Joe stood in front of the car and closed his eyes. He knew what he was doing was taking a risk, but it had to be done. Mark ran out of the door and looked around quickly and seen that Risley did not make it far. He opened the door to the back seat of the car.

"Risley, please do not go," He said and she looked up at him "I need you here. I want you here." He sat down in the back seat and gently wiped the tears that he had made. "I want you here in my life. We will talk about all of this later, but please stay here" He said and he softly held her chin and kissed her lips softly. "Please" he whispered, "I know I am in love you and I can not let you leave me."

"I should have never come here" She whispered back to him

"No, don't say that. Ris, we can not have this conversation here. I need you to come in with me and I promise we will have this conversation tonight at my place."

Joe walked over to the door of the car "Sir, we need to get you back in before people notice you are missing" Joe knew what was going to happen paparazzi and guests were soon going to notice something was happening.

"I am not leaving Joe. I am not going back in there without you Ris" He held her hand and gently tug her to leave the car. She pushed her hair back behind her ear. She was hurting and did not want to go back in there with a fake smile.

"You promise... no more lies... no more half-truth... you will bare your soul" She sniffled a bit

"I promise, please" Mark got out of the car and placed his hand for Risley and she took it and she stood up and fixed her dress a bit. Mark kissed her passionately yet softly as he pulled her into him. "Come let us find you a bathroom to clean up in."

Risley walked out of the bathroom feeling that she looked the best she could with the minor breakdown of her makeup. Mark stood with Joe a few feet away from the bathroom and the two talked as she walked out and Mark smiled and went right to her. He took her hand and they headed back into the room filled with all the heads of states and now his mother. He walked over to the queen and he bowed his head and Risley curtsy. Mark leaned into the queen and whispered to her.

"Thank you," He said with a smiled and back away and took Risley's hand and she blushed a bit. There were very few moments that Mark would show his affection in public let alone in front of his mother. Mark knew it was between her and Joe that got Risley here. Mark needed her and everyone knew that he did but him.

Several heads of states talked to Risley through the night each one being won over one by one. They loved the freshness that Risley brought in along with how it changed Mark from the tail chasing women to a very satisfied and nobleman. Finally, as they all sat down for dinner the one gentleman asked a question that was burning on everyone minds.

"Prince Mark, please tell me when are you and Miss Risley are getting married?" The one man said as he took a drink and placed it down.

"Shh, I would not want to ruin such a good surprise," Mark said with a smile as he whispered. He was not sure how to explain what was going on between the two of them.

"Let me give some advice" The same man spoke and Mark nodded "In the position that you are in... You want someone who will stand beside you through all of your mess ups politically, professional, and privately. I can tell you from experience that there are not many women like that in these circles. But when you find someone like that... you don't want just do."

"Yes, Sir," Mark said and smiled at him. Mark knew that he knew what happened and knew that this was a chance that not many people have.

The night was starting to wrap up and the queen and Risley chatted with a group of people and the queen was laughing at what was being said. Mark watch from the other side of the room. He made sure not to leave Risley out of his sight. Joe also was near for any issues that might arise. Mark enjoyed that Risley and his mother got along so much. The queen leaned over and whispered into Risley's ear and she nodded her head in agreement. Mark walked over to them and wrapped his arm around the hips of Risley.

"Markus, I am going to retire for the evening," mother said and the signal was given and the staff members start to get things ready to call it a night.

"Yes mother," He said and smiled and the two stood in line as Risley took a step back since after all she knew where she stood. Mark took her hand and pulled her up next to him and the three of them said goodbye to the guests as they started to leave. Mother car pulled up and the paparazzi snapped away pictures as she waved at them as she got into the car and left.

Mark looked at Risley and brushed her cheek once more. She responded like she always did and rub her cheek against his hand even more. Joe stood nearby and watched the two. "Sir, your car" He interrupted them.

"Thank you, Joe," He said and he held onto Risley and started walking towards his car. The paparazzi screamed and the camera flashed like they never seen the two together before. The paparazzi screamed questions and their names at them as one of them started to come close to them and Joe put his arm out to stop him.

"Does this mean your not a playboy anymore Mark?" He screamed at them and neither one of them answered

"Back up," Joe said and the guy screamed at Joe as the two of them got into the car. They waited for Joe who then got in and closed the door. The paparazzi continued to take pictures through the windows and blocking the car from moving. Risley looked at Mark who just held her hand and did not say a word. The driver honked the horn several times over and over finally slowly starting to move.

"So, that is what you're known as the playboy?" Risley said to Mark and he looked at her and he shook his head

"We will talk about his at home," He said and Risley was not happy about this

"No, you told me that Joe has seen and heard a lot of things from you. I want him to hear this."

Mark looked at Risley and closed his eyes while he rubbed them "Yes, my reputation is not the best in the media and because of that. I have several titles that I am not proud of and that is one"

"So, I clean up your name a bit and you get the respect of the people," She said and looked at Joe and he nodded his head. "So, how many girls have you been wooing?"

"Ris, does that matter?" He asked back and she looked at him

"Yes"

"I don't know," Mark said and Risley looked out the window "You have to understand that women throw themselves at me all the time and it does not have to do with love or caring for me."

"What am I? Since I do not fit" She said Joe could see this was not going to end well

"Risley, it is in the past. If Mark can promise and shows you that he is loyal to you that is all that should matter." He paused "You are his future, you are who he wants and need in his life and that should make all the difference."

The three sat in silence. Risley just spent the last month being basically stalked by the paparazzi and all in hopes that Mark would come to his senses and pick up the phone. She loved him with all she had but learning more and more just hurt her. Tears started to escape her eyes once again and she tried to hide them. The car pulled up to the palace and Joe got out followed by Mark and then Risley. She looked down at the ground and tried hard not to allow the emotions to get on her face. Mark took Risley hand and the two of them walked to his apartment.

"Please come in"

"I don't think this is a good idea" She turned towards Joe "Can you take me to my apartment?"

"Yes Ma'am"

"Then I will go with you"

"M-Mark" Risley looked up at him and he places his hands on either side of her face and started to kiss her passionately as they both began to breath heavy to each other. Mark gently slide his hand down her body slowly each touch her body responding to him. Joe opened the door to the room and guided the two of them into the apartment. He closed the door and stood outside of it with his arms crossed. The hallways were filled with people starting to close down the palace.

Mark gently spun Risley in the room as he kissed her neck and shoulders. She responded laughing and kisses him back as she wrapped her finger in his hair and they moved gently into the living room. She leaned up against the back of the couch as he gently ran his fingers against the zipper on the back of the dress. He then took off his coat dropping it to the floor and then unzipped her dress. It gently slides down off her body and fell to the floor. Mark kissed her hard and passionately as they both topped on the floor. Joe opened the door to the noise and closed it quickly knowing they were both fine.

Mark slid out of his shoes and pants on the floor the best he could. He gently leans down and kissed her thighs and slowly as he parted them. He gently tugged away from her panties he kissed her stomach and slowly her breast and then her lips again. Risley could not think her mind cloudy with wanting this so bad but knew that he could hurt her at any moment. "Mark" Risley called to him and he kissed her lips against and it was all over they two of them tangled with each other hard, passionately, and lusty.

"Mother how may I help you?" Joe said as she walked towards the apartment. He cut her off far enough away so she could not hear them.

"Joe, who does my son have in there?" She clasped her hands and knew what was happening.

"Risley Ma'am" Joe paused "They need to work out some of the issues"

"Yes, work out the issues" She repeated and looked at Joe as she turned and walked away.

Mark pulled a blanket down from the back of the sofa and covered up the two of them. He propped himself up on his one arm and gently brushed against her skin with the other one as he gently placed kisses. Risley played these moments in her head over and over again. These raw moments are the ones that she cherished the most with Mark.

"I am sorry" He spoke softly "I was afraid. I opened my self up to you when you were here that week more than that I ever thought I could to a person. When I knew you were going to leave I had no idea how to ask you to stay here with me. I did not know what to do with myself every time you called... I could not get myself to answer it. I tried to block you out push you away... I just wanted to forget about you." He paused "But I can not forget about you. I love you and I know that now"

"You hurt me... I was stalked by the paparazzi and every day since I left here. I got told who you were in bed with. I wanted to be with you... I wanted you to come to me and you just left me." He paused "What happens after I leave here again?"

"I am hoping that you will not be gone long. I would like it if you would move in here with me and I can prove to you that you are the only one for me"

She studied his face as he continued to run his hands against her skin "Come back with me and give me a month to close up loose ends at home." She paused "I will find a job here to keep my time busy."

"Maybe Evelyn can give you work at home position for a while."

"I can not ask her that. She has already done so much for me" She paused "Plus she will be almost like a whole world away"

"No, I won't let that happen. I promise you" He paused "When I take you as my wife you will not be allowed to work. You will be just like me doing royal engagements."

"We are so far from future" She paused and looked away tears seeping out "When I was here last time I could not see anything but a future with you and now I have no idea. I will have to have faith this will all work out"

Mark laid his head on her chest and she could feel his tears. The two of them laying on the floor with each other both in tears hurting from one another, missing one another, needing one another, and most of all loving each other.