AUthor's Note: I super suck at updating these days. I know
Dedicated to the Forgotten Schwartzi
"Mia," he said nervously.
"Come on. You can't be a rock star without a tattoo," I teased, pulling him into the parlor.
"What would we get?" he asked, eyeing the other patrons.
"I'm getting MM," I replied easily. I had thought about it before, I'm a dork and I admit it.
"Then I'll get MT," he replied weakly. "But I'm a wuss when it comes to needles so I better get it over with first."
I smiled at his admission. "You don't have to do this," I whispered. "Seriously, you can go wait out-"
"No, I can handle it," he said, putting on a brave face.
"How'd you get so cute?"
"Good genetics."
We got our initials in block letters on our left back shoulder. I had to hold his hand when he got his done because after seeing the needle he got second thoughts. "You don't have to do this," I reminded him.
"No. I do. For you."
"That ain't a good reason to get a tattoo," the artist replied. "You are the one living with it for your-"
"Just do it already."
It didn't take long for us to be finished. "I have to check on Lilly," I told him once we got onto the bus. The others stared at us. "We've been waiting. We have to start going to Boulder," Manny said sharply.
"Bite my head off why don't you?" I snapped back at him.
I went back and found Lilly sitting in a fetal position. "Hey, Lills?" I asked, sitting on the edge of a bed that she was on. "How'd it go?"
"You left me."
"It was a spur of the moment type of thing. I'm sorry." I'm a huge moron.
"I can't."
"You can't what? Believe the re-"
"You look. I'm too nervous."
Whoa. Lilly? Nervous? I have known this woman practically my whole life and I have NEVER seen her this scared. Well, there was that one time when we were fifteen and Boris Pelkowski dropped a globe on his head.
Okay, maybe she's more scared now. Her entire future is on the line. For crying out loud, my brother's—not to mention Katie's future, is in question. And poor Louie has no clue. We hadn't gone over to his birthday because we had to make up a missed concert. She hadn't even given him a hint of the truth.
I picked up the test, which was sitting on a table next to her. "What did you want?" I asked. "Negative or positive?
"Just tell me," she said, squeezing her eyes closed tight.
"You are having a baby," I replied, trying to not sound freaked out. Trying to be the calm one for once.
She closed her eyes. "Manny's is going to kill me."
That's a lovely response to finding out you are having a baby, no?
"It's not that bad," I said handing her the test. "My niece or nephew is in there. The future heir to the Genovian throne is resting in you. Be honored."
"I have to see him," she said suddenly. "Louie. Tell him to his face."
I nodded. "Well, we are going back for his birthday on Friday night…Michael and I. We have next week off of the tour so we are celebrating with him now."
"What do you think he'll say?"
I shrugged. "I wish I could tell you. I won't lie though. He probably will freak out since he is kind of engaged.
"I want Manny," she said softly. "I'm sorry, but I want Manny."
I bit my lip. "Come with us. See him next week and re-evaluate your feelings. But give him time to figure it all out as well. I mean, he is engaged Lilly. He's getting married in three months. He's in love with Katie but this one time thing is changing his entire future. Possibly ending his engagement."
She nodded with a serious face. "Could you just stay here with me for a little while?"
I hugged her, "As long as you need me to."
Late that night Michael and I were sitting in the lounge area, both working on new songs. I decided not to mention anything about Lilly. "Wanna hear mine?" I asked. "It's about a cute boy."
He raised his eyebrows. "Go for it."
"Offer any-"
"Shut up and play," he said with a laugh.
insert Why Can't I by Liz Phair...to be seen on the TDOW site>
He was smiling when I finished up. "You really can't do all that when you think about me?"
I smiled shyly. "Well, yeah. You can be quite distracting on stage with those tight ripped jeans and everything…"
He leaned over and kissed me. "You are perfect, you know that?"
I sighed after he kissed me, "Nah."
"Yah," he replied with a one of a kind Michael Moscovitz grin.
"I like your kisses."
"Good. You should. You'll be getting a few of them for oh…a while," he said with a wink.
I smirked, "What is everyone doing on their break?"
"Well, I'm going to Genovia with a really hot chick. I hear Lilly is coming with us?"
I nodded, "Yeah. She has to see Louie."
"So it's true?" he asked. I put down my guitar and sat on his lap.
"Yeah. She's kind of a mess right now about all of it so don't say anything, 'kay?"
"No problem. Wow…my little sister…"
"My big brother," I countered.
He laughed, "Weird. Our kids could be cousins twice over huh?"
"We have kids?" I asked.
"Well…"
"I get it," I said kissing his cheek. "What are Manny and Kevin doing for break?"
"Manny will be pissed about Lilly not being around. He's going to Mexico with Orlando and Kevin. Drown their sorrows with margaritas."
I smiled, "Well we're all going on foreign ground then. Good. I could use some time alone with you."
"What is your grandmother going to say about your nose ring?"
I touched it tentatively. I hadn't thought about it. "I'm sure she already knows about it. She has someone follow me around anyways. Plus the tabloids had it in there. Remember the Enquirer's cover story on how I am changing my looks?"
"Oh right. And whether or not you were anorexic right?"
I nodded. "Yeah. My dad will laugh though. He'll like my spunk."
"Spunk?" he teased.
"Yeah. He loves that I am going around and living a crazy life. He never got to. His younger sister did though. He's always telling me new things I should try. What do you think about bungee jumping?"
He gave me a look. "I think someone is over tired."
We all disbursed after the next nights show. I gave all the guys hugs, "It's only a week," I said when Orlando wouldn't let go.
"Man, let go," Kevin said laughing. "She's going to Genovia to do her other job. That's it."
Michael and I played cards on the flight over to Genovia. Lilly held onto her arm rests white knuckled. "It's okay," I assured her. "He'll be okay with it. Excited to see you."
I had to change into princess attire. No army fatigue skirts or combat boots. I put on my light green Chanel dress suit and hat. And heels. I hate heels. I had to put on make up as well. Grandmere says a princess should never go around without makeup. She'd be less likely to berate me about my behavior on the road if I was looking proper now.
Michael was a gentleman and put on some khaki's and a collared white shirt with a green tie to match my dress. "Grandmere will like that," I said smiling before we disembarked.
"She should. This tie cost a hundred bucks."
Oh my frugal love. I straightened the tie. Felix had always looked perfect and put together when he came to visit. I didn't want them thinking Michael wasn't as good as Felix. The comparisons would never end.
"I'm good?" he asked nervously.
"You are excellent," I replied.fx
Lilly got off first and went off to the side. I was being announced. It wasn't everyday that the Genovian princess came home. I held tightly to Michael's hand. "Just wave," I instructed. "But don't say anything."
I nearly tripped on the rug that was let out for us, but Michael caught me without making it obvious that I almost fell onto my face. Isn't he just…okay, shutting up now.
"This is the new beau?" Grandmere asked as the three of us joined her for tea.
Even at eighty my grandmother was on top of her rudeness game. "Yes. Michael is my boyfriend," I replied.
"Is he the one responsible for the new hair and the nasal fixture?"
"No. I am," I replied calmly. She didn't scare me anymore.
"That will be taken out before the ball," she said not looking at me.
"No it won't," I replied. "The hole will close up. I'm keeping it. What ball?"
"Oh your little cousin Anna has turned sixteen. You remember your ball, don't you?"
Do I ever…
"Oh. Where is Dad and Louie?"
"With their girlfriends. Well, Louie's fiancée. Isn't she just a lovely girl? I think she could be Princess Diana with all polite nervousness she has. But it is quite clear that Louis is not a cad like that Charles. He'd never date a rottweiller."
I glanced at Lilly nervously. "Oh come on Grandmere. Camilla has done so well now."
"After ruining that poor innocent girl's life? I should think she would be ashamed. Then again, they aren't Catholic," she said crossing herself. She's becoming more and more religious these days. It's crazy.
"Grandmere, I know you think that Louie is heaven on earth, but he is far from perfect you know."
"Oh please Amelia," she said fanning herself. Something she does when she has nothing to come back with.
We all let a sigh of relief go. "Well, if you don't mind," I started standing up, "I am going to show my guests their rooms."
Michael was assigned a room next to mine. We shared a balcony, but were not allowed to share a room. A show of propriety I suppose. Lilly was across the hall next to Louie. Katie was on the other side of him. Oh the irony.
"I can't believe you would rather the back of our tour bus to this," Michael said taking off his shirt to get some color.
I caught my breath, "It has its perks," I replied with a smile, wrapping my arms around him.
"Oh?" he teased. "Like?"
"The view of the harbor. It's great at night," I replied, turning away from him.
He laughed and pulled me tight to him. "We both know we aren't here for the harbor."
With that we went back to my room and fell onto my bed. "Your tattoo healed well," I said fingering it.
"Yours isn't bad either," he replied, taking my jacket off of my shoulder. I sat up and took it off completely.
He started kissing my shoulder, a prelude to many other enjoyable kisses. I felt bad, we were going to be making love in a bed that my virginal Great Aunt Florence had slept in (she became a nun when she was older, that's how we knew she was a virgin). I tried fighting my feelings, but soon joined in on the seduction.
That is, until my brother lunged in. "What are you doing to my sister?" he said with a laugh.
Michael rolled off of me and fell to the ground. Louie started laughing and then helped him up. "Hey Louie," he mumbled, embarrassed.
I got up, "Hi big brother," I said extending my arms or a hug.
"What's that on your shoulder…your nose…Grandmere is going to be nuts when-"
"She's seen my nose. But not my shoulder And she won't know about my shoulder."
"Oh. What are you two up to today?" Louie asked with a smile.
"We might go for a swim," I replied.
"We will?" Michael asked in surprise.
I ignored him. "Uh, have you seen Lilly?" I asked my brother.
"Oh, she's here?"
"I told you," I replied. "She has to talk to you."
"Is she okay?" he asked. "I mean, nothing is wrong, right?" he said in a concerned big brotherly tone.
"You should go see Lilly. Across the hall."
