Claire POV-

"Favorite color?" Jordan asked, but then ducked just quick enough to miss the sharp end of a blade.

"Probably silver, or a dark grey" Stefan answered, blocking Jordan's attack efficiently but the clash of the metal still caused a small shock wave to travel through his body uncomfortably.

"Dark grey is just black silly" Jordan smirked

"You know what I mean!" Stefan said, trying once again to trip her feet which proved unsuccessful and just ended up leaving a very wide opening on his left side.

Stefan moved out of the way just in time before her blade could graze him in the ribs.

Out of breath, Stefan left out a few loud huffs of air while trying his best to maintain his defensive stance while saying "What's...yours?"

Jordan swung her sword around in a flourish, she wasn't nearly as out of breath as Stefan was, plush she wanted to mess with him by making fancy sword moves.

"Probably blue, like the sky and ocean" she said, rushing over to him and striking her blade were his obvious openings were, just so he would be more aware of them and make mental notes to keep them guarded.

That's what today was, practice over all the stuff he had been learning with Tom and Sonja.

Based on her own experience learning from her two friends, Stefan was doing a good job so far. Jordan couldn't help but be a little impressed even as he lost grip of his blade with certain blows and left openings on his defenses.

Stefan seem to be noticing his improvement too, because he hesitated less and began trying out new offensive tactics instead of just keeping his guard up all the time.

"Favorite food?" Stefan asked as he swiped sweat off his forehead and got back in stance.

Jordan considered as she kept attacking purely on instinct, her muscles moving to the flow of endless practice and experience, letting her focus on her thoughts rather than the fight. Something Stefan would develop with practice in the near future hopefully.

"Whatever ice cream is in the fridge. I LOVE ice cream, specially with chocolate syrup or nuts" she replied, smiling at the though of a food she hadn't tasted in a long time.

The world of Mianite was great and all, but it's awesomeness was dimmed by the lack of wifi and ice cream.

"Seriously? I would have considered you to be a healthy individual based on what your mother cooked for me the few times I went over for meals" Stefan said, repeating the same blocks she had been trying to sink into his reflexes.

"It's more of a guilty pleasure, I guess that's why it's my favorite" Jordan said "It's what I eat when no one is home. You?"

Stefan was quiet for a second, letting his sword fall at his side as he smiled weakly.

"Your mother's bread actually. There is nothing in this world or any other that tastes better" he said

Jordan also lowered her sword as memories of her mother began swirling in her mind.

All the times Jordan used to hurry to the back side of the bakery where the kitchens and ovens were, where she would find her mother at a metal table covered in flour as she prepared the dough for the day's bread.

The smell of it would hit her senses so early in the morning that she couldn't resist to rush to get a slice of the first batch of freshly baked bread.

Then she would hurry back home, not two buildings away, and eat her slice in her room balcony in peace as she waited for the sun to fully rise in the sky.

"Yeah, those were the best.." Jordan said, still in a haze from the memory.

Stefan dropped his weapon even though they still had an hour to practice before heading back inside the tree house to finish up loading the ship.

He walked closer to her and took her sword in his hands.

"You miss her" he said

Of course she missed her mom. It had been who knew how long since she last saw her. About a year and a half if her math was right.

"I never thanked you for keeping them company. It seems like you all spent a lot of time together, and you must have been on her good side because she let you bake in her kitchen right? Not even my sister has that kind of trust" Jordan said, remembering her rowdy sister and her complaints.

He laughed.

"I don't thing I was a very good baker, but it was very fun to help out whenever I could. It was more like she was taking care of me than I her" Stefan said

Jordan smiled, happy to know her mother had been in good company and not caged to her thoughts.

"You miss her too huh?" She whispered

Stefan didn't answer, he just nodded slowly, sadly.

Without hesitation, Jordan went over to hug her friend, running conforming circles on his back.

"She was more of a mother to me than my own. You are very lucky to have her" Stefan said, setting his jaw atop her head as he hugged her back.

"You're practically family Stef, mom is as much a part of my life and she is in yours now" she said

"Thanks Claire" her friend whispered back, petting her hair strands.

Dang, hugging Stefan was the best. Its like her body completely relaxed, her muscles leaving their guard down. It felt nice.

They didn't let go of each other for a few minutes, but it was not awkward or anything, it was just peaceful.

"Favorite school subject?" Stefan asked

Jordan pushed away from his embrace and gave him a ridiculous glare.

"Do you even have to ask?"

"Physics" they both answered in unison, laughing at their unplanned synchronization.

"But what about your music? Didn't you ever take a music class or something? Maybe joined choir?" Jordan asked, staring up at her friend

"Never saw the use for it. Like I said, this singing thing, it's more of a hobby. Something I took up to get my mind to stop racing all the time"

Jordan smacked his arm playfully.

"You're honestly the best singer I've ever heard. I might have to request a song every night to fall asleep" she said

Seeing his surprise and blush made her so happy.

Of course he wouldn't know how good he was, how much his beautiful song had calmed her nerves.

That wasn't the best part though, seeing him happy as he sang..that had somehow been the best part.

"Then I'll be more than happy to do it. But you can't tell any of the others about it!" He said, suddenly panicked

"Why!" Sonja would swoon!" She teased, imagining her friend, a confused and angry Tucker at her side.

"It's just embarrassing ok? Its very private" Stefan said, his blush now all the way up to his ears

"If it was that private, why did you show me? Just because we are best friends doesn't mean you have to do stuff you don't want"

He was silent for a moment, staring at the sky and then back at her brown eyes.

"You're the only person I feel comfortable showing that side of myself to. No one else" he said softly

....

"Then I'm honored" she said "and I'm dying to hear another song soon"

As Jordan stepped away to grab her sword and jacket, she heard her friend chuckle.

"Maybe tonight" he said

Joran was surprised he would even have one finished, specially with their busy schedules.

Stefan had woken up a bit later than usual, so he was forced into a longer and more painful training session with Tom. After that, he trained for an hour with Sonja, in which time Jordan had been over at the wizards taking care of all the potions and final preparations she had requested.

Then they had eaten a quick lunch of whatever they could find around the farms as they sat under a tree, hiding from the day's heat. It was then that they had started this little game of theirs. To make up for their lost friendship, they wanted to catch up on everything about each other.

Jordan was surprised by the large amount of things they had in common with each other, and she wasn't the least bit bothered with the things they didn't. It was great getting to know Stefan on a more personal level. They went over simple things first, the things others wouldn't know about them.

It was then that she realized how much fun they would have had together as kids. How many things she would have been able to share with him, things that she had kept to herself all those years.

The hide and seek years.

That what they decided to call their time apart. It had been like a giant game of hiding from each other, spending their lives looking for the other until she finally found him. Even though Stefan had laughed at that, claiming it was HIM that found her.

He was right of course, though she had fun debating how it was her who ran into him that day at school, not the other way around.

Jordan snapped out of the memories of this morning and smiled at her friend, throwing her arm around his shoulders as they began their walk back to their home.

"How about now? I brought your iPod" Jordan said, searching in the pocket of her jacket for the little metal devise, then she waved it in front of his face.

"What if someone's around. I don't want them to hear me!" Stefan said, gently taking the iPod away from her.

"Everyone is back at Tom's getting their stuff in order" she said "You just lied about finishing the song, there is no way its already done"

Stefan smirked at her.

"Oh it's finished, melody and all, love" he said

"Then let's hear it. Tonight is gonna be crazy anyways, and I wanna hear one of your songs just in case I die tonight if this crazy plan flops"

"You won't die! It's gonna work out" he said, holding on to the hand wrapped around his arm, lacing his fingers through hers.

It was no secret that she was worried sick for what would happen tonight. They were taking a lot of risks and nothing was guaranteed to work.

Stefan hadn't been happy with all the particular risks she would be subjecting herself to, he had wanted to be there by her side despite the horrors she would face.

Thankfully she had managed to convince him to stay within his responsibilities, but the danger ahead had been looming over them all day.

There was no time to prepare further anyways.

Lord Mianite was exhausted, his magical barrier would only last a few more hours, by tomorrow morning at most.

They had to get out fo the island fast if they wanted to stay away from Dianite's teleportation magic range and avoid his armies.

Jordan wasn't sure how much her little Nether exit bravado had done, despite the burning castle she left behind, it was had to estimate how many monsters and creatures would come for them once those nether portals opened up once more.

So they rushed, they planned, and everyone had their assigned post to get out of there as fast as humanly possible.

Even the wizards had decided to abandon their lovely home to go to Ianera with them, building their own ship these days. A magical floating ship of course. The only way wizards like them would travel, of course SHE had suggested the idea.

Perhaps their only back up should Jordan's plan fail.

Thats probably why she was so instant on the song, she needed to calm her nerves before they overtook her existence.

Jordan had moderate faith in her own plan, one which Tucker perfected. Still she count help but fear failure, specially when she had a lot to lose now. Like the guy next to her, taking out his iPod and scrolling through what looked like dozens of songs.

If she survived, perhaps she would end up hearing all of them one day.

Stefan cleared his that and let out a long breath, calming himself.

Then suddenly, the melody began drifting from his device, a simple guitar strum that echoed along with the wind against the leaves around them as they slowly made it to the forest her god had gifted her.

Stefan closed his eyes and held her hand.

"Sunrise with you on my chest.

No blinds in the place where I live.

Daybreak open your eyes

'Cause this was only ever meant to be for one night

Still, we're changing our minds here

Be yours, be my dear...." Stefan sang, his voice as gentle as the sound of the guitar in the background

Somehow those lyrics reminded her of waking up in the mornings with him, safely in their house.

It was enough to make her smile and squeeze his hand encouragingly.

Never in her life did she ever think she'd have a friend to sing to her, and despite her natural aversion to people that she had once developed...this was nice too

"So close with you on my lips

Touch noses, feeling your breath

Push your heart and pull away, yeah

Be my summer in a winter day love

I can't see one thing wrong

Between the both of us

Be mine, be mine, yeah

Anytime, anytime...." Stefan continued singing, his eyes closing, his soul absorbed in the melody

It was a good thing too, her face felt like it was on fire, so much so that she almost dropped her sword.

"Ooh, you know I've been alone for quite a while

haven't I? I thought I knew it all

Found love but I was wrong

More times than enough

But since you came along

I'm thinking baby..."

What!?

Darn it Jordan! It's just lyrics!

She felt her face get redder and she got shivers all over her skin when she saw how at peace he was while singing.

"You are bringing out a different kind of me

There's no safety net that's underneath, I'm free

Falling all in

You fell for men who weren't how they appeared, yeah

Trapped up on a tightrope now we're here, we're free

Falling all in you...."

Yeah... she did fall for men who weren't how they appeared.... But when he sang that part he wasn't teasing or disappointed, he seemed concerned, his gaze now staring right at her with nothing but kindness.

Jordan smiled back and let him spin her around as the chorus finished.

Though falling leaves of all colors were getting in her hair, Jordan let herself relax and allowed him to guide her along as he sang.

"Fast forward a couple years, yeah

Grown up in the place that we live..." Stefan sang, his voice dropping a little as he smiled

That would be nice, both of them back home safe together. Perhaps that's why he caught her attention during that part of his song. A warning to be safe tonight, so they could get back home..live long enough to grow old.

A notion most people in the island didn't have. No one had huge expectations for the future. Being stuck in a war between gods didn't help guarantee a long life after all, and as the months had passed...she had developed that thinking too.

Sonja and Tucker might be more of an exception to that kind of thinking since Tucker told Sonja he loved her. It was a bold declaration, one she hadn't fully understood at the time. It was a suggestion, a promise of a long future together.

Stefan had caught on to everyone's way of thinking by now of course, he was intelligent enough to catch the seriousness of Tom's jokes when he spoke of a noble death in war.

But there he was, her friend Stefan, saying they would go home and grow old. Not quite the declaration Sonja got of course, her and Stefan were friends...but friends that were sure to last a lifetime.

It was a sweet enough thought that Jordan wrapped her arm around his waist as they walked, and she sang along to the chorus of the song with him.

"...I thought I knew it all

Found love but I was wrong

More times than enough

But since you came along

I'm thinking baby

You are bringing out a different kind of me

There's no safety net that's underneath, I'm free

Falling all in...." They sang, his beautiful voice and her moderate one echoing along their path.

Stefan looked shocked when she began signing along with him and she had feared the worst. That maybe he didn't want her to sing his song..

But he just smiled, brighter than she had ever seen him smile, and he brushed her hair behind her ears, playing with it as they walked.

"...Every time I see you baby I get lost

If I'm dreaming, baby, please don't wake me up

Every night I'm with you I fall more in love

Now I'm laying by your side

Everything feels right since you came along

I'm thinking baby..." his singing intensified then, he sang more passionately, and afterwards, when he went over the chorus one last time, he stopped their walking to give her a hug.

"Was that song ok?" He asked

Still trapped in his embrace, she tried get herself out of the song and into the present.

"You really should pursue a musical career. Physics and music, the perfect combination for the perfect friend. But I still want a song about me!" She said, resuming their walk as they made it out the magical forest.

Stefan didn't answer for a few second and Jordan was afraid she hadn't been loud enough for him to hear.

"That song WAS about you" he said, opening the door to the house, leaving Jordan standing outside like an idiot.

But...

She rushed in to find him heading for the kitchen, poor guy was probably starving after all that training.

"Um, well I expected a lot of killing and mention of my horrid baking skills to be in there" she said, getting an apple from the table while Stefan served himself some water, his back to her as he faced the counter.

"Your baking isn't that bad, and killing isn't all you are" he said, taking another big gulp of water

"Oh. Well it was beautiful!" She said, still trying to process everything.

Be mine, be mine?

Im free falling all in you?

Every time I see you baby I get lost?

Every night I'm with you I fall more in love?

Must be for rhyming purposes then.

Jordan smiled and hugged her friend from behind, getting on the tips of her feet to give him a kiss on the cheek.

"After we leave for Ianera I'll try to write you a song. Feel like I owe you" she said

"Owe what?" A voice said from behind her

Tom.

Now fully aware of his feelings and her insistence to not hurt him, she pulled away from Stefan. Even though they were just friends and it was a friendly gesture, she knew Tom got jealous over the smallest things.

Jordan gave Tom a smile and threw him some dried up meat. His favorite.

Without a second to spare after catching it, Tom bit into the meat and smiled.

"Are you guys ready for tonight?" Tom asked, food still in his mouth.

"Just need to load some more stuff back on the ship" she replied

"When will the pirates arrive?" Stefan asked, finally turning around and giving Tom a nod of acknowledgment.

"They might take a little longer to get here, maybe by sundown" Tom said, sitting atop the counter innocently and bitting on his meat savagely.

"Why!?" Jordan asked, turning over to her friend and smacking his leg, fully knowing he had done something when a wicked grin spread across his face.

"Someone might have punched a certain sea lover named Rupert" Tom said, bringing out his puppy eyes.

He did what!?

"Why?" Stefan said calmly, a small smile on his face.