"Why were you acting weirdly?" Sophia asked a now silent Axel. They went with Aiden to meet Ava. The little girl didn't dress like a princess for once and that surprised, no shocked Sophia. She questioned her little cousin's sudden change and the answer shocked her more. Bless lately babysat Ava. Sophia was meant to do so but she had work and all. So her friend offered help. Sophia didn't think much of it and accepted it thanking her friend endlessly. Yet the rebellious blond surly influenced the little girl. She talked to Ava about princesses and how they lamely wait for their princes charming. She told the little to change the dress and go be a hero herself and that was exactly what Ava started to do. She came dressed in a pair of jeans and a flowery t-shirt. She is growing up and being serious, she said and that made Sophia smile. Yet she knew that she must have a word with her new best friend.

"Ava said that I am nothing but a lame prince and that you can do better without me around." Axel said as he eyed me rapidly and turned back to the road

"Bless filled the little girl's mind with feminist talk. She said your lame but okay." Sophia explained to him remembering how his eyes nearly popped when a little girl called him a lame prince.

"Okay..." He mocked and kept on gazing away from her

"Do you have a problem with being okay?" Sophia asked surprised by how he is making a fuss out of a little girl's words

"For you, I want to be more than okay. and Ava mocked me and Aiden a lot. She called us "Beau" and "Cinderfella". I was "Beau" you know because Aiden is blond? I a manly version of Belle." Axel grumbled making Sophia laugh. Her cousin is surly clever and will turn into an amazing strong woman one day. Since Bless is also becoming her new nanny, she will become more sarcastic for sure.

"Beau, that's a good nickname." Sophia said between breaths

"Gem, I swear..." Axel grumbled threatening

"Call me Gem and I will call you Beau." She threatened back

"This is nonsensical. Gem and sweetheart are both cute nicknames. Beau is just ridiculous." Axel huffed as the mansion came to sight.

"No it is not." Sophia playfully said earning herself an annoyed look

"Bless must be kept away from Ava and You" Axel noted in a serious way remembering how the latter made Sophia dress in a revealing way and how she pushed her to walk away from him and even find another man.

"Bless will soon be your sister in law." Sophia joked but her heart kind of knew that Mitchell will find a way to settle down with Bless.

"Hope not." Axel said in horror

"It will be fun." Sophia happily cheered

"Will you really be better without me? Were you better without me? " Axel questioned suddenly making her glittery eyes dim and become dull

"Why did you take Ava's words to heart? she is just a little girl you know?" Sophia questioned avoiding his staring gaze. The car now was silent. The engine no longer roared. Not a voice invaded the growing silence between them. They were progressing. Axel became caring, sweet and all. He even hugged her closer when Aiden was around. But will he doubt himself and them whenever anyone criticizes them?

"I just want us and you to have the best...I am trying to redeem myself for those two horrible years." He answered back gathering her hand hand in his and holding it tightly

"You do not need to redeem yourself. Those years were a result of anger and a forced reality. We might have signed the contract willingly but our hearts belonged to other people. You didn't hate my person. You just reacted out of frustration. I still don't like Liza..." Sophia tried to explain and looked deeply in his blue eyes, feeling her tensed self relax under his encouraging gaze.

"You said her name." Axel noted

"Oh, no " Sophia said jokingly and covered her mouth with her free hand dramatically " You can say her name. It is okay. I thought about it. Your heart belonged to her, before. It will be hard to just forget all about her. Don't just over talk about her. Now as I was saying, I don't like Liza's manners but still I have to respect her past with you. At least you have the ability to love truly and that really makes me hopeful for us." Sophia continued and offered him a small sincere smile

"I..." he wanted to declare something but all he could do was to lean in and press his lips hotly on hers. He wanted to prove to her that for her too he will fully fall. His hands got busy one at the back of her neck, titling her head and one buried in her short silky hair.

"I won't ruin such chance." He promised her as they finally drew away to catch some air. His finger like always traced the redness of her cheeks and he knew for sure that his broken heart is really gaining its racing hopeful beats again.

"I know." she confirmed even though she had no proof. She just felt truly loved for the moment and under his gaze she sensed freedom, happiness, comfort and all. She was back to her eighteen year old self, having crushes and falling in love with fictional men, yet this time her prince was a real man, her prince was her husband

"Ew, can you guys get a room." Mitchell said making them jump apart. He fake gagging even though he felt proud of his brother. He finally got the right girl, he thought.

"How do you always pop whenever we come home?" Axel grumbled at his brother

"I heard the car and I miss my best friend." Mitchell shot back smirking

"Well, Gem is busy. Can't you go and do something with your Bless, maybe try to tame her?" Axel

"Busy making the baby that mum wants?" Mitchell shot at them and saw both blushing deeply

"Mitchell!" Both yelled but were hiding a small smile, so maybe after all he will be an uncle soon.

"And by the way Blessing is not mine and she cannot be tamed." Mitchell huffed and his smile turned upside down. Ignoring the fact that the couple just came in and were probably going to leave the car, he opened the back door and sat behind them.

"What's wrong Mitchy?" Sophia asked in a caring tone as she turned to face her best friend

"She is meeting a blind date ,in a week.Her mother is trying to tie her down. " Mitchell murmured as he allowed his head to fall on the head rest

"Stop her. Tell her that you like her." Axel offered but his eyes drifted to his gem while saying the second part. He should really work on telling Gem directly what he is feeling too.

"I cannot do that. I freak whenever I try to. I just either kiss her and one thing leads to another or I just lose words and then run away..." Mitchell tiredly said covering his face with his own hands

"Do something meaningful and caring like cooking for her or something " Sophia offered

"Hey, that's my move." Axel playfully said

"He cooked?" Mitchell as Aiden earlier asked surprised

"Trashed the kitchen but yes, I did." Axel answered proudly

"Did you put a spell on him or something?" Mitchell asked clearly affected by all of those Harry Potter movies

"Funny." Axel sarcastically answered back with a glare

"Stop it you too. Mitchell don't mock Beau at least he is trying to show his emotions. Beau your brother needs our help." Sophia said seriously

"Beau?" Mitchell asked again gaping at how the couple suddenly started to act very close and intimate

"Long story." Axel said throwing a warning glare at Sophia to stay silent

"Mitchell, you have a week lets prove to Bless that you are the right person for her. We will set a one week plan, dates, gifts and all." Sophia cheered

"Are you sure?" Mitchell questioned eyeing his best friend seriously

"Positive." She promised " Even Beau will help." she continued and before he can decline she covered his mouth with his hand "You will help. He is your brother." she ordered owning a stifled huff

"Okay, I will take a shower then meet you guys in your room." Mitchell replied owning a nod from both parties.

"By the way, you do know that Beau means handsome, right?" As Mitchell left the car leaving them alone again., Sophia asked gazing at Axel who crossed his hands acting like a child because she obliged him to help.

"Are you flirting with me Mrs. Williams?" Axel's mood rapidly turned cheerful and teasing

"I don't know but what if I am?" She questioned him sharing his playful attitude

"Then I will do this." He said yet again capturing her lips.