Skipping some time here. It was the beginning of the school year last chapter, it is now midterms.
Sophie's life settled into a shadow of a normal, though she remained on edge, waiting for something to shatter the peace. But nothing did. She wasn't sure what the difference was, but for once, she was starting to feel safe.
Even though she wasn't an early riser, Sophie made herself get up early, dressed and eat breakfast so she could be there when Keefe woke up. Those were the hardest times for him, getting his body used to the pain again after being painless for the last twelve hours. Ro was usually finishing up another episode of The Walking Dead. Despite the language barrier, it was clearly entertaining for her thanks to subtitles and she was picking up a few phrases in English.
Keefe almost always grumbled about having to return to the land of the living. He was happy to see Sophie, but being stuck without communication while she was at school was wearing on his nerves. Amy was trying her best to teach him sign language in her spare time, but she had her own school and hobbies taking up her time.
Sophie dragged herself away from Candleshade to go to Foxfire. She didn't see Fitz very often anymore, but they sent each other quiet telepathic greetings every chance they got including when they weren't supposed to. Level Five was harder compared to the ones before it, but her brain relished having a challenge. Her Mentors liked her and most of them understood what had been released to the public about Keefe's situation, and gave her less homework than they would normally. Bronte refused to lighten her load, but he did cut his lessons a little short to allow her time for the extra work.
Her friends took turns joining her at Candleshade and the days she couldn't go, two or three of them would go in her stead. Keefe enjoyed the constant stream of visitors, but they were steadily working through Amy's collection of media, especially the audiobooks. They'd need replenishment soon.
She didn't see Fitz very often. Sometimes he was allowed out of the Gold Tower on weekends, but not often. The times when they could see each other, he attempted to resume their relationship the way it had been. Small gifts and trinkets that made her smile. When he had more time, he'd spend it giving Keefe all the information he'd gained to ensure he was actually missing anything.
Lord Cassius still hadn't come back. He'd cut off contact with most, if not all of them, entirely. From what she'd heard, he refused to talk about Keefe or acknowledge him as his son. They did their best to make sure Keefe felt loved, but it still hurt him to know his father had effectively disowned him.
Her bodyguards often took turns now, and sometimes she was allowed to go alone.
"Mom, Dad, have you seen my notebook?" Sophie yelled, looking under her bed for the third time. "I can't find it anywhere!"
"Your memory log?" Edaline called. "Or your purple one?"
"My white one with gold glitter on the edges! I thought I put it in my desk, but it's not there and I need it today!"
"It's down here on the counter! You left it out by the Panakes and one of the gnomes rescued it from Wynn and Luna."
"Thank you!" Sophie ran down the stairs. "Did it get hurt?"
Edaline handed her the notebook, which only had minimal grass stains on it that brushed off easily. "No, it's fine. What do you need it for?"
"Stuff. Since it's finally midterms, Fitz can leave the Gold Tower. He's taking me to this really pretty meadow. I'm trying to find interesting things for Keefe to look at. This book is technically a memory log, but the paper is better suited for drawing on than the one in my other one, so I can do both in here."
"You sound excited."
Sophie smiled, looking through the things she'd already projected. "I enjoy spending time with Fitz and finding something I love doing. I didn't really get to have hobbies when I was living with humans."
"I'm glad you're having fun. Be home by dinner."
"Okay!" Sophie ran outside, then remembered the Leapmaster was upstairs and she was going the wrong way. She turned around and went upstairs. "Wrong way! Actual bye this time!"
Edaline laughed. "Okay. Bye!"
Fitz was waiting for her on Foxfire's lawn. The gold uniform looked strange on him, but he gave her a huge smile that made his whole face light up.
"Sophie!"
"Hey Fitz."
He hugged her tightly. "I missed you."
"You saw me last week."
"Yeah, but I still miss not seeing you at school. The elite levels are boring. It's nice to see your smile."
"Is it just me or are you being, well sappy's not the right word, but you get what I mean."
Fitz let go of her. "I'm not sure. But I am happy to see you."
He lifted the crystal to the light and leapt them to a huge open meadow.
"Oh wow. This place is beautiful." Sophie whispered.
The knee-high, multi-coloured grass waved softly in the wind. Large trees, mostly weeping willows, surrounded a large area, leaves rustling gently. They were on top of a gentle hill, sloping down into the forest.
"I have got to project this for Keefe right now. This is amazing." Sophie plopped down cross legged and opened her notebook. Looking up she chose the angle and the shot she wanted and closed her eyes. The image took shape, capturing perfectly the softly waving grass and leaves.
"You've gotten good at that." Fitz sat down next to and slightly behind her. "It looks amazing."
"Thank you." Sophie smirked inwardly and leaned back onto Fitz's chest, resting her head in the crook between neck and shoulder. She heard the quiet, sharp breath and felt his heartbeat quicken under her ear.
"There's something I've been meaning to ask you." He hesitantly settled his arm around her. "So, there's this really beautiful restaurant in Eternalia, romantic, candlelight dinner sort of thing. But it's not as enjoyable by yourself, so I was wondering if a lovely lady would like to go with me?"
Sophie pulled back and looked at him. His teal eyes were sparkling with hope. "Are you asking me out? Like, on at date-date?"
"Is it too soon? It's been seven or eight months since Loanmore, and I thought it kind of seemed right?"
She smiled. "When were you thinking?"
"Wh-What?"
"That means yes, Fitz. I'd be happy to go out, on a date, with you. I wanted to know when."
"O-Oh!" He glanced off at the tree line, grinning. "I don't know. I honestly didn't think I'd get this far. Next Saturday evening? I talked Grizel into letting it be bodyguard-free, whenever we decide to go."
Sophie slipped her arm around his waist and leaned her head on his shoulder again. "This coming Saturday sounds great. I highly doubt I have a previous obligation, but if I do, it is being cleared from the schedule. What time?"
"I can pick you up around four. Does that sound good?"
"Yeah. Anyway, we should probably head to Candleshade. I bet Keefe's antsy."
"Keefe's always antsy now." But Fitz stood, helping her up. He gripped her hand a little tighter than he needed to and rubbed his thumb over the back of her hand. "Let's go."
As soon as Sophie formed the telepathic connection, Kefe blasted her head with FOOOOSTEEEEEER! WHERE WEEEERRRREEEE YOU?
Somebody's impatient. She went to open the door, but Fitz slipped his hand under hers and pulled it open for her. She smiled.
Of course I'm impatient, we're watching what Amy dubbed the greatest TV show of all time! I have to know what all the hype is about!
Just stay calm. Fitz and I are on our way up. "Keefe's excited."
They stepped onto the vortinator and Fitz yelled, "Floor 156!" He answered when they landed. "Of course he is."
The disc was already in the player and Keefe would have been bouncing with excitement if he'd been able to move.
Start it start it start it start it start it!
"Okay, okay I'm starting it! Is no one else coming?"
You are asking the WRONG person.
Fitz shrugged. "I don't think so. But Keefe's probably really impatient, so we should start it."
"You could form a mental link and see just how impatient he is."
JUST TURN IT ON! I CAN YELL A LOT LOUDER IN MY HEAD THAN I EVER COULD OUT LOUD. THIS IS KIND OF COOL. I WONDER HOW LOUD I CAN YELL.
Sophie winced. "Okay, I get it. It's starting."
The screen went white and the voice of nostalgia spoke from offscreen.
"Okay, Larry, it's time for the theme song."
"Uh, okay Bob. What do I do?"
"Hmm, let's see. I know, you play the guitar!"
"Bob, I don't have any hands."
"Oh. You're right. Well, okay, well, you play this!"
"I don't wanna play that! I'll look silly!"
"Oh come on. It'll be fun!"
"Nope. Not gonna do it."
"It's for the kids."
Fitz sighed. "Something tells me this is going to be kind of silly."
Sophie grinned. "Oh, it's brain-cell killing silly sometimes, but that's the point."
"Oh, okay. But they better not laugh."
"Alright, better get on out there."
Larry the Cucumber bounced onscreen with a tuba wrapped around him.
Fitz snorted, trying to hold in his laughter. "I kind of feel bad for laughing, but it's funny, and weird because I'm concerned for the feelings of a vegetable."
Keefe snickered. Sorry, Larry. That's hilarious.
Larry began tooting out the theme song and Bob walked? Hopped? Whatever you call it over next to Larry as he began singing.
"If you like to talk to tomatoes,
If a squash can make you smile."
Sophie grinned. This was the show of her childhood.
Keefe lost his laughter quickly. This isn't like the other movies, is it?
"Nope! We're watching Larry Boy!"
Fitz groaned and Bob continued.
"If you like to waltz with potatoes
Up and down the produce aisle." He held the note and then stretched his face up to the camera. "Have we got a show for you!"
After the theme song was done, Fitz said, "That was so dumb and silly, but I cannot wipe this stupid grin off my face."
"That's Veggie Tales for you."
Larry Boy and the Rumour Weed was equally funny and pure nostalgia for Sophie. She remembered watching this when she was younger. Her parents had used it to caution her and Amy against bad habits.
Fitz squirmed a little during some parts. I remember when I got caught passing rumours on when I was younger. I got in pretty big trouble for it.
Keefe had only kept up his commentary for part of the episode. Eventually he fell quiet, occasionally laughing in her head.
Sophie stopped the player and took the disc out before it started the next episode. "So, that's Veggie Tales. What did you guys think?"
"It's a good show. It's clearly geared for kids, but it's entertaining. And from what you said, there's a lot of it. So it'll keep him entertained for a long time." Fitz smiled at her. "How many of those 'Silly Songs with Larry' are there?"
"A lot. Amy had set up a WiFi router, so if we have a device with a larger screen, we can binge-watch all the silly songs. They're the type of thing where you know it's stupid, but you can't wipe the dumb grin off your face. I loved them."
Hey Sophie, what's this? Keefe asked, cutting off whatever Fitz was going to say.
"Keefe, what are you doing?"
Nothing.
"You are snooping in my memories. I can feel you. What are you doing?"
This is a pretty meadow.
"Get out of my memories, Keefe. I don't know how you learned to do that since you're not a Telepath, but please stay out of my memories."
"Keefe, what are you doing in Sophie's memories?" Fitz gave him a look.
Keefe gave them a weak sheepish smile. I got kind of bored.
"He says he got bored."
"I heard him."
If there's something in that memory you don't want me seeing, I only saw the first half.
Sophie sighed. "It's kind of hard to stay mad at you."
I'm getting tired. Do you mind not being mad at me somewhere else?
"Okay." Sophie sighed and she and Fitz left.
"Are you going to tell him about…us?"
"Eventually, but it's kind of new and I'm afraid of making him feel bad because everything's moving on without him. And, it still kind of feels like what happened is my fault, even though there was nothing I could do."
Fitz reached out to hug her, then stopped. "Is it okay if I hug you?"
"Yeah, that's fine!" she reassured, leaning her head on his shoulder.
He gently set his arms around her. "It's really not your fault. Like you said there's nothing you could've done. There's nothing any of us could've done. All we can do now is make him as comfortable as possible and see if there's anything we can do about helping him get better, even if it's by a little bit. I'm not as good at these pep talk/reassurance thing as he was, being able to read your emotions. But I'll try my best."
"Well, you're doing great."
"Thank you."
"So how fancy is this restaurant? Like, what should I wear? I have zero experience with this."
"Honestly, ask your mom. I have fewer experience than you do."
"I'll do that." Sophie tucked her head into the crook of his neck, nose brushing his skin, and took a deep breath. "Are you wearing cologne?"
"Uh, yeah, actually."
"I like it. You should wear it more often."
"Th-Thank you." His voice was breathy and he was probably blushing, but she couldn't see his face.
Sophie's Imparter rang, startling both of them. She sighed and pulled it out of her pocket, answering it.
"Hey Mom."
"Hey sweetie. I was going to go shopping and was wondering if you wanted to come with me. I know it's not your favorite, but I would really love it if you wanted to come."
Sophie glanced at Fitz out of the corner of her eye. Do you mind if I go?
That's fine. Ro and I can play Mario Kart for a while. Keefe enjoys messing with us. First he's rooting for Ro, then me, then for a random computer racer. He's learning to play, but it's too painful for him sometimes. If he doesn't want to interact with people right now, I'll probably put on an audiobook for him, or read aloud. He's working through Five Kingdoms right now. I think he's on Crystal Keepers.
Okay. "Yeah, sure Mom. I can be home in five minutes. That good?"
"Of course!"
Sophie clicked off her Imparter. "So, see you next Saturday, I guess?"
Fitz grinned, bouncing on the balls of his feet. "Wednesday actually. Amy has How To Train Your Dragon 2 and we're all watching it."
"Oh yeah." She chuckled. "You're really excited about that."
"Well, I want to know if Hiccup and Astrid get together. They're a cute couple. And Toothless is a really cool dragon. His retractable teeth are awesome."
"You sound like me when I first saw it."
"Do I?" Fitz's cheeks were a light pink.
Sophie leaned over and pecked his cheek, not missing the sharp intake of breath or his slight stumble. "See you on Wednesday."
"Bye Soph." he whispered.
She allowed herself a small smirk and contacted Keefe to let him know she was leaving.
Hey Keefe.
He grumbled. What?
I'm heading out. Fitz is staying.
Ugh. Okay.
Bad day?
Horrible day. My lungs are aching worse than normal so it's really hard to breathe.
Okay. I'll leave you alone.
Thanks.
Sophie pulled out her home crystal and held it up to the midafternoon sun, letting it whisk her away to the pastures of Havenfield.
Edaline was waiting in the living room. "Hey babydoll."
"Hi Mom." Sophie hugged her briefly. Over time, she had slipped into calling her parents Mom and Dad.
"How's Keefe?"
"Worse, not that he can get much worse. But today's definitely a bad day. He said his lungs and heart hurt worse than normal."
"Oh, poor thing! I hope he feels a little better soon."
"So do I. Where are we going?"
Edaline grinned, looking happier than Sophie had ever seen her. "Well, it's one of my favorite boutiques that Jolie and I used to love going dress shopping at. I know they're not your thing and you already have a lot, but…"
"No that sounds great!" Sophie grinned. Maybe she could find something to wear for her date. She shivered. Just the word made her jittery.
"Are you okay? You look jumpy."
"Yeah, I'm good."
"If you say so." Edaline took her hand and they walked outside. She pulled out her pathfinder and leapt them to a large busy street.
This was either a city she hadn't been to or a section of a city she'd never seen. The streets were wide and mostly filled with women and girls. All of the shop fronts were elaborate and tall, advertising jewelry and dress and shoes.
"Wow. Have I been to this city before?"
Edaline took her hand and led her down the street. "I don't believe you have." She pointed to a boutique down the street from them. "It's right there, not far."
The shop wasn't much different from the others on the street, but it was clearly Edaline's favorite.
"So, did anything come up between you and Fitz while you were out?"
Sophie ducked her head behind a rack, hoping to hide the rush of blood to her cheekbones. "What do you mean?"
"I'm not trying to pry, I'm genuinely interested. I know you two are back to being friends at least, which is good."
"Well…" Sophie decided she had to tell her sometime and it may as well be now. "Something did come up actually."
Edaline grinned. "Oh! I don't mean to interrupt you, dear, but what do you think of this one?"
She held up a deep pinkish purple sleeveless A-line dress with crystals edging a sweetheart neckline.
"Not for me right? It's a pretty dress, but not for me."
"Oh, no, this is for me. Grady and I's anniversary is coming up and I wanted something a little...racy, if you get what I mean, preferably sleeveless. Do you think this would look good on me?"
Sophie studied it for a few seconds. "Yeah! It's a little brighter than what you usually wear, but I think it'll really make your eyes and hair pop. I think Dad'll really like it."
"I think he will too." Edaline draped the dress over her arm. "You were saying?"
"Well, the meadow he took me to was so pretty. I projected it into my notebook, so I can show you later. But he…" Sophie had no reason to pause except for effect. "He asked me out."
"He did?"
"And I said yes."
"Oh my goodness!" Edaline squealed, not too loudly so she wouldn't disturb the other customers. "You two are going out?"
"Next Saturday, yeah. We're going to a really nice restaurant in Eternalia."
Her mom sighed dreamily. "What are you planning to wear?"
"I actually don't know. I've got dresses, but I never wear any of them and I don't know if they're special enough, you know? and I don't think any of Jolie's old dresses will look good on me, since we have different colourings."
Edaline pulled her over to a different rack. "Well, we know you look good in red, but that seems a little…saucy for a first date. I have a red dress that doesn't fit me anymore that will probably fit you. It's sleeveless with a corset bodice and A-line skirt. It's beautiful, but not for this time."
Sophie blushed again, thinking of how much skin that style would show and that her and Fitz's relationship might ever get to the point where that would be appropriate. "What were you thinking?"
"Something like this?" Her mother pulled a ballgown that reminded Sophie of her human mother's prom dress in the picture that sat on the bookshelf under the TV. It was pale green, kind of plain compared to some of the others on the rack. There were several layers of sheer fabric and tulle layered over the silk skirt and brushing the floor. The V-neckline was a little low on the hanger, but would probably be okay on her. There was no true sleeve, but it had three or four layers of sheer, pale green fabric stretching from the lacing in the back to the point of the neckline. There were vines of embroidered flowers stretching up from the waist to where the neckline ruffles met and stretching down the skirt in three places.
"That's…really pretty. I like that a lot. Am I able to try it on?"
"Of course! Over here." Edaline led her to the small curtained rooms set into one wall.
The fabric was smooth as Sophie slid it over her head. It didn't catch on her hair and settled nicely on her waist. She needed help doing up the lacing in the back, but when she turned to look at herself in the mirror, her mouth fell open. The ruffles lay in gentle folds on her shoulders, covering enough skin on her chest to be plenty modest, but while still showing some skin. The bodice sucked in her waist a little and flowed out into the full skirt, gently brushing the floor all the way around, but with plenty of space underneath so she wouldn't step on it trying to walk.
"Oh wow." Sophie couldn't make words work.
"Oh my." Edaline was slightly choked up. "You look amazing."
"I…I feel like a princess. This feels awesome and I look beautiful."
"You really do. We can look at other dresses if you want to, but this really does look gorgeous on you, and it fits too."
"No, I think this is it. I love it. Although, I don't think I have any shoes that'll really match it and I don't wear jewelry, so I haven't got any of that."
Edaline grinned. "Don't worry. We can go shopping for all of those. Do you want to buy the dress?"
She nodded. "Yes. Let me change out of it and we'll buy it."
Getting out of the dress was much simpler than getting into it. Sophie initially balked at the price tag, but Edaline reassured her it was fine, cheap even.
"Do you want to try the other one on, Mom?"
"Oh, yeah, I did." She handed Sophie the green dress and took the purple one they'd found earlier into the changing room. After a minute she asked, "Dear, can you do the back up please? I can't quite reach."
"Sure." Sophie set down her dress and peek around the curtain. Edaline was standing with her back to her, one hand holding up the front of the dress and the other keeping her amber hair out of the way. There was a long pale scar curving down her spine.
"What happened to your back?" she asked as she fastened the stupidly tiny buttons.
"Oh, that scar on my spine? That's from when we got our first T-rex. I didn't know how to handle them yet and it got me across the back. It wasn't deep or serious, but I was still in bed for a while. Grady was terrified. He doesn't really panic, at least not to the degree he was. There were a few veins and arteries hit, so there was apparently a lot of blood and it looked way more serious than it actually was. I was out for a few hours since I hit my head on the ground. But it was thanks to that injury, more Grady's subsequent clinginess, that I got pregnant with Jolie about three weeks after I was given clearance to move around more. Although, we did reopen the wound, so my physician wasn't happy about that."
"It wasn't Elwin?"
"No, he wasn't Foxfire physician until a month or so after that. We switched over after Jolie ate something and took her to him because we couldn't figure out what was wrong."
"Okay. There, I'm done."
Edaline let her hair down and turned to look in the mirror. "Wow, that's a little lower cut than I thought it would be, and it's a pushup. I might need a cowl or something when I'm in public."
She was right. While it was a beautiful dress, hugging the curve of her waist, it did show a little more skin than strictly necessary for a sleeveless dress. Sophie felt a little embarrassed and kept her eyes firmly on her foster mother's face. "It looks good on you though."
"Yeah it does. I wasn't expecting this colour to work for me so well. Grady and I haven't really gone out or done anything for our anniversary in years. I don't know if he actually remembers it's coming up. But in two or three weeks, I can't remember today's date, we will have been married for fifty years."
"Fifty years?" Sophie had a bit of trouble reconciling such a large number with some who could have easily passed for under twenty-five, maybe twenty. But then she remembered that Jolie had been eighteen or nineteen when she died and Alden had said she'd been gone for around twenty years, which rounded to about forty years. So fiftieth anniversary wasn't that farfetched.
"Yeah. I can't believe it's been that long. It feels like yesterday he was making me blush in lunch when we were at Foxfire together. We were a few levels apart, so we didn't have a lot of time together in school, but the time we did have, he was always the gentleman. Can you believe he used to be the major ladies' man, kind of like Keefe is now?"
"Really?"
"Oh yeah." Edaline turned in the mirror, checking the way the fabric lay across her back and bum. "Are you kidding? He was a shameless flirt with every girl until we left school, but he had absolutely no dignity when it can to me. We lost contact until we saw each other's names on our match lists. I think I'll buy this. Even if I don't end up wearing it in public, I'm going to enjoy making him go speechless again."
Sophie closed the curtain again to allow her privacy while she changed and they paid for the dresses.
Since the store didn't sell shoes, they went across the street. Sophie settled on a pair of low heels in the same colour as the dress, with jewel flowers along the edge and on the toe. Purchases in hand, they went to several different jewelry establishments, but nothing really felt right. Edaline told her they could always try her collection and all the old necklaces and things stored away in boxes.
"So what are you wanting to do with your hair?"
Sophie blew out a breath, mind blanking. "I haven't really had a chance to think about it. Simple low updo maybe? I think that could be pretty."
"Okay. So simpler earrings, single pendant necklace?"
"Yeah. That sounds nice."
When they finally returned to Havenfield with the new shoes and dresses, Grady was obviously confused as to what the occasion was.
"You haven't gone shopping at that store in a while. Is something happening?"
"Yes actually." Edaline set their bags on the floor. "Don't you remember?"
He shook his head slowly, understanding that there was something he was supposed to remember and clearly blanking on it.
"Three weeks from now?"
"I'm sorry, I really don't remember."
"Really? The date December 6th means nothing to you?"
Grady was scrambling to figure out what his wife meant. "I really don't get it. What's on that date?"
"It's our anniversary, dear. Our fiftieth anniversary." Edaline stressed the word, walking toward him and setting her hands on his hips. "Did you really not remember?"
"No." He pecked her lips. "But thank you for reminding me. What's in the other bag? Is that one for Sophie?"
"Yes. Sophie actually has something she'd like to tell us."
"Oh boy."
"Exactly."
Grady's eyes went wide and his gaze snapped to Sophie. "Please tell me she's joking."
Sophie shook her head. "She's…not. Do you want to sit down?"
"Do I?"
She decided to forge ahead. "I have a date, next Saturday. Fitz is taking me out to a nice restaurant in Eternalia. That's what the dress is for."
Grady gaped. "You're kidding right?" When neither of them said anything, he asked, "You're serious?"
"Well, yeah Dad. I actually have a date."
"Okay. You'll…have to give me a moment. Wow."
"What?"
"Nothing. It's a shock is all." He hugged Edaline briefly and then reached for Sophie. "Come here, kiddo."
Sophie hugged her parents tightly, feeling them hug her back. She sighed, relaxing into the embrace of her family.
"Do you mind if I have a talk with him before then?"
"Dad…"
"I don't have to if you don't want me to. I just know he can have control issues sometimes and I want to make sure he treats you right."
She smiled. "I don't mind. Just don't scare him off."
"If I scare him off, then find somebody else. When I'm not working with the animals, I'm about as intimidating as Ella. I don't think you have to be worried."
"Still." Sophie pecked them each on the cheek. "I have a paper I need to finish. My Multispeciesial teacher assigned an essay over midterms. I'm going to go get it done."
Edaline smiled. "Look at you, so responsible! Are you sure you don't want to look through jewelry now?"
"Maybe later. I want it out of the way. I don't have anything Wednesday, right? Amy is bringing over How To Train Your Dragon 2."
"You're clear that day, I think." Grady confirmed.
"Great. See you guys at dinner."
Things are starting to heat up! And poor Keefe's having a bad day. :( Reviewers get teasers for the next chapter. (let me know if you don't want one.)
Shine brightly!
Ruby
