"You found me," I answer just as softly.
"Stop it! Stop that behavior at once, you whelp!" my step-mother screeches from the door.
The prince turns to her. "You dared to kidnap her? How dare you address her in such a matter in my presence."
I resist a grin. She really should have let things fall as they may at the ball. At least then she wouldn't be in danger of losing her title not to mention execution. But then again, good riddance.
"Guards!" Gregory shouts. Several of them appear. "Arrest this woman," he orders, pointing at my step-mother.
As they drag my kicking step-mother away, he turns to me again. He places an arm around my waist, and wince as he touches a bruise.
"She hurt you," he breathes aloud.
"I've had worse," I answer with a weak smile.
"I should have gotten here sooner," he says bitterly. "Then she wouldn't--"
"Shh." I stop him by pressing a finger to his perfect lips. "It's not your fault. And I'll be fine, I promise. I've recovered from much worse."
"She'll never hurt you again. I promise," he swears.
"I know. Thank you for saving me. And as I recall, I never kept my promise last night."
He smiles a little. "And what was that?"
"To tell you my name. So before anything else happens, I want to tell you. My name is Cinderella. But my parents called me Cindy for short. I'm hoping you figured out who my parents are by now."
"I did...Cindy," he says my name softly, reverently. He strokes the back of his hand against my cheek. "Cindy."
Then he kisses me.
"I was worried that you had disappeared for good last night. I didn't know your name, only your parents'. That wasn't going to get me far as you could live with grandparents, your step-mother, or anywhere. But then I saw this clue." He brought my glass shoe from his pocket. "It was all I had. I swore I'd only marry the girl who can wear this slipper. Would you mind?" He extends a hand to me and guides me outside to the stair landing.
I carefully sit on the stairs. Gregory kneels before me. He takes my tiny bare foot and slides it into the slipper.
"A perfect fit."
He looks up into my eyes. "Cindy, will you marry me? I don't care what your parents' background was. I want to keep you safe. I love you. Will you let me protect you?"
"Yes. Yes to everything!" I answer as he leaps up and sweeps me up. He carries me down the stairs. As we step out of the chapel, he kisses me.
The End
