Notes: I am a terrible person, taking sooo damn long to finish this chapter. It was giving me a lot of problems so I had to just step away from it. I also know where I stopped this chapter made it incredibly short, but I really wanted a cliffhanger :( I'm sorry, but I hope this doesn't disappoint!

David sat in his apartment after he returned from leaving Michelle at the palace, glaring at the empty spot in his bed. He had snapped at her when he dropped her off, something he hadn't meant to do. He had been rude the entire time after he hung up the phone with the palace. He couldn't figure out what exactly had set him off, but he couldn't feel worse about being a complete ass to the woman he loved. Everyday he'd seen her, she began looking more and more beautiful, but it had never been a problem until she was asleep in his bed. Every time he thought about her moving in bed it sent shocks through him, sending his mind in a million different directions as he thought of ways he could have woken her up if he had been just a bit more bold with her.

His phone once again interrupted his thoughts, but this time he was glad for the reprieve. He couldn't stomach thinking of taking Michelle to his bed any longer without doing something about it.

"Shepherd."

"Yes, this is Thomasina, I am calling on behalf of the Queen with an invitation." He listened intently as Thomasina offered him something that he had not previously thought would be available to him.

"Yes, yes of course. I'll be there." He felt ready for action, wanting time to move quicker than usual. He was ready to do something.

"Great. We'll see you then. And wear something nice."

The line disconnected and David dropped the phone running to his closet, searching for the suit Jack had altered for him.

---

Michelle readied for dinner with a feeling in the pit of her stomach that she couldn't explain. She already knew she was nervous, Jack's little decree had only increased the sense of anxiety she was feeling about tonight's dinner. Looking through her closet she found hundreds of sweet little dresses, things her mother had picked out wanting only the best for her family's royal image. She sighed as she picked out the closest one, a boring, A-line sky blue dress with the family crest pinned on the left shoulder.

Staring at the crest, an idea popped into her head. iTonight would be the best night to go against them/i. She laughed to herself, feeling like a thirteen year old who was looking for an excuse to stay home from school. Shaking her head she moved to shut the closet as she caught sight of something. One of the few things she'd bought in life, with money from cleaning her room when she was sixteen, amazingly still fit her. It was short, ireally/i short. Coming just above her knee it was the shortest thing she'd ever worn (and only in the fitting room at that). A little black dress with a low neckline and spaghetti straps to hold it up. It definitely gave the illusion of being kind of slutty. At least that was what her mother had remarked about the outfit when she brought it home from the mall. She paired it with a stiletto black boot. "Stripper boots," the queen had scoffed as soon as she saw her daughter in the outfit. Michelle bit back a smile as she decided on what to wear to dinner. She made her way to the family room, ready to hear Jack's remarks about how silly she looked.

But she was surprised when Jack's jaw dropped when Michelle came to the family room. "Why sister, you almost look like a grown-up when you put that on."

She hadn't put on any make up, she'd been afraid to overdue it even though there was a certain shade of red that had been calling to her. She rolled her eyes at him, tugging at the bottom of the dress once again, trying to get it to lay much lower than the fabric wanted to. iMaybe this wasn't such a good idea./I "Look. I only came by to make you tell me what is going to happen at dinner tonight. So spill."

Jack's lips jumped into a smirk. His sister wasn't usually this snippy, or commanding. "I guess the stilettos have gone to your head." He watched as Michelle began tapping her feet against the tile, folding her arms across her chest. "Very well. I have heard from one of the servants that Thomasina called someone to request their presence at dinner tonight. They don't know who, but apparently it's someone who isn't usually invited to the family dinners."

"Oh please dear God, don't tell me it's an ambassador or something. I don't have time to change now! This was a terrible idea." She fell back onto one of the velvet upholstered chairs, a favorite of hers.

Jack rolled his eyes and stood, walking over to her and pulling her to her feet. "In all honesty Michelle, I think you look great. Don't tell anyone I said that. Showing affection towards my family is not supposed to be a characteristic of mine." She smiled at her brother, remembering the days when they were inseparable. Something that changed when the doctors started keeping her overnight. "Now, what is this idea of yours?"

The sweet moment faded quickly. "I'm just...pissed at mom for being a complete jerk about the whole David situation. About her acting like it's my fault that I'm not married to some prince by now. And dad, he just can't seem to see that I was so young when I made my pact with God. It bothers him that I would even want to be with someone. I want David, and I don't care if they are bothered by this anymore."

Jack visibly stiffened at the mention of them being together. Michelle started to ask him what was wrong, but he stepped back from her, his eyes closing off from any other real conversation. "Look, the longer we delay, the worse it's gonna get. Let's just head over."

They walked to the smaller dining room together, each one quiet and not really in a position to say something to the other. The dining room was set up in its usual grandeur, candelabras lit up, a large array of food sprawling over the table, although only a small portion would be consumed. The rest would be taken the following day to various shelters throughout the city. The queen and king were already seated as Michelle entered and Jack quickly took his usual seat. Rose's face went through various emotions before settling on quiet rage at her daughter's appearance. Silas just gawked at her. She smiled to each parent individually, showing nothing but calm to them, though underneath it all she was scared that one would jump up and begin yelling at her. She turned to take her usual seat beside the king when she noticed the guest at the table. His blond hair gleamed in the candlelight and as his eyes studied every inch of her she began to feel naked in front of him. "David." iI picked the worst night to grow a backbone./I