A/N: Thanks to everyone that read my last chapter, I really appreciate it! Here's the next one!

Bluebloods

Part 2 – The Wedding

During the next year, James tried his best to make friends with Lily, but it seemed almost impossible. He was kept extremely busy with his studies and other duties his father assigned him, and spent a good portion of his time traveling around the kingdom. As they were not married yet, Lily did not travel with him. Instead, she stayed with his parents while James met thousands of his subjects on his tour. His father believed it was good for the princes to go out and meet members of each town and village, and had them travel every few years. James had not been on such a tour since he was twelve, and Charles felt that it was time for him to go again.

Despite his promise to himself, his schedule was almost too much for him. He had hardly any time to visit the princess, let alone make friends with her. All too soon, the wedding was upon them. He had no say in the planning process, and was not consulted with any details. It was just as well, because he was finishing up his studies and didn't have time to be bothered with it. Besides, he was a man. What did he know about weddings? He doubted Lily had any say in it either, knowing his mother. Elaine would want everything to be perfect, exactly the way she wanted it. It didn't matter to her what James or Lily preferred.

James was nervous for the wedding. He was sure Lily was dreading it, and although he was actually looking forward to being married to the princess, he wasn't exactly looking forward to married life. He expected Lily hated him as much as ever, which meant the night of the wedding would be extremely unpleasant. He had no plans to consummate their marriage when she felt the way she did about him, but they would have no choice in sharing a bed. They could always lie about their night, and James believed that many couples did just that, but there was no way around their sharing a room. Perhaps he would sleep on the floor, if Lily was too uncomfortable, but they would be spending many a night in the same room.

There was also the fact that they would be expected to produce an heir, but James figured they had more flexibility in that department than Philip did. If Charles died for some reason, it would be all the more important that Elizabeth give birth to a boy. She had recently given birth to another girl, who they named Catherine. For James, only second in line for the throne, it was less of an urgent matter. Nonetheless, people would be expecting at least one royal child from their union. James sighed and ran his fingers through his hair. This was all very frustrating. It would be so much easier if they could trust one another, but Lily hardly even glanced at him during meals. How could they pretend to be a happy married couple?

The night before the wedding, James tried another visit to Lily's chambers. He was met with utter distaste from the princess. "Can't you just leave me in peace for one more night?" she asked.

"I was hoping we could talk about tomorrow," James said cautiously. Lily was hardly ever in a good mood when he visited her, but tonight she was in a particularly bad one.

"What is there to talk about?" Lily demanded. "We're getting married, and neither of us has any say in the matter. We're going to be forced together for the rest of our lives, and I'm not looking forward to it. Are you?"

"Of course not," James answered quickly, hoping this response would gain him some points in her favor.

"How could you be?" Lily asked, half to herself. "I'm sure you're not used to being told what to do all the time. Not like I am. Not like your sister-in-law is, or your mother."

"I have to do everything my father tells me," James protested. "I can't get away with any more than you can."

"I doubt he orders you around as much as he orders women around," Lily sniffed. It was completely untrue, but James didn't bother to correct her. He cast his mind around for something else to say, some way to change the subject, but he never got the chance. "Look, could you just go away? I want to be alone tonight. You'll have plenty of time to bother me for the rest of our lives."

"Right," said James. "Sure. I'll go."

As he left, he could have sworn he heard her whisper, "Thank you."

The wedding was a grand affair, though not quite as grand as Philip's wedding had been. James had learned at an early age that everything Philip got would always be better than what James and Alexander got. It came from being the firstborn, he supposed. Philip was the future king, and as such he received special treatment from their parents. Still, it was hard for James to complain that no effort had been put into this royal celebration. Thousands of people turned up, and a lot of money had been spent on the occasion. Everything was perfect.

Or, everything would have been perfect if James and Lily were actually in love. To the outsider, the wedding was absolutely flawless. To James and Lily, there was plenty wrong. James was more than willing to admit that he was attracted to Lily, though he couldn't possibly say he loved her. He hardly knew her. However, he had a feeling that it would not be hard to fall for her if he got to know her a little better. He wished he could say the same was true for Lily, but she had told him numerous times that she had no plans to ever fall in love with him. She didn't even want to be friends with him.

There were flowers everywhere, and decorations of all kind. Their emblem, an eagle (James' family crest) soaring over a roaring lion (Lily's family crest), was etched on every possible surface, representing the joining of two families. There were hundreds of fabrics draped across furniture, and plenty of jewels dangling around as decoration, catching the light of the sun and sending rays of color across the rooms they had been strung in.

The celebration lasted all day and well into the night. As the newly married couple, James and Lily were obligated to dance with each other at least once. However, they spent most of their time dancing with their fellow partygoers instead. This was not unusual behavior, as James was expected to show special interest in his subjects, even at his wedding. He suspected Lily was perfectly happy to spend hours whirling around in the arms of handsome men that were not James.

Finally, the time came when the king announced that it was time for everyone to retire. It was the moment James had been worrying about all day, and he didn't know how he was going to get through the night. He really hoped Lily didn't yell at him again, as she seemed prone to doing whenever he was around. He joined her at the ballroom doors, where she slipped her arm through his and smiled lovingly up at him. It was all for show, he knew. Loud cheers followed them as they left. They walked together down several hallways before the noises finally stopped.

They had been given a new suite to live in as a married couple, though they both still got to keep their old chambers. They were to be left alone for the most part, except for a few guards posted in the hallway, several rooms away from where they would be sleeping. Two of Lily's handmaids and one of James' manservants would be sharing the chambers with them, but both rooms were in the outer chambers, whereas their bedroom was the center of the suite.

They changed into their nightclothes separately. James managed by himself, while Lily disappeared to her maids' room so they could help her out of her gown and into her sleepwear. James slid under the covers and lay as close to the edge of his side of the bed as he could get. He was lying on his back, gazing up at the ceiling when Lily came back in. He didn't even glance at her, suspecting that it would make her feel more uncomfortable than she already did. She slid into the bed on the opposite side, leaving several feet of space between them in the large bed. She blew out the candle on her bedside table and lay back against her pillow awkwardly.

James blew out the candle on his side, darkening the room. There were still several candles lit on the opposite side of their chamber, but it was hardly enough to see by. The darkness helped James relax some, and he hoped it would make Lily feel more at ease as well. After a few minutes of silence, Lily cleared her throat. "Well, go ahead."

Surprised, James turned his head to look at her. Lily's meaning was clear, but James could not have been more confused. "You actually want to?"

"Of course not," Lily snapped. "But I don't exactly have a choice, do I?"

"I would never force myself on you," James said quietly, staring at the ceiling again.

His statement seemed to shock her into silence. After another few minutes, she asked, "What are we supposed to say in the morning?"

"Nothing," James answered. "We don't have to say a word. Only… Is there someone you a trust? A maid of yours?"

Lily turned her head to face him, her green eyes narrowed as she tried to figure out what he wanted. "I would trust Bethany with my life," she said.

"Good. Go to her, and tell her to sneak down into the kitchens and get some lambs blood, or chicken blood. Whatever she can manage, but she has to make sure no one sees her."

"But why-" Lily began, unable to finish her thought when James interrupted.

"Just do it," he insisted. He assumed that Lily would try to argue with him, but she didn't seem to think it was worth it. Instead, she threw back the covers and stalked out of the room. She returned a few minutes later and crawled into bed again.

"So what is this for?" Lily asked.

"No one told you about this?" James asked. Lily had three older sisters, and he figured she was close to her sisters.

As if reading his mind, Lily shook her head. "I'm the youngest, and my sisters think I'm annoying. They couldn't wait for me to leave last year," she sighed.

"I'm sure that's not true," James protested. He wasn't exactly close with Alexander or Philip, but he wouldn't be happy to see them move away forever. How could anyone be happy knowing they would never see their sibling again?

"Well, it is," Lily snapped. "Especially Petunia. She's the second youngest, and she tries so hard to fit in with Rose and Daisy. They thought it was fun to be mean to me."

James couldn't help but snicker when Lily named her sisters. "Your parents really liked flowers, didn't they?"

Lily just stared at him. James sighed, thinking he had offended her. "I'm sorry," he started, but this time she interrupted him.

This girl had done many things to surprise him since he'd met her, mostly surprising him with her anger and hostility. This time, she surprised him by laughing. It was short and quiet, but it was definitely a laugh. The best part was, it wasn't even a derisive laugh. She seemed genuinely amused, for a few seconds. Her smile faded as quickly as it came, like a flash of lightning. She looked annoyed then, as if she couldn't believe she had betrayed her amusement.

"So what is the blood for?" Lily asked, glancing at him.

James suddenly felt embarrassed. He wasn't sure how to explain to her what he had in mind. "In the morning, before we go to breakfast, sprinkle some of the blood on the sheets. We don't have to tell anyone anything, but that will be enough evidence for them."

Lily stared at him blankly for several seconds, before comprehension dawned on her. "Oh." Then she looked horrified. "It's supposed to be bloody?"

James was saved from having to say anything else when there was a light knock on the door. Lily jumped out of bed and yanked the door open. One of her maids stood outside, holding a tiny bottle of blood. How she got it was beyond James, but then he would never understand how any servants managed to do so much in secret. It was a mystery to him how they got away with as much as they did. Lily took the bottle and whispered thanks. She closed the door, hid the bottle under her pillow, and lay down for a third time.

"So we're going to lie to everyone?" Lily asked, facing away from him this time. Her red hair fell in a curtain, covering her face.

"Do you have a better idea?" James asked, though his tone was gentle.

"No," Lily sighed. "Unfortunately, I don't."

"We should probably go to sleep," James said awkwardly. "It's late."

"Right," Lily said, rolling over so her back was to James. She snuggled down under the covers with her face pressed against her pillow. James followed suit, pulling the blankets up to his chin. For a while, he watched Lily, who seemed to be asleep. After some time, just as James was beginning to fall asleep, he noticed her shoulders started to shake. The room was filled with silence, but James thought briefly that she must be crying into her pillow. The last thing he remembered before falling asleep was wondering what she was crying about tonight.

The next morning, one of Charles' servants came to wake them up. When they were alone in their room, Lily took the bottle out from under her pillow and spilled several drops on the sheets before leaving to join her maids so they could help her get dressed. It was just another reason James was glad he wasn't a girl. Their dresses were so complicated that it took three or four of them to get one on.

James put on a clean tunic and pants, and then slipped his boots on. He ran a hand through his hair and prepared himself mentally for what he would face as soon as he stepped out of his room. He knew, from what he had been taught as a prince, that he didn't have to wait for Lily before he went downstairs to the dining hall. Normally, he would have. She was his wife now, and he wanted to show her that he cared about her. Today, however, he felt he would be doing her a favor by leaving her behind.

Sure enough, as soon as he set foot in the hallway, he was surrounded by a group of men. It was a mixture of dukes, lords, counts, and who knew what else. There was loud hooting and hollering, and James was clapped on the back by what felt like a hundred hands. "Congratulations!" they boomed. "You're a man now."

It made James feel a little sick, the way they were treating him. No one would congratulate Lily. It was expected of women, a fact of life. For men, it was something to celebrate. For women, it was something to bear. Somehow, that didn't seem fair to James.

They spent breakfast in near silence, each doing their best to keep a happy smile on their face. They had to look as though they liked each other, even if the truth was that they couldn't even hold a civil conversation without Lily getting upset. After breakfast, they were supposed to retire to their room for the morning. Lily would be expected to work on some kind of skill, like sewing. James was essentially allowed to do whatever he wanted, but it would get him brownie points with his father if he studied the historic battle plans he had been given.

This new arrangement was strange and uncomfortable. Lily sat in a wooden chair by the fireplace, and immediately picked up her needlework. James sat down in his own chair, but instead of picking up the battle plans, he rested his chin in his hand and stared at Lily. She studiously ignored him, chatting with her handmaids. After a while, James decided that there were some things they needed to talk about. He dismissed his manservant and Lily's maids kindly, explaining to them that he wished to spend some alone time with his wife.

The servants, except for the one who had supplied Lily with the vial of blood, exchanged knowing looks. They assumed they knew what was going to happen when they left, but they couldn't be more wrong. When both the door to the waiting room and the door to the hall had swung shut, James got to his feet. "Lily? I think there are some things we need to talk about."

Lily set her needlework on the table beside her and finally turned her green gaze up towards James. Surprisingly, there was no hostility in her eyes. This time, she simply looked wary and nervous. Her hair, which she had always worn freely before, was now braided and pinned up, the sign of a married woman. It made her look older, and more regal, but James preferred seeing her fiery locks tumble over her shoulders and frame her face. "What's that?"

"It's just… Well, you've seen how everyone else behaves around here, haven't you?"

"By everyone else, you mean…?"

"Couples," James elaborated. "Intimacy is not a private matter in this castle, as I'm sure you've gathered."

Lily grimaced. "There does seem to be quite a lot of kissing in darkened hallways."

"It's a favorite pastime, around here," James answered, only half joking.

"What's your point?" she asked, reaching up out of habit to grab her hair, only to lower it when she realized there was nothing for her to hold on to.

"It's just that… People are going to expect to see us acting like a couple. You know, holding hands and dancing at parties and kissing."

"As if we were in love."

"Well… Yes."

Lily shook her head and looked down at her lap. "Sometimes I really hate myself," she admitted, her voice breaking.

"Why?" James asked, bewildered.

"You've been so kind to me," she said, looking up at him again. Her eyes were shiny as she held back tears. "You've been nothing but a gentleman, but I haven't been very kind to you at all. You just wanted me to give you a chance, and I was too stubborn."

"It's okay-" James started.

"No, it's not," Lily interrupted. "It was rude of me, and I'm really regretting it right now." She sighed, and seemed to overcome her urge to cry. "I never really stopped to think about how lucky I am. I'm sure you've heard this before, but you are quite attractive."

This stunned James, but only for a moment. "I think I'm the lucky one," he said, giving her a charming smile. "You're quite gorgeous, Princess."

Lily's cheeks turned red, and she smiled shyly. "You don't have to call me 'princess'. We're married, after all."

"That's going to take some getting used to," James said. "Being a husband."

"It is strange, isn't it?" Lily mused. Then, after a moment of hesitation, she added, "Can I ask you something crazy?"

"You can ask me anything. I'll give you anything you want or need," James promised. "I want you to be happy here."

"I was hoping…" She trailed off, looking shy again. "The truth is, I've never kissed anyone before."

"No one?" James asked. Things were probably different for a princess, but James had never had trouble finding a girl willing to kiss him. Of course, he didn't have very much experience either, as his busy schedule prevented him from making much time for such things. There had been several girls, though, before his parents announced his engagement to Lily.

Lily shook her head. "Never."

"I'm sorry you're stuck with me, then."

"I'm not," she said boldly, then looked like she wished she could snatch the words back out of the air.

"You're not?" James was incredulous.

"I told you before, you're quite good-looking."

"Ah, but there's a difference between finding me attractive and being attracted to me," James pointed out. He decided he could be bold, too, and added, "If it helps, I find that I'm very attracted to you."

Her blush darkened, and she fumbled for words. "We should get it over with and… kiss."

This girl never did what James expected her to do. Every time she opened her mouth, he was left feeling shocked. Particularly this time. "You really want to?"

Lily nodded and got to her feet, as if to prove her point. "I do."

James swallowed, hard. What if he messed everything up? He'd never had any complaints before, but what if Lily hated it? He had to go through with it. He had no other choice. Pushing away his nerves, he took a few hesitant steps toward Lily. When she didn't back away from him, he closed the remaining distance between them and put his hands on either side of her face.

Desperate not to seem like he wasn't sure of himself, he didn't waste any time in touching his mouth to hers. As soon as their lips met, James felt as though something exploded inside of him. They were hardly touching, and yet this was by far the best kiss he'd ever had. It convinced him immediately that the two of them were meant for each other. He moved one hand, placing it on the small of her back and deepened the kiss.

If Lily's response was anything to go by, he would guess that she was enjoying herself as well. She slipped her arms around his neck, and stood on tiptoe to keep her lips against his. Always willing to help, James scooped her up in a manner similar to how one might hold a baby. He cradled her against his chest and she kept her arms locked around him. When they finally broke apart, breathing heavily, James made sure to be careful setting Lily back on her feet.

"Sorry," Lily said breathlessly. "I-"

"Don't apologize," James replied. "That was really good. Really good."

Lily put a hand on her chest, feeling her rapidly beating heart. "I could probably get used to this."