Unedited.

"Leanne's?" The German woman placed her chin in her hand as she thought. Sophie waited as patiently as she could. "No, sorry I don't remem- wait! Yes I do! That Leanne's." The woman told Sophie directions to the small shop.

Sophie thanked the woman, and hurried away with her family and friends. "That's so weird how you can switch from one language to the next without a single mistake." Dex said. Sophie blushed, but grinned, "I can hardly tell I'm speaking a different language." She said, as they hurried down the walkways.

Past red roofed houses, farms that smelled of sheep dung...or some other kind of animal. Past tall trees that were darker green then any other tree Sophie had seen, and picking their way around gardens, Sophie spotted the green shop. There sat non other than Leanne, the elf covered from head to toe in tattoos and piercings, and from the picture it was one of Physic's secret identities. Leanne's eyes widened at the sight of Sophie. She and Sophie stared at each other before they both snapped into action. Leanne tried to rush inside but Sophie was running after her, just as the door closed Sophie raised her foot and slammed in the door, kicking open the door, it bounced off the wall and swung back at her.

Sophie stopped it with her arm and raced after Leanne's figure that was disappearing around the corner. Sophie ran smack dab into Leanne who had planted herself in front of the leap master. "You can't go back! Not yet." she said shoved Sophie back, but Sophie wasn't about to give up, she shoved Leanne just as hard. "I'm going home." Sophie said planting her own feet as she and Leanne were locked in a shoving war. "You can't." Leanne said. "Just who is gonna stop me?" Sophie asked gritting her teeth, as she felt Leanne's footing giveaway. Just as everyone rushed in, Leanne swept Sophie's feet out from under her, letting her fall to the ground unceremoniously. She looked up, "The leal master is brok-ah!" Sophie had pulled Leanne's own leg out from under her, making the elf fall on her backside.

Sophie shoved Leanne down, by the shoulders. Glaring into the blue eyes. "Do you honestly want to mess with me?" Sophie asked lowly, almost growling. Leanne rolled her eyes, Sophie felt her eyes widen as Leanne managed to switch positions. "I have orders to follow." Leanne said as she struggled to pin Sophie down, being firm, but not harsh. Sophie squirmed before reaching up and yanking Leanne's dyed black and purple hair. "You did not!" She said as she and Sophie locked into a wrestling match, bantering at the same time.

"I'm going home."

"You could of just used teleporting and I wouldn't be struck here."

"No I can't, something wrong with it."

"Then I'll need to take you somewhere else."

"I'm not arguing with you! Someone see if the stupid leap master is working."

"Don't you dare! Try it and Sophie gets it."

"What? A bunch of medicine? Either way I'm going home."

"Ouch! You!"

"Aaah! Don't bite me!"

"Don't pull my hair!"

"Then let me to home-"

"Well!" A new voice said. "This is very undignified... Of both of you." Both Sophie and Leanne sat up, glaring at Mr. Forkle. "You!" They both growled. "My sincerest apologies." He said. "However this matter will have to wait. It's time for everyone to return home, the most urgent emergencies have been taken care of." Mr. Forkle said.

~

"It's weird isn't it?" Fitz asked a week later. Sophie had expected a war, but everything was calm as ever, serene and peaceful. "Being home. I kinda got used to the plane." Fitz said as he stalked farther into Foxfire's library. "You can say that again." Sophie mumbled. "It seems..." Fitz didn't know what word to use to describe it. "Normal, and unexciting." Sophie offered. Fitz nodded, "That's it, it just gives me the uneasy feeling of...of something is wrong." He whispered, as a group of level fours pushed by, casting him glances and giggling quietly.

Sophie gave a glare at them and they hurried on, Sophie turned to face Fitz who looked amused for some reason. "There is nothing we can do about it." She said. Because she and Fitz had finished training, they had a full free period, Sophie had slipped off to the library, and Fitz had found her. Easily. "No I suppose not, but there isn't any thing fun I..." His eyes went to Sophie's. "Can do." He said his eyes glancing at her lips once then back up to her. Sophie felt her face go red, as she turned her back to him. "Sucks for you." She said shoving the book of 'The arts of gardening' back. Apparently Sandor missed them so much he found all their plans for the garden and built and planted it by himself, with a bit of help.

Of course he gruffly said he was on edge and needed something to distract himself with. No one believed him for a minute and had hugged him fiercely, even Tam. Now Sandor waited in the shadows just out of earshot of Sophie and Fitz, Sophie hoped it was out of earshot. "Yes, it does." Fitz hummed wistfully as he leaned against the shelf of book's Sophie was looking through. His arm resting just beside his head, Sophie stepped out of arms reach of him. Fitz seemed more...dangerous somehow. Now that they were home, now that he knew about Josh, now that he seemed more spontaneous.

Only yesterday he had dropped by Havenfield unannounced, and Sophie was obligated to keep him entertained somehow, but she also had chores. So she did the only thing she could think of, she out him to work on brushing Verdie's teeth, which he vowed she owed him for. Sophie had promised a box of prattles, which he rolled his eyes at. Then they had aimlessly explored the garden. Fitz nearly named every flower and plant in the garden, telling her what they did, then he had been hailed but Della then left.

"So how's everyone settling back in?" Sophie asked quickly changing the subject. Fitz smiled down at her, "Fine really. Biana already has a stack load of fashion designs for Pearl, Dad is back working for the council, and Mom well she's back to calling on Lady Gardenia with Biana."

"Who is Lady Gardenia? I've heard about her from Biana, Melody and Edaline." Sophie said. "She's a matchmaker." Fitz smirked, "Everyone goes to see her when they like somebody, to see if they could be a potential match, or to just get advice, chat and gossip." Fitz said. Sophie had remembered Melody and Edaline had played something like matchmaking before hand. "She's kind of like a celebrity matchmaker, everyone goes crazy if their scrolls were assigned by her." Fitz said. Sophie frowned.

"A matchmaker....you and your family had dinner with her didn't you?" She asked. Fitz groaned as his face turned red. "Worse dinner too. The food was good but apparently she had decided to see how Lady Belva and I would do as a potential match." Sophie's frown deepened as something close to jealousy pulled in her chest. "Don't worry, me and Belva already have a reputation of not being allowed to sit at the same dinner table again." Fitz said. Sophie snickered, "What'd you do?" Fitz's face went red again. "Belva, was the last person I expected or wanted to be seated across from me, so I....I took Keefe stupid advice on rejecting girls and told her straight up that I wasn't her match."

Keefe had gone to see Lady Gardenia? Not only that had Fitz been expecting someone else? How had Lady Belva reacted? How had his family reacted?

"Lady Belva stood up and threw ice tea in my face. She said she thought I was going to be someone else. She didn't say it but you could tell Lady Gardenia had tricked her into thinking I was Keefe." Fitz said. "Thankfully my meeting wasn't nearly as worse as Keefe's. I heard he had an all out food war started between him and Florence, apparently their dislike for their parents struck a truce between then and they embarrassed them and themselves while at it. I doubt Lady Gardenia is going to invite them back."  Fitz said. "Don't get me started on Biana, hers their so crazy I refuse to go. I heard some kid tried kissing her and she smashed a baked potato in his face, then dumped the flower arrangement over his head."

"Gardenia, sounds like a very patient woman." Sophie said. "Nah, she's pushy and sometimes cold, but she is obsessed with Biana's clothes so she has high tolerance for us Vackers. In fact I actually have another dinner meeting today. No matter how much chaos I cause she doesn't get the hint, and Dad and Mom...they just skt back and watch as everything unfolds, like it's somehow amusing. This next girl I'm trying to decide it I should try starting a food fight of if I should attempt arguing with Gardenia to stop setting me up."

"T-tonight?" Sophie asked, her throat suddenly parched. Fitz smiled easily, "Nothing will happen besides disaster these things never work out for me anyways." He said, in a promising tone. "It's not like I'm worried o-or anything." Sophie huffed, but the stumble in her words made Fitz lean closer to her. "You sure?" He asked. Sophie felt her face turn red, "O-o-of course." She stuttered unconvincingly. Fitz smiled at her, his eyes dancing with what looked like happiness. He sighed a almost content smile as he leaned closer to her, his eyes locking hers to his own.

"Denial isn't your color Sophie." He whispered. Sophie felt her face burning, she turned away from Fritz and walked a few paces away. What was he doing? She had asked for time not flirting... But maybe....just maybe two could play the same game....

"Sorry, I shouldn't mess with you like that." Fitz said, though he hardly sounded sincere. How was Sophie going to do this? She didn't have boy skills, guys skills or any other kind of social skills. She was going to regret this...maybe. Sophie didn't like that chance of maybe. "So, a food war or an argument. I'd say go with the food war because clearly you're flirting skills aren't to good." Great Sophie! That was fantastic! She told herself sarcastically. Fitz's eyebrows went down as he looked a bit hurt. "Of course you can see how far it gets you with the girl, and then try it on me or you could shut up and kiss me already." Did she really just say that? Sophie felt her face burn, as unexplained anger burned in her chest.

Fitz didn't kiss her. In fact his frown deepened. "What's wrong?" He asked. "Nothing." Sophie snapped, though clearly something was wrong, she didn't quite know what it was herself. "The Sophie I know wouldn't say that. So we're going to talk this out." Fitz said. Sophie clenched her teeth, as she put on her most defiant face, she glared up at him, she crossed her arms. "Maybe you just don't know me all that wel-" Sophie was cut off by Fitz's arms wrapping around her in a warm embrace. What was he doing? What- why was the anger easing? Why- Sophie shut her brain up, or tried to at least.

She hesitantly laid her head on his bent shoulder. Fitz held her wrapped in an embrace until they heard Sandor cough, Fitz pulled away smiling. "Better?" He asked. Sophie nodded, embarrassed at how she acted. "Now about that kis-"

"Don't even think about it." Sophie said letting her hair fall around her red face. Fitz sighed, "Dang it." He rumbled. "I'll have to settle for another hug then." He said, reaching for Sophie again. Sophie squeaked and hurried out of his arm's length. Fitz chuckled, "Okay okay fine." He said holding his hands up in a truce. Sophie sighed in relief, as she went back to browsing the bookshelf. Fitz glanced in the shadows where Sandor most likely was giving Sophie his best glaring eyes of 'We are talking about this later' she refused to meet that cold gaze. Fitz switched to transmitting.

"This girl... Whoever it is. She'll be nothing compare to who I'm waiting for." Sophie felt her blush burn again. "Trust me Sophie, nothing will happen tonight, besides maybe an argument or food fight."

Silence passed between them as Sophie tried to fight her blush. Fitz tilted his head, letting light make one eye burn with honesty while the other was shrouded in darkness. "Why? Why wait for me? You could have any girl you wanted, so why wait?" Fitz's smile broke forward. The smile Sophie had come to like way to much, the smile that wasn't teasing or half a smirk, and it wasn't the movie star one. This was the one of honest happiness. "The longer the waiting the sweeter it is." He answered.

"The sweeter what is?"

"Everything."

"So you don't mind waiting?" Sophie asked, as she pulled a book out. "Oh I mind." Fitz's voice sounded dark which made Sophie look up. He frowned before transmitting again. "But I know, the longer I wait, the longer I try it'll all be worth it." A smiled graced his face as the lines smoothed and hide brow eased. "You are worth it." Fitz was on a roll with making her blush today, and he seemed to notice to. "What exactly are you trying for Fitz?" Sophie asked pushing the book back in it's place.

"You." Fitz answered firmly. "I want you to be mine as much as I am yours. I want your heart just like you have mine, I want your every kiss, your every touch, your every look. I want...you." He said, not sounding at all embarrassed about it, his gaze was open, honest and firm, though an edge of fragility ringed his eyes. "But why me? I mean I'm far from perfect-" Sophie cut off as Fitz took her by the shoulders, his face hard with determination.

"Sophie, if I could dream up the perfect woman, the most perfect person in the world they wouldn't even come close to you. Not by a long shot, if someone did come even a smidgen close to how perfect you are, the sun and moon would have to be colliding, and the stars would have to be falling out of the sky like hail. Trust me, you are far from perfect, you are beyond perfect no word can describe just how amazing and brilliant you are, and stop hiding your blush it's cute."

Sophie refused to look up at Fitz. Her head had to be on fire. Fitz held her shoulders a moment longer, staring at her before sighing and stepping back, he crossed his arms. "Why can't you just see? Why can't you see I'm-"

"Don't Fitz. Don't hurt yourself, I..."

"Time. I know." Fitz sounding slightly exasperated, but he took a deep breath composed himself and spoke. "I promised, and I'm someone who will keep my word." He said. "Thank you." Sophie said quietly. Fitz sighed and wrapped his arm around Sophie's shoulders in a half hug. "Don't thank me yet." He winked. Sophie pushed him away though a smile was forming at her face. "Dork." She grumbled as she headed over to Sandor. "All this time and you come back empty handed." Sandor scolded lightly. "We might of done something els-" Fitz let out a small grunt as Sophie drew back her elbow from his stomach she smiled sweetly at Sandor.

"I was just browsing. Besides school is almost over anyway." Sophie said, as if on que the chimes rang through Foxfire. Fitz grinned, "We can always stay in the library, I can say I got caught up and accidentally missed the dinner."

"Dinner?" Sandor asked before his eyes widened. "Dinner." He lifted Sophie off her feet and bolted out the door. "Hey, what are you doing? Put me down Sandor." Sophie said wiggling but Sandor made it to the leap master before the first student had left their studies. "Home." He grumbled. "Havenfield." Sophie called to the leap master.

~

At Havenfield, Sandor hurried her all the way up to her room. "Sandor what has gotten into you?!" Sophie asked managing to yank her hand out of his grasp. Sandor sighed, deeply.

"You're the one going to the dinner."

(Oh would you look at that!)