"Merida?"

"Yes Maudie." Merida answered.

Merida had just stepped out the shower, hair semi-soaked. Her bright red curls losing a bit of volume and taking on a slightly darker red. She ran her fingers through it, only having her fingers catch when she neared the bottom. Water was the best way to get rid of tangles and deal with her hair sometimes.

"Oh high heavens please don't walk around like that." Maudie said grabbing a towel, draping it over Merida's head.

She was soon consumed by a fluff of white cotton and was made to sit on the floor as Maudie shook her head and tightened the towel around her hair. She was gripping the life out of it trying to absorb all the water.

"Your mother would have a fit if she saw you dripping on the floor."

"I know." She groaned. "I would have gotten to it eventually."

"I'm sure. Just don't let the same thing happen tomorrow night."

"What's tomorrow night?"

"We'll be having guest for dinner."

"Guest?"

"Some of your father's work associates."

"Work associates my ass." Merida muttered shooting up and knocking the towel out of Maudie's hand.

"Watch your mouth young lady." She called after her. But Maudie could only see Merida's red sling around the doorway as she began her hunt.

She ran through the door as fast as she could shouting for her mother to answer. Turning corners and running downstairs. She'd finally seen her mother's silhouette in the kitchen, her hair neatly braided down her back and her dress without a wrinkle. She was looking down at papers containing menu choices. She had laid out them on the counter giving her the perfect image of one of those ladies in the home décor magazines.

"Merida do not shout throughout the house, it isn't ladylike." She said without even looking up.

"Why are they coming to dinner?"

"Why are who coming?"

"You know who?"

"I'm afraid I don't."

Merida took a deep breath, realizing the game her mother was playing right away. She'd get nowhere with her if they were to have a proper english and etiquette lesson right this very minute.

'Calm down. Breathe. Just go with it' Merida was telling herself. Forcing herself to speak through gritted teeth.

"Why…are the Dingwall's, and Macintosh's and MacGuffins' coming to dinner?"

"They are coming to dinner to discuss the final arrangements for the city's annual Celebration Festival. You would know more about it had you not been out every night. Which young lady will have to cease. I've been very lenient in indulging you in your request to spend time with your friends, but young women should be home."

"I still don't see why I'm required to go."

"Merida you know this year it's the police departments turn to run and oversee it, and since your father is the police commissioner we thought it only right to get his best police chiefs, and their families, to help and discuss."

"If that's the case then I don't have to be there."

"Well of course you do."

"Ughhh."

"Now I have been very indulgent with you going out, which young lady seems like almost every night now. I understand that you want to be with your friends, but there is a time for them and a time for family. And this Merida is one of those time."

"Stop saying that, because it is not. It is not a dinner for the family. It's a dinner for you, dad, and dad's work colleagues. I'll take the boys and we'll go enjoy a nice sibling outing and get some burgers."

"Merida." Elinor said firmly. "I believe I already said no."

"Why?" Merida practically yelled. Frustration radiating from her face.

"Think of this as an opportunity to get to talk and get to know those young boys. I think you'll really benefit from becoming friends."

Merida rolled her head back. Here it was. This is what it always came down to.

"Mother for heavens sake I know them. It's not like we've just met. You're always forcing me to hang out with them, and go on dates with them." She said remembering Colin. "Edgar doesn't speak and when he does it's completely unrelated to anything even near the subject plus he's got the attention span of gnat."

"Merida." Elinor warned her tone increasing, but Merida continued regardless.

"Aiden is extremely soft spoken, but that doesn't matter since his accent is extremely thick and his words run together."

"Merida!"

"So talking to them is a waste of my time. And I think you know how I stand with Colin he's a complete jack..."

"Young lady that is enough. You are being rude and you will not speak like that at dinner tomorrow." She emphasized.

"I told you I'm not going."

Merida's heart began to beat faster and faster as Elinor's eyes stared deeply into her own, refusing to give in to her position. She wouldn't…couldn't give in, especially not this time. She was adamant in standing her ground.

So she stared back.

They both stared, hoping sooner or later one would give in.

"What's going on here?" came Fergus' voice walking in.

"Fergus please tell your daughter that she will be attending tomorrow's dinner."

Both noticed his face when he himself realized what he had just walked into. The face of someone not wanting to be involved in this particular situation. He considered walking out the door pretending not to have been there at all, but his mistake was making clear eye contact with Elinor's stare. Her prodding nod making obvious what he was going to say.

He was the commander of many, but given the circumstances was unable to disobey his wife. The chief of the household.

"Merida you'll be going."

"But Da…"

"Merida." Fergus spoke firmly. "That's enough there's nothing more to discuss."

Merida let out a grunt of frustration to truly show her dissatisfaction before turning on her heels to stomped back up the stairs. Letting the two hear every step she took before slamming her door.

Elinor let out a sigh.

"I don't understand what the problem is? What makes this time so different? We have had plenty of dinners with the men and their families and she's never been this…this resistant."

"She's not a child anymore, and can see your secret motives as clear as day."

"Excuse me Fergus, but I want our daughter meet a nice boy. Someone from a good family who will treat her right, not some hoodlum."

"I think she's capable of doing such things on her own."

"I beg to differ. Remember that Gaston, he was a playboy who left her upset for months. At least with someone like Colin I know who he is, you know who he is. He comes from a good family, gets a good education, has a good future, and he likes Merida."

"I don't think Merida wants an arranged boyfriend. Besides that kid's to flowy for my taste." Fergus said moving towards the fridge, his hunger getting the best of him.

"Oh not you too."

"What?"

"You're against this also. I don't see what's the problem our parents arranged us when we were around her age. Wouldn't you agree that we've done well?"

"Of course, and I thank every day for it." He said moving to kiss her on the forehead. "But Merida isn't us so maybe you shouldn't pressure her as much."

"I'm not trying to pressure her, I just want what's best for her."

"I know dear. I want her to be happy in life too, for her to find someone who makes her happy just as much as you make me. Things are different for her the times are changing."

"I'm well aware."

"So lets say she meets a young lad who is nice enough, who isn't one of those pretentious sons, maybe he's a simple boy living among the common folk."

"Be serious Fergus."

"You'd give him a chance right?"

"I'd definitely consider meeting him before anything else."

"Well that's a start."

(0.0)

Merida wanted nothing more than today to be tomorrow. She wanted the dinner to be over, she wanted her mother to stop asking for things she wasn't capable of doing, but more importantly she wanted to wear jeans and a t-shirt.

Every time the families came Merida felt as if she was being put out on display. Her hair always had to be pull back and secured, and she had to put on clothes that fit the occasion.

Her mother naturally had already explained to Maudie what Merida was wearing and was not to let her out of her room in anything else otherwise. When she had heard that Merida thought it was the perfect solution for letting her stay in her room, she just be in there in her undies, but Elinor had countered with a very elegant no horses for three weeks.

So she'd wear the dress. But she wouldn't like it. She'd slick her hair down. But she wouldn't like it. She'd put on those infuriating heels that pinched her toes. But she wouldn't like it.

However no matter how much she didn't like it, she would not smile. She would not pretend to enjoy being there, because she didn't. If anything she wanted them to realize just how much of a bother they were being.

She looked in the mirror barely able to recognize herself, she didn't look bad. Not at all. She just did not look like herself. She began to ponder and question the look, and wondered if anyone would think she'd look like the regular old Merida. And maybe…If it was something Hiccup would have liked her in.

Merida could feel the corners of her mouth turning upward into a smile when thinking about him.

"Knowing him he'd probably blush red as an apple and say I'd look good in anything. He'd probably mean it too since he sucks at lying." Merida thought.

Merida closed her eyes and pictured him towering over her. His green eyes beaming down into her blue ones. His hand shaking slightly less as he grabbed hers, he'd been getting more forward and aggressive (in a sense) since their kiss.

Merida opened her eyes stopping her thoughts and starred into the mirror, her hand slowly coming up to touch the place on her lips. She touched them gently remembering the moment she'd shared with Hiccup at The Smithy.

Her mind had drifted away from everything for a minute, giving her a minute of peace she'd forgotten about because of her mother and this dinner. The moment seemed short lived when got a cold shiver that traveled up her spine causing her to shake.

"Merida some of the guest have arrived." Maudie announced with a knock on her door. "Your mother request you come down and greet them."

"Terrific." She answered dryly.

"Well don't you look nice." Maudie said admiring her, she'd turn to leave when she caught of glimpse of something.

Merida assumed it could have only been the boys since she ran while making 'oh' sound. She was too upset to go investigate so she slowly treaded downstairs dreading whoever was the first to arrive.

"Merida come greet the Dingwall's." she heard again.

"Hey how's it going?" She said with a slight wave of her hand, refusing to look at her mother. She could tell she was giving her the act like a proper lady look.

"Hello there little lady. How are you this evening?" Came Mr. Dingwall's greeting.

"Well I honestly…" Merida was given a stern look from her mother but this one was an I mean it look. "…it's such a pleasure to have you and Edgar joining us tonight. It seems your wife will be missing…all the fun."

"Ah yes she's at home with the flu."

"I should have said I was sick." Merida thought. "Maybe then I could've gotten out of this sham."

Merida's thoughts prevented her from hearing the last bit of whatever Mr. Dingwall was saying however now Edgar standing by her. When did he even move she wondered and why wasn't he saying anything.

"Uh...hi."

He didn't answer, and she was fairly sure she was loud enough. Merida slowly backed away to see if he'd noticed. He hadn't and if he did he didn't make it known. She turned around and sought to seek refuge from that part of the house.

She rounded a corner and was almost stampeded by three red headed wild animals, their giggles filling the hallway. Merida watched in a fit of laughter as she saw them run down the halls being chased by Maudie with a bundle of laundry in her arms. Hamish didn't have on a shirt and his shoes were on his hands, Harris did have pants on although he had his underwear on top of his head. They were lace and most likely not his. And Hubert wasn't wearing anything except for his underwear and a pair of socks.

"What's so funny?" She heard her father ask. She didn't have the breath to answer so she just pointed to the Scooby doo like situation happening in the halls. "BOYS!" Fergus shouted joining in on the madness.

Merida slowly walked into the living room drying her eyes with her hands.

"Leave it to the boys."

"hillowhughtisgooninmerida."

Merida looked to the left to see someone walk in and join her on the couch.

"Sup Aiden." Merida said guessing that he had said some type of hello.

"Tispruttygud. Ahllbayjunnindefutbilltum, mefadderthiksahshudbaythroughingmahwaitarund."

Although Merida had complained, she probably got along with Aiden the best. She struggled to understand him, but as long as she focused she could decipher what he said.

"I see. I didn't think football was your type of thing. You seemed like the artsy type in my opinion."

"Willyuutritellinmahfadderahlikportri."

"If your dad's making you then he's kind of like my mom in the aspect."

"Wutduyuumeen?" Aiden asked.

Merida didn't have a chance to answer his last question because her least favorite person walked in the room carrying a bouquet of flowers.

"Hey Merida."

Merida could feel her body become queasy and did her absolute best to submerge the urge to throw up. Now instead of just Aiden and her, the room was occupying 2 more people. One being Edgar who was staring off at the paintings on the wall, and the other one being the owner of an obnoxiously annoying smile.

"Colin we meet again."

"These are for you." He said handing her the flowers.

"Roses. Cool."

Merida took the flowers and held them awkwardly in her hands unsure of what to do with them.

"It's just my way of apologizing for the last time we saw each other. I don't want you to have a bad opinion of me."

"I'm sure." Merida said not believing a word.

"Flowers well Merida isn't that sweet." Said Elinor walking into the room with the other parents. "He seems very considerate maybe you should give him another chance." She added in a whisper.

"Just darling." Came Mrs. Macintosh's voice. "I remember the first time his father got me flowers."

"It's a moment a young lady never forgets." Elinor said reminiscing.

"Is it time to eat yet." Merida said annoyed.

"Dinner…is ready….to be…served." Maudie answered out of breath. "And the boys…are finally dressed."

Everyone walked into the kitchen where the boys had already been seated, fully dressed, and looking dissatisfied with their being captured.

Merida noticed the tired face her father was wearing as he sat at the head of the table. She had planned to sit on the opposite end with the boys, but for some reason when Colin called her name she turned her head to look at him in response.

She really wished she hadn't.

Colin was pulling out a chair for her to sit, one that was right beside him. Her mouth was already forming so the word 'no' could slip out easily, but she caught the eyes of her mother.

"If that lady was to ever lose her voice I don't think she'd be at a lost. Seeing as how she can speak and have fluent conversations with her eyes." Merida thought.

Merida begrudgingly walked over to the chair and sat down, taking in her surroundings. Colin to her left, Aiden to her right, Edgar right in front of her, and her mother still in full view. Tonight was going to be a long night.

(0.0)

"And get this, the scouts are already scheduled to come to our practices to see me." Colin said proudly.

"Yup my boy is going to be pro. He's got the grades, the athletics, and the looks any girl be lucky to have him."

Merida couldn't believe it. Dessert was over, dinner was suppose to be over, the boys were probably in a sugar coma from all the extra desserts she'd snuck to them under the table, and yet they were still at the table.

"We'll be discussing the Celebration Festival. Yeah right. That conversation lasted maybe 20 minutes. Luckily we moved onto the topic of 'which son is better', just like last time. Thinking they're so great."

"You know." Merida started sitting up in her chair. "My friend Flynn has been offered a ton of scholarships already for football. Their looking at our school for more star players just like him. He's gonna take us to the championship as the captain this year."

"Isn't Flynn that young lad apart of that program you help run Elinor, the one for the orphans?" Mr. Macintosh asked.

Elinor didn't look up from her glass and gave him a yes.

"It's good that he's in football, he was such a problem child."

"In and out of the big house that one." Mr. MacGuffin added.

"Well regardless, he's a fantastic player, with an amazing future. And I know for a fact that Blue Ridge can't beat us."

"Not to discourage little lady, but I doubt any team will be able to stand a chance with my son leading the reigns."

"Colin's a fine man indeed, but Aiden's a force to be reckoned with. The boy's pure muscle he's an indispensable asset to the team." Mr. MacGuffin said confidently.

"Ha." Said Mr. Dingwall leaning in. "The team won't be a thing until Edgar tries out next year."

"I'm helping Flynn recruit new players, we've already gotten Jack Frost from the hockey team. Now that guy is use to knocking down guys so a couple of bulls won't make a difference." Merida said proudly.

"Merida there's a huge difference from hockey and football, and I don't think you should be hanging around such ruff characters." Commented Colin.

"I should probably just hang out with you then." She said rolling her eyes.

"Exactly."

"Oh I think you two would make a lovely couple." Sang Mrs. Macintosh. "Didn't you two go on a date?"

"Yes ma'am but I don't we'll have a chance to go out again." She answered.

"Why not?"

"Obviously she has taste." Laughed Mr. Dingwall.

"Maybe she wants someone with a bit more build." Mr. MacGuffin said looking at Aiden.

"Maybe she already has someone." Merida said loud enough for the table to hear "…someone else in mind."

"You do?" asked Mrs. Macintosh. "Who?"

She was intrigued and also offended that someone could best her son, and the fact that Merida would rather choose them. Everyone in fact seemed to be wondering who this someone was.

"He goes to my school that's all." Merida answered. "It's not important."

She was going to tell her parents about Hiccup, but now was not the time.

"Indeed this doesn't seem to be the proper time for conversation. The young ones are already up beyond their bed time." Elinor said getting up. This was the first time she had heard anything about any boy.

Maudie came in to escort the boys to bed and everyone headed to the foyer grabbing coats.

"This guy?" Colin asked coming up behind her. "Be honest what's he have that I don't have, cause I have everything."

"Colin cut the crap, you don't even like me. You know it and I know it."

"That's not true. I find you very attractive." He said getting closer, far too close for her comfort and rubbing her arm with the slight touch of his fingertips. "We could offer a lot to each other."

Merida put her hand on his chest pushing him away.

"I've already got someone, so I don't want your offers."

"That guy from your school." Colin noticed the smug look on her face. "Wait. Wait. It's not that tall gangly pasty pole I saw you with last time. Hatchet?"

"Hiccup." Merida said angrily.

"You're still seeing him?"

"Yes I am and he offers plenty." She said with emphasis.

"Whose offering?" said walking up to them. She had noticed that the two had stayed behind and thought she'd tried urging Merida to give Colin another chance, since he'd seem so interested during dinner.

"Nothing." Merida said bringing her hand to herself.

"When two magnets of opposite sides are placed in a field near one another then their polar sides seem to attract each other. The opposite can be said for magnets with the same polar attractions. Sometimes this can be said for people too." Edgar said popping up.

"Has he been there the entire time." Everyone thought simultaneously.

Edgar didn't wait for anyone to respond but walked out the door. Confused stares following him out.

"Anyway." Colin said reclaiming the attention on him. "We were talking about Merida and her new boyfriend."

"Oh?" Elinor said interested.

"Yup some kid named Hickory."

"Hiccup!" Merida all but yelled.

"Your dating someone named Hiccup. This is the first I'm hearing about."

"Oh yes." Colin continued. "It's been some time now hasn't it."

"IS that so? I see." Elinor didn't make eye contact but turned to Colin with a smile. "Well Colin thank you again for coming."

"Anytime Mrs. DunBroch I love being in your household. Merida maybe we could get together another time." He said with a slick smile that only Merida seemed to have picked up on.

"I'm sure she'd like that."

Elinor closed the door bidding farewell to all of her guests with a happy homemaker smile and a soft wave as the cars drove off.

She'd turn to Merida, arms folded.

"Who is this Hiccup?"

Don don donnnn. Elinor knows about Hiccup, and it came from Colin no less. He's the type who hates to lose, kinda like Merida. Interesting wink wink nudge nudge. Any who I sprinkled in a bit of young Dingwall and MacGuffin. I love them personally. I apologize for typing errors since there's most likely floating around up there but I hope you all enjoy and your comments are always appreciated. xoxoxoxoxoxo