• The road he traveled down was not a hard one, not particularly bumpy or rocky, but each step seemed harder and harder to take, as if heavy lead weights were suddenly growing in his instep. His sword, being used as a sort of cane for his damaged and limping form, had tasted blood before, but it didn't show. He knew that she'd throw a fit if she knew some of the things he had to do in order to keep her safe. He smirked as he remembered her telling him to 'stay safe', though staying safe would be an impossibility, scince his job was to keep the world in balence.

    It had been almost a year scince he had last seen her, his beloved Leah, and he figured that she'd remember him, even through his now-long black hair with a single red streak through the front, the exact opposite of his twin sister, Carolyn, had become much longer over the course of time. Hers was a white blond pixie cut with a blue streak in the front, perfectly framing her beautiful elven face. He knew that they didn't like eachother, his beloved and his twin, but for now, he needed time with her, a break from saving the world with his twin.

    He had a while to walk, but plenty of time untill he could get there, with his injuries and all. He smiled in the sunlight, keeping his bandaged form warmed without having to fumble around with a claok and burn time. It reminded him of his beloved, because though he was nearly deathly pale, the sunlight made him smile, just as Leah did. He groaned with pain as all of his walking took a toll on him, so he sat down on the side of the road and simply let the sunlight beat down on him for a while.

    "Spencer!" Leah laughed when he tickled her. "You know that if they catch you here, you'll be in trouble. Lord knows what your sister's gonna do about it if she catches you!" Leah was still laughing, but Spencer had stopped moving. They both knew that Carolyn didn't like Leah much, but for some reason, they both knew it'd be okay. Spencer smiled down at her after a moment and kissed her forehead. "Darling, Promise me you won't change while I'm gone. I promise it won't be too long." He said, suprising both himself and Leah. "Why would you make me promise that?" She asked, grinning like she was slap-happy, but still managing to look confused, nonetheless. Spencer sighed. "Just promise me, That's all I ask." He said. She nodded and smiled sadly. "Do you have to go now?"

    "Yes, dear heart, I'll talk to you as soon as I can." And with that, he grabbed his bag and walked to the door where Carolyn was waiting for him.

    He opened his eyes to the blinding sunlight, realizing that it was now past noon. 'I was nearly asleep a couple times.' He thought to himself, snickering. The blood had stopped flowing from his injuries, but that didn't make them any less painful. He wondered if she'd be glad to see him, after nearly a year that he was away from her. He stumbled along the path untill he came to the gate that he knew all to well.

    "Darling, we can't keep meeting here. We need to tell your parents about us." He had told her, for nearly the six-thousandth time. She frowned, causing him to feel saddened again. "But Spencer, they'll murder you if they knew about us." She responded, her eyes now pleading into his. He sighed. She always had a new reason as to why not to have him meet her parents. "Leah, I need to meet them eventually." He responded firmly, smiling. They both knew that it'd be a gamble, even if Leah agreed.

    So they spent the night leaning against the gate and talking, occasionally they slipped in a kiss, but only once or twice. Finally, he looked at Leah. "I need to go, My sister will be looking for me soon, and I don't want you to get hurt." He said, getting up. He kissed her hand once, and disseapeared, running off into the night.

    He could still smell her perfume, sweet like the prettiest flower, but had a slight spicy and rebellious edge to it. He smiled, opening the gate and walking by. He was getting closer to her house. He hoped she was still living with Steve and Angel in their house, but if not, he'd simply ask them where she went. He nodded to some locals who he reconized as they passed by on the road, and they mumbled a few greetings to him.

    "What is She doing here?" Carolyn asked sourly, noticing Leah in his room with him as they were talking. He looked up at her. "She's being my guest." He said, rubbing her shoulder from where his hand was on her shoulder blade. Leah tried to remain calm as Carolyn came closer. "Get this wench out of my house, Spencer." She said sternly. He glared up at her. "No, She's my guest, you can deal with it." he responded. Carolyn opened her mouth to say something more, but decided agianst it, instead balling her hands into fists and stomping down the stairs.

    He felt his leg. It felt alot better, in fact, it didn't feel sprained anymore. He gently took a step and found his mood to be brightened when he learned that it wasn't. He continued the trip to Leah's house, sheathing his sword. He looked around the small meadow that the trail crossed through. He could almost see her house.

    "But father, I love him!" Leah pleaded with her father as he sat outside the door to Steve's study. They thought he couldn't hear them, but he heard enough to know that Steve didn't much like him. "I think he's a bad influence. And his sister doesn't even like you!" He argued back. "I don't care, Please, don't keep me fron him!" Her voice proved she was close to tears. Steve sighed. "Fine." He said, walking out the door and looking at him. "If you hurt my daughter, I will kill you. Keep the wedding a promise, safety of the world or not." Steve said, his voice dangerously low. Spencer nodded. "I couldn't hurt Leah, sir." He said walking into the study. "So we're engaged then." She said, not looking at him.

    He looked at the engagement ring decorating his finger as he drew closer to her house. He smiled as he saw her thorugh the trees, but stopped before she saw him, smiling as he spied on her. He had done this many times before, but usually, he only stayed there a few minutes before purposely making a noise to alert her to his presence. She hung another dress on the clothes line, and he picked up a small stone.

    Bliss filled his soul as he dropped it onto the ground, knowing she would hear him. "Spencer?" She asked, looking up and at the trees. He stepped out slowly from behind his hiding place. He could see the tears brimming in her eyes as she ran over and hugged him, taking deep breaths and trying not to cry as he held her in his arms.