The whole of Neverland knew by the day of the party. There was proof the rebels weren't happy but every other inhabitant, except pirates, found this as an excuse for a party at the Palace. Hosting the party would be a piece of cake, literally hopefully as I had asked the kitchens to make a grand cake. The kitchens had taken care of all the catering, I just gave them a list of food and drink I wanted. Luca had helped me prepare the ballroom and Slightly specifically invited important guests "by request of Miss Eden Rebecca Booth". I was in my room that evening, I put on a short dark wine coloured dress, I asked Slightly to approve the dress remembering that the colour red was seen as a pirate colour. Slightly agreed that it was more of a purple than a red due to its darkness. I brushed my hair out ready to meet the guests downstairs when there was a knock at my door. I fastened the bow on the back of my dress and called out for them to enter. Maxim opened the door and closed it behind him, walking towards me with his hands behind his back. 'I see your tie is matching my dress.' I smirked.

'Eden… I'm not forcing you into this am I? I'm not being a Randal to you in any way?' He frowned.

'Max, don't be stupid, of course you're not-'

'But there is a small possibility for you to go home, your parents miss you and-' I cut him off by pressing my lips to his.

'Be quiet now, I'm doing this on free will.' I stated and he smiled.

'If you are sure then I have something to give you.' He said. 'You said I couldn't buy you anything but you didn't say a thing about making.' He took his hands out from behind him and revealed a gold chain with a cufflink threaded onto it, the cufflink had the Palace's crest on it; an acorn and leaves. 'We'll both have a cufflink to represent the idea I dismissed of the "other half". I accept the idea now because you are my other half.' I smiled at how thoughtful his gift was. He held my hair over my shoulder and placed the necklace on me.

'Thank you, it's lovely.' I smiled widely and then I had an idea myself. I went to my wardrobe and pulled out the dark green dress I had arrived here in. I tore a piece of the fabric off and went back over to Maxim, knotting it around his wrist. 'That's my other half contribution. A piece of the dress I was wearing when you found me.' He admired it, pulling me into him and he kissed me, running his hands through my hair.

'Thank you.' He whispered, his face very close to mine. 'Go downstairs, don't keep your guests waiting.' He smiled at me. 'I'll join you in a minute.' I nodded and walked downstairs, his necklace proudly hanging on my neck. I held my head high and entered the ballroom, the crowds seemed to be happy. I was approached by the three mermaids and they greeted me warmly.

'You still need to visit us.' Marisol sang.

'How about tomorrow? My first day as an immortal can be spent with you and your sisters in the lagoon.' They chattered away in excitement about this. I went to go and get a drink at the refreshments table. I then saw that Birch, Hawthorn and Alder were headed my way. I gave a smile but their expressions were hard.

'Good evening Miss Booth.' Birch greeted.

'Good evening gentlemen.' I replied.

'It appears you have cast your spell over Prince Maxim.' Birch commented.

'Yes, it seems so.' I scanned the room for him but had no sign of him yet.

'I don't know how you did it. Prince Maxim was always the one who took a dislike to Mortals from the very beginning.' I remembered Maxim's jealousy he had told me about when he arrived here. 'The rebels won't be happy with you. They want you to stay Mortal and help them to get to your world.' Alder narrowed his eyes at me.

'I know, the rebel who poisoned Maxim told me.' I muttered. 'If they are willing to hurt someone I love I will refuse to help them.'

'Good, that rebel was taken care of swiftly.' Birch gave a brief smile.

'What happened? Did he get locked up forever?' I asked but Hawthorn gave a harsh laugh.

'No, he was tortured and executed. Attempting to murder Royalty is dealt with seriously.' Hawthorn stated and my mouth dropped open. I didn't know they could execute people here. I knew they killed pirates for self-defence and the pirates were evil, but this was a deluded rebel. Maxim hadn't actually died, he survived, maybe if Maxim had died I would have been happy to have the rebel executed but not tortured as well. Torture and execution was barbaric. That boy may have not even been the main source behind it. If anyone was to be tortured it should have been Randal, I knew Randal was the root of the problem but I had no evidence.

'Shouldn't he have had a proper trial? It's ruthless!' I exclaimed.

'That wasn't discussed. Maybe you should take that up with Prince Maxim.' Alder said and I frowned, confused.

'His Royal Highness Prince Peter and Prince Maxim made the decision, perhaps you can raise your concerns with your dear Prince to be.' Hawthorn smirked. Maxim had allowed someone to be tortured and executed without a trial. He did it right under my nose.

'We'll see you at the grand finale of the party, when you turn immortal.' Birch said, I stayed silent as they departed. I hung my head in thought, as I did two arms went around my waist.

'What were you talking to them about?' Maxim mumbled in my ear. I pulled away from him and turned to face him, my eyebrows creased. 'What?' He frowned.

'You tortured and executed the rebel without a fair trial?' I narrowed my eyes and he rolled his.

'Eden, can we not discuss this now?' He groaned.

'That was inhumane!' I glared, Maxim exhaled deeply in frustration.

'It wasn't my decision to have him killed; that was Peter! I wanted him tortured and locked away.' Maxim hissed. 'He tried to kill me Eden! What would you have wanted done to him?'

'I don't know! Not an execution! Pirates would be the ones who deserve execution, not kids your own age!' I justified.

'Eden, I wanted a nice evening with you and my advisers have planted ridiculous ideas in your head. I didn't know he was even executed until afterwards.' I looked away from him and he stepped closer, taking me in his arms. 'Eden, when you're a Princess I'll make sure everyone has a fair trial.' He kissed my cheek softly. 'I'm sorry.'

'Unless it is self-defence against pirates or any other immediate danger, everyone will have a fair trial.' I repeated and he nodded. I was still angry with him but it wasn't primarily his decision and the poisoning probably gave him a scare. He moved me in his arms to a slow dance position. He held one of my hands while the other rested on my hip, I placed my hand on his shoulder. He pulled us closer together and smiled to himself.

'The next big event will be your crowning.' He said, a sigh in his voice. 'I haven't exactly told you this yet but I think you have realised it by now… I love you.' Our little spat was forgotten, no one else was in the room, he was there in front of my eyes. Maxim my other half, my one and only, he was mine and I was his. Everything was perfect, this place really was a paradise despite its corrupt flaws, as long as I was with Maxim it was a Heaven to me.

'I love you too.' I kissed his lips and he yearned into the kiss in ecstasy. Our time was cut short as a dreaded phrase was called out.

'REBEL ATTACK!' Tootles yelled. I looked up from this kiss and sure enough rebels were flooding in. They were all dressed in black so they could identify themselves easier. Maxim pulled me away to the back of the ballroom and tried to get me to go out of the door.

'Eden, you need to go hide.' Maxim urged but I wouldn't budge and I looked directly at him.

'No, get me a sword. We can scare them away, they won't put a big fight up against us, they'll retreat for sure.' I said but he shook his head.

'Just go, Eden! Take the passages!' He cried out and pushed me out of the door, closing it. I tried to budge the door but he had it blocked. I thought where there would be a weapon, Maxim must have one in his room. I used the passages to find Maxim's room, I went through the small door in his wardrobe that we had used before and walked into his room. I checked under his bed and there was a sword in its case, he must have had this under his bed in case of night attacks. I pulled the sword out and hoped my fencing skills were good enough to ward away the rebels. I looked out the window in Maxim's room and gasped. There were hundreds of rebels swarming around the Palace. A large black carriage pulled up outside the Palace, the carriage was drawn by four black horses and looked grand. The carriage's windows appeared to have the curtains drawn from what I could see. I hoped it wasn't a guest, they would have turned up at the wrong time. I wondered if the attack would deduct points off of my hosting skills. I shook my head, getting rid of petty thoughts, and walked towards the door. I opened it carefully and held my breath. The halls were empty. I quickly walked down them, worried that I may bump into anyone alone. I held the sword firmly in front of me, preparing myself for any attack. The hallways were eerily silent and it made me sick to my stomach. I froze as I heard quiet and slow footsteps behind me. Before I could turn around I was grabbed from behind and a hand clamped over my mouth.

'We meet again, sweetheart.'

There is no good excuse for the late upload except writer's block and lack of free time, sorry! Keep reading, reviewing and enjoying! x