down the stairs of the plane.      "Uncle Charles!" she cried back, jogging over to greet him with a hug.      "How are you dear?" he asked.      "I'm good! Thank you so much for allowing me to come."      "Oh, it's so good to see you darling. It's been far too long since you're been over to visit." She bowed her head and fidgeting with her purse strap.      "I've been preoccupied." He nodded an understanding nod.      "I know that you and your father recently came back from Italy, how was it?"      "Wonderful. I'd forgotten how much I love that place."      "Yes, I always loved Rome myself, there's just something about it that stirs me."      "I know what you mean."      "Come dear, lets get you situated on the plane." They walked up the stairs and into the cabin of the plane. Emma was ushered to the back of the plane. Apparently she was early, she was the first one in the "kids" section of the plane. She slid her carry-on and her purse under her seat. A stewardess came by and asked her if she'd like something to drink. She ordered a Shirley Temple, and settled back into her chair.      She watched the baggage handlers load the bags of Charles' friends onto the plane. When a black sedan pulled up, she watched as Will and Harry emerged with Camilla's kids and Diana's goddaughter. At almost the same time, two other cars pulled up depositing the rest of the 'kids' onto the tarmac. A barrage of blond and low-rise jeans encircled Will. Several of the girls hung off William like monkeys, playfully kissing him on the cheek. Emma looked away and sipped her drink, just so she'd have something to do other than watch the spectacle that was unfolding outside.      Before long the gaggle of giggles and euphemisms spilled into the back of the plane. Emma hunkered down in her seat, hoping that everyone would settle down into his or her seats before William noticed her. No such luck.      "Emma!" he let out, making her way over to her.      "Hey Will," she said calmly, as she stood up. He embraced her in a big hug.      "I've missed you," he whispered quietly in her ear, "I'm so happy you're here. Now everything is perfect." She smiled inwardly and permitted a couple of giddy butterflies to bounce around in her stomach.      "I guess 'happy birthday' is in order, yes?" He blushed.      "Don't start it's not my birthday yet."      "So? 17! You finally get to join the ranks of licensed drivers!"      "If he passes the test!" Harry quipped. Will leaned over a seat a playfully swatted his brother in the head.      "Prick," he muttered under his breath. "So when did you get here?" Will asked Emma, returning all his attention to her.      "Maybe about ten minutes ago."      "Early bird gets the worm 'aye?"      "Something like that." He introduced her to all the other people in the plane and then everyone took their seats for take off. Will took the only seat that wasn't already occupied; it just happened to be the seat next to Emma.      During the flight, they were able to conduct small private conversations before one of the pop-tarts in the cabin did something stupid to catch everyone's eye, or before Tom Parker Bowles shook a champagne bottle then sprayed it at Harry. Emma wasn't amused by the other passengers antics; not that she's not a "live-it-up" kind of girl, she just doesn't like some blonde in a v-neck deep enough to see her belly-button interrupting her conversations with "Oy, want to play truth or dare?"      When Emma and Will actually got a chance to talk without the party brigade interrupting, they found that they had both grown up a lot, and changed a lot too.      Will definitely was into girls now. If his remarks about the "one that makes him smile" didn't tip Emma off, the hard stares down the blonde's blouse did. Emma had changed too. She was quieter now, more reserved. She had filled out a bit, Will noticed. Her once scrawny and long frame was now filled in with supple curves befitting a woman ten years her senior. She wasn't heavy, or "hippy", just nicely filled out, with ample curves in all the right places. Will was now sporting a chicer, hipper spike hair do. He was leaner, more muscle, less baby fat now.      Before they knew it, the plane was setting done in Spain, and the passengers were unloaded onto the tarmac. A short drive to the harbor where the boat was moored ensued. As everyone was welcomed onboard the luxurious yacht, Emma couldn't help but notice Will becoming increasingly nervous.      "Hey, Harry," Emma asked, walking over to him, "what's wrong with Will? He looks nervous."      "Oh, he's just waiting for someone."      "Oh?" Emma said, her hearting plummeting, "Who?"      "Camille."      "Camille?"      "Yeah, his girlfriend, she's coming along. I can't believe he didn't tell you about her."      "Neither can I," Emma said, tersely.      "They've been pretty serious for awhile now."      "You don't say." Emma picked up her bags and made her way to the elevator to go to her suite. Just as she pushed the elevators button, a springy blonde with an obviously fake rack waddled in off the gangway. Will immediately perked up and lightly padded over to her. He embraced her and pecked her on the cheek, though it was obvious to Emma that the playmate wanted a much hotter welcome.      Emma could feel the tears rising in her throat, so she quickly made her way into the elevator, punching the "door close" button before anyone noticed she had left. Once the elevator doors were open and she was on her designated floor, she dragged her bags to room and slammed the door behind her. She retreated to the bed, leaving her luggage in a pile at the door. She crashed on the bed and sobbed into her pillow. .:. back