Disclaimer: I don't own anything.
Author's Note: Thank you for those still reading this story.

Everything Falls Into Place?

Z woke up much later than she had been planning too. Standing up she stretched and realized that she had missed breakfast. Just then there was a knock at the door, "Come in."

One of the maids entered and curtsied, "Your Father sent me here to wake you. He wishes to speak to you."

"Of course. I will be there shortly."

It didn't take long for Z to be ready for the day; she wasn't as picky as her sister was. Still she hoped her Father wouldn't realize that her being late had to do with the fact that she had slept in the whole morning. It wasn't that he was strict; he just felt that more could be done without sleeping all day. That was why he had all those lessons in the early morning, had both she and Syd out of bed and breakfast eaten without it being to late in the morning.

There were mornings when she and Syd had slept in; though usually they were times when they were sick or there had been a ball where they weren't going to bed until late or rather early in the morning.

As she stepped into the hall and began heading to see her Father she remembered what had taken place yesterday.

The kiss.

If the circumstances had been different she would have thought it was a perfect one. It had felt completely right. Why did she have to fall in love with Sky?

Everything would have been much simpler if she and he had stayed at odds with each other. Instead they had gotten to know each other; she respected him and trusted him. Did he feel the same way? Syd thought so, perhaps that kiss showed that he did? Z just wasn't sure and she hated going on maybes.

"Z!"

The brunette Princess turned and saw her sister moving towards her. "Syd."

"You're awake! I went to find you at the stables this morning and you weren't there. So…I tried to find you with Sky and you weren't there either. It was then that I realized you were still in bed." Syd came to a stop, "Are you feeling well?"

"I just had…an odd evening, that's all."

"What happened?"

"I don't want to talk about it."

Syd frowned and Z knew that the subject wasn't going to be forgotten just tucked away until Syd realized that Z would be ready to talk about it. Syd looked down the hall, "Father requested to see you?"

"Yes. You as well?"

"He did."

Z nodded and the two sisters continued their walk. Z wondered what else her Father could say to them. Did he know about Sky and Z?

No, surely not. Odds were he just wanted to talk to them; it wasn't like he never talked to them. She decided not to stress about it to much and only worry if there was something to worry about.

"Did Sky find you yesterday?"

"What do you mean?"

"He was looking for you, he said it was urgent."

"Syd, you did spend time with him, didn't you? I mean you are marrying him."

Syd looked like she was going to say something before she quickly shut her mouth and looked to the door ahead, "We're here."

"Syd are you going to tell me?"

"Father is waiting. Maybe later."

And with that Syd knocked on the door and went in leaving Z to follow her.

Syd and Z sat down across from their Father. He was watching them both intently. Syd looked over at her sister again and wondered what it was that was bothering her so much. She knew something had to have caused her sister to disappear and to sleep so late. Their Father must not have talked to Z yet, she must still think that Syd was marrying Sky. He had found her easily enough.

She had been in her room reading a book when there was a knock on her door. The maid who entered had only told her that her Father wished to speak to her. The only thing he could possibly be so worried about letting her know had to do with Z and Sky. So either this was a good news or a bad news. Z had never come into her room, so either Z was upset or…perhaps she and Sky were enjoying their time together.

She couldn't help but smile at the thought of her sister being so happy. After everything she deserved it; Z had protected Syd, looked out for her, was an amazing sister, she deserved some happiness. Just because her Father had set it up to be her and Sky before she could even talk didn't mean they belonged together.

Anyone who would have observed Sky and Z could see that they had feelings for each other. Of course they didn't have it easy simply because they were both stubborn and refused to back down. However Syd had also observed when they got along, they seemed to really understand the other one. It was a different interaction than what she and Bridge had, but it was theirs. Z made Sky seem a bit lighter; it wasn't like he was laughing and…he wasn't easy going like Bridge or Jack, and yet he had loosened up a bit more since they had first met him.

"Sydney, are you alright?"

Syd pulled herself from her thoughts and looked at her Father, "I'm sorry, I was thinking that's all."

"I suppose you didn't hear a word I said?" There was a gentle smile on his face.

"No, I did not. I apologize."

"Do not worry. Now, are you paying attention?"

"Of course Father."

"I have decided that instead of you marrying Sky, it will be Elizabeth."

"Really? That is so exciting Father. May I tell Z?" Syd stood up to get ready to leave but was stopped by a look from her Father, "What?"

"I would prefer if you did not say anything to Elizabeth."

Syd frowned, "Alright. May I go?"

"Of course."

"Thank you."

After that she had began wondering along and had found Sky. She wished that she had not ran into Sky earlier, if she ran into him now she could tell him with absolute certainty that he and Z would marry. Instead she had left him with the hope that her Father would allow that. It was something, but knowing him he would want a definite.

Syd was pulled back from her thoughts when her Father began talking. "Elizabeth, Sydney, I love you both so much and I've always wanted the best for you." He looked at Z, "Elizabeth when you were born I made sure your betrothal was set with Prince Jack, because I knew their Kingdom was close and it would strengthen our ties and I knew his Father was a good man and would raise his son right. The passing years with your and Jack's growing bond only confirmed my original thoughts."

"Yes but—" Z began but stopped when her Father held up his hand, "sorry."

"Do not worry." He turned to Syd, "Sydney when you were born there were no other neighboring Kingdoms with sons, so I looked further and I realized that since we were on shaky ground with Prince Sky's Father I figured that surely a bond with them would increase and build it. He had stipulations, he did not want it spoken of, and he did not want you two to meet until preparations for the wedding were in place. After you returned I did write to him with the full explanation, as well as placing a letter from Sky in there."

Their Father paused, stood up and looked out the side window before speaking again to Syd and Z, "I was so worried when the two of you had disappeared. I was beside myself. Not because if you didn't return I would have two broken alliances on my hands, but because I would never see you again. That thought was worse that any other I could think of."

He slowly moved back and once more sat across from the two sisters, "Hearing your statements I couldn't help but wonder what I had done to both of you and I realized that I could have lost you forever, but I was not willing to let that happen again. In a physical or emotional sense. Elizabeth, you do not wish to marry Jack as you have told me before, you will no longer have to marry him. I have spoken to his Father and it has been arranged otherwise."

Syd watched Z's mouth open slightly, "What? Then who am I marrying?"

"Sky's Father changed it so it is you and Sky who will be marrying, however if that is against what you wish I can take care of it and you can chose whoever you wish to marry."

Syd could no longer hold it in, "Isn't that wonderful? You and Sky can be together now!"

Z looked at Syd, "Did you know?"

"Father told me not to tell you."

"You wished to be alone Elizabeth, so I left you. I only had gotten word from his Father yesterday."

"So, if Syd isn't marrying Sky, she's marrying Jack."

A smile crossed his face and Syd realized that she was going to have to marry Jack. She was still marrying the wrong guy; the only thing that made it slightly okay was the fact that her sister could be happy.

"Elizabeth I took into consideration what we spoke about."

"What did you two speak about?" Syd asked confused.

Another smile lit up her Father's face, "I am glad that the two of you are so close and love each other. It shows in simple things." He turned to Z, "Elizabeth your sister spoke to me and asked for you to marry Sky and if that happened then she would marry Jack." Before Z could say anything their Father held up a hand and then continued, "And Sydney your sister spoke to me and asked if I could break your betrothal to Sky so you could marry Bridge."

Syd looked at Z who was looking at their Father, "You did that for me Z?"

The brunette princess looked at Syd, "You did the same for me." She turned back to her Father, "Does that mean?"

"Yes, Sydney, if you and Bridge wish to marry then I give you my blessing. Elizabeth, you and Sky are to be married, again only if you wish this."

"And Jack?"

"Apparently he fell in love with a seamstress, a Miss Ally."

"That is so exciting! Thank you so much!" Syd moved around the desk and hugged her Father and then she hugged Z, "May I go and find Bridge Father?"

"Of course."

Syd gave a hug to Z before she hurried out of the room.

It didn't take Syd long to find Bridge, he was by the stream standing on his hands, "Bridge!"

Quickly he moved back to his feet and looked at her, "Syd, are you alright?"

"My Father just gave the most wonderful news."

He looked at her curiously, "Which is?"

"First, Z and Sky can be together. I went to my Father and asked him if I could marry Jack and Z could marry Sky. And he arranged for it! Is that not the best news you could hear?"

Bridge looked down for a minute before looking back at Syd, "Of course. You wanted to get them together and now they are."

Syd watched as Bridge took a step back, "What's wrong?"

"I should be going, after all I need to see my family, let them know I'm alright."

The blonde princess reached out and grabbed his hand, "That wasn't the only news you know."

Before she really thought about it she leaned forward and kissed him. Kissing him felt completely right. As they moved closer together she felt herself relax into his body. After a few more seconds Bridge pulled back, "Wait, you're marrying Jack."

"No, he gave me the choice to marry anyone…"

They two stood there for a few minutes before a grin spread across Bridge's face, "Will you marry me?"

"I will."

And this time it was Bridge who pulled her into a kiss in the knowledge that the two would be together.

Z looked back at her Father after Syd left the room, "You're really letting us choose who we want to marry?"

"My daughter, I have come close to loosing both of you, I don't want that. I want you to be happy, and you two are smart enough to realize how you can accomplish that for yourselves. I will be here to love and support you. You shouldn't have to choose between love and loyalty to the crown. I know that you will be loyal. Besides when you both spoke to me it showed that not only were you putting each other first but you were still trying to stay loyal to the crown. That there is evidence enough."

Her Father walked over to her and took her hand in his, "If you wish to marry Sky, go and speak with him, if you do not, let me know and I will fix this for you."

"If we break the contract then we could go to war."

"No. Though that is the way with other places, that is one thing that we both put in the betrothal, we didn't want war to come of anything. It will be settled another way, one where neither of you girls, or myself will be in jeopardy. Trust me when I say that it is up to you. You decide for you will need to live with it."

"Thank you. I need to think." Her Father nodded and she left his room.

As soon as she left the room she began to process everything that she had heard. Syd had offered herself up to marry Jack just so she could marry Sky. That was something that would stay with her always.

Her Father was doing everything so that she and Syd could choose and be happy. She knew that her Father loved them both, seeing him do something like this was completely different.

A few hours later

Z knew she had to make a choice and she knew she had to make it sooner rather than later. She had been out here on one of the spots she went to be alone ever since her Father had told her. The decision had to be made soon enough, and that would include talking to Sky.

Did she want to marry him or did she not?

She weighed the pros and cons of the two choices. She could decline and not marry Sky which might actually work…although she knew that she didn't mind marrying Sky because she was in love with him. Though he could be the most stubborn annoying person she had ever met she had fallen for him.

Even though she had fallen for him didn't mean that she was going to let him treat her however. Him kissing her yesterday, though she enjoyed the kiss, it was out of place and he was wrong in doing so. Pulling away the way she had was probably clue enough to him.

She was grateful that her sister and Father were both so caring otherwise things would have ended up as a choice between love and loyalty. She knew that the odds of Syd choosing love were more likely than for her. She had run away that was true, but after everything Z realized that running away hadn't solved the problem, it had only made things worse and almost caused her to loose her sister, which just wasn't worth it. She could understand why their Father had changed his mind and decided to allow them to choose.

He loved both her and Syd and she had always known it, but seeing it just know, listening to him tell her and her sister that they could choose, that was something Z would never forget no matter what would happen.

Her thoughts moved back to Sky and the kiss, he had known so he had kissed her, why he didn't just explain what had happened was beyond her, but the point was he just assumed that by kissing her all would be well. And that thought didn't sit well with her at all.

The brunette Princess knew that she had to make her decision. To be truthful she knew that she wanted to marry Sky. The only problem was that she didn't want him to think it was just because of what her Father had said or because he had decided to kiss her. The most logical thing to do would be to talk to him.

Z decided to look through the castle to the few places Sky seemed to gravitate towards; a sitting room off of the throne room, the library and his room. Her next stops would be outside.

She got to the sitting room where she knew he would sometimes sit reading, but no one was in there so she continued on. Her next stop was the library; she walked around for a few minutes but the only person she saw was one of the courtiers who hadn't seen Sky that day.

As she paused in front of the door to his bedroom she realized that everything was nice and simple; all she needed to do was talk to him and things could be well. If she didn't have a sister who loved her so much and a Father who cared more about their happiness then keeping things his way she would have to choose between doing what was right and doing what she wanted. She had tried doing what she wanted before and it had gotten her nowhere but being chased by a horrible person. And on top of that Syd had been hurt, and it could have been worse, thankfully it wasn't. That whole…trip…had caused Z to realize she couldn't just run away.

If it had come down to it she would have married Jack. She would have married Jack, Syd and Sky would have married. Everyone would have been unhappy. It was luck and love that had brought her here…Syd would have loved that conclusion.

Shaking her head she knocked on the door. After a few seconds she knocked again. This time she waited a couple of minutes and tried again. Slowly she opened the door and was somewhat relieved that he wasn't in the room. Her next place to check was outside.

She knew that Sky worked out every morning in the field just to the east; she wondered if it was because it was closer to his home…though knowing Sky she realized that he probably wasn't that sentimental. Instead it was most likely just a good spot. She frowned when she came across it and it was empty. Unsure now of where he was and quite frustrated since she had been looking for him for quite a while, she decided to ask one of the servants.

It didn't take long to come across one, "Have you seen Prince Sky?"

The young maid nodded, "Yes Princess Elizabeth, I saw him earlier today. He was heading to the stables."

"Thank you."

Once Z got to the stables she looked around and discovered that his horse was missing. She went over to the stable boy, "Did Prince Sky go riding today?"

"He left on his horse a little over an hour ago Princess Elizabeth."

"Did he say when he would be back?"

"No, your majesty."

"Thank you."

She turned to head back to the castle when the stable boy spoke up, "I do not think he will be back though."

Z looked at him, "What do you mean?"

He nervously looked around, "He left; he was going home. But that is all I heard."

Z couldn't believe it, he had just left. Groaning in frustration she pointed at her horse, "Please saddle him up."

He nodded and quickly got to work on her horse. It didn't take long before Z was on the horse, east?"

"Yes, your majesty."

And with that Z took off hoping that she was doing the right thing.