A/N: I'm so, so, so sorry it took so long for me to update. I luff all of you who reviewed, and those of you who didn't, shame on you! I got a little lazy, and so I finally sat down and wrote this chapter out. It answers a few of your questions, and gives you one, too. This story is starting to take a turn that I really didn't expect, so now I'm just going to go along with it. I hope you enjoy it! Have fun reading!

Disclaimer: What if I do own it? Huh? What are you gonna do about it? (gasp) Oh my gosh! Lawyers! FROM THE DEPTHS OF MY EVIL MIND, I SUMMON IZZY!!

Izzy: What do you want?

Me: Izzy lawyers! (points at lawyers) Sic 'em!

Izzy: What am I, a dog?

Me: Pleeaase?

Izzy: If you give me a flamethrower and let me back into those character thearapy chat rooms.

Me: No flamethrower, but I'll let you back into the chat rooms.

Izzy: Deal.

Chapter 2: Surprise

The girl woke, sitting in the bed and rubbing her eyes. She stretched and stared at the warm sunshine streaming in through the window. She stood, brushing the wrinkles out of her clothes. She didn't like sleeping in the same clothes for more than one day, but she didn't have much choice. Maybe she could work for some, after she'd found the person she was looking for.

She walked to the door and slowly pushed it open, peering out into the main room. Seer was already up, tuning a guitar. "Hello." He said. "There is breakfast on the stove, if you want any." She nodded, then remembered again that he couldn't see her.

"Thank you." She said, and went into the kitchen. There was an iron pan with scrambled eggs. She looked in the cupboards until she found a plate and fork and scooped some onto the plate and carried it back into the main room.

"After you are finished, my daughter Kira will take you to Leader. He will be able to help you, I'm sure."

"Thank you for your hospitality."

"You are most welcome." She finished her meal in silence, listening to him coax beautiful sounds from the stringed instrument. Eventually Threader came into the room.

"I was working in the garden. I'll be ready in a moment." She went into the bathroom. A little longer than a 'moment' later she came out, looking much better than she did before. "Ok, I'm ready. Let's go."

They walked through the town, headed for the tallest building. They got to the door. "Ok, he should be here. I'll knock." said Threader, smoothing her hair and dress. She raised her hand and knocked on the door. No one answered. They stood for a few more minutes, but still no one answered. "I guess he's not here right now." she said, looking slightly disappointed. She then brightened. "Would you like a tour of our town?"

"Yes, I'd like that very much." said the young woman. They walked through the town, Threader pointing out some of the places. "That's our schoolhouse. All of the children have to go there to learn to read and write and count." The woman nodded.

"We had a place like that at my home place, too."

"And that's Mentor's house. He's the one who teaches at the schoolhouse. See, there he is, right by the school."

"Why do all of you have… strange names?" Threader laughed.

"Leader gives us our names. They tell our profession as well as our personality."

"Oh. I understand."

"If you want to stay here, he will give you a name, too."

"I just might do that." In front of the schoolhouse Mentor had just caught a young boy with blonde hair and blue eyes by the arm and was gently chastising him. Threader smiled.

"That's Gabe. He came with Leader when he was just a baby. He's a big ball of mischief."

"Did… did you say Gabe?"

"Yes."

"Is that short for… Gabriel?"

"Yes."

"That's funny. I used to know someone by that name."

"Well, it's sort of common."

"Yes, it's a little common. I've met a few others on my journey here."

"And that's our meeting place. It used to be our Trade Mart, but we've stopped having that." They walked a little further until they came to a small collection of graves. "This is our cemetery." She knelt and stroked one gravestone that bore the inscription, 'Healer'. "This is a young boy named Matty. I knew him well. He died saving the Village from its self. I miss him very much." She stopped, her voice choking up. The young woman put a hand on her shoulder.

"I, too, lost someone I love very much. And I'm afraid I might soon lose another." Threader stood.

"Let's move on." They walked down to the creek. "This is where most people fish and our children play. Up further ahead is where the barges come in, delivering food, clothes, books, and other things." As they drew closer, some of the figures became more distinct. "Oh, there's Leader, right over there! He's leaving, I guess he'd come to check if anymore books had come in. Maybe we can catch him." Threader led ahead, her stick hitting the ground faster now, dragging her leg behind her. The young woman followed hesitantly.

Leader had a head start, so they did not catch him until he was almost at his homeplace. The young woman walked slightly faster now, almost in a daze, but still passing Threader. It had been a long, long time. In fact, it had been almost nine years. But she was almost positive she knew the set of those shoulders, the way his head constantly turned almost imperceptibly in every direction, as if he was looking at everything, making sure he didn't miss anything. That precise way of walking, that even nine years of being gone couldn't wipe away.

"Leader!" called Threader. "Leader, there's someone here to see you!"

He turned and began walking towards them, and she instantly knew it was him. It didn't matter that the last time she'd seen him she was eight, or that he had been twelve, she knew that face. She knew those deep, blue eyes, though she'd never seen them in their full glory before.

"Jonas?" He stopped and stared, shock at hearing his old name written across his face. Then, slowly, comprehension dawned across his features, and an even greater shock came over him. It looked to passerby as if he'd seen a ghost. But present too in his visage was a longing, as if he desperately wanted whatever he thought to be true. He spoke only one word, but it was enough to assure her that he still remembered everything, that he still cared. If he didn't care, there was no way he would have had this reaction and remember this.

"Lily?"

A/N: So, how'd you like it? Izzy took care of the lawyers.

Izzy: I just set them up against her school's debate team. If you're battling people with no souls, it's best to set them up against people with no souls. The debaters started yelling squirrel cases (I swear, those are real things!) at them, and they ran for cover. Then I distracted the debaters with a deck of playing cards. They're still over there, playing Presidents.

Me: Sooo, review! NOW! R-E-V-I-E-W, find out what it means to me-ew, R-E-V-I-E-W, doo do doo do do do do, just a little bit, just a little bit... Please?

Cookie-toting Penguins for Reviewers!!

ano-nimmus: Thankees! Here's another to add to your collection. And I put a cliffie in here, too, if you can spot it. I'll give you a special cake-toting Penguin if you can.

Hahligirl56: I strongly suggest reading the rest. Most of this won't make sense unless you do.

dragonrider713: Yes, yes I am. Your wait is over.

xXChristineXx: Well now you know the answer to both of those, don't you?

LaBellaBella: I guess the answer is, sorta. There's definitely a crush in there. And thanks for not rushing me, though I think yours guilted me into writing another chapter. I hope you enjoy!