Okay, didn't realize how long this chapter is, but enjoy it. Lots of bad stuff happening all at once.

-Kristin

- Oh, P.S- I don't own anyone in case some of you out there think I do. I don't. I'm a poor college kid :( not Meg Cabot.

MICHAEL:
I led her away from the stares she was getting, and the pictures that were being taken. I brought her to the elevator and up to my room. Well, basically our room.
She didn't say anything until we sat down on my bed. "Mia?"
"She had a massive heart attack and died this morning," she said quickly, tears forming on her face. Her lips started quivering.
I had no idea what to say. I would never have expected this.
Okay, so maybe I would have considering she's been a chain smoker for decades, and barely got any exercise. But still. She was the
Grandmere. She was invincible. Mia put her head on my shoulder.
"Michael, what in the world am I supposed to do now?" she said quietly.
I kissed her forehead. Our little escape from reality was over now. "I don't know, Mia. I-I just don't know."
We fell asleep that afternoon in one another's arms. I heard her sniffling, and I would try to kiss away the tears.

I started thinking about what this would mean for our 'non-relationship-relationship'. I
know that is selfish of me, but do you blame me? I mean, honestly. She was definitely going to go back to Genovia now. No doubt in my mind. I
was going to lose her again.
Now there'd be pressure for her to marry a prince. She was now the first in line for the throne. Her father would be kind about it,
knowing that she was still grieving over her other loss, but he would encourage a quick marriage. Perhaps he had even found someone over there for her.
Her cell phone rang so I grabbed it so she wouldn't wake up.
"Hello?" I said quietly.
"Michael?" Prince Phillippe's voice said carefully, making sure it was me and not some random guy.
"Yes sir?"
"Where is Mia? Has she gotten my message yet?"
"Yes, she's sleeping right now though. She's been really upset." That isn't an understatement or anything, right?
"That's understandable. We have her booked on a flight tonight. Have her at the airport by eight o'clock, okay?"
I looked at the time now. I was supposed to be at sound check in fifteen minutes. I was supposed to go on stage at six forty five and get off stage at seven thirty. "Yes sir, I can have her there."
"Thank you, Michael. You don't know how wonderful it has been to have you around to watch over her. You've always been like a big brother to her you know."
I smiled a little. Oh the painful irony! "Yes sir. No problem. I am terribly sorry about-"
"Very well," he cut me off. "Tell Mia I love her and I will see her tomorrow." With that he hung up.
Mia started waking up. "What time is it?"
"Three forty five," I replied.
"Who was that on the phone?" she asked. She looked cute, her face had sleep marks all over it.
"Your dad. I'm to have you at the airport at eight o'clock."
She nodded. "It'll be a long flight-"
"Want me to come with you?"
She shook her head and looked away. After clearly thinking about it for a few minutes, "No, it'll be easier this way. We never said this would last, right? You have your life and I have mine."
I was kind of taken aback by this. "Pardon?" I hadn't been expecting to be together forever, but so suddenly?
"I mean, now I have to go back to Genovia. Start my real life and get out of fantasy. Grow up."
"So my life isn't good enough?" I snapped. Where had that voice come from? Oh, I remember. It came from that morning after her prom; after we'd slept together and she had rejected me.
"I didn't say that. I just meant...Michael, we are on different...paths," she said holding my hands. "For a little while we could let them converge, but we have to move on. We weren't in a real relationship, just fun, right?" she said. She sounded like she was trying to convince herself of this.
I felt like she was punching me in the stomach.
"Right," I lied. "We knew it was going to end anyways."
She forced a smile. "Good then. I should be getting my things..."
"Yeah, sound check is in ten," I replied.
"I was thinking I would go to the airport early. Maybe catch an earlier flight," she said softly. "To make it easier on us..."
I couldn't hold back anymore. I walked over to her and kissed her. "I'll miss you," I said softly as our lips parted.

She gave me a big eyed look.
"I'll miss you too Michael."
"Darling-"
"You know what? Just ship everything else back to me. I really should just head out," she said simply as she grabbed a few essentials and threw them into a duffel bag.
"Fine. Are you going to call? Write?"
She nodded, "I will, I promise." Well, she would until she found someone else, I said to myself.
"Why don't we plan a weekly phone call?"
She smiled, "No pressure?"
"None at all."
"Okay. I'll call your cell phone when I get a chance to."
She started to walk out of the room, but turned back to me. She gave me a longing glance, "I'm sorry it couldn't...we couldn't..."
I walked over and kissed her softly, "Go be with your father...he needs you babe."
She kissed me a little harder, "Good bye, Michael," then walked
out of my life again.

MIA:
That was the hardest thing I have ever had to do. I knew that my life wasn't what he wanted so I couldn't make him feel like he had to.
I made it seem like I didn't care anymore. That I was only concerned about Genovia. He'd meet someone else, I'm sure of it.

Dad greeted me at the airport. He had never done that before. It wasn't considered prince like to do something so common. He enveloped me in his arms. They were strong, but nothing like Michael's arms. I immediately forced the thought of Michael out of my mind. I needed to focus on Grandmere and Dad...oh and an entire principality.
We took a long drive back to the palace. Had it really been six months since I'd been here? I had missed the holiday ball in December, one of Grandmere's favorite events. She hadn't even said anything to me about it. I had missed her birthday, Dad's birthday.
I had missed so damn much just so I could feel young. I'm so damn selfish.
Dad pulled me close to him. We never were a family to have a lot of public affection, but in front of Lars and the driver we did show it. Dad started crying quietly. "Dad?" I whispered.
"Yeah?"
"You don't have to worry. I know you want to cry a lot. Go ahead...."
He held back until we returned to the palace. We went into his suite and held onto one another.

We were all that was left in the family. Sure there were cousins and whatnot, but we were the only full blooded Renaldo's left in the entire world. And Grandmere was now in a morgue like any other regular Joe.
"When is the funeral?" I asked.
"She will lie in state at Parliament until next Friday. Then she will be placed in the family mausoleum at the national cemetery."
Great. I'd get to see where I would one day be entombed. "Okay. Dad, everything will be okay, I promise. I won't leave you..."

Every morning I had my driver bring me to see Grandmere before the populace did. She was in glass coffin so everyone could see her.
It seemed really impractical to me at first, but then Dad explained that she would not be in that coffin when she was laid to rest. It was for the populace. It was something she had always wanted.
The morning of her funeral I brought something with me. I had re-copied all of my old diaries from when I first started princess lessons, and I slid them into her real coffin. I wanted to keep the originals for posterity.
I looked at her for the last time. This wasn't the Grandmere I knew and had grown to love. Grandmere would be up and about, ordering the funeral directors about how to perfectly arrange a royal floral arrangement.
In fact, I bet her spirit was running around noticing about thirty things wrong with her arrangements. I sighed, now I was the one responsible to notice those things. I couldn't rely on someone else taking care of it for me.
I kissed her cold cheek, "I love you Grandmere, I'll make you proud."
The family didn't say too much about her death. We were all sort of in shock of the suddeness of it. To be honest, I had always thought she'd die of cancer or something. So that I'd have a real chance to say goodbye. It's kind of odd that Joshua, a young man had about a month and a half to prepare for his death, and Grandmere went quietly in the night.
I had never spoken publicly all that much, but I had to make a family statement to the press. That was difficult because they all seemed to want to ask me questions about where I had been for the past half of a year. I
ignored those personal questions. "My grandmother just passed away, and she happened to the the leader of the majority of people in this garden today. I think that is more important than my whereabouts for six months." After that I imply expressed my gratitude to the people of Genovia, and the world, after the death of my dear grandmother.
I returned to my room one night, very late after a dinner with my father and found a book on my desk. A note was on top of it.
Dearest Amelia- These are my diaries...from when I first met Grandpere, to after his death. I hope they will help you along your way....
Love you forever, Grandmere

Dad appeared in my doorway. "She had that note prepared for years. Told me to give the books to you after she died."
"She knew, didn't she?" I asked. I realized that the stationary she used was brand new design.
"I think she had a good idea," he replied, sitting on my bed. He looked silly sitting on my girly comforter. "But she loved you, Mia. She really did. She had an odd way of showing it but if she didn't she wouldn't tell me how proud she was of you."

"Thanks Dad. I know at times it seemed like I didn't love her, but I did," I replied. "She was, in a weird way, a second mother to me."
He stood up and kissed my forehead. "Get some rest. We have an early meeting with Parliament."
I nodded, but ignored his instructions. I started reading her diaries.
15 December 1951
I have met the most amazing man! I know I am only sixteen, but I know he is the one for me! Only one problem though- he's the prince of Genovia! Yes, I have met and fallen in love with a real honest prince! And I think he loves me too! We were at the Genovian Holiday ball and he asked me to dance three times! Three slow dances with the most handsome and eligible man in the entire country! Can things get any better than this?
-C
16 December 1951
My life is over! I just overheard my mother talking to my father about my older sister, Maria, and Edward! They were saying that they would be married by next Christmas! I hate big sisters!
-C
16 December 1951
Later
Now Maria and Mother are talking about Princess Lessons! How I wish I were to take them! I would make the most perfect Princess! Okay, so what if I am clumsy at times? I could figure out how to sit straight enough to wear a tiara.... I could! I will give myself princess lessons. I will keep the journal of my lessons in this diary!
- C

I smiled at her words. I would never imagine a teenaged Grandmere, but here she was, saying a lot of the same phrases I had used when I was sixteen. I always had thought my life was over back then. I closed the book. Three entries would be enough for the evening. I walked over to my computer instead.
I logged onto the internet and checked my mail. I got a letter
from Michael

Mia-
Just wanted to let you know how much I miss you. The shows are not the same without you standing off to my side. I feel like part of me is missing. I'm sorry if I am making you feel worse than you already do. But I do miss you, Mia...I got another tattoo the other day. It's in a place where no one will see it ;). Maybe I'll let you see it next time I see you.
I've written another song, but you'll have to wait to hear it. Rolling Stone is going to put us on the cover of the special dition : Bands to Watch in 2011! I'm really excited, but nervous. I don't want to look like a dork on the cover of a major magazine. I think I'm getting a nervous zit. Okay, now I am just blabbering, hoping you'll log on, but I guess you're pretty busy over there. Well, I bid you adieu! -Michael

He sounded...I don't know, distant almost. I wondered what the tattoo was though, and where it was.
I saw his name light up on my buddy list. I smiled,

PrinCsDaisy: Hey there stranger
A few minutes later:
BuellerFan: Hey beautiful, how you doing? Get my e-mail?
PrinCsDaisy: Yes, thank you. I miss you too. Did you have a show tonight?
BuellerFan: I have one in a few hours. We are behind you, remember?

Duh!
 PrinCsDaisy: Oh, right. Where are you guys now?
BuellerFan: San Francisco
PrinCsDaisy: I love San Francisco.
That was where Joshua and I had finally gotten together. I didn't tell Michael this, of course. I had always wanted to go there, but now I had very little desire ever to go back...the memory of our first real kisses might be too much for me.
BuellerFan: Well, make sure you check your mail frequently; there might be a prize for you
PrinCsDaisy: Oh?
BuellerFan: I'm working on our website. We are getting a huge fan base now, I'm totally psyched.
PrinCsDaisy: That's good. I think I'm going to go to bed.
BuellerFan: Can I call you?
BuellerFan: Nevermind, you go to sleep
PrinCsDaisy: No, it's fine. I'll call you. Do you have a hotel # I could call?
BuellerFan: 454-9909 area code 555
MICHAEL:
I hadn't heard her voice in almost a month. We had barely even kept in contact with one another. I missed her more than I really wanted to admit.

The phone rings and I snap at it, "Hello, Helga's Meat Massager Parlor, how can I HELP you?" I joked.
She laughed. I missed that sound. Almost as much as I missed her touch. "Michael James..."
"Amelia, ah forget it, Mia! How are ya hon?"
She took a deep breath. "Fine, good as can be expected."
I could just picture her sitting on her bed, all curled up in
her pajamas. "How's Genovia?"
"Fine. How's the road?" she asked. I knew what she was really asking.
"Lonely."
I could swear I could hear her relief. "I'm sorry Michael. I'm sure it'll get-"
"There's only one way for it to get better," I interrupted.
She didn't say anything. "So, what are you guys going to do after you tour?"
"We are going to start recording next week. The tour is wrapping up in Los Angeles in three days. We'll start recording in New York on Monday. We want to have it all set for the wedding."
"Wedd- Ohhh! Lilly and Tony's! Of course! Silly me forgets. How are they doing?"
"Great. Just great. We are going to do the cover shoot for Rolling Stone next week in New York so he'll get to see her and stop whining for awhile."
We kept on talking for another half an hour. Both of us pulling for a new topic so we didn't have to hang up. I knew it was time to go when we were debating the benefits of tube socks. "I'll miss you," I cooed. Yes, I cooed. I am a twenty eight year old man now and I cooed.
"I miss you too," she said softly. "I'll talk to you soon?"
"Of course."
"Okay. Until then," she said, then she made a kissing sound.
We weren't over. That much I know is true. You don't make a kissing
sound as a goodbye when you don't have feelings for a person.

"You need to get out of this funk," Larry said that night after the show.
"What do you mean?"
He looked at Nolan, the only other single Bueller member. "Strip Club!"
"No guys, come on, I'm not into that stuff."
"You are tonight. My treat," Nolan said.

I had been to strip clubs before, bachelor parties and such. But this place was pretty elaborate. The girls were friendlier than the ones in New York. The waitresses sat on your lap as she took your order.
I didn't want to drink that much, but Nolan kept forcing me to have another and another.
"And then she left!" I garbled to one girl. "Can you believe it?" I said drunkenly.
She smiled, "No, honey, not at all. You seem like a real sweetheart. A real catch."
I smiled stupidly. "Thanks Sugar Cane! But I don't know how to win her back now."
"She'll come on back," she promised. "The real ones always do..."
She then gave me a lap dance, on the house. I guess she thought I was that pathetic. I couldn't even enjoy the lap dance. So she came home with me.
I woke up the next morning with the worst hang over ever. I looked at the clock and saw that it was one o'clock in the afternoon.
We were going to LA in about two hours. I looked to my right and saw a bushel of blonde hair. For a second I forgot Mia wasn't here and I kissed the cheek of the hairs owner.
"I better get moving," she said, getting up.
My eyes turned the size of baseballs (that's Mia's favorite expression), "Oh, hi."
"Think I was that pretty girl in that picture over there?" she asked, motioning to a framed picture of me and Mia in Europe.
"Sorry," I choked out.
"Not a problem, honey. She doesn't have to know. And my man don't have to know either," she said softly. She didn't look like a stripper now. You know what I mean? The big hair, the pounds of make up? She looked like a regular person with a regular life. Pretty even.
"I'm so sorry..."
"It's okay, don't mention it, seriously. I have to go though. Nice meeting you. And just so you know..."
"What?" I snapped.
"We didn't do it."
I stared at her. "Huh?"
"You were too drunk to get it up. So you don't have to feel guilty."
"Oh...um...thanks I guess...for letting me know."
Most guys would have been terribly embarrassed that they weren't able to get their dick up for sex, but not me. I was thanking God.
How had I done this? Well, almost done this. I don't even remember leaving the club the night before. Nolan came in twenty minutes later, after I got out of the shower. "Hey man, good catch last night. I never had a stripper before."
"I don't remember any of it," I confessed.
"What WILL the princess think?" Nolan teased.
I gave him a look, "She won't know."
"Oh come on, who cares? It's not like you love her or anything...." I gave him a look as he trailed off, "Or you do and have made a total ass of yourself."
"That's the one," I said falling onto my bed. "I'll just forget this whole thing ever happened. Actually, it didn't so I don't have to worry, right?"
"How much will you pay me to keep quiet?"
"Shut up Noel."
"Okay. You almost ready to hit the road?"
"Yeah, just give me fifteen."
The following week we returned to my hometown, New York City. I stayed in my old apartment in Greenwich Village. I hadn't stayed there the other time we were in New York because of the shortened stay. Lilly had been airing it out and making sure the bills were paid. I don't deserve such a wonderful little sister (yeah, tell me that twelve years ago!).

I dropped my bags and breathed in the wonderful New York pollution, nothing like it anywhere on earth!
Lilly had left my mail on my kitchen table. I found an envelope with Mia's neat handwriting. I carefully opened it up.
Michael-
I figured I should send this to your home, home because where else would I? Things are quiet here in Genovia. Dad's coronation celebration is starting up in five weeks and he's going around like a chicken with it's head cut off. I get to supervise all the functions he will attend. These are the times I 'd wish he'd just marry some woman so she'd have to do all this work!
Thank you so much for the photo's of you in San Francisco! I am sooo jealous of you. Maybe I can arrange it so Dad has to go there...wouldn't that be nice?

I have been reading a lot of Grandmere's old diaries, she was actually pretty cool when she was younger. I still don't know why she wanted me to have these.
I went riding earlier today. It hurt so much since I haven't been doing it in a long time. I felt terrible for Duke though. Dad tells me that he misses Joshua terribly. I hadn't realized how much I had missed him until I returned. I can hardly believe how drastically different my life has changed in the past year. Not necessarily for the better or for the worse. It's just different. I don't think I could have survived this past year without you, Michael. You have been my rock. My dearest friend really...I miss you
- Mia
Dearest friend? Yeah right.
We went to the recording studio on Monday morning. We were going
to record the instrumentals first. Our final song list had been
decided over the course of the tour. There was going to be twelve songs on our debut, all written by yours truly. I decided to merge Tall Drink of Water and Refresher into one song. It sounded pretty natural too.
Nolan wasn't concentrating at all. "Man get it straight already, would you? We've been playing these damn songs for how long and you still don't' get it?" I snapped at him after we had to re-do the same song fifteen times.
"Sorry man, long night last night..."
"Maybe this is a big joke to you. Maybe you couldn't care less about this, but I do. Everyone else does. Get over yourself and concentrate."
He looked at everyone else who were avoiding his gaze. They didn't want to be the next victim to my rage.

I decided to go out for a walk during our lunch break. I stopped at a tourist shop and grabbed a postcard and a stamp.
Mia- just started recording the album...wish you were here to
help me rally the troops!
Love, Me

I hesitated at the 'love me' part, but before I could change my mind I threw it into a mail box. There, out of my hands.