Gabrielle - After Happy Ever After

Lord Rupert nodded. "Yes, yes. It's ready. I'm still not too sure about your choice of table arrangements, but…" he waved a hand to dismiss it.

"Good. This is the Nine Kingdoms first ever karaoke and I want it to be perfect. Randal, can you go get the others?"

Randal nodded and ran off. Danielle heaved a sigh and plopped down in a chair. She gulped down some water and waited for the others to show up. Lord Rupert stood off to the side, also waiting. Who would have though that arranging the first ever karaoke in a fairytale land would be so much work?

"Are you guys always gonna act mushy or what?" Randal asked and stuck out his tongue.

"What is it, Randal?" Faolan asked, only moving so that he could stroke Ivy's hair.

"Danielle wants you to go into the conference hall," Randal reported. He ran off again before either of them could reply, following his nose to the others. He found Cinnamon next. She, too, was in the garden, pacing and staring off in the distance. Randal stopped and waited for her to see him. His wolf instincts told him it wasn't a good idea to approach an agitated she-wolf without her permission.

"What do you want, cub?" she asked without looking at him.

"I'm supposed to tell everyone to go to the conference hall," Randal said.

"Better move along then," she said coldly.

Randal backed away slowly, then continued on his way. Whatever was bothering her, he didn't want her to take it out on him. Randal went back into the castle and almost bumped into Wolf and Virginia. "Ewww, more mushy stuff," Randal complained.

Virginia pulled away from Wolf and smiled at Randal. "Sorry," she said lightly.

"Are you really going to have a cub?" Randal asked in wonder.

"Yeah," Virginia nodded, placing a hand on her stomach.

"Where did it come from?"

"Uh…" Virginia looked to Wolf, worriedly.

"You'll find out later. Just watch nature," Wolf instructed.

Randal cocked his head, confused. He finally shrugged. "Danielle wants everyone in the conference hall," he delivered his message.

"Okay. Thanks, Randal." Wolf nodded. Randal ran off again to find the remaining members of their party.

Virginia slapped Wolf on the arm. "I can't believe you told him that," she said.

"What? He's a wolf," Wolf said, rubbing his arm as if it had hurt. "What would you have told him?"

"Well…when two people love each other very much…" Virginia trailed off with a grin. The line was lost on Wolf.

Danielle jumped to her feet as Ivy and Faolan came in. She grinned as Ivy stopped in her tracks and looked around.

"I'm not sure if you're a genius or an incredible ham," she said.

"Both," Danielle said with a bow.

"You're a ham?" Faolan asked in confusion.

"An expression, Faolan," Ivy explained. Faolan only looked slightly less confused.

"Grab a seat, Faolan. Ivy come with me," Danielle said quickly.

Ivy shrugged and followed Danielle over to the make-shift stage. Ivy touched it and grinned. "I'm not even gonna ask how you whipped this up," she said, shaking her head.

"Good. Here. This is the list," Danielle said, shoving a piece of paper in Ivy's hand.

"'Crush' by Lila McCann, 'Before Me and You' by Shedaisy, 'I've Got My Baby' by Faith Hill. Are you deliberately trying to embarrass me? Why are there I's and V's and D's and W's….." Ivy's eyes widened as she figured it out. "You want Faolan to sing 'Just To Hear You Say That You Love Me'!"

"You don't approve of the list?" Danielle frowned.

"No, I don't approve of the list!" Ivy almost yelled.

"You mean that you're not the least bit intrigued by the notion of Faolan singing you a love song?"

Ivy paused. "I'm not going to answer that. But I am trimming this list. Besides, we have to get going. It's a long way from New York back to Arizona. My truck's probably impounded by now," Ivy said.

"Fine," Danielle allowed.

"This is more nuts that anything else I've seen in this crazy place. I guess we'll fit right in," Ivy muttered.

"Okay, guys. This is the first ever Nine Kingdoms karaoke, orchestrated by me. Ivy and I'll start this thing off so you get the idea. I'll go first. This song goes out to a certain someone who will remain unnamed. Formalities out of the way, hit it!" Danielle said.

"You, you might be the one.
So let's not rush it,
Let's not jump the gun.
Sometimes love is an illusion.
Let's make it clear just so there's no confusion.
It's just a crush I'm feeling,
Walking on the ceiling.
My whole world's upside down.
It's just a crush I know it,
Don't know where we're going,
But I like it where we are right now.
It's too soon to be too much.
I'm not ready to call it love.
It's just a crush. A crush."

Danielle shot a glance at Wendell before fixing her eyes firmly elsewhere. She probably hadn't fooled anyone about who she was singing to. She should never have done this. Too late now.

"You, I like you a lot,
But I'm not sure if it's meant to be or not.
Yeah, you could say, say we're together,
But no one's said a word about the word forever.
It's just a crush I'm feeling,
Walking on the ceiling.
My whole world's upside down.
It's just a crush I know it,
Don't know where we're going,
But I like it where we are right now.
It's too soon to be too much.
I'm not ready to call it love.
It's just a crush. A crush."

Almost through the song. Just a short bridge and a repeat of the chorus. That's all. Then she could get off the stage before she started blushing so bright everyone would see.

"You, you might be the one.
So let's not rush it,
Let's not jump the gun.
It's just a crush I'm feeling,
Walking on the ceiling.
My whole world's upside down.
It's just a crush I know it,
Don't know where we're going,
But I like it where we are right now.
It's too soon to be too much.
I'm not ready to call it love.
It's just a crush. A crush."

Danielle froze. It was over. What was she supposed to do now? Look at Wendell. No! Don't look at Wendell! Just bow and get off the stage. Go work the controls. That was it. "Okay. Yeah. Now, you guys are supposed to clap. Thanks," Danielle said, then beat a hasty retreat off the stage.

Danielle grabbed Ivy's arm and shoved her on stage. She checked the CD and saw that Ivy had already switched it. Good girl.

"Uh…hi," Ivy said lamely. "I think you guys get the idea, right? Okay. Um…go, Danielle.

'Every kiss before this was nothing but a waste of breath.
And every I love you was just a whoop dee do.
Never knew what I'd missed, before this.
Doodoodoodoooooooo.
Yeah, and every love song before you came along
Was always about someone else.
Oh, and every star was just a wish too far.
Always the realist, yeah before this.
And the way things go you'll never know where love will lead you to
And everything we'd ever dreamed lies before me and you.
People say, people say, it's not every day
That you find the perfect fit.
But when I fell for you I found the other shoe.
Cupid was a myth, yeah before this."

Ivy was looking right at Faolan now. The half-wolf was practically falling out of his chair. Danielle rolled her eyes.

"And the way things go you'll never know where love will lead you to,
And everything we'd ever dreamed lies before me and you.
Yeah, doodoodoodooooo.
Doodoodoodoooooo, yeah.
And the way things go you'll never know where love will lead you to,
And everything we'd ever dreamed lies before me and you.
And the way thing go you'll never know where love will lead you to,
And everything we'd ever dreamed lies before me and you.
Yeah, before me, before me, before me, me and you."

Faolan jumped out of his seat as she finished the song and Danielle had a feeling he would have run over and kissed Ivy, except that she had placed herself between them. "None of that. This is a family show," Danielle said and winked at Randal. "Okay. Virginia, your turn."

"What?" Virginia cried. "No way!"

"Aw, come on. We've got a song all picked out for you. I even wrote down all the words," Danielle coaxed. Virginia sighed. "Oh, fine," she gave in. She got to her feet and walked over to where Ivy and Danielle stood near the stage. Danielle handed her a piece of paper. Virginia skimmed it as Danielle pushed her on stage. Ivy hit the play button at a nod from Danielle.

"Diggin' around, feelin' so down, floatin' around like a feather.
Nothin' but me and all my dreams just tryin' to hold it together.
Those were long days, long days indeed.
Could not avoid, I felt no joy, no relief.
But everyone knows that that's how it goes, it's usually bound to get better.
So when you arrived, I looked in your eyes and all I could see was forever.
What a fine day, a fine day indeed.
When you showed up, I fell in love, now look at me.
I've got my baby, I've got those good times, no lack of sunshine.
Baby, I've got you.
Darlin' I find, you're blowin' my mind, everytime that I hold you.
Better than gold, the deeper we go, nobody knows it like I do.
These are sweet days, sweet days indeed.
A love that flows, will always grow, now can't you see?
I've got my baby, I've got those good times, no lack of sunshine.
Baby, I've got you. Yes, I do!
Red hot and no blues, got no more bad news.
I've got my baby. Baby, I've got you,"

Virginia's voice grew steadily stronger as she sang and the next time she sang the chorus, the singing ring joined in. Virginia's eyes widened in surprise, but she kept singing.

"And on and on, oh what a love affair.
And on and on, oh I will always be there.
I've got my baby, I've got those good times, no lack of sunshine.
Baby, I've got you. Yeah, yeah, yeah.
Red hot and no blues, got no more bad news.
I've got my baby. Baby, I've got you.
I've got my baby, I've got those good times, no lack of sunshine.
Baby, I've got you."

Virginia finished the song and everyone clapped, but were drowned out completely by Wolf. "That was great, honey!" he called.

Virginia smiled shyly and returned to her seat. Wolf squeezed her shoulders and kissed her cheek. "Did you hear that, baby cub? Your mama's voice is almost as beautiful as she is," Wolf said, placing a hand on Virginia's stomach.

"Uh…Wolf, could you tear yourself away from Virginia for a few minutes? You, too, Faolan," Danielle said.

Wolf and Faolan hesitantly got up and headed over to Ivy and Danielle, looking very confused. Danielle glanced past them at Wendell who was sitting at a table with Tony. He had golden curls that some girls she knew would kill for. He was wearing a tailored blue suit that looked as completely natural on him as blue jeans and a T-shirt. He said something to Tony and looked in her direction. Danielle quickly turned back to Wolf and Faolan and handed each of them a piece of paper.

"Isn't she wonderful?" Wendell sighed.

"What?"

"I mean, isn't this wonderful?" Wendell corrected hurriedly.

Tony nodded at Danielle. "You like her, huh?" he asked.

"No! Of course not!" Wendell cried immediately, then added quietly, "Yes."

Tony smiled. Wendell was like a son to him, but he was also his best friend. It was a peculiar feeling hearing about Wendell's first crush, as far as he knew. "Well? What are you going to do about it?" Tony pressed.

"Nothing. Absolutely nothing. It's not like there's anything I can do. The Council of the Nine Kingdoms will arrange my marriage to someone else and she'll go back to the Tenth Kingdom. Besides, I don't even know if she likes me, Anthony," Wendell finished.

Tony shook his head. Love was blind, he guessed. "She just sang that song about having a crush to you," Tony pointed out.

Wendell's head shot up and he looked at Tony like he was insane.

"Oh, come on. You can't figure it out. Think about it, you're the only one she could be singing to," Tony continued.

Wendell shook his head, but his eyes were wide. He stopped and rubbed his temple as if he had a headache. "So what do I do? They're leaving soon," Wendell asked.

"Now that is up to you, Princey boy," Tony said and patted Wendell on the head.

"Anthony," Wendell said in a warning tone.

"Oh!" Tony realized. "Sorry. Forgot. You were such a nice dog."

Wendell glared at him.

"I'm just teasing! Geesh."

Faolan and Wolf looked utterly confused. Danielle sighed in exasperation. "Look, why don't you two listen to the song first, then try it?" Danielle suggested.

"Why would we sing a girl's song?" Faolan asked.

"Because I said to! Just listen to the words. Now put on these headphones. No, no, like this," Danielle said, adjusting the headphones on Wolf. Wolf jumped in surprise when the music came on. Danielle turned to see Ivy edge over.

"What are you doing? This wasn't on the list! Not my version, anyway," Ivy whispered angrily.

"Cool it. Just sit down," Danielle replied firmly. Ivy glared at her, but plunked down in her seat at a table. Danielle turned back to Wolf and Faolan and switched the headphones to the latter. He was even worse than Wolf when she pressed play. He pulled the headphones away from his ears as if it were too loud so she turned it down. Gosh, he listened to it softer than Ivy did!

Wolf scratched his temple again and looked at Danielle. "Um…Danielle? There's a small, tiny problem," he said as if he were embarrassed.

"What?" Danielle sighed.

"I don't…oh, huff-puff, I can't sing like that!" Wolf protested.

Danielle felt like banging her head against a wall.

"Of course you can't. That's Faith Hill. She's a woman, you're not. 'Kay?" Danielle asked, forcing a smile.

"But…" Wolf began.

"No. You know what? I don't care." Wolf tried to talk again, but she cut him off with a wave of her hand. "Uh uh. No. Not one word." Faolan pulled off the headphones and he looked as doubtful as Wolf. "You either. Don't argue, just do it. Now. Go!" Danielle urged, pushing them onto the stage.

Danielle calmed her annoyance enough not to break the CD player when she pressed play. She could hear Wolf and Faolan arguing over who would have to sing the lead. Apparently, Wolf won 'cause Faolan started out singing Faith Hill's part.

"If I could win your heart,
You'd let me in your heart,
I'd be so happy, baby.
Just for these arms to be
Holding you close to me.
There's nothing in this world I won't try.
No limit to what I'd do to make you mind 'cause…"

Now Wolf joined him for the chorus. At least these wolves picked this stuff up quick.

"I'd climb right up to the sky,
I'd take down the stars
Just to be in your arms, baby.
I'd go and capture the moon.
That's what I would do
Just to hear you say that you love me.
Just to hear you say that you love me."

Not bad, Danielle thought to herself, I do good work. Now Faolan picked up the song again and Wolf sang the back-up almost word for word.

"If I could taste your kiss
There'd be no sweeter bliss
Heaven could offer, baby.
Ooh, I want to be the one
Living to give you love.
I'd walk across this world just to be
Close to you 'cause I want you close to me, yeah.
I'd climb right up to the sky,
Take down the stars
Just to be in your arms, baby.
I'd go and capture the moon.
That's what I would do
Just to hear you say that you love me.
Just to hear you say that you love me.
For the rest of your life
Love me for the rest of all time.
Just say the word and I'll give you my world.
There's nothing I won't do
Baby, just to be with you.
I'd climb right up to the sky,
Take down the stars
Just to be in your arms, baby.
I'd go and capture the moon.
That's what I would do
Just to hear you say that you love me.
Just to hear you say that you love me."

Good. Now just finish off the song, Danielle thought. Good wolfies. Now bow and get off my stage. That sounded bad. Oh, well. A good finish to my karaoke, I suppose. Four songs, though. Pitiful. Stupid Ivy.

"Good job, guys. I told you you could do it," Danielle said, directing them off the stage and taking their place. "Okay. That's basically it. It's a lot of fun, really. We could go on, but some of us need to get back to the Tenth Kingdom. I'd just like to say thanks to everyone. Breena, Wolf, I'd still be lost if not for you two. Wendell, you saved my life. I can't thank you enough. I promise I'll come back as soon as I can. That is, if I can?"

"We opened the mirror for Wolf and Virginia once every week at sunset on Sunday," Wendell said. "We can open it for you."

"All right. Thanks, Wendell," Danielle nodded, gratefully. That was weird. Ivy hadn't said thank you. Danielle looked over at her and saw that she was being all cuddly with Faolan. Ewww, she gets her first boyfriend and already she was all…in the words of Randal, yucky. And she would have to put up with it all the way home, too.

"Ahem! Ivy, wouldn't you like to say thank you?" Danielle asked pointedly.

"Thank you! Everyone," Ivy said, trying to pull away from Faolan, but he wouldn't let her. "Faolan, we really need to get going."

"Have we got everything? Are we ready to go?" Danielle asked.

"Um…I think so," Ivy said, looking to Faolan for confirmation. Faolan rose and went over to Randal.

"What do you want to do, Randal?" he asked.

Randal fidgeted and looked around. "I think…I'd like to stay here. Is that okay?" he asked worriedly.

"That's perfectly fine. I'll be back soon, don't worry. Huff-puff, I'm gonna miss you," Faolan said.

"I'll miss you, too," Randal said and hugged him.

"We'll keep an eye on him, Faolan. Don't worry," Virginia added.

Faolan looked at her in surprise. "Thank you," he said sincerely.

Everyone was quiet for a moment. Wendell rose and coughed to get their attention. "If you're ready, I can lead you to the mirror room," he offered.

"Sure," Danielle agreed, hopping off the stage.

Ivy had never liked good-byes, especially long ones. So they got them all over with before following Wendell. Wendell was the last one they had to bid farewell before going home. "Bye, Wendell. You don't know how happy we are that you found us in Central Park," Ivy said, shaking Wendell's hand.

"Incredibly happy," Faolan added, shaking his hand after her. Faolan disappeared first through the mirror.

Ivy waited for Danielle. "Coming, Danie?" she asked.

Danielle looked at Wendell, then at the mirror. "Yeah. Yeah, I'm coming," she said, stumbling backwards toward the mirror, then turning and stepping through. Ivy thought she heard Wendell sigh as she followed.

"Wow," Faolan said, gazing around at the city as they walked toward the Grill on the Park, the last known whereabouts of Ivy's truck. "What's that? And that? And…oh, what's that smell?"

Ivy smiled. "I'll explain later. It's a long drive. First, we have to find my truck," she said.

They were in luck. Ivy's truck was still there, but with a few added tickets on it. "All right. I'll drive first. Danielle, you'll have to switch off with me. I still need to write that report on wolves that was due last Wednesday. Whoever's not driving, try and think of an excuse that our parents will buy," Ivy instructed. "Let's take care of these tickets. I don't need parking tickets on top of everything else."

"You know, " Danielle said later as they were driving home, "I'm thinking we definitely have to patent this adventure."

"A novel maybe?" Ivy suggested. "Of course, we couldn't put our names on it. We want to be inconspicuous so we can get back to the mirror and everything. And it'd have to be labeled fiction."

"No, I'm thinking more of a television production. A miniseries!" Danielle said, her mind buzzing with possibilities.

"You'd better start with Wolf and Virginia's story first, the 'Four Who Saved the Nine Kingdoms'. Otherwise it wouldn't make sense. We could be silent benefactors and help in the casting and everything, get actors who most look like everyone and all," Ivy said, getting into it.

"What's a miniseries?" Faolan asked.

"It's another Tenth Kingdom thing. You'll see," Danielle promised.

Virginia sighed and leaned back against Wolf. So there really were lost girls out there just like she had been. She hoped the Nine Kingdoms had changed their lives like it had hers. With that thought, Virginia rubbed her stomach. Soon, she would be a mother. Wolf was right, they would have a wonderful baby. And he would be a wonderful father.

"Wolf?" she asked.

"Yes?" he murmured, putting his head on her shoulder.

"Do you think we'll live 'Happy Ever After'?"

Wolf paused and thought that over. He slowly smiled and wrapped his arms around her. "You know what, my succulent dreamy girl? I think we already are."