Berta Joveson smiled as she approached the room where Junder stayed. Four o'clock, when she went to see him, was her favorite time of day. She would never regret deciding to help Emma with the Association for Long-Term Injured Soldiers. She straightened her shoulders and smiled as she knocked on his door.

"Come in," he called.

Berta pushed the door open and her smile grew as her eyes met Junder's.

"Princess," he said smiling. "How are you?"

"Well," she said, sitting in the chair by the bedside. "It's been a busy day. A new group of invalids arrived."

He nodded, his gaze going to the bed.

"How are you feeling?" Berta asked after a pause.

He shrugged. "Usual. I started a new book today."

Berta tilted her head. "What book?"

"Call of the Woods. Have you read it?"

Berta grinned. "That's one of my favorites! How is it so far?"

He raised an eyebrow. "I thought Song of a Lost One, Chronicles of Nala, and Dust were your favorites."

Berta blushed. "Okay, I have a lot of favorites."

Junder nodded and laughed. "I know."

The two fell into an animated discussion of books and Berta forgot everything else. She forgot about the busy day, forgot about the time, forgot everything but the buck in front of her and their conversation.

Ever since Junder had arrived two months ago, she had come to talk with him every day. He was a lovely buck. He was fun and playful, always willing to talk, and he always asked how she was, something very few other people did.

The truth was, she was often tired and discouraged at all the suffering and hurt around her. There was rarely anything happy to talk about around the ALTIS center. Occasionally there would be a break through in First Flower and that would be the subject of conversation for several days, but then it would die down and all there would be was the work.

All that disappeared when she talked with Junder Carmen, though. He saw through her straight face more than others did, even Emma. He always was willing to discuss books, one of her favorite things, and in a short two months she was closer to him than she was with most of her siblings.

Although Junder bore a missing hand and leg, as well as many scars and a back injury, he never failed to cheer her up with his cheerful yet serious discussions.

The two lost track of the time as they moved from subject to subject. From chocolate, to books, to the king, to the building of New City, to Junder himself.

Berta laughed at a wity statement Junder made, then noticed Junder's dry lips. "Would you like a drink?" she asked.

He hesitated, then nodded. "Thank you, that would be nice."

She handed the glass to him, but instead of taking it, he placed a hand on her arm, pulling her to eye lever with him. "Berta, I…" He swallowed, unusually sober. "I don't know if you should come anymore."

Berta's heartbeat quickened. "Why, Junder?" she asked in a soft tone. "I love—I love talking with you."

He nodded. "I do too, but…you are a princess. I can't pretend it isn't so. And it wouldn't be possible—" he broke off and sighed miserably. "I just think it would be better for both of us if you didn't come anymore."

Berta blinked away the tears that threatened to come. Why was he saying this? Didn't he realize how much she cared for him? She straightened her shoulders and nodded, putting the shield between her emotions and her expressions again. "If that is what you wish."

He caught her hand as she rose. "Don't—don't take this the wrong way Berta, please. I enjoy spending time with you. It's just—"

Berta nodded. "It's okay," she said, forcing a smile. "I understand." She didn't really, but if it would put him at ease, she would say it.

He nodded and fell back on the pillows. "Thank you." His expression was unreadable as Berta slipped out of the room.

Berta wandered the halls of the center, her mind running over and over the conversation. Had she said something wrong? As far as she knew, Junder enjoyed their time together as much as she. Yet he had asked her to leave and stop coming. She shook her head. Why? It didn't make sense.

She was looking at the floor as she walked and bumped into someone. Her head snapped up and she reached out to steady herself and Emma.

"Oh!" Emma exclaimed. "I'm so sorry, Berta! I didn't see you. Are you alright?"

Berta shook her head. "No, it was my fault. Are you alright?"

Emma didn't answer her question. "What is it, sister? Why aren't you with Junder? This is the time you usually talk, isn't it?"

Berta looked down at the floor again. "Yes," she replied reluctantly.

Emma took her arm and led her toward a chair in the hallway. "What's the matter? Something happened between you and he, didn't it."

Berta swallowed hard and accepted the help gratefully. "I don't know. It was all very sudden," she said, only half-truthfully.

"Tell me about it."

Even though Emma was younger than she, there was no doubt as to her sister's wisdom and kindness, which Berta greatly appreciated. She took a deep breath. "He said it was best for both of us if I don't come to see him again." A tear dripped from her cheek to her dress. "I don't know why. That's all he said."

Emma's face fell and she reached out and hugged Berta. "Oh dear, I'm so sorry."

Berta hugged her sister tightly as more tears fell.

After several minutes, Berta leaned back and wiped her eyes. "I don't even know why I'm crying," she confessed. "It doesn't seem like it should matter so much. But it does."

A sad smile crossed Emma's face and then she took Berta's hand and rubbed it in hers. "A friend asked you to not talk to him anymore. That's nothing to take lightly."

"But why do I feel like I lost something so big?"

Emma squeezed her hand and hummed. "Are you so sure you didn't lose something big?"

Berta nodded. "He's a friend I haven't known for even three months."

"Is he more than a friend to you?"

The question, so casually asked, hit Berta like a wave. That wasn't the case, it couldn't be the case… could it? She thought of all the times she'd spent with Junder. All the laughter, the gentle teasing, the confessions of how hard it was for her some days. "He's just a friend," she murmured finally.

"Would you like him to be more than that?" Emma asked softly.

A sudden picture of Berta sitting with Junder in a house, their house, with their arms around each other, came and she felt a deep longing for that to be reality. A faint smile came to her face. "Yes," she whispered. "But he doesn't."

Emma shook her head. "I'm not so sure," she said, smiling. "I've seen the way he looks at you."

"But he asked me to leave," Berta protested. "That doesn't make sense." She sighed. "I—maybe it's better this way. Maybe—"

"Maybe," Emma interrupted, "he knows you are a princess and would never want to marry a poor, wounded soldier. Maybe he doesn't think you care for him or could ever love an invalid."

Berta was silent for a long minute. Hope rose in her heart unbidden. What if that was the case? What if that was all it was? She turned to look at Emma. "Do you really think so?"

Emma nodded, smiling. "I do."

Berta stood then, and fixed her dress. "I guess I'd better go talk to him, then." She straightened her shoulders and smiled, hopeful and nervous."Thank you."

Emma smiled eagerly. "Go then! Don't worry, I know it'll turn out well," she said after a moment, as if she sensed Berta's nervousness. "It'll be fine. Go!"

Berta allowed a smile to cross her face as she walked quickly back down the hallway. In front of the familiar door she took a deep breath and lifted her hand to knock. She hesitated, her arm suspended in the air in front of the door. What if she was wrong? What if he got upset? What if he had another doe and that's why he didn't want to see her anymore?

She shook her head. That was ridiculous. There was no other doe. She rapped on the door.

After a moment, Junder called, "Come in!"

Berta bit her lip and pushed open the door, smiling uncertainly at him as she stepped in.

"Berta?" Junder was obviously confused. "W-what are you doing here?"

Berta took a deep breath and went to sit by him. "I—I just needed to tell you something. It's okay if you don't feel the same way. I understand, really. I just feel like I need to say this because if I don't I'll regret it—" She stopped. "I love you," she blurted out.

Junder's face froze in another unreadable expression. He was shocked, confused… Berta couldn't tell what else.

She got up and moved toward the door. "I'm sorry," she said. "I'll go."

Junder shook his head. "Stay, please." His voice was a whisper. Berta moved back to his bedside and sat down again, slowly, each motion almost methodical.

Junder took her hand and as he did, a shiver ran down her back. He pulled her close and whispered in her ear, "I love you too."

Berta said nothing, but threw her arms around him and he wrapped his good arm around her. She had never felt so happy. After a long time, Berta pulled back, a tearful smile on her face. "Does this mean you request to court me?" She waited for his answer.

He grinned and took her hand again. "Yes. May I court you, Berta Joveson?"

Berta tilted her head and glimpsed Emma watching them, smiling, in the hallway. She turned back to Junder, beaming. "You may."