A/N: I only own the OC.

Thank you for the reviews! Enjoy!


I was working in the royal archives and I had managed to avoid Finn for a month. He was still sending flowers, but I was not returning anything to him. I knew that he was better off without me, and I had seen that he was with Lady Catherine more. I had seen on the news that he was cutting back on appearances right now, but they were still talking about our exhibit. I was going to open it in about a month, so I was gathering finally things from in here. Paige was back at the museum working with the contractors to get it built.

"Ms. Mason?" a voice said and I looked up to see a man holding an envelope out to me. I took it and thanked him. I sat it down, but he spoke again.

"That's a time sensitive letter." he said and I looked from him to it before opening it. I read it and re-read it.

You are formally invited to tea with the Queen.

I looked up at him and he gave a small nod. I closed up where I was, gathered up my things, and followed him out of the room. I was surprised that the Queen wanted to speak to me. I was glad that I had followed protocol and worn a hunter green wrap dress and pantyhose with black pumps. I followed him up and through a series of hallways before we came out at a large set of wooden doors. He knocked and it was opened immediately. My stomach knotted up as I walked into the room... I was going to meet the Queen. I was already nervous about being in the archives, but this was much more.

"Ms. Mason is here for the Queen." he said to the man and he nodded. He took my bag, sat it on a table, and lead me into a side room. The room was overlooking the ground and I could see the Round Tower were I had been in the archives, but looking out the window was the Queen. She was dressed in a light yellow suit set that had a delicate white print on it. I curtsy to her as soon as she acknowledged me and she smiled at me.

"It's nice to meet you, dear, I wanted to get to meet you." she said and I nodded. She walked over and sat down on the sofa. I followed suit and she motioned for them to bring us tea.

"I understand that you are working on the exhibit for the family." she said and I nodded as they handed us tea.

"Yes, ma'am." I said and I could not lie that I was nervous to be sitting here talking to her. I had never expected to actually meet the Queen or have tea with her.

"I am glad that someone is finally updating that... it's so out dated, plus it doesn't show the new family members." she said and I nodded.

"Yes, that was the goal... and to help reconnect the people with the family." I said and she nodded.

"You are American." she said and I nodded, because it was more of a statement then a question as I glanced out to see people walking through the gardens. I recognized Finn and Karl as two of them. I hoped that I could avoid him today.

"Tell me about yourself... where did you come from and what brought you to here." she said and I took a breath. I wasn't expecting to have to have to tell her about myself.

"I am from a small town in Colorado where I went to undergraduate and obtained a degree in History. I went onto study British History at University of Cambridge before going back to the states and taking up a job with the Smithsonian. I have a few publications on the modern British history." I said and she nodded.

"You have a few publications in our archives." she said and I gave a small nod.

"Yes ma'am." I said and she gave a small smile.

"I am glad that someone who seems to enjoy our history is the one who is working on this. I am glad to have a fresh pair of eyes, feelings, and a modern perception of our family be the one to present this to the people." she said and I nodded.

"Thank you, I know it will be a success." I said and she smiled at me. I was hoping this was almost over because I was still nervous.

"I will now tell you the truth as to why I have called you here. I am very interested in your work as it contributes to the exhibit, but I am more interested in the person whom my grandson has been spending time with lately." she said and I felt my stomach knot up even tighter. I was not sure what to say as she looked at me.

"I was spending time with your grandson, Prince Finn." I confirmed and she nodded.

"I hear past tense." she said and I nodded.

"I understand that he has a duty to the people, the crown, and to his family. I am not used to any of this, and I know that as a commoner I will not be able to understand some of these things. I am an American, and I did not feel that it was right to hold him from these things." I said and she looked at me surprised. I hadn't really said that out loud until now and I felt my lip quiver, but then steeled my feelings because this was the queen.

"Well said, stupid, but well said." she said and I looked at her in surprise.

"Iris, I heard about you from Finn after he took you out one night, and do you know what I heard?" she asked me and I shook my head no.

"No, ma'am." I said as I looked at her because I wasn't sure where this was going to go.

"He was happy... so very happy that he had found someone who called him Fergal." she said and I gave a small smile at hearing that.

"I know that it is overwhelming to deal with us, as we are a powerful family, but I assure you that commoner or not... what I heard from him, and the presence you just showed me are things that make you so much more." she said and I wasn't sure how to react or what to say.

"I may be the Queen, but I am a grandmother. I know that he was happy, and that you were the source of that. I know that I will not have that Lady Catherine in my household or in our line. I am not forcing you on him, but I am saying that if you feel that is the only reason for you to stay away from him then it is not a good one." she said and I nodded. I was more surprised to hear that from her, but I knew that I might need that.

"I also did not want it to interfere with me work." I admitted and she smiled.

"I had a life before my husband as well, and I assure you that you need to continue your work no matter what... if only for yourself." she said and I smiled.

"Now, my dear, we are going to be late." she said and stood up. I quickly stood up and was unaware of what we were doing right now.

"Late, ma'am?" I asked her and she nodded.

"Yes, I have you a hat waiting. You are going to see first hand a royal ceremony for the opening of a new bridge." she said and I was surprised that she wanted me to go along. People were coming in and getting the Queen ready when a stiff looking woman walked over and quickly pinned a hat to my bun. I was surprised as she also handed me a clutch.

"Put your things in there." she told me and I nodded. I put my ID, phone, and a few other things in there. I followed when I was told and got into a waiting car with some other people. I watched as London went past when we arrived at the bridge. I had no idea that the royal family did so many small things like bridge openings. I watched the ceremony and Finn was beside the Queen. I was find standing in the background. School children sang, people spoke, and other things before the Queen declared it to be open.

"Time to go." a man said and showed me to a car. We were heading back to Windsor for another tea time. I was taken to a different room as a few people streamed in and I was fine hiding in the corner.

"A word." someone said and motioned for me to go to the Queen. I was sat on a sofa opposite her as Finn walked into the room. He stopped when he saw me and I had no idea what do to.


A/N: Please review.