A/N: Saw the premiere of Princess Protection Program, and was inspired. There's just so much left to be told of their story, so I wanted to give it a shot and try to write what I believe should happen. In this story, Rosie isn't Queen yet. Carter is back home while Rosie is in Costa Luna.

Sorry if this chapter is somewhat confusing. If you have any questions, please ask. I'll clear them up for you. It was also become clearer as time goes on. Just keep in mind how Rosie has grown up. Her morals are very different than Carter's, so that's why she feels this way about herself in this chapter. Also, this is a Carter/Rosie story, so if that isn't your cup of tea, well, then you might not like this story. J Enjoy!

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Princess Rosalinda wasn't selfish. In fact, most of the citizens of Costa Luna would agree that their Princess was anything but. She was the epitome of selflessness.

And that's why she felt so guilty.

She was entirely responsible for an entire county. How could she put her wants above all others? How would that be fair?

Rosalinda rested a hand against her cheek, the other holding the cell phone up to her ear, sighing.

"-and to top it all off, Dad's leaving for two weeks in three days," came Carter's voice across the receiver.

"I'm sorry," Rosie said sadly. "I know how much that hurts you."

She realized that if Carter was there with her, she'd say some sarcastic comment about her language and how undeniable proper and blunt it was. Regular girls don't speak like that, she'd say, somewhat jokingly. And then Rosie would reply with a smile, "Well, I'm not a regular girl, am I?"

There was silence on the other end for a moment, and then, in almost a whisper, "It doesn't hurt me." It was a lie. "I just don't like to be home alone. There's nothing to do here by myself. I'm going to bored out of my mind."

Rosie shook her head, sighing again. "Your Dad will be fine, Carter," she said reassuringly. "And you'll have Ed to keep you company while he is away."

She couldn't help but feel jealous that Ed was there with her and she wasn't. The truth was that Rosie missed her friend.

And there it was -- the guilt. It was overwhelming. She shouldn't put her wants above others, she reminded herself. It wasn't fair. And trying to find a way, without being honest about it, to make Carter come to Costa Luna was wrong.

Right?

"Ed's boring," Carter said, complaining, and Rosie almost laughed. She knew Carter loved the poor boy, even if it was just as a friend. "And if you were here, then we could go swimming or something. It's getting warm here, you know. Perfect swimming weather. I can't go swimming alone."

"Carter-"

Her voice was sad, and she heard her friend sigh across the phone.

"Okay, I'll stop trying to convince you to come visit me, even though you totally could. It's not like you have a whole country to run or something."

Rosie smiled, despite the guilt and the sadness. What if-

She shook her head. No, she thought. Those thoughts weren't right. Her mother taught her to be selfless, and that was what she would be. Completely and utterly selfless. She would not come up with a plan to bring Carter to Costa Luna, and that was final.

"It's ten PM," Rosie said. "I'm sorry, Carter, I've got to go."

It was her mom's rule. Princesses and future queens weren't allowed to be on the phone past ten PM. It was bedtime, and running a country starts at six AM in the morning, bright and early.

She heard Carter groan. "What am I going to do by myself? I'm so bored already!"

"You'll be fine," Rosie said, rolling her eyes, smiling. "I'll call you tomorrow."

"Promise?"

She felt the ache again in her chest, the one that wished for Carter to be there with her in person. It wasn't the same just hearing her voice over the phone.

"Promise," Rosie said, standing up from her chair as she heard a knock on her door. "Goodnight, Carter."

The door opened as she flipped the phone closed, revealing her mother, who stood against the door frame, a gentle smile on her face.

"Carter?"

Rosie nodded, grabbing the brush from her nightstand and pulling it through her hair, which was getting longer and longer by the day. It reminded her of when she first met Carter. It had been the same day she felt her heart plummet when they chopped almost all of her hair off as part of her transformation.

"I need to talk to you about something," her mother said, and Rosie looked at her, waiting.

"It's about your coronation. It's in three months, as you know, and it's tradition that a ball is thrown in your honor. I was thinking that maybe it would be nice if you invited Major Mason and his daughter."

Rosie's eyes lit up, her mind already working in overdrive. It was perfect. She could use the excuse, in the mean time, that since Carter's Dad was on leave, Carter could stay with her and her mom in Costa Luna. And, best part, she could explain that she needed Carter's help in preparing the ball.

Then, Carter could fly back down for the actual ball itself. That way, she could spend three, full weeks with her.

Just as fast as Rosie's eyes lit up, they darkened. She couldn't do that, could she? She had expectations of herself. Her country had expectations of her. Was it wrong of her to lie in order to see her friend? To have her live with her for three entire weeks?

And was it really a lie if all she had done was set this up in order to see her friend? Was that selfish of her? Was it wrong to put her wants and needs above the citizens of her country? To spend time with Carter instead of helping others? Instead of going to charity events? Instead of reading to the first grade class at Costa Elementary School?

"I think that's a wonderful idea," Rosie said, placing the brush on her nightstand and stepping toward her mother.

It was now or never, she figured. She had to decide.

Selfish or selfless? Guilt or no guilt?

Damn it, she thought, courage building up inside of her. She hoped she didn't regret this. She hoped that nobody thought less of her. She hoped that Carter didn't hate her when she found out she lied in order to spend time with her.

"I was wondering, Mom," she started, her voice shaky. "Do we need any help preparing the ball?"

Her mother's eyebrows scrunched, obviously confused. "If you're worried that your ball will not be prepared in time, then do not. I've hired much help."

Rosie ignored her. "Maybe Carter could help? She said she needed a summer job. We could pay her. Really, we owe it to Major Mason for saving my life. And yours. It would be the right thing to do, yes?"

Her mother seemed to think about it for a moment, then nodded. "That's very generous of you, Rosalinda. You've really grown into a wonderful, young lady."

"Is that a yes?"

Rosie swallowed the guilt rising in her throat. She could do this.

It was worth it.

"Yes," her mother said, smiling softly at her. "You may inform Carter of this in the morning. For now, it is bedtime. Sleep well, my love."

She kissed her forehead, and then left the room, leaving Rosie to her thoughts.

Would Carter even be interested?