Here is the next chapter! I must say I'm very happy with it, and I'm sure you all will be too! Again I'm sorry for the long wait. For some reason, I always draw a blank while writing this. And if any of you like the Wizard of Oz, please take a look at my story called Somewhere Far from the Rainbow! Thanks so much for your reviews!
Paul pushed through the branches and leaves, knowing exactly where to find Cinderella. His heart was pounding nervously, and he began to sweat profusely. I sure hope that little girl is right…
He walked around a tree, and there she was, sitting there beside the fallen tree that was once her mother's grave. Her head snapped up, her eyes wide, and she quickly put it back down, hiding her face as best as she could. Paul nearly laughed. The last time he'd found her at this exact spot, she had desperately tried hiding her face the same way. "Is everything alright?"
"I…I'm fine," she stammered. She stood up, still hiding her face. "I think I should go home…Peter probably needs me…" She tried to rush past Paul, but he put out his hand and stopped her.
"Wait," he said. He seized her by the shoulders and turned her around to face him. He saw how flushed her face had become, and how watery her eyes were. She jerked away from his touch, and turned away from him, trying to hide her face again. "You're…you're shaking…" Paul touched her shoulder.
"Stop!" she shouted angrily, her face turning beet red. Paul jumped, backing away from her. She took a deep, shaky breath. "You know…you're the only person who has ever made me so angry to the point where I start shouting at them."
"Not even the prince?"
"No…I never shouted. I wanted to, but I never did," she said, her back still turned to him.
"What stopped you?"
"I'm not sure. I suppose I was just too afraid to. It's not in my nature to get very angry."
"So I'm the only one?" Paul smirked.
"Yes. Congratulations," she said bitterly.
Paul chuckled. "Why do you suppose it's in your nature to get very angry with me?"
"Ha!" Cinderella threw her hands up. "Let me see…you bring along children on life threatening escapades, you bring people back from the dead, make horrific deals with witches, you push people away – "
"Ipush people away?" Paul scoffed.
"What is that supposed to mean?" Cinderella whirled around and faced him.
"All you do is push people away!"
"Who on Earth have I ever pushed away?" Cinderella stepped closer to him.
"Who have I ever pushed away?" Paul took a step closer to her.
"You know exactly who I'm talking about!" Cinderella was now quite red in the face.
"And you know exactly who I'm talking about!" Paul's face had become equally as red.
"Who?" she shouted.
"Who?" he shouted right back.
There was a period of heated silence before they both angrily shouted:
"Me!"
Both of their faces suddenly morphed from furious accusation to shameful realization.
"Oh…" Paul said.
"Well…" Cinderella downcast her eyes, quite embarrassed.
"Why?" Paul asked.
"Why what?"
"Why did you push me away?"
"Oh I don't know…" Cinderella sighed. "It must be because…well it has to be…"
And all of a sudden, Paul pressed his lips against hers, and her eyes bugged out of her head. But then he wrapped his arms around her waist, and she realized just how right this felt. Her eyes closed as she wrapped her arms around him. The kiss lingered for several seconds, and finally, just when Cinderella thought she would never breathe again, he pulled his face away.
"Is that why?"
"Yes…" she panted…completely breathless.
"Well it's the same for me."
"Oh," she said. Her head was spinning. Her heart was soaring higher than it ever had. Their faces were still only inches apart, and she nervously, hesitatingly leaned in closer, and Paul laughed and kissed her again. When he pulled away, Cinderella looked into his deep brown eyes. "Thank you."
Paul laughed again. "You're quite welcome."
Cinderella rested her head on his strong chest and wrapped her arms tighter around his waist, and he returned the favor by wrapping his arms tighter around her shoulders and resting his face on her head.
"This is all I ever wanted," Cinderella sighed.
"I didn't see it, but I suppose this is always what I wanted as well," Paul said.
"This is alright? You don't mind being with another woman?"
Paul thought deeply for a moment, his thoughts drifting to his late wife.
Sometimes people leave you halfway through the wood. Do not let it grieve you, there is always good. You are not alone…no one is alone.
Paul smiled. He somehow felt his wife smiling down on him and the beautiful woman he held in his arms.
Hold her in your arms now, let your love show. Things will be alright now, because you made it so.
"I think she'd want me to be happy, don't you?" Paul said.
"Yes…yes of course!" Cinderella squeezed him ever tighter. She looked up at him to see that he was smiling down at her. "I never thought I could be so happy."
"Neither did I." Paul released her and took her hand in his. Their fingers locked together, fitting perfectly as Cinderella always knew they would. She rested her head on his shoulder as they strolled back to the house.
And everything was perfect.
Ha! I told you Bakerella shippers to be patient, and here it is! I told you I wouldn't disapoint!