Virginia smiled at Wolf as he hungrily ate his favorite breakfast: bacon sandwiches. She had gotten used to Wolf's quirks but still couldn't help smiling when he would become enthused about things that most people took for granted. Even when they would stroll in Central Park he would grow excited about the different smells and sounds.

Wolf finally noticed Virginia's scrutiny. "Nothing like bacon in the morning. Very good, my sweet." Wolf licked his lips. He eyed Virginia's untouched sandwich. "Aren't you going to eat yours?"

Virginia shook her head and pushed the plate away. "No thanks. I think I have a little morning sickness. Why don't you have it?"

"Ooooh! Poor baby. Is there anything I can do. Something I can get you." Wolf looked at her with those puppy dog eyes she had grown to love.

"No, I'll be fine. Don't worry."

"I could stay home and let George run the business today."

Wolf and Virginia had opened their own restaurant called The Wolf's Den. The restaurant was doing surprisingly well in such a short time. In fact, they'd had to hire more help to handle the peak rush hours. George was one of the new cooks that they'd hired.

"I'm okay. I'll be fine. Besides, you know how George is. If you don't watch him, he'll..."

"...overcook the meat," Wolf finished for her. He made a slight grimace at the thought. Wolf liked his meat very rare.

Wolf got up from the table and bent down at Virginia's side placing his hand on her swollen abdomen. She was several months pregnant now and had to stop working at the restaurant. Wolf had turned out to be a great cook and Virginia had a lot of experience from her waitressjobs. But now she kept getting swollen feet and dizzy spells and Wolf had insisted she stay home and rest herself. Actually, Wolf had extensive knowledge on pregnancy and birth due to his growing library collection of books on the subject. The only problem was that he was slightly overprotective at times.

He looked into her eyes. "You'll call me if you need anything?"

Virginia gave him a mock stern look. "Yes, now get going."

"Huff Puff! I'm going, I'm going." Wolf stood up and kissed her on the forehead. He walked to the front door of their apartment whistling a familiar tune.

"I owe, I owe. It's off to work I go."

Virginia followed him to the door and laughed. "Where did you hear that?"

"Oh at work," Wolf replied before turning down the hallway of their apartment house and whistling the tune again.

Virginia just shook her head and smiled. She couldn't believe how easily Wolf had adapted to the customs and lifestyles of her world.

It hadn't been easy when they first returned from the Nine Kingdoms. She'd had to convince Grandmother that Wolf wasn't a psychopathic killer and that he had already gone to a doctor who had helped him with his obsession with food. Grandmother had been disappointed that he wasn't an heir to an immense fortune but finally accepted the reality of Virginia and Wolf's love for one another. And Wolf used his charm to eventually win her over like he had with Virginia.

Of course, at first it had been hard when Wolf would go through his moon cycles. They had tried covering up the windows with blankets to block out the full moon and use thick ropes to tie him down but that hadn't worked. He easily broke the ropes and would break the windows as well to howl at the moon. Virginia had been frightened when he'd go through these transformations but Wolf never harmed her, instinctively knowing she was not food but his lifemate. Finally, Virginia resorted to stocking up the refrigerator with a variety of meats: steaks, chickens, pork, fish, lamb, etc. and just let him gorge himself to his hearts content. She would leave the curtains on the windows wide open so Wolf could stare mesmerized at the full beauty of the moon. It seemed the best solution to the problem although the grocery bill was a little high.

As for the bank robbery charges, they had been dropped due to the overwhelming eyewitness testimony of the Murray family. For reasons, that Virginia couldn't comprehend, Mr. Murray, her former landlord and her father's former employer had developed a deep concern and interest in her father's well being. When she first went back to her and her father's apartment, she couldn't believe her eyes. The whole place had been completely refurbished and remodeled. The kitchen was equipped with the most modern and up-to-date fixtures and appliances. The floors were newly tiled and carpeted. The walls were freshly painted. Brand new furniture replaced the old in all the rooms. She and her father's clothes and personal belongings were clean and organized. It was almost like... magic.

Virginia felt uncomfortable with Mr. Murray's and his family's constant attention so she decided to move. But Mr. Murray insisted on helping her financially. Actually, Mr. Murray wanted to give her the money but Virginia insisted it was just a loan and she would pay him back. He accepted her offer only when she threatened to refuse the money all together. That was how Wolf and Virginia had gotten themselves a nice new apartment still near Central Park and had the money to start their own business.

Life as a whole seemed to be settling into a happy routine that Virginia was quite content with. She'd had enough adventure in the Nine Kingdoms to last her for a long, long time. The only adventure she waited in anticipation for next was to hold her newborn child in her arms.

She just wished her father was there to share the joy with her. Father was doing extremely well in the Nine Kingdoms with his "bouncing castles." He had recruited the dwarves into making plastic for his castles and they, in return for the new business, had pardoned him for breaking the magic mirrors. They gave him two handheld magic mirrors so Tony and Virginia could keep in contact with each other. She had been very happy to see him last month when he had come back to visit and settle some things at home. It had felt like a happy family reunion with Dad and Wolf back together again.

But of late Virginia noticed an underlying feeling of anxiety and loss. It was like something was missing in her life but she didn't know what. She knew that was silly. Everything was going perfect. She was healthy, the baby was healthy, Wolf and Grandmother were getting along, both Dad and Wolf's businesses were doing great. Everything was fine. She just couldn't get away from the feeling of sadness and almost mourning.

Virginia got up from the kitchen table and picked up the breakfast dishes. "Well, enough of this," Virginia ordered herself. She decided to make chocolate chip cookies to surprise Wolf when he came home. She knew Wolf would probably tell her that she was simply getting the normal prenatal blues. Nothing to worry about.

"Why did you leave me?" Virginia cried and thrashed her blankets in her sleep. "Why... why... why...?" she whimpered.

"Shhhh," Wolf awakened her gently, stroking her face and hair. "It's okay. You're having a bad dream."

Virginia opened her eyes to see Wolf looking down on her with concern, but Virginia still felt the deep sense of loss from the dream and couldn't stop her tears. Wolf wrapped his arms around her and rocked her gently, trying to comfort her.

"It's all right. I'm here. I won't leave you."

Virginia revealed that she was dreaming about her mother and poured out her feelings of betrayal and resentment. She was surprised at these lingering feelings about her mother because she had thought she had already worked things out about her past and said her goodbyes to her mother at King Wendell's castle.

Virginia had learned at a young age to be self reliant and independent. Over the last years she had been the one to take care of her dad and keep up their apartment. Sometimes she felt like she was the parent and Dad was the child. But now she felt like a helpless child seeking protection and security. She knew it must be her pregnancy making her like this. Hadn't she seen Kirstie Alley crying like a baby over a car commercial in the movie Look Who's Talking?

Virginia felt embarrassed and disgusted and struggled to get a hold of herself. She lifted her head from Wolf's shoulder and sheepishly gave him a teary smile. "I'm sorry. I don't know what's the matter,with me. I think... I just miss her. I wish I could share..." Virginia took a deep breath. "I wish she was here for the baby."

"I know, me too. I wish my parents could see how happy I am. I wish they could see my new restaurant." Wolf looked at her lovingly, "And I wish they could see my beautiful wife, the most quirky and sweetest girl in all the Ten Kingdoms. The creamy girl of my dreams."

Virginia's smile widened, "Oh Wolf, you're the one who's the sweetest. I love you so much." She reached up and pulled him towards her to kiss him tenderly on the lips.

Inadvertently, Wolf's tail thumped behind him. "Oh sorry," Wolf said. Virginia just laughed.

The next night Virginia dreamt about her mother again and awoke suddenly. She couldn't go back to sleep so she crept quietly from the bed trying not to disturb Wolf's slumber. He looked so handsome and serene she felt an urge to cuddle up to him. But she decided she would go to the kitchen and get a snack. Maybe then she could relax enough to go back to sleep.

Virginia took a glass from the cupboard and got some milk. Then she took some chocolate chip cookies that she'd made yesterday and sat down at the table. On the table was a vase filled with daisies that Wolf had given her that morning. Wolf was always giving her flowers whenever he wanted to cheer her up. Virginia smiled and delicately stroked the petals. Tears blurred her vision and the flowers came out of focus. Virginia wiped the tears away angrily.

"Oh, stop it Virginia," she ordered herself. "I'm not going to let myself be a blubbering idiot just because I'm pregnant." But her heart wouldn't listen and she finally gave in to the tears. Virginia grabbed a napkin from the table and tried to blow her nose.

"Don't cry my child," she heard a woman's voice say.

Virginia looked up and gasped. Before her stood a beautiful woman dressed in a flowing white gown, her auburn hair down around her shoulders and a loving smile on her face that reached her eyes.

Virginia felt a leap of fear and would have backed away had she not been seated. Instead, she sat stock still staring and wondering if she was going mad. The woman was her mother, but not as she had last seen her when she had coldly tried to strangle the life out of her. Now she stood before her radiant with the love and warmth that Virginia had craved since her childhood.

"Don't be frightened," her mother said.

Tears stung at Virginia's eyes and nose. "You're dead. I killed you." She choked out the words.

"Yes, I'm dead." She smiled merrily at her. "I guess you could say Snow White and I are in the same business now."

"You're a..." Virginia whispered.

"Fairy Godmother, yes," her mother finished. "Just an occassional appearance thing. Ironic, isn't it?" Virginia nodded her head. "I wouldn't be here if it weren't for you. You saved me, Virginia."

"But, but the poison comb... I..."

Her mother Christine stepped forward and indicated the chair at the table opposite her. "May I?" she asked.

"Yes." Virginia nodded again. All the memories of her mother when she was a little girl came streaming back. Her mother had always been strict about table manners and being polite.

"Honey, don't blame yourself about the poison comb. It was your destiny to stop me from destroying everything, including myself."

Virginia closed her eyes for a time then opened them again and looked into her mother's eyes, her hands clenched into fists.

"I'm so tired of hearing about my destiny. I don't care about destiny. Why did you leave us? What did we do? Why didn't you recognize us at the castle? You said that you didn't even have a daughter." Virginia choked on the words.

Christine reached over to touch her daughter's hand but Virginia pulled back. "I don't blame you for being angry with me. I know I've caused you sorrow and pain."

"Then why? Why did you do it? Why did you want to kill all those people at King Wendell's castle?" Virginia pleaded and accused at the same time.

Christine's expression turned into a far away look as if she was looking into her past.

"It wasn't your fault. I didn't leave because of you or even your father. It was something from my past that was drawing me that I couldn't escape from."

Virginia frowned in confusion. "What do you mean?"

"Once upon a time when I was a little girl I lived in a forest, or really a swamp. I was hidden there for protection."

"What are you talking about? Grandmother never said anything about living in a swamp."

"Virginia, please, let me finish," she chastised. "As I was saying I lived in a swamp. My mother, my real mother, was sick and weak and knew she couldn't care for me anymore. She wanted me to have a better life. Somewhere that was safe. That's when I was adopted by your grandmother."

Virginia's mouth fell slightly open. "Adopted?" she uttered in disbelief.

"Virginia you have a heritage that goes way back in time." Virginia was startled by the words because the gypsy fortuneteller had said almost the same exact words to her.

"I do?"

"Yes, we both do. And so does your unborn child." Christine smiled at her astonishment. "Don't be so surprised. You didn't think you were destined to be a waitress all your life. No, you have a much greater destiny." Virginia didn't know what to say or believe.

"Your grandmother and I became so close that I soon forgot about my real mother and where I came from. Grandmother loved me so much. She sent me to the finest schools. We traveled together around the world. I learned horseback riding and skiing. I loved the snow and to ski."

"I know. Grandmother said you liked to go to Aspen."

Laughter lit up her mother's eyes. "I was very happy. As far as I was concerned, I was Grandmother's little girl forever." Christine sighed.

"Of course when I reached my teens, I went through the unfortunate process of declaring my independence. When I was a young lady I was like a princess that had her choice of any suitor she pleased. Grandmother had brought me up to be like a queen. Very proper and grand. I guess I just wanted to break away from Grandmother's restrictions. When I met your father ... well, you know how Grandmother's reaction was to our relationship."

"Yes, she's always saying how you threw away your life and how she has connections and I could do better with my own. She wasn't too happy when I came home with Wolf."

Virginia and Christine both laughed at the picture of Grandmother's consternation at seeing Wolf again after his last visit when he had tied her up and was preparing to cook her in the oven.

"Little did I know I was choosing my future son-in-law and father to my grandchild."

Virginia looked down at her stomach and placed her hand there. "I wanted to share this with you and Dad so much."

"I know. I could feel your pain. That's why I'm here. I wanted you to know why everything happened the way it did and that it wasn't your fault."

"What happened?"

"Well, you know I married your father. He was very sweet when we first got married. We had a nice home. He had a successful plastics business. When you were born, I knew I could never be any happier." A wistful expression on mother's face soon turned to a look of pain.

"Happy ever after didn't last for very long though. Tony lost his business and we had to move to a much more economic and modest apartment. We suddenly had to worry about putting food on the table and paying the monthly bills. It was a hard lesson for me. In fact, I wasn't good at it at all. I had a weakness for new clothes. I still had to keep up appearances when my old friends would invite me to parties and get togethers. Your father and I would have arguments about money. Grandmother wanted me to leave Tony but I refused. I kept hoping that Tony would get back on his feet and everything would return back to normal."

"You mean you left because Dad's business failed?" Virginia asked with a hurt expression.

"No, that was only part of it. Remember, I told you about my real mother who couldn't take care of me." Virginia nodded.

"My real mother was once a powerful and proud figure. We came from a proud heritage but something bad happened and everything was taken from us. When Tony lost his business, I became fearful that I would lose everything again. I didn't want to go back to what I was. My pride wouldn't let me go back to Grandmother and I couldn't let my friends know how far we had fallen. I couldn't even talk to Tony. He was struggling with his own pain and I just couldn't help him. You were the only one who seemed untouched by the situation."

"Wasn't it enough that Dad and I loved you? What did it matter if we were rich or not?" Tears sprang into Virginia's eyes.

"I know now that what I had with you and your father was more precious than position or power or being rich. If I hadn't been trying to escape from my past, I'd still be with you and your father now. But all I knew was that I felt trapped. I started to feel paranoid. I was sick, Virginia. I was very unhappy and desperate. Just like my real mother I thought I couldn't take care of you anymore, and I wanted to protect you."

"Protect me! You tried to drown me!" Virginia sobbed.

"At the time I was so confused and in so much pain. I was like an animal that wants to protect its young from predators by killing them. I wasn't thinking rationally. I was just reacting to the pain."

"What pain? I don't understand."

"Remember, I told you of your heritage going way back in time?"

Virginia nodded.

Virginia... my mother... and your real grandmother... was Snow White's stepmother."

Virginia shook her head vehemently. "I don't believe you! You're lying!"

"I'm not lying," she said gently. "We don't belong here, Virginia. You and I are from the Nine Kingdoms and are of royal blood."

"No! Why are you doing this to me?"

"Because I don't want you to live in a lie like I did. I want you to know the truth and understand. After I tried to drown you and your father came home, I just wanted to run and hide. I don't even know where I was going; I just kept running. When I stopped I couldn't believe what I had just tried to do. I didn't know what I should do. Then I heard a voice calling to me. I looked up and there was my mother. She asked if I was lost. She promised to take away my pain. Even though I hadn't seen her since I was a young child and she was a stranger to me it was as if no time had passed since the last time I saw her. I had this strong urge to go to her and forget all the pain I felt. She held her hand out to me and I took it. When I went through the vortex all the old memories came to me - the shame me and my mother had suffered at the hands of Snow White. I knew then that my mother had sent me away so I would not be discovered until I was old enough to help her. Mother gave me a new purpose in life and she gave me her powers. I just forgot about the past like it was a dream."

"I think I understand now what happened." Virginia said softly as she remembered what she had felt like when she was under the strong influence of the Troll King's magic shoes. They had made her feel powerful, almost invulnerable. She could do anything, or so she thought, with those shoes.

"Do you?" her mother questioned.

"Yes. I became addicted to these magic shoes that made me invisible. It made me act and feel really strange. That's why you couldn't remember Dad and me. The magic mirrors made you forget. You were just following what your mother wanted you to do."

"My mother was under the power of the mirrors also. It ruined both our lives. But you saved me, Virginia. You made me remember who I was and what I had lost. You were stronger than I was."

Virginia shook her head. "No, I wasn't stronger. Wolf saved me from the magic shoes. He grabbed them from me and threw them into a lake. If it hadn't been for him..."

"Wolf really loves you. He even defied me to protect you, which is saying a lot."

"I know." Virginia smiled. "At first I didn't even want anything to do with him. All I could think about was getting home. But he kept saving my life. Now I don't know what I'd do without him."

Christine cupped Virginia's hand. "I have something for you that you left with me. I want you to keep it to remember me by." A beautiful red rose appeared in Christine's hand. It was the same rose that King Wendell had given to Virginia that had come from hisgrandmother Snow White. It was in full bloom just as it had been when she had placed it on her mother's hand. "Take this rose and plant it in a garden." Christine instructed her.

"Mother, I'm not good with plants."

"Don't worry. As long as you remember our time here together, this rose will grow and flourish."

"More magic?"

"Just a mother's love for her daughter. I must go now. I have overstayed my visit." Christine stood up from the table. "Goodbye, my little girl." Christine's form became vague and transparent until Virginia could see the wall and kitchen doorway behind her.

"Wait! Will I see you again?"

"As long as you have the rose, I'll always be with you."

Virginia was alone in the kitchen again. She had lost her appetite and stared at the only physical proof that she hadn't been hallucinating. Virginia stuck the rose in the vase with the daisies. Just then Wolf came in looking concerned.

"Are you okay Virginia? I thought I heard voices?"

"I'm fine. I just felt like a snack."

"Oh, you should have woke me up. We could have snacked together. Milk and cookies are one of my favorites."

Virginia smiled at his childlike enthusiasm. "Wolf, what do you think about planting a rose garden?"

"Huff Puff! What a good idea! I've seen some books about gardening and roses. We could have a beautiful garden on the patio."

Virginia laughed. "Have I told you lately that I love you?"

"Not for a few hours now." Wolf gave her that puppy dog look. Virginia laughed and knew she'd never be happier than she was now.