Chapter 9

"Oh Liz I can't believe we're going home!" Jessica cried as she watched her sister pack her bag.

"Hmmm," Elizabeth mumbled distractedly, laying her t-shirts in her suitcase. Finally she zipped up the suitcase and took it to the door. She turned and looked around the room, "I haven't left anything have I?"

"Does it really matter Liz? If you have it just gives you and excuse to come back over, or," Jess giggled and raised her eyebrows suggestively, "Laurent an excuse to come to America." Liz blushed and smiled.

"Jess!"

"Lizzy you've been head over heels in love with that guy since you laid eyes on him. It's obvious that you would want him to come to Sweet Valley considering you're engaged to him."

"I still can't believe that. It's like something out of a fairytale."

"Well you'd better start believing it sister. Anyway you might wanna go say goodbye to Prince Charming now before we have to leave. I don't want the children to have to see any nauseating displays of affection when we say goodbye to the family."

"Alright, alright I'm going. Can you make sure my stuff goes down?"

"Yes yes now go already, we only have an hour before we have to leave."

Elizabeth pushed open the door to the cottage.

"Laurent?" she called out, "Are you in here?"

"I'm in here ma cher," came his voice from the study. Elizabeth closed the door behind her and heading into the study. When she entered Laurent had his back to her, facing the fireplace. When he heard the door click he turned around.

"Good morning Elizabeth," he said quietly with a small smile. Elizabeth walked over and threw her arms around him. Laurent sighed and laid his head on hers, holding her close and breathing in her scent of lavender and roses. Finally Elizabeth pulled away and looked up at her prince. She noticed that his eyes were slightly red and puffy.

"What's wrong Laurent?" she asked worriedly, "You've been crying."

"Nothing is wrong ma cher. I just wish you didn't have to leave today that is all." Elizabeth smiled.

"You're so sweet Laurent. I don't know what I did to deserve you." She reached up and ran her fingers through his dark hair.

"I must have been a saint in another life to deserve you mademoiselle Elizabeth," he smiled, leaning down and kissing her.

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"Goodbye Mademoiselle Jessica, goodbye Mademoiselle Elizabeth," Pierre stood by the door of the Chateau with his two little sisters, waving goodbye to the au pairs that had looked after them that summer. Little Manon sniffled loudly as the car drove over the bridge.

"Well my little ones, did you have a nice time with the American girls?" Princess Catherine asked her children, picking up Manon and putting her on her hip.

"Oui mamman," Claudine replied. Laurent smiled and picked Claudine up. Now was definitely the right time to tell his brother and sisters.

"Well, how would you like it if mademoiselle Elizabeth was your sister?" he asked in French. Claudine looked at him puzzled for a moment.

"How could mademoiselle Elizabeth be my sister?" she asked.

"Laurent is getting married to mademoiselle Elizabeth!" Pierre cried excitedly, jumping up and down. Claudine frowned in thought for a moment before looking at Laurent and beaming at him.

"She will be a princess like mamman and Manon and me."

"Oui Claudine, she will be a beautiful princess just like you."

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A/N - hey dudes, sorry about this but i'm gonna be off with the fairies (somewhere in fairyland - sorry my best friend always asks me that) for a while... stupid teachers giving us fifty billion assignments due on the same week... plus all these non-assessable tasks that they expect us to do overnight... well that's my rant for a while anyway i'm only halfway through the next chapter but it's gonna be a long one... hopefully i'll be finished it by the holidays... fingers crossed. oh and ta to the second person who reviewed (sorry i can't remember your name)... i also hated the fact that she said no because of Todd... particularly since they ended up breaking up again... which is why i started writing this story (plus the fact that i needed an outlet for my creative energy). well bye byes