Author's Note: I changed a few facts in this story. Just actually one. About Lucie's boyfriend. Joshua did not introduce them. He is not a rugby player. You'll see who he is.

I really hope you guys like this story. To be really honest I'm not sure if I have it finished yet. I may change some stuff.

And I own the band Red Blood because..um, they don't really exist.

MIA:

Every time I return to Genovia I always feel like I am going in the wrong direction. That I'm supposed to be going west and not east. I always am looking to the back of the plane. I used to think it was because I was paranoid about the stewardesses, but a few years ago I realize what it was.

I always felt like I was running away from home. Running away from New York.

But I was also going further away from Michael. In the back of my mind he was always there. I tried, God did I try, to push him out of my mind, but it never worked. Even when I first saw him last summer I was freaking out.

I must have looked calm at the time, but on the inside I was the fourteen year old girl who had a massive crush on a cute boy. I had thought I was past it, but I never was. But I also had Joshua then. I was in love with him, planned on marrying him. So I had ignored the feelings for months. Until...well, I don't know.

I looked over at him bopping his head to the music in his iPod. I put my hand on the armrest and he automatically took it in his own and lifted it up to kiss it.

I smiled and realized that I wasn't running away from home anymore. I was simply going to Genovia with my home. Does that make sense at all? Home, to me, isn't a physical place. It's a state of mind really. Where ever Michael is will be my home.

I kissed his in return then stared out my window and thought about the upcoming months.

We couldn't really announce our engagement when we got back to Genovia. I mean, how would it look to everyone if I went with this guy on tour a month after my fiancée died, and then came back with him nearly a year later engaged?

No, we agreed that he'd come back to Genovia with me as my boyfriend. My father, of course, would have know the truth, but no one else in the country would. My mother would be told over the phone...maybe a conference call with her, Frank and Dad, and of course Dad's fiancée Cammie.

I'll admit that I wanted to yell to the masses that I had met and gotten engaged to the man of my dreams. Or well, the other man of my dreams. I looked back at him and realized how adorable he really was. He hadn't realized that I was looking at him because he was stuck 'in the zone'. He claimed he was jamming to the latest Red Blood song, but when he wasn't paying attention I leaned over and realized what he meant by 'in the zone', it was Britney Spears. He was actually listening to the song Toxic.

This made me think of Joshua. He and I had gone to a Britney concert fairly early in our relationship. I teased him and told him that he better remember who his girlfriend was, considering he had always had a crush on Britney. She had been very gracious, so much that she tried to have her handlers get Joshua to go onto her tour bus for a personal tour. I had stepped in and explained that he had lackluster dance moves so she couldn't put him on her dancer's payroll. After all ,she does not date guys who cannot become her back up dancer.

I later had an 'accident' and tossed all of Joshua's Britney CD's out the window. Seriously, I have NO idea how they got mixed up with my Frisbee collection. Seriously. (note that my hands are in front of my nose right now...)

I must have been laughing because Michael started waving his hands in front of me. "What's so funny?" he asked.

I shook my head, "Oh nothing. It's just...well, I was thinking about how I don't like Britney Spears. No true rocker would ever listen to that crap."

He had a guilty expression. "Oh, I agree. Totally." I could practically see that he was making a mental note to clear it off his iPod. "I hate pop music."

"It's just funny..." I started, thinking about how odd it was that he was so different from Joshua. Or rather, how much Joshua was becoming like Michael. He had started getting into rock music later in his life. I had convinced him that even if Avril Lavigne and Christina Aguilara won every grammy available, they were not quality. I had him listening to the older bands that Michael had introduced me to.

You know what I just realized? I am doing the same exact thing I did when Joshua and I were getting serious. That is, I'm with Michael, yes, but at the same time I am thinking about Joshua. I had always scolded myself for doing this to Joshua, but somehow felt that Michael wouldn't mind. That he'd be okay with me thinking about Joshua now and then.

"What?" he asked innocently.

I shook my head, "Just about a time I saw Hilary Duff in the airport once. She was upset that the paparazzi was more interested in getting my picture than hers. I mean, she had bought the nicest most expensive glasses. And had the perfect 'I am just a normal person getting off the plane' out fit," I lied. Well, not really, that actually happened once in New York. I only read about it later in a magazine. Hilary didn't like me either. I dunno what it is, the pop tarts don't like me at all.

He laughed, "Oh?"

"Yeah. Designer jeans that are ripped in the right places and a t shirt with Rainbow Brite on it."

He laughed, "You know, she's not REALLY an actress or singer. She's just a celebrity, ya know?"

"Huh?"

"She doesn't do anything but go to the right places."

"Kind of like my friend Lucie. She's a socialite. She's a writer too but she mostly goofs off and makes connections."

He looked like a deer in headlights, "Lucie? Lucielle Priestess?"

I nodded, "I'm sure you've heard of her. She's dating this actor now, Jason Schwartzman. But we all call him Schwartz."

He calmed down a bit. "As in Robert Coppolla Carmine's big brother? The original drummer for Phantom Planet?"

I nodded.

"And you haven't jumped on him to get you together with his little brother?"

I rolled my eyes, "I am a mature woman you know-"

"He wouldn't do it, huh?"

"No. He said that Robert was getting married and stuff to some regular girl. I guess you will have to do," I teased.

"I guess," he teased. "You'll have to do too. I mean, I totally had a shot with Micca Brooks."

Micca Brooks is the new age Britney Spears. The Britney of the new generation of teeny boppers. "I guess," I teased. I looked out the window and saw that we were descending.

Michael held my hand as we landed in Genovia. I hated landings. I used to hate take off, but I now only hated landing. I mean, hi, we were just thirty thousand feet off the ground going wicked fast, and suddenly we are on the ground? Yeah, that is a wee bit scary. "Mia, relax. Landing will be fine. We'll be fine. Chill," he said soothingly.

I smiled at him carefully, nervously. Okay, I'll admit it. I'm not only nervous about the landing. Michael was coming back to Genovia. Last time he was here Joshua was here. Last time he flew in was with Tony. Tony wanted to come here and propose to Lilly. Michael came for moral support. I had no idea that they were coming in town. Joshua was in Africa.

Michael and I had no idea that the trip would bring us together forever. Well, it'd take a bit longer than the one trip, but still. Who is to say we would have seen one another again if he hadn't done that?

I looked at my usually calm and collected boyfriend- uh, fiancée, and saw fear? "Michael, are you okay?" I asked, rubbing my thumb against the top of his hand.

He looked up again at me with an awkward smile, "Of course I am. Totally okay. I'm cool. Calm."

"And lying," I said kissing his cheek.

"Lying? What makes you think I am lying?" he asked with an easy smile.

"Because you do that thing when you are lying," I replied, glancing out the window at the palace below us.

"That thing?" he asked.

"Yes, that thing. You know what I'm talking about."

"Oh I do?"

"You squeeze your nostrils together so they are teeny. Plus, you click your tongue ring against your front teeth. It's pretty unattractive."

He smiled widely. "Oh Mia....I'm fine. I swear to you."

He was still lying. He was purposely trying to widen his nostrils. "Okay Michael," I said with a worried smile. "Look, I've gone through all this before with the press. Just follow my lead, okay?"

He nodded, remembering that I have had a relationship that people had been obbessed with. Yes, obbessed. The ring Joshua had given me had knock offs all over the world. Kind of weird huh? You ever look in the back of US or InTouch? They have like, Jessica Simpson rings and stuff? Well, they have mine too. Of course, it is now in a safe at the palace. I haven't quite decided what to do with it just yet. Maybe I would auction it off for charity.

"Yeah, I guess," he mumbled.

We didn't hold hands while we disembarked. Everyone knew I was coming home from vacation today and the rumors of my and Michael's romance had been leaked to the press. Everyone knew the romance was out there, but we didn't want our pictures in the paper. We wanted some sense of privacy.

I twirled my ring so the stone was facing in and therefore no one would see it and ask if we were engaged. "Mia, maybe you should give me the ring for now," Michael said before I took a step onto the turmac.

"Huh?"

"If you have it like that," he explained taking my hand, "People will think we got married already. In secret. Like we were ashamed. Or because you are pregnant or something."

He had a good point. I mean, I'm not pregnant (trust me on that one...) Geez, he'd be able to deal with being royal with no problems. I really didn't want to take my ring off though. "Here," I said reluctantly. "Don't lose it, a really great guy gave it to me."

He smiled, revealing his dimples. "I'll try to keep it safe. Wouldn't want that guy to come after me or anything."

I really wanted to kiss him right then, but then a flash went off.

"Princess! How was your vacation?"

"How was your friend's wedding?"

"Did you enjoy your stay in the States?"

"Were you in Iceland?"

I smiled like the perfect princess Grandmere had made me (or at least I'd pretend to be a perfect princess!). "My vacation, both in the States and in Iceland were wonderful. The wedding was amazing-"

"Anything like the wedding you planned with Joshua? Or that you plan on having with your new love, Michael Mossovitz?" one reporter asked, motioning to Michael, who was standing back out of the view of cameras. He grinned at the flubbed name.

I smiled and tried to forget the fact that I could have been very well married for six months to Joshua. "My best friend is a very unique girl. If my wedding to Joshua had been anything like this then she probably would have changed her plans. She probably would have gone off and eloped or something-"

"Like you did with Mr. Mossovitz?"

I shook my head and laughed, "I am not a married woman. Mr. MosCovitz and I did not get married. I am happy, and not married. I want to take this new relationship slowly and without added pressure from the press. So please, I ask that you respect that wish."

"Mr. Mossovitz! You were seen in Boston buying a ring. Does that mean anything?"

Michael looked around. I don't blame him, if the people are going to be attacking us the moment we come back they could at least take the time to say his name correctly.

"Mr. Moscovitz?" another reporter asked.

"Yes?" he asked.

"A ring? Did you buy one in Boston?"

"I bought a ring?" Michael asked, looking at me. "Oh, no, I was picking up a ring for my new brother in law. He gave my sister that ring."

I looked at him in amazement. Good lie.

MICHAEL:

Lying wasn't all that hard with the press. Mia and I had decided that we didn't want anyone to know about our engagement yet. Well, if it were up to me the world would know that I loved this woman and that she was the only one for me. And that we'd be husband and wife in no time.

"Bye bye now," Mia said with a princessy wave to the crowd.

We slid into the waiting limousine. The minute the door close I shot Mia a mischevious grin. "So, princess dear, what do I get for lying to these strangers?" I asked, pulling her onto my lap.

She giggled, "Michael, you are not acting like a grown man here-"

"Oh silly, silly, sweet Mia, you seem to forget that you and I have lost out on the teenage years where I would be immature and begging for some physical activity. Come on, let me be immature," I said kissing her neck.

"Michael, must I remind you that we are going to see my father? Or that Hal is driving us and would hear?"

I sighed. "Fine, the second that we are alone though I am going to have to make love to you."

She pretended to think about it, "Sounds great to me. On one condition."

"Anything."

"Give me back my ring."

"I'll give you a ring," I said pulling her into a deep kiss.

She sighed as we pulled apart, "Michael...you know what I mean..." she whined. "Stop being a pervert."

I laughed and said, "I'm holding it ransom...What are we going to tell Daddy?" I asked.

We arrived at the palace and were told that her father was waiting for us in the garden.

"Dad always has tea in the garden with me. It's our alone time," she explained.

"Want me to make myself scarce?" I asked.

"No...you are with me now. You have to come with me."

Hand in hand we walked into the garden where her father was sitting with a woman I faintly recognized. She was Phillippe's now fiancée. "Mia!" her dad exclaimed, jumping up and rushing over to his only child.

She wrapped her arms around her father, "I'm so glad to see you!" she exclaimed.

I nodded politely to Mia's soon to be stepmother. "Hi there," I greeted biting my lip.

"Cammie, you remember Michael?" Mia asked, wrapping her arms around me.

"Of course I do. How was Iceland?" she asked, sipping her tea. "Oh Phillippe, not so much sugar in yours..."

Phillippe smiled sheepishly as he put another spoonful of sugar in his tea. "Yes dear."

"Um, well, Iceland was great," Mia started, looking at me.

"Maybe we should sit down?" I asked, motioning to the seats across from her father and Cammie.

She nodded. "Right. Of course."

"What is it?" Phillippe asked.

Mia looked at me. "Dad, Michael and I have decided to get married. But not for awhile," she said quickly.

Phillippe looked at me hard. "Married? B-But you only just got together," he argued.

Cammie put her hand on his, "Let them explain," she said softly. I liked her.

"Dad, Michael and I have been together for quite some time," she explained. Lying I know.

"Oh? How long exactly?" he asked, looking at me.

"Since the fall," I said, continuing the lie. I looked at Mia who was nodding in agreement.

"Dad, I love Michael. He makes me feel alive in a way that not even Joshua made-"

"Mia, what would you have done if Joshua wasn't dead? If he was only ill? If he was right upstairs waiting for you to come home? What about that?"

Mia looked down at the ground. We were all quiet. I was kind of curious as to her an- wait, no I wasn't. I really wanted to punch her father right then. How dare he put her in this position. She was an adult and he was treating her like she had no idea what she was going to be doing.

I was just about to tell him how rude he was when she replied, "Do you honestly think that I haven't asked myself that thousands of times? Like, what if Michael had come back and I was with a healthy Joshua? An alive Joshua? Or if Joshua had just...if he was permantly paralized or whatever. I have no idea what I would do. I would have been just as confused as I am right now. But there is a reason for everything. I lost Joshua for a reason and Michael was there for me, for a reason."

"Confused?" I asked.

She looked at me, "Yes. Confused. Because my father was one person I thought would accept this and he clearly does not."

"Mia, it's not that he doesn't accept it," Cammie interrupted, "It's just very sudden."

"Oh, and the six months that you two have known one another isn't very sudden?" she snapped.

She stormed away, leaving me alone with the crowned prince and his fiancée. "So. How is the rugby team?"