Dedicated to Rozberryxoxo and Sophitz_KOTLC for guessing who the elf is in the picture. Oh and magicistheonlysight you tried...

The elf is Physic. She has another identity I made up as Leanne (in the last book) she'll show up soon. ^-^

Unedited.

"Good morning." Sophie looked up at Fitz's crisp accented voice spoke. He stood looking ready for the day but not quite 'awake' he walked into the kitchen. Giving Myth's head a pat, he walked over to Sophie to see what she was making.

Sophie turned back to shredding cheese "Good Morning." She replied. "Do you need any help?" Fitz asked leaning over Sophie's shoulder. Sophie felt heat run up her neck. "I'm good." She shook her head. Fitz seemed to realize just how close he was to her, and took a step back. Taking his warmth with him. Sophie let out a breath, not knowing if it was of thanks or of wistfulness.

Behind her Fitz leaned against the island. Sophie could tell he had questions. A lot of them. She sighed as she sprinkled the cheese over the casseroles she was making, she pushed two of them into the oven, wiped her hands and turned to face him. "Just ask." She said. Fitz had been lost in his own questions, trying to answer them himself. He looked up at Sophie. "How did you even get to Germany?" He asked. "Mr. Forkle took me, that's how I got my first allergic reaction. He gave me libuim." Sophie said. "To clear your mind." It wasn't a question. Sophie nodded. "Why?" Fitz asked.

Sophie opened her mouth to speak, but her choice failed her. She turned away from Fitz, so she wouldn't have to stare into those pastel teal eyes, that knew nearly every secret, the eyes that bore into her like burning knives. "I had....guilt." Sophie said as she busied herself with cleaning the counters. Fitz seemed hesitant about asking, but his voice shook Sophie. "About?" Sophie took a deep breath. He'd find out anyways, and it was time she finally told someone, it was time someone besides Kyle and Nick knew. "Josh Gabriel Loskie." She whispered. Her mind sending a mental image of six year old Josh and her holding hands as they jumped into the pool. Where their parents waited. Sophie closed her eyes. Her heart hurt just thinking about him. Her throat closed refusing to work, so she switched to transmitting.

"He was my best friend. We did everything together. Our birthdays were the same day, we celebrated together, we'd play together, he was like my other half, our moms...our moms thought when we grew up we'd fall in love get married and have kids, they used to tease us that we were joined at the hip. Josh and I refused to be separated."

"Something smells amazing." Rose said as she walked in the kitchen. Sophie's mind unintentionally pulled away from Fitz's. She was shaking with cold and grief. She forced a smile to Rose. "Morning." She greeted. "What'd trouble are you two up to?" Rose asked looking between Sophie and Fitz. As she switched on the coffee maker. "Nothing more then the usual." Sophie said quickly. Rose raised her eyebrow rose. "Oh I'm sure." She said with a hint of sarcasm. The way she looked from Sophie to Fitz, made Sophie blush. "I'm going to clean up." Sophie said looking down at her thick purple and black flannel pajama pants, with a dark long sleeve shirt. Rose nodded, "Go ahead I'll get the food out when the timer goes off." She said. Sophie rushed past Fitz and upstairs.

In the bathroom as the mirror fogged up and steam filled the room, Sophie took deep breaths trying too soothe her hurting heart. She wasn't sure if she'd be able to tell the whole story of Josh to Fitz. 'Go at your own pace' Kyle's words came up as Sophie stood under the hot water. Her own pace, was going at a snail's pace, but it felt right. Fitz was holding himself back, slowing his own pace to stay beside Sophie.

To understand her point of view, to simply help her through every step she took, to be with her. Sophie stepped out of the shower. Twisting her hair into a towel, she dried off and changed into a warm white long sleeve shirt, black jeans and thick socks. She wiped the fog away from the mirror and stared at herself. Her eyes were starting to look shinier, with more sparkles, a green strand of hair curled out from under the fluffy black towel and-

Green hair...

Sophie had green hair. Pulling the towel off her head Sophie stared wide eyed at the almost neon green hair hanging down in curly strands. Keefe.

Sophie took a deep breath to calm herself. It didn't look that bad. In fact it made her eye stick out as darker, and the gold in them looked like stars, but that didn't change the fact it was green hair. Sophie placed the towel in the hamper. Cleaned up after herself and walked back to her room, where she dried her green hair, and decided what to do with it. Keefe obviously hadn't meant to prank her, he was probably trying to get Fitz...or Tam. It couldn't have been meant for her, and even if it was, she'd have to find a way to get it out.

She'd have to ask Dex. Sophie found her hands moving on their own as she braided her hair, humming a familiar tune. Sophie smiled as she remembered each strand that went where. Calla had taught her the braid. Sophie tied off the end with a black hair tie, before flipping the braid over her back. Green looked nice on her. Walking out of her room she hurried downstairs where everyone was getting breakfast.

Keefe nearly choked on his food when he saw her. "That was meant for Tam!" He said, as everyone's eyes turned to Sophie. "It doesn't look that bad." Dex was first to speak. Sophie rolled her eyes, her eyes darting to Fitz who looked like he had just seen a ghost. "Do you have anything I turn it back to how it was?" Sophie asked Dex. "Keep it like that. It'll totally get you a guy." Rose said. Sophie made a grimace. "I'm good." She had just figured out a triangle, partly, she wasn't about to plunge into another

"I could probably make something...it'd take a while though." Dex said. Sophie glared at Keefe who started snickering. "You." She growled, and Keefe straightened up as he heard and felt the promise of revenge.

~

"No, it won't work." Biana said. Sophie rolled her eyes. Kyle's flying lesson wasn't as long as normal and they had gotten home early.

Biana was in a harness of sorts with a snowboard under her feet. "Sure it will." Dex was next to her in his own harness. Kyle leaned back on the snowmobile to look up at them. Myth however hurried inside with Sophie. Rose was bent over an atlas drawing out a flight plan for Kyle.

When ever Sophie thought about teleporting her gut twisted and said no. Every cell in her body told her it was wrong. Having told Fitz he said she shouldn't go against her instincts. Sophie hurried into her room, where she found an elixir on her bed. Gulping it down, Sophie pulled off her jacket, a knock on her door, made her look over to see Fitz, standing just outside of her doorway. "Hey." She smiled as she laid her jacket at the end of the bed, with her gloves. "Hey....can I talk to you for a minute?" Fitz asked. Sophie nodded as she felt her heart skip, and those butterflies come to life. "Sure come in." She said, as she kicked off her boots, setting them by the door as Fitz walked in.

He closed Sophie's door half way, leaving it open a crack. "Dex was able to make an elixir?" He asked. Sophie glanced in her mirror to see her hair was blonde again. She nodded. "Yeah." She sat on the bed with Fitz, they faced each other. Fitz took a deep breath as if mentally preparing to say his piece he lifted his smoldering teal eyes to her, not letting her look away.

"Sophie....you know how I feel about you." He transmitted his eyebrow raising, waiting for her to confirm it. Sophie felt her face go red, but she nodded, remembering Fitz's words. Fitz let out a breath, "Good. I realized, I've told you about my feelings but since then I haven't said much else about it." Fitz leaned forward, his warm minty breath brushed against Sophie's face, he was so close, Sophie could see the silver in his eyes, the way his sharp cheek bones cast even sharper shadows over his cheeks.

She observed every detail of his face, he had a strong brow, his dark eyebrows arched just enough to make his face look mysteriously unique. His lips looked soft and warm, and....kissable.

Sophie blinked as she realized she had been staring at his lips longer then she should have she looked up at Fitz.

"Sophie, you are amazing. You are strong, you're incredible, you're brilliant, you're smart, you're faithful, you're forgiving, you're loving, you have a heart that has more capacity for love than I have ever seen, you are intelligent, you are courageous, you're brave, you're pure hearted, you're have a warm soul, you are beyond gorgeous, you're.... You are, everything.

Sophie besides these feelings I have for you, I have questions."

Fitz's brow puckered. "Am I good enough to stand beside you? To be your cognate partner? Am I strong enough to stand beside you?"

"Fitz-"

"Sophie, am I fooling myself?" Fitz asked aloud, his voice horse as his eyes burned into her soul, searching for answers. He looked lost, as if he were scared of fooling himself, of being a fool. "Give me a sign...a word...a moment...anything. Please just let me know that maybe one day...we'll... We could be more, let me know that I can stand beside you. Please, I...I need something." He said. "Let me know you feel something for me." He whispered.

Sophie felt her chest turning numb from how fast her heart wads pounding. "Fitz, I'm sorry." She said. Fitz's eyes closed in pain for the rejection that was to come. The rejection he expected. "I'm sorry I'm putting you through pain." Sophie said. "I'm sorry I'm hurting you, and making you wait, but what we have...right now, I'm not ready to change it. I'm afraid to change it. But please.....please don't give up on me, I...I just need time. One day, I promise if we still feel this way, one day, but I hate putting you through this, and you don't have to wait, and you don't have to hope, but please I just need time." Sophie whispered.

Fitz's eyes shot open, as he processed her words. "The answer is yes." Sophie said. "Yes, you can stand beside me. Yes, you are good enough, yes, you are strong enough, and yes...." Sophie sealed her lips for a second before speaking again. "Yes, I do feel for you." She said. Fitz looked like he was trying hard to fight a smile. "You do?" He asked shyly. Sophie hesitated a moment before nodding. "Time?" Fitz asked. "That's what you need?" Sophie looked around her room. She opened her mouth, before stopping her words. "I think it is." Fitz stared at her. "Think?" He asked. Sophie looked back at him, "I'm not completely sure what I need, right now, but time feels right."

"You're afraid." He said. "Of what?" Sophie asked snappier then usual. Fitz's didn't lean away from her, instead he did the exact opposite. He leaned closer. "You're afraid of falling for me. Of giving your heart away."

Sophie had to be sure, and Fitz's wanted confirmation too. Sophie placed her hands on either side of Fitz's face. "Maybe, I am." She whispered, before closing the space between them. She kissed him.

She kissed him.