A four year old Tracy laid in her bed, covers pulled up to her chin. She found herself curling her toes and then straightening them out over and over again. She flicked her big brown eyes over to her mother who was reading her the story of Cinderella to her with a smile.
"And then the handsome prince took her by the hand, and in a soft voice, whispered, 'May I have this dance?'." She said.
Tracy beamed. This was her favorite part of the story. The happy ending was coming and she knew it. Every night, she begged to hear her mom read Cinderella over and over again.
"Momma?" The little girl cut Edna off after a while.
Her mother turned to look at her, smile wide. "Yes?" She whispered.
Tracy smiled shyly and laced her fingers together. "Do you dink, maybe one day I can meet my pwince too?"
Edna chuckled at her daughters still poorly developed vocabulary and nodded, sweeping a delicate hand under her bangs, threading her fingers through her hair. "Of course you will, Tracy."
The girls face just about radiated with joy at this, a grin spread from ear to ear in excitement.
"But," Edna continued, making Tracy freeze for a second, "You have to remember something okay sweetie?"
Her daughter nodded, listening intently for what she would say next.
"Your prince; he doesn't have to be perfect at all. He doesn't have to live in a castle with servants, or ride horses or have lots of money."
Tracy tilted her head against the pillow, furrowing her brows with a soft pout, "But isn't dat wha makes him a pwince?"
Mrs. Turnblad smiled and the innocence of the little girl in front of her. "No, of course not." She said, squeezing her cheek a bit.
Tracy giggled and tried her hardest to squirm away.
"You just have to makes sure that he loves you, and that you love him." Edna finished, kissing her forehead.
Tracy nodded and smiled, closing her eyes to sleep, "I will wove him mama."
Twenty years later, Tracy Larkin laid in her soft bed, snuggled up with Link. His arm draped over her waist, he pulled her closer with a content sigh.
"What did I do to deserve you?" He mumbled sleepily, closing his eyes.
Tracy giggled and shook her head, "What do mean?" She asked, her voice quiet and sweet.
"I- You're you! And I'm just a crooner with a tacky wink and greasy haircut. Bet I'm not the Prince Charming you thought I was."
The girl frowned, "You're the prince that I want though." She said, "My Ma used to tell me, 'Your Prince Charming doesn't have to be perfect." Tracy shot a glance up at him, smiling, "He just has to be perfect to you."
Link was silent for a long time after that, his chest quietly rising and falling. He listened to the wind blowing in the twigs of their trees and the soft grumble of cars passing. "Your Ma has a way with words." He whispered.
Tracy smiled and nodded, "she does."
Link gazed at her., his blue eyes the only thing bright in the darkness of their room, "I love you," he said, kissing her forehead.
She cuddled into his chest as he held her tight, lips against her hair.
"I love you too. My prince."