"The Merits of Flying"

By LadyCleo

AU – How the movie should have gone. Andrew interrupts the moment before Mia and Nicholas kiss. Mia/Andrew all the way and inspired by frankiebaby's "A Royal Duty." If you like – review as encouragement.

Chapter Six

"How could you?" Susan Jacoby's voice was a full octave higher than normal- something Arnold Jacoby took to be a bad sign. Pulling at his tie, Arnold glanced around the crowded sitting room. The instigator, that is his son, was sitting on the couch with a quiet solemn expression. Mia sat to Andrew's left looking very uncomfortable and exchanging occasional glances with Lilly.

"What were you thinking?" Susan's shrill voice continued, "On the eve of your wedding- I shudder to think what the press will say if this ever get outs. And poor Princess Mia having to witness your barbaric act-"

Mia glanced up from her fingers, shifting uncomfortably on the couch, "Really, I'm quite fine-" Andrew dropped a hand down to her leg and shook his head, silencing her.

"I don't understand-" Susan continued, "what on earth possessed you to take such – such an action? A brawl in the middle of the garden! I have never know you to lose your self-control like that – to act so- so ridiculous. As a soon to be royal dignity you know you should have shown more self-restraint-"

"Come now, Susan" Arnold interrupted. "Andrew's a grown man with a title of his own. I think we can let the boy explain himself." Turning slowly to his son, Arnold raised an eyebrow. "Care to defend yourself my boy?"

"Actually," Andrew began, then paused and shook his head. "I'd rather not."

Lilly snickered in the background as Susan turned from a shade of upset pink to pissed red. "Rather not?" Susan demanded, vein popping out of her forehead.

"I'm not a child, mother." There was a tone of defeat in Andrew's voice that made Mia wonder how many times he'd had similar arguments with his mother. "If I want to sock a backstabbing twit in the garden, then I'll bloody well sock him."

"Well I- I-" exasperated Susan gave a small screech. Turning away she stormed out of the sitting room with a flourish that would have left Scarlett O'Hara green with envy. Arnold slowly pushed himself to his feet, winked knowingly at his son, and ambled off after his wife.

"Thank goodness that's over." Lilly beamed as she bounced over towards the pair. "She always get that way when you piss her off?"

A weary smile cracked across Andrew's face, "That was actually the lighter side of it."

"Well, my opinions unchanged. It was a beautiful right hook, and the expression on his face: priceless." Lilly chuckled, propping herself on the edge of the coffee table. "A camera would have been perfect." Balling her fist into a mock microphone, Lilly held it out towards Andrew. "Tell me how does it feel to have finally done what everyone else wanted to do?"

Mia groaned burying her head in her hands, "Please let there have been no cameras."

"Are you," Andrew began, his forehead wrinkling, "Are you agreeing with my mother than?"

Mia hesitated, unsure of herself for a second. Slowly standing she walked away from the couch. "Yes," she finally answered. "Yes, I am Andrew. This couldn't have come at a worse time." Her left hand rose up to nervously scrunch at her hair, her head shaking. "I don't even see why you- you felt compelled to punch him. It's all a little ridiculous."

"Ridiculous?" Andrew was suddenly on his feet, though his face was still a picture of calm. "Did you hear what he said?" He questioned with a somewhat baffled frown.

"All he said was 'I'll just go about my day and you just go about your duty.'" Mia shrugged, "I'm sorry. I don't see how that gives you the right to attack the man, Andrew."

His eyes narrowed in on her with an almost accusing glare. "You're defending him." He said the words quietly enough, but something about Andrew had gone extremely cold.

"I'm not defending him." The words were spoken softly, Mia's eyes tracing Andrew's as she subconsciously took a step closer to him.

"You are defending him," he accused. Turning away from her, Andrew began to pace along the length of the couch, his voice taking on an edge of anger as he continued, "The man waltzes into your palace, forces you into an arranged marriage, and you're defending him against me, your fiancé."

"I'm not defending him, Andrew," Mia sighed, a hand rubbing at her temple. "I just don't see why you had to haul back and punch the guy for making one harmless comment." Lilly frowned from her place on the coffee table, her head whipping in between the two.

Andrew stopped, "O – I see" his voice suddenly sunk low, into a calm quiet tone. "So I'm just supposed to stand to the side as he insults us."

The quiet seriousness of his face alarmed Mia and she stuttered for a second, searching for a way to respond, "I didn't say that."

"I suppose than that as prince consort my job will be to disappear into the curtain behind you? Someone always there, but never truly present? After all it's an arranged marriage, right- I just have to do my 'duty' and kept quiet. I'm just the man who's purpose was to put you on the throne- that's my only job." The expression on his face seemed to pass somewhere in-between angry and wounded. "Well Mia, am I really someone who just simply got you a crown than?" Andrew didn't wait for her answer. "Sorry, I was confused about that. Thank you for making it perfectly clear." The hard edge was back in his face as he turned away, walking briskly towards the doors.

"Andrew, wait. Where are you going?"

"Does it matter?" He questioned as he pulled the doors open.

"Andrew," the crash of doors slamming answered Mia's call. Exhausted she dropped back down to the couch. "Great- this is just great."

"Ouch is more the word I would use." Slouching onto the couch next to Mia, Lilly frowned pensively, elbowing Mia gently, "Hey now, kiddo. No reason to look glum. It's not like he called off the engagement or anything. Just give him a little time to himself." Lilly smiled as Mia slowly turned her head towards her. "Besides I think we both know it wasn't just the whole 'doing his duty' thing that peeved prince charming. The fact that the rat was giving less of a 'usurper glare' and more of an 'let's get to know each other gaze' just added fuel to the fire."

Mia shook her head, "That's crazy."

"Which part: Mr. Stiff Upper Lip turning into the green-eyed monster or the would-be-throne napper giving you the come-hither look?" Lilly questioned. "They both make sense to me."

Mia let out a frustrated groan and leaned back against the couch. "How did this get so complicated?"

"It started out complicated: You becoming a princess, rat-with-looks trying to stealing the throne, princess forced to marry attractive man with British accent- Of course, if you ask me, you all asked for it."

"I didn't ask to be a princess."

"But you took it." Lilly challenged, gently patting Mia's leg. "The good ole duke doesn't have to marry you but he is. It all balances out in the end."

Mia folded her hands together and bit down on her lower lip. None of this made much sense to her. Andrew had admitted growing feelings for her, Nicholas was showing more concern for her than she'd assumed a victim would warrant. The situation was growing more complex over each passing moment. It didn't help matters when Nicholas had thrown an even bigger wrench into the works by bringing up the question of duty.

That's why Andrew was upset about the comment- the word 'duty' hit home to both of them. This marriage was forcing them to make a sacrifice in order to serve Genovia, all for the sake of Duty. But was it just a duty to Andrew? Could it even be called a duty when Andrew was falling in love with her?

With the wedding looming- they were facing a decision: how much of a sacrifice were they making and what their roles were going to be in this 'arranged marriage.' Andrew had already made himself clear on his role. He wanted to be supportive; he was willing to put himself emotionally into the role of her husband, and eager to love her- or at least to try. But Mia remained on the other side of the fence: confused, rushed, harried along into the relationship, and not quite capable of seeing past the idea of an arranged marriage. All she seemed to be able to see was a shattering fairy tale. In the end of it, she was the only hitch in the deal.

Sitting there, slowly ruminating over these things, Mia slowly came to one almost frightening conclusion. "I never even gave him a chance."

"Who?" Lilly questioned with a befuddled squint.

"Andrew. From the start of this thing I only ever saw this as a duty, a necessity to getting the throne. I was so wrapped up with making sure he proposed I never bothered to try and feel anything for him. Andrew was right, I only saw him as a necessity for the throne." Mia winced as she said the words, a sinking feeling slowly engulfing her. "How could I do that, how could I be so cold."

"I'm confused-"

"But it's not." Mia jumped to her feet as she interrupted Lilly. "It's not just an arranged marriage."

Lilly's face scrunched up more, "Wait, I'm still stuck on the-"

Mia had begun to pace along the coach, almost retracing the steps Andrew had taken only a few minutes ago. "Andrew's a sweet, funny, smart man. He's gorgeous to look at and when he kisses my knees turn into a warm gooey mess. I think I like him- I know I like him."

"Gooey knees are a pretty likable thing when it comes to kisses," Lilly declared with a nod for emphasis then frowned as Mia gave out a small gasp. "What, what's wrong?"

"Shit, I really have screwed this all up." Mia declared, panic creased over her face as her hand fluttered down to her stomach- which had consequently started churning in a very unpleasant manner. "I screwed up, Lilly, I screwed up royally."

"Being Royal, I suppose it's the only way you can screw up."

"What am I going to do," she questioned, turning frantically toward her friend. "I've ruined everything- I defended Nicholas and now Andrew thinks I'm just marrying him to get the throne," Mia resumed pacing. "When I'm really thinking I don't want to just marry him for the throne and maybe - just maybe - I'm falling or have already fallen in love with him. I don't know how to fix this. I don't know what to tell him. I've been so selfish assuming that I was the only one sacrificing. And there he is, forfeiting just as much, gaining less, and still, on top of all that, he can see past the situation and somehow manage to actually fall in love with a screw up."

"Will you stop with the 'screw up,' it's not that bad. You're panicking over nothing. So okay you had your first fight. It's not the end of the world, I'm sure there will be plenty of more fights to come, and plenty of time to make up." Lilly paused as she realized that Mia was not only ignoring her, but briskly moving towards the doors. "Where are you going?"

"I need to find Andrew and straighten this out before my life gets any more complicated." Mia called back, quickly passing out of view into the hall.

Lilly slowly shook her head, leaning back against the couch she kicked her feet up onto the table and sighed dramatically, "Ah- young love!"

"With only two and a half days left, Olivia, I'm beginning to feel rather frantic." Clarisse greeted her maid as she slowly walked up the terrace steps, the white poodle in step beside her. Olivia nodded somberly; bowing briefly before stepping forward to meet Clarisse. "Would you take Maurice for me, please? I have to check the orchestra selections."

Olivia nodded crisply, accepting the leash. "And they asked for you to approve a place setting for the reception, your majesty."

"Very well." Clarisse inwardly groaned at the prospect of more place settings and classical compositions. Turning towards the door Clarisse paused as another figure caught her eye. Andrew stood on the opposite end of the terrace, leaning against the railings, and staring into the gardens pensively.

"Now there's a man probably more harried than me. "Clarisse smiled warmly. "I think the Orchestra and place setting can wait a moment." Strolling causally across the terrace she stopped short beside him, "I heard about your little encounter this afternoon. I hope that isn't why you're staring off into nothing so moodily."

Andrew pushed back from the railing and slowly straightened, "I'd be lying if I said no, your majesty." He glanced at her slowly then turned his eyes back to the green foliage in front of them. "It's not so much that I punched him, more what he's said that's bothering me."

"Ah yes, that word has been know to invoke both lesser and worse reactions from many royal figures." A small laugh slipped from Clarisse lips, startling Andrew. "It's no wonder you walloped the fellow, I imagine he stepped on a very sore nerve."

Andrew nodded, folding his hands behind his back he glanced at the queen for a long second, "How did you manage?"

"What?" Clarisse frowned, "You mean how I ever managed to survive an arranged marriage?" Andrew neither confirmed nor denied the question, but waited patiently beside her. "Well, I suppose it was with hard work and a strong willingness to compromise. It helped that Rupert and I were good friends." A wistful smile crossed Clarisse's face then slowly vanished into a frown. "But I don't think that's your trouble. I think your predicament is that you love my granddaughter and want more than an arranged marriage."

Andrew frowned and turned back towards the garden view. "I'm not sure-" he paused, shook his head, and started over. "That's not what she wants or needs. I committed myself to this marriage because she needed me, I never thought that I might fall for her." A small chuckle slipped past his lip. "In a way I've bartered my soul to save her crown, but now that she's inadvertently stolen my heart I seem to want out of the deal, but at the same time I'd rather die than leave her now."

Clarisse frowned, a hand reaching out to gently rest on the younger man's shoulder. "I don't suppose there's anything I can do about it than?"

"No-" Andrew paused suddenly. "Actually, there is one thing you might be able to do."

Throwing open the library doors, Mia poked her head in and glanced around the walls of books. "Andrew," she gently called out, stepping inside and skimming down the rows of books. She frowned and spun on her heels when it became obvious the Duke of Kenilworth was not in library- as he hadn't been in his rooms, in the stables, in the kitchen, in the study, or anywhere else.

Stepping back into the hall, Mia glanced right as she turned left, gently colliding with the oncoming Joe. "Sorry." Straightening herself she smiled sheepishly for the security guard.

"That's alright Princess, I'm used to it now."

Preoccupied with her search, Mia brushed of the comment and glanced back down the hall, "Joe, have you seen Andrew?"

"No, princess." He smiled gently and then motioned towards the kitchen, "Although I think her majesty may be able to enlighten you. She's finalizing the place setting in the kitchen."

"Thanks Joe" Mia answered as she turned away towards the kitchen. Moving diligently and quickly down the hallway, she kept her eyes peeled in search of the missing pilot. But he remained missing-in-action as she finally approached the kitchen.

Clarisse was working at the kitchen table, a cup of tea in front of her as she browsed over her 'to do' list while making notes on a separate peace of paper. To her right an attendant stood with a clipboard taking down instructions as Clarisse dictated them. "I'm sure the staff of the Regent Hotel have seen to the guest accommodations- do you think it was much to book an entire hotel? We'll, never mind. With this RSVP list we'll need to book another Hotel unless Charlotte can find a miraculous cure to the west wing plumping."

"Grandma this isn't good. I've lost Andrew."

"I beg your pardon – how does one lose a groom?" Clarisse questioned as Mia slowly climbed onto the stool opposite of her. A chef appeared at Mia's side, placing a steaming cup of tea before the distraught princes.

Mia nodded her thanks, but pushed the cup away. "We got in a fight over what happened this afternoon," she explained. "I think I made it worse."

"Yes." Clarisse declared as she made a note on her list. "I heard about that and I think I would agree."

Mia straightened suddenly, "What?"

"The maids know everything." Turning back to the attendant she frowned. "A few of the dignitaries have been known to take liberations with their 'spirits,' especially considering we have an open bar. Best have some extra security. We've already arranged to have a military guard, might as we'll also have them escort our inebriated guests if necessary." Clarisse paused before adding, "Unless it's the French Consult- it's best not to repeat that situation."

Mia slouched down onto the bar stool, an expression of abject misery plastered across her face as she waited until her grandmother turned back before speaking. "Well, now I can't find Andrew. I've looked everywhere: the stables, the library, his rooms, up and down the gardens. You don't think that he-"

Clarisse turned away from Mia, cutting off her granddaughter as she handed off the papers to the waiting attendant, "That'll be all. I'll handle the rest when I get back." The young attendant nodded, bowed and moved quickly off towards the ballroom. Smiling cheerfully Clarisse turned back to her crestfallen granddaughter, "Care to take a drive with me?"

If possible Mia's frown deepened another centimeter, "Grandma, have you been listening to a word-"

"Yes, of course." Clarisse interrupted. Standing she moved around the table and gently took her granddaughter by the elbow. "And I think that this calls for a drive."