Darren Jenkins waited patiently outside of Sophie’s room. She had said she didn’t want to get any of the blue dust on his jacket. When Sophie exited her small room she smelled like lilies.

“I’d like to do this in the hat shop, if that’s all right.”

“Of course!” Darren replied instantly, “What’s so special about the hat shop?”

Sophie paused. “Well, it’s not a hat shop anymore. Howl and I have a shop at the Market Chipping. We sell flowers there now, but there’s still a number of materials left over we can use for sewing this up.”

“I see.” Darren and Sophie walked up a few stairs, the colours were more vibrant in this portion of the castle.

“What do you do for a living?”

“I’m a mechanic.”

Sophie frowned as they entered a small yellow room. “A what?”

Darren grinned, “I work with transportation devices to make sure that they run properly.”

“Like a ferrier?” Sophie settled into a high-backed chair behind a long table, Darren sat beside her as she gathered her materials.

“No. In Wales we don’t use horses, but machines that run on oil and other things from the earth.”

Sophie looked up from her needle, eyes wide. “I thought magic was not in Howl’s world as it is in mine.”

Darren laughed, “No! Mechanics is not magic or sorcery, like your abilities or Howl’s. I’m like the bloke who fixes a complex carriage.”

Sophie smiled back at him, looking Darren straight in the eye as she did with Howl. “You must show me one of these things.”

A silence lingered between them for a moment as each thought upon what the other was thinking. Darren peered at Sophie’s face, causing her cheeks to escalate in colour, opening his mouth, her own mouth parted,

“You’ve got blue on your cheek.”

Sophie turned red and curved her face down, hands looking for the spot. Darren laughed.

“No, right there.” He touched his hand to her cheekbone, almost brushing her jaw line, grin was fading to a slower emotion as he looked at the pretty redhead.

“Do you think Howl’d let me take you home?”

Sophie’s eyes flashed, “It doesn’t matter what he says, I can go if I want. That man can’t have everybody under his thumb!”

Darren gave a bemused chortle, “So he’s the same here as he was at home?”

“He loves to toy with you, and tease, and hide the dishes under his bed so he can have dinner when he wants it, and the bathroom…don’t get me started on the bloody mess of colour that place is! When I accidentally turned his hair pink, he—what?”

Darren’s face had become an incandescent explosion of mirth, laughter loud and painful. When he had calmed down slightly, he asked, “You turned his hair pink?”

Sophie looked at him questioningly, “Yes, I’d shook up one of his hair potions while I was cleaning.”

Darren shook his head, “I was sixteen when I switched out his blonde dye for a permanent pink colour. He couldn’t get it out, no matter what he tried, and wore a beanie on his head all through that summer.”

They both laughed.

“There, all better.” Sophie said triumphantly to Darren, holding the garment to him. She whispered a few words and any visible stitching vanished to the eye. Darren smiled delightfully.

“Thanks! I never expected this to be wearable again.”

“Well, all it needed was some decent stitches and you’re good to go.”

Darren put the jacket back on and swivelled the arm.

“The jacket will be more handsome and comfortable.” Sophie said; and surely, Darren could feel the cosiness of the coat more thoroughly than ever. Sophie received the other benefit made to the jacket. Darren nodded, pointing to her.

“You did that magic thing again.”

“Yes,” she smiled, “it’s getting to be fun, but I’m getting to be a little too well known because of Howl. I don’t want to be Wizard Pendragon’s witch!” she scowled and Darren chuckled.

“You aren’t, are you?”

“What?”

“Howl’s.” Darren looked to Sophie imploringly. She shook her head.

“No. Happily ever after does not imply settle down with the only other man in sight and have his children; it means there’s no more evil witches trying to turn you into a rheumatic old woman and your companions into dust.”

“So he’ll let you come?”

“We don’t have to ask Howl; I won’t be ordered around be a pompous, arrogant wizard, and I am not his. If you want to take me to Wales, Howl can’t object.”

Darren frowned, fearing the girl that sat beside him, wondering exactly what can of worms he was opening. Then he thought of how else a girl like Sophie would have survived in his brother’s house if she was any different.

“Alright,” he pecked her cheek, “Whenever you’re ready, I can show you exactly what I do for a living.” Sophie was speechless, which made Darren’s heart burn a little too happily within his chest. “But,” Darren said, “I’m your guest right now, and I’d like to learn about exactly what you and Howl do. I’d also like to visit with my brother before I take away his cleaning lady; he needs time to make arrangements.”

“How can you be related to him?” Sophie said wonderingly, “You are so…how old are you?”

“Nineteen. I’m nine years younger.”

Sophie did a double take, “How are you my age and Howl is the older one!” She laughed, “You’re family is so youthful!”

“This is coming from a girl who’s been in an old woman’s body for months.”

Sophie grinned, “Alright. Then I’d better show you the rest of the house, then.”