After the fight and after all the guests left, Alex found herself unable to sleep, only think and reflect on all that had happened throughout the years. She had her memory back, and that was the most important thing to her, but there were still things that bothered her.

Quietly, she wandered out of her room.

Down the hall and around the corner, she ran into Odette.

"Still awake?" Alex asked as she walked over. To be honest, she was surprised that Alex was even standing. It seemed like all Alex had done that night was dance and fight. She hadn't been trying to sleep for more than twenty minutes before she was wandering the halls.

"I couldn't fall asleep," Odette explained.

"Yeah, neither could I."

They were quiet for a moment as they started walking, not sure where to, but the hallway wasn't exactly the best place to talk.

"So, you're memory came back?" Odette asked, not sure how to begin a conversation, though she wanted to talk and she knew Alex did too.

"Yes. Seeing Zelda made me remember. When she was trying to destroy my memory, I held on to it as best I could, locking it away from everyone, even myself. And now, it's better. I feel like my head is finally clear, more so than it's ever been, anyway."

"Are you happier now?"

"No. To be honest, I never needed them, not as much as I thought I did, that is. I was scared, terrified that… never mind."

"Wait, what were you terrified of?"

"I guess it would sound stupid now," Alex said thoughtfully. "But I was terrified that I would disappoint you, that I wouldn't be good enough to be a part of this family. But I see now that I was wasting my energy fearing something that would never happen."

"Well, you're right about that," Odette assured her. "I was always proud of you. And I'm even more proud of you now."

"I was lucky more than anything. But it does feel good to hear that someone's proud of me. I'll admit that. I've been thinking… about that night."

"You remember what happened?"

"I do. That night was the night I had thought I saw something in the woods. Eli had accidently hit me in the arm with a wooden sword, and as bad as it hurt, I was distracted by something, some kind of movement… And that night, I couldn't sleep, much like tonight. But I had a bad feeling, like something was terribly wrong, and I didn't know what. My intuition led me to Joan's room, and there was Zelda. Well, we all know Joan wouldn't be able to tell you what happened, but I would have been, so she took me instead. And then she tried to destroy my memory, but I held onto it. I didn't want to forget, so I just buried it in the back of my mine. But I remember it all now… everything that happened, it's all there."

Odette listened in amazement at Alex's story. "Why didn't you call for help?"

"There wasn't time. And I knew if I did, there was a good chance that Zelda would have killed us both, and that wasn't an option."

"I see."

"But it amazes me how much I've missed. When I was growing up, I always longed for something, but I didn't know what it was. I always felt like something was missing, and to have that gap filled… it's a wonderful feeling."

"I've missed you, Alex. And when you came back, I couldn't have been happier, and now that you remember everything, well, I stand corrected."

Alex smiled. "It's good to be back."

XxX

The next morning, Alex and Matthew managed to sneak off – although everyone noticed and knew where they were – to the spot where their favorite spot by the lake.

"And I remember you now, mister," Alex said, grinning mischievously.

"Oh? And what do you remember?"

"I remember when we used to mess with each other when we were kids. I remember how you thought you were so great because you're two years older than me, and that I thought I would cry because I saw your face."

Matthew burst into highly amused laughter. "I'm sorry I couldn't be more handsome."

"It'd be pretty hard," Alex assured him, kissing him on the cheek. "You'd have to be some kind of angel. Besides, we were children, and most of what we said to each other back then doesn't even apply now."

"I don't it even applied back then."

"What do you mean?"

He sighed. "When you were kidnapped, I don't think I ever got over it. I didn't want to be friends with anybody except for Eli, but that was because we were going through the same loss. For years, I couldn't connect with anybody, and until you came into my life, I never had any interest in the princesses my parents tried to set me up with. I always wanted you, and only you."

"You know, I went through the same thing. But I didn't know why. There was just something about the boys I knew… there was always something about them that would drive me away. And it was like that with everyone… until I met you."

"It was like a huge, gaping hole had been filled."

"Exactly."

He smiled faintly. He finally decided to say what he had been thinking since he told her he loved her. He hoped she would agree and that her answer would be a yes.

He took a deep breath.

"Alex, I don't ever want to go through that feeling of loss and loneliness again, and I certainly don't want it for you, either. And although I don't want to rush you and I think we need to give ourselves more time to get reacquainted, I want to be with you and only you. So, will you be mine? At least for a little while?"

"No. I'll be yours forever."