Alright, here it is, Chapter 14. This is my favorite chapter, so I am anxious to see what you all think!

Please, leave a review, but mainly, thank you for honoring me by reading and enjoy.

Toris scrambled down the stairs, only to falter at the back door. He sniffled a few times before scrubbing the tears from his eyes. Taking a rattling breath, Toris forced himself outside.

Outside, he hugged vine-covered stone walls. He kept a hand on the cool wall; it brought a small comfort as Toris crept toward where he'd seen the stranger. The man was still there. For a moment Toris watched him. The stranger shifted his weight from one foot to the other. A hand went to shade his eyes as looked around. Bracing himself, Toris stepped away from the safety of the shadows and the wall.

"Good evening sir," he stammered, trying to smile. "Are, m-may, how…can I help you sir?"

The blond-haired man turned around, completely fixated on Toris. For a moment, the two held eye contact, before Toris adverted his gaze. He has kind eyes, the boy thought. The stranger seemed too stunned to speak, so Toris gathered his quickly slipping bravery. "You, you seem lost sir? Are, are you lost? I c-can, can, maybe help you, -if you wanted to sir! – if you really are…lost." Toris trailed off, for the man was still gawking. "S-sir?"

"You can see me?" the man asked. His voice was soft and quiet. "You can actually see me?"

"Uh, y-yes sir? Of course, I can…um…see you sir." Toris told him. The man punched the air, letting out a whoop! "Wonderful, this is wonderful, no one has seen me in decades, and certainly not as fast as you." He grinned. "Will you wait right here please? I'm going to go and get Francis; he'll be so happy to hear this!"

Toris' eyes darted around as he chewed on his lip, trying to process the man's words. "Sir, may I get you some water, if that would help you?" Toris nodded more to himself than for the other man. "Yes, water would be good. I think you're feeling unwell sir. Would you maybe like to…" he gulped "come inside and rest for a moment?"

The man chuckled. "No thank you Toris. I'm not sick, I promise."

Toris' blood froze. He looked up at the stranger fearfully, mouth opening and closing. How do you know my name? he wanted to demand, but all that came out was a sickly rasp. Toris shook his head, slowly backing away.

"O-oh," the man mumbled. "I didn't mean to frighten you. I'm sorry, I shouldn't have said your name until Francis came. He can explain it all much better than me. I'm sorry Toris, really I am." He took a step towed Toris, but the boy flinched.

The stranger stopped. "Don't…please…I didn't mean to frighten…don't be scared. I'm sorry." The stranger tangled his hands in his hair, "I knew this wasn't going to work, I knew I would mess the up, I'm not ready," he muttered. "I told Francis it was too soon, but he didn't listen to me, no one ever does, and I've made a mess of it all." With a heavy thump he sank onto a stone bench, burying his face in his hands.

Toris watched miserably as the man suffered. Tentatively, he took small step forward, trembling. "Sir…it's okay. But…p-please sir, w-what's going on? How can I help you?"

The man looked up, a few tears sliding down his cheek. "Toris, you're so kind."

Toris froze. "I, I…what?"

Matthew hummed with appreciation "Toris, you-Oh! Francis is coming." He let out a sigh, shoulders relaxing. "Thank goodness."

A bright light lit up the garden. Toris covered his eyes in pain. When his was able to remove his hand, and his eyes recovered, a man was standing in front of him.

The new man was just as brilliant as the light that brought him. Golden hair fell to his shoulders, and his piercing blue eyes twinkled. A smirk graced his pale lips, but his eyes spoke of his kindness.

The new man sat down beside the stranger and wrapped an arm around his shoulders.

"I've ruined everything Francis. Toris is scared of me." He gestured to Toris standing still as a statue, staring off into space, seeing nothing. Occasionally he breathed would stutter making his body tremble. Francis shook his head. "No, Mathew, it's okay. Toris will be fine. He's a smart boy, just give him a minute to wrap his mind around everything. Nothing is ruined." Mathew breathed a sigh of relief.

Toris whimpered and looked over to the two men. "What's going on?" He demanded shakily. "I don't, I don't understand what just happened!"

"Toris Laurentius," the man said, his voice as smooth as velvet. "I'm Francis Bonnefey; your fairy god-father."

XXX

After that confession Toris nervously ushered the two guests into the kitchen, and insisted on making them tea. He hurried from counter to counter, boiling water, getting the leaves and cups. His hands shook so badly that one cup slipped, plummeting to the ground. Toris screwed his eyes shut to brace himself for the crash. Master will be so angry, he thought. However, the cup never hit the ground. Opening his eyes, Toris was met with picture of Francis holding the cup. Toris swallowed past the lump in his throat, cautiously taking the dish. He felt like a little child, trying to hide in his clothes. "Thank you," he whispered.

Francis shushed him. He took dry hands into his own soft ones and led Toris to where he and Mathew were sitting.

"Toris, don't rush around so. We aren't here for tea; Mathew and I are here to see you. Sit mon enfant. MWe are friends and we must talk about tonight."

Toris didn't take his off his too guests as he moved to the floor, positioning himself before Francis' and Matthews's feet.

"Tonight?" he stammered.

"Yes tonight. Your friend the princess is throwing a ball non?"

"How to you know that?"

"I'm a fairy godfather, Toris"

Toris frowned. "Those, those don't exist. And, how do you know my name?" He wrung his hands growing more and more agitated. "You just…appeared…I don't understand, you just…out of nowhere…just bright light and poof you were there. And, and you know my name, and that there's a ball, and, and, and," Toris took several quick breathes, "and that Felicja and I are friends. I don't…it doesn't…what are you?" Toris ran his hands through his hair and his body heaved with labored breathes.

"Oh, my poor petit, your head, you must be so confused. Where are my manners? This should have been the first thing I told you." He snapped his figures, "Bien! Mathew, this is a grand opportunity for you. Let me see how you explain to Toris what we are." Francis shifted to look at Matthew, eagerness written on his face.

Toris turned to Matthew who gave him a warm smile.

"Toris, Francis and I are fairies."

"F-fairies?"

"Yes, Francis is your fairy-god father, and he's training me to become one as well."

"My…fairy god father?"

"A fairy god father," Francis chimed in, "is a special bread of fairy. We're more "human" than other fairies. Each god fairy is assigned a newborn human. We watch them, and when the time is right, we help. It is very rare that a fairy, even god fairies like Matthew and I are able to find the right moment to visit. However, after watching you since you were un bébé, Matthew and I knew the time had come, we're here to help you to the ball."

Toris stomach soured. Help me, he thought bitterly, help me get to the ball? That's what they've decided is the biggest problem in my life, that I can't go to some dance? What about all the times I've been beaten? Or when I've tried to escape. Why wouldn't they help me then?

Francis seemed to read Toris' mind. Slowly, he reached down to capture the boy' face, despite the fact that Toris tried to turn angerly away. "I know, cher," he soothed, "that this is not your ideal time for Mathew and I to step in, but this is the only way we could appear. Today, darling, today you were on the edge. It is the rule that it is only when someone is about to…well, you know why you went out on that balcony. It is our job, it is the only thing we can do, to help you. We can't save you, only you can do that. Okay?"

"O-okay," Toris said, blushing. Francis let go of Toris' chin, and then rolled up his sleeves. All right, let's get to work. First, a bath."

"I've already taken one sir."

"Nonsense. That wasn't a bath! Where was the warm water? Where was the rose petals to soften the skin and the soap to clean and make you smell nice?"

Toris liked Francis' puffed up attitude, and couldn't help but laugh as he said, "I'm not allowed those things sir."

Francis gasped dramatically, delighting Toris even more. "Well, I'm in charge now, and I say that not only are you allowed those things, but that you need them for tonight. Do you have a tub?"

Toris squeaked in alarm. "Oh! I forget. I have to clean up the mess…Master will be so angry. No, no, no, no, no…" He jumped when Francis put a hand on his shoulder, trying to hold of the oncoming panic attack.

Toris stiffed then scrambled up from the floor. "I'm sorry, but I have to clean my master's room. It won't take too long, I'm sorry." He looked sadly at the two fairies. "I understand if you two need to leave. Honest, it's okay."

"We're here to stay, Toris." Mathew promised. s

Toris gave him an odd look but turned and upstairs to Ivan's room. Standing in the doorway, he surveyed Ivan's room in dismay. Water and discarded clothes everywhere and would probably take at least half and hour to get everything dry.

Francis and Matthew came to stand beside him. "Mon enfant," Francis sighed and then fell silent as they took in the damage.

The three stood in silence until Francis clapped his hands together and stepped into the room. "Well, now will take no time at all. Matthew, I will handle Toris, while you try to clean up the room."

"No!" Two pairs of eyes looked questionably at Toris. Heat rose in his checks. "I c-c-can't let you do, do, do my work. That's not fair to leave it all to you."

Matthew smiled at Francis. "Humans are so wonderful," he said, and Francis nodded. "Toris, I will clean the room…with magic. I am a fairy-god-father in training. I'm working on my magical ability. Before I can help people, I have to master the basics…which includes cleaning."

"He's right," Francis assured. "For my apprentice, cleaning is not a punishment, or a sign of status, it's an obstacle, a challenge, something he must defeat. Let him learn Toris, don't hold him back."

Toris nodded wearily and was rewarded with smiles.

"Matthew, I leave this mess in your capable hands. I look forward to seeing how you'll do. Now, Toris, let me draw you a bath. You have a ball to attend."

XXX

With just a snap of his fingers, Francis filled the bathtub. Toris watched eagerly as rolls of steam rose from the tub. Francis put a hand in the tub, swirling the water around. Toris gawked when from nowhere large, white bubbles floated to the top of the water.

"H-how?"

"Magic," Francis supplied with a wink. "Now hop in."

Francis turned around to give the boy some privacy, and Toris quickly shed his clothes. The first step into the water was delicious. Toris sank into the water with a contented sigh. "Oh, this feels wonderful. Thank you so much sir! Thank you. I, I haven't had something this nice in forever."

Francis smiled sadly. "I'm glad it makes you happy." He shook his finger at a sponge and immediately it became animated. If possible, Toris' eyes grew wider, as the sponge twirled in the air. It gave off the appearance of looking at him, and then turned to Francis.

"You know what to do," the fairy told it. The sponge twirled again and moved in for the attack, scrubbing behind Toris' ears.

Toris couldn't help but sigh again as the sponge rung itself out over his head. The water felt wonderfully warm and everything was so nice, although he kept an eye on Francis. Just in case he decided to take a page out of Toris' step-brothers' book, and pretend to drown him. Francis however stayed out of reach of the bathtub, settling himself in a chair. His eyes were closed, and long fingers drummed on his knee while he mumbled to himself. Toris got words like suit, coat, and horses.

When Toris finished, Francis produced from thin air a huge towel, not an old horse blanket but an actual towel. Toris wrapped it around himself, marveling at how soft it was. The last time he experienced a real towel was when he was ten, and a ten-year-old boy doesn't care about that.

As promised, Matthew did a wonderful job cleaning. Surreptitiously, Toris glanced around the room trying to see if there was anything he would need to fix to keep Ivan calm, but Mathew cleaned it even better than Toris could. "Thank you," Toris told him with a grateful smile. "If there is anything I can do to repay—"

"Ah, ah, ah," Francis said, shaking his finger. "No talk of debt or repayment. This is a gift Toris."

"Thank you! Really thank you so much. I…thank you!"

Francis brushed it off with a wave of the hand. "No more, you must get dressed."

Toris nodded. "I think there are some different clothes upstairs..." a shadow crossed his face, "…my, uhm, my step-family kind of…said I didn't know how to pick out good clothes," he finished lamely.

Francis hummed. "Most people don't. Fashion is an art, as detailed as painting. Each ensemble must be crafted perfectly, much like a sculptor with his marble. Honestly, I see people wearing clothes and I wonder what possessed them to go out like that. If you can't paint, let someone else do it, the same applies to clothing."

"Um, yes sir." Toris said, tilting his head.

Francis huffed. "He is not an artist," he told Mathew. Toris swallowed and lowered his eyes. "S-sorry sir." And Dirty Toris ruins it once again, said a voice in his mind that sounded an awful lot like Nicolai.

Francis glanced at the brunet. "No worries, you have me, the best in the business, and I will see to it that you look spectacular! Put on what you were wearing before and I'll fix it. But first, the dirty work."

XXX

Back in his old rags, Toris followed Francis and Mathew back out into the garden. "Let's see, what do you have here that could turn into a carriage?" Francis clucked his tongue and glanced around.

"You could always use a pump—"

"Non! Non, Mathew, no pumpkins. I refuse to use anything like that crazy old bat."

Mathew chuckled. Toris cocked his head, but decided it better not to know.

Francis thought for a moment before turning to Toris. "Petit, do you have a walnut shell?"

"A walnut shell?" Toris cringed, expecting the biting remark, Yes, you idiot, don't you ever listen, but it never came. Francis simply nodded. "It is warm enough for an open carriage, and the good weather promises to hold.

"There m-might be one in the kitchen sir. I can go and look, if you like?"

"Thank you Toris. Yes, go do that, and bring out the rabbit and bird while you're at it. I'll handle the cat."

Toris didn't allow himself to wonder only to obey. He darted into the kitchen, rummaging around until he found a half of a walnut shell. "I hope this is what he wants," he whispered. Then he hurried up to the attic to get Eduard and Raivis.

"Guys, guys come here, please." The bunny and bird peeped out from behind their little spots they made for themselves. Toris smiled, "Something has happened, something good, and we get to be a part of it. Come on."

Happily, the animals followed him out into the garden, where a slightly scratched Francis, and a very angry looking Natalia were standing.

"She is quite the handful, isn't she?" Francis said. Toris chewed his lip, and looked and Francis nervously. "I'm sorry she did that to you," he stammered. "I, I should have warned you."

Francis shook his head. "Non, non, c'est beau. I can handle a little cat." Natalia flattered her ears.

"She only likes Master," Toris told him softly. "She hates every else."

As if to prove his point, Natalia hissed at Toris, and tried to swipe at Francis.

"Did you bring the things Toris? The faster we can get her changed the better."

Toris nodded, confused, and held out the walnut. "What are you going to do with the animals, sir?"

"Change them into something else of course." With a wink, Francis took the walnut and placed it on the ground. "Step back," he told Mathew and Toris, and then pulled out a wand.

"Hm, hm, hm." Francis cleared his throat, and took a deep breath. His sharp eyes slightly glazed over as he held his wand. "Evoluer, Evoluer et extracair. Croitre et produire, devenir et lancer."

As the wand whisked through the air, the walnut convulsed, growing larger and larger, until, with a final shudder it became a dark brown carriage. Toris' mouth dropped. "Wow."

Francis held up a finger, and Toris grew quiet, eyes round as he watched. Waving the wand with flourishes that were more for looks than practicality, Francis pointed at the animals, repeating his chant. Natalia grew into a glossy white mere and Raivis a stunning snow colored stallion. Eduard morphed into a human, with a top coat, glasses, a ridding crop.

"Monsieur Toris Laurentius, may I present to you, your carriage.

Toris stared around in shock. "Natalie's a horse," he said rather dazed, "and" with a shaking hand he pointed to Raivis and Eduard, "they're not…they're…"

Francis nodded, pleased with him. "A coachman and a young stallion."

"Goodevening Toris," Eduard chirped. His voice still held the musicality it did when he was a bird. Toris chuckled nervously with a matching smile. "H-h-hi,"

"And now, la piece de resistance. Stand up straight now, Toris."

Toris did. With another wave of his wand, Toris rags shifted into pale blue suit with gold buttons, dark black boots and hair tied back with a satin ribbion.

"My, how handsome you look."

Toris blushed and shook his head, staring at the ground.

"You do." Francis rubbed two fingers against Toris' cheek. Toris could feel a tingling sensation. "Just covering bruises and adding some color to your face."

"Is it…make-up?" Toris questioned softly. "Aww, Toris!" Dimitry chuckled, "You want to go to the ball? Would you like us to put you in a beautiful dress, braid your hair and cover you in make-up?"

"No one will ever be able to tell," Francis assured him.

"…yes sir."

"Would you like to see yourself? You can tell me if you want it all off."

Toris looked up with hopeful eyes. "You would let me take it off?"

"Of course, but I think you'll find it different than you imagine"

"Then…I'd like that very much, please."

Francis held out a mirror. Toris didn't even bat an eye despite it appearing from thin air. A young man stared back at him. Brown hair was swept back in a pony-tail, though Toris' bangs framed his face. His face was free of any bruising, it looked so natural Toris could hardly believe he was actually forced to wear make-up. His cheeks had a healthy red glow to them, that hadn't been seen in years.

"I, I look…nice."

"Of course. I never create ugly things."

"But…they tell me I am ugly, or at least, plain according to Dimitry."

"Tell, me, do you think you look plain?"

"Ummm,"

"Mathew, how does Toris look?"

"Very handsome."

"See? Eduard, Raivis, what do you to think."

Toris turned shyly to his animal friends.

Eduard look him up and down. "I think, you look very handsome, for a human. If you were a bird, you would make a blue-jay nervous.

"Thank you," Toris smiled, "uh, that means a lot to me."

Eduard grinned.

Raivis neighed happily, even though Natalia tried to bite him.

Toris laughed, "I, thank you. Both of you!"

Matthew whispered into Francis' ear. "Oh,

"I almost forgot!" The fairy god father exclaimed. "Matthew, go on, show Toris."

On a bended knee, Matthew held out Toris' fathers' sword. "For you, brave Toris."

Toris grabbed it, pulling it close. "You, you cleaned it!"

"No, Francis did."

Toris turned toward Francis, "Really? After everything you've done for me, you would take time to clean my sword?" Tears clung to his lashes.

"Each fairy adds their own special touch. I have a great aunt who once gave her girl a beautiful pair of glass slippers."

"Glass –"

"Don't ask. I assume it to be a girl thing. Me, however, I decided to clean your sword and charm it so that only you can unsheathe it."

Toris bit his lip, and look over at Francis. "Go on, you can open it."

Slowly, Toris gripped the handled and unleashed the gleaming blade. "Oh…" he sighed.

"You're the spitting imagine of your father."

Toris let out a whimper, but then smiled.

"Now, I don't mean to rush, but you really must hurry. You need to get to the ball in plenty of time to enjoy Felicja."

"Oh. That's right. I, I have to warn her about Dimitry. He wants to marry her, and, and, I have a feeling that would be really bad."

Eduard mounted the box, and griped hold of the rains. "Raivis, be good for heaven's sake, and don't drag us into a hole."

"Now Toris," Francis warned, giving the boy a hard look. "the magic all wears off at midnight. You must be home by then, to avoid suspicion." He refused to allow Toris to break eye contact.

"Yes sir! I'll be back by then, I promise." Toris nodded earnestly, unblinking eyes focused on Francis.

"You're a good boy, Toris. It was privileged to work with you."

"Won't I see you again?"

"No, we fairies can only be seen once."

"Oh. But, how will I ever repay you?"

Francis tssked.

"Honest Toris" Matthew told him, "there is no need. Your happiness is enough," He squeezed Toris' hand. "Thank you for seeing me."

"Thank you…M-Mathew, and Francis for helping me."

The two fairies smiled. "Good luck Toris! We have faith in you."

Francis nodded to Eduard. He cracked his whip, and Natalia speed off towards the castle.