A/N- Okay, okay. This chapter is dedicated to robtaymattlouned for reminding me to update. Thank you.

Chapter 5

"If I didn't know any better, I'd say you have feelings for my brother," Lilly's voice rang in my ear.

I suppressed a snort as I reached an inn. "I'm just trying to get to know the nicer side of him. You know, the side that doesn't hate me."

I walked into the hotel and slammed a hundred on the counter. "This man needs a non-smoking room, please."

The attendant behind the counter could only nod, his mouth open in a slight shock of my full on Phantom Phoenix regalia. He typed on the computer for a bit, and gave me a key. "Here."

I nodded. "Thank you."

When I reached the room, I gently laid him on the bed and placed the key on the table next to it. I gave the room a once over, to make sure it was safe. After taking one last glance at the peaceful expression on the sleeping Michael, I strode out and made my way back to the lab.

"So is he okay?" She asked as I pulled my mask off.

"He'll be fine. He just had nine stitches, but I get the feeling he's not one to complain."

"Especially when it's Phantom Phoenix sewing him up," Lilly muttered.

I rolled my eyes. "Your brother doesn't have an obsession."

"Yes he does. I'm surprised he didn't faint with happiness when he saw the lab."

I rolled my eyes again and slipped out of the suit and changed into my work-out clothes. I put on my gloves and walked to the bag in the corner and began my morning routine.

I had an early lunch with Edward, so we could continue to get to know each other. He brought up the topic of Phantom Phoenix, and how she had saved a young child and Michael Moscovitz out of a burning building. "I think she's amazing."

I just nodded. "I suppose she's alright. I don't understand it though: why would she feel the need to mask herself?"

"Perhaps she just thinks it's easier."

I nodded. "So what's on the schedule today…dear?" The pet name didn't roll off my tongue so easily. It took a lot of effort.

He gave me a wobbly grin. "Well I have a few things with the estate. You know, papers and such. I think it would be a bore for you."

"Will I get to see your estate?"

"After the wedding. Which by the way, don't you and your friend need to start planning each other's weddings?"

I nodded. "We also have to talk about living arrangements."

He raised an eyebrow. "Didn't Prime Minister Lukas tell you?"

"Tell me what?"

He watched me carefully then began, "Since this marriage is somewhat…"

"…somewhat what?"

"Somewhat…fake, Prime Minister Lukas decided that we'd only be married by law, not by heart. Which means, I won't be staying here at the palace, I will be staying in my estate at Burgundy."

I tried not to look too disappointed. I mean, I didn't love this man anyway, right? Why should I be upset?

Oh, that's right. Because every night I have dinner with an empty chair.

I pulled some strings and I managed to get Lilly an appointment with my beloved cousin and fashion designer, Sebastiano.

"Ah, Lil! I make you look beaut."

He took her measurements and they sorted through some of his wedding dress designs in hopes that something would catch their collective eyes. I was surprised; I expected their ideas to clash, but they seemed to have the same dream.

When the appointment was over, they gave each other a quick kiss on both cheeks. "I cannot wait to see how this looks! Goodbye, Lil."

After apologizing profusely, she left a half hour later, saying that she and Boris had a date. I told her over and over that I totally understood and she should leave before she was late. Which left me alone. Again.

I sighed as I stepped off the marble staircase. There was absolutely nothing to do. Parliament refused to give me anything to work on, saying that I should be focusing more on my wedding than silly national affairs. After I reminded them that it was my duty as the reigning monarch, Baron Straussen gave me a haughty smirk and said, "My dear, don't you think we are competent enough to take care of it ourselves? You go off and have fun with Duke of Burgundy."

Great advice. Only thing is, he doesn't want to spend any time with me, and he's only marrying me because he's being polite.

After deciding to go for a walk in the gardens, I slipped out of my shoes and stepped on the springy wet grass. I didn't care if I was ruining my stupid pantyhose; it deserved to burn anyway.

As I neared the olive grove, I spotted a figure sitting underneath one of the trees. I approached and found a very pale Michael slightly asleep.

I grinned; he was cute when he slept. His intense eyes were closed, which made it easier to look at him and the muscles in his face were relaxed. I liked him better when he wasn't so tense and uptight.

As I was walking past him to let him sleep longer, I heard a raspy, "Wait."

I turned around and looked in surprise as Michael slowly got up and staggered to me. "Where's my sister?" He asked sleepily.

"She went on a date with Boris," I informed him. Then I frowned. "You don't look so good. Are you alright?"

He grimaced as he brought a hand to his stomach and winced at the touch. "I just don't feel so good."

I raised my eyebrows and said, "Lift your shirt."

"What?" He asked in surprise.

"Lift your shirt."

I expected him to scowl and say no way in hell, but he just scowled and lifted his shirt anyway. I looked carefully at my stitching. Inwardly, I patted myself on the back, for having done a good job on such short notice. "What did you do to yourself?"

He rolled his eyes as he pulled his shirt back down. "I didn't do anything. I was surrounded by a bunch of cowards that thought they could get away with trying to kill me."

I gave him a sad smile. "I'm sorry."

This surprised him. "Why?"

"No one deserves to be threatened with their life." I told him.

I started to walk away to leave him alone, but he caught up to me. "I thought you hated me or something."

I kept my eyes on the apple orchard ahead. I couldn't look him in the eyes. "I don't hate you. You're the one who doesn't like me, remember?"

"Why don't you hate me?"

"Because you're only trying to help Genovia. Plus your Lilly's brother."

We continued to walk in silence for a little while. I thought he was going to leave, but then he spoke. "Are you really trying to help Genovia?"

I stopped walking, took a deep breath to steel myself, and looked him straight in the eye. "My father died for his country. Do you know what his last words were?"

He shook his head.

"'Don't abandon your duty.' Even if I didn't love Genovia, I would serve her, just like he did out of respect for him."

I continued walking, trying to rid myself of the tears that sprung in my eyes whenever I spoke about my father. Coupled with the falling sensation I experienced when I looked in Michael's eyes, I was starting to feel a little off balance.

After several minutes, I felt a warm breath on the back of my neck that made my skin tingle. "I'm sorry," He gently whispered in my ear. A few moments passed to allow me to absorb the meaning of his words.

I didn't turn around. I feared that he might see through me and consider me weaker than I already was. So I simply bowed my head and kept walking.

I got back to the lab that night and took a quick shower. That was the most relaxing part of my nights; the long, gratifying shower, that helped wash the greed and dishonesty of the street life off my skin.

Lilly was sitting by the mega computer as she munched on a bag of popcorn. "So I talked to Michael today."

"Oh," I said absentmindedly as I rubbed my towel into my damp hair.

"Yeah. He said he talked to you."

I nodded.

"He told me that you're not that bad."

"Good for him. I'm going to sleep. Night."

"Wait. I'm not done."

I turned around and found an upset Lilly staring at me. "Mia, I know that you feel like you have to marry this Edward guy, but—"

I held up my hand. "Lilly, I can't talk about this. I do have to marry this guy. That doesn't necessarily mean that I want to, but it's my duty."

"Mia, I know that it's your royal obligation, but he won't make you happy." She got up from her seat and placed a comforting hand on my shoulder. "You deserve to be with a guy that will make you happy."

I shrugged her hand off. "Even if I could find a guy like that, I don't think Parliament would go for him." And with that I went upstairs and into my bed, hearing the satisfying sigh of the bedsprings beneath me. I didn't want to think about my failure as a human being to find love and happiness. It didn't matter if I was suffering. It was on the behalf of my country. That's all the mattered.

I woke up the next day and for the first time in months, had a sit down breakfast in the dining room. I ate with Edward, but we hadn't held much of a conversation, especially since he was on his cell phone most of the time. And then that sort of became the new routine for months. Lilly and I would do something for her wedding, she would go on a date with Boris and I would go for a walk in the gardens while she was gone. But sometimes, Michael would be there and we would talk about Genovia. We by no means agreed on most of the subjects, but it was nice to find someone who listened.

The night before Lilly's wedding, I prowled the rooftops looking for something to get my mind off my loneliness. Strangely enough, it was a slow night. I only caught two robbers and one rapist that night. It was still only twelve in the morning when I was sitting on a rooftop looking out over the twinkling lights of Genovia downtown at night in deep thought.

I must have been off guard because a figure approached and sat down next to me. Startled I turned and found a grinning Michael. "Hey." He greeted.

I didn't say anything. I just continued to look at the night sky.

We sat for several moments in a contemplative silence. Then he spoke up. "You know, I never got to say—"

I held up my hand as I abruptly stood up. I pulled out my Bo staff and was about to leave when he called, "Wait. Stay."

I didn't turn, I just shook my head. "I have to go."

"Why?"

I couldn't answer. I didn't know why.

"Please. Just stay a moment."

I sighed and reluctantly put my staff away. When I turned around, he shortened the distance between us to a mere twelve inches. "Why don't you accept gratitude again?"

"Because I don't deserve it."

I wasn't being self-deprecating. It was the truth.

He didn't accept that, though. "Yes you do." His face kept getting closer, and it was making my heart and head pound at unbearably fast paces. My throat was dry and I doubted I could have said anything without sounding like an utter fool, so I kept my mouth shut.

"I admire you, Phantom Phoenix. You're everything that I think a leader should be: selfless, hard-working, intelligent, strong, and independent. You need to take the time to acknowledge your good qualities."

Lilly and Michael were both raised by psychologists. That's probably where all of this was coming from.

"Will you let me thank you now?"

I gulped and replied in a shaky voice, "You've already praised me. I think that's enough."

"I don't think so," He whispered softly.

His eyes…his dark, intense stare was boring into me. My mask seemed utterly useless under to his x-ray gaze.

"Does anyone know who you are?"

If anything, that broke me out of my trance. Angrily, I pushed him away and pulled my staff out again. "I should have known."

"Wait, where are you going?"

I didn't answer him. I just left.

A/N- Okay, last chapter: thirteen reviews. That's pretty good, but I know you guys can do way better than that. Please, please, PLEASE review! I don't ask for much. Just a small review.