Ok everyone (3-4 awesome "fans" :P) sorry for the wait, I just want to thank you so much for your kind reviews they mean a lot to me ^_^ anyway I don't own the mentalist unfortunately, nor do I own Cinderella. P.S this story going to be a mix of Cinderella and my own ideas so be warned….rawr :P

Ch2 A Dream is a W— DAMN THAT CLOCK!

~9 years later~

She was dancing, whirling and twirling gracefully as though she had been doing it her whole life, her high-heeled shoes softly clicked as she moved about. She felt so calm, so peaceful, and completely free from all troubles and worries. Looking around she realized that the floor, upon which she was dancing, was floating; in fact it was surrounded by clouds.

Suddenly she got the strangest feeling, as though she were being watched. She turned around and noticed a young man standing in the middle of the platform, with his hand extended out towards her. She hesitated for a moment, but then sensing no danger, took it. He began to lead her in a slow waltz across the floor. While they danced she tried to study him, he was tall, and thin with wavy blond hair. The top half of his face was hidden behind a gold and silver mask, and his smile was one of both kindness and confidence.

After awhile they came to a stop, she looked at him questioningly. He reached his hands slowly reached behind his head, and he began to take off his mask Suddenly he stopped, and leaned in a little, his mouth open slightly. She realized he was about to speak.

"DINNGGG DOONNGGG DINNNGGG DONNNGG!" he shouted at the top of his lungs.

She stepped hastily backwards,"DINGGG DONNNGGGG DINGGG DONNNGGG DINGGGG DONNNGGG!" he shouted even louder. "DINGG DONNGG DINNNGGGGG DONNNNGGGG!" She covered her ears in an attempt to block out the sound. The ground shook violently beneath her feet as she scrambled backwards and away from the screeching man. Suddenly the floor disappeared and she realized, to her horror that she had fallen off the platform.

"AHHHHHHHHHHH" Teresa Lisbon screamed as she tumbled onto the hard wood floor in a tangle of sheets and blankets. Beads of sweat ran down her face. In the distance the church clock chimed loudly, "Damn that clock!" she growled to no one in particular. The morning sun streamed in through her window, cheerfully blinding anyone in its path. Teresa looked around her small room and sighed. No one should have to wake up this early she thought begrudgingly as the clock chimed yet again. With a loud groan she began to wrestle free from the fallen bedding. After a few minutes of violently tugging and pulling, Teresa emerged victoriously holding the defeated sheets in her arms. Setting them down on the bed she began to stretch; her fingertips lightly brushed the rough wood of the low hanging ceiling beams as she did so. "Good morning Minelli" Teresa said to a small black spider resting in its lacey web. The spider's actual name was Minettious, but, when she had told that to the boys they had trouble pronouncing it, so they called him Minelli. "How are you today?" she asked it politely. "I had that dream again, you know, the one where I'm dancing with that man?" The spider silently shifted on its web, "I would have gotten to see his face if that demon clock from hell hadn't woken me up." She said throwing a contemptuous glare towards the window. "You have to wonder how I slept through it before," she murmured shaking her head.

(Flashback)

After her mother's death, her father completely fell apart. He spent all his time drinking, throwing up and sleeping. Then one day when Teresa was 13 he came home with a young lady. Her brown hair was piled up on top of her head; and her face was very white except for two dark pink circles on her cheeks. Her mouth was bright red and her eyes were cold. Teresa had seen her around the house a few times, but had never spoken to her. "Thiiss," her father said drunkenly "thisss thiss is my fwend Webecaaa." Which translates to " This is my friend Rebecca."

"What lovely children you have Richard, I'm sure they'll get along wonderfully with my two girls" Rebecca said in a very regal voice.

"Yeah, they'reee okay." He said impatiently, as he stumbled down the hallway. A month later he announced he was going to marry Lady Rebecca.

The wedding was a grand event; the whole village had been invited. Everyone was laughing and talking and eating, except for Teresa, James, and Tommy. As soon as the ceremony had ended the three of them snuck back into the house, away from all the noise and people.

"I don't understand!" Tommy shouted angrily, as they sat in the library, "Why is dad marrying Lady Rebecca? Didn't he love mom? Lady Rebecca doesn't even love him!"

"Tommy you shouldn't say things like that," Teresa scolded him. Though privately she agreed, "and besides how do you know that she doesn't love dad?"

"Because!" Tommy said furiously, "I've seen her with that man!" "What man?" "The one who everyone's afraid of you know the one with red hair and the creepy smiley face tattoo? I saw them kissing once" "

How do you—" Teresa began,

"Oh come on Reese, I'm 11 years old I know what kissing looks like!" Tommy said exasperatedly.

"Why is Daddy marrying Lady Rebecca?" James asked softly.

"Well…" Teresa said trying to explain it so that they would understand. "I think it's because…hmm, since mommy died, daddy's been very sad."

"Why is he sad?" asked James, who was 9 and didn't really remember his mother.

"He's sad because he misses her, a lot. And I think that Lady Rebecca helps him not feel so lonely." She said trying to be as convincing as possible.

"Oh" replied little James softly.

"Well I don't like her!" Tommy said defiantly, "She'll never be my mother!"

"Or mine!" cried James jumping up and running over next to Tommy.

"Hey you two," Teresa said getting their attention" Listen, I know you don't like her but for dads sake lets try to get along with her. You don't want to make dad upset do you?" she asked them seriously.

"No." they said simultaneously.

"Good, and just wait I'm sure we'll all get along terrifically!" Teresa said smiling. How very wrong she was.

It had only been several months after the wedding when Mr. Lisbon quite suddenly dropped dead.

"A heart attack," the doctor told them, "it's quite common in men his age." But Teresa knew the truth; her father had drunk himself to death.

The funeral was small and simple, Lady Rebecca stood by the thin wooden box, dabbing her eyes and sniffling loudly.

"This," she said in a voice filled with unconvincing grief, "is what he would have wanted. Richard was a man of simple taste." She paused to wipe away her invisible tears. "And in accordance with his wishes, we shall now bury him in a simple pine box and return him to the earth that he so dearly l-l-loved." She finished with a forced sob. The Lisbon children shed no tears, for they had lost their father a long time ago. And so Richard Lisbon was buried in the dirt without even a tombstone to mark his grave.

A few days after the funeral Teresa was sitting on her bed reading an interesting book about a young woman with extremely long hair, who was locked, faraway, in a high tower by her wicked mother. Teresa was wondering how one would go about washing such lengthy locks when Tommy and James burst into her room. They were both dressed in colorful costumes and brandishing small wooden swords. Tommy appeared to be some sort of villainous pirate, while James looked as if he were a noble prince.

"What's the matter with you two?" Teresa asked.

"We were playing outside, behind the house," began Tommy panting, "And we heard a strange noise, so we went around front to see what it was."

"And then," continued little James adjusting the far too large crown on his head, "just as we got to the gate, you know before the road, we saw a..a..a moving house!" he cried throwing his arms in the air.

"It wasn't a moving house you dummy!" Tommy said exasperatedly. "It was a carriage, a big gold and silver carriage!" he exclaimed.

"Yeah," James said his eyes wide, "a carriage! And it stopped in front of our house!"

Teresa stared at them for a few minutes,"Are you sure you didn't just imagine that you saw a carriage?" She asked them gently.

"Yes, Reese we're sure!" said Tommy in a frustrated tone.

"Well it was probably just passing by," Teresa said going back to her book, "I mean why would a carriage stop by he—"

"Teresa! Tommy! James! Come down to the parlor!" Came Lady Rebecca's sharp voice. They all looked at one another.

"What does she want us for?" asked Tommy with a frown.

"Maybe she wants to give us food!" James said hopefully, the other two stared at him.

"Children, I'm waiting!" "Coming ma'am" Teresa called. "Come on boys lets go."

Lady Rebecca was standing by the fireplace as the children entered the room. Her brown hair was pulled back in a tight bun, and she wore a mask of thick makeup. Her dress was long and heavy looking; the design was an intricate pattern of dark green and black, behind her on either side stood two girls. Teresa studied them curiously. The one on the right was tall; with straight blonde hair that framed her pale, thin face, in which rested two light blue eyes. The other girl on the left was shorter and curvier. Her skin was a tannish brown color, which went well with her wavy brown hair and big brown eyes.

"Ah children, there you are." Lady Rebecca said as though she had been waiting for hours. "These are my daughters. This is Sophie," she said gesturing to the blonde girl. "And this is Lorelei." Motioning towards the brunette. "They will be living here with us." Lady Rebecca said, "Would you take us on a tour of the house Teresa?"

"Umm ok" Teresa said awkwardly as she began to lead them around the house. She showed them the kitchen, the library, the music room, the garden, the stables, "And these," She said leading them down a long hall way, "are the bedrooms."

"Ah yes, now, speaking of bedrooms they're going to need somewhere to sleep."

"Well most of these rooms haven't been used in years, so they're very dusty and dirty. But I believe we have a couple of rooms in the attic, I'm afraid they're a little sma—" Teresa began helpfully.

"The attic…THE ATTIC? Mother I don't want to sleep in the attic!" Lorelei said in a high-pitched whine. "I want this room." She said pointing to a large wooden door on the right.

"I'm sorry but that's my room." Teresa said politely.

"Oh really? Well now it's mine." Lorelei said with a smug grin.

"No it's not." Teresa said angrily.

"Mother!" Lorelei said shrilly.

"Teresa be a dear and give Lorelei your room please." Lady Rebecca said with a tight smile.

"No." Teresa said flatly. "This isn't your house so I don't have to give up anything that's mine to you."

"Actually, this is my house. Your father left it to me in his will, so things are going to be a little different around here from now on." Lady Rebecca said with a cruel smile. "As of tonight the sleeping arrangements will change. You three in the attic, and us down here, and further more you children have become far to lazy," she continued speaking directly to the three Lisbon children. "So starting tomorrow you will work. You will wash dishes, do our laundry, muck the stables, cook for us, tend to the garden and do whatever needs to be done around here." She said wickedly. "But that's not fair!" shouted Tommy. "I don't care what you think is fair." Lady Rebecca said slowly advancing on the children. "Now you will do as I say or so help me God I will put out into the streets!" She shrieked. By the end of the night all their stuff was in the attic.

"I hate that witch," hissed Tommy angrily as Teresa tucked him and James into bed.

"Me too," James said with a sniffle.

"Me three." Said Teresa sitting down on the edge of the bed. They were silent for a few minutes. "So what were you playing this afternoon?" Teresa asked changing the subject to a happier topic.

"Prince and Pirate!" The boys said simultaneously.

"Although it was kinda hard to play because there was no fair maiden for me to kidnap." Said Tommy with a slight frown.

"Will you be the fair maiden next time we play?" asked James with a pleading look.

Teresa laughed, "Of course I will!"

"Reese will you tell us a story?" asked Tommy.

"Sure." said Teresa with a smile. And she told them a wonderful story about three children who escaped the clutches of and angry dragon and how they lived happily ever after.

(Present)

Teresa laughed softly, remembering all the times she had played the fair maiden or damsel in distress for her brothers. And even though they grown up now, sometimes when there was nothing better to do they would play it again.

DINGGGG DONNNGG DINNNGGGG DOOOONNNNNGGG! chimed the clock deafeningly. "Oh crap!" Teresa hissed. She had been so absorbed in her thoughts that she'd lost track of time. She stumbled around her room looking for her work clothes. Throwing off her nightgown she quickly changed into a simple brown and white dress. After yanking a small pathetic looking comb through her long brown hair, which she tied into braid with a green ribbon. She then hastily began to lace up her boots while simultaneously hopping to the door. "DINNGG DONNNGG DINNNNGGG DOOONNNNGGG!" boomed the clock. The loud noise combined with her racing adrenaline startled her so much that accidently slammed her head into an extremely low hanging ceiling beam.

"OUCH!" she screamed. "DAMN THAT CLOCK!"

Kayyyy that was the end of chapter 2 I hope you liked it please tell me what you think ^_^ Chapter 3 will be along shortly.