"Give me one good reason why I shouldn't tie her up and dangle her off a tower…" Carter mumbled, crossing her arms.

Rosie shook her head, giggling at her friend. "I do believe, Carter Mason, that we should be grateful that Elisabeth was not actually being kidnapped."

Carter growled, still internally angry that the Princess had interrupted their dance. "Well she didn't have to scream…"

"She was frightened, and all she knew was that someone grabbed her in the dark. It was the right thing to do to alert us," Rosie reasoned, running a hand through her hair.

Flashback

Carter turned at a sprint, hearing the scream that sounded from the ballroom, reaching into a small pocket in her apron for a small flashlight. Rosie gripped her hand tightly as she ran next to her. The flashlight blinked on in an instant, illuminating the hall.

The pair slipped through the doorway to the ballroom, shoving past frightened and disgruntled royals as they searched for the source of the scream.

"Princess!" Rosie called out, fervently hoping they weren't already too late.

"Rosie?!" came a terrified reply.

"Are you alright?! Where are you?!" Carter called, waving her flashlight.

"She is safe, I have her." Carter and Rosie both recognized the new voice as William's, and they both breathed a loud sigh of relief.

A light suddenly illuminated from a group of people away, waving the beam back and forth in the air. "Over here," William said.

The two agents made their way over, this time taking care to not shove the guests as they went. William stood stiffly, his arms tightly around the waist of the princess, as he ran his small flashlight over the faces of everyone around. Carter and Rosie made it to him just as a loud growl was heard, and suddenly the lights popped back on. Carter raised a hand over her face as she squinted, her eyes adjusting to the sudden brightness.

"We deeply apologize, ladies and gentlemen," echoed a voice that was amplified over a microphone. The crowd looked towards the front, seeing Marshall Kane standing next to the orchestra. "A small rodent was found in the fuse box to the ballroom. It seems that was what blew the lights out. To ensure our deepest apologies, the orchestra has volunteered to play for another half hour. So please enjoy the rest of your evening!"

As the crowd burst into applause, the music began once more. The foursome moved out of the way of the dancers, towards one of the tables on the side. Elisabeth sank into a chair, looking rather pale. William pick up a glass of water from one of the passing servers' trays, handing it delicately to the princess.

"What happened, William? Elisabeth screamed," Rosie asked, turning to the captain.

"When the lights went off, both of us immediately assumed that a kidnapping attempt was going to take place. I was bumped into by a nearby guest, and jumped to conclusions, so I grabbed Princess Elisabeth. She thought that it was someone trying to take her so she screamed to alert anyone around her. Along with delivering a swift hit to my jaw," he breathed with a smile and a raised eyebrow.

It was then that the two noticed the darkening bruise at the bottom of William's left cheek. He reached up, gingerly touching it with a couple fingers, laughing to himself at the situation. Elisabeth looked up guiltily. "I am so sorry, Captain Hernandez-"

"No harm done," William shrugged with a reassuring smile. "Trust me, Princess, I have had worse dealt to me."

"You should go get some rest, Elisabeth," Rosie said, placing a hand on the girl's shoulder. "Because your uncle was the one that addressed us, we have to be suspicious that it could be a trick. We will continue to patrol around more of the palace to check for anything that seems off with the story."

Elisabeth nodded, color returning to her cheeks. "Thank you both," she said, standing up to leave.

"I will escort you to your chambers, Princess," William said, offering his arm for her to take.

As the two left the ballroom with various nods at bowing nobles, Carter and Rosie turned to look at Kane up and down. He didn't outwardly appear to be plotting. Quite the contrary, he was walking among dukes and duchesses, shaking hands, apologizing. However, they new better than to assume he was anything but guilty.

End Flashback

Carter and Rosie made their way along the darkened corridors of the palace underground, looking for the fuse boxes that Kane had mentioned. "I really can't believe we're running around down here to go check for remnants of a fried mouse," Carter said, looking around.

Rosie giggled. "Well the Program may not always have the most glamorous jobs, but it did lead me to you…"

Carter looked up at this, seeing Rosie smiling softly at her. The queen lifted a hand slowly, tucking a stray hair behind her best friend's ear. The Louisiana native opened her mouth to reply. "Look, the fuse boxes!" was all that came out, as she looked away, pointing at them.

God, what am I, fourteen? So lame…she mentally berated herself.

Rosie pulled back her hand, her smile dropping slightly, looking where Carter was pointing. 5 metal boxes lined the wall of the "basement". The queen opened up the one closest to her. At the top was labeled "bottom floor". The Rosie opened several more before coming across one that said "ballroom/entrance hall".

"I don't know about you," Carter started, "but I'm not seeing anything wrong with the fuse…"

The next 4 days passed uneventfully, and it was soon the eve of Elisabeth's coronation. The princess had become increasingly more nervous as the days ticked by, with no sign of kidnapping attempts. Rosie and Carter took turns posing as numerous palace workers throughout the days, taking every possible opportunity to find anyone plotting.

William kept by Elisabeth's side constantly, beginning to sacrifice his sleep in favor of standing one of the guard shifts outside her chambers. Rosie took a half hour every evening to call her mother to keep up to date with her own country's needs. Carter would sit solemnly with her, frequently having to remember that she was part of Costa Luna's protection now as well. Major Mason had called her a number of times, reminding her of duties she would have upon their return.

Still, throughout their hectic schedules during the day, both agents would slip from the silent castle at night and walk among the grounds. At first, it was simply to look for anything suspicious that may have been missed by any other patrol, but it became routine after the first night.

It was going on eleven in Costa Estrella when Rosie and Carter were released from the princess' care. The night guards had already been informed by William that the two of them were allowed to be up and about whenever they wanted, and that they were allowed to refuse orders from castle staff.

Rosie subtly took Carter's arm as they made it to the palace gardens. Carter let out a long, relatively content sigh, as her mind wandered over past events. "I don't know if I'm ready for tomorrow," she mumbled. "Something tells me it's gonna be pretty hectic."

Rosie shrugged, a soft smile coming to her face. "I am confident in our abilities, Carter. No matter what has been planned, we will be able to stop it."

"At least it's nice outside," Carter said suddenly, glancing up at the moon. It was bright, about three-fourths full, and complimented the clear, starry sky.

"Nights in Costa Luna and Costa Estrella are quite beautiful," Rosie agreed. "Even storm clouds are flecked with purple and other dark, rolling colors. One of the many things I love about my home."

Carter couldn't help but smile as she listened to her best friend describe the land she truly loved. "I gotta agree with you, Rosie."

The two paused as they made it the center of the luxurious gardens. A fountain was in the middle, strewn across the grass. It was carved of white marble, two angels in the center spewing water. Carter led Rosie towards one of the benches that encircled it and the two sat down.

The queen made sure to not loosen her grip on her best friend's arm. Rosie wasn't quite sure what was going on, but she did know that Carter's body fit comfortably with hers. She lay her head against the guard's shoulder.

Carter gazed upwards, certain that the heavenly bodies had never been so beautiful before. She carefully slipped her arm from Rosie's hold, ignoring the not-so-silent protests of her friend, before sliding it back around her shoulders and pulling her closer. They sat together, both with smiles on their faces, for some time.

Rosie shifted on Carter's shoulder, and she realized that the queen was lifting her head. She looked down, meeting Rosie's gaze. They held it.

The Louisiana native realized how close they were. And how she never wanted to be farther that this ever again for the rest of her life. Carter prayed, harder than she'd prayed in many years, that Rosie was feeling the electricity coursing through her body at that moment.

RRRRRIIIIIIIIIINNNNGGGG!

Rosie pulled away quickly, hearing her cell phone explode with an incoming call. She pulled it out of her back pocket (a rather un-queenly place to keep it) and checked the screen.

"It is your father, Carter," she murmured, willing the blush in her cheeks to die down.

Carter cleared her throat, looking just as red as Rosie. "Oh, uh, that's weird."

"Good evening, Major Mason," the queen spoke as she answered.

"Hello, Rosie. How are things?" he asked.

"We are perfectly fine, thank you. Nothing has take place to worry about," she said.

"Well, we have a small problem, Rosie. It was completely overlooked by both myself and your mother, but William contacted us a few minutes ago. You need to attend Princess Elisabeth's coronation tomorrow."

Rosie raised an eyebrow. "I am already going to be there, Major Mason."

"No, Rosie. Queen Rosalinda of Costa Luna needs to attend."

Rosie squeezed her eyes shut, exhaling loudly. "Of course. I did not even think about that. What are we to do?"

"Mr. Elegante is already at the airport, catching a flight to Costa Estrella. He's bringing everything you'll need, and Carter's uniform as well. He should be at the palace in a few hours," Major Mason said. "Go meet with William and he'll get you both prepared. He's currently informing the princess and Marshall Kane that Queen Rosalinda will arrive during the night. He'll sneak you both into your suites."

"Thank you, Major Mason," Rosie sighed. "We will go attend to that immediately." And with that, she hung up.

She turned to Carter, who stood with her arms crossed across her chest. "What're we attending to immediately?"

Rosie stepped towards her, a coy smile spreading up her face. "Well…not quite immediately…" she whispered.

Carter's arms fell from their crossed state. Rosie kept walking forward, her soft yet penetrating gaze never falling from her guard's. The queen finally paused as she came to stand directly in front of Carter. They were pressed together now, gently.

"Rosie…"

Carter had never been so happy to be interrupted. Rosie reached up, cupping Carter's face and pressing their lips together.

For the first time in her life, Rosie directly ignored an order from a superior. Though Major Mason had told her to report to William that second, she made no movement towards that part of the castle.

Instead, she and Carter ran, hand-in-hand, towards their suite in the opposite wing. It took nearly ten minutes to reach it. They stopped frequently, nipping at each others' lips, kissing necks, silent gropes at clothing and what was underneath.

In the back of her head, Carter was fervently hoping that none of the castle staff or guards had noticed them. But it was buried way back there. Because Rosie's beautifully soft lips pressed against hers took priority. She gasped as her best friend (or whatever they were now) found the pressure point on her neck and began to suck at it. They crashed against the nearest wall, Carter reaching out and grasping for any loose brick with which she might hold herself up.

The agent was quite worried that if they made it to the floor now, they wouldn't be able to force themselves back up.

Rosie detached her mouth from Carter's luscious neck, pulling her urgently down the corridor, finally slamming them both into the door of their suite. Their mouths met again, lips bruising, exploring each other thoroughly. Carter grinned into Rosie's open mouth as she reached behind her and pulled the keys out of the queen's back pocket. She fumbled with them for a bit, much more focused on the gorgeous woman making out with her, but finally managed to open the door.

They stumbled in, pushing the door closed hard with their bodies against it.

Carter's fingers quickly made their way to the buttons of Rosie's white casual guard shirt. With one hand lost in the other girl's hair, it was difficult to undo them, but she managed. Just like that, Carter was carefully sliding the fabric over Rosie's smooth, warm shoulders.

Then it was on the floor.

She let her mouth leave Rosie's, instead going to the queen's neck. She had never touched another girl's breasts before, but that didn't mean she wasn't willing to try. Carter tentatively cupped her friend through the fabric of her bra, smiling to herself when she her Rosie hiss with pleasure. It was the most beautiful sound that she had ever heard.

And that was when she realized that something was happening. Something big, and it was going to affect them both. She let her hand slide of Rosie's breast, letting it instead rest on her toned stomach.

"Rosie…" Carter started, pulling back from her friend's body.

"What is wrong, Carter?" Rosie asked in barely more than a whisper.

"I'm just…I don't…" Carter fumbled with words now, looking towards the floor.

"Did I do something wrong? Do you not want this?" Rosie asked, her voice cracking. Carter looked back up, meeting her beautiful eyes that were now brimming with unshed tears.

She smiled, pressing a soft kiss to the other girl's temple. "No, no, of course not, Rosie. I want this so much…I just want to know what's happening here."

At this, it was Rosie's turn to smile. She reached up, taking Carter's supple, burning cheeks in her cool hands. "I love you, Carter Mason."

"Rosie…" Carter began, leaning in closer, so their foreheads were touching. "I love you, too."