Disclaimer: I don't own and never will.

AN: This was inspired by a story written by Glimmers and a picture I came across online.

Cornelia smiled as she watched the flowers whispered to her. Running her finger along the stems, she coaxed forth flowers of violent purple and yellow.

"My lady, are you well?" the boy, well man now if she was honest with herself, asked with a slight hesitation. It was kind of cute how he was still a little nervous around her.

"I'm fine, thanks for asking," she replied, stroking and bringing yet more flowers forth from the blooms. Bringing flowers into bloom early was probably abusing her powers, but they were beautiful to see and in no danger. Meridian Huscar Roses were a resilient plant that could thrive under even the harshest of storms, a consequence of the Meridian climate and unlike the other flowers in the palace gardens, able to live in the wild.

"My lady, Queen Elyon is in the main Throne Room should you desire to see her," the man told her and she chuckled with amusement. He obviously hadn't heard the news yet. Or maybe he had and was trying to distract her with friends and good company.

"Elyon is with Alchemy at the moment and besides which, I wanted to meet a special someone here," she said with a smile gracing her lips. The man raised an eyebrow and for a moment, a jealous look flashed in his eyes. It was amusing, all things considered. How had she not fallen in love with him sooner, she honestly didn't know. He was good looking, well built, kind, loyal and a million other things that drew her to him, even when she herself had been less than worthy. It was amazing that he had remained in love even after her younger, more shallow self had been more obsessed with Caleb's more conventional good looks. It was actually somewhat embarrassing really.

"You are not upset about Caleb breaking up with you?" he asked, more than a little puzzled and Cornelia chuckled once more. So he did know after all.

"I broke up with him. We had drifted apart and," she paused for a moment. "And we had both fallen in love with other people. Even if Caleb hasn't realised that yet."

She gazed over to her friend Hay Lin and smiled.

"It's amazing. The two of them have no idea, too afraid of rejection to say what they feel. Or even admit to it."

"My lady?"

"Caleb is cute and there was a time I thought he was the one for me, but I was wrong," she paused and gave a rueful sigh. "He was just a teenage crush. An infatuation, not the real thing. It left me blind to the truth."

The man gave her a puzzled look.

"Blind my lady?" he said in a voice that was incredulous. "No, you are hardly that. You're beautiful and smart and amazing and…" his voice trailed off and a blush (well Cornelia assumed that it was a blush. It was hard to tell on his particular skin) blossomed across his face. She placed her hand under his chin and brought his head to her face. She was so close, she could practically count the pores on his skin. Then with a sudden movement, she leaned forward and kissed him on the lips.

"I'm not perfect Aldarn. I…I'm selfish and I can be a real diva when the mood takes me, but I hope that-"

She didn't get to finish her sentence as Aldarn suddenly pulled her close to him and returned her kiss.

"As far as I'm concerned," he whispered to her. "You are perfect, warts and all."