<strong>Cecily Cochran</strong><br/><br/>She waited for it, whatever it may be. It wasn’t like she didn’t deserve a drastic emotion, like anger, from Dawn. It was pretty obvious, especially now, that Dawn had been completely in the dark on who and what she was … so she’d never lied to Cecily. It was always Cecily who had lied; she only hoped her friend would believe her now and forgive her such a trespass.<br/><br/>Cecily’s answer came in the shining, tear filled eyes of her friend. But, she held back the sigh of relief until Dawn spoke. Then and only then did Cecily fully and completely relax.<br/><br/><em>"I can understand wanting to run from it...I wish I could sometimes, all the way to Africa, but its even there. They are everywhere you know."</em><br/><br/>Dawn kept quite of her father and probably would be for awhile. In truth, she wasn’t really abreast of Pure politics as she should have been, especially not her sire’s involvement. And considering the Queen was now her best friend or her best friend was now the queen … some things were better left to the thoughts and capable hands of others. This very moment, Cecily was just glad that things were as normal as could be between the two women.<br/><br/>“I know, why do you think I never stayed in one place for very long?”<br/><br/>She thought of Africa then, of the lion, of the way of the great beasts. How complicated even in its simplicity that such a life was. She wished for it, really, to just be alone in the wild … to be away from it all. And just as hard as Dawn wished to be away from the politics, Cecily wished to be free of all the trappings of both worlds. ‘What a pair we make.’ Neither could run that far, Dawn was very right about that.<br/><br/><em>"I can't even begin to express how much I missed you, how much I wanted you here...my Mom...I...she's dead. And Papa vanished."</em><br/><br/>Cecily flinched. She wasn’t so old that she could brace herself for such pain. And not just from her own, but Dawn’s as well. They were good people, strong people, people who loved deeply and took a young woman with nothing in as their own. She hadn’t really realized it until that moment, but Cecily had loved them to. They were her first experience with family that didn’t want just to control each other. It hurt, more than she expected, but she held it in. She’d be no good to Dawn if she fell apart. There would be time later for her own pain and fear.<br/><br/><em>"And I get to be a fairy princess....so not what its cracked up to be. And no, its not going well. I really don't like being the one to be the center of politics, I rather like observing them. And the men, they are all so stubborn and seem to think they know what's best for me. Please say you'll stay, even if its just for the night. The handmaiden's fawn and it drives me nuts. We could order pizza and pig out, I'll send them off to get ice cream and stuff and chick flicks...or action ones. 300 maybe? Or Thor?"</em><br/><br/>Even with the pain and the shock to her system that this was really happening, Cecily still managed the chuckle. It was hard not to.<br/><br/>“At least you’re a totally hot fairy princess.”<br/><br/>Then Cecily cringed.<br/><br/>“And believe me, I know all about the men and their stubbornness.”<br/><br/>It was true, she did. Her father had been the worst she’d ever encountered. She’d also learned in her life how to handle it when she couldn’t run from it. Whether she could teach that to Dawn or if it would even work against those bent on protecting her, protecting their way of life … she had no idea. But damn it if a movie and something normal didn’t sound perfect.<br/><br/>“Thor, has to be Thor.”<br/><br/>Cecily’s grin was a mile wide as she hugged Dawn again. She didn't know how to approach anything, or even what to say. In truth, it was easier to talk to animals, to understand them. How she'd ever managed to make and keep Dawn as a friend was a miracle. There was still a lot to cover, it would probably take them weeks to cover it all. But what mattered now is that they both needed to settle in and just be ... just be what they were and who they were. No more secrets.<br/><br/>“I want to lick him all over, so ice cream would probably be best.”