Author's Note: In regards to the previous ficlet, I also had something like this in mind, but I can't pull a coherent story out of it, so have another random scene instead.

Word Count: 254


here comes the sun


It was her, except just not quite the same woman he had met so many centuries ago. For one thing, this was still a child, a young girl nowhere near even her teenaged years.

A ball had rolled to his feet and she had chased after it, stopping just short of him, suddenly shy as she tried to figure out how to retrieve her toy from him.

How peculiar, endearing almost, he thought in the back of his mind, seeing she was nowhere near close to the loudmouthed, stubborn girl that he had encountered so long ago.

"Um," she started, voice so young and sugary sweet. She clasped her hands behind her back as she rocked nervously back and forth on her heels. She sucked in some air through her teeth, momentarily revealing that two were missing.

She seemed almost…adorable. He wondered how she would end up being that obnoxious teenager that would travel with his equally brash brother.

"Um," she repeated again, her little round cheeks turning a bright pink.

"Would you like your ball back?" he asked, picking up the toy with one hand. He knelt down to one knee, meeting her at eye-level.

She nodded her head meekly.

He handed the ball to her and she took it nervously. She took one look at the toy and then him before flashing a wide grin.

"Thanks, mister!"

She ran away before he could even respond.

"Peculiar," he murmured quietly, the faintest of smile crept on his face for just a brief moment.