All Renee could see the moment she focused was Marco. The limo ride from the ship was meant to bring them right to the palace, but she’d passed out. She sighed and figured she was dreaming, so she tried to roll over, except he shook her arm and her bed was much smaller than normal. She blinked and stared at Marco again. This wasn’t a bed at all. The backseat of the limo was comfortable enough, but smaller than any bed. He said, "Wake up. We're here."

"Already?" She yawned. At least in the limo from the ferry, she'd been warm. Marco waited for her but slipped back to give her room. She put her feet down on the metallic floor and stared outside the small glass window, but her feet were swollen and it felt like they more they inflated, the more she walked on daggers. They were parked outside the royal palace now. It was time. She pushed herself onto her feet and waited for the searing pain in her ankles to stop.

"You slept the entire time."

What if she was pregnant? She tried to smile though it was hard. Once inside the palace, she had her parents to deal with, but for now? It was still so early morning that the moon hung in the sky, so hopefully they could wait until after breakfast to take the test. She stretched and said, "We left late and had a full day seeing your home."

"Our future home. Trust me."

She stopped walking after him to leave the limo and head inside. "One step at a time."

"You agreed."

Right. She wasn't stupid and, yes, she was moody this morning. She could feel it in how she moved her head. She stretched and hoped the slight headache eased. "Marco, one of the things I don't like about you is your arrogance."

"How am I arrogant?"

"I don't know." She splashed water on her face to wash off her sour mood. "I'm not in a good mood right now."

Were princesses not allowed to have bad mornings? She tried to imagine a tiara on her head, but she laughed. She stopped laughing as she visualized her mother's upturned nose.

She let out an audible sigh. "My parents and brother are a bit much. I won't hold it against you if change your mind."

"I promise you, I'll take care of it." He answered with confidence. "I'll have tour guides for them to visit the entire country when we go on our honeymoon."

He had no idea how other men had failed. Marco placed his hand on her arm and another jolt of love rushed through her. She avoided looking at him and prayed he survived her parents.

"My mother will likely plan the wedding soon, so we'll need to speak to her too. Once we finish here, you and I will return to the South Castle after our honeymoon to wherever you want."

"I'd like to see Venice, with you."

"Done."

He spoke like he wasn't worried. Dread grew like a poison pill her in belly. She shook off her fear.

"You’re tense," he said. "Relax. It might not be good for you."

"I wish we could just wait and see but that is going to make you crazy, isn’t it? Let’s just take the test so you don't worry about this anymore." She rubbed her belly and closed her eyes. If she was pregnant, a baby might be blessing, but she kept that thought to herself. She was also okay with this being the flu. "I don't know about having a formal ceremony. Kristin's wedding was overwhelming."

"Antonio's the Crown Prince." Marco took both of her hands in his and kissed her cheek. Her skin felt warm from his lips that had touched her, intimately. "We don't have to do half the formalities as they did."

Tears formed in her eyes and wouldn't stop. She sniffled anyhow and somehow made the tears turn into a full-blown cry. "I'm tired still."

"Don't cry." He massaged her back and it felt so good.

She continued to blubber and turned to accept his offer of kindness. She hugged him. "I'm not. I don't want to lose you."

"I'm not going anywhere." He looked straight at her, his brown eyes warm and inviting. "We can be happy if you let us."

Yeah right. Tears done, she took a deep breath and pointed at the open partition between them and the limo driver. "Your mother is probably wondering why we're sitting in front of the palace for so long."

"I don't care. I need to ensure you're okay."

Was it any wonder she loved him? "Let's go. I'm fine."

Marco helped steady her when she stood outside the car. She glanced up at the tower where she and Marco picnicked that night and remembered Marco showing her the views. She’d felt like she was in a fairy tale, but now she imagined her mother staring down at her with disdain and disapproval. Anise and Henri waited at the palace door. "How did they beat us here?"

"They left earlier; I wanted you to be comfortable during our stay." Marco didn’t look at either of them as he walked with her up the few palace steps.

This time she'd keep her head on straight. The two doors were held open by servants. She stepped into the foyer that overlooked the main staircase, and with the blaring sunshine of the morning on her face, she saw her old roommate and best friend, Kristin running down the flight of stairs with her husband at a more leisurely pace walking behind her.

"Look, here come Kristin and Antonio." Marco stayed at her side.

"Kristin!" Her arms wrapped around her best friend, and it was like being given a life-line. She hugged her close and gained strength from the woman who had always had her back. She turned to her future husband and asked, "Marco, can I speak to my friend, alone?"

"Hello, Renee." Antonio gave her a hug. "Your parents arrived earlier."

"I need a minute, if you don’t mind?" She hooked arms with Kristin.

Marco nodded. "Antonio, help me find Mother? I'll wait for Renee to meet her mother and father."

"Good. I was going to ask you to wait for me." She needed to protect him if she could.

"This way." Antonio kissed his wife and Renee stared at Marco. If she was pregnant, would that guarantee her parents wouldn't scare him off? She didn't want to think like that, but the thought wouldn't go away. If only she didn't worry, but the truth was, she was terrified she'd lose him.