I'd like to give a special shout out to the-grey-lines for her wonderful review! Not only was it the first review, which is always special, it was a really good one too! So thanks a lot!

This chapter is sort of short, but I updated quickly XD

Maka sleeps for several hours, more soundly than she's slept since the initial roundup over a year ago. When she wakes up, Soul is still passed out and Kid is knocking politely on the door to be let back into his own bedroom.

She scurries out of the comforting bed, feeling strangely well-rested for only a few hours of sleep, and opens the door. Despite having not slept at all, Kid looks just as refined and elegant as before.

"I hope I didn't wake you," he says politely as she shuts the door behind him. He has a tray in his hands with covered dishes that smell quite delicious.

"No, I was up," she answers, and it is partially true. "Soul is still asleep though." They both look over to the lump in the bed that is her partner.

Kid turns back to her. "I've brought you some food." He sets the tray down on the polished coffee table. "I'll be back again this afternoon. You should try and get a bit more sleep."

"Wait, you're not staying?" Maka feels that she should spend some more time with this boy who is risking so much to save them.

He gives her a small but genuine smile. "I'm afraid I have quite a lot to do today. I also want to see if the police or Parnevik guards are onto us yet. But I'll be back." With another polite smile he leaves and she is (mostly) alone again.

The food on the tray is unlike anything Maka has ever seen before. Even before Parnevik Hall, where the food was tasteless and prepared in bulk without much consideration, her meals hadn't been extravagant. Her parents were both hard workers - even her father - but they hadn't been particularly well-off. The foods on the tray are delicacies of the region, things she's heard about but has never had the chance to try. She digs into these without waiting for Soul. She is sure he will excuse her.

He wakes up when she is halfway through some sort of meat and egg pastry that she cannot name but finds delicious. He rolls out of bed without bothering to make it and staggers over to her, still half-asleep. He reaches for a pastry and pours himself a cup of coffee, and he doesn't speak until the first cup is completely drained.

"Sleep well?"

"Oh yes." Maka doesn't know how much detail to go into. She thinks Soul will make fun of her for her princess fantasy, so she doesn't mention it. "You?"

He shrugs noncommittally, taking an enormous bite out of his pastry.

Maka and Soul are left alone almost all day. There is very little to do so Maka reads books she's swiped from Kid's study and writes diligently in her notebook while Soul paces and grumbles to himself and sometimes seems to contemplate leaving but he never does. Finally, after it's been dark for a few hours, Kid returns with another five-star meal for them.

"You, my friend, have caused quite a stir with your sudden disappearance," Kid says with a smirk, setting the tray on the coffee table.

Soul frowns stiffly but says nothing.

"Of course, your disappearance hasn't been linked to Maka's escape from Parnevik Hall - at least not yet," Kid continues. "But it seems like quite a big deal. They've even announced it on the news."

Maka frowns, her mouth watering at the mere smell of whatever is hiding beneath the covered dishes on the tray. "Why would you leaving home be such a big deal, Soul?"

Kid answers before Soul can, though it isn't likely Soul was going to answer at all anyway. "Oh, didn't you know? Soul belongs to one of the most distinguished families in this city. Old money, you know. Like my family."

"Oh." She doesn't know why it bothers her so much that he has kept this little tidbit of information to himself, but it does. She wishes he had told her about his family himself. Isn't that what partners were supposed to do?

Soul senses her disappointment. "It's not a big deal," he assures her in annoyance. "I'm not like them." Maka wants to ask him more, demand answers to the questions budding in her brain, but she feels that it is a private conversation and would rather wait until they are alone.

Kid, always perceptive, seems to realize he's gone a step too far into their relationship. "I have good news, though. I've found you a way out of the city."

"You have?" Soul sounds skeptical, his arms crossed in a stoic pose.

Kid nods, ignoring the implication that he is inept. "I have an old acquaintance who is a conductor of one of the Euro-trains."

"The trains that travel in a big loop around Europe?" Maka clarifies. "The ones that take months to complete their loop?"

Again, Kid nods. "Yes. He's agreed to smuggle you out of Sweden on his train."

"Why?" Soul demands. "Why would he help us?"

"He's one of us," comes the even reply.

Soul sighs in exasperation. "Of course."

"There are a lot more of us out there than the authorities want us to think," Kid points out seriously. "I understand your skepticism, but our kind has got to stick together."

Maka interrupts smoothly. She thinks that Soul and Kid have a certain respect for one another, but their personalities differ a great deal and they always seem to end up arguing. "That's a wonderful plan, Kid, but we can't leave yet. Not until we rescue the other wards from Parnevik Hall."

He fixes her with a steady look. "That's going to be extremely difficult, Maka. Damn near impossible, I'd say."

"That's what I told her," Soul grumbles, sinking down onto the couch and uncovering the food on the tray.

Maka remains firm. "I know it's going to be difficult, but I can't leave them there. It's not right."

There is a long pause. "I think I may have a plan," Kid finally says. "My father often entrusts me with various duties regarding the welfare of this town. I can pretend my father has sent me to investigate the recent escape, and, as the mayor's son, Medusa, Arachne, and Shaula won't be able to turn me away. I can smuggle you in as my bodyguards or assistants or something of the like."

Maka feels her heart swell with conflicting emotions. "But, Kid, if you do that, it'll come out that you're one of us... There will be no going back."

Kid turns his back. "I know. If we're going to do this, our window of opportunity is agonizingly small. My conductor friend - his name is Sid - leaves on his route in three days. Our best bet is to wait until that day to execute our plan. That way I can get everyone on the train and out of town before anyone really knows what's happened."

"But, Kid!" Maka protests suddenly, stricken. "Aren't you coming with us? Please do!"

The dark-haired young man hesitates, and Soul puts a friendly hand on his shoulder. "You should. Anything's better than being stuck in this sort of situation. Trust me. I know."

Kid gives a small smile. "Thank you," he says.

DUNDUNDUN! The plot thickens. Sort of. Anyway, review please!