“No, I don't think they hate us. It has been so long and don't humans say time heals all wounds. They have had an entire human lifetime to get over us being together, they were upset over love. How can you hate love? Love always wins!” Fitz said with a smile as he leaned down to give her a kiss.

After all the years a kiss from Fitz still gave her butterflies and as he held her tight she asked another question that totally blindsided him. “Do you want to move back?”

He paused for a minute to collect his thoughts but knew there could be no secrets between them he figured coming clean was the best plan.

“Yes, I miss it. I have loved everyday here with you and where you came from but I miss the comforts of home and the beauty of the lost cities, I miss breathing fresh air, I miss wearing my clothes, I miss my family and I miss our friends.” He said with a quiver in his voice. “I want to build a home with you, have a family, get a pet, be normal boring elfs that occasionally sneak back for some pizza and gelato, maybe I could even teach at Foxfire.”

Sophie sat there thinking about what he had said and Fitz was tempted to slip and see what was going through her head but he wanted her to process it on her own and let him know when she was ready.

“Fitz thank you for coming on this assignment with me. I know it was fun at first and felt like an exotic honeymoon or secret mission but I know over time it weighed on you. It really means a lot to me that you stuck with it all these years. Let's see how tomorrow goes and then we can figure it out.” Sophie sat there for a moment before whispering, “I miss it too.”

“Well let's see what tomorrow brings. Do you want to go now or wait until morning. I am sure Grady and Edaline would be happy to have us stay in your old room. They would probably put you to work at the Alicorn preserve, I heard they had a new baby recently.” Fitz said with a mischievous grin. He didn't love the name of the Foster-Keefe Alicorn preserve but he did love seeing Sophie work with the majestic creatures. Her eyes came alive when she was with them and the gold flecks shone a little brighter. She understood them and they loved her for it.

“Oh please let's go now, I haven't seen Grady and Edaline for so long.” Sophie exclaimed, happy to be headed back to the place she called home not realizing how late it was in the Lost Cities.

When Sophie and Fitz leaped to Havenfield the house was dark and they telepathically debated what to do, they could head out back and find some blankets and sleep in the hammocks that Grady was fond of napping in or try and sneak up to Sophie's old room on the 3rd floor. The appeal of an elf bed won out and they carefully snuck into the house, everything was going great and they were almost safely in Sophie's old room when Sophie crashed into a stack of trunks on the second floor landing.

“Ahh,” she screamed out.

Fitz just started giggling before transmitting,

“at least you didn't trip.”

Sophie was just about to reach out and smack him when she heard Grady’s voice. “Who's there? We don't want any trouble.”

“Hi Dad, it's just me and Fitz we decided at the last minute to spend the night so we wouldn't miss everyone in the morning. Go back to bed and we can talk in a couple hours.”

“Sounds good, see you in the morning”

Fitz and Sophie made their way up the stairs without any further commotion, and as quickly as they arrived they were changed and pulling back the covers ready for a couple hours of sleep before the unknown that awaited them the next morning. They still had Ella and Mr. Snuggles but had long since traded the comfort that came from snuggling a stuffed animal for holding each other all night long, the coziness of the elf bed pulling them in and they fell into a deep sleep.

Morning came just as quickly and before they knew it they were dressed and headed out to Calla’s panakes tree hand in hand. Ready to take on whatever it was Linh was going to show them.