Disclaimer: I don't own anything.
Author's Note: I would like to apologize for how long it's been between chapters recently, it is not intentional and I will finish this story. Every time things start to work great again something else happens and I find myself behind again. I am not meaning to and I am trying to keep writing and getting the chapters up as I used to, but so far it hasn't worked. Thank you for reading and reviewing still, I really appreciate it, I am sorry that you have had to wait. I am going to keep trying to do better for the rest of the story. I hope you enjoy.

It Doesn't Matter

Z stared at the man across the room from her, "What are you doing here?"

"I was brought here for another discussion with your Father."

"I'm sure to you two have much to discuss."

He furrowed his brows, "I'd say obviously more than you and he."

Z couldn't believe that he was suggesting she and her Father didn't have a good bond. She moved over and sat down on one of the chairs. Who had trapped her in here? Syd? It had to be her; she was the one who had sent Z the letter. But then why? Why would Syd do something like that?

Her Father wouldn't ever do something like this. If he wanted to talk to Z he would simply do so. She knew that he would never do this because she had run away earlier. Besides she wasn't going to run anymore. It wasn't that she had given up; she just couldn't let her sister go through something like that again.

She watched as Sky moved over to the door and try to open it, "It's locked." He stated with a bit of mild surprise in his voice.

"Did you think I came over here and sat down because I didn't feel like leaving this room? Of course it's locked."

"Why would…"

He trailed off and fell into deep thought. Z wasn't upset at her sister, she didn't know about the marriage and if she was really being honest with herself then she would also admit that she wouldn't be feeling this way had she only just met Sky.

But she hadn't. She had met him, and since then…well not the moment they met, but once she had respected him and trusted him…it all just came. And now she was in love with the guy and….

Looking back up at him she realized that he was still thinking about the possibilities of being locked in a room. With a slight smile she sat up and replied, "You were never supposed to meet my Father. This has nothing to do with him."

He glared at her and she knew it was annoying him that she had just made things a bit clearer on her running away and also on why they were in the room, neither of which he had drawn the conclusion to just yet, "I would have figured that out."

She shrugged, "Thought you looked a little lost."

"And yet your sense of direction is amazing."

"You try running from someone and not knowing exactly where you were going in the first place. It's not exactly easy."

"Not exactly hard."

"I don't know why I even bother with you. Every chance you get you try to show that you are somehow better than anyone else. Maybe you need to step off your high horse for just a minute."

"Then perhaps the same is required from you as well."

Her jaw tightened and she glared at him, even with his smug attitude she found herself still liking him. That was beyond frustrating. How was she going to manage him marrying her sister?

He shook his head, "What is going on with you anyway?"

"Nothing. Just don't worry about it."

He raised an eyebrow, "Does this have to do with me still being here? Your Father did invite me to stay."

Z stood up, "Maybe you should stop asking because I'm not going to tell you. I don't think we're getting out of her anytime soon, deal with it. I mean I know you know how to not talk. That would be great right now."

He stepped closer to her and she watched the anger flash in his eyes, "I didn't ask to be stuck in here anymore than you did."

The brunette looked up into the taller man's eyes, though she was still angry and annoyed at him she couldn't help but feel herself falling even more for him. "Now that we're agreed I think it's pointless to go around in a circular discussion, don't you?"

He opened his mouth to speak but then closed it and turned and moved to the only other chair that was in the room. It was a bit close to her chair but since he hadn't decided to move it then she figured she wasn't going to give him the satisfaction of seeing how much he affected her.

At this point she figured she was more annoyed with herself than him, it wasn't his fault that she had fallen for him. And it wasn't his fault that he was set up to marry Syd. Though both of these factors were present in her mind she still wanted to be angry with him.

"Look, I don't see what has caused you to be upset. I told your Father everything that I know."

She looked at him in surprise, "What are you talking about? The journey?"

"Isn't that what you are upset about?"

Shaking her head Z stood up and moved a little ways away from where the two had been sitting, "The thing I'm upset with is out of my hands, so it's not like anything I tell you will fix anything." She should never have run away, if she hadn't then she wouldn't have fallen for Sky. He would merely have come as Syd's fiancé and that would have been it.

Even now, realizing everything that had become turned around because of her decision to run away, she knew that she would have followed the same path. Looking over at Sky she realized that he had become quiet and was now quite obviously deep in thought.

Z moved back over to the chair next to him, if she was going to make this easier on everyone she might have to make the first move. She was the one who verbally attacked him, not that she would admit it. She placed her hand on his arm, "I should not have reacted the way I did."

He looked over at her and then his eyes flickered down to where her hand rested on his upper arm. Instead of brushing it off or making a comment about it he looked back into her eyes, "I'm sure you had your reasons."

The two continued looking into the other's eyes. Z was unaware of how much time had gone by before she realized that she and Sky were much closer then was appropriate. But before the two were able to get any further they heard the door opening. Quickly they sprung apart in time to see two servants walk in, "Oh!"

Z stood up, "It's about time. We were locked in here and have been waiting for someone to come by."

"I'm sorry Princess, I do not know what happened, but I will get to the bottom of it."

"There is no need." The last thing Z needed was Syd getting into trouble. She moved out of the room with Sky following close behind her. Once they were a few hallways away Z stopped walking and leaned against the cool stone wall.

"You know who did it."

The brunette looked up into the man's eyes, "Who did what?"

"Who locked us in."

She pursed her lips, "That depends. What are you going to do with the information?"

"I want to know. I think I have an idea, but I want a confirmation."

"If I tell you then it can't go beyond us. It stays here."

Z pointed between the two of them. "Alright. Was it your sister and Bridge?"

"Yes it was. I think they were just trying to help so that we were not angry with each other."

"I see."

Sky stepped a bit closer, "I should go."

"Right. I'll speak to you later."

"Of course."

Z began moving down the hall but stopped when she heard his voice, "If you want to talk about your reasons, find me. I can't say I'll be able to help, but I'll listen."

She smiled, "Thank you." She watched as Sky moved off down the hallway. She was more confused, perhaps he just didn't want any fights since he was marrying into this family…though it wasn't like they would live in the same place. She really needed to get her mind focused off of Sky and onto something else…of what she wasn't sure of.

The brunette began walking over to her sister's room; she needed to talk to her. It didn't take her long to get there amongst all of her thoughts, which weren't really doing any good anyways. She knocked and waited a few minutes. When no one answered she went in.

It was empty.

Shaking her head she realized that Syd would be in her room soon enough so she went and sat on the bed. Syd had locked her in the room with Sky, now she needed to find out why she had done something like that. Syd knew that she was marrying Sky and Z was going to marry Jack. Then again not everything made sense that came from Syd's mind; she had different ideas than Z did. Whatever it was Z was going to get to the bottom of it, and she was going to wait for as long as was needed.

It turned out Z didn't have to wait too long; before long the door opened and her younger sister skipped in. "Z? You're here!"

"Don't pretend that you didn't lock me in that room with Sky."

"What? Me?"

Z stood up, "Syd, you were walking with me and then you had me go in and you shut and locked the door."

"That was…an accident and I was trying to get some help?"

Rolling her eyes the brunette Princess walked up to the blonde one, "Syd, please."

"Alright fine, you are correct I had ever intention of locking you in the room with Sky."

"And why would you do that?"

She shrugged and sat down on her bed still facing Z, "Do you not already know? Is there not something you wish to tell me of?"

Z sat down on her sisters' bed, "What did you want Sky and me to do?"

Her sister looked closely at her, "Did you guys do something?"

Z closed her eyes for a minute before opening them, "You wanted us to fall for each other?"

"No, of course not."

"Good, because that is ridiculous."

"I wanted you two to admit that you had fallen for each other."

"Wait….what? What are you speaking about?"

"I know you've fallen for him, and it's obvious to Bridge and I that Sky has fallen for you. You just both seem so stubborn that neither of you would admit it without some extra help."

"Syd you do realize that you are going to marry Sky and I am going to marry Jack."

Folding her arms and pouting Syd looked away from her sister, "Maybe not."

"Maybe? I'm sorry, I thought there was a way out of this, but there's really not. You and Sky will be married. I will marry Jack."

Syd looked over at Z and then gently placed her hand on one of Z's, "Why have you given up?"

"Syd, you've been almost killed, kidnapped, probably tortured or who knows what else, just because I was trying to change that. I would rather be married to Jack then see anything else happen to you."

"Z, you're in love with Sky. It doesn't make sense for you to not marry him. Father wouldn't want that."

"I've already spoken to Father about making my own choices. I just don't see how this will work."

The blonde Princess stood up and went over by the window, "I want it to. Doesn't that count for anything?"

Z tilted her head at her sister's suddenly very depressed voice, "Syd, is there something else you're trying to get at?" When she didn't have a reply Z quietly got off the bed and stood next to Syd, "It's because of Bridge."

Her mouth dropped open for a few seconds before she regained her composure, "I don't know what you mean."

"Syd, it's obvious, you two are in love. You are hoping that if you don't marry Sky you can marry Bridge."

"You can't know that."

"You are engaged, that doesn't leave you an option." Once the words left her mouth Z felt horrible. She hadn't wanted to hurt her sister, but she wasn't sure how she could help her. "Come here." She pulled her into a hug, "It'll all be alright."

"Thanks Z."

And the two sisters hugged for a bit more before departing for the night.