A Big Day
Note: Okay. Parts of this are going to be a little confusing if you are unfamiliar with my Mirror World AU timeline. It's too much to explain in a note, but anyone who is reading and is curious is welcome to visit my Tumblr, lostbutterflyutau and find all four parts of the synopsis and the "Welcome to the Mirror World" introduction. At the least, the latter part is all you need to read since this is the only chapter with heavy emphasis on that setting. All parts should be tagged as
#canon divergent au for easy searching.
I would also like to give some shoutouts to my friends. First to lovelyrugbee for the beautiful cover art commission for this fic, then to pizzansunshine for her support, advice and fielding of my dumb questions and finally, ograndebatata for title suggestions, both for the main title and a few chapters. I'm terrible with titles and he really came through for me! Thank you all for your help!
"Why won't you tell me where we're going?" Carla demanded, finishing with an annoyed huff when the crown princess didn't reply, only whipped around to grab her wrist as they approached the main entrance of the palace.
"Because then it wouldn't be a surprise! Now, come on!" Elena encouraged, eagerly pulling her reluctant friend down the steps towards a waiting carriage.
"Whatever it is, it better not make us late," The smaller girl muttered to herself, carefully taking the hand Gabe offered and letting him help her step up and into the carriage, giving him a soft smile as she slid in next to her friend, who gave her an eager smile just before the they started moving.
'Oooh. She is going to love this!' Elena thought, her smile widening as she envisioned the reaction she would receive when they arrived at their destination. It had taken all of her willpower not to drop even the smallest hint during the past two weeks. Each time she sat to write in her enchanted notebook, she had to write a draft on ordinary parchment first, just to make sure she didn't slip up. And now that the day had finally arrived, it took everything in her to not tell, so she kept quiet during the ride, aside from the small laugh she gave when Carla huffed as she pushed her hair out of her face, less than amused with the fact that Elena had not only dragged her out of bed far too early, but barely let her run a brush through her hair before attempting to pull her out the door, until being reminded that, in order to go anywhere, Carla had to wear a proper dress.
Carla sighed as she leaned over the edge of the carriage, watched as the tree-lined path gave way into quiet roads as they pulled into Avalor city. Roads that would be bustling with people once the Via Mercado officially opened for the day. For the time being, there were only merchants shuffling about, preparing their shops and stands for the day's business, including the Magister of Trade, who stepped out of and then leaned against the door of her emporium just as the carriage pulled up.
"Doña Paloma's Emporium? What are we doing here?" The younger girl asked, throwing the crown princess a curious look.
"Oh, you'll see!" Elena replied as they stood, calling as they stepped out of the carriage, "Doña Paloma!"
"Crown Princess Elena," Doña replied, cocked an eyebrow at Carla. "And you are…?"
"This is the friend I told you about, remember?" The princess answered, carefully stepping towards the older woman to whisper, "The one we're doing this for?"
Doña thought for a moment, flitting her fan as she tried to recall her last meeting with the crown princess and snapping it closed when she suddenly remembered their previous conversation.
"Right," She said, sauntered over to Carla, gave her a brief once-over. "I remember now. It's Kaya, right?"
Carla rolled her eyes at the older woman, crossed her arms as she replied, "No. It's Carla."
"Does it matter?" Doña asked with a dismissive wave of her fan, turned to head back into the shop, oblivious to the look Carla shot Elena behind her back as they followed her across the shop to a small room in the back.
"This is a storage room," Carla pointed out when they stopped, raising an eyebrow at the knowing look her friend exchanged with the shop's owner just before the two women made their way over to a makeshift curtain display.
"Yes, but I couldn't put this on the floor," Doña commented, nodding to the crown princess who eagerly pulled open the curtain and then reveled in the surprised gasp her friend gave when the drapes opened to reveal a dress form draped in layers of violet fabric. The elegant, floor-length piece starting with an off-the-shoulder bodice accentuated with a single, lavender ruffle that matched the colour of the wide sash, underneath of which laid a tiered skirt, the darker, top layer splitting to reveal a lavender underskirt that stopped just before it hit the floor, on which sat a pair of strappy, violet sandals.
"It's…Beautiful," Carla gasped in awe, looking the garment over with wide eyes as she stepped forward, delicately touched the skirt's fabric.
"Happy Graduation, Carla!" Elena exclaimed, relieved to finally be able to say those words after holding in the secret for so long.
"Thank you, Elena," The smaller girl replied, moved to wrap her arms around her best friend.
"Oh, it wasn't just me. Doña helped too, you know," Elena explained, gesturing towards her. "If it wasn't for her connections, it would have never been finished on time."
Carla nodded, turned to the other woman. "Thank you, Doña."
"Oh, you're very welcome," Doña boasted, secretly touched by the crown princess' actions. When she had first told her of the idea, Doña had thought Elena had gone mad. To spend so much money and waste favours on something that benefited her in no way seemed strange to her. But, seeing the genuine happiness on both girls' faces reminded her that it didn't always have to be about getting a return investment.
"Well, you better change," Doña continued, adding as she sauntered out of the room. "We only have a half hour before the Mercado opens."
Elena sighed, moved to carefully remove the dress from its display, saying as she did so, "I'll help."
Carla only nodded in response, smile and eyes widening once Elena finally secured the sash and turned her towards a dressing mirror. The dress was a perfect fit.
"I knew this colour would look great on you!" The princess commented.
"Too bad the rest of me is still a mess," Carla lamented, brushing a piece of hair from her eyes.
Elena gave a soft laugh. "We'll fix it," She said, gave her friend's shoulders a reassuring squeeze and earning a soft smile in response just before they made their way out, giving another round of thanks to Doña Paloma as they heading out to the carriage, neither missing the way Gabe's eyes widened once he caught sight of Carla.
"Carla!" He exclaimed before he could stop himself.
Though she wanted to laugh at his sudden break in demeanor, she held back, replied, "Yes?"
Suddenly realising his mistake, Gabe straightened up, cleared his throat. "You look…" He trailed off, his mind going blank as he gave her a subtle once-over. There were several words he could use, but none of them came to mind as he searched for something – anything – to say, eventually settling on the first thing that would come out. "…Wow."
Unable to help herself, Carla giggled, commented as he helped her up, "Thank you, Captain Nuñez."
Elena bit back a soft laugh, gave the guard captain a knowing look, leaned in to whisper when he helped her up, "Just wait until she's all done up."
Gabe responded with a look of his own, eyes silently saying, Don't Start.
'I won't,' The Crown Princess thought in response, her lips turning up into an amused smile. If he was this taken aback now, she could only imagine what his reaction would be once Carla's hair and makeup were sorted out. She then looked to her friend, who was glancing down at and fiddling with her glittering violet nails.
"Is everything alright?" She asked, set a gentle hand on the younger girl's skirt.
Carla sighed, "I can't believe this is my last day at Walter Mickey."
"I can't believe you even found that portal, especially before Mateo," Elena commented. "But I'm glad you did." She paused at the lack of response, carefully reached over and brushed a piece of hair behind her friend's ear. "Carla?"
The other girl took in a breath, admitted, "The other students chose me to give a speech at graduation."
Elena's eyes lit up. "Really? That's great!"
"It would be… If I knew what to say. After all that's happened, what do you tell everyone on such a big day?" Carla sighed again, looked out at the passing scenery as the carriage approached the bridge leading to the palace. "Starting over wasn't easy. In fact, it was terrifying. But I did it. I proved that I have a place and that I can actually be somebody. And I want to show that, but I still have all this doubt. I want to make it memorable. I have this chance to leave a lasting impression and I…"
Elena cut her off. "Carla, you're a Princess of Harmony. You've saved the school more than once. Making an impression is the least of your worries. I know this is going to sound weird, but I'm proud of how much you've grown. When all of this started you were a thief on the wrong path."
"I know, and – "
This time, she was cut off by the carriage stopping.
"But," Elena continued, taking her friend's hand and carefully helping her up. "You proved you were stronger than that. And…" She trailed off, turned to Gabe as they stepped down, "Don't forget. We're all meeting in the archive room at nine."
"Of course, Your Majesty," He responded in true royal guard fashion, nodded to Carla, "Miss Delgado."
Carla wanted to smirk, instead, she smiled, fluttered her eyelashes at him as she walked by, and reveled in the uncharacteristic blush that tinted his cheeks.
"Anyway," Elena said, voice cutting through the girl's thoughts. "Like I was saying, you've come a long way. And I know you'll figure it out. You've got quite a story, Miss Delgado."
Though they tried not to, after exchanging the same, knowing look, both girls burst into laughter as they walked through the halls and to their respective bedrooms.
Once in the room, Carla made her way to and sat at the vanity. Opening the middle drawer, she pulled out a small collection of beauty products and paused to compare colours before making a few decisions, and, after pulling her hair back with a headband, went to work applying her chosen colours, finishing just as a knock came at the door.
She glanced towards it, removing the headband as she stood and throwing it on the vanity table before moving to answer the door, finding, as she expected, her father flanked by two royal guards.
"You're late," She commented, hands firmly placed on her hips.
"Well, I –" Victor started to explained, cut himself off as he looked Carla over, "Where did you get that dress?" He asked.
"Elena gifted it to me," His daughter explained, motioned for him to come in and nodding to the guards, who returned the gesture and carefully shut the door behind them.
"Why do they have to follow me everywhere?" Victor snapped once the door was closed.
Carla rolled her eyes, brushed past him on her way back to the vanity. "Because Elena spent a lot of time and resources trying to track you down so you could be here today," She explained, holding herself back from mentioning the fact that, while what she said was true, the other reason for it was to prevent him from getting into any sort of trouble. She was sure it had been made clear that he was only allowed to be there for Carla, and that the guards and crown princess would make sure everything went smoothly.
"You should be grateful," She added.
He didn't respond, only frowned at the comment as he made his way over, took the brush she handed over, a comfortable silence settling between them as he carefully ran it over the dark locks, Carla using a second one to brush out and separate parts of her fringe.
"Papa?" Carla finally said, handed over a purple ribbon when he motioned for it.
"Hm?" Victor replied, diligently wove the ribbon into a section of hair.
"Thank you for coming. I know it was a lot to ask of you," She said, adding in her head, 'And everyone else.' It was one thing for Elena to willingly seek him out on her behalf like she had done for the cultural festival in February. It was another for her to openly ask the crown princess to spend her and the guards' time tracking her father down for this. She knew the trouble having him in the palace would cause, but refused to feel guilty about it. He was all she ever had, and she decided that she wasn't doing this without at least trying to invite him, even if he had never been fond of her current life arrangement.
"Except it's not," He admitted with a rare, soft smile, pulled the remainder of her hair up.
She returned the smile, moved to secure the braid around the flowing ponytail while he gave it one last brush through and she played with the small pieces of hair framing her face.
As he set the brush down, Victor stared at his daughter's reflection, green meeting sparkling violet as a distant memory suddenly flashed through his mind. He instinctively brought his hand up, set it on her shoulder. It was rare that he ever got sentimental, having learned to push those feelings down long ago, first after he was cast out of Avalor and again after his wife passed. But, as the reality of the day hit him, he knew he couldn't hide it. Not this time.
"You look just like your mother," He commented.
Carla gave him a fleeting glance, slightly stunned by the compliment, however, her surprise quickly turned into sentiment as she reached her own hand up to cover his, both taking a moment of silence before
Victor spoke again, asking, "Where's your necklace?"
"Oh, Right," She said to herself, opened one of the side drawers and pulled a black, velvet box from it that he promptly took and opened, carefully securing the jade pearls around her neck while she fiddled with her earrings. Granted, it wasn't a perfect match, but it was her favourite set. A special Navidad gift given after a particularly rough year that she continued to hold onto, even bringing and wearing it nearly every day in the mirror world. Carla turned away from the mirror, opened her mouth to speak and was promptly cut off by the door opening.
"It's time to go!" Esteban said when he stepped into the room, pointed to his watch. "You can't keep the whole mirror world waiting!" He commented, turned to leave. He wasn't interested in lingering, having only come as a favour to Elena, who was finishing off her own ensemble and a freshly baked treat courtesy of the jaquins in her bedroom.
"What would we do without our Esteban alarm?" Carla quipped as they made their way out of the room and meeting up with Elena, who had decided on her white dress with an elegantly printed pattern on the bottom, the same one she had worn to her and Doña Paloma's trade meeting.
"You look amazing!" The crown princess exclaimed, took her friend's hands in her own with the intent to spin her around until a familiar voice interrupted.
"There's just one thing missing," Luisa said as she made her way down the hall, Francisco at her heels with his hands behind his back. "Carla, do you remember when you and your father came to steal the crown jewels?"
"Um…Yes?" The younger girl replied cautiously, wondering why it was even being brought up. She had apologised and was forgiven for the incident awhile back.
"Well," Francisco continued, "We've decided that you've earned the right to wear them. At least for today."
"What are you –" Carla started, gasping when, from behind his back, Elena's grandfather presented an elegant, silver tiara adorned with amethyst jewels. "Are you serious?"
"Of course we are," Luisa smiled, gently took the item from her husband and reached up to set it on
Carla's head, taking her hands once she finished. "You've come such a long way, Querida and we're proud of you."
"Thank you. Both of you."
"Alright! I think we're ready now," Elena spoke up. "Let's go get you graduated!"
"Ooooh. Where are they?" Moana thought aloud, pacing impatiently on the front steps of the school, which had been adorned with various plants and flowers – all in school colours - that had been specifically picked for the graduation ceremony.
"I'm sure they're on their way," Belle said, carefully shutting the book she had been leafing through.
"I hope so," Snow White spoke up, fiddled with her navy stole. "I can't imagine what Principal Paloma would say if they missed line up. She and Vice Principal Flores have worked so hard."
"Well, this is a special –" Belle started, only to be cut off by a familiar glow emanating from the school's mascot statue.
"Finally!" Anna exclaimed, eagerly bounding down the stairs to meet with everyone, whose outfits had been magically modified by the mirror magic. The girls' dresses were shorter, sleeker, the mens' clothes becoming more simplified, but still retaining a formal ascetic.
The other girls followed in suit, all breathing sighs of relief at the sight of their friends.
"You all look great!" Isabelle commented as she threw her arms around Carla, who eagerly returned the gesture.
Rapunzel only gasped, circled around Carla, taking in every inch of her dress, which had not only gotten shorter, but now had thin straps resting over her shoulders. "Where were you hiding that new dress? It's amazing!"
"It was a gift," Elena revealed, laughing as Anna threw her arms around her. "Yes, I'm happy to see you too, Anna."
"You're just in time. We have ten minutes to get you two ready," Belle spoke up.
"Wait, what do you mean you two?" Elena asked.
"You'll see," Moana added, turned to Isabelle and handed her an envelope. "Go ahead and take the others to their seats."
Isabelle nodded, ran over to grab Naomi's hand, "Come on!" She exclaimed, practically bouncing as she led the group away in the same moment Elena and Carla were being dragged off and into the school gym, which was bustling with students, teachers and parents all fuddling through last minute preparations, including Rapunzel's mother, who looked up with eager eyes when her daughter approached.
"They're here!" Rapunzel declared, quickly thanking her mother when she handed over two white boxes, the two exchanging a quick hug before Arianna made her way out and Rapunzel handed the boxes to their respective owners.
Elena looked down at the box in her hands, raised an eyebrow at it before flicking her eyes up to the other girls, who stared back in anticipation. "What's going on?" She asked.
"Just open it," Moana said with a laugh, watching with the others as the crown princess did just that, giving the contents a curious look.
"It's your cap and gown," Belle explained.
"But…why?"
"Because we wanted you to graduate with us," Carla said as finished with her own gown, smiled at Snow White when she draped a purple stole over her shoulders.
"We know you don't actually go here," The shy girl started, straightened out the stole, "But you still did a lot for us and the school."
"So we convinced Principal Paloma to let you be in the ceremony," Anna finished excitedly.
"But I didn't…"
"Yes, you did," Carla insisted, stepped up to set a hand on Elena's shoulder. "If it wasn't for you, everyone here would still be fighting. You're the one who brought everyone, including us, together."
"Thanks, girls," Elena smiled as Rapunzel took the box out of her hands and, together with Anna, helped her into the outfit, explaining as she draped it,
"This is your stole. They're usually for honour students and the like, but I decided that we deserved some too. I designed them myself. Each one has a symbol and our element embroidered into it."
Elena gently fiddled with the mentioned red piece as Anna carefully positioned her mortarboard. Like with all of Rapunzel's projects, the craftsmanship was amazing. Each colour carefully chosen to reflect each girl and every stitch in the embroidery perfectly placed and secured. She then opened her mouth to speak again, but, before she got a chance to even think of a response, everyone stopped, a hush falling over the gymnasium as the main doors swung open, everyone whipping around to see Principal Hortencia Paloma strolling into the room with Vice Principal Flores at her heels and a wireless microphone in hand, her usual blazer and pants ensemble having been traded for a long, flowing royal blue dress. She wasted no time in dismissing the parents and then ordering the students to the bleachers.
"Listen up," Hortencia addressed the students once they were seated. "I know this year has been…Eventful, and I just wanted to say that I've never been more proud of a class. Through everything, you all stuck together. But, despite that…" She trailed off, eyes fixated on the Harmony Princesses.
"There will be absolutely no magic today. Is that understood, Girls? I have worked too hard for this to turn into some magical mishap."
"Yes Principal Paloma," The girls replied in unison.
Hortencia nodded, handed the microphone to Vice Principal Flores, who began calling the students for their seating lineup, making sure to double-check their attire as they stepped up and raising an eyebrow at Carla.
"And where's your cap?"
Carla shrugged. "It doesn't fit with the tiara."
"Then take it off," Flores suggested.
"Absolutely not," Carla snapped, crossed her arms. She wasn't giving in without a fight, not after the beautiful sentiment given by Elena's grandparents when they had presented it to her. It was for them just as much as her, to show how far they had come as well, having gone from suspicious and cautious of having Carla around to eventually forming an emotional connection as they watched her grow alongside
their granddaughter.
"Miss Delgado, I will not…" He started.
"Don't worry about it," Hortencia cut in, meeting her colleague's confused gaze as he looked from her, to their student, who shared the same expression. "We don't have time for this, Esteban. Besides, she's just one person," She explained, turned to Carla. "Don't say I never did anything for you."
Carla only nodded, returned to her place in line as Vice Principal Flores sighed, continued with the lineup procedure, saying a few words about remembering the importance of the day and acting like adults before giving a hearty congratulations and leading them out to the sunny field.
"There they are!" Naomi said, pulling at Mateo's sleeve from her place in the stands as the students began filing out.
"Wait…what's Elena doing?" Mateo asked even as he joined Naomi and Isabelle in waving when the girls walked past their section.
"She's graduating," Isabelle replied. "Well…kind of. She doesn't get a diploma, but we wanted to include her."
"That's cool of you," Naomi complimented, smiling to herself at the idea, while, in the crowd of students, Elena did the same.
Once the students were given permission to sit, the crown princess looked around and took in the setting. It was incredible to her to see how everything came together. Granted, she had thrown plenty of events and festivals together in her time as crown princess, but this was different. It felt like a time of celebration, but also sorrow. Every one of the students on the field would be setting off on different paths after this, the world opened to them. But, it also meant leaving the school behind. Of having to move on with just the memories. And to be invited to take part felt like an honour. Whether she wanted to admit it, Elena had been a huge part of making the school what it had become after her first visit to the mirror world. It was her influence that brought the princesses of harmony back together and changed Carla's life for the better. It was then that she realised, with light tears brimming in her eyes, that her time at this place, as short as it was, meant just as much as her time back home. She smiled at the thought, only being brought from it when Hortencia finished her speech and introduced Carla to the crowd.
'Okay Carla, you can do this,' The young woman told herself, heart beating faster with every step she took, Elena's words echoing her mind as she stepped up to address the students.
"When I first transferred here, I was in an awful place in my life," Carla started. "I was angry at the world. Why? I don't know. But regardless, I took it out on everyone. I tore them apart. And for that, I apologise. But, I didn't stay like that," She paused, removed the microphone from the stand and began to pace, heading back down the stage steps as she continued, "Because there was someone who decided that she wasn't afraid of me. Who, after everything, saw that I just needed a friend. Or two. Or six."
"What is she doing?" Hortencia hissed to Flores, watching as Carla made her way up the aisle and stopped in front of Elena, who decided in that moment to join her friend, the two exchanging a smile as she headed up the aisle to help by giving a few words about the things she had learned at the school before following her back up to the stage to conclude everything, Elena adding a spiel about how graduation wasn't an end, but a new beginning, a sentiment that earned a welcomed and hearty applause from everyone – guests and students alike.
After the ceremony, the families all filed out and onto the front lawn, parents and students rushing back and forth as they attempted to reunite and, for some, say their final goodbyes.
"I'm going to miss this place," Belle commented when she found her friend group, earned a round of nods in response.
"What's going to happen now?" Anna asked. "With us going off to different schools, what are we going to do about our magic?"
"I don't think that'll go away," Elena said. "Mateo did some reading and says that the Jewels of Harmony have always been connected. So, even if you're in different places, you'll still have each other."
"I hope it works across realms now that we'll have both of you over there," Moana quipped, throwing her arms around Elena and Carla in the same moment Naomi called out to them.
"There you guys are," She said, slightly out of breath from navigating the crowd.
"Hey, Prom Queen!" A boy called, waving to Naomi as he passed by.
Carla shook her head, thought to herself, 'I still don't know how that happened.'
"Carla!" A second voice called and she whipped around just in time to see Gabe and her father approaching them.
"Papa!" She replied, ran up to join and them and then laughed when her father picked her up and twirled her around.
Gabe smiled, thinking to himself that, while it was weird to see Victor Delgado playing the role of a proud, loving parent rather than the manipulative criminal they'd all come to know him as, it was equally heartwarming. Though they both tried to hide it, it was obvious that having her father there meant a lot to Carla. Gabe remembered how she'd almost knocked Elena over with an excited hug two days ago when the princess revealed that they had managed to track him down just in time for today. It was in that moment he also noticed for the first time how her eyes lit up when she was truly, genuinely happy. There hadn't been anything but pure joy in them that day. The same joy he saw now as she eagerly wrapped her arms around her father once her feet were on the ground again.
He then frowned as reality came back to him and he realised that after that night, Victor would likely take off on his own again. Despite all the effort Carla had made to turn her life around, it seemed that her father wanted no part of it. In a way, it reminded him of his relationship with his own father and how, regardless of the success he'd had in the guard, it had taken a lot for Roberto to accept that his son didn't want to be a baker or an olaball player. Granted, things had since gotten better, but there were still small comments here and there. He then started to ponder how Carla felt about the whole situation, wondered if she ever had the same doubts that he did.
'Wait. Why am I thinking about this?!' The guard captain asked himself, shook his head in an attempt to shake off his wandering thoughts. 'Why does it even matter? It's not like she'd ever tell me about it. Or, would she? I mean, I've never actually asked, so…' He thought, quickly stopping himself once he realised where his train of thought was headed. 'And why do I care? Well, I guess because we're friends, but…'
"Gabe!" A voice called, dragging him out of his thoughts just as a hand came to rest on his shoulder.
"You're coming to the party tonight, right?" Elena asked when he turned to look at her.
"What party?" He asked, mind still lingering on his conflicting thoughts.
"Carla's graduation party, remember? I thought I sent you an invitation."
Gabe thought for a minute, confirmed once he remembered the invitation in question, "You did."
"Good. Because I have a favour to ask," Elena said, lips curving into a sly smile.
'Why did I let her talk me into this?' Gabe asked himself later that night as he double-checked his appearance in the mirror, made sure every part of his uniform was clean, polished and orderly. He thought about wearing something else, in fact, Elena had encouraged it, but also decided that he didn't want to raise suspicion. It was embarrassing enough that Elena and Naomi knew. If his fellow guards were to think he was doing anything but his job, he'd never live it down.
He took in a breath, straightened up into a proper stance. 'Okay Nuñez, you can do this. All you have to do is take a walk. Yeah, that's it. Just a little walk,' He told himself in a failed attempt to calm his nerves, the tension only growing as the reality of the situation washed over him 'With Carla. To a party where everyone will be waiting for – and watching - her. Ugh. Get a grip, Gabriel!''
He sighed, turned away from the mirror and towards the clock. "Okay, let's do this," He muttered to himself, carefully picking up the neatly wrapped box from the bed before heading out, making sure to keep an eye out as he expertly navigated the halls, stopping when, upon reaching the final stretch, he caught Naomi stepping out of Elena's room with a decorated gift bag hanging over her arm. Thinking quickly, he turned around with the intent to slip into a corner.
However, he wasn't quick enough.
"Gabe!" Naomi called, holding back a laugh at the way he suddenly froze.
"Naomi," Gabe replied as he whipped back around, hoping that he looked relatively calm as she stepped towards him. "You look nice," He complimented.
"Um…Thanks," Naomi replied, eyes fixating on the poorly hidden box behind his back, pointing to it, she asked with a knowing smile, "Is that for Carla?"
He gave a defeated sigh, said as he brought it around, "I just figured since everyone else got her something that –"
"You don't have to explain," Naomi cut him off as she moved to take the box. "I'll go ahead put this with the others."
"Thanks," Gabe said, his nerves calming slightly now that he didn't have to present the gift directly to its owner, especially since he was certain that he'd mess up and make a fool of himself, just as he had that morning.
Naomi only smiled in response, went on her way without saying another word. Once she was out of sight, Gabe breathed a long sigh of relief, took a moment to compose himself before making his way down the remainder of the hallway, taking in another breath as he knocked on the door, nerves reeling when he heard first the soft click of heels and then the click of the handle before the door opened.
Though she looked nearly same as she had that morning, the only real difference being the added sparkle to her makeup, he wasn't any less taken aback by the sight of her. Goosebumps flashed over his skin as he noticed for the first time how the deep purple colour of the dress accentuated her eyes when she looked up at him, sparkling violet meeting soft brown for a moment as they both stood still.
"G – Gabe!" Carla finally spat out. "What are you doing here?"
He blinked, took a second to process the words. "Oh!" He said, cleared his throat. "I'm here to escort you to the party."
Carla wanted to come up with a witty retort or a flirtatious remark, but nothing came to mind. For once, she wasn't interested in messing with him; instead, she hesitantly took the arm he offered, a light flush tinting her cheeks as she replied, "Thank you."
He smiled in response, afraid that if he spoke, he'd only fumble over his words. As they made their way down the hall, he couldn't help sneaking a few glances at her, breath involuntarily catching when she gently leaned her head against his shoulder.
"So…Um…" He finally offered in an attempt to break the lingering silence. "Did your father leave already?"
She sighed, nodded. "About an hour ago."
He noted the disappointment in her voice, frowned at it as he replied, "I don't get it. Why haven't we locked him up by now?"
"Because it would solve nothing," Carla explained. "Trust me. Keeping him here is more trouble than it's worth. Besides, Elena once said that as long as I'm around, she doubts he'll try anything. At least, not on his own. And I've come to terms with it."
"But?" The guard captain pressed, sensing there was something she wasn't saying.
Carla bit her lip, contemplated her choices. She could brush it off like she always did. It wasn't his business, after all. But, she didn't want to do that. Something about his presence made her feel safe, like she could tell him anything and everything would be okay.
"But, I wanted him to at least stay for the party," She confessed, choking back the sudden wave of emotion that came over her. "I know it's stupid, but – "
He cut her off. "No, it's not. You're allowed to want him to be part of your life."
She didn't respond, not right away, only smiled at his comment, at the fact that he was validating her feelings. Of course, she'd had a long conversation about it with Elena just a few days ago, but having another person – no, not just another person – having him tell her that she was justified somehow made her feel better about the situation.
"This is going to sound silly, but I wanted to dance with him. Just like we used to."
Gabe smiled at the thought of little Carla learning how to dance and being picked up and twirled around by her father. It was an adorable image that brought a sudden idea to mind. "Well," He started and she glanced up at him, her curious gaze making him stop for a moment before continuing, "I could dance with you. If you want to that is. I know it's not the same, but –"
"I'd like that," Carla admitted, resumed lying her head against him until they made the final turn and stopped outside the door to the ballroom.