You'll never ever guess! [Lucah]

[Jezebel Ivaskov]

##JEZEBEL##

Jez skipped excitedly down the hall, looking for the right room number, wondering at the fact that they were in such an order. They were very... in a straight line, rather than letting the poor rooms decide for themselves what number they wanted to be. But maybe that was why the rooms were numbered in the orderly fashion they were--maybe more than one room wanted to have the same number, and so they had to keep it just so, that way the rooms wouldn't fight and tear the building apart. Jez nodded to herself. Yes, that seemed right.

Spying 504, Jez stopped at the door and paused, taking a breath and preparing to knock. Before she did, though, she looked earnestly at the door and said softly, "I'm sorry, but I must hit you, you see, so that I may get the attention of the people on the other side of the door." She then assumed that the door's silence meant that it was fine with this, and so she knocked--it was more of a loud banging, but she told herself it was actually a happily loud knock, nothing unladylike--and called out in a sing-song voice. "Lucah! Esti acolo? Are you in there? Guess who it is!"

And she bounced on her heels as she waited for the door to open, an excited smile on her face, hoping it would be her brother that answered first. If not, she would just find his room within the room and surprise him even further. Oh, she truly wished to be in there already, tell him about the amazing things she had seen and learned about, about how much she missed him and it was so unfair that they had to be apart like that, and about, well, maybe not everything, but close enough. She figured she would not share with him, just yet, of the things that Judi had told her and the things they had gotten up to. She realized that people tended not to agree with her when she said that those particular few adventures were "amazing fun".

[Lucah Ivaskov]

Lucah was just sitting in his dorm. He was working on a new poem...about Belle. It was kind of weird how much muse he had for writing since they had worked out all of their problems. Everything was going good for him finally. He was happy, he was relaxed, he was amazing! Different, yes, but better. He was glad he had decided to work on the relationship with Belle. He was in love, what choice did he have?

But what made things better than ever, was that his baby sister that he adored so much was finally coming to Hammel. She had spent only a short time at Kocher, much like Lucah had. Now she would be on her way to Vermont any day. Problem was, he didn't know when because his father had cut off contact with him for a little while. He hadn't even gotten a letter from Jez saying when she would be coming to see him. Being an older brother was rough.

Lucah was lost in his own fantasy world of rhymes and romance when he heard a loud knock on the door. He was about to complain, but then he heard the soft soprano voice on the other side calling his name. Jezebel! He set his stuff down and made a dash for the door. He hadn't seen her in a few years other than when she had visited him once before. He missed her dearly and was so excited to see her.

He opened the door, looked down at the bouncing blue-eyed girl and smiled brightly. Only a few people could bring that smile to his face. Jezebel was the first. "Jezebel!" Lucah exclaimed as he lifted his sister up and twirled her around in his room. "I can't believe you're finally here." He said excitedly. Luc set his sister down gently and knelt down to her level. "You must tell me what you've been up to. I haven't seen you in so long." He said softly with a small ecstatic smile playing on his lips.

This little girl would be the death of him. It was the truth, but he'd take it.

[Jezebel Ivaskov]

##JEZEBEL##

Jez didn't like interrupting her brother when he was in the middle of something, but right now it was important. She hadn't seen her big brother in years! She was allowed to interrupt him for something as amazingly momentous as this. When the door finally opened to reveal her brother, Jez was torn between completely beaming and outright gaping at his appearance.

Her memory did him no justice at all! He was tall, kind, handsome, yes, all things she knew, she remembered his eyes and his hair, although it had been a much different length the last time she had seen him. But he was so... princely. It was absolutely fantastic! Jezebel was sister to a princely character! And on top of that, there was something else about him. Some light to him that she didn't remember him having before, something more than just the smile brought to his face at the sight of the tiny girl standing in the doorway. He seemed, if her guess was right, completely happy. There was no anger, frustration, sadness or dejection in his body, not that Jez could see.

All of this information, taken in with astonishment and a very high level of glee, was given exactly one second to process through the girl's mind before she was lifted by her brother and spun, Jez giggling as the momentum left her just off from dizzy when she touched down. She contained her excitement for a short amount of time, listening with wonder to her brother's voice. Can it have really gotten so deep? She supposed he was to the age that soon he would be of legal age, so her brother was practically a man now. It would be just amazing to be able to be near when his next birth-day was celebrated. She realized that he would be near, as well, not a country or an ocean away, but a building away, every night for the rest of his time at Hammel. Snapping herself out of her own thoughts, she focused on what Lucah had just said. "I..." she searched for the first thing she wanted to tell him. She could get to everything else eventually, but for now she simply wanted to tell him something, something exciting, but nothing he would frown upon. "I have gotten better at English. Judi, that is, a friend of mine from Kocher, she said that my accent is better, and she can hardly tell I am not from England or America anymore!" The girl had been lying to make Jez feel better, obviously, because the Romanian accent was still running strong and steady. Jez didn't know that, though. She mostly thought that Judi had been telling a complete, honest truth, not really pausing to compare her own voice to someone who had been speaking the language all of their life.

After a moment more of telling him happy things that had happened, like new books and growing two inches in a year, she couldn't hold back anymore. She leaned over and wrapped her tiny arms around Lucah's neck, pressing her face into his shoulder as happy tears spilled from her eyes. Her voice was muffled, but she didn't care. She just wanted to say the words to him. "Am ratat tu, Lucah. Very much." She truly had missed him the entire time they had been separated, and wished to speak with him every day, to tell him things, ask him questions, to be comforted by her big brother when she was feeling alone or out-of-place. It was impossible for that to happen.

But now it was possible. Now she could finally have her brother again. She was just so amazingly thrilled, words couldn't express it at all.

[Lucah Ivaskov]

Lucah would put anything on hold for Jezebel. If he was in the middle of something and she needed him, he'd drop whatever it was and help her. She was his main priority, even more than Belle was. He loved Belle with all of his heart, but he loved Jezebel with all of his soul. She was his baby girl. His beautiful little sister that he'd do anything for. Even if that meant going to jail for killing some stupid punk. He'd do it. No questions asked.

Luc couldn't believe how big she had gotten. Grown like not a weed, but a beautiful flower that he would always protect. She was so naive that he was terrified of her getting hurt. The whole world she had built around herself would soon be shattered, but he refused to be the one to shatter it. He would feed into her fantasies forever if it kept her happy and safe. Her hair had gotten a few inches longer and her eyes matched his mother's more so now than they ever had.

It hurt sometimes, looking at Jez. She reminded him so much of his mother. Her appearance wasn't the only thing she had gotten from their mother. Jessamine had been bubbly and fun at one point in her life. He had only seen that side of her when they were alone together. Without his father there to darken the mood, it was perfect and both of them were happy.

Lucah knew Jezebel envied him slightly for knowing their mother. He was waiting for the day that she'd ask about everything he remembered of Jessamine. He promised himself he would tell her anything she wanted to know, despite how much it hurt to talk about her. Jezebel had a right to know what she had missed out on. One thing that made Lucah love Jez so much was that, when he was with her, he remembered his mother most. She made it possible for him to remember his mother and that was a miracle. He had always been afraid of forgetting her. The time that him and Jez had been apart...he realized he had almost forgotten her.

Lucah smiled at her story and listened intently. His full attention was given to her. Judi seemed nice. Sure she had lied to Jez about the accent thing, but it was horrible seeing Jezebel hurt. It was like seeing a puppy who had just been kicked. Absolutely terrible.

As she wrapped her arms around his neck, he held her close enough that he was satisfied without hurting her. Lucah knew before that he had missed Jez, but not that he was with her...it made him realize just how much he had. He felt as if part of himself had returned. "Jezebel, my dearest Jezebel. I missed you more than I can ever explain. I'm so glad you're here." Luc kissed the top of her head and rubbed her back lightly.

This little girl had him wrapped around her finger tighter than she would ever understand.

[Jezebel Ivaskov]

##JEZEBEL##

Jezebel smiled, the tears in her eyes quickly blinked away as she didn't want to seem so not-put-together when it was the first time in years she'd seen her big brother. Nobody would blame her if she completely broke down and cried her heart out, which was what would be normal for the given situation, but she wanted to be strong, and seem less like the dependent, clingy little girl she likely was. Despite this, she did like being Lucah's little sister and being able to run to him should something make her upset or uncomfortable. Something she missed very sorely, that was. She would very likely be using it as much to her advantage as she could, at some point possibly even visiting with the sole purpose of hugging him and making sure he was there, that she wasn't dreaming.

That could wait for later, though. Right now, she was here and able to talk to him. Actually talk, not just write the occasional letter. She still could not believe this fact, and was marveling at how everything was so very different, and yet she could still rush into Lucah's arms and feel like she was home again, back in her old room with her dolls and books and the walls that smelled like time passed reading. She closed her eyes tightly and it was easy to imagine that nothing had ever changed, that they were back home. But then she realized how different Lucah was now, and she was harshly reminded how sometimes, change is for the better. If nothing had changed, Lucah would not have been happy at all. He, in fact, would likely have gotten so very much more unhappy that Jez would be left not knowing what to do with an angry shell of a brother and a terrifyingly easily provoked father.

These are the things that Jez needs someone for, so she can steer her mind away from thoughts like that. She didn't quite think like that often, per se, but when she thought of it she could go on for a few minutes worrying about if she should be thinking thoughts like that, if her brother was so much happier now that things were different. She usually ended with the decision that she would see what was true for herself, and now she decided that Lucah was truly and completely happy, and nothing her father could do would change that anymore.

So essentially, she decided she likes things better now.

Jez pulled back and smiled, her inner worryings pushed aside so she could focus on the wonderful present. She rubbed at her eyes with the backs of her hands, quickly getting rid of the tears that had threatened to fall once again. Her sparkling blue eyes blinked a few times, then re-focused on Lucah's face. She tilted her head to the side like a small bird, her small smile returning to her face in full force. "So, Lucah, what have you done in the time we have been apart?" She would honestly like to know. Father never did tell her much.

[Lucah Ivaskov]

Lucah knew Jezebel inside and out. Despite being apart from her, he still knew her very well. It was hard not to considering she was so easy to read. That being said, he knew when his little sister was holding back something. He knew that she was more than happy to see him, that much was clear. He also knew that she wouldn't want him to see how much being away from him hurt though. He understood that she wanted to be strong. It showed just how much of an Ivaskov she was. Always trying to be strong. One of their most frustrating traits.

Lucah couldn't help but smile at how much she had matured. Still living in a fantasy world, but able to understand the importance of their reunion. He had missed out on watching her grow up, but that was going to change. He'd spend as much time with her as he could now. Just as he had when she was born. The adorable little baby he had held shortly after she was born. At age six, he had become the best big brother he could be. Unfortunately, it hadn't lasted long. Only five years later would he be leaving, only seeing her occasionally until he moved to Vermont where he would only see her once. Six years without her. How he managed, was a mystery to even him.

He had changed so much in the time that they'd been apart. Growing distant from his family. His father in particular. He no longer accepted his father's orders or plans for his future. He wanted to make his own future. One that he wanted and would be happy with. Whether it was in Romania or not was up to him. He'd leave if Jezebel did, just so he never had to be apart from her again. He did miss his home, but he would not deal with his father. That relationship had been crushed, with little hope for repair.

He smiled at Jezebel when she pulled back. He saw the tears in her eyes and it nearly broke his heart, even knowing that they were happy tears. He hated seeing her cry. "Well I've been writing much more, without Father's constant nagging that only women write down their feelings." He shook the anger from his head and spoke softer, "I met someone Jez..." He smiled slightly.