"Life isn't always fairytales and Prince charmings. Sometimes a Princess has to become her own Prince."

Thalia Bishop sighed as she entered the small cafe, Sanders Cafe.

She painterly waited in line, before ordering her coffee then grabbing it(paying for it) and making her way to the back of the cafe.

Thalia sighed as she sat down, rubbing her tired eyes. Being the secretary to one of the wealthiest businesses in the world was a pain in the ass sometimes.

Her brain went over all the names and numbers she had to remember for tomorrow as she sipped her coffee.

"Penny for your thoughts?" An amused voice chuckled as Thalia's eyes opened abruptly to spot a man sitting on the other side of the table.

"Pardon?" Thalia asked, her eyebrows furrowed in confusion.

The man chuckled again, "You look like you're going to give yourself a headache."

Thalia sighed, "Wouldn't be the first time," she smiled lightly as the man in front of her laughed.

"The name's Stephan," Stephan introduced, holding his hand out for her to shake.

Thalia smiled as she shook it, "Thalia."

"So, Thalia," Stephan grinned, "Penny for your thoughts?"

Thalia laughed at the question, before she shrugged, a smile on her lips, "Just work," she said.

Stephan groaned theatrically, "Work-Smerk," he pouted, "This is a place to rewind down and chilling," he grinned at her.

Thalia shook her head, smiling, "Chilling kind of goes against the whole point of a hot coffee."

Stephan laughed at that, "Good point," he admitted.

Thalia grinned proudly, "Of course it is," she said, taking another sip of her coffee.

Stephan grinned, "So, how long have you been coming here?" He asked, "I've only just noticed you coming in recently."

"Stalker much?" Thalia teased, gaining a slightly sheepish look from the man in front of her, "Only a couple weeks," she then said, "I needed a break from everything and someone mentioned this cafe and I came to check it out. One of the best choices of my life so fair."

Stephan grinned, "Glad to hear that."

"What about you?" Thalia asked, "You needed a break too?"

"You could say that," Stephan said, smiling evasively.

Thalia's curiosity was peaked, but despite this she didn't press the subject, "What's your favourite snack here? I need a recommendation."

Stephan's eyes lit up amusingly, "You have got to try the chocolate cake slices, they may be simple but they're delicious."

Thalia chuckled, "Okay, I will."

That was the start of a beautiful relationship between the two.

🌟

Thalia glanced at her phone, waiting (im)patiently for Panacea to text her back, before her eyes glanced out the window of the cafe to look at the growing storm outside.

Stephan slid into the seat from across her, “What’s up?”

Thalia sighed, “I’m just waiting for my daughter to text me,” She said, a tight smile going across her lips.

Stephan glanced out the window and grimaced, “I hope she’s not out in that storm.”

“I hope so too,” Thalia muttered as her hands tightened around her coffee mug.

🌟

“Did you find out where she was?” Stephan asked Thalia the next day.

The woman scowled, “Yes,” she said, “A government agent had needed Pan’s help with something, that he didn’t expand on,” she huffed.

Stephan chuckled, “I’m going on a whim and guessing that you’re a litttle pisied.”

“What gave it away,” Thalia said, rolling her eyes as she took a breath before having a slip of her coffee.

Stephan raised an eyebrow at that, "I'm not going to answer that."

"Wise decision," Thalia grumbled.

Stephan laughed and Thalia's mood lightened slightly as she chuckled.

🌟

"We're what!?!" Logan and Pan's phone asked Thalia rather loudly, shock on both of their faces.

"We've been invited to dinner by a friend," Thalia repeated, sighing as both teens stared at her.

"So you both will want to get ready," Thalia said raising an eyebrow at them both.

Pan and Logan shared a look before dejectedly making their way to their rooms.

"Last one ready gets no dessert!"

And suddenly the two were racing to get ready and Thalia laughed, shaking her head at them.

🌟

"They're so cute!"

Logan and Pan flinched back as Nicolette Sanderson suddenly appeared in front of them.

"What?" Logan asked, both his and Pan's eyes wide as they watched the woman(who was seven years older than Pan) look them over.

"Nico," Thalia sighed, shaking her head, "Careful."

The woman's eyes widened slightly at the reminder, before her face relaxed into an easygoing grin, "I have before-dinner snacks if you want some," Nicolette grinned to the teens.

Both teens' eyes widened, "Yes please!" Logan said for the both of them.

The three looked to Thalia who sighed, "Don't murder anyone."

The two teens followed after Nicolette eagerly and Stephan chuckled as he dodged them.

"Someones are eager," Stephan chuckled.

Thalia sighed, a chuckle leaving her, "A little too much if you ask me."

Stephan grinned, "Come on in," he smiled as Thalia stepped into the Sanderson household, a smile on her own face.

“Thank you, again, for the invite,” Thalia grinned.

“No problem,” Stephan said, an easygoing grin on his face as they followed the younger three into the house.

Here's Chapter Eight.

This was just introducing Stephan and Nicolette into Pan and Logan's lives, but Thalia and Stephan had known each other since just before Darkness rising as shown in the first part.(just so ya'll aren't surprised when Stephan and Nicolette suddenly start appearing in my chapters).

And..... gods dam my dam accidental reference that I originally had no idea was in this chapter, until I reread it. Dam it.

Ten brownie points to anyone who gets the accidental reference.

Next Chapter I'll have the formal....
(Yes, it's a massive time skip, but I kinda just need to get these small bits out of the way before I can continue with the TFP plot. I have way too many ideas and just want to progress with everything.)

Don't be afraid to tell me if I'm going too fast for the plot!

Hope you enjoyed!
Feedback?