Why now? Elizabeth wondered looking at Todd Wilkins. She didn't even try looking at Laurent, there was no doubt in her mind that Laurent didn't know who this Todd was. Pulling her gaze from Todd she turned to the high ceiling of the corridor of the mall and prayed that she was dreaming. This was the last thing she ever wanted.

"Elizabeth, it's good to see you." Todd spoke to Elizabeth, but kept his weary gaze on the raven haired man with the ice cold blue eyes. The atmosphere around the stranger vibrated with undercurrents of emotions. Who ever this man was knew something and for that he despised Todd. Yet the man was vaugely familiar to him. He just couldn't place where he knew this man from...

Laurent glowered at the man. He glowered because he was worried that he would start laughing and never stop. THIS was the man that broke up with Elizabeth, who broke her heart more than once. This Todd didn't even deserve to breathe the same air as Elizabeth. What did Jessica once call Todd? "Boring as toast Todd Wilkins, you are the best boyfriend that Lizzie has ever had." Jessica's bubbly words came back to him. Laurent almost smiled but then that would break the glare and there was no fun in doing that.
"You look very familiar...have you been on television before?" Todd asked him. "By the way my name is Todd Wilkins."
"I know who you are and what you have to Elizabeth on more than one occasion. I am Prince Laurent de Sainte- Marie." Laurent couldn't help but stress the Prince in his name. He rarely ever used the title but recently it seems all he was doing was using his title to scare people. His title and the fact that he can give a damn good ice cold stare. The one good thing that came out of the who mistake of an engagment with Antiona. Hmmmm, Laurent smirked, knowing that his next words were going to wipe that gloating look directly off Todd's face.
"Elizabeth we must really get to the jewelers.. we still have the matter of getting your ring."
Elizabeth looked up at him. "Ring?"
"Yes, your engagment ring that I am giving you. Did you really think that I would give you that ugly old one from years past? I want to make this ENGAGMENT," he directed that word directly at Todd. "Perfect, you deserve no less love."
"Yes... of course my new ring. I didn't remember if we were going to get the ring or my new wardrobe first." Elizabeth said catching on to what Laurent was going with this. Elizabeth turned and gave Laurent a full kiss and then turned back to Todd.
Wanting to get the last word to a shocked Todd, Laurent could help by saying, "It was interesting Tim, but we must really be going. We have waisted eight years being part from that summer that every single second counts. Laurent stepped infront of todd and bowed formally like he has done countless times. He then took Elizabeth's hand and dragged her, away from a staring Todd with Jessica and Nick falling behind them.

Elizabeth stood there turning her hand left and right watching the light catch the princess cut diamond in the 24kt band and setting. Any other man couldn't have afforded a ring like this one, but Laurent actually wanted to get her a ring that cost more than her entire tution at Sweet Valley University, including room/board and spending money. She convinced him with ring only to have him buy her a brand new wardrobe with accessories. So now Elizabeth had over two hundred new designer articles of clothing with just as many shoes.
"You are completely insane." Elizabeth turned to him. stretched out on the bed he just looked at her through half closed eyes.
"Because I bought you all knew clothes?"
"That and the clothes that you bought are things Iwill never wear most of it is for really cold weather and chilly weather."
"Yes, the weather in France is mostly chilly and cold. Elizabeth I asked you once before what do you want to do with this house?"
"Why would I want to do anything with it?"
"Well, soon you will be coming back to Francew with me, I just wanted to know what you are planning on doing with this place when you leave."
"I'll be back to the house though."
"So you want to keep it and use it for getaways?"
"Yes, speaking of getaways. Why didn't you try to find me when you and your family came to Cali for a vaction a few years ago?"
"Why didn't you come to me?"
Elizabeth sighed and crawled onto the bed and laid her head on Laurents chest. She breathed in the raw smell of his bare chest. "I honestly didn't know if you wanted to see me or not. We didn't exactly leave on good terms. We didn't even say good bye to each other."
"Love, if we had said good bye to each other then we wouldn't be together now. If we said goodbye then, we wouldn't be together now."
"You believe that?"
"I honestly believe that."
"Then we shall never say good bye to each other." Elizabeth yawned and pulled the bed clothes up over them. Laurent reached over and turned off the lights, letting the darkness flood the room.
"I love you Elizabeth." He placed a kiss on her head.
"I love you too." Elizabeth snuggled down on his chest. As she was falling asleep she heard his sing softly.
"Nighttime sharpens heightens each sensations, darkness wakes and stirs the imagaination silently the senses abandon their defenses, helpless to resist the notes I write for I compose the music of the night...."