"You want a sugar confection? You've got it!"

After have a quick shower and cleaning myself up, I hurried back to my room where I pulled out my silver sugar and equipment from my suitcase. Sitting at the desk, I crafted what I hoped to be the best, most truest sculpture that I've ever made…. All for Challe. He was still hanging around outside, giving me space to work. I was so engrossed in what I was doing, I didn't notice my phone ringing. Jonas was calling me- again.

The sculpture was modelled after Lusel, that sweet little fairy. I'd never forget her and wished her nothing but the best…. I really, REALLY hoped humans would trap her and tear one of her wings off. My fingers paused here as the terrible thought crossed my mind….. And it reverted back to Challe. He was missing a wing…. I bet it was really painful when they ripped it off of his back. And now I carried it around in a small bag… I can't imagine how that must make him feel… My lips parted an unconscious sliver as I continued working.

I didn't stop until the sculpture was completed. It was on the smaller side admittedly- I had to save the rest of the sugar for the competition. Still, it was beautiful, if I could say so myself. Holding it up against the sunlight, I admired the shine it illuminated. This smile etched across my face as I beheld it… God, I love sculpting silver sugar. I don't care if I never make as much money as my dad doing this. Hell, I had enough to live comfortably on now never selling a single piece. No, it wasn't about money or a future career as a Silver Sugar Master….. I just…. I just wanted to prove to myself that I could do it; that I was good enough to become a professional, recognized sugar artisan. I'd be the first woman in the world to become a Silver Sugar Master, if I ever accomplish such a feat. But even if I don't, knowing I'm good enough to compete alongside well-respected male colleagues…. That'd be good enough for me. I'd be happy with that…..

Just that.

Carrying the sculpture as carefully as I could, I made my way back out to the garden, where Challe was standing among the flowers. My feet paused as the doorway, allowing me to peer out without being seen momentarily. It was one of the rare opportunities I got to look at Challe without his paying attention to me. Staring his way, my bottom lip dropped of its own accord…..

What a gorgeous fairy; I'll never get over how stunning Challe is. He has an ephemeral beauty no human could ever hope to achieve. No procedure, no product could ever make us look like his kind; fairies were just so above us in every respect. A part of me believes that humanity enslaved them because we were jealous of them…. but I also know that exploitation and greed were probably the biggest driving factors. Still, I could also see why several romance novels centred on male fairies falling in love with female humans, and on rare occasion vice versa. Fairies were unusual and very different than human men. They were totally non-sexual, or at least from what I've seen. They didn't view woman as sexual objects, objectifying us like guys did. No, it's like they saw straight through us, peering down into our souls. They could delve into the depths of our existence, reaching straight down into our core essence. They saw what we humans couldn't see; they looked beyond the surface….. Despite their own beauty being so flawless and untouchable.

My lips parted again as I struggled to catch my breath. I'd never been in love before; I can't even remember the last time I've had a crush on somebody. I'd forgotten what it feels like…. to be attracted to another person. Challe wasn't a person, and I doubt that fairies and humans fell in love in real life. Hell, I wasn't sure if fairies experienced romantic feelings like us. As for me though…. I don't know why, but whenever Challe's near me I find it hard to breathe, my sight goes fuzzy, and I get lightheaded. I…. I really like it when he's near me, though I know it's all temporary and he'll leave my life as soon as he came into it. It's just…. I can't help it. I'm having all these weird, adult, brand-new thoughts and feelings, and it's making me quiver uncontrollably inside. Is this what it's like….. to develop a crush on a boy?

Why can't I breathe, speak, think….. whenever you're close by?

Challe perked up, probably sensing that someone else was in the vicinity. Summing up all my courage, I hopped out from under the door's threshold, holding the sculpture on display for him. His head turned in my direction, and I smiled kindly, cocking my head slightly. "As promised, one sugar sculpture."

The warrior fairy gradually came over to where I was standing, pulling the cloth up from the sculpture to examine it closely…. carefully. While he stared down at it, I couldn't help but gaze at his face and those lovely, endless, ocean eyes of his….. I hope he likes it, was the only thought zooming through my mind. Please god, let him like it. When he didn't say anything, my mouth sputtered a little.

"I-I know it's small, b-but I poured my heart and soul into sculpting it. I'll make you a bigger one after the contest…" Silence. "I-It's Lusel; she was the perfect model. D-Do you…. do you like it?" Another moment of silence, and I could barely stand it. I was about to force myself to say more when Challe FINALLY spoke, still beholding the confection intently. "It's beautiful…." Was his only response.

That was enough to cause my cheeks to burn a bright red, earning a slightly amused chuckle from him. His shoulders relaxed a tad, as did his eyes as they slowly drifted back up to me. He flashed me the world's faintest smile…. "So you ARE a sugar artisan. See? I told you that you didn't need to prove yourself as a woman." "Mmmmmm, but I DID have to prove myself to you," I quipped back, grinning and his head lowered. "And so you have. I'll never question your abilities to sculpt sugar again." "Oh! So do you think I'm good enough to be a Silver Sugar Master, then?!" I eagerly inquired, and he gave another gentle chuckle. "Let's not go that far. But tell me….. Is this really for me…..?" I froze at this, kinda alarmed that he was asking me this to begin with. There was only one obvious answer….

"Of course! It's all yours." Challe's eyes lowered a touch onto the statue tenderly. He mindfully took it from my hand, holding it up to the sunlight. Then his own lips parted just a tad as he studied it endearingly. "No one has ever given me anything before….."

I was beyond shocked to hear this; my jaw dropped open, leaving my mouth agape. "R-Really?! Never?!" Challe's head spun back toward me, seemingly confused at my sudden distress. "What's wrong? Why should that surprise you?" "U-Uh, I mean…. N-Never?! That's insane! Humans have like a million holidays; I can't imagine that they'd never gift their fairies anything for at least one of them." He looked at me a second before sighing. "There's nothing I'd want anyway….. Except for my freedom… heh, and the odd sugar confection."

That's when I smiled from the bottom of my heart, clasping my hands out in front of me and closing my eyes happily. "I can give you both. I'll make all the sugar sculptures you want, and when we get back home, the first thing I'll do is contact a lawyer- a good lawyer." A pause here on my end ensued as I gazed at him meekly….. and affectionately. "Don't worry, Challe. I'll do everything in my power to secure your freedom. That's the best gift I can ever give you….. That and heh, lots and lots of sugar confections."

Challe didn't respond right away, at least not verbally. It took a second, where I'm sure he was mulling over what I'd just said. Soon enough though, he stepped over to me. My eyes widened enormously as he took hold of my arm, tugging me closer to him, making our stares meet once more. Our eyes locked, and his fingers coiled around my skin like ivy. My mouth fell agape again, but no sound came out….. I was stunned to speak. But Challe wasn't. He simply looked me in the eye, wearing a contented sort of expression. He wasn't smiling per se….. but I could tell by the lines on his face that he was happy. Challe was happy in that instant…

"If this is my sculpture, then I'll do what I want with it… Just like you are my master….. and I'll do what I want with you." "C-Challe?" My voice trembled. My heart had never beat so fast before; I'm sure my heartrate was sky-high just then. His stare softened onto me lightly as his hand kept hold of my arm, keeping me ever so near him. "Since you refuse to take charge of me, I'll take charge of you. Yesterday proved to me…. that you can't be left to your own devices. I'm starting to see now… why your father wanted someone to watch over you." My heart skipped the world's largest beat at this, my lips sputtering uncontrollably.

"O-Oh Challe! You don't need to worry about that! I don't need anyone watching over me! I'm a grown woman, after all. I can take care of myself…." "Can you?" Challe shot back, and my mouth opened to reply that of course I could, but my throat was dry as cotton, leaving all words to linger in it. Another calm quiet moment passed between us as the warm morning breeze blew through our hair, swaying it to the side a little. Challe watched me a moment longer before gently shutting his eyes. Then he sighed….. So deeply and profoundly.

"I've given it a lot of thought, and I'm tired of waiting for you to put yourself first. You want to behave like an errant child who refuses to engage in the traditional master-slave dynamic with her fairy? Fine. Since you won't behave like a normal human, I won't behave like a normal fairy. I'm sick of holding back." "W-What are you saying, Challe?" Another soulful sigh. "I'm saying that I'm going to take charge when and as I see fit…. And I'm going to get to Lewiston on time for this contest you're so eager to enter." "C-Challe!" I gasped and he finally gave a soft chuckle, bringing his head in nearer to mine. His eyes were at complete level with mine now, and his face had never been so close… "Oh, and one more thing. I absolutely forbid you to ever sacrifice your life or happiness for my wellbeing again. That's not your call to make, understand?" "You're forbidding me?! ME?!" My jaw hung open yet again, and he couldn't stop himself from smiling roguishly, cementing his hand on my arm….. where I wished it could stay forever. Dear lord, I'd never been so turned on in all my life before….. His roguish, teasing grin intensified as he held me entirely in place, right where he wanted me to be. "Absolutely. What are you gonna do about it, scarecrow?" "I-I don't see what I can do….. heh, since you're so keen on having your way," and he chuckled one last time, shutting his eyes.

"Then looks like we finally have an understanding."