A/N: hello all! Has everyone enjoyed the past few chapters? I know I enjoyed making protective 7 year old Riff. At any rate I do hope you're enjoying the story and as always I look forward to reviews no matter how small so if you keep reviewing I'll give you a cupcake!

-Chapter 4-

Magenta stood on the beach outside her backyard gate watching the waves as they rolled effortlessly in the shimmering pale blue light. A sound from behind her made her look over her shoulder to see Riff making his way to her. She turned back to the sea but as she felt her brother wrap his arm around her shoulders she rested her head on his chest.

"It's almost time to go, are you ready?"

She took a deep breath then nodded following her brother back into the house and to where their parents were waiting in the living room. Alice was wearing a navy blue party dress, her blonde hair was up in an elegant bun, her lips were painted red, and her eyes were accented by heavy makeup. As soon as she looked at her daughter she sighed and began fussing with her hair.

"Honestly Magenta I wish you would listen and not go down to the beach before your first party! Your hair is hard enough to tame now it's a mess."

Onyx sighed and grabbed his wife's arm telling her not to worry about it that their daughter looked fine. Magenta looked up at Riff nervously earning a soft smile as he carefully tucked a stray curl behind her ear and took the pin from her updo letting her wild curls fall down to her shoulders.

"Riffy don't mom will get mad, she wants me to look perfect."

Riff rolled his eyes before gently kissing her forehead.

"You do look perfect sister, you look beautiful."

Magenta blushed faintly looking down at herself, she was wearing a new emerald green party dress her aunt Patricia had sent her for her 15th birthday the week before, her normal flat shoes were replaced by four inch black heels, her mother had made her sit still for nearly an hour to put makeup on her and wrangle her hair into a bun on her head that Riff had just undone.

"There's just something missing."

Magenta looked up at her brother confused until he took something from his pocket and turned her around gently pinning two pieces of her her hair back with a jade butterfly pin. Magenta went to the mirror and looked at the pin and smiled brightly hugging her brother.

"Thank you Riffy! It's beautiful!"

Riff smiled kissing her head before pulling out of the hug and offering his arm to her which she took after giggling. He led her out to the car and held the door for her before getting in beside her as their parents got in the front seats. Tonight there was a party at the palace and finally Magenta was old enough to attend but unlike Riff who had gone to his fair share of parties being 17 she was nervous.

"It'll be okay Genta, once we get there you'll relax and it won't seem so scary."

Magenta looked up at her brother and smiled a little before nodding trying to keep herself from freaking out. When they arrived at the party Magenta was overwhelmed by the number of people attending and found herself attached to Riff's side, though he didn't seem to mind, as he talked with people he knew and people his parents knew. After a while Riff led his sister over to the refreshments table and handed her a glass of punch.

"What do you think of it so far?"

Magenta looked around and shook her head.

"To many people."

Riff took a drink from his punch watching as she sipped hers before they both looked at the dance area as slow music began playing. Riff smiled setting his cup down and taking his sister's before offering his hand to her as he bowed.

"May I have this dance young lady?"

Magenta giggled but took his hand curtseying.

"Yes you may sir."

Riff smiled and led her out onto the dance floor gently placing one hand on her waist and the other in hers as her free hand rested on his shoulder. It quickly became apparent she may as well of had two left feet making him chuckle before placing both hands on her hips and lifting her enough she was standing in his feet making her blush.

"Riffy you don't have to do this, I'm too big aren't I hurting you?"

Riff lightly kissed her forehead.

"Not in the slightest dear sister."

She smiled and let him dance around with her and before she even knew it she had stepped off his feet and was dancing on her own. When the song was over she smiled brightly and took her brother's hand pulling him off the dance floor and off to a balcony that overlooked the vast gardens. Spinning around a couple times she giggled and let go of his hand before leaning on the stone rail looking out at the garden as the pale blue moonlight made every last rose shimmer as they swayed softly in the breeze.

As the breeze whispered by she shivered feeling the chill through the thin sheer sleeves of her dress. Suddenly something was draped over her shoulders and blocked the chill making her look to find Riff had put his jacket on her before he too leaned on the rail looking up at the stars rather than the gardens. Magenta smiled watching her brother.

"It is beautiful tonight."

Riff smiled down at her.

"It is but not as beautiful as you Genta."

She blushed again feeling like butterflies had filled her stomach and her heart would skip a beat when she looked at her brother's smile. As the chilled breeze blew again she inched closer to Riff until they were side by side again looking out at the sprawling gardens. As they watched a young couple not much older than themselves entered the garden hand in hand and stole a kiss before running from sight. Riff looked at his sister out of the corner of his eye and felt his throat go dry as his heart skipped a beat then hammered like it was trying to escape his chest.

Before he could think to stop himself he leaned down close to her catching her eye as he went to kiss her cheek but she closed her eyes and turned her head so their lips met instead. Both were surprised but didn't break apart because the kiss felt right some how. When they broke apart Magenta touched her fingertips to her lips as tears filled her eyes making Riff feel horrible thinking he'd upset her.

"Genta I'm sorry, I didn't mean to."

Magenta shook her head as tears rolled down her cheeks before she turned on her heel and ran from the balcony his jacket dropping to the ground as she did so.

"Magenta!"

Riff cursed under his breath grabbing his coat and chasing after his sister but lost sight of her as he reached the gardens. He looked around but his sister was nowhere to be found making him curse himself as he sat on a stone bench hiding his face in his hands. He hadn't meant to kiss her, not that way, he knew she felt uneasy at the party and he just wanted her to feel more at ease. He looked up at the sky as old memories of being 7 years old sitting in his junior academy class listening to his teacher explain what relations were allowed on the planet then explain how insestuis relations, while legal, were frowned upon.

Someone sitting beside him snapped him from his thoughts and made his heart skip a beat hoping it was Magenta but his heart sank to his stomach as he seen it was Cosmo, he wasn't surprised to see his cousin now not when he had realized the young couple that snuck through the gardens had been him and Nation.

"Shouldn't you be off with Natty somewhere?"

Cosmo ignored his cousin's bitter tone.

"We were on our way back to the party when we heard sobbing, we followed it and found a little auburn haired beauty crying her eyes out at the fountain. What happened?"

Riff sighed and stood before starting to pace angry at himself even more. Cosmo waited for an answer knowing not to try and push to get it out of his cousin and finally Riff cracked.

"I kissed her! I didn't intend to it just happened! Then she ran out crying and I lost sight of her out here, how could I be so stupid?! Of course she ran off crying in her brother damn it! She probably hates me now."

He sat back down hiding his face in his hands. Cosmo gave a small chuckle before putting a hand on Riff's shoulder.

"She won't hate you, you're her older brother, her protector and her best friend there's no way she could hate you."

Riff raised his head and leered at his cousin.

"How could you know that? She isn't like Nation, she's more independent and hot headed. I'm her brother and I kissed her for god's sake Cosmo it's not right I shouldn't look at my little sister that way! I shouldn't be having the feelings I do!"

Cosmo's pale blue eyes turned icy as he listened.

"I felt the same way when I first started to feel things for Nation, I was 15 and I knew I shouldn't be looking at my 13 year old sister like any other guy would but I learned the more I denied my feelings the worse they became, it got so bad I couldn't even be in the same room as her without wanting to kiss her. Then one night during a storm she came into my room because she couldn't sleep and it just happened, I kissed her. I was waiting for her to slap me and tell me she hated me but instead she started to cry, I felt horrible that I had kissed her and made her cry but after calming herself down she told me she hadn't cried because I had kissed her but because she was so relieved that her feelings weren't one sided. Magneta will understand her feelings but you can't assume she hates you, she's only 15 and she was raised to believe love between siblings is wrong but even if she doesn't love you that way she'll never hate you."

Riff sighed looking down at the grass thinking over what he was being told but said nothing back as he remembered a family get together when he and Magenta were small when his mother had seen Patricia and Richard show up, that hadn't ended well because Alice was a strong believer that insest was wrong and shouldn't be tolerated. Riff shook his head but looked up when Cosmo stood hearing footsteps and whispers, looking over his shoulder Riff seen Nation walking towards them with her arm around Magenta's shoulders and holding her hand as the younger girl sniffled a little but was smiling.

Riff got to his feet as the girls stood before them, his blue eyes met Magenta's emerald pools and before he could even open his mouth his sister flung herself at him wrapping her arms around his neck and hiding her face in his shoulder. After the shock wore off he wrapped his arms around her holding her close.

"I'm sorry Genta, I didn't mean for you to start crying, I didn't mean for it to hurt you."

Magenta shook her head pulling out of the hug enough to look at him new tears in her eyes but she was smiling.

"No Riffy don't be, I wasn't crying because of the kiss I was crying because after two years of trying to push thoughts of loving you away I couldn't stand it anymore but when you kissed me it reminded me of how mother shuns aunt Pat and even Cossy and Natty now, how she'll shun us."

Riff tore his eyes away from his sister's eyes to look at Cosmo and Nation who were standing hand in hand facing each other in a moment of their own. He looked back down at Magenta and gave her a small smile.

"Then she'll never know until you feel ready to tell her."

A smile spread across her lips before she bit her lower one.

"Promise?"

Putting a finger under her chin he leaned down and kissed her lips sweetly making her give a purr like noise as she kissed back then pout as he pulled away.

"I promise."

She smiled looking over at Cosmo and Nation seeing the pair smiling watching them now. Nation gestured to the palace.

"Think we should go back?"

Cosmo and Magenta both made a face at the idea of going back into the crowd of party goers making Riff and Nation laugh before Riff looked at his watch.

"I have a better idea, why don't you guys come back to the house with us? We can sit on the beach."

Magenta perked up nodding.

"I know where mom keeps the wine, she won't know if we borrow a bottle."

Riff laughed as the cousins looked at the 15 year old before shaking their heads but agreeing to come. While Cosmo and Nation waited outside the gates, since Cosmo had drove them, Riff and Magenta went back up to the party to find their mother and father. After looking around the siblings found them talking with a group of men and their wives, as soon as Onyx seen Riff he smiled proudly motioning him over. Riff shared a look with Magenta but walked over with her on his arm.

"Speak of the devil here he is, this is my son Riff Raff and his little sister Magenta."

One of the men, Riff recognized him as the principal of the College of Transylvania which resided on Asexual, offered his hand as Riff shook it.

"It's a pleasure to meet you young man, your father has been talking up a storm about you, top marks in every class and a knack for sciences. Tell me do you plan on attending college after next year?"

Riff looked sideways at Onyx and Alice who seemed to be glowing with pride.

"After this year sir, I am graduating early. I could have graduated last year but I chose to continue with schooling another year. I have considered collage but I wasn't planning on the highest ranking college in the galaxy, I couldn't afford the tuition."

The man smiled with a throaty chuckle.

"If you're as bright as you say you are then tuition would be completely covered as would books and materials. A full scholarship for as many years you attended."

Riff felt as though all air had left his lungs, a glance at his parents and he could see them all but agreeing for him but on his other side Magenta was looking discouraged and this time not about being in the crowded party room. He looked back at the man.

"That is a very generous offer sir but I must request time to think about it."

The man nodded.

"Of course take all the time you need there is no rush,"

He paused his eyes moving to Magenta.

"And will this little beauty be attending as well?"

The air of pride that seemed to be coming off Alice died a little as she looked at her daughter.

"I'm afraid Magenta still has a few years of school to finish before college becomes an option."

The man looked from Alice then back to Magenta the pleased look he gave Riff completely gone, Riff gave a slightly growl to low to hear sure Magenta didn't get top marks but she wasn't stupid. Riff looked at his father trying to keep himself calm.

"Genta and I were going to head home, she isn't feeling well."

Onyx looked at his daughter and seen how uncomfortable she seemed and nodded.

"Want the car?"

Riff shook his head.

"No a friend is leaving as well and offered us a ride, we will see you later."

Onyx nodded and quickly distracted his wife with talking before she could protest the siblings leaving. Riff led Magenta out of the room and to where Cosmo and Nation were waiting in the car. Once they arrived at the house the group went down to the beach while Magenta retrieved a couple bottles of wine from the large accumulation in the basement before joining them. The couples sat on the beach together talking and sipping wine but after a few drinks Nation was getting tipsy and red in the cheeks.

Magenta couldn't help but laugh a little at her cousin, she never knew Nation was a light drinker. After a little longer Cosmo decided it was time to get his sister home as she began nodding off, Riff offered to drive them but Cosmo refused having only had half a glass of wine, so with a few good byes Riff and Magenta watched their cousins drive off. Magenta leaned into her brother's side smiling contently but it widened as Riff leaned down and left a trail of kisses from her temple to her cheek electing a giggle from her before she turned around and captured his lips in a soft sweet kiss, it felt normal almost natural to kiss him like they had been doing it all their lives and even though the rules she'd had crammed into her head from childhood were screaming it was wrong it felt every bit right.