-Sophie came home to see her cognate and her dad sitting at the table together, drinking tea and chatting. When they saw her, Fitz stood up with a small smile, softly saying aloud, "I'll leave you guys to talk," but telepathically saying to her, "goodluck. Tell me about it later?"

"I will," she transmitted back with a nod before turning her attention towards her father.

Tension hung heavy in the air, weighing her down like chains. She couldn't move- she wanted to, but something- no- everything was holding her back. There were so many things unsaid between them, and Sophie wasn't sure how to shape the words in her mouth. She missed him, badly, but she didn't quite know how to reach out. It felt like they were miles apart with how far the silence stretched between them. This was going to be harder than she thought. She felt lost, stuck, confused, and wished she had Biana's skill with people. That would make everything easier- "You can do this," Fitz transmitted, "be bold, take the first step."

Taking a deep breath, she did, "Why did you mesmer me?"

A few seconds ticked by, and Sophie started to get nervous. She was about to say something else when he spoke, "I panicked..." he paused, "I... was angry at Keefe, and I guess I did it because I wish that I could forget that ever happened."

Her mouth was dry, "That's it?" She didn't add, 'That's all you have to say?'

"I'm sorry," continued Grady, "I regretted it after I did it too... and when you started having the blank memories resurface..." His voice shook almost as much as his hands, and all of the color in his face had fled to his ears, his body slowly curving towards the floor like the sinking of the tower of Pisa, only slower. It broke her heart to see her father so upset.

She knelt down next to him and hugged her father tightly. She was still upset, but this was one of those times where forgiveness was the answer, not anger, something she definitely needed practice with. It had been done, she needed to let go and for them to move on, for time to heal the crack in their relationship. He didn't hug her back for a second, and he was stiff, in shock. He probably didn't think he deserved forgiveness. Eventually, he held her tightly, and silence fell back upon them. Sophie was drawing a blank, she didn't know what else to say. Lucky for her, Grady did.

"I couldn't protect Jolie from Brant," he whispered, "I didn't- don't want to fail you too."

Sophie's stomach dropped slightly at the idea, and realized that this was all more than Grady being an overprotective dad. Why hadn't she realized this before? She felt like a complete idiot, as she pulled away to look at his face, wanting to see the honesty held in his eyes instead of just his voice, "Dad... I'm so sorry, I never saw it that way."

Grady nodded, eyes closed, his brow creased, "I know, and I didn't want to press those impressions onto Keefe at first, but..."

"Dad, it's okay," she soothed, "you don't have to explain any more, I get it now." Suddenly, inspiration struck her, "And I know what'll make you feel better."

She told him to go change into something green at to meet her at the Leapmaster in ten minutes. After changing into a long green tunic with a ruffled hems, she met her dad, who was wearing a green Jerkin and looking very confused. Smiling knowingly, she climbed up onto the platform, motioning for him to follow, and light leaped them to the Wanderling Woods.

She lead him through them, knowing exactly where to go, smiling knowingly as he tried to figure out what was going on. It was all over his face, which was twisted in confusion. Boy, he wasn't expecting what she had planned. She stopped in front of Jolie and Brant's trees with a confident smile on her face.

"Why... Why are we here?" Grady asked, clutching the hem of his jerkin.

Sophie took a few steps towards Brant's tree and spit on it, her saliva smacking the plant right at the center of the trunk. She then turned to see Grady smiling, a hint of pride and excitement glimmering in his eyes. He then stepped closer, and took his turn to disrespect Brant's tree. It was oddly satisfying really, and after a few moments of looking at it, Grady turned, his arm around Sophie's shoulders, "Let's go home."

---

+ "No, no, I'll take you home," Dex insisted confidently, making Biana's heart flutter. She had been like this the entire time they had hung out- noticing little things, suddenly getting nervous, suddenly blushing, her heart suddenly racing. It was exhilarating honestly, and a little embarrassing- No, that wasn't the right word, and "weird" didn't seem to cut it. It was obvious to anyone that she liked him, and he must have noticed what was going on my now, even Fitz had commented on it, and he's about as romantically dense as it gets. It made her nervous, made her feel... exposed in a way that she never felt when she liked Keefe, and she could barely understand what was going on, which was an added bonus to it all.

So this is love, mmmmmm

They had gone to the park with the triplets, Dex made sure that it was a different one from last time, much to the triplet's confusion, much to Biana's pleasure. Some memories needed to stay where they were made. They had talked while weaving between the swing sets, pushing the triplets as they demanded to be swung higher, Higher, HIGHER! They also tried to jump off a few times, and the two teens had to work fast when catching them with telekinesis and attempting to effectively scold them before they tried to do it again. They then went for a hike along the trails, listening to the triplet's whining and complaining like it was one of the songs on "Now That's What I Call 2017", but didn't pay much attention to the complaints of how tired they were, or if they were there yet, Dex and Biana just kept talking about everything and anything from the best prattles pin (Easily the moonlark in her opinion instead of some stinky sasquatch.) to how evil Councillor Alina was (which might as well count as treason), but hey, she's terrible, okay? Even though the day was over, Biana was still flustered. Dex was taking her home. That's a big cliche in the human world for people dating. BUT THEY WEREN'T DATING! They were just friends... and he was taking her home.

So this is love

"Are you sure?" She asked, wanting for him to be sure, "It's just light light leaping."

"Yeah, come on," Dex motioned for her to follow him on to the leapmaster platform when Lex ran up and grabbed them, holding them tightly.

So this is what makes life divine

"Don't go!" The little boy begged.

Biana was very amused, "Sorry, Lex, but Dad wants me home for dinner."

I'm all aglow, mmmmmm

"Yeah, come on, bud," Dex knelt down next to his brother, ruffling his hair with a small smile, a smile that set off the butterflies in her stomach flutter up her throat and bubble out of her mouth in a quiet laugh. When Dex looked up at her, she smiled widely on instinct, wondering why she was being such an idiot.

And now I know

Did she...?-

The key to all heaven is mine

When Lex was pried off of them, Dex helped her onto the leap master like a total gentleman, her face bright red. They waved goodbye to Lex just before they glimmered away. Once they reached Everglen, they walked up to the gate together, and Biana unlocked it. Dex walked her to the door, but once they were there, instead of Biana going inside, she turned to him, smiling shyly, "Thanks for taking me home, even though you didn't have to."

My heart has wings, mmmmmm

"My pleasure," Dex bowed jokingly, "we got to spend a few seconds of peace and quiet together."

And I can fly.

"The triplets are never quiet," Biana said in agreement, laughing, though it slowly died down as she looked into his eyes, which were staring back into hers. She just couldn't look away, they were alluring, he was alluring, and she was starting to understand why.

I'll touch ev'ry star in the sky.

The words she needed were on the tip of her tongue- the words that could answer her questions of why she was suddenly so nervous and idiotic around Dex, other than the fact that she liked him. The words to answer why her heart always felt like it was set ablaze when he was in the room- the way the butterflies in her stomach flew out when he looked at her. The way the world seemed to feel... easier, lighter, manageable. It must be...-

So this is the miracle I've been dreaming of

She didn't know how long they were standing there, slowly leaning forward until their faces were only a few inches, apart, eyes locked in some sort of trance, when Fitz opened the door.

"Oh hey, Biana- Oops," His eyes were a little wide as he looked at what was happening, "sorry. I'm just.... Going to go..." Her older brother them pointed at nothing and speed walked away, typical Fitz.

Needless to say, the moment was ruined, and they awkwardly stepped apart, red faced, "Um, so I..." He said anxiously, not looking at her.

Mmmmmm

"I-um-uh-um-I-uh-un- I'll see you tomorrow!" She said a bit quickly, and he waved goodbye before setting down the path back to the gate.

Biana watched him for a moment before turning inside, closing the door tightly behind her. With a sigh, she slid down said door, smiling like an idiot. She closed her eyes for a moment before the words finally came to mind, causing her to snap out of her dream like state, and stare dully into space, smiling even wider than before. The book on light leaping had been wrong. She didn't like Dex... she loved him.

Mmmmmm

She was in awe at this revelation, and giggled to herself quietly, her fingers brushing over her lips wistfully as she tried to process it all. Biana's mind felt like molasses, and she couldn't think of when it started or anything, all she knew was that she had to tell him the next time they were alone.

So this is love.

---

~Fitz felt bad about walking in on the Diana moment, though he was excited to see his sister fall in love. Speaking of love, as soon as he sat back down at his desk chair to study, Sophie transmitted to him, explaining what had happened.

He burst out laughing when he heard about the spitting thing, "So you just, like, launched your saliva at his wanderling tree?"

"Oh yeah," she sounded smug, "to be fair, we wore green."

"Word about this better not get out, people are going to think you're a bad influence on me," joked Fitz.

"A bad influence? Me? Never!"

"Are you sure about that?" He teased, "You set fire to your poor alchemy teacher's cape in your first year of Foxfire- your first month even!"

"That's just me being bad at alchemy," defended Sophie, "I'm clumsy."

"Still, remind me not to mess with you, like, ever again."

Even through their mental connection, he could hear her melodious laugh, and smiled, a smile that grew when she said out of the blue, "You know, I couldn't have fixed things with Grady without you."

As hurriedly as his blood was pumping through his veins, he assured her, "I'm sure you could have."

"I was really stuck until you gave me that advice," her words sent shivers down his spine, "you gave me the courage to take the first step and to work to forgive him." Did he really?

"Wow... I..." Fitz started to say, but Sophie cut him off.

"Oops, sorry, Edaline wants some help with Verdie- Thanks again, Fitz," she said his name like a precious jewel and he felt himself fall deeper in love with Sophie Foster- something he had never before dreamed possible.

"Goodluck."

He tried to go back to reading his textbook, but all he could do was stare at the words, smitten over a girl who was clueless she had the effect she did on him.

---

=Dex was laying face down on his floor, his face bright red. He had almost kissed Biana.  They had been so close, so so very close to kissing, but he was kind of glad Fitz stopped it. Biana wasn't ready to love him [Dex] yet, he could tell, but she was close. He wanted to be impatient and beg her to realize she loved him, but he knew he had to wait.

She still never ceased to make his skin prickle with energy when she touched him, or the air in his lungs get sucked out when she  told him how good of a person he was, even though he thought she was a thousand times better than he could ever be, but to be able to hold her, kiss her, he had to wait.

He absolutely loved the way she looked at him, her eyes wide, cheeks red. He could hear the anxiousness in her voice as she spoke to him, and when they were alone, just staring into eachother's eyes, he loved how he could almost feel her heartbeat through the dense tension, loving even more how it seemed to be in rhythm with his. All of this was what made it worth the wait. There was just something so romantic about watching the girl you loved fall in love with you.

"She could be the one," he whispered aloud, awestruck as he realized how in love he was with Biana. "She could really be the one." 

---

The Italics in Biana'S POV are lyrics from "So This Is Love", which is from the original Cinderella!