by Alex Tryst

Dedication & Author's Note: See Chapter 1.

Feedback: Drop me a line if you’d like at alextryst@e-scribblers.com.

Copyright © June, 2008 by Alex Tryst. All Rights Reserved.

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Two months later Alexa and Lauren took a trip to Virginia to spend the weekend at the palace. Even though Alexa was suspicious of her lover’s motives, she did not mention it. The two of them had never been away together without the children nor had they ever come to the country estate. However, Lauren had requested that they do so, enticing Alexa with the promise of horseback riding and completely uninterrupted time together. It was an inducement she could not resist, even though she wondered what had been the catalyst for the idea.

Upon their arrival, they changed and headed out to the stables. Alexa then requested two horses be prepared for a ride, but Lauren overrode it by suggesting they ride on one horse. Raising a brow in her direction, Alexa said nothing to her but then turned and echoed Lauren’s request.

When they were alone, Alex curved her arms around her lover. “You are not quite yourself today,” she mentioned with a smile as she brought Lauren’s body to hers. “I am not sure what is going on with you, but I like the change of pace,” she whispered, kissing her cheek lightly.

The redhead smiled as she leaned up to kiss Alexa. “It kind of feels like old times when it was just the two of us,” she said. “After all this time, I have forgotten what it felt like. I look forward to our weekend tremendously.”

“As do I, but I must admit I am feeling disinclined to go riding at the moment when I have you all to myself. I could think of better things to do,” Alexa whispered as she softly began to kiss along Lauren’s jaw. “You smell incredible.”

“Flash,” Lauren mumbled. She felt hands rise from her waist to the edge of her breasts. Her body quickly was forgetting the agenda she had set. Reluctantly she stilled wandering hands. “Trust me. I have slated time for that starting right after dinner and lasting well into tomorrow. This will be your only scheduled chance to ride. I promise you that.”

“Then what divine torture you have devised in the interim by making us ride together.”

The ride proved to be challenging for them both. Each playfully tortured the other to raise the expectations for the evening ahead. Lauren tried not to think too much about what she was going to do after dinner. She had no doubts that Alexa would be receptive, but she was still nervous that she was about to propose to the queen of her country.

Dinner passed much of the same way that the day had gone. They hardly consumed their food as they kissed and fondled each other at the table. When it was clear the moment had come for them to adjourn to their room, Lauren managed to extract herself from Alexa’s embrace.

Alexa sensed a change in her lover as she watched Lauren take a sip of her wine and a deep breath. It was such an abrupt change from their canoodling that she wondered what had brought about such a significant pause. Reaching for Lauren’s hand, she quietly asked, “Are you all right?”

Lauren nodded. “Of course. I just needed a moment to breathe. Things are getting a bit more intense than expected over a plate of food,” she teased a little.

“Well, shall we retire for the evening?” she questioned.

“In just a moment. There is just one thing I wanted to talk to you about before we go.”

“All right. What is it?” she asked, bewildered by the change of events.

Lauren turned toward the brunette and placed her hand on Alexa’s. Gazing deeply into dark eyes, she said, “Lex, I love you so much.”

“I love you too, Lauren.”

“Lately I have been thinking. There is something I want from you, but I was not sure that you would be receptive, or that it was the right thing.”

“What do you want? Another baby?” Alexa joked softly, caressing her lover’s hand.

Lauren shook her head. “No. Good guess but no. Actually I want something much more than that.”

“You want me to run away with you and renounce my throne?” she continued to tease, sensing that Lauren was nervous.

That brought a small smile to Lauren’s face. “Quite the opposite, actually. I want you to remain the queen that you are.”

“Then what is it? Tell your desire and I will appease you.”

Lauren paused before rushing through her words. “I want us to get married.”

“What? I am not sure I heard you correctly. Did you just say you wanted to get married?”

Lauren slowly nodded. Pulling the ring box she had been hiding in her clothes that day, she opened it and put it on the table. “This is for you. I want to marry you, Lex,” she said.

Alexa looked at the diamond-encrusted ring sitting in the box. It was atypical for an engagement ring, but she immediately liked it. “Lauren, this a beautiful ring.”

“I want you to have it. Will you marry me, Lex? I know I have not always been the ideal partner for you, but I hope that I can be going forward. I want us to be married. It is what I have always wanted, and I want our daughters to have two mothers who are married.”

“I, of course, accept, but are you sure this is what you want?” she asked.

She nodded. “It has taken me a long time to get to this point, Lex, but I am sure. I have accepted that I am in love with my queen, and to be with you the way I always wanted, I must sit beside you. I am fully prepared to do that if it means I can have my greatest wish, which is to be your wife.”

Alexa gave a large smile as she leaned over and wrapped her arms around her fiancée. “You have made me so incredibly happy, darling. This is what I have always wanted, and I am thrilled that you are willing to sit beside me. I am glad our girls will know their parents as married and happy.”

Lifting the ring out of the box, Lauren gently slipped it onto her queen’s hand. “I thought this would be most like what you might want.”

“You chose beautifully, and I cannot wait to return the favor. For now though, I believe we have an after-dinner commitment to keep, and I cannot wait to make love to you, my most precious gift.”

Smiling Lauren leaned to kiss her fiancée sweetly. “And I cannot wait to become yours once again.”

Well into the next day the two did not stray from their room but finally they knew it was time to head back to the city. As they rode in the back of their car, Lauren and Alexa called Matthew to share the news. He was told to have the girls ready to see them when they arrived, so they could tell them the news before it was announced to the world. He said he would have everything prepared upon their arrival back to the palace, which he did.

As soon as Alexa and Lauren arrived, he ushered them off to see their children, but they were pleasantly surprised to also see Thomas, George, Kelly, and Morgan all there as well. Alexa smiled at the collective group as she and Lauren hugged their children. “Thank you for getting everyone together, Matthew,” she said. Turning to her family she said, “Lauren and I have something we wish to tell you.”

“You are having another baby?” George joked with a chuckle.

“No. Good guess, though,” Alexa noted. Turning to her girls, she knelt down before them. Lauren joined her. “Mommy and I have something important we wish to tell you.”

“Mom and I are going to get married,” Lauren said with a smile at their two eldest. “What do you think of that?”

The girls began to cheer as they hugged the two of them. “Will there be a big wedding?” Anastasia asked.

“We do not know yet, but I am going to let Mommy do whatever she wants,” the queen responded. Looking up at her brother and father from her spot of the floor, she saw them both smiling.

“Congratulations, both of you. This is the best news the country has had in a long time,” Thomas said.

“Everyone always hoped this would happen,” George added.

“Well, it is official. Lauren asked, and I said yes.” Alexa held up her hand for her family to show off her ring. “Now it is my turn to get her something just as beautiful.”

“When will you tell the people?” Thomas asked.

Alexa looked at Matthew. He answered for her. “There is a press announcement scheduled in less than an hour from now. Lex, would you like to make it yourself, or shall I?”

Alexa looked at Lauren. “Perhaps you would like to do so, darling?”

She shook her head. “Not without you.”

“Then we shall do so together. However, we should try to give them some details. Do you have any idea what kind of wedding you would like to have, or when you would like to do so?”

“I would like something private. I never imagined a large wedding, just family and friends.”

“Small it is then. Of course I would like to do this as soon as possible, so you do not have a chance to change your mind,” she teased.

“Not a chance but the sooner the better.”

“Next week then,” Alexa announced to Matthew. “We can have it right here at the palace chapel. As soon as the announcement is made, Lauren and I will make a guest list and figure out our clothes. Contact the priest at the Cathedral and make sure he is available.”

“Certainly. Now let us get the two of you prepared.”

Lauren smiled down at their girls. “We will be back soon,” she promised. Taking Alexa by the hand, she said, “Let us go.”

Heading to their room, they changed into more appropriate clothes to meet the press. When they were prepared, they walked hand in hand to the main entrance hall. Even though conferences were typically held inside, Matthew had the press congregate in front of the main palace steps on the clear evening. The two women could see him standing there talking when they moved outside. Coming down the stairs together, they stopped just behind Matthew and waited for him to stand aside. When he did, Alexa smiled at the gathering.

She looked into the cameras and began to speak, “My fellow Americans, thank you all for allowing us into your lives this evening. This is a special day in the history of our country, for we have some news we wish to share with you.” Turning to Lauren, Alexa gestured for her fiancée to speak.

Lauren smiled nervously at the crowd. She had never spoken in public before, and she knew this was a tremendous moment in history. Taking a calming breath, she said, “Thank you for coming. Lex and I- I mean Her Majesty, Queen Alexa II and I- are here to announce that we will be joined in marriage next week.”

The queen then added, “We wanted to share this wonderful news with you as soon as practical. We will be having an intimate ceremony here on the grounds of the palace. Official photographs will be released later to the public, but the media will not be allowed on the grounds for the next week to prepare. Afterwards, Queen Lauren, our children, and I will be taking some family time before we resume our duties here at the palace. We appreciate the respect of our privacy during this week, and look forward to meeting with you again soon, as we take the Washington family and the country on the first steps into our joint future,” she said, curving her arm around the redhead. “Thank you once again for your time. God bless you all. Good evening.”

As they headed inside, Lauren, asked, “Is it always that nerve-wracking?”

“You will get used to it. You did well.”

“I must remember to try to refer to you properly in public.”

Alexa smiled. “I did not mind.”

“It seemed so odd to hear you say Queen Lauren. I cannot believe that will be me.”

“It is just a title. Instead of being Mrs. Alexa Washington you get to be Her Royal Highness Queen Lauren.”

“I think I like the sound of Mrs. Alexa Washington better,” she admitted.

Alexa shrugged. “You will get used to it. I promise. Now we must discuss what to do about this wedding. I can think of all the people I want to invite already. What about you?”

Lauren nodded. “I have a very short list. Matthew can make those arrangements.”

“And what will you have me wear?”

“What would you like to wear?”

“Anything you desire. Standard protocol would be my military uniform, but as has already been established many times, we are atypical. I can wear a tuxedo or a morning suit if you would like, or if you want something a little less formal, I can wear a suit. What are you going to wear is probably the better question. I will wear something to coordinate appropriately.”

“Actually, I already have a dress.”

“Really? I do not ever recall seeing a wedding dress amongst your possessions.”

That is because it is not a typical wedding dress. I bought it a couple of years ago, but it has been in its storage bag ever since. Secretly I always hoped we would one day be able to do this.”

“Well, what does it look like?”

“I refuse to tell you. I wish for it to be a surprise.”

Alexa nodded. “Very well. What will go best with it?”

“I would like to see you wear your morning suit.”

“Then I shall. What about the girls? I assume you wish them to be a part of the service?”

“Of course. We need to work on their outfits. I am sure we can find something suitable for them in such a short amount of time.”

Continued in Chapter 17

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