A/N- Sorry for the wait! Hope you enjoy this next chapter. Let's hope I've got more time to write this week, although school is starting....so we'll see! Thanks for reading and please feel free to comment if you wish!- Md

Since When do Bears Live in Houses?

I honestly thought my heart was about to stop. Either that or break out of my chest because it was pounding so hard. I could barely hear the noises around me over the rapid beating. I peaked out from under the covers of the bed. I spotted the little Frog Prince on the floor. He was looking at me with wide eyes. I motioned him with my hands to hide, but he didn't heed my warnings.

With a sudden clash, the door of the room swung open. I jumped out of the bed screaming and curled in the corner of the room.

"I'm sorry I'm sorry I'm sorry I'm sorry….." I repeated over and over.

I looked at the owner of the house and my mouth dropped open. A great black bear, at least nine feet tall, stood in the doorway. He let out a roar of anger. The Prince went crazy then. He charged the bear, hopping as quickly as his little feet would allow. He croaked and croaked. If I didn't know any better, I'd say he was trying to protect me. I didn't know why he thought he could do anything though. He was a frog.

"What are you doing in my house?" The bear's deep voice bellowed.

Behind him, two other bears appeared. One a bit smaller, and thinner than the big one, and the other was just a cub. I opened my mouth to explain, but I couldn't get any words out. I was paralyzed with fear and confusion. Three talking bears stood before me. I thought I'd seen strange before with the COW, but three talking bears? That topped it.

The biggest bear inched closer to me. His showed his teeth. Behind him, the two other bears crouched in some sort of attack position. For a moment the little bear got distracted by the Prince. With an annoyed grunt, he picked him up and tossed him out an open window. I gasped as the little frog flapped his limbs as he flew out of sight.

"Wait!" I tried, but the large bear just continued to advance.

Suddenly something flew inside and whisked past my face. Something that glittered circled the bears head and distracted him. He tried to swap it with his hand but the flying creature dodged it. Another flying streak of light flew in from the window, and then another. Soon there were at least a dozen of them annoying the bears.

My mind was able to clear itself in that moment and I took the opportunity to jump out the window. When my feet hit the soft dirt of the forest floor I frantically began to search for the Prince. The ground was so covered in leaves and twigs that it was very difficult to see him. Finally I noticed a movement from the corner of my eye. The poor prince was attempting to hop, but one of his legs was injured. I ran to him and scooped him up. I glanced back at the house, hesitating. I was starting to become very curious as to what had saved me in there.

Just as I was tempted to go back to the window I had jumped from, one of the flying things came out from the house and came right up to my face. It was a fairy! In fact, it was the very same fairy whom I'd saved from the Market. Her skin was bright and glowing. She looked much healthier than when she was trapped in that little jar.

"Hello Molly." I smiled at my fairy.

She regarded me for a moment and then spoke.

"I have been watching you." She said plainly, her voice tiny. "Now we are even. Continue to follow the river, and keep your eye out. Don't go into any more bear's houses."

"If I'd have known bears lived in houses here, I wouldn't have gone into this one." I explained.

A loud crash came from inside the house.

"You best hurry." The fairy said. "We cannot distract them for long."

"Thank you!" I said gratefully. "Thank your friends as well!"

I turned and ran, following the river downstream.

****

"Oh boy." I said, holding the Prince up closer to my face. "We seem to be lucky with getting out of sticky situations."

I started to laugh. It was a shaky laugh. I had run so far my legs could barely hold my weight. I found a comfortable looking spot and sat down.

"Good job Prince, thank you for trying to protect me from those bears." I closed my eyes and gave him a quick kiss on the top of his slimy head.

A great puff of green smoke exploded in front of me. I jumped up in surprise. When the emerald cloud dissipated, the Prince stood there in full human form.

"Your Highness!" I yelled in surprise and without thinking I threw my arms around his neck.

"Ouch, ouch!" The Prince pushed me away from him.

"I'm sorry!" I backed away to see where I had injured him.

He grabbed his left leg in pain and sat on the ground.

"Are you ok?" I asked him.

He examined himself from head to toe and then began to laugh.

"My leg is injured. But the rest of me seems to be…in order." He looked up at me. "It's nice to be back. I do not envy the life of a frog."

"How did you transform back? Do you remember everything? What was it like? Do you like the taste of flies?" The questions flowed out of my mouth quickly.

"Well, I don't know how I transformed back. You sat down then kissed me…and poof. I think I remember everything." His eyebrows scrunched together. "It was a strange experience, one which I'd prefer not to relive. And…..I hope I don't like flies. It was kind of a reflex thing….I think."

We were both silent for a while. I watched him as he stretched his arms and neck, enjoying the ability to twist and turn. He winced in pain a few times and grabbed his leg.

"Where is it hurt?"

"I'm not sure. I think it may be my knee. Something twisted when I was thrown out of that window." He shrugged.

"I'm sorry about that."

"Why in the world did you go into that house?!" He sounded angry now.

"Well, you know, I'm sorry but I needed shoes! Look at my feet!" I took off the shoes and lifted one of my bloody, swollen feet in the air. "And you know what else? You're the one who ate that whole bowl of food! They wouldn't have noticed we were there right away and we could have gotten out in time."

"Well I didn't break a chair!" He accused. "Nor did I want to go into that house in the first place."

I opened my mouth to say something else, but didn't really have any good arguments. Instead I just let out an angry breath and turned away from him. We were silent as the air filled with tension. After a few minutes the Prince spoke again.

"How do you know that fairy?" He asked.

I chose not to answer him.

"Come on El. Let's just agree we've both made mistakes here."

I let out another sigh, but turned to him.

"I sort of bought her. At the Market, the one they hold every summer. Well, I didn't buy her, Nathaniel did." I averted my eyes when I said his name. "I only bought her to set her free. So I came to the edge of the forest and let her go. I can't believe she found us!"

"It seems fate is on our side for now." The Prince said, his eyes drooping a little.

"You should get some sleep. I'm not really tired, I'll keep an eye out."

He hesitated and then shifted on his side.

"Ok, don't let me sleep too long. I have a feeling we need to keep moving."

"Of course, Your Highness."

"Enough with propriety for now." He smirked. "Just call me Char."

"Char?" I scoffed. "I don't think so."

"Excuse me?" He lifted himself up on one elbow and glared.

"Well come on, all I can think when I say 'char' is charcoal." I laughed.

"Ok, Your Highness it is then." He nodded, clearly offended.

"Sorry. Maybe I'll think of something else I can call you while you're sleeping."

He didn't answer. He laid his head on one arm and closed his eyes. Soon I could tell that he was fast asleep.

"Char." I said softly, then laughed again. "Yeah right."