The One That Got Away

ONE RING TO RULE THEM ALL

Layla woke up the next morning, feeling an emotional wreck. After last night's incidents, she cried her eyes out, eventually going completely bipolar. She replayed the kiss in her mind, their first kiss ever. All the heat, the arousal, and the longing returned with a vengeance, only to end up to his sudden evacuation after he saw the necklace. It filled her with such distress and dismay, she thought she would die. She kept it up for a while until merciful sleep finally took her.

A knock on the door startled her. Has Xander returned? Did she wish him back?

Of course she did. "Who is it?"

She was surprised to hear Sofia's voice. "Layla, may I come in?"

Last night's misunderstanding made her cautious. "Yes, but please, give me a moment to dress first."

The queen gave her more than a moment until Layla heard the door unlocking. Sofia came in grinning. The guards tried to follow but she resisted. "Out. Now."

"But, my-"

"Do not 'but' me, I'm the queen. Out!" The guard dropped his head and exited, closing the door behind him. Layla felt sorry for the poor guy.

Sofia pouted. "I don't enjoy shouting to people but occasionally, it comes in handy." She sat on the bed next to Layla and took her face in her hands, beaming. "Look at you! How I have missed this pretty face!"

This was more kindness than Layla could handle. Soft sobs started escaping her. Sofia was alarmed. "What's wrong?"

There was no way to answer that. She didn't know where to begin. From the fact that Sofia had always tried to do the right thing, both here and in the other world? From the fact that she, on the other hand, had an affair with Lucas when it was clear to her now, he was absolutely right claiming he belonged with Sofia? From the fact that she had simply missed her friend, a friend she avoided back in her world because of a man?

"Nothing," Layla shook her head and wiped her eyes. "I am just emotional, that's all."

"Of course you are, dear" -Sofia caressed her head- "with everything you have been through." She stood up. "But I know the perfect way to fix this!" she declared triumphantly.

"How?" was all Layla could manage. 

The queen rolled her arm around Layla's and began dragging her outside. "We'll go shopping!"

While leading her along corridors and stairs, Sofia explained to Layla that at first, she had her mind on sending Margaret to purchase clothes for her. But then thought how much fun it would be for them to go together like the old times. Her husband didn't like the idea at all, but Xander intervened and said that he-

As they reached the gardens surrounding the keep, Layla saw him standing, hands on his back, boring into her.

"...had his investigation to do and would accompany us!" Sofia's cheerful voice was met by a bird's happy tweet. "Commander, we are ready whenever you are!"

Layla blushed from embarrassment, as their last night's encounter crashed into her mind. A coy smile appeared on his lips and it made her furious. She lifted her arms towards him.

Both Xander and Sofia blinked in confusion.

"Layla, what are you doing?" she heard the queen ask.

She raised her chin in defiance. "I believe the commander prefers me restrained."

The answer came from him all too quickly. "I do, but under much more enjoyable circumstances."