Once upon a time, in a magical land known as New York City...

Okay fine, New York City wasn't really that much of a magical place. Not to thirteen-year-old Christina Philip. "Chris" for short. Every day was to be loyal; practical, realistic, and not fantasy-like at all. And it was all because of her father, Robert Philip.

Ever since their mother left some time ago, Robert had become more like a stranger to Chris; he was a very cynical, no-nonsense, forthright, and sometimes pessimistic lawyer who believed more in logic and law and - not fairytales and magic, and whose occupation and divorce led him to adopt a rather melancholy outlook on life. He could even sometimes be aloof towards the emotional output on other people, and any departure from logic and sensible thinking.

But what bothered Chris most of all, was that her father wanted to raise her, and her little sister, Morgan, into facing the world for what it really is; smart, realistic, and above all, practical. Just the way he liked it.

This even meant no fairytales, which he found "fairytale-nonsense." Chris and Morgan loved fairytales, and always believed in them. And true love.

One rainy night, Chris was exiting the gift shop, carrying a plastic bag, and hid it under her rain jacket. Putting her hood up, she sprinted through the rain, down the sidewalk, one block over to Golden Monkey Martial Art; where her sister Morgan's karate class had just let out for the day.

Younger kids were streaming out with their parents onto the sidewalk.

At that moment, Robert came out, opening up an umbrella.

Morgan was clutching onto his side, to stay under the umbrella with him.

"Okay, ready?" Robert said to Morgan. "Here we go! Stay close!" They headed out into the rain.

Robert saw Chris looking around for him. "Over here, Chris!" He called out to her.

Chris found her father and sister, and went over to them.

"Taxi!" Robert shouted to an oncoming taxi, driving up their direction.

"Daddy?" Morgan spoke.

"Yeah?" Robert looked down at Morgan.

"You said if I didn't want to, I didn't have to do it."

"I know," Robert replied, and patted her head. "Just stick with it a little while longer, okay?"

Chris frowned in dismay. Every time, her father said neither her or Morgan didn't have to do something they didn't want to, he would just change his mind and tell them to keep it up for who knows how long. Usually, he would pick something for Chris or Morgan to do without even talking to them about it first, and never really gave them what they really wanted.

Unlike Morgan, who hated disappointing their father, Chris didn't care what he would say.

"Oh, so you're going back on your word, now, is that it?" she asked, bitterly.

"We'll talk about this, later," Robert told Chris. "Just get in car." He opened up the backdoor, and gestured for the girls to get inside. Robert handed Chris his briefcase. "Here, take my bag for me, please. Thank you."

Chris took his briefcase, as Robert closed the door.

He went around to the other side of the car. "116th and Riverside," Robert told the driver, as he slid into the backseat, closing his umbrella.

The three fastened their seat belts as the cab took off.

Robert took his briefcase back from Chris. "Now, since you've been so good about karate," he told Morgan, "I bought you a little something." He pulled out a gift-wrapped package.

Morgan grinned. "For me?"

Robert nodded. "For you, and Chris, to share."

Chris watched as Morgan tore the wrapping paper off of the gift.

Chris knew that Morgan expected it to be a fairytale book she wanted from the gift shop. When Morgan finished unwrapping, she did find herself holding a book. But not the fairytale book she wanted. Instead, this book was entitled, Important Women of Our Time. "A book?" She narrowed her eyes at Robert.

"Oh, come on," Robert simply said. "Don't give me that look. I know it's not that fairytale book you wanted, but this is better."

Chris rolled her eyes down to the bag she was still hiding under her raincoat, and smirked. She was currently on about with a credit card, her father had awarded her for being "such a good sport." As long as you spend it on anything that's acceptable, he would tell her.

Chris knew Robert wouldn't give Morgan that fairytale book. So, she secretly bought it, herself. Chris crossed her arms over her torso, so her father wouldn't notice.

"Look at this," Robert opened the book, and pointed to one of the photographs. "See? Rosa Parks." He turned a page. "Madame Curie. She was a remarkable woman who dedicated her life to research... until she died from radiation poisoning."

"She died?" Morgan blinked at him.

Chris shook her head, irritated. "Gosh, Dad," she said sarcastically, feigning a smile. "In the name of science, this book is very, very... boring," she frowned.

Before Robert could answer, his BlackBerry chirped, saving him from any further explanation to Morgan, and another argument with Chris. So, he looked at it, and picked it up quickly. "Yeah, hi," he said to the caller. "Tomorrow morning would be great. 7:30? Yes, let me call you later. All right. Bye." He hung up. "That was Nancy," he told Chris and Morgan.

"Uh-huh," Morgan turned back to the window.

"Whatever," mumbled Chris.

Nancy was Robert's girlfriend. They had been dating for the past five years. But not in the crazy romantic-like way. More like, rational. Taking the time to understand each other's strengths and weaknesses. It sounded more like building a bridge to Chris.

"She's a lot like the women in your book," said Robert.

"Then, she should have it," Chris stated.

Robert turned to face his daughters, directly. "Girls," he began to say, "...I'm gonna ask her to marry me."

Chris and Morgan snapped into attention.

"What?" The girls asked, both shocked.

"Yeah," said Robert, "you like her, don't you?"

"Well, yes, but-" Chris didn't know what to say.

"We all get along, we have a good time together," Robert explained.

Morgan was confused. "Where's she going to live?"

"Well, she's gonna live with us," Robert replied.

Morgan looked worried. "Do I have to give up my bedroom?"

"No you don't have to give up your bedroom," Robert shook his head. "No." He stroked Morgan's chin with his finger. "Come on, it's going to be great. I promise."

But Morgan wasn't that happy.

Neither was Chris. "Dad," she spoke, deciding to let her true feelings out. "Of course I like Nancy. Just... not as a mom."

"I feel the same," agreed Morgan.

"Well, that's something you girls'll just have to get used to," Robert simply responded.

Chris frowned at him, again.

"It's not like she's gonna try and be your mother," Robert said.

Morgan's eyes narrowed. "You mean stepmother."

"Right. She's gonna be a nice stepmother," Robert corrected. "And she's gonna take you both to school tomorrow, just you two and her, for some 'grown-up girl' bonding time."

Chris blinked, feeling uncomfortable with that idea.

"I'm only six," said Morgan.

"And I'm still thirteen," Chris joined in.

Robert looked at his daughters. "You won't always be."

Chris kept her frown on, completely displeased with her father's news and behavior.