Duncan was about to reach for the doorbell when he realized there wasn't one. There also wasn't a knocker, and Duncan didn't think that him knocking on the door with his knuckles was really going to attract Courtney's attention if she were more than an inch away from the thick wooden door. So, Duncan took a deep breath and turned the doorknob. The door swung open easily, without making a sound. Duncan stepped inside and looked around.

"Courtney?" Duncan called. "It's, um, it's Duncan. You know, from last night?" He continued to shot as he turned and shut the door behind him.

Duncan began to turn back around when he found himself pressed up against the door with a knife at his throat.

"Where is it!?" Courtney snarled. "Tell me where it is and I might consider letting you live." She added, her eyes even blacker than Duncan remember.

Duncan was amazed at the ferocity in the eyes of a girl he'd seen nothing but sweetness from.

"What-" Duncan began.

"The medallion! Where is my medallion? The one you stole from me!" Courtney hissed menacingly, she was surprisingly strong considering she was so tiny. Duncan, who prided himself with having great strength, found himself unable to escape her grasp.

"C-calm down. I've got your medallion thing right here. Just let me-" Duncan was cut off again when Courtney sliced open the front of his shirt with an easy stroke of her knife and found the medallion laying cooly against Duncan's chest.

Courtney hissed again and glared up and Duncan. "I was trying to return it." Duncan said, this time trying to not let fear creep into his voice which would make him stammer.

"Really?" Courtney said and cocked her head to the left.

Duncan nodded silently. "I had forgotten I'd taken it until I found it when I got home from work earlier this evening. I understand if you want to throw me out but you have to know that I wasn't going to sell it or something... I was just trying to give it back to you." Duncan answered quietly.

"Hmm," Courtney murmured. "Well alright then." She said and removed her knife and steely grip from Duncan.

Duncan remained pressed against the wall, watching as Courtney walked delicately away.

"You coming or what?" Courtney asked over he shoulder, sending him a beautiful smile.

"Hell yeah." Duncan said pushing off from the wall to follow Courtney into her kitchen.

Duncan finally worked up the courage to return to the mysterious Courtney De La Cruz's home about three weeks later. He let himself in through the front door and made his way towards the kitchen cautiously, not wanting a repeat of the last time he'd come in the front door.

"Hello Duncan. A pleasure seeing you again so soon." Courtney said, shooting Duncan a genuine smile.

"So soon? It's been three weeks!" Duncan thought as he took a seat at the table, while at the same time grinning at the fact she thought it was nice seeing him.

"Would you like some key lime pie?" Courtney asked. Not waiting for a reply she set a generous piece of pie down in front of Duncan before taking her seat across from him.

Duncan glanced at the empty place in front of Courtney. "Hey if she doesn't want to eat… all the more for you my man." Duncan's thoughts jeered at him loudly. Duncan sighed and gave in. "Aren't you going to eat?" He asked while spearing a piece of pale green sweetness.

"No," Courtney replied, just like the last time he'd asked her. "Now, since you asked me a question it is only fair I get to ask one of you as well… how old are you, Duncan?"

"Almost eighteen. You?" Duncan asked, smirking.

"Old enough to be one of your ancestors." Courtney said cryptically.

Duncan brushed this off, thinking she just didn't want to tell him her age. "What's your favorite color, Courtney?"

"Mmm, gold. The color of the sun." Courtney said, her eyes getting a far away look in them as she spoke.

"Would, a, you maybe want to watch the sunrise with me?" Duncan asked, massively embarrassed for asking.

Her answer only made it worse; Courtney smiled sadly and shook her head no.

"That's the last time I try and do something nice for her." Duncan thought. "Wait a second… I'm being nice… for a girl!" Duncan's brain screamed at him. "No. No. NO!" Duncan said to himself. "That's just not possible."

"What is not possible?" Courtney asked, cocking her head in just a way that it would be annoying if she weren't so damn beautiful.

"Wait, did I just think of her as beautiful? Instead of hot!" His thoughts demanded. "Of course not. That would mean…"

"I have to go. I'll see you tomorrow." Duncan said stuffing the last of the pie into his mouth and shooting out of the house.

Courtney watched him go, peeking out from behind a curtain in her front room. "What an odd young human." She said with a delighted smile playing across her lips. "How wonderful odd." Courtney said and turned away from the window as the first rays of sunlight shone across the horizon.

That night, Duncan returned once again to the strange residence of Courtney De La Cruz. Before leaving his apartment he made a vow to himself that this was the last night, after tonight he was never going to see Courtney again. For some reason every time Duncan thought of this his heart a sharp pang. A feeling he hadn't felt since he'd left home six years ago.

...

Courtney was waiting in her kitchen when Duncan arrived. "Hello Duncan. I made you lasagna." She said happily, busying herself at the oven.

Duncan smiled. She sounded so sweet and innocent but Duncan knew from experience that she could be as vicious as… he didn't know. He couldn't think of Courtney any way other than a sweetheart.

"Sounds delicious." Duncan said, taking a seat. "How about tonight you eat with me?" He offered, knowing full well that Courtney would refuse.

"Oh Duncan." Courtney said shaking her head, sending him a beautifully remorseful smile.

"What, too high and mighty to eat your own cooking, your majesty? Because, it sure is fit for royalty." Duncan said, smiling.

Courtney just laughed.

Duncan, liking the sound continued. "So, Princess, why don't you eat your own cooking?" Duncan asked, already smirking.

Courtney froze.

Duncan tensed, sensing he'd done something wrong. "A… Courtney, I'm sorry. Whatever stupid thing I did now… I'm sorry."

"No, it is fine." Courtney replied, looking slightly dazed and frazzled.

"I won't bother you about your cooking any more Princess." Duncan said, trying to lighten the mood.

Courtney looked away, but not before Duncan saw the tortured expression in her eyes.

"Darling," Duncan asked, rising to squeeze Courtney's shoulder. "You've got to tell me what it is I'm doing so that I can stop."

"It is just... no one has called me "Princess" in a very long time…" Courtney trailed off, setting her lasagna creation down upon the table.

"Oh… do you not like me calling you Pri- um, that name?" Duncan asked, catching himself just in time before he said it again.

"I… I do not know." Courtney said, sounding unsure of herself for the first time since Duncan had met her. Which, granted, Duncan hadn't know her for all that long. But he still felt as if he knew her well enough to know she wasn't the kind of girl to question herself or her actions.

"Well... why don't I just keep calling you it until you decide one way or the other?" Duncan said, rubbing Courtney's back.

"That sounds like a fine compromise." Courtney said, rotating so she could wrap her slender limbs around Duncan's neck, resting her head against his chest.

Later that night when Duncan returned to his apartment he realized that he had forgotten to tell Courtney that last night was his final night.

He cursed himself, realizing he'd have to go back again to tell her since he couldn't bring himself to just, not show up…