Hi, everyone. I'm really sorry about my unexcused hiatus...I got a little distracted by other things, but I'M BACK AND THIS STORY WILL CONTINUE UNTIL ITS DONE!

Disclaimer: I don't own The Earl and The Fairy, we all know what would happen if I did *glares in Ulysses' direction*

Italics is fae language.

Bold is thoughts.

Lydia's P.O.V.

"Lydia-" My father started.

"Wait! I can explain!" I interupted him, waving my hands about in protest, not wanting to hear of any disapproval that he might have.

"Please do." He waited calmly for my promised explanation. Where do I start? How can I make it so that he will accept and understand my feelings? I didn't know. I looked up to see him still looking at me, patiently waiting.

"I love Raven dad. I didn't mean for it to happen, but I love him! Please understand!" He looked slightly shocked at my confession, before asking the inevitable question.

"Why?" The question startled me, caught me off guard.

"What?" Was all I could think to say to him.

"If you love him so much, why do you love him? And if he loves you back, why hasn't he asked permission from me in order to court you?"

"Father, I love him because-" I suddenly was at a loss for words. I knew I loved him, I had made that clear to myself, but I'd never thought to stop and ask why. He continued to stare at me and I began to speak again, emboldened by my feelings.

"Because he has always protected me, always saved me when I needed it. Raven has never been unkind to me and never hurt me, nor would he ever. He has granted me happiness when I am sad and, more than anything, I love him because of this unexplainable feeling fluttering in my heart whenever I see him. If you can't accept that, then I'm sorry!" I explained to my father. After a moment spent in contemplation, he let out a resigned sigh and I knew he was close to accepting it.

"Then why hasn't he asked about courting you? Before this can happen, he must ask my permission. As he has yet t-"

"He will!" I cut him off again, not wanting to hear what he was going to say next. "He will. Raven just hasn't had the chance to talk to you yet. I'm sure that he will ask you when he has the chance." He nodded.

"Good. Still, until he does, I won't allow this."

*back at Earl Ibrazel's manor*

Raven's P.O.V.

On the way back from Miss Lydia's house I kept pressing my gloved finger to my lips, thinking thoughts that made me feel almost giddy; an emotion I hadn't experianced in years. She accepted me. Lydia still loves me, even after seeing a glimpse of the horrors of my truest form, she still loves me! As I walked back inside Milord's manor, I almost couldn't manage to shove the smile on my face behind the calm exterior I nearly always portrayed with my face. I waited until I could manage and then walked into the living room, looking for Lord Edgar in order to report that I had returned Miss Lydia safely to her home. I was greeted with not only Lord Edgar and Ermine, but Nico, the Kelpie, and that damned enjerookami. Kirinoha was glaring at me, a look I easily returned, with bandages covering his bleeding back.

"Ah, Raven! Has Miss Lydia been returned to her home?" Milord asked, his blond hair giving to gravity and falling back as he leaned backwards over his couch. I nodded, taking my customary place and standing by his side.

The Kelpie then looked up, a surprised expression on his face. "Oi! Cat!" Said neko looked up, a bored expression on his face.

"What?" He responded, his voice taking on a curt tone, making his slight hang-over known.

"Why didn't you leave with Lydia?" Nico then bolted up.

"Crap! I forgot!" He whipped his head around before slouching hopelessly.

Edgar spoke up first. "I'm sure Raven wouldn't mind taking you. I would but I have some planning for the ball to take care of." He looked toward me expectantly and I immediately knew my orders.

I bowed to my master and said. "As you wish, my Lord." We walked out to the waiting carriage.

After a moderately long carriage ride, we exited and I walked up to Miss Lydia's door, knocking softly, I was surprised to find the door opened quickly by none other than Professor Carlton. I held up Nico.

"I came to return him. As are Milord's orders." He wiggled out of my grip and waltzed inside the house. Before long I heard footsteps running down the stairs.

Lydia ran up to the door before pulling me inside, muttering that she needed to talk to me. We stopped in a nearby room.

"Raven. My dad saw us kiss." I took in a sharp breath.

"Does he approve?" She shook her head and a feeling of dread washed over me.

"He won't until you ask him if you can court me." A small sigh of relief left me. I nodded.

Lydia followed my actions and sighed in relief. "Well, he's thinking that you're going to ask him soon, so I would do it before we're in public." I nodded a second time and her father, with impeccable timing, entered the room.

Lydia glanced at him and, in a bold move, leaned forward and gave me a chaste, quick kiss. I almost leaned towards her, not quite wanting her to leave my lips, but I resisted, turning to Professor Carlton instead. I bowed slightly to him and asked the question he so obviously awaited.

"Professor Carlton, I would like to court your daughter. I realize that as a servant I have few prospects, but I love Lydia and always will. Honestly, I-I'm not quite sure how I could stop loving her if you refuse." I put my all of my heart and normally hidden emotions into my question, hoping in my heart that he would agree.

He stood there with a contemplative look upon his face, quite obviously engrossed in his own thoughts. After several minutes, he seemed to have finally reached an answer. Opening his mouth to speak, the anticipation in the room was palpable as we awaited his verdict.

Aaaaaannnnnndddddd CLIFFHANGER! Whutity whut!?

Anyway...sorry it took me so long to get off my arse and write this! I've been on dA...if you wanna go check my page out I'm WafflesThePsychopath...ne?

Thanks for the patience! And I will be writing more for this story! I'm seeing it through to the end! Reviews are GREATLY appreciated. They are what got me to continue this story (and a slap to the face by TheVastEmptiness((I asked for it...)) thanks mah friend!)

In the mean time, keep calm and virtually slap me until I get up and write the next chapter!

Bloopers/Stuff I wanted to put but didn't!

End sentence: Edgar spoke up first. "I'm sure Raven wouldn't mind taking you. I would but I have some planning for the ball to take care of."

What I wanted to put: Edgar spoke up first. "I'm sure Raven wouldn't mind taking you. I would but I'm too much of a pompous asshole to care."