A/N: Some more...intimate details coming up. :)

"Oh. Oh, oh oh! This is big!" The next day, Maxwell was bouncing back and forth from one foot to the other as I told him about my plans with Liam for the night. "This is the moment of moments, Riley. We need to go shopping, Right. Now!"

We were in the dining room of our hotel, and I was in the middle of breakfast, but he grabbed my arm and dragged me up anyway, despite my protests. With his free hand, he texted Bertrand and asked him to meet us at a designer dress shop nearby.

We arrived at the shop first, and it was so early in the morning that we were practically alone. Maxwell's eyes darted from rack to rack, but he couldn't decide where to start. "Bertrand will be here soon," he said. "And if I know my brother, he'll be just the calm presence we need in the face of something so momentous."

"You're assuming that this is going to be...you know...it. But maybe Liam just wants to celebrate our freedom with a proper date."

Maxwell rolled his eyes at me, but before he could respond, we heard the door of the boutique open, and Bertrand marched in, making a beeline for us. "This is it!" He screeched. "This is the moment we've been fighting for all along. You, Liam, and no plots, schemes, or blond-haired barriers in your way!"

Maxwell started bouncing again. Bertrand smiled widely at me as he straightened his tie, trying to regain his calm demeanor. Even so, his enthusiasm was evident as he continued, saying, "If all goes well tonight, House Beaumont will be the talk of every ball, and the esteem and subsequent wealth will surely follow! We have to make this night perfect. Starting with a dress! Lady Riley, when do you meet Liam?"

"Not until tonight. 7 o'clock."

"So soon!" Bertrand said, his brow creasing with worry. "Quick, Maxwell, grab everything off the racks. We have to find the perfect outfit."

Immediately, Maxwell began racing around the shop, pulling whole sections of dresses from the wall. Bertrand escorted me to the dressing room. One by one, I tried on every single dress in that store, modeling each one for the Beaumont brothers, who had decidedly strong opinions about each one.

Just when I was despairing of ever seeing the light of day again, I heard Maxwell gasp. "This is the one!" He shouted, throwing it over the top of the changing room door. I grabbed it and tried it on, too exhausted to even look at myself in the mirror before stepping out to show Maxwell and Bertrand. Their opinion seemed to matter more than mine, anyway.

They were quiet for a long time when I stepped out of the dressing room. Finally, I asked, "Is it that awful?"

Snapping out of a daze, Maxwell shook his head quickly. "No, Riles, it's perfect."

"Indeed, you are a vision, Lady Riley," Bertrand agreed.

I turned to look at myself in the full-length mirror, and gasped. The dress was floor-length and sleeveless. A light slate gray, with a low v-neck and high slit in the front. Sparkling silver stripes made it twinkle as I moved, like a starry night sky, or even the shimmering New York City skyline. "Oh my god," I whispered. "It's stunning!"

"You're stunning," Maxwell corrected. "But, the dress is definitely helping."

Bertrand cleared his throat. "Now that the matter of the dress is settled, let's rehearse our courtly protocol."

I wrenched my gaze from the mirror to give Bertrand an annoyed look. "Seriously?"

"Seriously," Bertrand confirmed. "Now then, I will be King Liam." He placed a hand behind his back and bowed slightly to me. "Good evening, Lady Riley." He looked at me expectantly, and when I didn't answer, he prompted, "Now what do you say?"

I folded my arms across my chest. "This is ridiculous. Of all the things I've proven since I came to Cordonia, being able to woo Liam should be the clearest."

"She's an expert at it," Maxwell agreed.

"Don't let overconfidence be your downfall!" Bertrand spat.

"Woah," I said, dropping my arms and stepping towards Bertrand. "Why are you being so pushy about this?"

"Because the glory of House Beaumont, a lineage dating back hundreds of years, is at risk! And I..." He paused, looking down, then back up with fierce determination. "I will not be the one who fails our legacy! This is all I have left!"

"Bertrand," Maxwell said sadly, stepping towards his brother and placing a hand on his shoulder.

"Are you okay?" I asked.

"I'm fine," Bertrand said, shrugging Maxwell's hand away. "If you won't rehearse protocol, then let's get you to a salon. At least you can look the part."

I stopped him before he could walk away. "You said House Beaumont was all you had left. What about Savannah and Bartie?"

"What about them?"

"Did something happen?"

"There's nothing left to happen. That chapter has long since closed."

I shook my head, frowning sadly at the eldest Beaumont, who suddenly looked like a lost child.

"But, you still talk to her," Maxwell said.

"Talk is too strong a word," Bertrand replied. "We occasionally exchange messages to make sure she's receiving adequate support from House Beaumont. Those moments are small. Infinitesimal, really." And then, so softly I almost missed it, "But they are the treasures of my day."

"Bertrand..." I said, "You still care for her."

"She's the mother of my son. Of course I do."

"Then, tell her that you care."

"Remember the way you two used to get along?" Maxwell said with a smile. "You could be like that again."

Bertrand shook his head. "There's nothing to rekindle, and that's for the best. With such distractions out of the way, I can refocus my efforts on restoring House Beaumont, something we are incredibly close to accomplishing."

I held up my hands. "Alright," I said. "If you really don't want to talk about this with us, I understand. But I'll just say one last thing. If you really care for Savannah, then you should let her decide what she wants from you. And that means letting her know that a relationship is an option."

Bertrand looked at me as I spoke, but turned away as soon as I was done. He paused for a moment, then said, without turning back to me, "Come, Lady Riley, time is running short, and there is still much to be done." He walked out the shop doors, and I hurried after him, leaving Maxwell to pay for the dress that I was still wearing.

That night, after hours at a salon, I arrived outside the bar with minutes to spare. Liam was already there. As I approached, he was staring up at the bar's neon sign with his hands in his pockets. Not wanting to startle him, I cleared my throat as I approached. As he turned, I saw his face go from serious to shining. "Riley," he said softly, reaching out to take my hand in his. His eyes slid down the length of my dress. He opened his mouth again, but said nothing.

"Speechless?" I asked, sticking my tongue between my teeth as I smiled up at him.

"I...just...wow. New York City, for all its beauty, pales in comparison to you."

"Does that mean you like the dress?"

"The dress is lovely, but I"m referring to the woman wearing it."

I was still standing at arm's length from Liam, letting him take in the sight of me, but at that point, I moved closer, and he wrapped his strong arms around me for a long moment. As we pulled apart again, we both turned to look at the bar. "I think of that night often," Liam said after a beat. "Meeting you in this bar. Just before you arrived, I was wondering, what did you think of me when we first met?"

I took his hand in both of mine before I answered. "I thought you were kind and down-to-earth. Not many customers, especially during their bachelor party, would take time out of their night to check on the server. You apologized for keeping me late. You remembered my name. That didn't happen very often in my time as a waitress. I guess I realized right then that you were something special. What about you? What was your first impression of me?"

"I thought you were stunning."

I laughed a little. "Even in that horrid waitress uniform?"

"Yes, even then. Although, I think what you're wearing now suits you much better. But, it was more than just your obvious beauty, Riley. There was something about you...you radiate possibility. It was obvious even before I got to know you."

I looked down with a blush. I wasn't sure what to say next, so I gestured toward the bar. "Are we going inside, or are we just standing out here all night?"

"Neither," Liam said with a smile. He led me down the block towards his limo. "This is just our meeting point."

After a short drive, we arrived at the beach where I had taken the guys that first night. Liam and I stood on the edge of the sand shoulder to shoulder, just as we had done all those months ago.

"This was the perfect way to end the night," Liam told me as we watched the gentle waves. "When you suggested coming here, instead of a club...I think I fell in love you right at that moment."

"This feels a little surreal, being back here after everything that's happened," I said.

"I agree. Looking back on that night..." Liam turned to face me, and we held hands. "Meeting you changed me so much. But then, so did meeting Drake and Maxwell. I can't help but imagine the man I would be if I had never met them."

I laughed, and Liam looked at me with an eyebrow raised. "I was just thinking," I told him, "Maxwell probably makes you more jovial, but then I realized Drake's influence probably balances it out."

Liam chuckled. "Probably."

I took Liam's hand and started walking on the beach, towards a piece of driftwood where we could sit and talk. "You three are so different from each other," I said. "How did you even gain such a circle of friends?"

"Well, I've known Maxwell the longest," Liam said, sitting next to me and putting an arm around my shoulder. "I'll never forget his first entrance. It was his first time at court, and earlier that day my brother had done something to upset me."

"Aww, what did he do?"

"I honestly don't remember, but I know that I was trying to put on a brave face all day. Maxwell, who had never even spoken to me before, saw right through it and made it his mission to cheer me up. Through some combination of compliments, distractions, and persistence, he succeeded." I was snuggled against Liam's chest, but I could hear the smile in his voice as he spoke.

"That's so perfectly Maxwell. At a certain point, it's just impossible to be unhappy around him."

"That's a desirable trait in a friend."

"I guess it's part of what makes him a good one."

"What I will always remember about it is that Maxwell just ran up to me like I was anyone. Like we were old friends, and I wasn't a prince. He has never treated me differently because of my title."

For a moment, the only sound in the air was the gentle lapping of waves against the sand. "What about Drake?" I asked after a while.

"He was introduced to me when his father joined the King's Guard."

"Did you two hit it off right away?"

"Oh, not at all. When he first came, he was grumpy, cold, and distant."

"So, he was Drake."

"Ha. He's actually improved significantly, if you can imagine that. No, we became friends when a member of the guard caught him playing with one of their tasers. He would have been in serious trouble. But, I said that I had stolen it and given it to him so that he wouldn't get in trouble. There was only so much punishment a guard could prescribe to a prince. As a result, Drake didn't get in trouble, and he's been my most loyal friend ever since."

"So, you've always been a knight in shining armor?"

"You give me far too much credit," Liam said, though his voice was brimming with pleasure at my words.

"I always give you just the right amount of credit. So...what about Tariq? He was there that night, too."

Liam sighed and shook his head, pulling back a little. I turned my head up to look at him. "Tariq wasn't always how he is now. When we met, he was a regular kid. We met at a gala, and neither of us wanted to be there. We bonded over our shared distaste for the event." Liam offered me a half-smile. "In fact, we ended up spending the entire evening in a corner, playing the Pokemon trading card game, and making fun of the noble adults and their concerns."

I giggled. "That sounds adorable."

"At that age, those worries were so far removed from us, they seemed ridiculous."

"So what happened?"

"We grew up, and apart. As I began to learn about trade policy and tax reform, Tariq grew interested in fashion and nightlife. Our priorities were so different, and my time already stretched so thin. I suppose I only really invited him to my bachelor party as a way to honor the friendship we had in our youth."

We fell silent again, but this time it was Liam who broke it. "This has been even more of a trip down memory lane than I anticipated."

"I like hearing these stories about you, and about our friends."

"It pleases me to hear that. But I do have more plans for this evening. Are you ready to move on to the next?"

I looked at him with a raised brow. "What do you have up your sleeve, King Liam?"

He stood and offered me his hand. "There's only one way to find out, my Lady."

I took his hand and we wandered back up the beach to the limo. We stopped at another familiar location.

"I think I know this dock," I said with a smile. We were at the docks where we had caught a boat to view the Statue of Liberty.

"Riley," Liam said, guiding me towards the railing of the pier. "The night we met, I thought I knew precisely where my life would take me. Even before my brother abdicated, my life was on rails. I had accepted that I would always have limited choices."

"And I'm sure it only got worse when your brother left."

"Yes. When I knew I would become king, I felt even more ardently that I had to listen to my advisors, to walk in the footprints my predecessors had laid for me. I didn't realize that being a good leader meant taking the reins for myself. Not until I met you. I had no idea how drastically things would change when I walked into that bar. Into your life."

I laughed. "You're telling me. I thought I knew where my life was heading. I thought I knew what I wanted. And then I met you, and you turned my world upside down."

He looked at me gravely. "You've had a lot of trials because of meeting me."

"That's true. And we'll probably have more to come. But I wouldn't trade them for anything. You're worth every single one." I thought about what Daniel had said earlier. Liam was worth anything. If being with him meant being a queen, I was going to be the best damn queen Cordonia had ever seen.

"And to think," Liam said, taking my hand and leading me down the pier. "It all started on a night just like this." He led me to a dock where there was a small foot ferry waiting. It was empty except for the captain and one crew member, who waved as we approached. "Are you up for one more stop?"

"You know, for a guy who doesn't like boats, we spend a lot of time on them," I said with a grin as I stepped up onto the boat.

"I may be coming around to them," he said as he stepped up behind me. I could feel the heat of his body on my back as he guided me towards the front of the boat, until I was touching the railing. He wrapped his arms around me from behind, leaning down to whisper in my ear, "I've saved the best for last."

A short boat ride later, we disembarked at Liberty Island. "I had a feeling," I said, turning to Liam with a broad smile. He looked up at the Statue of Liberty, and I followed his gaze, craning my neck up to see the top.

"Riley," Liam said, his voice quiet, almost reverential. "Do you remember the Coronation?"

"How could I forget?"

Out of the corner of my eye, I could see Liam's head move, and I looked over to find him staring at me intensely. "I was going to propose to you that night," he said, "In front of the entire court. Not doing so will remain the deepest regret of my life." I opened my mouth to speak, but he put a finger to my lips. I closed my mouth, and he moved his hand to brush a stray curl from my face, then took my hand in his. "Still," he continued, "I'm beginning to think perhaps it's destiny that it happened this way. That you broke free of the conspiracy against you just as we returned to New York. As we came full circle."

With his free hand, he reached into his pocket and pulled something out. In the darkness, I couldn't quite see what it was.

"Riley," Liam continued. "You've opened my eyes. It has been a true honor to witness your strength in the face of every challenge you have overcome. It's a strength which lends me courage. I know that I will be a better man for having you by my side."

My eyes started filling with tears as I realized that Maxwell and Bertrand were right about tonight.

"All I want in this world is to dedicate my life to being the best man and king that I can be...for you." With these words, Liam stepped back from me and sank to one knee, keeping his eyes locked on mine. In his eyes, I could see the fierce intensity of his desire, and also the vulnerability, the openness, of his heart. Still clutching something in his right hand, he reached out and grasped my hand tightly with his left. "Lady Riley Harkness," he said, his voice catching in his throat a little, "Queen of my heart. I have yearned to say these four words for a very, very long time."

"Liam," I breathed, begging and anxious.

"Will you marry me?" He held out the object in his right hand. It was ring. Of course, it was a ring.

The tears that had been welling suddenly burst forth, soaking my cheeks as I laughed a little manically. It felt like ages before I was able to pull myself together enough to answer, but Liam later assured me that it was only a few seconds. "Yes," I shouted as soon as I was able. "Yes, yes, yes!"

Liam slipped the ring gently on my finger, and stood, smiling so wide I thought his jaw would lock. He pulled me into his arms, literally sweeping me off my feet, and spun me around as we both laughed.

"I have never been happier than I am in this moment!" Liam shouted. His head was back, so he was shouting at the stars.

He set me gently on the ground, and I stood on my tip-toes as he pulled me in for a kiss, somehow both tender and intensely passionate. He held my body tightly against his and dotted kisses playfully along my chin, cheeks, nose, and forehead while I giggled.

Finally, we calmed, and stood with our foreheads pressed against each other, noses almost touching. "It's about damn time," I whispered.

"Believe me, I know." He pulled back to look at me more fully. "When I think about everything that it took to bring us to this moment...I can't help but be amazed by you. I have no doubt in my mind that you are not only the right choice for me, but the right choice to be Queen of Cordonia. There is no one I would rather have by my side."

"That's good, because there's no way I'm giving you up now."

"On the topic of our future together, you should know that when we return to Cordonia, you will be named a duchess."

"Really?" I asked, eyebrows raised in surprise.

Liam nodded. "There are a few unclaimed duchies in Cordonia. One will be bequeathed to you as part of becoming my queen."

"Is that...so I can practice ruling? Like when my parents got me a fish so I could prove I was responsible enough for a dog?"

Liam laughed and shook his head. "I had never thought of it quite like that. It's Cordonian law that a woman must be a landowner to be crowned Queen. Perhaps that's what the ancient monarchs had in mind when they wrote the law. What I do know is, it come with some perks that I think you'll enjoy."

"Like...my own castle?" I grinned.

"Your duchy will come with its own grounds, including an estate. You could certainly call it a castle. Though, I would be remiss if I didn't remind you that, as queen, you will also have the royal palace."

"A girl can't want two castles?"

Liam took my hand and kissed it. "You, Riley, can want anything. And I will do everything in my power to provide you with each and every thing your heart desires. The arrangements are still in progress, but I eagerly await the opportunity to show you around your new duchy. In the meantime, I did have one final stop in mind for tonight's adventure, if you're interested."

"Can anything top this?" I asked, holding up my left hand and wiggling my ring finger.

"For me, I doubt anything will ever top the moment you said yes. But, I have arranged a private excursion to the top of the Statue of Liberty."

I looked up. I had honestly forgotten where we were until Liam mentioned the statue.

"I thought it would be nice to spend the evening alone together; to enjoy our private moment before we share the news with the world."

"I like the sound of that."

Liam led me towards the entrance of the statue. Once inside, we climbed...and climbed...and climbed. Finally, we emerged, hand-in-hand, on the observation deck, situated inside the crown of Lady Liberty. Together, we stood for a long minute, taking in the skyline.

"Wow," Liam said. "I've never seen New York like this before. It's breathtaking."

"It really is," I agreed. "I've never been here at night. All the lights on the water...it's stunning."

There was a comfortable pause as we each took in the view, lost in our own thoughts. Then, Liam cleared his throat and said, "You know, I do have to express some disappointment."

My eyes widened as I looked at him. "You do?"

His lips quirked into a smile. "I haven't been getting as much miscellaneous trivia about New York as I was expecting."

I laughed. "Oh, well, let me think...did you know that the Statue of Liberty is hit by about 600 lightning bolts each year? They say lightning never strikes the same place twice, but she is proof to the contrary."

"If the proof lies in being struck by lightning, I'm not certain that's a good thing."

"I think it is. She stands in defiance of chance, a testament that there is no such thing as the impossible. And, when it comes to possibility, you have to take the good with the bad."

"That's...a perspective on Lady Liberty I've never encountered before. But I'm not surprised you found such a viewpoint. You have consistently shown me that nothing is impossible for you."

I shook my head, but didn't say anything. While Liam admire the view some more, I admired my new ring. I smiled as I ran a finger over the smooth white pearl. It was placed in a striking but simple modern setting. The band of the ring split in two about half-way up, with each strand of white gold peaking and dipping to create a sort of m-shape, with the pearl nestled in the valley between. Each strand had a row of pale rose quartz gems dotting the way up to the pearl. "This is the pearl from the Blue Grotto," I said, startling Liam out of his thoughts. He turned his back to the window so he could look at me.

"It is," he said. "Is that okay?"

"Oh, Liam, it's perfect. But, you only broke off your engagement to Madeleine last night. How did you get this made so quickly?"

Liam stuffed his hands in his pockets, looking a little sheepish. "I started designing that ring the day after we visited the Blue Grotto," he admitted. I smiled, as he met my eyes, and he smiled back, taking a step closer. He held up my hand so he could show me. "The pearl, obviously, had to be the centerpiece. And no diamonds, because they're only considered traditional for engagement rings because of a marketing scheme from the 1940's designed to increase the price of diamonds." I grinned widely at this, knowing I had never explained that story fully, so he must have taken the time to learn it for himself. I reached up to kiss him, and he dropped my hand so he could wrap his arms around my waist. He pressed his lips more fervently to mine, opening my mouth with his tongue, and tracing a line along the top of my lower lip, making me shiver. I placed a hand against his chest to steady myself.

In the next moment, Liam spun me around and pressed me against the window, tangling one hand through my hair. The cold of the glass contrasted sharply with the heat of his body as he moved closer, leaving no space between us. I moaned into his mouth and pulled away, kissing his jaw before saying, "I want you, Liam. Right here."

"I'm so glad," he said in a hoarse voice that was half whisper, half growl. "Because I have never wanted you more, Riley." Using one hand to brace himself against the glass, Liam used his free hand to trace a line from my jawbone to my neck, following the plunging V of my dress. He took my lips in another hungry kiss and I started pulling at his shirt.

"I need this off," I said as I started working his buttons. After getting his shirt off, I ran my hands up his chest, then around to his back where I let my nails rake softly up and down.

Liam groaned and leaned in, kissing my neck. Then, he whispered in my ear, "Now you." He reached behind me to unzip my dress, and I let it fall from my shoulders and into a pool around my feet. He immediately set his hands to exploring my newly bare skin. I moved my own hands to toy at the waistline of his pants, and felt a tremor surge through him. "Not yet," he moaned, and spun me around so I was facing the window. He pinned me there, pressing his whole body against my back. An arm snaked around my waist, and his hand moved to the elastic of my underwear, toying with it for just a minute before diving down, rubbing circles that made me close my eyes and moan loudly.

"Oh, god, Liam..." I tilted my head back as I savored his touch, and brought one hand behind me, grasping at his hair.

"Yes?" he said, smiling into my hair.

"Yes...no," I shook my head clear. "Not yet. I wasn't done with you." I elbowed him back and turned to face him. Kneeling, I began to slowly unbuckle his belt while kissing his torso. After freeing the belt, I unzipped his pants and pulled them off. Tenderly, I kissed along the line of his underwear from hip to hip.

"Oh, Riley, I need you now," he said, sinking to his knees in front of me. Smiling, I moved so I was laying on the cold steel floor of the observation deck, and Liam hovered over me. With one last long, loving look, he drank me in with his eyes before sinking into me. Together, we moved rhythmically, and I felt a wave of electric energy build, tingling all the way to my toes. I clutched desperately at his back as I arched into him, and my gasping cries echoed down the spiraling staircase.

End note: For those who are interested, this is the ring I was trying to describe, although I substituted rose quartz for the diamonds :) m-collection-ring