A/N: That last chapter was a really hard one to write, this one was so much easier though I don't know if I'm completely happy with it… But I got it written and pretty quickly too :D

So enjoy!

13.

Falad stirred (not literally since he was turned to stone and he couldn't have even twisted his nose no matter how much he might have wanted to) when he heard people near him. He hadn't heard that in awhile. He didn't know how long, the sense of time didn't exactly stay intact when one couldn't see, smell, touch or move at all. Only thing he could do, was hear and think.

And how he hated being able to think while in this state. It was torture! He didn't know how long it would take before he'd lose his mind. He didn't know if hearing people's words would have helped or not, but while he could hear voices and recognize them, he couldn't make out any words. So he had no way of knowing what was going on and he couldn't do, or move to do, anything about it. He would try to breathe deeper or blink his unseeing eyes but nothing would happen. A little bit of solace for him was found when he fell asleep (at least he thought he did), but even that was often ruined by nightmares.

Truth to be told he was terrified. Falad had to admit it, at least to himself. What if they never found the Fairy Godmother, or the wand? How long would he be cursed to stay in his stony state before another solution was found? What it they never found another at all? He would spend eternity as a stone statue, not knowing time or words around him, slowly going mad. He would never see Rella again. He would lose her, and their child he hadn't even seen yet!

Then Falad would truly lose his mind, he knew it. So far his only comfort had been the fact that he knew Rella's voice and had been able to deduct that he had most likely been moved to the same quarters with Rella. He didn't know if they were in the Castle, or in the Embassy. He could hear Rella talking to him, he knew she was talking to him, and it made him feel so much better even if he couldn't make out the words. The best was when Rella would sing to him. He had always loved her voice and often asked her to sing for him, just so he could listen to it. And now it was something he could understand. He knew the songs Rella sung, he remembered the words. So when Rella would sing for hi, he would go through the words in his mind feeling enormous relief at being able to understand something.

Falad wrenched his wandering thoughts back to the present and focused on the voices that had come into the room. If he could have, he would have frowned. He thought he knew the Prince's voice, but he didn't recognize the others. There was another voice that might have belonged to an older man and a voice that brought an old, sweet aunt or maybe a grandmother to his mind. Not his Grandmother though, she was a bloody dragon.

What were they doing in his and Rella's room, Falad wondered. And where was Rella? Worry gripped his heart, his mind instantly cooking up several possibilities, each scarier than the other. The voices came closer eventually stopping in front of him, at least Falad thought so. He wasn't very good at estimating distances in this state. The old lady seemed to be doing most of the talking, though she didn't stay talking very long. After a few sentences Falad guessed the lady fell silent and all three of them just stood there, waiting it seemed. Falad knew they were still there, he would have heard them leave, but what were they waiting for?

He got his answer nearly immediately after he thought of his question. At first he didn't know what to make of it. His body started feeling tingly. It started from his chest, his heart and slowly spread out all the way to his fingers and toes. It felt almost pleasant at first, but then, as it grew in intensity, it became painful. If he could have moved, he would have gritted his teeth.

Falad's thoughts froze as he realized that he had actually gritted his teeth in a slow, sluggish movement. Now that he focused on his body, something he had tried to avoid doing, he felt his muscles straining; fighting to complete the movement they had been doing when he had been turned to stone. Falad frowned mentally and tried to remember what he had been doing at that time. And found himself hoping that the three people in the realized to keep their distance from him, since it was quite obvious that he was being turned to normal. He hoped. And he didn't want to hurt anyone if he really was going to finish his movement and draw his dagger. He felt that he wouldn't be very controlled when he finally could move.

He found he was right when suddenly, as if something holding him had snapped, his hand drawing the dagger nearly wrenched itself up the dagger slicing through the air. The movement caused Falad to lose his balance and he toppled over crashing into a most undignified heap on the floor. Falad groaned as he slowly and stiffly turned on his back on the floor. Every single muscle in his body was aching. Every movement hurt. With a jerky motion he let go of the dagger and flexed his fingers. Even his fingertips hurt.

"Lord Falad!" it was the Prince Falad heard and groaned again as an answer. His eyes felt dryer than the desert he called home and Falad blinked his eyes in a rapid pace, wincing when that too proved to be unpleasant.

"Oh dear", the old granny said. "You must in a world of discomfort. Let me help you, my dear."

Falad opened his eyes in time to see the sweet old woman in a blue robe swish the wand in her had. White sparkling lights burst from the tip and landed on him. Falad tensed for a moment, but relaxed when the ache in his body lessened somewhat. Almost like he had gotten some pain medicine. Startled, when he actually realized what the woman had just done, his eyes moved to the wand exactly like the one Lady Tremaine had. How long had he been out?

He was helped up by the Prince and the older man who introduced himself as the Grand Duke van Foray. He stumbled as they directed him to sit on the couch and they introduced the old lady as the Fairy Godmother. Falad's eyes widened.

"What has happened? How long was I… in stone?" Falad asked, not sure about anything really. Everything seemed fuzzy, he hardly remembered what had happened when he had been changed. He did remember however that he had been protecting Rella. Which reminded him… "Where's Rella?"

The Prince cleared his throat, obviously thinking of where to start. "You have been in stone for about two weeks, Lord Falad. A bit more."

"Two weeks!" Falad exclaimed.

"Yes. When Lady Tremaine changed you, we couldn't manage to capture her and as such had no means of changing you back since the wand was in her possession", Prince Charles continued. "We tried to find her and earlier today she attacked my wife and Lady Rella."

Falad stood up upon hearing the last bit, his face turning pale. "She attacked Rella?" Falad's voice was low, angry and dangerous. "Where is she? Is she alright? I want to see her now!"

"Of course, my dear", the Fairy Godmother intervened, looking pointedly at the other men. "I'm sure there's plenty of time to get you up to speed later. Now, come along. She's just in the next room."

Falad let the Godmother lead him to a door at the other side of the room. The old lady stopped him at the door and turned towards him with a serious expression. "Now I don't want you to worry too much, so listen to me carefully. Cinderella is sleeping at the moment. The struggle with her stepmother was difficult and she was hurt. I told you to listen, young man. She is alright, but she is tired. That stepsister of hers was quite genius when she used my wand to heal her wounds when it became apparent that the doctor would take awhile to get here."

Falad was staring at the old lady as if every word that left her mouth was the most important thing in the world. When she had said that Rella had been hurt he had nearly bolted right through the door. The Fairy Godmother's admonishment kept him still though.

"And- and the child?" Falad managed to choke out.

The old lady smiled sweetly. "Oh, quite fine, my dear. Quite fine."

Falad felt as though all of his meager strength left him as the relief flooded in him and had to take support from the doorframe in front of him. The fear that had gripped his heart at the Fairy Godmother's word lessened its hold on him. Rella was safe, their baby was safe. Not intending to listen anymore and feeling that the Godmother was finished, Falad straightened out and opened the door to what proved to be a bedchamber. The Fairy Godmother didn't follow him and Falad was left to his own devises.

Falad rushed to the large bed near the windows where he could see Rella's still form lying on the bed, her golden hair spilling on to the pillow. Feeling tired and stiff despite pain lessening from the wand, Falad approached the bed and sat down next to Rella sighing gratefully. Falad watched his beloved feeling reassured at the even and calm breaths she took as she slept. Falad thought she looked a bit pale, but other than that he couldn't see anything wrong with her. Falad was caught by a yawn and he felt more tired than he had in years. He ran his hands over his face and looked at Rella for a little more. Then he laid down next to her thinking of resting there for a bit. He was asleep before he even finished the thought.

xXx

They were all there, the King, Prince Charles and Anastasia, Falad and Rella, the Grand Duke even the mice, as they finally told the Fairy Grandmother, and partly to Falad as well, everything that had happened on the next day. The Fairy Godmother was slightly miffed at Anastasia for taking her wand and having to spend six years in stone (Falad had shuddered at the thought) but wasn't too angry with Anastasia. More with Lady Tremaine, she had understood Anastasia's reasoning when she had explained her wishes for help in housekeeping and money rather than changing time.

The Fairy Godmother had been watching them for a moment when she chuckled a bit causing the rest of them to glance in her direction. "I had thought of offering to return everything as it was, but I don't think there's any need for that, now is there."

Rella swayed a bit, when Falad not so discreetly pulled her to his side, every fibre of his being implying that he had no intention of losing Rella to the Prince. He had been like that ever since they woke up in the morning. They had nearly forgotten to come here, when they had been so wrapped up in each other. Rella smiled happily and hugged Falad. She looked at her Fairy Godmother and shook her head.

"I'm happy."

The Fairy Godmother nodded. Rella turned her head to Anastasia and Prince Charles. Anastasia was looking at her husband slightly uncertainly to which the Prince answered with a reassuring smile.

"I love you, Anastasia", the Prince said. "The Fairy Godmother checked and there is no magic on nor has there been during our marriage. I would not change a thing."

Anastasia's face lit up with a smile and she got up to her tiptoes and gave a quick kiss on her husband's lips. Rella smiled happily before turning to the Fairy Godmother in confusion.

"I thought that stepmother had charmed the Prince?"

The older lady nodded. "She did. But the only thing she really accomplished was giving our Prince here a little push to actually propose. One cannot make anyone fall in love by magic. I believe that Lady Tremaine tried to do that but firstly, she couldn't and secondly, the love was already there."

Now it was the King's turn to look confused. "But what about the time, when my son thought he had danced with Anastasia and was completely in love with her, enough o try and find her with the help of a shoe?!"

"Ah, she hadn't tried to charm him to love Anastasia at that time, Your Majesty", the old lady said. "She merely tweaked his memories a bit."

"Where is she now?" Falad voiced a question.

"We do not know", the Grand Duke answered gulping slightly as the King glared at him. "We have send parties to search for her in the Castle and in the Manor and city, but there has been no sign of her."

Anastasia sighed dejectedly. "It's my fault. I didn't think. I just wanted her to go away."

"Well, considering that she was just about stab Rella, I think it was a perfect idea", Falad muttered tightening his hold on Rella who patted comfortingly his chest.

The Fairy Godmother nodded. "Yes. Your wish was quite unspecified, which unfortunately means that she could be anywhere in the world."

Everyone in the room winced at the thought.

"Well, at least she doesn't have the wand anymore", Rella said and everybody nodded appearing happy for that at least.

"We'll continue looking", the Prince said. "And she will be brought to justice."

The King and his son both looked highly determined and no one doubted that they would eventually do exactly that. Falad looked satisfied at the Royals determination as he was very angry at the cursed woman for changing him into stone, not to mention for trying to kill Rella. He was slightly worried about of what Lady Tremaine might do now that she was charmed elsewhere. Surely she would realize that she would be hunted down in Elethia. It would be logical to assume that she'd find a safe place in another kingdom. Falad voiced his thoughts, thinking it might help in the search.

Anastasia looked at the floor contemplatively. "She might try to go to my sister", she said.

The Prince looked at her. "Could you ask her? When you write next time."

Anastasia nodded. "I'll try to be discreet. It's very likely that Drizella will help her."

Prince Charles smiled at her and Anastasia blushed lightly. The whole matter of Anastasia's mother scheming and her being at least partly aware of it, even though in the past few years she had tried to not get involved in any way, still grated a bit on their relationship. However they had had several long talks about it during the last two weeks when the search for her mother had been afoot and in the end neither of them wanted to let the other go. So they talked, spent time together and tried to find a way to get over Anastasia's and her family's lies. It was a little slow going, but they made progress bit by bit.

The Grand Duke reminded the King about a delegation he was supposed to meet causing the shorter man scoff and eventually head out from the room muttering curses and complaints the Grand Duke following close behind him. The Fairy Godmother gazed at the two pairs fondly, reminding all of them greatly of a sweet grandmother more than ever. The old woman nodded to herself.

"Yes, I think you'll do just fine", she said, almost as if to herself. Then she continued smiling warmly. "Now, I must be off. Now that everything here if fixed. I shudder to think everything that I have missed during my absence."

Rella went to her Godmother and hugged her. "Oh, must you? Couldn't you stay just for a little while longer?"

"I'm sorry, dear", the Fairy Godmother said gently. "But you know that I'm only a wish away if you need me."

Rella took a step back and smiled at the older woman. "I know. But you must come visit us some time. And definitely when the baby is born."

The old woman laughed. "Oh, don't worry, dear, I will definitely come."

The she hugged Falad, Anastasia and the Prince and in a burst of white glittering lights was gone after passing on one last goodbye for them all. Rella sighed. She missed her a bit already. But she was happy that she no longer was encased in stone and was free to do what she did. And hopefully she would keep better track on her wand as well after this thing, Rella thought slightly amused.

Rella returned to her seat next to Falad and they spent some time with Charles and Anastasia having small talk until the talk turned to the all but signed treaty. The men decided to take care of the matter right away and Rella and Anastasia were left in the drawing room. Anastasia sighed and looked at Rella.

"Are you going to stay long now that your work here is done", she asked.

"Not very long, I don't think so", Rella answered with an apologetic smile. "The trip back to Dherr'eshaan isn't very short or easy, so we'll probably leave while I'm good to travel."

"Ah, of course", Anastasia said. "I can't imagine being pregnant on a ship…"

Rella smiled as Anastasia shuddered lightly. "I hope it won't be too hard. Though, I don't know how the morning sickness will react to that."

Anastasia moved as if to say something but changed her mind and stared at her hands with a troubled look. Rella smiled and thought she knew what was bothering her sister. She reached to lay her hand on top of Anastasia's.

"We'll write, won't we", Rella said smiling. The almost unnoticeable relief in Anastasia's eyes confirmed that this was what Anastasia had had difficulties asking.

"Yes, definitely", Anastasia said. "And perhaps, we can visit once in a while too."

Rella nodded. "I'm sure we can. You are definitely invited to the name giving celebration after the baby is born."

Anastasia smiled happily at the thought of seeing Rella's child and the letters they would write to each other. She was eager to find out what it would be like to have Rella as a real sister. With Drizella the exchanging of letters was more out of obligation than any sisterly feeling. But with Rella, now that they had forgiven and forgotten, she actually wanted to know what happened in her life.

So it was with high spirits, even though the knowledge of Rella's and Falad's departure loomed ahead, that Anastasia headed out to see her children and Rella went to find the mice. She had wanted to spend a little more time with them before they had to leave. Anastasia smiled and gave a little jump as she walked immediately glancing around her to make sure no one had seen her act so un-princess-like. No one had and Anastasia smiled to herself and continued on her way.