Second Chances (Part 2: Forgiveness)

[perrysburggirl.livejournal.com]

Title: Second Chances (Part 2: Forgiveness)
Note: I do not own “Once Upon A Time”. I am just a fan who loves happy endings and wants to write.
Setting: Fairy Tale Land
Rating: PG (The rating will fluctuate between chapters)
Warnings: Strong language
Genre: Drama
Word Count: 1747
Cast: Anastasia, Lady Tremaine, Lord Jeremy Trenton, Red Riding Hood, Ella, Prince Thomas, (More characters to come in later chapters)
Summary: Asking for forgiveness is easy, changing others is much harder




Anastasia looked up at Red and smiled, but Red did not return the smile at all. In fact she looked thoroughly disgusted to see Anastasia standing there.

“You have no business here. How dare you come here to ruin their special day. Get out of here before she sees you,” said Red in a nasty tone.

Anastasia looked around and noticed everyone staring at her. Even Jeremy stepped away from her. She could hear her heart pounding as she tried to think of what she should do. She came all this way and even stood up to her mother to come here. She had to talk to Cinderella. She had to do what she came there for.

Anastasia closed her eyes for a moment and then turned to Red. “There is something that I have to say to Cinderella.”

Red shook her head and crossed her arms. “Her name is Ella. Stop calling her that other name. Whatever you have to say can wait. Not today. I will not let you ruin her day,” Red said getting more angry.

“It's okay,” said Ella walking up to Red and putting her hand on her shoulder. “Let Anastasia speak.”

Anastasia looked right into her sister's eyes and felt panicked. She had rehearsed what she would say and do over and over again, but now that the time was here. She felt like should couldn't move or speak. She was terrified at what would be said by her sister or her sister's new husband or Red again. Anastasia took a deep breath and did a deep curtsey to her sister. Ella smiled and curtsied back to Anastasia. Seeing this Anastasia felt more relaxed and not as worried. She stepped towards her sister with tears running down her face.

“I...I am so sorry for the way I treated you all these years. I am so sorry for the pain I caused you. Please forgive me. I am so ashamed of my behavior. Please know I am trying very hard to make changes for the better. You inspired me to do so,” said Anastasia trying to smile.

Red rolled her eyes and looked over to Ella. She figured Ella wouldn't buy this ridiculous story, but instead Ella had a tear rolling down her cheek. She had her hand up to her mouth in shock, but looked actually happy. Thomas stood next to her with his arm around her looking just as shocked and happy. Red couldn't believe they were buying this story. She didn't trust Anastasia any further than she could throw her. This had to be a trap for Ella. Anastasia was not warm and compassionate. She had been a mean cruel bitch as far back as she could remember. No one could change like that, could they?
Red leaned over to Ella. “I don't trust her, Ella. Remember what she did to you. This could be some kind of trick.”

Ella turned to Red putting both her hands on Red's shoulders. “Dear friend I know you are looking out for me, but I do believe her. She has never cried in her life or said she was sorry for anything, bet yet here she is today standing in front of me asking for forgiveness. I have waited and hoped for so long that things would change for the better and they have. This is just another sign of good things to come.”

Red looked back at Anastasia who was anxiously waiting to hear what Ella had to say. Red stepped away from Ella and walked over to Anastasia.

“You better not hurt her again or you answer to me,” Red said.

Anastasia looked to Red and nodded her head. She had no plans on hurting her sister ever again, so Red's word did not bother her at all. Even if she was nervous about what her sister was about to say, she was not someone to back down or be frightened easily by someone else's words.

Ella opened her arms wide and walked towards Anastasia. “Of course I forgive you. You are my sister. I am happy that you came to celebrate with us. I would love for you to be in my new life,” Ella said hugging her.

Anastasia hugged her sister back as tears rolled down her cheeks. She was so happy and relieved. She knew her sister was very forgiving but never expected her to be this loving, this forgiving. It made Anastasia feel even worse for all the times she treated Ella so badly.

They stopped hugging and stepped back from each other for a moment and smiled. Everyone around them started to clap and cheer. Everyone was overjoyed to see the two sisters reunited. Everyone, but Red. She still crossed her arms looking suspiciously at Anastasia. Anastasia noticed and made a mental note to be extra kind to Red in the future. She wanted Red on her side and not as an enemy.

“This calls for a toast,” said Thomas joining the two sisters. He held up a glass of champagne. “To Ella and her sister Anastasia, may the bond of family always be strong from this day forward.”

Everyone toasted and the dancing started again. Ella and Anastasia talked for a few moments until Thomas stole Ella away for a dance. Before he did though Ella asked Anastasia to join her for tea tomorrow. Anastasia graciously accepted. She had so much time to catch up on.

Anastasia stood there watching her sister and brother-in-law dance and sighed. Maybe someday she would have what they have. Maybe some day she would have a happy ending. As she watched them twirl around, she felt someone touch her shoulder. She looked back and Jeremy was standing behind her again.

“You owe me a dance since we were interrupted before,” he said holding out his hand to her. She fought back the blush creeping across her face and nodded as she reached out her hand to his. Before she knew it, he whisked her across the dance floor. She giggled a bit because it had happened so fast. He looked down at her and smiled and twirled her. Her heart was racing. Could he be the one of her dreams? Could he be her dream guy?

Anastasia and Jeremy danced and danced throughout the night. When they weren't dancing, he was introducing her to his friends and acquaintances. She was very excited to meet all these new people and they seemed to be excited to meet her. They couldn't believe she was the sister of the new Princess.

“Why didn't you tell me earlier that you and Princess Ella were sisters”, Jeremy said as he handed her a glass of champagne.

“Well, as you heard earlier, we have not been very close. In fact, I was an awful sister to her. I am just glad that she forgave me and that we can catch up for lost time.”

Anastasia glanced over her shoulder to her sister. Ella looked up from her conversation and waived.

“Well, it looks like you two are the best of friends now,” said Jeremy as he sipped his drink.

“I hope so,” said Anastasia. “I really hope so.”

It grew late and the celebration started to wind down. Anastasia was getting very tired and decided it was time to head home. She didn't want to leave, but she knew she needed to. She just hoped that everyone would be fast asleep at home. She didn't want to deal with her mother or Drizella tonight. She said her goodbyes to Ella and Thomas. Thomas told her to not be a stranger and that she was always welcome day or night. Anastasia smiled and said thank you. Jeremy escorted her down the palace steps and down to her carriage.

“May I call on you soon, Anastasia?” he said kissing her hand.

Anastasia's cheeks turned bright red as a smiled crept across her face. “Yes, I would love that.”

He held the door open for her and she stepped into the carriage. She watched out the window as the carriage started to pull away. He was standing there waiving to her. She waived back and then slumped back into the carriage seat. She wanted to scream with joy. What a night! Everything had turned out wonderfully. Ella and her were talking and becoming fast friends. She met so many new people and best of all she met Jeremy. Her life was truly going in the right direction.

The carriage pulled up to her house and she got out of the carriage and walked slowly to the door. She opened the door quietly and stepped inside. No one was around. The house was completely dark. She slipped off her shoes again and tipped toed across the floor and up the stairs. She walked by Drizella's room and could hear her sister snoring like usual. She got to her mother's room and the door was shut tight. She gave a small sigh of relief. Her mom should be sleeping. She always shut the door when she was sleeping.

Anastasia walked to the last door in the hallway and walked inside. She shut the door and twirled around twice and leaned her back on the door and covered her hands over her heart and closed her eyes. She didn't want to forget a single minute of tonight. After a moment, she walked over to her window. On her dresser next to the window was her candle. She lit the candle and closed the curtains. She slipped her dress off and laid it on a chair and slipped her night gown on.

As she was changing she heard a soft meow of a cat. She turned towards her bed and heard it again. Lucifer the family cat must've gotten into her room again. She walked towards her bed figuring she would have to shoo him from underneath her bed again. As she got closer to her bed she could see his eyes in her chair next to her bed, but he wasn't alone. Sitting in the chair petting the cat was her mother. She had sat in the darkness waiting for her daughter to come home. Anastasia's smile quickly disappeared as she saw her mom.

Her mom looked up at her, while still petting Lucifer. “So how was the wedding?”