Dave's POV

I couldn't believe what she did...Buttercup...going work for them...but the more I think about...I knew it was the only thing that she could do...that we could do just to survive. She told me her decision and wanted me to help break the news to Dad.

I sighed as Dad walked in, sore as ever...he was grinning from ear to ear.

"Any good news from Mr. Cooper." I asked Dad, Buttercup was tensing up, she knew what she had to do.

"In a way, yes but looks like we could get that break after all, it just isn't coming yet. Don't you kids worry, I don't have to eat." Dad's stomach was growling.

"You won't need to do that, Pop." Buttercup turned around, she was blushing, "I got a job today."

Dad looked shocked, his eyes just widened.

"At the Morbucks' Manor." She finished, and I have to say, this room went cold quickly, "Pop, I had no chance...he cut the taxes in half and he'll pay me five gold gems a month...we can finally make it...it's only temporary until we can leave, we can save up and you won't have to starve or the twins or Dave. I'll only work half the day for the twins...I made that clear."

My Dad got up and walked out.

"Pop? Pop?" Buttercup looked almost heart broken but the more I thought about it, the more I could see Buttercup's point, but I was mad as well. I walked out after him, he was under a tree.

"I can't believe she would do this. Him? Of all people?"

"Dad?" I stood beside him, "Listen Dad, I know...you're upset but she is right, ya know. We'll be able to make it...it won't be much but..."

"I just couldn't bare it...if he hurt her...if...she ends up dying just like her mother. I couldn't live anymore...you four are all I have left to...to.."

"Dad, "I had tears in my eyes, I could t stand the fact that she will be working for the people who were responsible for mom's sickness, "But Buttercup is strong...Morbucks didn't touch Brianna or Belle-"

"It's different, I know he won't give up, I just know it. And if he hurts her, I'll kill...kill him."

Buttercup's POV

I feel like I betrayed him but what else could I do, honestly. Morbucks may not have realize this but he gave us the key to our freedom, I just hope he didn't realize, well whether he did or not, he was good to his word...he had no choice, Dad always said have it written down. I made him...I was shocked that he would go to such length. I know the minute a lord finds out a servant could read and write, you lose your job. I just wish that Dad could be happy for me. Dad soon came in, I turned around to face him.

"Pop-"

"No wait, I may not like it, but I'll respect your decision. You've taken such good care of this family...more than I've done. You were even willing to sell your mother's necklace and Dave, your grandfather's ring (on his mother's side, "Dad hugged us both and gave us both nuggies, but then he let go of Dave and grabbed me by the shoulder, "I want you to promise me, that if..if he does anything...anything that makes you feel uncomfortable...I don't care if he offers you 1000 gems for your silence or anything, you'll get out of there."

I didn't have a clue what dad was talking about but I agreed. He then hugged me...tight...I couldn't believe he still had that strength. I was having a hard time breathing...

"Pop...can't...*gasp* breathe." I gasped as he let me go.

"I still got it, hah?" My Dad started to flex his giant gun of muscles, he even let the twins hang on arms, to prove his strength. Mom told me how when they first got married until I was born, that dad did some wrestling, it was illegal in Asheia and dad would never do something that could risk imprisonment but times were really tough...Mom said.

Flashback

"Give it back, Stork." Dave tackled me to the ground. He pinned me to the ground, trying to grab his ball back, but I just pushed him off.

"Make me, you're mad 'cause I play better than you...and almost taller than you!"I stuck my curled tongue at him, as I ran under the table. David turned over chair, I ran off...and we both bumped into Mom, at our

"Buttercup...David..." Mom stood there with her hands on her hips, we brought mud in the "Just look at the mess you two made, Honestly...A clean home is..."

"A Happy home." We both looked down at the ground.

"Now, time for your reading lessons."

We both groaned as Mom held out some of her books in front of us...Mom was washing the dishes, while we were force to our reading lessons when I was five years old and Dave was 7. I heard them last night and mom in a rare state was very angry with Dad, but he brought a lot of money last night, so I didn't understand why.

"He had been wrestling again that's why? Your father wants to risk his life for a few gems." My mom sighed, twirling her necklace around her finger.

"But why? I don't get it." I was doing everything I can to avoid reading, in fact I wanted to play in mud or with Dave's soccer ball, I just burrowed it from our room.

"Because...if your father get caught then he goes to prison, a bad place for criminals."

"But it's not bad if he's buying more food, right mommy?"

My mom turned around with hearts floating above her head, "You are just the cutest little thing. Who would have thought I would have such a precious little girl," She pinched my cheeks, "Yes...even if it's for a good reason, the law is the law, but I know he wants to make it up, he thinks I regret my choice in throwing away my title for him...but I never...I never regret it."

"But mommy-" She put her finger on my lips.

"Shush, my little Flower, remember one thing, Love is the most important thing in this world. Everyone marries for position and wealth, I pity Lord and Lady Morbucks, because they may never know what it's really like. To wake up everyday with the man you love and the sweetest children alive." She squeezed my cheeks together, " Especially a beautiful daughter...but...there is one thing I regret...oh Never mind...Now I want you to read that for me out loud...knowledge is power."

I dropped my head on the table, "Oh Mom c'mon I wanna go and play. I wanna beat the boys in soccer. I kicked Davy's butt..."

"Nuh, she cheated."

"Did not."

My mom just laughed and patted me on the head, "How did I ever get a tomboy for a daughter? Dave, you're a big brother, be nice to your sister."

We both pouted, she thought she was upset with us, but she just hugged, and gave us another one of those kisses on the forehead, she chuckled, "Oh don't be like that, I wouldn't change you two for the world." She picks me up and hugs me under her chin, and she held Dave on her lap,"You two will thank me one day for teaching you to read and write, just you wait. Your father is gonna get us out of here, and we'll have a life of our own, making our own money for ourselves and not paying some Lord for living on their property and being over taxed but you'll get a life my darlings, and education helps. There are people older than even me who can't read or write, and they get taken advantage of. Now read."

I pouted, I had no idea what she was saying, "I don't wanna."

She squeezed my cheeks again and Dave's this time, "I am grateful for one thing, that you two didn't inherit my family's magic. Can you imagine...my grandmother was knew as the strongest lady in our family...hands down."She grinned, if only she knew.

End of Flashback

Normal POV (Back at the Palace)

King Henry was in his bedroom, shocked at how his Crown Prince took the news, he never seen Butch's face so red...Butch just stormed right out of the very room. Queen Sarah was sitting on the bed, Truffles was lying on his pet bed on the floor.

"I don't understand it, he was so polite to her, I thought he may have changed his mind about her."

"Dearest, he was only polite because I begged him too...he can't stand her...remember what happened when you tried to force him into Jousting."

"Yes, it was the only other thing that he refused no matter what. I don't understand it...so he was being polite...but Sophie isn't that bad-."

"My dear, you can barely stand at the dinner table with her for five minutes and Beast can't stand her and he patient as a saint...can you honestly...imagine Butch spending the rest of his life with that."

The King and The Queen were standing in front of Butch's room door. Henry sighed as he knocked the door...there was no answer.

"Son...Son...We need to talk."

The Servant opened the door for them...the room was empty...the sheets of the bed were tied to the bed post and out the window.

"Oh no." Queen Sarah gasped as King Henry's face turned pure red.

"GUARDS! GUARDS! GET HIM BACK HERE NOW!"