A/N: Sorry for the delay on this chapter! First, school was busy...now I'm on a Rocky Horror PIcture Show kick and haven't had an easy time finding inspiration for other fandoms. I know this chapter is short, but I wanted to go ahead and put it up to lessen the wait for a long chapter. Thanks so much to all my wonderful reviews! Enjoy!
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A week had passed since the Fairy Godmother had last seen Frederick, and she had fought hard to push him out of her mind. Secretly, a part of her hoped he would return to the cottage to speak with her. He hadn't. On top of that, Charming was beginning to spend more and more time with his mystery girl that he refused to let his mother meet yet. She had stopped pushing him; with a mix of pride and regret, she realized that he didn't really need her smothering as much as she thought he had. As greedy as she was, she knew that if she tried to hold on to her son too tightly, he would grow to resent her. She had seen it enough with countless young people in the kingdom. So she let him have his space. As a result, she was growing increasingly lonely in the factory full of workers. Although her employees weren't nameless (she may have been a dictator towards them, but she DID learn their names; she was a shrewd businesswoman and knew how to create a somewhat healthy work environment), none of them were what she might consider friends.
Once again, as she had done in the past, she threw herself headlong into her work. She began scheming up all sorts of ways to improve the business and to get back in favor with the people of Far Far Away; she had heard the gossip circulating around the kingdom, and while she still had supporters and fans, there were many people who were disillusioned with her image after the events at Shrek and Fiona's wedding ball. Unfortunately, nothing short of a public apology seemed to be an option in regaining the people's trust, and she was still too proud for that.
As luck would have it, one morning she received an inviation in the mail with a royal seal stamped on it. It was lying at the top of her inbox when she got to her desk, and she slit open the envelope with a carefully manicured fingernail, drawing out the parchment within. Apparently, there was to be another ball held in honor of Shrek and Fiona's marriage, since their first one hadn't exactly gone as planned. Not only was the Fairy Godmother being invited to attend, but she had been asked to provide her vocal talents.
Reading over the letter a second time, she frowned slightly. The whole thing seemed a little suspicious in her sight. Why on Earth would Harold and Lillian go out of their way to invite her to a royal ball when she had been the one responsible for the last one becoming disastrous? Then again, the royal couple was known for being good and forgiving...inviting her could be their way to try and make a public reconciliation. In fact, it would be the perfect way to show the kingdom that she was on civil terms with the royal family, which would, in turn, help restore her image.
If she had been put in the same situation a week earlier, the Fairy Godmother would probably have torn up the invitation and refused to attend out of spite. However, all pride pushed aside, she knew going to the ball was the perfect way to jumpstart her business again. With an irritated sigh, she signed the RVSP on the invitation with a flourish of pink ink and sealed it up, placing it in her outbox to be mailed.
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"I think it's an absurd idea" Harold said, pacing around his study in a huff. Lillian sat at his desk, calmly making out lists and sending last minute invitations for Shrek and Fiona's new wedding ball. "I can't believe you're actually trying to help this woman when she tried to destroy your own daughter! And just think about what she did to me"
"Harold, she explained that she had no intention of harming Fiona or Shrek. And she did change you back" Lillian reminded. "Besides, she's been through a great deal, when you think about it."
"She's put us through a great deal, as well" Harold muttered in response. "Besides, I really don't think this whole scheme of yours is going to work out. First flattering her, then trying to make her jealous...how do we know she's not going to throw a temper tantrum and do something drastic" he exclaimed.
Lillian refrained from reminding Harold that he himself was famous for his temper tantrums. Instead, she kept her voice gentle. "Harold, no matter what she has done to us in the past, I feel it is our duty as monarchs to help her when it is within our power. After all, she isn't all bad."
"All the same, I'll be much happier when this whole mess is over and done with" Harold grumbled, crossing his arms over his chest in a sulk. Lillian smiled at him over the top of her reading glasses.
"Don't worry. The ball is only a week away, and after that, I have a feeling everyone is going to live happily ever after" she announced. She only hoped she sounded more confident than she felt.