Disclaimer: I don't own anything.
Author's Note: Thank you all for those who are still reading this. I had wanted to get this up this weekend and am glad that I was able to. I hope you enjoy this. Merry Christmas, or Happy Hanukah or whatever it is that you celebrate at this time of year.

From the Beginning to the Future

When Z woke up in the morning she wasn't sure what she was going to find. After the kiss the two had shared it was hard for her to go to sleep, but she had finally managed too. When Bridge and Syd were able to be together it was like it just fell into place. She wondered if it would be that way for her and Sky.

Jacob and Sky were already talking. She walked over to them and instead of the softening that she had seen in Sky the previous night was gone. Instead Sky had tightened up and seemed a bit distant. She wasn't going to say anything because that would mean talking about it when Jacob was very much awake, and in truth she wanted some time to process everything on her own.

Jacob grinned at her, "Are you ready?"

"Yes. We should leave. It doesn't make much sense to linger."

Sky nodded, "Then we'll go."

Together the three of them headed to the castle. It wasn't too far, and time seemed to go much faster with Jacob there talking about anything and everything. Once they got to the castle they were hurried into the throne room.

"Jacob, you are back. And Sky? And…who is your lovely companion?" Z could only assume that this was King Antony.

"Father, I have returned." Sky began and then he looked over at Z before looking back at his Father, "And this is Princess Elizabeth."

"Princess, it is indeed an honor to have you at our home, though I will say I am indeed surprised. I was not expecting you."

"It more or less just happened. I was not expecting to come either. But that is life and we must deal with what we have."

The King looked at her and glanced over at Sky before returning his gaze to Z, "Well said Princess Elizabeth, I do quite agree. Life does indeed happen and we must all deal with the consequences. Now, I will have a room made up for you and you can go and rest properly before dinner tonight where we will fully get a chance to speak properly. For now I must speak with Jacob."

Jacob looked up at his Father, "I am here Father, what else is there?"

"Jacob." He signaled towards a room off to the side of the throne. Instead of saying anything else Jacob nodded and quickly followed his Fathers' instructions. King Antony smiled at Z once more, "Til then my dear Princess."

Z looked over at Sky who was still looking towards the way that his Father and Jacob had walked off at. He still hadn't said a word to her. Even during the travel from the shelter to here he said nothing of any real consequence to her or Jacob. The first time she had really heard him speak since the previous night was in greeting his Father and other brother.

"Elizabeth right?"

She turned to see Drew walking up to them. "Z actually."

"Z?"

"I go by Z."

He nodded, "Very well. Z, how was your journey?"

"It was…good."

"I'm quite glad. Sometimes journeys are not always fun. I know that my fiancé does not enjoy traveling."

"You're engaged? Congratulations."

"Thank you. I suppose I should say the same for you as well."

Z looked up at Sky hoping he might say something but when he didn't she just nodded, "Thank you."

A servant came up on the side and curtsied, "Princess your bedroom awaits you."

"Thank you."

And with that Z followed the maid from the room leaving Sky and Drew behind. She was completely baffled with Sky's behavior. She didn't expect him to act like Bridge, but with Syd and Bridge they seemed to fall so easily into the category of being together that she had hoped it would be the same for her and Sky. Though was anything easy with Sky?

No.

He didn't make things easy. He was stubborn, but she did like that he stuck to what he believed. But they had kissed and it wasn't a simple kiss. Wait, they had kissed twice. Twice and he was acting like that. What was he going to do when he married, hide from his wife?

A smile crossed her face at the thought of that, but it changed to a small frown as she wondered if that would be her. Drew took in the fact that she and Sky were engaged. If Drew believed that they were, then King Antony had to believe it too. And yet Sky still said nothing. If this continued she might have to be the one to bring it up again.

Her room wasn't too far from where the throne room was. It was a nice size, one that she was sure would have Syd getting very excited about. After the maid left Z went over to the window and looked out. She wasn't sure why she was so surprised that she didn't see sand like the Barren Plains. She knew that the Barren Plains only lay to the west of this castle and that they land was actually a very good one.

She moved over and sat down on the bed, it was actually quite comfortable. Z soon found herself laying down on the bed relaxing as she let her mind think of other things. She tried to keep her mind off of Sky but she wasn't quite able to. She would think about her sister and hoped that all was well with her. Thinking of her sister would then make her think about her sister and Bridge and the fact that they would end up married. Then that would make her thoughts go back to Sky again and the fact that she was going to marry him.

It was really getting her nowhere. She needed to get her mind off of this whole mess. Surely she could refocus everything on something…perhaps getting through dinner. Then the whole thought of the fact that his brothers and Father were both under the assumption that the two were betrothed. Z just shook her head and though these thoughts continuously ran through her head she found that she was able to finally drift off to sleep.

She wasn't sure how long she had been asleep for when she woke to the knocking. Sitting up she told the person to come in. The maid who had brought her to the room came in with a new dress.

"Princess Elizabeth, I have brought a dress for you."

Z looked at the bright yellow dress and sighed, "I suppose that is for dinner?"

"Yes Princess."

Z stood up, "Alright. What is your name?"

"Diana, Princess."

Before long Z was out of her dress that which was probably a good thing seeing as it was torn in many spots and looked quite ragged. Hopefully nothing had shown while she was wearing it. The yellow dress that she put on was very bright and cheerful. It definitely reminded her of the sun. "Are you sure this is a good dress for dinner? Should I not wear something…not as bright?"

"Princess, there is nothing too bright. But if you wish I could find another dress."

Z looked at the dress and then back at the maid, "Who made the suggestion for this dress?"

Looking down the maid quietly said, "I did Princess. I thought it would compliment you."

"I do like it, I just…for dinner perhaps something, not as bright. I will wear this tomorrow?"

Nodding the maid moved to the door, "I shall return with another dress."

Diana wasn't too long before she returned with another dress. This was a light blue dress, so it was still light, just not as bright as the yellow one had been. Quickly Z found herself dressed and then her hair was done. "I shall show you to the dining room."

Z nodded, "Thank you."

"My pleasure Princess."

"You can call me Z."

The maid looked offended by the offer but Z shook her head, "If you're comfortable you may, but it's up to you."

"Thank you Princess, this way."

Z sighed and followed the young woman down the hall. It didn't take too long to get to the dining room. As she entered she saw that the four men were already sitting at the table. All the sons stood up while the King nodded his head to Z. She quickly sat down, "Thank you for your hospitality. I greatly appreciate it."

King Antony nodded, "It has been my pleasure. Though you have only just arrived I do hope that you will find yourself comfortable."

Z nodded and then a terrible thought came to her, no one but the stable boy knew she had taken off. If after everything her Father couldn't find her…she wasn't sure what to do. Looking up she saw that Sky was looking at her with what looked like concern. She tilted her head trying to figure it out but was interrupted when dinner was brought before them.

As she looked at him he looked away and Z was aware of Jacob once more talking a mile a minute. She did wonder if he ever stopped, but even with that she wasn't annoyed with him. He reminded her of Syd in such a way that she actually found him quite endearing. Drew and King Anthony were, at the moment, discussing something and Sky was just eating while Jacob spoke to both she and Sky.

Dinner wasn't as bad as Z thought, she actually spoke with King Antony and Drew and found that she enjoyed all of Sky's family. They were all different, Jacob was completely full of life and so eager to not only experience it but share it with others. Drew was very mature, but there was as park of fun that would appear in his eyes; she was sure that he was not someone who was stiff. King Antony was quite kind and wise. She wasn't expecting that, all things that had ever been spoken from people were how firm he was. She could see that he could be firm, but he was a just King.

And then there was Sky. He did follow the rules and was very strict about it, but she had seen him loosen up, especially with his brothers. She had seen that there was more about him. Sure he loved to follow the rules and do things the way he wanted them done, but he wasn't a horrible person, he wasn't boring. He was quite intriguing and Z knew that he was someone that she definitely wouldn't mind being with more.

If things had been set up so that she had been betrothed to him and had just meant him she knew that she wouldn't have liked the idea of being with him at all. However after spending as much time as she had and moving from respecting, to liking and trusting, to understanding him she knew that he was not just another Prince. Not just another boring, faceless Prince. He was someone who intrigued her and she also had no problems in saying anything to him, and he didn't seem to look at her any less when she did. And in that moment she knew that she really did want to marry him and spend the rest of her days with him.

Once dinner was done Jacob took off to his room. When she watched him leave she felt someone come up beside her, it was Drew. "He wasn't supposed to do what he did. Though it was good that you all came back together Father is not happy because he could have lost him. He must retire early for a while."

"That's his punishment?"

"He is not allowed to share his thoughts and such with us this evening, for him it is."

Z nodded, "I suppose that does indeed make sense."

"The punishment must fit not just the crime but for the individual. After all a punishment is meant to teach, and if you use it as a tool of cruelty, no lesson is being shared."

"I never thought of it that way, but you're right."

"It is something our Father has always followed."

Before she turned around he spoke again, "I do not think it was wise for you and my brother to travel together alone, however I also do not think it was such a case. He said that you had followed him and together you destroyed a creature in the Dying Woods?"

Startled she looked at him, "He told you that?"

"I spoke to him about how inappropriate it was, the two of you off together alone. He did not go into details about his departure or why you followed him. But I am curious, if you do not choose to share with me, then it is fine."

"There was a misunderstanding. I did not want him to leave under the wrong impression. And in truth it was a foolish thing for him to leave and travel through there on his own."

He smiled, "Agreed. Thank you for helping to save his life."

She nodded, "He helped save mine as well."

It wasn't too much longer before he moved over to his Father and she found that Sky had left the room. Sighing she looked over to the King and the eldest Prince and decided to follow suit. She walked silently out of the room and saw him walking into a room. Hoping that it wasn't his bedroom she quickly went to it and went inside. Thankfully she discovered it was the library. It only took a few minutes before she found him sitting in one of the chairs.

Gesturing to one of the chairs by him she asked, "Do you mind?"

Startled he looked up and then shrugged, "Go ahead."

She sat down and watched him for a minute before she spoke, "You told your brother what happened?"

"I told him the gist of it."

"I see."

"I already sent someone as soon as we got here."

"What?"

"I noticed at dinner that you were worried, I assumed it was if you Father knew where you were."

"Oh. Yes. I am…although you sent someone?"

"I did. I figured you would be worrying about him and he you, so I sent someone so they could let him know you are safe."

She wasn't sure what to say about that. He understood what her look was for, but more than that he had anticipated her worry and had taken care of it. "Thank you."

He nodded and she thought she saw a small smile cross his features. He turned and looked out the window. Z just sat there thinking. She knew that she would probably have to say something, especially since he didn't appear to be talking.

Before she came up with something to say he spoke up, "You did fight quite well out there against the creature."

"Thank you."

A smile appeared on his face, it was something that Z had not seen, "A lot better than some of the other soldiers I've seen."

"Just because I'm a girl, or a Princess doesn't mean I can't handle things myself."

"I agree. You are much different than what I assumed that first time I saw you."

"And that was?"

"A damsel in distress. Nothing more."

"I'm glad that you don't see me that way. Do you?"

He shrugged his shoulders, "I couldn't see you that way anymore even if I wanted to. You are everything I didn't know a woman could be."

She raised an eyebrow, "Is that supposed to make me feel better about myself?"

"It was a compliment."

"Just like seeing you smile?" His smile disappeared and then he looked out the window. She reached over and put her hand on his arm, "It's not a bad thing to smile you know. I've seen your brothers and Father smile."

He looked down at where he hand was but instead of moving away he placed his hand on top of it and before there was any time to think the two were sharing another kiss. It was then that Z realized that this was going to be something that would be occurring more frequently in the future.