"Your task is not to seek for love, but merely to seek and find all the barriers within yourself that you have built against it."

— Rumi

Flashback Odettes POV- (when they are 13)

"Hey! wait!," the sunlight and grassy smell of the gardens stimulated my senses as I dashed through the velvety flowers attempting to catch up to Sebastien. Yanking my skirt I kicked off my shoes and sprinted barefoot in the mud crazily giggling as Sebastian ran even faster.

"Detta you know you can't catch m-" *THUMP* Suddenly he toppled over, hurling himself right into one of the kingdom's plush berry bushes. I gasped as I bellied over laughing, finally catching up to him noticing a small gash on his knee shining with blood! I instantly fell to my knees grabbing at the cloth of my dress.

"Sebastian you fool all you do is fall and get hurt," he stuck out his tongue as I grabbed some cotton sash from my dressy pockets. That I carry around for such an occasion. Sebastian's eyes gazed at mine as I wrapped the sash lightly on his knee, I slowly lost focus of wrapping when I noticed his hand reach for my cheek.

"I-I" he stuttered.

*Meow*

Sebastian instantly flinched as he noticed a fluffy creature emerging from the bush he just fell on, its quint nose and green eyes were right on top of his chest. We both gazed at it not knowing what to do next!

"Odett-"

"Shhh! Its moving," the small, pale, and white little kitten began to prance from his chest to his face and lightly played with Sabastiens hair meowing happily as it tugged his locks.

"What do we do?" he asked cautiously, not trying to scare the little guy. I leaped from the ground and took the little guy in my hands holding it near my chest as I swung him round and round.

"Let's take it home, he can be our 'son'," I said giggling, brushing himself off Sebastian came to my side and placed a hand on my shoulder.

"You know my dad doesn't allow animals," he sighed.

"He won't know we-"

"No'

"We can take care of it and-"

"No, Odette, he will kill me!" My smile fell. I glanced at the cat's glowing eyes and fluffy white fur. I pushed it closer to my chest and bit my tongue as I got ready to stand my ground.

"I will keep it in my room and he won't find him since the king never goes there and we can take care of him together," I begged, silence came between us as Sebastian seemed to ponder my little scheme.

"Come on Sabs! I know you love cats, you always draw them so please, please can we keep it," I closed my eyes worried he would mutter the word... No! I felt a small flick on my forehead as my eyes slowly opened.

"Fine, but if we're going to keep it then I'm the dad so I get to name it," he took the cat in his arms and played with its soft and smooth paws. My heart began to beat at a faster pace as I recollected his words... if, if he is the father then I guess I'm the -mother. I sucked in a breath to calm myself down as Sabastian and the cat started to dash beside each other.

"Hey! I'm the mother so you can't take him away from me without asking," I screamed as they ran farther and maybe even faster. I tapped my foot and crossed my arms as I waited for them to return.

"Sorry, detta, but I'm the dad and I already named him," he picked up the fluffy ball of love and held it in the air.

*Meow*

"His name is dandelion, dandelion the cat prince," he giggled, though I could barely breathe, that's my nickname! He always calls me that. I blushed profusely as I began to play with my hands nervous he would notice my frustration. Don't notice, don't notice!

"Dandelion I like-"

"I named him after you since you're my dandelion. I mean like you know my-," he mumbled the last bit as he placed the cat down and held my hand.

"I will come to your room tonight before dinner so I can play with him for a bit, ok," he asked but my brain was in a daze as I gawked at our interlocked hands. The proximity of our faces and his eyes staring holes into mine. Get it together Odette.

"Aye Aye captain I will do as you command," I bowed and picked up dandelion, ready to make my way home so I could feed him and dress him up in frilly clothes.

"Love you dandelion," Sebastian smiled as he placed a tender kiss on his forehead as he began to sprint back home. I waved goodbye.

"Bye Oddete take care of him, see you later," he was gone in a blink of an eye and I noticed the sun begin to set so I grabbed my dress shoes from the ground and placed them on my now dirty feet as I made my way to the kingdom.

"Time for a bath, my little prince".

********************************************************************************************************

*KNOCK KNOCK*

"He is here already! come on dandelion let's go see," I held dandelion in my arms as I breathed in his fresh scent, I washed and tended to his nails and I cut some of his matted locks of bright white hair. I made him look nice and proper. I didn't bother to look through the peephole since I know it has to be him. Sabastian. Upon opening the door I gawked at the large broad-chested man in front of me. The-the king!

"Your highness," I bowed my head as I clutched Dandelion closer to my abdomen assuming he hadn't seen him. As my head started to rise I noticed a red-faced Sebastian with teary eyes standing behind his highness, his hair covering his eyes as he quietly sniffled. Gasping I stepped slowly as I noticed the two bulky guards standing right in front of me.

"So you're the one who brought that dirty felon into my kingdom," the king points one large finger at the sleeping kitten cradled in my arms. Racing, everything was racing, my heartbeat, my thoughts, everything he is going to take him away! All I feel is fear as I drop to my knees shaking as tears flew from my eyes.

"Please your highness I beg of you have mercy," gasping I felt his highness arm on my shoulder as the king brought his head closer to my ear.

"Maybe I will punish you wench, I could even kill your mother if I wanted to and she would die because of your greed," he pulled back and smirked as the most horrendous and vivid evil filled the room as they ripped dandelion from my arms. I was frozen as I felt the guards grab my arms ever so roughly.

"What shall we do your-"

"Beat her," the king deadpanned.

"I'm sorry, your highness, please forgive me, I swear I meant no harm, have mercy sir please."

"I said beat her!" he bit, suddenly Sebastian flew in front of me and fell to his knees, his eyes glowing with fear as he shook even more.

"No!" he yelped.

"It was I father, I brought dandelion here not Odette I-I made her say that so I don't get in trouble it's my fault father please," the king glanced at me curiosity beaming through his aura.

"Kill the pest and bring Sebastian instead," he grunted. He slowly bent down to Sebastian's ear and spoke yet kept his sights on me.

"You know where you're going, right Sebastian," the king smiled as he rose to his feet, the Cheshire grin on his face filled with venom and malice, Sebastian's tears flew out again as he fell backward.

"No Father please not there!" he shouted, the guards held Sebastian's hands and began to walk out leaving me with his highness.

"I'm sorry for the way my son acted Odette. Please forgive his foolishness," a wet salty tear caressed my cheek as I recalled Sabatains bloody scream when his father brought up the... Room.

"Where, where are you taking him?" I gasped cupping my hand on my mouth as I remembered his petrified tears and scared look.

"I said to forgive him, Odette," the king grinned as he left my room. I dashed to the door as it shut in my face.

"No, it was my idea!" I screamed.

"Please it,"

"It was my idea,"

End of flashback-

I tiptoed through the halls of the kingdom holding a box filled with holes, all I could think about was Sabastian and how hurt he was reading those letters. I stepped out the gates and took a deep breath relishing the frozen air, I paced calmly to the main garden where I set up a little picnic with some finger foods and some wine Eli and I stole a while back. The golden box in my hand shook as the restless animal cried on the inside.

*Meow meow*

"I hope he still likes cats as much as he used to,"

"Fingers crossed,"

Hey, thx so much for reading and sorry for the late update lmao, DONT FORGET TO VOTE COMMENT AND SHARE THIS STORY. XOXOXO