Author's note: It's another NatDaisy fic. Not that I'm obsessed with them or anything... but they're so sweet!! Anyway, this is set the day that Nat leaves for Germany. I'm guessing they would have wanted a more private goodbye than the one they would have been able to have in front of Meg so this just came... it's kinda angsty I guess, but also fluffy. Hope you enjoy it!

Saying Goodbye.

Daisy could see everything being prepared down below. She stood at her window and watched as everyone milled around outside, waiting to say goodbye. She couldn’t believe how quickly this day had arrived. The day that she had been dreading for weeks, months even. The day that she would have to say goodbye to Nat.

He was coming back, she knew that, or at least she thought she knew it. Some part of her mind had doubts, worrying that he would meet some new girl and fall in love with her. And then she would be left alone, waiting for him to return but never being able to call him hers again. As they had so often before, the tears began to run down her cheeks. He was going so far away, and for so long. Since he had first arrived at Plumfield they had not spent more than a couple of months apart, if that. When he returned he would have changed, he would have had new experiences that she was not a part of and would never be able to understand. Her mind had always stayed here, in her surroundings, the tales of adventures abroad that the other boys brought back never seemed truly real to her. The world for her was here, with her family and friends, and Nat.

She turned away from the window, not feeling able to bear the thought of saying goodbye anymore, and came face to face with the object of her thoughts himself. She had not heard him come in, too lost in her worries and grieving for what she would be without. He said nothing, but just stood watching her, as she tried to memorise every part of his appearance and lock it in her mind.

He walked forward until he was standing next to her, but facing the window. She watched as he looked out over the familiar grounds that had seen them grow up through all these years.

“I’m sorry.” He said quietly, not looking at her. She turned towards him.

“Sorry for what?” She asked, just as quietly.

“For leaving.” He turned to face her and wiped a tear from her face. “For making you cry.”

She felt suddenly guilty. This was meant to be an exciting occasion for him, he was setting off into the world for the first time. She should be happy for him. She was happy for him. She was just being selfish, wanting him here with her.

“You don’t have anything to be sorry for.” She told him. “This could be the making of your career; you will learn more things than anyone could have taught you here.”

He made an attempt at a smile and turned back to the window.

“I know. I feel like I’ve been waiting for this my whole life... but I don’t want to leave old Plum behind. I don’t want to leave you behind.”

She slipped her hand into his. At any other time she would have been shocked at her audacity, but this was different. Now, at this moment, it seemed like the natural thing to do. She was giving him comfort as she used to when they were younger and freer. He smiled.

“I’ll write a lot.” He said, squeezing her hand. “I know your mother is going to be reading all my letters… so I’ll just tell you about everything that is happening, but I will write.” He turned back to face her. “And you must write too.”

His face had taken on the eager, earnest look it had often had when he had been a boy. He knew she could not say no to it, even if she had wanted to.

“Of course, you know I will. And Demi will write, and Aunt Jo and Uncle Fritz, and Tommy… everyone will write.”

Nat laughed.

“I know, they are all so good to me.” His face turned more serious. “But your letters will mean more to me than any of theirs. You know that.”

She blushed.

“I know.” She said quietly, fighting the tears that threatened to reappear. “I know.”

They stood for a while in silence, savouring their last few minutes together.

“I’ve got something for you. To make sure you don’t forget me.” Nat said, finally breaking the silence. She looked up at him, anxious to reassure him that she would never forget him.

“Nat, you know I won’t…” She started, as he turned and walked over to a nearby chair.

She drew her breath in sharply. An old violin case had been placed carefully on the chair. She did not need to look twice to tell that it was his old violin, the one that he had brought for himself when he was younger, not as professional as the one that he played now but still intensely dear to him. She remembered the joy on his face the day that he had brought it. He had been so proud, so happy… she remembered his face exactly, and now she thought it no less beautiful than she had that day.

He held the case out to her.

“I would have brought you something, but I knew that you would understand… you would want to be the one to look after it…” He sounded uncertain, as if waiting for her approval.

And finally she let go of the tears and ran to him, throwing her arms around him and holding on tightly. This was more than she could have hoped for or imagined. Maybe no-one else could understand why this gift meant so much, but she understood. He didn’t need to tell her what it symbolised. This was his promise that he would come back to her.

“Thank you.” She whispered through her sobs.

“Take good care of it.” He said softly. She laughed. She loved his attachment to his instrument.

“I will always, always wait for you.” She said so softly she doubted that he could hear it.

He stroked her hair and then pulled away.

“I know.” From some distant part of the house she could hear Ted calling Nat to come down.

“I should go now.” He said slowly, reluctantly. She nodded.

“Goodbye…”

He moved forward and kissed her forehead, looking stunned at his courage.

“Goodbye.”

He walked out of the room and she wept some more. Before long she heard Demi calling for her to come and say goodbye to the travellers. She forced herself to stop crying, and dried her face. All hope would be gone if her mother found out about their private, tearful goodbye. Demi appeared in the doorway.

“Are you coming down?” He asked, glancing at the violin case and smiling slightly. His smile faded as he saw her tear stained face.

“Oh Daisy…” He said quietly, sympathetically, pulling her into a hug. “It won’t seem so long, you’ll see.”

She nodded and tried to regain her composure. With Demi’s help she got rid of the marks the tears had left on her face and calmed herself down. She glanced at the violin case, drawing strength from it. She could do this, she could be brave. She would wait for him. And he would come back to her before long. They would be together.