Fitz and Sophie were sitting under Calla's Panakes tree... again. Fitz had his arm around Sophie, and Sophie was resting her head on his shoulder. They were watching Vika check the 4-month-old alicorns... again. Vika had insisted on weekly checkups for the first month, but the checkups had extended for much longer. Luna and Wynn didn't seem to hate them as much as Silveny did, but they weren't considered enjoyable. Sophie had been able to telepathically talk to the gangly alicorns, and they seemed to like her. But they LOVED Keefe. Silveny had bothered Sophie about bringing Keefe to meet the babies for a while, and when Sophie FINALLY brought Keefe, he was a huge hit. Sophie and Fitz thought that Keefe was Luna and Wynn's godfather.
I can't believe that the alicorns are walking now, Sophie transmitted to Fitz. Grady had adjusted to Fitz and Sophie's relationship that wasn't a relationship, but he still was obsessed with watching them. This caused many telepathic conversations that left Grady more than slightly irritated.
More like wobbling, Fitz responded, his crisp accent echoing around her mind. Sophie laughed, and Fitz chuckled in return. You know...
What? Is something wrong? Sophie's mind had immediately gone to the horrible memories that both of them shared.
No! But I was wondering about something, Fitz transmitted, leaving a lot of gaps in the question.
What is it? Sophie asked, still worried.
Didn't you say you were going to go to the matchmaker?
Sophie turned beet red and chewed her lip. She turned away, trying not to tug out any more eyelashes over the subject. Sophie had gone to the matchmaker, but the result was not preferred. What she had read off of the matchmaker's screen was:
SOPHIE ELIZABETH FOSTER IS UNMATCHABLE
Sophie hadn't told Fitz about it yet, and she was obviously avoiding the subject.
Sophie looked like she was about to cry, so Fitz turned her to face him. Sophie thought that he would ask something stupid like 'Are you okay?', or 'What's wrong', but instead he embraced her.
"I don't know what happened if you went to the matchmaker, but I don't care," Fitz said softly. This made Sophie start to cry, so Fitz held her closer. Sophie was thinking about all of the reasons she HAD to be on Fitz's match list to be his girlfriend. Fitz seemed to realize this, so he pulled away and looked her straight in the eyes. He whispered, "You know I love you right?"
Sophie sniffled and then nodded.
"Then do you believe me when I say that I don't care about the names on my match lists?"
Sophie looked down and didn't respond, so Fitz cupped her chin and forced her to look at him.
Think about Dex's parents, Fitz transmitted. They loved each other, so they ignored the matchmakers. And look at them now! Fitz transmitted images of Dex's parents and their happy family.
Fitz waited for the argument to process, so he picked some teal flowers from one of Edaline's flowerbed and started weaving. When he was finished, he looked up at Sophie to see her dry-eyed. He placed the flower crown on the top of her head and stuck a Panakes blossom in her hair. He showed Sophie one of her favorite smiles and picked up her hands.
"Now do you believe me?" Fitz quietly asked, waiting for her response.
Sophie rested her head against Fitz's chest and whispered, "Yes."