Fiera led the way back. It was just the five of them, Fiera, Angel, Odette, Derek, and Cassandra.

"We're not marching back?" Odette asked, confused.

"No," Fiera replied. "Once the fight is over, Guardians are free to go home at any time they please. They just have to sign a piece of paper when they get back. And that's what we'll do."

"Well, shall we?" Derek asked, his wings formed on his back, ready for flight.

"Yes, I've been needing to stretch these wings out since Sabian put that nasty spell on me," Cassandra said, her beautiful white wings forming on her back. Odette was stunned. She was even more majestic than she could have imagined with her wings on. Cassandra looked more like a saint than even Angel did.

Speaking of which, as everyone began their ascent into the clear blue sky, he'd picked her up against her will, or so she was trying to make it seem.

"Put me down!"

"No chance," he replied smoothly.

"Just because you can fly and I can't doesn't mean you have to carry me everywhere."

"Oh contraire," he replied, his voice smooth as velvet, "no lady of mine will ever walk such a distance in my presence."

"You don't have to do this," she insisted, her voice growing softer. Now she was merely being polite. She obviously wanted him to carry her, as evidenced by the way she was gazing into his eyes.

"I warned you. You're going to have to get used to being treated like a lady, whether you like it or not."

The flight back was uneventful. Derek, Odette, and Cassandra hung back from Fiera and Angel to talk. Odette was overjoyed at having her mother back and being able to speak with her so freely.

Which was why she was filled with a small sense of regret when they returned. They walked through the gate and Fiera stopped at a large post. Tacked onto it was a piece of paper. She signed her name near the top and handed the quill to Angel so he could do the same. One by one, they signed. Odette's eyes ran down the page. She could see where some people's names were marked 'injured' or 'on extended leave.' She hated to see the ones with 'deceased' written on them.

"As tragic as it is, it's a part of fighting," Cassandra said solemnly. Fiera nodded, bowing her head for a moment of silence and respect. The others did the same. When they looked back up, several people who had come to greet them were doing the same. As soon as their heads came up, Odette and her mother were swarmed by well wishers.

Fiera saw someone break through the crowd that made everyone step aside in annoyance. It was Leda. Fiera grimaced as Leda put on a feigned show of respect.

"I'm ever so happy you've both returned. Elmswell and its Guardians are complete again."

Presently, Fiera walked up to her, fire and rage burning in her eyes. "Don't even pretend you had nothing to do with Sabian attacking here the other night. No one here believes it. Hear me when I say, I don't believe a word that comes out of your mouth. Step lightly and watch your back, Leda. I know I will be."

Leda walked away in a huff of indignity. Fiera was cheered by several onlookers as Leda took off.

"That was…" Odette began. She couldn't think of the words to finish the sentence.

"Uncalled for?" Fiera offered, feeling a little like she had acted rashly. But Odette's response was the opposite of Fiera's word.

"Well deserved. I think you're right. It only makes sense."

"Well, she has no one to hide behind," Cassandra stated. "We have nothing to fear from the likes of her."

Cassandra's voice was an iron fist in a velvet glove. The words were calm enough, but the tone and strength promised the nearby crowd that if anyone tried anything in collaboration with her, they would be punished.

"As if we ever did," Fiera muttered.

XxX

Derek and Odette stood alone in their room. It really had become their room with the time they had passed in it. The entire castle was becoming their home.

"Is it really, though?" Derek wondered.

"It certainly feels like it."

"More so than Swan Lake," Derek asked, lifting one eyebrow in interest. Odette sighed.

"Yes," she admitted. "I love it here. I love the people, the place, everything. But I feel bad. I haven't asked you what you think of it."

"I love it as I love you. Everywhere I go is a little reminder of you. That's why I like it."

"Derek, do you think we could stay?" She asked, not wanting to force him away from Swan Lake.

"Odette, Swan Lake isn't my home. It's just a place I lived. To be honest, although I tried, I could never make it feel like my home. That was the surprise in the former dungeon. I'd made it into a private place for us, but it still didn't feel right. I think most of what I did in that place was just to make you feel better. That being said," he scooped her off the floor, into his arms, "I'd rather be here with you than any other place in the world."

"But what will we be leaving behind?" Odette asked, her voice far away.

"A lot of pain and haunting feelings, for one thing. Since mother passed away," he slightly frowned, remembering how she had suddenly taken sick in her old age, fortunately, she passed away peacefully, "nowhere has really felt like home to me. That is, until I came here. I want to be here, with you and your family, for the rest of my life, which is going to be a long time."

Odette smiled and kissed him. He had just taken a tremendous weight off her shoulders. Truthfully, she agreed with Derek. Swan Lake wasn't her home. And the only real reason they'd stay there was to be able to live close to Uberta without actually living with her. Still, the memories and the pain were constantly haunting her. She did not ever want to go back.

"Thank you, Derek. Thank you so much."

XxX

Odette stood outside among the bushes in the garden. Inside the castle was a party, a victory ball to celebrate Sabian's long time coming defeat. It was all still so strange to her, like it was all a very vivid dream, and she was about to wake up. But she knew better. It was no dream. Everything she had done was completely real.

She'd rejoined the Guardians. She'd learned how to fight. She'd made a friend in Fiera. She'd experienced the worst pain of her life. She'd' led a victorious army. She'd beaten Sabian.

And most importantly, she'd been reunited with her mother.

"Strange, isn't it?" Derek asked, as if he'd been reading her mind. She jumped, startled as she did not know he was there.

"Yes," she agreed, falling into his arms as he wrapped them around her. It wasn't easy to think of herself as the leader of a group of the best fighters on Earth. "But it's getting more real. I don't feel like it's going to disappear at any moment anymore."

"Well, even if this all goes away, my love for you won't," he promised, kissing her on the lips, letting them prove to her how much he cared. She fervently agreed, knowing he spoke only the truth. After everything that had been going on, one thing certainly didn't change.

They broke off. Still, they felt their lips tingling. Derek looked up, and when Odette spun to see what he saw, she could see her mother coming out to join them. Derek kissed her knuckles lightly.

"I'll meet you later. You two need to talk."

"Thank you," she whispered gratefully as he walked away, stopping to politely bow at the ever regal Cassandra, who smiled at him in return.

"Seems you've done well for yourself," she said as she strode up, eyeing Derek.

"Father did well for me," Odette replied. She explained the arranged marriage, leaving out most of the details, especially the ones about Rothbart.

"I see. I miss your father," she said, regret in her voice. "I wished I could have been there for the two of you."

"You were conscious the entire time you were a statue?" Odette asked, imagining what kind of miserable experience that would be.

"Yes, and I don't think I ever stopped thinking about you."

Odette nodded. "Father didn't tell me much about you. I didn't know who you were or why he wouldn't talk, but I do remember wondering about you. I remember feeling so lost and confused when people told me I looked like you. I remember feeling so lonely sometimes. There were things I couldn't explain to father, and I was sure that if only you were around, I could have felt better, having someone who understood."

"I know, dearest. I know. I wanted to see you grow up, but I had to trust in your father. I think he did a wonderful job."

Odette smiled, blushing a little. "Things have gotten really complicated lately. I'm still finding it hard to believe that I'm going to be queen of the Guardians. They're not like normal people. They trust heroics and bravery, not titles and birthrights."

"Which is why they trust you. Now more than ever, they see you as the leader they've needed for so long. They must have hated the council."

"It was Leda they hated. Fiera especially."

"Fiera's a remarkable young woman. She'll remain Captain, yes?"

"Of course. I wouldn't be here, and I mean 'alive' when I say that, if it weren't for her. She's done a lot for Derek and me."

"She's like her mother, loyal and brave down to an art form. Come, Odette, we can't keep your public waiting, and it looked like Derek wanted to dance."

"Mother…" Odette whined, humor throughout her voice as they walked back laughing.

*pant pant* *sigh of relief* It's over!! I'm gonna miss this! Maybe there'll be a sequel, we'll see ; D. Anyways, thank you all for reading and reviewing. I really appreciate it. You have no idea. *phew!*