This might sound sad, but all stories come to an end. Oh yeah, if you've noticed, I made a lot of errors in the previous chapter. I hope you forgive me for that. Hopefully that won't happen again. Anyways, I want to thank those people who gave their suggestions on what I should write about next. You guys helped me out a lot and since you've been very cooperative, I'll share a tiny part of what's in store for you in my next story.

All right, let's go on with the show. Don't forget to review and check out "SEEKING JUSTICE."! Lolz (There's a preview for you below!)

Chapter 15: One More Chance

Mimi carefully sprayed silver glitter over the long gleaming waves of her hair. It was important to get her appearance absolutely right…as well as everything else. The fairy princess had to work real magic tonight. This was going to be the most critical performance of her whole life. Any possible future with Matt depended on it.

Hopefully he'll realize it was hope driving her, not revenge. Yet as she put the spray can down on her dressing-table and her gaze fell once more on the gift watch he returned to her, fear gripped her stomach. Had she killed hope…rejecting his explanations, rejecting his inner angst over her motives, rejecting the sexual attraction between them, rejecting everything he was?

She picked up the watch and rubbed her thumb over the tiny initials. She must do this.

She slipped the watch into her handbag. Matt kept it for seven years, he didn't throw it away. Maybe it would act as a good-luck charm, wishing Matt won't throw her away tonight.

Her refection on the mirror told her she was ready. It didn't matter if she made a total fool of herself. She already lost the most important thing in her life, what more can she lose? Her heart skipped at the thought of Matt looking at her again as though she was the most beautiful woman in the world to him.

She took a deep breath and set off on the journey that would settle her future with him one way or another. Tai picked up Sora two hours ago so the party of Matt's mother should be in full swing by now. Her appearance would be a surprise to them, and Mimi could only hope Sora would understand.

Confiding in her friend might have triggered a nasty discussion and to Mimi's mind, there was nothing to discuss. Only this action could give her another chance with Matt. And she had the excuse that TK and Kari invited her to come and sing. If Matt didn't respond…well, she could leave right away.

The newly fixed fairy wings and magic wand had already been carefully placed in the car, along with the music she needed. Mimi made sure she had everything before setting herself in the driver's seat. The trip from her apartment to the posh compound of the Ishida family was quite easy, though it didn't help much on her nerves. When she finally reached her destination, she found it packed with people and crowded with parked cars. To her relief, there was enough space left to park her car off the road and close to the house. It blocked a couple of cars but Mimi ignored it.

She fumbled with the fairy wings, fumbled with the wand, and fumbled with the cassette. It was a major effort getting all the necessary items out of the car without dropping them, even more difficult to position the wings properly on the back of her dress. She wished Sora was there to help her, but even now she felt it was wrong to involve her friend in what was…as Sora said…her private business.

Once she settled her wings properly, and focused her mind on continuing what she planned to do, Mimi managed to walk down the path without slipping. The noise inside the house seemed to be coming from the backyard, which, she told herself, would make her entrance easier. Silently reciting her small speech about being hired to perform an act, she rang the doorbell and hoped that whoever answers the door will believe her explanation.

What if it was Matt?

Her heart stopped with the shock of that thought. Dizziness clouded her mind. She stood frozen until the door opened and she was faced with a blessed miracle. It was Kari.

"Mimi…?" she asked in astonishment.

Words started to come out. "I've come to sing for your mother-in-law…um, TK's mom. He asked me… I can fit it in my schedule after all and I thought… He said it will be something special if I…"

"Oh! What a lovely surprise!" Kari instantly hugged her. "I'm so glad you could make it." Her eyes were busily taking in the fairy princess costume. "You look wonderful, Mimi."

"Does this mean its all right then?"

"Why, of course!"

"Are they all downstairs?"

Kari's eyes sparkled with pleasure. "Yes, all of them are partying downstairs. Mom said it's better there since it has an access to the backyard. Wait here a minute and I'll herd everyone into the family room. We can make it the same kind of surprise you gave the children."

Relief filled Mimi's body. "That would be perfect, Kari."

An anxious frown suddenly appeared. "I'll pay you for this, Mimi…"

"No. Please…let's just do it. If you leave this door open a little bit, I can come in when I hear the music…"

Kari hesitated a moment. "Well, we can talk about it afterwards. Can you stay?"

"Yes," Mimi said with a hope and a prayer.

"I'm so glad!" Kari gave a big smile. "Give five minutes to get everyone in place. Just slip in and close the door behind you when the coast is clear and you'll be at the top of the stairs ready to make your entrance when the music starts. Okay?"

"Okay. Thanks Kari. There'll be two songs and "Happy Birthday" is second."

"This is fabulous, Mimi. Mom's going to love it." Excitement beamed from her face. "Okay, I'm off to set the scene."

Luck was with her. Mimi prepared herself as she waited, hearing Kari ordering people around, footsteps obeying her, and the party noise lowering to a mood of expectancy. She took a peek around the door and when she saw the coast was clear, she carefully walked into the foyer. Her fingers gripped the fairy wand hard as she wished for more luck, all the luck in the world.

It was quiet below.

She stopped at the head of the staircase leading to the basement and tried to keep her legs from trembling on the way down. She swallowed hard to moisten her throat. The music started, providing the right backing for her voice. She took a deep breath. This was it! No going back. The cue came…and she sang, pouring all the hope and longing from her heart and soul into the words…

Let me be your wings…

Let me be your only love

Let me take you far beyond the stars

Never had her voice been so true, so powerful…but Mimi didn't know it. She sang because she had to and she walked down the stairs with all the poise and majestic dignity of a fairy princess on her mission of a lifetime, not hearing the surprise and appreciation, nor the hush settling as she descended to where the guests were gathered.

Let me be your wings
Let me lift you high above
Everything we're dreaming of will soon be ours

Kari obviously ordered them to circle the family room and those standing across the stairs shifted to make room for Mimi. Furniture had been moved back against the walls, probably to give plenty of space for dancing. The center of the room was completely empty.

Anything that you desire
Anything at all
Everyday I'll take you higher
And I'll never let you fall

As Mimi glided past the circled and surprised guests, she saw Matt's parents, Narita and Yomuki, seated in armchairs at the far end. Beside them stood their family, Matt and TK beside their mother and Kari and her two kids beside their father. All of them…except Matt…were smiling broadly, enjoying the surprise.

Let me be your wings
Leave behind the world you know
For another world of wondrous things

We'll see the universe
And dance on Saturn's rings
Fly with me and I will be your wings

Mimi did her best to block his grim look out of her mind as she proceeded to the center of the room, though she was conscious of her heart skipping into a faster beat. She couldn't let fear control her.

Anything that you desire
Anything at all
Everyday I'll take you higher
And I'll never let you fall

She caught sight of Cora, and it was a relief to see her friend nodding approval and giving a thumbs-up sign.

You will be my wings
You will be my only love
Get ready for another world of wondrous things

We'll see the universe
And dance on Saturn's rings

Will Matt give me a chance? A chance to lift him up and show him my love? Mimi's whole being wished for it to come true as she stopped and faced his mother to deliver the last lines of the song.

Heaven isn't too far
Heaven is where you are

Pouring faith, hope and love through her voice, needing to reach him, offering the chance…another chance…if he wanted to take it. She spread out her arms in a gesture of giving, wanting him to understand, and the last lines was a cry to him, if only his heart was open enough to hear it.


Stay with me and
Let me be your wings…

Loud applause erupted after the final note faded into silence. Narita Ishida's face was filled with emotion, smiling through tears. Yomuki gave her a handkerchief, nodding at Mimi. She smiled back at both of them and risked a quick glance at Matt. He was not smiling, but his head was cocked to one side, his eyes narrowed on her and his expression changed to a judging look.

Mimi's heart jumped with wild hope. She wasn't facing a cold wall of resistance. At least he wasn't avoiding her gaze.

Kari ordered everyone to quiet down; waving her hands to tell everybody there was one more. The intro of the song started and Matt noticed it wasn't the sexy musical Mimi did for him on his 28th birthday. It was more the sentimental and traditional version of 'Happy Birthday,' and she gave took a couple of steps forward, lifting the wand to release a sprinkling of magic glitter as she completed the song.

"Make a wish," she softly urged as she bent to kiss Narita's warm cheek and whisper her own personal greeting, "A very happy birthday to you."

"Thank you, my dear," she replied gently. "You made it extra special."

"I sang that song to her once. Let Me Be Your Wings," Yomuki said gruffly. "You sang it better than Jodi Benson, Mimi. It's so wonderful to have you here."

"My pleasure," she mumbled, touched by their compliments.

"Kari…" Yomuki turned and called his daughter-in-law. "Play that music again. Narita and I are going to dance to it."

"Is it okay if I play it again, Mimi?" Kari asked eagerly.

"Sure, go ahead."

Steeping aside to allow room for Mr. and Mrs. Ishida, Mimi found herself lined up next to TK who instantly caught her free hand and squeezed it, drawing her startled attention to him. He grinned at her, his eyes held the same kindness as before.

"Great singing!" he complimented. "Thank you for coming, Mimi. You're wonderful."

And very desirable… Matt thought. He was watching her. His eyes burning with questions that went through her soul. Why are you here? What do you want? How much is real? Is it hope or revenge?

The music started again.

"Would you like to dance?" TK asked.

"No!"

TK's head jerked in surprise to his big brother.

Matt blushed and tried to control his soaring emotions. "Sorry, bro, I'm claiming this dance. I'm sure Kari's waiting for you to dance with her."

TK smiled at him, he knew his brother sowell. He released Mimi's hand to raise both of his in an appeasing gesture. "Take it easy! I have no intention of stealing her from you. I'm just making you jealous…"

"Okay…okay…now go." Matt felt his face burning when Mimi gave him a look of surprise.

"See you two later." TK left, winking at Mimi, and went to dance with his giggling wife.

Matt stepped forward and pulled Mimi close to him, his eyes blazing into hers. Her heart catapulted around her chest as the arm around her waist pulled her closer, very firmly and possessively in its strength of purpose.

"Hold it right there you two!" Sora's voice whipped in. "I'll take that." She snatched the wand out of Mimi's hand. "Tai…" she passed it to him, "…I've got to take her wings and pin up the train of her dress so nothing gets torn." Which she proceeded to do in lightning speed as Tai stood carrying the wings and the wand for safe-keeping.

"Sora's right. No more damage," Tai told them.

"You can dance now," she informed them. "Or fight. Or carry on like a couple crazy in love."

"Are you guys done?" Matt growled, the tension flowing from him wrapping around Mimi and holding her still.

"Yes, sir!" Sora assured him. "Tai, now that we've rescued the fairy princess costume, let's get out of the danger zone."

"I'm with you, babe."

Off they sailed in happy harmony with each other…twin souls who are completely satisfied with their world, leaving Mimi and Matt to fix whatever problem they had.

Matt took Mimi's now wand less hand, interlacing his fingers with hers to seal his grip. "Tell me this is no game, Mimi," he demanded.

"It's no game…I promise," she answered gently.

His parents twirled past. "Are you two dancing or what?" his mother asked in amusement.

Rather than draw more curious and interfering attention, Matt pushed his feet into dancing, pulling Mimi closer as he moved her to the slow beat of the song. She was a little conscious of his thighs brushing hers, her beasts pressing against the warm wall of his chest. Her heart seemed to be thumping in her ears. She barely heard the music.

He bent his head beside hers and she heard the words he said, although they were barely above a soft whisper. "Is this a new start for us?"

Did he want it?

Panic seized Mimi. She had to say the right words and make this chance different to the last one. "I did it all wrong in the beginning, using a false name. And I'm sorry I messed everything up between us," she pleaded anxiously. "My only excuse is…as Mimi Tachikawa, I felt so…so vulnerable, Matt."

His chest rose and fell, and she felt his sigh flow warmly through her hair. Then came the low, regretful words… "I moved too fast. I cursed myself for it afterwards. Maybe if I let you go on as Maruko Iratoshi, you might've learnt to trust me."

He was thinking back, not forward. She didn't hear hope in his voice, only sadness for mistakes he made, and Mimi felt a dark weight pulling her heart.

The music stopped.

Matt released her from his embrace, and for one terrible moment, Mimi felt sad. It was over. There was no chance. Then he took her hand again, "Come with me!"

He pulled her with him, walking past guests who were now loudly singing 'Happy Birthday' to Matt's mother. He sled open a glass door which led onto a patio and lead her outside, quickly shutting the door behind them. They walked to the end of the patio, around the corner of the house and into a pool of darkness.

"We should be private here," he muttered, dropping her hand and moving away a few paces, establishing distance between them before turning to face her.

Mimi didn't know what his actions meant. At least he was still with her. He wanted to talk, if nothing else, and talking might help. But her mind was incapable of producing anything to say.

"The issue was always on trust, wasn't it?" he asked, shaking his head as though he was thinking otherwise. "I broke it so bad seven years ago…"

"Let's no go back to the past, Matt," she begged, only wanting a future with him.

"I have to make you understand, Mimi. We can't just ignore this," he said vehemently. "I need you to know you were special to me. You had this way of looking at me…your eyes so full of innocent trust…like you believed nothing bad could happen to you because I was there to look after you."

"It's called hero-worship, Matt," she said, wanting to stop him from looking back, scared that it couldn't lead anywhere good.

"No, it was more. No one else ever gave me that sense of…pure love. It made me want to live up to it. I guess I got carried away, Mimi, until I came to realize how selfish that was. I convinced myself I was giving you something…a better life…when I cut you off. But I just broke your heart and your trust in me."

It was true love, Mimi wanted to cry, but she bit her lips, not brave enough to speak the truth.

"I hated myself for doing it," he went on. "Knowing I broke your trust hit me so hard. I wanted you to trust in me again, and when you didn't, I began to not trust you instead of facing up to what I've done and the consequences of it."

He spread his hands in an urgent gesture of appeal. "I swear this is true, Mimi. I've been a kind of jerk these past seven years. None of the relationships I've had ever felt really important or vital to me. Then, just a week ago…"

He walked back to her, his hands lightly curling around her shoulders, his eyes seeking and wanting to know her heart. "…I met a fairy princess. And when she kissed me, it was like magic filling my whole body."

"Mine, too, Matt," she whispered. "That's why I came dressed like this tonight, hoping for another chance."

"Mimi…" He sucked in a quick breath and kissed her, and she responded with all the passionate urgency of wanting everything to be right between them, for the magic to burst forth and dispel the shadows that had plagued both of them. The past didn't matter. Only the present mattered. Now with Yamato. And the journey they could take from here.

It was so good…feeling him wanting her, feeling free to want him right back, and knowing she was as special to him as he was to her.

"I'll do everything I can to earn your trust again. Just give me a chance, Mimi," he breathed into her ear.

"Hold on to me, Matt. Don't let me go."

"Never, never." And he kissed her with that vow on his lips and in his heart. Her own heart pounded in union with his, swelling with the love that had always been there for him.

"Matt?...Mimi…?" Kari's voice calling.

Matt ended their kiss on a ragged sigh. "Yes…what?" he answered reluctantly, like he didn't want to stop what he was doing.

"I'm about to bring the cake for Mom. I want you in there with the rest of us."

"Be there in a minute," he promised. He eased back, lifting his hands to gently cup Mimi's face. "Are you okay with this…facing my family with me?"

"Are you?"

"No problem for me. I'm only too happy to have you at my side and let everyone know it's where I want to be."

"Then I'm happy with that, too."

His thumb tenderly touched her cheek. "I will look after you, Mimi."

"I do trust you to do that, Yama…" before she could finish, he kissed her again.

"This is the start of us being really together." His smile was filled with joyful relief.

"Yes," she agreed, smiling her own joyful relief.

And together they walked back into the house…holding hands…leaving the darkness behind. There was no place for darkness in their hearts. They carried magic with them. Magic that will serve wings to fly them together to their future.

AN: So how'd you like it? The song Mimi sang is called Let Me Be Your Wings from the movie 'Thumbelina.' I chose this song because I felt that it goes with the whole 'fairy princess thing with the fairy wings.' I personally love this song and it's one of my favorites. Do you guys want an Epilogue? There's actually another ending (that's the Epilogue part) but if you guys are contented with this one, then it's fine.

I hope you guys enjoyed reading this chapter as much as I enjoyed writing it. And I hope I didn't make too many errors…lolz!

Don't forget to review!

Here's a small preview of my upcoming Mimato fic "SEEKING JUSTICE". It came from this novel that I recently read. It's a Mystery/Romance/Action story. Please tell me what you think.

Eyes burning with fear, Mimi leaned forward and her scent of warm vanilla sugar teased him. "I can't go back, Matt. I can't just sit there and wait for the next shot through the window."

He crouched beside her and reached for her hand, trying to ignore the temptation of touching her brought. He thought the distance of years made him immune to her power to dazzle him. But there it was, fizzing through his veins like a make-believe world. Without that power, he loses everything.

"You don't get it."

"He's just a man, Mimi, not some sort of superhero."

"He owns me."

Matt pounded a fist against the tabletop. "Nobody owns anybody."

She turned her face away from him. "As long as he is alive, he will find me."

"Not if we destroy him."

"Hold off on picking up the chocolates," he told his assistant when she called in.

The sound of traffic buzzed in the background. "But I'm just about there," she whined.

"The lawyers are working something out. I can open the box myself." Satisfaction bubbled deep inside him, and he struggled to keep his emotions in check for the bullet-headed, brawny-armed guard listening in on his conversation.

He couldn't wait. A day…maybe two. How could they resist his ruse when he dangled a bigger prize than he was in front of their noses?

'Oh, sweet Mimi, I'll get to taste you again before I squeeze the life out of your soft center.' Just as she squeezed the life out of his future.

AN: Don't even think about asking who the bad guy is coz I'm not telling…hehehe! lolz