Sorry for the wait as always. My work bestie (the one besides my sister) left work and my schedule changed and it's been crazy. And I miss her like crazy.

This chapter went in a different direction than planned. Don't they always. It's short but that's how I do it. You have a better chance at getting short chapters more frequently than longer ones, though not sure how frequent these have been. Long story short, I'm trying, y'all. I appreciate your patience more than you know.

Thanks to Taylor Dreama, Amy Gold and Alyscia Northrup for doing writing sprints with me and challenging me so I can finish this chapter. Thanks to Mandy for being my sounding board.

This chapter is for Anakinsmom. Here's to your future. May it be bright. Thanks for being a great reader.

The American Princess

Chapter 20

EPOV

I pace the long length of my brother's sitting room as Jasper looks on, amused at my antics.

"Why don't you sit down?" He suggests, once again.

"What is taking so long?" I ignore his request and keep pacing, after checking my phone for the fifth time.

"She's in there with three women. Alice alone can talk her ear off for half a millennium."

With a huff, I finally sit down.

"Why are you so worried anyway? Father is in an hours long meeting with his advisors. They are simply planning Mother's birthday party. What could possibly go wrong?"

I throw him a dirty look.

"Have you ever known Mother to make anyone feel uncomfortable?" He asks.

"No. She's a queen among women." I relax some.

"So, tell me what's really wrong."

"I don't need you analyzing my feelings, Jasper."

"Well, I do it anyway behind your back. Might as well do it while you're sitting here. It's not like I'll charge you, Big Brother."

"You know what's wrong and you know I can't do anything about it."

"Maybe. Maybe not. But I don't want to talk about that. That subject has been talked to death and quite frankly, it bores me."

"Tell me how you really feel." I scowl.

"Thought you'd never ask." Jasper grins. "You, my dear brother, are falling in love with the lovely Ms. Swan."

I pick at some invisible lint on my jumper. "I don't know what you're talking about." I sniff in disdain for good measure.

"Sure, you don't."

"Why would you even say that?"

"You look at her like she's something to eat."

I snicker like an underaged school boy. "Her lips are quite tasty."

"What about other parts of her body?" He asks.

"A gentleman does not kiss and tell."

"I don't see any gentlemen in this room." Jasper deadpans.

"I don't know."

"You don't know?" Skepticism, thy name is Jasper.

"I don't know because I'm trying to be a gentleman." I admit. "I don't want to scare her off and she's pretty damn spooked already given the situation."

"She seems pretty damn confident to me. Especially with the way she handles Father."

"Oh, she handles herself very well, but she wears this mask sometimes. One second, her eyes and features are soft and warm then the next- cold and expressionless. I'd be impressed if it wasn't me, she was hiding from."

"She is an actress."

"Jasper, she's so much more than just an actress. She's the kind of woman Mother and Father have always wanted me to find. She's funny and kind and so generous. She lacks couth, I'll admit, but I like that about her. And I'd bet my last dollar Father enjoys sparring with her as well. But…"

"But she's not one of us." Jasper finishes for me.

"No, she's not. She's so much better than any of us."

"Speak for yourself. I'm an amazing person." He teased in that haughty sarcastic way of his.

"Oh yes. You're ace."

"And don't you forget it."

"As if you'll ever stop reminding all of us of your perceived superiority."

"True." We're quiet for a moment. Then he speaks again. "I don't want it, but I'll take it if that's what you really decide you want."

"Whatever are you babbling on about?"

He looks at me, all seriousness. "If you decide you can't live without her, I'll take the crown. Because I'm not sure you can have both and even if you do find a loophole, I don't think Father will let you."

I'm shocked. Jasper has made no secret of his joy of being the second born son. Less responsibilities and more freedom. Definitely less scrutiny.

"You'd do that for me?"

"Certainly. You are my brother and your happiness means a lot to me. Besides, Alice would die at the chance to be Queen."

"She'd be a good one." I declare.

"She would, but so would Bella."

"Yes. Yes, she would."

***TAP**

Bella

"Where are we going, Alice?" I ask, trying to keep up as she practically drags me to a wing of the palace I have yet to explore.

"My suite. Well, Jasper lives there, too." She laughs.

"And the girls?"

"Across the hall and Nanny is to the left of them."

"You call your nanny, Nanny?"

"That's her rule. She was Jasper, Edward and Rose's nanny too."

"Interesting."

"Didn't you have one growing up?"

"You did meet my father, right? He's a cop. Not much money left to pay for a nanny. I'm guessing you had one?"

"Of course. Here we are."

She gracefully enters an ornate door and my eyes feast upon Charming sitting next to his brother. They look as if they are having a most serious conversation but when he sees me, his face is instantly light, and he beams at me.

"Bella." He greets me in that way of his, all breathless and happy and with that British -er tacked to the end of my name. Being called Beller would sound odd in any other language and from any other man I suppose, but from him it sounds like… home.

"Charming." I settle down next to him as Alice does the same with Jasper.

"How did it go?" Jasper asks us, but his eyes are locked on his wife. You can plainly see this was a love match.

"Oh, Bella came up with the best idea. Monte Carlo night! You know how much we all love gambling and dressing up!"

"No, that's you Alice." Edward chimes in. "But it is a great idea." He leans in close to me in that way of his. "Look at you integrating yourself into this family."

"Slow down, Charming. I just like planning charity events." I whisper back to him. His eyes flash with some emotion I can't quite identify, then he's back neutral. And he says I'm the performer.

"Well, I can't wait to see how this one turns out."

"I just hope I'm still around to witness it." I say.

"Well of course you will be. You're my date. I can't show up, alone can I?"

"I'm sure you have a multitude of willing women waiting in the wings." Huh. Say that three times really fast.

"While that may be true, there's no one else I'd rather have on my arm."

I may wilt like one of those women in a melodramatic foreign historical film.

"Are you joining us for dinner?" Alice asks.

"I sure hope not." I blurt out then cringe. "I just mean…"

"I get it. Too much Carlisle in one day is never a good thing for one on his…" She hesitates delicately.

"Shit list?" I helpfully supply.

"Yeah, that." She laughs.

"On that note, we will be saying our goodbyes." Edward stands up and helps me to my feet, cradling me into his side as we bid our farewells to his brother and sister-in-law. I let myself focus on how natural this feels for a minute.

"Think about what we discussed." Jasper tells Edward.

"What did you discuss?" Alice asks. I'm glad she did because I'm curious as well but am pretty sure I don't have a right to be.

"I'll tell you later, Love."

She accepts that and I wonder what I will have to do to get it out of Charming. Lots of ideas come to mind but none I am sure we are ready for. Probably best to go the straightforward route as boring as that is.

"Bella, I will call you later about some details. Does tomorrow work for you?"

"It should be fine. We have that luncheon but any time after four should be good."

She steps forward and hugs me lightly, then kisses both cheeks in her British way.

"It's all going to be magnificent, I just know it."

The way she looks at me, I can't tell if she means the party or something else more personal.

Edward squeezes my side to get my attention.

"We best get going."

I nod and take his hand and let him lead me once again.

We're halfway home before I remember that I didn't ask him about what Jasper meant.

"What did you and Jasper talk about?" I ask, keeping my tone light.

He hesitates.

"Oh, nothing much. Business things. Brotherly things." He smiles. "Nothing that will affect you."

"Oh. Okay. I'm glad you had that time with him."

"So am I."

It's quiet then, not uncomfortably so, but I am certain about one thing.

Charming just lied to me.

Again.

Recs:

Books- Melanie Moreland's BAM series. Wow. Seriously. Wow. Devoured them in like two days.

R. L. Mathewson's Neighbor from Hell series. All of them. Go read them. Most are just 99 cents but some can be bought in a box set. There are ten. You won't regret it.

Fics- Not the Boy I Married by Sunshine1220

The Bitter, The Sweet by Rochelle Allison

To All The Boys I've Loved Before by Nolebucgrl

Stupid Boy by Pandora's Box is Heavy

When, or if, you review, rec me some stories. I can never have too many.

Join me at Bitter Harpy Fanfiction on Facebook if you are so inclined. We post many inappropriate things in there. I also post teasers and crap too.

Until next time,

Harpy out!