I was reminded I needed to post the remaining chapters! Hope you like! xxx


Vince bit his lip as took his sequin bedspread and winced as he tore the material. It felt like a crime. His woodland friends were of no help, one of them was into 1930's fashion and the other was a naturist so had no idea of sizing or tailoring.

Breathing out, and telling himself the worst was over he began to carefully began to unpick the stitches, using a bee-sting as a needle. Holding the first fragment against himself and tilting his head thoughtfully he smiled.

'Darling' The Queen said, moving towards Howard conspiratorially and lowering her voice, 'the curtains…do they look short to you?'

Howard pretended to study then, seeing in his head the new, yellow brocade fabric being used as a rope, waiting in the Princess's room, waiting to be used.

'No, not at all Mother' he said, 'they look beautiful, everyone will admire your keen eye for decorating'

Smiling indulgently and patting his hand the Queen looked at Howard.

'So' she began, looking nervous, 'we finally get to meet her then, after all the hoopla' she raised an eyebrow and Howard made a face.

'Yes, well Lady Gideon and I both agreed to look elsewhere for life partners' he said, 'and then I was told of the Princess, and she..' he faltered, his gaze turning wistful. 'She needs to be rescued'.

The Queen's face softened. 'Don't we all darling' she said quietly, before moving off to enquire about the band.

Time had passed so quickly, since their first meetings, with Howard trying to teach the Princess about the real world.

xxxxx

'What?' Vince screeched, his face screwing up.

'Yes' Howard said seriously.

'Like, it's not even in?' Vince said.

'Well no, the style for ladies is shoulder-length, usually in some kind of bun…'

Vince began to hyperventilate.

'I…am….not…in….style?' he said, his mouth gaping unattractively.

Howard shifted uncomfortably.

'You still look lovely' he said shyly, looking the other way in embarrassment.

'Oh' Vince said softly. 'That's alright then'.

xxxxx

Howard looked around the lavish room, filling up quickly with people. Not long now, not long till he saw the Princess. Feeling his heart constrict with something he couldn't place he moved from one foot to the other anxiously, flattening down the collar of his suit jacket and rubbing the back of his neck.

xxxxx

Vince and Howard laid on the cold stone floor of Vince's tower. The sun was lazily streaming through the open window and a fresh breeze was rushing over their faces, eyes closed and breathing evenly.

'So, what next' Vince asked Howard, rolling over to face him.

'I don't know' Howard answered honestly. 'I just knew I didn't want to marry her, and I didn't think of anything else'

'Well I think that's okay' Vince said, 'you don't need to know right now, you only need to know what you really want, and what you don't. Everything else will fall into place'

Howard nodded.

'What about you Princess?' he asked. 'You don't know how to break the curse, you cannot leave this tower for longer than a couple of hours, for fear of Old Gregg's hold over you'

Vince nodded, 'I don't know what he is capable of' he said, worried. 'I know that I have a spell of protection over me, from my Mother, but I don't know what he would do to them. But once the curse is broken, he will not be able to harm any of us any longer' Vince breathed out shakily and felt Howard move over to hold his hand.

xxxx

It hadn't been easy, teaching her royal protocol and getting her to try anything else but fizzy pop and sweets had been a challenge, and she claimed to be deeply allergic to any kind of green food.

xxx

'It's not my fault Howard' Vince said, looking angry, 'I just don't like anything from the ground'

Howard rolled his eyes at these theatrics. He had just witnessed a hissy fit rivalling his great aunts, who if rumours are to be believed, once fought over a stupid shoe for a man. He had seen the portraits in the great hall, they needed more than a shoe.

'But its good for you' he said, gesturing at the wicker basket, filled with fresh vegetables and fruit.

'Looks horrible' Vince said disdainfully, eying up a carrot and frowning.

'Look' Howard said, losing patience as he laid down a red chequered picnic blanket. Weren't Princesses supposed to be filled with grace and patience? This one moaned all the time, and fell over her silly shoes.

'Look, try this; it's the same flavour as your sweets' he passed Vince a strawberry.

'It's alright' Vince said, taking a tiny nibble. 'A bit full of chemicals'

Howard rolled his eyes, 'Whereas your sweets are fresh from the heavens, Miss!'

Vince laughed, 'Shut-up small eyes'

'How dare you!' Howard said indignantly, 'I have the perfect sized eyes'

Then he remembered back to a childhood birthday. He had been presented with a gift of truth, and looking into a mirror was told by the inhabitant that he was 'lacking in facial features, and his eyes were like raisins in a scone'

Frowning he sat back down on the Princess's bed. He was never made fun of. Everyone told him he was handsome and accomplished. Well, someone had once admired his cufflinks, and that was the same thing, really.

Then he looked up, and unexpectantly laughed. 'Well, you seem to have your own eyes, and half of mine! I want my half back, yes Miss!'

Vince laughed and moved backwards, holding his hands up in defence. 'No way' he said, grinning, 'They're all mine now Prince Howard'

Howard moved closer, raising his arms threateningly. Vince giggled until he was backed up against the wall.

'Come and get it' he said softly, feeling something in the air change.

Then his whole world changed, as he saw Howard's eyes flicker down to his mouth.

xxxx

Vince had forgotten the time and was surprised and afraid when he heard the familiar voice of Old Gregg, beseeching him to extend his locks.

'Um, yeah...just a minute' he said, frantically miming into the air and looking around to hide the sequins, the ladder and his flowers. Howard had taken to bringing him a flower with every visit, and he now had a vase full of blooms, all different but all beautiful.

Throwing the clothes under his bed, the ladder under his pillow and the flowers in his wardrobe he moved over, throwing his hair over.

Old Gregg shimmied his way up, grinning cheerily at Vince.

'So, I hope you've been working on the Funk' he said, a glint in his eyes betraying his happy smile.

'I have' Vince lied, nodding. Then he touched his hair, 'God, its so tangled' he sighed, 'and you pulled it coming up, Howard doesn't do that'.

Suddenly Vince froze, his sharp intake of breath startling Old Gregg into anger.

'What?' he asked, quiet and deadly.

'Howard, he's a squirrel who visits me' Vince said quickly, gesturing outside and smiling pleadingly, although his stomach was churning and he felt desperately fearful.

'Liar' Old Gregg hissed, advancing forwards menacingly.

Vince's eyes widened and he backed away.

'He's a Prince' Old Gregg, 'and what the hell would he want with you, Sir?'

'Nothing, we're friends' Vince supplied lamely.

Old Gregg frowned, his red lips shining in the dimming light.

'I doubt that' he said, 'I heard he wants a Princess…' Old Gregg laughed then, short and mocking.

'He doesn't…think…' Old Gregg trailed off, looking intently into Vince's face as he did his usual lolloping walk forward.

'Oh Vince' he said, nastily, 'You're just a poor boy I am using for my own gain, you think you deserve happiness? You don't. You are just Old Gregg's robotic frontman'.

Vince shook his head. 'I'm not, I am more' he said defiantly.

'So what did you think' Old Gregg said, 'That he was going to love you, marry you, that you would' he paused and laughed so horribly Vince felt his heart sink and he felt tears well up in his eyes, 'Live happily ever after?'

'He would…he could' Vince said, his strength fading as he sunk to the floor, overcome.

'Well he won't now' Old Gregg said, taking a knife from his pocket and sliding the blade against the netting of his tutu slowly.

'Not once Old Gregg is done with you. Sir.'