"Miss Thermopolis, did you need any help at all?" Joshua asked after dinner that night.
"No, don't worry dear," my mom said, glancing at me. She winked at me. Really subtle Mom. Really.
Rocky, my little brother, started climbing on poor Joshua. "Rock, get off of him, now," I ordered.
"Can I climb on you, Mi-Mi?" he asked.
He knew I was weak and couldn't resist those chubby cheeks. "Actually, Mia and I were planning on going to go for a walk. If it's okay with your mum we can take you as well. Maybe get some dessert," Joshua interrupted.
Rocky jumped up and down, "Mimi, rocky road! We get that? Pleeeeease?"
"You heard him. Go ask Mom."
He ran out of the room. "And you want him to have MORE sugar?" I asked.
"Well, it seemed like a good idea at the time..."

He met Grandmere the next day when we were on our way to the airport. "Who is this...this boy?" she demanded the moment she entered the limousine.
"I am Joshua Bloom," he greeted, "It is an honor to meet you, Your Majesty."
"Is he coming onto our private jet?" she asked me. I noticed she refused to ask him anything directly.
"Well, actually, Grandmere, he is going to England. He goes to Oxford." She brightened at this. Was it because he wasn't coming with us, or because he went to Oxford?

"What is it you study over there at Oxford?"
"I am actually a triple major," he replied. "Political Science, French, and Law."
She looked at me. "What did you do to your hair?"
"I um...there was an incident with some gum. It was really terrible. A freak wind carried it straight to my hair. I could only cut it out," I lied.
She accepted my explanation. She spoke French for the remainder of the ride to the airport. "Henri, contact my pilot would you? We will fly to England first to take Joshua home."
"Grandmere, they have to send their flight plans to the FAA. You can't-" I started, but stopped when I got her glare.
"I am the dowager princess, Amelia. I can do as I please."
She then proceeded to light up her cigarette and allowed Rommel run on the runway. I noticed she didn't clean up after him either. "Amelia huh?" Joshua teased. "Can I call you that now?"
"Only if I can call you Josh."
"Forget it, I like Mia better."
"Good because I like Joshua better."
"Amelia!" Grandmere called to me.
"Yes, Grandmere?"
"I must leave immediately."
"Why? What is wrong?" I asked, worried.
"Uh, William is ill back in Genovia..."
"So?" I asked. William was just her assistant, who cared? I was surprised she did at least.
"I must return immediately. It's better this way anyways because we cannot chance a freak plane accident happening."
"What?"
"If the plane were to go down then what? We'd just have your sterile father to take care of the country. What would happen if he died?"
Okay, she was looking waaay too far into the future. "Um, okay. I guess."
"I am taking a direct flight from New York. You take this private plane." Whoa, Grandmere was going to fly commercial?
"Very well," I said formally.
She rushed back into the limousine. "You know, maybe I'll stay in England a little while," I said thoughtfully.
"Why?"
"She's going nuts I think. I don't want to be any closer to her than a few thousand miles," I said, watching her limo speed away to the city.
"Princess? Sir," the pilot said, gesturing to the plane.
"Thank you Pierre," I said graciously.
"Well, you are very welcome to stay at my flat," Joshua said after we settled into our seats.
"Are you sure?"
"Yeah. I think my Mum and Dad might be stopping by though. I told them I would be arriving tonight."
"Oh."
"By the expression on your face I am sure you have heard about Mum, huh?"
I giggled, "Well, Bebe told me, so I don't know how much of it was true."
"She's fine. Just over protective."
"Momma's boy?" I asked.
I heard the motors start. I grabbed the arm of the chair tightly. He saw my white knuckles and took my hand, "Relax. Remember, Grandmere is on another flight. If anything happens to you here there will be someone to control Genovia."
I giggled, "True. I wouldn't be surprised if she produced another heir!"
He held my hand during the take off. That was the only part that made me nervous. I hated flying overseas. Staying on one continent was fine with me. I just hated going over the Atlantic Ocean.
To ease my nerves he started singing silly pop songs. I loved this about him. See, Michael despised all the pop acts I loved, but not Joshua. He appreciated the greatness that was Justin Timberlake. He wasn't afraid to sing and be silly.
"You have the WORST voice," I said laughing at his rendition of I WANNA BE BAD (I think he is the only guy, or girl for that matter that knows those words).
"Look at you," he shot back. He opened up one of the books he had brought on board.
I started playing a game on my cell phone, but it rang and totally ruined my snake score. It was Lilly, "Hey Lil," I greeted. "Better be good, you just ruined my record Snake score."
"Were you in the city?" she demanded.
"For about twelve hours," I replied.
"Why didn't you call me? What did you do? I'm almost positive Michael would have appreciated seeing you. What happened with him? He's been all weird about you-"
I looked over at Joshua who was singing some song under his breath. "Um, I brought a friend from the trip home to meet my family."
"Oh?" she asked, her interest peaked.
"Lil, I really shouldn't be using this. I'm on the plane."
"Oh, so sorry. But tell me, is it a guy?"
I laughed, "Yes."
"Cute?"
"Um, yes."
"Better than my brother?"
"Lilly, I really better get going. I'll call you in a few days, okay?"
"Okay Mia, but I want a full report."
"No problem."
I ended up falling asleep for the remainder of the trip to England. He woke me up, "Hey, get up," he said shaking me.
"Huh?"
"Wake up sleepy head."
"Oh, sorry. What time is it?"
"Well, to us it is about six o'clock in the evening. But in our time zone it is midnight."
"Oh...okay..." I said. I was always confused when I first woke up. He took my hand and helped be get off board. I told Pierre that I would be visiting with friends for a few days. I would contact him personally when I wanted to be picked up.
He looked worried. No one had told him of the change of plans. He hated these kinds of things.
"I'm starving," I announced.
"That isn't very princess like," Joshua scolded.
"And you would know?"
"I've been raised around nobility. I know the rules."
I rolled my eyes.
"That wasn't princessy either, girlie."
I much preferred being called darling to girlie. "I'm just a regular tourist now."
"With her own plane?" he asked.
"Okay, so a very wealthy tourist. Guide me Obi Wan," I said with a laugh.
"Obi Wan?"
"Star Wars," I said simply. I had totally forgotten that he wasn't my Star Wars partner in crime. "Nevermind."
"Okay. Well, is a taxi okay to take to my flat?"

"That'll be fine."
He had a really teeny apartment in the city. It was one bedroom, a living room and a kitchen. The bathroom was smaller than my smallest closet in Genovia. I tried not to look judgemental.
"It's...quaint."
"That's a nice way of saying small," he teased. "I don't care. It's mine. My parents have nothing to do with it."
With that a knock came to the door. "Oh Joshie!" a shrill voice called out.