Chapter 2 was updated and reposted on June 25th, 2008. Mistakes were fixed and about 1000 words were added. So if you read chapter 2 before June 25th, 2008, you should probably reread it. But if you don't want to, then don't. I can't make you.

Same Disclaimer, Dedication, Notes, and whatever from the first chapter. Click back and reread them if you forget whatever it was that I typed.


All I've Ever Wanted

Chapter 3: Happy Letter

It was a nice sized room. Smaller than the one Murtagh called his, but bigger than the old room at Surda. The walls were bare and painted white in odd patches. Half was the white of the old walls; the rest was the off color of the newly placed drywall. The western wall still had a few unfinished holes where the wires had been removed and replaced. The closet door, bathroom door, and entrance door had all been removed as well and were propped up against one of the finished walls, waiting to be sanded and repainted.

But the windows were the brunette's favorite. It was a corner room and had windows on both of the corner walls. Two along the longest back wall and one along the wall to the right. A total of three large windows and there would be no fighting over who got to sleep next to it. No furniture lined the walls yet and the floor was waiting to be finished. Even the lights that used to adorn the walls had been removed and their sockets ready to be replaced.

All-in-all, Eragon loved it.


"Knock, knock."

The brunette smiled as he turned around and to see Garrow framing the doorway. "Sorry." He said, reaching up to scratch at the back of his neck. "Just daydreaming."

The elder man smiled as he stepped into the room, taking a slow glance around. "Daydreaming?" He repeated with a nod of his head.

Eragon nodded a bit sheepishly.

"Well…" Garrow turned and spun around slowly. "Tell me, Eragon. What do you envision?"

"Envision?" The brunette repeated, following Garrow's gaze.

"Yes." The man said, turning again to look at the brunette. "For your room."

"My room?"

Garrow laughed and shook his head. "Is there an echo in here?" He stepped closer to Eragon, smiling.

"Echo?" Eragon looked a bit confused.

"I could have sworn I was in a bedroom and not the Boer Mountains." Garrow threw his arm around Eragon's shoulders. "The room, my son. What do you envision for your room?"

Eragon's gaze dropped to the floor. "I don't know." He said softly.

"Well… start with the floor. Carpet or wood?"

"Carpet or…" Eragon repeated slowly.

"And the walls. What colors? Any thoughts on curtains? What about the furniture? We'll have to go shopping. You'll need a bed and a dresser at least. You'll probably want a desk for school. And shelves." He released his hold on Eragon and crossed towards the door-less closet. "This closet is rather small. We may want to think about expanding it."

All the talk had Eragon's head spinning. Flooring? Colors? Curtains? Furniture? For him? And he had to pick it out? He didn't need this much space. "Uh… expanding?"

Garrow nodded and turned. "There's a linen closet on the other side of this wall. We could knock out the back wall of your closet here, remove the door of the linen closet, and knock out this wall here…" He tapped the wall right beside the doorframe. "And give you a nice, large walk-in closet."

"A walk-in what?"

"A closet." Garrow laughed. "Stay with me, kiddo."

"Sorry." Eragon said softly. "I just… don't want you to go to much trouble."

"Me?" Garrow laughed again and shook his head. "I have three strapping, young sons to do all the work. I'll just stand by the door and bark orders."

"Three sons…" Eragon repeated slowly. It was the second time in that conversation that Garrow had referred to him as a son.

Garrow's expression grew a bit more serious as he stared at him. "Yes Eragon. I don't know how many times I have to tell you. You are a permanent member of this family. We like you. We want you to stick around."

The brunette smiled and nodded slowly. "I'd like that."

"The law says we're a foster family. The schools, like Surda, like to refer to us as, 'going off to college.' Some kids call us a work farm." Garrow said with a laugh. "But to us, we're just a family. You are family."

"Family…" Eragon repeated.

"Yep!" He nodded. "Complete with a father, couple of brothers, a sister… a few other spacey siblings…" He shook his head slowly. "I can't tell you what it's like explaining my son Roran is to marry my daughter Katrina." He shook his head slowly. "I tend to forget that not everyone knows the situation and those that don't tend to give me odd looks."

Eragon laughed. "Sounds confusing."

Garrow shrugged slowly. "Yes and no. Love is love. I love them both as my children. And it doesn't matter that they lived as brother and sister for four years. See, Eragon, love is a wondrous thing. When it is found, one should take it and fly."

"Lovely, sappy sentiment dad."

Eragon stiffened slightly as he heard the husky voice of the dark man he currently shared a room with. He turned slowly and looked over his shoulder.

"Ah. Murtagh! Perfect timing!" Garrow slapped his hands together rather happily. "We were just discussing the remodeling of Eragon's new room. The sooner we get it done, the sooner you get your room back."

Eragon peered at Murtagh and thought he saw something flash across those dark eyes. But as quick as it came, it was gone again and Eragon dismissed it. He was probably just imagining things anyways.

"Yeah?" Murtagh cocked his head to the side and took a step into the room.

Garrow nodded. "You can take Eragon paint shopping. I have work to do right now, but later tonight we should be able to get the walls in here finished. So tomorrow, paint time."

Murtagh laughed. "So I get volunteered to go?"

"Well… you have a car and a license." Garrow looked over at Eragon and pointed at him. "And after we're through with the room and get you moved in, we're going to get started on getting you a license."

Eragon nodded sharply. "Whatever you say." Driving actually scared him a little bit, but he would worry about that when the time came.

Murtagh smirked as he stepped closer to Eragon and threw an arm around him. "Okay then, let's go kiddo."

Eragon rolled his eyes as he pushed the dark man off him. "You are only three years older than I am. Why am I the kiddo?"

Murtagh shrugged his shoulders and turned for the door. "No clue. Just comes out naturally."

Eragon watched Murtagh's back until he disappeared out the door, glaring as best he could.

Garrow laughed. "Kind of hard to go paint shopping for your room without you."

Eragon shook the daze from his head and dashed off after Murtagh. "Hey! Wait for me!"


"Oh come on!" Murtagh groaned. "Pick a fucking color already! We're been through all the color samples at least twice. They aren't going to change!"

The brunette in question shrugged as he once again stopped in front of the color sample display. "I can't decide. And I didn't think the Garrow would actually make me pick."

Murtagh laughed. "You thought he was lying the whole time?"

"Can I help you?"

The two turned to see one of the store clerks hovering close. Murtagh threw up his arms while Eragon simply shook his head. "Just looking at the colors."

The guy nodded and offered them a smile. "Well, if you guys need help with anything, don't hesitate to ask."

Eragon smiled at the guy and nodded before turning back to the display. He picked up a color sample that had various colors of blue-green. It was the same one he had looked at a half hour ago.

Murtagh shook his head slowly. "You know… the right color isn't going to jump out at you and shout, 'Pick me! Pick me!'"

"I know that!" Eragon snapped. "I just… can't… decide…" He sighed softly and then spun around. "What do you think?"

Murtagh shook his head slowly, turned to the display, and picked a sample card instantly. Then he turned and handed it to Eragon.

"Black and gray?" Eragon peered at him, smirking.

Murtagh returned the smirk. "You asked my opinion."

"But I'm not you." The brunette whined. "What do you think for me? What color suits me?"

"And I'm not you." Murtagh persisted. "I can't think like you."

The brunette stuck his tongue out. "Oh! I give up! Let's just get white!" Eragon grabbed the white color card and turned towards the paint cans.

"Wait a minute!" Murtagh turned and intercepted him. "No white." He snatched the color card from Eragon's hand.

"But…"

"Just stand right here." He gave the hand in his a tug and then spun the brunette around. "And no peeking." Making sure that Eragon couldn't see the sample display, Murtagh glanced at the color samples for barely a second before grabbing a couple. Then he turned, grabbed a couple cans of paint, and headed over to the counter.

"What colors?" Eragon trailed behind him.

Murtagh whispered to the guy on duty and handed over the cards and cans to be mixed. "Hey, you asked for my opinion. Do you trust me?"

Eragon attempted to peek as the guy behind the counter checked the paint colors. "It's not black, is it?"

"Defiantly not."

"Gray?"

"Nope."

"Okay." Eragon shrugged and smiled.


Murtagh loaded the newly bought paint and brushes into the back of his car and slammed the trunk shut. "Did I ever tell you I hate shopping?"

Eragon slipped into the car silently and buckled his seat belt. He leaned back and let out a soft sigh. He was beginning to hate shopping as well. He was horrible at making decisions and picking things out. At Surda, everything was decided for him. Now more than ever, sitting in the car as Murtagh slid in beside him, Eragon felt out of place. He began to feel like he would never fit in. Not here, not anywhere.

"Hey… Eragon… Hello? Earth to Eragon?

Eragon shook his head slowly and glanced over at Murtagh. He was vaguely aware that he had been asked a question, but he couldn't remember what it was. "Sorry, what?"

"I asked what was wrong with you."

"Wrong?" He repeated slowly. "Uh… nothing." He answered quickly.

Murtagh shook his head. "No. I'm not taking that. All week you've been distant and spacey."

"So?"

"So?" He repeated and gripped the steering wheel tighter. "You aren't acting like yourself."

"Maybe you don't really know me." Eragon snapped.

The rest of the ride home was silent. Eragon bit his lower lip as he looked out the window. He hadn't meant to be distant. And he certainly hadn't meant to upset Murtagh. That was the last thing he wanted.

As the car slowed to a stop and was turned off, Murtagh sighed and shook his head. "I'm sorry. You're right. I have no business bugging you. I'm no one. Just the random guy who shares his room with you."

"No, Murtagh. That's not true and you know it. I don't think of you like that…" Actually, I really kind of like you, he thought. Instead of saying that, though, he said, "I'm sorry. I just… have had a lot on my mind lately. I didn't mean to snap. Just worried, I guess."

"Worried? About that un-mailed letter sitting on your desk?"

Eragon's eyes widened slightly as he looked over at Murtagh. "How did you…"

"I saw the envelope there this morning. I wasn't snooping, honest." He said with a slight smile. "Just looking to borrow a pen."

"Oh…" Eragon nodded and dropped his gaze to the floor.

"Why haven't you mailed it yet?" Murtagh prompted softly. "It's been almost a week. She's due back anytime now, right? If you go by what Arya had said."

Eragon nodded slowly.

"So why haven't you mailed it yet?"

Eragon shrugged. "I don't know."

Murtagh smiled. "Now that's a lie. I think you know exactly why."

Eragon tried to glare at him but failed miserably. Instead, he sighed and nodded. "I was ready to do it. Wrote the letter and got it ready as soon as we got back. But… then I started thinking. What if she's better off without me? She has a real family and home now. She doesn't need me anymore."

Murtagh was silent for a moment. When he looked over at Eragon, there was a slight sadness in his eyes that echoed in his voice. "You better not let dad hear that." He said softly and got out of the car.

"Hear what?" Eragon hurried to follow and circled the car to stand beside Murtagh.

"He is under the impression that you have a family as well."

Eragon colored slightly and dropped his gaze. "I didn't mean it like that. I just meant…"

Murtagh sighed. "Whatever. You guys must not have been as close of friends as you thought. Friends don't drop each other when things change. They move past it, learn from it, and accept that life tends to be unpredictable."

Eragon was stunned as he stared at Murtagh. That wasn't the way he felt at all. "I…" He stammered.

"Stop. Just stop being a pussy and mail the fucking letter. Please!"

"But…"

"You're just being insecure. From the stories I've heard and from watching how you light up you when you talk about her, it's the real deal. You two will be annoying close forever. Probably end up in the same nursing home too, babbling on about the times that Brom fellow caught you guys together after hours."

Eragon smiled at the picture it painted. "You think so?"

Murtagh nodded. "Yes I do. Now go and mail the letter before she gets back and calls Arya."

Eragon's smile faded and his eyes widened, imagining how Saphira would chew off his ear. "She wouldn't…"

Murtagh smiled as he watched the brunette race off towards the house. "Guess I'm getting the paint then." He called but was certain he wasn't heard.


Eragon sat down at his desk and pulled the letter from its envelope. He skimmed it briefly and then flipped through to the last page. He set it down on the desk and grabbed a pen. With a smile, he scribbled a few last words.


To my dearest Saphira,

Greetings my Princess Seraphina Delepan of Engleton. It is I, Sir Rider Drake of Varden. I am writing to you in regards to many such things that shall be outlined in the following pages. I hope the day today finds you well and that everything with you is going wonderfully.

I'm sorry I missed your birthday. I tried to come and see you actually. But when I got to Surda, Arya told me what happened. I wish I would have been there. We never even got to say goodbye. It wasn't fair how Brom made me leave without seeing you. I regret that. I wasn't able to say goodbye and I wasn't there to tell you happy birthday. I hope you had a good one.

So how am I doing, you might ask? I'm doing great. The family I'm staying with is great. Garrow, his sons Roran and Murtagh, and Roran's fiancée Katrina. Garrow and his late wife used to take in kids like us and turn them into productive members of society. Katrina was actually one such kid and she ended up never leaving. The wedding is in the planning stages and Roran has asked me to be in it. Can you believe it? I've only been here a month, but it feels like they are my family, like real family too. Garrow is a wonderful dad. He's kind and always concerned. And he actually talks. He asks questions like, 'How was your dad today?' and 'Did you learn anything new?' It's great! And Roran is great too. He's big into sports and enjoys kicking my ass on the basketball court. I've never been too good with that, but he's trying to teach me for some odd reason. He probably gets some sick, twisted pleasure from watching me trip over myself time and time again.

The college I go to is okay. I've never been a big fan of school, but the classes are small and the instructors are nice. It's a lot different than going to those blasted public schools or the private tutors at Surda. I haven't exactly picked a major yet. Just taking some easy, filler classes for now. I never really thought about what to do with my life other than leaving Surda far behind.

The house is huge, although half of it is still being remolded due to bad wiring. Garrow says in a few more weeks, I'll have my own room. And he actually wants me to design it. Pick out the colors, furniture, and decorate it. I still can't believe it! I've never had my own room. I feel almost guilty about it, you know? After all those years sharing everything I owned, it feels a little wrong. I think that when I graduate, I want to go back. To Surda, you know? Maybe donate some time and money. And help out in anyway I can.

But anyways, until my actual room is done, I'm sharing one with Murtagh, Garrow's younger son. He's really cool. He's a bit older and taller than me, but I really like him. He's the one who took me to Surda to find you. He dropped everything he 

was doing to drive me. You ended up not being there and all, so Arya cooked up this plan to help me find your address. The new guy Justin was the one manning the office. Do you know him? Arya mentioned he was pretty new. Angela's gay brother, although I think he's sort of keeping it a secret. Not sure. But Arya talked Murtagh into keeping Justin occupied. And I went snooping through your file to find your address. Quite easily, actually. I would think they might try and keep that sort of information a bit more secure, you know?

And you'll never guess who has a file there. Brom, of all people. The paperwork inside was faded and mostly illegible, but the date on it was 60 years ago. He was at Surda for 5 days before he was adopted. Can you believe it? I never knew. I wish he had still been there. I would have loved to talk to him. Angela said his father died and he retired. Were you there when that happened? Any clue where he is now?

But what was even stranger than Brom's folder was the picture I found tucked away in it. I included it so you can take a look at it. But do you recognize the two kids? I'm positive the brunette is me. But the dark haired kid who's hand I'm holding I have no clue. Have any clue who he is? I've been trying to figure out how old I am in it, but I don't remember. And I can't remember being friends with anyone other than you. But what gets me most about the picture is that it was hidden in Brom's adoption folder. And Brom's folder, anyways, was stuffed in the back, way out of order.

Well, I hope to hear back from you as soon as you get home. It's pure torture not being able to talk to you. I miss you being down the hall! So get your ass back!

Love, Eragon

P.S. I think I'm going crazy without you. Like really crazy. I think that without you here, I've sort of latched onto Murtagh. I've become overly attached to him and felt jealous when we were at Surda. Arya and that guy Justin were hanging all over him and I kept wanting to smack them both. Think that's weird?


Eragon sighed softly as he reread the letter a few more times. His life at Surda felt so far away and distant. "Has it really been just over a month? How can things feel so… different in just a short period of time?" He mused to himself, folding the letter and slipping it back into its envelope, along with the picture he had found.


Author's Notes: XD Aren't these chapter titles just soooo stupid? This one especially. But hey… I'm not good with story/chapter titles. And did I confuse and surprise anyone? Bet you all thought the folder Eragon found was Murtagh's! Nyah! If it doesn't make sense, it might make more later. Stay turned to find out what happens next. No Murtagh in the next chapter or Eragon for that matter, but they'll both return for the last one.