A/N: Not much to say really, besides I'm literally the worst at updating this past week- meant to write and have this posted on Saturday but things go in the way.

Disclaimer: I don't own RotG or any related things. Basically, I own nothing but Charis, Florence, and all my oc's and thoughts-maybe a few places here and there too.

KikaKatTIOI: I was hoping someone would catch that at the end! :D Her and Cupids back story will be revealed in this chapter, I really couldn't resist giving her a mythical friend. It was insanely hard to figure out the years and dates and stuff, also my Spanish notes had to be sacrificed for the process. ^_^

Helpful thingamabob: This chapter takes place after the last and then like the last chapter will include flashbacks to show stuff. After this one, more than likely, there won't be as much if any flashbacks. (Who knows I could be unintentionally lying to all of you.)

Chapter 4: Palace of Love

She flew the short distance in between her and the two children. By the time she stumbled to the ground, the blue ball was rolling into the street. She could feel herself moving and then hear herself speak, much like the first time she 're-awoke' her gift took over. It took over her, all senses in its hands, and she always knew what to say and what the situation was.

"Don't go into the street," She told the girl, stepping in front of her and on the edge of the curb while she watched her contemplate, "I know you want to, but don't. It's very dangerous."

For a moment, with bated breath, Florence believed she heard her-b the little girl having stepped back from the curb. But, then she drew closer at a faster pace. Running right through Florence.

"No!" She shouted out, feeling the child run through her body with an unsettling feeling washing over her. The tug felt more like fierce dragging; a panicked pulling on her body that almost sent her to the ground with its force. Time seemed to freeze. She could dimly hear herself still yelling and calling out- but only could watch as the girl went into the street and as a car drove around the corner a short distance away. There was a ringing in her ear and her feet felt frozen. It wasn't as if she could have run and moved the girl, which was proven just seconds ago. Her silver eyes shut tightly and her teeth gritted together as the car neared. Every muscle tensed and she waited for the horrible sound of a car meeting an innocent child.

But, no sound ever came. Just the sound of running feet, a high pitched shriek, the screeching of tires harshly meeting pavement, and hearing two thuds on the ground besides Florence. She hesitantly opened her eyes, staring in shock at the little girl lying down on the ground, the body of an adult near her. A sigh of relief unknowingly slipped out of her mouth. Flashbacks painfully running behind her eyes as everything melted away.

Flashback:

1886 wasn't that exciting for Florence, who had been tugged around the world for going on six years. Sure there were a few drug scandals-she really did try to warn them not to touch the stuff- and such, but really nothing exciting for her. Sure being the voice in someone's head did have its fun times, but really being alone had started to hit her hard. If she was lucky, she did get to advise big names-but that was pretty rare right now. She had just given up the search for her mam, Ireland held no sign of her and neither did the roads. It broke her heart when she came to the realization almost a year ago, but she was always tugged away so she never had time to dwell on it. Unlike right now, where she had a nice moment of-

'Sigh, as always I'm being pulled away.' She reluctantly flew off from her perch, a random boulder in a barren field.

Where she was needed didn't seem too far way, just a few miles away and still in such a barren and isolated state. However, this location had the only house she had seen in the area, albeit a good mile away and just a distant blur- but still distinctively a house. At least that's what she was going with, setting her sights on the young girl wandering along the dry cracked road. Dust clouds where sent flurrying in the distance, no doubt from a nearing carriage, but she paid no mind as she flew down to walk beside the girl, the tug still present but not urgent letting her know it wasn't time yet. Her tight clad feet padded quietly beside the girl on the dry floor, one on the road and the other on the dirt, with each uneven step sent the shoes looped around her neck up in the air and back down with a thud. The girl didn't look her way, obviously not seeing her, dressed in thick skirts and her blonde hair up. Every absently done look back behind her saw the carriage was getting closer. The tug came slightly more present with each time she looked back, but she paid it no mind. They, well the girl, continued walking at the same pace. No trees passing them by, dirt being kicked up by their feet, and the sun beating down on them.

As they continued their walking, for who knew how long, the carriage soon began to catch up with them. Any other time it Florence wouldn't have given them a second glance. Until she saw them. They were rugged, beat up, and carrying weapons. It was then she realized why the tug grew each time she looked back, it wasn't for the girl but for something they were going to do and she placed all bets it concerned the girl currently walking in the middle of nowhere. She thinned her lips, debating on whether she should fly over there and leave the girl or not. Deciding she should, she flew off with one last fleeting glance back.

Her feet meet the top of the carriage with a heavy thump, something they didn't miss. If anything, it put them on edge.

'Not good, this is not good.' She thought, watching it near the girl.

"Don't do this." She spoke loudly and clearing, a slight waver in her voice. "You can just go by, ignore her. You won't do this."

The driver of the carriage shook his head, looking around wildly as she repeated her words. They looked confused, why were they suddenly feeling a change of heart? Well, if they were they squashed it away once the girl started running.

Florence threw her hands up in the air feeling the carriage burst forward, he fabric getting caught in the wind and pulling her up. They reached the girl, the tug suddenly stopped, her eyes shut tightly, and a scream echoed out. Florence's body crashed down, knee's scrapping against the rough pavement, guilt and sorrow welding its place in her heart. The tug vanished, leaving her feel empty and hollow.

'I failed, I couldn't protect her.' It weighed down on her, everything she stood for shattered away. What good was she when she couldn't save and help them? She didn't make the men better people and a young girl had to pay for that.

Florence continued to sit there on the floor, the scream the girl had made echoing in her ears.

'I failed,'

End.

Flashback:

The next year, Florence's seventh year of being the Keeper, she couldn't help but continuously think of that day. That day when she couldn't do what she was made to do. Even the tug seemed to know how she felt, giving her little to no breaks between tugs, helping her not to think about it. Right now was one of those few breaks. She was wondering around-well somewhere. She wasn't exactly sure, sometimes she knew the area and most times she had no clue. She continued walking around a plaza of people, watching them and circling around.

She only stopped when she noticed a strange woman. Sure her gray dress didn't look too weird and maybe the light red eyes where a defect. Though, her multi-toned pink skin and dark pink hair couldn't be normal and the giant wings were defiantly not normal. Florence found herself gawking at the woman.

'Are there others like me?' She thought happily, 'She just has to be.'

With a sequel Florence ran over to the woman, who looked over in surprise and didn't have any time to shout out as Florence collided with her.

"Ah!" Florence shouted out with a huge smile, "You're like me!"

Confusion faded away as the pink lady smiled in amusement. "Darlin' I think you mean you're like me. I'm Charis." She spoke with a thick southern accent.

Florence blushed before backing away from the pink lady-Charis. "Sorry, I'm Florence."

Charis looked at her with a sympathetic glance, "I'm sorry,"

Florence's face shifted to confusion and offence, "What?"

Charis immediately backtracked, "No, no, no I didn't mean it that way. I'm Cupid, I feel love-or in this case un-love. "

"I do not feel un-loved." Florence told her taken aback. "… Wait your Cupid."

Charis laughed, "Sweetie, I'm sure I know a bit more about love."

"Define a bit."

"Thousands of years." She informed Florence.

"…oh."

"Wow! So this is the Palace of Love?" Florence said in awe, lying up to see the very top of the tall light pink door in front of her.

"Well, what else would a giant pink castle be?" Charis stated with a laugh at the younger spirit.

The palace was located up in the sky, literally flying with a giant version of Cupids wings on each side. Towers lined the corners and in the center a giant one stretched up the farthest. The most shades of pink and red Florence had ever seen decorated the outside of the castle. Upon looking inside, she was surprised to notice that it was all white and gray.

To her confused gaze Charis supplied. "The outside is loud enough for the inside."

Florence adjusted her light gray leotard and white tutu before slipping on her white and gray stitched Pointe shoes, standing up on them and wrapping the tulle shawl around her shoulders as she twirled around the polished gray floors.

"This is amazing!" Florence echoed out as they reached the entry way again, after finishing touring the giant palace. They had spent hours upon hours exploring the palace.

"Well, if you aren't going to be tugged away," Charis giggled at the word, "Then maybe you could stay a bit. See some of my doves."

"That would be so amazing!"

End

They settled a routine from then on out. Whenever Florence had a bigger break from her tugs she went to the Palace, and up to the white room that had been dubbed hers after using it for the next, well really almost her entire life as the Keeper. Flash up to 1980 and that's where she was heading. One nice thing about the Palace having wings was that it moved to where Cupid needed it and in turn where Florence needed it.

The heavy feeling in her heart that had been for the most part of ninety-three years absent was slowly settling in its old spot. She flew up and away from the ground and up to the castle that was now there. She moved through the halls and up to her room, some doves cooing at her in question and concern.

'It was so close, too close.'

A/N: If you want to see Florence's outfit check my profile! :)