Hello dear readers! This is a slightly different submission and does not contain the elements of my previous chapters. It is all Anna and Bates, and Haley's wish. As it is a fantasy, I wanted to leave that bit of the story as a standalone. I tried to make it as creative as possible, but, in the spirit of full disclosure, I will say that I have never watched any Harry Potter, LOTR, or such fantasy movies before (Gasp! I know…), so, I was grasping at straws here. I hope my effort is not too dull or confusing. Cherry88 helped me considerably with some great tips.

I also borrowed a couple of lines from Julian Fellowes.


Ava looked marvelous. Anna took a step back to admire their handiwork. William was amazing in how he had transposed the drawing onto the chopper. He had made it look incredible. They had discussed how to incorporate third dimensional features that would make it look more realistic, possibly highlighting certain aspects of a dragon's anatomy. Protruding wings, the ridges on its back, pointy ears and an elongated snout would all have been nice, but that would not be safe as they could possibly interfere with the navigational systems and they desisted. The detail, in the drawings, then, needed to distinguish the notable parts of a dragon. The mouth was open, as a necessity. It was painted from both sides leading up to where the glass of the windshield started. The front glass was coated with red and orange translucid paint that simulated the color of flames. It was colorful enough for it to be noticed, but not obtrusive for whoever would pilot the chopper. Considerable effort was involved in making sure that it looked like the dragon was spewing fire. The rest of the body was outlined within the round form of the helicopter, with the wings extended upwards, taking advantage of the height. The legs were painted at the bottom part, underneath the entrance, and sideways, how a real bird in flight might look. The eyes and ears looked just like the drawing. The tail was highlighted along the back, leading to the rear rotor. The name of the dragon, Saphira, was written in the front, beneath the glass. Anna still couldn't believe that she had played a part in putting it together. Her small contribution made her proud.

She came early that morning, with the rest of the team, to decorate the grounds of the compound. The illusion of a dragon awaiting its master needed to start from the moment she entered Bates Airlift. They had unlocked the side gate, to avoid coming through the office. It would shatter the dream to amble amid the dark corporate carpeting and stodgy desks. Instead, a huge sign at the entrance read "Welcome Haley – Saphira awaits!" As a medieval illusion, Tony and Evelyn had donned era appropriate sentinel costumes and stood guard at the entrance. They had laid out the red carpet for the short distance to the dragon-chopper behind them. Balloons with her name lined the entire walk.

Groomed and styled by Mary, Anna had worn her outfit, together with Daisy, Sarah, Phyllis, Thomas and Gwen. As villagers, they would be wishing her well on her quest. They had a costume for Vera too, but she refused to change into it, explaining that she did not like to wear them when they were of the hired kind, citing poor hygienic maintenance by the costume owners. Even Thomas snarled at her this time. This was about a little girl, suffering from a non-Hodgkin's lymphoma that was very aggressive, not about vanity or comfort. Vera was still there, though, sticking out like a fly in milk, in her modern apparel. She stood next to Sarah who grunted the entire time, complaining about the itchiness of the fabrics. For all her sourness, she maintained her composure. Anna caught a bit of a smile forming every now and then and it warmed her heart to think that Sarah might actually have a heart too. Tom and William dressed also, as men of the cloth, looking like bona fide friars. Richard excused himself, explaining that he needed to meet with a client and could not change in time to look presentable. He stayed inside with Anthony who was very embarrassed and spoke some nonsense regarding his age not being appropriate for the festivities. Still, the majority of the office pulled together to create the fantasy. The only other team members who did not participate that morning were piloting aircraft and far away. There was true team spirit.

Anna hadn't seen him yet, but she knew he was here. She had heard him a little while back, towards the entrance. She was too far from where he was, much nearer to the dragon, and could not get a good luck at him. He was supposed to be wearing armour, like a knight, mimicking what Haley would be wearing. He would be a part of the entire fantasy and he would be piloting the helicopter. Maybe that was a good thing- not seeing him. The time she spent with Mary yesterday had helped put her situation in perspective. She had fallen for him, but she was at a critical moment where she could fall back, or be reeled in further. It was important for her to keep her distance and maintain a much more detached relationship with him if she was to do her job effectively.

Anna heard a commotion and turned to see what was happening. "She's here," they heard Tony yell, alerting them to get into pretend mode.

Anna had learned from Gwen that besides Mr. Bates, Haley's entourage would include her aunt who was also a registered nurse and her caregiver, plus somebody from the Foundation. She imagined it would be Mr. Edmunds who had come to organize the event. Ava, now known as Saphira, would whisk them away to Highclere Castle, were another elaborate event was being staged by volunteers. The girl would be rescuing a princess, who happened to be her older sister Celeste, from the evil witch and dragon slayer, Malevola. They would be joined on the ground by Prince Fortius, who needed to get to his bride. Haley would fight Malevola's army to let the lovers come together. Anna thought that was adorable. The girl did not want to be a princess herself, rather, the rescuer and a powerful knight. It sounded delightful and was a bit of a parallel to the young girl's life. Any cancer patient was a fighter, attempting to slay other intangible demons.

Anna arranged the flowers in the basket she was carrying, as she turned to Gwen who was by her side. "This is all so lovely."

Gwen agreed. "It is a treat to be able to participate in a child's dream and make them happy, if even just for a little moment. How lucky we are."

Music started playing from the maintenance bay, trumpeters coming over the sound system that the mechanics had rigged to play as she started moving along. Anna was amused. She had not expected the music. It helped her get into village girl mode and the excitement was building among them. There was a positive energy all around.

Evelyn and Tony knelt and bowed their heads in reverence as the little girl passed them. Haley was a miniature reincarnation of Joan of Arc, albeit a wrapped head that signaled an obvious absence of hair. She had bright blue eyes and a kind smile. She was missing a tooth at the front, making her look sweet and innocent. Sweetness notwithstanding, she waived a plastic sword in front of her, intent on starting battle, letting her fierceness shine through. On the outside of her armour was a strapped case that came across her left side. Not being an expert, Anna surmised that it was an oxygen canister as it was connected all the way up to her nostrils, fastened somehow behind her head. She could not see the lines of the plastic tubing needed to provide the necessary supplement. They were expertly ensconced within the outfit.

Besides the little girl, she noticed a pair of sturdy legs and followed them up until she was contemplating him. Mr. Bates was beside her. The contrast between the small girl and tall man was a sight to see, but they both looked very authentic. Her knees went weak. Mr. Bates looked intensely captivating and incredibly handsome. She could think of a million things to say about him right now, and none would come close to reality. His matching suit of armour, made his stature ever more imposing. The metallic plates of muted aluminum should have been dull, but they were shiny, reflecting in the sun. They created the illusion of an aura about him, as if he were an angelic being. His hair was messed from the headpiece he was carrying. He had stubble, purposely left from this morning to give him a more masculine and weathered look. Staying detached was near impossible when he came to the office like that. It was not just his physique. The knowledge that he was doing good gave him confidence and he looked more attractive for it. His soul was on display for all to see.

"Lady Edwina, it's you!" Anna was startled out of her daydreaming by the excited voice of the child. She was calling out for someone. Anna reacted by kneeling in reverence and tossing a handful of the flowers from her basket. Everybody around her did as well, paying homage to the brave warrior girl. Anna couldn't see who she was addressing since she had remained on the floor, looking down. Suddenly, she felt a tap on her shoulder from the play sword. She looked up as Haley addressed her.

"Loyal Lady Edwina, keeper of the faith, mistress of divine spirit. You have shown yourself to me as I go to battle the evil men of the Gant. This is a good sign. I bless you and thank you. You must come with me as I do battle and see to our glorious victory, as we fight to liberate Princess Celeste from treacherous hands."

It was a lot for the little girl to say, but she said it with conviction and character. Who was Lady Edwina? Mmmm... Certainly not this costumed private investigator trying to pass off as village girl. This wasn't part of the explanation that Gwen had provided. Anna looked up and looked around. Everybody's eyes were on her. They were imploring her to play along. What was she supposed to answer? Was this for real? Haley was actually asking her to go? She sought all the creative words she could conjure under such pressure. She bowed her head again, and responded.

"Mistress Haley, defender of the downtrodden," she stuttered for a second, trying to find something else to say that made sense, "protector of virtue and freedom. I am humbled by your assessment. I am Lady Edwina in your eyes, but, I merit not such a distinguished name. If I were such a Lady, it would be an honor to accompany you into battle, but, as you can see, I am not more than a humble village girl. I seek not to be in your way, while you seek to liberate Princess Celeste."

She looked up again and the little girl was smiling.

"You are Lady Edwina and I cannot do battle without you. Sir Gallant and I bid you to come with us and join the fight. We need your magical powers to immobilize the Gant army."

Anna made a desperate face, unaware of how to proceed. Behind the little girl, faces and gestures were being made between Mr. Edmunds, the caregiver and Mr. Bates who all realized that Haley was serious. She wanted Anna to come. They were deliberating without using any words, not wanting to interrupt the child. Who was Sir Gallant? flashed through Anna's mind, as the child took her sword and tapped her other shoulder.

"Rise Lady Edwina."

She did as was requested; begging with her eyes to be told what should come next. She looked at Gwen beside her, hoping for a hint, but the redhead's expression was just as dumbfounded as hers. She had no answers for her, so, she stood up. Were they really expecting her to come along? Did she even fit in the helicopter? Wait. Helicopter….. She suddenly shivered. She had never been in one. She wanted to fly in one since the day she arrived on the compound, truth be told, but she needed to prepare mentally for it. There would be no time for that.

Their gesturing came to a close and they seemed to come to some agreement. Mr. Bates spoke.

"Mistress Haley, if Lady Edwina's powers are necessary for battle, then she can come along if she wishes so. If we force her, the powers that she holds may become weak and hinder our fight. We should ask her if she would like to come."

"Thank you Sir Gallant."

The penny dropped. He was Sir Gallant? He was certainly chivalrous and gentlemanly enough to merit the title.

Haley broke out of character momentarily. "Please, Lady Edwina!" She bellowed at Anna with imploring eyes and she had to think quickly. This would put her close to Mr. Bates when she was resolved to stay away from him. She looked at Vera, who was sneering at her. The cold woman did not look pleased at the scene unfolding before her. It was a bad idea, one she was sure she would come to regret, but there was no way she would say no to a child in need.

"It will be my pleasure."


The team was still huddled together, watching as the entourage, now including Anna, boarded the helicopter.

Sarah was livid. The twat intern had managed to get herself invited to the soiree. Who knew what she did to accomplish it. This could not have been a coincidence. She must have manipulated Mr. Bates, or Mr. Edmunds of the Foundation. She was devious and deceitful like that, willing to do anything to get her way. Sarah did not necessarily want to go; she wasn't envious of the part she would play in the fantasy. She was more upset that out of the entire team, it had been her, who, as the newest member of Bates Airlift, should have been working. She should have been scrubbing the grime out of the choppers, as she was surely not capable of anything else while she was assigned to the Mechanics. Over-achiever Gwen or mousy Phyllis would have been preferable, instead, she got a day to play around and spend time with the boss. She would give him an earful, no doubt. The woman would say or do anything to convince him of her goodness and of everybody else's faults. What a bitch.

"What's got your knickers in a twist?" Thomas exclaimed, out loud, when he saw Sarah turn red beside him. He wasn't discreet at all, earning the attention of everybody around them.

Sarah loved an audience and felt mighty important to be the one to voice what she assumed everybody was thinking. As confidently as she could and without a hint of doubt, commented, "All of a sudden, little miss nobody is the queen of the show. I wonder who she slept with to make it happen."

Vera turned red, trying to suppress her ire of having been supplanted and knowing exactly what Sarah was implying. It had not occurred to her. She was not fond of the annoying girl, but had not felt threatened by her until this moment. Not that she cared if her worthless husband took on a distraction. That would be beneficial to her in the long run. Phyllis' eyes widened in horror at the implication, not quite believing that Sarah would have said such a thing. She said nothing. Her reaction, as always, was to flee, not wanting to get involved in any such situation. Thomas was left speechless beside Tony and Evelyn who looked quite uncomfortable to be listening to such idle gossip. They had chatted with Anna before and she didn't seem like a tigress, waiting to pounce on an unsuspecting victim.

Gwen was outraged. Had Anna been there, she would have been proud of the defense that the redhead took on. "Hold your tongue Sarah. You were just as much a witness to the scene that unfolded as I was. Anna did not have to sleep with anyone. She was clearly startled to be singled out by Haley."

"So, you say, but why her? Why not you? Why not Mrs. Bates?" Sarah was very cocky and would not let it go. "It should have been somebody else."

"I went over the entire script with Mr. Edmunds and Mr. Bates yesterday. I spoke with him early this morning. There were no changes until the very moment they happened… Why Anna? Did you see how great she looked with that hairdo and the dress? None of us put the same amount of effort like she did. Surely she caught the little girl's attention and it was all Haley's doing. Did you not see Mr. Bates and Mr. Edmunds surprised faces?" Before Sarah, or anybody could comment, she continued on her defense rampage. "If I were her, I'd want Anna to come along too. She looks like that Khaleesi character from the Thrones show and fits right in to the fantasy." She paused, trying to be respectful. "Why not Mrs. Bates?" She turned to look at her boss. She did not want to be sacked for saying something inappropriate. "Haley would have to answer that, but, I think, maybe the nice dress you are wearing did not go well with the fantasy."

Gwen was pleased at the reactions her words had on her colleagues. Nobody continued on with the train of thought that Sarah had voiced. Mrs. Bates, though, still looked peeved. She said nothing, which was not normal for her, but turned quickly towards Tony, wrapping her arms around his shoulder. That was her way of putting an end to the conversation.

"Whatever….." Sarah huffed in annoyance. "I am going back to work. I, not unlike her, have a million things to do."


John looked on as William and Tom acted out their parts, pretending to bless the "dragon" chopper. Tom held one hand to the front glass, while he made the sign of the cross with the other. William had his hands held together in prayer with his head bent down. They were quite amusing in the way they went about it. There was nothing remotely saintly about them. Haley was grinning and emitting girlish giggles as the pair continued to posture in their roles, not ceasing at their antics, even when all occupants were already aboard "Saphira". John had made sure the little girl was strapped in, to his left, on the available co-pilot side. He had placed the headphones over her ears to protect her from the noise the blades would make.

He swiveled his head to gaze at the rest of the occupants and make sure they were all set before turning on the rotor engine. His passengers, including Anna, appeared terrified. She shared a look with him that he couldn't place immediately, but slowly realized it was trust. She was putting her life in his hands. He would do whatever he could to make her comfortable, given the odd situation that placed her there. This was not part of the plan and he could never have anticipated that this would have happened, but deep inside, he was thrilled. A part of him was elated that she would share in this moment that meant so much to him. It was another opportunity to see her outside the office too, especially now that she had limited their interactions to twitter and dropbox. Just being around her made him happy and he needed a lot of that in his life right now.

"Let's talk safety. Are you all buckled in?" They all nodded their heads. "I see you are all wearing your headphones. Once I start the engine, it will be too loud to talk, so, I will go over the rules now. Saphira is a world class dragon." He turned to wink at Haley. "You should not be scared or feel unsafe. The doors are locked. It will be very noisy and I will not be able to hear you unless you yell. If you have any problems, tap me on the shoulder lightly. We can encounter turbulence, so please remain seated with your seat belt securely fastened. There are snacks and drinks in this mini cooler. If you feel sick, there are sickness bags in this compartment. If we face any emergencies and I have to land the airplane, the doors will unlock automatically. If I am incapacitated, please do not attempt to open them until you can physically see the rotor blades stop moving. When we land, I will open the doors for you. Do you have any questions?"

All of the occupants nodded again, too fearful to speak. He couldn't help but think of how brave Anna was. He had been riding in helicopters since he trained as a soldier and loved the sensation and freedom. He was well aware, though, that it took some time to get used to and others would not share in his passion for them. She was gripping the seat, not sure of what to expect. Maybe he should reassure them.

"Enjoy the ride, the day is lovely and the view will be spectacular. It should take us no more than 15 minutes to get to Highclere. Once there, we will circle the castle to let the Gant army know we are here and I will hover a few seconds at a safe distance from the highest point. They must see the flying dragon if we are to instill any fear in them. It will also be a sign for Princess Celeste that we are on our way to rescue her. Once we land, I will give the signal when it is clear to depart Saphira and start the battle." He turned to Haley. "Are we ready?"

"Ready!" she squealed. Mr. Bates turned on the rotors and they were off.


Anna had never been as scared and as mutually excited in her entire life. The rush of adrenaline was making her feel alive. She wondered what other surprises were in store for her. Was she supposed to fight too? When Haley insisted she come along, she believed somebody would be the voice of reason and determine that it was not possible, that it had not been planned that way. There was no such control, no voice to stop the plan for moving forward. Why her? What had the little girl seen in her to ask her to come along? It was touching and heartwarming to have inspired a little girl without doing much. It felt good. She didn't know why, but she would do all possible in this space of time allowed to them to make her happy.

Gwen had informed her that Haley had been in and out of treatment centers in the last two years. She had deteriorated in the last six months. Her dream was to live out her favorite bedtime story, as invented by her father, and told to her repeatedly when she was younger. Anna wished she had been a part of the entire planning meeting. She felt cheated by not know what to expect or how to make the little girl's experience even better.

Resigned to her ignorance on the matter, she tried to look out the window. She had been on airplanes before. She visited her uncles in California and New York when she turned 18, visited Paris with Mary when they finished their University work and had done a quick Ibiza weekend with an ex-boyfriend a couple of years ago. She was not an expert, but this felt very different. Besides the massive amount of noise, you were more aware of your surroundings. They were closer to the ground and she could make out all sorts of building and landmarks from this altitude. It was surreal, but she decided that it was fun. It was less wobbly than she had expected too. She had imagined that the ride would be bumpy and that they would be tossed about.

The stability of the flight was thanks to their pilot. He was a good Manager, a good person and now she could add a good pilot. He made it seem so effortless. From where she was sitting, she could see his every move. He still had his costume on and amazingly so, it was not restricting or hindering any movements. He had removed the headpiece in lieu of wearing the headset. She saw him a few times talking into a microphone and assumed he was talking to radio towers or the office. They did have that fancy equipment in the pilot room that ever so often squawked the pilot's voices as they reported their positions during flight. Daisy had mentioned that they were required to do so whenever they entered the airspace of a certain control tower, or in some air corridors that were heavily transited.

He appeared so at ease. He would turn to look at Haley frequently and share smiles with her. Anna observed him unabashedly – the contours of his head, the way his hair flopped when he turned, his strong shoulders, his proud neck, the way his cheek dimpled when he grinned. He was lovely. Guilt tried to settle in, but there was no room for that feeling. Observing him was a pleasure and it wasn't like she could make small talk with her neighbors anyway. What was she supposed to do – not look at him? He kept drawing her in, like a magnet, even without trying. She couldn't help but notice that there was a childlike quality to him that could also be his need to nurture. He looked like a natural father. He may not have children, but she imagined that Haley was his and delighted with what she saw. His eyes crinkled mischievously when he noticed Haley was smiling. She was so enthralled with what she was seeing that it caught her off guard when he turned around to check on them in the back. Their eyes met each other. Maybe she should have looked away or acted demure, but that look he had in his eyes captivated her, sent her soaring higher than they were at that moment. She held it firm until he had to look away and get back to his controls. Detaching herself would be very hard indeed.


Haley was squealing with delight as they hovered over the crenelated towers of Highclere castle. Below, as John surveyed the terrain, he could see many men, perhaps up to 50, spread out on the grounds. They were the Gant army, the foot soldiers of Malevola, come to stop them from reaching the imprisoned Princess. John was aware that the actual foot soldiers were volunteers from the II Squadron Royal Air Force Regiment. They were not too different from his old combat platoon, all full of energy. Mr. Edmunds had told John that Haley's father had been a soldier too and thus had asked for volunteers from his same unit. Their commanding officer, General Wickham, was very pleased to help and the interest from among the group had been outstanding. Word of mouth spread that the daughter of the late Leftenent Randolph Winters had a wish being granted through the Make a Wish foundation and the volunteers came from those active, inactive and even from those in retirement. It was uplifting, but sad. Haley and her sister Celeste were orphans, their parents having been killed in an automobile accident the year before. They had left the Hospital where Haley was being treated when they were hit by a drunk driver. John couldn't imagine that type of pain, how life-altering that could be for somebody that young, especially somebody already battling a fight of her own. Mr. Edmunds, though, said he had known Haley for a while and she was not bitter or resentful, more than anything, she was excited that she might soon get to see them again. Her and her sister had a good support system at home and were being cared for by their aunt and her husband. They were loved and well and their only goal now was to see Haley through to the end.

John visualized the place where he was supposed to land and brought the chopper down slowly and gently, as was his custom. They were several hundreds of yards from the entrance, which would allow for ample battle play. A committee of three men was there to greet them and they stood at a distance, only coming forward when the rotors stopped spinning.

"We're here," John announced proudly and turned to look at all of his occupants. They all appeared excited, no longer showing the panic filled faces of 20 minutes ago. Anna was beaming and for the first time, he realized that she looked lovely in her outfit. She was always beautiful, but as a man, he wasn't trained to notice certain differences. At least not initially, but, he saw it now. Her hair was made up of several interlocking braids across the top, and the bottom half was left flowing. Maybe that was why Haley brought her along. She fit right into the story that they were living out. She did look like a Lady in her green dress and she stood out amongst the others. What had Haley called her? Lady Edwina…. He had no doubt that she was a real Lady, with or without the costume.

Mr. Edmunds spoke to all of them, but was addressing Haley directly. "We are to speak to these men for just a few minutes, while we get suited up and while your auntie Linda checks your vital signs and then we will commence the fight. Do you agree, Mistress Haley?"

"Yes, Sir," she grinned toothily as John unstrapped her and took away her headphones. John descended the helicopter from his side and came around, opening both doors. Anna and the others hopped off of the back, as John held Haley from under her arms and brought her down as well.

The men approached and John was momentarily startled. They removed their headpieces and one of the three men was Matthew Crawley. The others he did not know.

"Matthew, what brings you here?"

Matthew was just as surprised to see John, but should not have been, as there were not that many helicopter companies serving the North East of England. "My firm represents the affairs of several of the trust-owned properties of Yorkshire. I am here to supervise that everything is in order - before, during and after the event." He looked very proper when he said that, then grinned, a little more amiably when he added the second part. "That, and my mother is the administrator of this Castle, and she is acting as today's Malevola. Although I am on your side, I am here to make sure you don't kill her too harshly."

"You know each other?" asked Mr. Edmunds.

"Yes, Matthew is my lawyer."

Anna heard all the exchange and her mind immediately went to Mary and her situation. She had told her friend that the event would be staged in Highlclere, but as she was not set to come or participate directly, there was no further comment on the matter. Now that she was here, and knew who Matthew was, maybe there was a way to help her. She would be extra vigilant for an opportunity to talk to him.

Mr. Edmunds introduced all of them. The other two men in the committee were General Wickham, who had organized the Gant Army volunteers and would act as Malevola's henchman. He would be against them. The third person, a considerably younger man was Prince Fortius, Celeste's boyfriend who would be fighting alongside them to rescue his girl. It was apparent how much Haley liked him, as she immediately hugged him when they saw each other.

A couple of ground rules were set between all of them. The Gant Army would come and attack them. They all had mock weapons. They would go about it trying for it to be real as possible, but only a hit from Haley's sword would mean a kill. All the men were eager to play along and be killed off and they would have to engage all of them, as a real army would. The majority of the men, 43 in total, were outside, but a sprinkling were inside, leading up to where the Princess was locked away, where they would encounter and fight off the evil witch.

Aunt Linda gave a thumbs up after verifying all was well with the little girl. It was also agreed, that Haley did not have enough stamina to last that long in battle and would have to be carried every now and then, including up the stairs. All the men would take turns ferrying her when that was necessary.

When the General was safely away, Haley gave a battle cry and the fight commenced.


Anna was having a great time. The combatants were approaching them zombie-like, limping noticeably. The rag tag outfits they wore were sourced by the soldiers themselves, so, there was no costume cohesion, but that made it seem real. They were supposedly medieval and many had obtained bits of armour or chainmail, here and there, but they all had weapons or clubs and faces smeared with black. Anna imagined that this was would it would have been like in those days.

Matthew, and Mr. Edmunds, along with the lanky Prince Fortius and Sir Gallant were fake fighting the soldiers alongside the brave girl. "Die, evil one!" Haley would yell, then she would whack them with her sword and the soldier would fall to the ground, staying there, baking on the lawn of the castle. It was sweet to see the grin each one wore when they had been killed, each man feeling fulfilled, doing a good deed. It was beneficial that they were all trained soldiers, used to uncertainty and waiting, because by the speed they were making, it would take them a couple of hours to kill each one of the volunteers. The day was pleasant, but from lying about, she imagined each one would take a nice sunburn home as a souvenir from this day.

Anna felt a little useless, trailing behind them. She would yell and alert them to new aggressors and rejoice with each new kill, trying to be a part of it all, but she wasn't sure yet what Haley intended for her to do. Mr. Bates would often turn and give her an empathic smile, but they had not had a chance to talk much, not more than a mere comment here or there. She was amused, though, when one of the soldiers, grabbed her hand and puller her to him. He put his arm around her neck and whispered, "I won't hurt you love, it's just a part of the game." The face Mr. Bates made was priceless. Was that worry? Or Jealousy? Anna couldn't tell. Maybe both, she thought. Then she saw a bit of rage as he charged at the soldier with Haley by his side, lifting the little girl so that she could get him on the opposite shoulder from where Anna's head was resting against the man. It was all a game, but he momentarily appeared to have forgotten. When the man tumbled, he let go of Anna and she managed to stay upright. Mr. Bates was holding Haley, but Matthew gave her a hand to steady her, avoiding her own fall. Anna didn't know whether to be pleased or worried until she saw him smile. She would have been lost in the smile until she heard Haley address her.

"Lady Edwina, you could have used your powers of immobilization!" The little girl offered her this nugget of information as a matter-of- fact statement, demonstrating minor annoyance that Anna had not thought of that herself. It was the first time Anna understood what type of powers she had. That was the problem with acting out a character from somebody's imagination and joining the party late in the game. If she'd known, she would have been immobilizing and doing what-not to the men earlier.

"You're right Mistress Haley, how daft of me to forget." Thinking herself smart, she countered, "Should I vanquish them? Or is that too much?" She had seen her share of "Charmed" episodes a decade ago when she was a teenager. That's what they did to get rid of pestering spirits. That could work here too. Haley wouldn't know Charmed, but surely vanquishing was still as ever as popular on the proliferation of Vampire themed TV shows and movies that abounded these days. She was sure to have seen one of those and know what she was talking about.

Another round of Gant soldiers was closing in on them and she hoped for an explanation before they were distracted back into battle.

"Silly Lady Edwina," Haley seized her hand and chuckled with amusement and took Mr. Bates' hand as well. Anna wondered why her question was silly, but Haley managed to answer before turning to battle the next ragamuffin that stood between her and the castle. "You can only vanquish somebody evil if you and Sir Gallant are holding hands. It is only through the power of true love that goodness is magnified and evil defeated." She joined their hands and neither her, nor Mr. Bates, were expecting the electric jolt that went through their bodies as this contact between them happened. She felt goose pimples break out over her body. "Yours is true love." Without any further explanation, she left them there speechless. Matthew and Prince Fortius saw to her next skirmish and they ambled away.

Anna did not let go when he didn't attempt to. They remained in the same place where the little girl had left them. It was only a few meters from where the others were, but they could have been on a remote Island, thousands of miles away, for they were in their own little world. She could hear or see nothing else. They had touched before, but not like this. It seemed different. These were not the hands of business acquaintances together. These were hands experiencing new sensations, that of feelings being discovered and accepted. There was warmth, love and comfort. They silently moved their hands that were clutched, to threading their fingers through, making a stronger and powerful link.

Theirs was true love? What did this little girl know? Had she seen it in her eyes, or his? Whatever knowledge she had, Anna thanked her lucky stars that she was here and living in this wondrous moment.


She hadn't been able to look at his eyes, staring senselessly at the ground. He needed her to look at him. He desperately wanted those pools of blue focused on him so that he could answer his heart's questions. Haley spoke of true love. Was this what that was? He felt something, he was sure. He knew she felt something, but what? What had Haley seen to say such a thing? Was this a part of the script, or did she make this up, as she went along, blessed at this stage of her life with intuition or foresight? Or had he been too obvious as he tried to keep up with Anna, making sideways glances whenever possible? Whatever prompted Haley's words, it had brought him to this moment, experiencing the warmth of her hand and it felt right. It was a perfect fit in his. To Haley, she was Lady Edwina, but to him, she was his angel and she was slowly leading him towards the light. She was making him feel things he hadn't in almost two decades. He felt his heart would burst and he did not want to let go.

She finally looked up and as she did, he had his answer. There was agony and pain, mixed with elation and restraint. This was love.


They had been startled from their moment by members of the Gant army and Haley's shrieks of joy. They couldn't have been more than a couple of minutes, lost in their world, but it had been enough time for the miniature warrior to down another three men.

They reluctantly separated their hands and joined the others. There was a different feeling about them now. No words had been exchanged, but none were necessary. They kept closer, gravitating towards each other, but did not dare to touch again. The longing glances continued, as did the palpitations in their hearts when they mutually caught each other staring.

With this redefined attention shared between them, as they progressed along the lawn, Anna couldn't help notice that Mr. Bates was starting to limp. It was not enough to be pronounced, but he grimaced every time he held the little girl up and the next few steps were done timidly, as if he were avoiding putting any weight on one of his legs. She hadn't noticed that about him before. Had he an injury she was unaware of? It worried her so. She didn't like to see him in pain.

They were finally in the castle. An hour and a half into the battle, Anna had counted 30 men, which left 13 to go, somewhere in the house.

"Team, I must implore you to be extra careful, as we are now traversing through more than 300 years of history, all around us. The paintings, rugs, tapestries, decorations and furniture are priceless."

The Grand hall where she was, or foyer, was spacious and impressive. A majestic fireplace adorned the room. It was a stunning, adding to the stately atmosphere of the space. A wooden stair case led up to an extraordinary gallery above, where the coats of arms of the family hung proud. Anna understood why Mary wanted to come here. These were her ancestors. If it were her family, she would be delighted too.

Matthew looked very serious and at the same time, Anna felt transported back. Even when her clothing, medieval in confection, did not go with the place, she ignored Matthew's ramblings to feel herself like a great lady entering her palace. She twirled once, forgetting she was not alone, imagining herself wearing something else - a gorgeous dress, maybe from one hundred years ago. A lovely gown that would catch the attention of the man she loved, him hailing her the most beautiful woman in the room. She thought of Mr. Bates and what it would feel like for him to hold her in his arms and dance with her. In her mind, they twirled and twirled, as he held her close. What she wouldn't give to share in that experience…

"Come, Lady Edwina," she heard Haley exclaim. In the minute her mind wandered, they had already taken down another man at the foot of the staircase. "We are getting closer to Malevola and I will need you there."

She hurried along to catch-up with them. She looked at the man she loved and he was in pain.

"Are you well, Mr. Bates? You seem out of sorts." She took advantage of the moment Mr. Edmunds had picked Haley up and was going up the first flight of stairs, leaving Mr. Bates by himself. It wouldn't do to embarrass him in front of the others.

"I'm fine. Just an old injury to my knee flaring up. I can manage." He smiled back at her.

"Of, course you can." She returned the smile. She didn't doubt he could. There was still much to know about him, but everything thus far amazed her. He was such a giving and kind man. She wondered how Vera could stomp all over him like she did. Now, he was suffering through an injury, just so that a little girl could be happy. That showed much courage and strength.

John worried for a moment that Anna would rebuke him for his injury and that she might want to make him stop what he was doing, but the look and support she gave him meant everything to him. Had this been Vera, she would have already berated him, called him worthless or some other damaging moniker. Anna didn't try to stop him and she understood his need to do good and to see this child's Wish through. She was such a good soul and such a beautiful and smart woman. How could she be single? Had no man seen her worth yet?

Anna changed the topic, hoping to dissipate any lingering sadness.

"It's wonderful how so many soldiers volunteered to participate in this wish. No matter how many we kill, there are still others. However did they manage it?" She gave him a sidelong glance as they arrived on the mid-level landing, between the Grand Hall below and the Gallery above.

"Haley's father was a soldier. These are members of his combat unit." He was boasting, almost proud. Anna wondered if he had been a soldier. That was something else she didn't know. He spoke with such confidence.

"Is her father here?" She hadn't heard of any talk of parents and wondered why that was. Mr. Bates bringing up her father allowed for her to ask.

"No, her parents were killed last year by a drunk driver. " He said it so directly, so bluntly. He did not mean anything by it, but it hurt her all the same. This was a very emotional day to begin with, knowing that Haley may not make it through the end of the year, but to find out that she had suffered so much additional loss, stopped Anna mid step. It brought her back to that fateful night, over a decade ago, when she herself suffered the same loss. She didn't want to make a scene, or be seen by the others, but she couldn't help it, and the tears started to flow. Haley was so much more a kindred spirit now. They had shared in the most devastating possible loss of all.

It took John two more steps up the stairs to realize that Anna had stopped below him. When he turned, there were silent tears, flowing down her cheeks. She was using the voluminous sleeves of her dress to dry to dry them quickly, but she had been too slow and he had seen them.

"What is it, Anna? Did I say something wrong?" As the others moved up, he moved back down to share her same step.

She was trying to control herself and her anguished face worried him enough that he sought her hand and held it tight, trying to provide comfort for the unknown emotional assault that had rendered Anna speechless. He wondered if she would jerk away from him for taking such a liberty, even when they had already held hands a moment ago. She didn't flinch.

"Anna, please tell me. You are worrying me." His voice was thick with concern.

She looked up, trying to flash a smile. "I lost my parents the same way, twelve years ago. Today has been such an emotional day and being reminded of that, with my feelings so close to the surface, well, I couldn't control myself. I'm fine now." Her eyes were still red, but, she had stopped crying.

"I am so sorry. I am such a brute."

"You weren't to know. Please don't call yourself that." She squeezed his hand, still in hers, and took a step forward. She let his hand go, conscious that they were not alone. The rest of the entourage was still nearby. "We should move along before they get too far ahead."

"Yes." He agreed, but lingered on second longer. He felt like such a nob. Earlier in the day, he had commented to himself that he didn't know how life-altering losing one's parents could be at such an early age and here was Anna, having experienced the same and he had no clue. It made sense now to him, how independent and guarded she was and how she only talked about her Godparents. He had wondered about her history, of her life before she became his Private Investigator. There was so much he wanted to know about her now. How could he have fallen for her and no nothing about her past? Was that even possible? Or practical? She was such an enigma and he hoped that he had more opportunities to find out about her.


Breathless from walking up so many stairs, they made it to the highest point in the castle. They were all in the same winded state after taking on the narrow and hidden passageways that led them to the small room where the final scene would unfold. The corridors they traversed had hardly been walked through in the last few decades, eroding away any character or personality. Time had not been kind. What was left was grey, peeling walls, murky and cracked windows, a musty ambiance and a wonderful collection of cobwebs. They reached from floor to ceiling, adding to the mystique of the place. It was a far cry from the grandeur and splendors seen below. People had lived here, Matthew explained, pointing out that the doors they saw on either side of the halls were servant's quarters. They had been empty for over fifty years.

They took their time when they realized that they had nobody left to battle except Malevola herself. They would need the extra minutes to catch their breaths and formalize their last assault. Haley, who had been carried up the most treacherous points was still doing well, and by all accounts was enjoying herself immensely. That's all the inspiration that was needed; her smiling face still spurring them on towards victory.

They were in front of the last door.

"Lady Edwina, I need you." Haley turned back to find Anna, standing amid the chaos of men. She extended her arm in invitation.

Her emotional turn from a little while ago forgotten, she heeded the request and moved forward and did as she was told. She stood beside the little girl.

"Only girl power can kill off Malevola." Haley took her hand. "My daddy said that there was nothing a girl couldn't do and that we were the most powerful creatures on earth. So, take my hand and join me in battle. Your special powers will be needed."

"It will be my honor." Even as she held hands with Haley, Anna curtsied as a sign of respect. She already had so much affection for her, knowing all the struggles she had endured.

"What about us, Mistress Haley?" Mr. Bates wore a confused look. "Should we wait here?"

"No, you shall come with us, but you will have no strength in front of Malevola. Only women that are pure of heart can do battle with her. "

They started to hear noises through the door that would take them into the final battle. It was an evil laugh. Matthew had notified his mother through a text message, hidden away from the others, that they were just short of the door, alerting her to start her act. They also heard Celeste's cries.

In a unified push, Anna and Haley broke open the door. Although it looked small from the outside, the room was quite large. It too had the characteristic neglect of the hidden parts of the house. Wearing a beautiful sky blue dress and a small tiara amid a glorious up do, Princess Celeste sat in a corner, chained to the window on the wall. She really did look quite pretty, the embodiment of every fairy tale princess they had ever read about. Anna could tell her boyfriend, Prince Fortius, swooned when he saw her. That was a momentary distraction, as the more evil presence in the room could not be ignored. Malevola was a magnificent creature. She stood behind a long table, separating her from the rest of the rescue party. Her outfit was reminiscent of what the evil witch in the Snow White fairy tale would look like. A long dark cloak covered her body, with shiny bits and bobs adorning the fabric. The sleeves were long and flowing. Her eyes were highlighted with makeup in dark tones, and a crown covered her gray hair.

"Who dares to come into my private quarters?" she yelled impressively, shocking the intruders. She postured in the role perfectly, raising her arms in a grand imposing gesture. Matthew looked most shocked of all, not expecting his mother to do her role so well.

"It is I, Haley, defender of the innocent and righteous. Liberate Princess Celeste immediately, or I will take further action."

"Such impudence! You are talking to Malevola, I cannot be defeated. My magic will annihilate all of you and your dragon, Saphira….then, I will steal Princess Celeste's beauty for myself. I will take it all and she will become a shriveled old woman."

"You will leave Princess Celeste alone," shouted her lover.

"Be quiet, you fool." She raised a wand in her hand and pointed it at Prince Fortius. "Die and let your Princess witness it" She kept circling her wand until the young man realized he was meant to fall, defeated. When he did, she pointed it at each one of the male members of the team, letting them all fall next to him.

"Quick, Lady Edwina, you are the only one who has the powers to contradict her. Reverse the curse, before the men are lost to us forever. She cannot do you or me any harm, as we are righteous warriors." Haley implored Anna into action.

Anna did the same as Malevola had done, bringing her fingers together and waving them graciously in the air. She pointed at each one of the fallen men in the room, "Rise, brave warrior, I reverse the curse and make you well." She did her best to sound menacing and authoritative, when inside she felt rather foolish. She gave Mr. Bates an extra smile and a wink when she did, singling him out from the others.

Each man rose, stifling the laughs that were threatening to escape them. She could tell Princess Celeste was trying hard to keep in character, but failing, as she also chuckled quietly.

"Your powers will do us no harm, Malevola. Release Princess Celeste or I will have to kill you." Haley lifted her sword, pointing it at her.

"You could do no such thing. You could never get to me." Malevola felt very sure of herself and laughed.

"Yes, we can. Lady Edwina will immobilize you and I will finish you off. Do, it now."

Anna understood that was her queue to act again.

"By the powers of all that is good, I act upon you." Anna put out the palm of her hand and pointed it at the witch who was cackling in the corner. Matthew's mother was a surprising good actress, as she started to change her face, as Anna continued with the motion in her hands. She rolled her eyes back and knelt. Anna lowered her hand, allowing Haley to move forward and finish her off. With a stabbing motion, she hit the older lady gently until she fell to the floor.

Prince Fortius ran to Princess Celeste and liberated her from the chains. He took her in his arms, spinning her around, and then stopped to kiss her. It was all sweet, what one would expect form this type of scenario. After their embrace, Celeste ran to kiss and hug her sister, as did their Aunt Linda, who had trailed quietly the whole time. It all seemed to be the happy ending they were waiting for. After a few minutes of jubilation, Haley turned around.

"Wait! Sir Gallant and Lady Edwina are supposed to kiss too. It's not over until they do."

John went weak when he heard what he was expected of him. Anna looked no better. Kiss her here? In Public? What he would give to have such an opportunity, making his daydreams come true, but he did not want witnesses, or for her to be forced into it. Not in a million years would he have guessed that this is where it would happen.

Aunt Linda voiced her concern to her niece. "Haley, sweetheart, you can't ask that of people."

"But order to the universe won't be restored. True love overcomes all adversity. Princess Celeste and Prince Fortius kissed, now it's their turn. That's how it ends." She pointed at the couple, with real distress written all over her face.

They beheld each other, briefly, realizing that they did not want to let Haley down. The little girl had an expectant face, the worry not leaving her brow. Mr. Bates was asking silent permission of her. There was also a hint of excitement peeking through his shyness. He looked like he wanted to do this. If she could have had her choice, she would have preferred not to, as she would have to feign this being a chore and not demonstrating how eager she was as well. But who was she kidding? She had longed to feel his lips on hers, and even if this kiss wasn't born out of passion between them. It was a staged production, another element to today's fantasy; yet, this could provide the perfect legitimate cover for it.

"Order to the Universe cannot be left in such a state," Anna interjected, hoping to change Haley's mortified face into a happy one. She saw how the grin was produced as she turned her entire body towards Mr. Bates. She was intent on seeing the requirements for Lady Edwina's role to the very end. "Sir Gallant, It would be my pleasure." She was looking at only him in that moment. The others couldn't tell, but she was communicating through her eyes that she wanted him to come forward. She wanted him to kiss her.

Mr. Bates stepped forward with trepidation and wrapped his arm around Anna's waist, slowly and reverently. He could feel the tremble that swept through her body as they touched and it did nothing to calm him. Instead, it set his nerves and body on fire. He was thankful for the strategic metallic plates of his armour. He had already experienced once the type of physical reaction she produced in him and this was a prime moment for it to happen again. He was very tempted to stroke her, to feel the rest of her body, but he wouldn't. They had an audience and he could not touch her as he wanted. That didn't mean that he would downplay it either, even if it was for show. He had to get this right as he may never get to kiss her again. He would make it count. As he brought Anna closer, he dipped her, slightly, and hovered over her, their faces inches apart. He forgot the pain in his leg as their breaths mingled. She was nervous, not knowing where to place her arms, and ended up wrapping them around his neck. First, it was for support, as she had nothing to hold on too, but then, when he felt her massage his neck slightly, he could resist no more. With her eyes imploring him to proceed, he caught her lips, fully and slowly. She was warm and soft and inviting and it was a glorious kiss and as everybody around them cheered, he could think of nothing else than the electricity that surrounded their bodies, of how she felt so right in his arms, of how much he missed sharing this with another human being.


A/N. Thank you for reading! I will return to my regular story format in the next chapter! I truly appreciate the response this story has received thus far and hope you will continue to stick with me for the rest of it. Elsie and Pops are getting closer to tracking Vera's activities. Is Anna as close in determining who the lover is? Tune in for the next installment and please let me know what you think!

Also, I just want to give a shout out to the real work done by the Make a Wish Foundation. My story is just a little fiction intended to bring John and Anna closer together, but the actual work they do is wonderful. It is a great feeling to see a child embark on an adventure that will bring them so much happiness. The company I work for does so much with them I have watched several children, from many places in the world, benefit from this partnership. If you haven't already witnessed a child in the middle of their wish, I hope you do. It would bring tears to your eyes.