My bonus chapter awaits you!111!

Clearly Zen won out on the votes for who you wanted a chapter about, and so here he is. I really tried to capture Zen's dilemmas, without making him look desperate. Zen is not desperate. Well, he doesn't like to act it, at least =]

I got slightly distracted when writing this. Don't judge me!

Bonus Chapter

Zen's Dilemma

I'm so sorry.

Zen's eyes didn't even need to consciously read the hastily scrawled-out memo any longer. He had woken up eons earlier than the sun, and had immediately noticed the difference in the atmosphere.

It came to no surprise that her aura was absent. Zen knew her mind was made up when he had retired to bed. So he had conceded—closed the drapes and reminded himself that he no longer was concerned about her brazen decisions.

But even now as the sun began its descent, Zen struggled with setting the note back down on the dining table. I'm so sorry, it read. Sorry.

It took all of Zen's mental audacity to refrain from crumbling up the parchment. Or ripping the fragile, weak paper into tiny meaningless pieces. And then tossing the cursed SI:7 pin into the fireplace out of spite.

Sorry for what, exactly? For leaving Zen with a room full of things? Sorry for leaving Stormwind, then? Or leaving SI:7 against their orders? For being unable to write out a real apology?

Was she apologizing for leaving him here to deal with the mess? Leaving Zen with the responsibilities and repercussions of what she decided?

She should be sorry, Zen acknowledged. His eyes memorized the sloppy scribble of ink.

Grace was a full-fledged rogue now, thanks to Zen. Instead of her thankfulness, he gets to read those three mundane words over and over again. He had been foolish for believing in the word love. Zen tensed preparedly for the word. He did not want to love Grace. He didn't even like her right now, not after all of this…

This could not be love. Now, only anger and resentment pounded in his chest. His fiery rage made it painful to breathe, and so Zen hunched forward and shuddered.

Grace was a rogue from the beginning. From the sly banter to the uncanny ability to stay hidden and detect. He had immediately admired her natural talent.

He wanted her immediately. For SI:7, of course. Zen took her in. Invited her into his SI:7. Taught her to fight like a rogue. To think and act like a rogue. Sacrificed for her. And this was his reward? I'm so sorry?

The male rogue had to clench his fist to refrain from striking the table. Zen was not himself lately. Lately, he had a harder time biting back his words. Had he resorted to nearly begging, groveling at Grace to get her to stay? Threatened her, even, with SI:7 and duty?

He had. Zen glared accusingly at the SI:7 pin simply laying there, shimmering against the only firelight in the room. SI:7 couldn't keep her here. And Zen, himself, couldn't change her mind.

Zen exhaled carefully as his back straightened, and he struggled with tearing his eyes off the table. So this is how it ends? he asked. Grace opens his eyes to happiness to allowing himself to relax and appreciate his life…then she turns into some super-avenger, a hardened assassin, and leaves him here alone to reconcile his feelings?

No.

The chair squealed, nearly flipping onto its back as Zen flew onto his feet with one swift motion. His shoulders ached from the poor night of sleep, and his eyes were heavy. No. This was not how it ended. He would not sit here, staring at this forsaken note while she destroyed herself.

Determination fueled the rogue as he stalked firmly to his door, wrenching the door open with one swoop. Zen would—

"Cole?"

The dark-haired male smiled, relaxing the fist of fingers meant to rap on Zen's door. "Good evening, Zen. Officer Jared said I would find you at home…"

Zen eyed Cole with mild suspicion as he slipped by and marveled at his friend's darkened room. "He did?" Zen prompted, turning around and forcing his door shut for the moment.

"…how did he put it…'sulking in the darkness?' I believe that was his word choice…"

Green eyes narrowed as Zen followed Cole over to the dining room table. "Jared told you I would be sulking?"

Cole merely shrugged, glancing quickly over the pin and apology note before again locking eyes on Zen. "So Grace is gone, then?"

The other rogue stiffened visibly. A hundred questions rolled through Zen's mind, such as how Cole had been informed of this so quickly, and if there were others that already knew. If news got out that Grace had left without SI:7's permission, her career—her life could be in danger.

He could lie. Zen could lie very easily nowadays, thanks to his training. But it was Cole standing before him, eyes looking expectedly over his fellow rogue. Zen had always trusted Cole, and not just with Grace's training. He trusted Cole with their lives.

"She's gone."

Cole nodded knowingly, and then his hand held up a different piece of parchment. A heavy envelope, with the seal of SI:7. "Jared has assigned you a new mission. Wasn't that your request?"

The word mission was nearly foreign to Zen nowadays. The word used to excite him, but right now he only had one thing on his mind. Getting out of Stormwind. Somehow getting to Northrend.

"Cole, I can't…"

"I think you'll want this one."

Zen wasn't in the mood for Cole's antics, so with a slight growl he grabbed the envelope and ripped it open with his dagger. The parchment inside was unfolded once, then twice, and Zen could finally skim over the words of this mission.

He paused, eyes looking up to Cole as if to verify the words on the sheet. "This is a temporary transfer to Northrend."

"It is."

Zen continued to read. "Recruitment officer?"

"Yes, Lieutenant."

"Lieutenant?" Zen repeated, momentarily caught between reading the writing before him or looking into the eyes of his friend. "Cole…"

But it was all written there. And if this mission was Officer Jared's doing, then Zen knew that certainly this wasn't just about helping the war. It wasn't about Zen's transfer request. Jared was trying to help Zen; and, ultimately, Grace.

"You need to go to her, Zen."

His fingers tightened on the parchment, causing it to shudder under his touch. "She does not…need me any longer."

Cole wasn't obligated to comment on Zen's reproachful tone, and so he simply half-leaned against the single countertop in the dining area. Albeit his darker, earthy toned figure, Cole could be mistaken for Zen with the way he casually crossed his arms. "Even in the little time I've spent with her, I can tell you that's not true. She adores you."

"Tch." It was Zen's turn to fold his arms. Maybe he didn't want to go to Northrend, after all. Maybe it was better this way.

"She's only trying to protect you."

"And all of a sudden you're attuned to how Grace thinks and acts?" shot Zen. The poison in his tone was clearly not intended for Cole, but it surprised the man none-the-less. Zen never raised his voice. Zen never let anything affect him. Except…

"She's changed you, Zen." Immediately his green eyes were narrowing as Zen's mind whirred for an appropriate, spiteful comment. But the other rogue didn't give him a chance. "For the better. You icy moron."

The corner of Zen's lip twitched with amusement. So Cole was going to resort to name-calling, then? "Use your adept rogue skills, Cole. Grace left without a goodbye. She slipped away without being detected. If you wish to call me a moron for allowing her to be the insolent brat she is, then be my guest. But I will not be lead on…"

Zen stopped the words from falling from his lips, because he had said too much. Even now Cole was grinning, his eyes peeking at him. Before Zen could defend himself, though, Cole's demeanor had shifted into something more serious as he straightened himself out and glared at Zen from across the table. "Listen here, Zen. I've known you for too long to let you act like an idiot at such a monumental moment. You have excellent rogue skills. You're the most talented rogue I've ever worked beside." He paused a moment, allowing Zen to momentarily bask in the compliment. "But you are the stupidest Human when it comes to your feelings."

The other rogue scoffed, though for a moment Zen was speechless.

"It's tearing you up inside, Zen. And how are you supposed to work properly for SI:7 if you're distracted?"

His green eyes concentrated on Cole, who allowed his question to linger in the darkness of the room. A valid point from the other rogue. And Zen did want to confront Grace about this whole fiasco…wasn't he planning just a second ago to leave for Northrend anyway?

"Fine. I'll accept."

"Good." With a flick of his wrist, Cole intercepted the SI:7 pin that had been neglected on the wooden table and tossed it to the other rogue. Zen caught it with ease, though as he gazed at the golden star in his palm, he felt the urge to let it fall discarded to the floor. He pocketed it instead, opting to avoid looking at it any longer. "You're to be briefed at Jared's office at sunrise. From there, your travel arrangements will be made." With a single nod Zen acknowledged the instructions, his gaze following Cole as he walked to the door. "And tell Grace I said hello, will you?"

"Tch."

With a wink Cole was gone, the door clicking shut and allowing Zen to absorb everything. Everything that he had to deal with.

It only lasted a moment. Zen blocked the thoughts of Grace, and Northrend, and the what-ifs, and instead stalked into his bedroom, where the curtains were already drawn to prevent the light from hitting his bed.

He had avoided the pressure in his chest for quite some time. Jared gave him the mission details, the travel plans, and sent him off with a cavalry of soldiers Stormwind was sending to Northrend. He loaded onto the boat, after the three days of ignoring all of his problems, and even managed to settle down below deck.

But the boat rocked forward, signifying the beginning of his voyage, and Zen's stomach lurched. His chest was pounding erratically, and for some reason he couldn't tell his lungs to breathe evenly.

It was still anger that drove Zen to sit there, curling up his fists and setting them there where his firmly pressed lips were to prevent a growl. Anger, and yet somehow things felt different. His heart hurt, if that was possible. Anxiety? Now that he was finally leaving? Leaving for her…

A snarl peered out of the corner of his lips. He couldn't get accustomed to this. To the urge to protect her…

Zen's hand had at some point drifted downward to claw at his chest. Briefly Zen recalled when it had been Grace, shaking him in an effort to get him to understand. Her hand over his heart that was surely beating too rapidly… "You're human," Grace had berated. "This," she tapped his heart, "still belongs to you. That's something the Scourge can't fathom. Something you shouldn't consider a burden but a gift."

His chest fluttered at the thought of Grace's touch. What is wrong with me.

He had opened up to her, hadn't he? Hence the groveling and begging for her to stay with him… And now he would follow her? Like a lost puppy into Northrend?

Zen needed answers. He needed to figure out this thing called Love. Because all he currently felt was pain…and a heart that wouldn't stop pounding.

He would go to her. He would do his duty as a rogue, and meanwhile figure Grace out. Of course he would protect her. If he could keep an eye on her, perhaps the hurting would stop…

Zen would go to Northrend. And then he would see if Grace really meant those three words, scrawled out recklessly on that paper.

I'm so sorry.

Thanks to everyone who reads, and to the reviews that always make me laugh and smile! Zen has too many supporters, Grace is going to have to start batting them away! =P