Chapter One: Presents

~About one year later~

Arrietty's eyes shot open. A grin spread across her face as she kicked off her blanket, which was really a large piece of cloth that had been torn from a mitten.

She maneuvered her way through the cluttered room. The floor was littered with articles of laundry that she still needed to put away and scraps of paper.

The small borrower sat in front of a shard of mirror as she raked a comb through her thick auburn hair.

Today's the day! Arrietty thought excitedly as she pulled open her dresser drawer. She searched through her various dresses and narrowed it down to three. A long sleeved calico dress that stopped right above her knees, or a dark green short sleeved dress that stopped around the middle of her shins. Arrietty nodded as she settled on her third choice. It was the perfect dress for her birthday. It was a pale blue and flowed down to her knees. She slid on a pair of soft gray flats that she only wore on special occasions. Today's the day that I can ask. Arrietty slipped out of her room and tip toed down the hallway to the kitchen.

Homily was standing with her back to the counter; she was talking to Pod, who was sitting at the kitchen table with…

"Spiller?" Arrietty cried, her voice hitched with joy as the hunter jumped to his feet. It had been two weeks since the last time she'd seen Spiller. He'd been gone on a long hunting trip to prepare for the winter. Arrietty flung her arms around his neck.

"Happy…. Birthday?" Spiller struggled with the final word. Arrietty smiled and nodded.

"Thank you." The two stepped apart.

"Spiller bring present for Arrietty." The rough looking boy said shyly pressing a messily wrapped gift into her hands.

"Thank you Spiller! But you didn't need to get me anything."

Spiller shook his head. "Spiller wanted to."

Arrietty grinned and opened the gift, and inside was a square broken off from a piece of a chocolate bar. The borrower girl's jaw dropped. Chocolate was one of the hardest things to borrow, it was easily noticed if a piece of it disappeared, Spiller must have worked hard to get such a wonderful gift.

"Oh thank you, thank you Spiller!" She cried joyfully clutching Spiller's dirt covered hand with her own. Spiller's cheeks flared red.

"Arrietty likes?" The hunter asked, the corners of his mouth turned up in a shy smile.

"It's so wonderful Spiller. I love it!" Arrietty gave Spiller's hand a squeeze before walking towards her parents.

"Happy birthday Arrietty!" Homily smiled, giving Arrietty a hug. Pod stood next to them and placed a hand on Arrietty's head.

"You've grown up so quickly." Arrietty smiled up at her father.

"So, what would you like for your birthday, Arrietty?" Homily asked. "Your father is going borrowing tonight, he'll get you your gift. What do you want the most?"

Arrietty straightened her back and folded her hands in front of her. "I want, more than anything…" Arrietty felt her stomach clench up. Homily's eye flicked over to Pod for a moment, but she quickly refocused her attention on Arrietty.

"Yes, Arrietty?" Pod asked. Spiller looked at Arrietty questioningly.

She took a deep breath, "I really want to go to the borrower cities!" she cried exasperatedly.

"What?" exclaimed Homily. Her hand flew to her heart and the color drained from her face. "But Arrietty… You're only fifteen! I- Oh… Pod." Homily turned to her husband and grabbed onto his shirtsleeve.

Pod looked deeply into Arrietty's eyes. She tried her best to look strong and capable of taking care of herself, but she only managed to look like she was in pain. "Arrietty, you know fifteen is the age most borrowers are considered adults?"

Arrietty nodded her head despite the fact that she'd never heard such a thing before.

Pod placed a reassuring hand on Homily's shoulder. "I think it's time Arrietty learned about which life she wants to lead, don't you?"

Homily turned towards Arrietty. She sighed and pulled Arrietty into a warm hug. "I suppose… But if you change your mind, or if you get scared you could always wait another year… or four. "

"Thanks Mama." Arrietty mumbled through Homily's shoulder. Homily pulled away and quickly wiped her eyes with her sleeve.

"But, I have one condition." Pod stepped in placing a hand on Spiller and Arrietty's shoulders. "I want Spiller to accompany you, if that's alright with you Spiller…"

Arrietty looked at Spiller pleadingly. His cheeks turned a light hue of pink before he quickly nodded.

Arrietty squealed with joy and flung her arms around her parents and Spiller. "Oh thank you, thank you, thank you!" she exclaimed hopping up and down. "When can we leave?" Arrietty asked, pulling out of the hug.

"Well, since we're going borrowing tonight we can get enough for you and Spiller to rent a living space, but you'll probably need to get jobs while you're staying there." Pod answered as he pulled up a chair. "There's also the decision of how long you should stay in the city. Spiller, how far is the nearest city?"

"This many days by foot." Spiller raised up seven fingers, "If Spiller find quicker way… " He pulled down four fingers, now only three stood. "Then this many." Pod nodded.

"I think a month will be long enough for Arrietty to get a taste of the city, what do you think Homily?" Homily was wringing her hands nervously.

"A month is such a long time…" She looked at Arrietty "But…" Homily sighed deeply, and with a strained voice she said, " I think Arrietty can handle it." Arrietty clapped her hands together.

"What would be the best time to leave Spiller?" The rough looking borrower appeared to be deep in thought for a moment.

"Late tomorrow night."

Homily made a strangled sound in the back of her throat but she kept quiet. Arrietty nodded. "I'll start packing now." She jumped up from her seat at the table and made her way to her room.

"Spiller, will you go help her? Make sure she packs clothing that are… suitable for the city." Homily asked softly.

"Mom!" Arrietty whined as her cheeks burned with embarrassment.

"Well Spiller's been to the cities, he knows what things you'll need to pack." Homily explained.

"Fine." Arrietty sighed. She turned to Spiller and gave him a soft smile. "Come on." She led him down what could barely count as a hallway. Arrietty opened her bedroom door and Spiller stepped in nervously. It was a rarity that he ever went into Arrietty's room. It always made him feel shy. He didn't know very many women and he'd never felt for anyone the way he felt about Arrietty.

"Sorry, I know my room's messy." Arrietty laughed as she picked up scraps of paper, laundry, and petals that had fallen from the flowers she'd pinned to the walls.

Spiller shook his head; a small smile crept onto his lips. Arrietty grabbed the white bag she used when borrowing and placed it on her bed. She'd fill it with the borrowings she'd use to help pay for a living space.

Arrietty grabbed the green bag her family used when they were moving. The yellow polka dots were fading from being washed so many times by Homily.

She pulled out her sturdiest clothes. Arrietty turned to Spiller who'd been standing awkwardly in the corner. "You can sit on my bed if you want"

Spiller's eyes widened as he looked down at Arrietty's bed. He turned back to Arrietty and shook his head.

"Is it cold in the cities?" Arrietty asked as she tried to decide between two jackets.

"At night. Day is warm." Spiller answered. Arrietty nodded and packed both.

Arrietty packed several dresses and nightgowns. She hid her undergarments underneath a winter shawl and slipped them into the bag without Spiller noticing.

"Is there anything else that I should pack?" Arrietty asked as she packed the last of her necessary belongings.

"Hn" Spiller said, nodding. Arrietty carried the bag out to the kitchen and spotted her birthday gift on the table.

Arrietty snapped the bar of chocolate in half and turned to Spiller. "Here" she said handing him a half of the chocolate.

Spiller's brows furrowed as he gave her a puzzled look. "Is gift." He said uncertainly, as if he was worried he'd said the wrong words. He tried to give the chocolate back.

Arrietty shook her head; "It tastes sweeter when you have someone to share it with." She popped a piece of chocolate into her mouth. "Mmmmmm, delicious." She said.

Spiller looked at Arrietty through his hair. "Arrietty sure?"

"Mhmm"

Spiller smiled and placed the chocolate in his mouth.

"Good?" Arrietty asked.

Spiller nodded.

"Better than a cricket's leg?" She asked. Spiller pondered it for a moment.

"No. Cricket taste better."

Arrietty tipped her head back and laughed, which caused a wide grin to spread across Spiller's face, despite the fact that he didn't quite understand why she was laughing.

Pod came into the kitchen with a grappling hook in hand. "Arrietty, get ready to go borrowing."

Arrietty nodded, "Alright Papa." She turned to go to her room, but then she turned back towards Spiller. "You should come with us. It's been a while since you've gone borrowing with us."

Spiller looked to Pod for approval. Arrietty's father nodded with a smile on his face.

"Ok" Spiller grinned.

Phew! I'm so tired! First chapters are always hard to write. I was a little worried if I was writing Arrietty's character correctly, for some reason it felt odd to me, but that could be because I haven't written her for a while ^_^'. Anywho, I'd like some feedback please :) Criticism, requests, whatever, just make sure you review! It's mean a lot to me! I'm going do the Review Responses for this story too! So, here we go!

JeremyX: I thought it was odd that so many people seemed to dislike the English, errr American dub. I thought it was pretty good. I got TSWOA on DVD for my birthday so I've been watching it, and I like the acting. Also, thank you! I appreciate the review!

yunadance6: I still don't know what " - " means, but I can only hope it means something good, haha. Either way, thanks for reviewing!