Weeks passed, Manny and Frida spent nearly every day together. Sometimes they would play outside in the snow having snow ball fights or ice skating and othertimes they would sit in the library reading books by the fire. Sometimes she would read to him, sometimes he would read to her, and sometimes they would read together. Frida was impressed that she finally met a man who was interested in books instead of hunting for sport unlike some men she knew.

"Listen I don't mean to pry but how did you get that scar on your eye?" She asked him one day.

He froze when she asked that.

"If you don't want to tell me I understand-"

"I did it to myself."

"What?"

"I used to scratch and claw at my face a lot and one day I scratched myself on my eye so hard that it left a scar."

"Why would you do that?"

"Because I'm ashamed of how I look! I'm a hideous freak!"

"You're not hideous."

"Are you blind? Look at me!"

"I am and you're not hideous. You're scary and fearsome when you get angry and yell but when you're calm and sweet you're actually kind of cute."

"You serious?"

"Yes. You're a lot cuter when you're being sweet."

He blushed like mad, he never thought anyone would think he was cute. Let alone someone like her. One evening Frida suggested they do something special together. Manny agreed but quickly regretted it when he realized what his servants were hoping he'd do. At five o'clock he was shoved into a tub of water where his servants began giving him a bath.

"Ahh! This water is freezing!" He complained.

"You'll live." T.J said.

He was pulled out of the tub, dried off, and dressed into under wear while they started doing his hair.

"Hey watch it with the scissors!" He warned as they started snipping some of his hair.

"Worry not sir we are professionals." T.J said. "Tonight is the night so you must look your best."

"Look I don't know if I can do this."

"Now is not the time to be getting nervous." He said. "We don't have much time left."

"I know but I can't do this."

"You care for her don't you?"

"More than anything."

"Then you must tell her."

"But what if she laughs at me? I don't think I could take it if I told her and she laughed at me. It would break my heart."

"You must have strength sir. I admit it is risky but with love it's always a risk."

Soon they were finished with his hair but it wasn't exactly a success.

"Voila! Oh you look so...So..."

"Stupid." Manny groaned.

"Ahh...Not my words exactly maybe we should um lay off the scissors."

Once his hair was fixed he was dressed into a suit that consisted of a white dress shirt, a black tail jacket, brown pants that were held up by a belt with a sliver buckle, and black boots. He waited nervously for Frida at the end of the stair way. He was trying so hard not too lose his cool but he was as nervous as a sinner in church. He had a lot of people counting on him tonight but he couldn't help but be terrified of the idea of her laughing at him, treating him like he was some stupid animal, foolish for loving a woman like her.

He was just about to back out when he heard the door to her room open. It was too late now, listening to each footstep she took only made his nerves rise higher. Finally he saw her and he thought he would die. She was wearing a reddish-pink ball gown with a simply designed bodice, wrapped off-the-shoulder sleeves, long opera gloves and petite high heels. A small part of her hair was pinned up into a little bun with a rose comb while the most of it was left down in waves. She walked down the stair way slowly and greeted him. He offered her his arm, she took it, and he ushered her to the table where an elegant, candlelit dinner waited for them. Manny was almost to nervous to eat. Sweet and romantic music began to play, Frida smiled and walked over to him.

"Dance with me?" She asked.

"Uh...I don't know if I-"

"Dance with her dummy." T.J whispered to him.

Manny tugged on his shirt collar then stood up, took her hand, and led her to the ballroom. Her hand was gently grasped in his while her free hand gently clutched his shoulder, and his free had held her waist. Manny swallowed hard, sensing he was nervous Frida gave him a reassuring smile and they began to waltz, the whole time neither one of them broke eye contact for a moment. To further ease his nervousness she placed her head on his chest which made him blush but feel better. They made a strange couple but a lovely one too. Seeing them together gave the servants hope, hope that they would all be free from the curse. When the song ended he led her outside to the balcony and they sat down together. Using his claws he cut off a nearby red rose and handed it to her.

"You've been very quiet this evening." She pointed out while sniffing the rose. "Is there something on your mind?"

"Well...Uh...Actually...I...I...I wanted to tell you that I-I-

"Yes?"

"Are you happy here with me?"

"Well yes. You're very nice and I enjoy being with you."

"Really?"

"Mmm-hmm." She nodded.

"That's good because I..I have something for you."

He handed her a bundle of cloth, she unwrapped it and gasped to find her music box inside good as new. It was as if it had never been broken in the first place.

"My mother's music box, it's fixed. But how did you-"

"Well I was walking in the woods the other day when I found a bunch of smashed up parts and I remembered you telling me about your music box so I gathered them up, talk to a servant who I knew that was pretty good with mechanics and gears, and voila here we go good as new."

"Oh this is...Oh how can I ever...Thank you, thank you so much." She winded up the music box and music started playing, she was happy that it was fixed but the song made her think of her father which made her sad.

"What is it?" He asked.

"I miss my father so much. I just wish I could see that he's okay."

"There is a way." He said. He took her to his room and pulled out the enchanted mirror which he ave to her. "This will show you anything you want to see."

She looked at the mirror.

"I'd like to see my father please."

The mirror shimmered and an image of Emiliano appeared. He was lost in the woods, cold and very sick.

"Papa? Oh no."

"What is it?"

"He's sick, I think he's dying."

Tears began to form in her eyes. Manny couldn't bear to see her so sad so he did the only thing he knew would make her tears go away. He knew it would cost him everything but he would rather spend the rest of his life as a horrible monster alone in the dark than watch her die of a broken heart.

"You...Should go help him."

"What?"

"You're not my prisoner, you haven't been in a long time."

"You mean I'm free?"

"Yes."

"Oh thank you. Hold on Papa I'm on my way." She tried to give the mirror back to him but he stopped her.

"Take it with you, so you'll always be able to look back and remember me."

"I could never forget you." She said.

She then hurried back to her bedroom and prepared to leave. Jorge walked in shortly after.

"Well Manny I must say everything is going just swimmingly. I knew you had it in you." The clock said.

"I let her go." He sighed.

"You what?" He said shocked.

"How could you do that?"

"I had to."

"Yes but why?"

"Because...I love her."