In response to reader questions:

You'll find out about Dean's place in Genovia in this chapter, so I won't bother explaining it.

AU means Alternate Universe, so that means that this is what I think would have happened if Mia had an older brother.

It goes for ten chapters.

And yes, Dean is fiiiiiiine.

Disclaimer: Meg Cabot owns all characters you recognise.

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The next morning Mia was running late. She grabbed a banana and ran out to the waiting limo downstairs.

After demolishing the banana, Dean turned to her. "What's up with you this morning?" He raised his eyebrow at her.

"What do you mean?"

"Well you usually try to kick me out of the car. And then, when you're unsuccessful, you try to stop me from directing it to Michael's. So what's the deal? Are you finally giving up?"

"I don't know… Maybe I am." The thought of kicking Dean and Michael out hadn't even crossed her mind. In fact, she was anticipating arriving at Michael's building, though she didn't know why. It didn't have anything to do with those slow dances at the dance on Friday night, surely.

Michael hopped in a minute later, and Mia looked out the window, suddenly shy.

"Finally," Michael said as he sat down. "I thought you weren't coming."

"Nah. Apparently Mia has had a change of heart regarding letting us ride to school in her precious limo."

"Really? So we can take over?" Michael stretched out and put his feet up on the seat opposite him, the one next to Lars.

Lars frowned at Michael's feet and Michael recoiled. "Sorry, Lars. I was just kidding around."

"I just can't be bothered fighting you guys over it anymore. That's all. And besides, I kinda owe you guys for Friday night."

"Damn straight you owe us," Dean joked. "So does that mean we get a ride home too?"

"You know I have princess lessons. But if you guys want to tag along, that's fine with me."

"Are you kidding? She's not my grandmother! I only hang around her when the only other option is death. And even then I consider it!"

"I know what you mean," Mia muttered, cursing the fact that her brother is only her half brother, and doesn't have to put up with any of the royal crap she has to put up with; Grandmere being at the top of the list.

"She can't be that bad," Michael cut in, proving he had never met the wonderful Dowager Princess.

Mia didn't reply and Dean only snorted.

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Later that day Michael walked into G&T and sat in his usual seat by the window. From where he was he could see Mia sitting by herself too, like usual. Suddenly he felt like getting up and sitting with her. What's the point of them both sitting by themselves?

"Mind if I sit down?" he asked, motioning to the empty desk next to her.

Mia paused for a second. Since when did Michael Moscovitz express an interest in socialising with her without Dean around? "Sure, I guess."

"So how's you day been so far? No problems with pretty-boy Richter?"

"No. He hasn't spoken to me, and he waits for me to finish at my locker before he goes to his. I think you and Dean really gave him a scare."

"Good." Michael cracked his knuckles menacingly, but it came off looking try-hard. "What about Algebra? How'd you do in your test?"

"Horrible. I'm sure I failed. And the worst thing is, dad is going to try to help me study, and he's just going to make things worse. I can't study with him, and when Mr. G helps me, it's just so uncomfortable because of mom. Oh, I'm never going to pass Algebra!"

"It'll be ok, Little Thermopolis."

"Yeah? How's that?" Mia asked, practically on the verge of tears.

"Because I'm going to help you study. You'll be at the top of your class in no time."

Mia was taken aback. "You… You want to help me study?"

"Sure. Why not?"

"Well, because I'm Dean's annoying little sister. Why would you volunteer to hang out with me?"

"Aw, you don't give yourself enough credit. You're not that bad to hang out with."

"Gee, thanks," Mia said sarcastically.

"No, I mean it. I wasn't joking. Come on, get your books out and show me what you need help with."

Mia smiled and pulled out her books, but she immediately regretted it, seeing the state of them.

Michael laughed. "Well of course you're not understanding anyhting. How can you keep track of everything? And where's the rest of it?"

Mia shrugged. "I just write it down on any note book I have handy. Sometimes I use my diary…"

"And you need to make these notes neater too. How can you remember which column these numbers are in if you can't read them properly?"

"I dunno," Mia replied bashfully.

For the rest of the lesson Michael attempted to help Mia make sense of her notes. Occasionally their knees would bump underneath the table and they both apologised and smiled coyly at each other. At other times their fingers would brush against each others as they passed the pencil back and forth, and they each took a deep breath, as if the gesture meant more to them than they would admit.

By the time the bell rang, signifying the end of the lesson, Mia was less confused about her Algebra, but more confused about her feelings for her brother's best friend.

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Mia returned home from her torturous princess lessons to find her mom and Dean sitting at the table, serious looks on their faces.

"Why is Grandmere so horrible? And why couldn't she have gone to Baden-Baden like she planned? Who cares if the baggage handlers are on strike!"

"Mia, we need to talk," Helen said, ignoring Mia's ranting.

"What is it? What's wrong?" Mia started to panic.

"She's just about to tell us. She sent Michael home so she could talk to us alone." Dean shot his sister a scared expression. Things weren't usually discussed secretly in the Thermopolis household. And Michael was never sent home for no good reason. In fact, he was never really sent home, except of his own free will.

"What is it, mom? Is everything ok?" Mia asked.

Helen took a deep breath. "I wanted you guys to be the first to know… I'm pregnant."

Mia and Dean were stunned. That announcement had been the last thing they'd expected.

"So… So what's going to happen now?" Dean asked. A look of shock registered across his face. "Does Mr. G know?"

"I wanted to tell you guys first."

Mia sat there in silence. Her princess lesson still fresh in her mind, all she could think about was how Grandmere was going to react. This would be the third child of Helen's out of wedlock, all to different fathers. Clarrise had never particularly liked Helen, and surely this would bot be viewed as good news to Clarrise anyway.

Finally finding her voice, and pushing all thoughts of her grandmother aside, Mia congratulated her mother and offered her a hug, telling her everything would be ok.

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Hey, I just realised, that's the second chapter in a row that I've updated where someone announces they're pregnant. Huh.

You know what to do.