So about ten minutes after i posted this chapter i realized my head hadn't been in it and i didn't like how it came out at all. So if u already read this chapter, just continue reading because i extenddedd the ending, and if this is your first time reading you have no idea what I am talking about, so just do the usual reading and REVIEWING stuff. Also IMPORTANT note: when i put up the next chapter I'm going to be officially changing the name to The Legend of Love so just be forewarned. Alright, let me know what you think!

The next few months were pleasant enough for Rowena, for she had a new friend, but she still experienced pangs of loneliness for Salazar. One particular day the void he left was especially painful. Her mood was as gloomy as the gray weather outside and she rolled out of bed and into one of her dresses, not at all ready to start the day.

She sat distractedly through her lessons, something very atypical for her. She did try to focus, but she could not stop her mind from wondering. Sir Salazar seemed to understand though, and let it pass. He cut the lesson a little short, and closing up the book, turned to Rowena.

"I believe a Happy Birthday is in order," he said. Rowena looked surprised that he had remembered, but smiled graciously and accepted his well wishes. "Seventeen years old," he went on in wonder. "You are far from the little girl that first came here, so naïve and curios when it came to the wonders of magic." Rowena smiled quietly. Godric offered to walk her to the garden, and she accepted his gesture much more graciously then when they had first met. They pulled up the hood of their cloaks and ducked their heads against the rain until they came to a covered spot in the garden.

"You did not mention it was your birthday," Godric accused her.

"Yes, well I did not feel much like celebrating alone," she admitted gloomily. Godric took her hand.

"Rowena, just because Salazar is not here does not mean you are alone. Now, I may not be as good of a kisser as Salazar, but I still know how to celebrate with my friends," Godric smiled, and Rowena couldn't help smiling back.

"You are right," she conceded. "I just feel so lonely sometimes." Godric nodded sympathetically.

"Well I am not going to let you be lonely on your birthday," he proclaimed.

'"And how exactly are you going to manage that?" she laughed.

"I already made you laugh, that's a start." Rowena couldn't help laughing again and she ran out of the covering and into the rain.

"Rowena, are you crazy?" Godric called after her, but she was already giggling and twirling in the wetness. "You're going to get sick, it's pouring!" But he laughed and ran after her, catching her arm as she swung it around. "What are you doing?' he asked her. She looked at him, her eyes wild.

"Trying to have fun," she told him simply.

"You have a strange idea of fun," he said, his hair plastered to his head by the pounding of rain.

"Hey, it's my birthday," she argued. He threw up his hands in mock surrender.

"Of course, my lady. But do not blame me if it is your last."

"Oh, stop being such a baby, it's only rain!" she threw her head back and let the dampness travel in glistening drops down her midnight hair. She smiled, displaying brilliant white teeth contrasted against her olive complexion. Godric felt himself being drawn in, felt himself being warmed by the cool beads of moisture.

"Okay, okay, as you wish," he said and he took a seat on the wet grass and watched her twirls in the rain. Eventually she tired and lay on the grass beside him.

"Birthdays are funny thing, you know," she told him, turning to face him. Godric, who was sitting, looked down at her.

"And why is that?"

"Well, I do not feel any older than I did yesterday, but I feel much older than I did a year ago."

"Of course not," Godric said, pushing his wet hair away from his golden eyes. "its called time. Everything changes with time, but it's very hard to feel that change overnight."

"I guess so," Rowena sighed. The sound of horses warned them of her approaching carriage. Rowena stood up to go. She stopped and turned to Godric who also stood. "Thank you for allowing me to have fun," she said, and gave him a quick hug. She stepped on to the street and slipped on the wet stone, her head crashing towards the hard ground. Godric caught her in one fluid motion, and brought her up, and in one motion he was kissing her, their lips pressed together, and then she was kissing him back, their arms caressing each other.

At the same moment they both pulled away in horror, the implication of what they had just done sinking in. Rowena looked at him, her green eyes wide with terror, as if she was not sure what he might do next. He reached for her, but she backed away.

"Rowena I-"

"I have to go," she stopped him, turned and disappeared into the rain.

There was a party later that night in honor of her special day, but Rowena was not looking forward to it. After all that had happened today, she wasn't really even thinking about it. She sat removed as her servants dressed her and prepared her to greet all her guests. She numbly obliged as they powdered and prodded and poked. It was the only way she could make herself sit still; don't think about it. She couldn't focus on that now; there would be plenty of time for that later. She cringed as she remembered it for a moment, and then pushed it out of her head. Alice, on of her maidservants, smiled sympathetically.

"It's all right to be nervous Ms. Rowena, but there really is no need you know. You look beautiful, and everyone down there loves you."

Rowena smiled gratefully at Alice. Although that was not what was making her stomach churn, it was not true that all the guests downstairs loved her. The girls her age were not her greatest fans, ever since she discovered she was a witch and was forced to hide half of her life. She knew the rumors that went on about her, but the opinion of muggles did not really bother her. However, it did make events like these rather uncomfortable. Helga had agreed to come though, so that would be one bright spot. Rowena desperately felt the need to talk to her best friend.

She was pronounced ready and led to the stairs where she would make her grand entrance.

"Alright," Alice whispered when it was time. Rowena straightened her back and made her way to the stairs. As soon as she entered into the view of the guest she felt all of their eyes upon her. She slowly made her descent down the stairs, a welcoming smile appearing on her face. She scanned the sea of faces before her, recognizing among the crowd a few girls her own age, her mother and father. Helga smiled and waved up at her. Her eyes fell upon Sir Slytherin and Godric, and her stomach twisted. She looked away, and her eyes caught a small movement, someone gently pushing through the crowd to the bottom of the stairs. Her breath caught in her throat as Salazar came to stand at the foot of the stairs, waiting to escort her through the crowd. He smiled up at her, and this time a genuine smile lit up her face. Her heart sank when she remembered Godric in the corner of her mind, but she forced herself to focus on Salazar.

"What are you doing here?" she whispered when she had reached the bottom of the stairs and taken his hands.

"Surprise," he whispered back, and his breath on her ear made her heart beat faster. "Did you really believe I would miss your seventeenth birthday?" She smiled and let him lead her through the crowd. Throughout the whole party, she would not let her leave her side as she greeted her guest and accepted their well wishes. Godric did not come near her the whole time, and she breathed a sigh of relief over this.

The dancing started, and of course the first dance was awarded to Salazar. Her dad cut in for the second, and she danced with some of the guests for the next one. Finally, and much to her pleasure, Salazar reclaimed her and they twirled around together, lost in a world where nothing else existed.

"You look beautiful tonight," he said, smiling down at her. His hair was nearly blond, with only a few underlying shadows of its original brown hue. She rested her head on his chest and breathed in his scent.

"I missed you," she murmured.

"You have no idea," he answered. They swayed there for some time, until someone tapped Salazar on the shoulder and asked to cut in. Rowena looked up to see Godric waiting expectantly. Salazar smiled warmly at his close friend.

"Certainly," he said, and detached herself from Rowena. Rowena glanced questioningly at Godric, but his face revealed nothing until Godric left. Then the lines appeared on it. Rowena stood rigidly.

"I don't think we should…" she tried to turn away but Godric grabbed her hand and drew her close to him. He pushed his hand against the small of her back, and began twirling, his gentle but firm grip keeping her from breaking away. She ceased her struggling, but refused to meet his eyes, though she felt them on her.

"Rowena," he said quietly, "we can not avoid this." She was silent, still refusing to look at him. "Rowena," he persisted. "We have to talk about what happened."

She lifted her head up suddenly and laid everything straight.

"We got carried away," she said simply. "I was lonely, it was raining, and we lost control. It can not happen again."

Godric looked back at her. "Okay," he agreed quietly. They finished the dance in an awkward silence. Rowena watched in astonishment the ease and grace with which Godric handed her back to Salazar. Rowena cold not imagine how he could meet his eye after what had passed between them. Salazar held her close, happy to have her back in his arms. The next dance started, a soft piano rising playing gently.

"Did I tell you how lovely you look tonight?" he asked her.

"You might have mentioned it, yes," she responded softly. They twirled in silence, staring into each other, their green eyes burning into each other. For a moment, nothing existed but the two of them, twirling in circles, breathing for the other one. The piano rose to crescendo and their dance intensified, as did the heat radiating between them. The piano fell softly, and then came to stop, but they kept twirling. Salazar led her out of the ballroom, and out into the garden. The danced through the rose bushes and pushed past the fountain. Salazar picked a lily and placed it in her hair. Rowena pushed everything from her mind as they just twirled because as far as she knew, this was the most perfect moment. So she sank into the bliss, away from everything else.

Salazar led her to a stone bench, and they passed the time in silence, just enjoying each other's presence. Salazar ran his finger across her face, tracing her eyes and lingering on her mouth.

"How did I get so lucky?" he asked.

"I could ask the same thing," she responded. He leaned in towards her, his thin lips locking themselves around hers. She leaned into him, cherishing the moment. But the moment was ruined. In a flood, all of her disquieting thoughts, all of her guilt came rushing back to her, and she pulled away. She looked down at her feet, trying to hide the tears that were pushing at her eyes.

"What is it Raven?" Salazar asked, his voice full of concern.

"Nothing," Rowena lied. She shut her eyes tight, but still the vision of Godric's face, so close and warm, shone against her eyelids. Salazar took her chin into his thin hands and turned her face towards him. He looked hurt that she wasn't letting him in. She wiped her eyes, and said the first thing she could think of.
"It's really nothing. It's stupid that I'm even thinking about it now," she fabricated. "But I just keep thinking of how, after tonight, you're going to disappear again, and all I'll have is the memory of tonight to get myself through the dark stretch ahead."

"Raven," Salazar soothed, "only one more year until you turn eighteen, and then you can join me and we can be with each other all the time. You will be sick of me," he joked.

"I know," she relented; glad that it would be blown over so easily. "I just miss you."

"As I do you," Salazar agreed. He held her close to him, and she was able to hear the beating of his heart against her chest. "Do not worry," he whispered. "It won't be long until I see you again." Rowena looked up at him.

"I hope not," she murmured. She lay their, enjoying the warmth of the embrace.

"I love you Raven," he breathed into her ear. The squirming feeling returned.

"I know," she said, seeing her eyes shut, as thought that could block out the guilt. Suddenly she couldn't handle being alone with him. "We should get back inside," she told him, standing up. "They'll be wondering where we disappeared to."

"So let them wonder," Salazar whined, not wanting to leave. Rowena pulled him to his feet, and they walked slowly back to the party. They slipped in quietly, and she glanced around the room. The music had taken a break, and people were milling around, making conversation. Godric was sitting at a table alone, watching the proceedings moodily. Rowena sighed. Why did life have to be so complicated? She smiled and accepted when Salazar offered her refreshments, and she sipped her drink, taking pleasure at the coolness that slid down her throat.

"Happy Birthday," someone whispered from behind her. Rowena turned around to hug Helga, squeezing a little but extra. Helga pulled her away and held her at arms length. "Alright, what happened?"

"What are you talking about?" Rowena played innocent. Helga rolled her eyes.

"Please. You look like you're about to be sick, and Godric's being all moody. I am not fool enough not to notice when something weird is happening between two of my friends. Did you two have a fight? I swear-"

"Helga!" Rowena stopped her friend. "It was nothing like that." Helga waited expectantly. Rowena glanced around. "Not here," she said, indicating the sea of people.

"Ok, now you're just not being fair," Helga whined impatiently. "What is going on with you guys?" Rowena sighed and then pulled Helga into what would appear to the rest as a second good-natured hug, but she took the embrace as an opportunity to confide in whispers to her friend. When she was done, Helga pulled back, her blue eyes wide with shock.

"You did not!" she gasped. Rowena cringed.

"I did." Helga spluttered a bit, then turned to Rowena.

"Well, was it… are you happy about it?" she questioned.

"No!" Rowena answered quickly. Then she let her poised posture sag a little. "I'm not sure really what I feel."

Helga looked around, and sighed frustrated at the crowd of guests preventing them from having a real conversation. Rowena saw her hands flash to a fold in her gown and heard her murmur something.

"Alright, you can go now. No one can hear us, including your boys." Rowena rolled her eyes, but began speaking, relieved to finally get a chance to say what was on her mind.

"I do not regret what happened," she confessed. "I just feel guilty about it, and guilty about lying. But nothing about the kiss repulses me or even makes me want more. It just sort of… happened. I feel nothing. "

Helga nodded thoughtfully.

"Well maybe that is a good thing. Perhaps you'll be able to move on easily from this. Don't worry Row, everything will just blow over." Rowena took these words like breaths of fresh air. Helga reached for her wand and flicked it again. Nothing changed, but Rowena knew their conversation time was over. Salazar was across the room in conversation with his father. Helga smiled at her friends, and then disappeared into the crowd of people. Rowena glanced around and saw Godric, still sitting moodily at a table. She drew a breath and sat down next to him. He glanced up and said nothing.

"So," she began, trying hard to break the tension, "enjoying yourself?" He smiled sardonically.

"Oh sure," he responded, his eyes roving over the crowd. He saw her expression, and seemed softened. "Are you?"

"Yes," she answered, "but I would feel better if I knew my good friend had fun at my birthday party." A smiled tugged at the corner of his lips.

"I just don't think that I am much of a party man," he confessed. "Nothing personal." Rowena glanced wickedly at a bunch of girls that she had noticed eyeing Godric before. They were looking at her now with jealous expressions.

"So go entertain yourself," she instructed him playfully. "I'm sure those girls over there would be happy to oblige." Godric barely glanced at them.

"Those girls are muggles. Muggles are boring."

"Well look who's being a snob." Godric rolled his eyes.

"Stop worrying about me," he pleaded. "Go enjoy your party." When she protested he stopped her. "I'll have fun, I promise." Rowena smiled and then she was off glad that at least for now, things were back to normal.

Alright, I'll admit, not my strongest chapter, but still, R&R and let me know what your thinking. Even telling me you didn't like this is fine, although constructive criticism is preferred. Stay tuned!