Title: A Cinderella Twist
By: Bridget McKennitt
Pairing: Phoebe Halliwell/Cole Turner
Rating: PG
Word Count: 1484
Summary: Princess Phoebe is the granddaughter of Cinderella, and tonight is the ball in which her grandfather expects her to find a prince to marry. It's a magical night and anything could happen. Including a late night splash with Prince Cole.
Contains: No warnings in as far I know that can't be extrapolated from the header itself.
Disclaimer: Charmed is owned by other companies. They are used here without permission, and for entertainment purposes only. No challenge or infringement upon the copyright is intended, nor should any be inferred.
Princess Phoebe stared out her window to watch the sunset. Soon the ball
would begin and princes from across the land would arrive to try and woo her. By
the end of the night, she would be promised to another.
Her grandfather, King Kenneth, had told her to chose the man who would
make her happy. Though her grandmother Cinderella died when she was a baby, King
Kenneth still loved his wife. He had married for love and expected Phoebe to do
the same. But true love was an alien concept to her. How could anyone give up their
sense of self to become one with another? She had asked her grandfather that
question once and he had chuckled at her but gave no response.
"Your Highness, I have your gown ready." She turned around and saw her
maid. The dress she was holding up was pale pink and full of bows.
Phoebe widened her eyes. It was a little girl's dress! What man in his
right mind would ever propose to her in such a hideous thing? Then she began to
chuckle. Grandfather knew her too well. "It's a lovely dress. Can you help me into
it?"
"Of course, Your Highness." The maid moved forward to help the princess
dress. "His Majesty had this dress made especially for you. The fairies wanted to
say otherwise but His Majesty insisted. What is so special about this gown, Your
Highness?"
She smiled wickedly. "It's perfect." Perfect for her scheme tonight.
"Your Highness, shall I fix your hair?" Phoebe nodded and the maid got
to work. Suddenly, she got an idea.
"Wait. Can you put my hair up into pigtails?"
"But, Your Highness--" The maid broke off and saved her breath. Once the
princess had her mind set, there was no changing it. "You will be the belle of the
ball, Your Highness. No man, if he's a real man, could ever resist you."
Phoebe stifled the urge to giggle. She looked like a little girl. Those
foppish princes would never want to marry her.
***
The symphony played exquisite music as the page announced every prince
who entered the ballroom. Prince Cole waited impatiently in a long line outside.
He really wanted to just leave but his mother, Queen Elizabeth, would have a fit.
So he stayed for his mother's sake but he promised himself that he would not marry
the princess. Supposedly, she's as beautiful as her grandmother but stories told
by bards are never truthful.
"And presenting His Highness, Prince Cole Turner of the Underworld!" That
was his cue. He walked through the entrance and flashed his sexy smile. The ladies
near the stairs swooned at his mere presence. He strolled down the stairs, still
putting on an act.
The princess sat next to her grandfather on the dais. Cole stole a glance
at her and tried to hold back his laughter. How old was she! With the pigtails
and pink dress, she could have been five years old for all he knew. Why would her
grandfather want her to get married now?
King Kenneth rose from his throne and the music and noise died down so
he could be heard. "Thank you all for coming to my granddaughter's debutante ball.
This is a magical night and anything can happen." The crowd cheered and the music
played once more.
When King Kenneth sat back down, he leaned over to his granddaughter. "I
see your playing one of your games again, Phoebe." He smiled at his words though.
"If I am to marry one of these princes tonight, grandfather, it will be
because of me, the inner me. If all he can see is my body and my crown, then I do
not want to marry him."
King Kenneth nodded sagely. "You are very wise, Phoebe. But pray that
your plan does not backfire on you."
"It won't. I guess I better mingle with the crowd now." She kissed her
grandfather on his cheek and joined the people down below.
***
Meanwhile, Cole headed outside to the garden. The palace's gardens were
supposedly a treat to behold and from he could see so far, the stories were true.
He moved towards the huge fountain in the middle of weeping willows and he sat on
its edge. It was a soothing and he closed his eyes as he listened to the rippling
water.
Without warning he felt someone push him and he fell into the fountain
with a splash. He sputtered and heard the sound of giggling. Princess Phoebe stood
in front of him, giggling at him. Him! He floundered but stood as gracefully as
he could. "What is the meaning of this!"
She waved her finger at him. "I saw you sneak out of the ball so I
followed. What, are we Charmings too boring for you?"
He growled and wrung the end of his shirt. "That wasn't very princess-like."
Phoebe smiled sweetly. "I know."
Cole gaped and wanted to strangle her neck. He could not enter the ball
dripping wet. But he could get Phoebe back for her prank. "Oh, princess."
"Hmm?"
"Why are you all wet?"
Phoebe looked at him oddly. "I'm not wet."
"Now you are!" He lunged and pulled Phoebe, shrieking, into the fountain
with him in a big splash. To make sure the princess did not get hurt, he wrapped
his arms around her waist and took the brunt of the fall.
"Ooooh! I'm all wet!" She glared at him but he did not care. At that
moment, he realized how beautiful Phoebe really was. Her hair had gotten loose
and her gown slipped off her shoulders. She was upset but Cole wondered if her
inner fire could be turned to passion. "Cole, are you even listening to me!"
"No," he said and smiled when Phoebe got even angrier. Her lips were so
kissable and Cole wanted desperately to kiss her. So he did. Phoebe was surprised
but Cole pulled her closer and deepened the kiss.
Cole pulled away sometime later and rested his forehead against hers.
"Feel better?"
"Strangely enough, yes." She giggled and smiled like a fool. This prince
was a great kisser. "That was my first kiss, you know."
"Really? Then this is your second." He kissed her again and this time
Phoebe threw herself into it.
The kiss ended much later and Phoebe snuggled into Cole's embrace. "This
is so not like me."
"Same here, princess." He realized where they were sitting and helped her
stand up with him. "Can't have you catching a cold." Then he surprised her by
sweeping her off of her feet.
"Cole!" she shrieked.
"Consider it chivalry towards a beautiful woman." He winked and stepped
out of the fountain. "Tell me, why did you dress up like a little girl? Obviously,
you're not one."
She blushed. "I didn't want to marry a shallow prince. This way, I can
figure out which ones to avoid."
He leaned in closer. "Do you think I'm shallow?"
"No, not at all. I just think you're very sexy."
"To tell you the truth, Phoebe, I came to your ball only because my
mother insisted. I did not want to marry a princess whom I've never seen before,
with just stories of her beauty to her name."
"And now?" Phoebe gazed up into his blue eyes waiting for his answer.
"Now, I changed my mind. You're nothing like I pictured and I bet I'm
nothing like you pictured. There's chemistry between us and we can't deny that."
"So what should we do about it?"
"Marry me, Phoebe. I want to spend the rest of my life learning
everything about you. Whether you're a morning person or a night person, your
likes and dislikes, your fears, what makes you happy, I want to know it all. You
do like children, right?"
She smiled. "I love them."
"Then we'll have lots of them. Marry me."
Phoebe chuckled at the situation. "You're proposing to me, no, telling
me to marry you, while carrying me and we're both wet. Don't you find that strange?"
"It's strange but who cares? Phoebe, I want to love you."
"I love you, Cole," she whispered. "Of course I'll marry you, you
unpredictable man, you!"
Cole hooted and swung Phoebe around. "I love you, Phoebe! When should
we marry? When should we start working on having babies?"
Phoebe laughed and shifted to kiss him on the lips. "Anytime, my love.
Anytime." Cole carried her back to the ballroom so they could announce their
engagement. Phoebe knew her grandfather would be proud that she found the man
she loved so quickly. The same happened with him when he had met Cinderella.
Phoebe secretly smiled. Tonight, in Cole's squishy arms, she felt like Cinderella.
"I love a happy ending," Phoebe sighed out.
Cole chuckled. "It's not an ending, Phoebe. It's only the beginning."
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