Rise or Fall

by Heiress Mellie

First Class: Charles and Erik have accepted their roles as guardians and headmasters over the young mutants but there is still work to be done for the greater than typical family. This is a familial and discipline, including spanking, centered fiction.

40. Chapter 40 Prancing Princess

X-Men-First Class: Rise or Fall

Chapter Forty

Author's Word: Hi, everyone. So, life has been very, very less than simplistic on a rather large scale. I wanted to thank all of you for your feedback and strong support. This story is going to go on for a long time and knowing I have an audience means so much. Also, I want to hear what everyone thinks of the story's cover page so be sure to let me know in your feedback. Enjoy this!

"Zachery, I already told you. No candy for at least a month after that last cavity."

"But Mommy, please, please, please."

At the rising commotion, Becky's attention turned from the leaflet in her hands. She saw a woman in a nearby aisle having a square-off with a boy who looked to be a couple years younger than Joey.

"No, absolutely not," the woman said resolutely. "Now put that licorice down so we can go." Her son's face crumbled and he began to cry loudly. "Zachary, you stop that this instant, young man. People are staring." When he only continued, she grabbed him by the wrist. "Just wait until we get home. I am going to tell your father—" Her intensely angered expression brightened up into instant delight. "—how good you've been today. Come on." She gently took the licorice package from him. "We better go pay for this."

The very confused little boy followed his mother towards the checkout counter.

"More of your "magic" at work I see." Becky turned around and looked up at the sound of Erik's voice.

"Huh?" Her bright eyes twinkled up at him

Erik gave her a knowing look. "Unless it's a situation of serious importance, we mind our own business, Rebecca. Remember that."

"Yes, Erik," she replied with a soft compliance.

"What's that you have there?"

"Oh, look." Becky held up the paper she carried.

Taking it with his free hand, Erik scanned its contents with his concentrative eyes. "Sparkle Dance Studio, ages four to sixteen— fascinating." He squatted down to Becky's level, placing the paper bag he had with him on the tiled floor for a moment. "We should be heading back."

"Erik," Becky spoke as the man removed her black winter accessories from her red coat, "my birthday's coming up."

"This Sunday, the anniversary of when the heavens split apart to release one of its angels. Yes, I'm well aware." He got her scarf ready. "Hair up, please."

Becky used both hands to uphold her long curls. "I'd really, really like to take dance lessons."

"I don't see how you possibly could. Hands out." Once she extended the requested appendages, he slipped her gloves on. "You have school."

"The lessons are after school," Becky pointed out.

"You have your training after school." Erik put the wool hat on top of her head. "That's much too important to neglect, isn't it?"

"Well…" She thought about it. "Yes, but couldn't I do both maybe? Please, Erik?"

"We'll discuss that later." He stood, bag back in his possession then held his hand out for her.

"Yes, Erik," she repeated, linking up with him.

As they walked towards the exit, Erik meticulously worked the flyer into his bag.

IIIIIII

When he heard the knocking at one of his lab doors, he placed his hammer down to focus a moment on the visitor's breathing since he could not register a scent. At the heavy somewhat edged inhales and exhales of air, he knew who it had to be.

"Hi, Sean," Hank acknowledged before he had the doors open.

"How'd you know it was me?" the younger male asked, walking in.

After the teen entered, Hank relocked the doors. "You're the heaviest breather here. I'm going to have to note that to Charles so we can work on your stealth training."

"Everyone's an instructor," Sean commented lowly then watched as Hank resumed work constructing what appeared to be a large chest of some sort. "Did you make this?"

"For Becca's birthday," Hank responded, getting a screw in for one of the back hinges. "It has space inside along with multiple compartments. When I'm done, I'm going to have Joey paint Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty, and Snow White across the top. His art skills are significantly better than mine."

"Noticed," Sean said, looking the chest over. "This is really far out, man. You're lucky to know Curls so well. I'm still trying to figure out a gift. What do you get for an eleven-year-old girl?"

"I think the better question is what do you get for an eleven-year-old Becca?" Hank put forth.

Sean nodded. "So about this Snow White deal we're doing. Who'd Becky give you?"

"Doc."

"Ah, figures."

Hank looked at him. "Who did she give you?"

"Sleepy," Sean answered, getting a chuckle out of Hank. "I know, I know. But I'll take him over Dopey."

"Alex?" Hank guessed.

"Alex," Sean confirmed. "I know Frank's Sneezy. Joey's Happy."

"Charles is Bashful," Hank chimed in with a smile.

"We all know who Grumpy is," Sean smirked.

"Indeed," Hank said, picking up his hammer to work with a less than cooperative interior drawer.

IIIIIII

Before he heard the hurrying small footsteps eagerly headed his way, Charles detected the young mind and stood in the doorway of his study to meet him part way.

"Daddy!" Joey jumped right for him.

Charles caught him easily, twirling around with him a bit as they hugged. "There he is. How was class today, little one?"

"It was great but I missed you," Joey told him.

"I missed you, too," Charles returned, tickling the adorable tiny nose. "Were you a good lad?"

Alex walked up and assured, "His teacher says he's perfect. She's nuts about him."

"Good," Charles nodded approvingly.

"Daddy, did you know that red, blue, and yellow are the primary colors?" Joey mentioned importantly. "And white and black are the neutral colors?"

Though he did already know that, Charles still said, "Really? That's very interesting. What else did you learn?"

"About shadows." Joey moved his hand as if it held a pencil. "You scribble shadows under the people and stuff you draw and it makes them look more alive."

"That's a lovely technique, though most of your pictures already look about ready to leap off the pages." Charles turned to Alex. "Could you get a small snack for him then get him ready for training? I'll be out shortly."

"You got it. Come on, Eel." Alex took him from Charles, flipping the smaller boy over his shoulder as he carried him off.

Returning to his study, Charles sat back behind is desk. He tried to concentrate on grading but he ended up laying his head down. Soon, he drifted into a rapid multitude of dreams that all seemed to have one colliding theme about them.

Charles, Charles, Charles…

"Charles?"

The Professor shot up in his seat, gazing into the curious green eyes of Becky. "Oh, sweetheart. Just resting my eyes."

"Are you okay?" she asked him with concern.

"I'm afraid not," Charles replied in mock despondence. "You see, I need a princess' kiss to regain my strength." Becky reached up to peck his cheek. "Ah, there we are. All better now." He pulled her close to him. "Now, what about you? You seem troubled about something."

"It's my birthday."

"You don't want to do Snow White anymore?" Charles played in her curls.

"Of course I do," Becky responded without a moment's hesitation. "But I really want to take dance lessons, too."

Charles smiled at that. "Dance lessons? That sounds like a wonderful idea."

Becky's face brightened at his reaction. "But Erik says it'll get in the way of training. It's not fair, though. Joey gets to take art. Why can't I take dance?"

"Excellent question." Charles sighed internally. "I'll speak to Erik about this matter, but Princess, we both know that where it concerns you Erik tends to have the final say."

"I know," the little girl said. "Because I'm an Erik kid."

"Only because he stole you from me." He gave her a fond squeeze.

IIIIIII

Putting down his drinking glass, Frank said, "Look, all I'm saying is who names their kid Sneezy? What kind of mom looks at their baby and says, "You will be Sneezy"?"

"The same mom who decided to name one of her kids Dopey," Alex responded. "I'm wondering if he was that way before or after he got trapped in that family."

Frank stuck a spoonful of baked potato into his mouth. "Their mom was the real witch. I'm telling you."

Erik took notice of Joey connecting pieces of broccoli together with toothpicks. "Excuse me, little Picasso, but vegetables are meant to be eaten, not put on display."

Joey made a displeased face. "Don't call me that, Uncle Erik."

Charles brought up, "Joey, Pablo Picasso is one of those most world renowned artists in all of history."

"I know that, but his work is so ugly," the eight-year-old stated. "His people always look so weird."

"Critique and artiste," Hank surmised. "He's truly a prodigy."

"Maybe I'll be a prodigy, too," Becky chimed up.

"You already are," Erik reminded her. "You're a brilliant telepath."

"No, not just that," she said, looking at him. "With other things I like."

Erik simply picked up the salt shaker to sprinkle on his chicken. "Finish your dinner."

Becky touched one of his sleeves. "Erik, when are we going to talk about—?"

"Not at the table," Erik cut in sharply. "Now, finish your dinner."

Letting off a frustrated breath, Becky picked her fork back up.

Charles watched the two of them, shaking his head slightly.

When dinner ended, the telepath pulled the metal wielder away into the parlor.

"We need to talk about Becky," Charles told him, taking up his usual chess chair.

Erik sat across from him. "Are her sessions with you going alright?"

"Just fine," Charles answered, "but that isn't what I meant. I spoke with her today. She's interested in taking dance classes, but you seem to think it'll interfere with her mutant training. I think we can make the same reasonable accommodations for her as we have for Joey."

Erik let off a scoff. "Typical. Oh so typical. It never fails."

Charles frowned in confusion. "I'm sorry?"

"The children playing us against each other," Erik emphasized. "This has happened before and you constantly feed into it. Well, Professor, I believe I know what's best for Becky." He stood and started out.

Getting right up, Charles moved to stand in front of the older man. "Let's get one thing straight right now, brother. I happen to love that little girl the same as you. Now, the bond you two have is something I could never penetrate nor would I want to. However, if you expect me to bite my tongue when I clearly see you doing wrong by her then you have another bloody thing coming. Is that perfectly clear?"

Taken aback for several seconds, Erik eventually replied, "Crystal, brother." He walked towards the fireplace. "I never meant to shoot down your authority. But Becky… I almost lost her Charles- we almost lost her- and now you're telling me you want me to send her back out there?" Erik pointed. "Into the world?"

"Erik, I also would like to fold them up neatly and stick them into my pocket, but they're going to have to know life outside these walls eventually," Charles rationalized.

Knowing yet hating that to be true, Erik sighed, "I will consider this."

Nodding, Charles then suggested, "Brandy over a game of chess?"

"Please." Erik walked back over, reclaiming his seat.

IIIIIII

As he walked up and down the aisle utterly lost, Alex could only wonder how the world's pink supply could be contained in one section.

Raven came up to him. "See anything?"

"Hard to narrow it down," he replied, staring vaguely at a cluster of dolls. "What'd you want when you turned eleven?"

"Hm, let's see. Food, clothes, shelter, Charles showering me with more toys than I'd ever seen," she recalled. "You know, I don't think I ever really had to want for anything after that."

"Feeling a little of that now," he nodded.

"What about you?" Raven asked. "What'd you get when you turned eleven?"

"My foster parents at the time were pretty cool," the boy recollected. "They saved up to get me a bike, but in the neighborhood we were living in I had to fight pretty much every day to keep the hoods from getting it." His hand finally fell on a hot pink wand with a heart shaped tip surrounded in fluffy feathers. "I guess her highness will need this to complete the look." He held it up. "I can't believe I have to be seen buying this. She's lucky she's cute."

Raven smiled at him. "Come on, macho." She led the way towards checkout.

IIIIIII

Erik came through the front of the house and heard the sounds of random noise combined with childish laughter coming from the living room. He removed his coat and hat before heading that way. He found Becky and Frank on the couch in front of the television, enjoying the many antics of Bugs Bunny.

Erik leaned over the back of the couch, watching the bald hunter try in vain to shoot at the gray furred rabbit. "I trust homework was completed before this strong intake of violence began?"

"Yeah, Erik," Frank replied. "I'm all done."

He turned to the girl next. "Becky?"

"I haven't even started," she answered, not looking away from the TV.

Erik grimaced. "Becky, you know the rules. No television until after your homework."

"I'll do it later," she shrugged off, rolling her head back to look up at him. "Later when I feel like it, not when you feel like it."

Frank glanced at her in pure surprise.

Erik walked around and switched the television off then requested calmly, "Frank, go upstairs."

"Yes, sir." The boy hurried off.

Taking up the spot on the couch the hastily departed Frank had left behind, Erik stared intently at the remaining brunette child in the room. "Who am I?"

She squinted in confusion. "What?"

"Who? Am? I?" he repeated slower.

"Erik," she answered.

"Exactly. I'm not Frank and I'm not Joey." Erik's voice turned drastically sterner as he went on. "You may be getting older very shortly, but be you eleven, twenty-one, or fifty-one, you had better not take that tone of voice or haughty attitude with me again." He carefully took hold of her chin. "Do you hear me, Rebecca?"

"Yes, Erik," came her soft sheepish reply. "I'm sorry."

"Good." He moved his hand from her chin to her upper arm. "I take it this is about this dance business. Now tell me, why exactly is this so important to you? You've never shown any interest in this. What happened to journal writing? Reading?"

Becky's face lowered slightly, causing several curls to tumble forward. "When I was in first grade, I got the part of the dancing fairy for my school play. But my dad couldn't come. Everybody else's parents were there, but he had to work; like always. I didn't want to do it again. Who cares if you clap for yourself?"

Erik listened until she finished then lifted her up close to touch foreheads with her. "I care. You're to leave the applause to me from now on. I went down to the dance studio today. You're all signed up."

A grin of shock and delight spread across Becky's face. "Thank you, Erik!" She squeezed him as tightly as she could around his neck. "Thank you, thank you, thank you!"

He patted her back. "You start tomorrow then every Monday, Wednesday, Friday. But you're still not to neglect school or training."

"Oh, I won't," she assured, pulling back to face him. "I can do everything. You'll see."

"Well, Wonder Woman, I want that homework completed before I tuck you in," he said, standing her up with a firm pat to her behind.

She started out then glanced back. "You know who Wonder Woman is?"

Erik responded, "And well before you did."

IIIIIII

"Look at her." Raven descended the stairs as she spoke. She took Becky by the hand to give her a little ballerina twirl. "Isn't she dazzling?"

Becky wore a red leotard with purple tights and a sheer tie-on skirt that matched the tights. Flat red shoes covered her feet.

Erik looked her up and down. "Is there a reason that garment is see-through?"

"What, the skirt?" Raven adjusted it for Becky. "Erik, dancers have to wear light clothing."

Erik still shook his head disapprovingly. "She'll catch a cold dressed like that in this weather."

Raven put one hand on her hip. "Yes, complete pneumonia as she goes down to our heated garage, into the car, and straight to dance class."

"Don't get cheek." Erik pointed a warning finger at her.

The young woman smiled cutely before turning to Becky. "Knock 'em dead, babe." She headed off.

"Erik?" Becky spoke unsurely as the man got her coat on. "Do you hate my outfit?"

Erik paused buttoning to answer her. "No, it's only made more beautiful by you." He finished with her coat and started on the accessories. "Ready?" He lifted her up with one arm. The little girl nodded eagerly. "Then we're off."

The wizard of metal brought them down to the garage and loaded his precious cargo into the passenger's side before going around to get behind the wheel. They made it to the front of the Sparkle Dance Studio, a two-story blue and white building. Erik parked right out front. He helped Becky out then held tightly to her hand as they walked up the short steps to the white French doors of the building together.

When they came in, Erik brought them to a room off to the left that he had remembered from registering Becky the previous day.

"Good afternoon. How are—" An incredibly thin blonde haired young lady stopped speaking as she turned around and saw Erik. "Oh. We have a dad. Hello." She walked up, holding a hand out.

Erik shook it, asking the first question on his mind. "How old are you?"

The girl smiled. "Twenty. I'm Naomi. It was probably my mother you spoke with yesterday. She runs the thirteen through sixteen class. I'm in charge of nine through twelve and my older sister does four through eight."

"I see." Erik glanced towards a bench off to the side of the room not far from the mirrors where a plethora of young school girls sat putting on their shoes or warming up. "Well, this is my Rebecca."

"Rebecca, right," Naomi recalled. She went around to a cluster of papers she had in one chair. She leafed through them before withdrawing a sheet from the pile-up. "Rebecca Le—" She looked at Erik apologetically. "I'm really sorry. How do you pronounce the name?"

"Lehnsherr," Erik informed. He placed a hand on top of Becky's hand. "Rebecca Lehnsherr."

Becky gazed up at him with an enormous grin.

"Thank you," Naomi said. "Well, Rebecca, you can go perform warm-ups with the others. When you're done, I'll give you a basic run-through of the routine we've been working on. Don't worry about learning anything perfectly today or anything like that."

"Okay," Becky smiled.

While Naomi went to check on the other girls, Erik pulled a milk chocolate Hershey bar out of coat pocket. "This is for you." He handed it over to Becky. "I'll be across the street at the barbershop until you're done."

"Thanks." Becky held the candy close. "I'll see you later, Erik. I love you."

Erik knelt to kiss her near the temple. "If only you knew, my little Anya. If only you knew." He stood and left out of the room. After lingering in the hall for several seconds, he finally took his leave of the building.

IIIIIII

Raven stepped into the doorway of the second floor recreation room and raised an eyebrow at the display. While Alex busily wrapped Joey up in duct tape, Sean attempted to attach a cushion to Frank's behind with the same tape.

"Okay," the shape-shifter spoke, "not even going to ask. Whatever you're doing, keep it down. Charles is dealing with a headache."

"Sure, Rae," Frank replied then stood still as Sean came at his well-protected bottom with a hockey stick.

"I'm telling you my butt shield is going to win out against your anti-spank armor," Sean said to Alex, whacking Frank again.

Alex slapped Joey's tape covered behind, only getting a giggle out of him. "See? Combine my armor with Joe's cute and we so win."

"What even started this?" Raven asked.

Joey looked over at her. "We're using tape in art class. I was practicing and I got some on me."

"Ah, right," Raven understood. It did not take much to get the guys in her house revved up.

"Raven, Raven!" Becky chanted, rushing down the hall with a less zealous Erik behind her.

"Right here, Becca, but tone it down," Raven cautioned. "Charles needs to sleep."

Becky lowered her voice but not the excitement as she approached the older female. "Dance class was so much fun. I can bend back almost far enough to touch my ankles and I'm a good spinner."

Raven smiled. "That's great. Come on. Let's go tell Hank."

Watching as the girls walked away, Erik looked into the recreation room. "Sean, you do realize spanking works much better if you remove that pillow, right?"

Frank reacted with, "Hey!"

IIIIIII

After Naomi dismissed the Friday class, the girls flocked over towards the bench. Becky sat down and fished through her new dance bag for a moment before retrieving a fudge square from it. She took a bite then noticed a few of the other girls staring at her as if in awe.

"You're allowed chocolate?" Lizzie, one of the older ones, asked in awe.

Becky nodded. "Just a little before dinner. I have more. You want some?"

Lizzie shook her head vigorously. "My mother says no sugar, fried foods, or anything like that. She says fat girls don't get leads."

Becky grew confused. "But you're not fat." She thought she looked rather boney honestly but chose not to mention it.

"And I have to stay that way," Lizzie said.

"So you never have candy, cookies, or anything?" Becky tried to wrap her head around that concept.

"Most of us don't," Brittany chimed up. "My mother was mad when I gained four pounds over Christmas break. Sometimes it's like she only loves me as a dancer."

Becky looked on sympathetically. She arched over to start undoing her shoes, quickly slipping into her own thoughts.

IIIIIII

Magneto chose to take advantage of the quickly darkening winter sky. He brought Havok, Lighthouse, and Becky outside with Hank off to the side to report some readings in a notebook. Lighthouse filled the area around then with illumination on and off for a few minutes.

"Well done," Magneto told him then instructed, "Becky, create a menacing target for Havok." At the lack of response from the small girl, he tried to get her attention again. "Rebecca? Did you hear what I said?"

She quickly glanced back. "Uh huh." Thinking for a moment, she came up with something for Havok to aim for.

Readying himself, Havok had to pause from blasting when a dancing teddy bear appeared before him. "Uh yeah, no."

"Rebecca, no theatrics, please," Magneto said. "Try again, please."

Becky's next illusion consisted of an enormous ball of yarn with a small kitten playing on top of it.

"You gotta be kidding me," Havok reacted.

"Rebecca, what did I just say?" Magneto scolded her. "This is not the time for tom foolery. Get your head out of the clouds."

"It's not in the clouds," she insisted.

Magneto shook his head. "I hope this dance nonsense isn't becoming a distraction."

"It's not nonsense!" Becky suddenly snapped, getting Hank and Lighthouse's eyes up. "Maybe I don't know how to use my powers anymore. Maybe I'm not a good mutant." She folded her arms defiantly. "I don't feel like doing this."

Before Magneto could say a word, Hank held a hand up. "Erik, let me handle this. Please."

Thinking for a moment, the metal wielder nodded his approval.

Hank went over and picked Becky up into his arms before carrying her in. He brought them upstairs to his lab and sat down on the floor in a corner with her back pushed up against his chest comfortably.

"Would you like to tell me what that display was all about?" Hank asked her gently, flapping her cape lightly.

"Why do you love me?"

Hank frowned, surprised by the question. "Excuse me?"

"I know why I love you," she said. "You're smart and handsome and fun and you always help me. Back where we used to live, you didn't have to be so nice to me. But you were and you still are. I don't care if your feet are big or little. I loved you way before I even saw them."

Hank smiled, giving her a strong squeeze from behind. "And that would be one of the many reasons I love you. By the way, I don't care how powerful your mind is."

She whispered, "Erik does."

"What do you mean?" he asked, tucking curls behind her ear.

"He never wants to hear about dance class. I can tell," Becky said. "The other girls were telling me how their mothers only want them to be good dancers. I feel like Erik just wants me to be a good mutant and that's it."

Hank rested his chin in her hair. "Oh, little bear, for a smart girl you've never been so wrong in your entire life. Those things I said last year, I had never been so wrong. Erik loves you immensely. His reaction to…" Hank's eyes glossed with anger for a moment. "To what happened in December proved that to me. He wasn't determined to get a telepath back. He was determined to get his little girl back."

Becky twisted a bit to hug one of Hank's large arms. "Then why does he get so mad over my dancing?"

"I really do think that's something you need to investigate," Hank answered. "And by investigate, I mean with this," he tapped her mouth, "not this," he patted her head.

His sister laughed lightly at that.

IIIIIII

Erik took a brief shower and changed into pajamas before beginning his rounds. After the earlier happenings, he decided to start with Becky. He found her dressed for and in bed, reading through a thin book.

Sitting near her, Erik read the title out loud. "Rapunzel… feeling confined, are we?"

Becky looked up at him. "Sometimes." She closed it, placing the book to the side. "Erik, I'm really sorry messing up on purpose at training."

"I know." He lay down on his side, propping his head up to face her. "Personally, I don't care for the fact that you're not even eleven yet and you've already mastered passive aggression. Would you like to tell me what's gotten into you? I thought this dance class would satisfy you."

"You said you'd clap for me but I don't think you even want me to do it," Becky tried to explain. "It made me feel like you only loved me as a mutant."

A hearty chuckle escaped the man's lips.

When the laughter only went on, Becky stared at him. "What's so funny?"

"Oh, child." Erik managed to calm enough to speak. "Do you remember the day we met?" Becky nodded. "Well, after you decided to display that little gift of yours by sneaking inside my head, I had to walk out of the lounge. If I hadn't, I probably would have spanked you."

"What?" Becky nearly laughed herself. "But you didn't even know me."

"You'd be surprised how irrelevant I found that information," Erik said. "Believe me, Anya. Those pretty green eyes are a far greater competitor for my affections than your telepathy. Don't mistake me, though. I am proud of your gift and I want you to get better with it."

Becky lowered to snuggle beside him. "Then what's wrong with my dancing?"

"Nothing," Erik admitted with a sigh. "That is, except for the fact that I worry. Possibly a little too much." Erik twirled one of her curls around his finger, gazing into the adorable face. "I only want to keep you safe."

She reached up to kiss his chin. "I'm safe with you."

"Safest." Erik pulled her into his arms.

"Erik?"

"Yes?"

She closed her eyes. "I like Rebecca Lehnsherr better than Rebecca Douglas."

Smiling, Erik whispered into her ear, "To bed with you, Rebecca Anya Lehnsherr."

IIIIIII

On Sunday, Charles, Erik, Hank, Alex, Sean, and Frank gathered in the dining room. Each male wore a dwarf cap in individual colors with their perspective character's name stitched across the front. Raven entered next, taking a moment to twirl around in the purple velvet gown she had on.

"Not bad for an evil queen, huh?" she said, putting on hand on her hip.

"I'll say." Hank came over to her. "Say, isn't this the movie with the missing scene of the queen and Doc's secret love affair?"

"Oh brother," Alex remarked.

"Cram it, dopey," Raven ordered.

Sean glanced around. "What happened to Happy?"

Upstairs, Becky had changed into her Snow White dress and sat in front of the mirror, brushing her hair.

"Come in," she said to the knock that sounded next.

Joey, Happy cap on, came in with his arms extended. "I made this for you in art class."

Becky looked over, seeing him with a bright gold crown he had molded out of what looked like tape, wire, paint, and sparkles. "You made that for me?"

He nodded. "For your birthday."

She grinned widely then went over to crouch in front of him. "Will you put it on me?"

"Sure!" Joey carefully placed the crown on top of her curls. "You look so pretty."

"Thanks." Becky stood, taking his hand before they left out together.

Charles smiled at the appearance of his youngest charges entering the dining room.

Becky gaped over the room, covered in a multitude of colorful balloons, streamers, and a large banner. She noticed the stack of presents beside the large castle shaped cake.

"There you are," Charles said happily. He patted the chair at the head of the table. "Come and sit down."

Becky went over. "But this is where you sit."

"Not today." Charles picked her up to place her in the chair.

While the young people broke into a chorus of 'Happy Birthday' Erik began lighting the eleven candles. "Now I believe tradition mandates a wish."

Becky tried to think then decided, "I don't need anything." She looked to Charles. "I want you to have my wish."

"Me?" Charles knelt beside her seat. "Princess, I couldn't. It's your special day."

"You made it special," Becky emphasized. "I want you to have it, Uncle Charles. Please."

"Alright," Charles decided. "I'll make the wish, but I'll need your special magic to blow out the candles."

Becky agreed and waited on Charles before taking a large breath and blowing the flame tips out.

"So, what'd you wish for, Charles?" Frank asked.

"He can't tell you," Becky said. "It won't come true."

"Bet you know it," Frank put forth.

"Maybe," Becky smiled sweetly.

As cake slices started getting passed out, along with the army of presents, Becky sat back and took in the joyful knowledge that her previous year's wish had been answered. After what felt like forever, she finally had the perfect family she had desired.