A.N. So this will be incredibly AU. Don't expect any different. I've been unconsciously working on this for along time, nearly twelve years in fact. Most of it started with a young girl's imagination while playing with her dolls. Any question and comments are appreciated, and I hope this make some sense. My deviantart account may be of some use as well, so I'll be posting a link in my profile.

Disclaimer: All characters belong to their respective owners. I claim only the characters, places, and plot of my own creation. I am not receiving any kind of payment for this work.

Chapter I

A Chance Encounter

On a sprawling hillside, just north of Los Angeles, California sat a gigantic white house. The mansion, with its eight towering pillars and twelve bedrooms took up the entire summit. Its six gardens were splayed all around, each one more beautiful than the last.

In the very back was a maze of roses wrapped around the edge of the pool. The gardener, an older gentleman form just down the road, was busy hauling mulch to the bushes. Up above him, at the tiny tool shed was a teenage boy. His ragged blue jeans didn't have any knees and his faded shirt lay, discarded, on the ground. He stretched up suddenly, running one long hand through his brown tresses. As he moved, the sun caught in the honey-colored highlights.

"Roger!" a woman called from the pool side. "Roger, dear, won't you please come have some lemonade?"

"I'm fine Mother!" he yelled back, waving her off. Gerald was on his back from the run, ready for another load.

You see, Roger lived here at Darling Manor with his rich parents and younger brother. Roger was named for his father, an ex-general in the United States Army, and current owner of the largest toy factory in America. Darling Inc. was responsible for their beautiful home, and all the human comforts in the world.

At seventeen, Roger was due to inherit the company in just under a year, when his father retired. However, he didn't want to take possession of the multi-billion dollar business, because he would rather go off to college. Roger's life-long dream was to become an engineer or an inventor. He had excellent design skills, and could create the toys, but that wasn't enough. His brother, Joseph, was better with money, and thus could keep the company profitable as well as functional.

All in all, Roger Sr. liked his younger son better, but Joseph had his flaws too. So he was faced with an awful dilemma. Bella, the boys' mother, had long decided not to take sides.

All of this was running through Roger's head one afternoon while he was taking a stroll through the back alleys in LA. To make some money, because he refused to be handed anything, Roger worked summers at the factory. Today he was headed in for an afternoon shift, which started after lunch break. He passed a few people, some worn out from work, others heading in as well, and one lone girl that stood out.

As he watched, the girl stumbled and dropped her basket. Being a gentleman, he quickly helped her pick up the oranges that were rolling away. Her big blue eyes locked with his chocolate ones as she choked on her words, "Thank you- Er… Are you Mr. Darling's son?"

He laughed then, a short chuckle, "Do I look that much like him?" She stared up at him, freeing a hand to flatten her hair. "I'm so sorry, that was quite rude."

"That's quite alright, Miss. I'm Roger Darling Jr., and you?" he asked with a charming crooked smile.

"Um… I'm Anita Greene, my father works here, at the factory," she said quietly, turning her eyes to the ground.

"Ah! James? I know him, you see, we work together in the afternoons!" He glanced around quickly, before turning back to Anita. "Are you off to see him?"

Anita looked up, and smiled, "Yes, he has to work all day, so I'm bringing him lunch." She glanced away again, brushing her blond hair away from her face. "Why do you work here? Your father owns this, and, I hear, he's very rich."

"Well, I like to make my own money. Now, would you like an escort, my lady?" Roger swept into a graceful bow, and held out his hand. She giggled lightly, a very feminine sound, and reached out to him. "Let's go then."

They walked the short distance to the building, and slipped through the metal doors. It was hot inside, and full of over-worked and under-paid people. The equipment lined the space, making loud noises as they churned out pieces and parts for different toys. Roger picked his way among the people and objects, careful to keep his hold on Anita's hand.

In the farthest corner sat a giant of a man, with thick brown curls loose around his ears. Even sitting he gave the appearance of being tall, and powerful. "Good afternoon James, how are you?"

"Good, good," he muttered back. "Gettin' hungry."

Anita opened her mouth to say something, but Roger shushed her and went to his seat. "Well, lunch is almost over. Did you forget yours?"

"No, my oldest girl is supposed to be bringin' it. Don't know what she's doin' though." He seemed thoughtful for a moment then turned slightly to the younger man. "You'll like my Nita, Roger, she's a pretty girl."

"You don't say? Well I found a real pretty one on my way here, a blond. She dropped a basket of oranges."

James blinked for a moment, staring blankly at his hands, "You don't think that was-? Nah, couldn't a-been, could it?"

"Hi Daddy! Were you getting worried?" she laughed, setting the basket on the table. "I brought your food, but you better hurry."

She kissed him on the cheek and smiled at him. "I have to get back to help Mama, Daddy; can you bring the basket back after work?" James nodded mouth too full to speak. "And you share, too, there is too much there for just you. I'll see you at home," she finished, "and thank you, Roger."

James finished his sandwiches and fruit before turning on him. "Lovely ain't she? Real smart, too. Nita's gonna change the world someday." Roger smiled and nodded, trying hard not to think about the beauty, slowly skipping her way home.

Anita pushed open the kitchen door. Humming sweetly to herself. "Mama? Stephanie?" she called, scanning the house. "Jimmy?"

She found her family clustered in the living room, her mother in her rocking chair with Jimmy in her lap. Steph was busy knitting something, a sweater perhaps, but she was listening as May read her story. "… and the little spotted dog lived happily with her new family. The end."

Jimmy yawned as he slid off her lap, running at his sister. "Nita!" he cried.

"What on Earth are you all doing?" she asked kneeling down to his height.

"Mama was reading us a story, Nita. It was your favorite one!" he told her quickly, eying her strangely. "Why are you smiling?"

"I can't smile at my favorite little brother?" she asked blushing slightly. Jimmy let that go, but now both her mother and sister were watching her now. "I want to play with Bandit now."

"Okay, Jim-Jim, just keep him in the backyard," Mama said, picking herself out of the chair. "Stephie, you'll watch him?" Stephanie nodded and followed the boy outside. "Anita, come help with the dishes."

They followed the others, stopping at the sink piled with dishes. "I haven't seen you so happy since Tommy was coming around for dinner," she said washing one of their chipped plates. "Did you meet someone at the factory?"

"Sort of, I guess. I dropped the basket and he helped me pick up the stuff, that's all," Anita mumbled, reaching for the towel.

"Really? What's his name?" she asked, an innocent enough question. "It's the boy that works with Dad, Roger," she answered softly.

"Not the rich one? The heir of the factory? Oh, my." May went quiet, staring at the bubbles. They stood like that for several minutes, saying nothing. Then, May turned to her daughter, "Anita-" she stopped. "Anita you can't. It won't work."

A flood of tears gathered in her brilliant eyes, "I know that Mama. I know."

"Father?" Roger asked at the dinner table. At the head of the table, his father looked up, "Yes, Roger?"

"Do you know the Greenes?" Everyone looked up, then, and looked to Roger Sr.

"Well, don't you work with that oaf James? He's a Greene," he answered stiffly. "Why do ask?"

Roger mulled the question over in his mind before saying anything, "I met his daughter today. It just sparked my interest, Father."

"Nasty filth, those people. James, he's a good worker, but he couldn't read to save a life. I believe they live on the outskirts of town. Pitiful place."

Roger managed a clipped "ah" before, returning to his dinner. Bella was watching her husband, contemplating what to do. "Dear, how can you say such awful things? You used to be a farmer."

The man stared at his wife, a mean look in his dark eyes. "Don't talk about things you know nothing about, Isabella. My life was very different before I met you."

"If you say so, dear. Roger, won't you pass me the butter? My roll is very dry."

Dinner continued on for a while, though no one else managed a conversation. Afterward, they headed their separate directions. Roger Sr. went into his study shortly after leaving the table, shutting the door a little to loudly, but Bella followed her boys into the hall and slipped into the living room.

"Are you going to the ball this weekend, Roger?" Joseph asked once their mother was gone. "I'm taking Penny Hope, the mayor's daughter."

Roger sighed heavily, "Father will like that. He's always looking for political points." He shook his head and laughed, "But I'm not going. I would rather stay here."

"Suit yourself. I'm going to bed. 'Night."

"See you tomorrow, Joe." With that Roger slipped into the living room as well.

Bella was laid out on her chaise, reading another one of her famous romance novels. She glanced at Roger as he entered the room, before returning to the book. He raced a hand over the small collection of books on the shelf. He picked one, and sprawled out on the floor near the fire. This book was a mesh of many short stories written for children, complete with cute illustrations.

He thumbed through and read a few of the classic pieces, but Roger soon grew bored. "Mom? Are you going to the ball this weekend?"

"Oh, the one at City Hall? Of course, it's mandatory for the city biggest people," she said, smiling. "You don't want to go, do you honey?"

Roger caught her eyes, and shook his head, "You know me too well Mother." He went silent for a minute, pondering his phrasing. "Mom, why did you tell off Father today?"

"Because, dear, your father doesn't have any room to judge those people. I'm sure they are perfectly normal, and intelligent. They just aren't as well off as we are," she said. Then, with a wicked little smile, she added, "Why don't you invite the girl to the ball? Dress her up and flaunt her around, no one will know the difference."

"I- I don't know. Maybe."

"Oh, please. Don't turn into your father, Roger. You like her, correct?" Roger nodded. "Then ask her."

"What happens if she can't get a dress? I can't bring anyone without a dress." He closed the book and sat up. "Well?"

"I'll buy a dress. Perhaps I'll take her to my salon, we can redo everything about her." Bella seemed excited now, ready for a challenge. "What's her name?"

"Anita Greene."

She looked thoughtful for a moment, "Get up bright and early, darling. I'll take you in the morning." She glanced back at the book in her lap, finished her page and turned to her son. "Don't you just love the name Rachel? Charming." She, too, closed her book, and headed to the door, "Goodnight."

"Goodnight."