Cognates - A Sofitz Story **CONTAINS HEAVY FLUFF**

Chapter 1: I like you...

This takes place right at the end of Lodestar, when Sophie and Fitz are sitting under Calla's tree on page 665. The first part is quoted directly from the book.

"You know, I've been thinking," Fitz said, silencing her thoughts as he closed the memory log and set it aside for the day. "You owe me a favor."

"I do?"

"Yep! We made a deal - remember? If you didn't call in your favor from me in one month, the favor became mine. And I hate to break it to you, but it's been way more than a month."

Sophie sighed. "I knew that deal was going to come back and haunt me. I should've just made something up and gotten the favor over with."

"You probably should have. But you didn't, so... I win!" He shook his hair, flashing his most adorably confident smile, "And I gotta say, I kinda get why you hesitated with this. It's a big decision. I mean, on the one hand, I could go for the obvious and make you share whatever secret you keep almost telling me."

Sophie's mouth turned to sandpaper.

"So that still freaks you out, huh? That might be proof that it needs to happen."

His eyes locked onto hers, refusing to let her look away. And when she swallowed, it was so loud, she was sure the entire world heard it.

*******************

"So... I'm going to use my favor. You tell me whatever it is you keep almost telling me." He must've seen the look on Sophie's face, because he amended his statement. "By the end of the week. You tell me by the end of the week, and we'll call it fair. Alright?"

Sophie nodded. The end of the week still gave her time to build up the courage to tell him. And how bad could it really be if he didn't feel the same? It's only a silly crush, she told herself. But wouldn't it be better to get it over with?

Hey Fitz? She transmitted, Can we talk?

Sure. What's wrong?

I think I'd be easier to transmit this rather than say it out loud.

You're going to tell me right now?

Yeah, I figured it'd be better to get it over with, you know?

Yeah, I get it. Sophie could see the anticipation on Fitz's face, and she shut her eyes right before she transmitted.

I like you...