Varian sat there watching her sleep, knowing that she couldn't possibly be comfortable in that position...

He didn't remember much from the night before, only waking up in tears and someone holding him in their arms, after that everything was one big blur of mixed sounds and emotions.

And now that he was semi coherent he could feel his face heat up with shame and embarrassment. It wasn't this woman's job to take care of him, all he was doing was intruding on her life.

She had already been way too generous giving up her food and bed to him, the girl probably had better things to then take care of messed up sick kid.

Varian knew he should leave but, something tugged at the pit of his stomach…it wasn't nausea he knew what that felt like.

No, this feeling felt a little more…hopeful, and curious like it was wondering if there really was someone that was just as lonely as him out there…that this girl craved companionship as much as did.

He desperately wished this hope would go away, that he could squash before someone else came around and did it for him…Varian was done feeling hurt and betrayed.

All he wanted was to be left alone…to feel numb…

So, he decided that he would leave, after all he'd already caused this girl enough trouble. But that was easier said than done with a grown woman asleep on your legs.

It didn't help with the dizzying distant pounding in his aching head throwing off his balance, but he was never one to give up without trying.

One of his best and now, he guessed, worst qualities in light of recent events.

Carefully pushing himself into a seated position Varian held his breath watching the woman shift a little before settling once more.

Somehow, he managed to make out of bed with out waking Lavender, but the creaking of the bedroom door gave him away in the end as he hears her clear her throat.

Turning around to face her, looking at the ground to avoid her disappointed gaze," And just where on Earth do you think your going?" She asked, clearly unhappy to see him out of bed.

Varian searched his half-baked brain for a viable answer already coming up short, now seemingly more interested in the ground, shifting from foot to foot.

Lavender sighed, deciding to cut him a little slack," Come here so I can get a better look at you." She said, having him come back over and sit on the bed.

She frowned, the boy still wouldn't even look her in the eyes, he even flinched a little when she moved to touch his forehead.

Scooping her hand under his bangs she clicked her tongue still not happy with how warm he," Fever's still there unfortunately." Gently cupping his chin, she moved his face, so he was looking at her," Open."

Varian blinked at her looking confused," I want to check out your throat." She explained, getting him to open his mouth for her," Say ahhhhh."

"Ahhhhh." Varian said, wondering why he was listening to her as he must have looked crazy.

Lavender cringed a little," Looks pretty raw to me, your definitely not going anywhere for a while." She told him.

He groaned a little, not used to all the fussing, uncomfortable because he couldn't breath through his most," I'm fine." He croaked shocked to hear his own voice.

Giggling, Lavender rolled hers," Oh yes you sound great, now lay down." She said, shoving him lightly back down onto the bed, recovering him with a blanket.

"Face it kid, your kind of stuck with me." She grinned, turning to go to the kitchen," Now I'm going to make breakfast and I expect you to be here when I get back." Lavender said, walking out of the room before the boy could answer.

Varian looked after her from his position on the bed, rubbing his shoulder from where she had shove him back down onto the bed.

It didn't hurt but he was still in a little shock. He wondered to himself if there were other people like this woman or if she was just an anomaly.

Either way he was too sore and tired to argue with her.

Lavender flushed a little leaning against the back of the groaning mentally. She didn't know what had come over her, ordering that boy around like she was his mother.

Rubbing her face, she couldn't help but already feel a growing attachment to the boy, a parental need to protect him…and it terrified her.

The wandering witch, afraid of a fourteen-year-old boy, she snorted that was one for the history books.

Well she'd already offered him to stay, and food eat so she sure as hell wasn't going to back out now. Getting her shit together she moved towards the kitchen only to be stopped by a heavy knock on her door.

Dread was already sinking into the pit of her stomach, as there a was a reason she was called a witch. Most people chose to avoid her, often ridiculing her for her medical practices, so to say she didn't get many visitors was an understatement.

"Open up we know your there." A loud booming voice echoed through the door and her heart sunk further into the pit of her stomach.

Of course, the royal guards weren't going to give up that easily, after all they suspected her of harboring a fugitive…she just wishes they weren't right this time.

Taking a deep breath, she answered the door, doing her best to look cool and confident, in the face of men that could most definitely arrest her at this very moment," I thought telling you to leave the first time was sufficient but apparently not."

"Yes, and that's why Flynn Ryder's requested us to return with a warrant from the king." The man said, holding up a document that permitted them to search her home," Since he was still feeling suspicious from yesterday."

Lavender felt her nerves bundle into a tight knot, but she fought to keep her voice even," Very well but I assure you, that you won't find the boy here." She told them trying not to let her eyes dart to bedroom door as they turned her small home upside down.

When the reached the door to her room she stood in between them and the door," Surely you woman some privacy." She said, her nerves frayed and on edge.

"We were instructed to preform a full investigation, Miss." The guard, moving her aside roughly," Move aside." He stated gruffly.

Lavender closed her eyes as her heart pounded in her chest as she readied herself for what was to come," All clear here."

Opening them she pushed passed the guards in confusion, not caring that the action could be perceived as suspicious," Is something the matter ma'am." They asked as she notice the window beside her bed was wide open letting the cold air inside the small room.

"Yeah you guys let my cat escape." She griped, figuring it was as good an excuse as any at the moment.

The guards looked a little guilty to her own amusement, as she thought that really do have a heart under those hard metal shells," Our apologizes ma'am perhaps we could find it for you."

Lavender waved them off," No it's not any trouble, he always finds his way home in the end." She told them," You didn't find anything, so I suppose you can leave now."

They nodded as they exited to through her front door," Commander?" She called out chewing on her lip, uncertain about the question she was about to ask him next," If it's no trouble…why are you looking for this boy?" She asked.

He looked shocked by her lack of knowledge," He's being held in prison for crimes against the crown." He answered as if the answer were right in front of her nose.

"Crimes against the crown?" She exclaimed, not knowing that Varian offence had been quite so severe.

"Yes, for kidnapping the Queen and threatening the princess." He stated this, and things just clicked for her.

"You mean for the most recent incident?" She asked, remembering how scared people were but never could she imagine that someone as young as Varian to lead that kind of assault.

If she remembered correctly they were very lucky that no one was hurt…perhaps it wasn't luck after all.

"Anymore questions before I take my leave?" The commander asked impatiently, and she waved him off bidding him a good afternoon.

Lavender wasn't sure she understood completely, her feelings on Varian. She still couldn't believe that he'd go so far as to kidnap the queen, but she also knew the guards didn't lie.

All she really knew for sure right now is that she had to find Varian before they did.

Even if he'd done those things…something didn't quite sit right in her brain. I felt like a puzzle that was missing pieces, she wanted the whole story and she was going to get it.