"Heh, she probably already thought I would do that, I did think of that too. She wont talk to me again, but she will try and keep tabs. She doesn't like seeing me happy, If she finds I kept the name.... Well... There might be problems." Though she had thought of just doing it anyways and taking the chance. "It can be easy to figure out.. Just I dont know... I can pick a color or something... Rae Violet?" She laughed a little but also knew that it didn't sound quite right either. Maybe she would try Evelyn's advice and try her favorite season or flower...

Rae was now closer to Xylon, "I know it will.." Rae never let herself down before. She wouldn't now. She looked up and kissed him then proceeded to her second letter.



Rae had completely slipped past the part in her mother's letter about the house. She only realized she had gotten the house once she read her father's words. Rae smiled widely, small quotes from the letter replayed in her head 'I would not leave you empty handed.' and 'I am proud of you my daughter forever.' The whole letter, just knowing that it was from him and he cared so much for her. she now felt like she wasn't left alone when he left. She just wasn't aware he was still there.

Rae gave the letter to Xylon to read and then reassured herself and him again, "Yeah, It'll be just fine."

"We can face problems," Xylon said quietly. But God knew she had faced more than her share of those. "I would tell you Rae Saar sounds wonderful," he said, a light smile playing around his lips. "If I didn't think you would glare the daylight out of me."

He wanted to kiss her back but he didn't. He closed his eyes, letting her head against his arm, allowing her to read her father's letter by herself. In peace. When she spoke again, he realized she looked happier. Or perhaps more peaceful. Whatever it was, it was a good change --- and an inward one. He pulled her close and kissed her.

"Do you have any idea how much I love you?"

Xylon was right... glareeeeeeee "Yeah, it does sound wonderful..... In a few years... At least." Though she still smiled. Rae severely disliked 'society's standards' with a lot of things, like when a third year exclaims she's engaged and everyone is so happy for her when no one says 'What are you thinking?' But she also got that Xylon was at least somewhat joking.

Rae kissed him back. She now had no doubt that everything would be fine. She smiled at his comment. "Care to elaborate?" Though she had a pretty good idea.

"A... House, I used to love that house, when I was little.. And it's furnished.... Though it's really old... But that's... Amazing.." So many memories, her and Kaleigh would play hide and seek in that house. Then her father would have them eat homemade soup by the fireplace.
yummmm

Xylon half-smiled. Something he hadn't thought of and to be honest, something he wasn't ready to think of yet. He was what, seventeen? He hadn't even graduated yet.

"I couldn't if I tried," he pointed out matter-of-factly. "It would take forever and a day. Maybe more."

He held her close as she spoke about the house. "It sounds like a wonderful place," he said honestly. Old. That would make it all the better. "You know how really old places smell of dust and old wood? I love that scent." It lingered in a few corners of the Hogwarts Library too.

Rae smiled at his dust scent comment. "Yeah, it'll be nice to know I have somewhere to go now, on holidays and summers.." Not that she wouldn't still go with Xylon this summer, but when he was gone, she had a place. When she graduated, she would still have a place, Dad didn't leave her with nothing after all.

Feeling like she should tell Xylon, she wasn't sure still because it really wasn't Rae's secret. But if Rae was helping out and if Xylon ever planned on coming around the house alot, she would need to explain anyways. "I wont be there alone. I'm inviting Evelyn to come live with me... She.... Well she got in something similar. I thought you should know if you plan on being around." She sure hoped he did. "So, if you want... You can help us fix it up.. Make it a place that someone can live in." He wouldn't have a problem with Evelyn right? Though she hadn't asked her yet... But where else would she live? Right now her only plan was the plan Rae had suffered for years now.

"I'm going to envy that house if it gets to keep you," Xylon said in a matter-of-fact voice. Because that was a fact. "You're still going to squeeze out some time to visit me this summer aren't you?"

Evelyn? That was something he hadn't expected. He considered what she had said for a moment. Evelyn, he could handle. Unless the girls ganged up on him! "That's fine with me," he said finally. "But I think ---" He shrugged slightly --- "That you ought to ask Evelyn first."

He could help her fix things, get everything in order, like she had suggested. He would be able to use magic, something that gave him an edge there. An edge to her advantage of course.

"Oh! Uhh. I wasn't planning on even going to the house until the next holiday... " Rae wanted to spend the summer with him. Evelyn was staying with Destiny this summer anyways. She was thinking she would get to cleaning and living in it on the next school holiday when her or Evelyn didn't have a place to go anymore. "Unless.. It's better for you if I go to the house instead... I guess you could just come over then." Maybe Rae had to rethink this is if he preffered her to not be at his house for the summer. "I guess... We can figure it out together... Haha, I'll make you your own room." Maybe he didn't want that, but oh well..

"You didn't tell me that," Xylon said. He had had no idea that she was talking about the summer that would succeed this one.

Go to the house? No, not at all! "I want you to come over," he said simply. There could be no doubt about that. "But if you would rather not, I'm sure I could steal away from home to come over to your place." He smiled lightly. "Sound okay?"

Uh..... What? "Er.. I got... Confused. How about I ask Evelyn if she wants to live with me, which im pretty sure she will, then we can get the four of us together and figure out the summer." Soooooo confused!!!! Destiny was pretty much in on it too even if she didn't know it yet. Because Evelyn was supossed to stay with her this summer. Also, Destiny is anywhere Evelyn is, Rae could expect her over alot.

"You can still wait till the next summer," Xylon offered. "We could fix the house up in these vacations so it will be in a better condition when you and Evelyn want to move in there, next term. I'm pretty much in whatever you want me to be in on."

Well as long as it didn't involve something that could pose a danger to her.

Speaking of Evelyn, did this mean Destiny would be around too? Xylon wasn't too sure if Destiny was sane.

Desicions desicions.... "We'll get it figured out. I guess it also depends on what Evelyn wants.. If she wants to move in sooner or later... Just.. Whatever we decide, I'll make sure me and you are together up until you leave." She had a feeling that Xylon would be leaving first then she would leave after that sometime.

"Do you know how to cook?"

"Maybe you should straighten things out with her, next time you two talk," Xylon suggested. "Figure out exactly what the plan is." That could save them any unpleasant revelations later.

Cook. Umm. "I can make an omlette," Xylon grinned. What? It wasn't his fault he had never had to lift a finger to cook for himself. "In short, no. I only know the very basics..... why do you ask?" His tones went from light to slightly curious.

Rae smiled back at him. "Well, that's more than I can cook." Rae never had a kitchen in the past 5 years. "I need to learn to cook.. Evelyn can cook a little, but not much." She put her hands on his upper arms.. "Heh, might take me a while to get it right." Looking up at him first, then kissing him. "Wanna go?"

"I can make tea," Xylon laughed. But he guessed anyone would know how to dip a tea-bag in a cup of boiling water. That didn't require much genius or practice. "If you learn, you should teach me. The best dish I've ever cooked...... doesn't exist?"

He placed a hand behind her head to kiss her gently back, before pulling away. "Outside?"

"Well, I would have to learn to cook without magic..... That is going to be more difficult than normal... You could learn easier." Which was true, he had magic on his side, but even if Rae had magic then her cooking would be destructive. She was only good at Transfiguration... That wouldn't really help in cooking... Right?

Outside.. Of course, Rae and Xylon were always outside together. "Sure, where to?" It was a good thing that the house was more in the country. More outside stuff. Maybe Rae could plan a picnic in the valley once in a while or something...

"Knowing how to cook without magic is supposed to be a survival skill," Xylon said. "I'm sure you'll be able to pick it up." But he couldn't deny that she was right. If he put his mind to it, it would be easier for him to learn a skill like that. He could use magic outside of school afer all.

"Flower Garden?" he asked, as he placed his hand on her back and led her out of the owlery.