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Calcifer was following a certain wizard down the sidewalk towards the park in Barton. As usual, the fire demon had fallen into babysitter status, he sighed. Babysitting Morgan was one thing; keeping an eye on a full grown wizard was another entirely. "Howl, stop moping," he said, flickering like a dragonfly does over a pond. "Just because we haven't found her..."

"I've given up, old blue face," Howl said, ignoring the fact that Calcifer was no longer blue. "I'll wait for Sophie to find me; that way, I'll hear her coming if she decides to yell at me."

Calcifer rolled his eyes, but remembered that Sophie had always seemed to have a fondness for yelling at Howl. Like wise, the wizard throughly enjoyed causing her to yell. "Let's get to the park," he said. "Come on, Howell. I have a feeling; and unlike your feelings, mine are usually accurate."

Howl paused when he heard his name, and looked around. Of course, he looked every way except the way Sophie was; typical. "You see, Calcifer? I even hear her voice. I've been driving myself insane by searching for her; I will do so no longer."

Calcifer rolled his eyes. "Howl. Sophie's right there," he pointed with a flame like arm. He watched in amusement as Howl turned to see the silver haired girl. He watched as the boy's eyes doubled in size. "See? I told you I had a feeling."

But Howl was already gone. Dashing towards Sophie faster than even a wind could have taken him. "Sophie! Sophie!" He cried. "I've found you!"

Howl wrapped his arms around her, never wanting to let her go again. "I've missed you," he started, before realizing something. A frown replaced the smile he'd been wearing just a moment before. "I didn't leave you. I was taken. I didn't want to leave--it wasn't my intention at all," he sighed, and looked to Calcifer. "See, I told you she'd yell..." he muttered. "I wouldn't have left you, Sophie. I love you. At least... I would love you, if I had my heart." He looked vaguely guilty.

Calcifer mirrored the wizard's look. "It was Darcy, you see," the firedemon explained. "Darcy brought us here. Howl's been trying to find you ever since we arrived. Imagine; him smaller than even Morgan!" He was trying to prevent a fight that would be much less amusing than the ones he remembered.

Calcifer backed away from the angry witch. "I didn't take it, exactly," he said. "It was more, given to me. Oh, not by Howl," he added quickly. "He didn't want to give his heart back; it truly belongs to you. I don't know exactly how it happened--we arrived, and I had Howl's heart again. You should have seen him with the girls here, though Sophie--I don't think he's ever had so many failures in his life." The fire demon snickered.

"Darcy's worse than the Witch of the Waste," Howl muttered bitterly. "Twice as much power. The Witch could have never removed me from Ingary..." He froze, and stared at Sophie with what would have been genuine concern if he'd had a heart. "Morgan's not with you?" he gasped. "But what about the castle? It's still standing? Michael'll take care of Morgan, right? Until they come too?"

"Morgan's perfectly safe," Calcifer said.

"Maybe it's better to say someone must first train a puppy," Calcifer fizzed at Sophie. "The castle's fine," he added, glancing between them. "There's enough magic holding it together now; it didn't fall apart while I was with you in High Norland. It wandered quite a bit--"

Howl had known this was coming. Of course they couldn't stay away from Lettie and Martha, he thought rather sarcastically. He remembered Lettie. He had used her to gain infomation about Sophie; now of course she was married to Ben Sulliman; Howl's fellow royal wizard. "Sophie, I've tried every way possible," he started. "I tried to get back to you. You wouldn't believe how many times I tried. There's no way back. I doubt even the person who brought us here knows how to return us. Morgan will come, I'm sure of it. Just as I was sure you would be coming. We'll start over. Build a new castle, a better one!" a certain vanity had struck up in the wizard's eyes. "Not a flying one," he added quickly. "Not like in the movie. I still hate heights."

"That's about the only thing that hasn't changed," Calcifer grumbled. "Morgan will come," he added, trying to reassure Sophie.

"Do you want them to stay there?" Howl asked, raising an eyebrow. This was like old times. "There's no way we can get back, Sophie. Not--not the way we came," he paused, and put a finger to his chin. "But," he said, "maybe, we can get to Wales. There's a portal to Ingary there--I'm sure it hasn't closed. We'll have to drop in on Megan though," he said, forcing a smile. "I know you don't like her, but it can't be helped," he added quickly. Some secret part of him was half hoping they'd have an argument.

The wizard paused, and reluctantly nodded. "Our parents would get upset if we up and left," he said. "So we'll wait. For a little while," he frowned slightly. He'd never been patient. He wanted his castle now. He wanted to see Morgan; now. He wanted his heart back--he wanted his happily ever after back.

"Good," Calcifer muttered. "Less time for you to exploit me."

Howl hesitated, and then he frowned. "It can't be helped, Sophie," he repeated. "I'm not too crazy about going to see her either," he added. "Especially not like this." Megan had been worse while he was a child, in his opinion. She worried too much.

He paused, apparently lost in thought for a moment. His gaze veered from her for a mere second, before his attention was her's once more. "My parents aren't all that special," he said. "They're magical, in their own way. Elves," he added, before continuing, "not like the elves in Ingary. These are blue, with big yellow eyes. Silver hair, but they're not old. Well, my dad and Devin are like that, anyway. Devin's my little brother. My mom--she's an elf too; well, I think she's an elf. She looks like we do, only with pointed ears. Then I've got a bunch of sisters; Nataya, 'Zuba, Ginger, and Aesica. I don't like Aesica much--she's always trying to eat me. Oh, and I've got another brother too. His name's Zemel." Another pause, and then he sighed.

"Devin's the only reason I've been able to make it this long without you, Sophie," he complained. He pulled her into a hug. "I know you'll yell at me, but I tried to replace you. Several times; but no one ever did." Even without his heart, he loved her too much for her to be easily replaced.

Without a word, Howl removed his jacket. He'd felt the cold, and far from what he would have once done; having once tended to be quite selfish (he was still growing into that particular personality quirk), he handed it to Sophie. "Here," he said. "It'll keep you warm, if you don't cut it up." He gave her a smile before nodding. "Yeah. They're blue--wait."

He'd caught sight of her hair. "Sophie... Don't tell me you've been messing with my hair potions?" The wizard was absolutely astonished. His wife usually took such pride on her natural hair color that he had to stare at it for a moment to make sure it wasn't the beautiful red-gold he'd come to love. "Sophie... I won't deny that it's beautiful, but... What happened?" Why did her hair suddenly resemble that of an elderly woman's?

"I couldn't help it," Howl muttered. "I felt like I was half empty. I needed something to fill the void--the girls here are harder to court. It's harder to court girls, when your mind is made up, you know. A mind can fall in love just like a heart."