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The maiden pleasance of the land
Knoweth no stir of voice or hand,
No cup the sleeping waters fill,
The restless shuttle lieth still.

Sunlight poured in through the trees, creating a dappled, soft light underneath their branches. It smelled of dew and fresh earth. But they didn't matter, next to the treasure I'd worked so hard to get to. I glanced at my watch as I pocketed it. Shoot!

Running out of time...running out of time... I pulled my jacket's collars closer to my neck as I ran. It was unbelievingly cold, and I was running out of time. I let my hand wander into my pocket once again, to gently touch the cold, thin object lying there to make sure that it hadn't gotten bent. Good. Though my fingers could get pierced by it as my hand jolted whenever I jumped. I pulled my hand quickly back out as I hurtled over a fallen tree.

"Jake! She's gonna murder you!"

I glanced up irritably at the fairy boy, surprised that he was there. How had the faerie found me out? His pixies, for sure. He was flying beside me, sweeping between trunks as if he was some species of dynamic bird, his blonde hair whipping around his face and his eyes shining with amusement. An annoying dynamic bird that happened to be speaking the truth at the moment.

"Shut it, Puck! I know!"

The brat snickered, before swooping ahead of me. In a few moments, he was out of sight. I cursed under my breath, thoroughly annoyed. If only magic and spells could fix everything.

I yelled aloud, putting as much energy as I could into running.

I stopped in the shade, catching my breath. My side was in so much pain. I could hear the noise of people on the other side of the doors. I'd really cut it close. I grinned, wiping sweat off of my forehead and glancing down at my ruined clothes. However, there was one thing that magic could fix. I stuck my hand into the pocket closest to my chest, and pulled out a candied heart. I grimaced at the "EAT ME" scrawled on it with slanted cursive, remembering a time that I'd swallowed a yellow, square toffee with the same words on it. I'd smelled so bad afterwards that I'd instantly started to throw up.

I bit this one in half, and pocketed the other half, sighing in relief as I saw my clothes dramatically transform. If I'd eaten any more, I would've probably turned into some walking nightmare.

I waited for the transformation to complete, then pushed my way through the huge doors before me. The smell of roses hit my nose, and I heard the hall slowly hush as I walked down the aisle. Then it roared loudly, ringing with laughter, calls of "typical Jake style!" and teasing. I grinned at them all, my heart starting to pound with emotion. After so many years of being hated by this town... I was finally being accepted in. There were, in no way, tears forming in my eyes, but I rubbed my eyes anyway, because dust probably got into them.

I ran up the aisle, and stood near the altar, waiting for her beside Cupid, who looked too energetic. The woman was bouncing on the heels on her feet and surveying me up and down impatiently.

"At least you arrived in style. If you hadn't, I would've punched you before she would've gotten the chance."

I laughed.

"No, I think I would've gotten mobbed by everyone if I had come in with the same clothes on as this morning."

Cupid nodded seriously. "She's a jewel. Do not tarnish her."

"After everything I went through? I wouldn't ever."

Cupid smiled softly at me, nodding her head to acknowledge the "everything I went through" part. I decided to say something funny at that point, but the words quickly died on my lips as I heard the hall hush. My heart gave a particularly painful thud as I looked at the now-open doors. Of course it was magic at work. Sunlight shone behind her, and soft red petals fluttered in and spun around and around her small figure.

She was holding a basket of red roses. Her dress flowed behind her. Her veil was a delicate pink.

But none of that mattered.

Her eyes met mine, and we couldn't really break eye contact. I tried to muster up the courage to say something- anything- but no words came out. God, I couldn't believe this day had come.

As she strode forward gently, I felt something build up in my chest. Happiness, pain, a deep, deep love that almost made me go crazy. Yes, I loved her too much. I loved her too much for words to describe the feeling. I couldn't believe that, after all of this time, I was going to be allowed to know her properly. To love every little quirk of hers, and to be by her side, all the time. The moment she as close enough for me to touch, the air seemed to be filled with electricity.

I gently took her hand as she raised her gown to climb the steps. She smiled slightly at me. I grinned back.

As she stood beside me, Cupid started some speech, and I pushed my hand into the pocket to pull out the treasure that I'd been hunting for for the past few months.

"By the way, I picked this up for you," I said, grinning so widely that I thought my face should surely be hurting. But it wasn't. Her eyes alighted on the object in my hand, briefly, before she looked at me again.

"Jake. I told you to not go on your escapades without me."

Here lies the hoarded love, the key
To all the treasure that shall be;
Come fated hand the gift to take
And smite this sleeping world awake.

"Just enjoy my gift for you without complaining for once."

She smiled quickly, as if she'd been holding it back, and took the shining spindle.

I answered when I were supposed to say "I do," but I wasn't really paying attention.

"No matter how many times you prick your finger, I'll wake you up, princess," I murmured.

"That last time was hardly just a little prick."

"But I woke you up, didn't I? Much more flashily than Price Charming, I might add."

She might've replied, but she couldn't because there was no time.

"Briar Rose, do you take this man to be your lawfully wedded, in life, until death?"

Briar Rose opened her mouth, but words seemed to be stuck in her throat, so she only nodded her head.

"Then, you may kiss the bride," Cupid said, shooting me a wink and stepping back. I glanced at the multitude of people watching us, and found my eyes drawn to Relda, who was smiling at me and dabbing her streaming eyes. Canis, nearby, looked on passively. Sabrina looked like she was holding back tears. Daphne was watching with her hand in her mouth, Red was smiling with wonder. Puck and Basil were fidgeting in their clothes. Veronica was nodding happily at me, and Henry looked like he was choking back something. The guy was probably holding back tears. Elvis was barking loudly.

They were all there. I felt my heart tighten.

Dad. I've been made part of a really weird family, I thought, with tears in my eyes. I looked at them all again, and I felt at home, finally. But I love it here. I never want to leave. I never, ever want to leave.

Then I kissed Briar.

I own no part of this story, except its plot. I most definitely do not own that cool poem (yes, I grabbed it off of the internet, everyone- please don't sue me, I have a disclaimer and cupcakes, so I can bribe my way out of any lawsuits).

Yay! I've been off for months, but I'm back (for now). Y'all thought you'd seen the last of me, hadn't you? Well, too bad for you!