I got a prompt from 2-huge-tiva-shippers-and-mary on A03 about a modern royalty FitzSimmons AU and here it is. Thanks so much for the title and prompt and I hope you enjoy! Marvel owns all.
There was a knock on the door, causing Jemma to look up from the medical journal that she was currently engrossed in. Skye was standing in the doorframe, a mischievous grin on her face. Jemma sighed, and closed the book knowing that she would get little done now that Skye was about to rope her into what she called 'bad girl shenanigans'.
"So," Skye began, taking Jemma's silence and her attention as the prompt to begin voicing whatever idea it was that she had aloud. "Malick is bringing Will…" At this Jemma gave a heavy sigh and rolled her eyes. She knew why Malick was bringing Will. To propose yet another marriage to her. This had been going on for nearly ten years now, beginning when she had turned eighteen. She had said no, respectfully declining, saying that her education came first. Malick, after talking to her father had accepted this but not without some underlying bitterness.
During her teenage years, Jemma had taken a master's degree in both politics and economics, though she loathed the subjects. They held no interest to her, unlike biology and chemistry, her true passions in life. They were how she had spent her last ten years, and now she had two doctorates in them, and she was hoping that they would be good enough to help the economic crisis that was currently plaguing their kingdom. A disease was passing though, not fatal (thankfully) but rendering workers unable to work. So their industry was failing, workers unable to get out of bed most days with a pounding headache, and their muscles so very sore. They were tired, lethargic most days and they days when they symptoms weren't as bad, very little work was still done.
Jemma wanted to help cure it, and not just for the economy. Indeed, that was the last though on her mind. She wanted to help them because she wanted to help them. They were people, in a sense, her people. And they shouldn't have to suffer. Painkillers and drugs were offered to help with the worst of the symptoms. But that wasn't good enough. They weren't doing enough. Jemma wanted to help, but her research was at a standstill. The virus caused a higher electrical charge in both the brain and the nerves, and due to that, nothing could be administered without a specific device. Something that Jemma had not yet succeeded in getting. She had, however, put out a request for help with this but as of yet there were no replies. What made it worse was that Jemma had no knowledge of how it was spreading, or where the virus initially came from.
"Jemma!" came Skye's voice, snapping her out of her thoughts. "Did you hear what I said?"
Jemma just looked at her confused, and Skye took a breath before…
"And your dad's throwing a ball." Skye said quickly, getting it all out. Skye preferred this method, unlike Jemma whose methods was stumbling and stuttering over all her words. Skye said she did this as it was like ripping a plaster off: quick, and relatively painless.
Jemma was stunned into silence, something that was so very uncharacteristic of her. Her father, the King, had said nothing of this at all. It seemed like everything she had worked so hard towards would be thrown away for the sake of some money.
Well, a lot of money. An issue that Malick brought up every time that he saw Coulson. He wanted Jemma to marry his son as Jemma was the only one of royal blood that was of his age. And Malick promised the kingdom a large volume of money if that were to happen (money that would solve the problems in the short term but not in the long term) and that left her father conflicted. He wanted to ensure that his daughter was happy, he didn't want to pressure her into something that he didn't want but he also knew that he had a kingdom at stake. One day, he along with Jemma, would have to make a decision that would impact everyone.
And it wasn't that she didn't like Will. He was nice enough, but he wasn't interesting. Not to her anyway. Anytime that they had met, he always seemed disinterested in her. He took no interest in her work, he barely talked to her and there was no connection.
And if Jemma was going to marry, she wanted someone she connected to, someone who understood her. Someone she loved. But she was yet to find that person. And sometimes she wondered if she ever would.
"So…" Skye trailed off. It was obvious that she had been saying something while Jemma had been so lost in though. "What you think?"
"Think of what?"
Skye sighed, slightly exasperated at her friend. Jemma had a tendency to zone out, her extraordinary brain thinking of who knows what. But it was one of the many reasons that she loved Jemma. "Hunter. Dress shopping. You need something for tonight."
"It's tonight?" Jemma asked, clearly she had missed a lot of information somewhere.
Skye nodded. "Last minute thing. Malick and Will told Coulson late last night that they were coming, everyone has been working through the night to make it work. That's why the Great Hall was out of bounds all morning. May is coming to help get you ready but if we're lucky, we can get there and back again before anyone knows that we're gone."
Jemma looked at her friend, knowing that this would get her into a world of trouble.
But she nodded.
When they got back, Hunter parking the car in the oversized garage, they were in a world of trouble.
Coulson, her father, caught them sneaking back into the palace, a large bag each.
The disapproving look stung, and Skye bit her lip nervously. They both knew they shouldn't have left, Jemma especially, and not without permission.
"Where were you?" The question was one that was said in a tired tone. Ruling had put a lot of pressure on him lately, and the past twelve hours only adding to that.
"Skye and I wanted to go out for gowns for the ball, father. We're sorry, we should have let you know."
"But you have a dress," he replied, this directed more at Jemma than at Skye. He rarely let Jemma out of the castle without permission from her, or her mother, despite the fact that she was nearly twenty eight now. He feared for her safety, and she supposed that he was right in a way. After what had previously happened. "From your mother's fiftieth birthday last year."
This caught Jemma out. She was hopeless at getting out of trouble in situations like these.
Skye, meanwhile, was perfect and managed to chime in before Jemma could give some horrendous reply. "She can't wear the same thing twice! What do you think the press would say?"
Coulson shook his head in dismay. "Skye Daisy Johnson, you really are trouble. Why do I let you near my daughter?"
"Because she's my good influence." She gave a sweet smile before dragging Jemma away. Half way down the corridor she turned around and shouted back down. "We'll see you soon!"
Coulson just shook his head again, and headed off. Malick was due to arrive soon, and the Great Hall still wasn't ready. He had only heard the news the night before, leaving very little time for everything to be set up.
"Sir."
The voice caused him to spin. May. Head of security. Nothing got past her without her knowing.
"Is it about Jemma and Skye?"
A brief nod was his reply. "You know?" she asked, already knowing the answer.
"Yes"
"Who was with them?"
"Hunter."
"Armed."
Another nod from the king. This helped to quell May's nerves. She always thought of the two woman as her daughters, and knowing that Hunter was there, to help protect them made everything seem better, if only slightly.
"So what's worrying you?"
"Malick. He's planning something. Coming here, demanding a massive ball the day that he arrives."
"What do you think he'll do?"
Coulson raised an eyebrow at her. "Do we really need to ask that question?"
"You look amazing." That was all Skye could say as Jemma observed herself in the mirror. Her dress, long, flowing and a dark sea blue was amazing. She had to admit it. Skye did a great job picking it out for her.
"Thanks," Jemma said, absentmindedly, spinning to see herself from all angles. She turned and faced Skye, plastering a fake smile on her face. Her stomach was in knots, she hadn't felt fear like this for many years now. She could sense that something was going to happen, but she just wasn't sure what was going to happen yet.
"You ready?" Skye asked. She loved everything like this: balls, fancy banquets, high powered guests toing and froing in the palace. However, all these were rare but Skye took what she could get.
Jemma nodded and as she headed to the door, Skye stopped her. "What?" Jemma asked, but all that Skye did was push a curl back into position. Jemma held out her hand and took it, opening the oak door to the corridor.
Her bodyguard, Bobbi was there, along with her boyfriend Hunter (who also was their driver). She nodded at Jemma. Bobbi had been handpicked by May, head of security, and her and Jemma had grown close together in the years that they had known each other. They had even had classes together at University, with Bobbi also gaining a Doctorate and a promising career in the world of biochemistry, but ultimately, her job as a bodyguard won out. Still, it didn't mean that she had forsaken the lab altogether, and Jemma really appreciated her help.
Hunter gave them both a smile, and looped his arms through Skye's. Though the two were not in a relationship, they always attended the events together. Bobbi rarely went to these events, and Skye always did, so Hunter tagged along with her as a friend.
Jemma tagged behind with Bobbi as they made their way down the corridor. She wouldn't be with Jemma most of the night, she would be keeping watch with May for the majority of the night. She ran through the agenda with Jemma; her mother would present her to the crowd, she would meet with Will Daniels, they would share the opening dance to the evening, then the meal would be served, the speeches, then more dances before Coulson finally calling the night to a close.
Nothing new, and nothing unusual. But Jemma liked going over it with Bobbi, liked knowing what was going to happen, and when it was going to happen. It gave her a feel for the night, allowed her to prepare (she did excel in preparation after all).
They spend the rest of the way discussing this and found Jemma's mother standing at the door to the huge stair case that took centre place in the Great Hall.
"Jemma," she called out, beckoning her daughter to her and pulling her into a hug. Jemma returned the favour. Though Audrey may not have been her biological mother (whom she took her surname, Simmons, after), Jemma had known her all her life and loved her dearly. She called Audrey her mother, having never know her biological mother (who died in child birth). "You ready?"
Jemma nodded when she pulled away, and shot a glance over her shoulder. "See you down there?"
"There better be those mini sandwiches that I love tonight," Skye shouted over her shoulder as her and Hunter headed down the corridor, finding the staircase that would take them to the courtyard just outside the Great Hall.
"A couple of minutes," her mother said once they were alone again but there was a sadness about her smile. Jemma was about to ask, but then thought better of it. It was probably stress, today would have been stressful for everyone, and Jemma felt a rush of guilt. She should have been more help.
But just then, the announcement that beckoned them though the door came. "Princess Jemma Simmons, and her mother Queen Audrey Coulson."
They looked at each other and nodded, before proceeding through the doors.
They paused at the stop for the crowd to take them in, lights of the cameras flashing from the few members of press that Coulson allowed in, only those who he trusted.
The mother and daughter made their way down the rest of the stairs, and Will Daniels was standing there, arm out. He was in a tux, smiling at her, and Jemma smiled back. The fear that was in her stomach had only increased, and it was not at the thought of dancing. It was that something was going to happen.
Her mother took her place at the edge of the room beside her father as Will lead her into the centre of the room. The orchestra started up, and the dance began. He took one hand in his own, and wrapped the other around her waist. She copied his movements, and allowed him to guide her around the room. She couldn't think about enjoying herself, she was thinking about where to put her feet so she didn't stand on his own. So many people would be watching her at this moment, so she couldn't mess up. She was forever thankful for the lessons that Skye had given her all those months ago, for when she had to dance at her mother's 50th.
Eventually, the music stopped, and Jemma thanked Will, but looking more at where Skye and Hunter were standing over his shoulder. He nodded and she smiled once again. She walked past him, and started making her way towards her two friends when she heard a voice behind her.
"Jemma!"
She spun, wondering what was happening, when she saw Will on one knee on the ground. The entire room was silent.
Jemma felt her stomach drop, she stood there feeling the world slowing down, slightly tilting to the left. He was proposing to her. Right here, right now. In front of everyone. And she knew that this was all Malick's doing. He made Will propose to her in front of everyone. That way she couldn't say no without making everything and everyone look bad.
"Will you marry me?" Will asked, knocking her out of her thoughts. He had obviously been saying something before this, something that she hadn't heard because she was so lost in her thoughts.
She stared at him, unable to move, unable to say anything. He had just proposed to her. She had to say yes. She was going to get married to someone that she didn't love. She was going to have to marry him, move away from the kingdom that she had always called home. She wouldn't be able to help her kingdom. Everything she had worked towards would be lost.
Everyone was staring at her, expecting her to say yes, expecting her to answer. She couldn't find her voice, she stammered her over her words.
"I'm sorry," she finally managed to say, her voice soft and breaking. She was so close to tears but she couldn't cry. Not here, not in front of everyone.
"I'm sorry," she said again.
And then she ran.
Do not worry about that ending, there is much more left to come and all shall be revealed! Thanks so much for checking it out, and any support is much appreciated!