So I have this posted on Fictionpress and fanfiction under fairytales. I had two people on FF ask for the old lady to appear so I have granted their wish without them going to the wishing well. ;D

I want to thank Autumn Renae De'Claire who is a good friend of mine for helping me out with ideas for the little scene at the beginning.

Chapter 7

"You are the song of my heart."

Annalaya closed her eyes against her will. It was so beautiful she wanted to cry. She couldn't let herself do that. If she did he would see her.

Annalaya felt a tear betray her as it trickled down her cheek. She opened her eyes and blinked rapidly while Galian wasn't looking. It wouldn't do for him to see her cry.

Galian was still singing as she felt heat on her face, she realized he was staring at her and the tears that refused to obey her.

The singing stopped, "You're crying." His hand came up to wipe them away.

"No, I'm not," Annalaya weakly protested.

Galian smiled, "Is my singing that terrible?"

"It's beautiful. What song is that?"

The sparrow man's cheeks turned pink. "I made it up."

Annalaya wondered. Who is his heart's song? Her own heart clenched in fear and hope. Was it her or was it some lucky sparrow out there somewhere? Was that who he had been singing to when she thought it was her?

She felt another tear try to find itself down her cheek. She furiously wiped it away.

"Don't cry, Annalaya," Galian said, oblivious to the reason of her crying.

This made her cry harder. She loved Galian so much it hurt. She wanted him to love her like she loved him. The thought of his song being for someone was unbearable.

Galian wasn't just her best and only friend in the world. He had become her family. She needed him in her life. Sparrow or man form, it didn't matter.

Galian scooted closer to Annalaya and put his arm around her, wiping her face and then caressing it ever so gently. "Do not cry, my tree girl."

Annalaya leaned against his side, forcing herself to stop crying.

Galian wiped the last of her tears away. "That's better."

"Your song, who did you make it for?" Annalaya couldn't help herself.

Galian was quiet as he looked at her. He looked thoughtful as if contemplating something. He smiled then and leaned toward.

He's going to kiss me again! Annalaya screamed in her head. Wha…?

Galian's lips met hers. Annalaya's instinct was to lean into it and kiss him back, but she knew what she had to do. She couldn't let him keep kissing her. She had to get answers.

Annalaya pushed him back, and he stared at her in shock. "Why are you doing that?"

Galian's golden eyes were wide. "Isn't that what you do when you're a—friend?" He paused at the word friend which Annalaya found odd.

"No!" Annalaya cried out in exasperation.

"But you kiss me on my head all the time as a sparrow. I have given you pecks back before. It hasn't angered you before now. What is so different now?" The sparrow man innocently asked.

Annalaya glared at him. The difference was that she was in love with him and he was human like her. Every time he kissed her she felt sparks fly. She felt that same heat she had the first time they touched. The more he kissed her the more she loved him and wanted him to love her. She couldn't take the torture he was giving her by kissing her like this.

"You don't kiss a friend such as that, Galian." Annalaya tried to explain.

"Why not?" Galian's brows furrowed.

Annalaya blushed, "Humans do it to express love for one another."

Galian's eyes filled with understanding. "So that means you love me?"

Annalaya heart pounded, and she felt like a rabbit being cornered by a coyote. He would force her to announce her feelings. She couldn't lie to him. She wished she knew if he loved her.

"I—I do."

Galian's eyes were filled with understanding. His eyes softened, and he looked almost pleased at her words.

Annalaya wanted to bolt, but she kept herself nailed to her spot.

Galian put his finger under her chin and lifted her face up before she knew what was happening he was kissing her again.

Annalaya felt like jumping for joy. His actions showed her what his unspoken words would have. He loved her back.

She was so happy.

Annalaya wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him back with all her worth. To let him know just how much she loved him.

Galian pressed his forehead into Annalaya's with a smile, "I love you, my tree girl."

Annalaya looked into his eyes. She saw her world in his golden orbs.

Twigs snapped, and the birds had stopped chirping. It was suddenly eerily quiet outside the tree house.

Galian froze as he and Annalaya shared a look.

There was something out there.

Right before her eyes a sparrow appeared and flew out of the little cut out window in the wall. Annalaya crept close to where Galian left and peeked out to see if she could see anything. She saw nothing, but that didn't mean there was not anything out there lurking. Her mind filled with thoughts of the peddler they had met yesterday and fear steeled itself into her heart. Maybe she had followed them to their home.

Galian! She turned to look into the woods as she heard the warning cry of a sparrow. She was tempted to run for him but she knew it wasn't wise. He wasn't hurt; he was only telling her there was danger.

Annalaya paced back and forth in the little space of the tree house, waiting impatiently for Galian to fly back. She was so deep into her thoughts she hadn't realized Galian flew back until he touched her shoulder.

Annalaya jumped in surprise but kept back her cry of surprise.

"It's the peddler." Galian whispered into her ear.

"What do we do?" Annalaya whispered back, she held onto his arm. She could feel it trembling underneath her fingertips.

"We have to keep out of sight. We can't let her see you." Galian looked toward the window.

Another twig snapped right under the tree and Annalaya tensed.

Galian quickly pulled her down to the floor with him. He looked down at her. "I will be right back."

"No!" Annalaya grabbed onto him but it was too late. There was a brown blur as he flew out of the tree house toward the sound.

Annalaya laid flat on the ground, her eyes straying toward a fallen feather left by her sparrow man. Her fingers reached for it as a distraction. She stroked the plume, listening for Galian and the woman.

There was a chirp and a flutter of wings.

"Why hello there little bird. Where did you come from?" the peddler spoke. A sick sweetness was in her tone.

Annalaya at once felt dread. What was she planning?

Galian made a warning cry and Annalaya fought herself from letting herself be known to the woman.

"I think I will take you home with me. You are a quite pretty thing," the words were not spoken in kindness.

There was a cut off tweet and then rustling of cloth. Footsteps were walking away from the tree.

Annalaya bolted to the window, muffling a cry of horror.

The old peddler woman was carrying a sack over her shoulder. The girl could see a small form pushing against the fabric repeatedly. The sparrow screeched and chirped in anger at being captured but to no avail. He had no way of escaping and turning into a man was out of the question.

Annalaya watched as the peddler walked away with her love.

Don't hurt me!