Foster was doing the staring thing with Fitz again and Keefe was trying very hard to ignore them. He knew how Sophie felt about his best friend - although he wasn't sure if he and Fitz were best friends anymore, or had even been best friends in the first place. In fact, if he had to say anyone was his best friend, he'd probably say Sophie -

Who was currently locked in a private mental conversation with Fitz. The sad thing was, he'd brushed by Fitz earlier and, to his shock, he'd got a taste of the same feelings Sophie was always giving off. It was then that he had confirmed that he had to start steeling himself now, before he got his heart totally shattered.

But then Sophie detached herself from Fitz and came up to walk with him instead. And she was scowling.

"Trouble in Sophitz Cognate paradise?" he asked in a light tone, raising one eyebrow. Sophie laughed, though it sounded reluctant.

"You could say that," she sighed.

"What's the problem?"

She blushed. "You're going to laugh at me."

"I might," he told her, slinging an arm over her shoulders. "I might not. But that doesn't mean I can't help." He dared a look behind him and saw Fitz glaring at him, looking very put out.

"It's just…" she sighed again. "He's been pushing me to tell him… that thing I didn't want to tell him before. And I don't know how to tell him it's changed - " She stopped abruptly.

"Oh?" Keefe asked, feeling a traitorous tendril of hope unfurling in his chest, born from the nervousness and uncertainty he was getting from Sophie.

"I - I mean - the thing I didn't want to tell him - has changed - and I don't know how to tell him - 'cause it would make things weird - not just for us - " Keefe held up a hand, stopping Sophie's stammering.

"Foster. Chill. You're not making sense." He lowered his voice. "That thing you didn't want to tell him - it's that you like him, right?"

"How did you -"

"Empath," said Keefe, pointing to himself with a shadow of his usual grin. "That was it, wasn't it?"

"Not - anymore," Sophie said, in a voice that was barely above a whisper.

Keefe froze. Sophie reached up to tug at her eyelashes; he absently caught her hand and put it back down - habit. "And - and he thinks that what I didn't want to tell him is that I like him," she continued, "so he just wants me to say it, but that's not it and it's making everything worse…" She trailed off miserably.

Keefe held a hand. "Whoa, whoa, whoa. Back the T-rex up. You're saying you don't have a crush on him anymore? And he thinks you still do, and he wants you to tell him that?" Sophie nodded. "Well, that's awkward," he said, running a hand through his hair, bemused. Sophie nodded again. She seemed unable to look at him.

"Foster. Hey, " Keefe said. He waited until she was looking him in the eye, then continued. "While this does make for prime teasing material, I'll keep it quiet. And if you need some emotional help…" He pointed to himself again, but the grin was more real this time. "Empath."

"As if I could forget," Sophie grumbled, but she was smiling. "Thanks, Keefe."

Behind them, Fitz's irritation had given way to perplexity, watching the two blonde heads leaning toward each other, speaking softly. Biana and Linh exchanged meaningful glances.

A scowling Dex passed a triumphant Tam a gadget of unknown function, silently reminding himself never to make a bet with Tam again.

o0o

"So you don't like Fitz," came Keefe's voice from around the corner. Fitz froze. Who was he talking to? He held his breath, listening.

"Only as a friend - a good friend," cam Sophie's soft reply. "I had a crush on him for the longest time, but he was totally oblivious. And then it started to fade, and now…"

"And now you've moved on," Keefe finished, and a stab of anger went through Fitz at how gentle he sounded. How supportive. That was supposed to be his job.

Then the rest of her words sunk in. She'd had a crush on him this whole time? He buried his face in his hands. Oh, the irony. Just when he thought their friendship could turn into something more, she decided it was time to get over him.

And turn to Keefe.

This was a completely different sore spot. No matter what Keefe did, Sophie still trusted him. Even after he'd attacked the school, even after he'd sold them out to the Neverseen (twice) - sure, he'd gotten the caches, and yes, he'd been on their side the whole time, but it just irritated Fitz that Keefe could do anything and Sophie would still give him the benefit of the doubt. He was her Cognate and there were still things she wouldn't tell him!

"Hey, it's okay, Foster," Keefe was saying, as Fitz clenched his fists and tried to keep his emotions under control. "You can come talk to me any time."

"Thanks, Keefe," Sophie said, and there was a smile in her voice. "I will."

Fitz was suddenly furious. It wasn't fair. Then, just as suddenly, an image of Dex's narrowed eyes when he caught sight of Fitz and Sophie flashed through his mind.

So this is how it feels, he thought.

o0o

Sophie? Fitz transmitted. Can we talk? Sophie jumped, then tripped. Keefe grabbed her arm.

"What's up?"

"Fitz wants to talk," Sophie said, nearly hyperventilating.

"Foster," Keefe said, looking slightly green and letting go of her arm, "ease up a little, will you?"

"Sorry," Sophie whispered, unable to control her panic.

"You just need to talk to him and get it over with," Keefe told her, and she was struck anew by how serious he was being. "Go ahead. I'll hang out over here." He wandered a short distance away and sat against a tree, but his ice-blue eyes never left her.

Hi, Fitz, Sophie transmitted back, inwardly cringing at how long he must have been waiting for her to reply. What's up?

Sophie… There was a pause. I think I need to tell you something.

Okay… Sophie replied, warily. What was he doing?

And then she listened as he poured out his heart to her.

… you're the bravest girl I've ever met, and - well - I'm pretty sure I've started liking you as more than a friend, he finished.

Sophie pressed her hands over her mouth. Keefe jumped up from where he was sitting, racing over to her, putting one calming hand on her arm. "Good grief, Foster, what did he say to you? I could feel your shock from all the way over there!"

Sophie just shook her head, eyes wide. Never in a million years had she thought something like this would ever happen. But… the confession didn't make her giddy or excited; it made her sad, to know that she would have to tell him he was just a friend to her - now. Oh, the bitter timing of it all. Not six months ago, she would have been dying of sheer joy, because Fitz had noticed her existence as a girl! Now, after the Neverseen and Nightfall and the support that had come from… other places, she was well and truly over him.

Fitz… she started gently, not sure how to go about this. Keefe stepped away again, giving her some space. I -

Don't say it, he interrupted, heavily. I - I heard you and Keefe talking. I guess - I just thought if you knew how I felt…

I'm sorry, Fitz, she transmitted, feeling horribly guilty.

There was no reply.

Sophie's legs suddenly gave out and she sat down, hard. Keefe, eyeing her tentatively, sat down next to her. Wordlessly, she leaned her head on his shoulder and he wrapped his arms around her, holding on tight.

"It's gonna be okay, Foster," he whispered, as the first sobs built up in her chest. "Maybe not just yet, but everything's gonna be okay…"

A/N: Hiya, BW! This one's for you!

Wow. This started out light, and then I just turned it into angst. I don't know what happened. Geez. ANYWAYS, this is my first Keeper of the Lost Cities fic, so of course it includes Team Foster-Keefe (which is just what I like to call Sophie and Keefe's ship).

I would love reviews - feedback is always appreciated!