Dizgaia ~ The Dreamfinder's Daughter

Chapter 2 ~ A Spark Burns Brighter

~ March 2002 ~

"You know, I'm really not supposed to speak to strangers, but we've met before."

"Mia, come help me set the table! I won't ask you again!"

"I know you... I walked with you once upon a dream..."

Four-year-old Mia stood in front of the TV in the living room, dressed in her favorite pink princess outfit. Ignoring her mother's request for help, she held her arms out to the sides, trying to dance like Aurora. Her long auburn hair swished from side to side beneath her silver tiara.

"MIA!"

No response from Mia. Beverly was just about to leave the kitchen and collect her stubborn daughter when the front door opened and her husband walked in with his suit jacket thrown over his shoulder.

"Mmm. Something smells great." He gave his wife a kiss but took notice of her sour expression. "What's the matter, hun?"

"It's Mia. I've asked her a hundred times to help me set the table for supper, but she's glued to the TV."

Edward followed his wife's stern gaze through the pass-through window between the kitchen and living room. Mia was watching Disney's Sleeping Beauty, and wearing a matching dress for the occasion. Prince Phillip had just arrived on the scene, tossing aside the friendly owl and taking Aurora's hand to dance.

"Well, this is  the best part of the movie," said Edward with a smile.

"I wish she wouldn't watch those movies so much. They give young girls such unrealistic expectations of men."

Edward turned to his wife in shock. "What? You mean I'm not exactly like the princes in those movies?" He wrapped his arms around her waist and planted a kiss against her neck.

"Oh, please." Her tone was reproving, but she wore an incriminating smile. Meanwhile, Prince Phillip and Aurora were getting acquainted.

"I'm awfully sorry. I didn't mean to frighten you."

"Oh, it wasn't that. It's just that you're a... a..."

"A stranger?"

"Mm-hm."

"But don't you remember? We've met before."

"We... we have?"

"Well, of course. You said so yourself. Once upon a dream."

Beverly's expression soured again. "Besides," she said, pointing at the TV with a wooden spoon dripping with potato soup. "This one in particular always bothers me. The way the prince--"

"Phillip."

"I'm sorry, what?"

"The prince's name is Phillip," Edward explained, matter-of-factly.

Beverly rolled her eyes. "The way the prince just grabs her and starts dancing with her even though she says he's a stranger. I feel like this sort of thing really sets us back on all the conversations we've had with Mia about not talking to strangers. All some pervert need do is walk up to her and tell he's a prince from her dreams and, God forbid, Mia will start dancing with him."

Edward released his tender hold on his wife and shook his head. "No. I won't allow that. Mia only dances with one man."

He joined his daughter in the living room where Prince Phillip and Aurora were having their first dance. Edward scooped Mia into his arms.