"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.

Thanks to Frankiebaby for the encouragement to get off my ass and finish. Life's really calm right now so my goal for this week is to finish this story! Unbeta-ed so all mistakes and typos are mine.

Chapter Eight

Lilly grinned as she threw open the doors to Mia's bedroom and marched into the sunlight. The maids had yet to bring breakfast and Mia still sat on the bed gingerly wiping the sleep from her face. "Mornin' sunshine. Late night?"

Mia chuckled lightly, swinging her legs off the bed she stood and stretched out her limbs. "I guess, Andrew and I spent the afternoon together."

Lilly snorted, "Afternoon, evening- according to the maids you didn't stumble into bed until after midnight." A sly grin winked its way across Lilly's face. "Prince charming consort sweep you off your feet yesterday?"

Pink hues crept across Mia's face as she playfully swatted at Lilly's arm. The doors opened admitting the two maids, one caring a tray with breakfast, the other with a newspaper and carafe of coffee. "Good morning your majesty" they chimed together, setting the items on the table.

Mia slipped into a seat, Lilly joining her with a amused grin. "So I'm assuming I wasn't missed last night. Good, I don't think I could take another berating."

Lilly shrugged, "Well, I wouldn't say you weren't missed last night. Someone was looking for you." Lilly took a cup of coffee from the maids and opened the newspaper, a grin flashing off her face as she gazed down at it. "I took a message for you, but I'm thinking you won't want it." Lifting the newspaper Lilly held it towards Mia, showing off the bold print headline "Wedding Looks to go off Without a Hitch" along with the full blown photo of Mia and Andrew in heated embrace.

Mia grabbed the newspaper out of Lilly's hands, eyes scouring the print and photo.

Lilly chuckled lightly again as she took another sip of coffee before tasking, "No privacy, eh."

Mia grabbed a bit of toast and took a large bite, eyes still glued to the paper as she examined the picture in detail. The photograph was very good for an amateur, or at least she assumed it had been an amateur as no press had been around for the intimate occasion. The photo had captured a particularly steamy moment when Andrew's arm had snaked around her waist. A flush of heat raced through Mia as she recalled the moment.

"Err um-" Lilly cleared her throat, drawing her friend back from the past to the table. "There a reason you're turning red, Mia?" A sly wink and nudge of the elbow followed her comment. "What exactly happened yesterday?"

Mia chomped down on the toast for a second of diversion, Lilly's grin only widened. Leaning across the table she poked at Mia with her index finger. "Any hanky panky to share?"

Mia choked down on the toast for a second, "What? No- we just took a drive through town with grandma."

Lilly deflated back against her chair, "A drive with grandma? You've got a hot boy with an English accent and you take a drive with grandma." Reaching down Lilly grabbed the newspaper and thrust it into Mia's face. "You've got a bona fide prince charming kissing you like that and you take a drive with grandma? Have you learned nothing from me?"

Mia smiled and pushed the paper out of her face, "Yes, I've got a bona fide prince charming that will become bona fide prince consort in a few days, there will be plenty of time for hanky panky in the future."

"But it's not as fun after you get married."

"And you would know this how?"

"Just trust me, I am the knowledgeable one." With a wink Lilly took another sip of the coffee. "Anyway, while you were away wasting time with your hot English pilot" she placed particular emphasis on the last three words before continuing, "the would be throne-napper was tossing rocks at your window."

A wrinkled creased over Mia's forehead. "What for?"

"Not sure, when I answered your window he didn't seem too thrilled to see me. Anyway I explained that you were off with your 'duty' and asked if he wanted to leave a message. His explanation was that he just wanted to talk to you." Lilly reached across the table again to steal a piece of bacon off Mia's plate before continuing. "Seemed kind of fishy to me, what would a rat like him want with an engaged girl like you?"

"Good question," Mia slapped a hand against her forehead, "Why do I have the feeling that this isn't over yet. Mabrey is after the throne and he won't rest until his nephew is sitting on it- no matter how much he stomps over others to get it."

"Hey, kiddo, need I remind you in a few more days you'll be signed, sealed, and delivered. Once both your finger and your head is crowned Mabrey can holler all he wants but very few are going to be listening to him."

Mia sighed and pushed her plate away, "I know but I just have a bad feeling about the next few days. I'll be more comfortable once Andrew and I are floating down the Rivera." Lilly winked and nudged Mia again.

A quiet knock disturbed the two, both maids springing to attention to answer it, and reemerging from the anteroom followed by Andrew.

A smile dashed against Mia's lips as she jumped out of her chair and practically bounced over to him. "Morning," she greeted pressing a soft kiss on his cheek. "Sleep well?"

"Yes, very well." Linking his hand in hers Andrew turned towards Lilly and nodded a good morning.

"Morning." Lilly grinned back. "You look rather dashing - come to sweep Mia off her feet again?"

Andrew glanced down at his grey suit for a second, "Um, yes, you might say that." Turning back to Mia he grinned down at her, "We've got an engagement," Mia blinked up at him in confusion. "The rose ceremony." He reminded her. "The Ladies of Genovia are presenting us with a wedding present. Charlottes on her way up right now-"

"Shit-" Mia dropped his hand and scrambled towards her dressing rooms, " Brigitte and Brigitta- we have a crisis." The two maids scurried after her, leaving Andrew to take a seat next to Lilly with an amused grin.

"So," Lilly raised an eyebrow and scooted closer, "did you see your close up this morning?"

"Close up?" For a second he seemed genuinely baffled before catching sight of the abandoned paper. "Ah, yes, I did." A smile snagged the corner of his lips. "Rather fetching picture, isn't it."

"So- what exactly happened after the photo?"

"Pardon?"

Lilly deflated back against her seat again, "Never mind, I think I know the answer already. A drive with grandma. But that doesn't explain why Mia didn't stumble into bed until after midnight."

Andrew grinned, "Yes, after the drive Mia and I spent the evening playing board games. You know she's a rather horrid little cheat."

"Board games?" Lilly lifted her head and shot an indignant glare at the lord. "What is this, a Disney movie? God lord man, you've got a hot princess on your hands, take advantage of the situation."

Andrew chuckled, "You do recall that in a few days we will be joined for life. I don't really think we need to hasten-"

"Ugh," Lilly interrupted him, "It really is Disney movie."

"With the weather forecast like it is, I'm sure that my flower beds will have a difficult time…" Mia stifled the yawn that threatened to slip out as the small elderly woman rambled on beside her. The group of women around her clucked sympathetically as the woman continued on lamenting her flower beds.

"Excuse me," the masculine voice cut in. Mia spun on her heels towards the voice hoping for someone to rescue her only to turn back to the group with deflated hopes as Nicholas joined the group. "Might I have a word with Princess Mia."

"Actually," Mia interrupted, "I was just enjoying Lady Daveinas talk about her flowerbeds. Surely whatever you have to say can wait."

"Oh yes, young man," The Lady Daveinas squeaked in pleasure, patting Mia's hand gently. "I rather think of my flowers are very important, and her majesty was enjoying our conversation."

"Actually it's of some importance." Gently taking Mia by the arm, Nicholas stirred her away from the group, leaving the older women to task and glare at his back.

Mia yanked her arm quickly out of his grasp, "I don't think that was very appropriate, in fact I'm gonna go with that was damn rude of you. Now, if you don't mind, I have a party to attended to and old women to entertain." Turning back around Mia started to storm off before his hand caught her arm again.

"I just wanted to apologize."

"Apologize?" Mia questioned, slowly turning back to him she pushed his hand off her arm. "Apologize for what, attempting to steal my throne? Or insulting Andrew yesterday? If it's the first you can hold you breath because you've got a damn bad start. If it's the later then you've got the wrong person, Andrew's the one that deserves that apology."

Nicholas winced running a hand across his jaw. "I think he got his apology when he punched in retaliation."

Mia snorted, her hands dropping down to her waist as she glared at the other man. "You were baiting him yesterday, anyone with a splattering of brains could see that. You deserved what you got."

"I didn't come here to fight with you, Mia."

"Really, then why are you here?"

Nicholas frowned, rubbing a hand across his forehead. "I don't know how to say this, Mia. I don't know why I didn't see it from the start." Mia frowned for a moment confused as Nicholas continued. "You're an amazing woman. You're really smart, beautiful, and you've got such talent, such a warm and welcoming heart-" He paused seeming to gather courage for a second. "I think- I think I might be falling for you."

It was Mia's turn to drop her jaw as she stared down at the other man. "Ex- excuse me?"

"I know it's really sudden," Nicholas paused for a second, seeming to fumble his words as he hastily continued, "and you marriage is only a few days away. But I feel I needed to tell you how I feel. You are such an amazing woman, you've shown me what sacrifice is and were this country can go. I think together we could…"

Mia felt her fist slowly clinch together as the anger boiled up. Turning to face the other man, Mia recalled a similar situation and the perfect phrase to fit, "Bloody hell," rearing back her fist she socked the other man.

Andrew turned at the sound of the commotion in time to watch Mia's right hook connect with Nicholas' jaw. Beside him a elder woman gaped, dropping her glass of champagne. "He invokes that sort of response from people," Andrew explained, setting his own glass down. "If you'll excuse me for a moment."

"Of all the low down -" Mia cursed watching as Nicholas stumbled across from her clutching his nose.

Nicholas coughed and glanced up at her, "I was being sincere."

"I don't care if you were confessing your undying love for all of eternity. That boat came and left before you were even a pace near the dock, all your doing now is trying to stir up trouble." Shaking her hand out, Mia cursed silently under her breath. "Now if you don't mind I have better things to see to then would be throne-nappers confessing love."

"Everything alright?" Andrew questioned as he jogged up to them. He cast a glance down at the stumbling Nicholas.

"Perfectly fine." Mia answered. "Just settling some business." Linking her arm in Andrews Mia proceeded to lead him away from the other man. They continued silently back towards the gathered group. Around them the gathering slowly kicked back into gear, incident apparently forgotten.

Stopping before a refreshment table, Mia let her arm slowly drop from Andrews as she turned to face him. "Oh god, I screwed up again. I shouldn't have done that- he just- just made me so mad."

Andrew chuckled lightly, a hand coming up to soothingly caress her shoulder. "I wouldn't be too worried. They may be a bunch of gardening old women, but I don't think they'll spill your secret. I think you're safe for now." Glancing up and around at the gathering , Andrew slowly nodded his head, "They certainly don't look too scandalized. You'll probably only warrant a little column in the gossip papers, Princess socks Lord at garden party. Not exactly as thrilling as this morning's news and no color photos for proof."

Mia sighed in relief and let her head fall down to Andrew's shoulder for a second, "God, I hope so." The tension slowly drained from her shoulders as the seconds ticked by slowly, Andrews hands gently rubbing her arms. Lifting her head, Mia smiled up at Andrew, "How many days until the wedding?"

Andrew chuckled lightly, "Only a few left. I hardly think that anything else could throw itself into our path."

"Good, I'm holding you to that promise." Standing up on her tiptoes she placed a soft kiss on his lips. "Now- how do we escape this royal bash? Lilly gave me some advice that I want to take advantage of before it's too late."