Crazy Fantasy: Part 1-5

"Are you aware that your girlfriend has a recently deceased boyfriend?" Gran asks as I seat myself in the car that we are all to pull up to the center in.

"And they think he was going to ask her to marry him the day of the accident." Gran looks at me, almost surprised that I already knew this. "You had her checked out, right? I'm not surprised. Do you want to know what I know about her?

"I know she is a strong woman. The love of her life died in a riding accident that happened right in front of her, and she still rides, created a charity camp in his name, and has even started to date again.

"I know she is compassionate. She is a full time university student, but still makes time to volunteer at the city center community center we are going to, and has given up her entire summer to work at her camp teaching underprivileged kids to ride.

"I know she can hold her own against the press. When we came back from our ride this morning a photographer was waiting. When he was brought to us, she was able to challenge him within the confines of any law and not once lost her senses.

"I know I'm comfortable when she is around and that I didn't want to leave her today. And I'm ready to defend her to anyone." Even you, I add mentally. Wonder how much shit she's going to give me for that one?

It is several minutes before Gran speaks.

"Well, there's obviously no talking you out of this. When should I expect her to be making a public appearance with you?"

"I'd like to do it as soon as possible. I want to be with her for the first few days, at least."

She passes me a cell phone. "Ring PR. Talk to Christopher, and follow what he says."

I make the call and am still on the phone with Chris when we arrive at the center. I put him on hold as we walk in surrounded by flashing cameras then continue talking with Chris once we get in. After a minute or two, Gen appears. Quickly, I ask Chris if I can physically declare her my girl. Cautiously, he agrees, as long as it's nothing too risqué. I agree and beckon Gen over with my eyes. Like always, she reads me easily and comes to me, uncertainty plainly visible on her face. She curtsies to Gran and Grandfather as she is introduced, again, then comes over to me. I cut Chris off and smile at her. Taking her hand in my own, I kiss it then move in closer, though not making physical contact.

"I'm on the phone with the family's head of public relations. Gran's seen the light, I don't know how, but we are official," I whisper.

Gen smiles happily, "Really?"

"Really," I wrap my arm around her waist and kiss her forehead. Being a good eight inches taller has its advantages. I don't have to worry about being too mushy while maintaining my posture.

"Imagine yourself in a giant bear hug. I may not be able to give you one, but I definitely want to," Gen leans against my chest for a moment then steps back and curtsies to me. I almost burst out laughing at the look on her face. She is very plainly mocking the rules.

A moment later, I return to my call with Chris and agree that she will walk with me to the limo, and I will carry one of the smaller children out with me, hand her to Gen, then give each a kiss somewhere on the face. Tomorrow she will join me in the hospital. She is turning into a regular humanitarian under these conditions. Chris refused to let me bring her to dinner tomorrow unless she was invited. Also, the palace will put out a press release tomorrow morning saying we are a couple.

Unfortunately, my conversation took a little longer than planned and lunch is nearly finished by the time I get off. Gen is sitting half way down the table from where the woman who had met us sits besides Gran at the head. As I enter, Gen seems to instantly realize I'm in the room and begins to rise. I quickly signal her not to; she nods and sits back down. The seat next to Grandfather has been left for me, I assume and take it. Gen is across and down two from me. I send a smile her way before turning towards Gran who is about to speak.

"Everything work out, Wills," she implies.

"Splendidly. There will be a press release in the morning."

I can feel Gen's eyes shoot towards me. I would turn and answer her look, but propriety demands I give my attention this way until Gran leaves me be.

"You'll take care of everything over here?"

"With pleasure."

She nods and begins to speak with the woman to her left. I turn to Gen.

She has changed again and is wearing a simple skirt and blouse. If she hadn't let her hair down, its wild curls falling as they please, I would think she was going in to the office. Her eyes question me and I answer with an assuring smile. We don't speak to each other a lot through the remainder of the meal, but due to my late arrival, I am not finished with the rest of the group. I tell them to continue on without me and Gen volunteers to catch me up with the rest of the group. At least we are alone.

Gen moves to next to me as I eat and suddenly I'm no longer hungry. Well, for food at least. I put my fork down and turn to her. Instantly I am getting the promised hug which I return then kiss her gently.

"You are all mine now, Gen. The Queen has declared it and in the morning the entire world will know it," I pull her into my lap.

"When do we show up somewhere together?"

"Chris has decided today is good for suggestions, then tomorrow you'll come with me to the hospital."

"What do you mean by suggestions?"

"Chris wants to make sure you have the right image, so he's come up with the brilliant idea," my voice holds a trace of sarcasm, "of making you a humanitarian."

Gen laughs in agreement. "I wonder where he got that idea?"

I then explain about the plot with the child. She nods in agreement.

"Sounds like he wants me to be a mothering figure too."

"I was hoping you wouldn't notice. They want a ‘family' image. My parents' generation wasn't too successful in their relationships. Uncle Edward is the only one who hasn't had a divorce yet, but that marriage is on the rocks, too. ‘England needs guidance from a solid home', they tell me. There aren't many who believe in the strength of a King who can't even get along with his wife. And that leaves me doing this to you."

Gen gives me a beautiful smile. "Don't say that. You always give me the choice. And I choose you. The image I'll be getting isn't that bad. It's pretty accurate, actually."

"Everyone will be looking at you as my possible wife..."

"I don't know that I really mind the idea," she moves closer, her eyes filled with a come-hither look.

"Gen!" a young voice calls from the door.

Talk about a mood killer. Gen slips off my lap and moves to meet the child. Following the girl in is a woman with a toddler in her arms.

"Winnie! How are you?" Gen asks as she lowers to her knees, hugging the little girl.

"Good. Look what the tooth fairy left me!" she holds out her hand.

"Wow! Two dollars! The price of teeth has gone up. I only got a dollar." Gen looks up. "How are you doing, Lynn?"

Lynn, I'm guessing, is the woman, because when Gen addressed her she instantly looked in my direction and a look of mixed shock and fear cross her face. I try to give her a reassuring look, but she doesn't relax. Gen picks up on this immediately and rises.

"Lynn, may I introduce you to Prince William. Your Highness, allow me to present a regular visitor here at the center, Lynn Fong, her daughter Winnie, and her son, Lee."

"It's a pleasure," I proceed to shake Lynn's hand then kiss Winnie's.

"Lynn, how long are you going to be here?" Gen asks.

"I can't stay long. I just came to drop Winnie and Lee off before I go to work. The daycare is on today, isn't it?"

"Of course. I can take them if you want."

"Thank you, Gen," she says in a grateful voice, then, more uncertainly, "Your Highness." She quickly retreats from the room.

"Are you finished, Wills?"

"If we take much longer Gran will send someone looking for us."

"Winnie, will you join William and me for a walk?"

"Sure," she says to Gen then turns to me. "Are you Gen's boyfriend?"

Out of the corner of my eye, I can see a shocked look on Gen's face, but I nod and answer, "You could say that. But don't tell anybody, all right? Gen and I want to keep it a secret for today."

"'Kay."

The little girl takes me by the hand, drags me over to Gen, who is now holding Lee and takes her hand, and we walk as a group out of the room. We walk slowly, Gen telling me about where we are as we go. About ten minutes into the tour, she stops to switch arms she is holding Lee in again.

"May I take him for you?" I offer.

"You don't –"

I want to," I cut her off. "And I think we've found the perfect set for today."

Gen agrees and hands me the child. We continue on and meet up with everyone else by the playground behind the building. Gen smiles and waves to the older woman who is leading the rest around. Gran greets us and Gen takes the Fong children to play with the other kids on the equipment. She is quickly hauled into the sandbox to help build a castle. When she notices me watching her I smile, and she returns it. Grandfather finally gives me a push and tells me to go join her.

* * *

"Is this your castle, princess?" his voice says from behind me. I turn and stifle a sigh at the roguish picture he makes. A quirky smile crosses his lips as he sits down next to me.

"This is my castle," one of the girls says. "Gen helped make it, though."

"It's beautiful," Wills says. "Just like its creators."

Wills brushes his hand over mine and gently lifts Heather's face to look in his eyes.

"Very beautiful," he adds with a smile at me.

I laugh. "Heather, I'd like to introduce you to Prince William. Take note of what he does today. If he keeps acting like this, you'll have an awesome story once he's king."

Heather looks at me in confusion.

"Just remember for now. One day you will understand."

"Gen!" Wills protests.

I lean towards him and whisper, "Stop flirting with kids to get my attention, then." I laugh at his response and resume work on the sandcastle.

"You understand me too well, Gen," he mutters.

"It'll be my own undoing one day."

"If it doesn't get to me first."

I smile. Wills and I play with the children and talk with the older folk, but don't get any time for just us. All too quickly, the afternoon ends and everyone lines up to say goodbye. I stand at the end of the line of children with Lee in my arms and Winnie beside me. I curtsy to Elizabeth and Philip as they pass, Phillip taking my hand and kissing the back. Wills seems a little surprised by this, but takes Lee from me and we both take Winnie's hand and follow his grandparents out, the other children and volunteers following. Just before we step out, Wills turns to me with an unidentifiable look on his face.

"You have no idea how much I admire you," he whispers.

"We agreed to do what we had to for this to work. This is my part."

"You are so ready to give everything up. Why?"

"I don't know how I'd have gone on without you. I want this to work. My selfless act is as selfish as just being with you for the publicity."

"Not when I want you here with me as much as you want to be here."

"Are we going?" Winnie interrupts.

Wills and I stop our bantering, realizing what we were doing, and exactly how long we were at it. Laughing, we nod and exit.

Not surprising, there is a hoard of photographers waiting, and calling for our attention. Just as Wills instructed, I smile politely, but focus most of my attention on him and Winnie. Winnie is amazing and continues to chatter as she did while we were walking. Lee is playing with Wills nose as we reach the limo. I laugh at the adorable child as Wills hands him to me, and, child in hand, I curtsy to him and he gives all three of us a kiss on the cheek (well, on the forehead for Lee).

"I'll call you," he whispers just loud enough for me to hear.

I nod and he steps into the car, closing off the visit. The three of us wave and the other children run forward to join us. The volunteers come up to me as the limo turns the corner and we begin herding everyone back inside. I keep up my appearance until we are finished then allow myself to sit and begin to contemplate what happened.

As the children were eating a snack, Sandy came and sat across from me. She is the head of the center and has been here for me for years.

"For a moment I thought I saw you with Scott on the playground," she says after a few minutes.

"You basically did," I answer. "What am I doing, Sandy? I can't make sense of any of this."

"You have found what you need to move on," she answers, "and I'm pleased to see you taking advantage of it."

"Do we stand a chance?"

"I can't tell you. You are the only one who knows that," she pauses. "Are you being honest with each other?"

"You mean did I tell him about Scott?"

She nods.

"Yes. He, believe it or not, is the reason we're together."

Sandy gives me a puzzled look.

"It was my sad eyes that caught Wills' attention at the airport."

"I hope he doesn't want them to keep that haunted look. It's so nice to see you with a smile in your eyes again."

"It's so nice to not hurt. Scott's loss is just an ache now. One day I will be able to let go of the pain completely. When that happens, I have a feeling England will have a new princess. God, what does He have planned for me?"

"Great things, hun. Great, wonderful, beautiful things. One day you will be a Queen."

"What have I gotten myself into?" I ask, flabbergasted.

Sandy just smiles knowingly at me and I try not to cry out in frustration.

"I've falling in love again, haven't I," I say. "Dang it, why do I have to fall for the ones with all the strings attached?"

* * *

This afternoon had been so hard. It was like a movie scene as I left - everyone crowding around the heroine as she bid farewell to her lover.

Whoa! Don't go there, Wills. You know better than to endanger yourself like that. Gran would kill me for such thoughts. But to hold her... Right now, I'd be happy to talk to her. Where did I put her number?

I search around my hotel room; you'd think that in a small room like this I could find a piece of paper! And being so clean! I hope the maid didn't throw it out.

There it is! Sitting next to my suitcase on the table. I pick up the phone and dial her family home number. It rings several times then a feminine voice picks up. Gen told me she has her own line, but this doesn't sound a think like her.

"Could I please speak to Gen?" I ask.

"She's kinda busy right now. May I ask whose calling?"

Shit. What do I say? "This is Will. Is there a good time for me to call back?"

"Actually, if you hold on a second, I'll see if I can get her to talk to you."

I mutter a thanks and the next thing I know a cheerful voice is on the other end of the line.

"Hi, Gen," I say.

"Wills," she says in a relieved voice. "My parents' phone has been ringing madly, so has the Hudsons'. Carlie answered for me to make sure no one had gotten my number and just wanted an interview. I think they got the idea today."

"Are you doing alright?" I ask, concerned.

"I'm fine. Actually, I was about to see if we made any of the Hollywood gossip shows."

"I'd image you did. It was like watching one of those old movies as we drove away. You looked wonderful."

"Thanks, Wills."

"I can hear you blushing."

"Only because of that comment."

"I meant every word," I say. "Do you know who has been calling?"

Gen sighs. "The question is who hasn't? Our number hasn't been listed since I started seeing Scott, so I have no clue how they got it, and we've changed it since then. Oh well, they'll die down soon enough."

I smile. "You brush them off so easily. Don't they irritate you?"

"I just don't let them get to me. Though if the ones in front of my house hang around much longer I'll have to send them away. The neighbors will start to complain. And they can be annoying as hell!"

My laughter fills the room. "Glad to know you're human."

"Thanks," her voice is laced with sarcasm.

"So, what's the plan for tomorrow?" she asks a moment later.

"Aaron, our tour guide, has decided that it will be best if you are in the limo when it picks us up after brunch. We'll then show up at the hospital together and leave together. We're booked for lunch with some charity, but it looks like you and I could go out if you'd like?" I ask nervously.

"That sounds good. I know a nice, quiet place we could go. It's not too far from my apartment."

"So if we can get the limo to pick you up there everything would be good. Things are working out pretty well, all things considered."

"We get time together. That's all I care about," she says.

"I agree. They'll want us to do a photo shoot soon. I don't think that I'll mind it this time. Actually, it'll be kind of enjoyable."

"Think we could have it out on the Hudsons' farm, or out by my parents? There is a beautiful berry patch out here."

"That sounds like it'd work."

"And you'll get to meet my parents."

Gulp.

Gen laughs. "At least you have notice."

"I owe you for that, I know," I say guiltily. "I'll try to be as brave as you were when meeting Gran."

"You're too cultured to not be. Just be yourself with them and they should like you."

"Should?" I question, suddenly feeling nervous about this unset date.

"You are English."

"Did they not like Scott?"

"Not at first. But I didn't care. I didn't let it change my mind then, and I won't let them change it now. Mom seems to like you, though. And Bill put in a good word with Dad, so you stand a pretty good chance. Carly has been in love with you since Laura first showed her your picture."

"Why me?"

"'Cause you are a handsome Prince Charming, who just happens to be my guy."

"As long as you are willing to lay claim."

"Any day," she says. "You are all mine."

"And in the morning the world will know it. I feel like the luckiest man on the planet."

"I know I'm the luckiest girl. And probably one of the most envied. How many girls get to lock lips with the ‘hunkiest prince ever' as Jess says."

I laugh. "I'm flattered.

"I don't know what I did to deserve you, Gen, but I am so grateful that you are in my life," I say after a moment. "Whenever I so much as talk to you I feel more, I don't know, complete, than normal. What you do for me, Gen, I can't even put it to words."

"I feel the same way. And what we have is different from what Scott and I did. I don't know what it is, either, but it seems *more*. I like it."

"Gen, I promise you that we'll work through any problems. This relationship will last."

"I like the sounds of that. Us together for always."

"We'll make it. One day we'll stand at Westminster together."

"How much of your life do you have planned, Wills?" Gen asks, surprising me. I wish she hadn't asked, but I will be honest with her. I will always be honest with her.

"Too much," I say quietly. "I'll finish school, join the forces for a few years, then get married within three or four years on the outside of finishing that, and having at least two kinds in the next five years. Or at least that's what I'm supposed to do. And somewhere in there, I'll probably be crowned. As much as I love Gran, I don't think she has many years left. Royal life takes a lot out of a person."

"Is that what you want?"

"No. I would be perfectly happy to get a job, marry when I want to, have a few years with just us, and then have kids when I'm about thirty. Maybe tour the world for a few years. Spend time with you. And definitely no crown or press."

"Oh, Wills," she says desperately.

"Don't worry, Gen," I comfort. "All my life I've known what is expected of me. Dad's death put a bit more pressure on, but this is what I've been given as my challenge in life. I'm just sorry that I've gotten you into it. And don't tell me not to be, nothing can change that. But I'm grateful that you are so willing to take it."

"Wills, being with you is one of the last things I'd ever thought of happening, but I'm looking forward to the future for the first time since Scott's death. I'll wait as long as I have to."

"What do you see your future as?" I ask.

"Well, mine is pretty simple. Until I met you, anyway. I have two more years to get my degree, then I'd help Jim with the corporation, in time taking it over, and when they passed on, I'd keep the family going. I didn't think that I'd ever love again. But everything has changed for the better."

Wow. Her world really fell apart with Scott's death. But did she just say what I think she did? I know I've fallen for her, but with her broken heart, I didn't think it could – could she mean she loves me? Or does she just know she could love again? I want to tell her how I feel, but I don't want to scare her off. Could I risk it?

"What about since you met me, Gen?"

"Now I'm getting back into girlfriend-mode. Everything is up in the air for now, but one day I'll see only you in my future. Our children, living together in some castle, touring the world, our wedding. It's all becoming tangible."

"One day I'll give you it all, including your choice of castles."

Her laugh fills my ears and I smile.

"Just make it a small one. I'd get lost if it was too big!"

"That's fine with me. Otherwise we could be living under the same roof as perfect strangers and never know it – or see them."

"Or each other. That's one thing I don't like about the Hudsons'. It's too big."

"Alright, we'll have a small home then. Say, 20 bedrooms?"

"At the most! We can go somewhere besides our home for large parties. I'd like 15."

"Alright. How many will we reserve for our family?"

"Four, including ours. Or what do you want?"

"That sounds perfect. I've always know I'd have to have two, but have never given a lot of though to it. Three would be nice, though."

Truly, I never thought about children. Well, until I met Gen. Now I find myself planning everything about our future. Well, almost everything. There are some areas that aren't for a man.

"Two years apart?" Gen interrupts my musings.

"Unless twins run in your family."

"Why would that be a factor?"

"Put a few more months between them so we only have two small children at a time."

"And if we had triplets?"

"Then we'd have to hire extra help."

"Do you want to have a nanny?" Gen asks.

Another test question. This one is easy to answer, though. "Only to help. I want to do the actual raising. Besides, it's the parents' job, not the hired help to bring up a child," I say. "But you never answered my question; do multiple births run in your family?"

"A few generations removed on Dad's side, but I think that was from their side, not ours. So we're pretty safe. And I don't think I'd care much for giving birth to two at once, anyway."

I laugh at the tone of her voice, "You'll make a wonderful mother one day."

"Thanks. Someday I'll look into it. For now I'll enjoy my youth."

"Only if I can join you."

"You're welcome to." She pauses for a minute, "Wills, are we really ready for all this? We haven't even known each other for a week and we are talking about married life. It seems kind of weird."

"I understand, Gen," I say, a little depressed. Maybe she isn't as ready for this as I thought. No, hoped.

"No you don't," she says plainly. "You've always known that any girl you get serious with will have to be wife material. It's not nearly the same for me. I haven't had the press on my ass all my life, looking for some juicy gossip. Guys can come in and out of my life with relative ease; I don't have to commit my future to them just because we're going steady. But with us...

"Wills, we have moved really fast, we both know it. And it hasn't left me with a lot of a chance to adapt. I'm not one to run away, and won't. I don't want to. I just feel weird talking like this.

"The oddest part is that it feels natural. I want this to be going the way it is. It's how it's supposed to be, I guess."

Waves or relief flow through me. I really have to get off this roller coaster. But I guess that's part of falling in love. Being willing to be burned, and not knowing what's happening next. I want it. I want the loss of words I seem to experience the moment Gen enters the same room as me, the hazy thoughts, even the roomers. It all comes from her love. And I'm loving every minute of it.

I don't want to loose it.

"Gen, I don't know what you need from me. I'm afraid I don't have much experience with relationships."

"All I need is you. Your understanding, your patience, your tenderness. Your love."

* * *

Silence fills my ears. I guess that would send him for a loop. It wasn't a direct declaration, but it was a pretty good kick in the butt. It should get the message across.

God, I'm being bold with him. Scott wouldn't recognize me. "You already have it all," Wills says quietly. I wait to let him elaborate, but am grateful he returns my feelings.

Thank you, God, for giving me another chance at love.

"I'm falling hard for you. I want to give you everything, anything you could possibly want, but my hands are tied. I feel like I'm feeding you to the wolves. In three days, I'll be leaving you, and I really can't say when I'll see you again. And it hurts."

Emotions! What did I do to get a guy who will actually tell me what he feels without having to pry it out? I like this.

"But at least we can talk," I say. "Whenever we need each other we can at least hear the other's voice. We may not have the comfort of each other's arms, but that is the problem with long distance relationships. In all likelihood, we'll be closer because of it.

"It does hurt though. Love does. Plain and simple. It's also the most wonderful feeling in the world. And I love you all the more because you reminded me of that."

Am I ever going to let him make the first move?

"Gen," he says his voice full of love and desire.

For several moments there is silence as Wills collects his thoughts and I consider what this means for us. We have grown so close so amazingly fast, but still know so little about each other. Yet I am certain that I love him. I don't know how I know this, but I do know that for all my life, no matter what, I will love my prince. And this is a different love than what I had with Scott. We were high school sweethearts. The mushy love that isn't supposed to last except for the rare occasion, and then everyone looks on in wonder at the miracle couple. And we would have had the fairy tale life.

Wills and I... We have a love built on granite. We have both had so much pain one would think our hearts would have turned to stone, wary of being broken again. But we must have a diamond bit somewhere in each of us, because we have broken though and are making a good hole in the walls. One day we'll break them all down.

"Gen," Wills says again. "I've told you once I don't have much experience with relationships, but I know that I love you unlike anything else. In just these few days, you have gotten closer to me than anyone has. When she was alive, Mom was the one person I trusted above all others, but even now, I feel I can tell you more than I ever told her, and you wouldn't judge me for it. Yet I would be perfectly happy to just sit with you in my arms for hours, not saying a word. I don't want to let you go, and as soon as I leave your side, I'm thinking about the next time I'll see you. I feel like I'm not complete without you."

I sigh. What else can I do? God!

"You say that you don't have much experience with relationships, Wills, but you have exactly what a woman wants figured out. You are completely willing to talk to me," I say.

"I guess I'm lucky to have had a mother who will teach what it takes to get the right girl."

Thank you, Di!

"What else did she teach you?"

"Not to give away all my secrets in one night."

"Smart woman. I wish I could have known her. She must have been a wonderful mother."

"She was," Wills says his voice sad and quiet. "You would have gotten on well. She had a love of people that I've never seen in anyone else. And she was always there for Harry and me. Dad was used to the traditions of the family, but Mom wasn't about to follow them. We never got a normal childhood, but it wasn't a royal childhood either. She taught us how to deal with what we would encounter in life. It would be nice to have her around still, though. It's been hard. I miss the hours Harry and I would spend with her just being people. With Mom, we were never royalty. To everyone else it is always there, but with her, we were her boys. Nothing more, nothing less."

"She would have been wonderful. With a guide like that, you'll make a great father. She really loved the two of you."

"She did," Wills says. In the background, I hear another voice. "Will you excuse me for a second, Gen?"

"Sure," I say.

Wills must have put his hand over the phone, but I can still here what he is saying.

"What can I do for you, Steve?" he says. I hear a muffled response along the lines of telling him to go to bed, to which Wills responds with a laugh. "Not until Gen kicks me off the phone. I'm not giving up any time I have with her. Go to bed. I'll see you in the morning.

"Sorry, Gen," he says into the phone. "You'd swear I can't do anything for myself."

"What's wrong?"

"Apparently they expect me to just leave you and go to bed. They seem to think sleep is more important."

"Obviously, they aren't in love," I say.

"Not nearly."

"Go to bed, Wills," I whisper. "I'll see you in the morning."

"I'd rather see you now."

"Then sleep and I'll be in your dreams."

"We'd ride all over the countryside behind a perfectly matched team of Clydesdales on a white carriage. Stopping at a wooded brook for a picnic lunch. Then we'd find ourselves in a small cottage on the coast of the Thames and the Channel. Perfectly decorated to reflect you."

"There would be one bed. Large, with curtains we could draw around us, all in a rich red – no burgundy velvet. And a roaring fire in the fireplace."

"You are going to take this farther than it is safe to go, darling!" Wills laughs, yet I can sense the seriousness behind it. "There are some ideas best left out of my head."

"I understand, Wills," I say in a sincere voice.

"I'm sorry, Gen," he says. "I just can't let myself even think about you like that. I'm so damned attracted to you, it would be real hard to keep form fulfilling those fantasies, and even though I plan on marrying you someday, I can't have a child out of marriage. And no matter how slim a chance – I just can't risk it."

"It's alright, Wills," I say.

"You're taking this so gracefully. Surely you must miss –"

"Wills, Scott and I never – that is, we agreed to wait until we were married. I'm still a virgin."

"Here I am making a complete – I'm sorry, Gen..."

"It's not your fault, Wills! I was in a serious relationship for over two years. In this day, there are those who don't even wait a day. I probably would make the same assumption."

"I still feel like a complete ass."

"Well, while I do appreciate the one you've got, I must prefer kissing the lips on your face. And that handsome grin couldn't belong to an ass. Nor could one kiss back that well," I joke. "All transgressions forgiven, if that is what you want to hear. Now picture yourself kissing the living daylights out of me, and go to bed."

"That thought could lead to some interesting dreams."

"Maybe you'll tell me about them in the morning."

"Maybe. I'll see you then, lovely," Wills whispers in my ear.

"Night," I say and on his response hang up.

I sit and stare at the wall for a good five minutes before sighing and getting up to go kick the paparazzi off my front lawn. Our kitchen has half a dozen neighbors in it to whom I say hello to as I walk to the front door.

"How's my hair?" I quickly ask before opening the heavy thing to an onslaught of flashing lights.

"Evening, everyone!" I greet with a smile. "If I give you a minute will you please leave after I go back in? My neighbors all have to work in the morning, and I'm afraid that your racket will keep them up most of the night. I'd rather not have the RCMP out here to get you off my family's lawn."

I now get several questions shouted at me, all having to do with Wills.

"I'm afraid I can't answer any questions directly related to the Prince. Anything else?"

"That mean there is as much to that kiss he gave you as we think?"

Thankfully, I have the grace to blush, but otherwise ignore the comment.

"You leaving the past behind, Miss Delarier?" one of the local guys asks (they always call me by my family name – the English don't want to mix blood, the French too proud to loose one of their own).

"I'm working on moving forward, but I'll never forget my roots," I answer, something in it for both local and international press.

"Miss Hudson, we've heard about a Scott Hudson. What is the connection?"

I knew this one was coming. At least it's out right away and not appearing like some giant scandal later.

"We were very close. His parents named me as heir when he died. If you gentlemen will excuse me," I say as I turn to go back in the house. "And I won't be coming back out again tonight," I add over my shoulder.

I hear a few groans and complaints, but also sense the awe from some of the guys. I guess they aren't used to a subject who will give them limits.

"Gen, did you get rid of them?" Mom asked as I enter the kitchen.

"Hopefully. They should be quiet at least."

"Then you sister should be able to sleep. Would you be able to give her a ride in the morning? I have to go out to Oromocto and she has a test. I'd like to let her sleep in a bit."

"Sure. I've got to go in, anyway."

"Meeting Wills again?" Dad jokes.

"However did you guess?" I laugh.

"Well, you did just spend an hour on the phone with him," Carlie put in. "He has a real sexy voice."

"I'm sure he'll love to hear that," I retaliate.

"You wouldn't!"

"I tell him as much as I would Scott."

"There goes the neighborhood. A prince knowing everything there is to know about us," Dad says.

"Our daughter knowing all about that prince's life," Mom says.

"It must be wonderful," Carlie says dreamily.

"Not nearly as glamorous as you think. Pretty similar to mine, actually. Mandatory appearances, volunteer centers, charities, sick kids. It can be very depressing; very demanding." I sigh. "I'm going to bed. If they stick around much longer give them a reminder, then call the RCMP."

"We know," Mom says. "Sweet dreams, honey," she adds as I give her a hug.

"'Night Daddy," I say, giving him a kiss on the cheek. "We'll leave at quarter after seven, Carlie?"

"Twenty after."

"Lazy butt!" I joke as I leave.

* * *

Continued.