Chapter Two- Coming Back Together

The years had passed quickly. Polka had hardly noticed how fast the time had passed. To be fair it was slow at first. Always wondering when Allegretto was going to show up and travel with them. After some time she gave up hope. He was never going to come. Her heart hurt terribly at his fact. But time heals all wounds.

"I can't believe it's been five years," she sighed happily. Her and Frederic sat outside a small village. Frederic was composing a new piece. Polka sat patently as she always did when he wrote his music.

Frederic nodded in agreement. He didn't seem to have aged a day. At least to her. His hair was a solid black not a gray hair to be seen. His face showed no sign of age. Still almost boyish look about it.

She however was more of a young woman then a young girl now. She had grown a little bit as had her blonde hair almost touching the ground. And she had filled out nicely. Frederic was kind enough never to say anything about it as she had been developing. That she was eternally grateful for. He always acted as if she was just the little sister he claimed her to be.

But Polka would be lying to her self if she said that she only thought of him as a big brother. Her thoughts of Frederic had changed drastically. When she was younger she saw him as a dear friend. One who spoke of the world differently. As a world of his imagination, of his dreams. How wonderful that he could speak of it like that. Spoke so certainly about it. He was a man of magic. In more ways then one. He could cast it like she could and also make it. His music that he wrote and played were by far the most beautiful things she had ever heard.

Now that she was a little older. She saw Frederic as she hadn't seen him before. It made her nervous. It was such a strong feeling. Similar to what she had once felt for Allegretto. Those feelings for Allegretto had faded away. The silver haired boy had been replaced with thoughts of the midnight haired man that she spent all her days with.

Of course these were feelings that were best left kept inside. He only saw her as a sister. Trying to change their relationship would only ruin the friendship they had.

She was content for now, with the way things are.

Frederic rolled up his newest work. "I think, if we continue North we can reach Baroque, from there go through the Sharp Mountains, into the Agogo forest and back to Tenuto."

Polka smiled. "Really? That would be wonderful. I do miss my mom,"

Frederic nodded. "Of course. I'm sure she's more then a little worried for you. And you haven't seen Allegretto in the longest time. I'm sure he's worried about you too."

Her smile quickly faded. "Yes,"

If he noticed her fading enthusiasm he didn't show it. "We'll stop and see the young prince and princess as well." he said.

Cheerfulness spread threw her again. "Prince Crescendo," the noble prince. She missed him as well. All of her friends from their travels in fact. The Prince was one she missed dearly. "I bet he is King Crescendo now,"

Frederic nodded in agreement. "Yes. Your probably right. He and Princess Serenade must be married by now. Perhaps new princess and princesses run through the palace now."

Polka sincerely hoped so.

With no more thought on the matter the two traveling companions made their way to the snowy kingdom.

o/ o/ o/ \o \o \o

Viola sighed. Where had that goat gone off to? One rebel goat had jumped the fence and was missing. She had been searching for the rotten animal for hours. Now it was getting dark. To dark to keep searching. She sighed defeated. Didn't seem like she was going to find her rouge goat.

Defeated she made her way back to her small home. Empty except for Arco. Arco was always waiting for her. He was all she had.

She entered her home Arco happily crawling onto her shoulder. She looked around, bored. Life was as she expected. Boring. Her mindless routine was dull and she wanted at least a little spice in her life. Couldn't someone try and take over the world again? That way her old friends and her could leap into action.

A knock on her door.

She looked up curiously. A visitor? It was still early evening but still. Perhaps some worn out traveler. She opened her door to let in whatever poor soul was lost in the plains.

She gasped at her visitor.

"Hey there, Viola. I found this guy chewing on my vest. I assume he belongs to you?"

It was Jazz. A little travel worn and tired. But Jazz all the same. She looked down to see her missing goat still munching on the bottom of Jazz's outfit.

She smiled happily. "You found him!" she pried the goat of Jazz.

"Well, he found me to be honest." admitted the man. "And he pulled me all the way here. I was on my way here anyway, so I just got here a little earlier then expected."

He followed her as she pulled the goat towards the others in the pen. Locking the stray back up she turned back to Jazz to give him her full attention.

"You were on your way here?" she asked. Now for the first time realizing that he was alone. Claves and Falsetto nowhere to be seen.

He nodded again following her back into her home. "Yes. Prince Crescendo is having a reunion for all of us back in Baroque. I hadn't heard from him in such a long time I was becoming worried so I'm glad he is throwing this all together. Falsetto and I decided to pick you, the forest guardians and the brothers up. Then take a boat to Baroque."

Viola nodded noting at once that Claves hadn't been mentioned. "So Falsetto-"

"Went on ahead to pick up the others. I came to get you personally."

She smiled but the first thought to cross her mind was don't get your hopes up. That was just Jazz. He was so kind and thoughtful. He didn't see her as anything more then a comrade.

That's why she asked.

"What about Claves?"

He frowned for only a moment. "I sent her straight to Baroque."

He said no more. Her head filled with thoughts, ideas, and questions. What did that mean? Was she pregnant with Jazz's child and couldn't do the on foot traveling? Was he with Falsetto now and he and Claves were not on the best of terms anymore? She didn't know. She was to nervous to ask. Instead she ran around making something to eat for the both of them.

There was silence as she worked. Not an awkward silence. Just heavy, she guessed was the right word for it. He stood in her home looking at her small amounts of odds and ends. Not touching anything just looking.

She cleared her throat as she set the plates down on the small table. Placing glasses of goat milk beside the dish.

"So," she began when they both had sat down. "Are we leaving tonight? Or tomorrow?" a smile crossed her face as he grimaced at the taste of the milk. "It's goat milk," she laughed.

"Hm," was all he could get out. He pushed the cup a good distance away from himself.

"We could leave tomorrow," he suggested after a few moments. "That would give you some time to get your things in order. Your goats and such."

"Thanks. I'll take care of all that tonight then and we can leave first thing in the mourning,"

He nodded at her answer.

She spoke again. "Are we really all going to be there?" she asked. He looked up at her curiously from his plate. "What about Polka and Frederic?"

Jazz nodded. "Yes, well those two don't stay in one place for very long. I've tried to get a hold of them. So yes. We may be short two."

Viola nodded a bit put out. She wanted to see if those two had made any progress in some kind of relationship or if they were still friends.

"To be honest I was surprised that I was able to get a hold of Allegretto. I thought he and his brother would've gone with Polka."

She shook her head. "It's for the best I think," said Viola happily. "Bad boys should stay away from good girls."

Jazz laughed at her. His face in his first true smile since he got here. "I think overheard long ago you pushing those two together." he made the love charm that she had showed Polka back then and aimed it at her.

She smiled waving her hands at him. "I was merely giving relationship advice."

He chuckled. "Oh?"

She nodded in a matter of fact way. "As a relationship advice giver I can only offer advice, I can't help if it's the wrong boy."

Jazz shook his head. "So Mr. Chopin is a better choice for her then? There is quite an age difference there. Plus, I recall him believing this world doesn't exist."

"That was all a faze." she assured him. "He's all done with that. And so what about age? What does that matter? When it comes to love age shouldn't matter. Besides Frederic doesn't look his age at all. He looks your age. Younger even,"

"Oh thanks,"

She giggled. "If it makes Polka happy then I don't care. Besides." Viola looked down at her plate sadly. "that poor girl uses magic. She should be able to love whomever she wants for as long as she has left."

Jazz had nothing to say at that. Frederic was a magic user as well. That meant that neither of them had a lot of life left.

Viola bit her lip. Since the topic was about love why not ask.

"So why didn't Claves come?"

Jazz's warm smile disappeared at her name. "It's complicated."

So maybe it was that.

"Is Claves, pregnant?"

"What?" Jazz suddenly asked looking up at her.

"What?"

"No!"

"Oh."

"Is she?" asked Jazz looking at her confused.

"She what?"

"Pregnant?"

"How would I know?"

Jazz crossed his arms moodily. "Do you know something I don't?"

Viola sighed exasperated trying to rid the room of all this confusions she had brought on. "How would I know information like that? You're the first person from our old group I've talked to sense we split up five years ago." she took a deep breath. "I'm sorry I asked. I thought that might be the reason she wasn't here and why it so 'complicated.'"

She stood up and took the plates and glasses. She wasn't sorry she asked though. Claves was a sore spot for him. That was good to know. Meant that their relationship was on hard times. Of course she wasn't stupid. She was a bronze medal. Even if Jazz and Claves were no more there was still Falsetto.

After cleaning up a bit she turned back to him. "Well. You're the guest so you can have the bed,"

He looked up sharply at her. "I couldn't do that. I dropped by unannounced. I'll take your couch."

Both looked at the small piece of furniture. Jazz wasn't going to fit on that little thing. Maybe if he curled up into a little ball. Maybe.

He crossed his arms. "I insist."

"You're a guest. I can't make you sleep on that little couch."

"You're not making me, I'm offering,"

They glared at each other for a moment. She smiled victory almost in her grasp.

"If you sleep on the couch, I'll sleep with the goats."

He frowned.

"You wouldn't," trying to call a bluff.

"Try me," she crossed her arms too. "You may be some big bad leader back where you came from but this is my house and what I say goes."

He huffed. He wore an expression that one might consider pouting. "Fine,"

Her smile grew. "Good. Just let me grab a few things from my room and then its all yours."

His golden eyes starred at the table. His mind still trying to find a way to win the argument.

She laughed to herself and headed to the other room. Packing a few essentials for her trip and grabbing a spare pillow and blanket. Tossing the needed items for sleep onto the little couch.

"What if-" asked Jazz coming up from behind her.

"Oh no Jazz! I can't hear you anymore!" she cried out as she pushed him towards her room. Her hands placed carefully on his chest she pushed against him as hard as she could.

Crap. He stayed in place watching her with an amused expression. He hadn't moved a step.

"And you're strong enough to pull goats?"

"That's not nice!" she cried. She sighed ceasing her efforts. "Fine! You want the couch so bad then I'll just sleep on the floor."

His golden eyes narrowed again. "Your making this far more difficult than it ever had to be."

"You got your couch," she pointed out.

"Your not sleeping on the floor."

"Are you sleeping on the bed?"

"No,"

"Then I am,"

He sighed.

~o/ o/ o/ o/ o/ o/\o \o \o \o \o \o~

"Well I hope your happy," she sighed.

He chuckled. "A little bit."

She wiggled uncomfortably on the floor.

"I'm just glad you didn't suggest the goats again." he said relief evident in his voice.

They were both laying on the floor now. Side by side. "I should have," she grumbled.

"You know if your so unhappy you do have a bed in the other room," he laughed.

She hit him in the face with a spare pillow. "Quite you."

He hit her back. "So stubborn,"

"Says the man who made his host sleep on the floor."

He was still laughing. "Yes the poor host who has a bed and a couch she can sleep on."

She debated hitting him with the pillow again. "I have a feeling Claves and Falsetto let you have your way to often. You're a spoiled brat."

He chuckled quietly but didn't answer her.

She sighed and quickly undid the bindings in her hair. Letting it fall free before turning on her side. Her back towards him. Still as difficult as he was being she was overjoyed that he was here.

Here. Sleeping right next to her. She drifted to sleep content for now with her situation.

A/N

I am overjoyed that I have reviews, and views for that matter. My apologies for misspelling Frederic's name. I went back and checked my game and the spelling I have now should be right. I double checked this chapter I don't think I missed any of the misspells but if I did I'm sorry.

Frederic is old. He's got a good twenty years on Polka. A tiny matter that I try not to think about. I have no problem with that but I can understand how it can be a little awkward to others. But I feel that since he is no longer in his living world and is in this one. He might be a little younger? For this story's sake can we just say he's only ten years older? Ten isn't so bad.

Next chapter were in Baroque, and we find out what's been happening to our Prince Crescendo.

Till next time then. Reviews are loved. I like to be told the good and bad.