The light slowly flickers away and my eyes adjust to the very familiar room. We take a step away from the leapmaster at Havenfield, my home. 

"Everyone should be in the main room," Dex starts, "Brace yourselves."

I swallow the lump in my throat and nod, stepping forward. My heartbeat starts to speed up as i think about how I can finally see Keefe. Tam pushes open the door and I set my eyes on the sight ahead of me. Dex was right, everyone was here. And also surrounding Keefe, who is in the middle, wrestling with Ro.

"Let me go or else I will make you smell like sasquatch poop for at least three months, I'm serious!" he exclaims. 

"I would love to see you try," she says, "I'm more prepared now after the last time you got me sick, hunkyhair."

"Please," he starts, "I need to see Sophie."

Sophie. My first name, which he rarely uses. 

"No need to keep begging," Tam calls attention to us and everyone turns their heads, gasps going throughout the room. 

"Oh Sophie!" Grady and Edaline engulf me in a hug first. 

"It's so good to see you guys again," my eyes start watering as I squeeze them tight.

"You never seize to higher our blood pressure, kid," Grady says, his laugh coming out a little bubbly. 

I hug all of my friends, Fitz noticeably not present. Probably for the best. 

"Go on loverboy," Ro lets Keefe go. 

Our eyes lock and I watch as the ice blue sparkles brightly. It's like he's just gotten the best present ever. He quickly makes his way to me and engulfs me tightly. As if I'm not close enough, even though there's not even an inch in between us. I wrap my arms around him and lay my head on his chest. 

"I was so scared I wasn't going to see you again, Foster," he says into my hair. 

"Of course you would see me again, Keefe, I'm no runaway bride," I look up at him and smile. 

A real smile. I feel the warmth flow through me. He holds my head in his arms tenderly and leans in towards me. 

"No, no, no," I feel him being pulled away from me. 

"Grady, leave them be!" Edaline swats him ,but he doesn't release Keefe. 

"No way, not under my roof," he says dragging Keefe to the other side of the room. "You are limited to hugs and hand holding maybe."

Everyone starts to laugh in the room, relief flowing across all the troubled minds. Until it doesn't. Someone clears their throat and we all look towards the interruption. 

"Sorry to break this up, but I'm still here," Gisela says waving her arms around. 

Suddenly, everyone goes into fight mode. I feel Edaline's grip on me tighten. 

Gisela rolls her eyes. "I can't do anything to you guys, so calm down."

"You cannot blame us for being cautious, Ms. Gisela," Mr. Forkle says. "After all, we have been fighting you for years, how can we now believe you are giving up and surrendering this easily?"

Suddenly, age starts to show on her face. She looks defeated and tired. 

"I have lost the reason why I started this in the first place. So many things have happened that I didn't want or plan for, and so many losses," she pushes back a few strands that fell from her bun, "and now, my son is getting married."

I notice a slight twinge of a smile appear on her face but it's for a short amount of time. "I'm done fighting. I surrender and you can punish me how you see fit. But I have one request."

Everyone starts to murmur in disagreement of adhering to her request, but Mr. Forkle silences them. 

"What would that request be?" he asks. 

"I would like to speak with my son," she says, now making direct eye contact with Keefe. 

I look over at Keefe and see him having the look of shock, confusion, anger, and sadness on his face. 

"What if Keefe doesn't want to talk to you?" Biana speaks up for him. "Why should he?"

"If he doesn't, I can't do much since i am cornered and too tired to fight back," she says honestly, "However, it is a request I say with dire need. I cannot give you a reason too, just that it would be something I want."

Everyone looks at Keefe, awaiting his answer. I can feel him starting to get overwhelmed by the pressure. 

"We just got back," I cut everyone off. "How about we let Keefe think about this for a little bit. You still haven't even been given a trial date," I point out and Mr. Forkle nods in approval. 

"I agree," Mr. Forkle supports, "For now, come with me."

Gisela walks towards Forkle and I watch her take one last longing look at Keefe before walking out the room with him. 

"Okay everyone, as much as this deserves a party, I bet Sophie needs to rest now," Biana says to everyone. "We can gather up here tomorrow and discuss everything."

She starts to shoo everyone out, and I'm grateful. The exhaustion is hitting my body. Edaline walks toward me with a sly smile. 

"I set up your bed upstairs, and let Keefe know he can stay here tonight as well. Not that he would even leave if someone told him," she says. 

"But Grady-"

"Don't worry about him, I will take care of it. Just go upstairs and rest. I'll conjure some bottles of youth for you."

I hug her tight and kiss her cheek. "Thank you, I love you."

"I love you, too, Sophie," she smiles softly at me. 

I notice Grady and Ro talking to Keefe so I escape upstairs, needing a shower. I quickly shower and change into comfy pajamas, feeling much more comfortable and relaxed than ever. As I finish drying my hair, I hear a knock at the door. 

"Come in," I call out. 

The door opens and Keefe stands there, with pajamas he probably borrowed from Grady. His crooked smirk makes his way on his dashing face and I start to feel weak at the knees. 

"Hey, Foster."