Disclaimer: I don't own anything.
Author's Note: I hope that all will enjoy this. Thank you to all those who have read, and those who read and reviewed. Thank you A Reader, angelale8, aurora, Aurora528, Bridgette Barrymore, Caro, Darshana, Darshana1107, MisssQueenofChaos, Rana, RPM Shadow, Sabercat7, Sky n Z's biggest fan, Sky n Z's biggest fan ever, Swallow in the Cloud, taylorearhardtmyers, Uchihas1010Hyuuga and wonderlandbomb. I do hope that everyone enjoyed this story. Thank you again for reading it.

Love and Loyalty

Z stood as still as she could be allowing the maid to finish dressing her. She longed to be away from here, be anywhere else, but she knew that would come with time.

She wondered how much longer she could stand all this.

She looked up as the door opened. Her sister, beautiful in a light pink gown walked over to her, bounced was more like it. Syd was quite happy. Ever since Syd and Bridge had married her sister got happier every day. And in truth Z had grown to love Bridge more because of that. And for the fact that he was a good guy who completely loved Syd.

"Z, you look so beautiful!"

The brunette Princess smiled at her exuberant sister, "Thank you."

Nodding Syd took Z's hand, "I mean it. Not that you weren't beautiful before, but just look at you!"

"I just want everything to be done. I wish I could be somewhere else."

"With Sky?"

Z felt her cheeks heat up a bit and shrugged, "As long as I am free from all of this." She gestured to the dress that was not something she would wear on a normal basis.

"Z, this is a once in a lifetime opportunity. How can you not love this?"

Z just shook her head; of course her sister wouldn't understand how she felt. On Syd's wedding day though she was extremely nervous she still couldn't wait for everything to happen. The countdown to that day was incredibly stressful seeing as their engagement wasn't as long as things were normally.

Syd and Bridge were married just a month and a half after Z and Sky and more or less confessed their feelings to each other. They couldn't be any happier. All of Bridge's family had come to the castle and everyone was able to get to know the other family. And though they still lived in their home, his father had not wanted to leave it, they still came and visited the castle after Bridge and Syd were married. Bridge's sisters absolutely loved Syd. Then again, Z realized, it was hard not to love Syd.

Since they were married Syd had hoped Z and Sky would be married the next month, but things were slower for them. Her Father and his Father spoke and discussed the fine tuning of how events would turn out after the wedding. Besides if Z was honest she just wanted to skip the wedding. She knew that they needed to get married but it was frustrating having to go through all of these things that she just didn't care to much about. If there was a way to get married without all the extravagance…she knew there wasn't, but sometimes it was nice to imagine.

It wasn't like she and Sky had a perfect, quiet, blissful relationship. They still had some arguments. It wasn't all that bad but there were some things that got pretty heated. Of course after the fight things really heated up with some of their make up sessions. It wasn't like any of it was planned, but it still happened. No it wasn't that blissful, quiet type of relationship but it was still amazing in her mind.

They did spend lots of time discussing and getting to know the other person and Z found herself only falling even more in love with him.

She still remembered when the words were spoken out loud.

She had spent time with Sky as he showed her their kingdom. It was very nice and all the people seemed to completely love their King and the Princes. In fact she so that many were excited for the coming wedding.

Z had meant Drew's fiancé, Maria, just the previous week and she could understand why. She was very sweet and kind and soft spoken. She and Drew fit together so well. When they were together they both seemed to bring out something in the other person. Maria even seemed to understand Jacob.

She and Sky were walking along one of the rivers that winded through the northern fields when the two stopped and looked out across the green fields. She was surprised with how in tune the two seemed to be. They didn't need to say much in order to start walking, or change their direction, or stop. Sometimes she was in the lead and other times he would be.

They were quiet for a while before he spoke, "I hope you are enjoying yourself."

She smiled as the familiar sentence left his lips. Though he had already asked her many times he still continued to ask her, "I am. It is nice here."

Nodding Sky looked behind them before returning his gaze to the fields, "I am glad."

The two were quiet for a little while before Sky turned back to her, "Z, I…"

She looked at him as he fell silent. After waiting a few minutes she touched his arm, "You what?"

"There is something I wish to say to you. I can understand if you do not agree or do not reciprocate, but I feel as though I need to say this."

Z's hand slowly began to move away from his arm; once the contact was gone she felt Sky's warm hand hold onto her hand. "What do you need to say?"

He looked out again over the fields and then looked down in her eyes, "I…"

Z felt her eyes widen slightly as she realized that she had a pretty good idea of what he was about to say. She didn't want to break the silence and take it away from him but she was starting to get a little impatient.

Her patience was rewarded when she heard him speak the next two words that made her feel complete, "love you."

Smiling at him she leaned up and kissed him. When she pulled away she grinned at him, "I love you too."

And then he smiled. She wished that he would smile more, but was happy enough when he did smile. The two embraced again and shared a heated kiss.

Sighing she still remembered those words. They didn't say it to each other as often as Bridge and Syd seemed to say it to each other, but it was often enough for them. She was happy with the relationship that they were in. He really did see her as an equal and he respected and loved her. She loved him and saw that he was a good and honest man who did the right thing.

She felt as her sister pulled her into another hug, "Don't worry, everything will be fine."

Z let out a small laugh, "Syd, I'm not going into the Dying Woods."

"I know, you just…you seem worried."

"I wish my wedding wasn't a huge production." She shook her head and returned the hug, "It would be nice if it was quieter."

"Maybe Sky wanted a big one? Jacob said that—"

"Jacob says a lot of things. Nevertheless, at least once it's over, I can get out of this dress and into something comfortable."

Syd raised her eyebrows and Z slapped her arm. After rubbing it Syd looked at Z, "I wasn't the one who said it."

"I'm ready."

"Good, let's go!"

Z was still surprised with all the decorations that covered the halls and the room that she was now currently in. She knew that Syd had been supervising the decorations for the wedding but she didn't realize how much she would put it. Still, it was Syd. Z returned her eyes to Sky who was standing in front of her. Though he didn't have a huge smile on his face like Bridge did when he was up here, she could still see the happiness in his eyes. That was perhaps the feature she might choose as her favorite for him. He expressed much with his eyes. If he was happy he didn't always show it on his face, but it was there in his eyes.

As their eyes met a soft smile touched his lips. Z felt love fill her as she realized that very soon it would be just the two of them and things would be really good. The Priest asked for the vows and after giving them, they were encircled with a ring of flowers on the floor. He took her hand and together the two stepped out of the circle symbolizing that they were now one.

Though she found that the wedding had moved quick enough she was surprised that the reception was taking a much longer time.

Every one had come up and spoken to them already, their Fathers, Syd and Bridge, Jacob, Drew and Maria. Jack and Ally had come up soon afterwards and the two friends quickly embraced.

"I'm glad that you're happy Z, I really am."

"Thanks. And I am happy that you found someone for yourself and that it was not me."

"I told you before I didn't want to go through with it. After you had disappeared I was worried about you."

Z smiled at Jack, "I know, but everything is fine now."

She and Jack had spent a long time talking when he, Ally and his Father and Mother had arrived the previous week. He had explained that Ally had helped him while she was gone. She had even gone as far as suggesting they go find Z and that she would go as well.

The two spent quite a bit of time together and had completely fallen in love. Z was still surprised with how things worked out. Jack had found someone that he loved and who loved him back. Z looked to the dance floor and smiled as she watched her sister and her husband dance.

She tried to imagine Syd married to Sky and she married to Jack. Though it would have remained loyal to what had originally been set out, none of them would have been happy. Sure she would have married her best friend and they would have gotten along just fine; but she had seen Syd and Sky together, though they were amiable towards each other, it really wouldn't have worked, at least not to the extent in which Bridge had given her such happiness.

It wasn't until Sky picked up her hand on the way to their suite when he asked, "What are you thinking about?"

"Just life in general. It's funny how things turn out sometimes."

Her husbands' brow creased as he thought about what she said. He nodded and looked back at her, "I suppose things don't always turn out as planned."

"True. Sometimes having a plan isn't always the best. Working as it happens is a much better way to go."

A grin appeared on his face, "I suppose." He leaned down and gently kissed her, "I love you."

"I love you."

And as the two kissed Z realized that though it had appeared they were turning their back on loyalty, a trait that they were supposed to keep in high regards, things had worked out better. In choosing love both she and her sister were able to have the highest type of loyalty one could find. Z had found love and loyalty with the man in front of her. And together they moved into the next stage of their love.