Raiden and Isabelle set out from Glinda's home early the next morning on horseback. Isabelle shrouded herself in her cloak to keep her skin hidden. However, their ride was peaceful all morning. They talked more about their childhoods and hopes for the future. More and more Isabelle realized that she was falling for Raiden and wished he was falling for her. Glinda had been right in saying that she was falling in love with Raiden. Never had she felt this way about anyone in her life.

They took a break for lunch halfway through the day. Sitting under the shade of a tree, Isabelle took her hood down from her cloak to reveal her face. Raiden's eyes lit up when he saw her face. Together they ate lunch under the tree and talked about which way to go next.

"I am hoping to find something that might tell me if my father is alive. My mother may not be alive, but at least I could have a father somewhere," she said.

"Maybe, but what would tell you that he is alive from the castle?" he asked.

"I am not sure, but I will know it when I see it," she explained.

"Alright, if you are sure. I only want to make sure that you are content and ready for this. It could be painful for you to see your mother and father's things," he replied.

"Thank you for your concern," she said.

"I care about you and want you to be happy," Raiden stated.

"You are what makes me happy," Isabelle replied. "Ever since I came here to Oz, you have been so kind to me. I constantly find myself looking for you and thinking of you whenever I am by myself. Then you are around and things seem right."

"I have felt the same way since I found you on the Yellow Brick Road with a twisted ankle. Regardless of what others think, I believe that your skin color makes you who you are. You are unique and unlike any woman I have ever met in my life. Everyday I am falling in love with something new in you," he confessed.

"You love me?" she asked, feeling her face blushing.

"With all of my heart," he honestly replied.

"Then there is something you should know," she said, taking him by the hands.

"What is it?" Raiden asked.

"I love you too," Isabelle replied.

In that moment, Isabelle felt like she had exposed her heart to the first person that had actually admitted love to her. Gently, he pulled her closer and kissed her softly. It was her first kiss in her life, but she was sure it would not be her last. Raiden held her in his arms for a while longer after their kiss had ended. In his arms she felt all new emotions that she had never experienced before. Her heart was racing at first, but calmed down to a normal rate. However, she then remembered that they still had to get to the castle.

"Raiden, we still have to go," she said ruefully.

"I know," he replied.

Both of them climbed onto their horses and continued to ride. Yet again, Isabelle's cloak shrouded her and protected her from glares and stares of people. Somehow, now that she knew that he loved her, Isabelle felt much safer with Raiden along. Their pace had slowed towards the end of the day, when the sun was touching the earth as it set. In the moment, they decided to stop and watch the sunset from the safety under a nearby tree. Isabelle pulled her cloak from around her face and sat next to Raiden under the tree. She laid her head back on his shoulder and they watched the sun slowly dive from view and the moonrise in its place. After the sun had set, they decided to sleep under the tree for the night. Isabelle pulled her cloak from her shoulders and draped it over both of them as she snuggled next to Raiden and laid on his chest. Slowly she drifted off to sleep, listening to his heartbeat.

She dreamed of finding her mother and father alive. Being reunited with her family for the first time in her life. Her one wish that would never be fulfilled in reality. In her dream, it also flashed to a wedding, her wedding. Raiden looked so handsome in his suit standing at the altar waiting for her. Every emotion she felt and knew it was real. Her family was there to watch her wed, as well as Glinda and Boq, who would become her second family soon. The dream seemed so real to her.

The next morning she woke up startled because she felt cold. Raiden was not beside her, so his body warmth was gone. Panicked, Isabelle glanced around to find him. A wave of relief swept over her when she found him packing up the horses. He looked over at her and saw the look on her face.

"I am sorry, did I wake you?" he asked.

"No, I felt cold. When I woke you weren't beside me, so I was worried about you," she explained.

"Oh, I did not mean to move, but I thought I should pack up the horses so that we could leave whenever you wanted to," he said.

"You do not have to explain to me. Whatever you do, I know you do it for a reason. Now, when would be a good time to leave?" she asked.

"Well, the sun will not rise for another hour or so. If we leave now, traveling will be cooler for at least that long," Raiden stated.

"Then we should leave now so that we stay cooler for a while. By chance, would you happen to know where we are?" she asked.

"By the looks of the land, I would say that we are another day and a half from the Vinkus," he said.

"So, we should be in the Vinkus by tomorrow afternoon?" she inquired.

"If we travel at a steady pace and rest at night, then yes," he answered.

"Good," she said. "Have I told you today how much this means to me for you to be here with me?"

"Not today," he replied.

"So much," Isabelle said as she pulled him closer for a kiss.

They mounted their horses and started to ride. Since it was still fairly dark outside, Isabelle decided to leave her cloak off of her head. The cool wind flowed through her long, black hair. It felt wonderful to feel it run through her hair.

Raiden could not help but stare at her. Everything about her amazed him and made him want to be with her more. He wondered what his mother would say when he announced that he loved Isabelle. None of it would matter to him, of course, whether she approved or not, but it would be nice for his parents to like the woman he loved.

"Raiden," she said. Her words were like music to his ears.

"Yes," he replied.

"Once we get to the castle, I want to go into my mother's room alone. It would be better that way for me to say goodbye to her and find something to keep of hers," she requested.

"Of course," he answered. "If it would be better for you, I will do whatever you ask in that respect."

"Thank you for respecting my wishes. I never knew my mother, so I think that saying goodbye to her by myself would be for the best."

"I do not know what kind of pain it is to not have a mother, but I do know that whatever you are going through I want to be there for you when you need me," he offered.

"I know you want to be there for me and I appreciate that, but for now I want to do it alone," she replied.

"Promise me one thing though," he said.

"Anything," she said, looking right into his crystal blue eyes.

"Do not shut me out when you come out. When you are ready, talk to me about it. Promise?" he asked.

"I promise to talk to you about it when I am ready," Isabelle replied.

Raiden reached out from his horse for her hand and she placed her hand in his. His skin was warm and comforting to Isabelle's nerves. She could tell that the rest of the trip until they reached the castle was going to be fine with him at her side. The challenge that lay ahead would be a personal journey to her past for Isabelle to find out who her parents truly were. Still, she could not ignore the panging in her heart that she would never know her parents.

A/N: I'm back! Miss me? Sorry this took a while to post, but unpacking and other complications arose. I love this chapter because that is the hopeless romantic in me, but I hope you will enjoy this budding relationship. This one is a little shorter than some, but I promise to give you a REALLY long chapter for the next one. Read, review, and as always, enjoy!