"Shaggy, where are we going?"

"Shh, it's a surprise," Shaggy chuckled.

"But why am I blindfolded?"

"Like, because it's a surprise"

"So late?"

"Relax, Christina, we're almost there"

Christina gave up questioning Shaggy allowing him to lead her on, shivering when the wind hit her face. Shaggy stopped, rounding back to drape a jacket over her shoulders.

Shaggy took her hand, pulling her from the school into the night air and on a winding path with more than a few loops.

"Ready?" he whispered so close, his breath tickled her ear.

"Yes! Show me! Show me!"

"Okay," he laughed, "One, two, three"

the blindfold fell away to reveal a picnic set up under the stars.

"When did you do all of this?" Christina asked while Shaggy led her to the blanket.

"Earlier," was Shaggy's only response, opening the basket, lifting out dish after dish, all piping hot.

"Did you cook all of this?"

"Yes"

"When?"

"Earlier"

"Stop with the one-word answers"

"Like, if I gave you the answers that you're wanting I like wouldn't be mysterious now would I?"

"Since when have you ever been mysterious?"

"Good point"

Laughter slipped away to silence. This was foreign, uncharted territory. Terrifying for Christina who'd never been on a date. Not once. Always too wrapped up in school, family, fending off a psycho to really date anyone.

"Christina?"

"Yes?"

"What are you thinking about?" Shaggy looked at her with such innocent curiosity that it hurt.

This wouldn't couldn't work out. Still, Shaggy wanted to try.

"I'm terrified," She admitted bitterly.

"It's like, terrifying for me too," Shaggy nodded, hand grabbing hers, "Baby steps, we'll take it slow, promise"

Christina hid her smile in her glass.

…...

"You should go to bed, Sophie"

Sophie yelped, regarding Maleficent warily, "I'm waiting for Mommy and, Daddy to come back"

"They won't be back for a while"

"But, Mommy has to read me a story, she always reads me a story"

"She does?"

"Every night"

"Can you show me?" Maleficent nodded to the book on Sophie's lap.

Even though Maleficent still made Sophie nervous, she opened the book and presented it to Maleficent.

"How about I tell you a new story?"

"A new story?"

"One you've never heard before"

"Okay," Sophie nodded, "I'd like that"

"May I?" Maleficent reached for her.

"Yes"

Soon, Sophie was sitting on Maleficent's lap as she began her tale:

"Once upon a time a very, very long time ago, a tiny fairy was left orphaned in a hollow tree. Now, this fairy was unlike any fairy seen before. All sharp edges with green skin and horns. The other fairies were very scared of her-"

"But, she was a baby," Sophie protested.

"I know, but she wasn't alone for in this tree there lived a flock of crows, they took care of the fairy, bringing her clothes and food"

"What happened next?"

"Many years later, this fairy who was shunned and ignored rose to become queen but she wasn't happy, not at all so she often wandered to land around her castle, happier there than she was inside. One day she reconnected with one of her only friends from childhood. One thing led to another and she fell in love with him"

"Did they live happily ever after?"

"No," Maleficent shook her head, "The fairy's friend was no friend at all. In fact, he stole her wings so he could become king of the nearby land. He left the fairy alone with their baby and without her wings"

"That's sad"

"But it isn't the end of the story"

"It's not?"

"No, months went by and the king had a child. So sad was the fairy that she crashed the christening"

"Wait..like the sleeping beauty story?"

"Maybe, can you guess what happened?"

"The fairy cursed the baby who was then raised by three other fairies until she was sixteen"

"Then what?"

"She fell asleep and the prince fought a dragon to wake her up"

"That's right"

"The fairy was you?"

"Yes, it was me"

"What happened to your baby?"

"That was Christina's mommy"

"You're a queen?"

"Yes"

"Does that make Mommy a princess?"

"Yes, yes it does"

"Wow"

"Surprising isn't it?"

"Yes," Sophie yawned, falling asleep.

…...

"Tell me a secret?" Shaggy prompted Christina.

"You first," Christina laughed.

"But I asked you first"

"Hm, I'm terrible at math"

"Isn't everyone?"

"Okay, well what do you want to know?"

"Anything, everything"

"You still owe me a secret"

"When I was little I wanted to be an astronaut"

"What changed your mind?"

"Food"

"Of course"

"Your turn again"

"I hated piano lessons when I was little"

That caught Shaggy off guard, "Like, that's not true!"

"What makes you say that?"

"You're so talented! Like, you teach music now!"

"The only reason I took lessons was because Uncle Dracula insisted said, I needed to stop doodling on the walls so he made a call and had a teacher shipped from Transylvania"

"What happened then?"

"This was before my powers came in so every day after lunch while Draculaura went down for her nap I was sat on the piano bench and made to learn piece after piece of classical music which I had no interest in"

"So, what changed?"

"I said that if they were going to make me learn then they should teach me Disney songs instead, my teacher was appalled by the idea, elite vampire, but Uncle Dracula said I could pick a song and if I learned it there'd be no more classical music"

" I take it you learned?"

"By the end of the month I could play Once Upon a Dream and Part Of Your World," Christina giggled, "Teacher had a conniption, he was dismissed and I learned other songs"

"Again, you're like, seriously talented"

"Thank you," Christina blushed, "Your turn again"

…...

the time slipped away from the duo. It was well past midnight when they snuck back into the school, each astounded to see Sophie sleeping peacefully on Maleficent's lap.

"Did you have a nice time?"

"Yes," Christina blushed, while Shaggy collected Sophie and took her to bed, "How did you..." she faltered.

"I simply told her a story," Maleficent smiled, "Now you should go onto bed, it's awfully late"

"Yes, Grandmother," Christina nodded, "Thank goodness tomorrow is Saturday"

….

The next day, shortly after breakfast, Christina passed out cleaning supplies to the less than eager girls.

"Why do we have to clean?" Dani whined, "It's Saturday"

"You wouldn't have to if you had taken my suggestion on Monday," Christina replied, "I think you'll find it's not that awful"

"How?"

"A very wise woman once told me a great secret"

"What? What?" the girls clambered to know.

"In every job that must be done

There is an element of fun

You find the fun

And snap!

The job's a game!"

The girls looked on as Christina explained:

"And every task you undertake

Becomes a piece of cake

A lark, a spree, It's very clear to see

That a spoonful of sugar helps the medicine go down

Medicine go down

Medicine go down

Just a spoonful of sugar helps the medicine go down

In a most delightful way"

Encouraged, the girls grabbed their supplies and followed behind Christina who'd set to helping Sophie sweep the floor.

Once the windows were cleaned, they were opened to let the breeze through. Maleficent could only watch with an eye-roll as songbirds fluttered in. The one thing she could never understand was her granddaughter's tendency to attract wildlife.

Christina, floating from one task to the next took it all in stride.

"A robin feathering his nest

Has very little time to rest

While gathering his bits of twine and twig

Though quite intent in his pursuit

He's got a merry tune to toot

He knows a song will move the job along

And a spoonful of sugar helps the medicine go down

Medicine go down

Medicine go down

Just a spoonful of sugar helps the medicine go down

In a most delightful way"

"It's not so bad is it girls?" Christina grinned at the students who now worked without complaint.

"No," they chorused.

"The honey bees that fetch the nectar

From the flowers to the comb

They never tire of buzzing to and fro

Yeah, 'cause they take a little nip

From every flower that they sip

And hence

(And hence)

They find

(They find)

Their task is not a grind"

"Look, Christina surveyed their progress, "We're almost done, girls"

"Maybe if we hurry, we'll finish!" Tannis suggested.

"Good idea," the girls put a rush on it.

"Just a spoonful of sugar helps the medicine go down

Medicine go down

Medicine go down

Just a spoonful of sugar helps the medicine go down

In the most delightful way"

Faster and faster they went about their tasks.

"Just a spoonful of sugar helps the medicine go down

Medicine go down

Medicine go down

Just a spoonful of sugar helps the medicine go down

In a most delightful way"

and even faster, whirling through the rooms.

Just a spoonful of sugar helps the medicine go down

Medicine go down

Medicine go down

Just a spoonful of sugar helps the medicine go down

In a most delightful way

Oh, in a most delightful way!"

"Look!" Lupa cried, "We're done!"

"Very good, girls, clean yourselves up and go enjoy your Saturday"

when the girls left, Christina hoisted the laundry basket onto her hip and headed for the laundry room, passing by her grandmother who was furiously rubbing her temples.

"Poppins," she groaned, "Will you never cease to vex me, Mary?"

"It got the job done, didn't it?" Christina cheerfully laughed.

Shaggy cornered her once she'd started the washer.

"You know Mary Poppins?"

"She was my nanny when I was little"

"Like, let me get this straight, Maleficent is your grandmother"

"Yes"

"Dracula is your uncle"

"Yes"

"And, Mary Poppins was your nanny?"

"Yes"

"Like, I think I need to sit down"

"Come on, let's join the girls outside"

…...

A few days later, Shaggy and Sophie were driving home for the Thanksgiving break. As much as he didn't want to, Shaggy knew now was the best time to have the Mommy isn't really Mommy conversation before some distant relative upset his daughter. As a precaution, however, he bought Sophie a shake to at least keep her happy during the conversation.

"Sophie, you know Miss Christina isn't really your Mommy, right?"

"Yes, she is." Sophie pouted.

"No, Sophie, she isn't," Shaggy hated to say.

"Why not?" Sophie crossed her arms.

"Well, she didn't er, bring you into the world, remember Miss Draculaura and her babies?"

"She's still my Mommy," Sophie insisted.

"Why?" he pressed gently, "Why is Christina your Mommy?"

"Because she loves me and takes care of me and reads me stories and I love her too!"

"I love her too," Shaggy smiled, "But some family won't like, get it"

"I know," Sophie nodded, "But, it's okay, Mommy's still Mommy"

"That's right"

"Daddy?"

"Yes, Sophie?"

"I wish Mommy could've come with us"

"Me too, Sophie, me too"