FINALLY! I have updated. I made it super long. It is the second longest chapter of this story. I am sooooooooooooooooooooooo sorry it has taken me this long to update. I will explain more at the end, because I don't want a whole lot before to keep you from it.

Warning: There will be talk about abuse, so you know now beforehand if it'll be an issue. It will be very serious.

So please enjoy!

(Tarmo)

I'd seen that look in so many faces before, but I never thought I'd see it in my princess's eyes: fear. She was completely afraid of this guy. All I can do is wonder Why?Though that answer doesn't matter, what matters is doing as she asked and keep him away from her.

As he attempts to go after her, I hold my arm out, keeping him from going any further. I watch as Prince Keith runs after her, and the King follows behind at a slower pace.

Onni looks to me, and I nod knowing that we're going to escort him off the Manse's property, back to the car, until the His Majesty returns.

All we'd been told was that this guy was Phoenix's ex-boyfriend. Her mother had bumped into him, they talked about Phoenix, and she mentioned Phoenix having hurt her leg. He had told her how he'd like to get to see her again, and her mother thought it might make Phoenix feel better, as did His Majesty when she told him about the guy. Though I question how much of his being brought here, was His Majesty wanting to try and throw a wrench in Phoenix's relationship with the prince. I sigh, and keep a wary eye on this man who causes my princess to be afraid.

After a few minutes of really looking at the guy, I start to notice some things. Sure, he's good looking by most women's standards: medium length black hair, blue eyes, tall, well-built. Though the look in those blue eyes, there's an angry storm brewing in them, along with him exuding a dark aura about him. Something's really off about this guy... why didn't I notice before?

I pull out my phone and text Onni in the driver's seat: I feel we should just put this guy back on a plane to America. Something about him isn't right.

I feel the car start, and the doors immediately lock. The guy looks at me suspiciously. "What's going on?" He asks.

"Look, it's nothing personal, but Phoenix has made it clear she really doesn't want to see you, and we feel it'd be better for you just to go home." I tell him.

I can see his jaw harden as he grits his teeth, and clenches his fists making his knuckles turn white.

~)~~~~

(Prince Keith)

Jeez. I didn't think she could run this fast... I pause when I come upon an intersection of hallways, trying to think of which way she would have gone. I see a maid round a corner, glancing behind her, slightly confused. I walk up to her, "Have you seen Phoenix?"

She quickly bows, "Yes, Your Highness. Just now."

I nod to her, "Thank you." I hurry after her. Well, if she's going this way, she's probably going to her room.

As I near her room, I see that her door is wide open. I enter and see her luggage laying open on her bed. She's frantically throwing her clothes into them.

"Phoenix." I say her name calmly.

She immediately grabs a nearby pillow, ready to throw it at me, but freezes when she sees it's me. She gulps and releases the pillow from her hand and it falls to the ground with a soft thunk. "H-h-hey. Um. Which kingdom is it that has the really tight border control?" She asks as she resumes packing.

"Dres Van." I tell her and slowly approach.

She nods. "Okay. So I'll go spend some time with Prince Joshua. That shouldn't be too terrible." She mumbles to herself.

I feel a tightening in my chest at her words. "Phoenix. What's wrong? Who is that guy?" I ask her.

I watch as she closes her eyes, stops moving, and lets out a sigh. I can tell she's biting her lip considering her words. She opens her eyes and looks at me. "His name is Gavin. He's my ex-boyfriend... and he was the first boyfriend I ever had."

At her words, I wasn't quite sure what to think or feel; though the tightening in my chest becomes worse. Also, the feeling that there's so much more that she wasn't telling me. I close the distance between us, take her hand in mine, and pull her out of her room.

"W-what are you doing? Where are we going?" Her voice quakes and comes out higher than usual.

"It's okay." I stop and look her in the eyes, reassuring her she'd be safe. She nods, and I can see her relax. "I just feel you'll want to talk somewhere else."

I take her to the music room. She walks in and sits at the piano.

"So what did he do?" I ask, more as an accusation.

She turns to face the piano. "You knew this would be a place I'd feel safe to talk..." she whispers, her head turned down to the black and white keys. "I'd like to play something for you." She says, glancing over her shoulder at me. "I think it'll help me to tell you... It's a favorite song of mine, that really struck a chord after my relationship with him. I changed the lyrics a little but not too much..."

She slowly begins playing. I recognize the song as One Republic's Apologize. I take a seat beside her on the piano bench as she begins to sing:

"I'm holdin' on his rope,
Got me ten feet off the ground.
And I'm hearin' what you say,
But I just can't make a sound.
He tells me thathe needs me

Then he goes and cuts me down...

But wait...
He tells me that he's sorry,
Didn't think I'd turn around
And say...

That it's too late to apologize.
It's too late...
I said it's too late to apologize.
It's too late, too late, oh, oh.

I'd take another chance,
Take a fall, take a shot from him

He needs me like a heart needs a beat,
But it's nothin' new, yeah!
He loved me with a fire red,

But I'm turnin' black

and blue

Says sorry like an angel

But I never believed he was true

And I'm afraid...

It's too late to apologize.
It's too late.
I said it's too late to apologize.
It's too late, whoa!

It's too late to apologize.
It's too late.
I said it's too late to apologize.
It's too late.

I said it's too late to apologize, yeah!
I said it's too late to apologize, yeah!

I'm holdin' on his rope,
Got me ten feet off the ground."

All the while that I listen to her sing, I think about the words and start to get an idea about their relationship. I feel anger kindle inside me at the thought of what she went through with that guy.

~)~~~~

(Phoenix)

As I sing, I let open the door, that for three years remained firmly locked and chained close inside me. It's time. I need to really tell someone about what happened with Gavin.

I look over at Prince Keith, and see a somewhat calm anger written across his face; in his lowered eyebrows and his lips set in a firm line.

I sigh again. "Well... This is going to take a while since I feel I should start at the beginning." I look to him, and he nods.

"Gavin came into my life when my mom decided to send me to the school she attended. You see, based on where we lived, I could have attended a couple of different options, but my mom wanted me to go to her old school, partly because it was smaller and she thought I'd be more sheltered from things that she felt I'd have to deal with more if I attended one of the other schools." I stop to see if he understands, and he gives me a nod to go on.

"Well, we met in first grade. Gavin immediately asked me to be his girlfriend the first day of school. But of course, when you're young, the idea of the opposite gender seems totally gross, so I denied him. He kept badgering me with the same request for over a week, but I think I finally was able to make him understand that I didn't want a boyfriend for a while. So he quit asking, though he still always tried to be close to me. Luckily when he decided to ask me again, in sixth grade, I was able to give the excuse that my parents didn't want me to date until I was 16."

Prince Keith lets out a chuckle at that.

"What's so funny about that? I needed something to tell him, and when I told my mom about him, she told me that excuse, and I was all too happy to agree."

"I just can't believe you actually waited that long, by that age I'd already had like fi-" He realizes what he's saying a quits speaking immediately. "Go on."

"Well, it wasn't until after I was 17 that I agreed to date him." I answer.

"Why? Didn't you... find him attractive?" Prince Keith forces out.

"Sure he's good looking and was the richest kid in our school, but there was always something off about him to me. I could never put my finger on it, til after we started dating and realized I should have trusted my gut."

"Why did you agree to date him? You sound like you never wanted to in the first place." Prince Keith inquires.

"Because I didn't. My 'friends' who were all Team Gavin, kept pressuring me after my 16 birthday, and after all the showy ways Gavin kept asking me out, I finally just got tired of saying no and said yes." I sigh exasperated remembering how Nikki especially, along with Greta and Lauren all kept telling me just to say yes. Nikki was a total backstabbing witch of a friend, Greta was Gavin's biggest fan, and Lauren just wasn't very smart; plus I knew they wanted Gavin to date me, so he'd realize I wasn't that great then he'd date one of them, since Gavin refused to date anyone but me. My best friend Tahlia was the only true friend I had and she just told me she'd support me in whatever my choice was and to follow my heart; which of course, my heart wanted Ryder, Gavin's best friend, so there was no way that would ever happen, since Gavin 'claimed' me in first grade and no one was going to go against him unless they wanted to commit social suicide.

"What did he do? To ask you out." Prince Keith brings me out of my memories.

"Ah... Let's see there were roses in my locker, he hired the choir to serenade me, paid someone to write a love poem and recited it over the intercom so the whole school heard it, chalked the parking lot with the request, and a few others, that all received nos." I list some of the memorable ones, counting them off on my hand.

"What did he do to get you to say yes?"

"Well, he was a varsity athlete in everything, and it was basketball season. We had our homecoming pep rally, and after showing the candidates for the royal court, the lights suddenly went out. A spot light came on, and the whole basketball team did a choreographed dance. Then each player was wearing a shirt with a letter or two that spelled out 'PHOENIX GO OUT W/ ME?' - since we have a small school and not that many players - then he added 'if we win tonight's game' when he asked. So I went ahead and said yes, since there was a 50% chance that they might lose the game."

"So I take it they won."

"They slaughtered the other team. It was 100 to 23. Plus he added being his prom date, since we were juniors at that point." I inform the prince. "The first six months were great. It wasn't that bad, and I was totally rethinking my opinion of him."

"But something happened." Prince Keith stated more than asked, and he took my hand in his.

I nodded. "It was after my birthday, during summer vacation. We were just hanging out, and we got into a disagreement over something stupid; it was always over something stupid. The next thing I knew I was on the ground, with a pain on the side of my face. He had slapped me hard enough to leave a bruise." I felt Prince Keith's hand tighten around mine. "I left immediately. I went home, iced it, and hid it from my parents. I couldn't let them know Gavin hit me."

"Why not?" Prince Keith asks completely angered by this.

"Because... because my mom had been in an abusive relationship before my dad, and told me what to look out for. She would have..." I stop myself from continuing that sentence. "I completely avoided Gavin for two weeks. He kept texting me apology after apology, but I never responded. Then he texted me that our class was going to have a pool party, and I knew I'd have to keep up appearances for school. Because if it wasn't for the fact that Gavin was the king of the school, and would have made my life a living hell if I dumped him I would have done it that night he hit me."

"Seriously? You were worried about that?" Prince Keith is completely surprised about it.

I laugh. "You've never been in high school. You can't understand everything that we common people go through with that. Honestly, that wouldn't have been such a big deal, if my best friend hadn't graduated a year early and would have still been there. She was my only true friend that would have stuck with me through thick and thin. Everyone else at that school was under Gavin's thumb, and would have ruined my senior year, which was extremely important because I needed it to go well, so I'd have plenty of activities for my college application." I inform him.

"Okay. You're right. I can't understand high school... So what about the pool party?" He asks getting me back on track.

"It was after hours at the local swimming pool. Gavin's best friend, Ryder, was working that night and had the keys to lock up after it closed for the day. He let Gavin and me in, and that's when I realized Gavin had tricked me. It was only going to be the two of us. As soon as Ryder was out of sight, Gavin threw me into the deep end, dove in after me, and started... not quite shouting, because he wasn't that loud, but anyways, laying into me about not texting him back and other things that he was upset about. As he was complaining, he started dunking me, and I started screaming for help. All I could do was thank God that Ryder hadn't left yet, heard me, and came back. He got Gavin off me, and took me home." I shake my head at the memory. "Ryder was livid about the whole thing and wanted to know if Gavin had been violent to me before. When I told him once, he wanted to know why I was still with him. I explained I thought it was a party with our class so it would mean Gavin would be on his best behavior. Once I explained how Gavin would ruin senior year for me, Ryder realized it was true. Because freshman year, we had a new transfer student, who didn't know about Gavin having a 'claim' on me, so when Gavin found out he was flirting with me... Let's just say within a month he transferred to another school."

Prince Keith closed his eyes, and I could see the tension in his jaw.

"Ryder became my good friend after that. I always texted him about any dates Gavin came up with, to know if they were real with other people, and I never let Gavin be completely alone with me. Though there were a few times, I had no choice. Even when we were with a group of people, Gavin would grab onto me so hard I'd have bruises of his hands on my arms; which is why I had to wear long sleeves in August... Then my best friend's parents died in a car accident right after school started. She was devastated. I had to be there for her, all I could think about was the pain she was going through, and got sloppy. At the funeral, she noticed the bruises on my arms because I had pushed the sleeves up during the burial. She waited til we got to my house and in my room to confront me about them. She was pissed and ready to fight whoever it was. When I told her it was Gavin, she said it made sense. Because she knew I always thought something wasn't quite right with him. She told me to break up with him right then, but I told her I couldn't, and she freaked thinking I had Battered Person Syndrome; which is what people in abusive relationships usually end up having. When I explained everything to her, she was ready to go tell my parents, but I talked her out of it."

"I still don't understand why you couldn't tell your parents." Prince Keith says.

"I'll explain once I finish telling you about Gavin." I sigh. "Plus it wasn't just physical abuse that I suffered while dating him. He also enjoyed abusing me emotionally. He'd always berate me for my figure, saying I was fat, he'd say I wasn't very smart, and anytime I had anything to be happy about he'd make me feel bad about it. I knew any claims he made about my intelligence were lies, I was smarter than him, I made the better grades and took the tougher classes. It was his little quips he'd make about me not being as fit as I was freshman year. Those were the things I couldn't really take, since I was already a bit self-conscious about that part of me. I can't remember how many times he made me cry over my body image and make me hate myself. That's the thing I could never really forgive him for. Being my boyfriend, he was the person who was supposed to make me feel loved and beautiful more than anyone else. He was the one who was supposed to protect me, not the one I needed to be protected from. Because of him I built up walls and wouldn't really let anyone into my heart. I couldn't date anyone more than a couple of months because I feared they'd suddenly turn on me." I shake my head.

"You're right. He's a fool for treating you like that... How did you break up?" Prince Keith says looking me in the eyes, and I feel so calm and reassured looking into his blue-green eyes.

"I was able to get through senior year with several bruises, some emotional baggage, and one ER visit for stitches and a concussion; which of course he explained away as my own klutziness-"

"What did he do to you?" Prince Keith demanded, a storm brewing in his eyes.

"Pushed me down some stairs, and I hit my head on the banister, resulting in six stitches on my forehead. That had been a week before graduation. Luckily our pictures had been taken earlier that day, so I don't have to have those as a forever memory. And surprisingly enough, he had the sense to take me to the ER after the fact, who called my parents, who came immediately, and I was able to get them to send him away once they were there. Once I had my diploma, we walked out of the gym, I went right up to him and broke up with him. Of course, he wasn't mad at that point, since he thought we were both going to the same college; which I had to lie to everyone about. I said I was going to one when I really intended on going to the rival college. He always believed we were meant to be, so he thought he'd get me back." I shake my head.

"So this was the first time you've seen him since then?" Prince Keith asks.

I nod. "I guess I thought once I was overseas I wouldn't have to worry about seeing him again." Especially after finding out I was a princess... One of the few good things being that I'd be heavily guarded...

"So how did he get in contact with King Erik to be brought to you?"

I hang my head already seeing some form of Gavin seeing my mother and talking about me. "My mom." I bite my lip. "The fear of what she'd do to him if she ever found out kept me from ever telling her; I didn't want her to go to jail... It's funny, because living in a small town, going to her old school; people were always commenting about how much I was like my mother, and I liked that, because my mom is so amazing. But there was one thing I didn't want to happen to me, that had happened to her. I never wanted to be in an abusive relationship..." I feel the tears finally making their escape from my eyes. "We had the talk when I turned twelve, or at least tried to. Luckily I already had an idea from my friends, so I quickly stopped her. But then she told me something that I wasn't prepared for. She had never spoken about being married before my dad, and I never imagined she could be with anyone other than him; they were the perfect couple in my eyes, other than my grandparents. ..." I continue telling the prince as he held my hand in his, the memories rushing back.

~)~~~~

I remember it like it was yesterday. My mom walked into my room the day before my birthday as I lay on the floor reading a book. "Phoenix, tomorrow's your big day! I can't believe you're turning twelve. One more year, and you'll be a teenager." The tears started to form in her eyes at the thought of her baby growing up.

"I know!" I smiled, excitement coursing through my veins for the party to commence in my honor tomorrow.

"The older you get, the more experiences you'll have." My mom started as she sat on my bed and patted the spot next to her. I hopped onto the bed next to her and looked at her, knowing she had something to tell me. "So, I think you're ready for the talk..." She stopped herself for a moment, to see if I knew what she was getting at. "You'll start feeling urges to do things you haven't before..." Still I was a little lost. "With boys." She quickly added.

My eyes widened with comprehension. "Um... Mom, can we not have this conversation? I know about sex." I rushed, felt my cheeks flame at the word, and looked away.

"How?!" My mom almost screamed.

"Well, between TV, and girls at school, its not hard to get the idea." I answered quietly.

She sighed. "I guess you're right. I can't expect to keep you sheltered forever..."

I smiled, thinking I was off the hook and could go back to reading my book.

"But I still think we need to talk about how to conduct yourself in a relationship." I froze, knowing I'd be stuck listening to her for a little bit longer. "I mean I know you promised not to date til after you turn 16, so its a few years off... I trust you to behave in any relationship you have, its more about the boy you decide to date, when you do. You shouldn't let him touch you anywhere, that you don't want. You should never let him hit you and think its okay..." My mom stopped, and sighed. "Phoenix. You know what the hardest thing about being a mom is?" She suddenly asked.

I shook my head.

"Trying to prepare your child for all parts of life. Specifically giving them advice to have, so when the time comes and if they should ever be a position like you'd been in, they'd know what to do..." I could see the tears threatening my mother's eyes and voice. "Its time I told you about Randy."

"Who's Randy?" I asked, knowing no one with that name.

"He was my first husband." She answered.

"What?!" I freaked at learning my dad wasn't my mom's one and only husband. That she had had a failed marriage. In my eyes, my mom always did everything right.

"It was when I was young. I was in college. I'd just completed my first semester. I had gotten a job over break, and worked at a bar as a waitress. It was about a week before classes started up again, when I met him. He was handsome and charming. So charming; that's one of the first signs, Phoenix, never trust someone who's always charming." My mother looked me in the eyes, and I quickly nodded for her to know that I understood. "Within two weeks of meeting, we were dating. I was so caught up in everything that was him, that I wasn't as focused on other things; the little details. Like how he didn't like to be around my friends for very long; always wanting to get me alone. Within three months, I barely saw my friends and cut down on calling my parents as much. Easter weekend, I took him home to meet Mom and Dad, and he proposed to me. Before I knew it, he had me talked into getting married the first Saturday of June, and not to continue my education. A week before the wedding, he told me we'd be moving to Arkansas for his job, and that he already had a house. I was so fooled and thought I was in love, that I agreed to it. My parents were already doubting him with how quickly he wanted to get married, and then the added move, so far away..." My mom stopped talking and stared me down. "They weasel they're way into your life, then they make you refocus your life on them. They make you choose between them and your family and friends. Then once they're sure they have you, they isolate you. Once isolated, they show you who they truly are; the monster that lies behind the charming mask."

I nodded to what she told me. It's advice that resurfaced when Gavin hit me, and continued to run through my head until I broke up with him.

"I wasn't sure what to expect when I moved to Arkansas. But what I got, wasn't anything close to what expectations I had. It was a small two story house, that was run down, and in an unsafe neighborhood. We worked together to fix it up some, and life was alright for a little over a month. He came home after a night out with his guy friends from work, he was drunk. I tried to talk to him, and he hit me for being too loud; though he cursed with every other word. I, as most do in that position, blamed myself." She stopped and looked me in the eyes again. "It's NEVER your fault. It's THEIRS."

I nodded.

"I stayed home as the little homemaker for about another month after that, but I started to realize we were barely making enough to get by, and honestly, I wanted to work. That was always my plan; why I went to college. I didn't see what the big deal was. It took a couple of beatings from him, and coaxing on my part to get him to allow it, on the one condition that I was always home early enough to have dinner on the table by the time he got home. I found a job that I enjoyed as a secretary at an office, and really thrived at it. He'd still find reasons to hit me, but I kept the promise, until around Thanksgiving. Due to the big holiday, most of my co-workers were staying later to stay ahead, and my boss gave me more work than usual. I didn't mind it and got lost in my work, so I didn't realize how late it had gotten. By the time I arrived home, he was waiting there in his chair, so drunk, I could smell him as soon as I stepped foot in the door. He laid into me so hard that night. I was so sore, and there were bruises all over my body. We had made plans to go to my parents for Thanksgiving, but due to my condition, I had to call and cancel making up an excuse of not being able to get away. Mom and Dad offered to come to us which I knew couldn't happen. I cried so much at not being able to see them and the state my life was in. I wanted to leave him, but I was so afraid. Though, two to three weeks later, I started feeling off. I went to the doctor and found out I was pregnant. I was so happy. I thought that'd make him happy too. He was happy, he didn't hit me for a couple months, and actually let us go to my parents for Christmas. It wasn't until February that his anger reappeared. He got angry and threw a glass at me. It didn't hit me, but it was close, and what I needed to realize that I needed to leave him for the baby's sake, as well as mine."

I knew immediately that something terrible was going to happen. I was an only child. The tears started to come.

"I had everything planned. He always had his boys' night on Thursdays, so I gave my job the notice that I was quitting and moving. I left work earlier than usual that day. I had gotten almost everything packed when I heard the front door slam. I knew he was in a terrible mood. I shut the bedroom door and barricaded it. My first response was to call home. My father answered the phone, and I started spilling everything to him; that Randy had been beating me, that I was pregnant, I was leaving and he was outside the door. As I was on the phone, he kicked the door open, and he came over and ripped the phone out of the wall. I ran towards the stairs to get out, but he was right behind me. He pushed me down the stairs. I don't remember much right after that, due to a horrible pain and concussion that made me black out. I woke up in the hospital, with my mother holding my hand. She told me my neighbor heard the commotion, called the police, and that Randy was in jail. And that after the phone call she and my father came immediately. My first question was about the baby. My mother told me I had miscarried due to the trauma of the fall and that the doctors were concerned about the damage I'd sustained due to it. They told me that the chance of ever having a child again was going to be one in a million." She stopped, tears streaming down her cheeks, and put her hand to my face. She smiled and cradled my head to her chest. "You were my miracle." She whispered.

"What happened to him?" I asked wanting to know his fate.

"My father went to see him in the jail, once he learned the news from the doctors that I'd lost the baby and might never have another. He actually got in to see him in his cell. Dad told me that the first thing he did was punch him in the face. That he called him a good choice of words, then told him that if he ever came near me again, he'd kill him. There was a cop standing guard outside the cell, and Dad told me he kept calling for the guard for help. The guard said he didn't hear or see anything. I only had to see him one more time, in court, to get our marriage annulled. After that I never saw or heard from him again."

"D-did you ever know if it was a boy or girl?" I asked.

My mom gave a regretful smile. "It would have been a boy. I was far enough along to know that much."

"At least he's in heaven." I hug my mom.

She returned the hug, holding me tightly. "You're right. He is."

"So how did you meet Daddy?" I asked after a few minutes of silence.

"I was so upset. Even being home with my parents, I still had made memories of Randy there at their house. He proposed to me there, Christmas, right before the wedding; all those things would flash through my mind. I couldn't take living there anymore. One of my cousins on Mom's side, who I was really close with, was moving up to Wisconsin for college, and had an apartment set up. She needed a roommate, and my parents and I felt it would make a good fresh start for me. So I went with her."

"Cousin Angie?" I asked.

Mom nodded. "She was so thrilled that I was going to be there with her; we were always so close growing up, like you and Jade. Though it was a bit hard at first; getting a job, since I decided not to continue my education. I was finally able to get a small job in a boutique, after living there for a couple of weeks. I had been working there for about two weeks, when Angie came running in from her class. She was excited about the Founder's Day party that would be held at the Hendrickson estate and be the next Friday. It's such a big deal there, that everyone in town, even the college students attend."

"Really? You met Daddy there? At a ball?" I asked excited at the idea of a real life fairytale occurring for my parents.

Mom smiled and nodded at the memory. "To be honest, I really didn't want to go, but Angie talked me into it. She told me I needed to get out there, and not live my life in fear because of him and what he did to me. And ironically, she was right. Because at that party I met your father. He was so shy and quiet. When he approached me to dance, I almost told him no, but Angie cut me off, telling him that I'd love to." Mom rolled her eyes at that part of the memory. "It was the best thing Angie ever did for me. Of course, we weren't an immediate item, though your father definitely tried to make it so, I kept refusing. That he wanted to rush a relationship with me, had me worried that he was just like Randy. But once we started to really get to know each other, and he learned about my past, he realized he was wrong, and took it slow with me; though he told me that the reason was as soon as he saw me, nothing else mattered, and he knew I was the girl he was going to spend the rest of his life with. The more time I spent with him, the more I realized he was nothing like Randy. He proposed to me a little before our one year anniversary. I was surprised that by that time, I couldn't imagine my life without him in it, and I realized what true love was. After experiencing it with your father, I came to the realization that I never truly loved Randy. Love is being able to be honest with each other about everything, letting them see the real you, and still wanting to be there by their side after knowing everything. Love's not easy, it takes work. There will be fights, but that you weather those storms together and are still there once it blows over are what's important." She stopped to start petting my head, and look at me. "Phoenix, no matter who you fall in love with, remember that. Don't think its going to be easy and obvious. Not every guy is a prince on a white horse. You have to see them for who they truly are and loving them despite that."

"Yes, Mama." I whispered. "So if you hadn't met at the dance, do you think you and Daddy would have fallen in love?" I asked.

"It would have just been a matter of time, once your father would have seen me, he would have pursued me until I accepted him. Though, had it been up to me, I don't know. He wasn't what I expected, though he was the man I dreamed I'd marry; if that makes sense... He had the qualities I would have wanted in a husband."

"So how did you guys come back to Kansas?" I asked my mother, truly curious.

"Well, shortly after I accepted his proposal, my grandfather died. In his will, he left me the house and land. So I knew I'd at least have to come back and deal with that. Your father realized that Kansas was my home, and where I truly belonged. He knew that I wasn't the type to be sitting around, partaking in afternoon tea with his mother and sisters. And if he were honest, he kind of wanted to get away from Wisconsin, and his family name being such a big deal. So he told me after we married we could make it our home. I was concerned, since your father only knew how to deal with his family's businesses. But he reassured me that he didn't want that. He actually learned to farm for me, so he could prove to me that he could support me here in Kansas. It just made me love him more." Mom smiled softly remembering my father's trials at learning to farm.

"I'm glad you met Daddy. He's pretty great." I smiled up at her.

"I am too. He was the one to show me what love truly is, and how to open my heart again." Mom looked down at me. "Plus, thanks to him, I have you." She hugged me tightly to her.

~)~~~~

"So, now you know why I could never tell my mother. Her father threatened the guy with death, and she's his daughter. Along with someone who was abused too. She wouldn't let him get away, and I didn't want to risk my mom going to jail." I tell him.

"You immediately think you're mom will kill him and go to jail?" Prince Keith asks.

"Worse case scenario. Besides I wanted my mom to believe that my first relationship was fine. But that wish completely backfired on me." I hang my head. "I probably need to go see Uncle..." I sigh. Not even remotely wanting to go anywhere near Gavin, who was probably still with Uncle.

~)~~~~

(Uncle)

What Phoenix didn't know was that I was outside the music room listening. Of course, eavesdropping as a king and at my age isn't the most respectable thing to do. But she's my precious Phoenix! I had to know what was going on!

Rehearing her mother's story through her, made me realize I made the right choice to allow her to stay with her parents. When her father told me about what his wife went through, and that Phoenix would probably be the only child she ever had, I just couldn't live with myself if I'd separated them from each other.

Though the anger at myself for bringing that monster back into her life... Unspeakable. I walked away from the room as she was finishing. Pulling out my phone, I called Tarmo.

"Yes, Your Majesty?" He answers on the first ring.

"Where are you?" I ask.

"At the airport. We put that guy on a plane back to the States. There's something about him, I just really didn't like, and the way Phoenix reacted to seeing him... I just felt it was best to send him packing." He reports.

"Good. Though if he had still been in your custody, I would have wanted you to put some fear into him, to never bother her again."

"Why?" I could hear it in Tarmo's voice. It was barely there, but I caught it. Regret.

"He physically and emotionally abused her in high school." I answer.

"Dammit." Tarmo cursed and hung up.

I sighed. I hope I don't have to get him another phone...

A/N: So I hope you all enjoyed this chapter. I wrote most of it over that past four days. Also, I know Apologize is Timberland's song and One Republic is just the featured artist, but since Prince Keith was saying the song, I thought that'd be about all he'd know for the artist.

So I'm not going to just write out all the things that went wrong over the past year (because it'd be several pages alone), and I know it could have been a lot worse. But my way of saying it, I have Lemony Snicket beat on my unfortunate events. I was constantly busy with classes for one, and everything just got really out of hand. Anytime I felt like I was in a good place to maybe write an update, something would come up and ruin my mood/day/ etc. My professor was like a dementor, only sucking all inspiration and creativity out of me... Seriously that woman was AWFUL. So it's taken me a while to really get in a writing mood. Hopefully that gives you some of the picture, because I don't want to make this into a rant. Because its about the story.

Also, I want you to know how awful I feel about not updating, because I know you love this story and the others (hopefully) and want to know what happens next, and I hated not being able to update, because I knew if I forced it, it wasn't going to be as good as usual.

So please comment and let me know your thoughts on it. I'd love to know! Were you surprised about Gavin, or were you able to pick up on the clues throughout the story so far? Did you enjoy learning about Phoenix's parents' past?

For my next update I'll try to do Phoenix's Wil, within the next two weeks hopefully. I think for right now, I'm going to focus on these two, and get them finished. Because I only see this one having around 5-7 chapters left. And Phoenix's Wil is around halfway done.