MICHAEL:

I started shaking while I waited in Mia's father's office. Why as I so damn nervous? Okay, so what if he is father? So what if he's a prince? So what if he can ban me from ever entering Genovia again? So what if he can veto a Parliamentary decree of our marriage? No biggie. I've known him for years. He's a decent guy.

I think.

What did he want to say to me? I'm not good enough for his daughter? Yeah, no shit. I even know that and I wonder everyday when she's going to figure that out.

"Thank you for meeting with me, Michael," Phillippe said as he turned in his seat. I hadn't even realized he had been sitting there this whole time.

"It's my pleasure," I lied.

He chuckled, "I'm sure it is. I want you to know something. I am getting married on Saturday."

I nodded, "I know, congratulations. Cammie is great. Mia loves her."

"And I am going to announce that I am abdicating effective January first."

I didn't have to ask why. My face did it for me.

"I am a newly wed, Michael. Or at least I will be. And I'm not getting any younger."

"You aren't old," I argued.

He sighed, "Mia doesn't know this, but I am sick. She is going to be taking the power from me because I am afraid at some point I won't be able to. I need her to focus on taking control of Genovia. I cannot have her mind muddled with wedding plans and romance."

I sighed. "We can wait for our wedding," I replied. "We are in no rush."

"But what will you do?" he asked. "While she is working? Will you remain with your little band?"

It is remarkable how much he sounded like her grandmother. "I'll stand by her as long as she wants me to be. And sir, without being rude, may I ask how you are sick?"

He folded his hands. "Michael, the reason I am unable to produce more heirs is because I had cancer. And the odds of a cancer survivor getting the disease again is higher than any other disease."

"You got it again?" I guessed softly.

"Yes. This time it's prostrate cancer. I am getting treatment and my chances of survival are good. But I don't think I can properly rule Genovia."

I started digesting everything that was being told to me. "Does Mia know?" I asked, trying to remember if she'd been acting weird. She hadn't been as far as I could tell.

"No. I haven't told her yet. I'm waiting for more results to come back."

"So, what is it you want me to do?" I asked.

"Let her do her job. You go do your job and let her do her job."

"What am I supposed to tell her?"

"Don't tell her I am sick. Or my plans. Go back to New York after my wedding. You know, relax for a few days, then head back to New York. So it doesn't look bad."

I started tapping my foot nervously. "You don't mind our being engaged then?"

He sighed heavily, "No, I do mind that. I want her to marry her own kind."

Her own kind? What is this, the middle ages? "What? You mean someone in her social class? Because if that is true, what about you?"

"No. I mean a Genovian."

I stared at him. "She isn't Genovian."

"Yes," he started, "Not by breeding, but by blood she is."

I shook my head, "Don't push this issue," I started, "You'll regret it."

"Don't you push this issue. I get what I want. And I want her to marry a Genovian."

"You were going to let her marry Joshua." Ah ha! Got him there. Plus, I could tell I hit a bad nerve.

"He was at least from nobility in England."

I swallowed hard. I would never stand up to Joshua's impossible standards. I figured this out in this instant. Everyone would always compare me to him. The family, the public, Mia. I didn't really care about everyone else comparing me to him because it is an honor to be compared to such a great man. But what about Mia? Would she forever be wondering how her life could have been with him? Would we have ever been together if he hadn't died?

"I think we should trust Mia to make the right decision."

That day I decided to go out and explore the city. "Where you going?" Mia asked as we passed ways in the Great Hall.

"Out on an adventure," I replied kissing her cheek. "I won't be gone long. You?"

"I'm supposed to meet with the wedding coordinator. Where on an adventure?" she asked taking my hand in hers.

"I just want to see what Genovia looks like. If I am going to live here I should know where I am going."

She smiled, "Then see it with a true Genovian!"

This should explain why we were lost two hours later. "I could have sworn this was the way to the museum..." she said pulling me along.

"Mia, I don't know why, but I don't think there are sheep grazing by the art museum."

She smiled, "The directions told me that if we kept going down that road..."

We ended up finding a cab to take us back to the palace. "I did get to see the Genovian countryside," I said optimistically as we waved to the cabbie and returned to the royal property.

She giggled, "I have to tell you something."

"What?" I asked as she pulled me to a secluded area of the property.

"We have to announce our engagement on Sunday night. In a televised address."

Her father wanted me to return to New York on Sunday night. "Why? I mean, why do we have to?"

"Because first of all, my dad will be gone and he can't tell us we can't. Secondly, we have to make the announcement. It's really not as terrible as you would assume. We simply say 'Hey, we have been dating for some time and have decided to get married. Got a problem with it, too bad.'."

We sat down on a bench. I read the inscription. "Who is Iggy?" I asked.

She looked at what my fingers were pointing to, "That's what my grandmother called my grandfather. They had a forbidden love," she said with a half smile.

"Oh?"

"She actually had an affair with an American," she said cryptically.

"You are joking me, right?"

She shook her head. "Nope. Before Grandpere...well, kind of during Grandpere I guess. But this wasn't her forbidden love. Grandpere was. He was engaged to her older sister."

"Oh...so do all Renaldo's have affairs with American's?" I teased.

"Grandmere explained something to me once. The reason not many head's of state marry Americans...I mean, you know, head's of foreign states, is because America already has sooo much power. They are afraid that an American would influence the leader to make decisions that would benefit America. But one of the last conversations I had with Grandmere was about my future..."

I saw a tear floating down her cheek. "You don't have to talk about it babe."

"She said I was lucky because I could marry anyone I wanted. I think she knew I wanted you."

I kissed her forehead, "I'm the lucky one."

"Michael, tomorrow is my father's wedding."

I nodded, "You'll look beautiful."

"I really don't want to go."

I must have look surprised, "Why not?"

"He has no respect for me. Or for you- wait, what did he say to you today?"

I contemplated telling her. She'd only get upset. "Just the regular old father stuff. Nothing major. Don't we have dinner with him and Cammie tonight?"

She rolled her eyes, "I'm not going to that. I just want to be alone with you," she said cuddling up to me. "Being with you is just where I belong."

The next morning was a flurry of activity. I had slept in Mia's room the night before, but she was gone when I woke up. She left a note telling me that she would see me at the wedding.

A stylist came in and placed my suit out. "Let me see your eyes," he said staring at me.

I groggily opened my eyes wide enough for him to see them.

"Hmm, I think the grey tie would be best," the man said to his assistant. "Go fetch it."

The other man scampered off.

"So, I hear that you and Princess Amelia are...uh, shall we say, close?"

I shrugged but said nothing. I felt weird getting dressed with all of these people around me. They even chose my boxer shorts (very long thick black ones, very uncomfortable). "Now Mr. Moscovitz, you will be escorted and seated in the fourth pew behind the royal family of Monaco," the planner.

"No, I was told by the princess that I would be further up."

The planner scoffed, "We cannot allow a commoner to go past royal family members."

"I am the fiancé of the princess," I replied. "Honestly, I don't care all that much, but I know she will."

"The prince put you here. You will remain. Come along, let's go."

MIA:
I was wearing an off the shoulder purple gown with my hair falling down past my shoulders. I was told that I could not wear my engagement ring because it would take the attention away from my future step mother. Everyone involved with the wedding thought it would be in poor taste if I announced my engagement before the ceremony.

We went through the capital in a horse drawn carriage with the populace cheering their best wishes for the almost newly weds.

I did my best princess wave, it was small and rounded. Cammie waved too widely, and I corrected her. Lord, I really did hang out with Grandmere too much!

My cousin Rene escorted me up the long aisle. Cameras started flashing, but Rene and I had gotten used to this and were not blinded by the flashes. "Where's the guy?" he whispered.

I looked all over and couldn't find Michael anywhere. I pretended not to look worried, but didn't have to for very long because I noticed that he was further back than I had originally realized.

The ceremony went off without a hitch. As I went back down the aisle again I pulled Michael along with me. He seemed a little surprised so I squeezed his arm and winked at him. I wanted him with me when we went up to the balcony with my father and new stepmother. He was part of this family whether my father wanted to believe it or not.

When I was a teenager all I wanted was for my father to accept me. When I first moved to Genovia I changed who I was so that I could satisfy my father and grandmother. I became what Joshua called the 'Stepford Princess'. But now that I was with Michael I had no desire to do this. I just wanted to be his. Only his.

His parents would say that I changed for my father because of abandonment issues I had as a child. But now I was a fully developed adult and could abandon such childish issues. Joshua had allowed me to continue on because he felt that he too was not good enough for my family and therefore for me. Michael had no misconceptions. He knew that I wouldn't listen to my father.

"Amelia, what is he doing here?" my father asked before we were announced onto the balcony.

I looked over at my fiancé who was talking to a little boy of the doorman. "He's part of our family, Dad. Whether you accept it or not. I am going to be marrying him. With or without your blessing."

He sighed.

"Sorry for acting like this on your wedding day but it's something you are going to have to get used to it," I said grabbing Michael's elbow as my name was called out. "Congratulations, Dad."

Michael rubbed my feet that night. "Ugh, this is so totally different than my mother's wedding," I said leaning my head back.

"I would think so," he replied. "But then again, you weren't around for her wedding. Maybe it was secretly like this."

I laughed, "It's going to be nice with him out of here for a few days. We can do whatever we want."

"Like have sex in the Hall of Mirrors?" he teased.

"Not a bad idea," I said kissing his cheek.

A knock came to my door.

"Yes Javier?" I asked as Michael leaned back in his seat again with my feet still on his lap .

"Your highness, you have a guest."

I gave him a confused look. "Who?"

I really should not have asked. She came barreling into my room instead. "Lucie!" I squeeled, jumping up and running to her.

"Mia!" she cried. When I say cried, she really looked like she'd been crying.

I looked back at Michael who had stealthily left the room. "Oh, you just missed the famous Michael."

She forced a smile. "He b-broke up with me!"

I gave her a confused look. "Michael did?" I asked, confused. "Wait, Who did?"

"Schwartz!"

Oh, right. I've been so stuck on myself I've totally forgotten about her having a boyfriend. "What happened sweetie?" I asked, taking her to sit on my bed.

"H-He doesn't want to get married and I told him that we needed to start talking about settling down. He's re-joining that old band he was in and wants to focus on that. Ugh! I mean, it's not even music he's playing. He's just banging on stupid circle things and getting drunk all the time..."

I rolled my eyes. "I never thought he'd be like that." I never mentioned to her that I happened to be a fan of Phantom Planet, and was psyched that he would be joining the group again. Things were never the same without him really.

"I- I hear that you are getting married?"

I nodded slowly. "Yeah. Michael."

"The one we called that time and you pretended to be me?" she said lightening up.

I nodded with a small smile, "I never told him about that."

She managed a minor laugh, "And he's here?"

I nodded. "Somewhere around. It's been a long day. How long are you staying?" I asked. Her stays used to be based on her current fancy. She got bored very easily. The life of an heiress and socialite was always busy and she always had new best friends to make.

"I'm not sure."

I felt let down. I had been looking forward to some alone time with Michael in the next few days. "Okay, well, I'll have a room set up for you."

"Is Michael sleeping in here with you?" she asked, looking around and seeing a pair of his boxers on my arm chair.

"Yes."

"Good."

"Hey, the book is coming out soon huh?"

"It's been five years in the making but yes. Finally it is coming out. But you had to go and do something all new so I had to re-do the epilogue."

"Hopefully you'll have to continue doing that," I said with a smile. "Hopefully by this time next year I'll be a married woman," I said wiggling my engagement ring.

She grabbed my hand, "It's perfect. Just right for you."

"He designed it," I bragged. "Isn't it great?"
"I like it better than the one Joshua bought you. You were never one for fancy things."

I shook my head, "No, you have that right I'm not. That is why Michael is perfect for me," I said walking to the door with her.

"I'll bet he's waiting for me to leave so he can ravish you," she said hugging me. "I'll see you tomorrow."

She was right about that. Michael was waiting to seduce me. He had run a bubble bath for the two of us and was waiting for me in it. He was playing some mellow music and had his eyes closed.

I slipped out of my pajamas and quietly got into the tub with him. "Hey babe," I said softly.

"Hey," he replied, kissing my neck. "What was that about?"

"Oh, that was Lucie Priestess," I replied.

"Lucie Priestess?" he said in a high pitched voice.

"Yes, have you heard of her?" I teased. I knew about that conversation.

"Yeah...a few times. I met her once in New York."

Okay, didn't know about that.

"You did?"

"Yeah. She called me once when you were here and she was doing research for your book. Then she got curious I guess and came to New York to interview me. Tried to get more information out of me."

"Wait, she came to see you?" I snapped.

"Mia, I really don't want to talk about it..."

"About what?" I asked, sitting up and turning to face him.

"Mia, look at us. We are both very much naked and very much in love."

"Michael, what are you hiding from me?"

"I'm not hiding anything. I'm just horny," he said, trying to sound cute.

I gave him a look that read that I definitely was not in that kind of mood anymore. I got out of the tub and put on my robe. "Explain to me right now or you will be back in the guest room."

He gave me a pained look. "Um...well..."