"Primroses and Violets blue, such pretty flowers but not as nice as you are today, I love you little girl, will you remember me?"

-Bert Jansch, "Toy Balloon"

Dusk had descended and Violet hurriedly, began packing away supplies for the night. She was lonely, listless, Asra was gone again and likely for some time, and she had no interest in returning to the palace, not tonight at least. Being as Lonely as she was, she even toyed with the idea of heading out to the Rowdy Raven, hoping to find a certain Auburn haired Doctor. Although that may be ill advised. And yet, her heart skipped a beat as Julian's face came to her mind, his Roguish smile, the sharp angles of his cheeks. Heat rose in her cheeks and traveled to her chest. How she longed to see him. How in such a short time had he become so dear, so essential to her?

She wasn't sure the answer to that, but she knew it was true, the swell of warmth and affection that filled her when she was near the Dramatic doctor, she may not understand everything, but she felt it, and devoid of a past as she was, intuition must count for something.

She smiled, twirling the ends of her long, brown braid between her fingers. The smile was soon tempered, by the realisation of the situation, Julian was still a wanted man, and though she was certain he was innocent, though she felt it deep within her bones, she was quite aware it needed to be proven to everyone else. Not to mention Asra's warnings about the doctor sometimes left her feeling uneasy.

"No!" She thought to herself. She wouldn't let her mind lead her to despair and what ifs, like Julian. They would find the truth soon enough.. "Intuition, Violet, " She thought to herself. "Trust it."

Her reverie was broken by the sound of the bell ringing above the shop door, Violet started, ready to kindly send away the prospective customer, but to her surprise, she found the object of her thoughts standing before her. Had she somehow conjured him? Had he read her mind? Oh! It did not matter!

"Julian!" She cried rushing to him,

"I was just thinking about you!"

"Ahha, I see you can't keep me off your mind. Missed me, my love?" He asked, smirking as usual, his eyebrows raised suggestively.

Violet rolled her eyes, but rather then respond to his teasing, she wrapped her arms around his middle and pressed her head against his heart.

"Very much."

Julian stiffened, his eyes widening in surprise, and a blush colouring his features. no matter how many intimate encounters the two had shared, those sudden genuine bursts of affection from the apprentice sent him into a bit of a stupor.

He recovered soon enough.

"That's… um… sweet, Violet. I… missed you too."

Violet smiled but then her eyes widened in realisation.

"Oh get in here!" She chided pulling away and into the interior of the shop and locking the door behind them.

"You shouldn't be here it's still early, what if you'd been spotted?!" What are you doing here anyway?

"You worry too much, my dear. It's nearly dark and there's hardly anyone about, the guards have yet to make their rounds.

As to what I am doing here, well I was in the neighborhood and I uh... I happen to have something for you." The last words were spoken hesitantly and once again his look turned bashful and that crimson blush was once again staining his pale features

Violet's heart skipped a beat

"You… have something for me? What, like a gift?"

"Um… yes, a gift. Not an extravagant gift mind you… rather mundane really… in fact you might not even like it, but it made me think of you and well.. I…" His nervous rambling was interrupted by Violet reaching up and placing a finger to his lips to silence him.

"Julian," she said firmly but gently just show me already."

The Doctor blushed again, and from his waistcoat he produced a small bunch of Violets.

Their intended recipient simply stared for a moment.

Julian swallowed hard, this wasn't the reaction he'd anticipated.

"I uh… i hope you like them. I saw them at a booth in the market and I thought, well, you know that old saying, "sweets for the sweet"? Well I thought Violets for Violet and…" he trailed off nervously running his free hand through his hair.

"Well I suppose that uh… that doesn't sound as endearing as it did in my head."

Julian's grey eye fixed her with an imploring expression, and finally she spoke,

"Well at least this flower doesn't have the potential to kill me." she joked taking the little flowers from him.

Julian barked a short laugh, but the two exchanged a smile over the night in the forbidden garden and The deadly startstrand.

"Yes, well… you… i… do you like them?"

"Like them? Julian…" in response, Violet held the little posy to her nose and inhaled their sweet scent.

She then opened her eyes to beam at him.

"I love them."

Julian was momentarily struck dumb, at the site of the deep blue eyes, eyes, that practically matched the flower , that gazed at him adoringly and the sweet pink lips that smiled at him.

"I… um… I'm really glad."

"They are one of my favourites after all."

"Are they?"

"Well, I mean of course? I think it's a requirement that my namesake should be."

She smiled again. "I should put these in some water!"

She hurried behind the counter, bustling in search of something, and by the sound of clinking bottles she wasn't having much luck.

"Uh Violet?" Asked a slightly amused Julian whose brows were raised unquestioningly.

"Hmmm?"

"What are you doing?"

"Oh, looking for a favourite bottle of mine. They'll look lovely in it."

"Ah. I see…"

And soon enough Violet was upright again holding a small, round bottle of green glass.

"Found it!" The green complinted the matching shades in her dress and her triumphant cry made Julian smirk.

"Now for the water!" And at the command summoned a small bit of water from the ether into her hands and filled the green bottle, gently placing the little nosegay inside and carefully arranging them.

Julian had watched fascinated, magic made him uneasy, but he couldn't help enjoying it, when it was Violet. Still, he couldn't pass up the opportunity for some jest.

"A bit dramatic, wasn't it my dear?" He asked, with his ever present smirk.

She glared at him.

"Perhaps you're rubbing off on me."

"Mmm… perhaps he said moving to place his hands about her shoulders.

"I could do a bit more, erm "rubbing, if you want…" he waggled his eyebrows.

Violet blushed but then went quiet and pale.

"Thank you again Julian. It was very kind." She looked at the flowers and a shadow passed her countenance.

"Did you know," she asked quietly after a few moments of silence, "that Violets have magical properties?"

"That I did not."

"Yes. They offer protection, they can be known to change luck and fortunes… used in love spells too. It is said, if you pick the first violet in spring your dearest wish will come true."

Julian was uncomfortable, seeing her look so serious. Yes Violet, he'd seen first hand could be a stoic little creature, but in his presence he'd often found her full of life.

"And what would you wish for?

She gave him a long look and then an enigmatic smile.

"If I tell you, it won't come true."

Another pause.

"Do you… have another favourite flower?"

She nodded, "primroses."

"Ah. Any particular reason why?"

"Not that I could name. It's just a feeling I have seeing them. They are supposed to attract love and protect too. They're such pretty flowers."

Julian wondered if she was remembering something, but he dare not ask, there was another long pause and he watched Violet take the little blue ribbon that had bound the flowers and absently tie it around her wrist.

She looked at him again, smile returned.

"Do you have a favourite flower?"

He hadn't expected that

"Uh, yes, yes I do. Wolfsbane."

Violet gave him an incredulous look.

"Wolfsbane? As in the highly poisonous Aconite?"

"That'd be the one, yes." He said with a cavalier grin.

"Julian, what is it with you and highly toxic plants?!" She cried laughingly.

That familiar and endearing broad grin returned to his face and he leaned forward.

"Well you know me Violet, I love danger…" he waggled his eyebrows, but then his expression grew thoughtful and the smile fell from his face.

"And I also seem to love wanting things I can't have." He gave Violet a long, searching look and then sighed.

"I… I should go before it gets too late."

He turned to the door.

Violet, being overwhelmed with feeling suddenly sprung into action and grabbed at the Doctors sleeve.

"Julian don't go. I've been pretty lonely tonight and I could use the company. Yours in particular. Do stay a while longer? I'll make you some tea."

Julian seemed to brighten at the prospect, but then deflated again.

"Violet, I'd love that, but I'm not sure it's wise what if-"

Sensing the source of his hesitation she quickly tried to calm him,

"Asra will be gone for a while. It's just me."

"I…"

"Please Julian, there's something I want to do for you."

And with those words Julian was once again wearing that grin.

"Well, when you put it that way, how can I say no?"

Violet smiled grabbing the green bottle and motioned to Julian to follow to her bedroom. This he gladly did, with a pleased grin.