Sticky Situation ((Fiona))

[Kennedy Valak S6]

((yeah... I decided to go with it.. ))

The game that Kennedy and Alex had been in charge of was going pretty well. Only a few students were complaining about the curses that they had unlocked against themselves, but the two prefects could only hold back the bits of laughter as they explained how it was all just part of the game. Somehow it was harder to explain to someone with bubbles coming from their mouths that it was a fair game whenever their friend had just won Bertie Bott's Every Flavor Beans. Still, for the most part, the game was successful, which made Kennedy happy. The bonfire had attracted quite a crowd, and he had decided to move away from the game for a while to see what other festivities were being offered.

Noticing a low rumbling in his abdominal area, Kennedy did what most guys his age would do and he headed for the food. What else would there be at a fire other than the ooey gooey sticky treat that muggles had called s'mores? Figuring that any food would do, Kennedy levitated the ingredients to a spot by the fire and began roasting his marshmallow on the crackling flames. It was in the middle of assembling his sticky snack that he noticed Fiona had been just a few feet away from him the whole time. He wondered if she had seen him and simply ignored his presence or if she had just yet to noticed he was there. He wouldn't have been surprised at either explanation for her not saying anything.

Wrestling with the idea of saying something, Kennedy thought back to the night a few weeks prior whenever he had convinced her that it was over. She took it rather badly to say the least. In fact, it wasn't as if Kennedy took it very well either, but he couldn't blame anybody but himself for that one. Fiona had at least wanted to try to make things work, where as he was stubborn in allowing them both to move on. Never had he imagined how much pain he would feel every time he saw her though. Whether it was passing her in the hallway or seeing her sit in front of him in class, the fact that she was angry with him made it difficult to bear. He could have taken the separation, but to know that she was hurting and angry made it all the worse for him as well. There had to be a chance that they could just be friends again, right?

As he licked the remains of his s'more from his fingers, Kennedy decided to walk a bit closer so that Fiona would at least see that he was there. Then, when he was close enough, he even offered a greeting, wondering how she might respond. "Hey," he said shortly. It was an awkward moment, but in his weakness, Kennedy had done what he figured he probably shouldn't have done. Surely after everything he had said and done to convince Fiona that they were better off apart was enough to make her want to ignore him for the rest of her life.

[Fiona O'Reilly S5]

Pulling the black jacket tight around her body, Fiona stepped out of the castle, her eyes traveling quickly to the huge bonfire that had been erected. She wasn’t going to go. In fact she still wasn’t sure she was going to. Half of her wanted to just turn around and immediately return to the safety of her dorm room. That’s where she’d spent most of her time recently. It was the one place she felt sure she’d never see his face, the one place that made her feel safe. Stepping out of that place, her newly erected comfort zone she was taking a risk of running into him, like she had at the beginning of the year. That conversation had been one she wished more than anything she could just forget. In fact she wanted to forget that he had ever existed in her life, but she knew that was impossible. There was no way she could get him out of her life, out of her mind…out of her heart. It was enough to drive a girl crazy.

Fiona turned back, not wanting to be there, but a gentle hand wrapped around her arm and she was turned back to the fire, her blue/green eyes falling softly on Caleb. He had become her rock recently, helping her to deal with everything that was going on and he had been the one that had convinced her to come out tonight. She sighed beside him as his hand ran to her back and pushed her along, he had his own reasons for being there, but he had wanted Fiona to get out for a while, to enjoy life. So she was there. He pushed her along until she stood by the fire. She wanted to turn to leave again, but the look on his face was enough to make her stay as she turned back, staring at the flames that jumped and licked at the air above it. Her eyes followed Caleb briefly as he took off for his prefect duties.

Now she was alone…standing her eyes consumed with the fire in front of her. Everything in her wanted to turn around and leave, especially when she caught sight of him. He hadn’t noticed her and that was her saving grace as she stood still, not moving from where she was. Maybe he wouldn’t notice her at all. Maybe he would just continue on his way and never see her. A part of her hated that thought…the same part that was still in love with him, but the other part wanted him gone. Wanted him to stay the hell away from her. So when he moved closer to her, Fiona knew that he had seen her, but why was he moving toward her? He was the one that had wanted to stay away from her. He was the one that had broken up with her, because HE had fallen for another girl.

Fiona tensed at his greeting her whole body rigid as she fought with herself over how to respond. It was awkward…and her eyes wandered to Caleb trying to get his attention. Trying to get him to come over and rescue her from what was happening, but he was oblivious to her at that moment. She was on her own. Blue/green eyes tore away from the fire as she took in Kennedy, her eyes turning from panicky to a cold hatred. She found strength in her as one side won out over the other. Her arms crossed over her chest. “What do you want Kennedy? What in hell could you possibly want? I thought you wanted to stay away from each other? I thought you wanted to go off and be with your other little lover. Or am I wrong?” Fiona growled out. She didn’t know where it was coming from, but she couldn’t stop herself. She had to get it out. Had to get out all the built up anger that was coursing through her at that moment. She didn’t even wait for his reply as she turned her back to him, stalking away, a part hoping he’d follow, while another hoped he wouldn’t.

[Kennedy Valak S6]

The words were full of a bitterness that seemed to have been brewing inside of Fiona. It was somewhat what Kennedy had expected, but not the response he had inwardly hoped for. Still, as much truth as her statement held, the part about his wanting to be off with his other little lover, presumably Cass, hit him harder than he was ready for. Fiona still hadn't been able to grasp the idea that he wanted nothing to do with Cass anymore. That was one weak moment in his handful of many, but it was one that he was the most sorry for. How could he get Fiona to see that Cass was an accident, and accident that Kennedy wished he could take back. He hadn't even spoke to Cass for the longest time, and now Fiona still chose to use that spike as the one that stuck him in the heart. He couldn't blame her, but he wished she would understand that he'd rather her shove anything in his face aside from that. Of course, perhaps that was the reason she had chosen to use Cass as the vessel for carrying the dose of pain that he felt in that moment.

Standing with his mouth agape, Kennedy watched as Fiona's back turned to him and she retreated from the area around the bonfire. Who knew that one general word could evoke such a response. He fought the urge to follow after her, knowing that he was probably wrong for approaching Fiona in the first place. The pride in him though, and his nature in general, caused him to hurry after her. He couldn't let her walk away with the assumption that he was even remotely interested in mending things with Cass. "Fiona," he shouted, not in a screaming voice, but one that she could hear over the laughing and chatter that the other students around the fire were participating in. He followed her away from the crowd, off into the darkness of the field that the blazing fire's light failed to reach. Catching up to her, Kennedy stopped when she did, staring at her back which was lit by the moonlight. He couldn't tell if she was crying now or perhaps fuming that he had pursued her further. It wasn't fair of him, he understood that, but she was being unfair as well. A wave of déjà vu washed over him as he recognized the confusion that he was feeling inside. Never knowing if he had done the right thing was a common trend in the past few years of his life. Always living with the question of "what if" surrounding him. Kennedy was sick of that feeling.

"I.... I know you are mad at me Fiona. Damnit, can't you just accept that I'm not perfect." Frustration lined his every word as he made himself transparent to her. If anybody had seen the good and bad sides of Kennedy, it was Fiona, and no matter what terms they were on, she was always the only person who he even remotely let see through to his real self. Perhaps he hadn't always been completely honest with her, but Fiona was the only person that knew most who Kennedy was in the good and bad times. "Why can't you see that Cass is history. I made a mistake. I never really wanted her... I just wanted you." He was on the verge of a breakdown in just moments. Everything that he had forced down whenever he made himself be the one to end things had now surfaced. The very same feelings that Fiona had likely been dealing with which Kennedy forced her to forget were now working their way through him. "I always wanted you," he added, now almost talking in a whisper. "Can't you see that, Fiona? I only ever meant for the best, even when I was acting like a total idiot."

[Fiona O'Reilly S5]

Fiona felt her heart jump in ways that she wished it hadn't as she heard his voice calling to her. Blue/green eyes danced over to Caleb, who seemed to have heard the call as well. She shook her head at him and he just stood near the fire watching, ready to run out and save her if she needed saving. Why Fiona hadn't just let him come out now she didn't know. There was just something about the way Kennedy called her name, the way he had come up to her in the first place. She couldn't help, but hope that maybe...just maybe things could be fixed between them, but as the thought surfaced she felt the stabbing pain in her heart from the words he had said to her those months ago. How he hadn't even been in her life for months, how he had just abandoned her, the way he had promised he wouldn't. The thought tortured her inside. The realization that she would always be abandoned, just as her father had abandoned her in the recent months, ever since he had met Kennedy. She hadn't told Kennedy when they were still together that she hadn't seen or heard from him since then. She wished she had...wished that he had been there this last summer to comfort her after Kennedy had made it clear that he didn't want to see her ever again. Now....now she could only wish that everything could just begin again. That she could just go back to the beginning and start everything over. Cease the fighting with her 'father' that had ended in her mother's death, to stop the disappearance and disappointment of her father, to stop Kennedy from walking away from her. To stop everything, so that she wouldn't be standing in this position right now.

Fiona didn't turn to look at Kennedy when he caught up with her. Instead she merely stopped and listened. Everything hurt inside her. Why did he have that effect on her? Why did she still care for him after he made it clear that he didn't want to be around her? She shook her head, trying to grasp why he was doing this to her. Just when she thought she was getting over him he has to show back up and tear a new hole in her heart, reopen the wounds that she had somehow managed to get somewhat healed. Now...now all that work was thrown to waste as she stood there, her heart openly bleeding once again. She blinked away the tears, anger bubbling within her as she got angry with herself for letting him do this to her again, for letting him talk to her in these ways, as if he had the right. If it was one thing she'd learned in the last few months it was that no one had the right to talk to her like he was talking to her now. Caleb had taught her a lot. After helping him find his family and everything else, Fiona had learned that she was meant to be treated with respect, but Kennedy, he didn't seem to understand how to treat her that way, how to just respect their conversation at the beginning of the school year and just leave her alone. She mentally slapped herself as she found her mind wanting him to be there with her. She found her body wanting to just turn around and wrap her arms around him. Everything inside of her still wanted him, but she couldn't...she couldn't let herself get suckered back into the relationship they had, especially when she didn't know for sure how he really felt...sure he was standing there, pouring everything out, but was it true. She knew there was only one way for her to find out, but she was afraid if she turned around everything that she had gone through in the past months would be put behind and she would want to just run into his arms, to melt into his dark eyes and find the comfort she'd been trying to find since he had left.

Fiona's head looked down, her short blond hair fell in front of her face and she sighed softly before turning around, trying to find the anger that had been in her before, but now realizing that her anger was not directed at him, it wasn't directed at anyone, but herself. Not even that bimbo in Gryffindor that had caused the problem in the beginning. No...her anger was her own and she hated herself for everything that she had done. Body shifted slowly, as she turned, blue/green eyes finding him as she tried to hide the tears that had come back to her eyes, the tears that mixed her emotions as she tried to comprehend what he had said. "Kennedy..." it was just a simple word, just his name, but it was said with more emotion than she ever remembered having at once. All at once it was a mixture of pain, happiness, sadness, joy, and love. It was all she could say right then though. It seemed as if everything in her mind was silenced. She couldn't think of what else to say. Couldn't think of anything at all as she blinked, tears dripping from her eyes as she looked up at the night sky and then back down at him. "I'm sorry." She shook her head, not knowing what to do. She was fighting so many different emotions inside her and right then she was frozen in her place unable to do anything, but just look at him as tears continued to slide down her face.

[Kennedy Valak S6]

She hadn’t turned to face him, but Kennedy knew she was listening. The way that she stood there, silent, likely taking in every word so that she could either retaliate against his attempts or perhaps work with him to mend their situation. At this point, Kennedy didn’t know what to expect. He knew that it wasn’t easy for himself, and so he figured that it must have been as difficult, if not more so, for Fiona. A sigh, and she slowly turned to face him. The look of desperation was frozen on his face, and Kennedy tried to be able to read her own emotions from the look on her face. It was useless though, as he had known how many emotions were mixed inside of him. Fiona had probably been feeling the same thing. It all came down to the question of which emotion would win over in the end.

At the sound of his name, his breath stopped in his chest, and he waited for what might follow. To his surprise, it was a quick and simple apology. Soon, she was crying and shaking her head, the small gap of space between them seeming like a never-ending valley. Kennedy waited for more. Surely there would be more. But there wasn’t. There was just silence as he tried to figured out what the apology had meant. It could have been anything. Fiona could have went in any direction after saying that she was sorry. Good or bad, or even somewhere in between. There was no way of really knowing, but Kennedy knew that there was really only one proper way for him to respond that might best help him get back the young woman that he had grown to love and need. “I’m sorry too, Fiona. I’m sorry that we made so many mistakes along the way. I’m sorry that I’ve been so clouded in my judgment.”

He wasn’t sure if his apologies would matter. If Fiona had been apologizing simply turn around and tell him that the reason she was sorry was because they would never be able to fix their relationship, then likely he had wasted his breath. Still, it was worth a try. Even if she wasn’t ready to fix their relationship, Kennedy felt that he knew for the first time in his life that he was actually making the best choice. Having Fiona at his side was the best thing for him, and he hoped that she could see that in the end. Despite the bad choices that had lead them to that point, he felt ready to make them all right again, granted that Fiona was willing to take that step as well. “I forgive you, Fiona.” The words came naturally, as though they might lift the heavy air that surrounded and separated the two of them. “Can you forgive me?”

[Fiona O'Reilly S5]

Everything that had been inside her seemed to freeze, to lock down on itself as she looked at him. A part of her screamed, wanting to run into his arms, to hold him close to her and to make sure this wasn't like the many dreams she'd had before. How long had it been since she had been in those arms? How long had it been since she felt her heart beat properly? How long had it been since she looked at anyone with something other than anger and despair? How long... Fiona stood, unmoving, letting the tears slide down her cheeks. He was the only one that had ever really seen her cry and yet he had created some of those tears himself. Why? Why was she still standing there, unmoving, like she wasn't affected by his words? Why was she pretending to be strong, when he was the only one that could ever make her weak? Her body wanted to collapse upon the ground, to stay there until she found the strength that she normally inhabited, but she couldn't. She couldn't be weak right now. She had to stand there and look at him, to hear his words, to feel her heart ache, and to feel the butterflies in her stomach.

The fire blazed to her left, her blue/green eyes glinting from the dancing flames and it was then, as a soft wind picked up in the chilly autumn night, that she moved. Her feet soft, but sure as she padded toward him. She couldn't hold herself back anymore and she couldn't stop herself from finally realizing what she had always forgotten. You come to love not by finding the perfect person, but by seeing an imperfect person perfectly. Yes, she saw clearly now and all the lies she had told, all the secrets that she had kept plagued her inside as she tried to push past her own regrets, her own anger with herself for being so stupid. She had hurt the one she loved when she had neglected to tell him the truth about her, the secret that she had harbored to keep both he and her safe. Her heart ached more as she moved, it seemed to take forever to cross the distance that was between them, to lift the shroud that had fallen between them. So much tension, so much pain, some of it was still prevalent, but she still loved him...still needed him, because she loved him so very much. Finally steps found their way to him, her eyes staring up into his and for the first time in months she felt right. She felt that everything was going to be okay and that she was right where she belonged. Her hand moved and touched his cheek, her resolve of staying angry was gone. It had melted the moment he had chased after her. The moment he had been willing to mend their relationship, the moment her heart had returned.

Fiona didn't know if he wanted any of this back. Didn't know if he still loved her that much, but she didn't care. She was taking a risk and it was a risk she would have regretted if she had never moved. If she had stood there and just let him turn and walk out of her life she would have never been able to forgive herself. Love was a fickle thing and her heart was persistent on running after him even when her brain told her no. So there she was, standing before him, her whole being open for him. No secrets left to hide and no facade to hide behind as she touched his cheek. "Of course I forgive you. I always have and I always will," Fiona said softly, tears still softly rolling down her cheeks. Knowing that the only one that could stop her tears, was the one that had made her cry, the one that stood before her, the only man she had ever wanted and needed, the only man she had ever loved. She knew there was so much to go through to get them back to where they were in the beginning, but Fiona didn't want that. That was an immature love...an immature relationship, where secrets and lies roamed free. She wanted to change that, to grow there relationship into the mature love that seemed to want to bloom out of her. The love that only she could feel for him. "I still love you Kennedy, with all my heart."

[Kennedy Valak S6]

She was still silent, and Kennedy felt that the more time that passed, the worse his chances were that Fiona would begin to understand how much he really meant the apology and how much he really needed her to go back to just a few weeks prior whenever she was the one who didn't want things to end while he was insisting that they must. Surely she hadn't completely made herself believe everything that he had said before. If she had meant what she said then, there had to be a chance now that she would realize that he was the one who was wrong all along. The time ticked by in seconds though- seconds that seemed to last much longer than usual. And then, Fiona's slightest movement caught his eye, and another breath got caught in his chest as she slowly eliminated the gap between them.

Eyes fixed on her, Kennedy watched silently as she neared the place where he was standing, his heart starting to beat faster as it seemed that this might be a moment, good or bad, that could determine whether his mistakes would have a permanent effect on their relationship. Close enough now that Kennedy could see the tears in her eyes, the tears that hid the pain she had endured, Fiona had placed her hand on his cheek, sending a chill down his body and to his toes. He reached his own hand up to touch hers as a slow smile spread on his own face when she finally spoke.

Despite knowing that the scars of the past could never fully be forgotten or healed, the greatest sense of victory spread throughout Kennedy as he had felt like that very moment had been the climax in their fight against the wrath of lies and deception. Though tainted by their downfalls and riddled with pain, it finally seemed as though the peak of this particular mountain in his life had been conquered. Even more, he couldn't help but think that the road had been rocky and probably not the best choice, he was happy to realize that they had made it. Though young, he knew that he and Fiona had seemingly defeated a rather significant giant in their short time of being together.

"I love you too," he said, his voice now filled with more enthusiasm than he had experienced in months, a huge smile now covering his face. With both hands, he held the back of Fiona's neck and he kissed her. It was an amazing feeling, and though knowing it might sound cliché, Kennedy would have claimed that was able to fly in that moment. All of the pain and hurt that had resulted from the past few years had vanished in that moment. He felt like he was getting his life back. He was getting the chance to love again. From that moment on, he wouldn't let anything or anyone get in the way of he and Fiona.

[Fiona O'Reilly S5]

Fiona stood there, laying it out for him, waiting for him, knowing that if he turned her down now she would never be the same again, that her heart would forever be shattered. And the moment his hand touched her cheek she closed her eyes. The feeling sent chills down her spine, the kind of chills that she always wanted to have, the kind that made her realize just how much she needed Kennedy...how much she loved him. Soft blue/green eyes reappeared and she saw Kennedy's smile, oh how she loved him even more in that moment as she realized all was not lost and never would be again. They'd survived. They'd come through in the end, after the traumatic events that affected both of their lives and everyone around them, they had come through it. Never in a million years, especially after Kennedy had said what he had to her did she believe that she'd be standing there with him now, her heart aching to be with him. And the thing was, she could be with him! She could and he wanted that just as much as she did!

Warm eyes stared into his her cheek nuzzling against his hand as her heart flipped in her chest. Was this a dream? Was she going to wake up at any moment and all this would be gone? Was she truly standing there? And was he truly telling her that he loved her as well? Fiona had half a mind to pinch herself, to make sure that she was not sleeping, that she wasn't having a great dream that would break her heart when she woke up, but she had no need to try to pinch herself as her breath caught in her throat, her body tensed. She felt the warmth of his hands on the back of her neck, the tickle of his skin on hers and then...and then her heart beat wildly as she swore she felt a spark pass between them as his lips met hers. Her hand moved over his cheek, not leaving him as her other wrapped under his arm and came back up to hold onto his shoulder.

Fiona didn't want to move, she didn't want to leave his arms or his lips ever. For the first time in months she felt better than ever. The pain and depression that had plagued her was gone...destroyed by the simple kiss that had passed between them. She was flying…in a matter of speaking. This was everything she had hoped for, everything that she had been dreaming of. She rested her head against his forehead, breathing in his scent, breathing in everything…actually just breathing again. It had been so long since she’d been here…so long since she actually felt something, anything but the numbing pain that had consumed her life. The need for revenge and the need for everything to just stop. That was all gone…the anger she had been harboring, the pain of abandonment…rejection, it was all gone in one simple kiss that took her breath away.

“I’m sorry for lying to you about the Chosen. I’m sorry I didn’t confide in you. I’m sorry I got jealous about Cass. I was just afraid of losing you. In the end, because I lied I lost you anyway. I’m sorry Kennedy. I’m so sorry,” the words spilled from her mouth as she held him, not wanting to let him go and not wanting this moment to end. Everything seemed to have finally righted itself in the universe and now she was back in the arms of the only one that could ever warm her icy heart.

[Kennedy Valak S6]

Fiona spouted out a list of more apologies, but Kennedy knew it wasn't necessary for him to hear the lot of them. There was nothing more that could have made that moment feel any more victorious than it already had. Fiona was back in his arms, and frankly that was all that he cared about at that moment. "No need to waste this moment being sorrowful," he explained with a whisper in her ear. He wiped the tears from her eyes. There would be no more crying tonight. Tonight was a night of celebration. He figured that eventually they might need to talk, to get some of the more important things out in the open. But, he figured that they had both done enough dwelling on those things in the last few months that they should just enjoy what it was like to be happy again.

Grabbing her hand, Kennedy glanced back toward the bonfire and the many events that were happening on the grounds. Then, he looked back over at Fiona. "We could go back to the bonfire," he suggested with a shrug. There were lots of things for them to do, but all he wanted to do was just spend time with Fiona. "Or, with everyone down here, the common room is likely to be vacant," he added with a grin. It didn't really matter what they did, he just wanted Fiona to stay happy. The unfortunate thing about going back to the bonfire was that the two of them would likely draw a lot of attention as many people had known that they were not on the best terms. Kennedy didn't really feel like having to sit with all eyes on him and whispers following the two of them. At least he didn't want to deal with that now. It was inevitable eventually, but he hoped that she might just pick to go back to the common room.

"Well, it's your call," he said to Fiona. Kennedy looked toward the fire and noticed that the people closest to where Fiona and Kennedy had been originally were not looking at them through the darkness that had started to cover the grounds. Likely, the festivities would last at least another hour. Kennedy had finished his booth, and so he really didn't have any reason he needed to stay. There were plenty of other prefects who could continue to help monitor the grounds and events.

[Fiona O'Reilly S5]

Fiona couldn't help apologizing. She just wanted to make sure that everything was back to the way they had been, to make sure that he wasn't angry with her at all about lying, about not trusting him. She wanted everything to be all right, for everything to just come together, right itself and throw her back into the feeling of love. Over the past months she had been cursing the old saying, it is better to have loved and lost, than to never have loved at all. What had that person known? She would have taken not having known love any day over feeling the pain of falling in love and then having it ripped away. It left one feeling devoid of emotion, numb to the world and everything in it. She had become just an empty shell walking around trying to fill it with anything possible, but that in itself was impossible. Love could only fill that void and it was love that did. Standing there, in the arms of the only man she could ever love had opened her back up. Everything seemed brighter in that moment, everything beautiful. The fire seemed to dance and sing as if in celebration of the reunion. Laughter and cheerful voices floated on a wind of love toward her ears and then his voice. A soft whisper next to her ear, his exhale of breath warming her ear. A shiver ran down her spine from her heightened sense of feel at that moment. It was amazing to actually believe that in less than a minute the empty shell had filled so entirely that it was like sensory overload, everything made her love him all the more.

Then his hand wiped away her tears and she felt her flesh break out in goose bumps. The cold hard exterior was gone completely now and she wasn’t sure if she’d ever get it back, moreover, she didn’t want to get it back. At that moment all she wanted was to live the rest of her life with love and happiness. For too long she’d been afraid and for too long she’d been unhappy. The last few years had been a trial she would never forget, but she knew now that if it had never happened she would never have found Kennedy, or the love for him that made her heart soar. Her hand moved from his shoulder to cover one of his, just as one of his wound into hers. She had to take note how well they fit together. It was something she had never noticed before. Why was that? Had she been too caught up in herself to really notice the way her and Kennedy just seemed to fit? Or had she just been too busy? She ignored the thought, pushing it away as she looked up at him, catching that grin fall across his face and she couldn’t stop her heart from flipping a little in her chest. Her hand wrapped into his securely, almost possessively in that moment, not wanting to ever be apart from him again.

Fiona let the smirk fall across her face as she shrugged, looking over at the bonfire, knowing that neither Kennedy nor herself wanted to be there with those people watching them. It was public knowledge what had taken place between the two, just as it had been public knowledge when the two had first gotten together. Students at Hogwarts had very little connection with events outside Hogwarts and it was almost common knowledge that relationship gossip was the topic of conversation. Who’s dating who and who cheated who. So it wasn’t difficult to see that as soon as they returned to the bonfire all eyes would be on them and the rumors would start flying. Fiona wasn’t sure she was ready for that yet, but she also liked to tease Kennedy, make him think that she was all for the bonfire. It was part of her nature at that moment. She blamed it on the intense happiness that had washed over her, giving her a fresh breath of reality for the first time in months. Blue/green eyes turned back to Kennedy, dancing with amusement, as she knew that she really wasn’t pulling off the want to go back to the bonfire. If the smirk on her face didn’t give her away it was the tone she had as she spoke, a low sultry whisper that was as sarcastic in nature as she. “But we might miss something good if we go back to the common room.” She couldn’t explain the feeling washing through her, it was too great to have a name and too enjoyable to make her want to explain it. All she knew was that for the first time in months she was more concerned with making Kennedy just as happy as she was in that moment. She didn’t know if he was or not and she didn’t know if he could even explain the feeling if he was.

Feet stepped back from Kennedy, her fingers wrapped in his as she pulled him gently. Fiona didn’t want to be out there, not with everyone watching them like hawks. She wanted to be alone with him, some place where they could talk and be together like they had been long ago. It was all too perfect and she reminded herself to thank Caleb for dragging her out tonight, she owed him one. She turned so she could see where she was going slowing so she her back grazed Kennedy’s front. She was in need of the contact, was craving it from him, as she led them back to the castle.

((I don’t know if that’s how you wanted it, or if it was really ending there, but Fiona was persistent on getting back to an empty common room. ))

[Kennedy Valak S6]

It had been a while since he had experienced happiness, or at least the true happiness that he knew he was feeling right then and there. How he had ever managed to lose Fiona seemed ridiculous now, but whatever it had been, Kennedy was sure to figure it out so that he could learn from his mistakes. When she commented that their leaving the bonfire might result in the two of them missing something, he gave her a flirtatious glare before shaking his head and acting as though she hadn't made the comment. Soon, she was leading him by the hand back to the castle, where he imagined them being able to curl up by their own fire and not have to worry about the publicness of the grounds' bonfire. "Fiona," he said, as they walked in the darkness to the castle. "I never want to lose you again." He hoped that it was obvious, but he wanted to make sure she knew how lucky he felt to have had another chance. "I don't want to lose you, and so I promise you that I will never lie to you again. I will never do anything that I think is in your best interest if it might hurt you in the process. I hope you know that now." He smiled again, sure that she would say she knew, but he couldn't help but want her to really know that he meant it. It was so easy to say things and have people just accept them as true because they failed to really contemplate what it meant.

They were in the common room then, and Kennedy smiled at the fact that there was not another soul to be seen. Everyone was either down at the bonfire or elsewhere. Pulling Fiona close to him, he wrapped his arms around her tightly, taking in the embrace and letting the knowledge that he had the one thing back in his life that meant the most to him sink into reality. They were young, he knew that, and despite the troubles and trials they would likely face, despite how naïve they might be, Kennedy knew that he was in love. He knew that nothing, aside from death, could take Fiona away from him without a fight. Succeeding once in the fight to gain her back only made him ready to do it all again if he had to. Though, he wasn't anticipating that anytime soon. Kissing her again, Kennedy then took a moment to just stare at her face and remember every last detail. Afterward, he lead her to a couch by the fireplace where the warmth of the flames surrounded them and for less than an hour, though sufficient for him, Kennedy enjoyed the peacefulness of having Fiona again in his arms, nothing able to tear away the happiness that had been avoiding him for too long.