Sorry this took so long to post... but here it is! I think you'll like this chapter! :)

This is good. Willow thought as she lay in bed that night, contemplating the evening's events. Once they'd discussed controlling emotions and brainstormed a little more about how Avery could have been manipulating the girls, the four had walked back to the palace. Willow had made them swear they wouldn't tell anyone, not even their maids or family members. They weren't sure if there were cameras in the rooms or just how reliable their maids were. There were also rumors that all of the Selected's letters and mail was read through, just to make sure there wasn't anything fishy going on.

Unfortunately, neither Blair, Delta, or Cassandra could recall anything about Willow's maids' disappearance and Willow hoped desperately that they were okay, that they had a day off or something and that they hadn't gotten sucked into whatever Avery was scheming. Willow thought, without a doubt, that identifying Sophie and Keefe was important to succeeding. She was quite sure that she was Sophie, but couldn't be positive.

We know a little more now. It'll be harder for Avery to take control of the girls again. Willow wondered why Avery had chosen the three girls he had. She suspected that maybe they had something to do with her. Perhaps they were also from the Lost Cities - wherever that was. Regardless, Willow was going to do everything in her power to help them.

Willow was startled from her thoughts by a quiet yet urgent knocking on her door. The kind of knock one used when they weren't sure if the person they were looking for was asleep, and didn't want to wake them, but also really did.

At first, Willow didn't move. Maybe she had imagined the knocking, but then she heard it again. She pushed back the covers and retrieved a robe that was hanging by her bed. The robe, of course, as it was fit for royalty, was incredibly comfortable. However, it was a little too fancy for Willow's liking as it was encrusted with jewels. Willow supposed, though, that everything fit for royalty was that way: over the top; demanding of attention. She would just have to get used to it.

The ten foot walk across the large room to the door felt longer than Willow would have thought. She didn't have the best experience with unknown-knockers as last time she had encountered Sir Sneedly, and later ran into Avery for one of the most unpleasant nights of her life. Looking through the peephole, Willow identified the person as Logan Klove, someone she had controversial feelings about seeing right now.

The girly side of Willow was enthralled that Logan had come knocking at her door in the middle of the night, it was scandalous, but the sensible side of her was quite sure he had come for other reasons. So, she opened the door for him and pulled him into the room.

"Someone's happy to see me, although I can't say I blame you." His smirk and playful manner almost made Willow laugh, almost.

"Maybe you're blaming your newfound feelings on me, for you were the one who came to see me, remember? Or have you forgotten already because you were too busy flirting?"

Logan mocked hurt and dramatically fell to his knees, "How could you insult me in such a way?!" He clenched his hands over his heart and his face twisted in fake agony. "Was I ever anything but kind to you?"

"It had to be done, you knew it from the beginning," Willow responded, deciding to play along. As a girl Willow had played make-pretend on many occasions always finding that her imaginary world was much more pleasing than the real one. But were those even real memories? Or had they been fabricated by Avery?

"But we could have found a way," Logan whimpered, wiping away a fake tear, then he started flat out crying like a child. Willow squealed unintentionally and immediately bent down to Logan's level and whisper-screeched for him to shut up.

"Make me." Willow rolled her eyes and leaned towards him, deciding if he was going to be annoying, so was she. He quieted as her face came closer to his and Willow could see his eyes dancing with excitement. Truthfully, she was confused that he would want her to give in so easily. He seemed like the kind of guy who liked girls that didn't fall into his lap.

She neared closer still, but passed his face and instead brought her lips in front of his ear and whispered, "nope," then she pulled him to his feet, giggling. He seemed a little disappointed, but Willow could also tell that she had challenged him, and that it wasn't a challenge to take lightly.

They stood awkwardly for a second, and then Willow led him to her bed. She sat cross legged while her perched on the side of the bed, with both feet on the floor.

"So... Why are you here? I know you didn't come to my room at," she looked at her clock, "13:30 (1:30am) just to flirt with me."

"You're right," He said, smirking, "I came for something else." There was no way that's what he wanted- he seemed genuine before, right? Had Willow fallen for a trick? Did he just want to get in her pants? She hated guys like that. It was rude and unkind to act like a decent person for personal gain. Willow felt her body move away from him involuntarily. He noticed and quickly apologised. "Sorry, it was a joke."

"It wasn't funny." Then Willow was quiet for a moment as she thought about it. "Okay, maybe it was- but just a little bit." Logan smiled triumphantly, the same smile that Willow had admired before. Then she realized she was staring and quickly averted her gaze, but not before he noticed.

"You just can't keep your eyes off me can you?"

"Oh, shut up."

"Make me," Logan responded, repeating his earlier comment.

"You know if you keep saying that it makes me want to 'shut you up' even less."

"Even less? You said that comparatively. 'Less' is used in proximity to another thing. So there's a chance." For a moment, Willow just thought about how much smarter Logan was than she thought. That was before she wrapped her mind around what he had actually said.

"Oh... uh... I don't know..."

Logan just winked in response. "Whenever you're ready, Lark."

"My name's Willow, dummy. Remember? I don't think forgetting their names really woos girls."

"I didn't forget. I blatantly ignored it."

"Oh, please."

This time they fell into a comfortable silence. Truly just happy to be in each other's presence.

"Really though," Willow began again after a good five minutes of quiet, "why are you here?"

"You sound upset about it."

Willow blushed, and tried to figure out how to word what she was going to say next. "It's just, I was thinking- and before you ask it has nothing to do with you. I do enjoy your presence," she blushed again at that, "I just can't right now."

"Why not? I mean, isn't the point of the Selection for you to have all of your focus on winning? On making me fall in love? Why, if that was not your intention, did you even apply?"

Willow looked down at her lap in shame and began fidgeting with the hem of her robe. "I had to get away from someone."

"Oh." Then out of nowhere he asked, "Are you okay?"

"Yeah, I'm fine. I mean, why wouldn't I be?"

"I saw what happened earlier with Cassandra and those other two Selected. Why did they go after you?"

That caught Willow off guard. "Um... we were... playing a game!"

"What?"

"Yeah! We were practising our combat three on one so that if there were ever any attacks we would be able to defend ourselves. We thought the palace had a shortage of female soldiers. That's sexist, you know. Girls are just as strong and powerful as guys."

"You've certainly proven that." Willow turned her head to look Logan in the eyes.

"What?" Now it was her turn to ask.

"You're certainly more powerful than any guy I know with whatever voodoo magic you used on Cassandra and the girls." Willow sucked in a breath. How much had he seen?

"I don't know what you're talking about."

"Yes, you do. I'm not stupid."

"I know."

"What are you?" That hurt. A lot. It was something she wouldn't let herself think about. Whatever she had done to Avery and the girls was certainly not human. Whatever power Willow had was scary and uncontrollable, and she didn't know what to do about it. The weight of everything around Willow fell on her shoulders once again and suddenly she was scared. More scared than she had ever been in her life.

Willow felt a tear slip down her cheek as she turned away from Logan, "I... don't know." And then she told him everything, leaving out the part about Avery's note. She was worried he might think her crazy if she mentioned another world or that she was another person. That wasn't something she wanted, Willow was really counting on Logan believing her right now.

"How do I know you aren't making all of this up to make me fall in love with you?" Logan teased, although he could tell from the way she spoke that it was true.

"Shut up," Willow giggled, content that he was still joking with her.

"Make me." He said, again.

And this time, she did.