"Evie, I have something to tell you!" Anna Elizabeth exclaimed as she walked into her last class of the day, a drama class she had with her cousin.
"Nathan asked you out," Evie responded.
"What? How'd you know?" Anna Elizabeth asked in surprise as she sat in her desk.
"Come on, Anna Elizabeth. The quarterback of the football team finally asks someone out, and you don't think everyone knows about?" Evie pointed out with a grin.
Anna Elizabeth blushed deeply in response.
The blonde then changed the subject, "You decided what kind of dress you want for prom?"
"Not yet. But Mom and I are going next weekend. Are you and Aunt Emma going to come with us?" Evie answered.
"I think so," Anna Elizabeth told her.
Evie nodded before she asked, "Are you going to try to match the theme?"
"What's the theme?"
"Fairytales," Evie simply answered, and noticed how Anna Elizabeth's face turned red.
Evie grinned as she asked, "Okay, Cuz, what's with the blush?"
"Nothing," Anna Elizabeth told her.
Before Evie could press further, the teacher was starting class.
The brunette quickly whispered, "You better tell me later."
Anna Elizabeth gave a small smile in response.
With only a few minutes of class left, the teacher allowed the students some free time.
Evie instantly turned to Anna Elizabeth and told her, "Okay, spill."
"Spill what?" Anna Elizabeth asked, feigning innocence.
Evie rolled her eyes in response.
Anna Elizabeth grinned before she began, "Alright, Evie." She then took a breath and continued, "I blushed earlier because Nathan's nickname for me is Princess."
Evie tilted her head as she grinned and observed, "It suits you."
Anna Elizabeth returned her cousin's grin.
Evie then asked, "So is Uncle Killian, like, super overprotective?"
"Ugh, yes. And it's only been two days," Anna Elizabeth answered.
"He'll come around. My dad did," Evie assured her.
Anna Elizabeth nodded in response.
She then carefully asked, "So, you're going to prom in a group, right?"
"You don't have to tip-toe around it, Anna Elizabeth. I'm totally over Jason," Evie told her.
"You sure, Evie?" Anna Elizabeth asked.
"Of course, Anna Elizabeth," Evie reassured her.
The brunette then joked, "But I do want to hang out with you at some point during prom. You better not be too wrapped up in your boyfriend," with a wide grin.
Anna Elizabeth smiled back her before she admitted, "I'll honestly probably come find you to help calm my nerves."
"Hey, you'll be fine. Nathan is an awesome guy who's totally into you. Even though you're a dork sometimes, he obviously likes you for you. Just be yourself, Anna Elizabeth," Evie reassured her.
Anna Elizabeth smiled brightly at her as she said, "Thanks, Evie," before the bell rang.
When Anna Elizabeth and Liam arrived home, the dark-haired boy asked, "Can we finish that book we was reading?"
"Wouldn't you rather wait for Mom and Dad? You know we've been reading it together," Anna Elizabeth answered.
Liam furrowed his eyebrows in thought before he answered, "Oh, that's right. But it's such a fun story."
"I know, but I think you can wait," Anna Elizabeth began. She then continued, "But, if you finish your homework, you can read your AR book to me. Sound good?"
Liam nodded in response. He then proceeded to the kitchen table, took out a red folder, and went to work.
Anna Elizabeth moved to follow him, but was stopped by a knock on the door. Before she went to answer it, she placed her backpack on the counter.
The blonde opened it and was greeted by a few girls from the cheerleading squad. A confused look enveloped Anna Elizabeth's face as she observed, "I thought we weren't starting those extra practices until tomorrow."
"We're just having a little get together with the team and thought you might want to join us," one of the girls, Heather, answered.
Anna Elizabeth glanced behind the girls where she indeed saw the girls from the squad, along with a few guys she knew to be their boyfriends. She instantly got a bad feeling.
The blonde then surmised, "You seem to have invited a few more people than just the squad."
"I told you she'd be too chicken to come," Stephanie answered. She had been the ringleader of the girls giving Anna Elizabeth problems her freshman year. While all the other girls now respected Anna Elizabeth, Stephanie still didn't like her.
"Ok, so, it's really doesn't have anything to do with the team, but it'll be a fun party. We all know that Nathan asked you out, so you could bring him," Heather explained.
This wasn't the first time Anna Elizabeth had been subject to peer pressure from the team, especially since most of the girls were older than her. She couldn't deny that part of her wanted to go, but she also had a bad feeling in her gut. And both Emma and Killian had taught her to always listen to her gut.
"I really can't go, you guys. I'm babysitting my little brother," Anna Elizabeth told them. It was the truth, and it would save her from having to deal with the ramifications of everything else.
"Okay, that's cool. We'll see you later, Anna Elizabeth," Heather responded with a smile.
Stephanie, however, still loved to rub Anna Elizabeth's age in her face.
"Please, we both know that isn't the real reason you can't go. You're afraid your mommy and daddy will find out and punish you," Stephanie mocked.
Anna Elizabeth kept her cool as replied, "I hope you and Zack have a good time at your party. Like I said, I have to go check on my brother."
Stephanie rolled her eyes before she began to leave. She was halfway down the driveway when she stopped and said, "You know what? I really don't even know what Nathan sees in you, or why he waited for you. You're still that same immature girl who waltz into cheerleading camp last year and acted like she was better than everyone else. Eventually, he'll move on to someone his own age."
Anna Elizabeth was about to respond when she heard Nathan's voice, "That's where you're wrong, Stephanie. You are older than Anna Elizabeth, but she's still more mature than you because all you want to do is be the center of attention and start drama when you're not."
Stephanie huffed and walked away. Anna Elizabeth and Nathan then watched Zack, along with the other guys, drive away.
Anna Elizabeth then turned to Nathan and told him, "Thank you for that. She really is a drama queen."
"Of course, Princess. That's what boyfriends do," Nathan responded with a smile.
Anna Elizabeth smiled back at him before she added, "You know, I could have handled that myself. I have a lot of experience dealing with her."
"I know you could have, but I couldn't let her talk to you like that," Nathan answered.
Anna Elizabeth nodded before she asked, "How'd you hear what was going on anyway?"
"Well, I was driving by with the top down and heard everything," Nathan answered.
"You mean, over your rock music?" Anna Elizabeth teased.
Before Nathan could respond however, Liam ran over to his sister and asked, "Are you okay, Anna Elizabeth? That girl was being mean to you."
"You were listening, Liam? You're supposed to be doing your homework," Anna Elizabeth pointed out.
Liam looked down at the floor before he looked back up and told her, "I know. But she was mean, and I wanted you to be okay."
"Thank you for checking on me, Liam. I'm okay – I promise," Anna Elizabeth responded.
"That's good," Liam said.
Anna Elizabeth smiled at him before she told him, "Okay, Liam, now I need to you to go finish your homework."
Liam nodded in response before he returned to the kitchen table.
Anna Elizabeth then turned back to Nathan, who said, "I really should get back home. But I'll call you later, if that's cool?"
"Of course it is. Talk to you later," Anna Elizabeth told him. Nathan nodded before heading back to his car.
As the blonde shut the door, she leaned her back against it. She couldn't help the giddy smile that formed on her face. Nathan – one the absolute sweetest guys that she knew, who was also pretty popular and could easily get any girl to be his girlfriend – was her boyfriend. The mere thought made her blush.
She quickly shook her head from her thoughts and grabbed her backpack. She then went over to the kitchen table to tackle Algebra.
CSCSCSCSCSCSCS
A very exhausted Emma trudged through the door two hours later than normal. She immediately went into her and Killian's bedroom and crashed on the bed.
A couple of minutes later, she heard footsteps and Killian's voice, "Long day, love?"
Emma sat up and told him, "You have no idea. 10 minutes before our shift was over, David and I get this call from someone complaining about some teenagers having a loud party. We went over to check it, assuming it was harmless fun."
"I take it that wasn't the case," Killian supplied.
"No. When we got there, they were arguing. Some of them had found their parents' alcohol stash, and were playing a drinking game, while the others were trying to get them to stop. We had to do a breath-alyzer test on all of them, and even though all of them weren't drinking, we still had to bring them all in. There was underage drinking at a party that no one's parents knew about," Emma explained.
Killian sat on the bed and began rubbing Emma's back soothingly in response.
She then breathed a sigh of relief and added, "I'm just glad that Anna Elizabeth wasn't there."
"What? Why in the bloody hell would Anna Elizabeth be at a party like that, love?" Killian asked.
"Because, it was a party that the cheerleading squad had set up. Over half of the squad was there, along with their boyfriends," Emma answered.
"Do you think she knew about it?"
"Oh, she was invited to the party, but she turned them down. Or at least that's what Heather told me," Emma told him.
"I think it's safe to say that it's the truth, love. We both know that Anna Elizabeth is responsible and this isn't the first time she's dealt with peer pressure, Swan," Killian pointed out.
"I know. That isn't what this about," Emma said.
"Then, what's it about?" Killian asked.
Before he could answer her, the teenager in question came into their room.
"Hey, Heather just text me and told me that she can't go to competition because you arrested her?" Anna Elizabeth stated very confused.
Emma motioned for her to come sit on the bed before she began to explain, "It's a long story. And I'm going to start off by asking if you knew about the party that the cheerleaders were throwing."
"Yeah," Anna Elizabeth replied. She then added, "I said no."
"Just like that?" Emma questioned.
"Of course," Anna Elizabeth told her.
"Love, your mother and I were both your age once. I know you thought about going," Killian pointed out.
Anna Elizabeth sighed before she began to explain.
"Ok, part of me thought about going, especially when they said I could bring Nathan. But, I just had a bad feeling about it, and you guys told me to trust my gut, so I did."
"What did your gut say, kid?" Emma questioned.
"That their parents didn't know about it because Heather told me it was just a get together with the girls at first."
"Well, you were right not to go. David and I got called on account of a neighbor complaining about noise, and when we got there, some of the girls, along with their boyfriends, had been drinking. The other girls were trying stop them and it resulted in a big argument," Emma explained.
Anna Elizabeth's eyes widened. She took a moment to consider her mom's words before she asked, "So, you and Uncle David arrested everyone?"
"While it was true that not everyone was drinking, there was still underage drinking involved at an unsupervised party," Emma elaborated.
"So, that's why a lot of the girls can't go to competition. They're grounded," Anna Elizabeth observed.
"Yeah, kid," Emma answered. She then took a deep breath and added, "And since so many of the girls were there, none of you can make it to competition."
Anna Elizabeth sighed as she said, "It's not fair."
"I know it isn't, love. You've been working so hard, and now it's all going to waste.
But, I can also see the other parents' point of view. What those girls did was wrong. If you had been there, you'd be grounded as well. The only place you'd be going is school and back home," Killian told her.
He then took a breath and added, "I am really sorry this happened, love."
"I am too, kid. And we're both proud of you for making the right decision. We know it wasn't easy," Emma chimed in.
Anna Elizabeth replied, "I'm really glad I decided not to go, too."
She then added, "Besides, even if I had gone, I couldn't have stood Stephanie for very long anyways."
Emma then said, "Yeah. Heather told me what she said to you - don't take any of that to heart."
"I won't. I've heard a lot of it before. And for the stuff about Nathan, he basically shut her up," Anna Elizabeth said.
"Nathan was here?" Killian asked.
"He was driving by and heard Stephanie. So, he stopped and helped Anna Elizabeth out," Emma explained.
Anna Elizabeth smiled and slightly blushed before she pointed, "I could have handled it myself."
Both Emma and Killian chuckled before he said, "If I had a dime for every time I heard that from either one of your mothers, we could buy quite a few prom dresses."
Emma rolled her eyes while Anna Elizabeth giggled.
Emma then said, "Speaking of prom, since we don't have to worry about competition, we could go dress shopping this weekend instead of next."
"Really?" Anna Elizabeth questioned as her eyes lit up.
"Sure, kid. You are going to be beautiful - I'm sure Nathan will think so, too," Emma told her with a smile.
"Considering that's one of the reasons he calls me Princess, I don't doubt it," Anna Elizabeth replied, her smile bright. However, when she realized what she said, she blushed and buried her face in her hands.
She then got up and left the room with a quick goodnight to her parents.
Emma grinned and shook her head before she surmised, "So, that's his nickname for her."
"He calls her Princess?" Killian questioned.
"Come on, Killian. It's cute that he has a nickname for her," Emma told him.
Killian scratched behind his ear as he admitted, "I suppose you're right, love. And it is rather fitting."
"Was that so difficult?" Emma asked with a teasing grin.
"Actually, it was," Killian told her.
Emma rolled her eyes in response.
She then told him, "I'm exhausted, so I'm about to go to sleep."
"Whatever you say, my Swan," Killian responded with a grin.
CSCSCSCSCSCSCS
"Anna Elizabeth, how many dresses do you have in there? Are you going to let us see one?" Evie told her cousin through the fitting room door.
"This is the one! I love it!" Anna Elizabeth responded.
"Then come out, kid," Emma said.
Anna Elizabeth then opened the door and stepped beside Evie.
The brunette's dress was a strapless and short dress. The bottom of the red dress was flowy while the top was covered in a diamond pattern. Evie had paired it with a pair of sparkly flats.
Anna Elizabeth's dress was short in the front and long in the back. The aqua blue dress had a single strap that went across the shoulder and through the middle of the bust of the bodice. The bodice itself had a diagonal line of diamonds across it. The bottom of this dress was also flowy.
Emma and Mary Margaret wore bright smiles as they took in their daughters' appearance.
"Both of you look absolutely beautiful," Mary Margaret told them.
"Really?" the girls asked in sync.
"Absolutely," Emma said.
Anna Elizabeth and Evie's expression changed to a smile as the latter said, "Well, it looks like we have our dresses, Cuz. Everything else will be easy after this."
Mary Margaret and Emma smiled before the blonde suggested, "How about you two get changed, and then we'll find you some shoes, Anna Elizabeth."
"Okay, Mom," Anna Elizabeth replied before she and Evie went back into their dressing rooms.
Mary Margaret then said, "Oh, this brings back memories from when my mom took Regina, Ariel and I dress shopping for prom. I loved looking at all the dresses - I had such a hard time deciding."
"It's probably because you wanted to impress David," Emma surmised.
"Oh, I did. I had to find the perfect one - Mom and Ariel were helpful, but Regina was getting impatient," Mary Margaret replied.
Emma couldn't help but chuckle before she said, "That doesn't surprise me at all."
She then added, "Although, she probably wasn't worse than Ruby. She was convinced that Elsa and I needed to stand out and kept pulling these neon colored, sparkle covered dresses for us to try on."
Emma then began to laugh and was soon followed by Mary Margaret.
Anna Elizabeth and Evie then came out of the dressing rooms, and the brunette asked, "What's funny?"
"We were just thinking about how Aunt Regina and Ruby were on the pushy side when we went prom dress shopping," Mary Margaret explained.
"Well, if you were as fixed on impressing Dad as Anna Elizabeth is on Nathan, I can relate," Evie teased.
Anna Elizabeth rolled her eyes and slightly blushed before she said, "Let's just go find me some shoes."
Half an hour later, Emma, Anna Elizabeth, Mary Margaret, and Evie were in the midst of lunch from the food court.
Anna Elizabeth had a giddy smile as her phone lit up with a text message.
"That must be Nathan," Evie observed, with a teasing smile.
As Anna Elizabeth looked back up, she pointed out, "You keep teasing me about Nathan, but you were just as bad when you were with Jason."
Evie ran a hand through her hair as she said, "I wasn't either."
"Hey, you two. You're both entitled to being nervous - we're talking about your first real boyfriend here," Emma pointed out.
"It doesn't apply to just the first one, Emma," Mary Margaret told her sister-in-law with a grin.
"I know you're not talking about me and Killian," Emma surmised with raised eyebrows.
"You were so nervous for your first date with him. You called me because you couldn't decide what to wear, and you kept pacing all around your apartment. You were even worse when you thought he was going to propose. Not to mention your wedding," Mary Margaret pointed out with that same grin.
It was Emma this time who blushed slightly as she admitted, "Okay, you've made your point. I was nervous." She then continued, "The point I was trying to make is that it is normal," as she turned to look at her niece and daughter with a smile.
The two girls smiled back in response.
Just as they started back eating, Anna Elizabeth heard her name being called. She looked over to see Alexandra and Jane making their way over.
The blonde stood up and hugged them both. As they pulled away, Anna Elizabeth told them, "I hate that I don't have any classes with you guys."
"I know. It's absolutely dreadful," Jane agreed.
Alexandra couldn't help but smile as she said, "You and your British English."
Jane rolled her eyes before she pointed out, "It's not like I can help it - I don't know why you feel the need to point it out. Anna Elizabeth doesn't."
"That's because I'm used to it. You guys know my dad is British, too," Anna Elizabeth told them.
Alexandra then changed the subject and asked, "So, what brings you guys to the mall?"
"Prom dress shopping," Anna Elizabeth responded.
Both Jane and Alexandra grinned.
Jane then asked, "So, are you excited to be going to the junior and senior prom?"
"Excited and nervous," Anna Elizabeth answered.
"It'll be awesome. You'll see," Alexandra stated. She then continued, "Besides, you're going with one of sweetest guys in school."
Anna Elizabeth slightly blushed as she replied, "I know."
Jane then added, "You'll have to tell us about it since we have to wait until next year."
The girls then heard their names being called. They exchanged goodbyes before heading on their way.
The blonde then sat back down and continued eating her chicken tenders.
Emma could tell her that her daughter was distracted and asked, "Hey, kid, you alright?"
"I just realized that I'll be the only sophomore there. What if I look stupid?" Anna Elizabeth replied worriedly.
"Oh, sweetie, you won't. You just focus on having fun with Nathan and your friends. That's all that counts," Mary Margaret reassured her.
Anna Elizabeth nodded in response.
She then questioned, "Why do I stress over everything so much?"
"You get from Liam and Elsa. After losing their parents, they felt the need to be in constant control, and they planned out everything to the last detail. They didn't like the feeling of not knowing or uncertainty. But they were able to help each other let go of those fears and just live, and you have to learn how to do the same thing, Anna Elizabeth," Emma told her.
Anna Elizabeth sighed as she said, "I'll try, Mom."
Emma smiled at her in response.
Mary Margaret then added, "How about we do some more shopping? We have to find some lovely makeup for you girls to go with your dresses."
"You do realize that prom is over two months away," Emma pointed out.
"It can't hurt to look," Mary Margaret said.
"Come on, Aunt Emma. I need some more foundation and eyeshadow anyway," Evie pleaded.
"Okay, fine. You guys win," Emma told them.
Mary Margaret, Evie, and Anna Elizabeth smiled in satisfaction before they all threw away their food containers before they headed to another store.
CSCSCSCSCSCSCS
When Emma and Anna Elizabeth arrived home, the teenager asked, "Hey, Mom?"
"Yeah, kid?"
"What you said about my parents - about them helping each other let go. Is that how they fell in love?" Anna Elizabeth asked with genuine curiosity.
"It's part of the reason," Emma began. She then smiled and continued, "They were kindred spirits."
"Like you and Dad are?" Anna Elizabeth asked with a smile.
"Just like us" Emma answered, her smile growing.
Anna Elizabeth grew serious as she asked, "Do you think I'll find that one day?"
Emma then stroked her daughter's curls as she began, "You, kid, are entirely too much of a hurry to grow up."
She then continued, "While I admire that you have tenacity about everything you do, that you are able to handle most things with grace and maturity, and that you're searching for purpose in your life, you're just turning 16 in a couple weeks. You need to just live your life and have fun. Everything may not happen how you want it, but it will happen how it's supposed to. You have no reason to worry, kid - just enjoy yourself."
Anna Elizabeth then wrapped Emma in a hug. As they pulled away, the teenager said, "Thanks, Mom."
"Any time, Anna Elizabeth," Emma responded.
Anna Elizabeth smiled brightly at her before she suggested, "How about you tell me more about you and my mom's adventures in prom with Ruby?"
Emma giggled at her daughter's description before she replied, "Sounds like a plan. But first, let's get your dress hung up."
Anna Elizabeth nodded before going off to her room.