Fakir knew they were back in Gold Crown Town now, but he was afraid to open his eyes. Afraid to see, as he had so many times before, the image of the girl he loved changing back into a duck. He sat, poised on the edge of his bed, wanting to see and yet terrified.

As he fought with himself, he felt a soft touch on his bare back. A small voice asked, "Fakir?"

His heart skipped, and slowly, he opened his eyes and turned around.

And there she was. Sitting next to him on the bed, radiant hair disheveled, concern in her beautiful sapphire eyes. Undeniably human.

His eyes welled up with tears as he drank her in. He had finally done it. Here she was, fully human, miraculously sitting there. He smiled at her as his vision hazed. He leaned forward, circling his arms around her middle as he buried his face in her lap. He felt her hand rest on top of his head as the tears streamed out. She began stroking his hair, and whispered, "I'm back, Fakir. Thank you so much for rescuing me. I'm sorry I made you wait for so long."

He shook his head, the motion made difficult from his place in her lap. "No, it was my fault it took so long. I'm so glad to see you again, Ahiru."

She leaned over him, resting her arms on top of him, running her fingers through his hair as he cried out a year of pain, sorrow, and frustration.

Finally, he quieted down, and noticed that the back of his head felt damp. Shifting slightly so that Ahiru moved off of him, he sat up and took at look at her face, and saw her tears echoing his own. He cupped her cheeks in his hands, and she laughed as she leaned into him. "Fakir, I'm here. I'm really here. You did it."

Overwhelmed with emotion, he stared at her for one breathless moment before smashing his mouth down on hers harsly in a kiss. This kiss felt amazing, better than anything that he had experienced in any of his stories. The reality of being able to run his tongue along Ahiru's lip was quickly driving him wild. He pulled back from her, both of them breathing heavily from the contact.

It was then that Fakir realized they were both still naked.

Blushing fiercely, he snapped his head away from her, covering his mouth with one hand. "Fakir, what's wrong?" Ahiru asked, concern in her voice.

"Ahiru, I'm sorry, I...somehow managed to leave our clothes in the story."

She looked down at herself, and her face reddened. She fisted her hands into her lap, and said in a trembling voice, "Well...it's not like you haven't seen me naked already."

He stared at her in wide-eyed shock. Where was his innocent little duck going? His eyes roved down her, unbidden, and he noted that the changes to her body that he'd seen in the story seemed permanent. That made sense. She'd been living for an extra year as a duck, and her human body had obviously matured along with it.

He was so lost in staring at her that he almost missed her quiet voice. "Fakir, I'm wondering...I think maybe we should have sex again."

That startled him into fixing his eyes on hers. "What?" he asked groggily.

She took a deep breath, and continued. "Yeah, I mean...I know you said it would work since it was in a story, but I'm just thinking...there were a few times where I almost changed back in the real world from a kiss, but then I lost my form and became a duck again. I just...don't want that to happen. I want to continue living with you as a human, and it just seems...like we should make sure the transformation sticks, you know?" She looked at him, eyes glassed over from embarrassment, but unwavering.

"I...well, I hadn't thought of that." Fakir was hesitant to rush into her idea, but his cock was already growing stiff again at the thought.

Ahiru noticed it, and smiled, reaching out to touch the tip with her finger. She traced up and down it with her fingertip as she coaxed, "Come on Fakir, you know it's a good idea to make sure. Besides, didn't it feel good for you?"

He had to admire her. She was bright red, but still stuck to her guns. He growled. She was way too sexy, and he had no defences against her. Settling his back against the headboard, he reached out and grabbed her, hauling her bodily into his lap. She squealed as she was moved, clutching onto the back of his neck as he settled her astride him, bottom on his thighs. He grinned wolfishly at her. "I suppose you're right, Ahiru. We should make sure."

She looked at him, unmistakable heat in her eyes. "Fakir, you called me something else earlier. What was it?"

It was his turn to flush. He turned his head away. "It's just a pet name I call you sometimes in my head."

"Ohh, is it? What was it now? Hmm, I don't remember." Ahiru tapped her chin thoughtfully, wearing that troublemaker's smile.

He glared at her, and snapped, "Princess. There, are you happy, Princess Tutu? You found my embarrassing nickname for you, are you happy?"

"Very much so. Will you call me it again?"

He decided that her teasing had gone on long enough. She needed to be put in her place. Grabbing her firmly by her hips, he pulled her upwards as she squealed in surprise. Positioning her leaking entrance at the tip of his cock, he let go for a moment to make sure his head was lined up correctly, then pulled her down on top of him savagely. She threw her head back and yelped. Satisfied, he ground upwards into her, surprised when she let out a strangled mewling sound. He tried again, enjoying the noises she made as he pushed deep within her. He grinned, and said, "Do you like that, Princess?"

She lowered her head down to look at him through lust-glazed eyes. Her hands clasped over her mouth as she nodded.

That wouldn't do at all. He reached up to yank her hands away from her mouth, positioning them on his thighs instead. He leaned forward, whispering into her ear, "I want to hear you moan for me, Princess." He grabbed onto her hips again, and began thrusting into her. Obediently, she allowed her voice out, a halting series of moans and cries. Having her in this position was perfect, he decided, as with each thrust he made into her, her breasts bounced up and down from the motion. He growled, filled with the need to taste them again. Darting his head forward, he licked one of her nipples before biting down onto it, hard.

Her hands shot around his neck, holding on for dear life as she rode on his cock. "Fakiiiir," she keened out, "I...I think I'm close again."

He nodded, not releasing her nipple from its prison between his teeth. Grabbing onto her hips, he pushed deep inside of her and bucked his hips up, grinding against her. He was gratified to feel her tighten up on him, squeezing him tightly as his name was torn from her lips. Hearing her call him in such a wanton voice quickly pushed him into an orgasm, and a feral cry tore from his own throat as his cum streamed into her.

When they both had finished, Fakir flopped back against the bed, holding his love in a loose grip. She relaxed into his chest, not bothering to take his cock out of her. They both sat, panting, for a few seconds, until Ahiru laughed and said, "Well, I think that should do it, right?"

He moved his hand up to stroke her hair absently as he replied, "What are you talking about? You never know when the transformation might reverse itself. We'll have to keep having sex to make sure you stay with me." He squeezed her tightly against him for a moment, reassuring himself that she was still there, was still real.

She hummed against him. "Yeah, you're probably right. But I know that even if I do change into a duck, you can fix me again."

He looked down at the top of her head where it rested on his chest, startled. She had so much faith in him. But did he deserve that? He pressed his lips to her hair. Even if he didn't, he had to make it true. It was his duty as her knight, after all, to make sure that his princess stayed safe. He chuckled to himself. Or, in this case, his duck.