Hello, my lovelies! Did you miss me?

Cape Codwas fantastic - I had a great time just chilling out on the beach...and avoiding scary-looking crabs. Oh, and I also went on a sailboat! And I even went to Hyannis Port, the same place that Taylor Swift mentioned in Everything Has Changed.

But now I'm back home for the time being - from August 10 - 14, I'll be inactive again because I'll be traveling to PA. (Phew!)

Enjoy!

Chapter Eight. Ever the Surprise

Kira bolted through the crowd that had gathered in front of the castle. She wove in between surprised villagers, grunting a little each time someone took a bit more time to move. Kira had never been an impatient girl, either – she had always been told by her father that one of her best qualities was her maturity over time.

But right now, Kira didn't care too much about her maturity. What she did care about was that the castle gates were closing for the last time, forever blocking her from the only friend she ever had.

"Get out of the way, please!" Kira cried, practically tripping over a little boy. She shot his parents an apologetic look for only a brief second as she dove forward. She could see the dark iron gates now, just looming ahead of her. Trying hard to keep her legs moving (Kira had ran all the way from her house on the other end of the village to the castle, which was on the opposite side), the girl pushed herself forward until her fingers were clamped over the iron.

A few guards were standing behind the gate – and when they caught sight of the girl, they instantly walked forward to try to pry her fingers away. "Leave," they said harshly. "There will be no more visitors."

"I'm Prince Caleb's friend!" Kira exclaimed, struggling to keep herself in front of the gates. She could hear the crowd behind her murmuring, some asking where her father was. Kira decided to pay them no mind. "I'm Prince Caleb's friend!" she repeated, her voice sounding angrier. "Why can't I see him? He needs to see me!"

One of the guards laughed. "What Prince Caleb needs, little girl," he said haughtily, "are his tutors and the court. They'll be looking after him from now on – not a little peasant girl like you."

Kira felt herself boil with rage from the iciness in those words. Stomping forward and pressing her face against the gates, she bit out, "The tutors and the court won't help him with his father dead! I'm his friend! Let me talk to him! Let me talk to him!" The girl repeated herself, and with each time she did, her voice grew a little higher and a little more frantic.

Kira knew why the gates were closing – she knew it because Caleb had been warning her about it for a few days now, especially since his father, the king, had died. But both children never took it seriously. Kira always figured that they would still be able to talk – that they would still meet in the square and the bookshop and go for walks and adventures through the woods.

Looking at a pair of closed gates was never a part of the fantasy.

"Kira!"

Kira whirled around to see her father making his way through the crowd. Some men and women parted a path for him – and instantly, the girl leapt from the gate and to her father's arms, crying, "The guards won't let me see Caleb!" Her father looked up, his storm-cloud-colored eyes meeting the guards'.

"No visitors, sir," the guard said, his grip tightening over his sword. "Specific orders from the court."

"Surely, my daughter can speak to the prince just for a few moments – they are children, and good friends." Kira was delighted to hear her father say.

"Can't have that happen, sir," the guard replied dismissively. "Prince Caleb was told to stay indoors – it's too risky to let a prince out after the late king's passing. There might be some enemies lurking and waiting to take the young prince. This includes your daughter." Kira shot a glare at the guard, muttering, "I am not an enemy."

Judging by the look on the man's face, Kira guessed that her father was also somewhat annoyed and bewildered by the guard's ludicrous accusation. "She's a child," Kira's father pointed out slowly, as though the guard was slow. "I don't know what kind of children you've encountered, sir, but the young girl I know would not take her own friend's life."

Another guard leaned in to whisper something to the other guard's ear.

After a moment, the guard turned back to Kira and Obi-Wan, saying firmly, "If you do not leave at once, we'll be forced to take certain measures to keep you two away." Kira felt her father's grip on her hand tighten – and then, he said quietly, "No child should be forced to leave without a proper goodbye." With that, he tugged at Kira's hand gently, saying, "Come along."

Kira felt heat well up behind her eyes as she let her father half-drag, half-lead her back into the crowd. As a final act of desperation, the girl whipped her head around – and looked up only a little ways to focus her eyes on one of the dark windows in the castle.

That was when she saw Caleb through the window. He looked nothing more than a shadow, but Kira could recognize her friend anywhere. She watched as he lifted a small hand – and Kira responded by lifting her own hand. She waved a little, willing herself to not let the tears overflow.

xXx

There was string music.

String music, which seemed to linger and echo around and around through the grand ballroom.

At first, Kira wasn't sure of what to do – she had played off being confident when she first took Kanan's arm, but all of that confidence had been replaced by a liquid, jelly-like sensation which took over herself and kept her from properly moving. But her feet glided forward in her heels – she managed to walk across the dance floor without tripping or stumbling over the hem of her long gown.

Out of the corners of her eyes, Kira caught a glimpse of familiar faces – she saw Anakin and Admiral hiding behind the curtains, only the minute their eyes met, they scurried behind the thick fabric. Kira suppressed the urge to laugh and instead focused back to Kanan, who was wearing a sheepish expression.

Well? What are you waiting for? Kira thought to herself. She shyly offered up her hand – she pressed her palm against Kanan's paw-like hand, and for a moment, he didn't seem to respond to the action. And then, he closed his hand around hers and slowly started to move to the side of the ballroom. Kira felt a smile take over her face as she tried to match with Kanan's steps.

"Never went dancing before," she told him as they waltzed across the gleaming floor. She heard Kanan laugh. "You're not too bad – you've only stepped on my feet a few times," he replied. He gently lifted an arm so Kira could twirl underneath him. She gently made her way around and came back to face him, saying, "And you're not too bad yourself."

"I've had enough lessons," was Kanan's light reply. "Just keep following my steps."

Kira nodded once, and did as she was told. The orchestra music swelled around them as they glided around. Once or twice, she looked up at Kanan. Each time, he would be looking back down at her – and then, Kira would feel her smile widen a little more. The beast's movements were all surprisingly hesitant, careful – not quite bold, and somehow, Kira couldn't help but to feel comforted by that.

Kira could see herself in Kanan's wide, emerald-colored eyes. She could see how she looked to Kanan, how she seemed small and delicate. And yet, to the girl, she didn't feel small nor delicate. If anything, she felt strong. Strong and warm all over as though she could run around the ballroom – no, the whole castle – without stopping even once.

She didn't know how long they were dancing, either, except that when the music finally died down, she was walking out to the balcony with Kanan and feeling slightly light in the head and giddy in the chest. Once or twice, Kira's heels nearly caught on the hem of her dress – she laughed it off, telling Kanan, "You spun me around too many times."

"I didn't hear you complaining," Kanan would reply.

Now, the two were seated at the stone railings of the balcony. Kira felt a warm breeze brush past her shoulders and lift her hair a little ways. She brought up a hand to pull her hair to the side – she looked up in time to see Kanan scooting next to her. Kira smiled gently at him, sliding down a little to make more space.

"Kira," Kanan started, his voice quiet. "Are you…happy? Here with me?"

The girl, to her own surprise, didn't wait a minute. She placed her hands over Kanan's, replying, "Yes, I'm happy." And it was true. She was happy – everything seemed to become easier with Kanan. She enjoyed their walks around the front of the castle. She enjoyed reading with him in the grand library and she didn't feel as lonely as she had originally been when she first got to the castle.

And yet…

That was the strange thing about loneliness. It creeps up to its victim without warning, and slides into the warmest heart and quickly untangles everything that used to make it whole. It leaves its victim feeling cold, and unfamiliar with his or her surroundings – it makes its victim feel quiet and sad and impatient all at once.

Kira bit down on her bottom lip, turning only a little ways to look beyond the castle gates. She could make out some mountains in the distance – but most of all, she could see the faint lights that glimmered far, far away from the forests that surrounded the castle. A long time ago, Kira had decided to stop looking at those lights, purely because it reminded her too much of home. It had made her stay here easier. In some ways, the castle had also become her home, even though it didn't feel the same.

"What is it?" Kanan's voice was soft. Kira looked up at him – met his eyes, and squeezed his hands. "It's just – I miss my father," she responded truthfully. "It's been so long…and…" Her voice drifted. Kira's eyes wandered back to the lights. "I would like to see him one more time, even if it was just for a moment." Her words hung between Kanan and herself – she let them linger for a few minutes. She was ready to change the topic – try to brighten the mood – when suddenly, Kanan squeezed Kira's hands back, his touch tender and warm.

"There's a way," Kanan said to Kira, standing up. The girl's head lifted, surprise written all over her face. "Really?" she asked, stunned. "How?"

"Come with me," Kanan replied, offering an arm. Kira took it.

xXx

They were back in the West Wing, only things were different.

For one, Kira wasn't up there because she decided to sneak around. And Kanan wasn't shaking with rage or yelling for her to get out. Kira's hand remained on Kanan's arm – the two of them breezed into the room without a second thought or a single moment of hesitation.

And Kira was surprised to see that the place had been tidied up. The last time she had been in this room, tables were overturned. Portraits were scratched and/or clawed out. Curtains were practically shredded and dangling by a thread from the windows. But when Kira and Kanan walked through, the girl noticed that the room was a bit brighter than it had been before. The bed was made – the curtains were restored. The portraits were the only things that had been removed.

All except one.

Kira tilted her head to the side to look at a small painting – not much larger than Kanan and her heads combined, really – dangling by the bed. The painting had been done beautifully, with a young boy standing on a rock with dark hair and a young girl with blonde hair dangling by her shoulders. Both wore equally bright expressions – the boy was laughing at something, and the girl was bent over only slightly with her hands crossed over her stomach, as though to contain her giggles.

"What's this?" asked Kira, walking towards the painting. She couldn't help but to feel something odd stir in the pit of her stomach. She couldn't quite put a finger on it, but the faces in the painting looked…familiar somehow. She felt as though she had least seen the boy once or twice – the girl…Kira frowned to herself. The girl's face kept ringing a faint bell in the back of her head.

"A childhood memory," Kanan replied, putting a hand over the painting. "Nothing more. I found it while I was cleaning this place up – decided to keep it."

"Friends of yours?"

"You can say that." Kanan turned away. He paused, and then he gently pulled Kira by the arm. "But here – let's get to your father, first."

Eager at this idea, Kira nodded and walked away from the painting. She made her way out on the balcony of the room – this balcony was a bit smaller than the one that was outside of the ballroom, though it was still familiar. The same nightstand was sitting at the center of the balcony, for one thing, with the dome and the odd rose floating inside it. Kira wanted to ask Kanan what that was all about – the rose always seemed to be glowing, though the young girl could have sworn it had less petals than the time she had come before.

Kanan, however, didn't pay too much attention to the rose. Instead, he picked something up beside the dome. "This mirror can show you anything you want – anything, any place," Kanan said quietly, holding up a glossy mirror. It was silver, and though some of the sides seemed to be chipped, the glass was completely clear and clean. Kira slowly took it – she startled at the weight of it against her hands. It was heavier than she thought.

She looked up at Kanan, confused. He only nodded, saying, "Go on – tell it what you wish to see."

Taking in a deep breath, Kira slowly looked back down at the mirror and said as clearly as she could, "Please – I wish to see my father."

For a moment, nothing happened. Kira's eyes flitted up to Kanan, though the expression on his face didn't change.

And then the mirror started to glow an odd, earthly green color. Kira sucked in a breath of surprise, nearly dropping the object. Instead, she clung onto the mirror even tighter as the glass of the mirror seemed to fizz and vibrate a bit in front of her – it took a few more seconds, and then Kira found herself looking at her father.

The first thing she noticed through the mirror was that it was dark. And then she noticed the trees – and then she saw her father leaning against one of them, shaking and coughing before collapsing to his knees. Kira felt the blood in her veins go cold. "Father," she whispered, horrified. Her hands trembled. What was he doing? Was he looking for her? Was he in trouble? She looked up at Kanan, her voice desperate. "He's sick – he could be dying – he's all alone."

The expression on Kanan's face changed. Something new entered his eyes – though it wasn't an emotion that Kira had ever seen him wear before. Before Kira could identify what exactly it was, Kanan turned his head away. She saw him press a heavy hand against the glass dome – what was it? – and then, his voice slightly shaking, he said, "Then you must…go to him."

This time, Kira actually did drop the mirror – but then she caught it again, though it was just barely by the handle. "What did you say?" she breathed, feeling her eyes enlarge.

"I release you," Kanan said quietly, still not looking at Kira. "You are no longer my prisoner."

Kira felt as though she was dreaming in high-fever. She slowly walked towards Kanan, each step not being felt and her heart pounding loudly in her ears. "Do you mean to say…that I'm free?" she asked softly.

Kanan turned around to face her. "Yes," he replied. "You are free."

Kira felt relief flow through her. She gave Kanan a wobbly smile – and then, placing the mirror on the nightstand, she stepped forward. Kira lifted her hand to press it against Kanan's cheek. "Thank you," she whispered, feeling tears spring into her eyes. Hang on, Father, I'm on my way.

She gently lowered her hand. Kira started to press the mirror back to Kanan – but he shook his head, nudging it back to her. "Keep it," he told her, a sad smile twitching at his lips. "So that you'll remember me by."

Kira hung the mirror at her side. She looked up to meet Kanan's eyes one last time – and quickly pressing her lips against his cheek, she whispered, "Thank you for understanding how much he needs me." With that, she started to walk away from the room – only, just as she reached the doorway, she turned a little to look at Kanan. To her disappointment, he had turned away – he was looking back at the rose, his head bent and his shoulders rounded over.

The girl tilted her head to the side, watching as another petal from the rose dropped. She couldn't help but to feel something uneasy settle in the pit of her stomach – but then, squeezing the handle of the mirror, Kira turned on her heel and started out the door.

xXx

As Kira's last footsteps died away in the corridor, Kanan heard Admiral say happily, "Well, your Highness, I must say – everything is coming together just swimmingly. I knew you had it in you somewhere, though it was rather deep, deep down…" The rest of his voice trailed off with a few chuckles.

"I let her go," Kanan said numbly, his hands squeezing over the edge of the nightstand.

Admiral kept laughing. "Yes, yes, splendid – what was that?" Kanan could hear the panic and disbelief in the clock's voice. "You let her go? But – how could you – the rose is almost completely wilted – how did you do that?"

"I had to," Kanan murmured. He dared himself to look out the balcony. Kira was nowhere to be seen. She was probably still packing, still getting her horse, still in the process of forgetting everything. Kanan felt a painful kick at the thought. In the course of the past year, he had achieved what he thought was impossible – Kira was gentle. Kind to him – it had taken some work, yes, but it worked.

"But – but why?" stammered Admiral.

Kanan missed Kira already. Already missed how she would curl up in the armchair with a book lifted to her face, even though the curtains were slightly drawn and the lighting was dim. Already missed how strands of her blonde hair would fall around the base of her neck every time she would glide around the hallways. Already missed her soft humming that used to fill up whatever room she was in. Already missed her clever, knowing smile whenever she was told a good joke.

And in that moment, Kanan was sorely tempted to grab something and write it all down – write it all down so he wouldn't forget.

I love her.

"Your Highness – why?" Admiral asked again, the shock in his voice still growing.

I love her.

Kanan didn't answer.

xXx

"He did what?" everyone chorused around Admiral. The entire staff was gathered around the clock in the kitchen – he had announced that there was troubling news to be dealt with. At first, Luke had thought he wouldn't be allowed to listen in – but his mother let him when Admiral mentioned that everyone had the right to hear.

"Yes, I'm afraid it's true," the clock said sadly, shaking his head.

"She's going away?" asked Luke, his eyes wide.

"He was so close," Anakin murmured dejectedly.

"And after all this time," Luke's mother sighed. "He's finally learned to love." A collected, disappointed sigh gathered around the room. However, Anakin perked up only a little, saying, "Well, doesn't that kind of work? Kanan knows how to love – shouldn't that break the spell?"

"It doesn't work that way," Luke's mother replied softly. "Kira has to love him in return."

Luke bit his lip. He hated watching everyone's sad and gloomy faces – and though he may be the youngest of them all, he certainly wasn't going to stand around and watch everything crumble apart. So Kira has to love Kanan in return, the small teacup thought, slowly hopping out of the room. He could hear the adults murmuring on about something else – but a plan was already formulating in Luke's mind. All he had to do was get Kira back – yes, he can get Kira back and everything will be fixed in no time.

A/N - This is where the fun begins. (Also, I may or may not be writing the notes with one hand because I GOT STUNG BY A WASP ON MY MORNING JOG AND NOW MY LEFT HAND IS TOTALLY INACTIVE OW.)

As always, reviews would be nice! Constructive criticism is tolerable, but flames are not!