I felt fear grip my throat when I saw the guards standing at the entrance to the hallway that led to the royals' rooms, but I tried not to look suspicious as I approached them. They looked at me but didn't say anything as I approached. They only gave a synchronous bow and "Lady Avery," as I passed them, and I let out the breath I had been holding once I was far enough away from them. I could only assume Alexandre had told them of my visit, and I hoped they wouldn't tell anyone else I was here so late at night.

My anxiety was choked out with rising excitement as my maids finished up for the night. It was a painfully long wait, but finally they left, and I only waited a minute before throwing on a simple, long sleeved grey dress. It was comfortable, and I wanted to feel as secure as possible tonight as we discussed such heavy topics. I tried to be as quiet as possible as I walked over to Alex's bedroom.

I knocked lightly on the middle of three doors, hoping not to alert Prince Christoph or Ross as I signaled my arrival.

Alexandre cracked the door open and pulled me inside quickly before immediately shutting it again. He had that pinched look on his face, but when he turned to look at me as I saw the tension in his brow melt away. I wondered if I ever saw anyone relax like that around me, and my heart fluttered as he gave me an easy smile.

"Um. . . hi," I greeted with a breathy laugh. Seeing the clock on his desk, I realized it was only a few minutes past midnight, which gave us a lot of time to kill.

He stepped toward me, wrapping one arm around my waist and placing his other hand on my jaw. "Hey Altas," he replied quietly, bending down to kiss me gently. My stomach flipped at his touch, making me tense up against him and take a shaky breath.

"Are you nervous?" he asked, his head tilting to the side and furrowing his eyebrows. His lazy grin never left his lips.

Yes.

"I don't get nervous," I lied, playfully rolling my eyes and turning, "I just haven't been in here since. . ." I sat down on the end of his bed as my words trailed off and smoothed out the skirts of my dress.

"Since you stopped having to hold back with me?" Alexandre asked, walking over slowly to join me.

I felt dizzy as he leaned back on his hand, putting our faces at the same height. I told the both of us I wanted to wait until after the tea party, but I was starting to lose that resolve as I looked at the prince in the dim light of his bedroom. He was impossibly attractive, having pulled off his tie and undone the first few buttons of his shirt. What I wouldn't do to see him like this every day.

I realized I was just staring at him without giving him an answer. "Yeah," I laughed, running my hand through my hair to push it out of my face, "That's one way to put it."

He pushed one side of my hair over my shoulder, his eyes traveling down and up my body and landing back on mine. "I just watched you give a passionate, inflammatory speech to an entire continent," he mused, holding me there with his intense gaze, "and yet here you are, falling apart with the slightest touch." His hand was on my thigh, just above my knee.

I took a deep breath, trying to keep my thoughts straight. "Was that speech too much?" I asked seriously while we were on the subject, still painfully aware of his hand, "Should I have said something else?"

"Debatable," the prince muttered, his eyes flitting away to look around the room before he gave a chuckle in disbelief, "But goddamn Atlas. . . you say you're not good enough to be queen and then give a speech off the cuff better than something I could spend hours writing." He smirked at me and his eyebrows pinched up to give me a light-hearted, exasperated look.

I shuffled closer to him, so our hips and thighs touched, and then wrapped my arm around his waist. "You'll get there, kid," I joked, resting my head on his shoulder and squeezing him lightly.

I heard and felt him chuckle quietly. "So, what do you want to do while we wait?" he asked quietly after a moment, making me raise my head to look at him. He wore a foxy smile, the insinuation clear in his face.

"Seems like you already have a few ideas," I teased, feeling my face flush red. I bit my lip and looked away, too intimidated to meet his eyes.

"Well, you don't grace my bedroom very often," he replied, taking the bait.

"Then we should take advantage of it," I said with a small smile, turning my head back to look at him only to be paralyzed by the way he stared into my eyes.

The silent communication was clear, and we were on each other without another word. I briefly thought about my past partners as I felt a pair of strong hands around my hips, helping me crawl backward on the bed. Nothing compared to the way all my senses unfurled with the gentle firmness of his kiss and touch. I never really dated someone, so combined with the wild energy that coursed through me whenever I was close to Alex like this, everything felt like a new experience.

It was equally calming and exhilarating, a sensation that made me briefly shiver.

He must have felt it, because his hand stopped where it was traveling up my leg and pushing my dress away.

"You sure you're okay?" he asked quietly.

My eyelids fluttered open to look up at him as he planted his hand on the bed, next to my shoulder. The prince's lips pulled back in a soft grin as he searched my face. His face was thrown into shadow from his position, but his eyes were still shining with elation.

It sounded patronizing, and it made me instinctively want to gain control of the situation in fear that he might see me as inferior. I resisted the urge though, running my hands up his shoulders to rest on the back of his neck instead of pushing him off.

"Yeah," I laughed, nodding my head, "I'm good."

If Alexandre was shy, he didn't show it. I expected that I would have to lead any intimate encounters because of my experience, but I was surprised at how easily I could let go around him. Outside the door, I had to be confident and in control of everything I did, but in here, Alex made me feel taken care of.

It felt like I was kissing him for hours, exploring his body as if every inch were something unique to be experienced. He had respected my wishes to wait, something I silently protested until I pulled back for air and had a moment of clarity; I reminded myself that this was Crowned Prince Alexandre and we had to be careful with everything we did. The minute we gave everything to each other, we would be committing a crime, but that didn't stop us from dangerously toeing the line.

"I guess I never expected to fall in love," Alex admitted. I was nestled in his arms, absently drawing my fingers tips in irregular patterns across his bare chest. He was warm enough that I didn't need a blanket, even though we had shed our outer layers in fervent acceleration, and for the need to be more comfortable rolling back and forth in his bed.

". . . so, getting to do even just this with you without it also being my civic duty is. . . special," he finished, his eyes breaking away from his ceiling to look down at me.

He seemed quietly content, but I knew this conversation could tread into depressing territory easily. I looked around for something to change the subject, noticing the guitar hanging up on his wall.

"Do you play?" I asked, nodding my head over to it when he frowned in confusion.

He turned his head to where I was motioning, but then quickly looked forward. Alexandre's sigh made my head rise and fall with his chest. "Uh, yeah. . . I used to," he explained, shrugging, "If you could say I have any hobbies, it would be that."

"Will you play something for me?" I asked excitedly, pushing myself up onto my knees.

"It's probably been two years since I picked that thing up," he admitted, sitting up and running his hand through his hair nervously.

"Please?" I appealed, trying to look cute and innocent by batting my eyelashes at him.

Alex's eyebrows pinched together, but there was a faint grin on his lips. "I don't think. . ." he started, his words catching in his throat as he paused and looked over at me, ". . . Okay, maybe a song."

I broke out into a large smile, clasping my hands together in front of my chest. "Yay," I squeaked out as Alex swung his legs over the side of the bed and stood. I tried not to stare at his body wearing nothing but a pair of boxers but failed miserably. My heart rose in my throat as I watched the muscles of his back flex while he reached up to take the instrument off its hooks.

I crawled over to sit next to Alex as he returned to the bed. "I'll try to tune it," he muttered, strumming and twisting the little gold keys at the head periodically, "but it probably needs new strings all together, so it won't sound that great. . ." With his state of dress, he couldn't hide the blush that spread across his face and chest.

"I can't tell the difference," I shrugged, unable to keep the excitement out of my voice as I watched him strum a series of chords.

"I'm rusty," he continued to defend.

"Do you write your own songs?" I asked quietly, resting my fists on my bare thighs.

Alexandre chuckled nervously. "Kind of," he mumbled, keeping his eyes down on his hands and avoiding eye contact, "Yeah, but they're not great. I've never been much of a poet. . ."

"I want to hear one!" I exclaimed, giddy to see him do something other than paperwork and public appearances.

"My voice isn't warmed up-"

"Alex," I laughed, placing my hand on his arm, "Enough preface. Just play."

He rolled his shoulders, keeping his head down as he started a song. I was surprised at how softly the notes came out and was transfixed on the way he moved his fingers up and down the neck of the guitar. The tune was low and had a subdued sadness in it, and I knew why when the lyrics started up.

"I'm ready, Warden, to meet my end," he sang roughly, clearing his throat quickly, "to believe my soul; I lend. . ."

If magic existed on this earth, it was here in this room as Alex's hands and voice grew more confident. Though the words were sad, I could feel more than hear his bliss as he returned to something that seemed to be very important to him emotionally. His singing voice was lower than when he spoke, and it flowed from note to note effortlessly smooth.

I was happy regardless of what he did, but I didn't expect him to be such a good singer.

I was elated to see him straighten and pull his shoulders back. He tapped his heel as his eyes focused on a point on the floor in front of him. He seemed to get lost in the music, and I was honored to go to that place with him as I fell into the relaxing timbre of his voice.

I broke out in a smile as he closed his eyes and hit a high note that cascaded into the rest of the verse. The song was fast, even though it sounded gentle and soft, but Alex was able to sing every lyric effortlessly. He must have played this song a lot because he made it look so easy.

"You're next Warden. Yes, you're next," he sang, "Cause it's your neck Warden. Your neck."

His last note hung in the air as the guitar grew quiet.

Alex's eyes blinked open, and he seemed to remember where he was. "Uh, anyway," he muttered, pressing his lips together nervously before adding, "It still needs work, I just haven't had the time or motivation to finish it. . ."

"It's a little dark," I pointed out lightly, smiling at him as he looked over at me with concern.

"Oh yeah," he agreed, "It was the last song I wrote before I stopped playing." The prince bent over to rest the guitar against his nightstand.

Once he had turned back to face me, I threw my arms around him. "I love you," I told him breathlessly, kissing him, "I-"

I was interrupted by a knock on the bedroom door, and we both jumped as we fell back down to earth. We exchanged a panicked look before Alex called, "Who is it?"

"It's Ross," we heard through the wood.

Alexandre looked at me with a silent question, but I just jumped up and grabbed my dress and the slip I wore under it. I dashed into the bathroom and Alex reached for a pair of pants and a t-shirt that was thrown over the back of his desk chair.

I knew it was bad to eavesdrop, but I couldn't help myself as I watched Alex cross the room through the tiny crack of his open bathroom door. I heard more than saw him let Ross in.

"Ross?" Alex said with panic in his voice, "What's wrong?!"

I heard a quiet sniffle as I tried to get a better angle, suddenly afraid something bad had happened.

"Nah, mate," his brother murmured, looking at Alex with misty eyes before throwing his arms around him, "I just. . . I heard you playing. . ."

Alexandre stood and held Ross, and I padded deeper into the bathroom. I didn't want to spy on such an intimate moment.

"Oh yeah," Alex replied, "I thought I'd break it out again, for old time's sake."

"It has been years," Ross told him, sniffling again, "You used to keep me up all night playing, and then you stopped, and that is when things got a lot worse."

I heard Alex sigh. "I'm so sorry, Ross," he replied quietly, "I'm sorry I've been so miserable. I shouldn't have pushed you away so much."

"No, no," his brother quickly interrupted, "I am just glad that you are starting to feel more like yourself."

"Mm, I don't think I'll ever return to who I used to be. . ." Alex breathed, and I could guess that he ran his hand through his hair in the pause. "But I think I'm headed in the right direction now."

"Is it Atlas?" Ross asked, making me tense up.

"What do you mean?" Alexandre asked more stiffly.

"Does she make you happy?" Ross clarified, "Is that why you've been doing so well lately?"

There was a pause.

Alexandre let out a long breath. "Yeah. . ." he answered finally, "Yes she does. I'm. . . sorry, for taking her from you." I didn't realize they hadn't talked about it before now.

I heard Ross give a soft chuckle. "I know how hard you two tried to push each other away, and still you are together now," he noted, "There is no splitting up that kind of bond."

I felt the familiar stinging of tears in the back of my eyes, and I fumbled in the dark until I found a free wall. I slid down onto the ground, their voices just barely reaching me.

"Is she your One?" Ross asked, his voice particularly quiet.

"Uh. . . I don't. . ." Alex fumbled.

"I am sorry, you do not have to answer that," Ross quickly chimed in, and then after a pause added, "You should get some sleep. . ."

All the crowned prince said was, "Probably."

There was a silence, and I heard the bedroom door close, but as I stood up, I heard it reopen quickly.

"Hey," Alex said, his voice distant as he spoke to Ross in the hallway, "I love you, Ross."

Ross's voice was muffled as he replied, "I love you too, Alex."

I stayed frozen against the wall, even after I heard the door close. I jumped when Alexandre entered the bathroom and flicked on the lights. "Atlas," he said as he did so, "It's alright, he's gone."

I squinted at the sudden light. "I'm sorry I overhe- holy shit you have a nice bathroom," I blurted out, looking around the room I had hid in. It was as big as my Elite room, with a series of pillars creating a half circle around the tub. There was not one, but two chandeliers hanging from the ceiling, and all of it was pale marble and gold accents.

I heard Alex laugh through his nose. "You haven't even seen the shower," he smirked, leaning against the door frame. He nodded over to a door across the room, and I rushed over to throw it open.

"You have a fireplace in your shower?" I asked incredulously, taking in the room that was apparently one big shower. There were water heads all around the walls, and it contrasted the main bathroom with large, dark stones, and in the back was a small alcove protected by glass where a stack of logs sat.

"It's gas," Alexandre said, making me jump as he appeared behind me and reached around the wall to flip another switch. The fireplace flashed to life, but then was quickly snuffed out as Alex turned it back off.

"I didn't think this place got any fancier," I mumbled.

"Perks of being a prince, I guess," Alex said lowly, stepping up behind me and running his hand across my stomach to wrap it around me, "You want to see how it works?"

My heart skipped a beat as I felt his breath against my neck, but I couldn't let him distract me when we still had responsibilities. I ducked under his other arm that was propped on the door frame and returned to his bedroom to see it was almost time to leave.

"We have to go meet with Turps and Valeera," I reminded him, checking in the mirror that I had put the dress on correctly in the dark bathroom. He seemed to deflate, and as much as I was also disappointed, I knew we had to put our fairytale on hold and return to the real world.

"Alright," he breathed, swallowing hard and taking my hand, "Let's go then."

A/N It can't be an alsmiffy fanfiction without Warden being brought up somewhere. Those are the rules.

We've been waiting for Alex/Atlas fluff for four years, and I am here to deliver!