This is going to last forever... How to end this cleanly, I don't know. But I have an inkling.

... Who says inkling?

Anyway, I'm sorry for the wait. I honestly don't know how to continue this. It's going to last a thousand chapters... if it did, then it'd be a new record.

Jack

I pulled Kim onto my lap as she drifted off into a light sleep. I stroked her hair calmly, until I heard a slight disturbance. Kim's eyes immediately snapped open, and she sat up, not caring that she was sitting on me.

The other girls were awakening.

"J-Jack?" Alexa gasped, shivering violently.

"Lex," I replied instantly, the name falling into my head.

Crying, Alexa threw herself at me.

"Jack," Lianna whispered, crawling to my side. I hugged her tightly.

"George," Stacy murmured as she got up.

"Who's George?" Brianna asked, sitting up. She made her way slowly to my side.

"I meant Jack," Stacy smiled weakly. She stayed where she was, watching my sisters by my side, crying and hugging and comforting.

"Come here," Kim demanded suddenly. Her voice was still rough from speaking too loud, but you could hear the importance and urgency in her voice.

Cautiously, gingerly, she made her way to Kim's side.

"You're part of my family now," Kim smiles, brightening up the world, no matter how little.

Stacy smiled weakly. "I don't know how I fit in. I don't remember anything at all. I just remember waking up, and my 'mother,' or so I thought, leaning over me, telling me that I'd fallen and hit my head, and I should rest," she replied bitterly.

Kim smiled even more brightly. "Well, you have been through a lot, and I do not know why you've been subjected to so much pain, but you're with us now. We won't let you become hurt."

Stacy bit her lip. "Alright then," she relented finally, letting her guarded nature drop.

Just then, Rhiamon came back, a water pail in her hands. "Let's get going. I think I saw someone."

Alexa tilted her head, reading her mind hopefully. "I don't know who she is? Kim, Jack, Stacy," Alexa turned to face us, "do you know any of these people?"

Suddenly, a picture flashed in my head. Rhiamon hadn't told me Alexa could project her thoughts and images. I refocused on the image.

"It's Kelsey! And Grace!" Kim exclaimed. I nodded, slightly seething. I had left them because I needed to help Kim, but they were helping Lisette.

I also caught some of Kelsey and Grace's thoughts, Rhiamon's voice echoed in my head. Although I was scared to death, I managed to hold it in. Maybe I was getting tougher. Not likely, as I'm scared of my own shadow, but a prince like myself can only hope.

Where is Jack? Kelsey's worried voice filtered through my brain. I hadn't seen him. I've heard the forest is dangerous. I hope he's okay. I understand him.

I started mentally. It was quite unusual, hearing that the girl who'd taunted me almost mercilessly, goading and embarrassing me in front of my own guards and friends, worried about me. But I guess we're alike in a certain way: we both have a girl to protect and care for, even if she rebuffs the two of us.

Where is that Jack! I can't believe he wouldn't tell us where he was going before he went, Grace's irritated voice growled in my thoughts. I almost laughed out loud at my rather irritated friend. I will gut that prince when he gets back. If - no, he'll come back. He has to.

I bit my lip. I had really worried them.

"We need to get back to them," I said immediately, jumping to my feet.

"Of course," Brianna answered immediately, solemnly biting into a skewer of meat.

"Where did you acquire that meat?" I inquired.

"Kimberly shot down a deer here," Rhiamon shrugged nonchalantly.

Both Stacy and my eyes bugged out.

"The d-deer?" Stacy gasped out.

"In these woods?" I finished.

"Yes," Kim answered simply, still on my lap.

I gave her a quick kiss on her cheek, fast enough that she wouldn't be conflicted. Because even though I know she is slightly infatuated with me, the... rather... passionate kiss might have taken it too far, and I don't want to pressure her into feeling anything for me.

"What was that?" Kim asked, brushing her fingers around the spot where I kissed her.

I smirked, and leaned down to whisper in her ear, "I'd rather not disgust my sisters. I've barely seen them, do you remember?" Not a complete falsehood, but it hid my real reasoning.

Kim laughed and rolled her eyes.

"Anyway," Alexa interrupted in an annoyed voice, "Let's saddle up."

"Are you doing okay?" Lianna called from in front of us. She was riding Bella, who I was glad to see still recognized me. She runs like the wind, and Lianna is an excellent rider.

"I'm perfectly fine," Brianna replied from the back.

"I'm doing well," Kim shouted, sitting behind me, her bow in one hand and an arrow ready in the other. Thank goodness some of the horses from the old farm had escaped. They are good and strong and fast.

"Good!" Lianna screamed.

"Who is that?" The voice echoed through the forest, melodic but familiar.

"Kelsey!" Kim screamed. Bella halted, and ours screeched to a stop behind her. I heard the whinny of Brianna's horse glide to a stop behind me.

"Kim?" I turned my head, and there was Kelsey, her now ragged pink bell-sleeved dress familiar and dirty, and a bow with a notched arrow in her hands.

"It's really me, Kelsey," Kim smiled as I got off and helped her down.

"Prove it," Kelsey growled.

Kim looked hurt and bewildered. I whispered in her ear, "When you've got a cursed best friend, an annoying prince, otherwise known as me, and two of my irritating yet favorite guards, you tend to be warier than when you've started."

Kim nodded, but she didn't look to happy about it. "Alright then, my name is Princess Kimberly Annabeth Rose Elizabeth Crawford of Teril. My mother is deceased, and I have an older brother, who is hopefully married to his fiancee, and my father, who engaged me to Prince Jackson Wilford James Eric Anderson of Birari. I escaped my carriage when a prophecy concerning my fiance's faithfulness perturbed me." I finished reciting when I realized my mistake.

I had told Jack about the prophecy.

"I believe you," Kelsey murmured softly, her eyes flickering to a frozen Jack beside me. She held her arms out, and I immediately ran into them.

"I missed you," I sobbed into her dress.

"I know," Kelsey whispered. "I know."

Soon, Grace joined the embrace and her warmth curled around me, soothing me. I had missed them so much.

"Jack! Wait!" I heard Brianna cry. Breaking our embrace apart, I saw Jack racing away on his horse.

"Jack... wait." Brianna echoed. She broke down.

What have I done?

What do you think? After spending... say, a week or two on this one, 1,000 word chapter, I'd say I didn't do so good.

~squirmyorchid~