Sophie stared at the blonde elf who was laying on a cot in the healing center. His brilliant clear ice blue eyes were closed, and he remained unresponsive to her voice as she begged him to wake up. It'd been weeks since Gisela had attacked the dwarfs, weeks since that awful magasdian throne had encaptured him, weeks since she'd heard his voice—the one thing that could make her laugh and smile. She hadn't realized she'd been crying until a gorgeous brunette elf gently wiped away her tears with the pad of her thumb.
"Sophie, this isn't healthy! Keefe wouldn't want you to beat yourself up like this." Biana's voice was soft and soothing, a silent plea to her friend to care for herself.
"I—I can't help it, Biana. Do you know what it's like watching the boy you love laying unresponsive on a hospital bed unable to help him? Do you?" Sophie let out a quiet sob. Biana's eyes widened.
"Did—did you just say love? You LOVE Keefe?" Her voice betrayed her surprise.
Although Sophie was shocked that the words had escaped, she didn't regret saying them. Sure, she had had a crush on Fitz, but that had been pure desire and infatuation, not love. Her feelings for Keefe on the other hand were pure love, exceeding the infatuation and desire she felt towards Fitz. So when Biana questioned her, Sophie nodded, confirming her feelings for the blonde haired glacier eyed elf in front of her.
Sophie wiped at her eyes with a handkerchief, clearing the tears that threatened to spill from her eyes.
"Sophie, please. Shower and eat. I'll stay here with Keefe, ok?"
Sophie could only muster a nod as she light leaped to Havenfield. After taking a shower and eating the mallowmelt Edaline had made for her, she returned to Keefe's bedside as a dog returns to its owner.
Gently, Sophie ran her fingers through his soft silky hair, closing her eyes and praying that he would awake from his restless slumber. She peppered his face with featherlight kisses in hopes that he would awake. Finally, desperation won out, and she entered Keefe's mind.
She sucked in a breath before implanting all the sweet memories she'd shared with him over the years into his mind.
I need you, Keefe. I need you. Wake up, please. She transmitted, pleading with his subconscious. Those three words did it. As Sophie exited his mind, Keefe's eyes fluttered open. And Sophie couldn't contain the tears of joy that steamed down her face.
"Foster, you should know by now that I'd never leave you. I love you too much to be able too." Keefe's eyes widened in shock when those three words exited his mouth. He knew that he loved her, but he also knew how she felt about Fitz, so he was surprised when Sophie's lips met his.
I love you too, Keefe. Sophie transmitted, unwilling to break their kiss. When the couple finally stopped, panting for air, Keefe pulled Sophie onto the cot with him. And for once, Sophie fell into a peaceful slumber where nightmares couldn't find her.
•••
"Aww! That is precious!" Biana sighed dreamily upon entering the room and finding Keefe's arms wrapped protectively around a sleeping Sophie.
"Biana! Shh! I don't want to wake her!" Keefe glared at his friend, annoyed that she had interrupted his time with Sophie.
"Keefe! I'm so happy your awake! Sophie was so worried about you...we all were!" Keefe laughed at her exclamation.
" I could never abandon you guys."