The press was a nightmare. Leonardo did what he could, answering questions as best as possible, but it became clear that the royal family had dismissed Matt quietly and without warning to anyone. The press firmly decided that only Sienna Carlton would know the truth, but she was not forthcoming with information. Instead, she moved in with Frank, received her clothes from Gram, and isolated herself from the public for a while. Frank returned to the bakery, feigning ignorance, but things grew warmer between the two of them. After a couple of weeks, Sienna decided it was time to test the waters. As Frank left for the day, she showered, dressed, and looked at herself in the mirror.

The transformation was complete. Sienna Carlton from before, the plain and simple girl who lacked the confidence to listen to herself, and the Sienna Carlton who almost became Queen, the self-sacrificing and self-righteous champion, vanished in just a few short weeks. They had become parts of her, smaller and less important. Sienna bottled them up until they were locked away in a drawer. They were memories. Instead, she found herself reaching deeper into her core. Some part of her was ready to fight and face everyone. She and Prince Matthew didn't wed. They were adults, yes, and they had different plans for spending the rest of their lives. As Leonardo became King, a new age began with Camryn at his side. They were already blowing up all over the world. Newspeople wouldn't leave them alone, but Camryn was a symbol of grace and poise. She deflected their questions, met with diplomats, and showed true potential as a world leader. Queen Camryn would leave a legacy that Sienna Carlton could not touch.

But she still called Sienna twice a day.

"So today is the day, you think?" Camryn chirped on the phone.

Sienna smiled, even though Camryn couldn't see her. "Are you prepared for the nuclear fallout if I step outside this house?"

"You deserve freedom, Sienna Carlton," Camryn said. "That's why I sent over someone to help."

Sienna recoiled away from the phone. She stared at it for a moment, unsure of what to say. "Who?" she asked, then, remembering the phone, put it back against her ear. "Who did you send?"

"An old friend of yours," Camryn said. Sienna could feel her sneer on the other end of the line. "You're worried about nuclear fallout, but, I don't think there's any other choice."

There was a knock at Frank's front door. Sienna dropped the phone and ran for it, swinging it open to reveal two men. One was smaller, wearing a black jacket and a tight red t-shirt underneath. The other was taller, demanding attention with his very presence, and he wore a very thin white t-shirt. They perched on either side of Frank's front door, giving her big, toothy grins.

"We're back," James said.

"Did you miss us, Sienna?" Matt asked.

Sienna saw their tan lines. "Did you two fly back in this morning?" she asked.

Matt pulled a pair of sunglasses out of his coat pocket. "Yes, we needed the vacation," he said. "But now, we're ready to bring you back into the public eye, Miss Carlton. How do you feel about getting some lunch?"

Lunch? They flew out the night after the failed wedding, disappeared to some remote, sunny place, and came back weeks later just to have lunch? That felt a little disappointing.

"What about your parents?" Sienna asked.

Matt smiled. "My mother said that Camryn begged her for hours to send us your way. I believe we owe you the favor of showing the public that you aren't an enemy and I didn't just kidnap you, either. It's time we show people the true us, and, I agree that I would rather do it together than do it alone."

He offered her his hand. It was a proposition, just like before. Only Sienna didn't feel the commitment behind it. This was a promise, an agreement to take the heat together. They had gotten themselves wrapped up into politics and misguided events. Together, they would walk out of it. There was a new King and Queen. Matt had promised them, but he hadn't delivered in exactly the way the people imagined. Now they had to reveal themselves as ordinary citizens of this kingdom.

"I don't know about lunch," she admitted. "But what about pie?"

Matt opened his mouth, but James spoke first. He caught Matt's hand, and, looking at Sienna, he said, "I really like pie."

They took an old Jeep back into the city. Sienna pulled her hair up into a simple bun in the backseat, as James and Matt argued in the front. No one glanced in their direction on the roads. The car was pretty average and no one was looking for them anymore. Sienna wasn't recognizable anyway. Her face had thinned some from the stress and her hair had grown longer and duller from being inside most days. Pulling it up felt like a relief. Sweat trailed down her back as the summer heat beat against the windows.

They pulled into the bakery parking lot around one o'clock. Frank's break had just ended. Sienna felt her heart stopping. There was a lone journalist parked outside, sipping tea while talking to some other patrons. Sienna wondered what she wanted. Did she figure that Frank knew more than he was saying? Maybe she predicted that Sienna would come back. Sienna nudged James's shoulder.

"What should we do?" she asked.

James smiled. "My lady!" he said, laughing. "We came to eat pie, not to speak to journalists!"

They got out of the car. They walked straight past the journalist without anyone glancing at them twice. Matt hooked his arm around James's collar and the two fell into sync inside the store. A cashier talked to them, her face brightening as she realized who they were. Sienna slipped back, observing the people behind the counter. It was mostly staffed by the younger people, the college students that Frank hired as part-timers. Frank was in the back, training someone new.

"Sienna!" Frank called, as if he could sense her staring. "Come back here and help train this one! I have some customers to assist!"

Sienna smiled. "Of course!" she swept behind the counter, cleaning her hands and then throwing on an apron and a hairnet. The two met halfway. Sienna smiled as Frank grinned, pointing at the new recruit. As she walked by Frank, he slapped her on the butt. "Frank!" she cried, swiping for his back. "That's not appropriate for work!"

"Now, now, my partner," he said, kissing her on the forehead. "I am sorry if I am behaving unprofessionally."

Sienna kissed him on the cheek. "Keep it to a minimum, Frank."

"Of course, my love," he said. "Now, I have to help your ex-boyfriend and his husband check out. Will you give me a moment?"

Sienna laughed and traded places. She helped the newer staff member learn how to throw the dough, but he seemed a little distracted. He kept staring at her like she had lost her mind. In the front of the store, Frank badgered James and Matt some. He asked them about their vacation and about when they decided to tie the knot.

"Well, we knew there would be too many journalists just waiting for us to get married here," James admitted. "It was my idea just to do it and officiate it when we got back."

"So the paperwork is only half-done?" Frank asked.

Matt nodded. "You were spot-on though. How did you know we decided to get married?"

Frank motioned downward. "The matching rings pretty much gave it away."

Sienna looked up, startled. Frank was right. There were two identical bands around their ring fingers. Matt had a solid black one, James had a silver one. They were simple, but beautiful. Clearly the rings were bought last-minute, but they held so much importance to them.

"We're happy for you." Frank said. "Especially me. Please don't try and marry my girlfriend again."

Matt smiled and tried to laugh it off, but James stabbed him in the ribs with his elbow.

"Right," Matt coughed. "That was a big mistake on my part. I won't try to marry her again. I apologize if that, uh, caused any problems between you two."

Frank shook his head. "Only for her."

Sienna dropped the pan she was holding. The newer staff member scooped it up, apologizing, and continued lining the pan with the dough.

Sienna turned. "Frank," she hissed. "There is no need!"

"Miss Carlton," James said, bowing his head. "We have all made terrible mistakes. Please tell us if there is any way we could possibly make it right for you."

Sienna apologized to the new staff member and stepped away from the counter. She met the three of them at the front, removing the hair net and setting it down on the counter. "There is nothing more you two can possibly do," she said. "It's just something that will take time. I need to forgive myself, more than anything."

Matt smiled. "Then that's it!" he said. "We will stick around until after you have forgiven yourself. James and I won't take off for anywhere else without you and you can't go anywhere without us. We're going to be best friends until you forgive yourself."

Sienna blushed. "But you two…"

Matt took her hands in his. "My parents let me have access to the fortune. They aren't throwing me out willingly. Sienna Carlton, let me give you a piece of the life I promised you. Let me take you and Frank on an adventure of a lifetime, just for a while."

James smiled and put his hands over Matt's, squeezing the fingers. "Come with us, Sienna Carlton." He released their grip and took Frank's hand as well. "Let's disappear for a while. Nobody owes anyone anything. So, let's just go be friends without political boundaries."

Frank raised his eyebrow. "Are you inviting us on your honeymoon?"

Sienna smacked his arm.

"So what?" Matt asked. "You can pick where we go first, bakery boy. How do feel about Italy?"

Frank grinned. "I could do Italy." He turned to look at Sienna. "What do you think, dear? Can we close the bakery and go find ourselves for a bit?"

Sienna smiled. "Only if it won't break your heart to do so."

"I think it would be quite the opposite," he said, holding her close. "I think we might learn a thing or two to bring back to the bakery."

Sienna nodded into his chest, squeezing Matt's hand. The two of them jumped, ready to go for another adventure. Matt released Sienna's hands and squeezed James. It was good to see him happy. He looked free. The lines on his face were already beginning to relax. The strain on their relationship was beginning to loosen.

Frank kissed the top of Sienna's head. She looked up, trying to see what he was thinking. His face was brighter than before, so unafraid of the future. Sienna wanted that. She wanted to look at him and feel like everything else had just melted away. They needed some time to themselves without the bakery. Without the people. They needed to be alone and to find themselves, just as Frank said. If they fell in love, and actually fell in love, then Sienna could relieve some of the pressure on her. She didn't want to commit right now to anything.

She needed to feel fresh air and freedom.

Good-bye, everyone. This has been fun. Thank you for waiting. I am sorry it took so long.