Only guards were awake two hours before dawn, which was why Ilya and Christa had tip toed into the kitchen. After brewing up a cup of tea they sat facing each other, close enough that their knees were touching. Christa's hair was loose, flowing over her shoulder. She fidgeted with the ends enjoying the soft feel between her fingers. It was Ilya's turn to ask a question and she was enjoying watching him think. He kind of stared up at the ceiling while he tapped his chin with two of his fingers. His eyes were like the ocean on a sunny day, blue and crystalline. She was pretty sure she could stare into them all day.

"I have it. What food do you hate to eat?"

"That's it? You took the last ten minutes to think and that is all you could come up with!" Her smile took over her entire face. "Cabbage, I really don't like cabbage, at least when it is cooked. Fresh it is tolerable."

"I don't think I have eaten cooked cabbage?" It was a statement that came out more like a question.

"Even if you did, I bet Chloey found a way to make it good. My mother would boil it, the whole house would smell horrible for days. My question. What is the most trouble you have been in?"

"Hmmm, when I was eight, I poured ink over my tutor's head. I would have only gotten locked in my room but I tried to convince my father that it was an accident. I got whipped for lying. It was definitely the worse whipping I ever got. I have never lied since."

"That was worse than when you sneaked away from your guards and went camping in the woods?"

"Yes."

"The whole castle got put on lock down for three days! I can't believe that pouring ink over someone's head was worse."

"It was actually the falsehood that made it worse. Never, never lie to the king. I bet you never got in much trouble."

"Only when I was with Jonathan. Jacob would try to keep us out of trouble, but somehow, we always managed to wreak havoc. After Jacob quit living at home there was no stopping us. I would sneak away after I finished my lessons when mother was busy teaching others. This was before Jonathan was old enough to be officially in training. We came up with all kinds of pranks. There was this one night we sneaked into the cadet's rooms and took all the left boots. We didn't know but the next morning was a scheduled uniform inspection. All the cadets lined up with one boot on. I will never forget my father's face."  She laughed at the memory.  "It's your turn to ask a question."

"How soon will you marry me? Tomorrow?"

"We haven't even announced our betrothal. There is an order to these things." Christa answered blushing and grinning. Ilya's eyes were wide with hope. Christa leaned over, just as her lips brushed his, the door banged open.

Jonathan scanned the room, saw that they were alone and grinned.

"Maybe you two should head back upstairs before Jake finds out you have slipped away."

"Where were you going all alone?" Christa asked with her eyebrows raised.

"The orchard, only Gavin is on his way down so I am not alone. Want to come?"

The couple took one look at each other and shot to their feet.

"Let's go."  Ilya took her hand. As they headed outside Christa was so full of joy that she thought she might burst.

They walked through the orchard talking and laughing. It was a night so similar yet so very different than one over a year before. Christa couldn't help reminiscing.

"This reminds me..."

"Of that night." Jonathan finished grinning. "That story ended much better than it started."

"Oh. That night." Ilya turned somber.

"The night our lives collided." Voice as dramatic as possible Christa spread her arms out in an all-encompassing gesture.

They all remembered the night when Prince Ilya had stumbled upon Jonathan and Christa fencing in the orchard. Christa had slipped away and Jonathan met the Prince's wrath with blatant defiance. Then there was no way to know but that moment would lead to the closest friendships possible.

Watching Christa's dramatic actions started the boys laughing again. They had reached one of the best places in the orchard. Jonathan flopped down like a fish then rolled to his back. There was a gap in the trees here and the multitude of stars could be seen. Ilya followed his example. Christa gracefully lowered herself to the ground but didn't lay down. After a couple minutes Jonathan propped himself up on his elbows and looked at his sister.

"What's the problem? You love star gazing."

Making a sour face at him and twirling her hair in her fingers she answered. "I'll get grass in my hair. Usually when we come out here it is braided."

Christa did not enjoy having long hair. Caring for it had always been a bother to her, now her she was in one of her favorite spots and she couldn't enjoy it, all because her hair was down.

"I'll brush it out for you. Quit being so prissy." Jonathan dropped back to his back.

Ilya pulled her down so her head was on his shoulder and his arm wrapped around her. The silence of the night covered them as they gazed out at the sky. A star shot across the sky leaving a bright trail of light blazing across the sky. The world so intimidating and overwhelming in the hustle and bustle of the day now seemed trivial as they took in the vastness of the world above.

"I feel small." Christa whispered.

They stayed there and watched as the stars faded one by one and the sun shot color into the sky. As the first people stepped out into the new day they headed home.Jacob was sitting at the large island in the kitchen clearly waiting for them.

"Good morning Jake." Christa gave him her sweetest smile. "Ilya and I are running up to get Alexis. We'll be right back."

Jonathan stayed and took a seat where he could see his brother.

"I'll take the blame for going out without guards."

"Gavin is with you." Jacob stated calmly. "That and the fact that you would never let anything happen to Ilya or Christa. I trust you to protect them, and Gavin will protect you. Just don't tell Ilya that I said so."

Christa and Ilya had stopped outside the kitchen door. Having overheard the entire conversation she grinned at Ilya, then took off up the stairs.