"Turn please."

Katherine rolled her eyes and turned in a half circle for what seemed like the thousandth time. Ever since the wedding date had been changed the palace servants and friends alike had been none stop with preparations. For the past two weeks Katherine had been in and out of dresses, her hair had been curled and un curled, up and down, and everything in between and still the stylists hadn't made a decision.

"I don't like it take it off." The large woman said pointing to Clara to help Katherine out of the white dress.

"Shoot me now." Katherine muttered under her breath to Clara as she pulled the dress up off her head. Clara hid a grin behind her hand and Katherine had to stifle a laugh.

"Ah yes, this is the one. I just know it!" The woman said clapping her long manicured hands together as Clara pulled the next dress on over Katherine's head.

"You said that last time." Katherine muttered earning a snort from Clara.

The woman had Katherine try on another three dresses before she gasped in delight at the sight of Katherine standing awkwardly on the stool.

"It's perfect! Completely perfect! Take a look!" She ordered to Katherine pointing at a flirt length mirror.

It was a very pretty dress, it was more simple then any of the others she'd tried on. It was pure white and lacey, it covered her shoulders nicely so it didn't make Katherine feel to exposed unlike the other dresses had done. She was happy with it, even if it did symbol the end of her life.

"You like it? Good. Now on to your hair, I'm feeling good about today. We may even be completely done by five if we work fast." The woman said directing Katherine to a seat. "You!" She said pointing to Clara. "Let's try a French braid."

For the next hour Clara was directed by the woman in what to do with Katherine's hair. Naturally Katherine had no say in what she did and didn't like so she kept quiet mostly.

"You look like you having the time of your life." Clara said quietly in her ear. Katherine snorted at her choice of words.

"Yea, this is so much fun." Katherine agreed sarcastically.

"Ya know, it won't be so bad. Jacks a nice guy." She said softly.

Katherine's eyes dropped her her lap at Clara's words. She was trying to comfort her but Katherine wasn't sure if she could be comforted right now.

"I'm sure he is." Katherine said stiffly.

"I know him Katherine, I really do. We used to be-" but her sentence was cut short by a tall guy with short black hair and a buttoned up shirt.

"Clara, I'm sorry to intrude but this just came for Miss Pulitzer." He said smiling apologetically at Clara.

Katherine watched in the mirror in front of her as Clara's cheeks turned a bright red. She smiled sheepishly back and took the letter from him.

"Thank you David." She said.

"Miss Pulitzer." He David guy said bowing to her as he backed out. He smiled again at Clara and left.

"Who's that?" Katherine asked turning in her seat to smirk at Clara.

Clara coughed awkwardly and rubbed the back of her neck.

"David, his name is David. He works here too." She said swallowing and handing Katherine the letter.

Katherine smirked at her best friend and opened the letter. She scanned the letter briefly before reading it.

Dear Miss Pulitzer,

Please join me, your father, and Jack for supper tonight. We wish to discuss matters of the wedding, please be at the dinning hall at 7:30 sharp. Thank you.

-Medda

Katherine sighed and folded the letter back up, of course it was about the wedding. What else would it be about? Ugh, Katherine vowed never again to look at the color white after all this was over.

"Who is it from?" Clara asked having recovered completely from seeing that David boy.

"Medda, she wants me to meet with them for dinner."

"Why?"

"To discuss the wedding. What else? I swear when this is all over I'm gonna convince the Prince to outlaw anything with lace." Katherine said sarcastically.

At that Clara busted up laughing Katherine following suit. Soon they were doubled over in laughter at the thought, clearly they were both sick of it all.

"Hey! What is going on in here!? I told you to do her hair! Not mess around! Get back to work!" The woman called shaking a big fist there way.

The two sobered immediately trying hard to contain there laughter. Katherine smiled at Clara in the mirror very great full for her.

<><><><><><><><><><><><>

As 7:30 approached Clara helped Katherine into a light purple dress that Katherine absolutely loved. Purple was one of her favorite colors and some how made her feel pretty. Katherine left with a thank you to Clara and headed off to the dinning hall. Her feet patted silently against the cool floor as she turned the corner, her thoughts drifted to Clara and that guy named David. She so obviously liked him it was kind of hilarious, when Katherine had asked her about him Clara had shrugged it off and changed the subject leaving Katherine suspicious. Still, she wasn't worried, she'd get the truth out of her sooner or later. She'd have to ask-

"Well maybe I don't want to do any of this!"

"Don't say that! Of course you do!"

Katherine's train of thought stopped abruptly as she heard vices shouting down the hallway. The voices were obviously Medda and Jacks. Katherine sprinted to the corner and peeked around carefully, she spotted Medda shaking her head at the Prince in disapproval.

"I know you don't like this, I know you don't want to be cooped up like this! I get it okay? Your just like your father, he never could sit still but could you just... hold still for like three seconds?!" Medda asked obviously peeved at Jack. Her happy go-lucky personality replaced with annoyance.

"But I don't wanna-"

Medda cut him off with a glare. Katherine pressed her back up against the stone wall knowing it wasn't polite to eavesdrop, but she was curious. What on earth could they be fighting about?

"Jack..." Medda said slowly. "I know this is hard for you, all of it, but I need you to be strong okay? You have 7 days to figure this out, only 7 days... now, I admit... I am such a selfish person, I really am, you know that. All I'm asking you to do is try. Just... try."

There was silence and Katherine didn't dare peek again in fear they would catch her. The only thing she could hear was the silent bubbling of the fountain in court yard.

"Okay." Jack said after what felt like an eternity. His answer was weak and broken but it made Medda laugh with joy.

"Oh! That's my boy! Now come, the Princess should already be here." She said and Katherine heard there footsteps retreating.

Feeling both confused at what she'd just witnessed and panicked because she was late she took off down the hallway making a bee line for the big oak doors. When she reached them she took a moment to catch her breath and smooth out her dress, she fixed her posture and headed in fixing her face into a smile like always. She entered the same time as Medda and Jack did on the opposite side, Pulitzer was already seated at the big dining table waiting patently.

"Welcome Miss Katherine!" Medda said any trace of annoyance from only moments before seemed to have vanished. She embraced Katherine and led her over to Jack who had sat down across from Pulitzer. Katherine sat down next to Jack as Medda made her way around the table to sit next to her father.

"Tell me again Joseph, when will Elizabeth be joining us?" Medda asked instantly starting a conversation.

"She will be arriving the 16th along with my daughters childhood friend." Pulitzer said as smiling helpers put plates of good smelling food in front of them.

"Who?" Katherine asked suddenly her head snapping up.

"Have I not told you? Darcy will be attending the wedding also." Pulitzer said.

For the first time in a few weeks Katherine felt herself get genuinely excited. Darcy was her best friend since they were kids, him and Katherine used to take lessons together and afterward they would always sneak some money from Pulitzer to go buy an ice cream down the road from the castle. Darcy's family wasn't royalty but were patrons to the Pulitzer family, so Darcy had always been around when Katherine was home.

"He's coming? Oh thank goodness!" Katherine said feeling her heart race in her chest with both relief and excitement.

She hadn't seen him since he'd moved away two years ago to start a printing business down east. She hadn't thought she'd be so excited to see him again.

"Well that's wonderful!" Medda said "Will anyone else of New Times Square be attending the wedding?"

"Defiantly, I've invited many of my close friends to attend along with the people of New Times Square to be present as well." He said fixing his tie.

"That reminds me Joseph, we will need to have press at the ceremony so everyone who wishes to see pictures may do so in the next morning paper." Medda said tapping the table as if she was mentally writing something down.

"Yes , I will handle that if you take care of the rest." He said with a chuckle. Medda laughed her booming laugh almost glowing with happiness. She didn't look at all sick tonight and Katherine hoped it had just been a small cold, she seemed to be a light with happiness Katherine wondered what it was all about. Had Jacks simple "okay" been enough to change her mood from pleading annoyance to happiness?

Katherine glanced over at Jack and noticed his food was completely untouched, his jaw was set and he looked like he was trying hard not to say anything. He noticed her starring and Katherine looked quickly away her face going slightly pink. Why couldn't she just keep to herself? Everything her mother had taught her would of came in handy if she could of just listened to them!

"So kids, here's what I have planned." Medda said leaning forward to get there attention.

She failed on Katherine's part and Jack soon followed suit as she began to explain the whole outline of the wedding. Why was she telling them this anyways? It's not like thy were allowed to say anything that would make them change anything.

"Then right after the wedding there will be the reception in the same room, we will have a full symphony playing-"

Katherine tuned her out nodding her head and looking at her to but still not listening.

"Then of course I will make sure all of your stuff Katherine, is moved into the master suit along with Jacks stuff and-"

"Wait a second." Jack said cutting Medda off. "Your moving my stuff where?" He said his voice strangely calm.

"To the master suit of course, surly you don't expect to fit two people in that place by the stairs you call a room." Medda said obviously disapproving of Jacks strange sleeping arrangements.

"I like it in there." Jack said sitting up straight almost as if he was ready for an argument. He looked offended at the mere thought of Medda hating on his room.

Medda chuckled "Just like his father that one, always finding places to hide. Not like it's a bad thing but, well... lets just say his father would always win at hide an seek when we were kids."

Jack closed his mouth obviously waning to say more but deciding it best to keep his mouth shut. Katherine wondered idly about his father, where was he? What about his mother? Why weren't they ruling the country? She shrugged it off hoping in due time she would be able to unlock all the mysteries.

"Like I was saying," Medda continued. "Everything will be in order by the time the 18th arrives, I quite excited are you not?" She asked the question meant for no one in particular but Jack and Katherine stayed silent.

After that Pulitzer engaged Medda in a conversation about Germanys threat on Mexico. Katherine ate her dinner in silence hoping she could make a good enough excuse and be able to slip away to her bedroom. Her plans however were ruined by Jacks quiet statement.

"The things we do for the people we love."

Katherine set her fork down and looked over at him, her was stareing at a flower on her purple dress so she knew he'd been talking to her.

"Do you really believe that?" She asked quietly not exactly sure if she wanted Pulitzer or Medda hear.

"Believe what?"

"In... well, in loving someone?" She said feeling awkward for asking.

Jack shrugged "I dunno really, but I'm pretty sure I'd do anything to make Miss Medda happy." He said it with grudging affection, almost like he didn't want to admit it. Katherine knew that had to do something with the argument they'd recently had.

"Maybe that's what it is. Happiness." Katherine thought allowed. It would make since, if you were happy with someone then you loved them. Right?

"Possibly, or maybe it's just the way people drive each other crazy." He said his eyes narrowing slightly as if a thought was bugging him. Katherine grinned thinking about how her father drove her own mother "crazy" Elizabeth Pulitzer would constantly complain that her husband always took all the hot water when needing a shower. Of course it was mostly teasing but it always made Katherine happy for some weird reason when they bickered playfully.

"Yea, I guess it's just some kind of crazy endearment." Katherine said with a grin.

Jack snorted "Endearment eh? That's a big word, ya sure you know what it means?" He asked flashing her a smirk.

"I know perfectly well what it means thank you very much." Katherine said defensively. "Do you know what it means?"

"No. Wanna tell me?" He asked still smirking at her.

Katherine had the strange sensation that someone was beating a hammer against her chest. Was he flirting with her? She wasn't entirely sure, this was a whole new side to him and Katherine wasn't sure about it yet. There seemed to be an air of cockiness about him and she wondered if this was how he was like when he was being himself. Was there more to Jack Kelly that meets the eye?

Obviously there was.

He looked more relaxed than Katherine had ever seen him, usually he looked as if the walls around him were about to collapse. His elbow was on the chair and he was leaning close to her, his jaw for once wasn't clenched and his face seemed relaxed and open. It was almost like a terrible burden had been lifted off his shoulders.

"It means a word or phrase expressing love or affection." Katherine quoted straight from the dictionary that she'd had to read for her writing class a few years ago.

"Wow I would of never guessed that."

"Context clues, context clues are your new best friend." Katherine said with a chuckle.

"Ya know your really not that-" but before Jack could finish his sentence Medda interrupted him.

"Oh that reminds me Jack! We're gonna need that old play set of your fathers to be fixed up! Heaven knows it won't be long before we've got a little one running around who's gonna want to play on it!" She said beaming at the mere thought.

Katherine wasn't exactly sure what Medda ment by that but all she knew was Jacks good mood had instantly diminished and he was back to a having his jaw clenched and shoulders tence. Katherine blinked only realizing a second to late what it meant.

"But not that soon... right?" Katherine said her eyes dropping sheepishly to her lap.

"Well of corse that soon my dear! Your gonna want an heir as soon a possible, not to mention it's been years sense this castle had been filled with running feet and laughter! I'm quite excited are you not?" Medda asked obvlious to Katherine's furious shaking of the head.

She knew she was gonna have to have a kid sometime but she hadn't expected it to be so soon. Panic clouded her thoughts and all she could think about was how terrified she was about the prospect of having a kid in the near future. Medda continued to gush about how excited she was to hold a bran new baby and Katherine found herself completely tuning it out her entire body now filled with fear. It was as if time had decided to speed itself up in Katherine's mind, before she knew it the wedding didn't feel so far away.
In fact, it was only 7 days away. 7 days and her life would change forever.

Scared was an understatement.