Summary: Beckett invites Maria on a date… sort of.
The sun was setting at last. Beckett sighed; his guard shift was coming to an end. He needed to head over to his mother's house, take care of some errands and-
He closed his eyes, breathing out as he heard the singing of his beloved Princess Maria. After the mess that was the gala, she and Prince Blaine had broken up (thank the heavens!). Maria and Beckett had become quite close, close enough to say they were in love.
Maria finished her song, a smile on her face. Beckett felt his own cheeks heating up. He gazed up at the balcony, where the princess was standing. She was just as gorgeous as ever.
"That was beautiful," he told Maria. "You are! The song! I mean-" He trailed off.
Maria just laughed. "Thank you, Beckett."
Beckett coughed. "Of course! Um, well… anyway, I was just about to head off. I need to go to my mom's place… um, would you like to come?"
He face-palmed. Did I seriously just ask Princess Maria out on the world's most lame date?!
"Oh, sure!" Maria answered cheerfully. "Sounds fun! I'll be right there."
She actually wants to come!?
Beckett sweat-beaded. "Sounds good! I gotta get ready too! Uh… meet you back out here soon!"
Beckett paced out the front of the Pastel Palace, dressed in his casual wear. Underneath his guard uniform, he wore a plain white shirt and jeans. A blue hoodie was wrapped around him. His stuff was stashed into his bag, which was slung over his shoulder.
"Hello, Beckett!"
Beckett jumped up; Maria was there, waving at him. She was wearing a white dress with a blue ribbon, blue high heels on her feet. Her turquoise eyes shimmered in the sunset.
"Your highness!" Beckett greeted, bowing.
He still couldn't believe he was allowed to look at Maria. She was so beautiful, like a goddess standing before him.
His cheeks burned. He looked away, covering his face, as if Maria's father would execute him at any moment.
"Oh, you can look at me!" Maria assured him. "Father's not here, anyway."
"I know, I know, it's just…" Beckett trailed off. "I'm not used to it! Your dad can be pretty scary when he wants to be."
Maria sighed. "Absolutely. No wonder you had Gwen and I mixed up, right?"
Beckett went red. "Yeah… I can't believe myself! So embarrassing."
"Well, it's in the past," Maria got closer, making him go bright red. "We all make mistakes!"
"Y-yep," Beckett stammered. "So… uh, you ready to go?"
Maria nodded. "Let's go!"
She put her arm in his, making him blush even more.
The two walked through the Pastel Kingdom. Beckett stood by Maria protectively, glaring at any man who dared to catch her eye.
"WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING AT!?" he snapped, harassing some schoolboy.
"N-nothing!" the schoolboy whimpered. "I was just going home!"
"LIKELY STORY!" Beckett held up his fist.
"This… really isn't necessary, Beckett," Maria sweatbeaded.
"Oh, um," Beckett bowed. "My sincerest apologies, your highness."
"You can just call me Maria," Maria assured him.
"MARIA!" Beckett corrected, scratching the back of his head. "So sorry, Maria!"
"No apology for me, then," the schoolboy muttered.
The two continued walking, finally arriving at their destination.
"Here it is," Beckett spread his arms, leading Maria to a small cottage. The walls were a pastel blue, with a somewhat slanted roof. The door was wooden, a small garden out the front.
"It's… not exactly a palace," Beckett admitted, "but y'know. Still better than my place."
He knocked on the door. A woman opened up. She was short, her back bent over. She had the same skin tone as Beckett, although her hair was darker and curlier. She wore a simple pastel-blue dress under a patterned apron.
"BECKETT!" she snapped. "How many times have I told you to…"
She trailed off when she noticed Maria.
"Who is this lovely young lady?" she asked.
"Mom, this is Princess Maria of the Pastel Kingdom," Beckett answered. "She's, just, um, joining me."
"The Princess Maria?" Beckett's mother asked, eyes going wide.
Maria nodded, bowing. "It's nice to meet you, Miss Dandridge!"
The woman stepped back. "Then the rumours are true… the princesses really are allowed to leave the palace!"
She turned to her son.
"Well, what are you standing around for?!" she snapped. "If you're going to insist on stopping by, at least make yourself useful!"
"Yes, Mommy," Beckett whimpered, heading inside.
"Ah, dear…!" the woman turned to Maria, smiling sweetly once more. "Come inside, your highness. Would you like a drink?"
Maria was pleasantly surprised; she already seemed far nicer than Blaine's mother.
"Sounds wonderful, Miss Dandridge!" Maria nodded. "What about your son?"
"Please, call me Lauren," the woman smiled, "and don't worry about my boy. He just has some work to do."
As he mentioned… Maria thought.
It was quite a small place; the hall was full of photos, some showing Beckett as a child, some of a man with a bunch of medals. The kitchen was quite cozy, with a small dining table. There were various trinkets lying around. A young border-collie got up from its bed, jumping up on Maria.
"Ah!" Lauren gasped. "Ray! Naughty boy! Stop that!"
"Oh, what a cutie-pie!" Maria bent down, ruffling the puppy's fur. He wagged his tail, happily.
"Wow, he really likes you," Lauren observed.
"Animals are drawn to me," Maria admitted.
"Oh, your drink!" Lauren gasped. "What would you like, your highness?"
"Just tea is fine," Maria replied.
Lauren turned the kettle on. Maria took a seat at the dining table. Ray sat by her feet, where she continued to pet him.
"Would you like something to eat as well?" Lauren asked, peering into the cupboards. "I have some biscuits here…"
"Oh, yes please!" Maria smiled.
Lauren brewed the tea, pouring it into a cup. She put some biscuits on a plate, handing them to Maria.
"I apologise for the mess," Lauren sighed. "I'm sure you're used to far better accommodation."
"No, it's totally fine!" Maria assured her. "It's quite cosy in here."
"You flatter me," Lauren chuckled.
She sat opposite Maria, sipping some tea of her own.
"So, you and my son are dating?" she asked.
Maria blushed, sweating all over. She composed herself.
"I suppose we are," she giggled.
"That's great," Lauren told her. "I'm glad he's dating you. He's loved you for a long time."
"Really?" Maria asked, eyes widening.
Lauren nodded. "He's a stubborn boy. He never gives up, no matter the situation. Just like his father."
She sighed, sipping her tea.
Maria blinked. This was the first of Beckett's family she'd gotten to meet, and curiosity was asking for more. Then again, she knew it was a touchy subject.
"Anyway," Lauren waved a hand, "Beckett has been a lot happier recently. He's even been bothering me less." She chuckled. "Thank you, your highness."
"My pleasure," Maria assured her. "He's a great guy. He's so endearing."
"He drives me crazy," Lauren shook her head, "but I can't imagine life without him."
Speaking of the devil, Beckett entered, a broom over his shoulder.
"Mom, I finished!" he told her.
"All of it?" Lauren's tone became stern.
Beckett nodded, eagerly.
"Very well, you can have one biscuit," Lauren grumbled.
"Only one?" Maria gasped.
Lauren shook her head. "He'll snoop through the cupboard later anyway."
"Mom," Beckett groaned, his mother smirking.
He sat near Maria, his cheeks heating up. Their hands grew close. Even though she was not inside a palace, Maria felt even more at home.
Beckett walked alongside Maria, her arm in his.
"Your mom is really nice," she told him. "Way nicer than Blaine's mom." She grimaced.
"Really?" Beckett gasped.
"Yeah," Maria huffed. "She didn't approve of us at all!" She sighed. "Although, maybe that was for the best, in hindsight."
"I'm sorry, Maria," Beckett bowed his head. "I know I'm not exactly a hot and famous prince."
"That's quite alright," Maria assured him. "I've had more than enough of hot and famous guys."
They both laughed at that.
"My mom…" Beckett trailed off. "She's really the only family I have, since my dad died before I was even born."
"Oh…" Maria frowned. "I'm sorry, Beckett."
Beckett looked away. "He was in the royal guard as well. His name was also Beckett Dandrige."
Maria raised her brow. "So it runs in the family."
Becket nodded. "Yeah. Weird, right? Since I never knew him."
There was an edge of sadness in his tone. Maria could relate, having lost her mother at a young age.
"Anyway," Beckett coughed. "Um. Thanks for coming with me, Maria."
"Of course!" Maria smiled at him. "My pleasure! It was fun getting to go out with you."
Beckett felt his cheeks burning once again. Maria squeezed his hand.
"How about I take you on a real date sometime?" Beckett suggested.
"Well, I remember you told me you have your own place," Maria replied.
"Oh no, it's a mess," Beckett grimaced, "plus, my roommate lives there too."
"I don't mind," Maria assured him.
"Well, maybe someday," Beckett sweat beaded. "Once I get my next paycheck, I'll take you to some kind of restaurant."
"Looking forward to it!" Maria told him.
The two finally arrived at the Pastel Palace.
"Welp, here we are," Beckett gestured at the castle.
"Thank you, Beckett," Maria kissed his cheek. "See you soon!"
"Whoa mama…" Beckett muttered, passing out.
Maria giggled like a madman, before racing back inside, a grin on her face.
