Disclaimer: This is a fanfic. Any references to Queer as Folk or Ever After are for non-profit purposes only. No copyright infringement is intended

Intro: Phewww! This thing just keeps going, don't it? OK, as you might have guessed from the disclaimer, the next bit has a bit of a rip from the Ever After movie. But as I said earlier, I tried to put in a bit of a mix of versions and what's a Cinderfella story without an…homage to Ever After? Yeah...homage, that's it, that's the ticket, yeaaahhh…. (looks around shiftily)

CINDERFELLA

Chapter 7

Justice and Redemption

A week later…

The throne room was packed with curious courtiers. The King and Queen sat on their thrones. Brian stood behind and a little to one side of his father. All three were in full regalia. The King and Queen wore tall, jeweled crowns and deep purple robes. Queen Joan wore a red dress and King Jack wore a black suit. They both held jeweled scepters.

Brian wore a black suit with a white shirt and a maroon tie with a red furred cloak down his back. He wore a white gold ring on his left hand and a golden spiked crown.

The throne room door was thrown open and Craig and Ethan Taylor were led in, in leg irons and handcuffed in front. They were filthy and ragged and scared. They had prison pallor. Michael was led in next. He was not in chains and looked in significantly better shape than his relatives. He was clean and in a gray prison uniform. He was led in under heavy guard between two beefy guards. They hustled him over to a front row chair, a little to the right of the thrones and told him to be quiet. Michael was submissive and complied. He looked very sad and appropriately frightened. The guards towered on either side of him.

Three guards shoved Craig and Ethan forward until they were in front of the royal family. They were pushed onto their knees and then allowed to rise.

"Craig Taylor: Is it true you assaulted His Royal Highness, the Prince of the Loft, our son?" asked King Jack.

"Well, I-I-I-"

"And is it true, you locked him unlawfully in a basement with the intent of starving him to death?" asked the King.

"Well, I-I-I-"

"Choose your next words wisely," said the Queen, "for they may be your last."

"I had a lot of time to think it over," said Craig, "I was under a great deal of stress and felt trapped. I was trying to escape. I'm…very sorry."

"You would have been a lot sorrier had Brian died. Regicide is punishable by death," said Queen Joan.

"Yes Majesty," said Craig, "As you say."

"And why were you feeling trapped and needing to escape?" asked King Jack, "Did it have anything to do with these?" He reached behind him and produced the bowl of condoms. "These are your brand, are they not?"

"Yes, your Majesty," Craig said sulkily.

"Including the ones, with the strings through them…. showing the holes?" asked the King.

"Yes, your Majesty. There are defects in a certain amount, all the time."

"Yes, there are, said Brian, "Especially when you pay an employee to spike them with a pin!"

Everyone gasped.

Craig opened and closed his mouth in outrage and fear.

"Before you say anything, you should know we have said person on hand ready to testify," said the King.

"Why would you do such a thing?" asked Queen Joan, "You are aware that you have been spreading FADES? Perhaps you even started it?"

"Whoa! I did not! I don't know what started FADES! OK, I plead guilty to what has been proven but I'm not taking the rap for that! I don't know how it started!"

"Again, why?" asked the King.

Craig shrugged. "Profits. I didn't mean to spread it so extensively, just…keep it around. As long as people had it, they needed condoms. It just kinda started getting…out of control."

"OUT OF CONTROL!" yelled King Jack, "People have died! People ARE dying! Your own wife died of it! Have you no shame, no remorse?"

"What's the point of that? There's nothing I can do about it at this point. Besides, my…"

"SILENCE!" yelled the King.

"Ethan Taylor, is it true you attempted murder on my fiancé by hitting him with a blunt object? May I remind you, I was there," said Prince Brian.

"Yes, you know it is," said Ethan dully.

"Craig Taylor, you are forthwith stripped of your position of CEO of Taylor Condoms and the company will be given to its rightful owner. Furthermore, you will be executed and your horrible son will be sent to a penal colony and do hard labor for the rest of his life," sentenced King Jack.

"Ohhh, a penal colony! That doesn't sound so bad," said Ethan.

"That means prison, you idiot!" snarled Craig, whacking Ethan upside the head. "Majesty, please! You can see! He's just an idiot! Send me to the prison instead! Let him go!"

"Hey! I'm not an idiot!" cried Ethan.

"You! Michael Taylor! Are they always this bad?" asked King Jack.

Oh God! The King was talking to him! It was his turn at last! His doom had come! "Uh, yes sir. Worse, mostly," said Michael meekly.

"Hey! What about him! He's obviously here in trouble here too! He – he helped at the factory!" yelled Craig.

"Yeah! He's…he's an accessory!" cried Ethan.

"I didn't know anything about that stuff about damaging condoms!" Michael cried, needing to defend himself.

"Shaddap!" said a guard intelligently, slapping Michael upside the head. Michael flushed at the unfairness of it all.

"Michael will be facing his own charges!" Brian informed them, "Take them away!"

"Unless," piped up the Queen, "By some miracle, there is someone here who will speak for you!"

Both Craig and Ethan stood in their rags and prison pallor and scanned the room looking for a benefactor, a halfway friendly face. They saw many they knew but there was no help. There was only silence.

"There seems to be a distinct lack of tongue," said Craig, "I'm not sure…"

"I will speak for him!" said a familiar voice behind him. Craig froze. "He is after all, my stepfather."

Justin emerged from the back of the room and was now making his way up the central carpet. Courtiers bowed as he passed them by.

Justin was wearing a formal black suit with a white shirt and a charcoal blue tie. On his left ring finger he wore a white gold band that fit and on another finger he wore a gold signet ring. Around his neck he wore a long gold chain with a large onyx stone on the end in a gold setting. On his head he wore a spiked crown. Rubies and sapphires were encrusted in a ring all the way around in an alternating pattern. Each sapphire was the color of his eyes. On the tip of each spike was fixed a pearl.

As Craig turned and saw the crown he bowed, and pushed Ethan down too. It was over. They were doomed.

"Ethan, Craig," said Brian, "I don't think you've met my life partner and husband."

Justin walked up to Craig and Ethan who were now quaking in their boots. They fell to their knees and looked at the carpet. All they could do was beg for mercy.

"Craig, Ethan! Look at me!" Justin commanded.

They looked up.

"I want you to know that when you are gone from my sight, I will never think of you again. You, however, will think of me every day for the rest of your lives."

He strode past them and looked up at his beautiful husband and his family. And HIS family now too, he reminded himself.

"All I ask," he said, "Is that you show them the same courtesy that they showed me." He turned to face them again. "For eight long years. I don't require blood, just the sweat and tears that they required of me."

"So be it! Take them away!" said King Jack.

"Wait! Please! You said my company was going to be given away! What will happen to it?" asked Craig.

"It was my 18th birthday yesterday," Justin said, "That's how I was able to get married."

"Congratulations," Craig said sarcastically, "What's that got to me?

Justin reached into an inside pocket and pulled out a piece of paper. He unfolded it. It was his mother's Will.

It means that when I did turn 18, I became the rightful owner of the factory, the house, and any assets you might have acquired using the profits thereof. This is your signature on the witness line, is it not?

"Yes. But I haven't seen that thing in ages. I never thought I'd see it again. Amazing. Where'd you find it, Justin?" Craig softened his tone and moved closer. He made a whip fast grab.

But Justin was too fast for him. He yanked it out of reach.

"Ah – ah – ah…" he said, "Look with your eyes, not with your hands!"

Craig's face twisted in hate. "Damn you!" he snarled.

"Yes," said Justin sadly, "and I fear in the days to come that opinion will never change." He told the guards, "I'm done with them."

He went over and joined Brian, who drew him into his arms and kissed him gently, then deeper, hotter, lustfully. Everyone clapped.

Four guards, beefy as bulls, grabbed Ethan and Craig. They lifted them bodily and carried them out of the throne room, out of Justin's sight, and out of his life forever. He knew what was going to happen to them but he never saw them again.

Michael watched them go and shivered in fear. He watched Brian and Justin kiss and his insides twisted in sadness, envy and regret. He had only met him a week or so ago, but he wanted that with Ben so much! But now his time had come. He would never see Ben again after today.

"Why so glum, chum?" asked a familiar voice beside him.

"Ben!" Michael's face lit up in happiness.

"I'm here for you, babe. Whatever happens, we'll go through it together." Ben's smile lit up Michael's insides. He features sagged and rippled and faded and then solidified back into the hunky shape that Michael knew was his real form.

"Thanks babe," Michael returned, and squeezed through his soft hand.

"And now," King Jack said, "Queen Joan and I have an announcement. In accordance with an agreement we made with our son, we are letting him ascend to the throne, effective immediately! There will be a more formal coronation ceremony later this week but for now, Queen Joan and I are taking early retirement and going off to…celebrate right now!"

"Ohhh…ewwww! Pops!" cried Brian, grossed out.

"Ohh, get over it! Brian…Justin? I take it you can handle it from here?"

"Yes, we'll be fine!" Brian said.

"All right then! Good bye everyone!" Jack and Joan got up and ran out of the room, kissing all the way.

The room murmured in a wide range of emotions. There was shock, sadness, joy and excitement throughout the room. The royal gossips ran out of the room to spread the news throughout the kingdom. They had a new King! Two, in fact.

Holding hands, Brian and Justin walked slowly over to the thrones and sat down. Everyone cheered.

Michael trembled even more. Now, he had to face Justin, not just as his Prince, but as his King!

BJBJBJBJBJBJBJ

Meanwhile, Craig and Ethan were escorted/carried downstairs, deep into the basement workings of the castle. They were given grey, itchy uniforms. They were put to work, doing laundry, weeding the royal gardens, peeling apples, onions and other food. They carried in sacks of sugar and flour and stocked storerooms. They did inventory. They fetched and carried water. Every day was a new chore, a new drudgery. They only saw the sun when they worked the gardens or when they had short breaks in the small servants courtyard. They were only given breaks for good behaviour so they quickly learned to obey. They had no days off. I'm happy to say that this is where they leave our story forever. Of course, they lived unhappily ever after.

BJBJBJBJBJBJBJBJBJ

"Michael Taylor! Approach us!" intoned Brian.

Michael did so, in fear and trembling. This was it. He sat, kneeling, simply because he knew he would not be able to stand without his knees knocking and looking ridiculous.

"Michael, do you remember all the beatings and mental abuse you subjected me to over the last eight years?" asked Justin.

"Yes Justin – uh…Your Highness, I mean," answered Michael. There was a pause. "Oh, Justin, please! Whatever you're going to do to me, just make it quick!"

"Quick? Make what quick?" Justin asked him.

"Well, you're going to kill me now…for all that stuff I did. Right?"

"Michael, your father did all those things and more to me. He committed even greater crimes against my husband and the whole of the Loft and I did not execute him but saved him from death. You are not going to die. Well, not today. And not by my hand."

Michael finally found the courage to look up. "Really? But I don't understand. You put me in prison. When I saw you in the yard…when I saw you in the yard, I asked you if I was going to die…and you didn't shake no."

"I didn't nod yes, either."

"That's true. Why wouldn't you speak to me? Couldn't you see how much I needed a visit, just then?"

"I wanted to see how you felt about me without my interference. I've seen you changing since the day of the Prom, but I wanted to see if compassion and remorse were still with you, or if the short time back with Craig and Ethan had made you revert back into hate and evil. I'm glad to say, I liked what I saw."

"Then why'd you leave me in prison?" Michael asked sulkily.

"Because I wanted to impress upon you that you are still in trouble. But didn't you notice that it was a minimum-security facility? And that you were separated from the other prisoners?"

"Yes, I noticed that. I was very lonely. I thought it was some sort of revenge, some sort of torture."

"No Michael, it wasn't revenge or torture. I just wanted to keep you safe. And celibate."

"But why? Are you gonna make me join the priesthood?" Michael shuddered.

"Justin chuckled. "Hardly, Michael. No, I needed you celibate because you don't have FADES. And I needed to keep it that way."

"I don't understand."

"I know, Michael. But you will soon."

"Oh God, I'm scared!"

"Michael do you remember the day of the Prom when you protected me from Craig? And then later you brought me food when you didn't have to?"

"Yes."

"Do you remember I told you I wouldn't forget that kindness?"

"Yes, I remember Justin – uh, Your Highness. "Is that why you put me in the higher prison?"

"Yes. But that's only part of it. Because of that kindness and the others later, jumping on Craig and getting knocked out, asking for our help to take you to Ben, and for your changed attitude in prison, I have decided to give you a reduced and light sentence and participate in a most unusual…experiment."

"Experiment! Oh, God! What are you going to do to me?"

"Don't worry, Michael, it's nothing like that. You see, I know of a possible cure for FADES. But it is so unscientific and…improbable that many people including the scientific community (such as we have) would never believe it. So I want to have you try the process out and prove that it works. At the same time you'll be serving your sentence."

"And what is my sentence?"

"Four months in prison. But since you also need to be in isolation, you will be taken to a cabin, deep into the forest. You will be locked into the property."

"I see. Like a lonely rat in a cage."

"Yes, kind of like that," Justin said sadly. He brightened. "But a cage with a nice house…king-size bed…all the food you can eat…a garden out back. A conjugal visit every week. And on the full moon."

Michael brightened. "Really! You'll let me see Ben!"

"Yes Michael. Every Wednesday. But be warned. At midnight, a guard will come to collect him, so make the most of your time."

"Why midnight?"

"Because then it'll be Thursday."

"I don't understand."

"Don't worry, Michael. It doesn't matter. Are you ready?"

"Yes. Yes, Justin, I'm ready. And thank you. This is a lot better than what I thought was going to happen. And if I have Ben with me, I can get through anything."

Justin gestured to a guard and two guards escorted Michael out.

As he was pulled out, Michael yelled, "Ben! I love you!"

"I know." Ben returned.

And then he was gone.

Justin leaned back in the throne and sagged. His face was pale and he looked drained.

Brian took charge. "Court is adjourned! We are leaving, so you may as well too!"

Everyone filed out of the throne room.

Brian and Justin went out a side door near the thrones. They went down a small hallway and found a bedroom they could sneak into. By this time Brian was practically carrying Justin along.

Finally, inside, they both took off their crowns and just held onto each other like they needed to hold each other up.

"Dealing with Craig and Ethan wasn't so bad. But Michael! Oh God, Brian, that was so hard! He sobbed. "Is he gonna be all right!"

"He'll be fine, Sunshine. He'll be fine!"

They fell onto the bed and kissed tenderly for a bit. They looked deep into each others' eyes. And then more tears were flowing, clothes went flying and they were fucking, fucking to forget, pushing the world away, and when they came the pleasure was so intense it was almost pain.

TO BE CONTINUED

A/N: OK, so how are we all enjoying the rather…extended version of a beloved fairy tale? By the positive feedback so far, I hope so.