Disclaimer: Still don't own, but wish I did. Thanks for all the awesome reviews! On with the story...

"So you're not only going to be forced to be married to me, but to…oh this is bad. This is very, very bad. This is –"

"Deege, calm down. You're starting to sound like Glitch."

"It's just everything is happening all at once and now they want…kids? What next? Magical ponies in the stable and dancing puppets? Wait, do they have magical ponies here?"

"You're not making much sense, Sweetheart," he said, laughing. "Hey, come back here," he said, reaching for her. She pulled away, choosing to pace around the room muttering under her breath instead. The only words he understood were "forced," "marriage" and "kids."

Sighing, he grabbed her arm and pulled her back against him, pulling both of them down to where they were sitting on the edge of the bed.

"Oh, no. We are not having this discussion in my bedroom, much less on my bed."

"Fine, then how about a walk? Obviously we need to talk about it and I'm not just gonna leave you right now when you're freaking out about it."

"Walking sounds good."

On the way out of the room they ran into the queen.

"There you are, my angel. I was just coming to ask if you needed any help getting ready for tomorrow."

"Tomorrow? What's tomorrow?"

"My goodness! DG, I was under the impression that you had read Mr. Cain's invitation! The wedding is tomorrow."

DG stared at her in horror, grabbing for Jeb's arm at the same time. Even though it felt like she was about to rip it off Jeb stood still, trying to be strong for the both of them. He hadn't noticed that detail in the invitation either.

"Why so soon?" DG asked, finally finding her voice.

"Darling, it's bad enough that you told them you were engaged and they hadn't heard about it before! They needed their invitations pronto and naturally the invitations needed a date…"

"Yeah, I get that. What I don't get is why it has to be tomorrow."

"I thought you two had figured this out already."

"Yeah, no. Still ironing out the details. We're on our way to get some fresh air and work on those details right now. So if you'll excuse us, Mother, I'm going to get that fresh air now, ok?" she said, trying not to snap. She knew her mother meant well and didn't really have a choice but it still bugged her.

"Keep an eye on her, it's getting late." Jeb nodded his understanding as he did his best to keep up with DG who stormed out of the palace.

The queen sighed, watching the pair run out of the palace. She knew from talking to Jeb and his father that DG would be well taken care of which is all she could ask for given the situation.

She had hoped that DG would come around to the idea, given her closeness to the groom-to-be. He certainly seemed to be liking the idea at this point, or so it would seem. When she had run into them moments before, Jeb was attempting to calm her down as they walked out of the palace. The scene touched her. 'Maybe it will end up ok after all. I hope so.'

"Don't worry, My Love," said a voice behind her, wrapping his arms around her waist and whispering in her ear, causing her to blush. "I have a good feeling about this. It may not be the best way to start off, but they do genuinely care for each other, that much is obvious. The question is, do they see it?"

"I hope in time they do realize how much they mean to one another."

"I won you over once, didn't I? I have no doubt Jeb will eventually do the same with DG…if he ever figures out that it's what he wants," he laughed.

The queen smiled and turned around to properly hug her husband. "Yes, you did. I had hoped they would figure it out before tomorrow though. Maybe I made a mistake in making it so soon."

"No, it's forcing them to talk or to 'iron out the details' as DG put it. Give them some time. Maybe by tomorrow morning it will have worked itself out," he suggested, holding her close. She nodded into his chest where her head now rested. "Besides, she reminds me of a certain princess I once knew," he said, causing her to laugh.

"This is so absurd!" she nearly screamed, storming out onto the palace grounds. "How many times do I need to be punished for one honest, silly mistake? I thought I was saving us, not dooming us for all eternity," she mumbled, not taking the hand Jeb extended to her as they walked toward the lake.

"You might want to get that idea out of your system by tomorrow, Sweetheart," he chuckled in yet another failed attempt to lighten the mood. "After all, our guests won't understand if we're fighting."

"Maybe that's how we can break it then!" she said. Upon seeing Jeb's expression she decided maybe that wasn't the best plan. "Granted, if we did that, the guests wouldn't be too pleased, and the Eastern Guild would be insulted since we did accept their engagement party and that might start WWIII." His eyes raised at this, but he certainly looked happier and was that…relieved?

He couldn't figure out her sudden change of heart but took it as a good sign and let her continue with her rantings, hoping she would get it out of her system quickly.

"So," she continued, "in recap: they want us married tomorrow, and they expect heirs. Am I missing anything?" she asked, finally stopping and turning to face him when they reached the gazebo.

"No, I think that about sums it up."

"You realize that means that we can't just be best friends and pretend to be married. We're going to have to…you know…if we're supposed to have kids and all," she said quickly, running it together as much as possible. 'Boy this is embarrassing.'

"That is my understanding of the way the world works, yes," he said, amused at the cute little blush that was creeping over her face at what she had just said.

"Do you see now why I feel like I'm ruining your life? You could be out there, finding your one true love and making a family with her! But no, because of my stupidity you're stuck with a silly princess."

"DG, would you just stop it? Please? I'm not stuck with you! Did you ever think that maybe I'm really not as upset about this arrangement as you are?"

"But why would you –"

"Look, in the beginning it was scary. I'm not disputing that. I'm just saying that in the last few days I've actually gotten used to the idea and I think – I think I'm starting to fall for you. So no, you're not ruining my life. Unless you really hate the idea of being with me that much…or perhaps you'd rather you were stuck with…someone else," he said quietly, trying not to think of her with anyone else, especially the someone he had in mind.

"Oh Jeb," she said, running into his arms. The grin on his face was wider than she ever imagined when she finally risked a glance up at him.

"I never meant to trap you, Jeb," she continued. "It would be one thing if you chose to be with me, but I feel horrible about the way it happened."

"Don't. It was probably always there and I just didn't let myself see it. Maybe it took something like a silly, honest mistake to make me realize how much I care. I'm just glad it wasn't anyone else. I don't think my heart could take it if it were," he said, tucking her head into his shoulder where she was curling up.

"I wouldn't have used that line to get us out of there if it had been anybody else," she whispered.

Looking down at the beautiful woman in his arms, Jeb smiled again, the importance of what she had just said sinking in.

"Does that mean you have feelings for me, too?" he asked. She nodded into his shoulder.

"I couldn't say anything cause you were my best friend. I was kinda hoping you'd figure it out though. And then when we got caught by the Eastern Guild fighters I thought it was a nice excuse and it would be fun to see what it might be like, you know?"

"Did you have fun at the party?" he asked, chuckling, remembering how good it felt to dance with her. Again she nodded, curling up tighter against him.

"We should probably start heading back, Deege. It really is getting late and we have a big day tomorrow," he said, taking her hand in his and heading toward the palace. She looked up at him smiling.

Halfway back she finally decided to ask him the question that had been burning on her brain all evening. "Jeb, if you hadn't fallen in love with me…do you think you would have been able to handle it? I mean, I know I'm trouble, but I don't mean to be."

"Handle what? Being married to a beautiful, intelligent, good-hearted woman? Sure."

"I mean it, Jeb. Being married to a princess is sure to be annoying at times. And then there's the whole thing about having heirs. Just because we're good friends doesn't mean that you'd be ok with it."

Stopping her and pulling her into him he took a deep breath before sighing. "Deege. This is the easiest way I can put this: I'm a man and I am very attracted to you, always have been. If it came down to it, I wouldn't object. Besides, I'd rather you be with me than any of the men with less honorable intentions that I mentioned before." She smiled.

"Luckily for both of us, I do love you, so it's not a concern," he continued. "But if I hadn't fallen in love with you before the wedding, I'm sure after a few days in close quarters you would have convinced me to just by being yourself."

She blushed at the compliment and grabbed his hand, pulling them back toward the palace again, an obvious smile on her face at what he had just said.

"What about you? Think you could have put up with me?"

"Of course. I told you I had at least thought about it before. It would been like a dream come true."

"Then why all the complaining?" he asked, looking hurt. The constant whining had gotten to him, not because it was annoying, no. She actually managed to make complaining cute. It hurt because she didn't want to be with him, or so he thought.

"I wanted it to be your choice. I've never liked the thought of forced marriages and I couldn't bear the thought that I was to be married to a man I loved who didn't love me back. That would have killed me. I feel guilty enough about everything else I've done, I didn't need that added to it, not to mention the thought of costing you your one true love and –"

"Shh," he said soothingly, pulling her into another embrace at the palace entrance. "My one true love is standing in front of me making my dreams come true in her own unique way," he said laughing. She made a face but didn't try to argue.

"I just wish this whole engagement thing hadn't happened in its 'own unique way,'" she said, bitterly. "It would have been nice to be normal. You know: you propose, I say yes…none of this: I have to tell the lawn gnomes we're engaged so they'll get off our backs and then wow, we're actually engaged stuff," she said as they made it to her door.

In one swift movement Jeb had taken her hand, removed the ring she had conjured up in the Eastern Guild territory, and was on one knee in the blink of an eye. "DG Gale, will you please marry me?...By choice?" he added, causing her to laugh.

"Yes, Jeb. Of course, yes," she said, laughing with him, but thrilled to know he was truly choosing her.

He slipped the ring back on her finger with a quick kiss to her hand and pulled her into a tight embrace. Just as they were about to kiss for the first time she heard the clock chimes and realized it was midnight.

"You can't see me right now!" she screamed, running into her room and locking the door.

Stunned, Jeb asked what was wrong through the door.

"Ask my dad! Night Jeb!" said a muffled voice. Shaking his head in confusion he headed down the hall, hoping Ahamo was still awake.

Stepping further into her suite, a smile firmly planted on her face, she jumped slightly when a figure in the corner moved.

Jeb walked through the halls toward Ahamo's office, more confused than ever. 'I was this close to kissing her. Could I have scared her off somehow? Maybe where she comes from they don't kiss before marriage?' No, that didn't sound right, but he couldn't figure out what was wrong with her either.

Nearing Ahamo's office, he saw the light on. Taking a deep breath, he knocked.

"Jeb, come in, come in. Have a seat. What can I help you with? I hope my daughter isn't giving you too much trouble."

"No, Sir. Well, what I mean is, she said something confusing and when I asked what she meant she said to ask you, so here I am." He said it quickly but hoped he wouldn't be asked to repeat it. This whole situation was embarrassing enough.

"What did she say?"

"She said 'You can't see me right now!'" he said, looking more confused than he had when she said it.

"And she sent you to me?" Ahamo mused. Jeb nodded his head.

"Hmm…when was this?"

"A few minutes ago," said Jeb looking at the clock on Ahamo's desk. "Around midnight. I heard the chimes go off."

"Ah, yes," said Ahamo. Everything was becoming clear. "Yes, it's an Other Side tradition. The groom isn't supposed to see the bride before the wedding on their wedding day. Since you two are getting married today and it is now after midnight, she probably didn't want to jinx it. It's already gotten off to a rocky start, if I'm correct in my thinking."

"Oh. So that's what she meant. It was right when the chimes were going off and she seemed to panic for a moment. As for the rocky start things are looking up," he said confidently, causing Ahamo to raise his eyebrows.

"Glad to hear it, Jeb. I won't say I wasn't worried, but with Gale women you have to give them a chance to come around and given the circumstances…" he trailed off.

"We've talked about stuff. She knows now that it may have started as an obligation, but I choose her to be my wife. I even proposed properly tonight since I was cheated out of the chance before," he said ruefully. "She does everything the hard way doesn't she?"

Ahamo roared with laughter. "That she does. A trait she gets from her mother, I assure you. They're pistols but they're well worth it."

"You should know, Sir. I do love your daughter. It may have taken this ridiculous situation for me to realize it, but she has my heart and it is my understanding that I have hers as well."

"Glad to hear it. I hoped you two would realize what was right under your noses," he said, slapping Jeb on the shoulder as the two men stood up. "Now why don't you go get some sleep. You have a big day ahead of you and I'm guessing a long night as well," he said winking. Jeb blushed and headed out the door.

"Mother, you startled me!"

"Sorry, my angel, but I need to talk to you before tomorrow. I have a proposition for you."