I loved this time of year, it was almost the Winter Solstice. I was out shopping for my last few gifts with Jenks.

I already bought Ivy this lovely silky black dress and a few assortments of weapons, for Jenks I got some imported honey and tried to find an imitation status similar to the one that we had stolen from Trent with the three Elves getting busy. It wasn't exactly the same, but he would get a kick out of it, just the same.

Quen , I got a nice blue splat gun, along with a bunch of sleepy time potion balls. I got Nina some perfume based on Ivy's recommendation. My Mom and Takata were coming to visit and I also had them all taken care of. David, I got a replacement leather duster, probably not nearly as expensive as the one I worn to the Ever-After.

So now all that was left was Trent, he was so hard for me to buy for, someone with more money than God, had to have everything already.

Jenks kept giving suggestions, but it was just starting to annoy me. We were in yet another shop with antiques.

"Just get him a nice vase or something. He will put it on his shelf and never look at it again."

"No Jenks I am not going to pick just anything up for him, I've put thought into everyone's gifts."

"Yeah, yeah!" Jenks said flying down to the next display.

Trent and I have been spending a lot more time together, especially when Quen traveled with the girls, we were, well actually like friends now. Yes we invited Quen and Trent over for the Solstice since Ellasbeth got the girls for this Solstice. It was killing the men not having their daughters for the Holiday.

Jenks was still babbling about something and I think he said something about "Just pick something for your boyfriend already." Jenks and his big mouth.

Jenks flew back over, "Hey, I've got the perfect gift for you to give the cookie maker, just get a big bow and wrap it around your neck and get naked. Maybe if he got a little it would help cheer his Elf ass up." Jenks said while moving his hips suggestively.

"Jenks." I squealed in horror.

"Hey it would be like getting a little gift for yourself as well. Come on Rache admit it, its been awhile, and you need to get laid."

"Jenks we are in public, there are people around, children for god sakes." Glancing around ok, well so there were no children or even people in the immediate area, but still.

I continued looking, finally a picture on the wall caught my eyes.

It was a beautiful old painting with a lovely scene with a horse in the moonlight with the light reflecting off of a lake. I loved it and it reminded me of Trent. I went over to it, and gasped at the price, ok like three times what I wanted to spend.

Damn it was perfect, I really didn't want Jenks to see me spend this much on Trent, but he has been paying me well over the last few months filling in for Quen.

The sales lady came by then. "I see our "Seduced by moonlight" painting caught your eyes."

"Yes, it is beautiful, but It is a little over my price limit." She went on to explain that it was an old painting by an Elf I have never heard of, but apparently the Elf did a number of somewhat famous pieces, and that the owners really had underpriced the painting, but she would knock a little off if I was interested.

So I bought it. Jenks gave me a hard time all the way home, teasing me about my "Boyfriend" and I put so much thought into his gift and he would probably just get me an ugly old sweater.

"Rachel!" I heard my name and turned to see Marshal. "Hi Marshal, how have you been?"

He walked over with a big smile "Good, it has been awhile, how are you Rachel?"

"I've been good, just out doing a little last minute shopping."

"Hey Marshman!" Jenks flew into view from my purse were I had a heater pad for him to stay warm.

"He Jenks how have you been?"

Well that got Jenks going on and on about his kids leaving the nest, how he was always busy taking care of me, and on and on.

"So Marshman what are you doing for the Solstice?" Jenks asked.

"I have a couple stops to make through the day and night, nothing big, still getting to know people."

"Hey why don't you stop by the church, we are having a bunch of people over, some you have met already."

I tried to not give a shocked expression, but probably failed, I didn't really want Marshal coming over, last thing I wanted was to have any of the old feeling come back after he dumped me for being shunned, not that I blame him, but still. We were really mostly friends and the feelings didn't run too deep.

"Hey that is a great idea, what time?"

Jenks looked at me "What 5:00 PM?"

"Oh, sure any time after 5:00, people will be in and out all night stopping by, so really whenever you want to come by, since you have other commitments as well." I tried saying nicely.

"Great, I will see you guys than." Marshal said looking at me.

We walked away and once he was a safe distance away I looked at Jenks, who had a big grin on his face, "Jenks really, why did you invite him? Now I have another gift I still need to shop for."

"Oh well that's easy just get a big bow and put it around..."

"Jenks if you finish that sentence I'm taking the heater out of my purse and I'll let you freeze."

"Oh Rache, you're no fun anymore. You know why? You've been hanging around your boyfriend the Elf too much." Jenks laughed.

The next night people were arriving. Ivy came home to the church early in the day from Nina's to help set up, the place looked amazing with all the decorations

Jenks was the official door greeter, even though he complained of the cold every time he got the door open.

I had my hands full with some drinks I had poured for some of the guests and just walked out of the kitchen when I saw Quen, and if Quen is here then Trent couldn't be too far behind.

I gave out the drinks, and went to greet Quen with a big hug. "How are you? It's really good to see you."

"I'm great Rachel, the place looks great. I hate to put you on the spot, but ah, Jonathan was alone tonight so Trent and I dragged him out with us, I really hope you don't mind."

Great I hated that tall freaky Elf. "Quen it is the Holidays no one should be alone. As long as he behaves himself we don't mind."

"Thank you Rachel."

"So where are the two of them?"

"Oh we brought two cars just in case someone wanted to leave early. They should be here any minute."

Just then walked in Trent and Jonathan, each carrying a large box and some bags. Great nothing like showing off.

I went over to help them with the load.

"Hey guys, Happy Solstice!

"Hello Rachel, sorry I hope you don't mind, Maggie made all sorts of goodies for your party before taking off today. I have, cookies and pies in one box, and some other stuff in this other bag. I also brought a few bottles of wine and bourbon."

"No that's great thank you. Here let me help you with that and I took some stuff out of Jonathan's arms."

"We headed to the kitchen to unload, and I motioned to Jonathan " Quen is over there, he can help get you introduced to the other guests."

As I was unloading I was amazed at all the great stuff Maggie sent. "Trent Maggie didn't have to do all this."

"Yeah well if we didn't come here she would have stayed and cooked for us, so since it gave her the night off to enjoy with her friends, she didn't mind."

Trent was quiet as we arranged the additional food and bottles and then poured himself a nice big drink. He raised his glass "Here's to the Holidays"

"That bad huh?"

"Yeah I thought, hey we will get the girls next year, but this it killing us. We could have gone to Seattle for the Holiday, Ellasbeth's family would have been more than happy to have us, but I just can't bear the thought that everyone would just expect us to renew our engagement, and yes I should because it is what needs to be done, but I just don't want to."

Trent and I walked out then, and great Marshal had just arrived, he was talking with Jenks, I froze for a moment and Trent noticed and picked up on where my eyes went.

"Shit" I said in a hushed voice.

Giving me a sideways glance Trent said "I didn't realize you two were and item again."

"We are not, but we ran into him the other day and Jenks invited him, I didn't think he would show up so early." I said turning to face Trent.

Just then Trent put his hand on my shoulder and leaned in, "Well he is here and coming this way looking very pleased to see you Ms. Morgan." Then pulled away.

The touch sent shivers down my spine. And I could imagine how intimate the gesture looked from afar. Was he trying to help me give Marshal the idea that I was not interested. I'm not right? I mean he's nice, but I always knew he wasn't really right for me.

As Marshal walked up Trent and I turned toward him giving him a big smile. "Hi Marshal I'm glad you could make it, you've met Trenton Kalamack before right?"

"Yes, I think a couple times in passing." Trent just nodded and took a drink out of his glass.

"Well there is plenty of food and drinks to choose from, please help yourself."

"Thank you Rachel it's really good to see you again."

Luckily my Mom arrived just in the nick of time.

"Oh sorry guys I have to go see my Mom."

"Mom, Donald I'm so glad you could make it" I said walking away from the two men.

I gave my Mom a big hug, and glanced over, it looked like Marshal was trying to make small talk with Trent, who seemed to have no interest, but was watching me with a blank expression. God I wish I could pull it off with the blank expression, or the businessman expression, my face always give my emotions away.

The night was a big success Marshal spent the majority of the night talking with David and a few of his friends. He seemed to stay away from the females from my pack, god I wish he would go talk with them, maybe he would find one he likes, they were all really sweet girls, much more his style.

I did what I could to avoid him, while not being rude.

It was time for gifts, we each had a big pile, I ended up getting Marshal some kind of beer from different countries, he seemed to like it plenty.

I saved Trent for last. I hoped he would like it.

Trent open it and had a pleased expression, "Rachel its beautiful, where ever did you find this?"

I tried to not turn red, "Ah at a little antique shop, I thought it was perfect for you."

"Thank you I love it."

He walked over and gave me a hug, letting his hand brush the patch of skin on my back that was not covered by my skimpy dress, and place a soft kiss on my cheek.

Pulling away he kept looking at the picture and then put it safely with his pile of goods from the night.

Marshal was watching us carefully.

A little while later Marshal came over to try and talk with me. He caught me off guard as I was standing there thinking, hey Trent didn't give me anything for Solstice, I walked through all my gifts in my head and sure enough, I don't think I got anything from Trent.

Marshal tried for small talk, but I wasn't sure if it was leading somewhere, didn't I go to see him and think about trying to make things work with the excuse of needing to get some charms invoked, and he pretty much shut me down, now it seemed he was rethinking this. I got the feeling that he was going to ask if I would like to go out. Damn it, do I turn him down? I'm just not sure if I'm interested.

Then Trent walked up to us. "If you will excuse us." He said place his hand on the small of my back. "I need Rachel in the kitchen for a moment."

"Oh of course." Marshal said.

"What, whats wrong?" I asked while we walked to the kitchen.

One of the girls from my pack was in there, but just on her way out, then we had the kitchen to ourselves.

"Well since he was bothering you I thought this would be perfect timing."

"He wasn't bothering me."

Trent raised an eyebrow. "Ok so I get the feeling he may want to start things up again. But he was just talking with me."

Trent's teasing expression shifted back to businessman. "Is that something you would like to pursue?"

"I don't know, no I don't think so, hey this is really not something I want to talk with you about."

With a grin on his face Trent says "And yet here we are."

"Is this what you wanted to talk to me about?"

"No actually I wanted to give you your present." He said pulling out a little box.

"Well I was beginning to wonder if you decided not to get me anything." What could it be, looked like a jewelry box like for a necklace or something.

He handed me the box "Happy Solstice Rachel."

I gently took the paper off and opened the box and with shocked amazement could not believe what I was seeing. "Trent this is too much, its beautiful." It was indeed a necklace, with green stones on a beautiful thick chain with designs etched into the silver, it was amazing.

"You have been a true friend to me over the last several month and I needed to do something special for you. Here try it on." He took it out of my hands. I turned my back to him and lifted my hair, as I felt his hands brush against my neck latching it in place, then he tentatively worked to make sure it laid just right letting his fingers linger on my skin.

I couldn't breathe through this process and I felt a tingling all over my body from his touches. I finally turned back to him letting my hair fall back down.

"It looks amazing on you." He said as he reached up again as if to fix it a little, then let his hand slide down my collar-bone before slowly pulling it away.

"Thank you Trent, you really didn't have to." I leaned in and gave him a hug, and a soft lingering kiss on the cheek. I figured that is what he did when he opened his gift from me, so It should be ok, right?

He hugged me back and after the kiss on his cheek he buried his face into my hair and neck for a quick moment then whispered "Your Welcome." in my ear.

Just then we heard a clearing of someone's throat. We quickly parted to see who was there. When I realized I had been holding my breath again.

Jonathan stood there "Sa'han are you almost ready to go?"

Trent stood there a fraction of a second in thought, "No actually, I am not, I thought I would stay around and maybe help clean up."

Really, I could not imagine Trent staying to help clean up after the party. "Why don't you and Quen share a ride and I will be along shortly."

Johnathan looked annoyed, but left the kitchen.

"Trent you really do not need to stay and help clean up, I will probably leave a lot of it for tomorrow, Ivy will be back in the morning to help."

"Rachel, what am I going to do at home, sit and miss my daughters? Let me stick around for a bit and then I will get out of your way."

Great does he think I am trying to kick him out. "You are not in the way Trent, Jeez., stay as long as you like."

We left the kitchen and went back to the main room where most of the dwindling party was. My Mom was next to leave, she loved seeing Marshal and kept giving me little nudges. As we hugged good-bye she noticed the necklace, "Rachel that is beautiful, I didn't notice it before."

I tried not to blush at the memory of Trent's hands on me as he placed the necklace around my neck, but probably failed. "Ah, it is a gift from Trent."

She raised her eyebrow to that. "Ohhhh, I see."

"Its nothing Mom" I stated.

"Yeah, yeah, I see, well good night darling and we will see you again tomorrow."

"Good night Mom"