Kaden stands by the kitchen sink with his older brother talking about me and how I ran out on the ceremony. 

He looks over my potted plants nestled in their hanging blue and gold mason jars. They hang down from the top of my tent with threaded twine and hover above the back of the sink. 

Suddenly, Jerome and Oliver come into my tent eating some of Ivan and Frittle's cake they got from next door.

They all are wearing different color variations of our common wool and cotton blended shirts. Our people believe in simplicity and so most of our clothes are patternless unlike what most humans wear. The only designs on our clothes are the plants and beads woven or stitched within them, but I'm not really sure if that counts.

My light-yellow window curtains rustle against the edge of the counter of my food stand. The window may be closed, but the tent entrance is left open letting in the night breeze and hum of people outside. Silver cloth shimmers over the pinkened red skin of my brother's broad chest and arms. His black pants are spotless and his green wings twitch behind him as the cold breeze of the night hits them.

I think he just got inside because he appears to be still looking around the kitchen checking to make sure everything is as it should be like he routinely does when getting home from work.

Eventually, his gaze passes by Kaden and Crantz, the oven and fridge, and then, over to me standing in the doorway of the living room. His face softens a little when we make eye contact.

When he spots Nate step up behind me though he steps forward breaking away from his buddies.

Domineering, Shurik speaks above the others, his voice laced with irritation, "Everyone out."

Kaden raises his arms, kicking the back of his foot against one of my lower cupboards. "What? We just found her and the night is still alive! We should at least hang out together before the day's end. Right, Sadie?"

Nate rolls his eyes. "You aren't even attracted to her."

He holds my hand to give me comfort and I try not to panic seeing my brother back away as if he already knows what's coming. The other guys become quiet and watch the fight unravel.

Kaden's face turns bright red at Nate's comment. Crantz doesn't bother holding him back when he saunters toward Nate. 

My pair shoves Nate roughly against the surface of the oven and then grabs the collar of his shirt pinning him to the surface. He has to look up at Nate to meet his stare. Although he may not match Nate in height, Kaden is much stronger looking.

Nate tries to shove him away, but he doesn't budge and proceeds to fly a little higher to match his height.

"Dwarf," Nate scoffs in his face.

"Stop it," I tell the two of them. 

However, Kaden ignores me and Nate continues to verbally provoke him. 

It's not long before they get in a brawl. Nate punches Kaden in the face and then rams right into him. My brother and Crantz come to life at once. They fly over to Nate and Kaden trying to separate them. Nate and Kaden crash against the small kitchen counter in their wrestling match knocking the kitchen table over on their way over.

They knock several fragile things off the counter such as my glass watering pitcher and porcelain teacups. Each time an object crashes and smashes to pieces I cringe. Jerome cheers my pair on and Oliver looks annoyed by their antics, but doesn't do anything. Instead, he scavenges for food in my fridge.

Meanwhile, I steal my chance to escape the chaos. Outside, the fair is crowded as our folk walk about enjoying the night's festivities. I know Crantz and Shurik will be able to put an end to the fight, but Nate was wrong to think any of them will reason with us wanting to escape especially now that he just got in a fight with them. Maybe I won't leave tonight, but I can at least try to enjoy the day that is supposed to be the happiest day of my life.

Our tents are already pretty close together. Nate's food stand is only about ten feet across from mine. Frittle is only three feet away beside my tent. Tons of dried leaves and aged wildflowers hang above and across the tops of our homes.

Sometimes the humans like to pick off the heads of the flowers as souvenirs when they visit our strawberry fair. Some of the garlands hang down vertically, but most are strung across high enough to not hit our heads. Soft lantern lights are interwoven around the delicate leafy formations.

It's always crowded this time of day after a pairing ceremony and tonight is no different. 

There are so many faeries out here walking around that it's impossible to get around the person in front of me. The pathways between our tents are already narrow enough making it even more claustrophobic out here. Most of our food stands are open and since we are just serving our own tonight most fae give away their treats for free.

The aroma of food is overwhelming. Berry pastries, breads, drinks, cookie, cakes, jams and many more strawberry-flavored food passes by me in the arms of our pink-skinned people. The man in front of me stops abruptly to order a bag of strawberry biscuits and I nearly run right into him.

Luckily, I manage to wedge myself around him and between a teenage faery to my left holding a very full glass of juice.

After some time, I manage to make my way down to the ice cream stand Frittle's older sister runs with her pair.

Jalina greets me with a smile. "Hey! Where's Kaden? Did you get separated already?" Reggy, her pair, ducks under the glass ice cream display and scoops me out two scoops of strawberry ice cream.

I can't help looking over my shoulder. I feel like they'll come looking for me soon. I'm sure they've noticed me gone by now. I hope they let Nate just return to his tent, but I really should have stayed back there with him.

"No, he's...with his friends right now," I say while taking my ice cream cone from her.

"Well, congrats and enjoy the night! We all thought the rain would keep up, but who knew it would pass over!" she laughs.

I shrug my shoulders with a half-smile while turning back into the sea of people behind me.

Humming along to the tune of the music radiating around me, I eventually make my way all the way across the fair on the other side of the market square. I order a few raspberry cookies for my brother and watch the fireworks go off above our tents. Unfortunately, due to the crowd, I can't really stop and have a good look at them. By the time the fireworks end, I reach my food stand.

It's much quieter out here now since the celebration is officially over. My feet ache from walking around in just my thin slippers out here and my ankles where my gown doesn't reach are cold now and stiff. Funny how comforting walking around with complete strangers was, but now they are all gone along with the music. I walk up to Nate's food stand seeing the window open. I sigh in relief seeing him cleaning his kitchen and his family is visiting with their neighbors outside.

He spots me hesitating by the window and gives me a lopsided grin.

"Thanks for leaving me! I got dragged out by Crantz...don't ask me what happened Kaden. He sure was sorry looking, but Shurik wasn't done with him from what I last saw," Nate says with a dramatic scoff. "Who knew he never intended on letting you move out with the bread makers."

I look up at him with a frown. "You shouldn't have punched Kaden. You know his family is very close...they will all hold a grudge against you."

"Oh well," he says evilly while wiping down the ledge of window near me. "Besides, you got to enjoy the night—which was my goal. Are you still upset with me?"

I don't know if I could ever be upset with Nate. 

It's just I wasn't expecting him to hit Kaden like that and I'm worried what more Shurik could have done to him. Crantz was there though so I don't think my brother would have beaten him up. I've never seen any of them fight ever. I hope this is a one time case.

The sound of a sprout crying echos from behind me. Could Marvin have decided to give the sprout to me and Kaden to take care of?

"I have to go."

The yellow bulbs of light hanging inside his home illuminate the shades of dark green and pink in his hair nicely. "Wait, don't go back there with him. Just stay with me," he offers while gently taking my hands. 

He leans across the opening of his food stand window. 

I melt under his stare as warmth blossoms in my chest. 

Would he really ever be able to leave with me? 

His family moves about his home behind him not even aware of our conversation. He's so lucky to have them. Nate is everything I wished my pair to be, but I don't know what to make of it. I think he understands me more than anyone, but I don't think he understands how complicated the fight makes everything now and how badly I still want to leave.

He watches me silently waiting for my answer.

"I'll stop by tomorrow morning and we'll talk then. I'm sorry, but I really have to go," I mumble.

Nate's smile turns into a hard line as he eyes my home behind me. One of his younger brothers taps his shoulder and he turns around getting distracted. 

Dread seeps into me as I reluctantly return to my own food stand. 

I follow the source of crying going inside my tent noting the empty kitchen.

I set the cookies on the kitchen table and make my way into our living room. A wicker basket, my wicker basket, sits perched on the center of my bed and I fly over to it. The little faery baby rests snuggled inside of it just like when I last saw her. 

Immediately, I pull her out of the basket and rock her in my arms trying to get her to calm down. Then I sit down on my bed humming a little tune with her cradled against my chest.

Eventually, she drifts off to sleep and I'm tempted to too.

The sound of the tent entrance being opened makes me go quiet. I quit humming, looking over toward the kitchen doorway from my bed, as voices filter through the air.

"Where is she?" I hear Marvin ask impatiently. 

Is he talking about the sprout or me?

Footsteps stomp around the kitchen and I slide down under my covers with the sprout. 

I slam my eyes shut pretending to be asleep not wishing to endure the scrutiny of the old Jester. He sounds crabbier than normal and it's kind of disturbing since he usually puts on a happy exterior in front of everyone. I roll over with the sprout in my arms facing the wall of the tent just as I hear footsteps enter the room.

"I told you she would return," Shurik answers simply. Then, in a lower voice he continues, "The sprout lured her back here. Now, back to what we were talking about..."

"Yes! You wish to place a rejection. If you wanted Nathaniel to be with her then you should not have told me to lie about their numbers being different in the first place. Even so, I believe your decision is for the best so I will accept it," the Jester says.

Something cold as ice pets the side of my face and my eyes fly open as confusion and fear overwhelm me. My rapid movement to sit up wakens the sprout. She begins crying and my brother withdraws his hand looking unfazed by my panic as I turn over and look up at the two faery men. Marvin stands beside him with a cat-like grin. His thinning pink hair almost makes him look bald and his purple Jester robe looks more like a funeral garb.

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