Book Two: KOTLC One-shots and More

Alternate Ending: Nightfall 91

A/N: @thebookwasbetter651 requested this particular AE, wherein Sophie had no plans with Fitz and she was able to just spend the day with Keefe.

Keefe was waiting under Calla's Panakes when Sophie leaped back to Havenfield after a final lecture from Bronte. And Sandor stood beside him, for once not looking annoyed by Keefe's existence.

  "I figured you were having a rough morning," Keefe said, patting a spot on the grass beside him. "And since I still have a few more days without Ro driving me crazy, I thought I'd bring you a cheer-up present, since apparently that's a thing."

  He held out his arms.

  "Um . . ." Sophie didn't see a gift.

  Keefe smirked. "Foster, Foster, Foster—always so adorably oblivious. I'm the gift. I'm all yours today—though I might be willing to extend my servitude if you call me the Gift Master."

  Sophie rolled her eyes as she smiled. "You're ridiculous, you know that?"

  "And you love it." His grin shifted into something softer, something that made her stomach tighten. "So what do you need, Foster? A shoulder to cry on? A good old-fashioned cuddle? Or should we go back to brainstorming my favor?"

"A cuddle?" She couldn't help but ask.

He shrugged. "I'm a great cuddler. Destined to cheer you up."

She felt her lips tug up in a small smile in spite of herself. "I don't know about a cuddle," she told him. "Sounds kind of...awkward. But the rest...I honestly don't know what. But either way, I'm glad you're here." She moved to sit beside him.

His eyes turned glassy for a moment, but then it passed, and he didn't address it. He just reached for her gloved hand and murmured, "so do you want to talk about it, or do you want me to distract you from it?"

Sophie laced their fingers together and squeezed his hand tightly. She kept her eyes fixed on their twined fingers as she whispered, "I really thought I was going to get them back. It would be different, and complicated, but...I thought I could have both sets of parents that I love. And instead..." she closed her eyes as they burned with tears. In order to make sure that her parents never remembered their immense trauma, she knew she had done what was necessary.

But to lose them for a second time—so irrevocably—after thinking she might be getting them back...

The wound of loss had been violently ripped open and had continued to shred her heart beyond the initial pain.

But...she was luckier than Keefe. She had two sets of loving parents.

He had none.

"Whoa, Foster." The pain in Keefe's voice made her look up, meeting his eyes. There was sorrow in them. "That's a lot of heartache. But, why does it feel like you feel guilty too?"

She shrugged. "Because I have so much to be thankful for. Erasing me from my parents' memories is what was best for them, and that's all that matters. Plus—"

"No, Foster. It was the right thing to do, but that doesn't mean it's all that matters. Your pain at losing your family again matters, too."

This time, a few tears began to roll down her cheeks, and she scrubbed them away with her free hand. "Thank you."

His expression turned much warmer as they sat there, neither speaking, her clinging to his hand like a lifeline. Something about it made her heart flip to hummingbird mode, but after a moment, Keefe looked away and cleared his throat. "So, I interrupted you. 'Plus' what?"