Title: Arranged in the Stars

Disclaimer: I do not own Law and Order: Criminal Intent, Dick Wolf and NBC-USA networks do. The Bachelor is owned by New Line Cinema, a subsidiary of Warner Brothers.

Author's Note: This is an AU story and infused with my culture and is merged with two separate stories I had originally intended. Not beta'd so mistakes are mine. Prequel story to "Perfect Match".

A/N 2: FYI Alex, Bobby and her family's name in rough/randomly picked Chinese names. Alex= Ming Mei Ju "Beautiful Chrysanthemum"; Bobby=Lin Yongliang "Forever Bright"; John=Ming Shen-Li "Victorious"; Andrea=Ming Chunhua Cuifeng "Emerald Fragrance"; Liz=Ming Ning "Tranquility"; Jake=Ming Jing "Golden Brother", I will be referring to them by the translation nicknames

Rating: K

Genre: Romance

Chapter 1: Her Dream


Alex wanted a good night's rest but it was futile. She had received a very stern warning from her mother an hour earlier "Lexy you must find get engaged by graduation or we will find one for you or you risk losing your inheritance."

Deep into the night she started tossing and turning.

-Ming Dynasty, 1506-

"My daughter you stop at once," said Emperor Victorious.

Huh? Father? He usually doesn't that tone of voice with me…what is going? Best to go along with it.

Emperor Victorious had been arguing with his oldest daughter Princess Beautiful Chrysanthemum for the last hour and he had enough and put his foot down.

"I don't want to get married," yelled Beautiful Chrysanthemum.

"Don't you use the tone of voice with me young lady. Yes you will, in three days and that's final!"

The emperor walked off leaving his daughter fuming. Princess Beautiful Chrysanthemum stormed off into her room there she found her younger sister waiting for her.

Beautiful Chrysanthemum was always able to count on her sister Tranquility for the peace of mind she knows when to dispend.

"What's wrong big sister?"

"Father wants me to get married to the groom they had picked out for me. Why can't I pick when I am ready?"

"I take it they don't want you to stay unmarried. No worries though sister because the groom they picked is a good one."

"Oh?" asked Beautiful Chrysanthemum her interest upped a bit.

"Well I heard the groom is tall, handsome and incredibly smart with a heart of gold."

Hmm maybe I might give this a chance and see if it works.

The next few days Beautiful Chrysanthemum became more willing as they she and her family made final preparations for her marriage.

The morning of her arranged marriage, Beautiful Chrysanthemum got up at the crack of dawn to get ready her new life. When her mother, Empress Emerald Fragrance saw her in her wedding attire, she said, "Oh my daughter you look so beautiful."

The day seemed to have passed by flash because it wasn't long until they had gone through the wedding rituals of paying respects to the ancestors, elders and each other when they were along in their room.

The groom picked up a special stick to take off the red drape. As soon as the drape came off he was in awe. He had married the most beautiful woman he had ever seen.

Once the drape was off, Beautiful Chrysanthemum was stunned the moment she saw her husband. She knew had heard his heart of gold but did not expect him to be so handsome.

It did not take long for the two to warm up to each other, and as Forever Bright was leaning into to give his bride a kiss.

Suddenly a sound shattered the dream, when suddenly Alex awoke breathing hard. Right away she noticed she was back in her apartment she shared with her best friend, Francisca "Frannie" Veldez.

Could it be possible be I will soon meet the one who is for me? I better or else either I have to marry someone they pick for me or worse yet will lose my inheritance.


A/N 3: Thanks for reading Chapter 1 of "Arranged in the Stars". More to come!