Requested by: MichaelaTheWordsmith
OC: Celestine Louise de Medici

From the first glance of what was heard about America, the revolution, and the nearing war, most would say it was intriguing. But one girl found it very intriguing, in a way that others didn't seem to see it as.

She wasn't like most women in New York, for she was noted as a princess. That title wasn't a lie, for she was a princess, not that she much looked up to the title as highly as people might think.

A few occasional passerby acknowledged her and her recent arrival. Their respect and mercy kept the young woman on her feet. She was desperate to do something to stop the war happening. Her mind buzzed with ideas, but everything she said seemed to be shoved away.

Although being in England had its perks, it was not the life she ever dreamed of having. Her parents had introduced her to the man she was to be marrying in a short amount of time.

At the thought of him, her heart flipped. There were many different things she felt for the Prince. Augustus was attractive, she would admit, but just not her type.

Brushing a lock of dark brown hair behind her ear, she hurried along the streets. A few redcoats gave her looks. They knew very well she was from England, a part of their league, which to them was reassuring. But what they didn't know was that she was no longer on their side.

However, as her mind was going wild with all the thoughts one woman could have, she heard someone shouting her name. "Celestine!" The streets were crowded, so she practically had to push through groups of people to find who was calling her.

When she reached a small patch of empty space, her eyes widened. Oh no. Standing a few feet ahead of her, was a familiar face that she knew all too well. With her making arrangements to leave England, never had she expected to cross paths with this young man again.

A gust of wind almost knocked her off her feet in surprise. She rushed to grab her dress and maintain a steady posture. Two strong hands gripped her shoulders before she could react.

"Celestine, it's me! Don't you remember?"

Of course she remembered. Celestine pushed herself away from the gentleman, feeling a little too close for her liking. "How could one not remember you, Monsieur Lafayette?"

Lafayette, a well respected soldier, beamed down upon the woman in front of him. She looked just as beautiful as the day he had seen her last. "Madam, it has been too long."

Shielding her eyes from the sun glare, she nodded. "I suppose it has." There was a pause as she thought of something else to say, only to be cut off by the dashing man.

"Shall we catch up? I have missed you dearly since our last meeting."

Celestine nervously chuckled. "How kind of you to offer. I'm not able to though. I have important business matters."

Seemingly unaffected by the decline to his invitation, Lafayette kept trying. "May I escort you to wherever it is you need to be?" He stuck his hand out and Celestine could see it was shaking slightly.

There were voices in her mind saying not to let him, but she shook them all away. "That'd be lovely." Their arms linked and Lafayette secured his grip on the young princess.

For a few blocks they walked in silence before Lafayette said, "What brings you all the way across the ocean?" Celestine shyly smiled, hoping she wasn't blushing.

"I wished not to stay in England any longer. My father is dreadful, he constantly is by my side and telling me who to be. When I heard there was a war, I fled here and have been trying to help the Generals and soldiers work something out." In defeat, she sighed. "But they don't believe my opinions are valid, as I am a woman."

Lafayette turned his head to face her. "You are quite an intelligent woman, Celestine. I don't see why your opinions are ignored, for you're a woman who demands respect. Is that the only reason you fled? To have more control and excitement?"

Although the princess went quiet for a minute, seeming calm, she was starting to panic. How can I tell him I'm to be married to a Prince? she thought restlessly to herself. Her relationship with Lafayette was wonderful and she dared not break it.

"I-I-" "You can tell me."

Celestine stared at a redcoat, her eyes boring into his firm gaze. "I'm to be married to a Prince." The response she received was quite what was to be expected. Lafayette stopped her, giving her a disapproving look. He pulled her roughly to the side of the road, making way for a carriage.

The once beaming man now looked down at the woman he knew so well with pity. "Excuse me?" Celestine backed up a few steps. "Look, it's not what I-"

Interrupting her, he spat, "Have you forgotten us? Have you forgotten all that we had?" Taken off guard, Celestine reached forward to touch his arm. "Laf, that was one time. I thought you had-"

"Forgotten? How could I forget getting to be with you and getting to love you?" There were tears in his eyes. Celestine had never seen any man she knew cry before. She didn't know how to comfort him.

Lafayette bit the inside of his cheek. His mind was running insane, as he tried to comprehend the situation. Celestine was to be married? His hands clenched info fists and he choked up the emotions he was holding back.

Celestine daringly said, "I met him a few months ago and my parents planned the whole thing. I don't control any of that. And if they knew that we had..." She trailed off, her eyes flitting the area around them. "That we had been secretly together, our lives would fall apart."

Lafayette didn't respond, for he had no words to say or express his feelings. However, his heart broke at the idea that Celestine thought it was all just a fling. He had devoted himself to her in those few months, giving her love, making her happy. And being with her had made him so happy.

"I...love you."

Celestine snapped her head up. "What did you say?" The man in front of her whispered it again and she stared at him shocked. She had never expected in all her years of living to hear those words said to her, let alone from Marquis de Lafayette.

Her heartbeat increased. She dearly wished to say the same words back, but it was all too soon. "Lafayette, I can't change this marriage."

"Do you love him, then?" Lafayette was practically breaking down in front of many people. Celestine had never seen him so concerned and emotional in her life.

"I don't know!" Her words stung him. Lafayette backed away. His mouth felt dry but his eyes wet with tears. Had he been foolish to assume they were still on the terms they had been before?

Celestine was desperate. "Laf, listen I-" He stepped back, narrowly avoiding a box of goods. He hadn't seen Celestine in so long, and to get this as his welcome back was shocking.

"If you love him, then be with him. Who cares about Lafayette anyways? Besides it was just a fling!" Although he laughed it off, it sounded more like the pain was being hidden from her sight.

"I don't know what to say." Celestine twisted her hands together and bit her lip. Lafayette noticed a few years in her eyes. He let out a long breath of air before speaking.

"You needn't speak, love. If you are to marry this man, I suppose it's best for me to step out of the picture. I shouldn't have overreacted." He hung his head, looking at the ground.

Being the sensible woman she was, Celestine rushed to his side and tried to get him to just listen to her. "We have something, Laf. I don't want that to be taken away."

There was another gust of wind, only this time he embraced her. It was a protective embrace, one that Celestine never wanted to leave. She rested her head against his chest. Her heart was telling her a million different things that were impossible to understand.

Lafayette hesitated before kissing her forehead softly. She could feel his body flinch ever so slightly in defeat. "Take your time. If you'd rather marry him, then be married. But miss, don't forget the love we once shared." He placed a single hand on the side of her head affectionately. "Or the love we can still share."

Celestine gulped. She felt so torn. It would be wrong to run off with Lafayette, but just as wrong to leave him broken-hearted. She pulled away and smiled weakly.

Looking into his eyes made her feel dizzy, the way it did when they had been secretly together. She wished so dearly to love him without any hiding. But when her thoughts wandered back to the handsome Prince, she sighed to herself.

Lafayette kissed her hand, before taking a couple steps back. He was observing her, as though it might be the last time. "Take your time, Celestine." And with that, he sharply turned on his heel before disappearing amongst the townspeople.

She was left in the middle of the cobblestone road. Celestine let out a long sigh, shutting her eyes. How could she feel so affectionately about two men? It seemed wrong. She had always vowed to only devote her heart to one man. But it was a difficult decision now.

Celestine opened her eyes. Remembering where she was, she picked up her pace and headed to a nearby General's house, which had been her original destination. As she passed people, they politely exchanged hello's, as well bows to her.

She wandered down the road more and more, thinking to herself. If she were to marry the Prince, she would stay royal and treated higher than others. But if she were to devote her love to Lafayette, she would be closer to achieving her dreams of being close to politics and the uprising happening just at her fingertips.

And even though the young, spirited woman in that moment felt torn between men, her heart lifted at the possibility of finding love.

. . . . . . . . . .
A/N: Thank you to MichaelaTheWordsmith for requesting this! I really like Lafayette and I enjoyed writing this. Don't worry, you guys got another one shot with Lafayette on the way!