MICHAEL

I stayed with her until she fell into a deep sleep. I went off to find Lilly. I opened her door and found her and Tony in the middle of something. I looked up to the ceiling and pretended not to notice their shocked faces. "Get dressed we need to talk."

They were both speechless when I told them the news. Lilly was about to cry. I didn't know if it was for Joshua or if it was for Mia. "They are sending him here though?" Tony asked.
"Yes," I said simply.
"When?"
"She didn't say. I'm assuming soon if they are finally telling her the news."
"She's been so happy..." Lilly drawled.

He arrived three days later. Mia stayed in seclusion, only calling on Lilly to join her in her bedroom. I watched as the medical personal brought him into the palace on a stretcher. There was nothing they could do for him anymore, except wait for him to die.
She came out of her room when the personal set him up in his bedroom.
I had to say, for a person who had been all alone for days, she looked damn good. She looked flawless, right down to the little shoes she wore. She, in her grandmother's words, was a perfect princess, or at least appeared to be one. I knew the truth about her burping after she drank too much carbonation. But I'm sure Joshua doesn't know this.
He never had her sleeping twenty feet from where he had lived his entire life. I mean, sure he currently lived with her, but he hadn't been to her childhood home, I'm sure. I don't know why I am suddenly running my "Mia stats" against his. I just am. And I'm afraid he's ahead of me.

MIA:
Lilly guided me to his room. "Are you sure you want to do this?" she asked me.
"I have to. I love him and I don't want him to think I am abandoning him," I reasoned. I had wiped away all of my tears and had done my makeup so he could see me like he had before he left.
The first thing I noticed when I entered the room was his hands. I had touched them only weeks ago and he had assured me that I would touch them again. But those weren't his hands. These were someone else's.
"Mia," he managed.
"Joshua," I whispered, rushing to the bedside. I felt like I was in one of those bad world war movies with the widows finding the husbands in the hospital.
"I-I can't see you," he stammered. "My eyes..."
"It's okay darling," I whispered.
"I'm so sorry...I shouldn't have gone..."
"No, you had do baby. You needed to do this."
"But you are more important. I should have thought of you first. I- I just thought there would be more time..."
"Darling, don't worry about me. Just think about getting better-"
"I'm not going to be better, darling. Look at me, just look at what I've become."
"Joshua, I'm sure our doctors can find something so much better than the Red Cross-"
"No. I've already been seen by them. There's nothing." I had never heard him sound so hopeless. All of his elegant training from his stupid private schools went out the window. Well, he never used those formal lessons unless he was in the palace, within hearing of Grandmere.
"Joshua?" I asked.
"Yes?"
"I love you," I said through my tears.
He tried to raise his hand to my face, but couldn't bring it up high enough, so I lowered it to him. His rough hands scratched my face, but I didn't react to it.
"Don't cry Mia, please don't."
"Joshua, how can I not cry? What am I supposed to do without you?"
"You'll find someone-"
"I won't," I practically yelled.
"Mia, you have to, whether you want to or not. But please, please promise me that you will find someone else to love as much as you have loved me. I want you to be happy again-"
"I can't be happy without you here..."
I could see a few tears on his face. I hadn't realized just how swollen his face really was. He wasn't even recognizable anymore. But I didn't care. If he was able to get well again and had to be like this I would be more than happy. I didn't care how he looked, just how he was.
He changed the subject suddenly. "I was told you have guests?"
I nodded, forgetting that he cannot see. "Yes. Lilly's boyfriend Tony and her brother Michael are here. They just got a recording contract and their company sent them away to do some writing for an album and for promotions."
"That's fantastic, I'd love to meet them."
"I'm sure they will love to meet you too."

I spent a few more hours with him. We talked about our lives and some things that have been going on in Genovia while he was away. I told him the latest royal gossip (who Prince William was currently dating while his girlfriend was away, that kind of juicy stuff). But Grandmere called on me for dinner after a few hours so I was forced to leave him alone. He promised me that he was tired anyways.
I passed by Michael's room when I left Joshua. I heard his guitar playing a familiar tune, so I stopped and listened. It was that song from when we were teenagers, A Tall Drink of Water. I would recognize that song anywhere. He saw my reflection in his mirror and he turned around to me, "Hey there Princess," he said with a sideways smile.
"Michael," I said softly. "That sounded good."
"Thanks. I was thinking of pitching that to the company."
"You should. I know you put a lot into it."
He didn't answer. He just bit his lip. "I guess. Dinner?"
I nodded. I hadn't realized it, but he had been wearing his button down shirt wide open, much like he used to when we were teenagers. I smiled at the memory. He blushed.
We walked to the dining room together in silence, but before we entered the room he stopped me, "Mia, I just want you to know, that I'm here for you. As long as you need me here, I won't leave. I promise you."
I smiled and gave him a hug. "You are really the best Michael, you truly are."

At dinner only neutral topics were discussed. Dad talked about his favorite rugby team playing in some championship. That made me think of Joshua because back in college he had played as well. "So Michael, what have you been doing with yourself all these years?" Dad asked.
Michael finished chewing his meat. "After I graduated I joined a major computing firm in California. I didn't care much for the weather so I decided to move back to New York where I stayed with another firm until the band started picking up."
"That sounds good," Dad said, looking at me for some reason.
I didn't really want t o hear about his life in America. For some reason it made me feel even worse than I already did. I didn't know why though. Maybe because I knew I would never have that freedom to say ' I don't like living here, I'll just get another job somewhere else. I'll be the princess of America instead'. Now, I'm not stupid. I know there aren't princesses in America, but I would want to live there rather than in Genovia any day.
Lilly started talking to my father about her new job in New York. She seemed so happy. I noticed the way Tony looked at her when she talked. He was completely in love with her. For the first time since we were teenagers I was jealous of Lilly. I knew that my Joshua would never look at me like that ever again, even if he did live. I doubted his eyes would ever be opened again. They told me the infection had spread everywhere, including the eyes.
I could feel my eyes tearing up and Michael squeezed my knee to let me know he was there. I forced a smile for everyone, but I'm sure they knew I was faking it.
"Amelia, will you be going riding tomorrow?" Grandmere asked me.
I shook my head, "No Grandmere. Under the circumstances I do not this exercising Daisy would be appropriate."
"Amelia, I think it might be a good idea. And it is one of your and Joshua's favorite past times, he'd want you to do it," Dad cut in.
"Daisy would be exercised, but what about Duke? I can't-"
"Michael can do it," Lilly offered.
I lowered my eyes, "I don't think it's appropriate for-"
"Then it's settled. Michael will accompany you on your morning ride. You have been getting far too lax in your training, Amelia," Grandmere interrupted. Now that she was getting older she often pretended to not hear people when she didn't like what they were saying.
"Has anyone thought to ask Michael if he wanted to?" I asked.
"Michael?" Dad asked, everyone looked at Michael.
"Um, sure, I guess. I've never before but sure."
"Settled then."
After dinner I pulled Michael aside. "You don't have to come tomorrow
if you don't want to."
"No, its fine," he replied with a sideways smile. "I don't
mind. I like experiencing new things."
I nodded. There was no backing out now. "Fine then," I said
turning my heel. Then I turned back to him, "By the way, Joshua would
love to meet you and Tony sometime. He's resting right now, but maybe
tomorrow, after we ride?"
He gave me a positive motion and walked into his room.

I went into Joshua's room. He looked really peaceful. "Hi, Mia," he
said, trying to smile.
"How'd you know it was me?" I asked, smiling.
"Your hair. It smells like strawberries. It's what first
attracted me to you."
"You always smelt like...dirt," I said with a giggle. "From always
working outside and everything."
"That's me, dirty boy."
"Glad to see you still have your sense of humor," I said with a
laugh. His humor reminded me of someone, but I couldn't figure out
who.
"I can't lose everything."
"You never will. You'll always have me," I promised.
"Mia, I'm trying to tell you that I want you to move on, after I
am gone that is. Right now you are still mine," he teased. "But
seriously, please, promise me that you won't dwell on me, on the past
after I die."
"I can't promise anything," I said softly, taking a seat next to
the bed.
"Mia, if you meet an amazing guy, even a week after I die, or
even at my damn funeral, do not feel bad about me. Please," he
practically begged.
"The wound would be too fresh," I admitted.
"Mia, don't worry. I'm always going to be around for you,
always. You can tell all of your children about good old Joshua."
"Joshua, I don't think I could. I- I think if I do even have
children now, that I would want you to be mine, you know, my little
secret."
"I understand that. What if one of them turns out like me and
actually, gasp, wants to do volunteer work?"
I smiled at his humor, "Of course I would let them. Joshua, I
don't want to talk about life like this. I want everything to be
normal."
"Mia, I'm trying to help you prepare for any eventuality. I am
not going to make it for our wedding. And I refuse to marry now."
That hit me in the gut. "Beg your pardon?"
"Mia, I cannot marry you now. Knowing that I am going to die?
Come on, I don't want you to be a widow so young."
"But why can't I make that decision?"
"Because, we had a vote and since you weren't there, I won."
I laughed. Okay, so I no longer was going to be getting married
no matter what. "What if you get better?" I asked hopefully.
"Mia, we both know I won't be getting better. I am sorry if I am
sounding cold. I do love you, cherish you and adore you. I wish..."
"What?" I asked.
"Nothing. So what are you doing tomorrow?"
"I'm going to go riding."
"Oh awesome, babe! Who are you going to ride?" I laughed and he
corrected himself, "Which horse will you be riding?"
"Well, if you don't mind, Michael was going to ride Duke. And I
would be on Daisy, naturally..."
I had bought Joshua Duke for his birthday a year after we got
together. His smile faded. "Oh, fine then. That's fine. I want Duke to
be exercised. Make sure that Michael comes in here afterwards. I wanna
meet the next big thing of rock and roll."
"Of course I will."
"Tell me about Michael," he said suddenly.
"Well, he's twenty seven years old, a Columbia graduate. He used
to do computer engineering but now is doing the music thing again.
When we were younger he was amazing with the guitar. I can only
imagine what he's like now."
"Picking up a lot of chicks I bet!" he joked.
"No, Michael was never like that," I defended. "No, he was
always a very nice boy. He's the one I told you about, who took me to
my senior prom."
Any expression he had on his face was gone, "Oh, him. He must be
wonderful, I'm sure. Anyone you would be friends with would have to be
wonderful." I sensed thick sarcasm.
"There's nothing going on, darling," I promised.
"I didn't say there was."
"You were insinuating."
"Was not."
"Were too."
"Was not."
"Were too times infinity!"
"Aw man, I can't beat that!"
"Nope, ha!"
"Why don't you have some movies brought in here? Invite everyone
in, we can watch them together."
"Okay babe," I said getting up. "Are you sure you don't just
want to rest?"
"Mia, what's the use? I want to spend time with people before I
die, not be all alone all the time."

Lilly, Tony and Michael came into the room and we watched Star
Wars. Michael and I quoted an entire scene. I did Leia's lines and he
did Hans lines. I could tell that Joshua was asleep already, but I was
having a little bit of fun with everyone else. Lilly and I had a
popcorn fight. The guys talked about the band, and the possibility of
having the other guys coming out to meet me.
"That'd be fun," I replied, holding onto Joshua's hand.
I felt Joshua squeeze my hand gently, that was all he could do
anymore.

MICHAEL:
When I said I would do the whole horse riding thing I never
thought it would be at six in the morning. But sadly I was mis-
informed. Mia was sitting on the edge of my bed mussing my hair way
too early. "No," I said simply. "Later."
"Michael James Moscovitz wake your lazy ass up. Time to do
something with your life."
"Okay Mom"
"Come on, get up," she said standing up and pulling my blankets
down. Serves her right for being so rude, I was nude.
I wasn't sure what her reaction was so I opened up my eye that
was closest to the pillow, her jaw was kind of dropped. "Like the
tattoos?" I asked, referring to the symbols on my back.
"What do they mean?" she asked. I noticed she was ignoring my
lower regions.
"The one on the left means love, and the other one it faith.
Vicky was Chinese and wanted me to get them. She actually wanted me to
get her name, but I didn't want that much of a commitment, ya know?"
She nodded and then fingered the symbols on my shoulder blades.
"When did you get it done?"
"I got the love one pretty soon after you and I had, um, after I
brought you to the prom. The other one I ironically got right before I
found out she was carrying on another relationship."
I could not tell what she was thinking at that moment. If she
realized I just told her I loved her when we had been together that
night she'd probably be creeped out. Especially since I had gotten a
tattoo that was dedicated to how I felt about her.
"I'm going to be getting another one eventually."
"That's so cool. I have always wanted one," she said softly,
still touching my skin. "What are you going to get?" she asked,
looking at my face.
"Well, it's not something that I am planning too close in the
future. More like something that I want to do when something major
happens to me. Like, when I meet the woman I am going to marry," I
explained. "I'll have the date we got engaged, then a symbol that
makes me think of her."
Mia smiled carefully, what the hell was going on in her mind
right now? "Okay, well, get dressed, I'll meet you in the hall. I
might be stopping in on Joshua. He'll be up having the newspaper read
to him or something."
"Okay," I replied. She left the room and I quickly got dressed.
Her father warned me that my 'nether regions' will most likely hurt
and that I should wear a cup. Anything to protect the family jewels.

She took me to the stables and introduced me to the horse, Duke.
"Joshua is a big fan of Dukes of Hazard, so he named his horse Duke.
My horse was already named Daisy."
I smiled, I didn't know Joshua all that much but I liked him.
Too bad about his situation. "You have to let them get comfortable
with you. Duke is very temperamental," she warned.

Temperamental was an understatement. I nearly fell off three
times. Mia laughed a little at me, but mostly she helped me get
situated with the horse. We didn't go that far though because Mia
thought Duke would get spooked, with having a new rider on him and
all.
Around nine o'clock Mia brought me to Joshua's room. "He might
be tired so let him talk to you," she instructed.
"Okay."
I had my guitar with me because she had mentioned that he liked
music and wanted to hear what I did. "Michael?" he called out when I
shut the door.
"Hey, there Joshua. Yeah, it's Michael."
"Hey man, come on over. Pull up a chair.
"How you doing?" I asked. I felt like a moron. Of course he felt
like shit.
"Just thought I'd talk to the other man," he said with a laugh.
"Other man?"
"The other man she has loved," he explained.
Okay, multiply the uncomfortablness by ten now. "I beg your
pardon?"
"I'm not stupid. Anytime she talked to Lilly over the years and
you were brought up she'd light up like a Christmas tree. Isn't she
gorgeous?"
Do I answer honestly? "Yeah, she is."
"You know, the first time I saw her she was so filthy and
smelly...but I still thought she looked amazing. She was helping out
these little kids, trying to teach them how to play baseball. Not that
she's an expert or anything," he said with a laugh. "Instead of
throwing the balls they threw mud at her. I felt terrible watching it,
but I couldn't help but see how patient she was with them. That was
the moment I fell in love with her. I hadn't spoken a single word to
her yet, but I knew she was the only one I would ever be with. I
didn't know her name, or that she was a princess. I just knew that she
would be the only person I could be with.
"She was so different from the other girls I had gone to school
with. None of them would give up their summer vacation after senior
year in high school. She did though. And she wasn't fussy about having
her hair done or anything like that. She was...is, perfect mix of a
crazy lady and a classy one....I'm so stupid though, risking it like I
did. If I hadn't gone on this last mission I would be planning my
wedding to the perfect woman."
"Mia isn't perfect," I said with a laugh. "Have you seen her in
her frazzled state?"
"I know. But she was perfect for me. Is perfect for me," he
corrected himself. "I never even spent a night with her you know....not
even just sleeping. I never woke up with the woman I love."
I gulped. Why the hell was he telling me all this? "I'm sorry to
hear that..."
"Never had her face on my bare chest. Never felt her rhythmic
breathing on my chest. I can't even imagine what that must be like..."
What was he trying to get to here? "Sorry man." Okay, so I felt
like the ass since I was the only one to have ever felt that with Mia
before.
"I don't want your apologies," he snapped. "Sorry for snapping
like that. I just feel...horrible. I'm leaving her alone in the world."
"She won't be alone, I promise," I said.
"I know. She'll find someone else to love, and I encourage her
to do that. I think I know who she'll love."
"Who?" I asked.
"I can't say right now. I'll tell you some other time. Why don't
you read me some of the sports page?"

He and I talked a little bit about my music after I read the
sports page to him. He liked my songs that I played for him. I saw a
small smile creep onto his face.
After about three hours I finally left to take a nap, but Mia
wouldn't let me. "How'd it go? What did he say?"
"Nothing. I'm gonna go back tomorrow," I replied.
She went into the room after I left. I didn't get it. There was
something strange going on in that man's head, I couldn't figure out
what though. Then again, they did say that the infection was spreading
through out the body so maybe his mind is a little off. I decided to
blow it off. He had to be okay though, for Mia's sake.

Tony and I decided to go for a little drive later that
afternoon. He had decided that the ring he had bought for Lilly wasn't
right and so he decided to sell it back to a local jeweler here, and
in return get another one.

"Hello gentlemen," the pudgy jeweler greeted. "How are you
today?"
"Just fine sir," Tony said in his thick Boston accent.
"Oh, Americans?"
I nodded, "Yup, you got that right."
"I called earlier and talked to someone about doing a trade in?"
Tony said, sounding more like a question.
"Oh yes! The gentleman who changed his mind on a ring for the
lady. Let me show you our most popular designs-"
"What is this?" I asked, pointing to one in a prominent display
case.
"Oh yes. That is a replica of Princess Amelia's diamond. Her
fiancée had me design the ring myself. This one here does not have as
many diamonds as the Princesses-"
"I know, I've seen her ring before," I said, thinking about how
cool it felt against my back that morning.
"You have?" he asked.
"She's an old friend. We went to school together in America."
"Oh well, this ring is very popular these days. The platinum is
the new gold."
"Well, since my fiancée to be is best friends with the princess
I won't be buying the similar ring. Can I see the others?" Tony asked.
"Most certainly sir," the jeweler said. He suddenly saw us as
important customers since we knew the princess.
"What school did you attend with her?"
"Albert Einstein," I said, glancing in the mirror. I hoped I
wasn't getting wrinkles at only twenty seven, I know random thought.
"I see. What about this setting?" he man asked.

As the days went by I got to know Joshua pretty well. He had a
similar sense of humor as me and tried to laugh loudly, but couldn't.
Mia showed me some of the awards he'd won for rugby and pictures of
him when he was healthy. She seemed really proud of him and all of his
accomplishments.
Sometimes Mia would come in near the end of our visits and would
sit at the end of his bed. She'd flirt with him and tease him
incessantly about different things they'd done together, but I noticed
she would do the same to me. She'd look at me differently than she had
before.