Review Replies:

Mysticangel1: Thanks a lot… lol, there are fics better than this one out there… don't feel ashamed of your fics, they're really good. Thanks for your comments… hope you enjoy this chapter. Oh, and, I just wanted to say thank you so much for reviewing my very first story on this site… You don't know how much it meant to me… lol, that was my very first review… Thank you.

Crescent moon19: I suppose they can be better than that last one… I didn't like it at all… lol, thanks, it's good to know I'm not being abandoned by my reviewers… Umm, for your question on 'Dreamer…' look at page 27 of 'So you Want to Be A Wizard'. It's there. Oh, and, by the way… I read reviews as well… lol, it really does help!

Fireblade K'Chona- Thanks…!

Teresina Dragonwagon- lol, thanks!

Teky1389- Well… Chapter Five was a struggle for me to write. I couldn't get what I wanted out onto the paper, and I didn't want to abandon you guys, so I worked on it for about a week, then posted it. I just hope this one's better…

Chapter Six

10:45 AM, Sunday Morning

I Pray that it's raining on Sunday
Stormin' like crazy
We'll hide under the covers all afternoon
Baby whatever comes Monday
Can take care of itself
'Cause we've got better things that we can do
When it's raining on Sunday
-Keith Urban, 'Raining on Sunday'

Nita was curled up on her bed, her manual in front of her, absentmindedly scanning a page on the different forms of timeslides as Kit toyed with her hair, his chin resting on her shoulder, gazing out the bedroom window.

With a sigh, she gave up, closed her manual, and slid it onto her nightstand, opting instead to close her eyes and enjoy Kit's company.

There was a loud crash from outside, and Nita instinctively pushed up against Kit, seeking reassurance. It came to her in the form of his arm around her shoulders, pulling her closer. She snuggled up against him, strategically placing her head on his chest, listening to his steady heartbeat as they lay there together, watching the storm rage on outside.

Nita, lulled by the soothing noises of the rain and Kit's heartbeat, was half asleep when Kit gave her a poke just above her right hip.

She opened an eye and glared at him.

"What?" she inquired somewhat irritably, having been rather close to sleep.

He grinned. "Didn't want you falling asleep on my arm… move your head, yeah?"

Nita, recalcitrant, pushed her head down on his arm until he winced. "Okay, okay, keep it there," Kit rescinded, rolling his eyes as Nita settled back down, closing her eyes again. Kit felt a smile spreading itself unbidden across his face as he watched her trying to drift off, finally admitting defeat and opening her eyes.

Kit ruffled her hair affectionately until she slapped him away, grinning. "Kiiiiiiiit, stoppit!"

Nita smoothed her hair out, then tossed it over her shoulder, effectively smacking Kit in the face and quieting him. She nudged his knee a little to the right, then plopped her head down in his lap, staring up at the ceiling as he resumed toying with her hair.

A long silence fell between them as both pondered the meaning of their relationship.

"You saw the section in the manual on Wizardry and Emotional Relationships, right?" Kit asked softly, examining a strand of reddish-gold hair.

Nita sighed. "Yeah… I did…"

"You think we're ready for a relationship now?"

His partner in wizardry and best friend grinned at him. "What do you think, Kitty?"

Kit playfully glared at her. "You be quiet. Only my family can call me that."

"What's to say I won't be part of your family?" Nita asked jokingly.

There was an abrupt silence, during which Nita went bright red. "Oh… oh… um… I didn't mean it… like that," she finished lamely, brushing the drops of uncomfortable sweat off her forehead.

Kit laughed, still sounding a bit disconcerted. "Yeah… um…well, then… I don't suppose I can leave then…"

Nita attempted a nervous smile. "No, you can't…"

An awkward silence fell, during which Nita fiercely berated herself for being stupid, before she spoke up to change the subject.

"Ice cream?" she inquired.

Kit smiled. "Can't live without a sugar rush these days, can you, Neets? Gonna blow up like a balloon, you will…"

She groaned and socked him in the arm. "You really don't understand us girls, do you, Kit?"

Her longtime friend treated her to one of his most infuriating grins. "Maybe not, but you know you love me."

Nita laughed and followed Kit downstairs, perfectly content at being in love with her best friend.

What strange turns life took.

I I I I I I I I I I

A/N: Just wanted to get this out… school starts Sept. 9 for me… Oh, and I've decided to include a preview for my upcoming fic in this chapter… it is a one-shot, so… here goes nothing.

The Dance

A battered-looking Ford pickup bounced to a halt in the gravel lot in front of Annie Callahan's prized ranch Ballyvolan, its single working headlight spotlighting a section of a dilapidated wooden fence, worn with age, its white paint chipping away in large flakes.

And then Annie herself was standing beside the truck, leaning casually on the rusty driver's side door, nodding to the driver through the nonexistent right window.

"Evening, sir. Would you like a cuppa?"

The driver jerked his thumb over one shoulder, gesturing to the bed of his pickup. "No thanks, Annie, not tonight, anyways…I came out here to work with the Spear Luin…"

Annie shrugged noncommittally. "Who am I to stop you, then?" she sighed, and after nodding good-night, paced back towards the house, evidently to finish washing the teacups.

The driver sighed and, swinging the door open, gingerly slammed it behind him.

Determinedly, he trudged out across the gravel lot, his footsteps crunching as he approached the fence bordering on the fields.

And he froze, recalling a night some time ago, when he and someone special to him at the time had waltzed, dancing to the nocturnal churring of the crickets, and the occasional chirp from an owl.

To be continued… possibly Saturday.