A/N: This chapter would have been up sooner but I had to update the last one, I had graduation, dance class, life etc. Thank you so much to the people who sent in song/musical ideas!

The days carried on, maybe just a little too quickly.
But to be exact, it had been three days.
In other words, it was Ahiru's birthday, and the day Sir Fakir was to pick up Prince Mytho's friend…
Whoever she was…

Andrew stood in the doorway of the other side of the stable where his daughter's were sleeping. It was really unfair that the whole family had to stay in a stable that wasn't even theirs to begin with! Part of the father's pay was docked to let the family rent out the place for a home.
He watched his daughters sleeping, but his focus was on his oldest. He knew what was to come today…

(The orchestra slowly awakens to a gentle tune. Almost like a lullaby. ANDREW begins to sing)

Is this the little girl I carried?
Is this the little girl at play?

I don't remember growing older.
When did they?

When did she get to be a beauty?
When did she grow to be so tall?

Wasn't it yesterday when she was small?

(ANDREW is quiet for the moment as CHORUS picks up the song)

Sunrise sunset
Sunrise sunset
Swiftly flow the days

Seedlings turn overnight to sunflowers
Blossoming even as we gaze

Sunrise sunset
Sunrise sunset
Swiftly fly the years

One season following another,
Laden with happiness and tears

(Orchestra fades out as CHROUS fades)

Andrew walked up to his sleeping children with a small bundle in his hands.
He knelt down next to Ahiru and shook her awake.
"Wake up my dear…" He whispered.

Ahiru slowly opened her eyes.
"Papa?"

"Happy birthday, my dear." He smiled handing the bundle over to his daughter.
Ahiru opened the bundle to find a large warm piece of bread.

"But Papa, this is…"
"For your birthday."
"But you didn't have to."
"I figured I could give you something that could make you happy today. I know how you feel about today. But I'm afraid we have to talk to Dolly today."

Ahiru's face sunk, "But… can we just not go… We-we could… we could lie about my age! I could-"
"Ahiru." He said calmly, "We have to. If we did keep it a secret, someone would find out and I would be thrown in prison leaving you three with no home. And I don't want that for you. I'm really sorry my dear…"

Ahiru nodded and went with her father to Madame Dolly's house.

Madame Dolly was well known for her extravagant lifestyle.
Her house was the one thing that defiantly did not looked like it did not belonged in the town.
It was even more intimidating up close, especially in Ahiru's shoes.

Andrew gently knocked on the door.
Within a few minutes the top half of the door opened.
Behind this door was Dolly with a disgusted look on her face the moment she saw Andrew.

"I didn't call for a low life stable hand." She frowned.
"I'm not here to work for you Dolly. I am here because of my daughter…"

Dolly's eyes lit up, "Your daughter?"
Andrew nodded and pushed his daughter up to the door.

Dolly looked Ahiru up and down as a smile slowly crept across her face.
"I'll be right back." She said deviously.

Dolly left, leaving Ahiru shaking in her worn out shoes.
Dolly came back with a quill and her book of matches.

After flipping a few pages she looked down at Ahiru, "Name child." She said sweetly.
"Ahiru Nama…" She said quietly.

Dolly scribbled her name down in the book, "And the Papa. What do you want for your daughter?"

Andrew took a deep breath, "He must be respectful, honorable, and caring for my daughter."

Dolly looked at Andrew with complete cluelessness, "I've never heard a father asking for that. Normally it's either a learned man or a wealthy man." But regardless of how she felt about his requests, she wrote it down still questioning why anyone would want these in a man… if that sort of man even existed!

She looked back up at the father and daughter, "All finished. " She said closing the book.
She looked very closely at Ahiru, "You may be the first 17 year old I marry off. You defiantly have quite a pretty face that would make any man fall for you."

Madame Dolly gave a wink and closed the top half of the door.

As Andrew and Ahiru headed home, Ahiru couldn't help but fall apart. There was no way out of it now. Ahiru was trapped, and freedom was far out of reach.

Andrew put his hand on his daughter's shoulder.
"Ahiru, listen to me. No matter what happens, I won't let this happen."

"But papa," She said through her tears, "Everyone in this town already thinks we're strange! Wouldn't me avoiding marriage make it worse?!"

(The orchestra starts up again. A more loving and caring sound. ANDREW begins to sing to his daughter)

In all you say or do
You couldn't make it plainer

You are your mother's daughter
Therefore you are class

You should take my word
You are unique: Crème de la crème

No matter what they say
I'm by your side
And if my point of view is somewhat missy-eyed

There's nothing clearer in my life
than what I wish and feel for you.
And that's a lot…
No matter what!

No matter what the pain
We've come this far
I pray that you remain exactly as you are
This really is a case of Father knowing best

(AHIRU sings for a moment)

And daughter too!

(ANDREW continues)

You're never strange
Don't ever change
You're all I've got
No matter what…

(ANDREW embraces AHIRU as music dies down)

"Thank you Papa…"
Ahiru continued to wipe away her tears as they headed back to the stable.

Meanwhile, Fakir and one of the squires, Autor, tried their best not to cause a commotion.
So far it was working…
Until Fakir noticed someone on their way to that stable.

A pretty young girl who was crying, with who Fakir would assume was her father escorting her home.
For some reason, Fakir had to know what was wrong…

"Autor." Fakir whispered, "Do you know that girl?"
Autor looked over to where Fakir was pointing to. He looked disgusted.
"She's part of that family of indentured servants. The lowest class there is! You're better off not even looking at her."

"But she's crying!"
"Probably because of another debt they can't pay."
"No I don't think it's that at all."

Fakir moved away from Autor and more towards the weeping girl.

"Excuse me." He asked running up to them.
The girl and her father turned around.
The girl had long orange hair tied into a messy braid. She had a few freckles on her face. It was hard to see her blue eyes from all the tears turning her eyes red.

Her father had the same eyes, but brown short brown hair. He seemed to be a lean and strong man, like a hard working stable hand.

Both jumped having seen him and bowed before him.
"Our apologizes, Sir Fakir." The father said.

He looked at the girl, "Why are you crying?"
The girl looked started at the Captain for a second, "I-I… I don't want to get married…" she mumbled.

He stared at her in confusion, "And why is that?"

She looked down, "I have a responsibility to take care of my family. I… I can't get married until I know my family is taken care of… I'll worry about marriage after my family is taken care of."

He looked at the girl in awe. "I'm sorry…"
Before Fakir could say anything else, Autor immediately pulled him away.
"What is wrong with you?!" He hissed in his ear, "We're trying to escort someone to the castle without drawing attention to ourselves! You're just lucky no one saw you!"

"Autor she was crying. Is there anything wrong with asking her why?"
"It is a problem when it involves that family. Now come on!"

As Fakir was pulled away, Ahiru and her father were left on the streets confused.
That was until, wouldn't you believe it, Femio had shown up.
And yes, he was stalking Ahiru.

"Oh Ahiru!" He called from behind.
Ahiru groaned, "This can't be good…" She turned to Femio, "What is it…?"

"I've heard that you've been placed into Madame Dolly's book for marriage!"
Ahiru did her best to stop her crying, "So the word has gotten out already?"

"Now Ahiru, I know you've got that dreaming attitude, which we all know every girl your age does, and I have the answer for that!"

"Oh really?" Andrew said sarcastically.
"Of course! Mr. Nama I know you're daughter better than I know myself!"

(The orchestra starts up. FEMIO sings to the upbeat tune to AHIRU)

You've been dreaming, just one dream
Nearly all your life
Hoping, scheming, just one theme:
Will you be a wife?
Will you be some he-man's property?
Goodnews! That he-man's me!
This equation, girl plus man
Doesn't help just you
On occasion, women can
Have their uses too
Mainly to extend the family tree
Pumpkin, extend with me!

I can see that we will share
All that love implies
We shall be a perfect pair
Rather like my thighs
You are face to face with destiny!
All roads lead to...
The best things in life are...
All's well that ends with me!
Escape me? There's no way
Certain as "Do, Re,"
Ahiru , when you marry

ME!

(Music ceases, FEMIO speaks)

"So Ahiru, what will be? Is it 'yes' or is it 'ooooooh YES!'."
Ahiru looked like she was going to throw up.

"Femio," Andrew said pinching the bridge of his nose between his fingers, "It takes the matchmaker and the father to agree on a match, and frankly I don't approve of this match. Come on Ahiru."

He took his daughter's hand and they quickly headed back to the stable.

But towards the front door was a girl in a dark blue cloak sitting down at the side of the road.
You could easily see small strand of her raven hair that she was trying so hard to hid.
Ahiru only got a quick glance at the girl's face, and from what she saw, it was unlike any beauty she had ever seen in the Dove Kingdom. But, she looked… almost afraid.

Ahiru let go of her father and went over to the mysterious girl. "Are you okay?"

The girl looked at Ahiru, "Oh… why yes. I'm just waiting for someone. That's all." She said with a smile.
"Do you want us to get you anything?"
"Oh no. I couldn't ask you to do that for me. He should be here soon!"

"Well alright then." Ahiru met back up with her father and went inside.

The next few minutes the girl's escort had arrived.
Her royal escort, to be exact.
Yes, she was the girl Mytho had sent for.
Now who was she…?

And that concludes this scene.
Thank you to Balletjen for your review, following, and favoring!
And to BattyCrash, it's great to see you again!
Also Princess Ahiru for all of your great suggestions!
And finally to jacelein for favoring the story!

Songs I used:
Sunrise Sunset from Fiddler on the Roof
No Matter What from Beauty and the Beast
Me also from Beauty and the Beast