Chapter 2

Dressing

Kendra had wanted so badly to get her own dress. After all, going to prom really was her idea. Unfortunately, everything she loved was way out of their price range. Anything that was actually within the somewhat narrow money scheme either didn't fit well, looked horrible on her or was just plain tacky. After several days trying every decent store both in and a bit out of town, she was ready to give up.

She flopped herself on the couch. Bracken came not far behind her.

"What's wrong with my pretty girl?" He asked, running his finger through her hair.

"I didn't realize how hard it would be to find a dress. No, I take that back. It'd be extremely easy if we were made of money. I'm starting to think about hitting up the stayers to get some gold. Getting them more DVD's would be cheaper then any dress I've seen so far. I'm sure they'd appreciate it."

Bracken laughed. He gently pulled her up and sat Kendra against him.

"What? I'm serious! It'd be so much easier for me to find your clothes then mine. You can find cheap tux's galore."

"Why don't you then? Get something for me, I mean. I would be more then happy to find something for you. I think our fairy friends would be pleased to oblige me."

"Are you sure? I don't think the fairies would want to have anything to do with it if they know it's for me. They're too jealous."

"You might be surprised. They understand that I'm taken now, even if they don't like it. Besides, with the astrids restored now, they have turned their attention elsewhere."

Kendra giggled. The astrids certainly had been handsome, in a rather bulky, muscle man sort of way. "Alright. But only if they really want to."

"Believe me, if I ask, they will really want to," he winked.

"Bracken!" She scolded. "And here I thought unicorns were supposed to be such innocent creatures!"

"What exactly is that supposed to mean, huh? What does that mean, you silly human?"

Bracken began tickling her. They both laughed until somebody from the kitchen made a gagging noise.

"Get a room," Seth said, coming in to sit on the other couch. "Actually, get two. I don't want to take a chance that there'd be any horse play going on." He paused for a minute, then laughed at his own unicorn pun. "HA! Horse play! Get it?"

"Yeah, unfortunately." Kendra rolled her eyes.

"Hey now, do you want to take this outside?" Bracken grinned.

"Sure, you and what army?" Seth challenged back. "Oh... never mind. I don't think I want to be flown around by faries. That would ruin my image."

"You have an image?" Kendra asked, sarcastically. "Let me guess – you're that boy on Sound Of Music with the lonely goat herd."

They all laughed. Seth hung out with them until dinner. Bracken decided to stay and eat with the family. Kendra told them what they had decided to do about the dress once they were done. Her mom thought it was "so sweet" and Bracken found himself in a huge, mothering squeeze. Kendra blushed. Why did she insist on doing that?

Within the hour, Seth had invited the Newel and Doren over. Her dad began making popcorn, while her grandma and mom broke out the soda. Kendra had almost forgotten it was Thursday – Survivor game show night. After all they had been through, it was nice to see other people get stranded and try to stick it out for awhile. Each of them had their favorites. Kendra's personal favorite was Rupert. He was a sincerely decent guy and usually the only one with common sense. Seth liked Boston Rob. He was more devious and had gotten the girl, apparently. When it was over, Bracken gave Kendra a big hug and eagerly headed home to get the fairies started on the dress. The satyers soon followed and her parents and grandparents headed up to bed.

"That was pretty cool of Bracken to do that," Seth commented.

"Yeah," she replied, then sighed. "Now I just have to pick a place to get a suit. I just feel horrible though. Nothing I buy will be even half as great as anything he's getting for me."

"It could be," Seth said. "And you might not even have to buy anything."

"What do you mean?"

"Why don't you just take one of dad's old suits? He isn't that much bigger then Bracken. Then do something to mess it up and let the Brownies fix it."

Kendra could've slapped herself for not thinking of that. As much as he got a kick out of teasing the couple, Seth certainly was helpful to them sometimes.

"Thank you!" she cheered. "You're a genius!"

Kendra gathered him up in a big hug, much like her mother's. Seth wrinkled his nose.

"Ohh, save it for pony boy," he gripped.

Kendra let him go off to bed then, but not before a world-class noogie.

At the end of the week, Bracken came to the house with a large, hanging bag. Kendra couldn't wait to see what was inside. Bracken's suit had just come back from the dry cleaners. It had turned out even better then she had hoped for. Her mom went to get it from the front closet they had been keeping it in, while they all gathered in the living room, eagerly.

Bracken was told to go first. After all, they may not pay attention once Kendra had hers opened. He gently slipped the plastic off the top of the hanger. The suit shone, almost as if it had somehow been inlaid with silver. The lining around the collar, cuffs and side pockets was a darker black then the rest of the black material. The buttons were velvet. The white collared shirt underneath had a very fine ruffle down the middle.

"Wow, this is amazing! May I ask where you got it?"

"Out of dad's closet," Kendra laughed, embarrassed to admit it. "The Brownies helped it out a lot."

She was shaking from excitement as she pulled the plastic from around the dress. She could feel that it was something a bit poofy already. When it fell away she could only stare in amazement. It was sparkling fantastically. She counted several shades of green all through it – they were definitely woodland shades. It was extremely soft and satiny. The torso was decorated with different organic plants that the fairies had somehow turned into fabric. The lightest shade of green was toward the bottom around where her legs and feet would be. It shimmered in the light, reminding Kendra of the Fairy Queen's pond. She couldn't have even dreamt up a dress more perfect or more beautiful.

It took her a minute to realize the her mom was already practically squealing over it, and her grandma was right behind her. She saw Seth get knocked over as the rushed to see it.

"Oh Bracken," she fussed. "You are such a dear, sweet young man. This is magnificent! We couldn't have asked for anything better. Make sure you thank your mother for us, honey. And especially anyone who made this."

Kendra and Bracken both blushed as her mom planted a big kiss on his cheek.

"It was really no trouble. They had a lot of fun making it. I really can't remember the last time they made a full size dress for a human."

She and Bracken were able to go outside while her mother carefully hung the dress in Kendra's closet. They nestled together in a hammock as she began to thank him herself. He shushed her, telling her that the look on her face when she saw it had been more then enough. It was nearly 9 o'clock before he left and she headed inside. She caught a glimpse of the calender as she headed up the stairs to bed. It was only two weeks until she would actually get to wear that dress. As that reality hit, Kendra was suddenly very nervous.

((Note: If you'd like to see the clothes, then please visit:

Bracken: h.com/getty/p2/2009/11/16/GYI0058933385_

Kendra: .?VISuperSize&item=390154407966

Enjoy!!))