Sophie's thoughts screamed, HE'S GOING TO KISS ME!

And he did. Their lips met each other, and he hugged her tight. It was awkward, though, and they pulled apart, far too soon for Sophie's liking.

"You've really liked me since you met me?" Fitz whispered.

Sophie nodded. "You're a pretty likeable guy."

Fitz winced. "Well, I'm pretty blind then."

Sophie laughed. "Yeah, you are. But at least you're not completely blind." She gave him a look. "But you still didn't see that chandelier."

Fitz scowled. "I really, really shouldn't have told you that story."

Sophie grinned. "I think it's adorable. How often do you hear embarrassing stories about your boyfriend?"

Both of them blushed when the word came out, but they both knew it was decidedly true. They were finally together, and it was amazing.

"Do you want to go back to check on Alvar and Biana?" Sophie asked.

Fitz groaned. "Oh, don't ruin the day with Alvar and his mess!"

Sophie grimaced. "Yeah, it would, right?"

Fitz nodded. "But we should go back. I just... wow, I can't believe I waited so long to tell you that. I just want sure if you returned the feelings."

"I wasn't sure if you did, either," Sophie said, a frown creasing on her face before she grinned. "Well, we're both incredibly silly. So... we are going back? That's going to be okay with you? And... your echo?"

Fitz shrugged. "I can handle an echo." Then he flashed her one of his adorable smiles. "It's more under control with you around."

Sophie resisted the urge to hug him and squeeze him until he popped. But she noticed he was limping really heavily. 

"Is your leg okay?" she asked, concerned.

Fitz grimaced. "Yeah, it doesn't seem alright, does it? I'll get through it. There's no reason to worry."

Sophie raised her eyebrows. "Are we copying Alden today? Then should I copy Grady? You okay, kiddo?"

Fitz laughed. "Nah, I just wanted to say something and it felt right, you know?"

"You know when Alden says that, no one believes him, right?"

Fitz nodded. "I wonder why he still bothers."

"Well, he thinks we believe him."

His hand slipped into hers, and together, they walked towards the room where Biana and Alvar were. Fitz seemed incredibly reluctant and Sophie stopped him before the reached the door.

"You're sure your okay," she said. She had to make sure.

Fitz nodded. "You think we need to probe his memories again?"

Sophie frowned. "I don't know, there isn't much in there, is there? We tried everything. Gisela, Vespera, Gethen, Lodestar, he definitely knew about those. It has to be something else."

"Something serious," Fitz agreed. "But, you're still grounded, right?"

Sophie winced at the reminder. "Well, not grounded. But I have lots of training, and I'm not letting Sandor or Tarina or Bo or Flori or Nubiti down." She smiled. "But hey, we'll still talk every night."

"It doesn't feel like enough," he whispered, and she echoed his feelings.

"Well, someday, when this mess with the Neverseen is over, we'll have some time to ourselves."

"Don't bet on it," Fitz said darkly.

Sophie reached out her hand. "Hey. I'm here, okay?"

Fitz finally smiled. "Yeah, you are. Everything's going to be okay." He leaned closer. "I'm glad I can trust somebody."

Sophie blushed, and couldn't stop it. But he only smiled more warmly. That adorable smile that was one of the reasons she had such a big crush on him.

They re-entered the room, and Biana was having a friendly conversation with Alvar. That immediately got Fitz's fists clenched in anger, but Sophie laid her hand on his shoulder, and he cooled down.

Alvar raised a hand. "Little brother, care to join our conversation? We're discussing moonlarks."

Sophie glanced at Biana, but she just shrugged. "Alvar's interested in them," she explained.

Fitz snapped his fingers. "That's it! Project Moonlark!"

He waited, but there was no reaction from Alvar.

"What?" Alvar asked warily after a moment.

Fitz looked frustrated. "But that have to have sparked a memory! Or something! Neverseen! I don't know! Legacy!"

"We tried those. And you're probably going to awaken your echo," Sophie soothed.

He looked furious, but his expression turned softer when his eyes landed on Sophie. "Yeah, you're right," he mumbled. Then he sent telepathically, 𝘉𝘶𝘵 𝘸𝘩𝘢𝘵'𝘴 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘰𝘣𝘴𝘦𝘴𝘴𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘮𝘰𝘰𝘯𝘭𝘢𝘳𝘬𝘴?

Sophie sent back, 𝘐 𝘥𝘰𝘯'𝘵 𝘬𝘯𝘰𝘸. 𝘏𝘦 𝘤𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘫𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘣𝘦 𝘨𝘦𝘯𝘶𝘪𝘯𝘦𝘭𝘺 𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘮.

Fitz sighed, and Biana glared at them. "Quit the private telepathic conversations," she said, annoyed. "You know I don't like being left out."

"Well, we're not trying to leave you out," Fitz pointed out. "But there's a certain person in this room who isn't trustworthy at all."

Alvar frowned. "You know I'm not who I used to be."

"No, I don't know!" Fitz spat. "You're the same person you always were! Tired of the Vacker legacy, are you? Well, we don't care about you! We-"

He sank to his knees, chest heaving, and Biana came over but he lashed out, "I don't want you here! You support Alvar! You think he's changed! He hasn't, just you..." 

He grew pale, shaking even on his knees, and Sophie quietly sent him a message, 𝘍𝘪𝘵𝘻. 𝘗𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘴𝘦, 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘦𝘤𝘩𝘰. 𝘠𝘰𝘶 𝘤𝘢𝘯'𝘵 𝘬𝘦𝘦𝘱 𝘨𝘦𝘵𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘮𝘢𝘥.

𝘚𝘰 𝘐 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘺 𝘤𝘢𝘯'𝘵 𝘧𝘦𝘦𝘭 𝘮𝘺 𝘧𝘦𝘦𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘴, he sent back, resigned.

𝘠𝘰𝘶 𝘤𝘢𝘯 𝘧𝘦𝘦𝘭 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘮, 𝘣𝘶𝘵 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘤𝘢𝘯'𝘵 𝘢𝘤𝘵 𝘰𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘮. 𝘠𝘰𝘶 𝘤𝘢𝘯 𝘢𝘭𝘸𝘢𝘺𝘴 𝘵𝘢𝘭𝘬 𝘵𝘰 𝘮𝘦 𝘢𝘣𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘮, Sophie promised.

𝘛𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘬𝘴, 𝘚𝘰𝘱𝘩𝘪𝘦. 𝘐 𝘸𝘪𝘭𝘭. Fitz snapped out of the trance and lifted his head. "Well, never mind," he said with a sigh. Then he glanced at Sophie. "You think I can go back to Havenfield with you? Maybe join a training session?"

Sophie winced. "Yeah, well... they can be a bit traumatic. You should see what Sandor made me do..."

"Show me," Fitz said.

She sent him mental images of the dummy splattering lushberry juice, and he could feel her terror when it happened. He placed a calming hand on her shoulder when she started shaking just from the memory.

"It was very disturbing," she warned.

"We'll get through to together. It's probably better than you being alone," Fitz said.

Sophie tried not to admit how she would really, really want Fitz to be there with her.

"Okay, let's go," she said. "I'll take you to Havenfield. And, Biana? Keep Alvar away."

Alvar looked insulted but Biana nodded. "I won't let him anywhere near Fitz."

"You should stay away, too," Fitz pointed out. Biana ignored him. "Well... then that's it, right? We can go?"

"Sure." Sophie tugged out her home crystal and took Fitz's hand into hers. "Let's go."