Disclaimers: Still not mine, so yeah. DNAngel belongs to whoever it is and this track belongs to Tammin Sursok. So don't sue. Not like I have anything of value…

Author's notes: Er… focused on Elliot, Freedert and Kyle, so yeah. That is, I have no idea what happened when they were still alive and the like, so don't go blaming me for being… something or other. I actually like this quite a bit and is part one of three. Yeah, it's focused on their life… sorta…

000

Track Seven: It's a Beautiful Thing

000

Am I losing my mind
You're everywhere and I don't know why
Something I can't deny
On and on like a song in my head
And I can't do a thing about it

When your heart can't stop
Like a runaway train
And love walks in like a hurricane
It's a beautiful thing

When it feels so good
That you can't let go
When you're so far gone
Cos you couldn't say no
It's a beautiful thing

I keep hearing your name
It's in the sun and it's in the rain
I just heard it again
Don't know how it got into my head
But I don't wanna be without it

When your heart can't stop
Like a runaway train
And it feels so good
That you can't explain
It's a beautiful thing

When you just can't do
Without anything else
And you give so much
That you lose yourself
It's a beautiful thing

Hope this feeling never goes away

When you lose your way
Don't have a clue
And you happen to find somebody like you
It's a beautiful thing

When you're on the moon
And you can't get down
Just me and you
No-one else around
It's a beautiful thing

When your heart can't stop
Like a runaway train
And it feels like you've drunk a case of champagne
It's a beautiful thing
It's a beautiful thing
It's a beautiful thing
So beautiful

000

Elliot scowled at the wall in front of him. It was such a beautiful day outside and it seemed a pity to waste time inside. He didn't know why he was just sitting on top of his bed, scowling at the wall, but it wasn't like he was going to do anything about it anytime soon.

What was there for him to do anyway? Nothing, as far as he was concerned.

Somewhere downstairs his father was talking to some higher-class people, and that was the last thing that Elliot wanted to be in company with. All they ever talked about was politics and all that other random boring topics that adults seemed to enjoy for some reason, and he just couldn't place as to why it was so. It was boring, annoying, and incredibly tedious, but what was he to do about that? It was their life; they could do whatever they wanted with it.

As these thoughts ran around in the back of his head, the boy rolled over and stared at another blank wall, which had a window cut out of it, so at least he could see the sky outside. It was a pretty, kind of calm, blue with the odd white cloud sticking out of it, and as he waited, he could make out the random bird flying past his window. The sounds of life below was what filled his ears, completely blocking out the insane monotonous talk downstairs, and eventually he sat up.

Brushing himself down, Elliot came to a simple conclusion as he made sure that he looked good enough to walk around in public, and then left his room in a mess that could only be described as… messy.

Getting past the adults was easy, and being the son of a Duke also helped, because no one ever bothered him, even if they desperately wanted to. Although this also meant he had no one to talk to in the building that was home, but he had friends.

And that was what he planned to do.

Kyle and Freedert… they were his best friends since… ever. He could only vaguely recall when they had first met, but they had gotten along so well that it only seemed natural for them to still be friends. And although Elliot WAS the son of a Duke, and therefore of a higher social standing, he would take his friends over that any day. It wasn't like there were many higher-ranking children around that didn't get on his nerves anyway.

Despite it all, though, Kyle and Freedert treated him like a normal person; someone who they talked to and played around with. True, they were a lot older now and playing games wasn't exactly a priority in their mind, but just hanging out with each other was enough of a comfort from the blistering and rather stuffy confines of life. They knew him as a person, not the son of a duke. To them, he was just Elliot.

And he appreciated that a lot.

In truth, they had no idea how boring it was to listen to his father talking business and the like to some other dude, and although they did sympathise with him – even if he was whingeing like there was no tomorrow – it was better to get it out of his head before he exploded… in front of his parents, no less.

Still… how they first met was still… kind of… odd…

000

A five-year-old Elliot managed to find himself lost in the crowded streets, which was typical for a small child who was naturally curious. In fact, he wasn't that worried and his mind wasn't about to protest against it either. It was fun to be outside, around other people who just talking and didn't pay him much attention.

But the fact remained that he had somehow lost sight of his mother, who had taken him out in the first place (and had had a firm grip on his hand) and, sooner or later, he was going to get that through his brain and panic.

Which happened not too long later.

Oh, he wasn't the sort to cry and make a scene, of course, but he couldn't stop the small tears that fell down across his cheeks and he sniffled. He was complete and utterly lost in the world outside his home, and there was no one around that he knew and could ask. Most of the townspeople seemed friendly enough, and it wasn't a huge town in itself, but for a child like him… he had absolutely no idea on where to go.

Wandering around aimlessly for about what seemed like forever (five minutes in total) Elliot couldn't recognise a single landmark around him and he would have just broken down then and there if he hadn't noticed another child wandering around by himself.

He looked about his age, although the surly kind of frown made him look a bit older… or more serious, and curiosity took over the small boy's mind and he wandered over to the other boy.

"Hi," he piped up. This caught the other off guard, who spun around to face Elliot properly, only to lose his balance and land flat on the stony ground on his butt. "I'm Elliot. Who're you?"

The kid scowled at him for a moment as the jarring pain streaked through him, and he looked ready to give this rich-looking kid a piece of his five-year-old mind, but stopped when he noticed the tell-tale signs that this kid had been crying not too long ago.

"You lost?" he asked bluntly, and got a sad nod in return as reality crashed down on Elliot once more.

"Mama was with me… then she was gone… in there," he pointed at the crowds.

"Oh."

Silence followed this for but a moment, because the kid on the ground hopped up and grinned reassuringly, the surly look (and frown) all gone. It wasn't everyday you wandered around the streets alone only to come across someone your own age; not to mention that, unlike some of the other children he knew around, he had talked to him on his own free will and wasn't scared of him at all. He probably was a rich kid though… so whatever.

"Maybe she went to the cathedral," he offered, "Come on Elliot!"

"Er… okay…"

"Oh yeah. I'm Kyle, by the way."

"Nice to meet you."

"Yeah, yeah."

000

The cathedral had a couple of people praying there silently, but Elliot's hopes fell when he couldn't see his mother anywhere. Well, she was probably out there, in the crowd, shopping or something. Maybe talking to her friends.

Actually, it was because of that that he'd gotten lost in the first place, so… yeah.

Kyle looked bored as he wandered in, and no one turned to face them anyway. Ignoring the disappointed look on Elliot's face, he led the boy somewhere else, away from the adults that were there. There was a smaller, much more secluded room with little light, but someone was there, arranging an assortment of flowers with care.

"Freedert!" the boy greeted cheerfully.

Elliot stood to one side as he studied the person before them. A blonde girl their age or maybe younger/older, he didn't know, turned and smiled before launching herself on Kyle and hugging him. She wore a plain dress but she smiled so much she seemed to light up the room.

"Hi Kyle! I was wondering how long it would take you to get here!" she proclaimed. Her voice was warm, friendly-like and Elliot relaxed. She was obviously the other guy's friend so he had nothing to worry about.

Although he was surprised when Kyle actually grabbed him by the arm and dragged him into view. "Say hi to Elliot, Freedert!"

The blonde smiled and hugged him briefly as well, "Hi there. I've never seen you before. Do you live here?"

"Uh… yeah. But I lost mother somewhere out there…" Elliot trailed off again and he began to wonder if he was ever going to be found.

"He's the duke's son, I think," muttered Kyle under his breath, "See the clothes. So… fancy like…"

"Uh-huh!" agreed Freedert cheerfully, "But he's nice! Friends! Mum will be so happy to hear that!" She turned to the small alter where the flower arrangement sat, "Right! See! Mum's there for me!"

"Yeah… I know…" Kyle rolled his eyes for a moment as the girl paid her respects to her – deceased – mother.

Then, without another thought or word said between them, the three children left the cathedral and Elliot soon found himself actually having fun until the time came and his mother found him. Saying goodbye to them and promising to see them again, Elliot was scolded and led home.

And since then, they had been solid friends.

000

Time passed quickly though, didn't it? It was odd in it's own ways, but the three were pretty much inseparable. They always seemed to be able to understand one another just fine and were able to speak out their mind whenever they had to. They had practically grown up together and that was the sort of bond that could never been broken, no matter what.

Of course, thinking while walking down the streets wasn't the best thing to do, as Elliot soon found out, and he ran into something rather solid. Collecting himself, he apologised.

"I'm sorry about that…"

"Elliot? I never thought I'd see the day when you decided to space out," joked a male's voice of the person he had just run into. Forgetting formalities, the other boy looked up and grinned.

"And you're still wandering around, waiting to see the day when I do space out, Kyle," he shot back coolly. "By the way, where's Freedert?" The blonde girl wasn't with him, so there were a few places she could be.

"Freedert? I don't know," he admitted, although his eyes suddenly shifted; either he was lying or he'd been asking himself that very same question. "I was actually looking for her now."

"Ah, I see. Guess I'll just have to look around too, then," Elliot smiled disarmingly and the two friends waved before walking in opposite directions. In all honesty, they could have searched together, but the Duke's son had to find her on her own and talk to her.

It was strange how so many years had passed by and he had never thought it would happen, but it had and now he had to confront it. It was something that he never expected to happen between the trio of them, all best friends and the like; but happen it did, and there was no way he was going to leave it lying in the dirt.

Especially when it concerned Freedert, since they hung around all the time, and it would be too awkward if he said nothing about it. True, it would be weird to mention it, but at least it would be one thing out of his head and in the open. He wasn't embarrassed at the facts at all anyway, and she would probably understand.

No, scrap that; she WOULD understand. There was no doubt about it. She just had that personality. She was always so kind and caring and considerate and… everything.

Hopefully Kyle wasn't having any luck in finding her either, Elliot mused to himself as he looked around the town, yet was unable to find the blonde anywhere. Being her, she could be anywhere. But then again, there was one place just a bit out of town that she loved to hang around. A place of tranquility and beauty…

"Do you like flowers?" a young Elliot once asked her.

"Oh yes! Especially this one!" exclaimed an excited Freedert as she showed him a blood-red flower. It looked like she had just gotten it that morning, but he was confused; he had never seen such an… extraordinary specimen. True, he never did like flowers that much, but somehow…

"Where did you get it?" he asked. "Do they grow somewhere here?"

She laughed and took his hand, "Just outside the town! Come on! I'll show you! It's my most special place of all!"

He shook his head firmly, pushing the memory away. But her five-year-old self's voice still echoed as the place she had shown him so many years back came into view.

One hill with tree was the only barrier that split where the town was to where the valley of flowers were. They bloomed at a certain time of year and, if he remembered correctly, it would be sometime about now. So it was only common sense that she would be there.

And he was right as he caught sight of long blonde hair in the middle of blood-red petals.

"… Wow…"

"Don't you think so! They're beautiful, aren't they!"

"Yea… amazing…" yes, he did not like flowers all that much, but this was different. It was a shock to see so many of them… "Does Kyle know about this place?"

Freedert sighed, "He doesn't care about it. He never liked flowers much anyway. So don't tell him! It'll be our little secret!" She winked.

"Okay."

"Promise?" she held out the flower she'd been carrying and he touched the delicate petal gently.

"Promise."

"Freedert…"

At the sound of her name, the blonde turned her head and smiled when she saw who it was. Waving him to come down, she only spoke when he had taken a seat next to her.

"I was wondering how long it would take for you to work out where I was," she joked lightly, smiling up at him, "The flowers are so beautiful when they're blooming, you know?"

"Just like you," he smiled back sincerely, having come to love the flowers almost as much as her. She seemed to have some sort of connection to him, something he couldn't place, but it didn't worry him. She loved this place so much and it was away from the hustle and bustle of simple living.

It was a peaceful place shared only with nature. And it seemed right as well.

"But I'm assuming that you aren't here just to admire the flowers, am I right?" Freedert had her attention back on the flowers as they swayed gently back and forward with the wind.

"True, I do have something I want to talk about with you," Elliot admitted, "But I think it can wait. Flowers don't wait for anyone."

She laughed at this, "They really do have a mind of their own. That's what makes them so special."

000

"So what's on your mind?"

The sun was beginning to set, lighting up the sky in a soft pink and purple light. The flowers were beginning to close off themselves for the night, but Elliot had managed to pluck one before that had happened.

Standing under the large tree on the hill and overlooking the valley, he knew that it was now or never. But then again, it was almost like she had planned all this so that they were on their own. Or something. He wasn't too sure. Either way, standing there wasn't going to get them anywhere.

He presented the flawless flower to her, "I love you."

Freedert didn't look the least bit shocked at this, and she smiled softly, accepting the flower. "I love you too."

When had that happened? He wasn't sure anymore. The only sure thing now was that he loved her and that everything else didn't matter. At first he might have been confused and the like, but now… now was now, and they loved each other.

"It really is beautiful, isn't it?" whispered Freedert as the last rays of light hit the valley of flowers.

"Yeah."

000

When your heart can't stop
Like a runaway train
And it feels like you've drunk a case of champagne
It's a beautiful thing
It's a beautiful thing
It's a beautiful thing
So beautiful

000

And so there you have it. (nods) Now, that wasn't so bad, was it?

Shadow-Darkness-Wolf: Aw… thanks.

Tsuki Fox: I was out of ideas and I had a deadline to meet. So that's my reason. XD