The pot started bubbling in the kitchen, fire blazing underneath it. Snow quickly hurried over. She wasn't exactly a good cook. She's yelped and flinched back in fear as something splashed out of the pot.

"Do you need help?" Anya asked her, eyes glimmering in amusement. 

"Oh no. I can handle it. Thank you for asking though." Snow smiled happily. She turned her attention back to the pot.

"Alright." Anya shrugged and started walking away.

Snow pulled the top of the pot off and it started cooling off. She dipped a spoon into the pot, blowing on it to cool it off, before tasting it. Anya walked over to where Cinderella stood.

"Hey, Anya. How'd it go?" She's asked. Cinderella had a feeling she already knew the answer.

"Nobody can say I didn't try." Anya stated, shaking her head. Cinderella let out a soft chuckle of amusement.

"True." She agreed. "It's a good thing I'm making food too, huh?" Cindy asked, gesturing to the bowl in her hands. Snow White by far was the worst cook. Everyone hated it when it was her turn.

"I can hear you, you know?" Snow called from next to the pot. "I know I don't make the best food, yet you all keep eating it." She shook her head, gesturing to Jim.

"You cook fine, Snow. We just have different tastes in food." Cinderella called back. Jim nodded in agreement, eyeing the food he had. It didn't particularly look appetizing. "So don't feel bad about it, okay?" Cindy smiled.

"Oh, sure." Snow placed her hands on her hips. Jim let out a huff of frustration as the girls continued to bicker.

"You know what? I'm going to find Ariel." He declared. Cinderella looked at him in surprise. Jim quickly walked away.

"Was it something you cooked?" Cinderella joked. Anya frowned slightly though, concerned for Jim.

~~~~~

Ariel was in one of the main rooms. She sighed and leaned against the wall. Peter spotted her. "Hey." He greeted. She glanced over at him in surprise. "Wait a minute, aren't you. . ." His voice trailed off slightly as he studied her. "Yeah, you're Ariel!" Peter exclaimed. Ariel looked up at him shyly.

"Yeah, I am." She confirmed, smiling slightly. "Who are you?" She's asked as he walked over to her.

"Peter." He answered her.

"And how do you know me?" Ariel asked. She's hadn't seen him around before at all.

"Who doesn't!?" He laughed. "Everyone knows who you are." Peter informed.

"What do you mean everyone knows?" Ariel asked, looking up at him in confusion. How would everyone know who she is?

"You said no to an adoption." He stated, looking over at her in wonder. "That's definitely a first for this place." He nodded his head. No one had ever said no before. Then again, none of them had a reason to stay.

"Well, I did have a few reasons why I didn't want to go." Ariel grinned.

"Yeah I guess so." Peter nodded his head, stroking his chin in thought. "You seem really interesting, Ariel." He committed. Jim was starting to approach the door to the room they were in. It was cracked open, so he could hear everything. He stopped in his tracks.

"Really? Thank you." Ariel smiled. She's gazed up at him, happy about the compliment. Jim was currently death glaring the pair.

"And you know what else?" Peter asked. "You're very pretty." He informed, grinning.

"Really?" Ariel asked him. No one had called her pretty before. At least, not a boy. Jim frowned before a voice called out to him.

"Hey Jimmy!" He sighed and turned around to see Anya. "Cindy ran out of ingredients to make the pudding tonight." Anya informed him. "Do you want to go to the mark-" she stopped when she saw his facial expression. He was glaring at the ground, a frown etched onto his face. He definitely wasn't happy Peter was flirting with Ariel.

"I'll go." He stated. Anya frowned and studied him, her eyebrows furrowed in confusion.

"Alright, let's get going." Anya stated, slipping on her coat. She turned to the door and started walking away. Jim walked away, sighing as he heard Ariel and Peter talk.

"You're really funny, Peter!" Ariel's voice rang out. Jim paused for a moment, glancing back at the pair.

"I always try to do my best!" He gave her a mock salute. Ariel laughed and smiled as she watched.

"Yeah, I see that!" She commented. Jim frowned, his gaze hardening. His eyes shut briefly before he looked down and walked away.

~~~~ (In the market)

Cinderella stood with the others, minus Ariel. She was too busy with Peter at the moment. "Listen up!" Cinderella announced. Jim looked up at her, walking over. Lilo quickly followed him. "Madam gave me money for the 'ingredients' so I'm all set." Cinderella grinned slightly. "You all have your secret money, so buy what you want." Cinderella instructed. "And then we'll all meet up back here in an hour." Cinderella nodded her head.

"Sounds good to me!" Anya exclaimed, excited. Finally, a break.

"Whatever." Jim muttered. He was in a very sour mood. Could you really blame him though?

"And break!" Cinderella said and started walking away.

"Bye Cindy!" Lilo waved from where she stood.

"Lilo." Jim spoke up and she turned to look up at him. "Stay close, okay?" Jim instructed her. The last thing he wanted was to lose her in this crowded market. He started walking away. Meanwhile, Anya was looking for something to buy. Her eyes widened when she saw a man sewing a gorgeously colored dress. She walked over to him. He held it up, finishing it. Anya watched Jim walk away, before picking up the dress. She's held it to herself. Jim sighed and kept walking, gazing around at his surroundings.

"Jim?" Lilo spoke up quietly. Jim looked down at her. "What's the secret money?" She's asked him curiously.

"Well, we tell Madam we need supplies from the market. . ." He started, nodding slightly. "She gives us the money. . ." His voice trailed off. "Then we keep some of it for ourselves." He finished.

"And she doesn't notice?" Lilo asked him, tilting her head slightly.

"We say we spent it all." Jim grinned.

"Ah, okay I get it." Lilo nodded her head. Jim chuckled and smiled slightly. "Can I go over there?" Lilo asked, pointing. .

"Uh, sure. I'll just be over here." Jim told her. He grinned and watched as she entertained herself with one of those rides where you go on it, and it just moves back and forth. Jim chuckled and watched. Meanwhile, Anya had changed into the dress. It was a sky blue type of color, with a brown belt.

"Ahem." Anya coughed. Cinderella turned around to see Anya. Anya grinned happily and did a twirl.

"It's beautiful, Anya." Cinderella complimented and smiled.

"It better be." Anya said. "I saved up for quite a few months to get this." She admitted and Cinderella shook her head but smiled.

"Let's go to the other side. I don't see the ingredients I need here." She started walking away.

~~~~~~ (Back at the Orphanage...)

Eilowny frowned when she saw Peter and Ariel together. "At it again I see." She commented, starting to walk away. "I wonder how long she's going to last." She snickered, walking back to the room. Taran glanced over at her.

"Hey Eli." He greeted. Eilowny frowned before walking over to him.

"Oh, hi Taran. What are you doing over here?" She asked. Taran looked up at her and sighed.

"Oh you know. Just. . ." His voice trailed off slightly. "Wondering the place." He looked down.

"Did you see your brother has a new toy?" Eilowny asked, referring to Ariel.

"No, I didn't. Who is it this time?" He questioned, frowning. He was frustrated with his brother slightly.

"The one who said no to an adoption." Eilowny informed him. "Ariel, I think is her name." She said. Taran nodded his head.

"Probably won't last long." He decided. Eilowny laughed.

"That's what I was thinkin,g too." She admitted with a smile. Peter approached the pair. "Hey, Pete. We were just talking about you." Eilowny greeted him. Peter grinned slightly.

"Oh yeah? What about?" He asked her, scratching his head slightly.

"Your new toy." Eilowny grinned.

"Well, you know me." Peter laughed. He started walking off.

"Think you're serious about her?" Taran asked. Peter grinned.

"About as serious as I was with you!" He gestured to Eilowny. Her grin quickly turned into a frown. She flinched back slightly, hurt.

"So not very." Taran decided, raising an eyebrow.

"Don't encourage him!" Eilowny exclaimed, now angry.

"It was just a question. Don't get defensive." Taran crossed his arms over his chest.

"I am not getting defensive!" She snapped. "Both of you are just horrible!" Eilowny huffed, shaking her head. Peter laughed.

"Lay off, Eli." He grinned. "And you wonder why I left you." Eilowny frowned shaking her head, mouth going ajar.

"I think we hurt her feelings." Taran told his brother.

"Now you're worried?" Peter questioned, glancing over at him as he took a seat. "Well don't be. She'll get over it." He reassured.

"I guess you're right." Taran said unsurely. He rubbed the back of his neck, feeling slightly guilty. Eilowny was hurt. She was off in another room, crying. She furiously wiped away her tears.

End of Chapter Five