Barbara Scott - Fairytale Princess
copyright 2011 Faeriemage
For Donnie, life was about to end. For Dawn life hadn't yet begun.

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AUTHOR'S NOTE: This story is marked as M for a reason.

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I dreamt in Technicolor that night.

I was being propositioned by both Sean and Mark. Both wanted me desperately, and both were touching me, and stroking my skin. I woke up crying. Sobbing. It should have been at least erotic, but the terror of what they would find if they got too close was simply too much for my waking mind to take and it had ended the dream.

I cried for a couple of hours, there in the darkness. I did the best that I could to keep it quiet, but my best apparently wasn't good enough, because I heard someone stirring in the room.

"Dawn, what is it honey?"

I pulled away from Willow. She wasn't supposed to comfort me right now. I was so ready in that moment to throw in the towel and just quit the competition. I couldn't handle it. My nerves couldn't handle it. I was leading two wonderful men on, and the worst part was that I wanted to.

I sobbed even harder. I heard some other sleepy noises of confusion from the room, so I got up and fled.

The house was huge, and I found myself in an unused guest room. The queen sized bed made a perfect target for my body, which I flung down upon it. I felt very melodramatic in that moment and wished that the bed was a cliff that I could throw myself from.

I don't know how long I lay there, crying uncontrollably, but eventually I felt the soft arms of Willow wrap themselves around me.

"Shh. It's ok. Shh."

"It's not ok, Willow. I shouldn't be here."

"Why not? You seem as qualified to be here as any of the rest of us."

I sat there in relative silence, the sobs threatening to suffocate me.

"Dawn, honey. It can't be that bad. Sure, Mark likes you, but I doubt that is the reason you're on the show."

"It has to be. Anyone should be able to see I'm not real."

"You certainly feel real enough to me."

I stopped there, teetering on the brink. I could tell her my secret, and then I would be out of the competition. She would tell everyone else what I was. I was a freak and I didn't deserve anything else. They would throw me out and I could get back to figuring out how to pull the trigger on a shotgun while keeping it in my mouth.

"Dawn?"

I shut my mouth tight. Apparently, I spoken at least part of the last paragraph aloud. I still don't know how much I said at that point. I was distraught, tired, and working myself up to a frenzy. So I did the only thing left to me.

"I'm not really a girl, Willow."

"Could have fooled me. I've seen you naked."

"No you haven't, not really."

"This is some sort of illusion?"

"Something like that. I'm wearing really elaborate…um…prosthetics."

"I could see the breasts being fake, but a prosthetic adds to, it doesn't subtract."

"It does when it is smashing that part of me. Well, mostly smashing anyway."

"There's no way that your vagina is fake. They can't make latex that looks like that. I was your pubic hair."

"My makeup artist is a wizard."

"Take it off, prove it to me."

My breath caught in my chest. She wanted such a simple thing, and yet it was so difficult.

"I can't…but if you could stand touching it…"

"This isn't some strange attempt to get me to finger you up is it?"

"I would never do that to you Willow."

I felt the pressure of her fingers even before I stopped talking. I knew that the labia and clitoris were there, even if I had no sensation in the appliance, and the thought of someone touching me in so intimate a spot aroused me a little. She jerked her hand back.

"I felt something move under your skin…well I guess your prosthetic. But it is so…real."

"That's what I've been trying to tell you."

"Sound like a man, then."

"What? But…"

For the past few months, I'd been working on my "female" voice. Not that I spoke higher, or anything. I have a pretty high pitched voice for a guy. It was the way I spoke. There are mannerisms of speech that men use, that women don't, and vice versa.

And for the first time I realized that my speech pattern wasn't forced. I tried, cleared my throat, tried again.

"Shit." And it was the most ladylike swearword you had ever heard.

Willow started giggling at me.

"Stop it, that's not funny."

She laughed harder, and eventually I joined in. When we were both almost calmed down, Willow mimicked me saying the word and we busted out laughing again.

"Dawn, were you really the actress in Love's Sunset?"

"I really was."

"I have that movie on BluRay. I watch it every couple of weeks with my girlfriends. When your character finds out that she has only weeks to live, it tears my heart out."

"Then blame me. They approached me toward the end of filming and asked me if I would agree to make a second movie. I was still pretending to be a guy at the time, so I declined, vehemently."

"Listen to yourself, Dawn. Do your really think you are a guy?"

"No, but I am male."

"Physically, maybe. I felt you flinch when I touched you."

"What?"

"You are wierded out being in a lesbian relationship right now."

"I was married."

"And you took your vows seriously?"

"Of course I did."

"What were they, your vows I mean?"

"That I would never love another woman for as long as I lived."

"Well, you're still alive, aren't you?"

I was dumbfounded. I'd said the words, before, and logically I realized that I was aroused by women, still, but the thought of touching one, or being touched in return, no matter what my physical body looked like, turned my stomach.

I even dry heaved.

"You need a trashcan or something?"

"I'm good."

"I can get one if you need it."

I punched her in the shoulder.

"Subject A hits like a girl. Further testing required."

"Willow, what are you out in the real world?"

"A marketing executive, if you believe me."

"I can't see it. You're too nice."

"And Marketing people are supposed to be mean?"

"I think I mean that they're supposed to be slimy."

"How rude."

We both giggled at this.

"So, are you going to drop this nonsense about being a man?"

"But…"

"No buts, Dawn. We had sixteen different types of guys in this house. Each one was a little different, but each one was distinctly male. We had sixteen…"

I tried to protest, but she ran over the top of my objections.

"…sixteen women in this house. Each one a little different, but even you are distinctly female."

I blushed so hard that I thought I would have to be glowing in the darkness. Willow just kept her arm around me.

"So, what was this about a shotgun?"

"I tried to commit suicide with my wife's gun."

"Your 'wife's' gun?"

"She was more into that than I was. She thought every home should have protection of some sort."

"But a shotgun?"

"Something about the pellets not penetrating drywall from very far away. I don't get it, but she was sure."

"Dawn, why did you try to kill yourself with a shotgun?"

"I was afraid of the pain of a knife. I lay in the tub for an hour trying to get up the courage to try the first cut."

"Have you talked to anyone about this?"

I shook my head and just sobbed harder. I was so broken that even Willow didn't want to help me. She was nice to everyone, and she wanted nothing to do with me.

"I'm sorry I took so much of your time. You need your sleep. Please, just leave me here."

"No, hush now. I'm not leaving you right now. I just wanted to know if you'd sought out professional help. You've made two attempts at suicide, and told no one about them. I'm really worried about you, Dawn."

"Four."

"What?!"

"It wasn't two."

"You're really bad at it, then, or you aren't trying hard enough. All since your wife died?"

"No."

"Dawn, you need some help, and I'm not sure that being in this competition is the best place for you. Of course being out of the competition on your own wouldn't be a good idea either."

"You can't Willow. I'll just tell some of my friends."

"Like you told them already? Dawn, you need help."

"I don't deserve help!"

The moment the words were out of my mouth, it was much too late to take them back. I wanted to, badly, but it wasn't in my power. I wanted so badly for someone to love me again like Aimee had. She'd been my rock and the center of my universe. She'd had the strength of character to keep us going forward. Sure, she was more masculine that I was, emotionally not physically, but that worked for us.

Or did it just allow my femininity a way out?

I thought through a lot of this during the next few minutes. Ideas and thoughts that had been disconnected finally gelled. This is called an epiphany.

"Thank you, Willow."

"For what?"

"I wasn't in a lesbian relationship, and never have been."

"I knew that."

"Never been with a female, either."

"What are you talking about?"

"If I'm female, I think my wife was male. She was the one who asked me out the first time, and she was even the one who proposed."

"That doesn't mean…"

"That was just the obvious stuff. She acted as protector. I felt safe with her there. She loved to hold me while we sat on the couch. I once tried to hold her, and it just felt wrong to both of us. Sure, there were moments when we took our traditional roles, but usually, I was the one who stayed home, while she worked. She was much more popular as an actor than I was."

"It sounds like you're sure, but keep in mind that you aren't a therapist. There may be some things about her personality that…"

"It is possible, yes, that I'm wrong, and thank you for pointing that out, Willow, but I know I'm right."

"Ok."

"No, it's a good thing, Willow. It really is. I've been discovering myself over the past year, and realizing that I'm more normal than I thought. Well, more average at least. I don't really know that I can be called normal.

"Willow, I know that you are worried for me. I think that for the first time I'm not worried about myself. I feel…hope. More than that I feel hopeful. I feel as though the worst, for me, is over."

"Well, if you're sure…"

"I'm not sure about anything, Willow, but this I can say: For the first time, I don't need to be."

I kissed her on the cheek and helped her to her feet. Then, giggling, we ran back to the room.

I'd only barely closed my eyes, it seemed, when everyone was up and moving around. I threw on my dressing gown, and went downstairs. Willow raised her eyebrow at me and gave me a meaningful glance. I just had to laugh at her.

There was the morning rant about going to a fast food place on her first date, and the obligatory laughter from Sean and myself.

I was content.

It almost seemed as though I were in a family. A horribly dysfunctional family, but a family none the less.

Not even Mark could ruin my good mood.

I smiled at all of the guys, and flirted a little with each of them. We were then asked to head upstairs to get ready.

The Firebird opening was considered black tie, so I went with the most severe black dress I had. I'd figured that there would at least be one formal dinner during the competition, so I'd gone with a black silk evening gown with a complete front, and uncovered shoulders. I even had matching black elbow length gloves. I'd considered going with a wrap, but decided against it.

I wore heels as well, but they were almost invisible beneath the flowing skirts of the dress.

"How in the hell do you keep your dresses looking so perfect?"

"I'd say practice, but I'd be lying. Mostly, it's a matter of watching what the wardrobe people do with the costumes, and mimicking them."

"You figured this out by watching other people do it right?"

"Well, that and I asked questions. I swear one or two of them thought that I might be trying to take their jobs away from them."

"But you were an Actress."

"There is more steady work for a great costumier than a middling ok actress."

I got a laugh at this, but Willow had a shrewd look in her eye. It would seem the two of us would be having another private conversation.

I walked to the head of the stairs, and Carlos was there in a tux to escort me down to the foyer. He'd worn baggy styles every time I'd seen him in the past, so I hadn't realized the type of body he had. The fitted tux showcased his built body, and I could feel the strength of his arm as he helped me down to the ground floor.

I had to keep telling myself to relax. For some reason, my libido was up, and I just wanted to jump him right there. It wasn't easy, but I managed to simply keep one foot in front of another. I expected to stop in the foyer, but he lead me right out of the building, and into the first of many waiting limos.

"Aren't we gathering in the foyer?"

"No, this is another timed event for the ladies."

"What? But our competition isn't supposed to be until tomorrow."

"They accelerated the schedule for today. Timed event to get to the restaurant, and then graded competition for the remainder of the evening."

"Are you supposed to be telling me this?"

"Probably not, but you already killed her in the appropriate dress and accessories department, and from what I've seen of you in the past, you likely have etiquette down."

"Appearances and be deceiving, Carlos."

"I doubt it. I'm sure you are the beautiful woman I see before me."

I laughed at him, but gave him a quick peck on the cheek to show him there were no hard feelings.

"I like you, Carlos."

"What's so funny?"

"I doubt you'd understand it if I explained it to you. Sort of a had to be there, sort of thing."

"You are one strange Chika, you know that."

"You have no idea."

"There's something I've been wanting to do since I first saw you at your second…the second audition."

"What is it?"

"You won't be mad?"

I had no idea at the time what he was talking about. "I make no promises, Carlos. Tell me."

"How about if I show you."

He kissed me. On the lips. I stopped him from letting his tongue join in, but it was pleasant other than that. It was more than pleasant.

Kissing Mark was like a nuclear bomb. Like eating or breathing. It was coming home after a long day on set.

Kissing Carlos was like high school. Like Prom. Like a first date. Like snow falling.

The first was pleasurable and completely took my breath away. The second would be pleasant, under the right circumstances. This really wasn't the right circumstance.

"Carlos…"

"I know. Everything I could have hoped for, but it didn't do anything for you."

"I'm so sorry."

"Story of my life."

"I really would have enjoyed fast food with you. That's actually where Sean and I went."

"What!?"

"After the balloon ride for show, we got MacDonald's"

"You are alright, Dawn. Don't let anyone tell you differently."

I blushed and smiled, and he put his hand over his heart as if mortally wounded. I laughed some more.

Why couldn't they have put some of that footage on the show? I would have loved to see that.

We got to the red carpet outside the building, and Carlos got out so he could help me up onto the curb. He then escorted me toward the entrance.

"Dawn Leary?"

I turned toward the reporter. I saw the E! on her microphone and my heart sank. I waved and tried to get by, but she waved me down.

"Folks, we have one of the most elusive, if not the most elusive, actresses ever to have graced the screen. Dawn Leary. Your first movie was a success at both Cannes and Sundance, and you were nominated for Best Actress in an Independent Film. So, are you planning anything else, Dawn?"

I smiled at the camera. "At present I'm actually a part of a reality television show."

"Really?"

"Yes, not sure if I can tell you the title…"

Carlos came to my aid here. Not sure if he was supposed to, either, but at least it let me off the hook.

"It's called the Real Prince Charming. Check your local listings for show times. It will be airing next spring."

"And are you one of the contestants as well?"

"Who me? Not really. They just wanted someone who wouldn't disappear beside the glory that is Dawn."

I blushed, and opened my mouth, "Carlos! He is being strangely modest. Yes he is part of the show, and my date for the evening. I am not currently working on any movies, but I've had some offers that I might take up after the show. If you'll excuse us, please?"

I smiled again for the cameras, and moved up the carpet. That one moment seemed to spark interest in who we were, and we were mauled by everyone from there to the end of the carpet. I smiled, I kept my answers short, and I laughed at Carlos' jokes.

All in all it was one of the best dates I'd ever been on.

Of course they skipped that in the actual episode as well. They had a specific character they wanted us to be, and they edited the footage to make us look that way.

Some people just plain look bad no matter what you do.

"You call this Coq au Vin? Take this back and do it right this time."

I shook my head at Angela's antics. I couldn't believe at the time that she actually believed that she could win acting that way. Knowing what I do now, I can't believe that she made it as far in the competition as she did.

I guess that as long as one of their actual choices didn't get eliminated, then they were fine leaving the people that Mark wanted there for drama.

Kevin looked mortified. He was trying to sink as low in his seat as he could, and doing everything in his power to not be noticed by anyone.

"Carlos, you feel like bailing Kevin out?"

He looked in the same direction I was, and got an evil glint in his eye. "Of course, Madam."

We got to the front of the short line waiting in front of the Maitre D'. "Your names?"

"Carlos Perez and Dawn Leary," said Carlos before I'd even opened my mouth.

"Of course, sir. I have your names here. If you'll…"

"Actually, would you mind too terribly seating us next to our friend over there, it seems that he is having problems with his date."

"But…"

"Please?" An entrée of pout with a side of puppy dog eyes was all that he could take. And that was Carlos. I was doing my best to keep from laughing at the whole thing.

They pulled up a couple of chairs for us, and Carlos sat me before going around the table to seat himself. Carlos will make some lucky girl happy someday. Just not me ever. I liked him, but I wasn't really attracted to him.

"Hello, Kevin, how are you doing today?" I asked with a bright smile. I showed a little too much tooth, though, and it makes me look really predatory in the clip.

He swallowed nervously, so I just purred at him, "Don't worry about Angela, she's more interested in sticking it to the Chef than in actually spending the evening with you."

Carlos chuckled at this, "She's right, man. Angela is a bit of a Bitch, capital intended, don't you agree?"

Kevin smiled at me, and then at Carlos.

"Yeah. She told me that if I embarrassed her, she'd castrate me, and then she proceeds to try to chat up every reporter on the carpet. I don't think it's possible to embarrass her."

"To be fair, Kevin, she is sensitive," I said, "At least you certainly look shocked to see me saying this sort of thing right to your face. Or was it acting as if you weren't even here that has your goat?"

She glared at me as I continued to smile at her. I hoped that the mics where good, since the three of us were talking softly, and our body language gave nothing away.

"You…CUNT!"

She didn't speak quietly. She stood as she was speaking and reached for me. Carlos, laughing so hard he was crying, grabbed her by the arm in an iron grip and wouldn't let go.

"I suggest you don't try it, Angela."

He gave her a meaningful look and then glanced in my direction. Angela paled, and began doing an impression of a fish drowning on dry land.

After a moment or two, a security individual came and escorted Angela out.

"Well, that was fun. How are you, Kevin?"

"Great, Carlos, thanks for saving me."

"No problem. You'd do the same for me."

"I doubt that Dawn would ever pick me."

"Why do you think that, Kevin," I asked him in a sort of sultry voice. Well, I thought it was sultry at the time.

He swallowed, took a drink, swallowed again, "Because you are likely the most beautiful girl in this competition."

"And…"

"And I'm not the most handsome guy."

"Really, Kev? I think your better looking than Carlos here, no offense, Carlos."

"None taken. I agree he is better looking than I am."

They both laughed.

"Tell you what. I'll pick you next, how about that, Kevin?"

He was speachless.

"What about Sean?"

"Yes, Sean is probably the best looking guy in the competition, and I have a huge lust on for him, but you are a nice guy. Well, you could grow a little backbone, but you are definitely nice. I'd be honored to go on a date with you."

He melted. We talked a little more, nothing important, before someone from the show came over and escorted Kevin out.

"You know, if you really want to win this competition, you couldn't go any safer than Sean."

"That's just it, Carlos. I don't need to win anymore. I've proven all I wanted to. I'm going to have a little fun from here on out. And Kevin needed a little morale boost. You saw what Angela did to him."

"You're crazy, you know that?"

"I've been told so in the past. If you'll excuse me, I need to freshen up."

Carlos stood before I could even begin rising, and I gave him a little curtsy in thanks. He was so special. Maybe…Julia? Yes, I needed to set him up with Julia. She needed a good man who didn't let the world get too serious.

I slipped into the ladies room, only to find Ilene washing her hands.

"Ilene?"

"Good, you finally came. This way, quickly."

She led me into the large handicapped stall, where I found Karl set up with his equipment.

"When I saw how locked down the mansion was, I started to worry a bit, guys."

"It's fine. That's part of the reason I gave you the bottle of glue. Here's another, by the way."

"The first was almost out. Thank you so much."

"No problem. Let me see?"

Ilene helped me out of my dress so that Karl could get a better look. I wasn't wearing a bra with the dress, but I did need to slip out of the lacy thong I was wearing on the bottom.

I felt like I was in some sort of fetish porn wearing nothing but my 4" stiletto heels and black gloves. I could tell that it was turning Karl on, anyway.

He poked and prodded, and I found myself squirming a bit. I'd needed to use the facilities before I entered, and it was getting to be more than I could bear.

"Karl, if you don't mind?"

I sat down quickly and did my business. When I was done I dried myself and stood up. He blinked at me a couple of times, then got back to work.

"You've done a great job with the edges. I can tell that some of the internal glue is giving way, but with the job you've been doing, there's nothing I can do about that. We'll need to get you taken care of fully in the next couple of days. Let me see what I can manage on my end."

"How about the north wall of the property. It is only three feet tall on the inside, and you can lean a ladder on the outside. I'll come out there tomorrow night."

Karl thought about it for a moment, and then nodded, "Ok, great. We'll have the full crew there to give your hair a trim and get you a full mani/pedi."

"Thanks." I said with a smirk.

"No worries. Now, get out of here so I can make use of this semi-private stall."

Ilene gave him a knowing look, so I exited quickly. I had no intention of joining in a ménage a trois with them. I washed my hands and left the bathroom. Yes, I remembered to get dressed…well almost. I left my panties with Karl and Ilene.

I was feeling a bit naughty, and figured that no one else would know.

Yes, I was horny, damn it. Very horny. I really wanted sex for the first time in my life.

Look, I'm not saying I never enjoyed sex, and I masturbated occasionally, but this was the first time I wanted to be taken and owned by another individual.

If I could be sure that Carlos wouldn't find out who I was, I would have ridden him as soon as we got back in the limo. As it was, I was just getting more and more frustrated.

I needed release, and I wasn't going to get it.

I didn't pay much attention to the rest of the night, hanging on Carlos' every word, and imagining what his dick would look like in my gloved hand. By the end of the evening, my own penis was sore from being bound in its little prison, and I just needed anything to give me some release.

Carlos escorted me to our Limo. As soon as he closed the door behind himself, I began inching my way toward him, and was about to put my hand his pants zipper when the door opened.

"Carlos, mind if I ride back with Dawn?"

"Not at all, Sean." His body language said something else entirely. I think that somehow he know that I was about to give him everything I wanted.

"Dawn, we need to talk," Sean said as soon as he got into the car and shut the door.