BPOV

"Would you like to try on the slipper?" Prince Edward asks gently. I nod. Prince Edward's advisor comes over and leads me by my hand to the armchair. I am too stunned to move myself. I sit down carefully, closing my eyes, making sure that this isn't all a dream. When I am settled into the chair, I open my eyes and find myself staring into eyes like pools of gold. Prince Edward is kneeling on the floor, about to put the shoe on I'm sure, when a concerned look flutters across his face.

"Are you alright? You don't have to be scared, you know. I don't bite." he says, finishing off with a wink. I can hear and feel my heart thumping wildly, wondering if anyone else in the room can also hear it.

"Oh, I know. I'm sorry," I say apologetically. The prince smiles and takes the glass slipper from the velvet pillow it is laying on. His smooth, strong hands contrast perfectly with the delicate glass of the slipper. I extend my leg just so and he starts to slide the slipper onto my small foot. Before I know it, the slipper is on my foot and I have tears in my eyes. All the memories of that night rush into my head, the twirling dresses, the delicious food, the excellent music. And Edward, standing with me out on the balcony, holding me to him like he never wants to let go. Kissing me. Me, so clumsy, running off into the night. A small intake of breath breaks my reverie and I look up warily. Prince Edward has a look of shock on his face and I panic. I'm not what he wanted. Oh, he wanted someone like Jessica or Lauren! I bend down and begin to slide the slipper off of my foot, tears rolling off my face and splashing onto the cold, hard glass. Through my tears, I see a large hand lie itself upon mine. That hand feels all too familiar.

"Why, whatever are you doing? The slipper fit you perfectly!" he says, a bit confused. Meanwhile, Victoria, Jessica, and Lauren are all standing in the corner, hands on their large hips.

"It seems that she doesn't want you, Edward." Lauren says coolly. Since when are they on a first name basis?

"Pardon me, but it's Prince Edward to you." Edward replies with as much venom as he can muster. He turns to his advisor and whispers to him quietly. The advisor, Samuel, nods gravely and starts towards my stepmother and stepsisters. He goes around behind them and begins to usher them out of the house.

"What is the meaning of this? Where are you taking us?" Edward turns and gives Victoria a hard stare.

"You are being taken to my castle, not to be pampered, but to be punished. I have heard from a close source of mine about the way you treat this young lady here, and it is not acceptable. You will change out of your clothes and put on the servant's garments. The head housekeeper will teach you everything you need to know. If in time I think you've learned your lesson, you will be released and you may go back to your normal lives. However, you will be banned from hiring anybody to do the cooking, cleaning, sewing, and anything else that needs to be done. Hence, you will have to do everything yourself. This will surely teach you not to mess with a prince." Edward finishes grandly. I look up from my feet just in time to see the only "family" I've ever had being put into the coach and driven away. Samuel comes back in solemnly and stands guard by the door. I have to admit that I am a bit sad that they left. While this lifts a great burden off of my shoulders, they were the closest thing I had to a family. To my surprise, big tears start welling up in my eyes. I put my hands over my face and walk over to the stairs, preparing to run up to my room in case I feel the need to have a good cry. As I stand there willing myself not to have a complete breakdown, I heard Edward's footsteps slowly coming towards me. I glance up from my hands, riskily letting a few teardrops escape.

"Miss? Would you please care to tell me what is wrong?" His face is lined with worry. This sets me off, and I burst into quiet sobs. I am very suddenly pulled into a gentle embrace. I cry even harder. How could this gorgeous angel hold me and stroke my hair so tenderly after all that I've done to him?

"Shh, it's alright. I'm here." he whispers quietly.

"Wh-why are you being s-so nice to m-me?" I wail, my voice muffled by his shirt. "I've been so horrible. I feel terrible for running off on you that night! I mean really, how can you be so forgiving?" I lift my head from Edward's chest, wondering why he isn't answering. There is a look of bewilderment on his face, like he can't seem to grasp what I'm saying.

"You are a very strange creature, miss…" he trails off, implying my name.

"My name is Bellarella," I say quietly. He smiles warmly.

"That's a very beautiful name… Bellarella. I'm-"

"Prince Edward, I know." I cut him off, smiling a little. He looks at me and laughs.

"That is true, but you may call me Edward." he says, leading me towards the sofa. He sits down and pats the spot next to him. I slowly sit down and smooth my ratty skirt.

"Edward, I-" I say, just as he says, "Bellarella, I-" I blush, embarrassed. I gesture for him to go first.

"Bellarella, that night, when you ran off…" It sends a pain through my heart to hear the pain and sadness in his voice that I inflicted on him. "It wasn't… it wasn't because of what I did, was it? I wasn't entirely too sure, but I had never felt that way about anyone before. I hope… I hope that you weren't too upset with me." I look at Edward straight on. I never noticed how his gold eyes have flecks of emerald in them.

"Oh, Edward. I wasn't upset at all. See, it's a complicated story." I continue on to tell him the story from the beginning, from Alice to the night when I ran off, to just before I came down the stairs. When I finish, it seems Edward is stunned into silence.

"Uhm, Edward?" I say, a bit concerned now. "Are you- mmph!" The last part is muffled by Edward's sweet lips on mine. I am surprised at first, and then I start to kiss him back. We fit perfectly together. It all feels so… right. When we come up for air, Edward is smiling and pulling something out of his pocket.

"Edward? What is…" I gasp. Edward is holding a little black velvet box. Inside it could only be one thing.

"Love, from the moment that I first saw you standing across the ballroom in that gorgeous dress of yours, I just knew that we were destined to be together." He opens the box and inside it lays a beautiful ring. Simple, but still beautiful. "Will you please take the honor of being my wife?" he says, taking the ring from the box and bending down onto his knee. So many thoughts are running through my mind, but the one thing my brain is screaming at me to say is "Yes!" I look at Edward and then at the ring, hesitating. Is this really what I want? Is this the life I should have? Will I be happy?

"Yes," I say shakily. The look that is in his eyes tells me that this is what I need. Elated, Edward takes my hand and slips the delicate ring onto my finger. I hold my hand up, admiring everything about it.

"I love it, Edward. And… I love you." I say shyly. He chuckles and pulls me into a hug.

"I love you too," he says, placing a kiss on my head.

"So… what next?" I ask. Edward stands and picks me up bridal style.

"What's next, my love, is that we are going to go home." He smiles. When he said we would be going home, it didn't feel strange at all, even though I knew he was talking about the castle. Edward was my home, and this was right where I belonged.

A/N: Heyyyyyyy guys. I'm sorry for not updating. You know how it is(: So, what did you think? There might be one or two more chapters, we'll see. Please review and tell me what you thought! Thanks!