A/N: To everyone who has reviewed this story – thank you, thank you, thank you! You keep me going. I'm implementing a new system to try to get these out faster for you; if it starts to be a long hiatus, feel free to review or pm me and remind me of how long it's been!

To angel2u: Lol. That's one of my favorite bits- glad it made you Lolz.

To keacdragon: Thank you very much. You actually just gave me an idea; you won't see it in this chapter, but soon. I hope you like what I'm going to do with it!

Chapter X

Mab was in a giddy mood. She lounged on the floor while Bernard sat behind her, twining flowers into her hair. (His trip to fetch Fia's sunflower had paid off in more ways than one.)

"We should have the wedding here."

"Well," Bernard said, wincing. "If that's what they want. If they decide to get married."

The queen tensed and slowly turned a chilling look to him.

"If? You don't mean to suggest that our efforts may be futile."

"Well, no, I just – It's just that –" He sighed and moved around to sit in front of her. He took her cheek in one hand and admired her for a moment, and said, "They are still children. It will take a great deal of patience – and a lot of well-disguised meddling – to get them to that point."

She pursed her lips, but then sighed and nodded. "I suppose you're right."

He gave her a light kiss. "Don't fret. Things'll work out."

She relented with a smile and a kiss, but then said, "Would you have Puck stand guard on it, dear? With the strictest of . . . guidelines, of course."

His eyebrows raised, and he contemplated this for a moment.

"As you wish, Mab."

When Charlie asked Fia where she wanted to go, she had taken over navigation to take him to an unremarkable little pizzeria. He'd never have known it was there, even though it turned out to be on a street he drove often.

They were two of the handful of customers, and took a seat in a small booth by a window. Their waiter, Nick, seemed to know Fia, and brought out cheese-covered breadsticks when he came out to get their order. She rewarded him with a grin, and Charlie felt himself frown.

"Nick, this is Charlie," she said, when she saw her date's expression change. "Charlie, one of my best friends, Nick."

"Charlie, huh?" Nick asked, one corner of his mouth turning up. He looked at her with excitement and repeated, "Charlie?"

Blushing, she nodded, and Charlie felt his grin return. Nick took their order, almost as an afterthought, and, though he stayed quiet throughout the evening, he appeared much more often than necessary, watching them and grinning.

"Don't mind him," Fia said, blushing again. "He's never seen me with a date before. So embarrassing."

"Never?"

"Well, it's not like I've never had a date before, but . . . I've never brought anyone here."

"Oh," said Charlie, raising his eyebrows. "I'll take that as a compliment."

She laughed. "You should."

As the night went on, they talked about their school years (and the things Charlie had managed to miss that included Fia), and, after Charlie paid and they said goodbye to a winking Nick, took a walk.

"I like to be outside," she said, looking up towards the sky and grinning. Unfortunately, she kept walking as she looked up, and promptly tripped. Charlie had been watching her instead of the stars, and was able to catch her.

This was immediately awkward, and all that was running through his head was her warning that if he touched her, she might jump him. She looked shocked, with wide green eyes and tense muscles, but her pupils dilated and her breath came out in small gasps.

"Sorry," he whispered, even though he wasn't.

"No – I – Thanks. It's okay," she said, even though it wasn't.

He knew it was a bad idea. He did not want to get more entangled with Fae. But he did it anyway.

Charlie Calvin kissed her. Right on the lips.

Queen Mab looked as youthful and beautiful as ever when she smiled like that.

"Bernard. It's begun."

He grinned and kissed her hand. "See? It will work out."

"They just needed a little hand . . . or foot."

Bernard snickered. "However cliché."

"It worked. Remind me to find a suitable reward for Puck after the wedding."

A small, almost chaste, kiss had rapidly become feverish. It took several blissful moments before Fia could pull away, blinking.

"I – uh . . . Sorry."

He couldn't help but grin. "Why? I kissed you."

She felt her face heat up and smiled sheepishly. "Oh."

They stood for a moment, and then she glanced back down at the sidewalk. Her expression grew confused and she looked around searchingly.

"Lose something?"

"Yeah – whatever I tripped on."

He realized that she was right; there was nothing that might have tripped her. They exchanged confused glances, and then her expression became irritated, and she put her hands on her hips.

"I'm going to have to have a talk with her."

"Huh? Who?"

She raised a delicately arched eyebrow at him.

"My meddling mother."