Date: Wed, 26 Aug 2009 17:41:49 -0700 (PDT) From: David Higginbotham Subject: Paradise 13 and 14 Paradise Chapter 13 "Transitions" JD stood inside his parents' house. All the furniture was gone; all the decorations had been packed up and shipped to his parents' apartment in Morovia. A lifetime of memories from that house were contained in just the walls. He looked out the back at the bay. The waters were moving smoothly on that January morning, proving him that the world would go on without him. From the other side of the house, the view of the Gulf had been obstructed by the camera crews and news agencies that had been camped out there for months, since Zhola's announcement that she intended to transfer power back to the monarch. In that time, so much had happened. It all started the day that he was shot. After surgery to remove his kidney and repair the muscles damaged by the bullets, after months of physical therapy to help him recover the use of his arm and the ability to walk without assistance, JD spent nearly a month in the hospital. It was better to stay there than to try to stay at his parents' house, where every single move he made would be scrutinized by the luring eyes of both the legitimate news agencies and the paparazzi. Tyler was there with him, for the most part, until the day that he was released from the hospital, holding his hand, helping him walk to the bathroom, supporting him in every conceivable way. After their fight, though, Tyler spent several more nights at Maxima and Tom's house, in JD's bed, clutching a pillow that he'd sprayed with JD's cologne to remind me of the two and a half months before the shooting when they were just a regular kind of couple. Despite the brevity of their romantic foray, Tyler couldn't see himself without JD. JD had become as much a permanent fixture in his life, just like Kevin and Ronnie, like his parents, like his heritage and hometown. The day after JD came home from the hospital, though, Tyler left for Morovia. The trial was consuming all his parents' energy, and he felt like they needed him, right then, more than JD. Maxima and Tom arranged his travel as a, sort of, surprise for him and his parents. Kevin and Ronnie left a few days later. Having both of her babies there seemed to help Tammy as she testified as to what kind of person Ricky had always been. Speaking of the trials, as October passed, they progressed. Tim continued to decry the validity of the inquest; Phyllis just sat there and answered the questions posed to her as simply and succinctly as possible. A group of Americans were arrested for coming to Morovia to protest the trials and attempt to give the Michaels assistance. Their lawyers tried every tactic to slow down the progress of the trial, but it got a point where the Michaels were told to hire Morovian attorneys of face contempt of court charges which would have only exacerbated the trial and angered the justices further. After a week of consultations and investigations, the Morovian attorneys for the Michaels were ready to begin their defense. They called and recalled people to the stand and asked them questions that required them to simply restate what they'd said. Phyllis' attorney called Tammy, making her cry at one point before the justices stopped the attorney and adjourned the court for the day. It only took a few more days for the defense to rest their case. With both sides finished, the justices asked questions that were still lingering in their mind. In the Morovian system, the state presented its case, the defense presented its case, and then the panel of judges had an opportunity to ask questions before deliberating to decide their verdict. Most everyone thought that they would come back quickly with a verdict, but they didn't. Reviewing evidence and rereading testimony, they wanted to make sure that they had the correct verdict, so that it wouldn't be a `horse and pony show' that some Americans were saying that it was. JD remembered the day that verdict came back. As was told of them, they informed Zhola of their decision before releasing it to the press. Zhola called Maxima who assembled most everyone in front of the TV for the verdict. JD watched as beneath a sun-filled Morovian morning, a man dressed in traditional robes walked from the grand hall of the tribunal's palace into the courtyard, where the press had assembled upon finding out of the verdict's impending release. "Ladies and Gentlemen," the man read to the members of the press. "On behalf of the Morovian people, the Tribunal of State charged with investigating and prosecuting those involved in the attempted assassination of Prince Joseph, the Prince of Terraco and His Honor, Mr. Tyler Hall. I will simply read the verdict, but there will be no questions at this time. In the case of the State of Morovia versus Kara Michaels, the tribunal announces that Miss Michaels has plead guilty to the charge of Conspiring against Morovia, and she will serve a life sentence, without the possibility of parole, at a prison in Murcia. In the case of the State of Morovia versus Chad Michaels, the tribunal announces that Mr. Michaels has plead guilty to the charge of Conspiring against Morovia, and he will serve a life sentence, without the possibility of parole, at a facility in the Province of Cali." He continued to read for a moment as the list of people who had jumped ship to avoid the death penalty continued. Everyone but Phyllis and Tim's names were read as pleading guilty to `Conspiring Against Morovia', a charge that hadn't been used in a while, since the time of JD's grandfather's predecessor, Queen Camila. "In the case," the man read after a short pause, presumably to clear his throat after reading a monotonous list of names, charges, and sentences, "of the State of Morovia versus Phyllis Michaels. The tribunal has determined, after a careful review of the evidence, that Ms. Michaels is guilty of Crimes Against the Morovian State. She will be placed in Tomaro prison, in solitary confinement, until arrangements can be made for her execution, which shall, in accordance with the Tribunal's wishes, take place no later than 31 December, 2008. Ms. Michaels will be hanged from the neck until she is dead." In Morovia, there was cheering and shouting as the verdict against this woman was read aloud to the press. In Paradise, there was celebration everywhere but at Maxima and Tom's house. The scene was a little more somber as everyone thought about the reason behind it all. "In the case of the State of Morovia versus Timothy Michaels. The tribunal has determined, after a careful review of the evidence, that Mr. Michaels is guilty of Crimes Against the Morovian State. He will be placed in Tomaro prison, in solitary confinement, until arrangements can be made for his execution, which shall, in accordance with the Tribunal's wishes, take place no later than 31 December, 2008. Mr. Michaels will be electrocuted until he is dead. "Further," he went on, "the Tribunal has determined that Mr. Richard Hall, the assailant was acting under coercion, and that, while he had control of his actions, should not be held responsible for the planning or execution of the event. He was simply a pawn used to carry out this heinous act against Prince Joseph, and his brother, Mr. Tyler Hall. To that end, the Tribunal has used its powers as outlined in the declaration that called them to service to issue a posthumous reprieve. Ladies and Gentlemen, that is all. Thank you." The man turned and walked back into the palace. In just a few minutes, Zhola addressed the nation, calling the verdicts `real justice for the Morovian people'. In a phone interview, Maxima said that she was `very happy' with the findings and couldn't wait to read the case logs, once they were made public, so that the world would see that justice was achieved. Tyler's parents stayed in their hotel, dodging questions from reporters as they returned from the palace after hearing the verdict. JD and Tyler both made said `no comment' and referred reporters' questions to the comments that Zhola and Maxima had already given to the press. With the trial out of the way, November opened on a very promising note. Zhola set a date. After talking at length with JD and Maxima, as well as her Council of Ministers, it was decided that, if this were going to be done, it would be done right. The transition would happen on 7 March, 2009, JD's 25th birthday. It would start off with a dissolution of the Fundamental Law and the legal promulgation of a new Constitution. JD would then be crowned and presented to the people of Morovia in a lavish event that would make all Morovians tingle and giggle with pride in their homeland. Zhola announced, though, that she wouldn't be writing the Constitution and simply forcing it upon the people, which is what Guil had done with the Fundamental Law, but rather she wanted the people's input. To that end, she called for a Parliament to sit and write out a new governing document. In Morovia, unlike every other country in Europe, there was no sitting Parliament. The Fundamental Law stated that an assembly of that nature would only be required to make changes to the system of taxation in the country. In effect, though, it was a rubber stamp for Guil's decisions, some of which were quite spur of the moment in nature. Zhola's Parliament, though, would sit to draft a new document. They would then submit it to the people, who would decide whether or not it was acceptable to them. It would establish a democratic government similar to most other monarchies in Europe; it would guarantee rights and freedoms; it would be the single most important thing that would bring Morovia into the 21st century. The body quickly assembled according to the law and started working. There was debate initially about using another nation's constitution as a template for their own, but it was decided that the document needed to be Morovian in every way. The body divided itself into various committees and went to work on drafting the document. The president that they'd elected gave them a two week timeline in which to create their respective portions. The only instructions that each committee was to work with, though, was that the principal of popular sovereignty and personal freedoms would be respected. As they finished the rough draft, each portion was debated in no more than a day. There were a couple of times that the clock was unplugged so that the day could, at least legally, be extended. The Preamble was the first part of the document to be released to the public, but it showed so much of the character of the document itself. For one, it was printed in Morovian and English. "In order to create a homeland in which generations of Morovians can be proud, we the members of the Constitutional Parliament of 2008, enshrine this document as the Constitution of the State of Morovia of 2009." It was simple and to the point. It established the goals of the document and made it clear, through its simplicity, that the State was more important than the sum of its parts. The first section was a lengthy explanation of rights and responsibilities of every citizen. The first article was probably the most important, as it gave every Morovian "equal rights under the laws and policies of the State, without regard to gender, race, ethnicity, religion, handicap or sexual orientation." It gave Morovians the freedom of speech, press, assembly, protest, and expression. The section also covered voting rights, which said that every person born in Morovia, or who was born abroad to at least one Morovian parent and whose birth was registered with the closest embassy, who had turned 18 would have the right to vote. It went on to specifically set up a procedure whereby Morovians internationally could vote in elections on the homeland. It also declared both Morovian and English to be official languages of the State, with the provinces having the power to add other languages to it as necessary. In the second part, a unicameral parliament was created and simply called "The Parliament of Morovia." It's members were called Parliamentarians, or parlamentarios in Morovian. It had the power to create any law necessary to carry out the Constitution. It had the power of `organic law', which meant basically that if the Constitution didn't address something, Parliament could still make a law about it. It also gave the Parliament the power to `evict' a monarch if necessary. The third portion dealt with the monarchy itself. It said that the `legitimate heirs of King David XII' were to succeed to the throne of Morovia. However, it also took Maxima and Lidia out of the succession, specifically allowing for JD to be succeeded by Lindsay and her children. It gave the power to give out titles as he saw fit, but limited the number of titles that could be awarded to those that had been created before Guil's reign. He could give out knighthoods, but he couldn't create ducal positions or principalities within the kingdom. The constitution gave the monarch the power to give his consort and children, though, whatever title he or she wanted to give. The rest of the document dealt with the courts, the provinces, and local authorities. It was a very vague document, leaving room for sway and interpretation. When it was completely presented to the people for their perusal and public debate, most people found it more than acceptable or adequate. People pledged to vote for it on the Monday before Christmas. If there was opposition, nobody really talked about it. As the Constitution was published, though, the family had assembled at Maxima and Tom's to celebrate Thanksgiving in their own, multi-cultural way. There was the turkey and traditional fixings, but there was also Morovian dishes that Maxima and Lidia had slaved for days to prepare. Jen was there, as were her sister and parents. Kevin and Ronnie came down, accepting the invitation as soon as it was extended. Bob and Tammy though, had to be convinced, given everything that had gone on in their lives in the previous few months. At noon, they all stood in the kitchen and dining room to bless the food. As was their tradition, each person had to say something for which they were thankful. Tom was thankful that JD was still with them; Maxima felt the same way. Lindsay was thankful for her friends and family; Lidia was thankful that she'd gone another year without having to deal with her ex husband's shit. Jen's parents were both thankful to be surrounded by awesome people. Tammy began to get emotional as it came her time to speak. "There is so much that has gone on this year. I don't think either Bob or I thought, at the first of the year, that this would be a year of such deep change for our family. Of course, we're thankful for Kevin continuing not to be an ass to Ronnie," she said as everyone laughed. "We're thankful that Tyler has found happiness in a man as wonderful as JD. I don't think that I will ever get over losing Ricky, but I am thankful to be surrounded by people that have the capacity to forgive and who want to get to know Ricky for the man that he was becoming before...her. I am thankful that the tribunal in Morovia is over, and that Ricky was exonerated, and I hope that in the coming months, Morovia will be able to benefit from what we've been honored to be around for the last few months." Maxima walked over to her and hugged her as she started to cry again. She apologized profusely, but Maxima wouldn't let her continue. As they sat to eat, the mood lightened a bit around the table. Jen's parents raved about all the food that was served that afternoon. As the evening was ending, the `kids' cleaned up as the parents sat around drinking wine and beer. At one point, Tom talked about taking the boat out, but Maxima stopped him, complaining that it was too cold. The whole lot of them ended up spending the rest of the evening at Maxima and Tom's house that evening, as the ladies were planning on going shopping first thing on Black Friday. Over the next few weeks, every time he turned around, somewhere was there asking JD his opinion about the constitution. After fielding `no comments' for the first three weeks of December, JD just said that, given the position that he was set to inherit in the document, he shouldn't give an opinion. Maxima went on to explain that members of the Royal Family are supposed to represent the nation and each person in it. For JD to make a comment about the Constitution would be picking sides in a political issue that should be left to the conscious of each Morovian voter. Even as he and Tyler received their degrees during the December, JD was asked to comment on the goings on in Morovia. He didn't, though. He just smiled and said `no comment'. A few days before the vote, Zhola issued a decree that permitted everyone who would have the right to vote under the proposed Constitution to vote in this election. On the day of the election, people stood outside Gutierro's, which had been set up as a polling station, as Maxima and Lidia, with their birth certificates and passports in hand, strolled into the station to cast their ballots. JD and Lindsay were there, but given their position in the proposed new government, and the fact that they were listed specifically in the Constitution, they didn't take part in the balloting, even though they were legally able to do so. The next day, results from around the world were being counted. As everyone was waiting for results, commentators talked about the impact of the vote. Voter turnout in Morovia was rarely over 40%, but in this vote, in Morovia alone, it was close to 100%. More than 10 million eligible Morovians abroad also voted in the ballot. At five in the afternoon, local time in Talxiara, Zhola descended from the grand staircase into the foyer of the palace. "Ladies and Gentlemen," she started as there was stark silence across not only the room but the nation and some parts of the world. "According to the terms of the election, it is my responsibility to announce the results. Effective 7 March, I will no longer be President of Morovia!" she declared as cheers rang out. She smiled as she issued a decree that created the transitional government and formally inviting the Royal Family to return to the nation that their family had guarded and directed for centuries. With his family, Tyler included, standing with him, JD stood in the back yard of his parents' home, where things had happened on the day that Guil died. With a smile on his face and a youthful desire to see his maternal homeland prosper, JD accepted the offer to become the next King of Morovia. From that day, a team of staffers came from the consulate in Mobile to assist in the transition. The first thing, though, had to be to get him to Morovia. In just a day, he was receiving invitations from world leaders to visit their countries, but he politely said that he first needed to go to Morovia, and that he would visit their countries later. Everyone else was outside the house as JD stood there for a second, getting himself mentally ready to leave not just as Prince Joseph, but as the future King of Morovia. He walked through the house one last time to make sure that everything personal was out, or at least, that's what he told everyone. In reality, his life had, in a few months, changed so very much. He was moved by the fact that this house in which he'd taken his first steps, gotten his first kiss, was going to become a part of the Fort Catherine Paradise Cultural Center, a place that honored his family more than Paradise actually had to do. With a smile on his face, he walked out of the house and joined his family on the porch on the back side of the house. With a smile, he took Tyler's hand in his left hand and raised his right one, waving to the world as Morovia's future Head of State. Paradise Chapter 14 "Kings and Their Princes" When they left from Paradise, the Royal Family was just as so many other Morovian families the world over. They were happy that they would be able to return to their homeland. It was one of those times when Lidia and Maxima were able to act like children again for a few minutes as everyone watched in amazement. On the flight, the Presidential Jet was filled with people. There were press; there were assistants; there were security officials; there were people working on the plane. It was like a zoo as people excited ran around. At one point, Maxima and Tom went into one of the cabins to get some sleep. Lidia, Jen, and Lindsay played board games with the press, to give Lindsay a chance to be the belle of the press' ball. JD had a couple of meetings on the plane; Tyler, as the person who was regarded as the King's consort, despite the fact that they weren't married, was meeting with people who he'd selected to help him with Morovian language and culture. At one point, though, he was so tired that he just went into the cabin that he and JD were sharing and lay down on the bed that was inside. "Long day?" JD asked as he walked in just after Tyler. "Very long day," Tyler mentioned. "You look so sexy right now," Tyler commented as JD took off the suit coat and set it on a pedestal in the room. "You look sexy, too," JD added as he climbed onto the bed next to Tyler, wrapping his still clothed arm around Tyler as he lay there with his hands behind his head. "You wanna know something that I realized just a little while ago?" "What's that?" "This time, in 2008, I was sitting in a small, two-bedroom apartment, drinking with Jen and eating microwaved dinners," Tyler noted. "I was still with...the ex," JD answered. "Did you ever think that, in a year, life would change so much?" Tyler asked. "No, but," JD said, "I am better because of this past year. I'm better for having met you. I'm better for being on my way to Morovia. I'm even better for what happened in August," JD said. "You know. The sex with you was good before, but it has been better since then," Tyler noted with a wicked smile as JD admired him. "It's all you, baby," JD answered. "So do you remember when you were in the hospital, after the fight?" Tyler asked. "Yes," JD smiled. "I remember it perfectly. And actually, you know that we're stopping in Lorenzia, right." "Yes. Where you're going to be receiving the Order of the Magnolia," Tyler smiled. "You know that, in Lorenzia, if a person is married at the time they're inducted into the order, their spouse is also inducted," JD noted. "Oh?" Tyler smiled. "What are you saying?" "Since everything happened in Paradise, I've been thinking a LOT about the future. In every single thought, you're there," JD said. "Are you suggesting something?" Tyler asked. "Yep," JD said. Tyler reached up and kissed JD on the lips. "So does that mean that I get a title?" "What title do you want?" JD asked. "I dunno..." "K," JD said, turning over and reaching for the phone. "Yes, could you please ask Princess Lindsay and Jen to come to my cabin?" "What are we gonna tell them?" Tyler asked. "To keep my parents and aunt busy for a couple of hours in the morning. Surely somebody at the palace can perform an on-the-fly wedding." "Did you just call us in here to tell us that you had joined the mile-high-club?" Lindsay asked as they walked in, both with their hands on their hops. "Nope," JD said. "So are y'all about to join the M.H.C?" Jen asked. "Maybe later," Tyler said. JD chuckled a little bit. "So what did you want us for?" Lindsay asked. "We need you to keep the Mom, Dad, and Aunt Lid busy for a couple of hours," JD said. "Why?" Lindsay looked at them. "You're not?" Jen asked, looking at Tyler. "We are," Tyler said as Jen walked over. Tyler stood and hugged her. "Wait. Joseph David Thomas Leandro," Lindsay started, "you mean, you actually pulled one over on me!" "I did!" JD said as he stood and walked to his cousin. She smiled as she gave him a tight hug. "I am so happy for you!" Lindsay said as she started to cry. "Lindsay," Jen stated. "Does this mean that we have to do a bridal shower?" "NO! We get to do the reception!" "NO!" JD said. "You expect us to keep your parents and my mom busy," Lindsay started, "and not get anything out of it." "What do you say?" Tyler asked JD. "You'll have to wait a little while," JD told them. "You just have to let us do it!" Jen told him. "No worries," JD smiled as Jen stood there. "Our fags are getting married!" Jen said to Lindsay. "I know," they hugged as they started to cry. "Y'all," Tyler begged. "Please don't cry." "Why not?" Jen turned and acted angry. "Cause JD and I are about to do it, and if I cry, we might not have time," Tyler answered. "PERV!" Lindsay said with smile. "Hey. I know he's your cousin, but he KNOWS what he's doing down there," Tyler winked. "I've heard y'all," Lindsay winked. "OK. So we got to get onto this," Jen said, thinking about the party. "You really should tell your Mom," Lindsay told JD. "Well. Since Tyler's parents aren't here, it would be weird," JD noted. "You have a point!" Lindsay noted. "They're meeting us in Lorenzia, though, right?" "Yes," Tyler answered. "They're on vacation in Cabocha right now." "So how are you guys gonna tell them?" Jen asked. "I figured we would wait until the induction ceremony, and let Mom pick up on it, then she'll tell Tammy," JD said. "That's not gonna work, and you know that the Moms will be pissed if they're not there." "So what do you suggest?" JD asked. "Make them think that they're coming to the induction ceremony, but have someone perform the ceremony before the induction," Lindsay said. "I've spoken to Marcia a couple of times," Jen plotted. "And I'll get Princess Margaret in on it all, too," Lindsay said. "OK," Jen said. "Y'all fuck. We've got shit to do." She grabbed Lindsay, and the two, after smiling once more, left the room to get everything taken care of. "Are you OK?"JD asked Tyler as they stood there. Tyler started to tear up. "I am beyond OK." "Then why the tears?" JD asked. "We were talking about all the stuff from a year ago, and a year ago, I never would have imagined that I'd be getting married, especially not to a man who is about to be King of a country that I'd never visited." "Do you want me to cancel it?" JD asked, walking over and rubbed Tyler's shoulder. "Oh no," Tyler said with a smile. "I don't. There was a time in my life that I hated gay people, that I was so pissed off about all that I thought the community stood for, and I even went so far as to saying that I didn't think that gay marriages could work out." "What changed your mind?" "You," Tyler looked into his eyes. "And you know that if we get married, you're stuck with me for life, right?" "Just as I am with you right now, I will be with you when we're 100," JD said. "Good," Tyler said as he hugged the man who, in just hours, would become his husband. "I love you, JD." "I love you, more!" "Nope," Tyler said. "Yep," JD answered. "Don't argue with me," Tyler said as he fixed JD's tie. The two of them exchanged a quick kiss before the door came open again. "OK. I just talked to Princess Margaret, and she's gonna get King Alexander and Gavin in on it all," Lindsay said as she barged into the room. "What if we were naked?" "If y'all had been naked," Lindsay joked, "Tyler would have been screaming out your name. I'm not dumb. I've heard y'all for the last few months, remember?" "Yeah. You've got a point," Tyler said. Lindsay smiled and walked out of the room. The guys continued to talk for a few minutes before Jen barged in, after having talked to Marcia, who was going to get all the forms ready for them. Before they knew it, they were arriving at the International Airport in Cabocha. A whole group of Morovians were there at the airport, watching as the family disembarked. A group of Lorenzians were there as well, waving green and white flags right next to Morovian flags of the same size. The news showed their arrival as Princess Margaret climbed out of a long black limousine to greet each of them and welcome them to Lorenzia. After a short time of standing around so that the press could get the pictures and footage that they wanted. After that, though, JD waved just before climbing into one of several cars that were taking them from the airport to the Royal Palace at Cabocha. With Lorenzian flags on side of each of the cars and Morovian ones on the other, they were able to get through traffic that stopped out of respect on the Queen Martha Highway, a street that led directly to the palace. They passed through the first gate before arriving at the second. From just inside the gate down the large driveway, members of the Royal Guard were lined up all the way to the front door of the palace. As the first car passed through, the guards snapped to attention, raising their right arms to salute. In Lorenzian custom, a visiting Head of State was always treated with the same respect as the Lorenzian Head of State, in this case, King Alexander III. As the cars pulled around to the door, cars were emptied by members of the Morovian Royal Family. Alex and Gavin both greeted them as Maxima and Tom were the first to climb out. A second later, Lidia, Lindsay, Jen, and Margaret climbed from the second car. It was when the first car pulled up to the main greeting area. JD and Tyler climbed out of the car, both with smiles on their faces. Alex and JD met half-way between where they were standing as Margaret and Lindsay both pulled out digital cameras to capture the moment, when the only two gay kings in Europe were shaking hands. Margaret also managed to get a picture of Tyler and Gavin as they shook hands before being introduced to the other King by their respective one. After just a couple of minutes, they all went inside to get some rest. Well, all the Morovian people got some rest. Alex, Gavin, and Margaret went about their days. Given that they'd ended up flying all night to get to Lorenzia, and most of them hadn't slept, everyone took a nap before getting up at around six to prepare for a lavish dinner that Alex and Gavin were hosting to honor family that Alex had never met in person. At eight, as special guests were having drinks in one hall, guests were beginning to arrive to join them. The Prime Minister of Lorenzia, along with his wife, were the first to join them, followed by the ambassadors from several nations to Lorenzia. One Canadian official, Susan Henry, was slated to become Canada's first ambassador to Morovia since the early 1960s, when Canada cut relations with Morovia in protest of the government's acquisition of power. Prince Felipe and Princes Letizia from Spain were there, as was France's Duke of Anjou, a man that would be King Louis XX if the monarchy were still alive in France. Peter Phillips and his wife were there to represent the UK. Crown Princess Victoria, Prince Carl Phillip, and Princess Madeline were all there to represent Sweden. Alex joked that JD needed to meet some of his family; JD admitted that he was nervous, as being royal had always been, for him, a non-issue. Alex admitted that he admired that about JD, that he was able to let it just be a part of him, but not a part that drove his very existence. In another part of the room, Gavin and Tyler were talking away from the main part of the group. "You OK?" Gavin asked. "Can I be completely honest with you?" Tyler asked. "Of course, one Alabamian to another," Gavin answered. "I'm nervous as hell," Tyler said. "I mean, there are people that you just see in the news or on TMZ that are here." Gavin smiled. "So let me tell you what Margaret told me at the first one of these that I came to." "What's that?" "Felipe and Letizia, from Spain, are really down to earth people. Madeline, from Sweden, is a party girl. Victoria is really sweet; and Carl Phillips is your cousin-to-be, so no drooling," Gavin recounted. Tyler just about rolled over laughing. "Seriously, though. These are regular people, nothing like us, but regular people." "That helps," Tyler admitted. "Besides, if you love him, none of that really matters anyway," Gavin said. "I do. More than life." "Then you're set," Gavin said. "So continuing with my honest," Tyler said. "What's that?" "Meeting you guys was going to make me nervous as well. I mean, in Alabama, when y'all were outed, I was so jealous of you. Then, when you came to Lorenzia to be with him, it was so cool. I mean...country gay boy that found his prince charming..." "...that actually turned out to be a prince," Gavin finished his sentence. "Well. I will tell you that if you ever need to talk to someone, or if you get homesick or something, give me a call. I might not be able to do much, but I can be a good listener." "Gavin. Thanks. I appreciate that, a lot." "So are you excited about tomorrow?" Gavin asked. "I am," Tyler smiled as he looked at his future in-laws as they conversed with people. "I'm glad that our families are going to be there." "Mine will be, too," Gavin joked. "My mom said to tell y'all congratulations in advance, by the way." "They know." "Everybody in palace or attached to the Royal Family of Lorenzia in some way knows. God love her, but Mags has a mouth!" Gavin admitted. "Fun!" "Nah. We're all proud for y'all. Alex always wanted to be the first married, gay, Head of State, but he understands that this will be important not just for y'all, but for Morovia itself." "Do you think that they'll accept me, though, as the King's husband?" Tyler asked. "I can say for certain that they'll accept you. You have been the subject of several polls. They all show that Morovians admire you because you're willing to, in a sense, give up your life for a nation that you've never seen," Gavin noted. "How do you know?" "Alex talks to Zhola at least twice a week, and then tells me all about their conversations," Gavin said. "But I didn't tell you that, OK?" "Mums the word," Tyler answered. "GUYS!" Margaret, Lindsay, and Jen, said as they walked over to them. "We're going out tonight to one of the bars in the Old City," Margaret explained. "And y'all need to convince your men to come too," Lindsay went on. "Is it just me," Gavin started, "or are these two the same person, just with different color hair?" "I was just thinking the same thing." "Bitches!" Lindsay and Mags said, looking at them, each with their hands on their hips, as Jen stood back and snickered. "I'll talk to Alex," Gavin said, "but you know that Alex hates to go out too late." "Please. Y'all could go without doing it for ONE night," Margaret joked. "Yeah," Lindsay said as she laid into Gavin too. Tyler laughed. "Don't think you're out of the woods either, mister," Jen said to her best friend, smiling. "Tyler?" Gavin asked. "I'll talk to JD," Tyler added. "This could be y'all's pre-wedding party!" Mags said. "EXACTLY!" Lindsay and Jen concurred. After dinner, all the `kids', a group that included one Head of State and one soon-to-be Head of State, got dressed and piled into one large car that had been brought up at the request of Crown Princess Margaret. JD and Alex were reluctant at first, as both of them had already had long days, but Mags and Lindsay worked their magic. At the bar, there was one point when Tyler was sitting on JD's lap in the VIP room at the club where Margaret always went. There was a lot of drink that flowed as everyone got a chance to know a little bit more about the other. At one point, after Donya Ouença got to the bar to celebrate with them, Alex and Tyler were so drunk that they got into a playful argument about who's man had the better body. Gavin and JD both joked with the other for a moment. Gavin took off his shirt as Alex sat back and cheered. JD eventually gave in after Tyler convinced him that his honor was on the line. JD lifted up the top of his shirt and said, "I'm quite sure that someone would tell me that this was conduct unbecoming a King." "Fuck them!" Mags said as the girls laughed. Grinning and embarrassed, JD removed his shirt and stood next to Gavin. Mags and Lindsay both pulled out their cameras and took a quick snap before anyone could protest. "Damn," Donya said as she sipped her cocktail, "if I weren't a dyke." "I feel ya!" Jen said. Jen was technically bi; Donya was all out Lesbian, but there was a certain sense of camaraderie between them. A while after everyone had their shirts back on their bodies, the group left the club, but not before Mags and Lindsay pulled their queers onto the dance floor to dance to a club version of Avril Lavigne's "Girlfriend", with the chorus in Morovian. In the same car that had brought them, they all returned to the palace. In Lorenzia, they were all staying as special guests of the King and Crown Princess. Alex and Gavin retired to Alex's suite as butlers showed the others to their guest apartments. That evening, JD and Tyler were staying in the apartment on third floor in which Alex had lived as Prince of Lorenzia. Inside, they quickly started getting themselves stripped for bed. "JD," Tyler said as he stood on one side of the bed that still had silk sheets from the time when Alex stayed there. "Yeah, baby?" JD asked. "I'm sorry if I embarrassed you tonight," Tyler answered. "How did you embarrass me?" "With the whole making you take off your shirt thing," Tyler said. "Oh. That? That was nothing," JD answered. "To be honest, it was kinda nice to know that the man that I'm marrying in a few hours thinks that I'm hot enough to argue with a sitting Head of State about it." "I love you, JD," Tyler said as they climbed into the bed wearing only their boxers. "I love you, more," JD said. "Do you realize that we've had this argument twice in the last day?" "Oh yeah. And we'll have it every day until you admit that I'm right, damnit." "Shut the fuck up and kiss me, JD," Tyler ordered. "Yes sir," JD said, an excited tone in his voice as he planted one firmly on Tyler's lips. In the Royal Apartment downstairs, Alex and Gavin were in a similar state of affairs, arguing playfully as they got ready for bed. It wasn't often that Gavin spent the night at the palace, but this was one of those exception nights, since they both had to be up early for all that was to be going on the next day. "So I talked to Tyler earlier," Gavin told him. "He seems like a nice guy," Alex noted. "He is. He's nervous as hell about being in Morovia, though." "Did you tell him about the polls?" Alex asked. "Yes," Gavin said. "Did you give him your number, in case he needs anything?" Alex asked. "Yes... I did," Gavin answered as he snuggled into his man. "I also told him that you always wanted to be the first married, gay Head of State." "It's OK, though. We're just in love. They're in love AND their rebuilding a nation. It's more important than us just being happy," Alex noted. "So true," Gavin said as he kissed the back of Alex's neck. The next morning, everyone woke early and began getting ready for the day. Alex was busy in his office as everyone else put on suits and dresses for the events that were to come. "Majesty," Marcia said as she came into the office as Alex read through some papers. "You know, Marcia, I will never know how Mom did this. Some of this stuff is still so very confusing for me," Alex said with a frustrated look on his face. "You know. She didn't get the hang of it for a while. She winged it, and not as well as you, might I add," Marcia smiled. "Here are the papers that you requested," she said as she handed him a piece of paper. "Oh! I will need this, won't I?" Alex said as he smiled. "The Great Hall is set up and ready for everything," Marcia added before turning and walked from the office. "Thank you, Marcia," Alex said. "Good morning, sir," Marcia said as she was closing the door. "Good morning, ma'am," JD said as he stood in the office. "Um... Could I speak with His Majesty?" "Send him in!" Alex said as Marcia re-opened the door. Alex stood as JD entered the room. "I'm sorry for bothering you..." "I think that you are the first person who's ever said that, but no," Alex stated, "you're not bothering me." "Good," JD said as Alex motioned for him to have a seat on the sofa that was in the grand office that had been used by Lorenzian kings for centuries. "Majesty..." "Alex. We're equals, remember," Alex said as he sat across from JD. "Alex. I want to thank you for all that you've done...not just for me, or me and Tyler, but for Morovia. Zhola tells me that you have been a great ally to have and a great friend to the Morovian people." "Really, JD," Alex started as Marcia brought in some tea that she'd quickly perked in the outer office, "it's nothing. My mother always said that you don't negotiate the price of a garden hose when your neighbor's barn is burning. Actually, I think she stole that from someone, but I'll give her credit for it." "Still though," JD said. "Six months ago, I wasn't sure if I could ever be ready to take on such a large responsibility of ruling a nation. In fact, I considered not accepting the offer for a little while." "Why?" Alex asked. "I just wasn't sure that I could do it," JD said. "I think it was Tyler that helped convince me that I could." Alex smiled. "When my mom died, Gavin didn't leave my side. He encouraged me, and told me that I could do what I thought was impossible. Sometimes, it's good to have a voice like that." "No lie!" JD said as Marcia handed them each a cup of tea. "So do you have any advice for me?" "Marry the man and enjoy every minute of it," Alex joked, knowing that JD wasn't asking that. "What His Majesty is trying to say," Marcia smiled, "is that you should live every day, and take things one step at a time. Above all else, don't second guess yourself, because your subjects will be like wolves and sense even the slightest amount of fear." "That's exactly what I was going to say," Alex winked as JD grinned. "Permission to speak freely?" Marcia asked Alex. "Marcia," Alex looked at her, as if she needed to ask that question really. "OK. May I offer a piece of unsolicited advice?" she asked JD. "Please." "Keep Zhola around for a while. She knows how everything works; she knows people that you will grow to know; and she won't let anything happen to you or Morovia," Marcia said. "I was actually going to ask her to stay," JD said. "She's a wonderful person, really," Marcia added, cutting off a personal comment that she felt wouldn't have been appropriate. "She's always seemed like that," JD said. "By the way, you guys have about an hour," Marcia noted. "Oh!" Alex said. "Would you like some breakfast or something?" he asked JD. "Oh no. I'm nervous as everything right now. I'm afraid that if I ate something, I'd get sick." "Don't be nervous," Alex noted. "You two are gonna do great things. And I don't mean to offend, but Tyler is really cute." "Isn't he though," JD said with a smile. "He has been a rock for me these last few months. I don't know what I would have done without him." "I just thought about something," Alex noted. "What's that?" JD asked. "So in March, there will be two sitting gay Heads of State, and each of our partners will be from North Central Alabama." "They're both farmers' kids." "And they both have that adorable, adorable accent," Alex noted. "Right!" JD exclaimed with a smile on his face. "So I should probably get going," JD said after a sip of tea. "No rush," Alex said, standing as JD stood. "It's fine. You've probably got a lot to do before everything." "Actually. This is a very, very slow day," Alex noted. "No meetings until this afternoon, so I'm good." "Well, Alex," JD said, seriously and looking deep in Alex's green eyes. "Thank you." "If you ever need anything, give me a call." "I probably will," JD smiled. "Cool," Alex said as JD walked from the office. "And JD?" "Yeah?" JD turned to him. "You're going to have to wing it, and when you do, just be confident in your decision and things will go OK," Alex advised. "Thanks," JD said as he walked from the office. "Ma'am. What was your name again?" "Marcia, Highness," she said as she stood. "Congratulations on your wedding." "Thank you," JD said as they shook hands and just before he left the room. Returning to the third floor, JD found Tyler showered and getting dressed. The minute the door opened, Tyler smiled at him. "You know this is bad luck," Tyler noted. "Fuck bad luck," JD said as he walked over to him, wrapped his arms around Tyler's waist, and kissed the back of his neck. "Or we could just fuck," Tyler noted. "So where did you run off to?" "I went to talk to King Alex for a bit," JD said. "Have a nice talk?" Tyler asked. "We talked about you, so it was the best," JD said. "Ahem," Maxima said as she stood in the doorway of the room, having quietly entered as they talked. Both guys turned around, though, to find that not only Maxima was there, but also Tammy. "Uh oh," Tyler said. "Right," JD noted. "How are y'all this morning?" Tyler asked, a smile on his face. For some reason, they seemed to know what was going on. "We know what's going on," Maxima noted. "Mom. I'm sorry. I wanted it to be a surprise. I mean, Tyler deserved to have a title, too, and to be known as somebody other than just my Prince. And I figured that, if we got married before the ceremony, that Tyler could have this title with me," JD said as Tammy smiled. "Here ya go," Tammy said as she handed Maxima a note worth ten Lorenzian pounds. "What's going on?" Tyler asked his mother. "We had a bet going to see which one of you would break first," Tammy answered. "We didn't really know what was going on," Maxima told them as they walked over, "but I'm very happy for the two of you." "I am, too," Tammy said as she kissed JD and Tyler, both on the cheek. "I do have a question though," Maxima said with holding one finger in the air while holding her other hand on her hip. "What's that?" "Which one of you gets walked down the aisle by your dad?" Maxima joked as Tammy snickered. "You guys are too much!" JD said. That morning, in what turned out be a relatively private scene, filled with little pomp and even less circumstance, JD and Tyler walked into the Hall of Kings, to where Alex was standing, with the Prime Minister beside him. Each of the men had a smile on their faces as they both knew what was about to happen. Maxima and Tammy were crying, but Bob and Tom couldn't figure out why. Lindsay, Jen, and Margaret were sitting with Conner as Gavin's parents sat behind them. As they reached the end of their walk, hand in hand, each dressed in black suits. "Who shall witness this ceremony?" Alex asked. "I will," Jen volunteered, followed quickly by Gavin's mother. Both of them knew that, under Lorenzian Law, a wedding had to be witnessed by two people, but the two people couldn't be related by blood or marriage to the official or either members of the couple. "Joseph David Thomas Leandro, Crown Prince of Morovia," Alex stated as he looked over at Gavin. "Do you come to this ceremony freely and of your own accord?" "I do," JD answered, quickly. "Tyler Ray Hall, do you come to this ceremony freely and of your own accord?" "Yes," Tyler answered, looking at JD. "JD. Repeat after me," Alex said as he took a sheet of paper from the Prime Minister. "I, Joseph David Thomas Leandro, do take this man to be my husband." "I, Joseph David Thomas Leandro, do take this man to be my husband..." "Wait," Tom whispered to Maxima. "I just thought JD was gonna get a medal and then we were going." "Shhh..." she quieted him as JD continued repeating vows. "Tyler," Alex started. "Ready!" Tyler said as all the married people in the audience snickered a little bit. "I, Tyler Ray Hall, do take this man to be my husband." "I, Tyler Ray Hall, do take this man to be my husband," Tyler repeated. "I promise to love, cherish and honor him, through all things good and bad." "I promise to love, cherish and honor him, through all things good and bad." "And I promise to be faithful to this man." "And I promise to be faithful to this man," Tyler said as he looked into JD's eyes. "For as long as I shall breathe." "For as long as I shall breathe," Tyler said. After rings and a kiss that made all the people blush, except for Lindsay, Margaret, and Jen, both men were inducted into the Order of the Magnolia, the highest Royal Honor that Lorenzia could bestow upon someone. Within moments, Maxima was on the phone with Zhola, who at first was upset that she couldn't have been there to see the wedding. When Maxima explained that they didn't know about it until right before it happened, Zhola seemed OK with it. After the ceremony, they had a private lunch in one of the dining rooms in the palace. Conner was the entertainment, really, as he was all about flirting, quite relentlessly with Lindsay, Jen, and Margaret all. "What about your girlfriend?" Margaret asked the seven-year-old brother of her twin's man. "You know. I love Karlina," Conner started, quite seriously in his tone, "but she pales in comparison to the three of you. Jen, you've got a great smile. Lindsay, you smell so good." "What about me?" Margaret asked. "Baby, you know you have the nicest tits on the planet!" Conner said as everyone there laughed, except for Paula. "Conner..." "Sorry," Conner said. "We're gonna discuss this when we get home, young man," she said, sternly. After lunch, the cars were called once again as the Morovian Royal Family departed for their homeland in Morovia. Unlike the day before, though, there wasn't anyone in Cabocha waiting on them. As the plane took off, everyone kept their seats, rather than going off into other rooms. It was certainly because of the fact that the flight from Cabocha to Morovia would take less than an hour. Even JD and Tyler took the moment away from being newlyweds to just enjoy the short trip to the land that awaited them...or rather the destiny that they were going to fulfill.