Guinevere Thomas held tightly to her big brother's hand as she skipped up to the brightly colored building that morning. It seemed very big indeed, as she surveyed the outside. Bright colors, and shapes filled the glass windows in places, making it appear cheerful. A shy smile lit her pink lips. What would pre-school be like?

Her older brother, Eliyan, noticed her sudden silence and wide brown eyes, then knelt beside her. She liked the way he'd run his strong hands over her slim shoulders. It was comforting.

"Are you sure you'll be alright, Gwen? Remember what Father said. You don't have to go until next year."

Gwen stood on her tippy toes for a minute to kiss his cheek softly. She wanted to be a big girl.

"Yes, Eliyan. I'm all of seven years old, you know."

He smiled a bit, still concerned. She tended to freeze up in social situations.

"Remember what Dad said?"

Her brow knit in confusion. Her daddy had told her several things before rushing them out the door. All the excitement had made her forget most of the words.

"I…don't remember." Gwen bit her lip, scuffling her pink tennis shoes on the pavement.

Eliyan nodded, and pushed one of her stray curls from her face.

"Whenever you feel lonely, look for someone who looks more scared than you."

They were great words. She was so proud of her father. Her having a mother made their bond very close.

"I promise. I'll be alright, Eliyan." Gwen nodded her curly little head, and opened the glass door all by herself, only pausing to look back once.

It wasn't her brother she noticed. It was a little boy, with shaggy blonde hair, and tear tracks on his face. Obvious it was he did not want to be here. Compassion made her softly sigh, but she did not see him again until they were placed at tables that day.

Tear tracks still lined his pale face, and he looked nearly as though he'd be sick. It was plain that he wasn't away from home much, unlike Gwen. On the piece of paper in front of him were drawings of stars, circles, squares, and other shapes that took their places around the room.

"You're missing one." Gwen said quietly, her cheeks turning a bit pink. "Where's the heart?"

He looked confused for a moment, and stopped coloring his square blue with a crayon. "The…heart?"

"Yes!" Her brown eyes sparkled. "A heart means love." Gwen pulled a red crayon from the pack and drew one with shaky hands. It turned out a bit lumpy, but it was the best she could have done.

He smiled, and took a moment to look at it before turning his gaze towards her. "What's your name?"

Gwen giggled, putting the crayon down.
"Guin….Guinevere. Everyone…says Gwen." It was a big name for such a small girl.

The little boy looked wistful for a moment, his blue eyes observing the heart on the page between them. "I…love….your name. I'm Arthur."

At this she laughed, only a bit, and very kindly. "Thank you!"

Arthur's blue eyes smiled as he bent down to color the heart in with a pink crayon.