Happily Emily cheered David on with the rest of his family as he finished his polo match. When the final game period was over he rode over and hugged Emily. She squirmed in his arms as his horse breathed heavily right next to her and he wiped his sweaty face all over her.
"Ewe gross you're all sweaty!" she squealed.
"I'll be back in a bit," he smiled running off.
"You two are good together," Elizabeth said happily.
"He's my best friend it's pretty easy," Emily smiled.
After David cleaned up a bit he took Emily to meet his all white mustang Oreo. Horses, they were extremely large, made random movements, and smelled, freaked out Emily. David knew Emily preferred her horses on the television screen in movies and on television shows. Yet slowly he led her to his horse trying not to laugh at the terrified look on her face.
"She was having some problems today," he sighed.
"Is it time to change horses?" Oreo's handler asked.
"Try holding her back a little at first," Emily suggested absently.
"Do you ride horses?" Oreo's handler asked.
"God no," Emily laughed.
"Then maybe you should keep your comments," he warned.
"Come on Emily we should get going," David said scared. Emily had a look on her face David recognized from when she began using curse words every other word. They were in too much of a public place to lunleash that side of Emily.
"I didn't mean to say anything," Emily defended.
"I know you were trying to be helpful," David said.
"That man is asking for an ass kicking."
"Speaking of a um ass kicking lets go get ready for the charity boxing match."
Muttering under her breath Emily followed David to their car. Oreo's handler was rude for no reason Emily didn't mean to say what she was thinking she was freaking out over Oreo. Pushing aside her feelings towards Oreo's handler she congratulated David on his win and admitted she enjoyed the game.
"See I told you so," David smiled.
"Whatever day one still isn't over," Emily said.
"Are you going to fight me on everything?"
"Its not like I have anything else to do."
Smiling Emily messed with David's hair and he messed with her newly cut bangs. Going back to the palace they began getting ready for a charity boxing match Emily had been invited to. Excitedly she curled her hair and slipped on a red gown ready to see her first boxing match. Finding a handsomely dressed David by the front door Emily smiled from ear to ear as they walked out the car. Now that Emily was officially off of work for indefinitely she could finally do things she had never done before.
Emily and David made their way through rows of press quietly ignoring all of the questions being shouted at them. Taking ringside seats they were able to see all the action and cheer on their favorite boxer. Afterwards everyone enjoyed a nice dinner and partied until two in the morning. It was loads of fun and Emily took pictures the while night to remember every single second.
"Good morning," David smiled sitting on her couch.
"Hey party animal," Emily smiled.
"So I was thinking," he said nervously.
"I think there is some aspirin around here," Emily joked.
"Lets take a holiday and figure out our situation."
"Why can't we do that here?"
"The palace walls have large ears and blabbering mouths."
"Good point where do you want to go?"
David shrugged as he relaxed into the couch and they began trying to figure out where to go. David knew Emily had a long list of things she wanted to do with her free time so he relinquished control. Out of a long list of possibilities some how Emily ended up choosing Beijing, China.
"Why?" David asked.
"I've been to China three times not once have I actually seen China."
"I'll go make the arrangements then."
"See you later pookie," Emily joked.
"We definitely need to talk," David said leaving.
Falling out laughing Emily headed to her favorite closet to begin packing. She was so excited to actually see some of the places she had been multiple times. During her tours she was either too tired to venture out or didn't have time between cities. Now was her chance between her princess training and fake dating her best friend.
"Hello," Emily answered.
"When are you coming home?" Jessie asked.
"Maybe when I come back from China," Emily shrugged.
"China?" Jessie exclaimed.
"David and I are going for a few days."
"Why are you lying."
"I'm not lying we are going to China," Emily laughed.
"No I mean why are you lying about dating David," Jessie said bluntly.
Caught off guard Emily froze for a second before laughing Jessie off. She couldn't fool her best friend it wasn't possible but avoiding her Emily could do. Quickly saying goodbye Emily avoided any further questions about David. Needing air Emily headed out to the gardens to clear her head.
"You look like something is weighing heavy on you."
"I can not tell a lie and now I sound like George Washington."
"It's a big task you're taking on it is normal for you to be scared."
"My friends aren't stupid they can tell I'm not really in love with David.
Scared Emily looked up at the King waiting for some sage advice but it seemed he was fresh out. For once the king shrugged his broad shoulders and admitted there were no words that easily came to mind. Worry filled his brown eyes and he promised to help any way he possibly could. Thanking King Albert Emily headed back inside the palace to find something to keep herself busy.
"Mirror time," Emily said excitedly.
"Emily not now," David sighed.
"Come on I'll owe you one," she promised.
"Fine," he frowned.
Putting up her hands Emily began mirroring David's moves as she began rambling on and on. When Emily or David really needed the other's undivided attention they had mirror time to make sure they had complete focus. Emily hated mirror time usually especially when she had a lot going on and couldn't put her thoughts on hold but at the moment she was focused.
"Change the law," Emily smiled.
"The law in general or the law?" David asked.
"The law," Emily said frustrated. "All I have to do is help you buy time and then I can have my life back."
"I know you don't have feelings but geez."
"We are so discussing this in China."
Glaring at David Emily walked out of the theater and went to do some work in her suite. After a while one of the servants brought her the itinerary for the China trip. They were spending four days in Beijing before David had to be back for his next polo match. Excitedly she finished packing her bags and went to have lunch out in the gardens.
"Oh God its you," she glared.
"Hello Anne it's so wonderful to see you," Emily said sarcastically.
"Lets get something clear I will never like you."
"Can we reschedule this for a time that I actually care?"
Anne was David's sister that hated Emily for absolutely no reason, which pissed Emily off nonstop. She had long black hair that she got from her father just like David and also had the family blue eyes from her mother. The only saving grace she had was her husband Christopher whom Emily got along with very well.
"Mummy!" Louis exclaimed running over.
"Hey big guy," Anne smiled.
"Sorry ma'am," Louis' nanny said.
"Oh its fine," Anne smiled.
"Don't forget our rescheduled tit for tat," Emily said walking away.
Emily walked away not wanting to get into it with Anne in front of Louis. She grew up with fighting adults and knew the affects all too well. Keeping to herself most of the day Emily ate dinner alone and went to bed early. In the morning she and David hopped on a plane for China.
"Listen to this," Emily said in awe. "Love is when you know somebody better than them and would do anything to protect them."
"That's nice," David said on his blackberry.
"Give me the phone," Emily demanded.
"What? No," he exclaimed.
"This trip is not going to be filled with work."
"Okay fine it's going away."
Happily Emily smiled as he put it away in his suit jacket pocket. Although they were supposed to be working on their scheme Emily also wanted to have a mini vacation. It was the first vacation they were having just the two of them the rest of the royal family was back at the palace for a reason. All work and no fun made anyone a dull boy.
When Emily and David arrived at their hotel the night manager and nearly the whole staff met them in the lobby. Following the manager up the elevator to their suite they listened to a long list of accommodations the hotel provided and who to contact for anything. Exhaustedly they thanked the manager before falling onto their beds tired from their ten-hour flight.
"David," Emily whispered.
"Go to bed Emily," he said into his pillow.
"I can't sleep," she whispered.
"Alright come on," he sighed. Pulling back the covers David let Emily climb in and wrapped his arms around her. New places always seemed to make Emily uncomfortable and she couldn't sleep for the first night or two.
Early the next morning Emily and David set out hand in hand on their quick tour of Beijing. Picking up a tour guidebook in their hotel lobby David let Emily lead the way. Since it was an unofficial visit David didn't have to do his prince duties but they still had to be on their best behavior.
"What is this place?" David asked.
"The South Cathedral," Emily said reading her book.
"Its incredible," he breathed.
"Apparently not everyone feels that way its been destroyed three times," Emily said.
The newest model of the South Cathedral was decorated with stained glass, marbling, and had creamed colored confessionals. Kneeling Emily did the sign of the cross outside of a pew before saying a prayer for their trip. She wasn't heavily religious but knew it couldn't hurt to say a prayer here and there.
Together Emily and David walked around the cathedral and the artifacts shop in the front courtyard. Taking a quick picture of the statue of St. Francis Xavier they headed to the next place Emily wanted to visit, Bookworm. The name alone intrigued her then she read it was a bar, restaurant, café, and library and really was curious.
"Are you sure you don't want to go to museums?" David asked.
"Museums don't really give you a chance to interact with the locals," Emily pouted.
"Okay that's fine."
"Lets go get some lunch."
Finding a nice spot on the rooftop terrace Emily and David had a great lunch figuring where to go the next day. After lunch they spent hours going though the over fourteen thousand strong book collection. For Emily it was so cool to see other languages in the books she knew so well. Everything around Emily amazed her to experience even the littlest bit of someone else's culture made Emily happy and grateful.
"Did you have fun today?" David asked sitting on the couch.
"Yes," Emily smiled. "Did you?"
"Definitely," he said happily.
"Should we discuss our situation?" Emily asked nervously.
Their situation was weird and at the end of the day they wanted to make sure their friendship survived. Sitting down on the couch they went back and forth bartering on an agreement. Some how they agreed to five months of dating before a seven-month engagement. David wanted to make sure Emily was comfortable with her new found responsibilities before throwing her to the wolves. It seemed as if David was even more scared then Emily was about the whole deal not making Emily feel any better.
"Good morning," David smiled stretching.
"Four thirteen oh one," Emily read.
"Yes my tattoo," he said quickly getting out of bed.
"The day we met," she smiled.
"Come on we've got a long day."
"Okay."
Reluctantly Emily got out of bed feeling sleepy still and got ready for their second day in Beijing. They were spending the day at the Summer Palace. Emily had no clue what it was but thought it sounded cool and David's security team approved so they were going for a visit. Dressing comfortably everyone hopped in the cars and drove to the Northwest part of town.
"Whoa," Emily said amazed.
"Exactly," David said.
There were temples, gardens, pavilions, lakes, bridges, gate towers, and corridors spread out everywhere of miles. Visiting Kunming Lake they rode a pedal boat over the body of water that took up three quarters of the area. On dry land they visited the main building and made jokes about having to sit on the hardwood throne. Checking out the Long Corridor Emily looked at tons of incredible paintings. The views everywhere they went were breathtaking Emily made sure she took pictures including the sunset on the lake. Using antique coins they bought tons of stuff but Emily was sure to keep just a few coins to put in a scrapbook or photo album.
"Today was awesome!" Emily squealed quietly.
"Good I'm glad," David said happily.
"Good night David," she said scrunching closer.
"Good night," he yawned.
Emily was completely comfortable in the hotel but David was uncomfortable without Emily now. He didn't like having her on the other side of the room he liked waking up to her excited smile. It wasn't a big deal to either one of them it wasn't the first time they had slept in the same bed. When they went back to the palace everything would go back to the way it was.
"Tiananmen Square," David read.
"Yeah I'm not even going to try," Emily said.
"Oh come on," he begged.
"So hot happening," she said taking the book.
Making their way through the security checkpoint Emily did not feel relaxed at all everything felt too controlled. The view was amazing though and everyone still managed to have a good time. It was hectic with so many people and kids running around so they didn't stay too long. To make Emily happy David took her out to a nice restaurant for dinner.
"I cant believe tomorrow is our last day," Emily sighed.
"Its not our last visit," David smirked.
"Honeymoon?" Emily asked excitedly.
"Maybe," he laughed.
"Or snorkeling in the Red Sea?"
"You have a year stop thinking about it right now."
Excitedly Emily wrote down all the places that came to mind not wanting to forget a place. She couldn't wait for their honeymoon trip or any other trip they decided to take. Being on vacation meant inspiration and new experiences.
For their final day in Beijing they rode to the Mutianyu section of the Great Wall of China. Terrified of heights Emily squeezed David's had as they rode a cable car to the top. They pretty much had the whole section of the wall to themselves since it was less crowded then other sections. They climbed to watchtowers for even better views and checked out awesome old cannons along the wall. David surprised Emily with a picnic somewhere near the middle of their walk.
"I am driving down the Great Wall of China," Emily filmed, "with David on a toboggan!"
"The two mates in the front struggling are her security," David said over her shoulder.
"And the two behind us are yours!"
"Technically they are all mine."
Distracted Emily eased up on the brake and they picked up speed on a corner. The next few seconds of video were full of screams from Emily and David. When they came to the end Emily hopped off feeling incredible. She had never done that before and the adrenaline rush was unbelievable.
"That was great!" David exclaimed.
"Lets never do that again," Emily laughed. Hopped up on adrenaline Emily hugged David and quickly kissed him. Shocked Emily just stared at him then David pulled her into a kiss without thinking.