Thanks for all the reviews, favorites and follows. I adore them all. Not too long between chapters this time. I do hope to keep up the momentum until this is finished. I have never watched polo, but I have watched Pretty Woman so this kind of skirts over any actual facts about the game, but let's be honest here- we only care about Charming and his Bella.

And the occasional pot shot at Marcus.

The American Princess

Chapter 24

Bella

"You play polo? Like with the horses and all?" I ask responding to his answer to my question about what function we were scheduled for today.

"Yes, the horses are an integral part of the game. And it's for charity which I know you love."

"Yes, but what does one wear to a polo game?" Visions of Julia Roberts in Pretty Woman come to mind, but polka dots aren't really my thing.

"Well, I'll be wearing my game uniform of a shirt and tight white pants. You may wear whatever you like." He kisses my nose which I immediately scrunch up as I think of what I have in my wardrobe that will work for this shindig.

"You won't have to wear a fascinator." He dangles this piece of information and I grab it like a lifeline. "Seriously, this is a pretty casual affair."

"Okay, I'm going to go rifle through my things and google polo, so I don't look like a complete idiot out there." I smile as I give him a quick kiss and dodge his roving hands on my way to my deserted bedroom.

I take his instructions to dress casually to heart though if I were home in California it would be some cut off jean shorts and a ratty tee shirt. Instead, I pair my dark True Religion skinny jeans with a blue and white gingham collar shirt and blue button up blazer. One my feet are my blue wedges which I've worn before, but they are so damn comfy, so a repeat is necessary.

I google polo just like I said I would and make a quick note of questions to ask Edward on our way. I take one last look in the mirror and fuss with my hair a bit. I throw on some BB cream, mascara and a nude matte lip and I'm ready. My face needs to breathe a little, so I am taking a break from all the heavy makeup it normally sees.

I walk out to the main living area where Edward and Emmett are chatting about guy stuff. I notice Edward is in his polo uniform but Em is California casual.

"You're not going?" I ask.

"Nah, I don't figure my presence is necessary today so I'm gonna sit this one out."

"Got better plans?" I ask, slyly.

"No, she's going to the polo game as well."

"Good. I didn't want to sit by myself like some loser." I breathe a sigh of relief.

"Oh, Bells, you'll always be a loser to me." Em replies.

"Bite me, asshole."

"Well, as stimulating as this conversation is, our car is here." Edward interrupts.

I grab my clutch and follow him out the door to where the driver is waiting… with Marcus. Oh, goodie.

I slip in the car before Edward and face a morose Marcus. He doesn't acknowledge me.

Shocker.

Edward makes himself comfortable and we are off. I decide to start with my questions.

"I have no experience with polo but in the movie Pretty Woman, they had to overturn the divots during halftime. Is that tradition here as well?"

"Trust Ms. Swan to ask about a movie featuring a prostitute." Marcus mutters under his breath.

I ignore him. "I'm only asking because what if I step in horse shit thinking it's a divot?"

Edward laughs.

"You'll be able to tell the difference." He answers.

"Why is this important?" Marcus complains.

"Because Marcus, I don't want to ruin my five hundred-dollar shoes." I raise my right foot up and wave it near his face.

I think he is going to throttle me judging by the look on his face but instead he starts talking to Edward about his schedule next week. Edward listens and interjects minimally. He turns to me and asks me what functions I want to attend with him.

I'm about to answer when Marcus interrupts. "I didn't plus one you. With Ms. Swan's deadline looming, I figured she needed the time to research flights home and to pack."

Edward stiffens up but I place my hand on his arm. I don't need Edward speaking for me.

"Dude, you need to get laid." I say, crudely.

"Why, I never!" He objects.

"I know! That's the problem. Though I can't really imagine you doing the nasty. You're so proper. I had the same reservations about Edward but let me tell you… WOW. That man can do things with his… equipment. And his mouth and his tongue. Good lord, his tongue. But you- you I can't imagine. I mean I have this image of you all 'mmm yes. Splendid. Ah, indeed, scrumptious, carry on. Good heavens, I'm arriving!' I'm doing my best Harry met Sally impersonation just do drive it home. "It just doesn't do it for me." I pause. "Is that why you aren't having sex?"

"I can't wait to throw you out on your bony, vulgar American ass" He roars.

"Marcus, that's quite enough!" Edward interjects. I ignore him.

"Well, when that time comes, I'll let you have the honor, but until then, shut the fuck up." I hiss.

I flop back into my seat next to a stunned Edward and a stony silence ascends the car.

We arrive moments later to our destination and Marcus throws the door open and furiously climbs out, almost knocking the poor driver over. I step out next and then Edward.

"Bella, I'm…" I gently put my finger over his lips to quiet him.

"Don't you dare apologize for this behavior cause I'm damn sure not going to apologize for mine." I smile then let my lips take the place of my finger. "For luck." I whisper against his mouth.

"Break it up. No one wants to see that." Jasper complains, good naturedly. Alice is with him, along with the girls. All three are pretty in pink color matching sundresses.

"Come sit with us, Bella. We have the perfect spot under that big tree over there." Alice points to where Rosalie is already sitting.

I give Edward one last kiss before following Alice and the girls.

We chat for a while then clap when the players entered the field. I couldn't really follow it too well on my own, so it is a huge help to me to have the girls explaining things. They did so kindly and without talking down to me. Something I appreciate greatly.

One of the royal photographers asks for our picture and we oblige, the three of us grinning happily then another with Alice's daughters. I will definitely be printing those out later to have… after. Other than Angela and Carmen, I didn't have girlfriends. I might hire a personal assistant when I got back home- for companionship and to lighten Emmett's load. Judging by the way he was gaga for Rosalie; he might need more time off in the near future.

She's smiling at her phone and I know it's something he sent her. I make a mental note to speak to Carlisle privately. He may not approve of me, but Emmett was beyond reproach. His only fault was his loyalty to me.

"What are you thinking about so hard over there?" Alice asks me, her eyes alight with curiosity.

"Esme's party." I lie. "We only have a little while to go."

"Oh, that's handled." She waves my statement off breezily. "It will be a splendid time, besides it's the halfway point of the match."

"Is this when we go step in horse manure?" I ask.

Rosalie and Alice look at each other and laugh.

"No, this is when you and I go kiss our players while Rosalie watches the children."

Rosalie mock pouts but her eyes are smiling at us as we leave to approach our princes. Our sweaty, dirty princes.

"You smell like…"

"A gorgeous, princely specimen of a man?" He helpfully supplies.

"Shit." I finish, though I am only joking. Then I am squealing as he wraps his arms around me and calls out, "I demand you hug me at once."

I can hear the whir of the cameras catching our spectacle.

"You are not being charming right now, Charming." I huff.

"I am always charming, Ms. Swan." He disagrees as he kisses my nose. "But I only ever want to be your Charming."

I lean up to kiss him so he can't see my eyes. The ones that clearly show a countdown to the end of our time together.

Luckily, it's time for the last half to start so I leave him to it and wander over to my previous spot. Alice is chasing after her girls, so I settle next to Rosalie.

I watch the game trying to stifle all the morose thoughts out of my head. I cheer in the necessary places and act like everything is alright.

I think I have shaken off my negative stupor when I hear Rosalie ask quietly, "You're leaving soon, aren't you?"

I close my eyes momentarily as I sigh and turn my head slightly toward her, so I don't have to actually look her in the eye. I want to lie but I can't. "Yes."

"You can't do this to him. He loves you. I know he does." She hisses.

Now I do look her in the eye. "You think I don't know that? We've had this discussion, quite recently I recall."

"And I told you I would figure something out."

"You're gonna figure something out? You're gonna make your father accept me as the future queen? Accept any children we might have? Not make me give up everything I have worked for and accomplished in my life? You're gonna figure all that out on your own, huh?"

"Queen consort but that's neither here nor there. Love can conquer all, Bella."

"Get your head out of your romance novels, Rosalie. Love doesn't always conquer all. Sometimes it's more problematic than it's worth."

Her eyes flash. "He is worth it."

"Of course, he is. He deserves everything good in life. He deserves better than the life he will have if he stays this course. Now, I know you mean well, but I am tired of talking this to death."

"Will you let him know you're leaving or are you just going to leave in the middle of the night with no warning?"

"Of course, I will tell him. I'm not a monster."

"This will kill him, Bella. I hope you know what you are doing." And with that, she gracefully got up with a calm and serene expression on her face. She might be a better actress than me.

I'm left to my thoughts. I wasn't lying when I said I was sick to death of discussing this. These last couple of months have centered around it. It's all Charming can talk about. It's all I can think about. It's all up in my face like I am in Carlisle's.

But something Rosalie said strikes me. 'I hope you know what you are doing.'

Do I know what I'm doing? Is this the right thing? Is turning my back on what can only be described as something really special, the answer? Can I sacrifice my heart, my career, for his future?

These are all really important questions.

And as I catch his eye and he smiles at me so surely and so lovingly, I suddenly realize I don't have any fucking answers.

And maybe that the answer I've been looking for all along…

Too much with Marcus? Or not enough?

Pic Teases at Bitter Harpy Fanfiction on Facebook. I'm not begging or anything but I'd love to make it to 500 members before I am done with this story. But I'm warning y'all, I have a wicked, perverted sense of humor which should be fairly obvious if you're reading any of my stories.

I mentioned Pretty Woman in this chapter. What is your favorite Julia Roberts movie? Mine is Steel Magnolias. Ouiser is my spirit animal.