Author's Note: We getting depressing now. I promise in the next few chapters somewhere I will explain Mommy Dearest's little *experiment*

So this is kinda around the halfway point for the story, and I'm really excited to keep writing! I have already written the last two chapters, because I literally couldn't resist. I'm going to edit them as I go along to make them absolutely perfect because I want this to end well. Don't worry, it's going to take at least another month before I'm anywhere near ready for the ending cause stuff's gotta happen first!

Do elves use toothpaste? I'm actually not sure. Like, I think they would, but I don't know. It's never mentioned, I don't think. Could Bronte wear headphones with them pointy ears of his? Literally. People. These are the things I think about when I'm supposed to be sleeping. I had to ask because if any of you have answers please respond, my sleep schedule is begging you lol

Thank you all for reading and reviewing! Enjoy the chapter!

Sophie sighed and sat up, examining Keefe. She was worried about how he was taking this whole thing. First, his mom kidnapped Linh. Then, she threatened to hurt him. And now she was keeping him captive. He acted fine, but she could see the pain behind his eyes, crystal clear ice-blue, yet hiding so many secrets, so much hurt.

"You know," Sophie said. "This isn't so bad. We just have to do what Gisela says and then she'll let us go and it'll all be okay!"

Keefe sighed. "Soph, I don't think you understand. She's not going to let us go. Ever. She's just going to keep testing the limits of your ability until it drains you completely."

Sophie frowned. "I don't even know what she wants to test."

Keefe walked over to the bed and sat down next to her, wrapping an arm around her shoulders. "I have a few guesses, but nothing concrete. It's okay, though. I'll get you out of here, somehow. I promise."

Sophie pushed him away so she could look him in the eye. "We're getting out of here. Together."

Keefe smirked. "Yeah. What would I do without you, huh?"

Sophie sighed and leaned her head on his shoulder. "I don't know."

They sat there for a few minutes, both of them lost in thought, staring off into the distance. Sophie felt a hundred thousand miles away from Keefe. She could see pain and hurt and sadness and fear all reflected in his eyes. No matter how many times he assured her he was okay, how many jokes he made and smiles he gave her, she knew he was hurting.

"You know," Keefe said, breaking the silence. "It's kinda funny, because, just earlier I was hoping we could spend more time together."

Sophie giggled. It wasn't a funny joke. At least, it shouldn't have been. Before either of them could say anything, they were both hysterically laughing. The irony was just too much.

"You're not very funny, you know," Sophie said once they'd finished laughing.

Keefe frowned. "Well, then, why are you laughing?"

"I'm not," Sophie said.

He smirked at her. His eyes glinted mischievously. "You're about to be."

Before she could react, he grabbed her waist and started tickling her. She gasped, giggling uncontrollably. Sophie curled up and laid back on the bed, unable to stop him, panting out, "stop it," every few seconds when she managed to breathe in between giggles.

Eventually, he stopped and laid down next to her. She leaned her head on his chest, trying to calm her breathing. He laughed, his chest shaking. Sophie smiled and picked her head up to look at him. It seemed like years ago when they'd last done something as useless and spontaneous as this. She missed the times when they used to do this all the time. Make jokes and laugh and tease and playfully fight. Everything had gotten so complicated so fast.

"You know," Sophie said, biting her lower lip, "You shouldn't trust me."

Keefe raised an eyebrow. "Oh? Why not?"

"Because. . . right now. . . I could do anything to you and you wouldn't be able to stop me," she whispered, hoping he remembered that he'd said something similar once before.

Keefe smirked and propped himself up on his elbow, using his other arm to brush her hair out of her face. "Now I can tell why you reacted like you did when I said that a few nights ago. Coming from you, that sounds stupid. Of course I trust you. Why wouldn't I?"

Sophie smiled and leaned in, teasing him. He winked and tilted his head forward, closer to Sophie.

"Don't say I didn't warn you," she said, before tickling him.

They both dissolved into laughter, and they were soon a tangle of limbs once again.

"Do you think we can escape?" Sophie asked, on a more serious note.

"Think?" Keefe asked. "I know we can. I'm Lord Hunkyhair, remember? Prankster extraordinaire. Do you really doubt my abilities?"

"Not for a second, Funkyhair," she replied, entwining their fingers.

"Good. Because you've got two seconds to run before I tickle you again."

"Aaah! No!" Sophie yelled, launching herself off the bed and running towards the door.

He intercepted her, picked her up, and carried her over to the bed again, unceremoniously dropping her on it. "I'm kidding. Also, you might want to take a shower. You stink."

Sophie smacked him. "I do not!"

He laughed. "Kidding. But seriously, it's like three in the morning or something. Let's assume Mommy Dearest will want to experiment on you after breakfast. So, maybe change or something? While you were sleeping I found some extra clothes in the closet. Plus two Neverseen cloaks, which I hope you don't mind if I destroy."

"Go for it," she replied, sitting up.

Keefe leaned back against the opposite wall, then cocked his head to the side and stared at her. He looked her up and down like he was trying to calculate something.

"What?" she asked, tilting her head to the same angle as his.

"I'm trying to figure you out, Soph. I mean, we're stuck in this stupid situation with these stupid circumstances and yet somehow you manage to cheer me up effortlessly. You," he said, walking closer and leaning down so they were face to face, "are more amazing than you could ever realize."

Sophie was hardcore blushing. Her heart was pounding and she was sure she looked incredibly embarrassed.

"You can't just go around saying those things whenever you feel like it," Sophie said, her voice sounding different than usual.

Keefe smirked, and Sophie's breath caught in her throat when he leaned in so close that his eyes were right in front of her, a picture perfect sea of ice blue. For so many years, she'd obsessed over the vibrant teal color of Fitz's eyes. She'd never before realized exactly how calm and cool and collected ice blue could be. It was beautiful, and she couldn't help but wonder what he was thinking.

"Oh? And who's going to stop me?" Keefe asked, breaking her train of thought.

Sophie didn't respond. She was too busy trying to think of something to say that wouldn't sound foolish, but she couldn't.

"I've left you speechless, huh?" Keefe asked, that crooked grin spreading across his face.

Sophie tilted her head to the other side and tipped Keefe's chin up a little. "You know," she said, "when I really look closely, you're kind of cute. Ish."

Keefe laughed and reached for something behind Sophie. "I know you're not just now realizing this. I can read your emotions, remember?"

Sophie blushed. "Well, I don't need to read your emotions to be able to tell that you think I'm kind of cute, too."

"Touche," he said, before pulling the sheets over her head and bundling her up.

She giggled and squirmed around. "No, no, not the burrito!"

"What's a burrito?" Keefe asked.

Sophie gasped. "Well, I suppose elves don't eat meat, so of course you wouldn't know but- OH MY GOSH YOU'VE NEVER HAD A TACO HOW CAN THIS BE!?"

Keefe laughed. "I assume this is some strange human food?"

Sophie nodded. "Ugh, now you've got me craving tacos. Thanks a lot. Can you let me out now?"

He wrapped the blankets tighter around her and faked a serious look. "Like heck I'm going to let you out. You're kinda scary, you know. This is for my own safety."

She giggled. "Watch out, I might bite you. You never know."

Keefe climbed over her and flopped down on the bed, wrapping his arms around her head and neck, which was the only part of her not wrapped in blankets. "I love you, Foster."

She tried to stop herself from blushing. She really did. Gave it her best effort. Unfortunately, it didn't work.

"I love you, too, Keefe," she replied, leaning back against his chest.

Before long, Keefe was asleep. She could feel his heartbeat through his shirt, and the thought of it made her blush. His breaths were slow and steady, tickling her neck and making her heart practically leap out of her chest. She could smell that certain vanilla scent that she recognized as his. His arms constrained her, but instead of feeling like a prison, she felt safe. If Grady could see them now. . .