Volare…to fly, to soar…perchance to wander, to take a leap.

People who weren't Ayase Eli took chances. Eli's actions were by the book, predictable, designed to support what others needed and expected of her. Team Status Quo. Cute and clever Elichika. Once, twice, she had deviated from the flight plan, done the unexpected, surprised herself. Which had gotten her here. Poised for a third leap. Flying, literally, more excited than terrified, back to Tokyo to cement the relationship that gave her the solid foundation to leap, to take a chance, to soar. Prepared to commit totally, one hundred, no one hundred thousand percent to the one relationship that freed her.

Eli sighed. If Nozomi said yes. If. If Nozomi wasn't put off by Eli's sudden decision to change her career course, overthrow their professional plans. If Nozomi still believed Eli could create a home, a life for them and the family they'd dreamed about. Still believed in their future.

During their visit to Russia, Alisa had caught Eli with papers and thoughts scattered everywhere, unorganized. Nothing orderly; random pictures of dancers, stages, cities with some budgets and proposal printouts adding an illusion of practicality. The offer letter centered. Eli didn't know why she'd applied…

Eli stopped herself. That was a lie. Law school, government internships, research fellowships; they had all been easy for her, poised, polished, the perfect student prepping for a pragmatic future. Too easy. Like the fake warmth that comes with hypothermia. She'd been a perfect student before, all doubts buried, numbness hiding the real danger, pressure melting ice into tears. She didn't want to go back to that Eli, the one who'd cried her way through most of high school.

"Did you talk to Nozomi?" Alisa had asked as she read through the printouts.

Eli shook her head.

"Anyone?"

Another headshake.

"You can always talk to me. And Babulya."

Eli bit her lip. Alisa always saw through Eli's facades. But her support never wavered.

Alisa placed the pictures on top of the offer letter. "No more law school?"

"Maybe part time. Later. But not until after the Milan residency."

Eli had only one real worry, not the multiple minor ones she pricked her self confidence with.

"What if Nozomi doesn't want to…"

Eli knew the look Alisa was giving her. Alisa was too kind to call her stupid and too honest for her eyes to say anything else.

"Nozomi will go anywhere you are."

Eli nodded. She agreed with that. But still a doubt lingered, "Should I…"

"I thought you left this mood behind in high school." Alisa grabbed Eli's phone. "Do I have to call Umi? Or Nico? Do they need to shake the sense out of you?"

Eli grabbed her phone back. "Nozomi would never forgive me if they found out first."

"Then tell Nozomi."

I need to see her face, Eli thought, then it'll be all right. Mischievous, intelligent, wonder filled eyes twinkling at her, all knowledge, all acceptance. Eli's truth.

"She probably already knows."

Flying. Not caught up in old, plodding patterns, old habits. Taking a chance. New destinations. Starting with this first step. Rehearsing the words in her head again, Eli pulled out the box, brilliant diamond set in a well loved platinum band, her grandmother's engagement ring, ready to engage the loving hand that held everything in Eli's life together: Nozomi's.

A/N: Forgot to post this one. End of Oct/beginning of November too busy. If you're in the US, you know why. Take care of yourselves.