A/N: I was surprised by how hard it was to find a song for this part but here it is. I'm sorry that I haven't updated in a while but I hope I can make it up to you with these next TWO chapters. Also, the lyrics are like Donia's present thoughts about Keenan, if there is any confusion. So without further ado...

Enjoy! =)


Flattery

By: Aly & Aj

"Are you going to be gone for a while?" Aquil asked Donia as she put on the blue converse he got for her. He couldn't help the tiny smile that crossed his face, flattered that she wore them as often as she did. For the last weeks, Aquil had been spending time with his queen. He welcomed her vehemently into his apartment, delighted that his queen could spare a little time for him, that she liked him just as much as he liked her. But his smile soon fell into a frustrated frown. So why is it taking her so long to answer my question? He thought to himself.

"Yeah," Donia answered, "I'll try not to be gone too long though." She slipped on her jacket before kissing his lips briefly. She turned to walk towards the door when he called out to her.

"Donia," he said. Donia turned to him, seeing the frustration in his features. "We need to-"

"Please," she cut him off, "Don't. I know I have to answer your question but I need time to think. I have to think about me, my court…it's a big decision. Please, just be a little more patient. I-I need to think…" Donia watched Aquil's face soften with concern. He looked down at the ground before nodded obediently.

"Winter is patient and you need patience." He said more to himself then her. He looked up and met her gaze. "I will wait." Donia nodded and headed towards the door once again.

"Donia." Aquil said timidly. She didn't turn around, instead keeping her hand on the doorknob. "I can't wait forever."

She said nothing to him as she opened the door and left.

Donia took a shaky breath as she stepped outside and began walking. She looked up briefly at the cloudy sky. She couldn't tell whether or not it would rain but, at the moment, she was only concerned with the conflict inside herself. She crossed the street and entered the neighborhood park. She let her glamour fall, becoming invisible. For once, park was empty of both faeries and humans. Probably because of the storm, Donia thought to herself distractedly.

She slowed to a leisurely walk on one of the paths as she thought about Aquil's offer. It made her dizzy as she thought about everything she would have to do just to make it happen. What would she do about her court, the properties she had, the alliance…she shook her head but some how another image came to her mind.

It was kind of blurry in her mind but it was a blur of colors with two people laughing. They were in a bedroom, lying down.

"So, when are you going to come live with me?" Keenan said as he tickled her lightly. Donia laughed, sighing as Keenan stopped. She placed her hand to his face.

"When it's right," she answered.

Donia blinked the forgotten memory. She felt a small twist in her stomach. The time was never right, she told herself, thinking of their turbulent relationship. However, her mind didn't linger on that part but instead on the beginning.

The sweet innocent beginning…

Donia walked along the boardwalk. It was early in the day so very few people were out. She smiled slightly at peace in the air, taking a deep breath as she finally relaxed. Donia savored the few moments she could escape from her house and it's stifling atmosphere. Her mother found another one of her pictures and, despite her claims of it just being a hobby; her mother lectured her once again about the value of a real education. Donia did agree that a real education was valuable. She just didn't believe she had to give up her drawing for a nurse uniform.

She walked lazily along the boardwalk, gazing every now and then at the sea. She gazed mesmerized at the sparkling water. Yet, she slightly mourned in the sunrise, knowing she had to get back home soon before she got in trouble. Just as she turned to walk back home, she noticed a spot of color out the corner of her eye. She looked and gasped softly at the blooming sunflower on the ground. That wasn't there before, she thought, I'm sure I would've noticed it. But the thought didn't stop Donia from bending down to touch the petals. They felt soft under her hand.

"That's a beautiful flower." Someone said behind her. Donia froze as heard a voice that was silky sweet, like sunshine. She stood up before turning around only to be caught in the most beautiful, blue-green eyes she's ever seen. She couldn't help but stare into them, surprised by the closeness and power in them. She looked away shyly, her skin feeling warm but not from the blush that was gracing her cheeks. Instead, it felt like sunshine draped itself around her shoulders, covering her.

"Sunflowers usually are." She said quietly. He chuckled a bit at her shyness, exuding a confidence that she wasn't use to seeing with guys she knew.

"I wasn't talking about the flower on the ground. But now that you mention it," he bent down and picked the flower. The flower seemed to reach out towards him. He held out the flower to her. "It is the beautiful."

Please, don't flatter yourself
You're not the only one
This heart has ever felt

Donia blushed at the compliment as she took the flower from him. She's heard the word plenty times before but there was something genuine about the way he said that excited her. She stepped back from him so she could see him fully. He was dressed simply in a shirt and plain pants but something about the way he carried himself was so…different. A small alert flagged in the back Donia's mind but she ignored it.

"You're not from around here, are you?" She asked him. He returned her smile blindingly.

"No, I'm not." He told her, holing out his hand. "I'm Keenan."

"Donia." She replied. Keenan bit his lip, looking nervous for the first time.

"I know this is kind of forward but…can I walk you home?" He asked her, his eyes pleading. The air grew a bit heavy around them as the question hung the air. Donia thought about her answer but she knew that she would say yes even before he was finish asking the question.

"Yes." She said. Keenan's smile was dazzling as he held out his hand to her. It would be only months later when Donia would wonder what would've happened if she had just walked away but for now, she would take his hand and let him lead her home.

Please, don't exaggerate
Don't tell me you're okay, okay, okay..

Donia took a deep breath, crossing her arms. The winter inside of Donia stirred lightly inside her. She couldn't believe that this all happened from one innocent walk home with a stranger. But he grew to be more than just a stranger. He became her friend. Someone she could be intimate with, someone she could trust…

I will admit, if you admit it
It's harder than we both thought
It's easier to fall apart
Look where we are

Donia was laying down on her bed, looking out the window. She closed her eyes as she heard a sweet lullaby caressing her ears from the end of her bed, where Keenan was, leaning against the wall just on the side of the window. Keenan sat with Donia's legs in his lap, gently massaging them. She sighed at the way his fingers felt on her skin. She felt completely relaxed, not wanting to move from the spot. Her parents were out of the house for the day and even if they did come home, Keenan could disappear in a second without ever leaving her side.

It had been 6 months since he first walked Donia home and 2 since he told her about him being a faerie. She didn't know all the details but she didn't mind. She actually preferred it that way. She didn't want all the details. Donia was content with the fact that he wanted to stay by her side. Donia looked down at Keenan, who was slightly hidden by the shadows. But even with the darkness, she could still see his bright green eyes that were boring into hers. She bit her lip as they continued to stare at her.

I can forgive it, I can't forget it
You left me here with all these scars
and you can't deny the hardest part
I'm not in your arms

There had been more lingering looks lately between the two and Donia wasn't sure how long she would be calling him only a friend. The thought of them being more make Donia's heart speed and her skin slightly tingle. That added to Keenan's touch made her want to lean up and blur the line that was thinning between them already.

But she didn't. She just broke her gaze away from his and continued to look out the window. Keenan chuckled lightly. She looked back at him.

"What?" she said, her lips automatically curling into a smile.

"Are we going to keep doing this?" He asked her seriously despite his smile. "You know you want me."

"Oh so it's me wanting you? It's not the other way around?" She said playfully, despite how nervous she felt about his reply. Keenan looked down her, his gaze weighing down on her. He lightly stroked her skin from her the top of her calf to her ankle. Donia tried to breath regularly as her pulse jumped, keeping her eyes locked with his.

"I never said that." He said, a hum of desire right under the surface of his voice. Donia instantly wanted to look away as she began to blush but she didn't. She instant pushed herself up so that she was sitting.

"So what exactly would you do if we were together?" she asked. Keenan thought fro a moment.

We're more hurt than we appear
The world will never know
We both have tasted tears, my dear

"Well, I would take you everywhere with me and show you off. I would recite poetry to you when walked. I would take you to the orchard when I wanted to be alone. I would ask you to come live with me…I would make you my queen." He told her seriously. Donia thought over his words and couldn't help but fantasize about his words. A small smile grew on her face.

"I wouldn't mind that. Living with you." She said. Keenan's eyebrow shot up.

"Really?" she nodded. Keenan gave her his signature blinding smile.

"Later, of course." She quickly added. "But I wouldn't mind that."

"Well, you should have asked for my reaction if you had said yes." Keenan said. "Because I would done this." He quickly pulled Donia to him. The wind was pushed out of Donia as he wrapped his arms around her before making them fall back on her pillow, laughing louder than before, sounding the happiest he's ever been. She laughed too, feeling light than air…feeling like sunshine. Donia sighed as he unwrapped his arms, lying down beside her and taking half her pillow. She turned so she faced him.

"You know we're still friends," she told him. Keenan shrugged.

"For now." Had Donia heard those words 6 months earlier, she would've been terrified. Now she only felt elation.

"For now," she agreed. Keenan hesitated before lacing his fingers with hers. Donia squeezed his hand reassuringly. She scooted closer to him, before snuggling her head to his chest, feeling relaxed once again. Keenan's fingers tapped lightly on her skin playfully.

"So, when are you going to come live with me?" Keenan said as he tickled her lightly. Donia giggled, sighing as Keenan stopped. She placed her hand to his face, making him look her in the eye.

"When it's right," she answered.

Donia would never forget the hope in his eyes when he replied, "I'll wait."

You're denying what I say
Don't act like it's okay
Cuz it's not okay

Donia clenched her fist as she remembered. How could she be so foolish? How could she fall for him so easily? What it so easy for him to really promise her forever? To promise visits to the orchard, to want to show her off…to promise her to make her his queen? Of course it was, Donia thought as the dark clouds above her rumbled. The wind pushed against her as she walked further into the park, the first few sprinkles falling. As hard as it was to believe, and even harder to remember, there was a time when he loved her too. A time when he believed too.

And it was that foolish belief that tore them apart.

Donia gazed up at the sky as she felt the first drops of rain begin to fall. She bit her lip as another memory came to her mind. She shook her head to try and get rid of it but it stayed. The rain fell harder and Donia started to run.

I will admit, if you admit it
It's harder than we both thought
It's easier to fall apart
Look where we are

"Keenan, shouldn't we be inside?" Donia asked, scared by how ominous the sky looked as thunder boomed above them. Keenan only smirked as he pulled her gently along.

"I have to show you something." He told her. Suddenly, he stopped and turned so that she was staying in front of him. He took both of her hands and she looked up. The sky was grey and heavy, the clouds threatening to break at any moment.

Donia looked back at Keenan. His eyes reflected the storm above them, the unnatural green of his irises acting as a frame. The storm gathered and grew and Donia gripped Keenan's hand tighter as the moment became tenser as it carried on.

Then it stilled.

Suddenly, everything was calm but somehow the tension stayed. It was almost as if the world paused. As if it was waiting for something.

An answer to a question.

"The eye of the storm." Keenan said, breaking the quiet. "The calmest part. The one part that can't hurt you. The one place to free a secret."

I can forgive it, I can't forget it
You left me here with all these scars
and you can't deny the hardest part
I'm not in your arms

Donia stared at him as he said this. A part of her wanted to step away from the intensity of the moment, but she felt frozen. Instead, she closed her eyes, tilting her head up, absorbing the peace of the moment. Confidence filled her and she opened her eyes, meeting his gaze. They mesmerized her, hypnotizing her.

Say it, they commanded gently, say it. Donia felt compelled as she opened her mouth.

"I love you." She admitted, the words falling out her mouth before she could stop them. Keenan smiled and she felt a drop of water hit her lip. He reached out and wiped the raindrop away, licking his fingers as if to savor the words she just said. As if to keep them forever.

Donia tilted her head up once more as she felt more raindrops fall on her. Keenan caught her eyes as he stepped closer to her, the rain pelting on their skin. Donia froze, not sure what to do, the fragility of the moment foreign to her. Keenan gazed down at her confidently, the look heavier than the rain. He trailed his hand up until it rested behind her neck, holding her in place as he leaned down towards her.

Trust me, his eyes begged her silently, trust me…

It's not in the cards
It's not in the stars!

Donia didn't move as he captured her lips with his own. He kissed her as if he was drowning in the rain and she was air. She did the same, circling her arms around him, desperate to hold on to him and the moment. As he kissed her, Donia felt as if he was searching for her something. She tired to figure out what exactly as it stormed. It wasn't passion. It wasn't desire. Nor was it happiness.

None of that.

But as she moved his lips against hers, she figured it out.

He was looking for her confession. He probed her mouth for the words, tasting every letter he could find until he found them all. And them he formed them on her lips, tattooing them so that he would always be able to see them. So that he would always know. Donia sighed as she let him do it, slowly consuming her.

I'm not sorry, I'm not sorry
You're not sorry

The storm was in full swing, wind and water pelting her from every direction and she had nowhere to run as the pain came. Her eyes blurred as old emotions consumed her once again and she could barely see. Then next thing she knew, Donia was tumbling to the ground. She turned over so that she was lying her back, watching the rain as it fell and mixed with her tears.

I will admit, if you admit it

Her felt a pain in her chest that she was no longer use to. She felt the loss of Keenan all over again. Even now, despite how well she hid it from herself, she honestly still loved Keenan. And it was that love for him that was making it so hard for her to move on. It kept holding her back.

It's time to move on, Donia thought, time to let the storm pass.

Donia stayed on the ground as the storm roared in the sky. She wasn't sure how long she was there but eventually she could finally tell when the water from her eyes stopped, only the rain making tear marks on her face. Soon after, the rain lightened until the barest sprinkle.

Then everything was quiet.

Just please, don't flatter yourself
Please, don't flatter yourself

Aquil looked over his shoulder as he heard Donia enter a couple hours later. He opened his mouth to greet her but paused when he saw her disheveled appearance. She looked tired and her eyes were red. She was soaked to the bones and dragging herself inside.

"Oh my…" he said as he walked up to her. He took her hands, as he looked her over frantically. "What's wrong? Did you get caught in the storm? Are you okay? I was worried-"

"Yes." She said. Aquil stopped what he was doing and looked up at her. Despite how bad she looked, there was a look of calm in her eyes that wasn't there when she left.

"Yes what?" he asked nervously as hope grew in his eyes.

"Yes, I'll go to New York with you" she answered. A slow smile grew on Aquil's face and he pulled her into his arms, holding her tight to him. She embraced him just as tightly. Donia smiled as she felt the comforting cold emitting from his skin; glad that she could fully enjoy it now as she let go another piece of Keenan from her heart.

Glad that she was beginning to move on…