Eric held onto Greta for as long as he could. Now that she was in his arms, he just couldn't let her go, not again. She said that she loved him. And yeah there was a lot of stuff to still work out, he knew that she loved him! He had a second chance at happily ever after, and he wasn't going to let her get away from him. She seemed contented just staying in his arms. Neither wanted to break the moment.

However, reality intruded when Greta's driver pulled up to the curb and asked, "Your highness, you said to tell you when it was 2 pm."

She pulled out of Eric's arms and turned to her driver to tell him, "Merci, Claude. One moment."

She turned around as Eric asked her, "Where are you going?"

She looked into his blue eyes and laid out the honest truth, "I don't know anymore. I was running away from you."

Eric never broke eye contact as he asked her, "Will you stay with me?"

She couldn't find a more tactful way of asking, so she directly asked him, "For how long this time?" She broke eye contact when she added, "I don't know if I can bear the heartache again."

Eric understood that he had two choices here. He could either be selfless and let her go, or he could be selfish. He gently lifted her head with his finger so she would look at him before he said, "Stay with me forever. Marry me."

She couldn't breathe. She couldn't think. Marry Eric Brady? The thought never occurred to her, well at least not in a serious context. Her foolish romantic heart just wasn't prepared for the question.

Eric took her silence as rejection. He told her, "That was stupid. I made you uncomfortable. You just told me that you hated me and here I went and asked a stupid question. I just thought that if I asked you, you might learn to trust me again. I was out of line..."

She put her hand on his mouth so he would stop. When he quieted down she answered him a little cryptically, "I'm a princess Eric. Marrying me will change your life forever. Do you think that you could handle that much change?"

His blue eyed darkened like he was trying to put together pieces of a puzzle. He asked her, "Was that a yes?"

She knew that he hadn't understood what she tried to ask him, and explaining would make everything more confusing. So she decided to wait on the details when she told him, "Yes. It's probably wiser to wait, but I don't care! I'll marry you."

He picked her up and pulled her closer to his body. She felt like she like a feather riding on the coattails of the wind, even when Eric kissed her. She was never impulsive. She was usually shy lonely swamp girl, but with Eric she felt charged in ways that she never experienced before or since. As they kissed, she let out a carefree laugh.

His mouth curved into a smile when she laughed. He would have asked more, but the driver interrupted to ask, "Are you both getting in or are you planning on staying out there all day?"

Eric held Greta as he told the driver, "Have her luggage delivered. The princess is coming with me."

Eric handed the driver a business card and some cash. The driver accepted the tender but waited until Greta nodded her head in approval before taking off.

Eric leaned down to kiss her again, but she interrupted to say, "You realize marriage to me won't be typical for you right? I accepted responsibilities when I won my crown. You won't be Eric Brady, freelance photographer, anymore."

He asked, "Who would I be then?"

She liked that he was asking her questions. So she answered coyly, "My royal consort for one thing."

He asked her, "I'll sign a prenup, so no one can say that I'm marrying you for your money."

She shook her head and said, "This is France. My inheritance remains as it is written, even without a prenup agreeing."

He wanted to change the conversation slightly, "So there is no reason we can't be married as soon as possible?"

She said what she was thinking, "That soon? What about planning?"

He asked her, "Would you elope now and save the wedding planning for later?"

Eloping was always her dream! All she ever wanted in life was a small cozy home and to live without all the pomp and circumstances. She kissed him as her answer.

He quite happily kissed her back until he asked, "Was that a yes?"

She shook her head and said, "The sooner, the better. Once the driver calls the press, it won't be long until we're on the cover of every paper."

He took her hand and swung it with his as he told her, "We better get going then. My car is over here."

Meanwhile at city hall the future Dr. Roberts finally obtained the needed 'medical' files from City Hall. He took the files outside and called his equally scheming wife, "Halfway done. I should have the marriage license for Austin and Carrie by the end of the day. I just want to wait on the paperwork."

She asked him, "How did you pull it off?"

He loved teasing her. It made her so animated when she didn't know everything. So he answered, "Maybe if you're nice to me later, I'll tell you."

She grinned into the phone and seductively said, "Honey, I can be very nice and accommodating."

His body responded to the sound of her voice. He sat on the steps of cityhall and whispered back, "I'm looking forward to your body later."

She giggled before answering, "Body? Who said anything sexual? I said I'd be nice, not your playtoy."

He joked right back, "Now there is an image that will get me through the waiting."

She laughed because quite honestly she hadn't thought too hard on what she said. She then turned serious and asked, "So Mr. Schemer how are you going to accomplish the actual wedding?"

He replied, "Mrs. Schemer you're going to have to help me with that part. Can you make a stop over at Justice Dumont's residence and drop off a check while I wait on the license?"

She stood up happy to help. She then answered, "I'm on my way! I love you."

He stopped breathing for a minute. It was still new to hear Sami tell him that. But he quickly relaxed and said, "Momma, I love you too. Call me when you get back."

She smiled and said, "Ok."

She hung up the phone and grabbed her purse. Sitting at home while someone else schemed just wasn't normal behavior for her. On her way out the door Sami spotted Carrie and Austin each sitting at opposite ends of the living room. They looked almost scared of each other, which was crazy. Sami waved to her sister and then left.

Austin and Carrie accidentally caught each other looking at the other. Carrie lowered her eyes and attempted to go back to the book that she was pretending to read. Austin cleared his throat before finally saying, "Carrie... do you want to go for a walk?"

She asked herself if she should spend time with him at all! Spending time with Austin was like signing her own warrant for heartache. But she couldn't say no. She put her book down and hesitantly replied, "All right. Let me get my jacket."

He watched her leave the room before he gulped down his drink in one quick motion. He then stood up and walked to the door. He had no idea how he was going to approach Carrie to ask her out on a real date where he could give her flowers that would make her smile up at him. He had no idea how he could even want to trust her or want her trust, but he did. When she betrayed him, his entire world fell apart. But when he spent time with her lately, he felt hope for a future again. Luckily she came right back and spared him from thinking too much. He held the door open for her, waiting for her to pass before joining her outside.

They walked in silence for a few minutes before Carrie decided to make conversation, "Do you think Sami and Lucas are happy in love or are they scheming something?"

Austin answered, "Well I don't think their scheme has anything to do with us, but they admitted that they're working together on something. Maybe the plan is to drive mom mad?"

Carrie shook her head no before saying, "No. Kate just came here. They left her with Will. It has to be something else. Scheming for a job together maybe?"

Austin shook his head no and say, "Future Dr. Roberts is following in his dad's footsteps remember? Maybe there scheme is to give Will a real family and to get along as husband and wife?"

Carrie let her mind chew on that idea for a moment before replying, "Austin, I think you're right! It's odd that Lucas isn't home with his wife or that Sami went of by herself. Maybe they're scheming is getting confusing because Sami definitely loves him. Maybe we should force them to admit how they feel?"

Austin saw a sparkle in her eye and asked, "So you still believe that love exists after all?"

She shrugged her shoulders and answered, "Love exists for others, just not for me. I fall into the heading for heartbreak category with my history. Will you help me?"

Austin saw a star lily at the florist down the corner. It was Carrie's favorite flower. He led them in that direction as he told her, "I'll help you with just about anything."

She smiled up at him. He looked so sincere with his big smile. She couldn't explain it but she felt happier just from looking at him. She kept smiling until he stopped walking and went inside a store. She stood on the corner completely baffled until he returned moments later with a flower, a star lily. She asked amazed, "You remembered?"

He put his hand on her neck and picked up her necklace that held his old promise ring to her before he told her, "I remember everything about you. You were the one Carrie Brady. I'm just sorry that we didn't have more good times to go along with the bad."

She sighed before answering, "Me too, Austin. Me too. I screwed up everything."

He stopped her self recriminations when he told her, "We both made major mistakes and took each other for granted."

She still blamed herself but she liked that he said that. She turned and continued walking. When he didn't immediately follow her, she turned around and silently asked him if he was coming. He smiled at her before catching up. ~*~

Lucas turned in the updated medical papers and filed for a renewed marriage license for Carrie Brady and Austin Reed. As the clerk handed him the paper, Lucas was almost caught. Luckily for him the couple was too busy staring at each other to notice him. He took the license and left city hall before Eric and Greta caught him.

He used his phone and called the office of Justice Dumont where he asked to speak to Sami Brady. The receptionist almost hung up until she realized that the caller meant Sami Roberts. She told him, "Madame Roberts was just leaving. Hold on a moment."

A minute later, Sami answered, "Hello?"

Lucas asked her, "Did your brother decide to marry Greta anytime soon?"

Sami asked, "Why? What do you know?"

He told her, "I just saw them filing for a license together."

She then asked the receptionist, "My twin Eric Brady wanted me to double check on when his wedding ceremony is? He's still filling out paperwork and all that, and since I'm here..."

The receptionist nodded her head and said, "Monsieur Brady gets married at 8 PM this evening."

Sami nodded her head and started to tell Lucas but he told her, "I heard."

She told him, "Meet me back at the house. It seems I get to round up the Salem herd to crash what otherwise would be a romantic ceremony."

Lucas walked to his car seconds before Eric and Greta left as he told Sami, "Don't. We can just send Greta and Eric a nice wedding present."

Sami replied, "No! I'm his twin and I get to see him get married. I helped stop her other wedding, didn't I?"

He told her, "I'll meet you at home dear."