Forbidden Love

by UnknownEntity0

(Flash): "Astral." A soft and gentle voice called out. "Who's there?" I said glancing around the darkness. "Did you forget me?" She asks as her voice quivered as if she was about to cry. "Who are you?" I repeated once more to the darkness in an annoyed tone of voice. She took a shaky breath. "I'm..." (Flash) I snapped my eyes open and clutched my forehead. Who is she?

35. 35

During the night:

Astral's POV:

How long has it been without you? I thought as I stared at the stars in the sky. I sigh as I looked at the food on the table. How can I bear the thought of food when you are not here with me? I looked at the food in disgust as I reverted my attention to my injured hand.

(Flash):

I stumbled back in disbelief at my parent's words. Have they even thought about how I was going to react when I found out? I laughed bitterly alone in my room. Do they even know how disappointed and heartbroken I felt when I realized they sealed my memories?! How betrayed I felt? I shook my head and took a couple of steps back to the corner of my room while laughing. I bet they don't even care about how I feel. They only care for themselves.

"They don't really care about me," I said while tears trickled down my face. "If they did, then they wouldn't lie and sealed my memories, to begin with!" I closed my eyes to get rid of the tears that clouded my vision. Astrid...

I focused my gaze on the glass cabinet on the other side of my room and chuckled. If they don't really care about me, to begin with, maybe it's best if I die. Maybe then I will escape this pain of betrayal by my own so-called parents. I stared at the cabinet with lifeless eyes as I used my powers to crush it into pieces and picked up and a medium-sized shard.

I held out my hand and slowly pushed the shard into my hand. Blood dripped all over the floor as I swiped it across while laughing manically. This doesn't even hurt. Is this supposed to hurt? If so, I don't feel anything.

I would have done more damage but my door suddenly broke down. I placed the shard down and glanced up at them with an emotionless gaze. What are they doing here? Is it that hard to get privacy in this palace?! I thought angrily as I subtly glared at them.

(Flash)

I took out the shard from underneath my bed. Good thing I hid a piece of the glass while they weren't looking. I looked at my other hand and then the shard. Then my hand again and then the shard again. I smiled. Well, might as well injure this hand while I'm at it. I brought the shard closer to my hand and was just about to dig it into my palm.

"Astral." A voice cried out as I froze on the spot, not moving a muscle. Tears dripped down my face as I heard that familiar voice call out to me that made my heartache. It can't be her... she's dead. I let out a shaky breath and blinked the tears away. It's just a figment of my imagination that's all. Yes, it was nothing but my imagination.

I continued to take the shard and bring it closer to my hand. I was just about to cut my palm when I froze and my heart rate quickened.

"Astral." She cried out as I dropped the shard and spun around the room. It can't be my imagination this time! Could it be...?

"Astrid!" I called out. "Answer me, please," I begged as I walked across the room in search of her. "Astrid!" I called out once more in hopes of a response but sadly no response. I slowly walked over towards my bed and plopped myself onto it. It can't be her. She is dead. I must be going crazy thinking that she's still alive somehow. I thought as I dryly chuckled as that slowly morphed into tears.

I curled up into a ball on my bed as tears fell down my cheeks. Why did you have to die, my love? Just why? If I have arrived there faster then maybe I could have saved you. I let out a shaky breath. Why did they lie to me?

The next morning:

(Flash):

"Astrid!" I shouted in horror as arrows penetrated her very being making her hack out the blood at an alarming rate.

I stood there in shock as I saw her standing near the edge of a cliff with her eyes struggling to open.

In my rage, I used my powers to pulverize them into dust. "Never EVER harm my woman again!" I used my fire powers to set them on fire, making them scream in agonizing pain. "HAHAHAHA," I laughed maniacally as I saw them burn into ashes. "That is what you Barians deserve!" I said in a low and calm tone of voice.

"Astral..." She cried out softly as her legs gave out and fell off a cliff.

"Astrid!" I screamed in panic as I flew to grab her hand in the nick of time.

"Don't let go!" I said while trying to pull her up as blood from my arm dripped down towards her face.

"You must let go or else we will both fall!"

"No, I refuse to let go. I absolutely refuse." I said while gripping her hand tighter as I grunted in pain.

"Listen to me, you have to let go." She pleaded as she stared into my eyes.

I shook my head rapidly. "I will never let you go."

"Astral, my wounds are far too deep for treatment so I will die either-"

"I will not let you die!" I exclaimed as an orb from my mouth flew towards hers.

"What-" She said in shock as the orb flew into her mouth.

"Astral, are you crazy?!" She yelled in disbelief. "Do you know what happens to you if you-"

I smiled. "Any pain that I will endure will be far less than the pain of you not being by my side."

A moment later, that orb returned and I swallowed it. "See?" I strained a smile on my face. "Nothing happened. I'm fine."

"What's important is that your injuries have been cured," I said as I saw the wounds on her body heal.

"Astral," She said in a sad voice. "Let go."

"No, what makes you think-"

"Your arm is injured and I don't want you to fall into the water." She said softly.

"I don't care if I have an injured arm and what makes you think that I'm scared of a little water?"

"Below us is the River of Forgetfulness." She stated as she looked below.

"The River of-" I widen my eyes in disbelief.

"Whatever you do, do not let go of my hand!" I said in alarm as I tried to pull her up.

As I struggled to pull her up, I hacked out some blood. "See?" She said sadly. "The consequences are already surfacing."

She said as she smiled with tears dripping down her face as she wiggled her hand out of my grasp. "What are you doing?" I ask in disbelief as I held tighter.

"You have to let go my love or else we will both plummet."

She continues to wiggle her hand out of my tight grip. "Stop."

"Stop it."

"Are you trying to die right now?" I said as tears dripped down my face.

"Do you know how high this cliff is? Do you know that-"

"We both know that I will fall either way. I don't want you to forget with me." She said as she loosened her grip even more.

"No. If you forget, I will forget with you." I exclaimed while trying to use the last of my strength to hold her hand.

She shook her head. "Astral," She smiled as she loosened her grip until I'm just holding onto her finger.

"No," I said in disbelief.

"My love, I beg you, do not let go! I have never asked you to do anything for me. Please, just this once, listen to me and do not let go of my hand!"

"Astral,"

"No, don't do this to me! We need each other too much! I shouted desperately.

"I love you." She said with tears in her eyes as she closed her eyes and let go.

"No! Astrid!"

I shouted as I threw myself across the side of the cliff in an attempt to be with her.

"Astrid!" I yelled as I reached out my hand to grab hers.

She opened her eyes to meet mine as I embraced her in mid-air.

"Astral you-"

I smiled lovingly at her. "I told you. If you want to forget, I will gladly forget with you."

(Flash)

"Astrid!" I screamed upon awakening to Waltari's concerned expression. "Your highness are you alright?"

That was a memory, right? So she's still alive somewhere right? She must still be alive somewhere right?

"Your highness?"

"I'm fine Waltari."

"Your highness," He started. "I have served you since you were 10 years old. I can tell that you are not fine."

"I have a question." I started as I looked at him. "Have you heard of the River of Forgetfulness?" I ask in a monotone voice.

He widens his eyes. "Yes, I have heard of such a river. Its main objective is to make you forget everything and everyone that you have met and interact with. It will make whoever falls in it or drinks out of it forget their memories."

"You are not planning-" He asks in alarm.

I shook my head to ease his fears. "No, I was asking out of curiosity."

He sighs in relief as he looks at the tray of food that's been here since last night. "Your highness, I know you miss Lady Astrid but starving yourself won't do any good for your health."

I looked down at my now healed hand. He's right. It won't do any good. "I know that but I can't seem to stomach anything."

He sighs as he poured me a cup of water. "How about this," he said as he hands me a cup of water. "Since your highness isn't hungry, why not drink some water?"

I looked at the cup of water and Waltari's pleading face. I sigh as I took the cup and drank it. He smiled happily as he saw me drink.

"I have another question," I started as I looked at him. "Do you remember how she looked?"

He blinked a couple of times probably confused by my question. Then he widens his eyes and kneels. "Your highness, please forgive me but I cannot disclose any information regarding her."

Why? "Why is that?" I ask in a cold voice.

"The King and Queen commanded that if anyone were to disclose any information regarding her they will be punished."

Of course. I sigh. "Stop kneeling Waltari," I commanded as he stopped kneeling before me. "I just want to know what happened at the River of Forgetfulness."

He bit his lip. "I won't tell my parents that you told me this," I said as I looked at him.

He sighs as he nods. "Ok," He said. "I heard from the guards that day that they found you unconscious near the edge of a cliff. Of course that the King and Queen issued an order for the guards to find her but in the end," He trailed off as he shook his head sadly.

I closed my eyes. "How high was that cliff?" I asked quietly as I looked at him. Please let it be like 20 or 30 feet!

He gulped nervously. "1000 feet, your highness."

A…1000…feet…cliff… All of my hope, gone because of a single 4 digit number.

So she really... I knew it was too good to be true. That cliff was 1000 feet. Even if there is water near the bottom, there is no way that she could have survived the fall. The velocity is just far too great.

"Your highness?" He asks in concern.

"I'm fine," I said in a flat voice.

"Don't worry, I won't tell my parents that you told me this."

"Your highness..." He trailed off while looking at me with sad eyes.

"I want to be alone for a while," I said while staring at a wall blankly.

He seemed hesitant but reluctantly agreed. "Call me if you need anything." He said as he bowed and closed the door.

Wait a minute, I threw myself over the edge along with her. Then how is it that I'm alive? I sat there on my bed pondering that one question over and over in my head. Also, if my memory is correct, why did the guards say they found me unconscious at the top of the cliff?

Lilith's POV:

Wow. I thought in shock as I stared at the mirror. I still can't wrap my mind around that the Prince had a girlfriend.

Star sighs. "What are you thinking about?"

"It is none of your business," I replied defensively.

"Really?" She questioned sarcastically. "Are you thinking about what happened the other day by any chance?"

I let out a deep sigh. "Is it that obvious?"

She nodded. "I'm still wrapping my mind around it too."

"I wonder what did she look like?" I said in curiosity.

She nods in agreement. "Oh by the way, before I forget," She said while narrowing her eyes. "Why did you drug them?"

I internally sigh. I knew she would ask that question sooner or later.

(Flash):

"Can't you tell that Starlight is fond of Astral?"

(Flash)

I looked at her in curiosity. I wonder…

"Star, tell me, do you like the Prince?" I ask in a passive tone.

Her eyes widen as she tilted her head to the side. "Why would you ask that?"

"He's my friend, of course, I like him." She responded.

"No, I mean do you have feelings for him?" I clarified my question.

She thought for a moment with a conflicted expression on her face. "You mean romantic wise?"

I facepalmed in frustration. "Yes," I decided to further clarify the question. "Do you have romantic feelings for the Prince?" I ask in a monotone voice.

She looked at me in confusion. "No," She started.

"I feel like I knew him a long time ago but for the life of me I can't remember where."

"If I say I see him as a friend, that doesn't seem about right but if I say I see him as a significant other," She trailed off.

So… does she him that way?

"If I say I see him as a significant other, that wouldn't feel right either." She finished her thought.

I let out a breath of relief that I didn't even realize that I was holding in. So… she doesn't see him in that way?

"Hold on," I said putting my hands up. "You said you don't see him as a friend but you don't see him as a future romantic partner either."

I took a breath. "So… what do you see him as?"

"That's what I don't know, Lilith." She said as she sighs. "I guess I see him as a friend but also a tiny bit like a brother as well. As I said, I felt like I met him a long time ago."

What did she just say? I blinked in shock at her words. "Did-"

"I'm going to stop you right there." She said calmly. "Yes, I just said that I might see him somewhere between a friend and family but if it wasn't for him, we would have both died."

"He didn't just save my life. He also saved yours as well."

"But-"

"Please, let me finish." She said looking at me.

"Since you are a part of me, if he didn't save me that day then you would have died too. So technically, you owe him one."

"Anyway, getting back on topic, I felt like I saw him somewhere before." She said as she went into deep thought.

"You know what?" I said. "Now that you said it, I always had a feeling he was familiar."

Have I met him somewhere before but forgot?

"Did you recover all of your memories?" I ask her.

She shook her head. "Somewhat but not all of it. I can't seem to make out this boy that I keep seeing in my head."

A boy? "Describe him."

"He was shivering in the corner of a room. He had light blue hair and a pale complexion about him."

I saw that kid in my memories as well... I widen my eyes in shock.

I took a breath in and clench my fist. "I don't think we were the only ones who got experimented on,"

"You mean there were other innocents involved in that?" She gasps in shock as her voice raised.

I nodded sadly. "Unfortunately,"

"If other innocents were involved, this surpasses just our revenge," I said in a passive voice. Don Thousand. Just why are you doing this? What is your motive for using people as human drug testers?

"Hey, Lilith," She asks hesitantly.

"What is it?"

She gulped nervously and bit her lip. "This is just a theory but Astral kind of looks like that boy I kept seeing in my memories. You don't think that…" She trailed off as I widen my eyes.

It is possible but it's highly unlikely. I mean the description is accurate but he is a Prince. Why would a Prince be there? It makes no sense.

"To me, it seems highly unlikely that he was there," I responded, regaining my composure.

She nodded in agreement. "True, that would be a bit of a stretch. Maybe I was mistaken."

"The memory was a bit fuzzy anyway." She said dismissively.

However, there is a chance that it's true… If that is the case then...

"I will talk to you later okay?" I said in a hurry.

"Hold on," She said quickly. "What would you do if he really was in the same situation as us?"

I blinked at her question. What would I do? I... honestly do not know.

I took a breath to regain my composure. "Star, don't you think that's too much of a stretch?"

"I mean like what are the odds that Astral and us, ended up in the same situation?"

"And," I added. "Don't you think he would have remembered that experience?"

"To me, he shows no recollection of being tortured by Don Thousand. Thus, proves that he was not in the same situation as us." I concluded.

"Yes," She said as she looked at me. "But maybe that experience was too emotionally scarring that his mind chose to block it out. Just like with PTSD and Dissociative amnesia."

That could be the case but... I nodded slowly at her, trying to process this information. "If that is really the case then he may have something similar to you."

"Yes, I blocked out the memories, and look where that gotten me," She said distastefully. "Being trapped in my own subconscious while trying to recover from PTSD."

I looked at her with a hint of guilt in my eyes. "Why do I have to remember? Wouldn't it be better if I could just forget those awful, unpleasant, ghastly, and earth-shattering memories?"

Awful? I chuckled bitterly. "Those words don't even begin to describe the unbearable amount of pain and torture that we have been through."

"Yea, I know,"

"I wish that I could forget these memories as well but unfortunately, there are some things out of our control," I said as I looked at her sadly.

She nodded sadly as she took a shaky breath in. "I miss the old times." She said as her eyes start to glisten.

I clench my fist to prevent tears from dripping out of my eyes. Don't cry. Don't cry. Don't cry.

"Don't worry, Don Thousand will pay with his life for doing that to us," I said in a quiet tone as I looked at her with determination.

Tears dripped down her face as she nodded. "He will pay after what he did with my family." She said in a shaky voice.

"Just don't bring other innocent people into the mix ok?"

I smiled. "Of course I won't."

She looks at me expectantly. "Really?"

"Don't look at me like that," I said feigning to be hurt. "I was just testing them to see if they were like Don Thousand or not."

"Uh-huh." She says in a sarcastic tone that indicates she doesn't believe me.

"I'm serious. I was just testing them and believe it or not, they passed the test. So, I promise you that I will not harm any more innocents."

She widens her eyes. "Really?"

I slightly smile at her. "Yes, and Astral already made me promise not to harm his friends and family so I have to honor that promise either way."

"Hey, don't look at me like that! I honor my promises, well sometimes."

She smiles at me. What is with her expression?

"You are becoming more and more like the Lilith I know each day. You know that?" She said proudly.

What is she saying? I am not becoming soft. I rolled my eyes. "Believe what you want Star, but I am not becoming soft," I said, reverting to my emotionless face.

"I never said you were becoming soft. All I said was that you are reverting to how you used to be that's all." She said slyly.

"Whatever." I scoffed at her. "Anyway, talk to you soon alright?"

"How long am I going to be trapped in here for exactly?"

Hmm... "Just stay put for a little while longer until I can sort out everything," I said as she looks at me with a deadpan expression.

"Does it look like I can move around in her? I mean like you have me tied to a cross." Oh, yea... I forgot about that.

"Can you at least untie my feet? They have never been so numb before."

I sigh. Well... I guess that couldn't hurt right? I mean like her hands will still be tied... "Alright," I said as I used my powers to untie the ropes binding her feet.

"Now," I said in a warning voice. "I expect no funny business okay?"

She nodded. "You worry too much. I still got my hands tied and I have no clue to get out of my mind. I'm basically stuck here until you let me out." She stated factually.

True. "See you later," I said as I looked away at the mirror for a couple of seconds.

I slowly walked over to my bed. Is it possible what Star said is true?

(Pulse)

I hissed in pain at the sudden headache.

(Flash):

"Lilith,"

"Master, I have a question."

"What is it?"

"Do you know anything about Astral's past?"

"Unfortunately, I can't provide you with that information. You are going to have to find a way to find out yourself."

"But-"

"The why part I cannot provide you with now. All I can say is to trust your intuition. That is all."

"Master-"

"You can't rely on me for all of the answers."

"Yes, master."

(Flash)

"Ow," I hissed as I rubbed my temple. Why can't master just tell me about his past?

I got to find some way to get him to reveal his past to me. The only question is how?

Maria's POV:

I sigh as I went out of my room. I can't believe that he suddenly remembers. I roamed the halls and bumped into someone.

"Sorry," I said as I regained my focus.

I widen my eyes in shock as I saw Astral standing before me wearing all black. He was wearing a long sleeve dress shirt, long black pants, a black belt, and black dress shoes. Why is he wearing all black?

"It's fine, Maria." He said helping me up.

"I was the one who bumped into you first." He said in an emotionally flat voice.

"What are you doing out here?" I ask curiously as we walked down the hall.

He laughed a bit. "Am I not allowed in my own home?"

"That's not what I meant," I responded with a chuckle. "I thought you would still be cooped up in your room like the last time," I ask looking at him as he reverted to an emotionless expression.

"Well, I decided that it's not really good to isolate myself from the world." He started while looking distant. "And she wouldn't have wanted that."

I nodded sadly. True. She wouldn't have wanted him to isolate himself from everyone. She would have wanted him to be happy.

"A question," I ask as he looks at me.

"Are you still angry at the King and Queen?"

He went quiet for a moment as if in deep thought. "A little."

"I would be angry at them as well," I said while walking beside him. "I get how you feel, having your parents seal your memories of the person you love must be a horrible experience to experience."

Noting his silence, I then added, "I might not be in the same situation as you but I can empathize with what you are feeling right now." I said gently in hopes of breaking that cold emotionless exterior.

He slightly smiled at me as he put his hand on my head. "Thank you." He said with a little warmth in his voice that made me smile.

Why is he, petting my head like that?

I widen my eyes. Does he think that I'm a pet of some sort? I look up at him. Or is this just his way of showing affection?

Should I perhaps try it on him as well? I slowly brought my hand up towards his head and pat it. Wow, who knew that his hair is this soft!

His eyes widen and he lets out a laugh. "Am I a dog to you?" He asks jokingly.

I smiled as I let out a laugh as well. "You started it!" I replied as we laughed out loud. It's so nice to hear him laugh again. This time, it's sincere laughter not like yesterday.

We stood there with our hands on top of each other's heads and chuckled as everyone around us stared. They are probably wondering if we lost it or something.

"Thank you for understanding, Maria." He said with his head still on top of my head.

I smiled at him. "No problem, Astral," I replied petting him like a dog as he rolled his eyes playfully.

"Seriously though," I said while petting his head softly. "Your hair is so soft!" I complimented as I continued to pat his head.

He laughs and smiles. "Your hair is quite soft as well." He said. "No need to be jealous," He smirked at me playfully.

I widen my eyes. "Me? Jealous of you?" I said while feigning to be hurt by his words.

I rolled my eyes as I looked at him. "I would never!" I said while chuckling.

He smiles and laughs along with me for a couple of minutes.

Zach's POV:

"Hey, Zach," Lily, Star, and Crystal greeted me as I arrived in the palace.

"Hi girls," I said bowing before Crystal a bit. "Lily, is what you are saying true?" I turned my head to her.

She nods. "He remembers her."

I took a deep breath in and out. To be honest, this doesn't surprise me that much. Even if that seal is more powerful, there will be a day where he remembers and looks like that day has finally come.

"How did he react?" I ask expecting the worse.

They all looked at each other in silence. What is with all of the hesitancy?

Finally, Star said. "Well, he was angry at the King and Queen for sealing his memories. Which, I would be angry as well. I mean like sealing another person's memories without permission is not a good thing."

I nodded. "I know but they had their reasons for doing so."

"Then, my brother wanted to be alone for a while so we all exited the room." Crystal continued.

"After that, around evening, we were crouching outside of his bedroom door because he was laughing like a maniac-" Lily said.

I raised an eyebrow. Laughing? "Why was he laughing?" I ask in confusion as I interrupted her.

"Laughter is a defense mechanism for emotional pain." She replied.

I nodded in understanding as she continued. "Anyway, he was laughing like a maniac. Then all of a sudden, we heard a crash in his room, and guess what we saw?"

Hmm… "A cabinet falling over?" I guessed leaving all of them wide-eyed.

"Did I guess correct?"

"Surprisingly yes." Crystal said in disbelief.

"Really? Wow!" I said excitedly.

Star rolled her eyes. "Don't let this get to your head."

"What?" I put my hand to my chest in an attempt to sound hurt. "Is that how you see me, Star?" I said while trying to hold in a laugh.

"Yes," She said looking at me with a flat expression.

"Your too cruel sometimes you know?" I said jokingly as I chuckle.

"Anyway," Lily continued. "We came in to find glass all over the floor and his hand injured."

I ceased my laughter immediately. "How was that injury?"

"It was deep. The blood was dripping at a fast rate." She said.

Could he have…! "Did he injure himself on purpose?" I ask them while trying to remain calm.

"WHAT?!" A voice screamed while walking down the halls.

"Tell me that isn't true!" Brandon said shaking me firmly. Oh boy…

"Brandon… stop… ah-shaking… me-me…" I attempted to say while he was shaking my very being. I think I'm going to be sick.

He laughs as he stops shaking me which makes me very grateful. "Oops, sorry Zach."

"But in all seriousness," He said turning his attention towards us. "Did he cause that injury himself?"

Crystal nodded. "He denied that he purposely harmed himself but we know him better than to believe him." She said sadly. He really…

"Why would he do something like that?" Brandon asks in disbelief.

"I mean like I would expect him to be sad and in shock but I never would have-" He started.

"You guys should have seen him," Lily said. "I have never heard him sound so… broken in my life."

"Plus," Crystal added in a sad tone. "You should have seen those lifeless eyes. I have never seen him look so vulnerable and weak."

"He looked like a gust of wind can knock him over," Star said looking sadly.

I stared at his room. Looks like this has a major effect on him. If he stayed in his room for a few days, I wouldn't be even surprised.

"Where is he now?" Brandon asks curiously. Probably in his room.

"Let's ask Waltari," Crystal said while walking towards Astral's room. Who?

"Waltari,"

"Yes, your highness?" He said while kneeling.

"Is my brother still in his room?"

"Your highness, the Prince left his room and went towards the throne room." He informed us.

Crystal nods. "Thank you for informing us about this, Waltari."

"My pleasure, your highness." He said as we left to head to the throne room.

"Who is Waltari?" Brandon asks.

"He is Astral's personal butler since he was 10 years old," Lily said.

"He has a personal butler?" He asks as I sigh at him.

"Of course he has a personal butler. He is the Prince after all." I said while rolling my eyes at him.

"But come to think of it, Astral doesn't seem to be the type to have a personal butler," I said while wondering.

"Then who would seem like the type to have one?" Star asks me.

I pointed to Brandon. He widens his eyes. "Hey!" He shouted in an accusatory tone.

"What is that supposed to mean?" He asks glaring at me.

I smiled innocently. "It doesn't mean a thing. You just look like the type of person who would need a personal butler that's all I'm saying." I said as we all stifle laughs.

"Well," Lily started. "It wasn't his idea of getting a personal servant either but since his life was in danger like every single day when he was little, the King and Queen decided to get him a personal servant. That way, it won't draw that much attention to him as the guards following him."

I nodded. It makes sense. Since his life was endangered, it would make sense for some kind of bodyguard.

"Since his life isn't that endangered anymore, Waltari is there for moral and emotional support now." She continues.

Emotional support? What would he need emotional support from? And why can't he speak with us?

"We are his friends. Why would he need emotional support from Waltari when he can come to us?" Brandon asks them.

"You guys know that Astral is very good at hiding his emotions right?" Star started.

"Yea?" I said confused at what she's trying to say.

"I'm his sister and even I sometimes don't understand what he's thinking and or feeling because he hides them under an emotionless mask." Crystal said while walking beside us.

I nodded. "True, I remember when I first met him. His whole face was like a cold mask. It took me forever to break through his defenses."

"That's precisely why he has a personal servant," Lily said.

I thought for a moment. Oh…

"Waltari knows him the best out of all of us since he's around him all the time. He knows when Astral is fine and when he needs emotional support from him." She continues.

"Ah, I get it now," Brandon said while nodding.

Star looks at us. "I have been meaning to ask. Where is Derek?"

"He-" I began.

"He's still in the Duke's dungeon for punching Astral." He said while smirking at me. Why that little…

"Must you interrupt me like that?" I ask as I glared at him.

"What?" He said innocently.

I looked at him with a deadpan expression as we all stumbled upon Astral and Maria. His hand was placed on her head.

What? I rubbed my eyes and blinked a couple of times to make sure that I was seeing correctly.

"Thank you." He said while looking at her with a slight smile.

She looks at him for a moment and placed her hand on his head, petting his hair like a puppy.

Why are they petting each other's heads?

"Am I a dog to you?" Astral asks while chuckling a bit.

She laughs at him. "You started it!"

They both laugh for a moment. "Thank you for understanding, Maria." He smiles at her.

"No problem, Astral." She replied while petting his head.

I blinked at the scene. What are they talking about?

"Seriously though," She said. "Your hair is so soft!" She complimented. Really? I wonder how soft it really is?

He smiles as he gently pats her head. "Your hair is quite soft as well." He complimented. "No need to be jealous," He said as he smirked at her.

She widens her eyes. "Me? Jealous of you?" She said in an exaggerated tone of voice.

She rolled her eyes playfully as she laughs. "I would never!" She said as they both laughed.

"Psss…" I whispered to Crystal, Star, Lily, and Brandon.

"Are they okay?" I ask them in a concerned voice.

"Yea," Brandon said. "They have been laughing quite a lot in the past few minutes."

"Plus," Star chimes in. "Does anyone have any idea what they are talking about?"

We all shrugged our shoulders.

"All I know is that my older brother is laughing sincerely again!" Crystal whispered excitedly as she looks at them talking.

"Just let them laugh," Lily said after a moment of silence. "Laughing is better than being emotionless and by the way,"

She gestures is to come closer. "This is just a precautionary but let's keep an eye on him for a couple of days."

We all nodded in agreement. "After what happened last night, who knows what he might do next." Crystal said.

"Agreed." We all said quietly as we looked at them still laughing and petting each other's heads like a puppy. To be honest, this scene is pretty adorable.

Eliphas' POV:

My wife, Serenity, and I approached the scene with smiles on our faces. I'm glad that he's laughing again.

"Father!" She said running up and tackling him into a hug with a big smile.

"Hello, Serenity." He greeted her with a slight smile.

"Lady Maria," She asks turning towards her. "What were you and father doing?"

"We were talking." She responded with a smile.

"No, I mean like why were you and father touching each other?" She asks innocently as they widen their eyes and looked at each other.

She smiled at her. "Well," She said while touching her chin in deep thought. "He started it." She said gesturing towards my son.

She turned to him with a questioning look. "That's just my way of showing affection besides hugging. Plus, you joined in as well." He said while looking at Maria.

"You were the one who patted my head like a dog." She argued with him.

"No, if I remember correctly, it was you who started to pet me like a dog first." My son said.

"Well, in my defense, your hair is soft." She said. "How do you expect me to resist petting your soft hair?" She exclaimed. Huh, is his hair really that soft?

I looked at my wife, who nodded.

"Is my hair really that soft?" He questions her. Are you serious?

She gave him a sigh as she took his hand and placed it on his head. She placed her hand on top of his and made him stroke his own hair.

"How does it feel?" She asks.

"It feels the same as always."

"Are you serious?" She gave him a deadpan expression.

"What?" He said in a confused tone.

We all sighed as I shook my head.

"I don't feel a difference. It's the usual softness."

Serenity gave them a curious look. "Is it that soft?"

Maria nodded and smile. "Want to pet him?" She asks in excitement.

His eyes narrowed. "Pet? Excuse me but I'm not an animal that you can pet." He said getting offended at the word pet.

"I don't mean it in that sense." She countered. "Besides, your hair is really soft. What's the harm of letting us touch it?" Maria asks innocently looking at him.

"Please father?" She held his hand and swung it back and forth.

"Yea, Astral," Maria said. "Let us pet you."

He sighs in defeat. "Fine." He says glancing at Maria. "But stop using the word pet."

"Deal." She says as he kneeled to Serenity's level, allowing her to pet him.

"Wow!" She said in awe. "Your hair is really soft father."

"I know right?" Maria said as she stroked his hair as well.

I wonder how soft it really is?

"There is no way I'm passing up this chance." Lily suddenly said as she kneeled and touched his hair.

Her eyes widen as she continues to pet him. "Wow is right! Astral, how did you get your hair to be this soft?"

Star and Crystal looked at each other and looked back at Astral.

They slowly went over and touched his head as well. Their eyes widen in disbelief. "Brother, what's your secret?"

"It's soft like a cloud!" Star exclaimed.

"Aw, come on!" He groaned. "You girls too?"

"Don't blame them, Astral." Maria started to say as she chuckled.

"That's right, I shouldn't be blaming them," He said as he looked at her. "I should be blaming you."

"Hey!" She said in an accusatory tone. "How is that fair? I wasn't the one who told them to come over here and touch your hair."

"True, but you were the one who said it was soft in the first place."

"And I stand by my word. Your hair really is soft!" She exclaimed as she stroked it even more.

Enna and I had to stifle a laugh. This scene is far too hilarious.

I looked at Brandon and Zach. They didn't even try to hold in their laughter. They burst out laughing while leaning on each other for support.

"Hahahaha,"

"I-I can't believe wh-what I am seeing," Brandon said in fits of laughter.

"I know right? Who knew that the Prince of Astral World is being seen as a pet by a bunch of people!" Zach said as they burst out into another fit of laughter.

My son glared at both of them while they laughed. "Laugh while you can guys because when they stop petting me, let's just say you won't be laughing for a while." He warns them as they continued to laugh.

"Ohhhhh how I wish Derek was here to see this sight," Brandon said while wiping a tear of joy.

"Same, he would have totally laughed his socks off," Zach responded with more laughter.

I smiled. Oh, these boys…

Brandon's POV:

After the whole petting fiasco, which was really amusing. Who knew that his hair was really that soft.

"Astral," Maria said. "What's your secret?"

He sighs. "I already told you. It's shampoo and conditioner."

"Liar!" She said in an accusatory tone. "There is no way your hair is that soft by only using those two products. There's got to be something else right?" She asks him while holding on to his arm.

He chuckles. "Nope. Believe it or not, I only use those two products on my hair." He responded as he looks at her. "Although, if you want your hair to be soft then I suggest you use shampoo and conditioner for your hair type."

"I already do though." She replied as she swung his arm back and forth.

He pats her on the head once again and strokes it. "As I said before, your hair is already soft as it is." He said while smiling slightly at her making her look away with a bit of redness on her face.

My friend just had a confused look on his face. I shook my head and sighed. He really should be careful about giving compliments to a girl. And why does he have that confused look on his face? Does he not realize what effect his compliments have on her?

"Are you okay?" He asks her in concern. "Your face is red." He pointed out while placing his hand on her forehead. "Are you sick?" My friend asks cluelessly as we all shook our heads slowly. How is he that clueless? Doesn't he remember his time with Astrid?

"I'm fine." She said while still looking away with a blush.

He didn't look convinced but didn't push for another answer from her.

"Your highness," Waltari suddenly flys in bowing at us, and stops in front of the Prince.

"Waltari? What are you doing here?" He asks curiously.

He looks around and he carefully whispers something in his ear. His eyes widened then he reverts to his emotionless facade. I narrowed my eyes in suspicion. What did he tell him?

"Okay, I get it."

"Tell the guards to keep an eye on him and feel free to torture him to get the confession." He said, making everyone's eyes widen in shock. Torture? Guards?

I thought as I looked at Zach and everyone in disbelief. Just what is he saying?

"But your highness-"

He looks at him. "Trust me, I know what I am doing."

Waltari nods his head and leaves.

He directs his attention towards Lily. "It's about time that you tell them." What?

She pursed her lips. "But-"

"They are your parents, Lillian." He said using her full name. Uh-oh, this must be serious. He only uses her full name when things are serious.

"Don't worry, if you want me there then I will be there with you." He said with a slight smile.

She nods at him. "Thank you, Astral."

"No need to thank me. I should be there when you tell them. It's only right for me to be there anyway." Only right? What does he mean?

"You don't have to tell them now," My friend said. "Just, get ready."

He sighs as he turns his attention towards the King and Queen. "Mother, father, can you invite her parents to the palace? She has something to tell them." He said in an emotionless voice. What is so important that her parents have to go to the palace?

The Queen looks at the King, then back at Astral and then at Lily. Just what does she have to tell them that involves him?

"Walter," My King called in his personal servant.

He came into the room and bowed. "Yes? Your majesty?"

"I need you to go to the General's residence and invite them to the palace."

"As you wish, your majesty." He said while leaving the room.

"Can somebody explain to me what going on?" Crystal asks us in confusion.

"Yea, Lily, Astral, why are you guys do serious all of a sudden?" Zach asks them.

"What exactly do you have to tell us?" Maria looks at them.

"And what do you mean by "It's only right for me to be there." What does that mean?" I ask while looking at both of them. Just what secret are they hiding from us?

"Plus," Star asks looking at my son. "What did you mean by confession and torture?" She said as she narrowed her eyes at the both of them in suspicion.

We all looked at them waiting for an answer. Just what are they hiding from us that is so serious?

I could tell that Lily is getting flustered and nervous. My friend flew towards her and put his hand on her shoulder. "We both know that this secret has to come out sooner or later," He says gently as he looks into her eyes.

"But what if they don't believe us?" She said in a quiet tone. Believe what?

He shook his head. "They will believe us." He said emphasizing the 'will'.

"But there is still a possibility of them-"

"Lillian, look at me," He said using her full name once again as she looks at him. "This secret has gone on long enough. It's time that they know the truth." He said in a firm yet soft voice. Why does she look so scared?

"Your majesties, the General, and his wife are here," Walter said as he kneeled in front of us.

The King nodded. "Bring them in."

The General and his wife entered the throne room. "Greetings your majesties." They greeted us.

"No need to be so formal, Luca, and Carissa." The Queen said while they stood up.

"If I got the situation right," The King said. "I believe your daughter and my son have something to say to the both of you."

They looked towards their daughter with confused expressions. "Lily, do you have something to tell us?" Her mother asks as she moved towards her daughter.

"I-I…" She manages to stammer out.

"Yes?" Her father asks her urging her to continue.

She looks at the Prince with a helpless expression on her face. That's new. I have never seen such an expression on her face before.

"Lily, you have to tell them,"

"I know, Astral," She said as she grips his hand. "But-"

He narrows his eyes at her and pats her hand. "Ok, everyone, we are going to my room." He says as he looks at her.

"Is that a better place for you to tell them?" He asks gently.

She smiles and nods. "It's more comfortable and it feels less like the court."

We all traded glances with each other as we looked at their interactions. Just what are those two hiding? With the way, they are acting towards each other… A secret… A secret that they both have to tell her parents… A secret that has gone on long enough… they can't hide it any longer… they must tell them… rumors… secret child…!

I widen my eyes in disbelief and shock. Could it be?!

In Astral's room:

Lily's POV:

I took deep breaths as I sat on the couch with Astral by my side and everyone. Just breathe. Calm down. I can do this!

I gulped nervously as I looked up at everyone's confused faces.

"So," My mother said looking at Astral and me. "What do you two have to say?"

"I-I-I…" I stammered out. Why is this so hard?

"Lily," My friend said as I looked at him. "Do you want me to start?"

It would be for the best considering that I can't even work up the nerve to say a word about this subject right now.

I nodded. "Thank you, Astral."

"As I said before, no need to thank me." He said with a small smile.

"So, do you all remember-"

(Boom)

"Ahhhh!" I screamed while hugging the closest person next to me.

He pats me on the back to calm me down. "Don't worry, you are safe." My best friend said calmly as he gently pats me on the back.

"You have nothing to be scared of Lily,"

(BOOM)

"Ahhhhhhhhhhhh!" I shouted while hugging him even closer with tears in my eyes.

He places one of his hands on my back and the other one on my hip as he gently pats my back. "Nothing will harm you. Trust me. I am right here." He said in a calm and soothing voice that made me stop shaking.

(BOOM)(FLASH)

"Ma-make the noise go-go a-away." I managed to stutter out in fear as I clutched him even closer to me. My heart rate quickened. Tears were falling from my eyes. I was sobbing and breathing heavily.

"You will be fine, Lily. Shhh… Don't worry. No one will harm you anymore." He whispered in my ear trying to calm me of my worries.

"Calm down Lillian, you are in a safe place filled with people who you trust and care about." He said as he stroke my hair.

(Cackle)

I threw my arms around his neck and buried my head into his chest as I sobbed. "Sa-save me," I whispered as I cried.

"Okay, shhh… you are safe. Don't worry, you have nothing to be scared of." He said still stroking my hair and patting me in the back.

"Just calm down and listen to me, Alright? Don't listen to the thunder, listen to me." He said in a calm voice that made my anxiety ease up a bit.

(Boom)

I jumped and shivered while holding him even closer to me like a lifeline.

"You will be okay. Shhh… Everything will be fine."

I breathed heavily as tears fell onto his black shirt.

"Lily," My friend said gently as he strokes my hair. "Is it the noise that makes you scared?"

"Yes," I said in a quiet tone while shaking.

(Boom)

I whimpered and hugged him closer as tears fell down my cheek and my heartbeat quickened.

He slowly removes his hands away from me and places them on both of my ears, covering them.

"How is this?"

"Can you hear the noise?"

I blinked as I held onto his shirt. Huh, what do you know? No noise.

I took deep breaths to calm myself. I can't believe that I clung to him again. This has been the second time that happened.

"No need to get embarrassed about clinging onto me." My friend said as he looked at me. "I know that it's the fear talking."

I gave him a nod and slowly took my arms away from his neck until I was sitting properly on the couch. His hands were still covering my ears.

"So…" Brandon started to ask us. "You are afraid of thunder?"

Zach punched him softly in the arm. "If she wasn't, would she react like that?"

"But, why are you afraid of thunder?" Brandon asks me.

"Yea," Zach said. "If I remember correctly, you weren't scared of it when you were little right?"

I sigh as I looked at Astral. Do I really have to tell them?

"Yes, Lily," He said with a sigh. "If you don't tell them now then sooner or later you will have to tell them."

"Still though… we kept this secret for a long time and what if they get angry?" I said quietly.

They all blinked with blank and confused faces upon them.

"Angry at what sweetheart?" My mother said, looking concerned.

The Queen smiled. "There is nothing that you can do that would result in us getting angry about." She said looking at her son.

The King pondered. "Well, there might be a couple of things-"

"Ow!" His father cried out as his mother elbowed him in the ribs.

"See? They won't get angry at us for keeping this a secret." He said while still covering my ears.

"But will they believe us?" I ask while biting my lips.

He looked at them, then back at me. He nods. "Definitely."

"Hold on," My father said as he narrowed his gaze at us making me jump. "You two didn't do anything illegal or immoral did you?"

What?! Both of our eyes widen in shock as I rapidly shook my head. "Father!" I cried out. "Why would you think that we would commit a crime?"

"To be fair, with the way you two are acting, we might as well assume the worst." The King said, backing up my father.

We looked at them as we sighed. "No, father, we didn't commit a crime." He said as my mother and his mother sighed in relief.

"Wait," Brandon said looking at the two of us and narrowing his eyes while in deep thought. Why is he looking at us like that?

"Is there something the matter, Brandon?" My best friend asks him curiously.

"This is just an assumption that I made based on the way that you two have been acting. I could be wrong but I must know." He started. What assumption is he talking about?

Astral and I looked at each other, then back at him. "Ok…" I said slowly.

"What's your assumption?" He asks him as he still has his hands over my ears.

"Feel free to correct me if I'm wrong but," He took a deep breath. "Did you two do something?"

What? We both looked at each other with confused faces. What is he talking about?

"You have to be more specific." I started.

"What do you mean by that? We did a lot of things together." He said in a monotone voice.

All eyes turned to Brandon as he blinked in disbelief.

He sighs in frustration. "Ok, I will clarify my question since you two are so clueless."

Clueless? About what? "Did you two…" He trailed off looking at us, expecting an answer.

We blinked in confusion. Did we what?

"Did you two… sleep together?" He finally asks us with a blush on his face.

We looked at each other with wide eyes and in shock. What the? What on Astral World gave him that idea?

"What would-" I started to say.

"Father and Lady Lily did sleep with each other." Serenity spoke up, startling Brandon and Zach as he looked at us with their mouths hanging.

"No, we didn't-" Astral attempted to say.

"They did?!" Zach exclaimed in surprise as he looks at Serenity.

She nodded. "Father held Lady Lily by the waist as she laid her head and hand on his chest. They were also holding hands and their feet were tangled with each other's."

Zach and Brandon looked at both of us in shock, blinking rapidly.

"Guys, it's-" I began with a blush on my face.

"I can't believe that you two would do such a thing!" Zach exclaimed while yelling at us in shock.

"It's not-" Astral began.

"I expected more self-control from you, Astral," Brandon yelled at him.

"I-"

"We-"

"Ok, ok," Zach said as he starts to calm down.

"The two of you don't have to explain. It's a natural thing." Brandon said with a blush on his face. Why won't they just listen!

I sigh in frustration. "We didn't-"

"I must know," Zach interrupted. "When is the baby coming?" He asks us as all of the eyes in the room widen.

What on earth?!

"Baby?" Serenity asks them. "Lady Lily will be having a baby?" She asks staring excitedly at me.

"No, I-" I started but then got cut off again.

"Wait, what baby?" All of the parents ask us simultaneously in shock. Oh no…

"Father, it's-" Astral started as his father and mother looked at him.

"Son, you have to take responsibility for your actions." The King said sternly.

"Mother, you don't-" I started to say but she cut me off.

"Lily, you have chosen this path yourself." She said.

I looked at Astral with our faces in shock and disbelief. Did my parents just…

He nodded at me, still in shock.

"Now, wait just a-" He tried to say.

"What should we name the baby?"

"Hmm…"

"Will it be a boy or a girl?"

"The name has to be unique!"

"Let us come up with a list of names for both genders."

"That's a good plan and when it's born, we can choose a name!"

They all chatted among themselves, all excitedly. Just what is happening right now?

I glared at Brandon. Oh, wait until I get my hands on that little rascal!

I looked over at my friend. He closed his eyes and sighed in frustration with redness seeping on his face. "Just what has this come to." He mutters underneath his breath.

"I know right?" I replied to him, making his eyes open to meet mine.

"I blame Brandon for coming up with that assumption," I said, glaring at him.

He nodded. "Why would he come up with that assumption anyway? He knows that we are just friends right?"

"Exactly!" I replied to him in frustration.

We looked back at them, all chatting happily about the arrival of a non-existent baby.

"Should we stop them?" I ask him as I poured myself a cup of water to drink.

He sighs as he nods.

"Astral," Crystal asks as they all directed their attention to us. "How do you feel about the baby?"

"Lily, how do you feel about bearing the unborn child of a Prince?" Lilith asks me as I choked on my water. She! What did she just ask me?!

"What did you just-" I started to say as a blush crawled on my cheeks.

Luckily, Astral was right next to me and helped me calm down, or else I would have strangled her for asking that question. Are they reporters now?

"Calm down, Lily. I will take care of this."

I shot him a desperate look. "You better, Astral or else, Brandon is going to get it," I said narrowing my eyes angrily at him.

He looks at the scene and sighs. "There is no baby!" He hollered, making everyone look at us in confusion.

At last, it's quiet in this room.

"What do you mean?" Our parents ask us simultaneously.

"This is all just a huge misunderstanding," I said.

"But, Serenity said you two-" Zach started.

"Ok," Astral said. "Can you please stop interrupting us and let us speak?" He said in a calm voice as the whole room went silent.

"A part of what she said is true. Lily and I did sleep on the same bed together but we did not do anything."

"That's right," I said. "Absolutely nothing happened. We just slept." I said with a blush on my face as I looked away from Astral.

"But then why did she say you two were holding each other?" Brandon asks us in confusion.

"You all know that I'm afraid of lightning right?" I said as they all nodded.

Astral chimed in. "Well, that night, she was in my room because we were having a late-night conversation, and all of a sudden, it started to rain and thunder." He started.

"She freaked out and pushed me onto the bed and buried her head in my chest." Why did you have to put it like that?

My eyes widen. "Hey!" I said in an accusatory tone. "That did not happen," I said denying that I pushed him down on the bed.

He looked at me and smirked. "Oh? I remember very clearly that you pounced on me so hard that I lost my balance and fell to the ground with you laying directly on top of me." He met my gaze as I looked away with a little red seeping on my face.

"Did you have to phrase it like that?" I ask looking at him.

He slightly smiles. "Anyway, she practically begged me not to leave her alone-"

I grabbed the nearest pillow and whacked him with it.

"Nice try, but-"

(Whack)

"Ow!" I grabbed another pillow and whacked him in the stomach. "That's what you get!"

"Tell the story properly," I commanded.

He rubbed his stomach. "But that's exactly what happened that night!" He said.

"When I left to grab a blanket, you didn't even let go of my hand until I promised you that I wouldn't leave."

"Yes, but they don't need all the little details that happened that night," I argued.

A look of confusion flash on his face followed by a teasing smile. Uh-oh…

He looked at me. "Are you-"

(Whack)

I whacked him hard in the face with a pillow. "Ow, that hurts you know?" He said rubbing his cheek.

I smirked at him. That's what he deserves for teasing me! I thought as I laughed.

"Fine," He sighs as he looked at everyone. "That's basically what happened. Lily and I did nothing except for sleep."

I nodded as I put the pillow on my lap. "That's the truth. Nothing of that sort happened."

"But then why did you two lay in that position?" Zach asks us.

"Oh, I offered to change positions but she was adamant on that sleeping position." He said glancing at me.

They both laughed. "Really?"

He nodded as he dodged my incoming pillow. "Hey! It's the truth."

"I ask if you were comfortable in that position and you said yes. Not that you were going to let me go anytime soon." He muttered quietly as the rest of them burst out laughing. Ohhhhh, I will get you for this. Just you wait, Astral.

I glared at him and he smiles at me all innocent-like. "Admit it, honey, you enjoyed my head and hand on your chest didn't you?" I said teasing him a bit.

He stops laughing and turns to me with a smile. "Why, I could ask you the same question, my love. How did you like holding onto my hand all night long?" He said as he laughs in a joking manner. My love? Why does that sound…! Wasn't that what he used to call Astrid?

My eyes widen as I look at him laughing. Did I take this a little too far?

Noting my silence, he looks at me with concerned eyes. "Lily?"

Uh-oh… I have to do something but I can't apologize to him now. I have to find somewhere private so we can talk later but for now…

(Whack)

I hit him on the head with the pillow.

"That's what you get for teasing me!" I said while laughing at him.

He rubbed his cheeks and glared at me. "You started it." He said. "What is with you and the pillows today?" He mutters under his breath.

I let out an internal sigh of relief. Phew, crisis averted. I glanced back at him, still rubbing his cheek. Still, I got to find some way to apologize to him. That was quite insensitive of me for joking like that.

"So, there is no baby?" Serenity asks us.

"No baby." He said as he looked at her.

She pouted sadly. "I was looking forward to a little brother or sister."

"Yea, that's not going to happen anytime soon," Astral said as I nudged him in the ribs.

"What was that for?" He said as he glared at me. Seriously? He can be so insensitive sometimes.

"You can be so insensitive at times. You know that right?" I said as I looked at Serenity.

He shrugged. "It's the truth." He said causing me to facepalm.

"What he meant was that… uh," I said trying to come up with an excuse. Hmm… how am I going about this?

Lilith smiles as she carries her to her lap. "What your father means is that maybe you will get a brother or sister in the future."

Her eyes lit up in excitement as she looks up at her 'mother'. "Really?"

She nods. "Really."

Wow, is this even the same Lilith that tried to kill Astral? Why is she acting so… nice?

"Anyway, if that's not the secret that you two wanted to tell us, then what is it?" The Queen asks as everyone looks at us. Darn it! We have gone around full circle. I was hoping that they forgot about that.

I looked at him desperately as he sighs. "Lily-"

"I know but I can't work up the nerve to tell them. I have hidden this secret for so long now." I said quietly.

"That is why you need to tell them now," He said gently as he took his hands off of my ears. I guess it stopped raining and thundering.

"Lily, just tell us." My mother said.

"You can tell us anything." My father said, looking at me.

I looked back at Astral. He smiles encouragingly as he took hold of my hand. "You can do it." He says while nodding. That's right… I can do this!

I took a deep breath to calm myself. "Do you know why I'm afraid of thunder?" I ask everyone in the room.

My mother shook her head. "You never told us before."

"Well, I think it's time for you all to know what happened to make me so afraid of it," I said.

"Astral," The King asks him. "I am assuming that you know why she's so afraid of thunder?"

He nodded. "Yes, father, she told me."

My mother and father got a look of betrayal on their faces as soon as they heard that. Oh god. I bet they think that I don't trust them because I never told them.

I unconsciously held his hand tighter.

My friend must have noticed this. "It's not that she doesn't trust you. She was holding this information for a reason." He explained to my parents, as a look of confusion flashed on their faces.

I looked at Astral with a smile as he nodded knowingly. Thank goodness for him!

"Father, do you still remember when I went missing?"

"You went missing?" Crystal asks in shock as she looked at me.

I nodded. "Yes," My father responded. "We looked for you everywhere and it was thundering that night."

My mother's eyes widen. "Did something happen that night?"

I gulped nervously as I received concerned looks from everyone in the room. I have gone this far. I can't back down now!

"Are you okay?" He asks in concern as I looked at him. "If you don't want to explain the next part, I can explain it for you."

"I-I'm fine," I said as I took a deep breath. I can do this.

"Since it was raining and thunder that night, I knocked on a house in hopes that the person in there could let me stay there until the morning," I said quietly with a lump in my throat as I gripped his hand even tighter. Don't cry. It's all in the past.

"I-I came fa-face to face with a for-forty ye-year old ma-man in a suit an-and he in-invited me into his house." I managed to stutter out with tears in my eyes as I gripped his hand tighter.

(Flash):

"You are a bad person!"

(Flash):

"Didn't your parents teach you never to trust strangers?"

(Flash):

"L-let me go."

(Flash):

"Oh, how I will enjoy taking that innocence."

(Flash)

"Ge-get away from me-me!" I shouted as I flailed my arms in multiple directions.

"Lily," He cried out as he held my arms in place.

"Stop it!" I screamed while thrashing my arms all over the place.

"Lillian, calm down."

"Please le-let me go." I cried out while trying to move my arms.

He took me into a tight embrace while I hit him in the back with all of my strength. "No! Stop it! Let go of me!"

"I need you to calm down." He said raising his voice a bit.

"Let go of me, you bad person!" I shouted as I kept hitting his back in hopes of him letting go of me.

"Lily, I captured him. He's in the dungeon right now."

"Please, anyone save me from this man," I said still hitting and thrashing.

"Mother, help me!" I yelled for their help.

"Astral, save me! Please! Where are you?!" I ask desperately as I kept hitting him in the back.

"Astral, help me. You said you would always protect me! Where are you when I need you?" I cried as my punches grew softer.

"Shhh… Lily, I'm right here. I'm right by your side."

"Astral… help…" I cried out softly as I stopped hitting him.

"I'm right here, Lily. I'm right here. Let go of the image that you are seeing right now." He said in a calm and soothing voice.

Tears streamed down my face as I blinked and blinked. The forty-year-old man turned into my 18-year-old friend embracing me. "I'm here, Lily. I will always be here. Let go of the image that you are seeing right now." He said in a gentle voice while stroking my hair. What have I done?

"A-Astral?" I whispered in disbelief as tears streamed down my face.

"It's okay. Everything is okay now. You are safe." He said, still stroking my hair.

I hugged him tightly as I can. "I'm sorry. I'm sorry for hitting you like that." I muttered as I sobbed in his embrace.

"It's fine, Lily. All that matters right now is that you are safe. He can't harm you anymore." My friend whispers in a calm voice.

"Astral," I muttered his name as I cried and hugged him closer to me, not letting go as I closed my eyes and smiled.

"Shh… you are safe. I will protect you." He said while gently rubbing my back as a form of comfort.

I continued to cry in his embrace. What did I do to deserve you, Astral?

"Don't worry, you are safe."

"You're safe. He is gone." He whispers to me as I sniffled.

He broke the embrace as he brought his hand up to my face and wiped my tears with his fingers. He smiles gently at me. "Are you feeling better?"

I looked into his eyes as a small smile graced my face. I nodded. "I'm-"

"You have nothing to apologize for, Lily," He said. "You were having a relapse."

"But-"

He shook his head slowly. "As I said before, the last thing I want to hear is an apology. Especially, if it's not that person's fault."

I bit my lips as I looked at him gratefully. Thank you, Astral, for being in my life. I thought as I smiled at him.

"So, do you want me to continue the story?" He asks, looking at me in concern.

I nodded. "If you are feeling up to it." It would be the best move. I don't want to have a relapse again.

He directs his attention to everyone. "As you all can see from recent events, Something happened to her while she was with that… man." I could see the rage in his eyes as he clenched his fist. I took hold of his hand and unclench his fist, making him look at me in surprise.

I smiled at him. He shouldn't waste his anger on such a person. Plus, I could tell that he wanted to spit out some profanity but stopped himself in the nick of time because of Serenity's presence in the room.

"Judging by what we just saw," Maria said. "Something definitely happened between her and that person."

Crystal nodded. "The question is what?"

"Did he hit her or something?" Star asks us.

Oh, you are on the right track…

All of the adults stayed quiet with clenched fists. Zach and Brandon focused their gazes on us as their breaths hitched. Do they know what happened? Did they figure it out?

He turned to me. "Ready?"

Well, this is it. I squeezed his hand and in return, he gripped mine firmly. "Ready as I will ever be."

He closes his eyes for a minute then opens them. "That man has many accounts of rapes and molestations of women and children."

He said as gasps can be heard from all of the occupants in the room as I gripped his hand tighter. He said it. Finally, the secret that I have been keeping for 11 years is revealed.

"Lily was almost one of his victims," He said as he held my hand firmly. "But, thankfully she escaped in the nick of time before anything happened."

"But that didn't stop him from leaving her emotional scars. That is the reason why she is afraid of thunder since she was 7 years old." He finished in a serious tone of voice.

"Why didn't you tell us?" My mother said with tears in her eyes.

I knew that question was coming up. I looked to my left. "I can't help you answer this question." He said softly. "Just tell them the truth."

Right. I guess I have to tell them the reason. I gripped his hand as I worked up the nerve to answer her question. "I was scared," I began.

"I was afraid that you wouldn't believe that happened and would dismiss it," I confessed to my parents.

I held my breath, waiting for a reaction as I gripped my friend's hand tightly. He looks at me and used his other hand to relax my grip. I looked at him in surprise.

"Relax, Lily. No need to be so tense." He said calmly. How can he be so calm in this situation?

"But-"

"They are your parents." He said slowly as he smiled gently while holding my hand.

He's right. They are my parents. They will believe me… right?

He suddenly removes his hand from mine and stood up. Where is he going?

Out of pure instinct, I quickly held onto his arm tightly. "Where are you going?"

He smiles at me. "Don't worry, I'm not leaving. I'm just standing behind the couch for a couple of minutes."

"Why?" I ask as I looked at him curiously.

I got my answer when my parents came over to my side of the couch and sat down on either side of me. Oh, so that was the reason.

I slowly let go of his arm and he went over towards the backside of the couch.

"Mother-"

I was about to say but got cut off by her hugging me. I widen my eyes at the unexpected embrace. Well, this is new…

"Why didn't you tell us sooner?" My mother said as she blinked back the tears.

"I was afraid-"

"You were afraid that we weren't going to believe you?" My father said as my mother broke the embrace.

I nodded as they smiled. "Silly girl," He said.

"We are your parents for crying out loud. We would believe anything you say no matter how ridiculous it is." My mother said softly.

"Really?" I said with tears in my eyes.

They smiled at me. "Of course, sweetie."

They opened their arms for an embrace and I tackled them.

"Thank you," I muttered softly.

"Thank you for believing me."

"No need to thank us, honey." My mother said as she rubs my back gently.

"I'm just glad that you are safe and sound." My father said gratefully.

We stayed in an embrace for a couple of minutes until my father asks. "Is that man caught?" He asks in an angry voice.

I pulled away from them as I smiled. "Don't worry, he is caught and is now in the dungeon because of his crimes," I said happily.

"That's good. Now, you don't have to be scared of him anymore." Zach suddenly chimed in.

"Who said that I was scared of him?" I said defensively.

"I believe that your actions when you were hitting and punching Astral on the back say it all," Brandon said as he chuckled.

I widen my eyes, looked at my best friend in alarm as I stood up and walked over towards him. I did hit him pretty hard…

"Astral, I'm-"

"If you are apologizing then forget about it." He said looking at me.

"But-"

He narrows his gaze, making me stop my sentence.

I sigh. "Well, at least let me see your back," I said making his eyes go wide.

"Why?" He asks me slowly as he starts to back away from me.

"I did hit you really hard while I was having a relapse. I just want to make sure I didn't leave any bruises or injuries." I said moving towards him as he backed away towards the door.

"No, I'm fine. I am positive that there are no bruises or injuries." He said.

"I just want to make sure that's all," I said as I kept moving towards him.

"I said that I'm fine." He argued as he backs away from me.

"Come on, Astral," I said with a sigh. "I just want to look at your back. Is that really an unreasonable request for you?" I said, still moving towards him.

"I said that my back is fine. It has no bruises."

"I won't believe it unless I see it."

"Why are you so persistent?" He asks as he backs away from me.

"I have always been persistent. You should know me by now." I said losing my patience a bit.

"Let me see your back!" I said as I lunged at him. He quickly dodged my attempt.

"Hey guys," He said looking at Brandon and Zach, sipping their water as they watched this all play out. "A little help here?"

"Sorry, Astral but this one is on you," Zach said while laughing.

"Good luck!" Brandon said, giving him a thumbs up.

"Some friends you are." He mutters under his breath as I chuckled.

He glances at the girls who quickly looked away from him.

"Really?" He said. "No one is going to help me?" He asks them.

"Sorry Astral but we all want to see this play out," Maria said as they all nodded in unison.

He then looks at his mother and father for help.

The King smiles at him. "I want to see how this plays out as well."

"Really?" He looks at them in disbelief.

They both nodded. "Sorry son, but I want to see who wins." The Queen said as she chuckled.

He sighs and shook his head slowly. "Are you that persistent in seeing my back?" He asks while looking at me.

"I just want to see if I caused any injury to it."

"I already told you that my back is fine."

"I know you better than to take your word for it."

"What is that supposed to mean?" He said while still backing away.

"Are you going to let me see your back or not?" I ask as my patience is wearing thin.

"No." He said as he backs out of his room.

I sigh and smile at him. "Looks like you want to do this the hard way huh?"

"Uh-oh, I recognize that look. What are you planning?" He said as he backs away cautiously.

I smirked at him as he suddenly flys out of his room at lighting speed.

"Get back here, Astral!" I screamed as I fly after him.

Enna's POV:

"Get back here, Astral!" Lily shouted as she flew after him.

I stifled a laugh as I saw my son fly out of the room in terror. This day has been interesting out of all the days so far.

"So, who do you think will win?" I ask everyone.

"I think that Lily will win." Star, Maria, and Crystal said.

"I think that it's anyone's game," Zach said as we all looked at him.

"What do you mean?" Star asks him curiously.

"Well, Lily is persistent and determined but so is Astral." He explained.

"Astral can fly faster than her," Brandon said.

"Yes, that's why I said it is anyone's game."

"I'm still betting for Astral to win," Brandon said.

I turned my attention to my husband. "Who do you think will win?"

He looks at me. "Do you even need to ask? I'm betting on our son."

I rolled my eyes playfully. "Me too."

"I'm betting on my daughter," Carissa said as Luca nodded in agreement.

"Serenity," Star said as she looked at her. "Who do you think would win?"

"I pick father!" She said as she played with Star's hair.

"So that is 5 votes for Lily versus 4 votes for Astral," Luca said.

"Zach," My husband said. "Who do you vote for?"

"I'm betting for Astral." He said.

"So that is 5 votes for Lily and 5 votes for Astral," Eliphas said.

"It's a tie." Maria pointed out.

"Let's wait for them to get back to see who the true winner is." My daughter said excitedly.

"You're not escaping this time!" I heard Lily shout as we all rushed to the doorway.

"Don't you ever give up? My son yelled back at her, out of breath from flying so fast.

"Me? Give up? Never!" She shouted as she chased him down the hall. She was also out of breath from flying.

"Should we stop them?" Star said in concern. "They have been flying for 15 minutes now."

"Nah," Brandon said nonchalantly. "They will be fine."

5 minutes later:

"You will never catch me!" My son yelled as he flys past us.

"Don't you ever get tired?" Lily shouted in response. She was breathing heavily as she flew after him.

5 more minutes later:

"Can't we call a truce?" My son yelled as he got tired and offered her a truce.

"I will rip your shirt off if I have to!" She said breathing heavily as she chased after him.

30 minutes later:

"Lily, I am honestly so tired right now." He said while stopping in front of his room for a rest.

She walked up behind him out of breath as she slumped on a wall. "Me too. I have never flown so fast in a short amount of time."

I sigh as I slowly shook my head. "Okay, that's enough playing around you two," I said as we all helped them up and laid them on the couch.

"So no one won?" Star asks them.

"No, no one won," My son replied as he laid on his stomach with his clothes all messed up from the flying.

"We were too tired," Lily admitted as she laid on her stomach as well.

I sigh as I looked at them. Honestly, these two are 18 years old, and yet, they still act like little kids sometimes. I thought as a smile graced my face.

Lily then walked over towards Astral and smirked. What is she doing?

"What are you?" His eyes widen as he tried to get up but she yanked his shirt up, revealing his back.

"Huh, guess you were telling the truth," She said as she pulled his shirt back down.

"Why would I lie about that?" He said with a hint of annoyance. "Also, you cheated!" He said pointing at her while still laying on the couch.

"Me? Cheat? No!" She said sarcastically as she rolled her eyes.

"I said that I will rip your shirt off if that's what it will take to see your back." She said while smirking. "Plus, I technically didn't end the game yet."

I blinked and looked at my husband. Is that allowed?

"Lily wins!" Everyone shouted including me as I look at my son.

"It was a tainted victory!"

"Aww, Astral, no need to be a sore loser." She said as she smiled at him.

"True," Maria said while laughing. "A victory is a victory."

"Exactly!" Crystal said as we all laughed.

Eliphas and I looked at our son. These two are so competitive sometimes.

Astral's POV:

I can't believe that I was caught off guard by her. I thought as I rolled my eyes and chuckled a bit. That was well played. I got to hand it to her.

I slowly stood up. "I'm going for a walk outside."

"I will go with you!" Lily said grabbing onto my arm as I walked out my bedroom door. Why is she tagging along with me?

"Why?" I ask her with a hint of confusion.

"Am I not allowed to go on a walk with you?" She countered my question with an innocent look.

I narrowed my eyes at her in suspicion. "Ok, if you want to tag along then suit yourself."

She smiles then turns to everyone else. "We will be back later." She said as she flys out of the palace leaving me in the dust. How on earth does she have so much energy?

I sigh in disbelief as I chased after her. "Lily, wait for me!"

I flew out of the palace and into the streets as she stopped in a corner. "Took you long enough to get here." She said while walking towards me.

"We just flew laps around the palace. How do you have so much energy?" I ask her in disbelief.

She shrugged her shoulders and gave me a blank stare. "I don't know." You have got to be kidding me. She doesn't know?

I gave her a shocked look. "Don't look at me like that," She said defensively. "I honestly don't know how I have so much energy."

I sighed as I closed my eyes for a moment then opens them. "Hey Astral?" She suddenly says as she pursed her lip.

I looked at her as we were walking. "Yes?"

"I'm sorry." She suddenly apologies. What is she apologizing for?

"For what?" I ask her curiously.

"For being insensitive earlier." She started as I stopped suddenly and turned to her. Insensitive?

I gave her a confused look as she stopped right in front of me.

"I shouldn't have made that joke." She said avoiding my gaze.

I stared blankly at her. Joke? What is she…! Oh…

I widen my eyes. She must be talking about that.

A smile graced my lips. "Oh, are you apologizing for that?" I said as she looked at me.

I chuckled a bit. "Don't worry about it, it's fine."

"But I shouldn't have made that joke when you are-"

My smile fades as I reverted to my impassive facade. "Don't worry about it, Lily."

"But-"

I clenched my fist. "This is the absolute last thing that I want to talk about right now."

A moment of silence enters as we stared at each other. I continued my impassive gaze. I really don't want to talk about her right now. It brings back too many memories.

She got a determined look on her face. "Astral," She began softly. "You can't just keep living in denial like this."

"I am not in denial," I responded after a moment of silence. I know that she's dead.

She sighs sadly as she pulled me aside as we both sat at a table with two chairs.

"I know you don't think that you are in denial but you are."

"No, I know that she's-"

"Yes, but have you accepted that she's gone?"

My eyes widen. Have I accepted…

"There is a difference between acceptance and knowing." She explained gently.

"I accepted that-"

"Have you really?" She interrupted me.

I… I don't know… have I really accepted that she's gone?

I clenched my fist even more as I thought about her words.

She gently grabs my hand as she unclenches it and held it softly. "I could tell that you were trying to mask your pain and sadness behind your emotionless facade."

My eyes widen. How could she?

"I could also tell that most of your laughs today were fake and a little forced."

"How?" I ask in disbelief, looking at her.

She smiles gently. "We practically grew up together. Even though you are highly exceptional at hiding your emotions, I know you, Astral." Of course, I should have known she would have noticed.

"Was it that obvious?" I ask her in a monotone voice.

She nodded. "It was obvious to me but I think you fooled the others." Looks like I got figured out.

I chuckled. "Your right."

"I know that she's gone. I mean she fell down a cliff that is a thousand feet."

"There is no way that she could have survived that fall. The impact and terminal velocity are far too great for a person like her to withstand." I said tightening my grip on her hand.

"But, to have me actually accept that I will never see her again," I said while closing my eyes to prevent my tears from falling as I took a breath to steady my emotions.

"Do you have any idea how hard it is for me to do, Lily?" I said quietly as I clenched her hand.

She placed her other hand on top of mine. "I understand." She said softly.

"She was my friend as well."

"But," She looks at me. "Even if she's not physically here with us, she will always be here."

"What do you mean?"

She pulled her chair so she sat directly in front of me. What is she up to?

She smiles sadly as she looked into my eyes as placed her hand on the left side of my chest. My eyes widen in surprise but I didn't remove her hand. Why is she…?

"She will always be in here."

"As long as you remember her, she will always be by your side."

I stayed quiet as I slowly placed my hand over her hand on my chest. She will always be in here?

"Really?" I ask looking at her directly in the eyes.

She smiled confidently as she nods. "She always will be in your heart."

She's right… As long as I remember her, she will always be right beside me.

I gave her a genuine smile for the first time today. "Thank you, Lily."

We smiled at each other in silence as we stayed in that position for a couple of minutes. Thank you, Lily, for being in my life.

"Are you feeling better now?" She suddenly asks as she broke the peaceful silence between us.

I nodded as I smile at her. "Nothing can get past you huh?" I said teasingly as I let go of her hand.

She laughs. "Of course, I know you the best!" She responded.

"Yes, I know," I said as I ruffled her hair.

"Hey! Cut it out. You're messing up my hair." She whined in a childish voice.

I let out a chuckle as she glared at me. "Ok," I said as I put my hands up in surrender.

I summoned up a brush. She looks at me with confusion. "What are you doing?"

I stood up and went behind her. "Where are you-"

"Relax, I'm not going anywhere," I said as I took her hair and carefully brushed it.

She widens her eyes in surprise. "You don't really have-"

"It's the least that I can do after I messed up your hair," I said, detangling a knot.

"But you don't-"

"Lily, it's fine. After all, I have done this before."

"You have?"

"Who knew, the Prince of Astral World would go brush a lady's hair." She said jokingly.

"Anyway, whose hair did you brush? Your sister's?"

"No, she wouldn't even let me touch her hair when we were little," I said, detangling another knot.

"Oh? Why was that?"

"Funny story actually, when I was little, I attempted to brush her hair but I couldn't use a brush properly at that time. So I ended up getting the whole brush stuck in her hair."

She burst out laughing. "Re-really?" She said in between fits of laughter.

I chuckled while I brushed her hair. "Yea, after that, she wouldn't even let me bring a brush near her."

"How on earth did you manage to get a brush stuck in her hair?" She asks as she giggled.

"I honestly don't know how I managed to do that," I said as I detangled the last of the tangles.

She widens her eyes. "You're not going to get a brush stuck in my hair are you?" She asks with a hint of fear.

I rolled my eyes playfully. "Of course not, I had tons of practice. Plus, I know to work a brush."

As I worked through the last of the tangles, she asks me a question. "Who's hair did you brush then?"

My eyes widen.

(Flash):

"Astral, can you brush my hair every day?" She asks me as she sits at her desk.

I smiled as I gently work through her tangles. "Do you really like me brushing your hair that much, my love?"

"Yes, I do. Why? Don't you like brushing my hair as well?" She said jokingly.

"Of course I love to brush your hair. It's so silky and soft." I said as I ran my fingers through it.

She laughs. "Honey, your hair is the soft one."

"No, yours is," I said while smiling.

"No, yours is!" She suddenly got up and pat my head gently as I pulled her closer by the waist.

"Astral?" She said with a blush as I leaned forward to claim her lips passionately.

(Flash)

"Astral?"

I shook my head and blinked. "Yes?" Why did I suddenly remember that?

"You went quiet there all of a sudden. Are you okay?" She asks in concern as I ran my fingers through her hair to check for tangles.

"I'm fine, Lily," I said with a chuckle.

"You know, your hair is really soft and silky." I complimented as I ran my fingers through her hair with a slight smile on my face.

"No, your hair is soft."

"No, yours is," I said with a laugh.

She slowly shook her head as she stood up and pats my head. "No, yours is!" She exclaimed with a smile. "Seriously, what do you use on your hair?"

I blinked at her. Astrid? I slowly brought a hand towards her face with tears in my eyes.

"Astral?" She asks in a concerned voice as she strokes my hair.

I blinked a couple more times and used my other hand to rub my eyes. No, this is Lily, not her.

If I retract my hand now, she will know that something is up. I redirected my hand from her face to the side of her hair, stroking it gently. "Your hair is really soft as well," I said while looking at her as she looks away with a bit of redness on her face.

She smiles while looking down as I continued to stroke her hair. Phew, that was close. Why did I see her as Astrid though?

Her eyes widen as she looked at me. "Do you hear a baby crying?" She asks, snapping me out of my thoughts.

We removed our hands from each other and listened. "Yea, that's definitely a baby crying," I said as I moved towards the sound.

We came to an alleyway and found a baby boy wrapped in a blue blanket in a basket. Why is he here of all places?

I crouch down towards the basket and read the note attached to it.

"To whoever finds this note, please take good care of my child. I really don't want to leave him but my circumstances are far too poor to take care of a baby. He doesn't have a name yet so feel free to name him. Please, take good care of my precious baby boy, and thank you. When he gets older, don't tell him that he was abandoned as a baby. I would prefer him to live a happy life with you. Thank you for your kindness."

I read the note a couple of times in disbelief. Why would a parent abandon such a cute baby like this?

I looked at the baby in the basket as he giggled at me. I smiled and poked it on the cheek.

"Who would abandon such a cute little helpless baby like you?" She said as she picks him up gently.

He giggles at her touch and wiggles around a bit.

"Isn't this baby cute, Astral?"

I looked at her and smiled. "Indeed."

She gave me a questioning look. "What are you holding?"

"A note left for whoever found him."

"What does it say?"

"How about you read it yourself," I said as I handed the note to her but I realized a complication. Ohhhhh. She's holding the baby.

She must have realized it too. "How about this," She said as she walked over to me and handed me the baby. Does she want me to carry him?

"I don't think that will be a good idea," I said looking at her.

"Why not?"

"What if he starts crying again?"

She sighs as she puts him in my arms. I tried to hold him to the best of my ability but I never held something so small and helpless before. Am I holding him right?

She burst out laughing at the scene as I stared at her helplessly.

"I never held a baby before," I stated, making her laugh even more.

"I don't mean to laugh but this is too funny!" She said, laughing some more as I looked down at him, blinking rapidly.

"Here," She brought one of my arms to support his neck and the other one supporting his bottom.

"Is this good?" I ask as she blinks.

"Astral," She said as she shook her head slowly. "You don't need to be so tense. It's just a baby."

"Yea, I don't want to drop him," I replied.

She touched my left arm. "Relax your arm a bit."

"But what if I-"

"You won't drop him." She said confidently as I slowly relaxed my arms.

He wiggled around trying to get comfortable as he looked at me with his heterochromatic eyes and giggled. He's so cute!

I smiled as I poked his cheek and he giggled some more. Who would abandon such a cute baby?

"See?" She said looking at me with a proud smile. "You're a natural at holding a baby." She complimented.

"Can I see the note?"

I nodded as I handed her the note that was attached to the basket.

"You are so cute. Oh yes, you are!" I said playfully as he giggled excitedly at me.

I looked over at her. She had her fist clenched as she reads the note. "I can't believe they abandoned this baby." She said in anger.

"Lily," I said in hopes to get her to calm down. "People have their own reasons when it comes to things."

"I know they do but what was the reason that they have to abandon their own child like this?" She said looking at the baby in my arms sadly.

She walks up to me and smiles at him. "Don't worry little one. If your parents don't need you, we will be your parents from now on right Astral?" She said looking at me.

"Right, Lily," I said as I smiled and looked down at my arms. "I will protect you from harm."

"I think you mean we would protect you from harm." She corrected me as he giggled holding both of our fingers.

"I think we should be heading back to the palace," I said as it starts to get dark.

"Ok, let's go back." She said as she starts to walk beside me.

Wait a moment, how are we going to explain this?

I sigh deeply as I looked at her. "I can already see the reactions from them as we speak."

She nods in agreement. "They will probably think that it's our baby or something along those lines."

"I blame Brandon for putting that idea in their heads, to begin with." She said as she looked at me. Where does he get his crazy theories anyway?

"Plus, it doesn't help the matter that the baby looks like us." I pointed out while looking down at him.

She looks at me with a confused expression. "What do you mean?"

"You know when a baby is born, it takes the parent's genes right?" I explained to her.

"Yea?"

"Take this baby as an example," I said as we down looked down at him peacefully sleeping in my arms.

"He has one gold and one silver eye and black hair." I started as I waited for her to realize.

A couple of beats of silence passed as her confused expression morphed into understanding. "Ohhhhh," She exclaimed as she looks at me.

"I have black hair while you have the same eye color as him. Making the physical characteristics of the baby."

I nodded. "Although, I find it peculiar," I said going into deep thought. Why does this baby look so much like us?

"Yea, it's strange, to say the least." She said, looking at the baby in my arms.

"Well, technically it's our baby now since we were the ones who found him." She said after a moment of silence. True.

"And we will be his parents from now on," I said as I looked at her.

She looks at me and laughs. "That means you have two children to take care of. Are you sure you can handle it?"

"If I can't handle it then you will help me since technically, you are his 'mother'," I said jokingly as she looked away with red seeping into her face. Oh, how enjoy teasing her so.

"Let's get going." She took off flying as she looked away from me.

I shook my head and stifled a laugh. She is too cute. I thought as I widen my eyes. What the? Cute? Did I just call her that?

It was just probably a slip-up. Yea, I didn't mean to think that she's cute. Wait, why am I still thinking about this?

I shook my head and flew after her carefully not to wake up the baby in my arms.

Crystal's POV:

We all went to the throne room to wait for them to return.

"You know, the more I think about it, the more I realize that those two understand each other more than we can ever understand them." My mom said to all of us.

I nodded. "They understand each other on a deeper level than other people."

"I wonder how though?" Star asks us.

"It probably has to do with the fact that they practically grew up together," Zach said. Huh, he does have a point.

"I still think that there is something between them," Brandon said.

"Me too but they already said that they are just friends," Maria said.

"Well, my theory is that deep down, they like each other but they just don't want to admit it," I said as they all nod in agreement.

"That could very likely be the case." Her mom said as she looked at us.

"Yes, I mean they might say that they don't like each other in that sense but actions and body language don't lie." Her dad said in deep thought.

"Oh," My dad suddenly says as we all looked at him. "Remember when they cuddled with each other?" He said as we nodded.

"If I remember correctly, they were sleeping in the Sweetheart's Cradle position," Maria said, remembering that day.

"Also, if I remember correctly, Lily called him 'honey' so casually and it doesn't seem like she was joking with him either," I said. Could they secretly like each other?

"I knew that they had a thing for each other all along," Brandon said smiling at all of us.

"Keep your ego in check," Zach said glancing at him as he glared back.

"If that is true, then why didn't the Pleasure Potion work?" Star asks us while wondering. Oh, true. If they liked each other then why did he resist? Not that I wanted… that to happen but it begs the question, if he liked her then…

"Well, I'm glad that he resisted that potion." Her dad said as her mom nods.

My dad and mom nodded as well. "Us too. It actually shows that if they like each other, it goes past the physical aspect and into the emotional level." My dad has a point.

"And today, he allowed her to hit him on the back just to embrace her and snap her into reality," Maria said. "If that doesn't show love then I don't know what will."

"I am 100 percent positive that they like each other," I said. "I mean like the things they do for each other, the way they act, their actions towards each other, it all surpasses regular friendship."

They all nod in agreement. "In fact," My mom suddenly chimed in. "The way that he acts with her and towards her. Doesn't it seem all too familiar?" She said hinting at something. Are all too familiar?

Maria's, Zach's, and Brandon's eyes all widen and looked at each other. Why do they look so surprised?

"You're not saying what I think you are saying, are you?" Brandon asks my mom in disbelief as she nods.

"What are you saying?" Star asks looking confused.

"Yea, what are you all talking about?" I ask as I looked at them waiting for an answer.

"Before he got his memories sealed, he used to act the same way with Astrid as he acts with Lily now," Maria said making Star and I widen our eyes.

"After he got his memories sealed, he no longer acts that way towards anyone. He was cold and distant. Some may even call him emotionless but that all changed one day two years ago." Zach said.

"You see, Lily took the news of Astrid's death pretty seriously. She wouldn't even come out of her room. She would not eat for days on end." Her dad said as he sighs sadly.

"When enough was enough, we decided to break into her room and found her unconscious on the floor." Her mom said with tears in her eyes. This sounds familiar…Isn't that what happened to Astral?

"Wait," My dad said looking at them. "Why didn't we ever hear this story?"

"That's exactly what happened with my son as well." My mom exclaimed as they both widen their eyes.

"Wow!" Her mom said in disbelief.

"Wow is right," Her dad said. "What are the odds that the same thing happened to our children?"

"I know right?" My mom said in surprise.

"At least we know that they both grieve in the same way." My dad said.

I blinked at the conversation. What are the odds that the same thing would happen to two different people?

"Anyway, after that incident we convinced her to go to the palace and visit Astral because she hadn't visited him in a while." Her mom continued.

"And I'm not quite sure what happened for them to be so close but after a couple of weeks, she started to come to the palace more regularly and started to act like her normal self again." Her dad finished.

"And Astral started to act like his regular self again as well," Brandon said.

Wow! Who knew that my brother had such a past.

"I might be wrong but don't you all think that Lily acts a bit like Astrid?" He said, making our eyes open wide. Does she?

"Now that you mention it, She has always been similar to Astrid. You know, personality-wise." Maria said, agreeing with his statement.

"Do you think he remembers that they have similar personalities?" I ask all of them as they looked at each other.

"I don't know," My dad said as he looks at me. "We know that he remembers her but we don't know what he remembers."

"I think he does remember it," Zach said, making us all turn to him. "Maybe not consciously but subconsciously he does."

Brandon smiles as he continues his train of thought. "Perhaps that is why he is so comfortable around her. He remembers it subconsciously."

"Of course, this is just a theory. It could be wrong." They both say as they looked at each other. Oh wow, we are diving so deep today.

"So, we all say that they like each other right?" Star asks as we all nodded.

"The only problem is that why won't they admit that they like each other?" Maria asks while pondering.

"Perhaps, it's because they are clueless when it comes to love," I said guessing the reason.

"It makes sense," Brandon said. "I mean I literally had to spell it out for them today when I asked them that question." Those two are really clueless when it comes to love, aren't they?

"Oh, by the way," Maria asks as she looked at Brandon. "Where did you come up with the theory that a baby was arriving?" I was wondering that as well.

"Well, it was the way they acted this morning." He said. "Didn't you think that they will reveal something personal?"

"Brandon," Star said as she looked at him. "They did reveal something personal."

"I know but I thought it was going to be a baby." He said while blushing in embarrassment.

"I could see why he thought that," Zach said. "It's easy to misunderstand their relationship and Serenity said that they slept with each other."

"True," I said. "But they didn't do anything."

"I know but she said it in that sense implying that… you know." He said.

"Did you forget that she's 5? She doesn't know what other sense you were implying." Star said as she looked at him.

"What other sense is he implying?" Serenity suddenly asks us in confusion.

We all glared at Zach and Brandon as they gulped nervously. Well, it was nice knowing you two.

"Hey um do you guys hear crying?" I ask everyone as they went quiet as we all listened.

"Why did he suddenly start crying?" My brother asks Lily as they walked into the room. My eyes widen. Is that a baby in his arms?

"Maybe he's hungry?" She responded as she materialized some milk in a bottle.

"Ok. Astral, I need you to tilt his head so that he doesn't choke."

"Will this do?"

"Perfect! You make a great father!" She said as she fed him the milk in the bottle.

He stopped crying instantly as he sucked his bottle with joy. They looked at each other and smiled, stroking the baby's hair tenderly.

Where did they get that baby?

"Astral, Lily," My dad and all of the adults suddenly approached them. "Care to fill us in?"

"Whose baby is that?" Her dad asks looking at the baby then looks at them as he narrows his eyes.

"We are his parents." She said as all eyes widen in shock and disbelief. What? Did they…

"I knew it!" Brandon exclaimed happily.

My brother sighs as he looks at her. "Lily, you can't just say that,"

"Why?"

"It will cause all sorts of misunderstandings." He said.

"But we are technically his parents." She argued.

"I know that but again, if you just say that without adding anything afterward, people will misunderstand that this is our baby." My brother said looking at her.

Her eyes widen as she looks away from him with a blush crawling on her face. He smiles at her.

"Just let me clarify that we found this little one abandoned in an alleyway." He said. Oh, so they found that baby?

"But then why did she say-"

"Because we found him, Lily and I are technically his parents."

Really? I thought in shock. Does it work like that?

"Why was he abandoned?" My mom asks them.

"Lily, can you hand them the letter? My hands are full right now." He said while holding the baby.

She nods as she hands us the note. We all read it in disbelief. What? Even if they were struggling, they shouldn't have abandoned him like that!

"Who on earth would go and abandon such a cute little child like this?" Star said as she looks at the baby staring at his surroundings peacefully in my brother's arms.

"His parents, that's who," I replied, getting angry.

"Now, don't blame his parents for everything, Crystal," Lily said as she looked at me.

"But they-"

"People have their own reason when they make such decisions."

"Well, yes but-"

"She's right Crystal," My brother said.

"People have their own reasons for doing things. If we don't know the full story, we shouldn't judge."

Well, yes but still abandoning a baby is just wrong.

"Hold on," Zach said as he took a closer look at the baby.

"Why does he look like you two so much?" Now that he mentions it…

"He right," Maria said. "He has black hair like Lily and the same eyes as Astral's."

"Just admit it you two," Brandon said as he smirked. "This is actually your baby isn't it?"

Their eyes both widen as my brother coughs in his fist with a hint of red on his face while Lily quickly looked away from him with a blush. Oh, they totally like each other. I am definitely going to get them together. I thought with a knowing smile as I looked at everyone.

"No."

"N-No,"

They both manage to say as they looked at each other.

"He just happens to look like us that's all." My brother said as he looked down at the baby.

"Really?" Star said as she narrowed her eyes in suspicion. I mean like what are the chances they will come across a baby that looks like the both of them?

"I find this very peculiar as well," Lily said as she looks at the baby and smiled.

"So, you two are going to take care of him right?" I ask looking at the two of them.

They both nodded. "Since no one else will take care of him, we thought that we will be his parents and take care of him." She replied as my brother nodded.

"Wait a minute," My mom said. "Are you sure you would be able to handle him?"

"It will be fine. I already have Serenity." He responded.

My dad sighs and shook his head slowly. "Taking care of a kid is totally different from taking care of a baby." Taking care of a baby involves a lot more work.

My brother and Lily looked at each other in determination as they nodded. "If we don't take care of him, then who will?" My brother responded.

"Plus," Lily added. "We were the ones who found him. We have to take responsibility." Wow, who knew they are so determined to take care of a baby.

"Ok," Her mom said. "If that is your choice."

"Just out of curiosity, what is his name?" Maria asks them. Oh yea, he's still nameless.

They both looked at each other then looked at the baby and smiled.

"Phoenix." They simultaneously say as they looked at each other in surprise.

"Did you just come up with that name?" He asks her.

She nodded. "It suits him."

He smiles at her as he looked down at Phoenix. "Rise from the ashes in search for a better future." He said while pondering. "It's fitting in so many ways."

Phoenix… I smiled at them. They have a knack for picking names.

"Did you two just come up with that name?" The adults ask in disbelief.

My brother and Lily both nodded. "It means to rise from the ashes, to be reborn," Lily said as she smiled.

"I got to hand it to you two," Her dad said. "That's a great name."

"Thanks-" My brother started to say when a certain someone's crying cuts him off.

"It's okay, Phoenix." He said in a gentle voice as Lily smiled at him.

My brother bounced him gently as he starts walking around the room in hopes for him to stop crying.

"Sh..shh… it's okay. Everything will be alright." He said in a calm voice like the one he used while comforting Lily.

She walked up to him with a concerned expression. "Here, let me try." She said as he handed her the baby.

"Phoenix… shh… shh… go to sleep. It's okay." She whispered to him as he slowly stops crying.

They looked down at him as he giggled and attempted to grasp her hair.

"Thankfully he stopped crying." He said as he looked at her.

"It's all thanks to you, Astral." She said as she directed her attention to him.

My brother got a surprised and confused look on his face. "Me?"

"Yes, remember all those times that you comforted me? If it wasn't for you, I would have no clue how to calm him down." She said as she looked away from him.

He blinked and a smile graced his lips.

"Ow!" She exclaimed as a little hand, held a fist of her hair while laughing happily yanking at it.

We all stifled a laugh as my brother chuckled. Wow, he really likes her hair.

She glared at him. "Don't just stand there and laugh, Astral."

"Help me!" She whined as he sighs and walked over to her.

"Phoenix, let go of your mother's hair." He said calmly as he tried to unclench his fist while removing her hair.

He grunted in discontent as he tightened his grip and tugged harder. "Ow!" She cried out in pain.

He sighed as he used his hands to gently remove her hair from the baby's grasp as he latched onto his finger.

"There." He said as he ran his fingers through her hair.

"Thanks, Astral," She said as she handed him the baby.

"Anytime." He responded, looking at her with a slight smile. I have never seen him smile this much before…

"Father," Serenity ran up and hugged him. "Is he going to be my little brother?"

He nods. "Yes, he will be your brother from now on."

"My wish finally came true!" She shouted happily as she hugs Lily.

"Thank you for giving me a little brother, mother!" She said to Lily as she widens her eyes. What did she just call her?

"What did you just call me?" She asks in disbelief as she looked down.

She got a confused look on her face. "Can't I call you my mother?"

"I um…" She stutters out in disbelief.

"Serenity," Astral said as she directed her attention to him. "Of course you can call her your mother but don't you already call Star by mother?"

"Is there something wrong with calling Lady Star and Lady Lily both by mother?"

"Well, it's not really wrong…" He said as he trailed off. Oh… I see… it will cause all sorts of misunderstandings.

"Can I ask why you want to call me by mother?" Lily said when the shock wore off.

Serenity looks at her. "You are the mother of Phoenix, which will be my brother. So, you are my mother as well." She said as if it was the simplest thing ever.

We all nodded as she said that. My brother and Lily looked up at Star. "Is that alright with you?" She asks her.

"Yea," She said as she smiles and nods at them.

"Yay!" She yelled excitedly. "Now, I have a father and two mothers!" She said hugging all three of them at once. Aw... She's so innocent.

"Mother," My brother asks as he looks towards my mom. "Do you have a crib that I can borrow?"

"Brother," I said looking at him. "What makes you think that mom has a crib?" I ask him.

"Actually, I still have your crib from when you were little." She said as she summoned a standard-sized crib in front of us. I can't believe that she still has that.

"It has an adjustable mattress." My dad said as he lowered and raised the mattress to fit the baby's needs.

"Perfect!" Lily and my brother exclaimed as they looked at each other.

"He will sleep in my room." He said looking at her.

Her eyes widen. "What? No, he will be sleeping in my room tonight." She argued.

"How about this," He said as he looks at Phoenix, yawning. "He will sleep with me today. Then tomorrow, we will switch."

She ponders his proposal for a bit. "Alright."

Astral's POV:

After all of that is settled, I went to my room with Lily following me.

Everyone called it a night and went to their rooms to rest, leaving us to deal with this.

"Okay," I said as I put the crib down near my bed as she held the baby. This scene is too cute. I thought as I smiled at them.

"I can't believe that your mother kept that crib." She said as she looked at me.

"Me neither," I said while adjusting the mattress in the crib to the proper height.

"Ok, that should do it," I said happily as she went over and placed him gently in the crib.

All of a sudden, he starts to cry loudly. Why is he crying? Is he hungry?

I picked him up out from the crib, rocking him back and forth. "Is he hungry again?"

"No, I don't think so. We just fed him and-"

(Boom)

"Ahhh!" She screamed while hugging my arm tightly.

"Your safe, Lily," I said gently as I try to calm the both of them down.

Is a storm coming or something? What is with all of this thunder?

(Boom)

She held on to me tighter as I rocked Phoenix, trying to ease him.

"Shhh… Lily, you will be fine. I'm right here." I said, using my hands to the best of my ability to dry her tears.

"He has been captured. You have nothing to be scared of anymore." I whispered while bouncing the baby as his cries increased in volume. This isn't working. I need to figure out another way.

"Prince Astral!" I heard a voice called out from outside.

"Prince Astral, it's an emergency!" That voice! What is Lady Estella doing here?

"Prince Astral, it's Derek!" She shouted in desperation. Derek? What happened?

If it's an emergency, I have to go with her and see but I just can't leave these two all alone like this.

I thought as I glanced at Lily, still clinging onto my arm while shaking in terror, and Phoenix, whose cries are slowly decreasing.

What do I do now? I thought as Lily looked up at me still breathing heavily. "If it's an emergency, then go." She said in a quiet voice. "I-I will take care of Phoenix." She stutters in fear as she closed her eyes tightly. Lily… I thought in disbelief at her words.

I placed a hand on her cheek. "I promised that I won't abandon you. Right now, you are in no condition to take care of our child." I said softly.

"Prince Astral, please Derek is in trouble!"

"Lady Estella, please come back during the day." One of the guards says.

"Prince Astral!" She yelled desperately from the outside.

"You must go," Lily said quietly as she tightened her grip on my arm. "Derek is our friend. If he's in trouble then you have to help him." There is no way that I am leaving her alone like this!

"Come with me," I said softly.

"B-but-"

"I promised you that I wouldn't leave you," I said calmly looking at her while trying to stop my child from crying.

She slowly nods as I went and grabbed my black coat. I put it on and then carried him, one-handed as Lily gripped my other hand tightly.

We flew outside where Lady Estella was being blocked by the guards.

"Stand down," I commanded as they looked him in my direction and kneeled.

"Your highness,"

"Lady Estella, what's the emergency?" I ask quickly.

"Prince Astral, my father had been torturing Sir Derek in the dungeons." She said quickly. "I'm worried that he might not be able to take it anymore."

I widen my eyes. "Let's go," I said calmly as I flew to the Duke's residence.

"Prince Astral," She suddenly asks me. "Is Lady Lily okay? She hasn't said a word." She asks in concern.

I looked back at Lily. She was shivering while holding onto my hand tightly. Lily… I thought sadly. She must be cold because of this wind.

I stopped and turned to Lady Estella. "Lady Estella, can you hold my son for a second?"

She had a surprised expression on her face as I handed him to her.

I quickly took off my trench coat and draped it over Lily, making her look up at me in surprise.

"You must be cold. Here, wear my coat for now," I said with a smile.

"But then you-"

"I will be fine, Lily," I said with a smile as I retrieved my baby from Lady Estella's arms, carrying him with one arm as I intertwined my fingers with hers.

"You will be fine as well," I whispered as she gave me a slight smile.

I directed my attention back to Lady Estella as we nodded and flew quickly to her mansion.

The guards outside kneeled at my presence. "Your highness,"

"Lady Estella, where is the dungeon?" I ask her quickly.

"Follow me." She said as we start to fly into the dungeon. I looked down at my son as he cries out.

"Phoenix, it's okay. You are safe." I said gently as I bounced him softly.

We flew into the dungeon to find my friend tied to a cross while being whipped by the Duke himself. I widen my eyes as my heart rate quickened. Why do I feel this way?

(Flash):

A boy being whipped while tied to a cross…

(Flash):

The smell of blood in the air…

(Flash):

A small figure with white hair rocking back and forth in the corner…

(Flash)

My hand shook as my heart rate quickened. Why is this triggering my memories? Why now?

I took a shaky breath to steady my nerves as a hand gripped my hand firmly.

I turned towards my right. "Astral, you will be fine," She whispers as she smiled at me. That's right. Those are only memories from the past. I have to focus.

"What is going on here?" I said calmly as the Duke turned around slowly.

"I-I… your highness," He said while kneeling. "This isn't what it looks like."

I scoffed at him. "You mean that you were not hitting my friend with a whip?" I ask him while glaring at him.

He gulped nervously. "I-I…"

"You do know that physical torture of the innocent is a crime right?"

"If I wanted to, I could have you detained and strip you of your power in a heartbeat." I threatened him.

"Yo-your highness, I-"

"I don't want to hear another word from you, Duke," I said coldly, looking at him in disgust. Honestly, the nerve of this man!

"Lady Estella," I said as she nods and went to untie him. I should help as well.

I slowly handed my son to Lily. "Can you hold him for a minute?" I ask softly as I went and helped Lady Estella untie Derek and we all left the dungeon.

"Oh," I said as I turned to the Duke. "One more thing, my father will definitely be hearing about this," I said as we flew out of the mansion.

"Lady Estella," I said. "We need to find shelter. It will rain soon."

She nods as we flew into a shabby-looking house. Well, there is hardly anything in it but it will do for our situation.

I slowly laid Derek down on a blanket as I used my powers to help speed up the healing process.

Lily walked towards me and handed me our son. "Are you feeling okay?" I asked gently as I looked at her. She held my hand as she shook violently.

"When will he wake up?" Lady Estella asks me as she looked at me.

"In about a couple of minutes," I responded as my son cried yet again.

"What is up with you today? Are you hungry?" I said as I summoned up a bottle of milk but he refused to drink it. I don't get it, what is making him cry like this?

"Where am I?" My friend said as Lady Estella helped him up.

"Hi Derek," I greeted as I rocked him back and forth to hopefully soothe his crying.

"Astral?" He asks in a questioning time as he looked at my arms and his expression widens in shock. "Is that-"

(Boom)

"Ahhhhh!" Lily screamed as she tackled me into a tight hug while my son cried even louder. Is he afraid of thunder as well?

"Shh… I'm right here." I said as I stroked her hair gently while slowly rocking my son.

"I won't be leaving the both of you," I whispered in her ear.

"I'm here."

(Boom)

"Help!" She cried out as tears welled up in her eyes.

I rubbed her back gently. "Listen to me, Lily. Not the thunder, listen to the sound of my voice." I said as I bounced my son. "It's okay Phoenix, nothing will harm you… shhh… you are safe with me."

(Boom)

She whimpers as she held me tighter. "Astral." She said in a quiet tone.

I put my arm around her neck. "I'm here. I am right beside you." I said softly as my son's cries increased in volume. "It's going to be okay… shhh… Phoenix, I'm here, I'm here."

(BOOM)

"Ahhhhhhh!" She buries her head in my chest as my son cries louder and louder. This isn't working.

"You have nothing to be afraid of," I said while rubbing her back softly. "I'm here. I will always be by your side, Lily." I said softly as she mutters my name.

"Son, it will be okay. Shhhh… you are safe."

"Phoenix, you are safe," I said while his cries decreased into whimpers.

"You are both safe," I said to the two of them while hugging Lily and rocking my son.

"Prince Astral," Lady Estella suddenly chimed in. "Would you like some help?"

I turned my head towards her as I looked at Lily, who is still muttering my name in my chest, and my son, still whimpering with tears in his eyes. This is what I have to do. They need me and I'm not about to abandon them in their time of need.

I smiled at her gratefully. "Thank you but I can manage. After all, this is my own family."

(Cackle)

"Astral." She whispers my name in fear as she wraps her arms around my back tightly.

"Listen to my voice, Lily. You are safe. I am here with you." I whispered to her softly.

My son starts to increase in volume. "Shhh… Phoenix, I am here. I am here… you are safe, my son." I said as he starts to drift off in my arms. I smiled at him. He looks so peaceful.

(Boom)

She whimpers as she grips my shirt and hugs me closer.

"It's okay. You're safe. Your safe." I said slowly as I rubbed her shoulder gently.

"I am here. It's safe… go to sleep, Lily." I urged as I summoned up the crib from my room to here.

I slowly got up to place our son in the crib but she tackled me down, making me unable to get up.

"Lily," I started.

"Don't leave me!" She cried out in desperation as she hugged me tightly.

"I'm not going to leave you," I said as I stroked her hair. But what do I do about Phoenix?

I looked at my son, sleeping peacefully in my arm. "Astral," My friend said as he walked up to me and crouched down towards my level. "Hand him to me and I will place him in the crib."

I nodded as he picks my son up gently and placed him in the crib.

"Thank you, Derek," I said while smiling gratefully.

"Don't mention it." He said as he looked at Lily, clinging to my neck while lying on top of me.

(Boom)

"Don't leave me!" She whimpers as she hugged me tighter.

"I won't leave you. Just sleep." I said softly as I patted her on the back gently.

She wiggled a bit as she tries to find a comfortable position to lay in. I slowly rolled her off of me and sat up.

She still manages to hold my hand as I used my other hand to summon up a blanket and a pillow.

Now, how am I going to get her to lay on the pillow?

My eyes widen as I figured out how. I stood up slowly as I carried her bridal style, towards the pillow and draped a blanket over her.

I was about to let go of her when she held onto my hand quickly.

"Don't leave me alone, Astral," She said desperately as she whimpered my name.

A smile graced my lips as I grasp her hand tightly. "Just sleep. I won't be leaving anytime soon." I whispered at her while wiping her tears with my other hand.

"So…" My friend suddenly said as he looks at me and Lily. "Care to fill me in about all of this?"

"First of all, how are you feeling?" I ask as I looked at him.

"I'm feeling tired like I haven't slept for days and was tortured in a dungeon but I will be fine." He said sarcastically as he laughed.

"Sir Derek, I apologize for my father's actions towards you."

"No, Lady Estella," He said turning to her with a guilty expression. "You don't have to apologize. You haven't done anything wrong." He said quickly.

"But-"

"Don't apologize for others' actions. It's not your fault." He said gently as he smiled at her.

He turned back to me with a guilty expression. "Astral, I'm-"

"It's not your fault." I quickly said as he widens his eyes.

"What are you saying? I punched you in the jaw!" He said in shock at my words.

I slightly smiled at him. "Yes, but I know the reason why you did it."

"It was a misunderstanding between us and I hope you know that I don't feel that way towards the person that you love," I said as he blushed while glancing at Lady Estella.

"Well, now I know for certain that you are not a girlfriend stealer." He said while glancing at Lily and my son sleeping in the crib next to us. Oh boy, here comes another misunderstanding.

(Boom)

She gripped my hand tighter in response to the thunder and rain from outside.

I looked back at her and smiled gently. "You are safe. I'm not leaving you, Lily." I said as I tightened my grip on her hand as she drifting off to sleep.

"Should we even ask?" Lady Estella said as she looks at the scene.

"I think we should." My friend said glancing at me.

"Um…" Derek stares at us and my son with a baffled expression. He's probably deciding where to start asking from.

"Ok, first of all," My friend asks as he looks at me. "She is afraid of thunder?"

I nodded as he continues. "But she wasn't scared when she was little. Why is she afraid now?"

I directed my attention back to her then turned back to him. "Let's just say that something happened when she was around 7 years old to make her afraid."

Lady Estella got a confused look on her face. "What was that event?"

"It's really not in my place to say," I said in a serious voice.

(Boom)

My son starts to stir awake and whimpers. I start to stand up and walk towards his crib but got pulled back by Lily's tight grip. How am I supposed to do this?

His cries start to increase in volume as I stood there helplessly with her tight grip on my hand.

"Lily, I need you to let go for a second," I said as I slowly slipped my hand off hers, making her whimper in fear.

I sigh. "Our son is crying," I said as she suddenly opens her eyes and stood up next to me while yawning still holding on to my hand tightly.

"I'm not letting go of your hand." She whispered as I walked towards his crib.

I gently pat him on the head. "It's okay. We are here with you. You are safe."

"Shhh… Phoenix, it's okay… go back to sleep." She whispers to him in a soft voice as he drifted back to a peaceful slumber.

We looked at him with smiles on our faces. He is really cute.

I turned my attention to her. "Are you okay?" I said softly as I stroked her hair.

She nods and smiles. "Having you close is all I need." She whispered as she smiled at me. My eyes widen at her words as I slowly embraced her, rubbing her Lowe back.

I looked at Lady Estella and Derek who had smiles on their faces as they looked at us. Why do I feel like I caused an even bigger misunderstanding?

"Guys, it's not what you-" I started to say but got cut off.

"No need to explain, Astral," My friend said with a huge smile on his face.

"We understand," She said also with a smile.

I sigh and I broke the embrace between us.

"Nothing is going on between us," Lily said while still holding my hand tightly.

(Boom)

She jumped as she hugged my arm tightly.

"I'm right here. You are safe." I said calmly as I looked at her.

I directed my attention to those two that are smiling like crazy. Just what is with those smiles?"We are just friends."

"Uh-huh," He said sarcastically.

"Sure," She said smiling knowingly at us as we blinked. Why won't they believe us?

I sigh as we all sat down on the ground. "I'm serious, nothing is going on between us," I said looking at Lily as she nodded.

"Then where did you get Phoenix?" Derek said as he looked at my son sleeping.

"We found him in an alleyway, abandoned by his own parents." She said, hugging my arm closer to her body.

"Why would they abandon a baby like that?" She exclaimed in anger.

"I'm sure that they have their own reasons," I said looking at them.

They walked up to the crib. "Why does he look so much like you two? She said as she looked at us, waiting for an explanation.

We both shrugged. "We don't know."

"How strange," He said as they narrowed their eyes in suspicion.

(Boom)

She whimpered as she gripped my arm tighter while I placed my other hand on her hand to ease her fear.

"You're going to be fine," I whispered to her.

She nods slightly and smiles.

"This might be bad timing but why are you scared of thunder?" He asks her as she grips my arm even tighter.

"Lily," I said as I looked at her. "Do you want to tell them what happened?"

She bit her lip and nodded. "But I don't want to have a relapse again." She said quietly as their eyes widen at her words.

I sigh as I smiled. "Don't worry, if you have a relapse again, I will be here to snap you back to reality," I said gently.

She hesitated but nodded slowly as she looked at me with a smile. "When I was 7, I went missing." She started as their eyes widen in surprise.

"It was raining and thundering out so I knocked on a house in hopes that the person could let me stay until morning." She said while clenching my hand tighter.

I purse my lips and put my hand on her hand making her look at me. "Do you want me to say the next part?" I ask her gently as I wiped her tears.

She nodded as her tears fell. I turned towards them. "In that house was a forty-year-old man. He…" I clenched my fist in anger. Just breathe. Calm down. Calm down.

"He had many accounts of rapes and molestations of women and young girls."

They gasp and they widen their eyes and turned towards her in disbelief. She clenched my hand even tighter. "Lily almost became one of those victims but she escaped just in time. That event left her emotional scars and that is why she is afraid of thunder." I finished as I looked at her.

"Every time it thunders, I get reminded of that day." She said quietly as we all listened.

"What if I didn't react fast enough and escaped? What if I froze and didn't move? What if he-" She said in a panic as she breathed heavily and shook violently. Oh no!

"Lily, I need you to breathe okay?" I said calmly.

I directed my attention back to them. "Is she okay?" She asks in concern.

"She's having a panic attack. I need you two to back away and give her some space." I said calmly as those two backed away.

"S-stay aw-away from m-me!" She stutters in fear as she backs away from me, breathing heavily.

"Lily, it's me," I said as I approach her.

"No, stop! Stay away from me!" She said with her hands in front of her, shaking in terror.

"I need you to let go of the image that you are seeing right now," I said gently as I walked towards her.

"Ple-please, spa-spare me. J-just stop." She said in a broken tone.

"Lily, listen- "

"Please leave." She said on the verge of tears. "Astral, he-help."

"I am-"

"Don't even lie to me and say that you are him because you are obviously not!" She yelled angrily with tears in her eyes.

"Please leave!" She whimpered while backing away in the corner of the house.

"Astral, help me!" She said as tears rolled down her cheeks while breathing heavily.

"Lily,"

"Leave!" She shouted as our son cried at the loud noise.

She covered her ears and crouched down as more tears streamed down her face. "Leave, please, just leave!"

"I-" I sigh as I looked at her cowering figure. I… Maybe it's best if I just leave the house so she can stop being scared of me. I thought as I placed my hand on my chest and clenched my jaw. Why do I feel so… sad? Is that what I'm feeling right now? No, it's different from regular sadness. Just what is this feeling?

"Astral?" He asked in concern as he looks at me.

"Are you okay?" Lady Estella asks.

"I'm fine," I said as I looked at Lily, still cowering in fear.

"Please go!" She whimpered as she looked at me. I clenched my jaw to prevent tears from leaking out. Why do I feel this way?

I glanced at her figure then I slowly turned to walk out the door when Derek grabbed my arm. "Where are you going?"

"Outside."

His eyes widen. "You are the only one who can snap her back into reality!"

"Are you just going to give up like this, Prince Astral?" She chimed in as I turned away from them.

"Just look how scared she is," I said as we all turned back to her, still cowering in fear and muttering my name as tears streamed down her face.

"Exactly! She is scared, so you have to snap her out of it." He said.

I sigh as I slowly shook my head and looked at both of them. "She is afraid of me," I said while clenching my fist even tighter.

"If I could ease her fear by leaving then I will do just that,"

"But Astral, can't you see she needs you right now?" He said desperately in hopes of changing my mind.

"I'm being serious, you are the only person that can snap her out of this."

I looked back at her, cowering in fear as she avoided my gaze. "Please leave." She whimpered in a broken tone of voice.

"If I stay here, I will instill more fear in her. It's best if I just leave so she can calm down."

"But-" He started to say as Lady Estella put a hand on his arm, shaking her head slowly.

"Once I leave, can the two of you calm down my son and Lily for me?"

"Astral…" He said in disbelief. "Even if we can calm her down, we all know that you are the only person who can truly get her back to normal."

"Sir Derek is correct. Lady Lily needs you now more than ever."

But she fears me. I have to ease her fear. I let out a shaky breath. "I made up my mind, if I can cause her less fear, I will go," I said as I clenched my fist.

"But-" He said as Lady Estella stopped him.

I glanced at her cowering figure then at my son crying in the crib as he tried to reach his little hands towards me.

I sighed as I closed my eyes and unclenches my fist. If this is what she wants, then I will honor it.

I slowly walked towards the door.

"A-Astral?" I heard her quietly say in disbelief as she tackled me from behind. What? I thought that she wants me to leave.

She wrapped her hands around my waist as she pressed her body against my back. What is happening? I thought in shock as my eyes widen.

"You promised that you would never leave me!"

"I-"

"Why were you about to leave me alone?" She said as I can feel tears on my back.

"You said-"

"I was having a panic attack. I didn't mean those words that I said." She said quietly as she pressed her body closer to mine.

"You weren't going to be all alone. There are still Derek, Lady Estella, and our son in the room." I said calmly as I stood there, not knowing what to do.

"But none of those people are you!" She exclaimed as I blink in shock.

(Flash):

"Please, stay with me, Astral." She whispered as wrapped her arms around my waist.

"I promise, I will never leave you alone, Astrid," I said gently as I tucked a strand of her hair behind her ear.

She places her head in my chest and muttered my name softly as I wrapped one of my arms around her waist and rubbed her back.

"I will never leave you, my love."

"I promise, I will stay with you forever," I whispered as I smiled.

(Flash)

"Please stay with me, Astral." She whispered in desperation as she wraps her arms tighter around my waist. Lily… why is she so similar to her? Just why?

"Stay with me, don't leave me all alone."

I gently unwrapped her arms around my waist as she gasps. "Are you really going to leave me?" She asks me in a scared tone of voice as she grips my hand. Numerous tears fell on her face as I removed her arms from my waist.

I turned around as she puts her arms around my neck. "Stay with me." She whispers as I slowly brought my hand towards her face to wipe her tears.

I smiled softly as I looked into her bright red eyes. "I made a promise that I will be by your side. I made a promise that I will protect you from harm." I said as I pulled a strand of her hair back behind her ear. "I will always be by your side, Lillian. You have my word." I said, smiling softly as tears streamed down her face.

She smiles as she leaned forward to touch our foreheads together. She is so close…

After a few minutes or so, she stood on her tiptoes, looked up at me, and slowly leaned in to gently kiss my forehead. Her lips lingered there for a few minutes as I widen my eyes in shock.

…

…

…

Did she just kiss me on the forehead? I… that actually feels really good! I wouldn't mind another… wait! What am I thinking?

I thought as I looked at her in shock and surprise as she slowly pulled away and looked at me. I could see a blush creeping onto her face. "Do-don't think about it too much, Astral."

She whispers as she pulls me closer, wrapping her arms around my neck, and leaned her head on my shoulder as I wrapped my arms around her waist tightly and leaned my head on her shoulder as well as closing my eyes. This hug feels different than all of the other hugs that she gave me… I wonder why? And, is she wearing perfume? I never noticed that before. And what does she mean? How could I not think about that kiss? Even though I'm pretty sure it didn't mean anything, it was still a kiss. I slowly brought one of my hands up and gently stroke her hair. Her hair is a lot softer than I realized. She suddenly hugs me tighter and I hugged her tighter as well. Why does this hug feel so good? It feels better than all of the hugs that I received. I thought as I used my hand to slowly rub her lower back.

Is it weird that I don't want this hug to end? Should I even hug her for this long? How long has it been anyway?

We slowly withdraw from each other as I looked into her eyes with both of my arms still wrapped around her waist gently. She had one hand still around my neck and her other hand cupping my face. What is this feeling? I thought as I stared into her bright red eyes. This feeling… somewhat feels familiar somehow…

We both stared into each other's eyes for a couple of minutes. Just what is this feeling? I thought as I wondered about this new yet familiar feeling. Where have I felt like this before?

She gently smiles at me as I smiled softly back at her. She slowly withdrew her arm from my neck as I withdrew my arm from her waist. Leaving, one of her hands, cupping my face and one of my arms, still around her waist. Why is it so difficult for me to remove my hands from her? It wasn't hard in the past so why now?

We stared into each other's eyes as I felt a new emotion took over me. I slowly brought up my other hand and placed it behind her head softly. Before I can stop myself, I slowly leaned in as she closes her eyes and kissed her forehead. My lips lingered there for probably a few minutes as I shut my eyes. Why am I doing this? I don't understand what I'm doing!

I shouldn't be doing this. So why am I? Is it wrong that I enjoy this? Is it wrong that I don't want to remove my lips from her forehead? Just why am I feeling this way?

I opened my eyes and slowly removed my lips from her forehead as she opened her eyes to meet mine. I then removed my hand from the back of her head. Oh god, I owe her an explanation.

"I um I…"

"Lily, I don't know what came over me, I…I-"

I stumbled on my words, as I don't know what to say to her. How can I explain this if I don't even know the reason why I did it?

She put a finger on my lips to silence me. "You don't have to explain." She whispered as she smiles and stares at me with her beautiful bright red eyes. Beautiful? What is wrong with me? First, I called her cute. Now, I'm complimenting her eyes?

"B-but I-"

She smiles as she slowly shook her head. "Astral, you don't need to explain." But I still feel like I owe you an explanation.

She removed her finger from my lips and returns her hand to my cheek as we stared into each other's eyes once again. Why is it so hard to look away? I got to end this before I do anything else and take things too far!

I slowly and reluctantly removed my arm from her waist as she still cupped my face with her hand, gently.

After a few minutes of us staring at each other, she slowly removes her hand from my face. Why does it feel so cold all of a sudden?

"Phoenix is crying," I said quickly as I walked over towards the crib and carried him while rocking him back and forth. I avoided her gaze. What is wrong with me? Why do I feel this way after a hug? And that… why did I do such a thing? Wait… did that even count as a hug?

"Shh… it's okay… it's okay." I said bouncing him gently.

"I guess that he's hungry again." She said as she summoned up the milk bottle and plopped it in his mouth as he drank it happily.

I smiled as I placed him back in his crib.

"Hey, where is Lady Estella and Derek?" She asks curiously as we looked around the room. How odd.

"Weren't they just here like a few minutes ago?" I responded as I looked around the room.

"Hey, guys!" He said while entering the room with Lady Estella following behind him.

"Where were you two?" Lily asks them.

"We were in the other room giving you two some privacy." She said as she smiled. Privacy?

Lily and I looked at each other. "Privacy?" We both said in confusion.

"Privacy for what?" I ask her.

They looked after each other in disbelief as they stared at us. "Are you guys just pretending to not know or do you guys really not know?" She said as she looked at us in disbelief.

We tilted our heads in confusion as they sigh. Were they giving us privacy because of that hug? Or were they giving us privacy because of that… kiss? I thought as a deep shade of red covered my cheeks. Agh, stop thinking of that!

"We were giving you two privacy for that 30-minute hug." He said as we both widen our eyes as we looked at each other. Did he say 30 minutes?

"I'm sorry but did you just say that Astral and I hugged each other for 30 minutes?" She asks them in disbelief. Surely they are wrong.

They nodded. "It was 30 minutes. I even timed it." He said looking at us as we glanced at each other. That was 30 minutes? It only felt like a few seconds.

"So," He said as he looked at us. "How was it?" He asks as Lady Estella nudged him in the elbow. Why is he asking us that?

(Boom)

"Ahhh!" She jumped onto me suddenly, tackling me to the ground and clinging onto my neck in terror.

"H-help!" She buried her head in my hair as she shook in fear.

I slowly rubbed her back as she clings onto my neck. "Shh… it's okay… it's alright… he won't harm you anymore…" I whispered as I laid on a pillow and covered us with a blanket.

(Boom)

"Astral…" She whimpers as she buries her head into my chest tighter and wrapped her arms around my neck tighter.

I rubbed her back and put my arm around her waist. "Don't worry, I'm here… I'm here with you, Lily… you are safe."

She whined in fear as she clutched me tighter as we laid there on the ground. Seriously, what is this feeling?

"Don't worry, I'm here with you." I calmly said as I held her waist tighter to ease her fear.

We stayed like this for a few minutes as she and I both yawned. It's getting really late, huh? I wonder what time it is.

"Lily," I whispered in her ear. "It's getting late and I should-"

She held onto me tighter. "I don't want you to leave." She whispered desperately.

"But this position-"

(Boom)

She whimpers as she clutched my neck even tighter. I could hear her heart rate accelerating from fear as beads of sweat dripped down her forehead. There is no way that I can leave her alone. Not when she's this afraid.

"Don't go." She whispered in mortal terror.

I sigh in defeat as I rubbed her back. "Okay, I will stay with you for as long as you want." I smiled softly as I stroked the side of her hair.

"Just sleep… it's safe for you to sleep… you are safe."

"Ok," Derek said as he looked at us lying in the corner of the room as she clung to me.

"Let's give those two some privacy, Sir Derek," She said laughing.

"It's not what you-"

"I know, Astral." He said laughing.

"If you need anything, just holler. We will be in the other room." She said as she looked at us with a knowing smile.

"You're just going to leave me all alone?" I shouted at them as they walked out.

"What are you talking about? You're far from alone, my friend."

"Exactly, you are with Lady Lily and your son."

I sigh. "That's not what I-"

"Goodnight!" They said simultaneously as they shut the door. Those two are made for each other. I thought as I looked at the door.

I directed my attention down at Lily, who was sleeping peacefully on my chest with arms still wrapped around my neck gently. This is the second time that we have been in this position.

I slowly tucked a strand of her hair that's fallen on her face, behind her ear gently. I sigh slowly. Why does she act so much like her?

I looked down at her with a sad smile. Why do you make me feel this way? And why on earth did I suddenly kiss her forehead out of the blue like that?

I thought as I shut my eyes while instinctively wrapping one of my arms around her waist.