We hung out a lot over the couple of days before his departure, growing closer to the point when he left I was so upset I almost cried. I hugged him for a couple minutes as he was leaving, kissing him one last time.

“We’ve only been together a short time, but I already know I’m going to miss you so much. Can I hold on to a shirt of yours? Something that smells like you?” He seemed awkward asking that.

“Yeah, sure thing,” I blushed as I flicked my wrist and a shirt appeared. I handed it to him, and he carefully folded it and tucked it in his bag. He paused and took a deep breath.

“Just promise you’ll come home to me,” I said looking up at him.

“I promise, now I need to go before I physically can’t leave.”

“Okay, see you soon Drolter.”

---

“I’m screwed,” I sighed as I laid on my friend Finley’s couch the next day.

“Oh, by who?” They said glancing over from their counter as they poured us coffee.

“No, I’m falling for a guy,” I looked over at Finley’s Fall form, elven ears aloft, red to golden hair neatly trimmed and styled, deep brown eyes focused on me—

“And why dear Ephie, am I just hearing about his,” they placed the coffee mugs neatly on coasters on the table before turning quickly to me.

“I was getting to it,” I said defensively.

“Uhuh, I’m sure you were. Now spill.”

“Well, he’s taller than me- “

“Not hard.”

“He has green eyes and is really smart.”

“Your type alright.”

“He’s a travelling researcher and is away for a couple weeks right now,” I said and slumped down a bit into the couch. Finley looked sympathetic at that and placed a manicured hand on my shoulder. “Oh, and he’s also a Dragonborn.”

“Oh, the sex must be incredible,” Finley grinned cheekily.

“We haven’t gotten there yet.”

“Wow taking things slow for once?”

“Oh, fuck off,” I said pushing their shoulder.

“No that’s what you should be doing- “
“Haha, very funny,” I said reaching for my coffee.

“So, tall, attractive, researcher, Dragonborn with pretty green eyes?”

“Yep.”

“You are screwed.”

“Thanks captain obvious, a real bit of fascinating incite.”

“Well, it’s not a bad thing, right?”
“No, it’s not.”

“So why are you worried?”
“Cause it’s complicated, he’s travelling for work for weeks at a time, but I’m falling way to fast for him, it’s like I’m freefalling. I think he feels the same though, he asked if he could take a shirt of mine with him so he could have my scent,”

“Ephie, that’s some real head over heels type of thing.”

“Yeah…” I looked at Finley, I felt tears welling up in my eyes.

“No! Don’t you dare you know I’m terrible with people crying!”  They scooched back, but they reached the back of the couch quickly.

“Can you please just hug me?” I said as they groaned.

“Fine, but no snot on the robe,” they said before gingerly hugging me.

“Thanks,” I said hugging them.

“There, there,” they said awkwardly patting my back.

“You’re a good if awkward friend Finley.”

“Thanks, I try.”
“Now, get up some damn courage and ask Ylla out,” I said pulling back. Ylla was a mutual friend of ours and her and Finley were obviously pining for eachother.

“I—No! This conversation is about you Ephie!”

“Yeah well I’m tired about talking about my attachment issues and would rather focus on how you haven’t worked up the courage to ask that poor girl out.”

“It’s complicated—”
“Wonder where you heard that from>”

“Ephie,” they pleaded.

“Fine, but I expect you two to go on a date soon. The pining is getting stale.”

They muttered something in Elvish that I didn’t quite catch but I let it slide.

“Let’s agree,” I started.

“That’ll be a first—”

“To work on our love lives,” I finished.

“Fine.”

“Glad we’re on the same page,” I said sipping my coffee again.

---

“I should let him work,” I mused to Snappy as I shelved books.

She meowed in agreement, rolling over on a nearby table.

“But it’s been a week and nothing,” I said grabbing the next book. “I want to make sure he’s okay.”

Snappy mewed looking at me with narrowed eyes.

“Please, it’s only a check in,” she meowed annoyed.

“I’m just going to do it.”

I waved my hand and felt the tingle of magic.

“Hey Drolter, how are you doing? I wanted to check in and see how you are. I miss you, so come home safe soon.”

There was pause, and I felt the echo of a yelp in my head.

“Hey,” his voice echoed in my head. “Sorry, that scared me, I’m fine, I miss you too. Research is going well, and I should be home soon.”

Even hearing his voice for a few moments made it all the better and worse. Snappy made her way over to me and hopped on my shoulder, rubbing herself against my cheek.

“Thanks Snap,” I said reaching up to scratch her chin. “This is going to be a lot harder than I thought.”

---

I’m fine.

No, I’m not.

But I should be. Right?

Right.

Right…?

I groaned looking at my ceiling. The room was cozy as ever, but it now felt empty, cold.

“He’s never even been here!’ I yelled exasperated. “He’s to tall so eventually I’ll just move in with—”

I paused, before covering my face and groaning.

We’ve been together, what a couple weeks? Not even that with him being gone for most of it. I can’t be making future plans. Gods that scares the hell out of me. I can’t have fallen for him this quickly, he’s probably going to think I’m clingy or creepy.

Maybe a bit, but he’s so nice to cuddle with and he looks at me like I’m the only thing in a room and gods those eyes! They’re like emeralds.

I am so screwed. I think that I might be in love—

That went terribly last time. But let’s hope that he’s different.

---

“He’ll be here soon,” I said sitting on the dock. Snap looked done with me, and I couldn’t really blame her. It’s all I’d been saying for the last two days.

“Listen, could you just, fly and see if you can spot him?”

She looked annoyed but complied. Her furry legs donned feathers and she soon soared into the air. Once she was at a decent height I looked through her eyes, on one of the ships coming up the canals I saw a black dot. I snapped back into my own eyes.

My heart started pounding. I stood anxiously; I’d even made sure to dress cute. I stood and smoothed out my skirt and held an arm out for Snap to land on, she did that and transformed herself back into a cat. I stood waiting, probably for close to half an hour, before I saw a familiar figure. He looked very attractive, bag slung over his shoulder, blue tunic with crisscrossing leather straps and bands. He didn’t see me, but I felt my feet moving on their own. He saw me just in time to catch me as I leapt up into his arms. My arms going over his shoulders and his lips pressed against mine. I closed my eyes, but not before I saw the startled look in his. He gripped my back to hold us steady, and I felt him laugh into the kiss. I pulled off of him and looked at him grinning

He hugged me tighter, and I felt us spin around a few times.

“I’m home,” he said as our spins slowed.

“Welcome home my dear Traveler,” I smiled as he nuzzled me. “I missed you.”

“I missed you too Ephie, gods did I,” his hug still held me in the air. “We’ve only been together for a short time, but I cannot find the words to describe how I feel about you. I’m trying to and they’re just not coming to me yet.”

“Can I tell you how I feel about you?”

“Yes, of course.”

“It scares the hell out of me, but I’m falling hard for you Drolter. I’ve never felt this way before, my last relationship was a disaster but this one feels as natural as breathing. I don’t want to mess this up, but I’m falling in love with you.”

“Those words are echoing how I feel Ephie,” he kissed me and brushed my hair back as he gently ran his fingers through it. Using one hand to hold me up and the other to gently cup the back of my head.

“I promise to be honest, with myself and you, but my words may fumble or come slowly.”

“That’s fine, you’re worth the wait.”

“Okay,” I leaned my forehead on his. “Okay.”