I don't own anything

Howl lay on the bed and started to plan what was going to happen. He needed to remove Sophie from this world again as it was too far removed from her previous time line. Such large jumps would play havoc with the flow of magic in both worlds. He knew from his own learning that you cannot stay in a time frame so removed from your own without there being some dangerous consequences. A few days wouldn't hurt but too long and things start happening to your body which do not produce good results. Howl was too proud of his looks to let anything like that happen to him. As he lay down to sleep he decided that he would allow Sophie 3 days here at max and then whisk her away back to his world. This time her parents wouldn't be worried and there would be no need for her to return for a while.

Howl woke early the next morning before anyone else in the household was awake. He slowly crept into Sophie room to watch her sleep. He was constantly amazed at how beautiful she was and how childlike while she slept. After about 10 minutes of watching her Howl decided it was time for her to wake up.

Howl started tickling her face with a feather he pulled out of thin air and smirked at the faces she was pulling.

"Sophie….Sophie time to get up my sleeping beauty"

"Mmmm 5 more minutes mum."

"Sophie my dear I am not your mother"

"WHAT!" Sophie jumped as she realised who was in her room trying to get her to wake up. She fell off her bed in an undignified heap. "Howl what are you doing here? In my room? What if my parents come in? Howl you need to get out of here now." Sophie screeched in a hushed voice.

"Calm down my dear."

"CALM DOWN! If my father finds me in my room with a boy he'll skin me alive."

"Oh really and why is that precious?" Howl sat smirking at the end of her bed looking down at her as she was still in a heap on the floor.

"You…I…Please just get out."

"Shhh its all right precious they need never know." Howl was now on the floor hugging Sophie who was now trapped within her own blankets and Howls arms.

"Let me go!" Sophie started thrashing in his arms.

"Now Sophie there is no need for that. Come now I am just giving you a hug."

"Sophie I heard a noise are you alright?" Sophie's dad popped his head around the door. "Howl what are you doing in my daughter's bedroom?"

"I'm sorry Mr Carter but I heard a bump and I found Sophie on the floor. I think she must have had a bad dream. Sophie how are you feeling now?"

Sophie was staring wide eyed at her dad and Howl. It was like a little tennis match was going on.

"How…when"

"Howl came to us last night after you were asleep Sophie and I must say that we have a lot to thank him for after him helping you escape and bringing you back to us." Sophie's father replied knowing that from her confused look she was wondering how they knew each other.

"My escape?...Oh yes my escape. Oh dad it was horrible" Sophie said after a quick glance at Howl. This is how he had explained her absence, something had happened which she needed to escape from.

"Now Sophie I think you should go back to sleep and Howl should go back to the guest room." Mr Carter gave Howl a pointed look, although he was grateful to him she was still his daughter and he was a young man.

"Dad can Howl stay until I fall asleep I feel safe when he's here?" Sophie asked her dad trying to look as scared as possible and trying to turn on the waterworks.

"Oh honey, I'm sure Howl will stay until you fall asleep." Turning to Howl he said "I know you have done a lot for her, but I warn you if there is any funny business there will be nowhere you can hide."

"I understand Mr Carter."

Sophie's dad left the room closing the door quietly.

"What are you doing here? You were supposed to bring me back to my time and have a look around, not work your way into our household."

"Sophie I'm wounded but not too deeply because I know you love me really."

"You arrogant jackass. I don't love you I'm not even sure I am close to liking you at the moment."

"Oh come now my sweet you are just a little angry at me for surprising you like this."

"Angry isn't the word I would use Howl, and will you please explain to me how I have apparently been gone soo long here?" Sophie fumed trying to yet again to get out of Howls arms.

"If you would stop wriggling I will explain."

"If you weren't holding me I would stop wriggling." Sophie retorted.

"Not going to happen my dear, no are you ready to listen?" seeing that she had no choice in the matter without alerting her parents again Sophie stopped struggling.

"That's better my dear, now where to begin? I suppose the beginning would be good. Sophie when you came to my world you fell through what is known as a dimensional crack. Effectively you fell through a hole between out two worlds, there seems to be a bit of a time lag in my world compared with yours hence the time differences. There is more bad news I'm afraid." Howl paused to gauge Sophie's reaction.

"More bad news? How on earth can things possibly get any worse Howl?" Sophie was gripping the bed spread with her fingers causing them to turn white.

"We can only stay three days in this world."

If you like please leave feedback