Amanda was, by no means, the type of person who got scared by fire. She'd grown up amidst noisy pyrotechnics and had danced amidst charcoal pits of fire colored with metal. Once or twice she'd even been pulled in to assist launching fireworks, watching their color fill the night sky and hearing their explosions.

It was why she was able to light all of the fires in the house without so much as batting an eye. Her leg had improved to the point where she wasn't afraid to walk around by herself anymore, and the bandage had long since been removed from her head. With these injuries no longer weighing herself down she'd determined that she could at least help her rescuers. She wasn't a lay about.

Kurt had protested that she was a guest, but she wasn't going to sit around when there was work to be done. They had argued back and forth about it until Azazel had come in, an eyebrow quirked at their raised voices. Obviously embarrassed Kurt had explained what it was about. Azazel had listened and then rolled his eyes before saying;

"She is not asking to build house. Let her."

Then, with a puff of smoke, he was gone. Grumpily Kurt had given in but had insisted he be the one to get the wood from outside. He was the one who could teleport outside and she ceded the responsibility. However, it was her who lit the fires in the morning and got the stove going. They had one of those old ones but Amanda had gotten the hang of it after a while.

Kurt was still cagey about her doing work but Amanda continued to insist. It was the least she could do. Besides, she liked helping Kurt. It meant that he wasn't going out of his way to see her; instead she had become a part of his day. The thought made her blush slightly but she made sure not to do so in front of other people. She'd been raised to pay attention to decorum and not run around being silly. As such she had a pretty good reign on public displays of her emotions.

In private her feelings were another thing. Amanda hadn't exactly lived ascetically at home. The flashy lifestyle of the Munich Circus wasn't something that encouraged being anti-social. Her mother had watched any boy that wanted to come near her like a hawk though. She had old-fashioned standards and curfews that had been strictly enforced since Amanda's first boyfriend at fifteen.

She wondered why her mother had worried so much. Amanda hadn't even kissed her first boyfriend. It was her second that gave her her first kiss and that was as intimate as it had gotten. Word travelled fast around the small community and if something had happened she knew she'd have her mother demanding that the boy marry her the next day.

It wasn't the fear of her mother finding out that had kept her back from that kind of intimacy though. Sure, Amanda had liked each of her boyfriends. She hadn't loved them, not really. It wasn't the kind of love that would encourage her to do that. She hadn't seen anything wrong with her reluctance; she was young after all.

Keeping her relationships in those terms were simple. She'd had three boyfriends in all, the first lasting three months, the second six, and the third five. There had been space in between them; she hadn't been boy crazy or desperate. They happened spontaneously and, as long as she didn't think long-term, things remained simple.

However, her feelings for Kurt were becoming quickly the most complicated things that she had ever felt. She could spend hours talking to him about absolutely nothing. His laugh was infectious, his mischief even more so. He had the air of one who considered the world a perfect miracle; every new discovery was brilliant and shining.

Even his silence seemed companionable somehow. They could be in the same room and not even talk with each other. It felt like they didn't need to. And then, no matter how silently he did it, no matter if she was facing the completely opposite direction, she'd know when he left. It was like some element of life had left the room.

She wasn't at all naïve, she knew what was happening. In the very least she was falling for him, and doing so hard and fast. At the most she had already hit the ground. Amanda feared for the latter option. It's not like it would amount to anything. Kurt might be the best person she had ever met, the first person she'd come near in months that made her feel like she was home, but that didn't mean anything.

She was going to leave as soon as the storm let up. Amanda would go to the observatory, deliver the box, and then leave. She'd board a plane and go back to England and rejoin the circus. And then she'd go back to her old life. There was no if about it, that was what was going to happen.

Logically Kurt was going to know that. He'd been rescuing people his whole life even if they didn't stay as long as she had. His kindness and company were part of who he was and nothing more. He was used to people coming and going and wouldn't want to cleave to someone who was going to be so transitory in his life. If there was any friendship between them it would stay just that; friendship. Then, after she'd gone, it would fade into his memory as an interesting few weeks with someone he liked talking to.

She should also know that and, as such, accept it. Amanda had had a strange and wonderful experience, but it was going to end soon. She should be excited to get back to her life. Everyone was waiting for her and she could get back to work. Amanda had enjoyed what she'd been doing, hadn't she? More and more her excitement about going home was beginning to wane.

However, what else could she do? They were her guardians; they were expecting her. If she waited too long the snow on her car would melt and they'd think she'd died. Amanda couldn't let them think that. Whatever foolish ideas she entertained she was going ot have to go back.

It was starting to hurt now. Amanda wished her mother were there so she could explain what she was feeling, the way her chest ached as she watched the snowflakes slow outside. Things were coming to an end and she was going to have to accept that. Even so she looked out at the dark night through the glass and felt her heart sink.


"Storm should let up tomorrow," Azazel said, "One should go to monastery and get new supplies. Other should take Amanda to observatory."

"Ja vatti," Kurt said listlessly.

His father looked at him. He'd caught Kurt going down stairs and had decided to start talking about practical matters with him. Kurt didn't want to be reminded that Amanda was leaving though, and now he was realizing that it had come too soon. He sighed and put his hands in his pockets.

"Malchick moy…"

His head raised in confusion at his childhood nickname. He hadn't been called that in years. When he did he could see that Azazel was looking at him with softened eyes.

"If you want, I could take Amanda to observatory."

Kurt shook his head.

"Nein, I will do it," he said.

Azazel put his hand on his shoulder. Kurt fought the urge to pull away. He didn't want to be pitied, just wanted to forget.

"Always knew she was going to leave," Azazel said gently, "Always understood."

"I understood vatti," said Kurt.

"Kurt," Azazel said, "I know what it is you are feeling."

Kurt looked away, bile building in his throat. He didn't want to have this conversation but he knew he had to.

"You know why it is we hide," Azazel continued, "I have told you this."

"Many times vatti," Kurt mumbled.

"We both know it is better this way," said Azazel.

Something inside him pulled tight and broke.

"Nein, it is not," he snapped, pulling away, "But thanks to you I know it is way it has to be."

"Kurt-"

"I am going downstairs."

His father stared at him as Kurt walked away, his hands still shoved in his pockets. Of course he'd known she was leaving. Yet, she'd been there so long that he'd gotten used to her presence, her laughter, her light. He felt special around her, like he was someone important.

She had been a traveler; she'd had a destination other than their house. That was how she'd gotten there. Amanda was just passing through. So why did it hurt to know she was going away? Kurt rubbed his temples and slouched down the stairs one step at a time. It wasn't just that he'd gotten used to her. He'd grown fond of her.

He snorted to himself, a habit he'd picked up from his father. Fond of her. It was wrong. The word sounded detached, like a feeling you would uste to describe a chair or a book. He wasn't fond of her. His feelings had a much stronger, passionate tint to them. Kurt would have given anything to simply be fond of her. Instead he felt something else.

As he came to the foot of the stairs he saw Amanda finishing up with the living room fire. Her golden hair spilled down her back, catching in teh light. An urge came over him to touch it, feel what it would be like to have her as close as they'd been that night they'd argued about Kennedy. He wanted to nuzzle into her neck and whisper a hello, have her lean back into his touch.

"Things like love…they are difficult for most people. For us, harder. I do not want to give illusions that we can live and love like others. We cannot Kurt."

One of his fists clenched. It wasn't fair, although he had never before had the opportunity to appreciate just how unfair it was. Swallowing his feelings he looked back at Amanda who'd finished with the fire. She brushed her hair back and looked over her shoulder. Seeing him she smiled and his head felt light.

"Morning Kurt," she said.

"Gut morning Amanda," Kurt replied.

His fist slowly began to unclench. If things were going to be unfair then he might as well get it over with.

"Miene vatti says storm should stop by tomorrow," Kurt said, "Und ve can take you up to observatory then."

Amanda's eyes widened.

"Oh…I didn't know that this qualified as slowing down," she said, gesturing to the window.

"The weather is strange," Kurt said, "But vatti has lifed here nineteen years. He knows what he means. Und zen I vill be able to teleport you up. Zey haf phones zere so you can call somevone to pick up car."

"I think that thing's totaled," she laughed, "God that's going to be expensive. I'll figure it out though. Make some more money, that kind of thing."

Kurt nodded, ignoring the lump in his throat.

"So, vhy did you vant to go to observatory?" asked Kurt, trying to change the subject, "You said somezing about mutter?"

"Yes," Amanda said, rubbing one arm with another, "She gave me this box that I'm supposed to give someone there. She was a little vague on that though."

"Oh," Kurt said, "Vhat ist in box?"

"I didn't look," Amanda said.

Kurt stared at her, shocked.

"You spend all zis time vith box und haf not looked in it?" he asked.

"I didn't think there was any point," Amanda confessed.

"Vell now I haf to know," sighed Kurt, "You should not haf told me."

"When did you get so nosy?" asked Amanda.

He gave her a blank look. She rolled her eyes and put her hands on her hips.

"Okay, silly question," Amanda said, "But we're not going to open it up."

"Vhy not?" whined Kurt, "I vant to know."

"No."

"Bitte?"

"No."

"Bitte?"

"Why is this so important?" demanded Amanda.

"I am curious," he shrugged.

Letting her hands fall by her side she shook her head.

"You're not going to let this go, are you?" Amanda asked.

"Nein."

"Okay, one look," said Amanda, "And then we stop talking about it."

He nodded gleefully. Without a word he grabbed her hand and teleported them to her room. She coughed from the smoke and glared at him.

"You should have warned me," she said.

"I vill next time," he said dismissively, "Now, show."

Pursing her lips Amanda went over to her backpack. She fished out a small black box and walked back to him.

"Here we go," she said, unlatching the lid.

Kurt peered in. Resting on a black velvet cushion was an emerald surrounded by intricate golden designs. Small golden lines linked together to form an oval around the emerald. By peering closer he could see that in the middle of the emerald was an inky black dot. He cocked his head when he looked at it. It looked like it was a pendant, a pendant shaped like an eye.

He picked it up and watched it glint in his hand.

"I didn't know it would be like that," Amanda said, blinking at it and putting the box down.

"It ist unusual," Kurt agreed.

Frowning Amanda reached out and took it.

"I mean, we're not the type of people for family heirlooms," said Amanda.

"Vell, neizer are ve," Kurt said, "Not zat ve haf any family to haf herilooms from."

Amanda turned the pendant over in her hand again. She squinted one eye and looked at it, her gaze focusing on the emerald. Suddenly she stepped back and dropped the pendant. Kurt moved forward and caught it before it hit the ground.

"Ist somezing vrong?" he asked.

"I...it...no," Amanda stammered, "Sorry, it just reflected the light into my eyes. Kind of hurt."

Kurt nodded and gave her the pendant back to her. Amanda picked it up gingerly and returned it to the box, which she closed almost immediately. She returned it to her backpack and zipped it up.

"I still don't understand why it was so important for you to see it," Amanda said.

Wordlessly Kurt opened his mouth. Why was it important? Some part of him revolted that she could even ask that question. It was important because it was why she was leaving him, why she'd met him in the first place. He was never going to see her again and all because of that eye pendant.

He didn't say that though. He just shrugged and said;

"Nein reason."


Kurt teleported out of the room and Amanda let out a breath that she'd been holding. Her eyes travelled warily over to her backpack where the black box was with the pendant inside it. Her hands trembling she picked up her backpack and put it under her bed. It made her feel a little more comfortable.

There was no explaining it. When she looked through the emerald she saw Kurt, true enough. Behind him she saw his father though, and he definitely hadn't been in the room. A woman with Kurt's eyes and skin stood next to him with an expression that chilled Amanda's blood.

Next to the woman had been a bald man in a wheelchair, looking tired like he had the weight of the world on his shoulders. A girl with brown hair with a white streak through it was near him, her hands in gloves. Further off she saw a whispy image of a woman with dark hair and wings. Further up had been a man with a helmet and cape, his expression even more terrifying than the woman with Kurt's eyes.

And then, in front of it all, she'd seen a beautiful little girl, giggling and dancing. The girl looked normal, except for her china blue skin. Her eyes were closed, moving with a grace unusual for her age, her voluminous black hair moving in a thick cloud around her.

Amanda felt herself drawn to the girl, her eye widening as she took in her features. Her ears were pointed something about her smile made Amanda's heart light as the girl danced in front of the other figures. Finally she did a cartwheel, landing on her feet with her arms thrown back in pride. Her eyes opened and Amanda saw her own blue-green eyes staring back at her.

Shock stuttered in her heart. Amanda had dropped the pendant like it was radioactive and realized that there really was no one in the room besides Kurt and her. So she told a lie and tried to shake off what she'd seen.

At least something good seemed like it would come out of going to the observatory; at least she'd be rid of that pendant.


A/N: If anyone can tell me what it is Amanda has without looking it up on the web I'd be duly impressed. You'll find out what it is in a few chapters though.