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Chapter Text

About almost four weeks after Melody was born, Morgan, her family and friends were all relaxed and enjoying their nice vacation at the beach. It was a vacation beach where you could spend the whole summer there. Robert even had enough money to pay for the Master Sized Duplex. Morgan was told by Peter that she got the best room. It was mainly because she had the Oceanside view, could see the beautiful palm trees and sandcastles that people have made. 

Right now, Morgan lay back on a beach chair, sunblock on her face, sunglasses, a glass of lemonade, and was reading one of her new fairytale books. George had got it for her about a few days before Melody’s birth. It was about a princess named Isabella who met a prince named Jack. They fell in love, but the princess’s parents disapproved because they already had a prince picked out for the young maiden, Brian. He wasn’t what you would expect out of a prince. He was spoiled, pompous and always wanted his way. She didn’t want to marry him, she loved Jack, so the two had to fight for their love and overcome any obstacles that got in their way. The story was called True Love Never Dies.

Morgan smiled as she watched everyone having a great time. Sarah and Robert were both in the sand, and he was showing her how to make a sandcastle. Peter was playing Volleyball with Megan, they were both using a Beachball, and Megan’s little sister, Cassie joined in. She was the same age as Sarah. Giselle was pacing around, back and forth, cradling little Melody in her arms. Melanie was near the waves, practicing her magic, she slowed down the waves by pushing her hands forward and chanting some spell, and as for George… What was he doing? Morgan wondered.

Morgan jumped as she felt someones hand tap her shoulder, she turned her head to see none other than George. He was holding a shell necklace in his hands and a charming grin was plastered on his face.

”George, you scared me!” She cried out, relieved that it was only him. 

“I’m sorry, I just, I wanted to surprise you.” He apologized.

”And you sure did a good job with that.” She replied sarcastically, half joking.

He smiled sheepishly “Uh, I got you a little something.”

He brought out the beautiful necklace and placed it in the palm of her hands. “I found these shells last night and decided to make you a necklace.”

She blushed. “Well, it’s the most beautiful necklace I have ever seen in my life.”

He grinned. “And that’s why I made it for you.”

Giselle walked over to them. “How’s your book coming along?”

”Great.” Morgan answered.

Giselle smiled down at the little infant in her arms. “I can’t believe it has already been almost four weeks since I gave birth to her.”

Morgan smiled. “Before you know it, she’s going to be Sarah’s age.”

Giselle smiled sadly. “Yeah. Speaking of Sarah, she’s going to be four in ten months and she’s going to be starting Preschool.”

George got out a surfing board and asked Morgan if she would like to hit the waves with him. She handed her book to Giselle, told her to put it in her traveling bag and followed George to the ocean.

”I’m kind of nervous.” She told him.

He gave her an assuring smile. “Everything will be fine. Just hold on tight.”

She smiled.

So George helped her get on the board once he was in the ocean. He was already standing on the board, he offered for her hand, she quickly grabbed on, then held onto the back of his shirt as they began to surf the waves, well, mostly George did all the surfing and Morgan had to admit, she was quite impressed.

”Where did you learn how to surf like this?” She asked him.

”Oh,” He paused for a few seconds. “My dad taught me back in Andalasia when I was just a little boy.”

”Well, he must have been a champion.” Morgan was very impressed.

”He was. He used to enter in all the Surfing competitions that they had every year.” George’s smile suddenly faded and became a look of hurt and sorrow.

”Until he died.” He muttered sadly to himself.

”What?” Morgan asked, shocked.

“He didn’t just die, he was k-killed.” George admitted, looking down at the water.

Morgan’s eyes went wide. “He was killed?”

He nodded. “He was attacked by his ex girlfriend, Minerva. She was upset because he was married to my mom instead of her.”

Morgan’s eyes filled with tears, seeing him so upset. She felt very sorry for him. “I’m sorry.” She apologized. 

“I guess he’s in a better place now, watching over me.” He replied, still looking down.

”Morgan! George!” Robert called. “It’s time for Dinner now. We’re all going to head for the pier and have lobster!”

”Coming, dad!” Morgan shouted.

Morgan got her pink towel and used it to dry off, Peter was using his Spider-Man towel and shared with Megan. Robert had let George borrow his, and Melanie was using her purple tower.

Giselle handed Melody to Robert so she could take Sarah over to the ocean. She laughed as Giselle splashed some water at her muddy clothes. “More, mommy, more! Again!” She begged. 

“That’s enough, sweetie, we’re going to get ready for dinner now.” Giselle replied.

After everyone dried off, they headed for the pier and entered the restaurant where they served lobster. They paid for the Lobster special and found a big booth to sit at. The spot they picked was in the right corner, near a fireplace.

”This is very lovely.” Giselle told Robert. 

He nodded. “The last time I’ve been here was when Gwen and I were still together.”

Morgan stopped chewing her lobster at the mention of this, he had just stated something about her biological mother, and in front of Giselle. “You mean you haven’t been to the beach in sixteen years?”

”Well, I was crushed when she left, so I didn’t want to do anything fun, then I became a lawyer, formed a relationship with Nancy, started dating, then I met this beautiful princess over here.” Robert explained, putting an arm around Giselle.

”Do you still think about my mother?” Morgan asked, curiously. 

“Sometimes, but not romantically.” He replied.

Morgan looked relieved, then again, why would he still think about Gwen romantically when he was married to a beautiful and kind hearted princess full of spirit? Would he? No, that would break Giselle’s heart and Robert wouldn’t do something like that to her.

”Who’s Gwen?” Peter asked with his mouth full of lobster, clearly, he wasn’t listening to the conversation.

Giselle smiled. “Gwen is Morgan’s birth mother.”

Peter grinned. “So you’re not really her mother then, you just adopted her?”

”No, I’m her stepmother.”

”You’re a stepmother?” He asked, surprised. “But aren’t stepmothers supposed to be evil?”

”Not all stepmothers are wicked, some stepmothers turn out to be very nice.” Giselle explained. 

Peter just shrugged as he continued to eat his lobster. Melody couldn’t chew since she didn’t have any teeth yet, so she had to eat baby food and Giselle had a few jars with her.

Morgan suddenly stopped eating, got out her book and continued reading. 

Giselle could tell that something was bothering her. “Is everything alright?”

“I’m fine.” Morgan lied.

Giselle was very concerned.

When everybody finished eating, they left the restaurant. Morgan was sitting at the edge of the pier, still reading her book. Giselle walked over and sat next to her. “I know something is bothering you.”

Morgan sighed.

”What’s wrong?” Giselle asked, concerned.

”It’s about my birth mother. I was just told about her almost a whole year ago, and how she left when I was born. Why would she leave?”

”Well, I don’t really know, Morgan, but what I do know is that you have a great family. You have Robert, two little sisters, a brother and you have me.” Giselle explained. “I’ve never even heard of my parents.”

”So,” She began, changing the subject. “You’re going to be starting High School pretty soon?”

”Yeah, on the 24th of this month.” Morgan replied.

”Are you nervous?” Giselle asked.

”A little.”

Giselle gave her an assuring smile. “Well, I’m sure things are going to be fine, George and Melanie are going to be with you.”

Morgan smiled a little. “Thanks, Giselle, for everything.”

”No problem.”

”So what page are you on now?” Giselle asked.

”Page 50, I’m getting closer to the wedding part where Jack stops Isabella from marrying the vain Prince Brian.”

“It seems like a very interesting book.” Giselle complimented.

”It is.”

Giselle smiled brightly. “Do you think that when you’re finished reading it; that I could borrow it?”

”Sure.”

”So, how about you take a little break from reading and we all go on a nice canoe ride?” Giselle asked, hoping to get her interesting in bonding more with her family since the vacation was almost over.

She smiled. “Well, I do love canoe rides.”

So they headed down to the shore and walked over to the waves and got on the canoe that was assigned to them.

Morgan enjoyed her last week of summer. She made sandcastles with Sarah, played volleyball with Peter, helped Robert and Giselle with Melody, and hung out with Melanie and George, but before Morgan knew, she had to get ready to go back to school.

Chapter Text

On August 23rd was the last day of Summer Vacation, so Robert and Giselle had to pack their stuff and get ready to leave. Morgan, George and Melanie decided to help.

”Come on, Peter!” Morgan called in a singsong tone.

”What?” He asked.

”Don’t you want to help us pack?” She asked with her hands placed on her hips. Her smile grew, knowing that the idea of helping would bother him.

“Aww man, do I have to?!” He whined.

She continued smiling. “Come on, you can even get your little ‘girlfriend’ to help.”

Peter’s cheeks turned red. “She is not my girlfriend!”

”Peter, are you coming or not?” Megan was near the ocean, waiting for him.

Peter rushed over to her. “Megan, we have to get ready to leave.”

”Oh.” She said, disappointed. “Right, of course.”

”But we could hang out more when we get back.” Her told her, though it sounded more like he was asking her.

”You promise?” She asked.

”I promise.” He answered truthfully.

She smiled. “Then let’s spit on it.”

She spat on her hand and Peter did the same to his.

”Okay, on…” Megan started.

”One, two, three.” They finished in unison, then they shook hands. 

Peter ran off with a big goofy grin on his face. 

“Okay, let’s start packing.” He said, happily.

”Why so happy?” Melanie asked, confused.

”Oh, no reason.”

Thirty minutes later, everything was packed. Everyone got in a big van and buckled up. Sarah, Cassie and Melody were buckled up in their carseats and Robert drove off. It took about an hour and a half to get home and Sarah had been crying when she found out they had to go back home. Giselle had trouble bringing her to the van and tried to explain to her that their vacation was over and Morgan and Peter have to start school tomorrow. The crying lasted for about thirty minutes. Robert drove to George and Melanie’s apartment to drop them off.

”Bye, Melanie, bye, George.” Morgan kissed him on the lips.

”Gross.” Peter said, grinning.

”It’s something you and Megan will be doing someday.” She said, teasing him back.

Robert drove home. Megan and Cassie lived in the same apartment. They were in the loft across from his.

”Sarah, we’re-“ Giselle stopped when she realized that Sarah had fallen asleep. She lightly tapped Sarah’s foot. “Sweetie, we’re home now.”

”No wonder why everything was so peaceful. She finally shut the hell up and went to sleep.” Peter commented.

”Hey, you watch your language, son, or you’re getting a timeout.” Robert told him.

”Dad, I’m almost seven years old now, I’m too old for timeouts!” Peter cried out.

”Not when you’re misbehaving and saying bad stuff about people.” Robert replied.

Peter slapped his head and mumbled some curse words under his breath.

Morgan was already on page 85. She probably would have already been on page 90 or 91, but Robert told her it was time to go and she could continue reading in the car. She didn’t get very far cuz she couldn’t concentrate with all the loud noise, mostly Sarah’s crying, Peter’s complaining, and noisy people shouting on the streets.

”Morgan, we’re here, sweetie.” Giselle told her.

Morgan sighed, put her pink bookmark on the page she stopped at, closed the book, then carefully got up from the seat. She didn’t want to make too much noise. The last thing she wanted was for Sarah to wake up and have to put up with her crying again.

”Come on, slowpoke, let’s go!” Peter whined.

”I’m gonna give you a slow and painful poke in the stomach if you don’t go somewhere far, far away from me.” Morgan warned.

Peter clenched his hands in a fist. “You better shut up, Morgan, I don’t have to take any of your crap. I am not scared of you or your threats, I will have you pinned down to the ground faster than you can say my name backwards!”

”Retep.” She quickly said, her arms folded with a smirk plastered on her face, seeing how upset he was.

Peter growled.

”Well, it looks like you can’t have me pinned down faster than I can say your name backwards, after all.” She told him, being a smart allec.

”That did it!” Peter punched Morgan right in the face and he punched her as hard as he could.

Robert and Giselle gasped.

”Peter!” Giselle cried out.

Morgan’s eyes filled with tears. He had punched her really hard and not only that, her nose was…bleeding.

Robert couldn’t control himself from yelling, even though he knew that he would wake up Sarah and Cassie. Peter had gone way too far this time. “Giselle, go take Morgan, Sarah, Cassie, Melody and Megan in the building, please.”

She nodded and did as she was told.

Peter was staring at what he had did to Morgan in shock. He couldn’t believe it. Did he actually make her bleed? He didn’t mean to go that far. “I’m-“ He was cut off by Robert yelling at him.

”Peter Philip! You are grounded!”

”But daddy, I didn’t mean-“ He was cut off again.

”When we get inside our apartment, we’re going to have a serious talk.” Robert was stern and angry as he spoke.

Both Peter and Morgan were in the living room, sitting on the couch as Robert spoke to Peter. They weren’t sitting next to each other though, Peter was on the left and Morgan was on the right. Giselle had just recently put medicine cream on her nose and a bandage.

”What you did was very wrong. You are so lucky that you didn’t break her nose, or you would be in worse trouble than you’re going to be in right now.” Robert explained.

”But you can’t ground me before I start school!” Peter whined.

Morgan didn’t even bother looking at the little jerk who made her nose bleed. She was angry, hoped to never speak to him ever again for as long as they both shall live, and maybe she could ask for a restraining order.

“Oh yes I can.” Robert replied. “I wouldn’t care if it was your birthday and all this happened. I would still ground you.”

He sighed before he continued to speak. “And since this is the first time you’re getting grounded, I’m going to go easy on you. Instead of two or three weeks, you’re grounded for this whole week. No watching TV, no desserts, no hanging out with friends after school, and you have to go to bed an hour earlier than your curfew. Instead of going to bed by eight, I want you in bed at seven.”

”No! Can’t I just get a timeout? Forget about what I said earlier in the car! I’m not to old for timeouts!” Peter was nearly on his knees, begging for him to change his mind.

Robert shook his head. “Sorry, Peter, but maybe next time you’ll think before you attack your sister.”

”But I made plans with Megan! We planned on going roller skating after school tomorrow!” Peter was on the verge of crying.

”Well, I’m sorry, but it looks like you’re gonna have to cancel it with her.” Robert replied. “Now end of discussion. I want you to apologize to your sister, then go straight to your room, lights out, no bedtime stories and into bed.”

Peter groaned then looked Morgan in the eyes. “Morgan, I’m really sorry. I didn’t mean to make your nose bleed. I didn’t think that was going to happen, I was just-“

”Never speak to me ever again and we won’t have any problems!” Morgan cried, with that, she got up from the couch, rushed to her room and slammed the door as hard as she could.

As her sobs were heard, Peter felt a sting of guilt. She hated him and didn’t want anything to do with him anymore. He really messed things up. He went way to far. He wouldn’t be surprised if everyone in the family hated him for what he did. “She- she didn’t forgive me.” He finally managed to say after about ten seconds of silence.

”I didn’t say she was going to forgive you, I just said to apologize, and I don’t blame her for not forgiving you. You really hurt her. It’s probably going to take awhile for her to accept your apology. Noe go take a quick shower, change into your pajamas, brush your teeth and hop into bed.

So Peter went in the bedroom he and Sarah shared, got his red Spider-Man pajama top and bottoms, boxer shorts, a pair of socks, headed for the bathroom and closed the door. He was in the shower for about ten minutes, then he dried off, put on his pajamas, brushed his teeth, went back in the bedroom, turned off the light and went straight to bed.

Morning arrived and both Morgan and Peter had to get up for school. Giselle went to go check on Morgan and wanted to see if her nose was getting any better. She knocked on her door and waited for a response. “Hello? Morgan?”

”Hold on a sec!” Morgan replied.

”It’s okay, sweetie, take your time. You have about forty something minutes till school starts.” Giselle replied.

Morgan had combed her hair and took out all the knots. She had on a light pink shade of lipstick, a pink shirt with pretty flower designs and a hot pink, sparkly skirt. She wanted to look just perfect for her first day of High School. She walked over to the door in a fashionable manor and turned the doorknob. “How do I look?” She asked.

Giselle’s jaw was wide open. “Wow, you look lovely.”

Morgan smiled. “Thanks. I have to go wait outside. I’m going to be walking to school with Melanie and George.”

Giselle’s smile faded as she thought about what happened yesterday. “How’s your nose?”

”Oh, it’s still a little sore.” Morgan replied.

”Peter didn’t mean to and he’s very sorry.”

”He doesn’t mean to do a lot of things.” Morgan replied coldly. 

“Look, I’m gonna go talk to him right now, and you have a great time and enjoy your first day of High School, okay?” Giselle gave her a quick kiss on the cheeks.

”Thanks, mom, bye.”

Giselle watched as Morgan walked out the front door. She sighed as she stared at Peter and Sarah’s bedroom door. Sarah was in the kitchen, having breakfast, and Melody wasn’t awake yet.

Giselle opened the door and saw Peter sitting on the left side of his bed, staring at the wall.

”Peter! Is everything alright?” She asked, concerned.

Peter continued to stare at the wall, saying nothing. He was almost completely frozen and it wasn’t till five seconds later that Giselle noticed he was still in his pajamas. “Why aren’t you dressed yet? It’s almost time to leave for school.”

”I’m not going.” He answered, bitterly.

”What?” Giselle’s eyes widened in surprise. “But you love school, you always get good grades and-“

”Everybody hates me.”

”Is this about what you did to Morgan? I know you didn’t mean to make her nose bleed and you said you were sorry. Nobody hates you, Peter, you’re a very great kid.” She told him.

”No I’m not, I’m lame.” He disagreed.

”Who’s telling you all this?” She asked.

“Butch and all his friends. They think I’m a big loser cuz I’m smart and love learning, and they make fun of me cuz I’m short.” He explained.

”Well, they are all wrong about you, Peter. You are not a loser, they’re probably just jealous cuz you get good grades.”

Peter sniffed. “So, you don’t hate me?”

“Of course not, and I’m certain that Morgan doesn’t hate you either. Now go get dressed and get ready for school.”

He smiled a little, feeling better.

Meanwhile, Morgan was walking with George and Melanie, the three of them holding hands, Morgan in the middle. They had been walking for about fifteen minutes and they were almost at school.

”I am so nervous about starting at a new school.” Melanie was fidgeting her fingers and looking down at them, nervously.

”Me too.” George agreed. “Junior High seemed scary enough and kids were so mean to me.”

Morgan playfully poked his stomach. “Aww, that’s because you’re so innocent and easy to fool.”

“Am not!”

”Are too.”

”No I am-“

Morgan let out a scream.

”What?!” George panicked.

”Look behind you! A giant grizzly bear with sharp claws!”

George screamed and jumped back. “Where?! Get it away! I’m too young to die!”

Morgan and Melanie stifled a laugh. 

“You cried wolf! Back in Andalasia, nobody ever did that when it came to grizzly bears.”

Melanie and Morgan playfully teased George about how ‘gullible’ he is until finally, they arrived their future, well, what they’d be going to for four years till graduation.

Chapter Text

There it was. Their destination point! High School. The campus was so beautiful. There were trees, grass, cement, tables to sit at, trashcans, a beautiful fountain, kids riding their bikes, some doing tricks on skateboards. Morgan, George and Melanie stood, too frozen and amazed to make a movement.

“Wow.” Melanie finally managed to say.

”That fountain looks like the one back in Andalasia. It was so beautiful. I removed the first time my dad took me to see it when I was just a little boy.” George explained.

”They had a fountain like this in Andalasia?” Morgan asked, curiously. 

He nodded. “The only thing different about the fountain in Andalasia, is that the water was colorful, magical and you could make wishes.

”Like a wishing fountain.” Melanie said.

The three friends continued walking after checking out their beautiful surroundings. They opened the doors. The doors that would lead them to their future and once they stepped in that building, their Freshman Year would officially began.

”I hope everyone’s nice here.” Melanie was still very nervous.

”It will be okay.” Morgan assured her, tightly squeezing her hand. “We’ll all be together.”

They entered the school building.

”Uh, Morgan?” Melanie asked.

”Yes, Melanie?”

”Are our lockers going to be next to each other’s?”

”I’ll go ask the principal if there are anymore available lockers that are close to each other.” Morgan answered.

The corridors were packed with kids, which made Melanie nervous. “What if nobody likes me?”

”George and I will still be your friends.”

”Well, well, well, if it ain’t the three little outcasts.” Said a voice that Morgan, George and Melanie knew all too well.

Angelica, and behind her, stood Cindy and Melissa. “You should have been held back, Slutgan. Word’s gonna spread fast about the whole Donny thing that took place last September, and how you totally broke his heart.”

”I did not.”

The mention of Donny again, made Morgan sick. 

“You should totally think about transferring to a new school, cuz you’re already a nobody here.” Cindy told her.

Morgan didn’t want any trouble, especially on her first day of High School.

”Let’s go, come on, we don’t want to ruin our new popularity by assisting with such losers.” Melissa told Cindy and Angelica.

The three walked off.

Melanie made a face. “Ugh, I hate those girls, they’re such showoffs.”

Morgan nodded. “Agreed. I’m gonna go ask about the lockers now.” She walked off and Melanie and George followed.

”According to this flyer I received in the mail, Mrs. Foley’s office is right here. We can only hope that she’s here.” Morgan knocked on the office door.

She stood back, waiting for the door to open.

”Hello?” The lady asked, opening the door.

”Mrs. Foley?” Morgan asked.

The woman nodded. “You want to ask me something about the school lockers.”

George gave Melanie a confused look as Mrs. Foley spoke to Morgan. “How did she know?”

”Cuz she’s in charge of assigning the lockers to students.” She replied quietly, only for George to hear.

”Well, I was wondering if maybe, you see, George and Melanie are my friends and I really want our lockers to be next to each other’s.” Morgan explained.

”Well, there are a few lockers near your Homeroom that aren’t taken yet. Follow me.”

She led them over to where their lockers would be. Morgan’s locker was in the middle, George’s was on her right and Melanie’s was on her left.

”When does our first class start?” Melanie asked.

”Um, in about-“ Morgan was cut off by the school bell. She looked around and noticed that the others were heading for their homerooms.

”Now.” She finished.

Their Homeroom was 107. They entered the room and Morgan, George and Melanie noticed that Angelica, Melissa and Cindy were in their Homeroom.

”Great.” Melanie muttered sarcastically.

Morgan and George took the last two empty seats that were in the front, and Melanie took the last seat in the second row, which happened to be behind Morgan.

”Okay, class, settle down. Now since most of you are new here, we’re going to go over some of our classroom rules.” The teacher was a man and looked somewhere in his forties. “My name is Mr. Dobsons, and I will be teaching English.”

He cleared his throat. “Anyway, on  to the rules. There will be no chewing gum in class,” He eyed one girl who just blew a bubble of pink bubblegum and made it pop.

”Whatever.” She replied to him, not really caring about the rules.

“No using cellphones.”

Angelica, Melissa, and Cindy quickly shut their cellphones off and shoved them in their backpacks.

”No passing notes, gossiping about people, no talking out of turn and keep your hands to yourselves.” When he was done explaining the class rules, he handed them English text books and a few pieces of paper.

English lasted for about forty five minutes, then after free period, it was time for second period, Math. Math was one of the subjects that Morgan really had trouble with. Math was in room 117. Their Math teacher’s name was Miss. Bea.

In Math class, Morgan didn’t get to sit by George or Melanie, all the seats were almost taken, except for one seat in the back next to where Cindy was sitting. George and Melanie were in the front. Sitting by Cindy, Angelica or Melissa was the last thing she wanted. She stood where she was, frozen.

”Is something wrong, Morgan? Any reason as to why you are not seated like everyone else?” Miss. Bea asked.

Morgan quickly snapped out of it. “Um, no, mam.”

”Then have a seat, you’re holding up the class.”

Morgan plopped down in the seat next to Cindy’s, and said girl had a smug on her face. 

Morgan sighed as she looked down at her desk, trying to avoid contact with Cindy.

”Okay, everyone should know what to do. Take out your math books and get out a piece of paper.” Miss. Bea told the class.

Morgan reached for her backpack, got out a perfectly sharpened pencil, an eraser and began to do her work. About five minutes later, she jumped when her shoulder was lightly taped. “Morgan, Morgan.” She whispered loud enough for her to hear.

”What?” She asked, slightly irritated.

“Having trouble, Slutgan?” Cindy asked teasingly.

”I’m doing just fine.” Morgan replied.

Cindy smirked. “Hmm.”

”Morgan Philip, there is no talking in class!” Miss. Bea said.

”She was the one who was talking to me!” Morgan cried out, getting a bad vibe about something. This teacher seemed to be very firm and serious looking.

”Well, you and your little friend need to keep quiet or you will be chatting in Detention.”

Morgan mentally puked when Miss. Bea referred to Cindy as a ‘friend.’

”Do I make myself clear?” She was deadly serious.

Morgan quickly nodded. “Yes, Miss. Bea.”

”Good.” Miss. Bea turned around and went back to her desk.

Morgan silently sighed with relief and for the rest of the period, tried her hardest to not pay any attention to Cindy’s whispers and focus on her math.

At around Nine O’clock, the bell rang again, and everyone was dismissed from Math class.

”Thank God that’s over with.” Morgan was telling George and Melanie.

They were at their lockers.

”Man, you must really hate math.” Melanie unlocked the combination on her locker.

”Not only that,” Morgan shoved her Math book in her locker. “Is it just me or does Miss. Bea seem to be a little too…” She couldn’t find the right words.

”Strict?” Melanie finished for her.

”Yeah, and when Cindy was whispering to me, Miss. Bea just told me to be quiet instead.”

”So, what’s for third period?” George asked.

”History, Mr. Wiki’s class, room 121.” Morgan replied.

”They should really have a Witchcraft class that teaches everyone magic.” Melanie said.

”Yeah, but no one in this school has magic.” Morgan reminded her.

Fifteen minutes later, they went to room 121. After History was Science, then Languish Arts, Gym, Lunchtime, then Chemistry. The last bell rang and everyone got their stuff and rushed out of the building.

”Aren’t you coming?” Morgan stopped walking down the steps when she realized that Melanie wasn’t following, George had stopped too.

”I left my books in my locker. I’ll catch up with you guys.” Melanie rushed to her locker.

Morgan and George were waiting outside by the water fountain for her.

When Melanie was walking down the steps, someone riding on a skateboard, crashed right into her, causing her to fall and drop all her books. She began to pick up all her stuff and as she was reaching for the last book, she felt a hand on top of hers. She looked up, it was a boy. He was dressed in black, had dark brown hair and chocolate brown eyes. 

He’s cute. Melanie thought.

He handed her the last book and helped her up.

Her heart was beating so fast and she could feel herself blushing. “Uh, thanks.”

”No problem. My name’s Mathew.” He replied, putting out a hand for her to shake.

”Melanie.” She shook his hand. 

There was awkward silence as the two just stared at each other, not knowing what else to say or do.

”Um,” He began, breaking the silence. “Well, I gotta get going. It was nice meeting you.”

”Uh, same here.”

”So I’ll see you tomorrow, right?” He asked.

”Yeah.”

He got back on his skateboard and Melanie watched in amazement as he took off.

Morgan and George were watching the entire thing.

”Well, it looks like our Melanie found love.” She told George.

Melanie walked over. “Sorry I’m late.”

”So, who’s the boy?” Morgan asked, dying for details.

”Oh, nobody, just someone who bumped into me, that’s all, it was nothing.” She answered nervously and very quickly while fidgeting her fingers.

”So, speaking of love, do you want to hang out? Just you and me?” George asked Melanie.

”Sure.” She smiled. 

Chapter Text

George and Morgan entered his apartment and walked in the corridors until they got near his place.

”Hi, Morgan.” It was George’s adoptive mother. Her name was Isabella. She always wanted a son and used to run a home, and when Robert told her about him, she decided to care for him.

”Hey.” 

“Come.” George said, grabbing Morgan’s hand. “I want to show you my room.”

Morgan stared in awe as she entered his room. He had a nice bed, a shelf full of action figures, an alarm clock, library books and a skateboard in the right corner. “Wow.”

George smiled.

”She got you all this?” She asked.

He nodded. “I helped her with chores, so she gave me green rectangle shaped pieces of paper with numbers on it.”

Morgan was confused for a second, then finally understood what he was talking about. “You mean money?”

George rubbed his head. “Oh, that’s what it’s called. I knew that name sounded familiar.”

She chuckled a little.

Since George was from Andalasia, he was innocent about most things like Giselle was.

”Well, you have a really nice room.”

”And that’s not all…” He paused for a surprising effect.

”There’s more.

He walked over to his window and slid it open. Outside, there was a nice balcony. She walked out into the nice fresh air.

”Wow, this is beautiful, I can see the ocean from here and that tree with those beautiful love doves sitting in a nest. George, this is very romantic.”

He smiled. “There’s more. I got two Food 4 Free tickets for Bella Nottes restaurant, and they have a beautiful rooftop with a garden, and at night, you can see the pretty city lights from below.”

”So, we got a date tonight at around sixish?” She asked.

”As soon as the moon is out in the beautiful sky.” He replied romantically.

”Ooh, I love it when you speak romantically.” She said with affection.

Meanwhile at Peter’s Elementary school, both he and Megan were just leaving the building. Peter was in such a great mood. He had a great first day. The lunch in the Cafeteria was better than last year’s, and he was smarter and getting better grades. He was so happy that he had completely forgot he was grounded for the whole week and had to cancel his plans with her.

”So, are we still going roller skating?” She asked.

”Of course! I’ll just ask my-“ Peter stopped when he remembered what happened. His smile faded. “I’m sorry, Megan, I can’t.”

Megan’s smile faded as well. “Why can’t you?”

Peter sighed. “Remember when I punched Morgan’s nose yesterday?”

She nodded.

”I’m grounded for this whole week.”

”So, we can’t hang out at all this week?” She asked, failing to hide her disappointment.

”I’m sorry.” He apologized sadly.

Megan shook her head. “No, I’m sorry that we were ever friends.” With that being said, she stormed off.

”Megan, wait!” He stared down at the ground with guilt…about everything.

At Six O’clock, both Morgan and George were on the Rooftop of Bella Nottes restaurant. They had climbed the staircase that led to their romantic fantasyland, and were seated at a table for two. It was just the two of them. Nice Italian music was playing and they were almost finished with their spaghetti with meatballs and pizza pie. There was a vase of roses and a little sticky note attached. It read, to Morgan, love George. XOXO.

”This is very romantic.” Morgan was telling him. “When I look down, I can actually see all the pretty city lights.”

A nice romantic Italian song had just begun, it was a male singing.

When I’m with you, I feel so alive

”Oh my God, I love this song!” She exclaimed.

George stood up from his seat and put out a hand, smiling.

She chuckled a little. “What?”

”May I have this dance, my lovely princess?”

She shared the same smile. “Why of course you may.” She replied, imitating a princess. She took his hand and got up.

She put her arms around his neck, he wrapped his around her waist and the two rocked back and forth to the music, both enjoying each other’s company. She even rested her head on his chest. When the song was ending, she looked up at him; they brought their faces closer and kissed right on the lips. 

You are mine and that is all you need to know

and when we’re together, nothing could ever go wrong

You and me forever, as it should be

Nothing will go wrong,

will ever go wrong,

when I’m with you

(Song ends)

At around seven, the two left the restaurant and he even walked her to her apartment.

”Did you have a nice time on your date?” Robert asked.

”Uh huh.” She nodded.

He smiled. “Great, so anyway, Melody’s already sound asleep, all Giselle and I have to do now is get Sarah to take a bath and then into bed.”

Giselle grinned. “That’s right. We just bought Sarah a little bed. Isn’t she growing up fast? Before we know it, we’re going to be getting Melody a bed, and Sarah will be in the first grade.”

”Did Peter go straight to bed?” Robert asked.

”Yeah, I tucked him in a few minutes ago.” She answered.

He sighed, causing Giselle to worry.

”What’s wrong?”

”I’m worried about Peter. He seemed to be bummed about something when he came home, he didn’t say anything, he just went straight to his room.”

”You want me to go check on him?”

He nodded.

She headed for Peter and Sarah’s room and knocked on the door.

”Come in.” Peter replied, depressed.

She opened the door and walked in. “Is everything alright?”

”Megan hates me.”

”What happened?”

”I told her I was grounded and canceled our plans.”

Peter and Giselle could hear the kitchen phone ringing; Robert picked up the phone. “Hello?”

”Oh, uh, sure, hold on.” He entered the bedroom with the phone.

”Peter, for you.” He held out the phone for him to take.

”Hello?”

”Peter?”

”Megan?” Peter asked, hoping it was her.

”Are you alright?” She asked, concerned.

”Uh yeah, I’m fine.”

”I’m sorry about what I said. I didn’t really mean it, I was just upset and needed some time to think. Are we still friends?”

”Yeah, and I’m really sorry I got grounded and broke my promise.” He apologized.

”It’s okay. Maybe we could hang out this Sunday; you know, when you’re ungrounded.”

Peter had a big smile on his face. “I’d really like that a lot.”

”So I’ll see you in school tomorrow?” She asked.

”Definitely.”

They hung up.

”See, I told you things would work out.” Giselle told him. She took the phone from him and brought it back in the kitchen.

For the rest of the week, everything went by smoothly, and when Sunday came, Peter and Megan went roller skating at Central Park and they had a great time. September quickly arrived, October came and then it was November, and that’s when things were about to change…

There was a knock on the door.

Giselle jumped up, getting excited. “I’ll get it!” 

She rushed over to the door and saw someone’s hand drop a letter into their mail slot. “Robert, we got a letter!”

He walked over and she handed it to him. “Let me see.”

He examined the envelope. It was written with an ink pen. It just said Giselle on it. No address, phone numbers, who sent it, or where they lived, just her name. Robert found that a little strange. “I think it’s just for you, Giselle.”

”Oh.”

He handed it to her, she opened it and unfolded the letter.

Dear Giselle,

We know it’s been years since we’ve seen you,

but we are very happy that you have found your prince. Anyway, we are hoping that we could stop by

tomorrow night for dinner, get acquainted and give you

our blessings.

Love Mom and Dad.

XOXO 

Giselle smiled as she read the letter. “I have parents! I do have parents after all, and they want to see me!”

”But they live in Andalasia. How were they even able to locate you and send you this letter?” Robert asked, puzzled.

”I don’t know. I guess parents just know things.”

”So when are they coming over?” He asked.

”Tomorrow night. Maybe we should cook dinner for them.”

”Yeah.”

The next day…

”So, did you understand that last problem on your math homework?” Melanie was asking Morgan. “I couldn’t decide if it was answer A, B, C or D.”

”I wouldn’t know. I’ve been horrible at math since the second grade.” Morgan replied.

Minutes later, they arrived the school campus. Kids were riding skateboards, Cheerleaders were practicing their routines, waving their Pom Poms, and chanting, and Angelica, Melissa and Cindy were by the water fountain.

”Don’t you just love my new shoes? I just got them yesterday.” Cindy explained, showing off her new sparkly pink shoes.

”I got new nail polish.” Melissa answered, showing off her nails.

”You see this totally hot outfit I’m wearing? I just got it yesterday and I’m totally going to attract Mathew.” Angelica explained.

Both Cindy and Melissa gasped with delight.

”You mean Mathew Twine, the new guy? And even though he’s only been here as long as we have, he’s already like the hottest guy here?” Cindy sighed dreamily, putting a hand on her heart.

”He is hot.” Melissa said.”

”Totally.” Cindy agreed. 

“By the end of this month, he is so going to be mine.” Angelica tossed her hair over her shoulder.

At eight forty five, Morgan was already getting ready for second period. She was only a few seconds late cuz she dropped one of her books.

”Any reason why you are late?” Miss. Bea asked.

Morgan’s jaw dropped. “What?”

As she studied the teacher’s expression, she got another bad vibe. This teacher seemed…sarcastic.

”I’m not that late, I just dropped one of my books and had to pick it up.” 

Duh. What did this teacher think? That Morgan was going to just leave it there on the ground for someone else to take?

Miss. Bea’s firm look turned into a smile, but it wasn’t a friendly smile. It looked like a smile that was taunting her. “Well, here’s some advice for you to prevent it from happening a next time. Quit being such a clumsy clutz, and their won’t be a problem.”

”A clumsy clutz?” Morgan said, mostly to herself.

”Now come along, little girl, don’t leave your fellow classmates waiting.” Miss. Bea waved her hands around as if she was swatting a fly and she was sarcastic again.

Morgan just looked down, feeling hurt, and walked in the classroom. She felt everyones’ stares as she sat down in the middle seat in the front row.

”Okay, class, sorry for the hold up, now get to work.” Miss. Bea eyed Morgan. “Give me that.” She snatched Morgan’s homework out of her hands and went to her desk. For the whole period, every time Morgan looked up, she could feel the teacher’s stares.

During free period, Morgan, George and Melanie were walking in the halls. “Glad that’s over with.” She told them.

As they were walking, Melanie bumped heads with Mathew who happened to be walking by.

”Oh, I’m-“ Her cheeks were a bright pink.

”No, I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have been in the way.”

Morgan and George glanced at one another, smiling. 

“So, did you understand the math problems at all? Cuz I didn’t get the last one and I’m really good at math.” Mathew told Melanie.

”I did okay, I guess.” She couldn’t control herself from blushing.

”Great, listen, I was wondering if maybe-“ 

The bell rang, interrupting him. 

“Okay, uh late.” He quickly finished. 

“Late.” She rushed to catch up with her friends.

Chapter Text

In History class, Mr. Wiki just entered the classroom and silenced everyone. Morgan and George were both in the front, Melanie was in the third seat in the second row, Mathew was in the third row in the seat next to the one in back of her. Angelica, Cindy and Melissa were in the back row and everyone had put their text books.

”I want you to focus on pages 136 through 185 at least.” Mr. Wiki explained.

Mathew got out one of his pencils and began to write on a piece of paper and when he finished writing, he folded the paper about two times.

Melanie was about to turn the page in her History book until her eyes spotted a piece of paper on her desk. She picked it up, opened it and read it in her mind.

Will you have lunch with me?

Mathew

She turned around and smiled at Mathew who was smiling as well. ‘Will you?’ He mouthed.

She turned back to her desk, the smile on her face never leaving, got out a piece of paper, wrote something down with her pencil and when she was sure he wasn’t looking, she used her magic to make it disappear from her desk and end up on his.

Mathew was getting ready to sharpen his pencil; then he discovered the paper and picked it up.

Yes I will

He smiled to himself.

When it was almost lunchtime, Melanie was entering the cafeteria with Morgan, but George was already in the lunch line.

”Come on, go for it. An awesome guy wants to have lunch with you. This is your chance.” Morgan told her.

Melanie just turned her head and glanced around. She saw Mathew already sitting at a table and he had two lunch trays with him.

””Come on, you can do it.” Morgan encouraged her.

Melanie walked over to where Mathew was sitting. “Uh, hi.” She said shyly.

He looked up. “Hey, Melanie, I got you a lunch so you wouldn’t have to worry about getting one yourself.”

”You really didn’t have too.” She replied.

He smiled. “No, I wanted to.”

At Peter’s Elementary, Peter and Megan were having lunch outside, sitting at a table across from each other.

”So, what did you bring for lunch?” Megan asked, putting her lunch bag on the table.

”A peanut butter and jelly sandwich, a plastic bag of grapes and a Sunny Delight.” He answered, taking out each item.

”My mom just made me a stupid tuna fish sandwich. She didn’t even finish, she was in such a rush to get to work.”

A few boys laughed as they were walking by and they stopped near Peter and Megan’s table.

”Butch.” Peter said through gritted teeth.

The bully that Peter told Giselle about, pointed at them. “Ooh, lookie here, it’s Peter and his ‘wittle’ girlfriend.” He got closer to Megan. “Are you enjoying your ‘wittle’ lunch?”

Megan made a face at him.

”That’s a pretty good looking sandwich. Well, it’s mine now.” He snatched it from her.

”Hey! Give that back!” She cried out, causing Butch and his friends to laugh.

”You want your sandwich?” He lowered it the second she tried to grab for it; he jerked it away. “Come and get it.”

Peter couldn’t take anymore of this, just watching it made his anger boil. “Leave her alone!” He blurted out, and the second after his outburst, he wished he didn’t say anything and he knew he was going to regret it once Butch got a hold of him.

Butch and his group snickered.

”What are you gonna do about it?” He came closer to Peter with his hands in a fist. “Huh?” He finished, sounding all tough.

”Um-“ Peter could barely speak as he just backed away, feeling defenseless and like a wimp, and the expression on his face was readable. He looked exactly as he felt and hoped that Butch would just spare him and let the whole thing go.

”That’s what I thought. You can’t do anything to me, you’re just a weak baby.”

Megan got up from the table and kicked Butch right in the shin and she kicked hard. “You better back off, Butch! You have no idea who you’re dealing with.” She gave him ‘The Death Glare’ as she said the last part.

Peter was watching her with astonishment and he was impressed. He knew that Megan was a tough girl and she could fight if she really needed too, or if she was pissed. She wasn’t just some weak little girl in distress, she was a warrior.

She squeezed her sandwich right in his face and he had tuna all over. Peter and Megan turned around, satisfied as a group of kids laughed at the humiliated bully and he ran off, crying.

”See you later, crybaby!” Peter shouted after him.

He and Megan fist bumped.

”That was amazing, what you did.” He told her, impressed.

She just smiled.

”I’m sorry about your sandwich.”

”Oh, that’s okay. It was all worth it, he totally deserved that, and plus, I never really liked Tuna anyways.”

Peter shrugged. “I’m not that hungry anymore either. Wanna go on the swings?”

”Okay, sure.”

They ran off together, hand in hand, and rushed over to the swings.

Meanwhile; Melanie and Mathew were just about finished with lunch.

”So, how are you liking it here?” He asked.

”It’s great, I get way too much homework though.” She replied, causing him to chuckle a little.

”Yeah.” He cleared his throat. “Well, I had a really great time. Maybe we could hang out like this again sometime?”

”Okay.” She slightly blushed.

This Mathew guy was definitely worth getting to know and he had a great sense of humor. She felt like they totally clicked, but some certain jealous brunette did not think that at all, a certain stuck up cheerleader who thought she was so cool and just had to always get her way. She was furiously watching them have lunch.

When school was out, Angelica walked over to Melanie who was at her locker, putting books away. “You better keep away from my man.”

Melanie turned and faced Angelica with confusion. “Huh?”

Angelica crossed her arms. “You know exactly what I’m talking about. I saw you guys having lunch together. How precious, you have fallen for my boyfriend and you think you can just take him from me.”

”He’s not your boyfriend.” 

“Not yet, but he will be…soon. You better just stay away or I’ll make High School a living hell for you until graduation.” Angelica threatened.

Melanie just scoffed. Was Angelica actually telling her to stay away from Mathew just because ‘she’ wants him for herself? Who did she think she was, threatening her like that? She wasn’t the boss and Melanie didn’t have to back off just because some girl who thought she was all that was jealous. Melanie was going to hang out with Mathew no matter what she said.

”I don’t have to do anything you tell me to do. It’s not up to you who I hang out with, you have no control over that, and if Mathew wanted to hang out with you instead, then he would have asked you to have lunch with him and not me.” Melanie pointed a finger at her.

She continued to speak. “And the only reason you want him is because he is already considered the hottest guy here and if you hang out with him or get him to be your boyfriend, that would make you cooler.”

Angelica scoffed. “Well, Mat’s not gonna want you for long; not as soon as he meets me, and if you try anything or even talk to him ‘ever again’ you’ll have to answer to me.” With that, the Queen Bee walked off on her heels, swinging her purse.

”That was amazing, Melanie, you sure told her off.” Morgan high-fived her.

”Oh, that was nothing.”

”No, she was pissed.

Peter and Megan were walking down the steps.

”I still think that what you did to Butch was amazing.” He was telling her.

”Yeah, maybe he’ll think next time before messing with us.” She replied proudly.

The grin on Peter’s face grew wider. “Remember when you squeezed that sandwich all over his face?” He was cracking up. “That was so hilarious!”

They both laughed.

”So, are you still going to see that movie with your mom?” He asked.

”Yeah, it starts at 4.”

At home, both Robert and Giselle were in the kitchen, making dinner. They were making spaghetti with meatballs, potato salad, yams, cranberries and chicken. 

“Everything is going to be perfect.” She told him.

He smiled a little and nodded. “Yeah, but I still think that it’s kind of strange that they know you’re here and married.”

Sarah was in the living room, playing with her toys and there was a knock on the door. “I’m home!”

”I’ll get it.”

”Don’t let him in.” Sarah told her.

“Sarah, that wasn’t very nice.” Giselle unlocked the door and let Peter in. “How was school?”

”The teacher gave me another A plus and Megan really taught Butch a lesson.” He explained.

”Oh, that sounds wonderful.”

Morgan just walked in. “Hey.”

”How was school?” Giselle asked.

”It was okay.”

At around six; there was a knock at the door.

”That must be them!” Giselle said, getting excited. She rushed to the door and turned the knob.

Outside the door, stood a man and a woman. They looked somewhere in their fifties. They were both wearing crowns and were dressed in royal robes. The woman was dressed in a red one and the man was dressed in a blue one.

”Come in.”

The woman smiled. “Hello sweetie, I’m Rhonda, this is Gregory, and we’re your parents.”

Giselle’s smile grew wider. “It’s very nice to meet you, I’m Giselle. This is my husband, Robert, his daughter and my stepdaughter, Morgan, and our children, Peter, Sarah and Melody.”

Robert had Melody in his arms, Sarah was pulling on his legs and hiding behind them. She was very scared of strangers. Peter was standing next to Robert on his left, and Morgan was on his right.

”We haven’t seen you in like thirty six and a half years and already, we have three beautiful and wonderful grandchildren.” Rhonda playfully pinched Peter’s cheeks. “So cute.”

He just frowned.

“Come on, sweetie, don’t be shy, say hello.” Giselle was telling Sarah who was still behind Robert’s legs.

”Uh, hello, sir, nice to meet you.” Robert put out a hand for Gregory to shake but he did nothing, he just stood there.

”So, when do we eat?” He suddenly asked.

Robert, Giselle, Rhonda, Gregory, Peter, Morgan and Sarah were at the table in the dining room and Melody was in her highchair.

”So how are you liking the spaghetti?” Giselle asked her parents.

”You really know how to cook.” Gregory commented with his mouth full of meatballs and his cheeks were puffy.

“Thanks, but I wouldn’t have even got this far if it wasn’t for Robert.”

Rhonda cleared her throat after drinking her glass of water. “So, speaking of Robert, how did you two meet?”

”Well, an evil queen banished me here cuz she didn’t want her stepson to marry me and give up her throne, so I was lost and had no idea where I was. I was lost and confused, nobody was very nice to me, it was raining, I was on the Castle Billboard, thinking it was the castle. I almost fell off, Robert caught me and then I met him and Morgan.”

”When did you fall in love?” Gregory asked.

”We fell in love at the King and Queen’s ball. The night before that was when I realized I was starting to feel something for him, but I wasn’t sure.”

Throughout the whole dinner, every time Robert looked up, he swore that Gregory was giving him dirty glares, like he didn’t even like him.

”How did you know I was here?” Giselle asked.

”Well, sweetie, we’ve been searching for you for a very long time and then when we went to the castle for help; Edward and Nancy told us what happened.” Rhonda explained.

”So how long have you guys been together?” Gregory asked.

”It’s eight years.” Giselle replied, smiling.

He spat out his water. “Eight years?!”

Giselle didn’t see how being married to someone you love for eight years could be a problem. “What’s wrong?” She asked, becoming concerned.

Rhonda sighed. “Sweetie, there’s someone we want you to meet.”

Giselle followed her parents to the door. When Rhonda opened it, the was a tall handsome man with soft bouncy blond hair that went a little past his ears, piercing blue eyes and dressed in a sparkly blue leotard. He was in his thirties and his smile was breathtaking.

”Sweetie, this is Prince Louis. He’s from Mythical Falls, and he’s the prince we had picked out for you.” Rhonda explained.

”It’s a pleasure to meet you.” He said, shaking Giselle’s hand.

”He was picked out for me?” She asked her parents and they nodded in response.

”Since the day you landed on our doorsteps.” Gregory replied.

”Well, it was very nice to meet you, Louis, but I’m already married and I have children.” She explained as nicely as she could. She didn’t want to hurt his feelings, but her parents weren’t expecting her to just leave Robert, were they?

”We understand, sweetie, but you’re sort of betrothed.” Rhonda came closer to Giselle.

”What do you mean?” Giselle wasn’t sure if she was going to like this very much.

”Giselle, you were born in a kingdom called Crystal Wonders. We have been the king and queen of Crystal Wonders about a few days before you landed on our doorsteps. You’re a princess, Giselle, and Louis was from Mythical Falls, his grandfather before he was born, used to be the king, but when he died; the family went broke and had to give up the kingdom, so Louis’s mother took him to our kingdom and when you arrived on our doorsteps, his mother came over and we made a deal that when you two grew up, you would be married.” She explained.

Giselle felt bad for Louis, hearing all of this.

”So I wasn’t born in Andalasia?” She asked confused.

”Crystal Wonders and Mythical Falls are both apart of Andalasia, they’re just different realms.”

”You mean states?” Robert asked.

”Whatever you call it here.” Gregory mumbled.

Rhonda continued. “The kingdom needs you, Giselle. If you don’t marry Louis, then everyone in all of the realms will be in grave danger and royal families will be at war.

Louis nodded as she spoke.

”Yeah, just pack your stuff and take Peter, Sarah and Melody with you.” Gregory told Giselle.

”But what about Morgan and Robert? I can’t just leave them.”

”You have no choice.” He replied.

”We only want what’s best for you, sweetie.” Rhonda was stroking her hair.

Giselle sighed, taking in all this news they informed her of. Should she marry him to keep all of the realms safe? Or should she stay in New York to keep her own happiness?

Chapter Text

Robert couldn’t believe this. Was Giselle really going to leave Morgan and him to marry some prince she didn’t even know? He understood that she was doing this for her kingdom; he thought she was making a good decision, but what about Peter and Sarah? They have never even heard of Andalasia and Melody was still too young to understand things like conversations. She was only going to be four months old pretty soon, she was still a baby.

”I can’t believe this, Giselle. You’re just going to leave?”

”I told you earlier, Robert; I’m only doing this for my parents and the safety of all of Andalasia and the other realms.”

She shut the last suitcase she had finished packing. She was just bringing some food, some of Peter and Sarah’s favorite toys and Melody’s favorite teddy bear. Giselle’s parents had told her before they left last night that she didn’t really need much, but she could bring what she felt the children might want. “Besides, I could still come and visit.”

Robert didn’t even see how that was possible if she had to be devoted to another man, and not just a man, a prince. “How do you know that, Giselle? You’re going to be marrying some other man.” He was upset.

She tried her hardest to smile with full confidence but it was kind of hard since she knew he was probably right. “Well, we’ll just try and make things work.”

Before Robert could say anything else, the door was pushed open and Peter was standing at the doorway with anger and hurt written all over his face. “I don’t want us to leave! This sucks!”

He rushed to his room and slammed the door, causing Sarah to say “Hey!”

”Peter!” Giselle shouted after him.

Robert sighed. “I think it’s time.”

She was puzzled. “Time for what?”

”The truth.”

She still wasn’t getting it.

”About where you came from. You should explain to both him and Sarah.”

She nodded, understanding that telling them would be the right thing to do. She headed for their bedroom and knocked on the door. “Peter, we need to talk and I want you to listen too, Sarah.”

She sat down next to Peter on his bed.

”Why do we have to move for? What’s wrong with New York?”

”Nothing. Do you remember last night when my parents came over and told me about Prince Louis?”

”Yeah.” He replied, urging her to go on.

”And remember when Gregory told me that both him and Rhonda want me to live back in Andalasia, and to pack some stuff and take you, Sarah and Melody with me?” She asked, hoping he would understand what was going on.

He just nodded and waited for her to continue.

”Well,” She said as she brushed a strand of hair away from her face. “There’s something you need to know about me. I’m really from Andalasia, and I jus found out that I’m a princess from Crystal Wonders-“ She was cut off.

”Yeah, yeah, I know, I heard you and daddy talking.”

”I’m really sorry about all this, Peter, but I haven’t seen my parents for thirty seven years and they are counting on me to fix things.”

”Mommy’s a princess?!” Sarah asked, getting excited. That’s all she really got out of the whole conversation.

”Yes, mommy’s a princess.” Giselle answered.

Sarah ran to her bed with two barbie dolls that she was playing with in her hands, and began to jump up and down as if she was on a trampoline. “I wanna go to Andalasia now!”

”I don’t!” With that being said; Peter turned his attention back on Giselle. “What about Megan? I may never see her again.”

Sarah’s smile grew wider. “Peter’s little girlfriend!” She teased.

”She is not my girlfriend!” He hissed.

”Is too.” She continued to jump on her bed and wave her barbies in the air. 

“You can call Megan right now and then you can go over to her door and say goodbye.” Giselle told him. “And don’t tell her Andalasia is another world and it’s animated like the cartoons you watch. People in New York don’t believe in that kind of stuff and they might think that you’re crazy.”

He nodded as he got up from the bed. He left the room, went in the kitchen, picked up the phone and began to dial Megan’s phone number; 1-555-3628

”Hello?” Her voice answered.

”Hi.” He sadly replied.

”What’s wrong?” She asked, becoming concerned.

He sighed, not really wanting to be the bearer of bad news. “My family and I are moving and I don’t know if we’ll ever come back. We might be gone for a very long time, maybe even forever. Well, just Giselle, Melody, Sarah and I. Her parents came yesterday night and they’re having some problems and really need Giselle. We’re moving to some state called Andalasia.”

”Andalasia?” She asked, puzzled.

”It’s a far away state.” He lied quickly.

”Hmm, I never heard of it before.”

”Well, that’s because everyone sort of forgot about it.”

”Please tell me you’re joking, Peter! You can’t move! We planned on going to the new arcade that just opened from across the street.”

He sighed. “I know and I’m sorry, anyway, I’ll be coming over to say goodbye and then we have to hurry and get to the airport.”

”Peter!” Robert called. “It’s time to leave!”

”I gotta go.” Peter said sadly to Megan.

He hung up.

Morgan walked over to Giselle and she had the fairytale book she was reading on her vacation; in her hands. She looked sad and had trouble keeping her head off the ground.

”Come here, Morgan.”

Morgan went in her arms, wrapped her arms around her back and gave her a big hug. “I’m really going to miss you.” She said after the hug.

”Here, you can have this.” She handed Giselle the book she had in her hands.

”But Morgan, this is your favorite book.”

”I’m almost finished anyways, I want you to keep it so you’ll always have something to remember me by.” She explained.

Robert handed Melody to Giselle. The family left their apartment and were now in the hall waiting for Peter to finish saying goodbye to Megan.

”Anyways, you can have this action figure hero thingy, I don’t really play with it much anymore.” 

“Uh, thanks.” He smiled as she handed him the action figure.

”Anyway; I’m really going to miss you, Peter.” She sadly told him.

The two hugged for about 12 seconds.

”Me too.” He replied.

After saying goodbye, they left the apartment building and walked in the street where the sewer lid is. All was quiet and there were no cars where they were at. Giselle had both Melody and Sarah in her arms.

Robert pulled Giselle in closer to him and kissed her passionately on the lips.

”Ew.” Peter said.

Robert turned to him, smiling. “Oh come on, Peter, we didn’t go ‘ew’ when you and Megan were hugging.” He said jokingly.

He turned his attention back on Giselle. “Be careful, alright.”

”I will, Robert.”

He opened the lid for her and she jumped right in the sewer with Melody and Sarah still in her arms.

”Cannonball!” Peter shouted as he took a big jump into the sewer.

“They’re really gone.” Morgan’s eyes filled with tears and Robert pulled her into a hug for comfort. He was hurt too. Giselle was one of the best things that has ever happened to him and she had to leave to prevent wars from happening in Andalasia and its realms.

Chapter Text

Giselle, Peter, Sarah and Melody were now in the animated world of Andalasia and Giselle was looking at her surroundings in amazement. It was just like it was the last time she was in this world; eight years ago, only this time it seemed better. Maybe it’s because she had beautiful children to show her greatest memories to.

”Where are all the city lights? And everything is so cartoonish.” Peter picked up an animated rock. “And I’m a cartoon.” He said, staring at his reflection in the fountain. He then jumped up and down with excitement. “This is so cool!”

Giselle was speechless. “Wow, it’s just like it was eight years ago.”

”You mean this place never changes?” Peter asked, confused.

”Me ready to be a pwincess now, mommy.” Sarah told her as she twirled and pranced around.

Behind a tree that was close by, was a chipmunk, and it wasn’t just any chipmunk, it was Giselle’s very good friend, Pip. He was searching for nuts and he had saw  her. He rushed over to his good friend and she bent down to pick him up. “Pip?” 

“I can’t you’re here in Andalasia. Where are Robert and Morgan at?”

The mention of Robert and Morgan made Giselle sad again about having to leave them, but she shrugged it off. “Oh, they decided to stay in New York.”

”Cool! A talking chipmunk!” Peter exclaimed.

”Who are these three you brought with you?” Pip asked curiously.

”Oh, they’re my children. Peter’s the oldest, Sarah’s the second oldest and Melody’s the baby.” She explained.

”How long is your visit going to be?”

”Oh, I’m not visiting; I’m going to be living here, well, not back in my Treehouse in the forest, but in Crystal Wonders.”

”Crystal Wonders? You mean where King Gregory and Queen Rhonda rule with an iron fist?” He asked.

”You’ve heard of it?”

”Heard of it, I’ve been there a few times during the winter, that’s where they have the best nuts.” He replied. “Anyways,” He began, going back on the main subject. “Why didn’t you bring Robert and Morgan with you?”

“Because I’m betrothed. I have to marry Prince Louis who was born from Mythical Falls and prevent royal families from going into wars.”

Pip was confused. “Wars? Andalasia is supposed to be nothing but happiness and a place where dreams come true, finding your true love, not being forced to be with someone you don’t love.”

”I know, but Louis really needs this, and I feel bad for what he and his mother had to go through.” She replied.

Sounds of footsteps were heard and couple shadows were seen until they grew closer and made themselves known. It was Rhonda and Gregory and they looked very happy to see Giselle and pleased that she had came.

”You’re here!” Rhonda rushed over to Giselle and pulled her into a big hug.

Giselle smiled. “Yes, I’m here, mom.” She then looked down at little Melody in her arms, Peter and Sarah who were jumping around, then corrected herself. “We’re here.”

Peter suddenly stopped jumping around and stood next to Giselle. There was just one thing that he really wanted to know, or in his case, needed to know. “Do you guys happen to know where Spider-Man lives? I really want to meet him.”

The couple shared confused glances.

Peter waited for an answer but his smile faded when he realized they had no idea who he was talking about; still, he tried, just maybe if he was more specific, they would know. “Spider-Man, the greatest, most awesome superhero ever?” He said it as if it should be obvious to the world.

They we’re still confused and Peter was annoyed.

”Oh, come on! You have to know him!” He shouted with frustration.

”Actually,” Gregory began; giving the kid hope which quickly faded when it had nothing to do with spider-Man. “we have knights here, you know, with swords, battle shields, and horses?”

”Do they fly or have any super powers?” Peter asked. Maybe knights could be just as great as Spider-Man.

”I just told you what they have.” Gregory replied, sounding somewhat irritated with his questions.

Peter frowned and folded his arms. “You have to have powers to be a superhero.”

A carriage had just parked near the group.

”Well, sweetie, we better get going.” Rhonda told Giselle.

”Can Pip come?” She asked.

”Huh?” Rhonda asked.

”My chipmunk friend.” Giselle showed her the little chipmunk that was in the palm of her hand.

”Sure, sweetie, he could come if he wants. I don’t see why not.” 

They all got in the carriage and the coachman took off.

It took about a few hours to get there and Peter and Sarah kept asking if they were there yet. They both fell asleep about an hour after their trip began and shortly after; so did Giselle. Melody was already asleep before they were. 

The carriage stopped in Crystal Wonders. It was such a beautiful kingdom! The buildings were pink, purple, blue, green, yellow and orange, there were a lot of gardens that had the most beautiful flowers that Giselle had ever seen in her life, and then they got to where the castle was.

The castle was a light elegant pink, there was a lavender purple flag on the top of each side, guards with protection shields; guarding each side of the gate each had trumpets in their hands. They had just blew into their trumpets to let all the people know that the lost princess had returned and was going to restore peace to their kingdom.

The people in the kingdom clapped and cheered when they saw her.

”Yep, after 37 long years; our lost princess has been found.” Rhonda stated. 

A red carpet was rolled out and near the entrance gate was Prince Louis. 

“Princess Giselle.” He bowed down and gave her a kiss on the hand.

Giselle slightly smiled.

”Well, come on, let’s show the princess and her children where they will be staying.” Gregory said.

The gate was opened and they entered. On each side near the walkway, were little gardens with beautiful flowers, inside the castle was another maroon red carpet, the walls were elegant, the stairs had tan carpeting and the place was everything you would expect a royal castle to look like. 

“Uh, when do I get to watch TV or play video games?” Peter asked as he, Giselle, Sarah, Prince Louis, Rhonda and Gregory were walking up the stairs.

”You say the strangest things.” Gregory told him.

Giselle took Peter near a wall. “Peter, sweetie, things are kind of different here in Andalasia or any realm in it. There are no TVs, video games, or any kind of electronics.” She explained.

”So what do people do for fun then?” He didn’t see how he was going to live the rest of his life without video games, which seemed almost impossible!

”Well, you could go hiking, mountain climbing, swing vines in the Enchanted Forest and talk to all the friendly animals.”

”Okay,” Gregory began as he got in the middle of them. “Let’s cut the chit chat and see your master bedroom.”

The bedroom that Giselle and her kids would be staying in was the master bedroom. The walls were painted pink, the beds were pink and a baby cradle was brought inside by one of the servants. The sight of the ‘pretty in pink’ room made Peter want to throw up. “I can’t sleep here! It’s too girlie and gross!”

Giselle elbowed his arm and gave him a ‘be polite’ look. Peter hated it when he received that kind of look.

”I was just staring my honest opinion!” He threw his hands in the air. “Don’t you royal people have anything blue or red?” He asked his grandparents.

They shook their heads.

”You know, if you want, you could sleep on the floor instead.” Giselle told him.

A minute later, Peter was tucked in his new bed and he was not thrilled. “I can’t believe I’m sleeping here.”

Chapter Text

In Andalasia, the week was going by.

Sarah had seemed to adjust to the fantasy world quickly, Peter was still a little uneasy but he had fun times too. Sarah always wanted to run around in the castle, play Hide and Go Seek and pretend to be a princess. 

Peter would wander off in the forest, swing vines and pretend he was Tarzan when he did that. He talked to some of the animals, explored caves and climbed trees.

”Megan and I used to climb trees all the time in Central Park.” He said to himself, remembering all the good times he used to have with Megan. He really missed her and wondered if she was thinking of him to.

”Hey, get out of my tree, kid.” A male voice said.

Peter looked around, confused. “Uh, who said that?”

”Over here.”

Peter saw a big hole in the tree and inside it was a brown owl, the hole was its’ den. “Mr. Owl?” He asked.

”It’s Hoot, my name is Hoot, and you shouldn’t really be up here, you’re trespassing.” The owl told him.

”Sorry.” Peter apologized. “I’ll get off.”

He jumped off the tree and began to walk off. “Note to self, owls don’t like it when you climb their trees.” He said to himself.

Sarah was spinning around in the halls, rolling all over the floors and laughing.

In New York… it was Saturday morning, the day of Giselle’s wedding.

In the apartment, it was just Robert and Morgan again, just like it was before they met Giselle.

Robert was in his room; sitting on the bed with his hands in his face and the door was closed. He was very upset that he had to let Giselle go and that she was taken from him. She was taken from him!

He jumped up from the bed. He wasn’t going to go through this. Giselle was his true love and ‘his’ only, and no parents or some prince was going to come between them, never!

Morgan was concerned, seeing Robert rush over to the closet to get his jacket. “Are you okay, dad?”

”We’re going to Andalasia to get Giselle and the kids back.” He explained with bravery and determination.

He was going to do whatever it takes to stop that wedding.

In Andalasia, it had already been eight days that Giselle and her kids were in the animated world.

Giselle was looking at her reflection in the mirror and something was troubling her, so she got up and went out on the balcony for some fresh air. She could not stop thinking about Robert, when they first met and how much she would miss him. There just had to be someway she could still be faithful with Robert and be faithful to her soon to be new husband, Louis, but there wasn’t, she had to except the fact that she and Robert couldn’t be together anymore.

”Hey, Giselle.”

She looked down and saw Pip on the edge of the rails. “Oh hey, Pip.”

”I still can’t believe you’re being forced to marry someone you don’t love.”

”I know, but I’m doing it to prevent problems, besides, Louis doesn’t seem horrible or anything. He’s sweet and nice. I mean, sure he’s not my Robert and could never truly replace him.”

But Pip couldn’t believe any of this. Something was definitely wrong. “Something fishy is going on here.” He and Giselle said goodbye, he scurried off and then she went back inside to get ready, but before she could; small bubbles appeared out of nowhere and one big one. An old lady poofed herself out of it. She had grey hair tied up in a ponytail, a light blue dress, wings, a magic wand and she almost looked like Fiona’s fairy godmother, except this one was a little taller.

”Hello, sweetie.” A friendly smile was placed on her face as she spoke.

”Who are you?” Giselle was surprised to see a fairy godmother in her room.

”I’m Gothel, and I’m your fairy godmother. I am here to help you get ready for the wedding.”

”Well, that’s very nice of you but-“ Giselle was cut off.

”No need to thank me, dear, I’m just doing my job.” With a wave of her magic wand, magic surrounded around Giselle, changing her nightgown into a beautiful white wedding dress, a tiara on her head and a couple of white daisies. It was just like the dress the animals made for her eight years ago.

”Well, it’s beautiful.” She said, staring down at herself in awe.

There was just one problem though. She wasn’t going to wear it for Robert, she was going to remarry to some guy she didn’t know too well. If she was never banished by Narissa, it would’ve matter if she was going to marry someone she didn’t know because people fell in love at first sight and married everyday in Andalasia, but this wasn’t because of love: it was to keep Andalasia and the other realms safe.

”Well, I must be on my way now, sweetheart.” With a wave of the wand; Gothel was gone. 

The suspicious chipmunk kept glancing at the castle. He made up his mind and decided to climb back up but before he did; he heard voices coming from the castle garden. He decided it was important and hid behind a bush so he could listen in and spy on who they were without being discovered.

A male voice spoke. “Everything is going according to plan, Giselle is going to marry me; believing the whole ‘war thing’ her parents told her and I’m finally going to be a king.”

It was Prince Louis!

”Yes you will, son, and you are going to rule with an iron fist.” It was Giselle’s fairy godmother; Gothel. “All we had to do was lie and say you were supposed to be the next heir to the throne in Mythical Falls and make up some sob story to gain sympathy and the little sappy redhead fell for it, so naive and kind.”

”Oh no, Giselle! I must warn her at once!” Pip cried out as he ran off to warn her.

Louis wasn’t really a prince from Mythical Falls, Giselle’s parents had lied to her. He was born in Crystal Wonders, his mother wanted him to be the king when he grew up and threatened to kick Rhonda and Gregory off the throne; all they cared about was power, they did not love Giselle at all.

Giselle was sitting down on a wooden stool that was near the mirror. She turned when she heard the sounds of heavy breathing. It sounded like someone was out of breath. 

“Giselle, there’s something you need to know about Louis. I heard him talking to some old lady and-“ Before Pip could finish, Rhonda and Gregory barged in.

Peter and Sarah were behind the couple and Melody was in Rhonda’s arms. The kids had been fixed up by some woman with long honey brown hair tied up in a bun. She looked Giselle’s age.

”I’m the flower girl.” Sarah was dressed in a white flower designed dress and had a basket of flowers in her hands.

”When can I get out of this stupid monkey suit?” Peter was dressed in a black suit. 

Melody was dressed in a white dress just like Sarah’s.

”Where’s Louis?” Giselle asked.

The honey brown haired woman slightly frowned as Giselle asked Rhonda about Louis. “Probably checking himself out in front of a mirror.”

Rhonda just smiled. “You know it’s bad luck for the groom to see the bride before the wedding.” She told Giselle.

She and Gregory led Giselle into the chapel. Louis was at the alter, waiting and he was dressed in a black tux just like Peter’s. She walked over, he removed the vail from her eyes and she smiled brightly at the crowd.

Robert and Morgan had just jumped into the sewer and landed in Andalasia.

”We have to stop that wedding.” Robert repeated to himself. “You called Melanie, right?”

”Yes, dad. She’s going to help us. She’s been practicing Teleportation Spells.” Morgan explained.

Robert sighed. “Good, cuz I don’t think a carriage would get us there in time.”

Melanie appeared out of thin air.

There was a grunt, it was George! He was right on the ground and helped himself up. “I really gotta work on my landing.” 

Morgan rushed over, concerned. “George, are you okay?”

”Yeah, I’m fine.”

He had decided to tag along with Morgan and Robert just like Melanie did. She chanted a spell to transport her and her friends to Crystal Wonders.

At the chapel…

”Prince Louis from Mythical Falls, do you take this lovely princess to be your wife? To love, cherish and hold?” The priest asked.

”I do.”

This was it. Giselle thought.

”Princess Giselle from Crystal Wonders, do you take this handsome prince to be your husband? To love, cherish and hold? Do you part?”

Giselle glanced at her parents who were smiling and then she looked back at Louis. Maybe she didn’t have to marry him after all, maybe he was an understanding guy, maybe there wouldn’t be a war if she refused, just maybe.

”I can’t.”

The crowd gasped, along with Giselle’s parents, and Louis was in complete shock.

”I’m sorry, Louis.” Giselle apologized.

”Giselle, don’t!” The door was pushed open and Robert stepped in the chapel, Pip was in his hands, and Morgan, George and Melanie were in the back.

”What is he doing here?” Rhonda asked, clearly upset to see Robert again. 

“You can’t marry him, Giselle. He’s just using you. This is all one big set up and your parents are in on it too. Pip told us everything.” Robert explained.

”What?” She asked, sounding somewhat surprised to hear this.

”I heard everything last night. Louis isn’t really a prince from Mythical Falls, he was born from here just like you, and your parents made a deal with his mother the day you were born.”

Lois stood where he was, frozen, unable to speak for a few seconds when Giselle faced him. “Louis, is this true?”

”Giselle, please, don’t listen to them, they’re making it up.”

She couldn’t believe what she was hearing. Did her parents really lie to her just to save themselves from being kicked off the throne? The thought of being deceived by her own parents; even if she really didn’t know them too well; hurt her. She was so nice, grateful and good spirited, so how could her parents be so selfish, cruel and almost just like Narissa.

But Pip was right, he heard it with his own ears and he wasn’t known to be the one who just made things up. Her parents would actually guilt her into leaving the man she loved for their own happiness to be restored.

”How could you?” She cried out.

”Look, sweetie, we are just doing what we think is best for you. You’re a princess, Giselle. You don’t deserve some useless, unroyal peasant.” Rhonda told her.

Giselle’s heart stung at hearing this.

“Yeah, and your little brats are only going to get in the way while you and Louis are running the kingdom. You should just drop them off somewhere in the forest or woods back in Andalasia like we did with you.” Gregory explained.

”My kids are not little brats, they are wonderful, and I am not going to be running the kingdom with some selfish, rotten jerk that you picked out for me.” She left the alter and snatched Melody from a shocked Rhonda and grabbed Peter’s hand. “Come on, Peter, go get Sarah. We’re going back home, where we belong.”

”Yes!” Peter pumped his fist in the air after hearing her speech.

”Daddy!” Sarah exclaimed, rushing over. “Morgan!”

Robert immediately lifted Sarah up and gave her a big hug. Peter rushed over, nearly knocking his dad down.

Robert chuckled a little. “You almost knocked me down. You really are getting strong like Spider-Man.”

Peter smiled, hearing this. Afterwards, he rushed over to Morgan and they shared a hug.

“Robert!” Giselle ran into Robert’s arms after handing Melody to Peter, then Giselle hugged Morgan as well.

Morgan sniffed. “I really missed you.”

”Me too, sweetie.” Giselle replied with tears in her eyes.

The happily reunited family along with Melanie, George and Pip, left.

”Hold on. I’ll be back.” Peter marched back inside.

”And I am not wearing this stupid tux.” He took it off; revealing his Spider-Man pajamas, and he threw the tux to the ground and walked out.

Giselle’s parents were steamed by the turn of events.

”You get back here, young lady! This wedding is not over! And you ‘will’ marry Louis whether you want to or not! And we will be the rulers of Mythical Falls!” Rhonda yelled after Giselle.

”Melanie, could you change me back into what I was wearing in New York?” Giselle asked.

She was changed and then Melanie did the Transportation spell to bring them back to their apartment in New York.

“We’re back! Sweet! I can watch TV and play video games again, and I can invite Megan over!” Peter exclaimed. “She’ll be so happy to see me again!”

”Who’s hungry?” Robert asked.

Everybody raised their hands.

He grinned. “Great, I just made eggs and bacon.” 

So everyone sat down at the table, laughed, talked and enjoyed their orange juice, eggs and bacon.

In Andalasia, at Crystal Wonders…

“How dare she!” Rhonda was pacing back and forth in the chapel and everybody had already left about a minute after Giselle did. “Who does she think she is? Telling ‘us’ off?” Her hands were balled in a fist and she accidentally broke a window.

”She’s a little forest rat, that’s what she is!” Gregory yelled.

Somebody cleared their throat and began to speak, it was Louis. “I’m not happy about this either. I will be the king and she will marry me whether she wants to or not.”

Chapter Text

Morgan, Robert, Giselle, Peter, Sarah, Melody, George and Melanie were almost finished with their breakfast. 

“Giselle?” Morgan asked.

”Hm?”

”I’m sorry about what happened.”

Giselle was confused. “What do you mean?”

”About your parents.”

”That’s okay. I already have a great family. I have you, Robert, Peter, Sarah and Melody.”

Morgan smiled, hearing this.

The next day, Robert had decided that since it was a nice and sunny day, that they should all go to the park. Peter wanted to call Megan and ask her to tag along with him since they planned on doing something together before he went to Andalasia. Since he was back now, he was not going to break his promise with her, he intended to keep it.

”Hello? Megan?”

there was no answer.

“”Come on, please pick up!” He begged.

He got happy when he finally heard her voice but his expression turned to disappointment when it was just her message machine.

”Hi, this Megan and mom and I are either busy or not home right now. Please leave a message after the beep.”

”Tone.” Her mother’s voice corrected.

”Gotta go.” Megan’s voice finished.

Peter sighed and left his message. “It’s me, Peter Philip, your best friend. My family and I came back and we’re staying! Things didn’t work out. Anyway, we were just getting ready to go to the park right now and you can come if you’d like. Please call back when you get my message.”

He hung up.

”Did you leave your message?” Robert asked, entering the kitchen.

Peter nodded.

”Well, should we go now?” Morgan asked Robert.

”No!” Peter snapped. “We are not leaving this house until Megan calls back!”

Fifteen minutes later…

”Peter, it’s been fifteen minutes.” Morgan stated.

”I wanna go to the park!” Sarah whined.

”Well you better wait! I waited an hour and a half just for you to find a stupid doll. You could at least do this one thing for me.” He retorted.

She pouted and folded her arms. 

It was true. Before they went to the beach for their Summer Vacation, Sarah had lost one of her dolls. It happened to be one of her favorites; Little Miss. Suzzie. She threw a big tantrum and everybody had to help her look for it when it was under the sofa the whole time. 

“I’m going to try calling her again.” He headed for the kitchen and redialed Megan’s phone number.

”Why isn’t she answering? She’s usually home at this time!” He was frustrated.

”Peter, she’s probably just very busy.” Robert tried.

”But she promised!” Peter cried out.

”Well, sometimes things come up… like, remember when you got grounded?” Giselle asked.

”Yeah, but that was almost 3 months ago”

”Look, Peter, Sarah’s getting very restless and I think we should go now.” Robert told him.

“So? Whatever Sarah wants, Sarah gets?” Peter was annoyed. “How could you guys be so selfish?”

They left the apartment and headed for Central Park.

”Megan and I were supposed to hang out today.” He whined.

There was a playground and Sarah wanted to go on the swings. Giselle took Melody from Robert and headed for the playground, and Peter and Morgan followed Robert. Morgan sat down on a swing and began to swing as high as she could.

Robert was just standing on the grass, enjoying the nice weather, the wind blowing his hair and watching a family fly their kites. His smile faded when he saw Peter sitting on a bench all by himself with his hands in his face, looking depressed.

Robert sighed as he walked over to where he was. He sat down across from him. “Why aren’t you playing with the other kids or doing something? Why are you just sitting here all by yourself?” He asked with concern.

Peter sighed. “Megan hasn’t answered any of my calls today. She usually calls me back.”

Robert put a hand on his shoulder. “You can talk to her tomorrow at school and find out what’s up.”

”Now come on, I’ll race you!” He challenged.

Peter brightened up. “You are so on!”

Later at night, all the kids were in bed, Robert just finished taking a shower and had his robe on. Giselle was sitting on the bed; staring at a family picture of her, Robert, Morgan, Peter, Sarah and Melody. He could tell that she had something on her mind. “Is everything okay?”

She sighed. “For twenty seven and a half years before I met you, I lived in a treehouse with forest animals. Do you think my parents got rid of me because they didn’t want me?”

He plopped down on the bed and scooted next to her. “Well, from the way they were talking to you, I don’t think they even loved you a tiny bit. All they cared about was themselves, Giselle, and becoming the king and queen of Mythical Falls.”

She sighed again and he began to strike her hair. 

“Look, Giselle, not all parents love their kids, especially in this world, and sometimes kids are even put in homes or have abusive parents who hit and beat them up.”

Giselle was listening. “Are we abusive?” She asked.

”No, we’re awesome parents and we do great together, raising our four children, and you’re a great mother, especially to Morgan. She has never even bonded one time with her real mother. She just left us the day after she was born, without saying anything. I was surprised when she was nowhere in the house and I waited for the longest time, hoping that wherever she is, that she would come back, but I had to face the facts, she wasn’t going to come back and I needed to move on with my life.”

”I’m very sorry about that, Robert.” Giselle apologized.

”But I guess if she never left, you and I wouldn’t even be together or have Peter, Sarah and Melody.” He smiled at her and she smiled back.

They leaned in and kissed for about five seconds and then he got his pajamas, left the room, went in the bathroom to put them on and then went back in the bedroom.

”Goodnight, Robert.” She told him.

”Night Giselle, sweet dreams.”

”You too, Robert.”

At Morgan’s school…

”I didn’t have anytime to finish my math homework at all this weekend.” Morgan was telling her friends.

”It’s English that I have a problem understanding.” George said.

”Well, luckily for me, I can use my magic to help me get mine done.” Melanie playfully bragged. 

Her body suddenly froze and her mouth went wide when she spotted Mathew at his locker, chatting with a couple of his guy friends.

”Hide me.” She quickly went behind Morgan’s back, nervously shaking.

”Melanie, it’s okay. There’s nothing to be nervous about. He really likes you and I think you should totally ask him out.” Morgan explained.

”But what if he doesn’t like me that way? What if he just wants to be friends? I’ll totally humiliate myself!” Melanie panicked.

”I know how you feel. In sixth grade, I used to get all nervous and melt like a puddle of goo around your brother.”

Melanie was puzzled. “My brother?”

”Yeah, Jado the shadow demon.”

Melanie remembered about Jado and Narissa. “Oh, right.”

”Anyway, that’s not the point, the point is, if you don’t ask him out or be the first to make the move, you might miss out on a really great guy.”

What they didn’t know was that three certain girls were listening in on their conversation.

Cindy scoffed. “Is she seriously going to ask him out?”

A sneer plastered Angelica’s mouth. “She wouldn’t dare.”

They watched as Mathew walked over to Melanie.

”Uh, hi.” She said.

”Hi, uh, I was wondering if maybe you would like to go out with me after school?” He had his hands behind his hair.

”You mean like a date?” She asked, hoping it was a date.

”Yeah, sort of.” He replied nervously.

”Well, okay.”

Angelica turned to Cindy and Melissa and scoffed. “I can’t believe this! He asked that loser out? Her? Out of all the girls in this school, he just had to choose her! What is he, blind or something?”

Suddenly a smirk formed her lips. “Hmm,” She had a dirty little truck up her sleeves or maybe even a big one.

”Let’s start with Plan A.”

As soon as Melanie was out of sight; she tossed her hair over her shoulder and walked over to Mathew.

”Hey, Mathew.” She said, smiling her famous smile.

”Uh, do I know you?” He asked, not sure if he had ever seen her before.

She chuckled a little. “Oh, we haven’t met yet. I’m Angelica.”

”Mathew.”

”So, Mathew, how would you like to hang out sometime after school?” She asked.

”Sorry, but I already made plans with Melanie.” He kindly declined her invitation.

”Well maybe we could hang out sometime at lunch and get acquainted.” She walked off. Her hair swished a she turned and she was sure that she had him attracted to her like every other boy in the whole school.

She high-fived Cindy and Melissa.

Morgan had heard her talking to Mathew and knew that whatever she was up to; it couldn’t be good. When the school bell rang, she caught up with George and Melanie.

At Peter’s school; he walked into the classroom and somebody was sitting in his seat, right next to Megan, and they were engaged in a conversation. It was a boy just like him, but he had to be new since Peter had never seen him before. “Uh-“ He began.

”Oh, hey, Peter, this is Simon Croth; our new student.” Megan told him.

”Uh, hi.” Peter said, feeling a awkward. He was confused. Was that all Megan had to say, was ‘Hi, Peter?’ Did she even miss him? It was almost as if she forgot he was even gone, like maybe she had made friends with this new boy. Oh Peter had hoped not.

Simon just smiled and turned his attention back on Megan, and Peter couldn’t help but feel a little jealous as he saw this.

”So Megan, do you have the eggs?”

”Right here.” She pulled out a bag of boiled eggs from her backpack.

”Bag of eggs? What for?” Peter asked.

”We’re going to egg Mr. Roy’s car.” Megan replied.

”You’re going to egg his car with a new student?” He asked.

”Sure. Why wouldn’t I?” She asked, not understanding the problem.

”Uh, because he’s a rookie.” He said it as if it was obvious.

”And that’s my seat.” He told Simon.

”Well, Mrs. Heylyn decided to move him here next to me since I’m one of the smartest kids in this class. She wants me to help him.” Megan explained.

”But Mrs. Heylyn isn’t even here yet.” Peter was confused.

”No, last Wednesday when you weren’t here.” She informed him that he had been at their school for awhile now.

”So he didn’t just get here today?” He asked, shocked.

Simon smiled as he watched Peter move to a desk in the very last row; not like he really had a choice. All the seats were taken. Megan was already friends with the new boy and Peter felt replaced. 

Megan and Simon even had lunch together and they didn’t even ask him to join in. They played on the playground and then they threw eggs at Mr. Roy’s car. All day, Peter felt left out. It was like he and Megan weren’t even friends anymore and like she could careless about him now that she had Simon.

In the classroom while Mrs. Heylyn was teaching; Megan and Simon were snickering about something and Peter snarled as he gritted his teeth on his pencil.

The bell rang at Morgan’s High School.

”So I’ll see you at around four?” Mathew asked Melanie. 

She nodded and he walked off.

Angelica growled as she made her way pass Melanie and left the school.

”That Angelica is so jealous.” Morgan said.

She heard the sound of someone’s high heels and turned to see her Math teacher, Miss. Bea.

”Hey Morgan, a moment of your time, please.”

Morgan followed her near a classroom so they could talk in private.

”Yes, Miss. Bea?” She asked.

Miss. Bea cleared her throat. “Even though it’s been only a few months since you’ve been here, I’ve noticed that you have not been doing too well on your Math homework.”

”That’s nothing new, Miss. Bea, I’ve been terrible at math since Second Grade, I-“ 

Miss. Bea cut her off. “Well, that better change, Morgan, I already gave you about three F’s.”

”F’s?! I’m not that horrible! Didn’t I get at least five or a couple right?” Morgan couldn’t have been that bad… could she?

”No, you didn’t.” Why was Miss. Bea so rude and sarcastic?

”You better get it together, Morgan, and study harder, or I’m going to discuss it with your parents and have a conference meeting.”

Morgan stood where she was; shocked as Miss. Bea walked off, smirking about something.

Peter was walking down the steps and Megan caught up with him. “Peter, wait up!”

”Megan? I thought you were going with Simon.” He said, sounding a little sarcastic and jealous.

”What?” She asked, surprised.

”I tried calling you yesterday, I even left a message and you never replied.”

”I was at the Skate Park with Simon.”

”Oh Simon, your new buddy.”

“What did you expect, Peter? That I was just going to wait for you to come back when I didn’t even think you would? That I would mourn for you and not move on?”

Peter stared down and felt his heart sting. She didn’t miss him at all and moved on.

”I didn’t mean it like tha-“

He cut her off. “You don’t have to say anything else. I get the message. You go have fun with your new best friend, I don’t care.” 

He stormed off without even looking back, not even when she called after him.

Chapter Text

Morgan was walking to her apartment door and Peter had just gone pass her with his head hanging. They were both bummed about something; Morgan about math and Peter about Megan.

”Why so glum?” She asked.

“Megan has moved on.” He replied sadly. “You?”

”If I keep failing in math, Miss. Bea wants a parent-teacher conference.” She answered, sounding just as sad as him.

Peter just threw his backpack on the couch and went to his room. He noticed that most of his toys were on the floor. “Sarah! I told you many times to stay out of my stuff!”

She was in the living room, sitting on the couch, watching cartoons.

He sighed as he plopped down on his bed. Giselle saw this as she was about to pass his room and grew concerned. “Peter?” 

He growled with anger. Right now, he didn’t want anyone to pity him. That’s all it was every time someone saw him in a bad mood or unhappy; they would want to talk to him, ask him questions, ‘what’s wrong?’ Then sometimes things would get too mushy for him to handle. “Just leave me alone.”

”But-“ She began, getting more concerned.

Peter got up, slammed the door and then turned the knob to lock it.

She stood there in shock. Usually when something bothered Peter; they would talk about it. Robert heard the slam and walked over to Giselle.

”What just happened?” He asked.

”I don’t know. He didn’t want to talk about it.”

”I wouldn’t worry about it, sometimes kids need their space and time to cool off.” He explained.

She nodded, understanding. “Should I just go check on Morgan then?”

He nodded.

She headed for Morgan’s room and hoped that she wouldn’t slam the door like Peter did with his. “Can I come in?” She asked, knocking on the door.

”Come in.”

Giselle was relieved. She walked in the room and sat down at the edge of Morgan’s bed. “Is everything alright, Morgan? You’ve been awfully quiet.”

”Nothing really, just school and stress, I guess.” She showed Giselle one of her math papers and the F she received.

Giselle opened her mouth to say something.

”Yeah, I’m not really good at math, I’ve been struggling since the Second Grade.” Morgan explained.

Giselle examined the paper. “Morgan, you did great.”

Morgan was shocked to hear this. “Huh?” She wanted to make sure she heard right. She? Morgan Philip? Has actually done great with math?

”Yeah.” Giselle replied. “You got about ten out of fifteen right. That should get you a C or a B; not an F. This paper you showed me is improvement and outstanding.”

”But I don’t understand, Miss. Bea said I got them all wrong.” Morgan was confused.

Giselle smiled. “Well, she was all wrong.”

Morgan smirked. “Just wait till I tell Miss. Bea tomorrow.”

Meanwhile, Melanie and Mathew had just finished having dinner at Bella Nottes and they decided to go for a nice walk in the forest like area of Central Park. It was getting dark out but that’s what made it so beautiful.

”So, you’re an artist, huh?” She asked, playfully elbowing him in the ribs.

“Well, I don’t like to brag but yeah, I’ve drawn some pretty neat stuff.”

”Can I see?” She asked curiously. 

So Mathew took his backpack off his back, unzipped it and got out a sketchbook. “This sketch, well, it was done just recently.”

Melanie gasped with delight as she saw the sketch. It was a sketch of the trees, the nighttime sky, the half moon and birds flying by. “You sketched all of this? It’s perfect.”

He smiled. “Yeah, but not as perfect as the real thing.”

For a moment; everything was silent as they stared at each other and then they moved their faces closer until their lips touched. The romantic kiss lasted for about fourteen seconds and then they pulled apart. His sketchbook was dropped to the ground when they kissed and Melanie noticed their was a picture of them standing together; on the same page that he showed her before they kissed.

”That’s us.” She said.

”Huh?” He turned to see what she was pointing at. “Oh yeah, it is.”

”I must have not noticed it before.”

They walked off; Mathew had a finger out and it was glowing. He forgot all about his sketchbook; still right where he left it, but something seemed different about the sketch. The drawings were moving, the leaves were falling off the trees, the birds were flocking around and Mathew and Melanie were kissing.

A person stepped out from behind a tree when he/she was certain that the couple was gone. The person had their eyes on Mathew’s sketchbook and slowly walked over to it. It was a female wearing a dark blue, uniform like, skirt, a white t shirt and sneakers. It was Angelica and she carefully picked it up from the ground, not wanting to make too much noise.

Melanie and Mathew were on a bridge, watching the sunset; it was a beautiful sight for the both of them.

”This is beautiful, Mathew, I never really got to see the sunset before.” She told him.

He smiled with pure affection. “Well, tonight is your big chance.”

She giggled a little. “So you come here often?”

”Well, this is one of my best thinking spots, especially when I’m sketching and painting.”

”You paint too?” She asked, surprised.

He nodded.

”This has been a very great date.” She finally said after awhile of silence.

”So, out of all the dates you’ve been on, which date do you think you enjoyed the most?” He asked curiously.

”Actually, this has been my only date.” She answered truthfully.

It was true. She had never dated anyone before because most of the boys at her other school were jerks and she just wasn’t interested in that kind of stuff.

He smiled as he stared into her eyes. “I have never dated anyone before either.”

She returned the smile and as they held hands and watched the sunset, she felt sparks and like she was floating. This date with Mathew had been one of the best days she ever had so far and she hoped that they could go out again sometime.

What the two were unaware of; was that Angelica had been spying on their whole date. She followed them everywhere they went, she had her cellphone with her to and took a few pics of them and now she had Mathew’s sketchbook and had seen all his art. A big devious smile was on her face as she watched them stare into the sunset.

At eight pm, Peter was still locked in his room and wouldn’t let anyone in. Sarah first tried knocking on the door and shouting for him to open the door. He wouldn’t listen so she called Robert. “Daddy! He’s not listening!”

Robert rushed over and knocked on the door. “Peter!”

There was no answer.

Sarah was getting very cranky. “I wanna go to bed!” She whined.

”Peter, please unlock this door now.” Robert was stern.

”No! Go away!”

Robert turned to Giselle who was listening to all of this. “Giselle, take Sarah in the living room; I’ll handle this.

He knocked on Peter’s door. You can’t just lock everyone out of your life. I know something’s bothering you and you’re never going to feel any better if you don’t talk about it. It’s Eight O’clock and Sarah is getting really cranky.”

”Just leave me alone and have her sleep on the couch!” Peter replied.

”You open this door right this instance, young man.”

”No!”

”Open this door or you’re in big trouble.” Robert told him.

”Go ahead and ground me again; I don’t care! I’m not going to be hanging out with Megan anymore, anyways!” Peter shouted.

Robert sighed and banged his head on the door with frustration.

A moment later; Giselle had got a few big towels from the cabinet in the hallway, walked back in the living room and put them on Sarah who was on the couch with a pillow under her head. “There you go, sweetie.” She gave Sarah a kiss on the check and after saying goodnight, Giselle followed Robert to their room.

”What are we going to do about Peter?” She asked, after shutting the door.

”We’ll worry about it tomorrow. Peter’s gonna have to come out for school.” He replied, giving her a quick kiss on the lips; then she got into bed with him, they got covered in, kissed each other goodnight and fell asleep.

Morgan jumped out of bed, smiling. One of the reasons she was so happy was because she didn’t do so ‘horrible’ on her math after all and she was going to correct a teacher. She got her math paper off her nightstand and then walked out of the room. She heard Robert knocking on Peter’s door, begging him to unlock it; which was pointless. The boy could be so stubborn.

”Peter! Open up, would you? You can’t stay in there forever.” Robert told him.

Giselle was in the kitchen. She had just finished making oatmeal and Sarah was already sitting at the table. Melody was in her highchair and Giselle put a bib on her. 

Morgan entered the kitchen, sat down at the table and Giselle noticed the big smile on her face. “Why so happy?”

”Because Miss. Bea is going to be surprised when I tell her.”

Peter entered the kitchen with Robert.

”Now eat your oatmeal.” Robert told him.

Peter plopped down. He was sitting across from Morgan.

”How did you get him to come out?” She asked.

”I told him I would go to his school and show all the kids his baby pictures.” Robert grinned at Peter who looked annoyed.

After breakfast, Morgan got up, grabbed her backpack and trotted out the door.

Sarah went in her bedroom to play.

”Stay out of my stuff!” Peter shouted after her.

”No!” She shouted back while smiling.

He picked up his backpack and headed for the door.

”Peter?” Giselle asked, concerned as she followed him to the door. 

He stopped and stared at her with no expression.

”Did something happen yesterday?”

He turned the knob, walked out and slammed the door shut.

Morgan was walking in the halls with Melanie and George. “So, it turns out that I didn’t get them all wrong after all. I got about ten out of fifteen right.”

“Then why would Miss. Bea give you an F?” George asked, confused.

She shrugged. “I don’t know. She was probably in a rush that she wasn’t really paying attention.”

”You do realize that you’re going to correct a teacher?” Melanie asked in a tone that made Morgan have second thoughts on what she was about to do.

”Yeah, so?”

”So? Miss. Bea is very strict and kind of snobby. You’re gonna have to tell her in a nice way, not an in your face way.” Melanie explained. “Don’t get on her bad side.”

She was right. Teachers did not like to be corrected by students when they were wrong, so Morgan needed to be careful.

After second period; when all the kids had left the classroom, Morgan picked up her backpack and walked over to Miss. Bea who was sitting at her desk, reading a novel.

”Excuse me, Miss. Bea?” Morgan asked, getting her attention. “I have to tell you something.”

Miss. Bea got up from her desk and faced Morgan. Her arms were folded and she was taping her feet. Morgan reached into her backpack and got out the math paper with the F.

”Remember when you said I got an F on this paper? Giselle saw it and told me that I got ten out of fifteen correct.” Morgan finished and waited to see what Miss. Bea’s reaction or what she would say.

”And?” Miss. Bea was sarcastic.

“And you gave me an F.” Morgan tried not to sound too annoyed.

”I know what I gave you.” Miss. Bea replied with an attitude and also sounded snobby.

”But I didn’t get them wrong! I even used a calculator to make sure Giselle was right-“ Morgan got cut off.

”I’m the ‘teacher’ Morgan, not Giselle, and I will give you whatever grade I want. Your stepmother wouldn’t know a thing or two about math. She’s not that smart.”

Morgan couldn’t believe what she was hearing. Miss. Bea was saying mean things about Giselle. When Morgan thought Bea was finished, she wasn’t and she said worse about Giselle.

”She’s so dumb, an airhead and gullible. It’s almost as if she’s a princess from some fantasy world or a child’s fairytale book.” She had a smirk on her face.

”Now get out of my class, shoo shoo, get lost.” She literally put her hands on Morgan’s back and began to push her towards the door. Morgan jerked away and she was mad! Who did this teacher think she was; talking about her stepmom like that?

“Okay, first of all, nobody ever talks about my mother like that. You don’t know anything about her to judge, and you gave me F’s on purpose, didn’t you? You always have bad and sarcastic attitudes with me! You have something against me and I never even did anything to you!”

Miss. Bea still had her arms folded; a smirk on her face and her feet stopped taping. “Guess what? You just got yourself a detention.” It didn’t even sound like she was upset, it sounded like she was kind of happy about it.

Morgan was shocked, hearing this. Not once in her life, she had never got a detention before. “What?”

”I will be looking forward to seeing you after school, right in this class.” Miss. Bea got a yellow detention slip off her desk and handed it to her. “Not only do you seem to not be smart at math, but you lack knowledge about life. Giselle is not your mother, she’s your ‘stepmother.’ A mother is someone who ‘had’ you, gave birth to you, not some stupid woman who came into your life eight years ago.”

She opened the door. “Have a nice day.” She pushed Morgan out the door and she fell to the ground. A few girls that were passing by, pointed and laughed at her. Melanie and George rushed over and helped her up.

”Are you okay?” George asked.

”Yeah, I’m fine.” She quickly helped herself up.

”What happened in there?” Melanie asked.

”Miss. Bea happened!”

”Did you tell her about the F on your math paper?” George asked.

”Yes, and she had an attitude with me.”

”What did she say?” Melanie asked.

”She started saying stuff about Giselle, that she’s dumb, an airhead and gullible, so I got mad and defended her and Miss. Bea gave me a detention slip.”

Melanie was surprised. “You have detention?”

”Yeah, right after school’s over.”

The last bell rang and Peter was the last one to leave the classroom. He saw Megan and Simon walking together, talking about going to the arcade and she laughed at all his jokes. The sight of it was just too much for him. As soon as he left the building, he kicked the doors shut and went to his bus.

On the bus, Megan and Simon were sitting together and Peter was all by himself in the back; near a window.

”Oh, Simon, you are so funny!” Megan told him.

When he got home, he threw his backpack at the wall, stomped to his room, yelled at Sarah to get out; when she wouldn’t leave, he pushed her out, slammed the door shut and locked it again.

”He’s upset again, just like yesterday.” Giselle said.

”He won’t talk to us or tell us what happened.” Robert replied.

”Where’s Morgan at?” She asked.

”She’s probably just a little late.”

At Morgan’s school…

”Are you sure you’re going to be okay here by yourself?” Melanie asked her.

”Yeah, I’ll be fine.”

Morgan watched as her friends left the building and she began to walk to Miss. Bea’s class for detention.

Chapter Text

Morgan was getting closer to the door and when she finally got there; she stared at the door, rethinking about whether she should enter. With a sigh, she knocked on the door and waited for a response. “Come in.”

Morgan turned the knob and walked in. Miss. Bea was standing in front of her desk with her arms crossed and a smirk on her face. “I’m so glad you’ve followed my instructions, now let’s sit, shall we?”

Morgan went to her desk and sat down. She had placed her backpack on the floor, the right side of her desk. Miss. Bea sat down at her desk. The word Detention was printed on the chalkboard and how long it would be. Morgan’s detention was going to be for about two hours.

”I assume you already know why you are here.” Miss. Bea waited for her to respond.

”Because I stood up for myself?”

The Math Teacher scoffed. “Because you are a brat and have no respect.”

”I have to be home by four thirty for dinner and I thought detention was supposed to only be for about forty five minutes.”

”You think you’re so smart, don’t you? It is. I just decided to make it longer.” Miss. Bea looked satisfied.

Morgan sighed and unzipped her backpack. She decided that since she was going to be here till five thirty, that she would try to get most of her homework done, especially try to focus harder on the math.

”You know,” Miss. Bea began, getting her attention. “Most kids your age already know about sex. It’s something that most kids learn by the fifth or sixth grade.”

”Where did you get the idea that I don’t know about sex? And even if I didn’t, why is it any of your business?”

”Hmm, let’s see, first, you think that Giselle is your mother when she didn’t even ‘have’ you to begin with. You don’t even know what a mother is, you’re delusional.”

Morgan didn’t see how calling Giselle her mother meant that she doesn’t know anything about sex. Suddenly, Miss. Bea had a nasty smirk on her face. “I think it’s time that we have the talk.” She said it as if she was talking to a five year old boy or girl who just walked in on their parents having sex.

”Well, a man and a woman meet, when they’re together for a very long time; they decide that they want to move on to the next level. So they find a private place for them to be alone. They get naked together and the man sticks his penis inside the woman’s vagina. It will pop, bleed and hurt a little the first time you do it.”

Morgan wrinkled her nose with disgust and feeling like she would puke or vomit at any second, but Miss. Bea didn’t stop. She continued; obviously only telling her all this stuff to make her sick because it brought her such joy to do so.

”After awhile, the pain goes away and the woman gets comfortable. The man’s fluids, his semen, gets inside her and she could get pregnant, so she takes a pregnancy test, pees on a stick and if it turns a certain color, that means you’re pregnant. A baby grows in the woman’s stomach, causing it to get bigger, it stays in there for about nine months till it’s ready to come out and that’s what a mother is. Some woman who had you by ‘blood’ ‘sex’ Do you understand what I’m saying or is it too much information for you to take in?”

”To be apart of a family, people have to be related by blood. Giselle’s not your blood so she’s nothing to you, nothing but a woman your father married.”

Morgan’s head hung. She was getting very tired of people telling her that Giselle wasn’t her mother; whether she ‘had’ her or not. That shouldn’t matter to people what she called Giselle. She loved her, helped take care of her and that seemed like a real mother to her. Morgan’s heart pounded when Miss. Bea mentioned her siblings.

”And Peter, Sarah and Melody aren’t much to you either, they’re only ‘half related’ to you and that means you’re ‘half’ to them. Since Robert got involved with Giselle and she’s not your mother, that means he’s not much of a father to you anymore. Your family is screwed up, Morgan, you’re screwed up and you don’t mean shit to the bitch that you call mother; cuz you’re not her blood.” Miss. Bea finished.

Throughout the whole detention, Morgan wondered if maybe Miss. Bea was right, and the thing was, Morgan never even heard of her real mother until last year when Robert finally told her after she ran away. By the time detention was over, she was already about halfway finished with her homework. She got out her pink folder, put her homework in it and shoved it in her backpack.

”Remember what I told you, Morgan.” Miss. Bea said as Morgan was about to walk out. “Your family is screwed up.”

Morgan walked out of the classroom with those words echoing in her head.

Meanwhile; there was knocking on Robert’s apartment door. He opened the door and outside stood Peter’s Ex friend, Megan. She had a box filled with stuff in her hands and she looked serious. “Can I see Peter?”

”Uh, sure. He’s in his room.”

She walked inside and headed for his room. “Peter!” She knocked on the door. 

He walked over to the door and unlocked it. “Megan? What are you doing here?”

”Since we are no longer friends, I came here to return all the stuff that you gave me.”

She took out a necklace made out of colored beads and letters that spelled her name. “Here’s the necklace that you made for me near the end of June.” She handed it to him and he put it on the top of his dresser. 

“Here’s one of your Spider-Man action figures you gave me, a music CD that you downloaded all my favorite songs on from your sister’s laptop, a Spider-Man valentine card you gave me on Valentine’s Day, about six more superhero action figures, a stuffed unicorn that you got me eleven months ago for my birthday, a few race cars and a Friends Forever bracelet.” She finished.

”Well,” He began, rummaging through his toy box. “I have some stuff for you too.”

”Here’s the container of marbles you gave me a little over a year ago, the stuffed Spider-Man doll you gave me for my sixth birthday, a unicorn valentine card, the pen that writes and lights up in 15 different colors, glow in the dark bubbles, your old CD player that you used to listen to on the bus and decided to give it to me when you got an iPod and…” He paused when he saw the last thing that she gave him. It was the action figure she gave him as a goodbye present when he was leaving to go to Giselle’s world.

”Well.” Megan said, getting impatient.

”And the action figure that you gave me before I left.” He finally finished after glancing at it one last time. He finally dropped it in the box along with all the other stuff.

”Okay then,” She paused and it seemed like she was having second thoughts about them ending their friendship. “I guess we’re done here.” She finished in question. She didn’t mean just done with giving their stuff back, she also meant with being friends.

The two stared at each other as if wanting to know what they really both wanted, but Megan just looked like she was trying to hide her hurt and he wasn’t happy either. “Yeah.” He finally answered after the awkward silence. 

“Then it’s official.” She picked up the box and walked out of the room. He watched her go and stared down at the ground with hurt. He sat down on his bed and didn’t even bother to close the door.

Morgan came home and placed her backpack on the couch. Robert and Giselle had been waiting for her since three thirty cuz that’s when she usually got home, and now it was almost six! They even tried calling her school but no one would answer.

”Morgan Philip, it is past five fifty! Where have you been?” Robert demanded for an answer.

Morgan was surprised that they didn’t know she had to stay two hours for detention. Didn’t Miss. Bea call and tell them about it. “I had detention, didn’t Miss. Bea tell you?”

Giselle was shocked to hear this. “You got detention?”

”For two hours?!” Robert cried out.

Morgan nodded.

”Detention isn’t supposed to be for two hours.”

”What did you do to get a detention?” Giselle asked.

”She didn’t like that I was correcting her about the homework.” Morgan didn’t want to tell her all the stuff that Miss. Bea had said about her.

”Well, we already had dinner and we saved you some cooked carrots, Lima beans, chicken legs and potato salad.” Robert explained. “So go wash your hands and dig in. You are not going to bed on an empty stomach.”

So Morgan went to the kitchen sink, washed her hands, sat down at the kitchen table and Giselle put the plate of food in front of her. “You have got to try the cranberry juice, it is delicious.” She poured Morgan a glass of cranberry juice and she liked it.

”We had trouble getting Peter to eat his lima beans, so I told him that if he eats them, he will have super powers when he gets older and be like his favorite superhero; Spider-Man.” Robert explained.

About fifteen minutes later, Morgan was finished with her dinner.

Morgan, Robert, Giselle and Peter were sitting on the couch, watching a live action Spider-Man movie, Sarah was on the floor playing with her building blocks and Melody was in her playpen, drooling on a red rubber ball.

The doorbell rang and Robert went to answer it. “I’ll get it, you guys can keep watching the movie.”

”Stranger!” Sarah cried as she ran to her room and hid under her bed.

Robert opened the door and there was a woman with curly light brown hair that went a little past her shoulders, green eyes, red lipstick and was dressed in a medium sea green blouse with a glittery vest that came with it and her knee length skirt was also a medium sea green just like her blouse and vest.

Chapter Text

“Gw-Gwen?” Robert asked in shock.

Was it really the woman that he hadn’t seen in fourteen years? The one that had left him and Morgan without saying anything? But there she was; standing right there, out his apartment door and she didn’t look angry. In fact, she looked happy to see him again.

”Long time no see.”

”How did you know I’d be here?” He asked, still in shock that she came back. He had gave up on hope that she would ever come back months after she had left. Not that it mattered she was here now, unless she wanted to get back with him; then he’d have to explain to her about Giselle. It was just unusual that after fourteen years of being gone, she was back.

”I went on PeopleFinders.Com and I looked up your name, age, date of birth and location.” She explained.

He chuckled a little. “Oh, right, of course. I guess I really haven’t been on the computer much.”

She giggled. “Still the same funny Robert I met years ago. So, how are things going? How’s Morgan? Can I see her?”

Robert thought about this for awhile. He didn’t know if he should have Morgan meet her and he knew how shy she was with people that she really didn’t know too well, but maybe just a simple hello would t hurt anything. “Uh, sure, but she might be a little shy.”

Gwen nodded, understanding what he meant. “I understand, Robert. The last time she saw me was after she was out of my stomach. I still can’t believe it’s been that long ago already.”

Morgan had just went to her room a minute before Gwen came. She had to answer a call from George on her cellphone. He wanted to know if they were still going to see the Romantic In Lane movie that just came out. It was rated PG-13.

”Morgan!” Robert called loud enough for her to hear. “There is someone I want you to meet!”

“Coming Dad!”

Gwen chuckled a little as she heard that. “Wow, she’s so precious.”

Yeah and that’s why you left. Robert wanted to say, but instead, he thought it would be best to keep that thought to himself. Morgan had rushed over to Robert to see who he was talking about. She looked up and saw a woman that she swore she had never seen before in her life, but she looked kind of like an older version of herself or something, she was pretty, that’s for sure, someone Morgan wanted to look like when she was older, but why did Robert want her to meet this woman?

”This here is Gwen Martin, your birth mother.”

So that’s who this woman was. Her mother? That’s why it was so important for her to meet her. After fourteen years, she saw her mother again. The first time she saw her mother was when she was way too young to remember.

”Uh, hi.” Morgan said, feeling shy.

Gwen came closer and stroked Morgan’s hair. “My oh my, haven’t you grown quite a bit. I can’t believe you’re already a teenager.”

Well believe it. You’ve been gone for a long time. You can’t expect her to be an infant forever. Robert didn’t know why he felt angry with her. Maybe it was because of what some people in Morgan’s Elementary School and Junior High School had said; ever since First Grade, Morgan would come home crying because the kids or some rude teachers would make remarks and tell her that Giselle could never be her real mother. He sighed as he thought about all this. Hopefully Gwen didn’t come back to resume her relationship with him and even if she did; hopefully she would be understanding and cool with it. What would she expect? For him to just take her back and dump Giselle? What could he be to her if wanting him back is what she really came for? Just some sort of toy that she would abandon if she got bored or frustrated with and could just decide to play with him again whenever she wanted to?

Giselle rushed over to shake Gwen’s hand. Well, at least Giselle had felt friendly about this whole situation, but if she said anything about her and Robert being together, he didn’t know if that would set her off. “I’m Giselle.” She smiled brightly after introducing herself. “And I’m Morgan’s stepmother.” She finished.

Gwen seemed speechless for awhile, but Robert couldn’t tell how she was taking this news in. Her face was unreadable and she just seemed okay with it. “You guys are together? Engaged?”

”Actually, we have been married for eight years now.” Giselle explained. “And we have three adorable children.”

Gwen smiled. “Well, I am very happy for the both of you.” She reached into her purse; obviously searching for something. “Morgan, I got a little something for you.” She pulled out a white iPod Nano with pink earbuds.

Morgan gasped with excitement. She couldn’t believe this. She had been wanting an iPod for a very long time now. “You got me an iPod?”

”I had a feeling you would like it.” Gwen got something else from her purse. “And Robert, I got you a little bobble head cuz I remembered that you liked to collect them.”

”Uh, thanks.” 

Peter was in the living room with Sarah. He had got her to come out of their room and he was helping her bake cookies with her toy baking oven. He stopped when he saw Morgan’s mother. “I’ll be back.” He picked up the tray that had the cookies they already finished making and he walked over to the woman.

”Hey, I know we don’t know each other, but I baked you some chocolate chip cookies.” He lied with a goofy grin on his face. If he knew one thing about the ladies, it was that they love chocolate.

”Well, that was very sweet of you, but I really shouldn’t. I’m trying to cut down on the sweets.”

Peter smiled. “No, I insist and I assure you that they are quite safe to eat.”

Gwen smiled, took the tray from him and Peter turned away, smiling. “Hot mom.” He told Morgan as he went pass her and headed for the kitchen to get something to eat.

”Cute boy.” Gwen told Robert.

”Yep, he can be a real handful sometimes.” He replied kind of sarcastic but in a jokingly way.

”Aren’t all kids?” She replied, agreeing with him; a smile on her face.

”Hey!” Sarah cried out as Peter walked out of the kitchen with a glass of lemonade and came back in the living room. “Where did the cookies go?” She really wanted to eat them and didn’t know that he had given them away to Gwen. It was pretty obvious that Peter had a crush on the woman and thought he was impressing her.

”I must have been really hungry.” Peter lied, almost forgetting that he gave them to Gwen. “Uh, how about we make another batch?” He suggested.

“Fine.” She pouted.

Giselle went over to the playpen and took Melody out. “I think Melody ran out of apple juice, I better go get her some more.”

“No! I’ll get it for her.” Peter said, hoping it was said loud enough for Gwen to hear.

Giselle looked surprised. Did Peter actually want to do something that he usually considered boring, like helping people?

”I mean it is the gentleman thing to do.” He snatched the empty bottle out of her hand and headed for the kitchen. It was on a high shelf so he had to use a footstool so he could reach it. He carefully got on the footstool, grabbed for the apple juice and poured it in Melody’s bottle.

”Here you go.” Peter said, holding out the bottle for Melody who was in Giselle’s arms. 

Giselle smiled, took the bottle from him and put it in Melody’s mouth.

“Such a helpful and polite boy.” Gwen said. She had seen Peter return to Giselle and Melody with the bottle of apple juice.

Peter smiled to himself, hearing this. If there was another thing he knew about ladies; is that they like polite and helpful boys. So far his attempts to impress Gwen were working, well at least that’s what he thought.

”So what were you guys doing here before I came?” Gwen asked Robert, but Peter had answered instead.

”Oh, nothing really important.”

This made Morgan a little suspicious. Since when was anything that had to do with Spider-Man nothing important to Peter? That’s all he ever really talked about was Spider-Man. Spider-Man this and Spider-Man that, and he was so into the movie that they were watching, even though he has seen it like a thousand times already. She had seen the big smile on his face as he shoved a mouthful of popcorn in his mouth.

Gwen giggled a little and Peter heard from some boy a few grades higher that if a boy makes a girl laugh or giggle; that means she really likes him.

”You wouldn’t mind if I stayed a little longer, would you?” She asked Robert.

”Well, um-“ He began.

”No, not at all! Please stay!” Peter begged.

“Well, I suppose you could stay a little longer, but at around eight, the kids have to get ready for bed.” Robert explained.

”I understand.” She replied, smiling.

At around six fifteen, she was getting ready to leave and Robert, Giselle, Morgan and Peter followed her to the door. “So maybe I could come back another time.”

“Well, both Peter and Morgan’s last day of school is on the 11th of December and then they’ll be off for about three weeks.” Robert explained.

”Well maybe I could visit again sometime near Christmas.” She replied.

”It was very nice meeting you.” Giselle shook her hand again.

She smiled. “It was very nice meeting you too, Giselle. I must say that I’m quite impressed. You are very good with children and really know how to take care of them.”

”Thanks, and we’ll be looking forward to seeing you soon.”

”Thanks for the iPod, Gwen.” Morgan told her.

”Actually, I think I’d like it a little more if you’d just call me mom, after all I am your mother.”

”Thanks mom.” Morgan corrected herself.

Gwen pulled her into a hug. “I’ll see you soon, sweetie.”

”Me too.” Peter said after Morgan and Gwen hugged.

”And I’ll see you soon as well.” Gwen told him after giving him a hug.

She walked out the door after saying goodbye and Giselle waved.

Morgan saw the goofy grin on Peter’s face. “Well, you seem to be in a good mood today.”

”What do you mean?”

”You haven’t been in a bad mood since you came home.” She replied.

He shrugged. “Ah, what do I need Megan for anymore?” His face grew a flirtatious look. “After all, I think I found someone better.” And Morgan knew who he was talking about.

”Fat chance, kid. She’s way too old for you. She’s like around Dad’s age.” 

The smile never left Peter’s face. “We’ll see.”

“Oh shoot!” Morgan said as she looked down at her watch. “It’s almost six thirty! I promised George I’d meet him in theater seven. I have like twelve minutes to get there.” She rushed out the door.

At around six thirty, Morgan made it to the movie theater and explained that George’s adoptive mother had already paid for everything. They let her in and she dashed to theater seven. George was sitting near the front row next to an empty seat. The whole theater was nearly packed and he had got a spot where there were only two chairs. On the bright side, they could sneak in for a kiss during a romantic scene.

”I’m sorry I’m late, George.” She apologized.

“It’s okay. The movie didn’t even start yet. They’re just playing the commercials.”

She sat down on the empty seat and they watched the commercials. A lot of great movies were going to be coming out and both she and George couldn’t wait to see em. The movie started in about five minutes.

The movie was about a single woman who just recently broke up with her boyfriend after discovering that he cheated on her, and she meets this man at work who she becomes really good friends with. Bad guys are after the money and will stop at nothing. Later on, the man and woman share a kiss and Morgan smiled at George; he shared the same smile, wrapped his arms around her waist and she wrapped hers around his neck and they kissed.

What they didn’t know was that they were being spied on, and not just them; Morgan’s family was being spied on too, people from another world were spying on the family. A King, a Queen, a vain Prince, an evil fairy godmother and a witch.

In Andalasia, Rhonda, Gregory, Louis, Gothel and some witch who looked almost like Narissa, were near the well, and the witch used her magic so they’d be able to spy on them; mostly Giselle. They have been spying on them since the day they left and what they saw today gave Rhonda an idea.

”I think I have an idea, but we might need to somehow recruit her in order for it to work.”

”Who’s she?” Gregory asked confused.

”Okay, let’s form a magic circle. I have the perfect item for us to use and it’s not going to work if we don’t conjure it.” Gothel explained.

”Can’t you just use your magic wand?” Gregory asked.

”Oh, right.”

The five villains erupted into evil laughter.

Chapter Text

Two weeks have passed since Morgan’s birth mother had returned. She was happy to have met her mother. Gwen seemed like a really cool person and Morgan was very happy that this was her last day of school, then tomorrow, her winter vacation would finally began. She got her backpack and headed out the door.

”Have a great last day!” Giselle shouted after her.

“I can’t wait till tomorrow.” Morgan told Melanie and George as they walked to school.

”Wow, you’re really excited about getting out of school.” Melanie said.

“What do you mean?” Morgan asked, confused by her tone. 

“I mean, when we were just starting here, all you could talk about was what a great year it’s going to be.” Melanie explained.

Morgan sighed as she thought about it. It was an okay year. It wasn’t really any different from the Eighth Grade. Things were pretty much the same. Everyone was divided into groups and clicks. She was just looking forward for a very exciting year, but truth be told, she did have her ups and downs. She knew that since she and her friends weren’t divided into any group; they were considered nobodies and most of the students thought less of them. High School sucked that way. Why couldn’t everyone just be themselves and get along?

Melanie suddenly got a look like an ‘I know what’s going on’ look. “It doesn’t have anything to do with Miss. Bea, does it?”

Morgan hesitated about this. She didn’t know what she was going to say. She felt at lost for words and remembered about all the hurtful stuff Miss. Bea had told her two weeks ago in detention and gave her ‘the talk’ which she already learned about when she was in the Fifth Grade. “No, of course not.” She quickly lied. She still didn’t tell anyone about what had been said to her and she still felt hurt and uncomfortable about it. 

When they were at school, Mathew walked over to Melanie. “Hey, Mel.”

”Hi, Mat.”

They we’re now boyfriend and girlfriend. They started going out after their first date cuz things totally worked out and they were a perfect match.

He grinned. “I got the text that you sent me.” He showed her his cellphone.

“And I got yours too.” She replied, showing him her phone. 

“So, what would you like to do now?” He asked.

She smiled. “This.” As she said that; she wrapped her arms around his neck and pressed her lips against his. He replied by wrapping his arms around her and they were both making out.

Morgan turned to smile at George. “Come on, we better give these two some alone time.” She took his hand and they decided to go to Mr. Dobson’s class earlier. They had about two minutes till the bell rang anyways.

Angelica, Cindy and Melissa had seen them making out and Angelica was raged with jealousy.

“He will be my boyfriend.” She had a deadly look on her face, wishing the worst for Melanie until she remembered something. She took out a sketchbook that she had left in her backpack. It was Mathew’s. “I almost forgot. About a few weeks ago, I was spying on all the dates they went on and well… Mathew left his sketchbook and I found it.”

The three watched as Melanie and Mathew said goodbye and went in different directions. 

“So, what’s the plan?” Melissa asked a smiling Angelica.

”Watch and learn.” Angelica flipped her hair over her shoulder and rushed over to Mathew. “Mathew!” She kept calling when Melanie was out of earshot and sight. He turned to her.

“You forgot your sketchbook.” She told him, sounding kind.

”Where-where did you find that?” He asked.

”I found it in Central Park. I was there with my six year old cousin and I saw you drop the sketchbook, so I decided to get it for you.” She lied. She lied about the cousin part. She wanted to get his sketchbook to impress him and make him believe that she was a kind person who liked helping people out.

”Well, uh, thanks.”

She smiled generously. “No problem, helping people out is what I do, and I’d like to think of us as friends.” She put out a hand for him to shake and he shook it.

Perfect. She thought. Now maybe she would finally have her chance to win Mathew’s heart, make him forget all about Melanie and then Angelica would finally win his heart. Right now, he seemed to think of them as really good friends and that was a start. She had another plan up her sleeves, but she wouldn’t put it to use till near the end of school.

Peter’s school…

He was sitting in the back of the class and Megan and Simon were sitting in the front like they have been for two weeks now. Peter convinced himself that he didn’t care and if she moved on from him; then he shouldn’t have any trouble moving on from her. It’s not like he had feelings for the girl anyway. She was just a so called best friend that betrayed him, but if it didn’t mean much, why did all this bother him so much?

He took out his pencil and began to focus on his math. Unlike his older sister, he was a whiz in math and had gotten nothing but A’s. He was doing really well until he heard something that; that Simon boy taking his place as Megan’s friend should have never said.

”Don’t you think I’m a good friend, Megan?” He asked.

”Uh huh.” She answered, really focusing more on her work than what he was saying.

A smug suddenly appeared on his face. “Would you say that I’m a better friend to you than Peter ever was?”

Peter jumped up from his seat without knowing it until he received attention from the other students and Mrs. Heylyn who was looking up in concern, but he didn’t care!

“You just shut the hell up you friend stealer!” By now he was at Simon’s desk. “You think that you’re so cool and ‘Mr. I am better than anyone’ don’t you? Well, you’re not! You’re just a friend stealer. I have been friends with Megan way longer than you have so you can’t be a better friend if you’re not even true!”

Megan was listening to all this in shock. Why was Peter acting this way? What was his deal?

Simon smirked. “You guys aren’t even friends anymore, so maybe you were good for her once but she doesn’t like you anymore. It’s pretty obvious she wants me as a friend instead. We have already been hanging out after school almost everyday since I was new here.”

”You were just a replacement! Before you came along, everything was just perfect!” As Peter said all this, he felt like he wanted to cry. Everything was just perfect before this wannabe showed up.

”Nobody really cares about what you think, and you’re just jealous of us. You like Megan and you know you do, otherwise you wouldn’t care so much. You didn’t like us hanging out even when you two were still friends, I could tell.” Saying all this caused all the kids in the class to laugh, except for Megan, Peter and Simon who said this.

Peter couldn’t take this anymore and even though Simon wasn’t laughing, he still had a smug on his face. Peter grabbed Simon by the collar of his shirt. “You better just stop it, Simon!”

”Peter!” Mrs. Heylyn cried out.

Peter had his full focus on Simon and then turned to Megan who stared in complete shock and disbelief, and it didn’t look like it was Simon she was upset with. She looked upset with Peter.

”Megan, I was your friend first and we used to have such great times together, but if you want to blow me off for some jerk who wants to be better than everyone, be my guest. I have done almost everything for you and was completely faithful and you betrayed me.” He turned from her and went back to his seat.

She got up from her desk and walked over to him. “Never speak to me ever again.” With that, she went back to her seat.

Peter hung his head, feeling hurt and he could just visualize that sickening smirk on Simon’s face.

At Morgan’s school…

The last bell rang, which meant it was time to go home. Angelica walked over to Mathew with a few papers in her hands. “Hey, Mathew.”

”Oh, hi, Angelica.”

Morgan, George and Melanie didn’t leave yet because Melanie lost one of her text books. It took them about a few minutes to find it. It was in Mr. Wiki’s classroom so they had to go to the office and ask for a key. After Melanie got her book, she put it away in her backpack.

When they were getting ready to leave, Melanie glanced around and saw Mathew at his locker and he wasn’t by himself. Angelica was there also, and what she saw made her heart shatter to pieces. Mathew and Angelica were kissing and Mathew was a two timing jerk. Melanie felt tears pour from her eyes and her vision was blurred by her tears. 

She watched as the two pulled away. Mathew caught a glimpse of Melanie after his kiss with Angelica. “Hey, Melanie.”

”How could you?!” She cried.

”What are you talking about?” He asked, confused.

”She saw the entire thing! You’ve been caught!” Morgan told him loudly and she was angry at him for breaking her best friend’s heart.

Mathew knew what she was talking about now. “It’s not what it looks like! I swear!”

”I trusted you!” Melanie cried, more tears filling her eyes and her face was almost a bright red.

”I can explain!”

She walked over to him and slapped him across the face; hard. “We are through!” When he tried to stop her from leaving, she pushed him away and left the building, crying.

Morgan and George watched her run out and they were hurt themselves for what that jerk did to her.

Morgan turned her attention on Mathew. “You know, Melanie trusted you, we trusted you. We thought you were a great guy for our friend but we were obviously wrong.”

Mathew stared down with guilt and Morgan wasn’t finished. “Encouraging her to trust you was a big mistake. You’re just a jerk like all the other guys.” She grabbed George’s hand and stormed off.

Peter’s school…

Peter was walking down the steps and someone stopped him by pulling the back of his shirt. He turned and saw Megan.

”What was all that about?” She demanded.

”What are you talking about?”

”Don’t play dumb with me. You know exactly what I’m talking about! You humiliated me in front of the whole class and you could have hurt Simon. What is your problem?!” She was upset.

”What’s my problem?” He retorted sarcastically. “I’m not the one who decided to replace my ‘best friend,’ completely forget about him as if he never even existed!”

”I didn’t forget about you. You’re just selfish!” She shouted.

“Oh look who’s the one to talk. If I’m so ‘selfish’ then why is it that I have been a better friend than you have ever been to me? I even gave you an invite to go to the park with me, called you about five times and waited nearly twenty minutes, hoping you would call me back! But no! You were too busy mingling with Simon at the new arcade that ‘we’ planned on going to!”

”When I told you to never speak to me again, I meant it.” She said truthfully; then she walked off. She really did mean it, even if they didn’t get into this little fight, he still humiliated her in class.

”Fine! Go! I don’t care! I don’t need you anyways! I am better off without you! I don’t need you as my friend to be happy!” He yelled at her as she continued walking off.

Tears filled Peter’s eyes. He raised his backpack in the air, then slammed it right on the ground repeatedly and as he did this, he was screaming and yelling curse words.

At home…

Robert and Giselle were making dinner to eat at four thirty. Peter swung the door open, barged in, made a run for his room like a madman and slammed the door as hard as he could. “I am never leaving this room ever again; for as long as I live!” He yelled loud enough for everyone to hear, then he locked the door so no one could ever come in and this time no matter what Robert told him, he would never leave his room. Robert could threaten showing all the baby pictures he wanted, Peter didn’t care anymore.

Morgan came home and she was bummed because of what Mathew was doing against Melanie’s back and that idiot even thought he could get away with it. She sighed as she headed for her room. Once in her room, she went over to one of her shelves and got the iPod that Gwen gave her. She plopped down on the bed, put the earbuds in her ears and turned on the music. She had already downloaded a lot of songs on it. She unzipped her backpack, got out her homework, a pencil and got started.

In the kitchen…

“He’s doing it again.” Giselle said.

”Oh no he’s not. Sarah will not sleep on the couch again. I will get Peter to tell me what’s going on whether he wants to or not.” Robert was sick and tired of Peter’s bad moods and it made him frustrated that Peter was keeping things to himself and pushing everyone away when all they wanted was to help him.

At around eight O’clock, the phone rang. “Hello?” Robert said, answering it.

It was Gwen. They talked for awhile and hung up.

”It was Gwen. She wants to stop by tomorrow.” He smiled, getting an idea. He had seen how happy Peter seemed when Gwen was around. “Maybe Peter will come out of his room when I tell him that Gwen is coming over tomorrow.”

”I still wish we could talk to him and find out what’s wrong.” Giselle said.

”Yeah. We’re going to do that too.”

”Did I hear that Gwen’s coming over?” Peter asked, coming out of his room. Robert had said it loud enough for him to hear.

”Yes; she is, and we really wanna talk to you.” Robert replied.

They followed Peter to his room and told him to sit on the bed.

”Okay, start talking.” Robert told him.

Peter sighed. “Fine. Megan and I got into a big fight today; we are no longer friends, she returned all the stuff that I gave her. Ever since that new kid, Simon can’t along, I mean nothing to her anymore.”

”It sounds to me like you might be a little jealous.” Robert told him.

”I am not jealous! She’s a traitor!” Peter cried out, wishing people would stop bringing up the ‘you’re jealous’ crap.

”We understand, Peter, and it’s okay to like her. There’s nothing wrong with that. You’re a very great person, Peter, and if she can’t see that then she’s not the right girl for you.” Robert explained.

Peter smiled a little, feeling better. “Thanks.”

”Anytime.” Robert playfully slapped his back.

Chapter Text

Morgan was in her room, reading a new fairytale book. It was kind of like True Love Never Dies, but the plot was a little different. It was still an interesting book though. It was called The Princess’s Journal: A Tale Of Romance. She was already on page 10. She was very engrossed in what she was reading until suddenly her cellphone began to ring. “Hello?” She said, answering it.

It was Melanie. She didn’t sound happy but she didn’t sound as heartbroken as she was in school. Morgan still felt bad for her. “I’m still really sorry about what that Mathew jerk did to you.”

”It’s cool. I guess he just wasn’t the right guy for me. There’s still time for that, but right now, I’m just happy that I have two good friends who really care about me.” Melanie explained.

Morgan smiled. “Well, we’re happy to be your friends too, and if you ever need a hug or a shoulder to cry on; I’ll be there.”

”So, we have until January 4th before we go back. What do you plan on doing for Winter Vacation?” Melanie asked.

Morgan shrugged. “I really don’t know yet. We’re probably gonna have to get some Christmas shopping done, find new decorations for the tree, wrapping paper and lots of toys.”

”Well, it’s better than what Savannah has planned for tomorrow. She wants to invite her sister, four year old little niece and two eight year old nephews. They’re never nice to me.” Melanie explained. Savannah was her adoptive mother that had been taking care of her since the day Narissa got rid of her.

”My birth mother Gwen is coming over tomorrow. She wants to visit.”

”Morgan! It’s getting really late, you should be in bed by now! Growing girls need their rest!” Robert shouted to her. He was in the hall, putting towels away in the cabinet.

”Yes, daddy!” She shouted back; she then spoke into the phone. “I gotta go before dad completely loses his mind.”

”Okay, bye.”

They hung up.

Morning came and since it was a Saturday, everyone could sleep in and didn’t have to worry about getting the kids ready for school or making lunches. The only thing that Robert and Giselle would have to worry about was Melody crying. That’s all babies mostly did when they needed or wanted something. 

Melody cried and woke Robert and Giselle up at around seven in the morning. She was hungry. Robert let out an annoyed sigh. “I’ll get up, I got this.”

About four hours ago, she woke up crying because her bottle of milk was empty.

He went over to the crib to find out what was wrong. “She doesn’t need her diaper changed, nothing’s hurting her, and her bottle isn’t close to being empty; so she must be hungry.”

He left the bedroom and headed for the kitchen. He opened a cupboard that was filled with baby food jars. “Hmm, mashed pumpkin, mashed apples, mashed bananas, strained peaches and mashed peas.” Robert was mumbling to himself as he looked at each jar. He knew that Melody’s favorite was the mashed peas. Every time she ate it, she had a big smile on her face and she would get all excited. After getting out the jar of mashed peas, he got out a spoon from the drawer and headed back for the bedroom.

”What did you get her?” Giselle asked.

He grinned. “Mashed peas.”

She smiled. “She really loves mashed peas; they must taste really good.”

”Yeah.”

”I just have to try some.” She pleaded.

Robert was shocked by this. “What?”

”Well, if they’re so good and it brings Melody such joy, I want to feel that joy she feels the second it’s in her mouth.” She explained.

”Uh, I’m not really sure if you should. I mean, babies and grownups… we sort of have different tastebuds.” He told her.

Giselle’s eyes grew wide, filled with her innocence. Yes, even after eight years, she still had most of her innocence and sometimes that wasn’t a good thing. He worried about her, especially when she trusted people that she doesn’t know too well. He couldn’t resist her eyes. “Well, I guess one try won’t kill anything, but don’t say I didn’t warn you.”

She grabbed the jar from him, got out a spoonful of the mashed peas and shoved it in her mouth. Robert waited for her to puke, vomit; he even had out a trashcan for incase, but surprisingly for him, she liked it. She loved it so much that she decided to go for another spoonful and she was going “Mmm.” as she ate it.

”Giselle; not the whole thing, please! Great, now I have to go get another one.” Robert sighed and went to get another jar of mashed peas. When he came back, he looked Giselle in the eyes and said; “This jar is Melody’s, don’t even think about snatching it from me. You’ve had your share.”

She was too busy being in her own happy world; enjoying the mashed peas, to hear much of what he was saying. “Oh Robert, you have got to try this! It’s so amazing and yummy for your tummy.”

”Yeah, maybe I’ll try it some other time.” He replied sarcastically.

”Come on, Robert.” Giselle said, putting the spoon near his mouth and he backed away, giving her the ‘I don’t want to’ look. “Come on, Robert, you’ll never know if you like it or not if you don’t try.” She was talking to him like he was a four year old little boy.

”No, Giselle, please!” He begged.

She finally managed to get the spoon in his mouth after a minute of his struggling and pulling away. His eyes popped wide open in shock; then he quickly shut them, taking in the taste, not like he really had much of a choice.

”Well?” She asked excitedly, waiting for his opinion. “Did you like it?”

”Like it?!” Robert spat out. “You have got to be completely off your nutshell, woman!” He snatched the jar from her and he looked pissed. “Like it? Why I loved it!” His angry expression faded and he quickly shoved a spoonful of the mashed peas in his mouth. “Mmm, this is so good.” He commented with his mouth full.

Her smile grew wide. “See? I told you you’d like it, Robert!”

“Can’t talk now, gotta eat.” He continued shoving spoonfuls in his mouth.

”And here’s some for the baby.” Giselle opened the jar Robert just got and began to feed Melody spoonfuls and with each bite, the baby giggled with delight.

”I was thinking that since we’re already up, that maybe around ten, we could go out for some Christmas shopping?” Robert suggested.

”That sounds like a very good idea, Robert, but we have to buy toys for the kids and we don’t want them to know about it.” She explained.

”Yeah, you’re right, Giselle, plus, Peter and Sarah are still at the age where they believe in Santa Clause.”

”Back in Andalasia, there’s a real Santa clause that came each Christmas for the boys and girls. I remember one Christmas when I saw Santa…” Giselle began to explain about when she first saw Santa.

Flashback…

Giselle was a little girl in her treehouse back in the forest of Andalasia. She was prancing around in a red dress with a rose on her hair. Her animal friends had just explained to her about Christmas and she was so excited that she couldn’t get to sleep. “Do you think Christmas will come soon?” Young Giselle asked.

”Christmas will be here before you know it.” A mother deer replied sweetly; which caused her three baby deers to prance around.

”I can’t wait!” Giselle exclaimed, jumping up and down.

”I have quite a story to tell and a true one, not a tale.” The mother deer explained.

”There was this magical man named Santa Clause. When he was born, he was a bundle of joy; one thing he really wanted to do when he got older was make people happy. His grandfather worked at a toy shop and told him that when he’s ready to leave; he would let him take his place as Santa when he got older. So when he was older, he was handed a special magical suit that would turn him into a jolly olly man, and that is the story for tonight.”

”Thanks, Ophay.” Giselle gave the mother deer a kiss on the cheek.

On Christmas morning at twelve; Giselle was looking out the window and saw Santa Clause in a sleigh with flying reindeer, and he had a bag of toys in his hands. “Ho! Ho! Ho! Merry Christmas!” He dumped all the presents and they landed in front of the treehouse.

”Santa!” Giselle ran outside and rushed over to the presents. “Presents!” She tightly held a present close to her chest.

End of flashback…

At around ten; Morgan, Peter and Sarah were awake.

”Come on, kids, get dressed! We’re going Christmas shopping!” Robert shouted.

Peter jumped out of bed and rushed out of the room, pulling onto one of Sarah’s hands. Giselle rushed to her and Robert’s room, got Melody out of her crib and rushed back in the living room.

Robert got out a stroller from the closet. It was a stroller that you could use for up to two toddlers or any kid that fits. Melody was strapped in the front and Sarah was strapped in the back.

”Lucky them, I have to walk!” Peter whined.

The store wasn’t that far away. It would only take like five minutes to get there. It was a holiday store and since it was December; the place was decorated with Christmas stuff. Robert told Giselle to take the kids to a section that had toys so he could look for wrapping paper. He found Spider-Man wrapping paper and princess wrapping paper that he could use for the kids, and red and green wrapping paper he could use for his relatives. He even thought about getting Gwen something; even though she had been gone for fourteen years, he still didn’t want her to be left out.

The real problem he was having was finding the perfect gift to get Giselle. He wanted to get her something very special. He thought about snow globes, some earrings, a pretty dress, even diamonds; they all sounded like great ideas, but he wanted to get her something really special. Oh well, it’s not like there’s really anything out of the ordinary here. I’d have to be in a magical world to find something real special. He got a nice snow globe that had Jesus when he was born and his mother and father, and there were snowflakes in the background. He got shiny golden earrings. He remembered that she saw it on a commercial once and would not stop talking about it.

After finding stuff for Giselle, he went to the counter to pay for it. He had decided that both he and Giselle would go to a toy store for Peter, Sarah, Melody and Morgan. He spotted her pushing the stroller with Sarah and Melody in it, and both Peter and Morgan walking behind her.

”Are we ready to go yet?” Robert asked them.

”Yes we are.” Giselle replied.

Robert smiled. “Great. You know that movie we’ve all been dying to see?”

”Christmas Spirit?” Peter guessed.

”Well, I got about six free tickets so we could see it. It starts at around twelve thirty. We could all go home, make some lunch and stay at the park for awhile.” Robert explained.

”Yay!” Sarah jumped up and down, excited.

They went home, the kids helped Robert and Giselle make baloney and peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. They packed containers with fruit; strawberries, cantaloupe, apples, watermelon and bananas. Peter decided to bring a bag of cheese puff balls with him; they were his all time favorite. They went to Central Park, found a nice spot on the grass under some tree, sat on their picnic blanket and began to eat.

At around twelve O’five, they left the park to get ready for Christmas Spirit.

Chapter Text

Robert gave the six tickets to a guy who was at the counter and was asked what movie they were going to see. They entered the place once a guy at the door gave them a ticket. “The movie’s going to be in theater eight.” He told Giselle and the kids.

They entered theater eight and found a perfect row for them. They made themselves comfortable and sat down. The only thing that they ordered was a few bags of popcorn and water. The screen played commercials for movies that would come out soon and the movie began.

The movie Christmas Spirit was about a little boy and his family. The boy stopped believing in Santa because when he was at the mall; he sat on a guy who was dressed as Santa. He followed him to a worker’s room and saw him take off his suit and beard. The mother tried to get him to believe in Santa again and that Santa was there; whether you see him or not. A guy who lived next door to them, gave the boy about ten dollars to get his family something nice. It turns out that the guy who lives next door to them is the real Santa Clause and the boy soon finds this out. They go on adventures and in the end, the boy helps deliver the presents to all over the world. It was a great movie and everyone liked it.

“Well, that was a wonderful and lovely movie.” Giselle said.

”I want to see the new Spider-Man movie next.” Peter stated. He had liked this movie, but nothing could compare to Spider-Man.

”Maybe some other time, Peter. Things cost money.” Robert replied.

They went home. Sarah was already tired so she was put to bed for nap time. Peter was kind of tired too; so he went in the room for a nap. Melody was already sound asleep. Since she was a little baby; she would sleep on and off all day because babies needed their sleep and Giselle couldn’t believe that by the twenty seventh of this month, Melody’s already going to be five months old.

Robert and Giselle went in their bedroom and locked the door. They had all the wrapping paper with them. They were going to wrap all the gifts for Robert’s relatives and they had ribbons, bows, markers, scotch tape and scissors. Everything was prepared. Robert knew that they would have to go out; just the two of them in order to get the kids’ stuff.

”How are we going to leave this house without the kids? They need someone to watch them. Well, Morgan’s old enough to watch them, but I don’t want to put all that stress on her shoulders. Sometimes Sarah just doesn’t listen and Peter can be really annoying, and I also know that Morgan wouldn’t like the idea of having to change Melody’s diapers.” He let out a sigh. “What are we going to do, Giselle?”

Giselle got an idea. “Doesn’t Peter’s friend Megan live across the hall from us?”

”Yeah.” He replied.

”Well, maybe her mom could look after them for us.” She suggested.

”I don’t really know, Giselle, but I guess we could ask.”

He picked up the telephone from the nightstand and dialed some numbers. “Hello? Cathy. Uh, yeah, we just started on our Christmas shopping today. That’s kind of why we called. You see, we really want to buy the kids their gifts but we can’t do it with them around, so we’re kind of looking for someone who could watch them for us while we go out.”

“So, you’re asking me to come over and babysit?” She asked, pacing around back and forth in her kitchen.

Megan was behind the counter and she popped up, signaling for her to say no.

”Well, I don’t have much to do anyways, so what time do you want me to come over?” Cathy asked.

”Uh,” Robert glanced at his alarm clock and noticed it was already three O’clock. “In maybe about half an hour from now.” He finished.

“Okay, sounds great, I’ll be over at around three thirty then.” She replied.

“Okay, great; bye.”

They hung up.

”Mom!” Megan cried out.

”Whatever problems you are having with Peter, you need to work them out.” Cathy told her.

Megan pouted and folded her arms. “Fine. I’ll be upstairs if you need me.”

At around three twenty, the kids were up.

”Where are you guys going and why do we need someone to babysit us?” Peter asked. He didn’t know that Megan’s mother would be watching them.

”Giselle and I have a very important meeting to attend to and we’re not allowed to bring anyone who’s under eighteen with us.” Robert lied, sounding serious.

Eight minutes later; there was a knock at the door, Robert rushed to open the door and Cathy and Megan stepped outside. “We’re here.” In Cathy’s arms was Megan’s little sister, Cassie.

Peter stood where he was in shock. He couldn’t believe this. Megan’s mom was going to babysit them? He would have thought that was cool if he and Megan were still friends, but since they weren’t, things were going to be awkward.

”Okay, we’ll be back in about an hour or so. Stay out of trouble, kids.” Robert had his eyes on Peter as he said that.

Robert and Giselle both walked out; leaving the kids with Cathy.

Peter had dropped one of his action figures and bent down to pick it up; but he felt someone’s hand on top of his and watched as none other than his ex best friend picked it up for him.

”Megan?” He asked, surprised.

She only looked up for a second then avoided further contact with him. “Just because I helped you pick up one of your stupid action figures; doesn’t mean we’re friends again. I had plans today to go roller skating with Simon, but because of you guys, my mom has to babysit.” She walked off, not saying another word, leaving Peter disappointed that they still didn’t make up.

Robert and Giselle had entered the store; got a shopping cart and looked for some great toys and clothes. They found a Spider-Man play set and decided to get that for Peter.

”Knowing Peter, he will get a kick out of this.” Robert told her.

”Ooh! And look at this! It’s so cute!” Giselle found a cowboy riding on a horse with a desert background.

Robert examined it and thought it was nice also. “And it even talks.” He said, pushing a button. They read the three words on the box and it read that the cowboy says about ten phrases; the horse neighs, whinnies and it can even gallop. Batteries included.

The next thing they found for Peter was a race car track set. It came with two cars; a red and blue one, two remote controls and track pieces that they would have to put together. They had found other cool things that he would like. 

Next they looked for Sarah. They found a princess play set, a face painting kit, a box of playdoh, a princess castle tent that went up to about three feet and it came with a sleeping bag. 

They found a baby doll, a piano with colored keys, some teething toys and a rumble feature bead set. That stuff was going to be for Melody.

For Morgan; they bought her some barbie dolls and a dollhouse that was a little over five feet tall. They paid for everything they bought. They left the store and went to an electronic store. They bought Morgan some new CDs, a Nintendo Dance. It was the new game that just came out and Morgan wouldn’t stop talking about it. It came with a dance mat and they bought three games that they just knew she would enjoy.

At around five; they were finished shopping, paid for the stuff and rushed out of the store.

”We have to go home now and prepare for dinner. Gwen’s going to be coming over in about an hour and I want everything to be perfect.” Robert explained.

She nodded, agreeing.

When they got home; they knocked on the door and Kathy answered it.

”How are the kids?” Giselle asked.

”Oh, they’re in their bedroom, playing.” 

Robert and Giselle looked in Peter and Sarah’s room and saw Sarah and Cassie dressing up barbie dolls and playing princess and Megan was playing with them. Peter was just laying in his bed, fidgeting with a piece of rubber string and he looked bored out of his mind.

”Why isn’t Peter playing with them? I mean there are some male dolls too and he has GI Joes.” Giselle explained.

”Peter said he didn’t feel like doing anything and Megan doesn’t want him to play with them.” Cathy explained.

Peter had tried playing, but Megan kept telling him to go away or no; and if he tried playing with them; they would just ignore him and act as if he weren’t even there; like they couldn’t see or hear him.

Cathy, Megan and Cassie left.

Robert and Giselle made dinner and at around six, there was a knock at the door. It was Gwen and she had a bag in her hands.

”Knock, knock, knock, Robert.” She said playfully.

Robert opened the door and let her in.

”Wow.” She said; looking around the room. “I love what you’ve done with the place.”

”Oh, it was nothing.” Robert chuckled a little.

Gwen cleared her throat. “Anyways, I got a little something for the kids.” She said, reaching in her bag.

”Let me at it!” Peter exclaimed, getting excited. 

Robert stopped him from rushing over to the bag. “Not till two weeks from now.”

The Christmas tree was already decorated and Gwen put the bag under the tree.

”That was very nice of you, Gwen. You didn’t have to get the kids anything.” Giselle told her.

Gwen smiled. “Aww, but I wanted too, and speaking of gifts; I even got you a little something too.” She reached into her purse and got out a box of chocolate and a red ribbon was wrapped around it. Giselle’s eyes went wide with interest.

”So, what’s cooking?” Gwen asked.

Robert grinned. “Well, actually the cooking is finished now; so the real question is what’s cooked?” He joked, causing Gwen to giggle.

“You are really funny, Robert, just like when we first met.” She told him.

”Well; shall we get ready for dinner, my fair lady?” Robert joked, putting an arm up so Gwen could walk under. That made Giselle feel a little jealous. Did Robert just call Gwen his fair lady?

Gwen didn’t seem to have a problem with any of this though. “Of course.”

Giselle put Melody in her highchair and then she sat at the table with the others. The table was filled with stuff. It was almost like a buffet. There were cooked carrots, raw carrots with ranch dressing, golden chicken legs, mashed potatoes with gravy, corn on the cobs, peas, celery sticks, steak, cranberries, potato salad, Spanish rice, strawberries, cantaloupe, red and green Jello, melon, oranges, apples and watermelon.

”Wow. You prepared all this?” Gwen asked in awe. “This is incredible, just amazing, and outstanding. I feel like I’m at a food buffet.” She commented as she reached for a golden chicken leg. “I can’t believe you actually did all this.”

”Well, the kids did help us get everything prepared. We didn’t do it all by ourselves.” Robert explained.

Giselle fed Sarah a raw carrot with dressing. “Come on, Sarah, you have to at least try some of your vegetables. They’re good for you. You’ll never know what you’re missing if you don’t try.”

Peter grabbed for a celery stick. “Now I really hate celery; it’s so disgusting! But Dad told me that if I eat all my vegetables; that someday I’m going to end up like Spider-Man and get superpowers.” He was telling Gwen.

Giselle had a piece of steak, cranberries, cooked carrots, one golden chicken leg, a corn on the cob, Spanish rice, peas and potato salad. For fruit, she had strawberries, cantaloupe, melon and an orange.

Robert just had some peas, a corn on the cob, cooked carrots and steak. Peter was eating every vegetable he saw; even the ones he hated which was mostly all of them except for maybe the raw carrots and the corn. Gwen had three celery sticks, cooked carrots, potato salad, Spanish rice, mashed potatoes with gravy, one corn on the cob, a few cranberries, raw carrots without the dressing, four strawberries and a watermelon. Sarah didn’t really eat as much as the grownups were eating. She just had raw carrots with dressing, a corn on the cob, Spanish rice, a golden chicken leg and Jello. Melody couldn’t eat most of the food cuz she didn’t have any teeth yet, so Giselle had to mash the cooked carrots for her, the peas and the corn. Morgan had potato salad, cooked carrots, a golden chicken leg, Spanish rice, a corn on the cob and some strawberries.

About fifty minutes later from when they started; everyone was finished eating.

”Man, I’m stuffed; you sure know how to cook, Robert.” Gwen told him.

”Thanks, but it was Giselle who did most of the cooking.” He explained.

Giselle still had the candy that Gwen had given her and she decided to have a piece. She unwrapped the ribbon, opened the box, took out a piece of candy and ate it. “Mmm; this is so good.” She said with her mouth full.

”Well, I’m glad you like it. I had a feeling you might.” Gwen told her.

She got up and Robert walked her over to the door. “Well, thanks for coming over, Gwen; we really enjoyed your company.”

”Anytime, Robert. How about I come back at around Christmas time?” She asked.

”Sure; sounds great.” He answered.

She gave him a kiss on the cheek and walked out the door. Giselle had seen that and was a little surprised, but not in the good way. She didn’t know what to think about it. She walked over to Robert. “Why did she kiss you?”

”Oh, it was nothing. It was just a goodbye kiss, that’s all. It didn’t mean anything. We’re not into each other that way anymore.” He explained.

”Oh.” She felt relieved that the kiss did not have an effect on Robert. She thought it was stupid to feel insecure. Both she and Robert have been married for eight years now and they trusted each other. Robert was a great guy who would never do anything to break her heart so she didn’t know why she felt this way all of a sudden.

”How about we watch another Spider-Man movie that Peter has been begging to see almost all day?” He suggested.

She smiled. “Sounds great. Should I make some popcorn?” She asked.

”Not for me, I’m stuffed from all the food, but Peter loves to always eat popcorn when he watches movies.” He replied.

So Giselle headed for the kitchen to make Peter some popcorn. Robert, Peter, Sarah and Morgan were sitting on the couch and Robert had Melody in his arms. Peter had just put the movie in and it was on pause. They weren’t going to watch it without Giselle.

When the popcorn was ready, Giselle walked out of the kitchen. “Okay, the popcorn is ready now.” She put a hand on her stomach as she winced in pain. Suddenly, she started coughing and it wasn’t just any cough; it was a violent cough! She began to vomit and a lot came out of her mouth and she fell to the floor, lifelessly.

”Giselle!” Robert panicked.

”Mom!” Morgan, Peter and Sarah cried.

Chapter Text

Robert rushed over to Giselle. She looked like life was leaving her. Her mouth had blood on it and there was a huge puddle of her throw up. “Giselle, please!” He whispered loudly, begging for all this to be a nightmare. He lifted up her hands and gasped at the blood that was on them. She had coughed up blood! Robert had no idea how all this had happened. Everything was going perfect. The whole day. Their shopping and dinner. Everything was fine until up to this point.

He didn’t want to believe any of this. How did this happen? He knew it couldn’t be the food. He knew that she had ate a little too much but it wouldn’t kill a person to overeat; they’d just get a bad stomach ache. The only way this could have happened was from food poisoning, maybe she was catching something or the food just didn’t agree with her. He shook on Giselle’s body; hoping she would come back, but nothing happened.

”Morgan! Call the ambulance!” He felt like he was going to break down at any second.

Morgan rushed to the kitchen, picked up the phone and quickly dialed 911. “Hello?” She was in tears and her body was shaking. “We need an ambulance. Giselle had an attack and fell on the floor! She’s not moving. Robert tried everything; it’s not working!”

Peter was on the couch listening to all this. His eyes were filled with tears. He was trying so hard to fight more from coming down his cheeks but he couldn’t control it anymore. He buried his head in his knees and his crying was muffled. Sarah was on the floor facedown and she was having a fit. Robert was still on the ground where Giselle’s body lay. He couldn’t believe this. The more he looked at her, the more he felt his heart breaking. He didn’t want to believe the possibility that she might be- Oh, he didn’t even want to think about it.

Minutes later, the ambulance arrived and Robert was so upset that he could barely say anything. One of the paramedics went over to Giselle and grabbed her hand in order to feel her pulse. He looked up at Robert. “I’m sorry, Robert, but we got no pulse. She’s dead.”

Robert hung his head, not wanting anyone to see how heartbroken he looked, and Peter and Morgan did the same thing. Sarah was still crying and now she was screaming bloody murder, kicking her legs up and down and she began to bang her head. Melody was still far too young to understand what was going on. All she knew was that people were crying and one was screaming. All the commotion that was going on was way too much for the baby and she began to cry and scream as well. Morgan picked Melody up and carried her in her arms.

Outside there was an ambulance truck, sirens were wailing and the lights were flashing red and blue. Robert had Sarah in his arms who was still crying and screaming, Morgan was still holding Melody in her arms, Peter was right next to Morgan with his hands in his face, crying. They watched as Giselle was being carried to the truck on a stretcher, all covered with hospital sheets. Robert couldn’t take anymore. He began to cry, ran right in the apartment and slammed the door.

All the commotion caught almost the whole apartment’s attention. Even Megan, her mom and sister had left their apartment and went outside to see what was going on.

Megan had watched in shock as the covered stretcher was being carried to the ambulance truck. She put 2 and 2 together when she saw that Giselle wasn’t with the others. She suddenly felt bad for the family; especially her ex best friend. Seeing how sad he looked had pained her.

After it was all over, everyone had went back inside. They also gave their condolences to the Philip Family.

Megan was outside her apartment door, getting ready to go in and spotted Peter who was just getting ready to go back in his.

”Peter?” She asked quietly in concern.

He only glanced at her for a few seconds, then looked away, too sad to face anyone right now.

Megan watched wistfully as Peter had entered his apartment, slamming the door as hard as he could.

Giselle was to be taken to the hospital to be cleaned and placed in the morgue. They had asked Robert if she had a mom or dad. He lied and said they were dead. He would sound like a lunatic if he told them they were from another world were dreams and happiness happen all the time. They asked Robert if he wanted her cremated or buried. No way did he want his wife to be turned into ashes; whether dead or alive, so he told them that he just wants her buried. They told him that the funeral will be next Saturday on the nineteenth.

All week, the family was depressed and stayed home. A life without Giselle was sure going to suck. Morgan ran to her room, slammed the door and was crying. Now Peter had a real reason to lock himself in his room and that is exactly what he did. He cried and cried nonstop with his face buried under his pillow. Sarah was crying and screaming so loud that normally he’d tell her to shut up, but he was too upset and hurt about this himself. Robert was in his bedroom; the bedroom that he would never be sharing with Giselle ever again. He was all by himself again just like when Gwen had abandoned him. A tear dripped on the picture he had in his hands. It was a picture of both him and Giselle when they got married and they looked so happy.

The picture only made him feel worse; so he threw it at the walls and watched all the glass crash into millions of pieces. After doing this, he turned on his stomach, shut off his lamp which made it completely dark and that’s the way he wanted things to be for the rest of his life. He cried himself to sleep every night and then Saturday arrived; the morning of Giselle’s funeral.

He had called all his relatives and told them about Giselle. They were all going to be at the funeral too. Like people do at a wedding; he got to choose what color everyone was going to wear, so he said that everyone is going to wear any shade of aqua blue because it was Giselle’s favorite color.

Both Peter and Robert were dressed in black pants, a black shirt and jacket and their ties were a dark aqua blue. Morgan, Sarah and Melody were wearing dark aqua blue funeral dresses. All of Robert’s guy/boy relatives wore black with an aqua tie like him and all the women/girls were wearing the same as Morgan, Sarah and Melody. Morgan invited her friends, Melanie and George and they were dressed like everyone else.

Megan, Cathy and Cassie even showed up. They were dressed in aqua blue dresses like the other women and girls.

Megan had spotted the Philip Family and her heart went out to them. Sarah’s screaming and crying really broke Megan as well. Cathy felt bad for the family as well while Cassie had no idea what was going on.

The Philips had been extremely nice to them when they had first moved in next door in the Summer of 2013.

Cathy noticed how awkward and unsure Megan looked when she saw Peter. They hadn’t been on good terms the last time they spoke and Cathy knew this, but she also knew how much Megan still cared about Peter, even though she tried to deny it. She also knew that Megan was in denial about ‘something else’ concerning Peter as well. Hey, a mother has to know these things.

They were so cute together. Cathy mused. 

That Simon boy on the other hand, Cathy didn’t know what to make of him. To be honest, she wasn’t that crazy about him. She didn’t really have a good impression about him, but she didn’t dare to tell her daughter this. He seemed so full of himself, a bit cocky, and when she heard about Peter’s outburst in class about this; she secretly agreed with him. Again, something else she didn’t dare to tell Megan.

Cathy gave her a little nudge and quietly told her to ‘Go on.’

Megan sighed and slowly made her way towards Peter, heart pounding in her chest. 

Robert took notice of this and turned to Peter. “Peter, I think someone’s here to see you.” He told him quietly.

”Huh?” Peter was confused until Robert turned his head in Megan’s direction.

”Peter?” Megan had asked, quietly.

If Peter wasn’t in grieving right now, this would be awkward.

She walked over to him and they shared a lingering hug which neither were aware of until they were jolted back to reality by Sarah’s screaming and crying.

Peter and Megan quickly pulled away, blushing awkwardly and had their hands behind their back.

This was definitely awkward.

Meanwhile, Robert was trying to get Sarah to calm down. 

”You have got to stop screaming. Look, I know you’re upset and everything, but you can’t behave like this in church when everyone is talking. Mom’s in a better place now and she wants us to be happy for her.

Sarah nodded as she sniffled.

But as soon as they were all heading towards the church, her crying and screaming started up all over again and this time there was no stopping her. When they arrived the church, they went to their assigned room and all of Robert’s relatives were already seated. A woman with gray hair walked over. It was his mother and her name was Linda.

”Grandma!” Morgan cried as she gave her a hug.

”Morgan, you’re getting taller, I see.” Linda replied. 

“I’m really sorry about Giselle.” She sadly told Robert.

The priest was at the front, behind the stand and there was an opened bible on it. Giselle’s casket was in the back of him. Ut was an open casket because Robert wanted to see her one last time in this form before it was closed and he would never see her again. Giselle was dressed in a dark aqua blue gown instead of a white one; there was a red rose on her stomach where her hands were rested and she almost had the same expression Snow White had when she was in a coffin.

”Today we are gathered here for a funeral for our beloved wife, mother, stepmother, daughter-in-law, cousin and friend; Giselle Philip.” The priest explained. “She has passed away a week ago and we’re all guessing that it was from food poisoning. Anyway, she’s in God’s arms now and we all pray and hope that wherever she is; she is listening.

After he spoke; he called on people to come up and say stuff about Giselle, their experiences and memories about her. Morgan was first and she was sniffling. She came up to the stand and began to speak.

”Giselle was such a great mom to me. She was there for me since the second we met. She was just full of life, spirit and happiness. She was very fun, creative and designed really pretty dresses, she was very good with animals and children. Almost every person she met has liked her. She was just so kind, giving and saw the good in people. We love you Giselle and we’ll never forget you.” She went back to her seat in tears.

Peter was next and he was failing to hide the fact that he had been sobbing. “I remember my mother. She was a good mother. She loved me and Sarah, Melody, Morgan and Daddy. She was a great cook and I loved when she sang me songs so I could go to sleep.” He went back to his seat.

”You want to say something, Sarah?” Peter asked her.

”I want my mommy!” She cried.

Everyone went “Aww.” 

All the other people went up and said stuff about Giselle and then the only one left to say something was Robert. He stood up and walked over to the stand.

”Giselle and I have been together for eight years. I remember the first day I met her; I thought she was nuts, but as we got to know each other; I fell for her. Like Morgan said, she was just so full of life, spirit and was so happy. She was really good with animals and children. I remember the first morning she was in my apartment; Morgan woke me up and I saw all these animals helping her clean up the place. Everybody loves Giselle and I do too. I can’t imagine the rest of my life without her. She’s the one who made me who I am today. I used to be an uptight person and she made me see the light in things. I just want you to know that wherever you are, Giselle; you are truly missed.

He went over to her casket to see her before it was too late. He studied her peaceful expression, her beautiful gown, even in death; she still seemed bright and filled with life. He leaned in and kissed her stiff lips. Even though she wasn’t kissing back, he wanted this to be the last time he ever kissed her since he was saying goodbye. He turned around with his head hanging and slowly headed back for his seat.

”Okay; now we will play a song. It is called So Close and it is sung by Jon McLaughlin.” Before the priest could press anything, a bright light shun right in the church; it looked like a holy light and it was so bright that the priest had to get out of the way. The holy light was shinning on Giselle and it covered her whole body for about twenty seconds and then it completely disappeared as if it was never there. Everybody had watched this in surprise. Robert walked over to the casket and stared down at Giselle’s body like he was expecting a miracle or something, but when nothing happened, he turned around. Giselle’s eyes fluttered open and she looked around, confused for a second. She helped herself up.

”Robert?” She asked, confused.

He turned back when he heard her voice and he filled with joy when he saw she was alive. “Giselle?”

The kiss! It had brought her back!

”What happened?” She was still confused. “Where am I?”

”Giselle!” He exclaimed, overjoyed. He rushed over and gave her a big hug and a passionate kiss on the lips.

”Mommy!” Peter and Sarah shouted happily as they rushed over to hug her and she caught them in her arms. Morgan rushed over; carrying Melody and gave Giselle a big hug as well.

”Did something happen?” Giselle asked, blinking in confusion.

”Come on, let’s get out of here. We’ll explain everything when we get home.” Robert replied.

He helped her out of the casket and she got on her feet and looked around. “It looks like we’re at a funeral. Who died?” She asked.

Giselle was alive and everyone was happy. True love’s kiss had worked again and Robert was happy that the funeral was cancelled. They went back home and after explaining what happened to her; they all happy danced, pranced around and skipped.