Carter stared slack-jawed at the sight before him. Was that his Grandma? It could've been his mom's twin sister! The only differences between the two being eye and wing color.

"Uncanny," Winnie declared

"Unreal," Carter wholeheartedly agreed.

"The resemblance is striking isn't it?"

The two jumped. Maleficent stood in the doorway. Carter tried not to look scared. Maybe they weren't supposed to be here. Winnie slid closer to Carter who took her hand.

"Where are-"

"Resting,"

"We'll go," Carter promised.

"You don't have to, I said you could explore," Maleficent responded, gliding into the room, "I kept this room just as Alissa left in the hope she might come back,"

"I'm sorry, I wish I could tell you about her life after she left but, I didn't know her,"

"That's alright dear, I prefer to remember her this way, happy,"

"Why did she leave?" Winnie dared to ask.

"I pushed her too hard. I wanted her to follow in my footsteps, fulfill her destiny and ultimately take the throne, take my place as Queen of the Dark Fae," Maleficent explained quietly.

"Wouldn't Aunt Lucinda be next in line?" Carter inquired.

Maleficent scoffed, "Lucinda's unfit rule. Only those who bear the Dragonmark can take the throne"

"So my Mom..."

"And you, not Selena,"

"Whoa," Winnie mumbled.

That, that was a surprise. Carter tried not to look as surprised as he was.

"Your aunt and cousin we're so angry. They are still quite bitter about it,"

Carter was worried by that statement if it were true it meant that they might come after him, his mother or even Winnie!

"Would they try to hurt us?" Winnie asked echoing his thoughts.

Maleficent's eyes flashed dangerously, "They'd be fools to try,"

This both reassured and frightened the two.

"So, uh, what now?" Carter asked quietly. He had only wanted to make limited contact with his great grandmother not get sucked into her realm. Now, that they were here he was curious as to what would happen next.

"First, I would like to speak with you privately. Then tomorrow, I'll take you and your family to see where your grandmother went to school,"

Winnie nodded in understanding. Leaving the two alone but staying just outside in case Carter needed her.

Carter looked at Maleficent expectantly, nervously. What did she want to talk with him about that was so important they had to speak in private?

"What did you want to talk about?"

"You, Your life,"

Carter relaxed, "What do you want to know?"

"What's your home like? School? Are you excited about being a big brother?"

"I can start at the beginning if you like?"

"Yes, please,"

"Okay,"

…...

The horrible thunder and the wicked lightning scared the two-year-old Carter out of his mind. Throwing open the door to his room he raced down the hallway, yelping at the lighting that glowed with every flash until he came to his mom's door. Opening without a second thought he leaped onto the bed.

"Carter, it's only a storm sweetheart, go back to sleep," Christina mumbled.

"It's scary!" he replied, laying on top of Christina.

Christina yawned, she sat up, turning on the lamp as she guided her son into her lap.

"Mommy, why's the sky mad?"

Christina smiled a little, "It's not mad,"

Carter didn't entirely believe her but he didn't ask. When the lightning struck again he yelped in fear, clinging to his mother.

"Shh, Shh, it's okay"

"It's coming to get me,"

"No, it isn't," Christina promised.

"Can I stay with you pease?"

"Okay."

…...

"Bathtime!" Christina declared in a sing-song voice.

Five-year-old Carter humphed scowling. He ignored his Mommy. Instead, focusing on the mud pies before him.

"Now, Carter," Christina warned.

"Superheroes don't need baths,"

"Yes, they do, my dirty daredevil,"

"Mommy!" Carter whined.

"Don't Mommy me"

Carter pouted, being pulled from the mud wasn't fun at all. He was carried from the mud pile to the bath which was already full of bubbles. As much as Carter squirmed with protest his mother didn't relent.

"I don't want a bath!"

"Too bad!" Christina smirked, "You're so dirty I can't even see your face,"

It was true, Carter was caked head to toe in mud, grass, and twigs stuck in his hair. Christina placed him in the bath despite his constant protests, handing him his rubber duck.

"Play with Mr. Quack,"

Carter cheered up.

…...

Carter was sick. Really, really sick which was odd considering vampires weren't supposed to get sick. Still, here he was wrapped in three quilts and his comforter shaking.

"Mom!" the eight-year-old cried.

Christina opened the door, armed with another blanket, a thermometer, medicine and a bowl of tomato soup.

"Yes?"

"I'm still cold,"

"I know, Sweetheart," Christina soothed throwing the blanket over him, "You wanna try and eat?"

"No, my stomach is weird," Carter coughed.

"Okay," Christina replied, sending the soup back to the kitchen, "Take your medicine, please,"

"Mom?"

"Yes?"

"Can you sing me a song?"

"Which one?"

"I dunno, a Disney song? The one from your music box?"

"Okay," Christina smiled, "Lay down,"

Carter did as his mother asked laying down as she began to sing.

"I know you, I walked with you once upon a dream
I know you, that look in your eyes is so familiar a gleam
And I know it's true that visions are seldom all they seem
But if I know you, I know what you'll do
You'll love me at once, the way you did once upon a dream"

…...

"Your mother raised you on her own? Where was your father?"

Carter blinked, "Shaggy?"

Maleficent nodded.

"Shaggy..isn't my dad. Not yet, they're working on it," Carter slowly admitted.

"Then where is your birth father?"

"Jail, he's a very bad person. He hurt my Mom,"

Maleficent's eyes narrowed in anger, "What did he do?"

"You have to ask Mom. I don't wanna get in trouble,"

"Okay, I will." Maleficent relaxed, "Tell me, are you excited to be a big brother?"

"Yes, I'm going to have a little sister!"

"Your mother told me,"

"Did she tell you what her name's going to be?"

"No,"

"Alissa, Alissa Rose," Carter beamed, "Rose is Mom's middle name,"

"Roses were Alissa's favorite flower, she had a garden in the courtyard the flowers stopped growing after she left," Maleficent remarked. "But, when I showed your mother around earlier they seemed to be growing back,"

"Magic?"

"Yes,"

"I'm not good at magic yet. I didn't even know I could do magic,"

"Your mother is teaching you?"

"Yes,"

"Maybe I can help,"

"Do you think Mom will let you?"

"Let's ask her ourselves,"

I admit I'm kind of inching my way along here, trying to figure this out. Same with the current chapter of A Monster Mystery Tale. I hope you enjoyed, please, review!