Sophie woke up to the gentle warmth of the morning sun pouring through her windows, its golden light softly caressing her cheek. She blinked, her eyes adjusting to the brightness, and slowly sat up in bed. Stretching, she felt the familiar stiffness in her muscles, a reminder of the restless sleep she'd had. With a sigh, she pushed back the covers and made her way to the full-length mirror across the room.
The reflection staring back at her was far from glamorous. Dark circles clung to the skin beneath her eyes, evidence of too many nights spent on edge. Her hair was a tangled mess, sticking out at odd angles in a classic case of bedhead. Sophie grimaced and ran her fingers through the knots, trying to tame the wild strands. After what felt like an eternity of futile attempts, she gave up with a huff and shuffled out of her bedroom, still clad in her pajamas.
As she made her way to the kitchen, a yawn escaped her lips, the sound echoing softly in the quiet house. The scent of breakfast greeted her, and she was soon met by the familiar faces of Grady and Edaline. The warmth in their smiles was a comforting sight, a stark contrast to the chaos that had become their normal.
"Good morning, sweetie," Edaline greeted her with a gentle kiss on the forehead.
"Morning, Mom," Sophie replied, her voice still thick with sleep as she wandered over to the dining room table and plopped down into a chair. The wooden seat creaked slightly under her weight, and she let out a contented sigh, allowing herself to relax for the first time since waking up.
Grady chuckled from across the table, his eyes twinkling with amusement. "Looks like someone didn't get nearly enough sleep."
Sophie rolled her eyes, though a small smile tugged at the corners of her lips. "I'm still on that 'sleep lightly because you might need to fight bad guys' schedule," she quipped, a hint of sarcasm lacing her words.
Grady and Edaline exchanged a glance, their laughter filling the room. It was a sound Sophie hadn't realized she missed so much—a simple, genuine moment of joy in the midst of everything. Her own smile widened, the tension in her shoulders easing a little more.
Edaline leaned forward, a smirk playing on her lips. "Keefe's been up for a while. I think he's in the grove."
At the mention of Keefe, Sophie's heart skipped a beat. Memories of a few days ago came flooding back—moments stolen in the quiet, their first kiss shared under the shelter of the trees. She could still feel the softness of his lips against hers, the warmth that had spread through her at that moment.
"Thinking about something?" Edaline teased, her smile turning playful as she caught the dreamy look in Sophie's eyes.
Sophie's cheeks flushed a deep shade of red, and she quickly averted her gaze, trying to hide her embarrassment. She hadn't told her parents about her and Keefe, not that there was much to tell yet. They hadn't had the chance to talk about where they stood, not with their friends constantly around. But she had a feeling Edaline already knew.
"Soon, I'm going to have a talk with that boy," Grady announced, his tone protective. "If he's going to be dating my daughter, there are some ground rules we need to set."
"Dad!" Sophie groaned, her embarrassment deepening. "We're not even dating."
"Yet," Grady muttered under his breath.
Sophie could feel the heat rising in her cheeks, and she quickly pushed back her chair. "Anyway, I'm going to go find Keefe," she said, creeping toward the door, eager to escape before the conversation could go any further.
"Can't wait to hear all about it later!" Edaline called after her, a giggle escaping her lips.
Sophie rolled her eyes, though she couldn't help the smile that crept onto her face as she slipped out of the house. Once she was a safe distance away, she slowed her pace, breathing in the fresh morning air. The world around her was peaceful, the sounds of nature a soothing backdrop to her thoughts.
She made her way to the grove, her heart fluttering with anticipation. Since returning from Elysian after capturing Gisela, she and Keefe hadn't had any one-on-one time. Their days had been filled with Team Valiant meetings and intense training sessions, leaving little room for anything else. But now, as she got closer to the grove, she couldn't help the smile that grew on her face, the excitement bubbling up inside her.
But when she entered the grove, Keefe was nowhere in sight. Sophie frowned, her excitement dimming slightly as she looked around. "Keefe?" she called out, her voice echoing through the trees. Silence greeted her in return.
Maybe he's under Calla's tree, Sophie thought, turning to leave the grove. Just as she was about to step out, two hands grabbed her from behind. Instinct took over, and before she knew it, she had flipped her attacker over, pinning them to the ground with one hand while the other was curled into a fist, ready to strike.
But instead of a member of the Neverseen, Sophie found herself staring into a pair of familiar ice-blue eyes.
"I think Sandor would be pleased that you learned something from him," Keefe said, a smirk tugging at his lips.
"Keefe?" Sophie gasped, embarrassment flooding her as she realized what she had just done.
"Now, now, Foster," Keefe teased, his smirk growing wider. "No need to get embarrassed."
Sophie's eyes flickered down to his lips, which were mere inches from hers. Her heart pounded in her chest, and she quickly scrambled off of him, her face flushed with a mix of embarrassment and something else she wasn't quite ready to name.
"I'm so sorry," Sophie stammered as Keefe got up, dusting himself off with a casual air.
"No need for an apology, Foster," Keefe replied, his tone light. "Though, I have to admit, my intention wasn't to get you on top of me, but I certainly didn't mind it." He winked, his smirk turning into a full-blown grin.
Sophie rolled her eyes, though she couldn't help the small laugh that escaped her. There was something about Keefe's teasing that always managed to put her at ease, even in the most awkward of situations.
"How are you feeling?" she asked, hoping to steer the conversation away from her embarrassing moment.
"If you're asking if my empathy is back to normal, then yes," Keefe replied, his voice softening. "I can feel all your fluttery feelings for me in full force."
Sophie blushed, turning her head away to hide her reaction. But Keefe wasn't having it. He reached out, gently taking her hand in his and pulling her closer until they were separated by only a fraction of an inch. His eyes roamed over her, taking in every detail, as if he were committing her to memory.
"What?" Sophie asked when she saw Keefe chuckle, a puzzled look crossing her face.
"You just look really cute with your hair all messed up and in your pajamas," Keefe said, his voice filled with genuine affection.
Sophie laughed and lightly slapped his arm. "Ow!" Keefe exclaimed, feigning hurt.
"You act like a toddler," Sophie said, a smirk playing on her lips.
"Well, you happen to like that toddler, so…" Keefe replied, his tone teasing.
"For some reason," Sophie muttered, her blush deepening as she looked down at the ground.
Keefe stepped closer, his breath warm against her cheek. "Is this okay?" he whispered, his voice barely audible, but the words sending shivers down Sophie's spine.
"Yeah," Sophie replied, her breath catching in her throat.
Keefe's smirk softened into a tender smile, and he leaned in even closer. "Remember what happened last time we were here?" he asked, his lips brushing against hers as he spoke.
"You mean when I gave you that long, mushy speech?" Sophie replied, her cheeks heating up at the memory.
"Well, yes, a speech that I absolutely loved, but that wasn't what I was talking about," Keefe said, his voice filled with a playful tone.
"Oh. Ohhhh," Sophie said, realization dawning on her.
Keefe's smile widened, and he leaned in, his lips barely grazing hers. "Can we do that again?" he asked, his voice vibrating against her lips.
It took Sophie a moment to find her voice, the proximity making her brain feel like it had turned to mush. "Yes," she finally breathed out.
Keefe didn't waste any time, closing the distance between them and capturing her lips in a kiss. His lips were soft and gentle, moving against hers with a tenderness that made Sophie's heart swell. She cursed herself for not realizing sooner just how much she liked him. The kiss started slow, both of them taking their time to explore the new territory they were crossing together. But as the seconds ticked by, the kiss grew more passionate, more urgent.
Keefe's hands found their way to Sophie's waist, pulling her closer until there was no space left between them. Sophie responded with equal enthusiasm, her hands clutching at his shirt as she lost herself in the moment. Keefe's lips moved from hers to her top lip, gently sucking on it, and Sophie couldn't stop the moan that escaped her, her knees weakening. Keefe's hands slid up her waist, steadying her, holding her upright.
"Is this okay?" Keefe asked, his tone laced with a mix of concern and something deeper, something that made Sophie's heart race. His gaze held hers, searching for any sign of hesitation.
"This is perfect," Sophie breathed, her voice barely above a whisper. She didn't want the moment to end—this beautiful, fleeting moment where it felt like the world had stopped, leaving only the two of them in its wake.
A smile slowly spread across Keefe's face, a smile so full of warmth and affection that it made Sophie's chest tighten with emotion. Gently, he raised one of his hands, his fingers brushing against her scalp as he entangled them in her hair. The soft, soothing motion sent a shiver down Sophie's spine, and she couldn't help but smile back at him, her eyes sparkling with the emotions she could no longer keep hidden.
Keefe's own smile reached his eyes, his gaze filled with a tenderness that made Sophie's breath catch. For a moment, they simply stared at each other, lost in the depths of each other's eyes. Keefe had always loved Sophie's eyes—the way they could shift from a deep, contemplative brown to a bright, animated sparkle in the blink of an eye. Now, as he looked into them, he felt as though he could see right into her soul, and it was a sight that made his heart swell.
Then, slowly, almost reverently, Keefe leaned in and pressed his lips against hers. It wasn't the first time they'd kissed, but this time felt different—more intimate, more meaningful. Sophie's smile widened against his lips, and she let out a soft, contented sigh, savoring every second of the kiss.
As the kiss deepened, Sophie felt a wave of warmth spread through her, from the tips of her toes to the top of her head. Her hands found their way to Keefe's hair, and she gently ran her fingers through the silky strands. She loved the feel of his hair, the way it was as soft and smooth as Silveny's fur, and the way it felt between her fingers was simply intoxicating.
But just as she was getting lost in the sensation, Keefe suddenly pulled back, his eyes widening in mock horror. "Don't mess up the hairrr," he whined, his tone playful but with a hint of genuine concern.
Sophie couldn't help but giggle at his reaction, the sound bubbling up from her chest and escaping her lips in a burst of joy. "Too late," she teased, ignoring his protest as she ruffled his hair even more. She loved the way it looked—disheveled and tousled.
Keefe let out a dramatic sigh, but his eyes were full of affection as he closed them, clearly enjoying the way Sophie's fingers were moving through his hair. "I don't usually allow anyone other than me to touch the hair," he admitted, his voice dropping to a low, almost husky tone, "but I think I can make an exception for you."
Sophie snorted at his words, finding his faux arrogance endearing. She pulled her hands from his hair and leaned in to give him a quick peck on the lips, a small gesture that spoke volumes about the depth of her feelings for him. She then stepped back, pushing away from the tree that had been supporting her, and walked into Keefe's chest, wrapping her arms around his torso and resting her head against his heart. The steady rhythm of his heartbeat was calming, and she found herself relaxing into his embrace, feeling completely and utterly at peace.
Keefe seemed surprised by the sudden shift in their closeness, but it didn't take him long to relax as well. He wrapped his arms around her, holding her gently but securely, as if she were something precious that he wanted to protect. He rested his chin on top of her head, and they stood there like that for a while, simply enjoying the quiet, the moment, and the feeling of being so close to each other.
Sophie buried her face into Keefe's chest, breathing in his familiar scent, a mix of something earthy and warm that was uniquely him. "Does this make me your girlfriend?" she mumbled into his shirt, the words muffled but still clear enough for Keefe to hear.
Keefe's chest vibrated with laughter, the sound deep and rich. "Only if you want to be my girlfriend," he replied, his voice full of that easy confidence she had come to adore.
"Well, I really, really, really want to, so I guess that makes you my boyfriend," Sophie said with a soft smile, her eyes twinkling with a mixture of excitement and nervousness.
Keefe's grin spread wide across his face, a sparkle lighting up his eyes. "I'm glad, Foster, really glad," he responded, his voice warm and sincere. There was a tenderness in the way he looked at her, like he was seeing her for the first time all over again.
Sophie's heart fluttered at the sight of his expression, and without thinking, she nuzzled her face into his chest, taking in the comforting scent that was uniquely Keefe. He gently wrapped his arms around her, pulling her close as if he never wanted to let go. His fingers threaded through her hair, carefully untangling the knots that had formed during the day. Each stroke was soothing, and Sophie felt her worries and anxieties melt away in his embrace.
Time seemed to slow down as they stayed like that, wrapped up in each other's warmth. The world around them faded into the background, leaving only the sound of their breathing and the steady rhythm of Keefe's heartbeat beneath Sophie's ear. It was as if the grove had become a sanctuary, a hidden place where nothing else mattered but the two of them.
But the moment was shattered when they heard the faint sound of footsteps approaching the grove. Startled, Sophie and Keefe quickly pulled away from each other, hearts racing. The last thing either of them wanted was for Grady to find them like this, caught in such an intimate moment. Sophie's mind raced, trying to think of an excuse, but before she could say anything, she caught sight of a figure entering the grove.
It wasn't Grady.
Instead, a familiar elf with teal eyes stepped into view. His gaze was directed at the ground, his shoulders slightly hunched as if he was carrying a heavy weight.
"Fitz?" Sophie whispered, her voice barely audible, a mix of surprise and concern threading through her words.
"Hey, Soph," Fitz replied, his tone soft and subdued, not quite meeting her eyes. He paused, then added quietly, "Can we talk?"
Hey guys! I hope you liked my fist fanfic chapter. As I said above I will update every Sunday starting August 31st.