KotLC Oneshots

"I really regret telling you that I'm ticklish." 2

Fitz stepped outside, wandering the gardens of Everglen. Although he had no destination in mind, he ended up at the pond he had always come to when he was younger. He had come here when he had a problem he needed to fix. The issue he had now was much worse than anything he had ever had as a kid. He sat on the rocks near the water. Absentmindedly, he dangled his fingertips in the water.

He had felt it before. He had tried to push it down each time, telling himself that they were only friends. She would never think of him that way, so he couldn't let himself care about her like that. But now all he could think about was her smile, the glint of concern in her eye, her hand resting on his arm. He felt an urge to be there with her, to never leave her, to cradle her and protect her from all the wrong in the world.

She was so perfect. She was so . . . good. She always tried to do the right thing, thinking out all the consequences. If she didn't like the options she had, she came up with a better one. And she was so cute, both in how she looked and how she acted. Her small nose, perfectly proportioned lips, silky soft hair. How she blushed, how she grinned from behind her hair, how her brow furrowed when she was thinking.

The more he thought about it, the more he was certain of it. He loved her. However, he knew she didn't feel the same way about him. He had to try, though. He would hate himself forever if he didn't.

He made his way back to the house, finding Sophie on the couch where he had left her. She glanced up, her eyes crinkled with worry. He had hurt her, and she was concerned with how he was.

"Sophie, I promise I'm going to explain everything, but first, could I just do one thing?"

She nodded. Cupping her face with both hands, Fitz finally kissed her.