Team Foster-Keefe!

Memories

Sophie was in the pastures helping Grady and Edaline feed Verdi when Keefe light-leaped to Havenfield. Sophie looked towards her foster parents questioningly. Edaline nodded, then gestured as if to say, well, what are you waiting for? Grady just scowled deeply.

"The nerve of that boy," he muttered, and Edaline rolled her eyes and smiled.

Sophie wiped her hands on her trousers and brushed her hair back in attempts to look presentable, then walked over to where Keefe was standing.

"Verdi giving you some trouble?" He laughed, amusements evident in his features as he eyed the streaks of dirt on her face and clothes. Sophie flushed a bit.

"Agreeing to help feed Verdi means it's guaranteed you have an extra long, hot shower in your future."

"So true. How's my favorite alicorn doing?" Keefe winked and pulled a stray feather from Sophie's hair.

"Let me check." Sophie sent her thoughts out and located Silveny, telling her that Keefe sent his love. Chants of KEEFE, KEEFE, KEEFE filled Sophie's mind.

"Silveny still adores you," Sophie told him.

"I mean, who couldn't?" Keefe flashed a mischievous grin.

"Grady," Sophie responded, and Keefe nodded gravely.

"I don't understand that man."

"Hey, that's my dad you're talking about!" Sophie cried.

"I know, I know, I'm sorry." Something in Keefe's expression suggested he wasn't sorry at all.

"So, why are you here?" Sophie inquired.

"What better reason than to visit the Mysterious Miss F?"

Sophie sighed. "There has to be a better reason for you coming here. I think your life depends on it."

"Why?"

"Grady," Sophie responded, and Keefe nodded, as if it answered everything.

"Well, there is another reason why I came," Keefe said.

"What is it?"

"I need you to look through my mind again."

"Again?" Sophie groaned. "Keefe, you have to stop this! The memories will come back when they're triggered. I probably won't be any help at all."

Keefe raked a hand through his carefully styled hair, disturbing it. "I know, but it's been annoying me so much! And, it gives me an excellent excuse to come visit you." Keefe winked and Sophie's cheeks turned pink.

"You good there Foster? I'm sensing some very strong emotions coming from you." Sophie blushed harder.

"I'm fine, I'm fine. Let's go inside."

Keefe looked around as if noticing they were still standing in the middle of a green field for the first time.

"Good idea." He agreed.

Once inside, Sophie grabbed some mallowmelt for them to snack on and led Keefe up to her room where they wouldn't be disturbed.

Standing guard outside her door, Sandor grunted in disapproval when he noticed Keefe trailing Sophie, but let them both pass.

"Why do I feel no one in this house likes me?" Keefe asked as they sat down on two chairs across from each other.

Sophie leaned toward him and put her hands on his temples. "I like you, and so does Edaline. I think."

"Well, I'm glad you like me. It's enough to make me excited to visit Havenfield." Sophie's stomach fluttered and she was very aware of how close they were, how Keefe's hands rested on her knees to steady himself.

She cleared her throat. "Um...I'm going to enter your mind now," she said. "Are you ready?"

"Ready as I'll ever be," Keefe responded, taking a deep breath.

Sophie delved into Keefe's orderly mind, sifting through different colored groups. Suddenly, she stopped as she passed a soft pink one.

What's that? I don't remember that color last time I did this. She transmitted.

Keefe coughed uncomfortably. Well, it's new. Uh, I don't think it'll hold any lost memories. The red ones are the ones I've singled out that are missing something.

Even though Sophie knew it was wrong, she got curious and looked a little closer at the pink memories. Every single one of them was a snippet of a time Sophie and Keefe were together, laughing, talking, or just sitting, watching the stars.

Her concentration broke and she let her hands fall from Keefe's temples.

"Calm down Foster. I don't know if I can handle the emotions coming from you right now." Realization dawned on Keefe's face. "You saw the pink memories, didn't you?"

Sophie glanced down in shame. "Yeah, I'm sorry. I was just a little curious. Why?"

"Why do I have a bunch of happy memories of you and me? Well, when I start to lose hope, I like to revisit those memories and remind myself of all the good in the world. Everything we're fighting for."

Sophie's eyes teared up slightly. "That's...beautiful."

Keefe stood up and mock bowed. "Thank you, thank you." Sophie frowned.

"I'm serious Keefe. That's an amazing idea."

Keefe's smile faded a little. "I know."

Sophie stood up too. "Why is it all of me?"

"There are a few of Fitz or Dex, but most of my happiest memories are of you. That's why." Keefe wrapped his arms around Sophie and she leaned in to him, breathing in his fresh scent.

"That makes me really happy Keefe," Sophie whispered.

He smiled. "I can tell. Your emotions are all good."

They stayed, enveloped in each other's arms for a while, washing all the bad thoughts and memories out, until they were cased in a little bubble of content.

"This will go in the pink memories too," Keefe murmured, "And it will be my favorite one."