For Jo3718 thanks for clearing up my confusion. ♥ also for linthenameoflove sorry for mistakingly tagging you last chapter. ♥

Unedited.

Fitz was surprised at Sophie's bold move, but he didn't hesitate to kiss her. The whole kiss over took Sophie.

It stole her breath, but she didn't need it, the kiss was her oxygen. Her mind refused to work, as every bit of Fitz burned into her. The feel of his soft hair between her fingers, as her hands raked through it, his smell that Sophie couldn't get enough of, the taste of his sweet breath, the way his lips pressed to hers, the way the warmth of his hands sank through her shirt, warming her, as he wrapped his arms around her, pulling her closer.

Something released in Sophie, like a knot being untangled. Finally. Every part of her sighed.

Fitz kissed her like he needed it to breath, like someone desperate for air. He kissed her like it was the last time he'd ever kiss her, he kissed her as softly as he would kiss a fragile angel, as firm and as strong as if he needed her.

The kiss was like fire and ice meeting, the kiss was where the lines between friends and something more, met. The kiss was perfect. Sophie started to pull away, but Fitz's leaned farther in, trying to tell her that he needed her, trying to let her knows just how much he cared about her, he was trying to tell her he needed her and so, so much more, but once Sophie broke the kiss, he stilled. Breathless. That's the only word Sophie could explain how she felt. Her body buzzed and numbed with joy.

Fitz's hand rested on the back of Sophie's neck. He pressed his forehead to Sophie's, taking deep breaths. "You're right Fitz." Sophie said. Fitz didn't open his eyes as he smiled at the way she said his name. "I am afraid." Sophie whispered. Her fingers dug through his wavey hair, and into is scalp. "I don't want to get hurt. Not again."

"Don't be afraid." Fitz said. "I would never hurt you. I won't break you." Sophie closed her eyes, finally acknowledging the hole in her heart, she couldn't risk it. "Time." She pleaded. Fitz sighed wistfully, but the pressure he placed on her neck was relenting. "Time." He promised, tilting his head he leaned forward to kiss her, his eyes flickered up to Sophie's. He stopped, he pulled away slightly and pressed a kiss to her cheek. "My dear." He whispered, he pulled away his eyes bright as he smiled at Sophie as she blushed bright red, pulling her hands out of his silky hair.

"We should try that again." He winked, even though his cheeks were red, it made Sophie's face go redder, as she pushed him away slightly. Fitz laughed, it echoed through her room. He ran a hand up his face embarrassedly, and up to his hair. He bit his bottom lip as he messed his hair even more before looking up at Sophie, "Wow." He sighed, breathless. His eyes dazzling her, Sophie ducked her head sure her face was scarlet.

"That was...amazing." He transmitted. "You are amazing." He corrected, as his hand came up to Sophie's chin he lifted her face. He closed his eyes and pressed his forehead to hers. "I'll do anything for you. You know that?" He didn't wait for Sophie to answer. "And I would never hurt you, and I will never rush you." His hand wrapped around Sophie's. Their fingers intertwining with each other, locking together in a tight grasp. "Take as much time as you need. I'll wait." He promised. "For you." He whispered.

Sophie's fading blush, bloomed again. "Thank you." She said, a simple thank you didn't seem to be enough, so she pulled away, and pressed a kiss to his cheek. "You don't know what that means to me." She said. "Anything for you. My dear Sophie." He smiled. Sophie could see the relief and happiness in his eyes. His cheeks were pink, "Sophie, Fitz, where are you? Dinner is ready." Alden called, Fitz fixed his hair as fast as lightning somehow making it look the same and Sophie scooted away from him, grabbing her journal she popped it open and pretended to read. "We're in Sophie's room Dad." Fitz called. Alden came in, "Dinner is ready." He said
Looking between Sophie and his son.

"Alright." Fitz said, the smile never leaving his face. Sophie didn't look up from her journal. "What...exactly have you two been doing up here?" Alden asked suspiciously. "Sophie and I have something to tell you Dad. You'll understand better than the others." Fitz said. Sophie fumbled with her journal. "What?" She asked, her voice pitching higher. Alden leaned against the door way his arms crossed along with his ankles. His eyebrow raised, "Mmhm?" He asked.

Sophie stared at Fitz preparing a flying leap at him, if he said one wrong word. "We're finished cognate training." Fitz said. "At any time." Fitz said looking at Sophie smiling for another reason. "We can cognate." Alden's smile grew. "I'm proud of you." He said crossing into Sophie's room he clapped his hand on his son's shoulder. "So what's stopping you from cognating?" He asked. Sophie and Fitz's eyes met, "Time." Fitz smiled looking up at his Dad.

Alden frowned and looked between the two teenagers. "Congratulations to you two. I'm proud of you both. You've both hung in there and made it through training. Let's tell the others." He said as he helped Sophie off her bed. Sophie made sure to close her journal before following the father and son. Near the middle of the flight of steps Fitz stopped, turning around he waited for Sophie. His adorable smile never leaving his face. Sophie clutched the railing of the stairs carefully stepping down the steps, hoping she wouldn't fall on her face.

Stumbling at the step above Fitz she caught herself quickly, but she wouldn't of had to, because Fitz had grasped her upper arm. A moment passed between them, as they stared at each other. Sophie felt herself starting to get lost in the eyes of ocean and sky mixing and swirling together. "What's taking so long?" Keefe grumbled breaking the spell, that had started to fall over Fitz and Sophie. Sophie shook her head and hurried down the steps and into the dinning room. Where everyone was seated. "Well Fitz and Sophie had an announcement." Alden said. "I should think so, I could feel Foster's emotions from upstairs, and she's-" Keefe cut off at the glare Sophie shot him.

Fitz cleared his throat staring around the room then at Sophie. "We completed training." He said.
The room burst into congratulations and questions. "Let's not overwhelm them." Alden said. Sophie's eyes went to Grady and Edaline. They smiled encouragingly at her. She took her seat beside Kyle. Fitz took his seat near the opposite end of the table.
"What training?" Rose asked. "Cognate training." Kyle told her, nudging Sophie's side with his elbow. At Rose's raised eyebrows Sophie spoke. "It's a thing for telepaths. You have to find a person who is compatible with yourself, and if you both agree you train to become cognates. It makes your mind stronger." Sophie said.

"What happens after training?" Rose asked curiously. "You basically merge minds." Sophie said. "And you two-" Rose's eyes went to Sophie than to Fitz. "We haven't decided when we'll become cognates, but we completed the training, so at any time we choose we can become cognates." Fitz said cutting into his food with the side of his fork. "That means something is holding you back..." Keefe said. Sophie couldn't help but have her eyes meet Fitz's over the table. She and Fitz both focused on their food. "Do I sense a secre-"

"Keefe Sencen, one more word and it'll be the last one you say." Sophie growled. Keefe sealed his lips, and focused on his plate. Fitz snickered before continuing eating. Sophie couldn't help the proud smile that stretched on her face, before she remembered.

The kiss.

Once again, she met Fitz's teal star eyes across the table. His cheeks were pink but he smiled. Sophie blushed before looking down at her plate. What had she been thinking, kissing Fitz like that? Was she crazy? She had kissed him, and he had kissed her back. What was Fitz thinking? Was he crazy?

Sophie tried to hide the smile on her face, but before long her cheeks hurt from trying to keep it hidden. Her stomach churned at the thought of how Fitz had kissed her, the perfection of it. The breathless rush, the warmth of him, the rough yet gentleness in it. Sophie quickly set her fork down and stood up. "Thank you for dinner. I'm going to bed. Goodnight." She said before hurrying around the corner and up the stair case. She tripped at the middle of the stairs, but picked herself up and ran to her room. Quickly brushing her teeth, washing her hot face that'd was red, she shot into her room. Letting, Myth in she locked the door, changed quickly and fell on her bed.

Finally releasing the squeal she had been holding in, her pillow muffled it. Now she knew why Fitz's smile wouldn't leave. The butterflies in her stomach and her fluttering of her heart threatened to keep her up all night. Sophie closed her eyes remembering each moment that lead her up to the kiss. She touched her tingling lips, before the smile she hadn't thought could grow any more, grew wider, she planted her face in her pillow again. She had kissed Fitz Vacker! And he had kissed her back!

What had they been thinking? Sophie found herself hugging her pillow close. Fitz had called her dear... Fitz Vacker had called her dear. Her! Sophie! Sophie's smile started to hurt but she couldn't stop it.

"Hey." Sophie jumped at Fitz's transmission five minutes later. "Hey." She said. "I was wondering if you'd be asleep by now." Fitz said, his voice sounding shy.

"No."

"What are you thinking about?"

"Probably the same thing as you." Sophie blushed.

"Are you?"

"What are you thinking about?" Sophie asked. Fitz flashed a mental picture of her stumbling down the stairs. Sophie could see the purple color of amusement blossom in his mind. "Please forget that." Sophie begged. "Why would I?" Fitz asked.
"What are you doing right now?" Sophie asked
The book Fitz was reading flashed in her mind's eye. "Hey Fitz?" She transmitted this time being amused.

"Yeah?"

"The book is upside down."

"Forget that please." Fitz repeated her words.

"Why would I?"

"This conversation is just going in circles."

"It certainly seems so."

"You want me to be honest?" Fitz asked. Sophie didn't answer for a moment before answering.

"Yes."

The kiss. Sophie's brown eyes glinting with a fierce determination, right before she had kissed him. Sophie blushed, as she hugged her pillow closer.

"Fitz,.." Sophie trailed off not sure how to ask her question. But Fitz's seemed to get it. "It was an amazing kiss Sophie. You are a good kisser." He said. Sophie's face couldn't possibly get any redder. As she sensed Fitz's own curiosity. "You are too." She transmitted, before burying her face in the pillow in embarrassment and happiness. "Kyle is telling us to go to bed." Fitz said. Sophie could hear everyone's footsteps trooping up the stairs. Sophie quietly held onto the rope that had shortened drastically, that lead to Fitz's mind. Fitz's didn't let his side of the rope go either, as he prepared for bed.

"Goodnight Sophie." He transmitted softly. "Goodnight Fitz." Sophie replied, not letting the rope go, Fitz didn't either. It felt like a slight pressure in Sophie's mind. Like holding hands, or an encouraging touch. Sophie and Fitz stayed up all night, not talking but keeping hold on the bonding rope, neither losing the fool worthy smiles on their faces, that only came with first kisses. Sophie was happy beyond words.

Fitz had made her happy.

(Aaaaawwwww!!!!!)