Yay first Ember fanfic! All fluffy nonsense, really. Hardly has any plot to it, LOL. Anyway so this is supposed to take place four years after People of Sparks, and I haven't read Diamond of Darkhold yet, so don't kill me if I screw up the timeline or anything. Other than that, enjoy and feedback is always welcomed and appreciated.

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Doon gazed at Lina as he helped her pull weeds out of Clary and Maddy's garden. He liked the way Lina looked, with her soft, subtle features. Even over the past few years as they had matured, Lina was still Lina. Doon could still see her rosy cheeks even though she was considerably more tan than she was before (like all of the former Emberites). The wind made wisps of her mahogany hair dance around her cheeks and temples. Doon looked over her whole face. Her thin eyebrows, her long lashes, her long nose, and her thin, but curvy lips. His eyes lingered on her lips. Something about them compelled him. Doon forced himself to look away, and his gaze landed on Lina's slender arms. Lina had always been a tiny person. Even after years of working in Sparks, she still looked lithe and fragile. She looked so fragile. . .

Except for her eyes. When Doon looked into her eyes he saw strength and courage. He saw his best friend. He saw Lina.

Lina looked up from her work and at Doon. He quickly looked away and hoped the dirt on his face hid his flushed cheeks.

In the distance the sun was setting, turning the sky an array of colors. As the two looked on, Doon heard Lina gasp softly. He smiled, even after all this time the sunset still took their breath away. Lina laughed at herself.

"You'd think I'd be used to it by now," she said.

"Well for twelve years we lived without it. We didn't even know it existed," he pointed out. "It's only natural. . ." he trailed off, not needing to say anything more.

"I suppose so," Lina replied. Just then a villager came running down the path to the garden.

"Lina, Dr. Hester and Mrs. Murdo are looking for you, they say it's time for dinner," the villager told her.

"Oh my, I must have lost track of time," Lina exclaimed quickly gathering up all the weeds she had pulled and throwing them away. "I'll see you later, Doon!" She called to him as she dashed off.

"Goodnight Lina," Doon called back and threw away his weeds.

As Doon walked home, Edward Pocket caught up with him and walked beside him.

"Kinda sweet on her, aren't ya?" He asked Doon.

"What?" Doon asked back, not wanting to contemplate what Edward meant.

"The Mayfleet girl," Edward clarified, "You like her." Doon shrugged and said, "She's my best friend."

"If I looked at my best friend the way you look at her it would be very strange, to say the least." Edward raised his eyebrows meaningfully.

"What exactly are you getting at?" Doon asked, a little embarrassed and cross at Edward for prying.

"Do I have to draw you a picture?" Doon said nothing. "You're in love with the girl," Edward said, exasperated.

"I am definitely-" Doon started to protest heatedly but then changed his mind, "in love with Lina." He finished with a sigh.

"Ah-ha," Edward exclaimed smugly. "I knew it. You don't get to be my age without learning to recognize things." He clasped his hands behind his back.

"What should I do?" Doon asked.

"How should I know?" Edward asked back. "But I was you, I'd tell the girl. Don't want things like that to sit and fester, might turn you sour." Doon thought about this for a moment and stopped walking. Yes, I should tell her. I will tell her, he thought.

"Tell my father I'll be late for dinner," Doon called to Edward as he raced off in the opposite direction.