Lujain sat on a bench facing the harbor staring out at the water, she wasn't sure how long she had been sitting there, an hour maybe two. There was a gentle breeze, the sea air hit her face the smell of salt tickled her nostrils. It was a beautiful sunny April day; the Earth was beginning to warm from the cold winter. Seagulls were flying about diving into the water to catch their pray, and the citizens of the city were bustling about, family taking walks, lovers hand in hand laughing; it was a cheerfully day. However cheerfully was the furthest thing from what she was feeling.

It's because you hate your situation.

It had been almost three weeks since she had seen Wyatt, they kept in regular contact. She liked him, he was sweet and funny, but he reminded her of all the things she couldn't have. She didn't have the luxury of leaving Accensamque Gemmas whenever she pleased. She couldn't see her family as often as she liked, and she couldn't even have a relationship because of all the secrecy and her frequent absence. She tried to make it work in the past, but it just didn't work.

What the hell did she agree to? She had only been with the federation for two years and she was regretting her decision immensely. What the hell did she know at 22! She was 24 now and she still knows nothing, the only thing she does know is that she doesn't want to continue living like this anymore. Her mobility and freedoms were heavily restricted. She had signed her life away, it's not like she can simply walk into Arzit's office and resign quietly. The penalty for resigning is death. And she kind of liked breathing, she had seen what happens to people who try to leave. The ink in their Ouroboros tattoos would activate and poison the person from the inside. The victim would collapse into spasms and begin foaming at the mouth and their throats swell shut causing them to suffocate. It's a nasty business, and she did not want to go like that. Dying horribly and then being thrown into a pit, her family would have no idea what happened to her.

"Excuse me miss but is this seat taken?" Asked a cheerful familiar voice.

Lujain blinked a few times refocusing her eyes and looked up at the handsome Scotsman.

"Not at all," she motioned for him to sit, "be my guest."

Wyatt moved to sit next her.

"So…what brings you back to this side of the pond?" Lujain asked.

"I wanted to see you again."

She smiled down at her hands, oh you poor fool. She wasn't stupid, she had a feeling that he would come to see her again. It was obvious that he was interested in her, she was able to tell from the moment he said he would like to get to know her better, and his letters, they were such lovely letters. She liked him too, it was just so unfortunate that it can never be more than this. If she can just keep him at armlength then he can still be in her life...Somewhat…There isn't room for anything more than that.

"Are you okay?" Wyatt asked eyeing her carefully.

"Yes, I'm fine," Lujain forced a smile, "why?"

"Well, you seem miles away. Is everything alight?"

"Yes, it's just been stressful."

"Work?"

"Work…life…you name it!"

"I'm sorry to hear that, is there any way that I can help?"

Lujain chuckled, "I appreciate the sentiment, but I don't think you can."

"Come on, try me!"

"I'm serious Wyatt," She looked up at him. "I don't think this is something you or I can fix."

"Do you want to tell me what's bothering you? I understand if it's personal and you don't want to share."

Lujain looked to her right and looked to her left in case anyone was listening in, she couldn't be too careful, what if someone from the federation was in earshot? Once she saw that it was safe she motioned for him to lean closer. Her lips were inches away from his ear.

"I want to leave."

Wyatt slowly moved away from her and looked forward to the harbor. She probably just uttered the four most dangerous words imaginable. He knew exactly what she meant.

"I understand."

The pair both sat next to each other staring straight ahead. A few moments passed before Lujain opened her mouth to continue but Wyatt stopped her.

"Don't- don't say anymore, it's not safe."

Lujain pressed her lips together and nodded.

"Are you sure?"

"Yes…" She whispered.

Wyatt stood and extended his hand out to her, Lujain looked up at him and then took his hand and he pulled her to her feet. Without a word she allowed him to lead her away from the harbor and into the busy streets. They walked for maybe about 10 minutes before they reached his destination. It was a hotel, together they walked in through the doors and went straight to the elevator. Wyatt pushed the button taking them to the 7th floor.

The pair continued in silence, Lujain wanted to ask him what exactly they were doing here but she figured her questions can wait. Wyatt reached into his breast pocket and pulled out the room key, the door let out a small click. He pulled the door open and allowed Lujain to enter first, he shut the door behind him.

Pulling out his wand, Wyatt cast a spell ensuring that no one could listen in. Lujain sat in the chair that was adjacent from the bed.

"When do you have to go back below?" He asked.

"In a week." Lujain said solemnly.

"What brought this about? I thought you loved your job."

"I thought so too, but it just- it's-"

"It's what?"

Lujain sighed. "My life isn't my own. I thought it would be but it's not. It belongs to the federation."

"But I thought you had more freedom considering you're one of the favorites."

"Arzit's favorite perhaps, the elders aren't exactly happy with me or the fact that she is always covering for me. It's only a matter of time before I really screw up."

"Isn't saying you want to leave 'really screwing up' as you say?"

"Yes…but I can't do it anymore."

Wyatt moved to sit on the edge of the bed facing her. "Forgive me, but this seems a little abrupt. I know we haven't known each other very long, and I'm still a stranger to you. Just please understand from where I'm sitting this seems a bit rash."

"I know, it seems like I just woke up this morning and decided I want out, but this has been on my mind for months now." Lujain looked down at her hands. "It started as small fleeting thoughts. I would dismiss them as me being nostalgic for my old life. But as time went on and I continued with my various projects, and the constant back and forth of going up to the surface, maybe being able to see my family every now and then…it's exhausting and I'm tired. I can't have a normal life because it has to be shrouded in secrecy." Her shoulders drooped, "I don't want this anymore. I want a normal life."

"You can't leave, the consequences of that –"

"They'll have me killed." She finished.

XXXX

It was midday in Moscow, the sun shone bright and there was a mild chill in the air. The weather was slowly getting warmer now that winter had ended. Aurora sat on the park bench focused on her sketch pad. Mothers were minding their children and other locals were walking their dogs, but she paid not mind to the background noise. Her fingers were stained black with charcoal, she was furiously sketching away. Her hands had a mind of their own, they just went in all sorts of directions connecting the wayward lines on the pad creating an image. Off in the distance she heard footsteps approaching, well she heard many footsteps, this was a public park after all. Must have been someone taking a stroll or wanting to feed the birds or whatever. The footsteps drew nearer, a shadow was now overcast her sketch pad, they were standing right in front of her- what the hell?

She looked up, the glare of the sun blocked her vision, she couldn't make out their face. It was a shadowy figure of a man. She squinted and continued to look up at him.

"When are you coming home?"

Aurora froze, she knew that voice, she would know that voice from anywhere.

"Draco…" She gasped, her mouth hung slightly open.

"We've all missed you." He moved to sit next to her on the bench with his hands in his coat pockets.

Aurora turned to face him, "How did you know I was here?"

He shrugged, "I had a feeling."

"…A feeling?"

"Yes, I had a feeling I would find you here."

"What do you mean? Did my brother say anything to you?"

Aurora looked at him, what did he mean by that? His eyes were just as blue as she remembered, he was so handsome. He didn't answer her question, he just smiled.

"Are you angry with me?"

"Only a bit." He chuckled. "You gave me a fright. Picking up and leaving like that."

She looked down at her hands in shame, she was embarrassed. She left like a thief in the night without uttering a single word to him. Literally right after he confessed his love to her, right after he asked her to marry him.

"I'm sorry…I should have told you…I wrote you a letter, but I was too afraid to send it."

"Why?"

"Because I was afraid of your response, that is if you were going to respond." She sighed, "If you hadn't written back, I would have understood. What I did was terrible."

The two sat in silence for a moment. Aurora began to fidget with her charcoal-stained hands, Draco simply looked ahead.

"I-I do love you; you know." She said softly.

He looked down at her.

"And I would have said yes, I would have said yes to your proposal if my parents didn't give me an ultimatum. They had no right to take away my right to choose." She pressed herself closer to him her eyes were only inches away from his lips, she looked up to meet his eye. "I would have loved to be your wife." She whispered now looking up to make full eye contact with him.

"Come back with me."

"What?"

"Come back to New York with me."

He wasn't angry at her! He wanted her back! Her heart fluttered yes yes! She'll go back with him, but after she finished what she came here to do. Yes, she'll go back, but not now. He had to know how important this production was to her and that she has every intention of returning to him once it's done.

She opened her mouth to speak but no sound. She felt as if her tongue was tied. She tried again struggling to utter a word. Draco looked at her confused. His lips were moving but she couldn't hear him. Aurora tried once more, again her tongue was tied, nothing came out. Draco now looking disappointed and hurt stood up…he was leaving! She grabbed his wrist 'don't go!' she wanted to say but she couldn't. He freed himself from her grasp and walked away. She stood up to chase after him, but legs would not carry her it was as if she had stepped in quicksand-

Aurora's eyes fluttered open gasping for air, her heart was beating against her ribcage, sweat was dripping onto her pillow. It felt as if all the air in her room was sucked out. She sat up and reached over to the lamp on her nightstand to turn on the lamp. What the hell was that?! That dream of hers, it felt so real, it really did feel as if Draco was right in front of her. He was there telling her to come back to him…but there was no way. No way that he would ask her to come back, not now. They were on two different continents and she was too much of a coward to send that letter.

Was this dream a sign? She knew deep down she did not belong in Moscow. Once the show was over, she would need to figure out where she would go next. She is only a traveler after all, she left her old life back in New York. The small roots she sprouted here will eventually be ripped out and she will have to move on. But where to? How could she go back after all the damage she had done? She left for own her sanity, however she abandoned everything and everyone. Draco, Wyatt, Ramona…They would probably flay her the moment she set foot back in New York.

Again, she asked herself 'what am I doing here?'

You came here to pursue a lost dream; you have it now. Finished it! She answered herself.

Aurora was coming to the realization that she had no roots, no home…she was basically a well-dressed homeless person. Just moving wherever she felt like she needed to be. At first it was liberating and exciting. She loved that she could just pick up and go wherever she pleased. California, Japan, Thailand and now Moscow. She came to Moscow for a reason. She wanted to dance it was her dream ever since she was a child. She was absolutely thrilled when she had gotten the part. But what will come next? Once the curtain closes. Will she stay and continue dancing until her age catches up with her? Dancers don't have a very long shelf life. She needs to consider alternatives but what? Graduate school? Should she go back to France and work for her brother in the wine industry? Or should she help design jewelry lines again? Or…or…

You could try New York and see if he'll take you back…

Aurora huffed in frustration and covered her face with her pillow. She didn't want to think about it anymore, she had to get up in a few hours and had no desire to be kept awake by an existential crisis she's having in the middle of the night.