I'm back and quickly too! This chapter is mostly filler but kind of sort of not. Next chapter is the ball and my oh my, I can't wait for your reactions to that. It should be up within two weeks maybe sooner.

See you then.

The American Princess

Chapter 26

BPOV

"Oh, look at this one!"

Alice cackles at the picture we took with her home as the backdrop. "Only you can still look lovely all dressed down."

"Girl, I looked dreadful."

"It's your eyes, I think. They sparkle with happiness."

Rosalie gives a most unladylike snort of derision.

She still isn't speaking to me regarding our last conversation at the polo patch. That was two weeks ago. The three of us are currently at a fitting for our dresses for the charity birthday ball and poor Alice is trying to keep the peace by being overly bubbly. I don't know who was annoying me more; Alice or Rosalie.

Finally, though, Alice has enough.

"What is with you two? This is exhausting. I already have two kids; I don't need two more."

"No one told you to interfere, Mary Alice."

"Don't speak to me in that inferior manner of yours, Rosalie Lillian."

"Okay, Ladies. Let's all chill. Alice, Rose is upset because of some things I told her. Rosalie," I take a deep breath, "you were right."

All irritation was gone and Rosalie scrambled up out of her chair. "I was? I mean, of course I was."

I roll my eyes.

"So, what did he say when you told him?" She asked.

"I haven't yet."

"Bella!"

"Did you just stomp your foot? What are you, five?"

She just glares.

"I'm waiting for the right moment."

"Do it at the party." Alice interjects.

"You don't even know what we are talking about." Rosalie says.

"Sure, I do. Bella finally pulled her head out of her arse and realizes she loves Edward. "

I gape at her.

"I'm a princess. That doesn't mean I'm stupid. Now, can we get on with this?"

"No, we can't get on with this. I can't do this at Queen Esme's party."

"I'm not saying make a public announcement, Bella. It will be a romantic evening filled with dancing and fun. Just pull him aside and tell him. What harm can that do?"

"I still think I should tell him in private."

"You're not telling him you're pregnant… wait, right? You're not pregnant, are you?" Rosalie asks.

"No! That shit is locked up tighter than Fort Knox."

"I don't know what that means exactly but thank goodness. We don't need that right now."

"No shit."

"So, the party?" Alice nudges.

"I'll think about it. Now, let's get this over with so I can call my agent. She's riding my ass lately and not in a good way."

"Problems?"

"No, except when I am here, I'm not working and if I'm not working, she's not getting paid what she thinks she's worth."

I see Rosalie and Alice exchange a glance. "So, are you up for any roles?" Alice asks casually as takes her dress out of its garment bag.

"Yeah, a few." I reply absentmindedly as I look over my own dress. "Hey, I know these sleeves are lace see through but my tattoos are still technically covered. Do you think it will be acceptable?"

"I'll have to see it on, but I am sure it will be fine. Um, I know you know this as we've spoke on this subject before, but you are aware that your acting career will be over should you marry Edward?" Alice asks.

I level my gaze coolly towards her. "Marriage is something that is a long way off and as long as I am still single, I will have my cake and eat it too."

"Cake didn't work out so well for Marie Antoinette if I do recall correctly." Rosalie interjects as she makes a slicing motion across her throat.

I roll my eyes. "Look, I'll just be the prince's longtime girlfriend." I shrug. "Eventually, I will have to return home and we will do the long-distance thing for a few years."

"What? No, no, no! That is not how it works. Bella, he will be king. He can't merely have a long-term girlfriend. He needs a wife." Alice shrieks.

"I'm sure Carlisle is healthy enough to where this won't matter. Edward wouldn't be king for at least a decade, if not more. And all this is assuming that I won't suffer the same fate as ole Marie." I say with a pointed look at Rosalie.

"Your job is that important to you?" Alice asks.

"My career is important to me, yes."

"More important than Edward?" Rosalie questions.

I groan then flop into one of the overstuffed chairs in the room. "Why is this even a thing? Why does your family have such archaic rules? Why should a woman in this day and age have to choose between the man she loves and the career she loves?" Silence. "Answer me." I demand.

"It's just how it is because of who he is." Alice's eyes are sad as she answers me. "So, if he had been born second, then this wouldn't be an issue?"

"No, it would still be an issue but it could possibly be worked around. You know, only roles set in England, hiring British actors and crew, bringing money into the country."

"Great, so I need Edward's birth order to change and to star in the next Harry Potter series. Better call J.K Rowling and have her get started." I groan. "No wonder he wanted to abdicate and pass the crown to Jasper."

"What?" Alice's sharp tone makes me look up swiftly.

"Oh, you didn't know that?"

"Edward wants to abdicate?" Rosalie is on her feet and towering over me.

I stand up to lessen the intimidation factor. "Hey, not my idea. In fact, it's what I've been fighting against this whole time! But you were all heart eyes talking about how me leaving would kill him. And both of you are all 'you need to give up your whole life to be with him' and 'love is the key' like some demented Frozen duo. Get off my dick."

"Huh?" In unison, they stop and look at me in bewilderment.

"It's a Beastie Boys t-shirt I own but that's not the point here. And I'm exhausted having the same damn conversation with this family. So, to recap; I love him, I'm not ready for marriage or to give up my career just yet- thank you very much, and I need to know if this damn dress is gonna work!"

Suddenly, laughter is filling the room and I join in. "I swear you bitches are going to be the death of me."

"Just think, if it all works out, we will be your sisters." Rosalie giggles.

"Now, that is a definite deal breaker. I'll need the next plane headed for Los Angeles." I tease.

"Ha ha. Get the dress on Bella so I can go have a long discussion with my husband."

"Well Jasper did like me." I groan as I undress then put my charity ball gown on.

"You didn't put him in the position. Edward did and while I can't say that I wouldn't enjoy being queen one day, this is not the way I want to go about it." Alice said, as she flitters about me, pinning and examining my arms.

"Before this, the only Queen I ever considered is the band."

"Well, you wouldn't technically be queen. You'd be the Queen Consort since you don't have noble blood. The sleeves are fine. Your tattoos are black so it's hardly noticeable."

"Well, that's just plain rude to talk about me like that." I huff.

"Well, I won't ever be queen unless you all die in a fiery plane crash." Rosalie chimes in.

Alice and I look at her with raised eyebrows. "Been thinking hard about that one, huh?" I tease.

She shrugs. "Then Emmett could be Prince consort."

"Why not King Consort? You know what, never mind. I don't want to know. The less power Emmett has, the better." I take off the dress and put in back in the garment bag to send off to the royal seamstress or whatever she's called. Who knows with this family? I slip back into my jeans and shirt and settle on the couch while Alice does Rosalie.

"Hey Alice, why are you doing the fitting?"

"I enjoy it. I still own the shop and I don't get down there as much as before since I had the children. That's a whole other level of responsibilities, you know? Raising princesses or princes."

"I can not fathom having that conversation. There is a line and we are not crossing it today or in the near future."

Alice surrenders as Rosalie gets dressed back into her street clothes.

"All this because of a shoe." I murmur with a low laugh. "Is one lousy Louboutin going to dictate my future?"

"So, what you're saying is your temper caused this?"

I mock glare at them.

"I hate you both."

"That is no way to talk to your future princess sisters." Rosalie sniffs.

"Okay, are we done here?"

"Yes. We will be getting ready together Saturday at 4pm. Don't be late." Alice instructs.

"Yes, Your Highness." I answer and throw in a sarcastic curtesy as well.

"You need to go a little lower next time. Really work the knee action."

I flip off Rosalie who looks shockingly amused. "Yeah, yeah. Bye."

I am laughing as I walk down the hall then I stop as I try to remember where to go next. This place is too big and should have maps posted on the walls at every turn. I think I recognize the next hall at the intersection and go that way.

"Miss Swan."

That's why it looks familiar. I shut my eyes, take a deep breath and paste a smile on my face before turning towards the open doorway.

"Your Highness." I greet with yet another curtsey with knee action just for Rosalie.

"Please, come in and have a seat."

Knowing I don't really have a choice and that Edward wouldn't come looking for me until I miss our meet up time in fifteen minutes, I resign myself to the fact that this conversation is going to happen.

"How has my son been treating you?" Carlisle asks as I settle in the seat I usually occupy when I am in this office.

"Better than you probably think I deserve being a peasant and all that." Sarcasm is my defense against the dark lord of England.

"I see you managed to get away a few days ago. About gave Marcus a heart attack."

"I wasn't aware Marcus had a heart."

Carlisle sighs. "I can see why you would say that. He's set in his ways. I'll demand he lighten up."

"Don't worry, I can handle him."

"Yes, you can and quite well at that." He laughs and suddenly he looks so much like Edward that I have to catch my breath. "While you are quite crude and uncouth, it is amusing to see him so flustered."

"Is there a point to this conversation?"

"Yes. Would you like some tea?"

I look at him dubiously.

"It's quite safe, I assure you. Homicide isn't very kingly."

"And yet, many of your ancestors didn't feel quite the same way."

"Well, this is 2019. We've evolved."

"Evolved is the last thing I would call this… setup."

"Would you be so kind as to let me know what you mean?"

"Say that a price falls in love with a foreigner and she is admittedly unsuitable for the position as his significant other but she falls in love with him as well. But she loves her career and knows that even if she got his family's approval, she would have to give everything up about her that makes her who she is because of some old laws that tells her she has to. So, she has to choose; love or her career. How evolved is that?"

"Do you love my son?"

"My question was a hypothetical one."

He nods.

"Well then, hypothetically a bill would have to be proposed and pass though both Houses of Parliament before it comes to me for Royal Assent, but I don't see that happening, Ms. Swan." He sounds almost regretful, so I must be losing my mind.

My phone rings and I see it is Edward. "Excuse me, I must take this." I put it on speakerphone.

"Hello?"

"Hello, where are you? Alice said you left over twenty minutes ago. Did you get lost again?"

I look at Carlisle.

"Yes, I did but your father escorted me into his office to wait until you missed me."

"I always miss you when you are gone."

I close my eyes. "Same here."

Edward lowers his voice though it doesn't matter, Carlisle can still hear him. "Is he being nice?"

"Yes. He is. I'll wait for you here."

I hang up before he says anything else.

He breaks the silence. "I wish it didn't have to be this way." His gaze is open, honest.

"Me too." I whisper.

"There you are!" Edward walks in and gives me a hug when I stand up. He slips his hand around my waist and we stand before his father, a united front. "Father. I trust you've been kind."

"He has." I assure him because he had been which has me more off kilter than usual. I am used to his vitriol and subtle harshness.

"Well, we should get home. We have a luncheon tomorrow and I have a speech I need to work on."

I nod and force a smile.

"Father." He nods his head in farewell.

"Edward. Miss Swan." Carlisle does the same in return.

I refrain from rolling my eyes at the stifling formality. I let Edward lead me out of the room.

"Well, at least you don't look any worse for wear." He remarks, once we are out of earshot.

If only he knew…

Should Edward have been the first to know? Yes. But that won't work with my plans so Alice and Rosalie it is. She'll tell him next chapter. Also, I may be off about how laws get changed in the UK but that's what google popped up. *shrugs*

What do you think about Carlisle?

Fic Rec: The Geheime Vernietiging by aroredjenaue. Y'all this story. *heart eyes*