Chapter 2: A Princess' Love

When I woke up, it looked like not a lot had changed-I was still in the infirmary and still in my (though now dry) clothes from last night, which told me that fixing me up may have been simpler than I had originally thought. I went to sit up, but found it hard for two reasons: A) My chest felt stiff, which was explained by feeling down near the injured area and coming across a wrap made of ACE bandages, and B) there was someone draped across my core. I quickly lay down and closed my eyes again for fear that I might wake them up, whoever they were, but too late: I felt them beginning to stir. Still I kept my eyes shut, as though I was still sleeping. Then I felt a gloved hand-not latex, but so soft and gentle, all it could be was velvet-cup my chin with its thumb and forefinger. Next came a voice-familiar, though not one I had heard throughout my whole ordeal, and it did not belong to either of the family members that were with me on the cruise. It-she, for it was definitely a woman-was saying:

"Good morning, sleepyhead. I know you're conscious, and I'm so happy you made it through last night OK. Ariel told me what happened, and I came in here as soon as I woke up and got dressed. I've been with you ever since Doc put the finishing touches on you earlier, and now that he's gone, there's something I want to do."

Those words triggered a memory of what had happened between Ariel and myself the previous night, and I could not stop myself from opening my eyes. Sitting in a chair next to my bed, leaning over me like an overprotective mother, was another Disney Princess, as I immediately recognized. But, as had already been made clear, this was not Ariel. Where Ariel's hair was long, fiery red, and flowing, this princess' hair was a soft brown, parted in the front and flowing down into curls on either side, while the back was pulled up into a bun.

Also, whilst Ariel had blue eyes and pale skin, these eyes were brown, like mine, and her skin was nowhere near as pale as Ariel's. This princess had already asked after me once when she had missed me, back on Monday. It was also this princess in whom I had confided my idea to surprise my mother with a breakfast in bed after the cruise was over-an idea which I recently tried, but failed to execute properly-Mom woke up well before the meal was completed.

Finally, whereas Ariel chose a very pale turquoise dress (almost a sea green) as her usual attire, the princess I was looking at was dressed in a slightly less pale yellow ball gown.

"I know your face..." I said softly, in a voice that was barely more than a whisper. "Belle..."

"Yes, it's me," she whispered happily. And with that, she closed the distance between us, capturing me in a kiss to rival, if not exceed, what Ariel had given to me the previous night, and it was filled with care, excitement, and above all, love. Love had been present in Ariel's kiss as well, but not as strongly-maybe it was acceptance that I had Belle's heart and not hers; ergo, I could not give her what she sought.

But I could give that to Belle, if only for a day or two more. So I craned my neck ever so slightly to the left, aiming to deepen the kiss. Belle did likewise, and we stayed like this for at least three minutes before we parted.

"Not to bring down the mood," I said, breathing heavily, "but you do realize this will only last until Saturday morning?"

"I know," said Belle, looking very sad.

"Oh," I said comfortingly, "don't sound so down. I'll come back, hopefully sooner rather than later, and maybe even as an employee."

"Ooh," gushed Belle, "I'd love that so much."

"As would I," I admitted. Then, I burst out laughing.

"What's so funny?" she asked, perplexed.

"It just hit me," I gasped, "I never thought I'd owe my life to even one Disney Princess, let alone two!"

"To quote you," quipped Belle, "that'll be one to tell the kids." That stopped me. There was only one way Belle could know I had said that.

"Did Ariel tell you?" I asked, hesitant, and dreading the reaction.

"Yes," answered Belle, "she told me everything. Including why she did what she did."

"What did she say?"

"She said it was just something she had wanted to do for a short while, and that now that she had, she wouldn't stop me if I decided to...well, you know."

"How did she know about how you felt? I didn't even know how you felt until just now."

"You think hobbies are the only things we princesses discuss during our down time?"

"I honestly didn't even know you had enough down time to discuss anything amongst yourselves."

"OK," ordered Belle with all seriousness, "stop talking in italics. It's getting kind of weird." I had to laugh at that.

"Would you prefer I spoke boldly, perhaps?"

This was too much for both of us, and once we started giggling, we simply could not stop, nor did we particularly want to. The only thing that stopped us was the fact that Robin walked in and said,

"Belle, it's almost time for the Princess Gathering."

"I know," she answered, "I'll be out in a minute."

"OK," said Robin. Then he turned his attention to me. "How you feeling, big man?"

"Like a million bucks," I replied. "Is there any way I could head back to my room and change for the Gathering?"

"Well, Doc has cleared you to go whenever you feel ready," informed Robin.

"Are you ready, my love?" asked Belle.

"About as ready as I'll ever be," I said honestly. "I just need a change of clothes, and I know where I can get those."

"Good," responded Robin with a smile. "Then I'll see you down in the Atrium. And hey-be careful about public displays of affection. We do have rules, after all."

"Wait," I stammered, "how did you-oh, right. Disney Cruise Lines."

"Yeah," smirked Robin. "Word travels fast. Don't worry, as long as you keep it behind closed doors, we're good."

"OK, then," I agreed with a thumbs-up. He returned the gesture and left the room.

"I have to get going, too," added Belle, "but I'll see you down there."

"That you will," I replied to Belle, stealing a quick kiss. "And hey-don't be scared for me. I'll be all right. Hey, suggestion: While I'm gone, maybe you should get to know Ariel a little better. Who knows what might spark?"

"You do realize you're going on a track that is looked on by so many people as totally wrong," reminded Belle, "right?"

"Those people are little more than close-minded simpletons," I dismissed with a wave of my hand. "It doesn't matter whether it's between people of the same or opposite gender. We're talking about true love. What's so wrong about that?"

"Oh, how I love you," laughed Belle. "Wise beyond your years, and good-looking, too." She snatched a quick kiss from me before she left the room with a "See you real soon."

"It's nothing, Belle," I said to myself, touching my lips. "I just know the value-and the power-of true, raw, unadulterated, pure love."

With that, I left the infirmary for my stateroom.