Hey everyone! I know that I missed last week, and so to make up for it, I'm posting this chapter and the next chapter. I hope that you like 17 and 18, and that you don't hate me for who shows up next. (Pretty please) I loved writing this and I can't wait to keep writing it for you all! Hope you enjoy!

"Layla! Oh my god, I did it!" Stella cries out as Layla walks out in her beautiful wedding gown.

"Stella!" Bloom scolds.

"What? I did." Stella pouts. The girls all laugh, and then collectively sigh at Layla's dress.

"You look so amazing, Layla." Flora says, a gentle smile on her face.

"Way to go Stella." Musa says, smiling at her friend. "You are gonna rock Nabu's socks off."

"That's statistically improbable." Tecna adds to the conversation. "And it sounds rude to do to your new husband." She jokes. Everyone is quiet for a minute, then they all start laughing.

"Haha, Tecna, I don't think she meant it." Daphne adds, shaking her head at the idea of Layla actually doing that.

A knock sounds at the door and the girls all surround Layla, only Flora asking, "Who is it?"

The voice on the other side of the door comes through clearly: "It's her mother. I would like to talk with my daughter."

"Oh, sorry your highness." Musa says, then opens the door. "Please, come in."

"Thank you Musa, girls. Can I have a moment with Layla?"

The girls each look at each other, then turn and smile at Layla as they walk out to check on their own husbands and families.

"Hey Mom, what's up? Is everything okay?"

Layla's mom smiles at her and tilts her head. "Shouldn't I ask you that? Are you okay? How are you holding up?"

Layla lets out a nervous laugh, then turns and sits at the end of her bed. "I guess I'm okay. Just nervous, but that's normal, right? The girls said it is. I mean, I've been dreaming of this day for years, and after everything that I went through-"

"Stop. Just stop right there. You need to stop thinking about what you went through to get here and focus on the fact that you are here. You are on Andros. You are getting married to Nabu, the magician and the man you fell in love with. You have all of your friends here. Why do you keep torturing yourself about what happened? Don't you think that it hurts those around you?"

"Mom?"

"Every time you bring up the past, the things you went through without saying what they were, hurts those who you did not let help, and hurts Nabu. Do you think he wanted you to ever suffer because of him? He loves you so much that, though you didn't hear this from me, he regrets that the Earth fairies ever gave you hope that you could save him. And he blames the fairy godmother for propagating it. He used to get up in the middle of the night and go to the kitchens to eat something or drink something because he couldn't sleep. He was plagued with nightmares about you being the one to die. He knows that you did what you did because you love him, and he loves you all the more for it, but he wants to put that behind you two and focus on the present and the future. Can't you do the same, my dear?"

"Mom." Layla sobs, tears staining her face all of a sudden. She covers her face quickly, apologizing for ruining her makeup. "I'm sorry. I'm sorry."

"Oh, Layla, it's just makeup."

"No mom, I'm sorry for everything else. I'm sorry I keep thinking about the past and I'm sorry that I'm still scared."

"Scared? Oh baby, why are you still scared?"

"I'm scared that this isn't real. I'm scared that it's not going to be permanent and that this is not going to last. I'm scared that I gave up too much and that Nabu won't love me when he realizes I've changed."

Her mother sits next to her and pulls her close to her. "Layla, honey, Nabu loves you for you. For everything you have ever done, and everything you will do. He loves you for never giving up and for always putting those you love first. He is never going to stop loving you. That kind of love is not something that can be destroyed, even with time."

Layla sniffles and wipes at her face. "You're right mom. I'm being a total baby. I found the love of my life and I'm getting to marry him today. This is a day for smiles, and every day from now on is for smiling also.

"Good. Now, I'm going to send Flora back in to help you fix your makeup." She stands up and walks over the door. As she opens it, she turns and says, "I love you Layla. I will always love you, as will your family. And Nabu is family."

"Thank you. For everything. And for not sending Stella."