AN: look! Observe the wonder! It's out in only two weeks! A new record! I'm very proud of myself, can you tell? Oh, and please let me know if I butchered Sir Myles' character. I love him more than I love my liver, so I need to know…thank you kindly.

Disclaimer: it's not mine, never was, and sadly, it never will be. I'd give quite a bit to own Gary…alas, all that I own is my laptop and harmonica.

In which valuable knowledge is imparted.

Trouble is only opportunity in work clothes. -Henry J. Kaiser

"I will assume," Myles commented, ushering me into his apartments, "that your charming…we'll call it a song, shall we? I'll assume that it was meant for someone other than myself." Raising a bushy eyebrow, he glanced knowingly at me before continuing, "If through some misunderstanding, you happened to standing on my balcony by accident, well, we'll forget the incident ever happened and you can come in and have a drink. If you were serious, however, I regret to inform you that while I am rather flattered, I'm not looking for a relationship at this point in time," He finished, winking at me. "Brandy?' he asked, "You look as if you need it."

"I can't believe this," I whispered in mortification, "she never really liked me much in the first place, and now…what if she thinks I was making fun of her? " I asked desperately, "Or worse, what if she honestly thinks I'm in love with you? No offense," I added as an afterthought. "Sir Myles, I think I may have just blown my chances once and for all." Myles eyed me shrewdly for a few moments.

" So that's it then?" he asked, "you're just giving up? A Naxen, giving up the fight? Just like that, you're admitting defeat? Humph. " Sir Myles shook his head disapprovingly, "well, you'd know best, I suppose."

"There's no need to put it like that," I replied indignantly, stung, "and as for admitting defeat, I'd say defeat was sort of thrust upon me, wouldn't you?" Myles waved a hand airily in my direction.

"Not really," he told me, taking a deep gulp of the liquor in his glace, "look at it in terms of the big picture and you'll see that it's only a minor setback." I raised my eyebrows skeptically. I liked Sir Myles, and he had a lot of knowledge about a lot of different things. But when it came to love, the man was hardly Casanova. No, that title went to Jon, I thought bitterly. It occurred to me then that without Jon's advice, I wouldn't be here in the first place. An outside point of view could be helpful, I decided.

"may I enquire as to the identity of the lady in question?" myles asked, watching me closely. I sighed mournfully.

"I suppose," I replied sorrowfully, "its…Lady Cythera." I admitted, blushing slightly. An odd look of satisfaction playing across his face, Sir Myles smiled kindly at me.

"Well, there's no need to be embarrassed," he informed me, "you could do worse my boy. You could do much worse. Her father and I are old friends," he explained, "so she'll come talk to me sometimes when something's bothering her. I'm like her old eccentric uncle."

"Could you… maybe put in a word for me?" I demanded eagerly, "like, maybe how I'm a good sort, a little odd, but I never" Grinning openly, Myles held up a hand.

"Gary, Gary, Gary…" he chuckled, "if you'd so much as let me finish, you'd know that your position is not nearly as dire as you seem to think." He paused, eying me in case I seemed to be about to interrupt again. I remained silent, fidgeting in my chair with excitement. "Anyways," he continued, "recently, our conversations have been remarkably full of references to the "dashing Sir Gareth, who looked so handsome when he made that wickedly funny comment about that dreadfully stuffy old ambassador' and how 'Sir Gareth really is chivalry personified, and is always so clever and so charming'…" Myles broke off, catching sight of my incredulous face. "I'm not teasing you." He informed me, with only a trace of smugness.

"Oh." I replied quietly. What else what there to say? "This changes things."

"Quite." Sir Myles agreed.

"But I don't understand," I began, "why hasn't she done anything? I've been pretty clear about how I feel." I pointed out.

"So you have," Myles agreed, mouth twitching slightly. "but she has many more obstacles than you. For one, our society is hardly kind to women who take their fate into their own hands. For a noble lady, doing so is nearly impossible, especially when it comes to marriage. Cythera's father is a nice man, but very traditional, and very strict. Not to mention a tad power-hungry. He wants her to make the most influential marriage possible, so she's a bit uneasy about getting attached to anyone in particular."

"I'm not influential!" I spluttered indignantly, "My father's the Prime Minister! I'm the Princes first cousin! Bragging aside, I'm probably the best match in the court, Jonathon aside, naturally."

Myles shrugged, "I know," he told me, "but she's understandably nervous. She needs a bit of persuasion. Off you go now," he said, shooing me out of his room, "let an old man sleep."

AN: and another chapter done…the plot thickens. Just two chapters left…I've really liked writing this story, and many thanks to all who read. :gestures enthusiastically at small button to the bottom left side of the page: please press! Thanks.

Highly intelligent and thoughtful reviewer from last chapter…

Music nerd, midnight thunder, the kanji wizard, on top of cloud 9, pink squishy llama, spunkyhufflepuff, sunkissed guacamole, calichic, wild-vixen. Many thanks and virtual pies.

CALICHIC;a quick note to thank you for the review. Yes, they are a tad evil, aren't they…that's why I love em …

MUSIC NERD: I am most awed. It's not everyone who has the fortitude to review every chapter, so thank you for that effort, and for your thoughts. I agree with your feelings on the ending, but I'm afraid we've been out-voted…and Gary's POV is fabulous, no? You should definitely use it. There are lots of options with it, so go nuts!

THE KANJI WIZARD: definitely the nicest thing anyone's ever told me about my writing! Thank you also, for really deconstructing my writing to tell what you like about it rather than a "omg update." And if you have any criticism, PLEASE PLEASE tell me. I'm hugely picky, and you seem like someone who would catch all the little and not-so-little imperfections. Thanks again.