Author's note: Thank you to NotMarge, ZabuzasGirl, NicoleR85, kmj1989, partygirl98, and chibi-no-baka for the reviews! Can anyone else believe that How the Grinch Stole Christmas first premiered in 1966? It feels like it's been around forever because, well, it really has, haha!

Prince Charming

Before I knew it, March and April had faded into May, and my twenty-fourth birthday was upon us.

Things had never been better between Zoey and I. The fears of rejection that had plagued my steps for so long had faded now that she had seen my other side, and Zoey had finally realized and understood that she didn't have to hide any negative emotions she felt after that heartfelt conversation on her kitchen floor.

There were no more secrets- only love, openness, and acceptance remained. And while I looked forward to our future, I still took the time to cherish and savor every day we spent together.

Our wedding was set for June 21st, exactly a month away. I'd already started moving some of my things into the apartment- mostly nonessential items like my books and winter clothes. Though Zoey had already given me a key, I wouldn't be fully moved in until we got back from our honeymoon.

While we were gone Sean and Alex were supposed to coordinate with Marceline on getting the rest of my stuff brought over. I'd always spent too much time in the lab to accumulate much in terms of material possessions, so there honestly wouldn't be much to take.

My only concern was that my so-called "friends" would pull some sort of tasteless prank on me while I was absent, like buying hundreds of condoms and sprinkling them all over the bed and floor the way nice people would scatter rose petals. I wanted to plead with them not to, but also felt it was better to avoid bringing up practical jokes.

There's no need to give them any ideas.

I had just barely gotten dressed when a knock came at my door at nine in the morning. It was my birthday, so I thought a late start would be forgivable.

Apparently, Zoey and Olivia had other plans.

My two favorite people were standing in the hallway looking as fresh and pretty as spring itself and bearing two wrapped gifts. To complete that lovely picture, Zoey was holding a tray full of French toast, bacon, and eggs for three.

"Happy birthday!" they cheered.

I blinked in surprise, making them giggle.

"Th-thank you. How-?" I stuttered, stepping to the side so they could come in. "I thought you had to work today, Zoey."

"I took the day off for your birthday. And I got Olivia excused from class," she explained, setting the tray down on the little coffee table. She stood on tiptoe to give me a kiss.

"Are you surprised?" Olivia asked excitedly. "We made you breakfast!"

"'We?'" I repeated, eyeing the food warily now.

I bet that French toast is burned on the other side.

"We had adult supervision," Zoey noted sullenly, correctly interpreting my expression.

I chuckled and kissed her cheek. "Thank you."

"And we got you presents!"

"Let's eat first, Livie," I told her. "I don't want the food you made getting cold."

We all sat down on the floor around the coffee table to eat, but Olivia was still having trouble focusing through her eagerness for me to open presents. Despite that, I could tell she was giving it her best effort to behave.

"You ok, Livie?" I asked. "You look like you're having trouble."

"She kept sticking her fingers in the powdered sugar," Zoey explained, trying not to smile. "It's making her a little-"

"Hey, you were stealing sugar, too!" Olivia retorted.

No honor among thieves, is there?

I laughed until both of them scowled at me. I quickly ducked my head and went back to eating my breakfast, which didn't taste half-bad.

"Alright, lay it on me," I announced when we were done.

"Mine first," Olivia said, shoving a flat, square present at me.

"Did you do this all yourself?" I asked curiously, noting the clumsy wrapping job.

She nodded proudly.

"I don't even know what is," Zoey admitted.

Olivia's present turned out to be a photograph of the three of us from Easter in a homemade macaroni-covered picture frame. It was incredibly tacky and ugly, but I couldn't help the warm feeling that spread outward from my chest, almost like the Grinch's heart growing in that stupid movie Olivia made me watch at Christmas.

In sparkly letters along the frame it said, "For Uncle Hank."

"Thank you, Livie," I told her sincerely, past the sudden lump in my throat.

The little girl giggled and gave me a big hug, obviously relieved that I liked her gift. "You're welcome, Uncle Hank."

She'd never called me that before.

I glanced over at Zoey, who looked like she was having just as difficult a time keeping it together as I was. Olivia's present had made us both melt.

"Auntie, your turn!"

Zoey grinned ruefully and pushed a badly wrapped gift towards me. "After that present, mine's awful."

I chuckled as I examined the wrapping paper. Zoey, despite her numerous talents, could not wrap a present properly to save her life. Using tape was just beyond her for some reason. It was something I enjoyed teasing her about, even though I thought it was adorable.

"Did you hit this with your car?"

She pouted prettily. "No. It's this new experimental avant-garde style of wrapping, old man," she retorted loftily.

I laughed as I opened the wrapping paper, revealing a brand new Cartier watch. On the back there was an engraving: "Tempus fugit, amor reliquias."

Time flies, love remains.

"Zoey, I love it," I said, pulling her in for an embrace so I was cradling her upper body across my lap. "Thank you."

She smiled and cuddled in my arms for a moment, looking up at me with soft green eyes while I stroked her cheek with my thumb. She didn't have to tell me she loved me in that moment. I could feel it, flowing through her and into me.

I honestly couldn't imagine life without her anymore. Time would pass us by, but my love for Zoey would never fade- just like the engraving said. She was wrapped into the fabric of my very being, like living thread.

I pressed a quick kiss to her lips before releasing her.

Olivia was looking at us with a rather disgusted, impatient expression on her face.

"What's wrong, Livie?" I asked, suddenly feeling awkward despite my loving exchange with Zoey. I'd momentarily forgotten about our rather impressionable audience.

"Stop making goo-goo eyes at each other," Olivia complained restlessly. "Auntie, you said we were going to the aquarium."

"I said we would ask Hank what he wanted to do today," Zoey corrected, raising her eyebrows. It looked like she was fighting off a smile. "You brought up the aquarium. It's his birthday, he can do what he wants."

Big, pleading brown eyes zeroed in on me.

"Uncle Hank, do you want to go to the aquarium for your birthday?"

"No," I replied.

Olivia looked devastated.

I grinned. "I want to go to Astroland and the aquarium."

Her shriek of delight nearly busted my ear drums.

It was a weekday and still the off-season, so there weren't that many people at Astroland. We rode all of the rides at least once- some of them even several times- because there weren't any long lines.

We were having so much fun... That is, until Zoey was overcome with motion sickness after our third time on the Tilt-A-Whirl in a row. She made a beeline for the nearest garbage bin as soon as we got off. I shadowed her, arriving just in time to pull her hair out of the way as she began to vomit up blue cotton candy.

"Eeeeew," Olivia said, scrunching up her nose. She took one look at the rest of her cotton candy and reached up to throw it in the trash. "Now I don't want the rest of mine."

"That's not helping," I told her with a sigh, gently rubbing my fiance's back.

Sure enough, Zoey launched into another round of dry heaves. I glared at some random passersby who stopped to watch her humiliation until they took the hint and scampered away.

"I'm so sorry," she croaked, when it seemed the attack was over.

"Don't be sorry, sweetheart," I assured her. "How are you feeling?"

"Like I want to melt into the ground from embarrassment."

I bit back a laugh as she unsteadily pulled herself upright. "You shouldn't," I said, smoothing back her curls. "I'm marrying you, remember? 'In sickness and in health.'"

She gave me a weak smile. "You have to be the best fiance, ever."

I grinned through the heat rising to my face. "Let me get you a ginger ale."

Olivia and I had one waiting for her as soon as she exited the bathroom, where she went to splash water on her face.

"Thank you," Zoey said, taking a grateful sip. "So... anyone else ready for the aquarium?"

It was late when I got back to the Institute, so after getting Olivia back to her dorm I immediately set about preparing for bed. As I reached for my pajamas I noticed a folded sheet of paper on top of my pillow. "Hank," it said on the top, in Zoey's tidy handwriting- she must have placed it there that morning. I eyed the missive with a hint of dismay.

Oh no. Is this a "Dear John" letter?

I sank down onto the edge of my bed and began to read:

"Dear Hank,

Can you believe it's been exactly a year since I wrote that first letter for my secret admirer? And what a year it's been. Back then everything seemed so hopeless, and now look at us. We're on the verge of our very own happily ever after.

I wanted to tell you thank you for everything, and I thought a letter would be the best way to do it. You've shown me the deepest, purest love imaginable, the kind I only thought existed in fairy tales. You came into my life at just the right moment and showed me that I could find love and be myself, something I feared was impossible.

And I hope you feel that you can be yourself with me, too. I know sometimes you worry, but darling, you are the man I see you as. Your patience, your intelligence constantly leave me in awe of you. You are gentle and kind, but your quiet strength makes me want to swoon. I am desperately attracted to you in every way. Mind, body, and soul.

I'm smiling as I write this, because you're my Prince Charming and you'll probably never believe me. But it's true, Hank. You are all of my wildest dreams come true and more. Happy birthday, my love, and many more to come. I love you with all my heart, and I can't wait to marry you.

Love,

Zoey"

I smiled down at the letter in my hands.

Me too, Zoey. Me too.