This chapter has been updated with the help of the amazing Pokemonchen! Thank you deary!

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I opened my eyes, it was morning outside and I was lying on the couch. This is a really comfortable couch. How did I get here again? Slowly the happenings of the night before trickled back into my memory. I was still teetering between reality and sleep, so things weren't quite clear to me. That is why I didn't realize that my pillow was breathing.

"Good morning, sleeping beauty." My pillow vibrated the words into my ear. I looked up into a pair of dark brown eyes. "Oh!" I jumped up off the couch, flushing a bright shade of pink.

Nick chuckled. "Umm, w-what time is it?" I stuttered, I was getting very annoyed at myself.

"I don't know. Did you sleep well?" He asked.

"Yeah I was really uh… comfortable." I flushed again as I said this.

He laughed. "So what are you planning for today?" He asked, changing the subject.

I thought for a moment. "I don't have anything to do really. Is your mom home yet? I haven't spent time with her in so long, I really miss her." I said.

"Yeah, she's home and I'm sure she would love a visit from you." He said with a smile.

"Okay, I'm going to go get ready, you can look for some breakfast in the kitchen if you want." I said excitedly as I ran to my room.

We walked through the puddles of rain water, to his house and found Mrs. Jackson in the kitchen making bread.

"Good morning, dears how are you both?" She asked cheerfully. I smiled as Nick walked over to her. Patiently waiting for my turn to hug my 'mother'.

"Rachel, I have a new recipe I want to teach you. Are you staying today?" She asked me.

"Yes I'm staying. What is the recipe?" I questioned enthusiastically.

I learned a few more recipes, Nick tried them out and approved of them all. (Which made me very happy.)

I realized that every time I look at Nick I notice things that I didn't notice before, and he gets more and more attractive.

I was washing my hands in the sink as I heard a voice saying, "Are you going to tell her son?"

I realized that it was Mrs. Jackson and Nick whispering and I quietly listened, even though I knew it was rude to do so.

"Not yet… I plan to tell her later," whispered Nick.

"I see," his mother whispered back as I came into their view.

(A/N The sentences in bold print were thought up by the lovely Pokemonchen!)

The sun started going down and Nick offered to walk me home. When we were almost to my house we rounded a corner and I almost tripped over a little girl, and her mother. "You're the pwincess from the ball!" She exclaimed. Which confused me for a second but then I realized who she was.

"Oh, hello dear little princess! You know I don't think we know each others names." I said, happy that we were able to see each other again.

"My name is Olivia Englerth, and this is my mother." she smiled widely.

"Are you the one from the masquerade ball? It is a pleasure to meet you, she has told me all about the prince and princess. You know that you had a very big influence on Olivia? She used to be shy and she didn't have any friends, but she is now Princess Olivia and she has many friends. Her father and I are very grateful to you." Olivia's mother said to me.

"Wow, I had no idea. I'm just so glad I met this beautiful little girl. And by the way I'm Rachel and this is Nick" I said, trying not to cry.

"Okay Olivia, say goodbye to miss Rachel we need to get home, It was very nice meeting you Rachel" Said Mrs. Englerth.

"Bye, Princess Rachel, bye Prince Nick!" Olivia said with a giggle.

"Bye." I called back.

When we got to my door I turned to thank Nick for bringing me home, and paused when I saw the pained look on his face.

"Rachel." His eyes looked intensely pained as he said my name.

"I'll be going away for a few weeks." He put his hand on my cheek, looking deep into my eyes. "I won't be back for a while. So don't go getting into trouble while I'm gone." He finished with a husky voice.

"Why?" I asked.

He sighed. "I was hoping you wouldn't ask that." He took a deep breath, then continued. "There is a medium sized war going on in the kingdom of Clerresa, our King has ordered that all able bodied men join the fight, to aid our sister kingdom." As he finished he searched my face, trying to find my reaction.

I'm sure the fear and pain was evident on my face. And I could feel tears stinging the back of my eyes.

"Why?" I asked again, but this time my voice was thick with unshed tears.

He enveloped me in a hug. As I soaked the front of his shirt, I thought about what he meant to me, and I wondered why it hurt so much for him to leave. He seemed to sense that I needed to just stand there in his arms for awhile.

I pulled away slightly, just enough to see his face, he froze. "What-" I started to ask what was wrong, but his expression caught me off guard. I couldn't put my finger on exactly what kind of thoughts his expression portrayed, but perhaps that was because it was a mixture of many feelings. It looked as if he was trying his hardest not to do something, though it also looked like he was in pain because he was not doing that one thing.

He closed his eyes and sighed deeply, finally after some time they slowly opened again. He searched my eyes, I felt like he was looking straight through me. I couldn't look away, his eyes were hypnotizing.

He started closing the distance between us, and I tilted my face towards him in anticipation. When our lips finally met, warmth spread through my stomach, and a shiver went down my spine. My arms seemingly of their own accord, moved to his shoulders so that I could pull him closer. I felt his hands go to the small of my back pulling me gently closer to him.

Our lips seemed to move in sinc with each other. When neither of us could go without air much longer, we reluctantly parted. He leaned his forehead against mine, as we both gasped for breath. He pulled away enough to measure my reaction. My face wrinkled into a frown, as I remembered the fact that he was leaving soon.

He removed himself from my arms completly, and said in a voice that made me flinch, "I should not have done that, forgive me." He said as he turned on his heel and walked off in the other direction.

"Good evening." I said, even though he was already out of earshot.

I turned to go inside, I knew tonight I should be happy, but just because I had kissed Nick doesn't erase the fact that he was going to war.

As I entered the house, I heard voices coming from the direction of living room. I planned to just sneak by and hope no one heard me. I didn't feel like being social with any one right now, but I couldn't help but pause by the door to see what they were talking about.

"She will not be able to stay here forever, you understand that right?" A voice that sounded vaguely familiar said.

Then I heard Matthew sigh tiredly, as he answered. "I know that, you do not have to remind me. She is safe and happy right now, just leave her be. If only for a few more years."

The man's next comment made me jump, for it was yelled angrily across the room. "You are denying her birthright to her! Why are you so insistant about this subject? You need to tell her now!" The man paused and calmed down a bit. Then he said, "Your mission was to keep her safe until her eighteenth birthday, that day is only a few weeks away. You're finished here."

I walked stealthily into my room, and shut the door behind me. Where they talking about me? Or someone completely different? Why in the world would someone want me?

It took me awhile getting to sleep, every thing was crowding my mind and giving me a headache.

Late in the night, I finally fell asleep , but nightmares crowded my slumber.