I fall onto my bed and begin to cry. It's been a month since Fritzi confronted me, and nearly that long since I broke it off with Basil. Today he left a note with his private cell number on it and a request for me to contact him as soon as possible so that we can discuss everything. I made it through the week pretty well without seeing or hearing of him but today when I found that message I nearly broke. I've missed our lunch dates and conversations. I did not even know how much I loved them until it stopped. 

I brush away the tears and stifle another sniffle. Why am I crying? Basil's note told me that regardless of anything his family might pull to keep us apart, including Fritzi, he won't give up on me. He really does not care about extended consequences. It's heartwarming yet scary how he is so willing to rebel just to date me. 

I pull out the crumpled paper from my bag and smooth it out, gazing at Basil's handwriting. I know he was rushed when he was writing this, judging from the somewhat sloppy print which is still better than mine, which is downright chicken scratch compared to my cursive. 

I wrestle with the idea for a few minutes. Should I risk contacting him? It all comes down to listening to my mind, not calling, or heart, which is saying that I should contact him. I once read that if we're afraid, than we're doing something wrong. I also remember a quote from one of my favorite movies that basically implied the principle that love is costly. The question being whether or not we're willing to pay the price for it. I sigh and grab my phone, adding Basil's number to my contacts. I then take a deep breath and tap the 'call' button. 

In two rings, it picks up, "Hallo?" 

I am relieved to hear Basil's voice on the other end, "Hallo. Ich bin Frau Roux. Sind Sie Prinz Basil Kaiser?[Hello, I am Ms Roux. Are you Prince Basil Kaiser?]"

"Ja, Am Apparat! [Yes, speaking!] Oh, Zipporah, it is wonderful to hear your voice." 

"Likewise, Basil." I reply, trying to conceal the hoarseness of my voice due to the earlier crying. There is a pause on his end and I wonder if he's going to hang up. 

"Are you alright? You sound a little raspy, Zipporah." 

"I'm fine, don't worry about it." 

"Then I suppose I will cut to the chase... Zipporah, Fritzi put you up to this, didn't she?" 

"... She blackmailed me, you could say..." I hear low growling and massage my temples. 

"I should have known!" 

"Fritzi saw us and put two and two together, Basil." 

A sigh, "She's always been this way. I'm sorry you had to deal with her. I should have confronted her and the rest of the family before,"  I exhale, listening to his smooth voice. 

"It's alright, Basil. Not everything can go the way we want it. And even if you had informed your family, I have a feeling that Fritzi would not be the only one threatening me." 

"... Zipporah, why are you doing this? Why did you listen to Fritzi?! I told you not to worry." 

"She wanted to send me back to America, and I wouldn't be able to provide for everyone there if I lose this job. I also worry about you and your family. You're a prince and I'm an expat, no more. Why are you pursuing me? Fritzi believes that I'm only a toy to you. A fling-" 

"And are you listening to that nonsense? Zipporah, you've never been a toy or a fling. I asked you out because I genuinely admire and am attracted to you. I couldn't care less about our occupations and circumstances. I couldn't care less about what my family could say or do. I'm only a half blood to them and the only person who cares is my mother..,"  Basil sighs, "... I told her about you and I haven't seen her so excited in a very long time. She wants to meet you, Zipporah. I want you to meet her just as much." 

"Oh, Basil..." I fade off, trying to dispel another fit of sobs. 

"I will be honest, Zipporah. When you dumped me I thought it was a test, so I did not take it seriously. But when you refused to interact with me, and I realized that we'd actually broken up, I couldn't bring myself to move on and forget. You're the only woman I've ever truly felt for and I don't want to let you go, so I won't without a fight. I'm not bound to Fritzi and I don't plan on it, so please stop worrying about her and reconsider." 

"Basil, I've barely made it through this month. I did not comprehend how much it meant to be with you until I turned you away. But even if I don't worry about Fritzi, I am a worrier. I have a billion things to be concerned about. My family, for one, is the biggest. And you, Basil, are another." 

"Why do you worry about me and my family so much?" 

"Because I've been through the drama and heartbreak of a family tearing itself apart. I know the pain of losing loved ones. I don't think the world needs a royal house undergoing that, and I can't imagine what it would do to you. I don't think you realize all that you have with them." 

"And you think that if our family would disintegrate just because I chose you over Fritzi?" 

"Something like that." 

"Unfortunately, my family's been unstable since my mother married the king and had me. I could desert them and the only tantrum thrown afterwards would be that the royal house didn't get the advantageous union with Rask Industries. I'd risk it for you." 

"You are." 

"Precisely. I'm risking everything. Will you leave me, hurting and all, just because you're worried about my family?" This statement hits home. 

"I'm not just worried about you and your family, Basil!" I can't contain a whine followed by an outbreak of tears, "I'm already taking the risks and I'm worried about how this all could affect my family. We've had enough pain." 

"I worry too, Zipporah, and I have from the beginning. I knew this would be hard, but I know that it's worth it. Won't you please reconsider and spare me the pain which has plagued me for a month?" I think on it for a long time, then finally stop crying and smile a little. 

"Alright, on one condition." 

"Anything!" I giggle at the relief and pure ecstasy in his voice. 

"You go confront your family while I talk to mine so we can smooth things over. If I lose my way to keep my loved ones afloat, I'll never forgive myself." 

"It's a deal!" 

Yes, it's long, but I hope you all liked it! I really need input and ideas, comments and likes are really encouraging and help me keep this story going! Thanks!

~Uilosris