~~~Part 7, begin~~~Cenna POV~~~

"Where are we going, Cenna?" Tibarn asked me as I led him away from Reyson. This was the day I had been dreading since I realized my feelings for Reyson. This was when I'd have to explain it all, and wait to see if I failed him…again…

"I know you want to talk, Tibarn, but I want us to do it somewhere private." Was my reply.

He was quiet until I pulled him into a side room. "Can I talk now?"

"Please." I sat in a chair.

"Why not talk to me first?"

"Because I am a grown woman. I do not think that I need your permission to love someone."

"How do you know its love?"

"We care about each other. But we also know each other's strengths and weaknesses. I feel that we are compatible, and he agrees. He isn't perfect, but neither am I. I feel like he is everything I want in a husband."

"But you two are so different!"

"Not really. If he was more like Raphiel, then maybe. But he has the iron of a hawk in him, and you know that!"

"Yes, but he is also poised and graceful."

"So? What does that have to do with our compatibility?"

"Then what about how different your clans are? He's a heron, you're a hawk! How can you two get passed your cultural differences!?"

"We're trying. He's been willing to accept that I eat meat, but I have made a promise that I will not do it around him. We have compromised. Isn't that a part of love? Being willing to compromise on the little things?"

He sighed and joined me in a chair. "When did you become so wise, little sister?"

"A girl grows up a lot in ten years."

He moved to cradle his head in his hands. "I don't think I can let you go." He whispered.

"What do you mean?"

"All this time, I've been so protective of you because I still saw the little girl that ran away from home. But you're right; you've grown up a lot in ten years. I'm sorry, Cenna, I've done you a terrible, terrible wrong."

"That's okay, Tibarn, I forgive you." I knelt in front of him, resting a hand on his knee. "I understand your position. You just want your little sister, but she isn't so little anymore."

"You're not, are you?"

"No, I'm not."

"I just got you back; I don't want you to go again."

"I'm here for a while, Tibarn. But you should know that where Reyson goes, so do I. I love him so much Tibarn."

"Do you love me too?"

"It's a different love. The love I feel for you is that of a brother. But for Reyson, I feel for him like he is my other half. He truly completes me."

"I'm sorry, Cenna."

I furrowed my eyebrows. "For what?"

"I did not think that the two of you were so mature. I accused Reyson of…of lying with you."

"What?! Why would you think that!?" I stood up angrily.

"Because I over reacted. I am so sorry, Cenna."

"Is that why you were so…so…so upset earlier?" I sat back down.

"Yes."

"How could-why would-gah! I don't have any words to describe how I feel about you right now!" I stood angrily and began to pace in my rage.

"Cenna, I'm sorry."

"Sorry?! How can you think a 'sorry' would fix this?"

"I know it won't, but you still need to hear that I'm sorry."

I was silent as I glared at him.

"Don't look at me like that."

"Why not?" I demanded.

"That's exactly how mom used to look at me when I was in trouble and she was mad."

That stopped my anger in its tracks. "You've never told me that before."

"You look so much like her, you know. Especially now."

I sat back down. "You've never told me that I look like mom."

"I should have. You sound like her sometimes too. And you fight like her. She would have loved to learn beorc swordplay; it would have given her such a thrill."

"Thank you, Tibarn. I really appreciate you saying that." I stood again. "I'm going to go, okay?"

He stood as well. "Okay. I'll see you when we depart then?"

"Yes." I moved to hug him and he opened his arms to me. My head only came up to his neck and his head rested over mine. We released a few seconds later. "I'll see you then."

I walked away from Tibarn and headed back to my room. When I arrived, Reyson was sitting on the bed, slowly eating an apple.

"Cenna!" he called, standing and coming over to me. "What did Tibarn say?"

"He's sorry he overreacted. He even admitted to it." I replied, sitting on the bed and grabbing an orange and pealing it.

"Is that it?"

"Pretty much." I picked at the orange.

Reyson joined me on the bed. "Cenna, what else did he say?"

"He said I reminded him of our mom." I murmured.

"You mother?" Reyson repeated, surprised.

"Yes. Did you know I never met her? She died giving birth to me. She told the midwife my name and then…nothing."

"I didn't know that."

I brought my knees to my chest. "I try not to think about her. When I do, I feel like there's this hole inside me that can't be filled."

"I'm sorry, Cenna." He paused. "Is that why you're so close to the mercenaries?"

"I think so. I feel like they are my true family. They know everything about me."

"I wish we had gotten this close sooner."

"I agree." I pulled off the napkin and laughed. "You actually grabbed meat for me?"

"It nearly killed me." I kept laughing. "Cenna, this isn't funny!"

"Yes it is!" I laughed, grabbing a sausage and popping it in my mouth.

"So gross."

"You'll learn to live with it." I replied, eating the last one. "Better?"

"Not by much."

I leaned over to him, placing one hand on each of his robed thighs. I leaned in and kissed his forehead. "How about now?"

He grinned. "A little."

I planted a kiss on his nose. "And now?"

"Getting better all the time…"

I moved to his lips and gave him a light kiss. "How about now?"

"Much, much better." He caught my lips for another kiss.

"Shouldn't we-" Kiss "be getting-" Kiss "to the battle?"

"Do you-" Kiss "want to-" Kiss "stop?"

He broke away. "No. I don't want to stop." He pulled at the yellow sash.

I grinned and looped a finger under the tie keeping the top of his robe shut. "Good, neither do I." I dove into another kiss. I pushed the vest off of him and cupped his face with one hand as we dove into a deep kiss.

~~~Part 7, Fin~~~