Chapter 1 - "It's me..."

"I really think red rose bushes would go best, Amy." Jake said finishing off his tea.

Amy held her warm mug with both hands and watched the steam rising from the tea's surface and curling about in the air.

"You may be an awesome gardener Jae, but this is my house," she replied coolly, "and I want Irises and Jasmine."

Jake shrugged clearly defeated. "Fine, but at least let me cut down the Belladonna you have growing under the apple tree; I've told you, it's dangerous."

"We've had this discussion before and I don't want to repeat myself. Just leave it. She'll learn not to touch it."

He shook his head, "you're so stubborn. Look, I'll bring the herbs you want tomorrow for the garden and I'll start on the front in the afternoon. It's getting late; I'd better get going."

Amy shot a glance at the clock and nodded, "'Kay, I expect you bright and early tomorrow."

He turned around to face her with an angry reply, but when he saw the devilish smile on her face, he closed his mouth and simply smiled back, "Whatever your wish princess."

She rolled her eyes and after placing her mug on the counter ushered him to the entrance. He opened the great oak door and stepped out into the darkening twilight. He took a deep breath, inhaling the crisp night air.

"Amy," he turned back around to look at her. Her eyes where downcast but he knew from her expression that her gaze wasn't focused on the ground. She was leaning against the doorframe her arms hugging herself and he loved the way the light from the hall's chandelier outlined her figure. Long had he controlled his impulses, but the air of loneliness that seemed to envelop her in that moment made him wrapped his arms around her shoulders. Surprised, she lifted her gaze to his; her lips, so inviting to him, he stole with his own and kissed her deeply. At first she seemed to melt into him, but he felt her entire body stiffen and he let her push him gently away.

"No Jae, please," she whispered, "you know I don't love you."

"Amy," his eyes searched her face, "why? How can you still hold hope that he'll come back?" She could not hold his gaze and turned her face away from his. "For heaven's sake, he left you and your little girl."

"Jae, please don't start this; not now."

"What jackass leaves a girl five months pregnant?" She inhaled sharply.

"You can't say such things about him, you don't know him," she answered coolly.

"Any guy who does such a thing," he couldn't find the words to finish. "If he cared at all, he would have made some effort by now to see you, to see her! It's been a year already, he's not coming back."

She shook her head. "Look," she began.

"No, Amy," he countered, "I remember you the day you showed up here after he abandoned you."

"Jae," she said slowly, "this is my house; this is my father's house. I'll show up here whenever I want."

"You're always defending him and shutting me out."

"Jae, it's complicated and I'm not expecting you to understand." A long moment passed and they could hear the leaves of the great oak by the gate rustling and the sheer curtains of the open patio door snapping in the wind. A cricket chirped and the garden's wooden wind chimes accompanied its song.

"I'm sorry," he finally said, "I just wish you'd let me be more than your guardian angel."

She made a funny face. "You know there's no such thing."

"Don't you believe even a little bit?" She shook her head, her eyes suddenly sad.

"Anyway, you know what I mean."

"Yeah, I do." He leaned forward and kissed her forehead. His hand brushed hers as he stepped back.

"Alright, I'll see you tomorrow then." He smiled that big smile of his and she smiled back.

"Bright and early," she said.

"Always."

She waved to him as he drove off in his silver pickup which was kept impeccably clean, as always, and kept on watching until his taillights disappeared in the night.

Amy gave the shot-gun one last wipe down and checked the cartridge hold. She liked to keep her gear in good order, well cleaned and properly loaded. Satisfied, she slid the weapon above the fridge, in a place easily accessible to her and safely out of a baby's reach.

She opened a kitchen drawer and took out her hunting knife; she always kept it close at hand. A hunter always had to be ready, even one on maternity leave.

She stuck her mug in the microwave until the tea had heated up to her liking. Tea in hand, she made her way up the stairs, pausing on the landing to turn off the lights. And that's when the shadows caught her eye; they weren't regular shadows, not like the ones she was used to seeing on her way up at night. These ones shifted too much.

Her heart pounding loudly, she placed the mug down on the stair and quietly walked down the hall to her baby's room. She pulled the hunting knife out of its sheath and her hand slowly wrapped around the smooth, familiar handle. The runes etched into the blade seemed to sparkle.

She moved as close to the open doorway as she dared and listened. Not a single strange sound reached her and she took a deep breath before rushing into the nursery.

Her heart stopped for an awful second when she saw that dark figure standing in front of the window, so close to her baby's crib. The creature had sensed her approach for it turned its attention to her. It raised a hand and she dared not hesitate. She leapt at the thing with pure animal instinct. It moved swiftly, though, and seized her arm just as the knife came down towards its head. She struggled fiercely, cursing as she tried to pry her wrist out of its grip.

That is when she felt his hand slid around her waist to the small of her back. The warmth of that hand against her skin shocked her and a memory sprang to her mind; the memory of a sweet moment when her world was just right.

"Amy," the shadow said, "it's me."

And as if on cue, the moon came out from behind a cloud and the light shone on his face and she dropped the knife.

"Cas?"

End of Chapter 1