Looking around Sophie was surprised to see where the final coordinates had sent her.

“Sophie, you made it! When you didn't respond to our messages, we didn't think you were coming.” Marella squealed as she grabbed Sophie's hand pulling her towards the group of friends.

Sophie quickly surveyed the scene and was surprised to see Dex and Keefe gathered around something, Linh and Wylie were playing with light and water near the shoreline, and Biana had finally realized Sophie was there and was making her way over. There were groups of kids Sophie recognized from school and in the distance she spotted Tam and Fitz deep in conversation, oblivious to her arrival.

“Are you ok now?” Biana whispered pulling Sophie into a hug.

Still shocked as to how she had gotten there she simply nodded. She hadn't really expected to end up anywhere specific but Keefe's party was not even on her radar. How did Tiergan even know about Keefe's party?

“Well come on you're just in time.” Biana said as she pulled Sophie down to sit between her and Marella. “Keefe and Dex are just about ready. Dex added some modifications so who knows what is going to happen.”

“Come on everyone, it is almost ready.” Keefe yelled out to gather the group over to where the girls were sitting.

“What's almost ready?” Sophie asked still trying to piece everything together.

“Really Foster? This is called an aurenflare or have you forgotten what that is?” Keefe smirked at Sophie.

“It's a special kind of bonfire.”

Sophie smiled as a familiar accented voice filled her head again.

“Keefe, it's a bonfire.” Sophie smarted back with a grin.

“Way to keep up Foster, you are in for a treat. Dex has tinkered with this one to make it extra special. Right Dex?” Keefe said turning to Dex.

“Yes, I added a little-” Dex started to speak.

“No offense, but none of us get what it is exactly that you do, just that in the end it is cool.” Keefe said interrupting Dex. “Marella a little help here.”

“Good thing Linh is here, I'm better at this pyro thing but I would hate it to burn down Lord Cassius’ beach escape.” Marella muttered under her breath.

In a matter of minutes a glorious bonfire was raging on the beach, the colors from the leaves seemed to dance up into the sky. Sophie sighed and her shoulders dropped.

“Are you ok? Any headache this time?” Fitz transmitted.

“No, I'm fine. It has just been a long day, confusing and long.”

“Want to talk about it?”

“No, yes, kind of, I don't know.”

The confusion was racing through Sophie's head, was she ready to talk to Fitz? Before she had arrived she was ready to find him, she just thought she would have more time to gather her thoughts.

“Well I was hoping we could talk about what happened.” Fitz suggested tentatively.

“Good talk?” Sophie transmitted nervously.

“Well that depends on a couple things.”

Sophie couldn't help but feel the hesitancy in his transmission.

“It wasn't what you think. . .” Sophie started to transmit as Fitz sent “I read your letter.”

“Maybe we should talk rather than transmit.”

“I think that's a great idea.”

Fitz stood up from the other side of the colorful flames and made his way over to Sophie. He stopped in front of her and extended his hand. “Take a walk with me?”

Sophie grabbed his hand and stood up, leaving Bianan and Marella giggling as she and Fitz walked towards the waves away from the fire.

“What do you think I saw Sophie?” Fitz asked dropping Sophie's hand while turning to look at her.

“I think you saw me holding hands with Taron having a special picnic when I was supposed to be with you.” Sophie admitted sheepishly.

“Well that is what I saw, but what I didn't stick around to find out was why.”

“Taron is a begulier.” The words flew out of Sophie's mouth.

“Seriously? That's ironic.” Fitz said rolling his eyes.

“I know right? Well it started with that morning, I wanted to something special for when you got there. I missed you so much. I asked Edaline to have the Gnomes help set it up. Then Rina and Taron showed up. I had no idea they were siblings and I didn't know how to tell them to leave, somehow they found out about the picnic and ended up at our spot, Rina went to go get Iggy, I didn't have my gloves on and Taron grabbed my hand, well he can't control his ability very well and my enhancing must have made him go a little crazy.” Sophie rushed to try and explain the scene Fitz had found. “when you got there it was just really bad looking but nothing happened. I wouldn't do that to you, you have to believe me.”

“I believe you Sophie,” Fitz said confidently. “Keefe gave me your letter.”

“He did?” Sophie asked tentatively. “Why?”

“I was freaking out, he didn't want me to make a mistake and say or do something I would regret. Did you mean what you said?”

“Every word.” Sophie paused letting that reality sink it. “I found your gift, with the memory log.”

“You did?” Fitz questioned his eyebrows coming together.

“Yes, your mom told me to go through it. I really loved seeing things through your perspective. Did you mean what you wrote in the end?”

“I do.”

“Why did you think I would want to be with Taron and not you when you saw us together?” Sophie asked her confidence growing knowing he wanted her.

Fitz was quiet for a minute. “You are Sophie Foster, you are incredible, while we were apart I kept thinking about all the amazing things you do and I didn't think I was good enough for you. Until I read your letter I didn't really understand why you would want to be with me.”

“Fitz, of course I want to be with you, you are the only person I have ever wanted to be with. You are so much more than I ever even hoped for. Tonight before I got here Tiergan sent me to all these places,” Sophie said quickly her words jumbling together. “I’m still not sure why he did it but the only thing I could think of was you. You are so intertwined in my life, my head and my heart hurt to not have you with me. I have almost died so many times and you have been the one to save me.”

“Really? That's what you thought of the places on my list?”

“Your list?” Sophie wasn't sure she had heard him correctly.

Fitz looked away and his cheeks flushed. “I may have asked Tiergan to help get you here tonight. I made the list. I was hoping by visiting those places you would see that you trust me, and have always trusted me and that you would forgive me for betraying my trust in you today.”

“I can't forgive you Fitz.” Sophie said quietly.

“You can't?” Worry was laced in Fitz's words.

“You did nothing wrong, I was the one who has been holding back and giving you reasons to doubt what we feel is real. I know now that it is me that has been keeping you from being able to mind loop. You trust my mind to allow me to come to you but I couldnt let you in, I get it now, I didn't want to be hurt again and lose you like I lost my Foster family but not letting you in is not allowing us to grow. What we have is real and powerful and I get it now. I love you Fitz.”

“What about your secret?” Fitz's voice was hesitant.

“What about my secret?” a bewildered Sophie questioned back.

“Do you trust me enough to tell me whatever it is that you haven't been able to say?”

A huge grin spread across Sophie's face. “I guess you didn't realize it when I told you I liked you. That has been my secret for years.”

“Really? That is what I have been worried about? I thought you had, well never mind it's not important.” Relief pulsed through Fitz's body.

“So we are ok? It's only going to get harder to be apart, we have to really trust one another.”

“Sophie, I love you and I may freak out a little but I know you trust me, you always have and I need you just as much as you need me.” Fitz declared confidently.

Sophie couldn't help herself that was what she had wanted Fitz to say. She immediately threw her arms around his neck and pulled him closer to her. Both times Fitz had been the one to kiss her, she had subtly let him know it was ok but this time she knew exactly what she wanted to do. Pulling from her mental energy and the emotions she kept balled up inside her she confidently move her lips towards Fitz preparing to inflict all the love and trust she had in him, not him them she told herself. Together they would be unstoppable and it wouldn't matter who tried to come between them as long as they kept their trust in each other nothing would keep them apart.

Author note:

Just an epilogue left!

Thank you to everyone who has read. I never imagined that this would be more than a couple of chapters. I have read all the comments and even though I don't respond to them they make me smile so thank you!