Author's Note: This story is dedicated to Lovelyrugbee on Tumblr in honor of her birthday!

"Mateo? Could you hand me that lantern, please?" Elena asked as she balanced precariously on the top step of a ladder, propped against a building in the Old City Square. They were helping Rafa with ensuring that everything was ready for Mateo's eighteenth birthday party that evening.

Raising a concerned eyebrow as he tapped his tamborita, sending the lantern magically floating up to the crown princess's waiting arms, he said, "Are you sure you should be up there, Elena? That ladder doesn't look very stable and those shoes look, quite frankly, dangerous."

"Oh, I'll be fine!" she said nonchalantly as she caught the lantern, "What could possibly go wrong?"

"You know I hate it when you say that," Mateo grumbled, grasping the ladder in an attempt to hold it steady.

"You're cute when you worry, you know that?" she said lightly, glancing over her shoulder with a flirty smile. "I can't– quite– reach–" she said as she stretched on tiptoe, trying to attach the lantern to the peak of the nearest rooftop.

"I'm a little taller than you, let me try––" Mateo started.

"Nah, I can do it!" Elena called down, stepping up to the very top step.

"Elena, I really don't think––"

Elena stretched on tiptoe and just managed to get the lantern attached, "Mateo, I'm fi–" as she lowered herself, she misjudged the width of the step and the heel of one of her shoes slipped. Crying out as she fell backwards, Elena flapped her arms futilely as she plummeted towards the ground.

"Elena!" Mateo felt his veins freeze with fear, whipping out his tamborita on instinct and shouting, "LEVALUQ!"

A warm, orange light enveloped the princess as she slowed to a stop and bobbed gently midair, still about ten feet from the ground.

"CANNAZA," Mateo murmured, holding out his hands as the princess glided gently into his arms.

She stared at him, wide eyed, and trembling.

"Are you ok?" Mateo asked, his voice shaking as relief washed over him.

"Yeah, I guess I should have listened to you," she said quietly, "Sorry."

He grinned crookedly, "No harm done, Elena."

They both startled at the sound of several sets of footsteps running towards them.

"Your highness!" It was Rafa, followed closely by an anxious Gabe and Naomi. Rafa's eyes were wide as she looked over the princess, assessing her condition.

Gabe spoke up, worry creasing his brow, "I saw you fall and heard your cry from across the square! Are you ok?"

Elena smiled sincerely, saying, "Yes, thanks to Mateo! He literally saved my life with his quick thinking!" She beamed at her royal wizard, pausing as she noticed how his face was just inches away from her own and became acutely aware of his arms around her as he found himself dazzled by her smile. Gazes locked, neither one blinked until Naomi cleared her throat pointedly, raising an amused eyebrow. Realizing that he was still clutching the crown princess in his arms, Mateo blushed as he carefully set Elena on her feet.

Rafa smiled proudly at her son. "Of course he did. Well, I'm glad that you are ok, your highness. I don't think I could forgive myself if something happened to you when you were helping me! I am so grateful to you for everything you've done to make sure Mateo's birthday party is perfect!"

"Of course! Anything for my royal wizard!" Elena said fondly, resting a hand on his shoulder.

Rubbing the back of his neck awkwardly, Mateo said, "Aww– you really don't need to make such a big fuss over this party! It's just another birthday. I would have been happy with a quiet dinner and cake at home."

"Of course we need to make a fuss!" Raffa interjected, affectionately cupping one of his cheeks in her hand, "It's not everyday that my son turns eighteen! We're not just celebrating your birthday, but that you're becoming a man! Besides, you spend so much time cloistered away with your spell books, how else will you ever meet a nice girl?"

Mateo pulled away as he turned a brilliant shade of scarlet, glancing sidelong at Elena and muttering indignantly, "I– I know nice girls–"

"Yes, but you need a nice girl that you can settle down with! You're an adult now–– it's time for you to start thinking of marriage! I'm not getting any younger and I'm anxious to meet my grandchildren!"

Embarrassed, Mateo's hand shot to the back of his neck as he said incredulously, "Mami! Really?!"

Naomi and Gabe laughed as Elena forced a smile in spite of the spark of irritation that had welled up within her over the course of the conversation. She wasn't sure why, she just knew she was irritated.

"Mateo, I need you to go check on the tamales. Please make sure that the pot is simmering steadily and hasn't overboiled."

Welcoming the opportunity to escape the awkward direction the conversation had taken, Mateo hurried off to do as his mother had asked.

Rafa stepped closer, a conspiratorial glint in her eye, and said, "Now that he's eighteen, I'm really hoping to find a good match for him. It's been a challenge, but I've been all over the city and the village and have found several suitable girls that I approve of. Nice girls from good families that I think have the potential to be a good match for my Mateo."

Gabe and Naomi exchanged a look as Elena, struggling to keep her rising irritation in check, cocked her head to the side and said curiously, "You don't think he'll be able to find love on his own?"

Rafa laughed. "On his own? Oh, my dear, surely you've noticed that he spends all of his free time hidden away in his workshop–– practicing magic at all hours of the day and night? How will he ever find love if he never socializes with anyone outside the palace? Of course––" she reached for one of Elena's hands, taking it in her own and patting it kindly, "of course, you would be my first choice, your highness. You would be a perfect match for my Mateo."

Elena's her heart skipped a beat as Rafa continued, "But we all know that would be impossible, seeing as you're the crown princess, so I suppose we'll just have to settle for someone else."

Blushing deeply, Elena tried to form a coherent response to this extraordinary statement from the mother of one of her best friends, but she couldn't form the words before Rafa went on, "it's just too bad that he's nurtured a secret infatuation with you for so long. He'll never admit it of course, but I can see it, plain as day. I'm concerned that it might present a challenge."

Gabe smirked and elbowed Naomi in the ribs as he said, "Hey! What about Naomi?"

The three women stared at him as if he had grown a second head. Raising an eyebrow, Naomi put her hands on her hips, and said, "What about Naomi?" There was an edge to her tone that Gabe picked up on immediately. The grin slipping off his face as his eyebrows furrowed, he realized that he'd said something wrong. Eyes darting around at the women gaping at him, he cleared his throat and said, "Uh– I only meant that Naomi is a nice girl and– you know what? I think I forgot to put the candy in the piñata! I've gotta go!" and he turned on his heel and fled across the square.

Rafa watched him go, eyebrows furrowed in confusion, and shook her head as she said, "Anyways, as I was saying, I'm hoping that I can count on you to encourage him to talk to these girls–– get to know them, maybe even dance with them tonight."

"Sure thing, Rafa," Naomi said, amusement coloring her tone as she glanced sidelong at Elena.

A wooden smile plastered to her face, Elena nodded mutely, afraid that her voice would betray her irritation. The longer they talked about this, the more upset she became. She couldn't deny that the thought of Mateo talking with a hoard of random girls who were only there as potential marriage candidates really bothered her. What she couldn't figure out, however, was why it bothered her so much.

Rafa smiled warmly at the two girls. "Thank you, this means the world to me. Now, if you would be so kind as to finish hanging the lanterns around the square and making sure the food tables are ready, I must go and make sure the band has everything they need to get set up."

Elena and Naomi watched as Rafa bustled away. Grinning, Naomi said, "Wow, I've never seen such a shameless matchmaking attempt in my life. And she's done her homework! She didn't just find a girl, no–– she's found several girls. So, do you think there will be an official engagement announcement tonight?" Naomi asked her friend, her eyes dancing with mirth.

Elena tried to joke with her, but the comeback fell empty in her throat. She gazed unseeingly across the square, confused feelings swirling in her mind.

Concerned, Naomi stepped closer to her friend, placing a hand on Elena's shoulder. "Hey," she said quietly, "this is really bothering you, isn't it?"

Sighing, Elena met Naomi's eye and shook her head a little, dragging herself from her reverie. "Yeah, and you know the really weird part? I don't know why I'm so upset!"

Naomi put a hand on her hip, cocking it to one side as she said flippantly, "Well, I suppose it's only natural, seeing as you have a thing for our royal wizard." She finished, idly examining the nails on her free hand as she glanced at Elena from the corner of her eye in an attempt to gauge her reaction.

Elena nearly choked from indignation. "What?!" she spluttered, "No! I don't– why would you– how could you say– No! I do not have a 'thing' for Mateo! He's my best friend, like you." She took a deep, calming breath and continued, "I just want him to be happy. I suppose his mother wants the same thing."

"And grandchildren."

Laughing, Elena said, "Yes, and grandchildren."

Naomi grinned, quirking an eyebrow at her friend. "Well, at least you're perfect. How does it feel to have a woman with such high standards for her son tell you that you're the epitome of perfection?"

Elena snorted. "That's right! Well, who can blame her for saying such things? I am practically perfect in every way," she said dramatically as she pretended to brush an imaginary speck from her dress.

The girls shared a laugh before Naomi changed the subject, "So, I know you put a lot of effort into Mateo's birthday gift. Were you able to get everything together in time?"

Nodding, Elena said, "Yes! I found an old Meruvian book of magic. It was a little tricky to get ahold of. I had to use every weapon of persuasion that I possessed to convince the university that it would be better served in our royal wizard's collection of tomes than in theirs."

"Oh! He'll love that!" Naomi noticed the time, and said, "Oh! It's getting late. I should go double check the food tables."

"Ooh, you're right! We'd better hurry! I'll go find Mateo so we can finish hanging the lanterns."

Naomi left Elena by the ladder and Elena stood on tiptoe as she looked around the square, trying to see where Mateo had run off to.

"Looking for someone?" An amused voice in her ear startled the crown princess.

Gasping in surprise, Elena turned on her heel and smacked Mateo's arm several times as she squeaked, "Mateo! Don't sneak up on me like that! You nearly gave me a heart attack!"

Laughing as he unsuccessfully tried to dodge her attack, he said, "Ouch! Ok! Ok! I'm sorry!" He caught her wrist gently before she could smack him again. She smiled sheepishly and said. "Sorry, you just startled me is all."

He looked at her and his amused grin transformed to an awkward grimace as he rubbed the back of his neck, saying, "Look, I'm sorry if Mami got a little forward back there. I don't know about you, but that was the last thing I expected her to say about my birthday. Meeting new girls? Marriage? Grandchildren? I can't even think about those things right now! Anyways, I'm sorry–– that was probably as awkward for you as it was for me."

In a poor attempt at nonchalance, Elena forced a laugh, saying, "Don't worry about it, Mateo. Mothers can be a little over zealous when it comes to the future of their children, I guess."

Mateo eyed her a moment, wondering if something was bothering her. Deciding to ignore his suspicion for the moment, he changed the subject, "So, thanks for helping with my party. It means a lot to me that my best friend is here to celebrate. Even if all of this," he waved a hand around the bedecked square, "is way too much fuss for a simple birthday celebration."

Elena turned to face Mateo, her response dying in her throat as she noticed that one of his shirt collar buttons had come unbuttoned. "Oops, looks like one of your buttons came undone. Here, let me––" Mateo froze in place as she reached to fix it –– he felt the backs of her soft fingers brush against his throat as she spoke, her eyes intent upon her task, "You, my friend, are worth the fuss and every ounce of effort. I wouldn't miss this party for the world!" Once Elena had fixed the offending button, she smoothed his collar–– Mateo blushing as her fingers once again brushed against the skin of his throat. As she looked up and met his gaze, her breath caught as she really noticed his eyes for the first time–– they were so warm, kind, gentle–– how had she not noticed this before? Mateo was intrigued by the joy and laughter that he could see clearly as he looked into her warm, amber-colored eyes. Realizing that she had been staring, Elena smiled shyly and said, "Er–– shall we finish hanging these lanterns before the party starts?"

Mateo cleared his throat as he nodded. "Sure, Elena," he grinned crookedly at her, "just– er– try not to fall again. Ok?"

Laughing as she climbed the ladder, Elena said lightly, "I make no promises. Besides, I know you'll be there to catch me if I fall."

Mateo looked up at the crown princess and smiled softly, sending another lantern magically gliding up to her as he said so quietly, only he could hear, "Always."