AN: I don't know if people are still reading this. I am sorry for the late (I know this is an understatement) update. It wasn't easy to juggle college life and life of a secret writer. But now that I graduated (yeah!) and officially unemployed (ugh!) I am writing again.

Time's Up

Mystic Mizu

Apology won't be easy. She knows it. She's a mess and one thing's for sure, who she is now, is not the Hitomi Van fell in love with. A week has passed since she descended upon the forest of Asturia. Every afternoon till twilight, Millerna and Allen take her for a long walk, and talk her into returning to Fanelia. She wanted to be with Van, but it's too soon to return.

Asturia has been a nice refuge for her. Millerna lent her dresses and she stayed in the cabin that was made for her and Van for their visits. Despite of her stay here, her mind never veers away from the reality that she needs to fix her relationship with Van.

"Why?" Millerna asked and the tone of frustration was clear in her voice. Allen laughed as the princess lost her patience in trying to convince the queen of Fanelia to return to her country.

Hitomi simply smiled and said "I need to fix myself. I'm afraid I might end up throwing my temper at Van again if I return too soon." She looked at Allen, who has been quiet the entire walk. The sun begun to set and the blue moon is beginning to shine brightly. They began to walk back to the palace.

"Millerna, it's her marriage, I personally think that you should worry about your own first." Allen said.

"Worry? Is everything alright?" Hitomi asked.

"Everything is fine. It's just—" Millerna stopped walking and looked down.

"Millerna?" Hitomi walked towards her and held her hand.

"I'm pregnant." She said smiling at Hitomi.

"That's great! Sometimes I can't believe it's Dryden's but-" she embraced Millerna. They both laughed.

"I don't know how to tell Dryden" she said, looking down at her belly. "I mean, he's still getting a hang of being a king, I don't want him to go crazy over being both a king of Asturia and being a father as well."

"I'm sure he'll love the news."

Hitomi has always been grateful for Allen's attempts to change the subject whenever Millerna convinces her to talk about her problem. She knows that he is aware that she needed some time off away from all the problems and a few breathing moments to think straight.

Hitomi let herself be a few steps behind Allen and Millerna as they walk her back to the palace. This is their routine every day. They walk to the castle first to drop off Millerna, then they walk to Hitomi's cabin, then Allen will walk by himself home. She looked at the two, and can't help wondering, how the two of them can live with it. Five years ago, both of them were so sure that they were in love with each other. The knight and the princess, the perfect love story. In the way that they look at each other, the hint of their love can still be seen. Is this why Allen hasn't married yet?

"What about you Allen?" Hitomi asked as she and Allen started walking in the garden of the palace. Allen looked at her confused. "How come you haven't settled with anyone yet?"

He chuckled. "I have, with Celena."

"Allen" she said unsatisfied with his answer.

"Celena is my life. Prince Chid on the other hand, has all the guidance he needs to be a perfect Duke of Freid. Serving Asturia as a knight of Caeli, I don't think I could ask for more." He said simply.

"I don't think watching your sister grow up, as you grow old is not exactly fulfilling. War is over. I don't want to sound like a mother, but-"

"Hitomi." Allen stopped walking and faced her. "World is not perfect and does not always agree with you. When I lost my family, Marlene came in my life. But we cannot be together, and I lost her forever. I also fell in love with you and with Millerna, but it was not right. You were meant for Van, and Millerna has her duties as a princess of Asturia." He paused and looked away. They can hear horse whining which means that they are nearing the gates. they began to walk again.

"I guess I'm still lucky, that I get to see her every day. I get to protect her and be with her." He smiled and just a few steps away from the stables where the horse are, he stopped walking and put his hands on Hitomi's shoulder. "You are lucky, because the man you love can be with you, if you want to." She noticed that something distracted him.

"When did this conversation become about me?" She chuckled.

"It has always been about you. That's why you're here, remember?" he started walking again, but away from the gates.

"I understand that you want to get yourself together before facing Van, but how long can you keep this up? How long are you planning to hide yourself here?"

"Do I have a limited stay here?"

"No, but your time for thinking is up."

"What do you mean?"

"Fanelia banners on the stable." Allen pointed. She looked at the stable and saw a horse, a familiar horse. Seal of the Fanelian king was imprinted on the horse's saddle. "Van is here."

AN: well there you go. I have a lot of idea on how to end this (I piled up a few ideas over the years.. yeesh!) but I promise to update next week before i hit the beach!