The sun began to rise above the horizon, slowly starting to push away the shadows and bathe the world in light.

Outside, strolling through the palace gardens was Queen Victoria, or more commonly known as Tori.

She pulled her cape more securely around her as the early morning breeze blew across her face and ruffled the leaves overhead.

This was so different from the life she had left a year ago.

Exactly one year, two months, three weeks, four days and seven hours ago, she had been a slave in her own home, serving her stepfamily.

She gently ran her hand over a large scar that started at her knuckles and ran all the way up her arm. A scar that had been given to her on account that she had met a young man who was the only person who had dared to extend a little bit of kindness to her. Then, she'd had no idea he was the prince, or that she'd ever be queen.

But here she was walking through the castle's lush gardens that were always in bloom. Even in the winter. A wedding gift from Ethan's and Clorabelle.

"It's nice out here." Someone said behind her.

She looked over her shoulder and smiled "Hi."

Ethan returned the smile "Enjoying the sunrise?"

"Mm-hm." Tori turned back towards the distant mountains where the sun was still working its way over the horizon.

Ethan stepped up behind her and gently wrapped his arms around her shoulders and placed his chin on top of her head "Why were you up so early?"

Tori leaned back into his and shrugged "Couldn't sleep. How do you know how long I've been up?"

"I've been watching you for the past five hours." he answered with a chuckle.

Tori mentally spun a strand of her golden hair around her finger "Oh. Why are you awake?"

"Because you are."

She laughed softly "We should probably get inside. There's lots to do."

"In a minute." he responded.

They both stood there silently as the sun finished making it's way from behind the mountains.

"Okay. Let's go." He released her and took her hand, then together they walked back towards the palace.

Once inside, Ethan took his wife's cape and hung it on the rack right inside the door. Then his attention was brought to the floor. Sitting side by side was a pair of shoes.

He glanced over at Tori who was dusting the snow off the end of her dress. As the hem raised slightly he saw what he was looking for: Bare feet covered in snow.

"Victoria Harmony you were out in the snow without any shoes again." he scolded.

Tori froze then quickly allowed the hem of her dress to drop back to the floor "Uh... habit?"

He smiled as he shook his head "Do you like cold feet?"

Tori simply laughed "No."

"Then...?" he cocked his head, a small lock of brown hair falling over his left eye as he did.

She shrugged, knowing the response her answer would bring. But, she had to tell the truth "I can't feel the cold in my feet anymore. Haven't for years."

Ethan's face went blank then he sighed "I'm sorry."

She shook her head "For what?" she stood up on her tiptoes and gently kissed his cheek "You saved my life." then she then turned and walked away.

Ethan stared after her. He still remembered the day he'd first seen her. She'd been kneeling in four inch snow gathering packages that he had accidentally caused her to drop.

Her ice blue eyes had sent a lightning bolt straight through his heart.

He shook his head and walked down the hall to find Tori talking to his mother, Clarabelle.

"You know that, right?" Clarabelle was saying.

Tori was smiling as she nodded "Yes, Ma'am."

"Atta girl." Clarabelle patted the girl's arm then spotted her son "Hi Ethan." then she walked by.

"What was that all about?" Ethan asked.

Tori chuckled "Take a wild guess. It starts with an H, ends in an R and sounds like Air."

"Oh." He shook his head "I hear that's a mother for you. Breakfast?"

"But of course."

The day pretty much picked up pace after that. People came to the palace, some with requests, some with complaints.

Ethan and Tori divided the people up between them, causing the job to get done quicker.

On really busy days, Clarabelle would lend a hand.

They were generally finished by dinner, then they'd go eat. Afterwards Tori and Ethen would migrate towards the ballroom where a large white grand piano was sat in the middle of the room. Once broken and destroyed, the Piano was now restored and beautiful, with the exception of a few scars and an occasional dent. But it still played perfectly.

Ethan sat down on the piano bench and slid to the other side, running his hand down the keys as he did then he started playing and singing:

You're on my mind your in my heart

Doesn't matter where we are

Tori smiled as she sat down beside him and joined in the song:

we'll be alright

even if we're miles apart

Then she started playing too.

All I want to do is be with you

Be with you

there's nothing we can't do

I just want to be with you, only you

No matter where life takes us nothing can break us apart

you know it's true

I just want to be with you

Tori laughed softly as she put her hands in her lap "Is that your favorite song?"

"Probably." Ethan answered, putting his arm around her "Because it's completely true."

Tori laid her head on his shoulder and sighed happily "Oh, tomorrow, I'm going to go visit my step-siblings. Okay?"

"Alright." He nodded "Just be careful."

"I will."

Just then, an oh-so familiar voice echoed through the castle "Hello?"

Tori gasped "Ella!"

Ethan chuckled "Did I forget to tell you that Ella and Andrew were coming?"

Tori swatted his arm "I doubt it." then she jumped up from the piano and ran down the hall.

Ella had been the first of her family to show kindness to Tori. She'd also been the first to stand up to her mother.

About six months after Tori and Ethan had married, Ella married Ethan's cousin, Andrew. A prince from another kingdom.

"Hey!" Ella squealed as she spotted Tori running towards her.

The two girls quickly hugged.

"How are you?" Tori asked "It's been forever!"

"I know." Ella gushed "I'm doing great! How about you?"

"Fine."

Ethan joined the group and shook his cousin's hand "How's it going?"

"Perfect." Andrew answered "Ella was getting impatient to see her family. As I told you in the letter last week."

"Last week!?" Tori spun around to face her husband "You mean to tell me you've known for a whole week!?"

"I wanted to surprise you." Ethan laughed.

"I'm going to go visit the others tomorrow." Tori said, turning back to her stepsister "Would you like to join me?"
"I'm already way ahead of you." Ella said as she linked her arm through Tori's elbow "Everyone is going to be at Edmund's tomorrow." she giggled "Can you believe he and Jaylee have been married for like... two weeks?"

"I know." Tori laughed as the two walked down a hall "And Vanessa's engaged. Xavier is trying to get one girl's attention but... it's not going so well." she grinned "He teased her too much before he realized he actually liked her."

"Ooh."

"Charles is a Lieutenant now and Bianca has opened her own dress store."

Ella shook her head "So much happens so fast. What about Mom and Roberta."

Tori smiled slightly. She knew it was a tough subject for the Chamberlain children to talk about, considering their own mother had turned on them "They're working on a farm on the outskirts of town."

Ella giggled "Sounds good. So, what about you?"

"What about me?"

"What going on in your life?" Ella answered, a mischievous glint coming to her eyes "You've been married for a year and two months now?"

"And three weeks, four days, nineteen hours, twenty seven minutes and nine... ten... eleven seconds." Tori added with a laugh.

"Wow." Ella shook her head "Andrew and I have been married for eight months and that's all I can tell you." she laughed softly "So... anything going to happen in a few months?"

Tori glanced over at her "Clarabelle and Clorabelle's birthdays?"

"Victoria!" Ella huffed "Seriously!"

"I don't know." Tori answered "And that's all I'm saying."

"Alright fine." Ella rolled her eyes "But when you do know, you had better tell me."

"I will. I promise."

(I got this idea for a sequel for my other story, so I hope you like! And for those who haven't read the Prequel, it'll answer a lot of things that I'm going to make reference to, like the scar and the stepsiblings. So if you haven't read the prequel, I would highly suggest you do so you don't get confused :) Enjoy!)