The music filled the room and laughter echoed throughout the hall. People were enjoying themselves and the wine provided. One waiter slipped back into the kitchen and Oric looked at them. They had half a tray of full drinks and he frowned. "Get back out there and serve those drinks!" The waiter shook their head and heard "Oric, let me try." The cook looked over at his assistant and sighed. "You know that wouldn't go over well." She winked and walked over to the waiter. The man thanked her and grabbed a tray of food. She glanced back at Oric and stepped into the crowded hall. Men that saw her asked for another drink and she brought the tray down for them. They thanked her and smiled at her. She moved through the crowd and handed out the rest of the drinks. People were laughing around her and she shook her head with a smirk. A little laugh caught her ear and she looked over at one of the corners. She made her way to the corner and spotted Kara laughing with a young girl. They smiled when she knelt down in front of them and Kara hugged her. "She's your mom?" Kara nodded with a big smile and the other girl smiled. "She's very pretty." "That doesn't even touch the truth." She smiled and slowly stood up. Looking behind her, she found Jonathan watching her with Trevor next to him. The boy was wearing a tuxedo just like the man next to him. Trevor glanced up at the man and took the tray from her. "I'll take that." She watched him disappear into the crowd and looked back at the brown eyed man. He held out his hand and she took it. He led her onto the dance floor and rested one hand on her lower back. Blue eyes stared at brown eyes and the rest of the people disappeared. Her body was humming with the power his touch stirred and the haze lifted when the music stopped. He bowed to her and she did the same. She watched him disappear into the crowd and walked back into the kitchen. Oric was wiping down the counter and smiled. "I heard you served those drinks mighty fast." She took a seat across from him and said "It was easy." The man laughed and said "Just don't let those men get fixed on you." "Why's that?" Oric looked at her with a stern but happy look and said "You're a taken woman." She forced a smile and said "Keep telling yourself that." He watched her stand and asked "Going back out there?" She shook her head and said "I made my appearance already." She walked over to the hidden door to the second floor and slid out of sight. Her heels echoed on the stairs and she stopped when she entered the library. Slipping her shoes off, she shut the door and left the room. She crossed the hall to her room and shut the door behind her. Tanner lifted his head as she dug out some riding clothes and slid off her dress. She slid her slacks on and pulled on the blouse. Pulling her hair back, she sat on the bed and pulled on her boots. He nudged her arm and she rubbed his head. "Come on." The dog wagged his tail and jumped off the bed. She followed him to the door and let him out. He trotted behind her back to the library and down through the old passage into the kitchen. Oric wasn't in the room when they entered and they snuck outside. She opened the back door and Tanner took off. He ran along the beach, chasing the waves, and she followed. Wrapping her arms around herself, she moved around the bend and up toward the gravel path. She heard Tanner rejoin her as they neared the stable and spotted William outside. He looked half asleep and she watched the dog nudge the boy. William jumped with a start and she laughed. He looked at her and said "That's not funny!" Holding her sides, she caught her breath and said "Yes it is." He rolled his eyes and asked "Why aren't you inside?" She took a seat next to him and sighed. "I never did like the ball thing." "Really? I'd thought it suited you." She looked at him and said "Thanks." He nodded and looked back at her. She caught his gaze and he looked away. Smirking, she stood up and walked into the stable. She stopped in front of Carina's stall and found the mare hiding in the corner. She unlocked the door slowly and watched the mare lift her head. Carina shook her head when Eve entered the box and shut the door. Quietly she approached the mare and saw the look in her eye. "It's okay." She held her hand out and the mare slowly sniffed her hand. Carina shook her head and looked away. "I haven't been gone that long." The mare looked back at her and snorted. She stared back at the horse and took a step closer. Carina reared up and William came running. The mare came down just in front of her and he tried opening the door. "Stay back." "She'll kill you!" Eve looked back at him and said "No she won't." He shook his head in disbelief and she faced the black mare again. Holding her arms across her chest, she waited for Carina to calm down. The mare shook her head again and nudged her shoulder. She didn't react and felt the soft nose sniffing her hair. Slowly she rested a hand on the mare's neck and felt her calm down. "I don't believe it." She smirked and asked "Can you get me the tack?" William nodded and ran down the aisle. She continued stroking Carina's neck and waited for his return. The mare looked back at her and she ran her hand along her nose. "See. There was no reason to get so worked up." Carina snorted and she smirked. William brought her the tack and she saddled the mare. Fixing the bridle over her face, she nodded to the boy and he opened the door. She walked the mare out of the stall and down to the doors. William sat down next to Tanner as she swung up into the saddle and grabbed the reins. "I'll be back soon." He nodded and watched her trot off. They moved down the gravel path and turned toward the hills. Carina let out a cry of utter pleasure and she laughed. They ran through the grass and stopped at a high spot above the ocean. She could hear the waves brushing onto the sand and stroked the mare's neck. They turned around and galloped back to the stable. William waved them in and she swung to the ground. He removed the tack and she walked Carina back into her stall. The mare nudged her hand and she stroked her ear. "I'll be back in the morning." The mare nudged her face and she left the stall. Returning outside, she sat down next to William and he looked up. "You don't have to stay the night." He shrugged and said "I don't mind. I like the horses." She smirked and said "That's a good thing." He laughed and they heard footsteps approaching. Looking toward the gravel path, they saw Grace appear. The woman smiled and approached them. "People were asking for you." Eve smirked and said "I'm not the guest of honor." Grace laughed and said "But everyone is just glad to see you well again." She looked down at Tanner and found the dog asleep. "Will you come join us before the guests leave?" "Maybe." She knew that wasn't what Grace wanted to hear and she watched the woman head back. Holding in a sigh, she looked over at William and found him watching her. "You should go." "And you should go home." He smirked and said "Point taken." She leaned back against the stable wall and looked up at the stars. As much as she loved the children being honored inside, this was more soothing. She took a deep breath of the evening air and climbed to her feet. "Get some sleep William." He nodded and she rubbed Tanner's ear. He opened one eye and she looked down at him. Yawning, he stood up and stretched his legs. She shook her head and they walked down the gravel path. Passing the court yard, they moved down to the beach and walked along the sandy shore. They slipped into the kitchen unnoticed and she filled Tanner's bowl with some water. She grabbed a glass and filled it with water. Sitting down at the counter, she savored the cool drink and listened to the music. She heard it start to die down and watched the door swing up. Oric took one look at her and shook his head. "You know you should be out there." She shrugged and said "I don't like big gatherings." He chuckled. "Oh how you two fit each other." She shot him a look that challenged the man spoken of and Oric laughed harder. Putting her glass in the sink, she walked to the door and he watched her disappear in the room. As she entered the hall she found everyone starting to leave and leaned against the wall. Tanner nosed her hand and she scratched his ear. He raised his ear as the two children ran up to her and she looked down at them. "Going somewhere?" Trevor smirked and said "Oric said we could get something before we go to bed." "You'll regret it." He smiled and Kara followed him into the kitchen. She watched the door shut and shook her head. Glancing at the exiting crowd, she caught Leon's gaze and watched the butler approach. "Many people asked where you were." She held his gaze and he continued. "I told them you were probably getting a breath of fresh air." Smiling, she nodded. "Thanks Leon." He studied her and said "Something is bothering you." Shaking her head, she flashed a brief smile and said "I'm fine." He folded his arms across his chest and said "I can tell when something is bothering people and you are no exception." Forcing a smile to persuade him, she walked past him. Tanner trotted after her and they walked upstairs. He led the way into the West Wing and she opened her door. He jumped onto the bed as she shut it and moved to the window. She pushed it open and sat down. Drawing her knees up to her, she looked out at the ocean and let out a sigh. Thoughts kept running through her mind and she closed her eyes. The knock made her look up and she watched the door open. He stood in the doorway and she could feel the room get smaller. He leaned against the door and she swung her legs off the window sill. "Come join me." "Where?" "A walk." She smirked and rose to her feet. They left the door opened as they walked down the hall. He guided her out of the castle and to the beach. She watched him stop by the bend and look back at her. "You took off." She nodded and waited for him to say something about it. He stared back at her and remained quiet. "Is it a problem?" "No." She stared up at him and he said "I don't want you to feel like you have to do everything. If you need time alone that's fine." "You're sure?" He smirked and nodded. Letting out a breath of relief, she turned to the ocean watched the dark blue waves move under the moon and stars. He studied the glow on her skin from the sky and knew he needed to act before it slipped away in this silence. "Eve." She looked back at him and he caught her chin. The kiss was slow and passionate. She looked into his brown eyes and he brushed a strand of hair behind her ear. "Something's bothering you." She sighed. "You must have talked with Oric." He shook his head and she said "I'm fine." One eyebrow went up and she knew she couldn't get him to believe her. "Tell me." She took a deep breath and looked back at the ocean. "I'm just not certain about things." "Meaning?" She glanced back at him and said "I don't understand how complicate everything has gotten and yet I still find myself here." He watched her look back at the waves and heard "Whenever things got complicated when I was young, I left. I just went somewhere else until I knew what I had to do, until the problem was gone." "What are you saying?" She forced a smirk and looked back at him. "I'm not going anywhere, so don't worry about it." "Eve." He stood in front of her and she said "You've be amazing with what I did." His brown eyes held onto her blue eyes and he asked "What did you do?" She looked away and said "I told you that I loved you in that letter, not believing I was going to come back, and here you are being amazing." He caught her chin and forced her to look at him. "That letter just confirmed what I already knew." "It did?" He smirked and said "I knew that night when you told me the truth. You wouldn't have if you didn't." She took a deep breath and said "It wasn't the best move." "What?" She stepped back and said "I may have confessed what I felt but it didn't do me any good, did it?" "Eve." She moved away and said "I told you I love you because I knew I'd never know the truth. I felt safe writing that because I knew I wasn't coming back and I'd never have to live with the truth." "The truth about what?" She turned her blue eyes on him and said "The truth about us. I know how I feel but I don't know about you." He approached and said "That's strange. I'm pretty certain you know exactly how I'm feeling." She shook her head and stepped back. He caught her wrist and pulled her into him. "Keeping moving and I'll pin you beneath me to keep you still." She stared up at him and he said "Just tell me and I'll tell you." She held his gaze and said "I love you." He caught her chin and said "I know." His mouth captured hers and she felt the electricity shoot through every cell in her body. He pulled back and she looked up at him as her body recovered. "Even though you are the most frustrating woman at times, I love you." She smiled and he captured her mouth again. She wrapped her arms around his neck and slid her fingers through his hair. "Marry me." Stepping back, she looked up at him and he said "Marry me." "Jonathan." He caught her hand and said "When that witch hurt you, I thought I had lost you. When you came back I didn't know what to do but stop you from going after her. I couldn't and then your father told me I had to bring you back here to save you. I can't keep letting you slip away." Her ocean eyes stared back at him and he said "When I had those two adopted, I didn't do it just to make you happy but to give you a family here." She smiled and said "I told you so." "What?" She wrapped her arms around his neck and said "They got to you." Sighing, he rolled his eyes and said "Fine. They got to me." Smiling, she looked up into his brown eyes and said "Yes." He smirked and captured her mouth with pure hunger. Closing her eyes, she felt her body pulsing and he looked down at her. "Did you have this all planned out?" "Not this. I'd hoped it would've been easier to get you out here." She smiled and said "I'm full of surprises." "That you are." He wrapped his arm around her and said "Let's head in. They wanted to say goodnight." She looked up at him and pulled him back down to her. The kiss was exotic and gentle at the same time, leaving his senses at ends. She met his burning gaze slowly and he walked her back to the kitchen. They entered the place and found it quiet. Stopping at the parlor, she watched him open the doors and found everyone waiting. "Well?" She looked at the anxious faces and he glanced at Grace. The woman smiled and brought him the box she had retrieved while they were outside. He handed it to Eve and she opened it. "It was my mother's." She looked up at him and he nodded. Smiling, she let him slide it on her hand and heard the room burst into cheer. She wrapped her arms around his neck and met his hungry kiss. "You know what this means?" They looked over at Abigail and the woman said "She's going to have to stay in her room until after the wedding." His eyes narrowed and she laughed. He looked back at her and she nodded. Smirking, he possessed her mouth again and she savored everything about him. When he looked into her eyes, he saw the fire and looked at the audience. "We're going to bed." They watched the children go upstairs first and she left his arms. He watched her go with them and felt the eyes on him. Looking back at the rest of them, he watched Oric smile and Leon rested a hand on his shoulder. "It's about time." Abigail smiled and said "Now I know you'll be in good hands." He shook his head and watched her and Grace head upstairs. Oric caught his other shoulder and left. Leon looked down at him and nodded. "Your father would be proud of you." He watched the man the room and looked up at the family portrait. Meeting Isaac's gaze, he took a deep breath and left the room. Quietly he traveled up the stairs and walked to his room. He removed his shirt and slid off his boots. Collapsing onto the bed, he took a deep breath and closed his eyes. Drifting into the darkness sleep provided, he felt the warm touch and opened his eyes. Blue eyes looked back at him and he held her against him as the darkness took both of them into a deep sleep.