Annie maneuvered her car carefully on the old dirt roads. These country roads were made dangerous by the rain. Rain pelted against her windshield making visibility difficult. Driving in rain always reminded her of the one night she wanted to forget. It had been the last truly happy night she'd had. Everything had effectively fallen apart in her life after that. She tried hard not to think at these days. She felt herself in a haze, merely existing, instead of living. When her mother had asked her to come help take care of her great Aunt Eda's farm, Annie had seen it as an escape. Since Annie had a degree in agriculture, she had been the most likely choice. Getting away from the city, why had she never thought of that before? The city haunted her. It reminded her of everything that she had lost. It was stifling, roaming the streets of the city. She fixed her eyes on the road ahead, making sure to watch out for any obstruction or obstacles that may lay in the road ahead. She had traversed these roads so many times in the past, but had been a passenger, not a driver. Auntie Eda's farm had been a happy place. A place where she, her brother, and mother would come in the summer. Her father had never made it out to Auntie Eda's farm. Now, she supposed, he never would. His view on the world would be from behind metal bars. It was better than what he deserved in her opinion.

He had used and abused so many people in his rise to the top. His downfall had been swift, with very few people standing next to him. He had embezzled millions from his company, to spend on his mistress. When his cover was about to be blown, he left the country with his mistress, leaving her mother devastated and penniless. She could vividly remember the day that her mother had called her sobbing on the phone. She had rushed to her mother's side, and helped her get back on her feet. Annie had always been the one to pick up the pieces. Her shiftless brother was never around. He was too busy getting high and wasting his life away. So it fell to Annie. What angered her even more, was her father coming back into her mother's life after his mistress had swindled him out of all his money. Her mother, ever the dutiful wife, had willingly taken him back, and spent most of her hard earned money on a lawyer for him. She didn't understand her mother. And she hated her father. When her mother had called asked her for a favor, Annie had almost hung up on her, until she had heard Eda's name. She wasn't doing this for her mother, she was doing it for her Auntie. What she was really doing, was running away. Running away from all the pain and disappointment that was behind her in the city.

She pulled into the farmyard and memories of better times flooded her head. She couldn't help but smile as she thought of running through the mountain trails with her brother, as her mother and Auntie Eda followed just behind them. Auntie Eda would usually have a picnic basket in her hand. It had been a while since she had been here, and there wasn't much that had changed. It was refreshing in a way. The door to the small house opened, and Annie saw the small frame of her Auntie in the doorway. The sight of her caught Annie by surprise. Eda who had always been a spry older woman, looked frail and weak. Guilt flooded her. She should have come out here sooner. She should have visited more often as an adult.

Annie stepped out of the car in the pouring rain. She grabbed her small bag out of the front seat, and made a dash for the door. She was soaked all the same by the time she made it inside.

"My goodness dear!" Eda exclaimed. "Look at you all drenched!"

"Hi Auntie," Annie greeted. "I would hug you but..." she trailed off and looked down at her clothes that clung to her skin. Eda chuckled and surprised Annie by embracing her anyway.

"I haven't seen you for a while, I'm not letting a little water come between us!" Eda exclaimed. Annie chuckled. It had been a while since she laughed so hard. "Well my dear, I have an apartment prepared for you over the garage put back, but considering the rain, you should stay in here."

"Auntie, you didn't have to make a separate place for me to stay," Annie stated.

"Nonsense!" Eda insisted. "You don't need some old lady meddling around in your affairs." Annie smiled. It was just like Eda to be thoughtful like that. "Now the bathroom is that way, you get yourself a warm shower before you catch a cold! I'll get the couch bed ready for you." Annie chuckled and made her way to the bathroom.

XxXxXx

"Granny!" A loud voice woke Annie from her sleep. The shout was followed by a barrage of knocks. Annie woke up feeling a bit disoriented, until she remembered she was at her Auntie's farm. She stretched out lazily, and glanced at the clock on the wall. Who was coming over at six thirty in the morning? She heard Eda open the door.

"Fritz, shush child, my great-niece is still sleeping," Eda whispered.

"Oh I fergot she was coming last night!" Fritz said. He wasn't speaking much quieter than he had before. Eda shushed him again. Annie shook her head and made her way to the bathroom. She didn't want to meet whoever Fritz was while she was still wearing her pajamas.

When she emerged from the bathroom, Eda was sitting at the table with a young looking red haired boy. He had disheveled hair and an easy smile. He stared at Annie for longer than made her feel comfortable.

"How did you sleep my dear?" Auntie Eda asked.

"Oh, I slept wonderfully," Annie replied. Fritz continued to stare at her wide eyed. Annie felt a bit self conscious as he continued to stare.

"Come meet Fritz, he helps me out quite often here on the farm," Eda replied. Annie moved to sit at the table near them. She could feel the nervous energy coming from Fritz. He was kind of adorable in that cute puppy dog kind of way. His large brown eyes locked with hers.

"Hello, I'm Annie," Annie greeted. Fritz finally looked away.

"I'm Fritz."

"It's a pleasure to meet you," Annie said. He finally looked away. He was awkward to the point that it made her feel almost uncomfortable. It was clear to Annie that Fritz had spent his whole life in the country. He was nothing like the men in the city. Everything he was thinking was so clearly written on his face. He was clearly attracted to her. He wasn't doing much to hide that.

"Yer really pretty," Fritz admitted. If she had any doubts about her previous train of thought, she did not any longer. She felt herself blushing. She heard Eda chuckle.

"I hope you two become good friends," Eda said. Annie could hear the affection her Auntie felt for Fritz by the tone of her voice. "Do you mind showing my niece around town?"

"Sure!" Fritz said with a little too much excitement. Annie smiled at him as best as she could. He was certainly chipper. She enjoyed her breakfast with her Auntie and Fritz. Immediately after, Eda insisted that the two of them go on the tour of the town, Annie reluctantly agreed. She had a sneaking suspicion her Auntie was trying to play matchmaker. Fritz chatted to her enthusiastically the whole way down the path to town. He showed her all the different types of fields, and the rice paddies. He even showed her where the orchard was. When they made it into town he pointed out the general store, and town hall. He rattled off names of everyone, telling her who lived where. She was sure she wasn't going to remember most of these names. Her head was reeling with names, when Fritz said something that made her stop in her tracks.

"That's the perfumers house. Klaus, he's outta town right now," Fritz said. Her heart lurched when she heard that name. It couldn't be the same Klaus, could it? She stared at the house, thinking about that fateful night.

******FLASHBACK******

She was driving in the rain. It was dark, and she was nervous. Tonight would be the night that she finally became a woman. She had chosen Klaus, because he was older than her and more sophisticated than men her own age. Being seven years her senior, he was reluctant at first to even talk to her. Not to mention the fact that he worked for her father. She had developed a crush on Klaus when she was merely sixteen years old. She had never met anyone as handsome as him. She had finally started talking to him when she turned , it had been her father that had given her his phone number. That had been back before she thought her father was the scum of the earth. She talked and texted quite a bit with Klaus, but that was as far as he was willing to take it, for a while. It had been when she turned twenty-one that he finally agreed to start "hanging out" with her. He was always cautious around her, but she had managed to her through the barriers he had set up. She could remember the first time he had kissed her. It was unlike anything she had ever experienced before. Sure she had been kissed before, but this kiss had been different. She had wanted more. She had managed to extract what kind of lingerie he liked out of a conversation they had one night. She had a feeling he regretted telling her instantly.

Annie smiled as she pulled into the driveway where his condo was. Her heart jumped when she saw the silvery blue Honda he drove parked in his driveway. She turned off her car, and grabbed the overnight bag she had packed. She had convinced him to let her come over. She could hear the reluctance in his voice. Annie had prepared everything. She looked at herself once again in the mirror. She barely recognized the woman she saw staring back at her. Her raven colored hair was pulled back into a loose bun. She wore a black suit coat, and underneath it she wore a black and pink corset. Her black pencil skirt, fishnet stockings, and black leather knee-high boots finished off the ensemble perfectly. She blushed. This was completely out of character for her. She took a deep breath and stepped out of her car.

Klaus answered the door wearing blue jeans and a white t-shirt. When he saw Annie, his eyes widened. It was clear he had not been expecting her to show up dressed like she was. He narrowed his eyes. Then, somewhat reluctantly let her in.

"I'm not driving back home tonight," Annie said with a calmness she didn't feel. She set her overnight bag on the floor next to his couch. Klaus just nodded. She sat down next to him on the couch as he flipped through some channels. Her nervousness started to recede a bit. She stared intently at the tv, as if it were the most interesting thing she had ever seen. She felt a slight movement next to her, and before she could protest, Klaus' lips were firmly on hers. She felt a flutter in her heart as he brought one hand up to her cheek and wrapped the other one around her waist.

"You're trouble," he murmured against her lips. She returned his kisses with fervor. He pulled away from her and looked at her. There was a masculinity in his expression that made her pulse race even more. "Are you sure about this?" Annie looked at his face, even in this moment he was being caring and thoughtful. She nodded, unable to speak. It was if that one little gesture of approval was all he needed. He kissed her again, possessing her lips. Annie moaned against his lips, and pressed her body against his.

XxXxXx

Annie awoke the next morning, in bed next to Klaus. He was still sleeping. He looked adorable when he was sleeping. She quietly slipped out of his bed, and made her way to the bathroom. She stared at herself in the mirror. Nothing looked different, but she felt different. She laughed at herself, as if losing her virginity would change the way she looked. Annie knew that she was innocent, but she had not known the depths of which her naïveté went. She felt like a woman for the first time in her life. Klaus had been as sweet as she had imagined he would be. She quietly got ready for the day. She wished she could spend more time with Klaus, but she had an early morning meeting that she had to attend at work. She made her way back into the bedroom, and silently picked up her things. She leaned down to Klaus and gently shook him awake.

"Hey, I'm sorry but I have to go," she whispered to the half sleeping Klaus. "I'll call you later."

*********END FLASHBACK********

That had been the last time Annie had ever seen Klaus. She had only spoken with him one time since then, and he had seemed pretty angry. She sighed. She was not sure why Klaus had been so angry with her. He had accused her of using him. She wondered if he thought that because she had been a virgin. But she never had the opportunity to ask him. He had changed his number and left the city pretty quickly afterwards.

"Ya okay?" Fritz asked. Annie looked up at Fritz. He had a concerned look on his face.

"Yes, sorry, I'm a little tired," Annie lied. Fritz smiled and continued with his tour of the town. Annie listened half heartedly, hoping that this Klaus wasn't the same as the one she had known. I