The dance in the garden lasted for about fifteen minutes before Naomi stopped the record player.

Chloe smiled and took a step back out of Ashton's arms, but they continued to stare at each other for another long moment, seemingly oblivious to the two elderly women watching them.

Naomi cleared her throat to break the spell "Well, Ashton. I don't think you'll have any problems dancing at the ball."

Ashton chuckled and shook his head "I'm probably not going to..." all of the sudden his eyes widened and he and Chloe exchanged horrified looks.

"The ball!" they exclaimed in unison "The castle! Oh no!" without wasting another second, the two took off running towards the palace.

Naomi frowned "What was all that about?"

Colleen cringed "They've missed three days of work without anyone knowing where they were and the royal Ball's in two days."

"Oh..." Naomi said slowly "That's not good."

~*~*~*Ashes and Gold*~*~*~

"We are so dead!" Chloe said as they ran up the road "I never finished Angelina's dress!"

"I don't even want to know what Bernice is going to say." Ashton added, then he cringed "Or Duke Gerard."

"I can only image what they think." She added "We both disappeared." she saw Ashton's face pale right before it reddened.

"Yeah that is kind of suspicious."

"Tell me about it."

Twenty minutes later they burst through the front doors of the castle and almost ran smack dab into the head maid.

"Where on earth have you two been?" Bernice scowled "You had us all worried sick! Not to mention terribly understaffed!"

"We're so sorry." Chloe said quickly "Great-Aunt Naomi was really sick and Ashton and Colleen came to help me."

Bernice's face softened instantly "Alright, Child. I understand. But Princess Angelina's about to lose her mind over this. You'd better get up there."

"Yes, Ma'am." The girl nodded right before she took off up the stairs.

Bernice turned to Ashton "Well, I won't tell you stories that were flying around here due to you two disappearing. Can't say I wasn't hoping some of it was true." then she patted his shoulder "Duke Gerard told me to send you to his room the moment you showed up."

Ashton swallowed a cringe but couldn't quite contain the shudder "Alright. Thanks." then he also when up the stairs, but he had just reached the top when Gerard suddenly came around the corner.

The Duke's face turned purple and a blood vessel in his neck seemed like it was about to pop. His already dark eyes became black and murderous and in a moments notice he had Ashton by the collar of his shirt and was yanking him forward "WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN!?"

~*~*~*Ashes and Gold*~*~*~

Chloe flew through the doors of the Princess's room "I'm here and I am SO sorry!"

Angelina spun around from where she was going through her wardrobe "Chloe! Where on earth have you been!? Everyone thought that you and that Ashton boy had run away together!"

"No!" Chloe said quickly "Great-Aunt Naomi was deathly sick. I'm sorry."

Angeline let out a huff of air "Well I guess you're excused." she turned back to wardrobe "So... is she okay?"

Chloe smiled "Yes. Thankfully."

"Good." the princess turned back to face her "The ball's in two days! What am I going to do!?"

"You are going to do nothing." Chloe responded "I, however, am going to finish your dress."

"Do you have time?"

"I'll stay up all night if I have to." she smiled at the girl "I promise. Your dress will be completed in time and It'll be the most beautiful gown at the ball."

Angelina quickly hugged her companion "Thank you. Now I have to go check on the jewelers, the cobbler and my parents."

"Your parents?"

"Mm-hm. They've been losing thier minds over me not having a new dress." then a funny look came over her face "Actually, Dad's been losing his mind. Mom's been consoling him."

Chloe laughed "What a switch. Is the fabric still in the sewing room?"

"Mm-hm. Better hurry!"

~*~*~*Ashes and Gold*~*~*~

"What is the matter with you!?" Gerard bellowed, his grip still firm on boy's collar "After all I've done for you this is how you react!? By disappearing?!"

"I can explain." Ashton said quickly, wincing at the man's hold.

"You can explain alright!" Gerard shouted "This whole ball could have been ruined because of you!" by now several of the servants and maids in the castle had started to gather around, wondering what all the noise was about "You stupid Idiot!" his grip tightened and he shook the boy roughly "The next time you pull a stunt like this it'll be the last time you see day light!" he released one of his hands's from Ashton's shirt, and the next instant his balled fist struck the boy across the face, sending him stumbling backwards and ultimately falling down the long staircase. When he hit the hard tiled floor below, several of the servants when to move forward to help him, but Gerard's booming voice made them stop "STAY AWAY FROM HIM! ALL OF YOU!" A second later, the duke was suddenly shoved to the side as Chloe brushed past him and ran down the stairs. His eyebrows lowered in anger "Back off, girl!"

But she didn't listen. She ran straight to Ashton and dropped to her knees beside him "Are you okay?"

He had managed to get to his knees by then and he sent her a worried look "You'd better listen to him, Chloe."

"I said, back away!" Gerard shouted as he walked down the stairs.

Chloe's eyes sparked angrily as she stood back to her feet "No!" she said defiantly "You back off!"

"Chloe." Ashton whispered frantically "Just go."

But she ignored him "What right do you have to treat him that way?"

"He belongs to me!" the man barked as he continued towards her "Who do you think you are, talking to a Duke that way, Servant!"

"I don't care who you are! You have no right to treat him this way!" she snapped "You, Sir are a sorry excuse for a human being! And he's not your servant! He's your Step-son!"

Loud gasps went around the room and every stared at the three in shock.

"He's no son of mine!" Gerard shouted "Now get out of my way!"

She placed her hands on her hips and stared the man in the face "No."

"Do you have any idea what happens to those who defy me?" his voice was low and threatening, but at the current moment, Chloe was too angry to care.

"No I don't." she replied evenly "And I don't care. You have no rule over me."

"We'll see about that!" Gerard reared back his hand, but before it had a chance to swing forward and hit the girl, a firm grip surrounded his wrist and stopped him "ASHTON!" he bellowed "You had better release me this instant!"

The boy shook his head from where he was still kneeling on the floor "It's not me, Sir."

The Duke's face went from anger to confusion to nervous in a matter of seconds and he slowly looked over his shoulder into a pair of flashing green eyes that belonged to Princess Angelina.

Her nails dug into his wrist as she stared at him "Dad!"

The king and queen came pushing through the crowd just then, both wearing very displeased expressions.

"Duke Hamilton!" Queen Mary Margaret exclaimed as she placed her hands on her hips "What is the meaning of this? Threatening our servants? We have no control over how you treat your own, but hoe you treat our is very much our conccern!" she pointed to blond haired girl who was trying not to smile "And we have taken a certain liking to Miss Lane here, and if you so much as raise your voice at her again..."

"Mary." King Matthias said gently to silence her, then he turned to the duke "You are very lucky that you are Lord Damien's uncle, or I would ban you from the castle right now nad strip you of your title." the duke's face paled, but he said nothing "So keep that in mind before you go threatening the companion of our daughter again. Or you will be removed of all your rights." with that he turned and started to walk away "Come Mary Margaret. Angelina, you may release him now."

The Princess begrudingly let the man go and went after her parents.

Duke Gerard growled under his breath then pointed to Ashton "Get out of the castle this instant and don't you dare let me catch you here again!" with that, he turned and stormed off.

Chloe watched him til he was gone then turned and gave Ashton a hand to his feet "Are you okay?"

"Yeah." He answered, then he shook his head "Please just listen to him next time. He could have hurt you!"

"But he did hurt you!" Chloe argued "No one should be allowed to do that to anybody."

"I'm used to it." he said gently "I just don't want you getting hurt because of me. Okay?"

She reluctantly nodded "Okay."

Then he smiled and chuckled slightly "I've never seen anyone stand up to him before."

She shrugged "It helps to have friends in high places."

His smiled widened "I was talking about you." then he reached out and gently tipped her chin up "I'll see you around, Chloe." then he turned and limped out of the castle.

~*~*~*Ashes and Gold*~*~*~

-The Night of The Ball-

"You did it!" Angelina squealed as she spun around in a circle, causing her lavender dress to billow around her "How did you do it?"

Chloe chuckled "I stayed up all night, just like I promised."

"You are amazing, Chloe!" the princess did three more turns, taking in the layers of sparkling tulle and glittering diamonds that created swirling patterns across the hems and even on the puffed sleeves.

She stopped spinning and turned to face the other girl "Chloe... come to the ball."

Chloe shook her head "Angelina, you know I can't. I don't own a proper dress." she held up her tattered skirt "This is the only outfit I own."

Angelina ran over to her wardrobe and flung open the doors "Well, Chloe. You made half these dresses. Choose one."

"What!?"

"Please. It's the least I can do." she grabbed the blond's hand and smiled "Come to the ball. For me. Please?"

Chloe looked at the dozens and dozens of dresses til a smile began to spread across her. She raised an eyebrow and looked over at the Princess "I think I recall making one that matched my shoes."