Austin sighs in defeat as Ally beats him yet again at some video game he doesn't quite understand. He leans back against the wall where he's sitting on Ally's bed. "I don't think I'm doing this right."

"You're definitely not doing it right," comes her voice from where she's hanging upside-down off the end of the bed. Apparently it helps her focus.

"I still don't know if I understand how to play."

"No, you do," she says. "You're just really bad at it." Austin frowns, and Ally sits up to look at him with a victorious smile, her face flushed after being upside-down for so long.

"I never got to play video games back home. You have an unfair advantage."

Ally rolls her eyes and takes his controller, setting both of them down next to the TV. "How did you not get to play video games?"

"I never had time."

"Please. You never had enough free time to sit down and play a single video game? What were you doing?"

He swallows and looks away from her. "Studying. Lots of studying. Always." He stands up quickly as she climbs back on her bed. She frowns at him.

"You're being weird again. And I know what you just said is BS."

"Well…I was just busy. Lots of, um, Italian things to do."

"Lots of Italian things to do," she says skeptically. He scratches the back of his neck and nods, and then she gets off the bed and stands in front of him. "Okay, look. I'm not gonna press you because clearly you don't wanna tell me and I trust you, but please don't lie to me. If you don't wanna tell me something, just say that."

He looks down at her, smiling slightly. "You trust me?" he asks her.

She rolls her eyes, but there's a small smile on her face too. "Of course that's all you got from that. But we've been dating for three months. I'd sure hope I trust you." He finds himself smiling more, but she interrupts him before he can get too excited. "I still have trust issues. You're just…the exception. And that's only because we've been dating for three months and you're a rare kind of person."

"What about Trish? She's your best friend," he says.

"It's not that I don't want to trust her. I just…physically can't."

"What makes me different? Other than being your boyfriend."

"You're the kind of person who would apologize to a bee as it's dying because it stung you."

He wrinkles his eyebrows in confusion. "I don't understand."

"It doesn't matter what makes me trust you," Ally says quickly. "What matters is that I do, so I won't push you to tell me things you don't want to share. You do the same for me all the time."

"It's not that I don't want to tell you," he starts. "I just…can't. Yet."

"And that's okay. Just don't lie about it, you know?"

He nods, frowning at the realization of how often he seems to have to lie to her, and how every time he sees her make the same face she's making now. She's known he's been hiding something, and she hasn't tried to push it. He suddenly hates himself for every lie he's ever told her, and for ever putting that look on her face. "I'm sorry, Ally."

Her features soften. "I'm not mad. You know that, right?"

"I'm still sorry. I don't want you to ever feel like you can't trust me anymore because I couldn't tell you – "

"Austin. If there is anyone in the world who probably isn't even capable of doing something bad enough to lose my trust, it's you."

He glances at her, a small smile on his face again at her sweet comment. "That's not saying much. You have trust issues and you hate everyone."

She lets out that little laugh she does in those special moments where she lets her guard down for a split second and he can see her being fully and completely Ally, with no walls in her mind holding her back or keeping him out. He finds himself smiling a little more as the rare musical sound of that tiny laugh makes every negative thought in his head disappear before his eyes.

"And yet I trust you." She looks up at him, and he sees that the moment has passed and her walls are back up, but he knows that they've been taking them down together, brick by brick, so it's okay. She's still wearing that little smile that still manages to light up the room, and those deep brown eyes are twinkling as if she managed to capture the constellations she loves so much in them.

"Kiss me?" he asks hopefully.

And then that tiny smile lights him up, and even though their eyes are closed now he can still see her constellation eyes etched in his mind. She wraps her arms around him, but he pulls away before they can get any closer. When he opens his eyes to meet hers again, she looks slightly disappointed.

"I, um, I should go," he stammers quietly, his heart beating painfully against his chest. "I'm sorry."

He starts walking out, but she grabs his hand. "Did I do something wrong?" she asks, a frown on her face now. He can almost see the walls in her mind slowly building back up.

"No, no, not at all," he says quickly, grabbing her other hand gently. Then he blushes, and he hates how his eighteen years of training to be cool in every situation are no help when it comes to her. "I just…um, can't get carried away. You know?" He mentally slaps himself. Idiot.

"Oh. Okay. I should probably start that English paper that's due tomorrow, anyway." She gives him a small smile, and he knows that everything's okay but that she still knows there's something he isn't telling her.

He presses his lips together in a tight line, wanting nothing more than to just kiss her again and tell her everything and then kiss her some more, but he knows he can't. Who knows how she'll react to him hiding basically his entire identity from her? And besides, she may not know he's royalty, but he knows it and he's been taught his whole life that he really shouldn't even kiss anyone until after they've been official for at least six months.

He lifts one of her hands to his lips and kisses the back of it gently. Her cheeks turn red and her nose scrunches a little like it does every time he does anything remotely chivalrous or romantic, but he sees her smile turn genuine anyway.

"I'll see you tomorrow," he says. "I'm sorry."

He releases her hands and she sighs and waves goodbye to him before he walks out. As soon as she shuts the door behind him, he exhales and runs a hand through his hair. The longer he's with her, the harder it is to keep his secret. Dez was right: she's going to find him out.

He walks back to his dorm and collapses on his bed, shutting his eyes for a few minutes and taking some deep breaths. Then he grabs his phone and calls his mother.

"Hello, darling, is everything alright?" comes her worried voice over the line.

"Not really," he admits. "I have to tell you something."

"What is it? Is something wrong?"

"Well…that depends on how you react." He takes a deep breath. "I met a girl here, and…we've kinda been dating for the past three months."

His mother gasps softly. "Three months? Why didn't you tell me sooner?"

He sits up, scratching the back of his neck with his free hand. "I was worried you'd be upset. Are you?"

"I'm upset you didn't tell me. I don't mind that her title may not be as high as yours – "

"Actually, she doesn't have a title at all," he says nervously. "But her father's a tech genius and her mother is a neurosurgeon."

"Austin, darling, you know that as the future leader of Ocheria, you need to put the wellbeing of your country over your own wishes."

"She's really great," Austin tries. "And we're only eighteen. I don't have to start thinking about any real future for another few years. Can't I just be happy with her?"

"You know that just isn't possible."

Austin chews on his lower lip. "Mother, please – "

"And she can never know you have royal blood. She would never be able to understand what that means and she could start using you."

"She would never do that. And she trusts me. I want to tell her the truth."

"No, Austin. That's final."

"She understands me, though!" He hesitates when he hears his voice raise to a blatantly disrespectful volume. He takes a deep breath. "I'm sorry," he says quietly. "That was uncalled for. I just think that maybe if you met her you'd change your mind. If you care about title because you're worried she'll use me for my status, you don't have to worry about it. Her family is extremely wealthy and both her parents are well-known across the country. She knows what it's like."

"She has no sort of leadership experience."

"Mother, we're eighteen. Who-who knows if we'll even last long enough for that to be a problem?" His heart turns into a rock at the thought of ever losing her, but he'll try anything to gain his mother's approval, at least for now.

"You need to be thinking about the future with every girl you're serious about. We told you that you couldn't be a normal American teenager, Austin. You're going to be King in just a few short years."

"I know that," he says with a sigh. "She's amazing, Mother. Can't you just give her a chance?"

"I can't. This is just one of the sacrifices you have to make for your country. She can never know your true title, and you will break up with her before your exchange program is over. Goodbye."

She hangs up, and Austin drops his phone onto his bed and buries his face in his hands, wanting nothing more than to scream. Just then, the door opens and he quickly looks up to see who entered.

"You okay, buddy?" Dez asks, raising his eyebrows.

Austin sighs and shakes his head. "I told my mother about Ally. She doesn't approve."

Dez walks over to his own bed and sits on the edge of it, facing Austin. "Most royal parents don't approve of their kids dating Americans."

"What do they do about it?"

Dez shrugs. "Keep dating until their girlfriend or boyfriend finds out they're royalty and breaks up with them or they have to go home."

Austin frowns more. "Is there any scenario where they stayed together?"

Dez shakes his head. "Not yet. But that doesn't mean you and Ally can't be the first!" he suggests optimistically.

"I don't want to lose her," Austin says.

"I know you don't, buddy," Dez replies. "And trust me, Ally's more scared of losing you than you are of losing her."

"What? Why? How do you know that?"

Dez's eyes widen. "Uh…did I say that? It was just me guessing. I don't really know for sure." Austin looks at him, and he exhales loudly. "Fine! You broke me! Trish told me Ally's talked about it. She knows there's something you're not telling her, and she's worried that you're pulling away because she isn't giving you the relationship you want. You know, since you're all big on chivalry and romance and she hates all that."

Austin feels his heart drop. "She thinks that?"

"I mean, I'm sure Trish was exaggerating. I didn't – "

"I have to go," Austin interrupts. "Sorry."

He rushes back to Ally's dorm and knocks quickly. She opens the door a few seconds later and smiles a bit.

"You're back," she says.

"I'm back," he responds nervously. "Am I interrupting you working on that paper?"

"We both know I'm not gonna do it." She opens the door wider so he can come in, and he sees a mess of colored pencils on her desk surrounding her notebook. He looks at her again before he accidentally sees what she's drawing.

"I can come back – "

"Austin, come on. I know you care about me and want me to do well, but I don't."

He watches her for a few seconds, trying to think of what to say to her that won't reveal everything he knows. But she speaks before he has to.

"So, I never got to ask you. Winter break's in a couple weeks, are you going back home to Italy to be with your family?"

He swallows and nods. "Uh…yeah. What're you doing for winter break?"

"I'll probably go spend it with Trish's family."

"Your parents don't even want to spend the holidays with their only daughter?" he asks her with a frown.

"Nope." She shrugs. "It's fine, though. I'd rather not spend my break and the holidays hearing about how much I've disappointed them throughout my life."

He clenches his jaw to try to stop himself from saying what he wants to say. But she knows him too well, and she looks up at him with those eyes and opens her mouth, probably to ask him if he's okay, and he loses his control.

"What if you came with me?" he blurts.

Her eyes widen slightly and her lips part in surprise, and he can't help but think of that moment right before she kissed him for the first time when she looked exactly like that, complete with the blush that's starting to creep onto her cheeks.

"Back to Italy? For two weeks?"

"Forget I said anything," he says quickly. "I know you don't like big stuff like that. I – I don't know why I said that. I'm – "

"Do you want me to come spend winter break with you?"

He chews on his lower lip nervously, his mind at war with itself over what he should tell her. If he says yes, he risks scaring her off with something so big and possibly ruining things with her. But he also risks the slight possibility of her agreeing, which would open up a whole new set of problems. If he says no, though, it'll probably confirm her fears that he isn't happy being with her, which he knows will hurt her and he won't be able to do anything to make her feel better. He swallows and looks at her, nodding nervously.

"I mean…If – If you want to. But you probably don't, which I totally get and that's totally fine. I was just thinking about how much I'd miss you and how it'd be the perfect time for you to meet my family – I mean, if that's something you wanted to do. But I know that's a big step and you wanna take it slow which I'm fine with, and now I've probably freaked you out and I'm really sorry and I don't want to put you in an uncomfortable position so please don't feel like you have to say yes because of me because I'm totally okay with forgetting I ever said that in the first place, but I wanted to make sure you knew that if you did want to come, I'd be totally okay with that too." He feels heat rise to his cheeks as he forces himself to stop rambling, and he looks down at the ground. He isn't ready to see the look in her eyes just yet.

"I…think I'd like that," she says after a few agonizing moments of silence.

He snaps his eyes up to meet hers. "You would?"

She nods, smiling a little. "I wanna see everything that made you into the person you are."

He smiles too, his breath catching in his throat. And he's so caught up in his relief that she wasn't freaked out and his excitement that she actually wants to take such a big step with him that he completely forgets the blaring problem that now she's going to find out he's royalty and he can't stop it.

He bounces his leg nervously as he sits next to Ally in the cab taking them to the small port where the Moons' private ferry is waiting to take them to Ocheria. She's looking out the window with the same look on her face she gets when she looks at the stars, and he can't do anything but watch her and hate himself for not being brave enough to tell her the truth.

"Are you okay?" she suddenly asks him. He looks at her and realizes the worried look on her face.

"Yes," he says quickly. "I just haven't been home in a while. Anticipation."

"Are you nervous to introduce me to your family? I get it if you are. I'm trying really hard not to freak out right now. I'm not exactly the girl you bring home."

"Ally, come on," Austin says, taking her hand and putting all his focus into trying to comfort her so he doesn't have to think about…anything else. "You're too hard on yourself."

"Well – " She stops talking as the cab slows to a stop at the port. Austin takes a deep breath and pays the driver, and then he and Ally get out of the car with their luggage. "This doesn't look like a house," Ally says with a frown. "You really are gonna murder me, aren't you?"

"No. C'mon." He holds out his hand, and she takes it, and together they walk to where the ferry is bobbing peacefully in the water, its white paint almost too bright to look at and the name Moonbeam in gold lettering sparkling in the sunlight.

"This isn't some surprise huge romantic date, is it? I'm really jetlagged, and I don't – "

"Not a date," he says. Then he pauses. "I'm sorry for interrupting, that was rude."

One of the members of the ferry's staff meets them outside the entrance to the bottom deck and offers Austin a deep bow. "Welcome back, Your Highness." Austin glances at Ally, whose eyebrows are scrunched together in confusion. "And who might you be, Miss?"

"This is Ally," Austin says quickly. "I'm sorry, Christopher, but, um, we're both really jetlagged, so could we maybe get going?"

"Of course, Your Highness. Go inside and rest. I'll stow your luggage and notify the captain." The man bows again, and Austin mutters a quick thank you before resting a hand on Ally's back and ushering her inside.

"Austin…what's going on?"

"Do you want something to drink? Are you hungry?" he asks her, trying to avoid the inevitable at all costs.

"Why did that guy call you 'Your Highness'? And why is there no one else on this boat? And how did he know who you were in the first place? And how did you know him?"

"Um…"

Ally takes a deep breath. "Okay, I know I said I wouldn't push and that I trust you, and I do, but I'm about to meet your family and I feel like whatever is going on is something I should know going into it."

"Well, um, yeah, you…you're right." Austin stammers. The two of them stumble a little as the ferry starts moving.

Before Austin can continue speaking, Christopher walks back over and bows again. "Your Highness, would you or Lady Ally like anything to drink?"

Austin swallows, watching Ally. "We're okay, thanks. Uh…could we have a minute?"

"Of course. We'll be landing on Ocheria in about an hour." One more bow, and then Christopher walks out of the room.

"What the hell is Ocheria?" Ally asks.

"Right. Okay. Um…so, here's the thing. I haven't been, um…completely forthright with you about my identity."

Her eyebrows scrunch together in confusion. "Austin…"

"I'm not Italian. I mean, I basically am. Ocheria, the country I'm from, is just off the coast of Italy and we share a lot of the same culture and language and everything."

"I've never heard of Ocheria."

"No one has. It's a really tiny country."

"Okay… Why couldn't you tell me you were from Ocheria?"

"Because…" He trails off, at a loss for words. "I'm not just from Ocheria. I'm…sorta part of the Royal Family…"

Ally's eyebrows shoot up so high Austin's worried they'll fly off her forehead. "What?"

Austin scratches the back of his neck, avoiding her eyes. "Yeah…I'm kinda the Crown Prince of Ocheria. Or whatever."

"You're the prince? And you didn't think to tell me until we were on a boat to go meet your family?!"

Austin winces. "Well, here's the thing. I wanted to tell you, Ally. I've wanted to tell you so bad, but I'm wasn't allowed. If anyone other than Dez and Dean Williams found out, my parents would make me come home and they'd never let be go back to America. Plus…I was worried it would scare you off."

"Well, you had good reason to worry! Why didn't you tell me before I agreed to come meet the freaking Royal Family of some country I've never heard of?!"

"Because technically I'm still not allowed to tell anyone and my family might not know you're coming because I only just recently told them about you and I wanted them to meet you and see how great you are so they'll let me be with you even know you don't technically hold any titles," Austin says all in one breath.

Ally takes a deep breath, and Austin doesn't think he's ever seen her show this much emotion. Unfortunately, all that emotion is a mixture of anger and fear and it's all directed at him. "So…you're trying to tell me that we are currently on a boat to go meet your parents – the King and Queen of this…Ocheria – and not only do they have no idea I'm coming, but I'm not even supposed to know all this exists?!"

"Ally, I'm so sorry!" Austin says quickly. "I wanted to tell you, but if I told you, they'd – "

"Austin, I don't care that you weren't allowed to tell me. I care that you invited me to come home with you for two weeks behind your parents' backs knowing full well they don't approve of me, and then waiting to tell me you're royalty until we're on a boat an hour away from your country! What were you thinking?!"

Austin shrinks away from her. "I wasn't thinking! I – I mean, I was, but all I could think about was how I didn't wanna lose you – "

"And bringing me home to your royal, disapproving parents with no warning was your best idea for how not to lose me?"

"When they meet you, they'll love you!"

"No, Austin! They won't! I'm not the girl you introduce to mom and dad in a normal family, much less in a royal one! You probably have all these sweet, smart, proper princesses lined up to be with you, why do you even want me?!"

"Because you're you, Ally!" He takes a deep breath and grabs her hands. "Forgive me if I'm overstepping my bounds right now, but while we're getting everything out on the table, I've loved you since the moment I saw you." She starts opening her mouth to protest, but he keeps talking. "I have. And it may not be love at first sight, but I know that once my parents get to know you they'll love you as much as I do."

"Austin, you're basically asking me to go in there and make a fool out of myself in front of two people who could probably have me killed in about two seconds."

"They can't – "

"I'm already a disappointment and a disgrace to my parents. I'm not about to turn you into one for yours."

"Ally, you won't do that! You're charming, and funny, and sweet, and – "

"You know you're the only one who thinks that."

"Ally, please," Austin begs. "I'm sorry. I'm sorry for not telling you, and I'm sorry for inviting you without giving you all the information, and I'm sorry for not telling my parents, and I'm sorry for inviting you even though they slightly disapprove, and I'm sorry for waiting to tell you all this until the last minute, but please give this a chance. You told me you've been to a million dumb fancy parties, you know exactly what you're doing!"

"An eight-year-old being cute and schmoozing with other rich people's kids is very different from meeting your prince boyfriend's king and queen parents."

"Ally, I'll do anything – "

"I don't even know you anymore! I'm not gonna go be an even bigger embarrassing disappointment than I already am. Your Highness." She walks past him and up to the upper deck of the ferry, and Austin stands frozen in his spot, tears pricking at his eyes.

Is he surprised that she reacted the way she did? Absolutely not. But that doesn't mean it doesn't hurt, especially knowing that apparently she wouldn't have been mad if he had just told her earlier. If he was willing to go behind his parents' backs to bring her here, why couldn't he have just gone behind their backs to tell her he was a prince before this whole mess even happened? He curses under his breath and instantly feels guilty for it, covering his mouth and shutting his eyes for a few seconds before opening them again.

"Ally, please wait," he calls, finally unfreezing and following her to the upper deck.

She's leaning on the railing, staring out at where the tiny figure of Ocheria is just starting to come into view. He walks up and stands next to her hesitantly, but she doesn't move away from him.

When she doesn't say anything for a while, he speaks up quietly. "I am so sorry, Ally. I know I should've told you a long time ago, at least before you agreed to come here with me. But…you do know me. I've been nothing but myself with you, honest. And you're not gonna embarrass yourself. They're gonna love you once they meet you."

"You don't know that."

"Sure I do," he says. "You're awesome." She doesn't look at him or say anything, and he sighs. "I know I broke your trust. And I'm more sorry than you can even imagine. I, um, I understand if you wanna go home and have nothing to do with me anymore – "

"You're an idiot," she mutters. She finally looks at him, and he swallows nervously. "What part of you thought any of this was a good idea? Bringing me here, not telling me till now, being with me at all?"

"The part of me that loves you," he tells her desperately. She presses her lips together as her cheeks turn pink, and he sees her retreating back into her own mind. "I'm sorry. I know you don't like when I say anything like that, and I know I probably sound crazy because we've only been together a few months, but it's true. I'm with you because I love you. I brought you here because I love you. And I didn't tell you because…I was scared I'd lose you. And I guess I didn't wanna think about the possibility of what could happen if you found out, and then I was in too deep. Ally, I'll do anything to make this right."

"What am I supposed to say to that?" she asks. "I don't know how you make this right."

He chews on his lower lip, beating himself up inside because this really is all his fault. "Does – does this mean we're…" He trails off, unable to find the heart to even say it.

Her eyes roam over his face for a few seconds, and then she closes them and takes a deep breath. "I don't want it to come to that." She opens her eyes again and holds his gaze. "I don't want to lose you either, you know. This may come as a shock to you, but I do actually like you."

He finds himself smiling just a bit. Even though he knows she likes him and she knows he knows it, she still doesn't say it out loud very often. Her cheeks tint pink again as soon as the words leave her mouth. "So…what can I do to fix this?" he asks her.

She sighs and shakes her head, running a hand through her hair. "I honestly don't know, Austin. I'm just freaking out right now."

"I'm sorry – "

"I know you're sorry."

He chews his lower lip, trying to think of something better to say to try to fix this or at least ease her nerves about meeting his family. But nothing comes to mind. If he's being honest, he's kind of freaking out too.

Suddenly, she grabs his wrist and wraps his arm around her waist. He freezes in surprise for a second, but then he rests his hand on her stomach and wraps his other arm around her too.

"Whatever happens, we're in this together, right?" she asks.

He squeezes his eyes shut and kisses the top of her head, almost too afraid to believe she's giving him another chance in case it's too good to be true.

"We're in this together," he agrees.

He and Ally sit in silence in the back of the bulletproof car taking them to the castle. He can still feel the anger and fear radiating off her, which he completely understands, but she's still squeezing his hand across the middle seat. He tries to think of something to say to comfort her or to express just how sorry he truly is, but no words come to mind.

"How was the trip here, Your Highness? And have you been enjoying America so far?" the driver asks.

"The trip was all right, and yes, I've been enjoying it," he responds distractedly.

"And you, Miss? The king and queen will be thrilled to know the prince has found such a beautiful lady."

Austin hears Ally's breath hitch at the reminder of where they're going and the fact that Austin's royalty. He brushes his thumb in gentle circles on the back of her hand to try to make her feel better, but he knows he isn't really helping.

"Oh, um…the trip was fine. Thanks," she finally says. Then she clears her throat. "When exactly are we gonna get there?"

"Just a few minutes," the driver responds. "You can see the castle right up ahead."

Ally looks at the window and gasps, and then she quickly tries to cover it up with a cough. Without taking her eyes off the castle, she says, "Its…big."

"The Moon family has been living and ruling Ocheria from it for generations," the driver continues. "In just a few years the crown will be turned over to Prince Austin."

Austin clears his throat as he feels Ally's grip on his hand tighten. "Ally probably doesn't care about all that boring stuff, George," he says.

"Well, if she's a prospective future queen – "

"Let's not get ahead of ourselves!" Austin squeaks quickly, wincing at the pain Ally's causing his hand now.

"My apologies, Your Highness."

As the castle draws closer and closer, Austin sees Ally's jaw drop farther and farther. She doesn't manage to close her mouth until after they've driven through the massive golden gates at the entrance to the castle grounds and gotten out of the car.

"I thought my house was big," she mutters.

"I'm sorry for overwhelming you. This is a lot."

"No kidding."

He offers out his hand nervously, and she hesitates before taking it. He links her arm through his and takes a deep breath before leading her inside.

"Your Highness!" a maid exclaims enthusiastically as soon as they enter the castle. She offers a curtsey and then looks at Ally. "We had no idea you were bringing a lady! Forgive us, we'll go prepare a room immediately!" She scurries off before Austin can even get a word in.

Just then, the two regal figures of Austin's parents float into the room, and he swallows and gives them a small bow. He feels Ally attempt a nervous, clumsy curtsey beside him.

"Mother. Father," Austin says when he stands back up. He tries to keep his voice even and hide all his nerves. He hopes it's working.

"Austin, darling, welcome home," his mother says, walking over and placing a kiss on his forehead. His father shakes his hand wordlessly, but Austin is too busy watching his mother scan Ally up and down to pay much attention. "This isn't…the girl…is it?"

He takes a deep breath, feeling Ally's hand shaking as she grips his arm. "Mother, Father, this is Ally Dawson. My girlfriend."

Her mother lifts her chin, failing to mask the distasteful look on her face. But his father nods his head to Ally politely.

"It, um, it's nice to meet you…er – Your Highnesses…?" she tries.

Austin's heart aches for her and he feels guiltier than he did before. Especially when his mother's distasteful look turns into one of cold amusement.

"Austin tells me you have experience in such a…unique lifestyle as ours, despite not being a lady of any sort of title yourself," she says.

"Mother, please," Austin says before Ally can open her mouth.

"It's a pleasure to meet you, Miss Dawson," Austin's father quickly interjects. "Son, why don't you give her a tour and then you two can rest after your long trip? We can catch up at dinner."

Austin nods and leads Ally away from his mother's judgment and anger. As soon as they've walked down the hall, Ally exhales.

"She hates me. She met me and she still hates me. I made a complete fool of myself. Austin, I can't do this."

"Hey, breathe, it's okay," Austin tells her, stopping and resting his hands on her shoulders. "I shouldn't have dragged you into this. But I'm sure my father will talk to her."

"I don't even know what to say or how to act! Why did you tell them I have experience?!"

"Well…you grew up wealthy, I just thought – "

"My parents have been sending me away because I'm such a disgrace! Do you really think I'm all groomed and proper?"

"Ally, we're in this together, remember? I'll help you. And I'll be by your side the entire time you're here, okay? It'll all be okay."

"If you weren't the only person I have right now, I wouldn't be talking to you."

Austin swallows. "That's understandable. But I got you into this mess, and I'm gonna help get you through it."

"Austin, you know I don't like people and I don't know how to fake it. How the hell am I supposed to act like the 'lady' you're supposed to be with?!"

"You don't have to act like anyone but yourself, okay? I don't want you to be anyone but yourself, even if that means my parents don't like it."

"Okay, but for the first time ever, I actually want them to like me!"

He tries not to smile because he knows how serious the situation is, but he can't really help it. "You do?"

She rolls her eyes. "Don't make a big deal about it. Look, this is my first real relationship and you're the first guy who's ever actually liked me, flaws and weird issues and all. I want your parents to like me too."

"Ally, just be yourself. You're charming and funny and endearing – "

"I don't think they'll agree."

"Well…there's only one way to find out, right?" he tries, giving her a hopeful smile. She responds with a blank stare, and he sighs. "Okay, I'm obviously not just gonna leave you to fend for yourself. But I love you because you're you – "

"Please stop saying you love me."

"And I want my parents to know the Ally Dawson I know."

Ally presses her lips together in a tight line before closing her eyes and nodding slowly. When she looks at him again, he bites his lip to try to hide his smile and raises his eyebrows questioningly. She rolls her eyes and stands on her tiptoes to kiss his cheek, and he hugs her tightly.

"If you were anyone else, I'd be on the next flight home," she tells him as she wraps her arms around him too, a softness in her voice that he doesn't get to hear often.

"I'm so lucky I'm not anyone else, then."

She's silent for a second. Then, her muffled voice mumbles, "So am I," into his chest.

"So, Ally, where did you grow up?" the king asks as the four of them eat dinner in the grand dining room.

"Miami, Florida," she replies. "I traveled around the world a lot with my da – er, father, because my mother couldn't be home much and he was always going to different countries to release his technology. But Ocheria is the most beautiful place I've ever visited."

Austin smiles slightly as he chews his food. Just a few pointers as he took her on the tour of the castle, and now it's like she's been conversing with royalty her whole life.

"We pride ourselves on our scenery," Austin's father says. "Thank you."

"Um…thank you for having me here, Your Majesty," Ally tries. Austin knows she's trying to show off that she knows his parents' proper titles now, and he's proud of her, but his mother looks unimpressed.

"We didn't receive notice you were coming until you arrived," she says.

"That was my fault, Mother. Don't blame Ally," Austin pipes up. A butler comes and clears his and Ally's empty plates. "And, um, if you'll excuse us, we're both pretty jetlagged. I'm going to show Ally to her room and then we'd both like to go to sleep."

Austin's father nods. "Goodnight, son. Goodnight, Ally."

Austin stands up, and Ally follows. He quickly leads her out of the room and upstairs, sighing in relief once he's sure they're out of his parents' earshot.

"You did great, Ally!"

"I did? Your mom didn't seem to think so."

"You really, really did."

They arrive at her room and Austin follows her in to help her unpack her bags.

"You know…you've been telling me to be myself with your parents, but you're not acting quite yourself with them either," she says.

Austin scratches the back of his neck. "Well, I actually am. America changed me a little, made me more relaxed and less prince-ly than I used to be."

"And you're afraid to show your parents that you're a slightly different person because people don't ever change?"

"Uh…something like that. But I'll ease them into it, y'know?"

"You're worried they'll think I'm a bad influence." She crosses her arms knowingly.

"I'm worried they'll think America's a bad influence. I want them to let me go back after break."

"And you don't wanna make my case worse."

"That sounds bad."

Ally takes a deep breath. "I can't believe how much I'm putting myself through for you." She shakes her head, and Austin bites his lower lip.

"I'm sorry. Are you still mad?"

She shakes her head again. "No, I'm not mad, I just…" When she looks up at him, he finds relief in the constellations twinkling back to life in her dark eyes. "I can't believe I actually found someone that I don't feel like I'll ever get tired of being around."

He smiles a little, raising his eyebrows. "Really?"

She smiles a little too. "Get that stupid smile off your face, you dork. You already knew that."

Instead, he smiles more. "I dunno, sometimes it seems like you're sick of me. And it's still nice hearing you say that."

"Please. You know if I ever got sick of you I'd tell you."

"Yeah. That doesn't mean I don't worry that you're gonna tell me."

"I'm gonna tell you right now that I think you're the only person I'll never get sick of." His smile widens, and she rests her hands on his stomach before wrapping her arms around his waist, still looking up at him with those sparkling eyes. "And as much as romantic sentiments make me cringe…I really, really like you. Not love, because I don't really like that word and we're taking baby steps, but…if there's anyone I'd let myself fall in love with, it's you." She pauses and her face scrunches up. "That was so cheesy. The entire world is cringing right now. I hate myself for saying that."

He laughs. "Ouch."

She smiles more. "I'm not saying I didn't mean it. I just said it in one of the grossest ways possible."

"I'm gonna kiss you now. Is that okay?" he asks her.

"Please do," she replies as soon as the words leave his mouth.

He starts leaning down and she closes her eyes, but then he hesitates.

"Is…everything okay?" she asks hesitantly, opening one eye and then the other.

"Technically I'm not supposed to kiss someone until we've been dating officially for six months," he tells her. "It's rude and disrespectful."

"I'm not offended," she says. "Are you?"

"No. You're sure you're okay?"

"Austin, I kissed you first, remember? And that was before we started dating. I'm okay. Are you okay?"

"Yeah, I'm just…worried about someone walking in."

Ally tilts her head up and kisses his cheek. "Then we're better safe than sorry." She pulls away from him and smiles, but he knows she's just as disappointed as he feels.

"I should go," he says. "I gotta unpack too."

"Okay," she replies, walking over to where her suitcase is sitting next to her bed. "I'll see you in the morning."

"Yeah." He walks towards the door and reaches for the handle, but then he hesitates. Instead of opening the door, he mutters, "Screw it," and turns the lock before marching back over to her, taking her hand to turn her around, and kissing her.

She immediately sighs and kisses him back, and he wraps his free arm around her and rests his hand on her back. Then he lets go of her hand to hold the back of her head, getting his fingers wrapped up and tangled in her messy curls. She grabs the collar of his shirt and pulls him down as close to her as he can get, leaning back so he's sort of half-dipping her.

Then she pulls away just barely, and he realizes what he's just done.

"I'm so sorry," he stammers, standing up straight and letting go of her as he tries to catch his breath. "I – "

Her breathless laugh interrupts him. "That was…hot," she says. "Not a word I thought I'd ever use to describe you."

"That came out of nowhere. I have no idea what came over me. I'm so sorry."

"Austin, it's okay!" she laughs again. A real laugh. His head starts spinning. "It'd be even more okay if you kissed me again."

He chuckles nervously, his heart still pounding as he glances in her eyes and feels his cheeks turn red. "Really? I got kinda carried away…"

"Dude, I only pulled away to take a breath. You're good. If you want to kiss me again, this is literally me asking you to kiss me again."

He smiles as the constellations in her eyes get so bright they're almost blinding, and then he wraps his arms around her and kisses her again. She smiles slightly against his lips and combs her fingers through his hair. His heart pounds and he pulls away again, pressing his forehead against hers.

"You've never actually made out with anyone before, have you?" she asks quietly. He can feel her lips curve into a knowing smile.

"You have?"

"Once or twice. How you feeling?"

He feels heat rise to his cheeks. "Embarrassed. Kinda guilty."

"Guilty?"

"I've grown up around people who taught me it's rude to kiss a girl even a little bit less than six months into a relationship. This is kissing you a lot when half that has gone by."

"Well, you're used to American culture now. I don't think it's rude. You don't have to feel guilty. But we can stop if you want, just be honest."

He feels himself blush even more. "I don't."

"No? Then don't be guilty, because I don't either."

"I still am."

"Why?"

"For…thinking things…"

She giggles, a laugh he hasn't really heard before, and it sort of makes him feel better. "That's why you've been weird about kissing me lately."

He doesn't say anything, and she pulls away farther to look up at him. He immediately misses the warmth of her chest against his. He imagines he probably looks about as red as a tomato right now, and he avoids her eyes.

"You said to be honest. I'm sorry. I shouldn't have said anything. You can slap me."

"Austin! I don't care if you grew up royalty or whatever, you are a teenage boy who's attracted to his girlfriend!" She laughs again, and he chews his lower lip and looks at her. "You know I'm not afraid to tell you when I'm upset or uncomfortable or anything else." She grabs his hands. "And you know I'm always honest with you. So believe me when I tell you that you are the sweetest, most respectful eighteen-year-old boy in the entire world, okay?"

"You deserve better."

She squeezes his hands and shakes her head. "You're the best there is. If anything, you deserve better. But somehow, you love me – " he smiles at her acknowledgement that he actually loves her, and she smiles a little too " – and I am the luckiest girl in the world because of it." He watches her, and she presses a soft kiss to his lips. "Now let's both go to bed, okay?"

"Okay…" He lets go of her hands and unlocks the door before turning back to look at her. "Goodnight, Ally."

She smiles. "Goodnight, Austin."

lmao this turned out way longer than i thought it would so now this is a 3 shot

anyway, thank you guys for giving me such a warm welcome! i'm sorry i've been MIA for the past few months, but i've missed you all so much and i'm so happy to be back! thanks for sticking with me :)