Chapter 1

"Hey, gorgeous, did it hurt?"

Alesandra Monroe's aqua blue eyes stared at the muscular man in the tight black shirt warily. He had a wide smile across his tawny tan face, showing off perfect white pearls. He leaned against the bar with confidence. He was a man that rarely got rejected.

"Did what hurt?" Ally asked mildly, sounding bored. She took a sip of her dry martini, never taking her eyes away from his.

"When you fell from heaven."

Ally stared at him unblinking for a moment. The cheesy pickup line was accented when he winked at her. Ally burst into laughter.

"You're serious?" she asked incredulously.

By the look on his face she could tell that he hadn't noticed she wasn't interested, or that she had thought his pick up line to be far too corny for her taste. Admittedly, she felt very tipsy, but even in her induced state she was smart enough to realize that this cocky good looking man was as dumb as a box of rocks. She had been at the club for a couple hours now with her girlfriends. enjoying the night life was a hobby Ally had recently took up. Her life had taken a dramatic change a couple weeks ago, so drinking was a nice way of coping with the hurt that she was feeling. The alcohol made her numb, and she decided she liked that.

She'll never forget being betrayed by the two people she trusted in her life—Ethan and Sandra. Ethan was her boyfriend, the man she wanted to have a future with, since senior year of high school. They had been best friends since childhood, as well as Sandra. Sandra was like a sister to Ally, and her family was like a second family. She trusted them beyond measure. They were her life and her happiness.

The horror she felt when she caught them having sex in her bed drove her nearly to the brink of insanity. Ethan had confessed his love for her was just as strong for his love for Sandra. He didn't know who he wanted to be with. Ally didn't care who he decided because there was no way in hell she was ever going back with him. She moved out immediately to live with her eccentric friend, Jade. Living with Jade helped Ally but also worsened her situation. Jade was a stripper and a wild child. She partied every night, and like to sample all different kinds of men. Ally really did have fun going out and getting belligerent with her, but she was 26 with a well paying job as a columnist, and wanted to go places with her life. Her lifestyle with Jade was only momentary. It was something she didn't want to happen for the rest of her days, but now she had become addicted, craving the excitement and numbness of pain it gave her.

Ally knew in order to find true happiness she had to move away from everything. Where? She hadn't a clue or the money. She felt trapped and helpless. To emotions that never went well together.

Ally left the bar, after she rolled her eyes at the man, and went outside to get some fresh air. She lit a cigarette and inhaled the sweet nicotine, looking up at the black sky. It wouldn't be long until Jade would call her and tell her she was ready to head home, and they would get into the taxi together, and she would bring some random guy home. Ally feared for that girl immensely, but Jade never worried about anything. Ally hadn't been looking for a man since the breakup. She no longer trusted men. If she couldn't trust a man that had been there for her and had been her best friend for so long, who could she trust. However, being single reminded her of how horrible the dating scene really was. She was already looking forward to a life alone. Maybe if she had a lot of puppies she would feel somewhat better, she mused. Her phone's happy jingle was piercing irony to her thoughts suddenly transfixed her thoughts and she looked at the ID. She was surprised to see that it was Breanna calling and not Jade. More importantly Breanna never called her this late. Breanna was a homebody. She never went out, she never drank. She was the opposite of Ally. She was cautious and careful, quiet and shy. Breanna was a good friend in college, she continued her education when she moved to Scotland with her grandfather. Somehow the managed to stay in touch even though they were oceans away. Ally picked up, scared that it could be an emergency, she stumbled, caught her balance, and she managed to answer the phone with a slight slur.

"Hello?"

"Hey, its Bre."

"Ohmygod! Are you ok?" Ally asked, alarm causing her voiced to sound forceful. She calmed down when Breanna laughed.

"Yes, I'm fine. I had exciting news to tell you, and I couldn't wait. Are you drunk?"

"A little," she admitted. "I promise I will remember everything you tell me in the morning!"

She heard Breanna sigh on the other line. "I sure hope so, because this is important for you too. First of all Grandpa and I had made an amazing discovery. He found this old map that was left by his ancestors, and we found a new digging sight. Well, at first we thought it was a cairn, but its actually a old castle with many catacombs. Its quite amazing how its still standing!"

Ally had been staring at the hobo across the street who was now putting his hands in the air and singing to something. She barely caught on to everything breanna was telling her. "What does old castles and maps have to do with me?" Ally managed to ask.

"Oh, yes. I told grandpa that you were having a "falling out" and he bought you a plane ticket to Scotland. He sent it in the mail a while ago, and you were suppose to receive it today but I haven't heard from you."

Ally furrowed her brows. "I haven't checked the mail in a couple days. Wait—what?"

"You're coming to Scotland, Al! My grandpa arranged everything! You've always wanted to come visit, but never had the money. Are you excited?" Breanna asked.

Ally was silent for a long moment. "If this is a joke I swear to god I will build a ship and come over there and—"

Breanna cut her off, laughter filling her words. "Check the mail! You leave the day after tomorrow, I swear to God."

"I'm going to Scotland?"

"Yes," Breanna reassured her.

"I'M GOING TO SCOTLAND!" Ally yelled excitedly. In her excitement she threw her phone in the air. She frowned as she watched it fall into a puddle at the corner. She stumbled as she looked at it then started to laugh.

"You're going to Scotland?" the hobo shouted from across the street.

"Yes! Wanna come?" Ally asked excitedly as she swung around the street lamp like a happy little girl. Fool she may be, but at least she was going to Scotland.

Chapter 2

Ally felt like she had been hit like a bus the following morning. After Breanna's news she had decided to celebrate by going back into the club and buying shots of whiskey for her and Jade. Whiskey never really had sat well with Ally, and now she was regretting even going out last night. She rubbed her eyes to rid herself of her blurry vision and looked down her body. She was still in the same clothes as last night. Appraently she had passed out on the couch. She didn't remember coming back to jades apartment either.

As she brushed her teeth she tried to remember everything that happened last night. She wasn't sure if she dreamt Breanna telling her about Scotland so she went to the mailbox to see if it was real. Sure enough there was an envelop from frank MacLeer, Breanna's grandfather. She held up the ticket and smiled. Hopefully this was the big break she needed.

Ally went inside and packed immediately. She drank some milk, which she believed to be the ultimate hangover cure with her regular piece of toast with strawberry jelly. She ignored the half naked guy that walked out of jades room and shook her head as he put on his shoes and stumbled out the door. Not long after jade came out to see Ally packing her suitcase.

"Where are you going?" she asked groggily.

Ally smiled widely. "To Scotland."

"To where?"

"Scotland!"

"Why?"

She shrugged. "Breanna's grandfather bought me a ticket."

"for how long?"

Ally shrugged again. "I'm not sure, but I'm super excited."

Jade slowly shook her head as she grabbed a bottle of water from the fridge. "Why the hell would you be excited about Scotland? Just go to Wisconsin its pretty much the same thing—minus the men in skirts."

"That's so not true. There's a lot of history and beauty in Scotland. Besides, Wisconsin doesn't have mountains or castles now does it? And the men don't where kilts on a daily basis, that's just some stupid stereotype. Maybe I'll find some sexy highlander who will sweep my off my feet," Ally said with a sigh, staring off dreamily thinking about it.

Jade snorted. "Yeah right. This isn't breaveheart and you aren't going to find a sexy anything. The men there are the same as the men here—pigs, big… fat… pigs. No matter where you go it's the same, and since you expect it I think your only going to get let down. Do you really want a man with red hair and freckles?"

Ally threw a pillow at her. "puh-lesse. You're just jealous because you've never traveled out side of Chicago before, and when I come back with an amazing Scottish man you'll be sorry."

"You are so werid," Jade commented with a laugh. "What about your job?"

"I'm still on vacation days so I haven't thought about it. I only have a week left so I guess ill be back in a week. I leave tomorrow morning by the way so I wont be going out tonight."

Jade nodded and left Ally to finish packing in her excitement. She didn't see what was so exciting about Scotland. She preferred spain, or some place romantic like Italy, but Scotland? What could possibly be there?

The airplane ride filled Ally with too much anticipation. She was devastated that she couldn't have a cigarette to calm her down. She hadn't felt this much excitement in a while. In fact, she hadn't felt this happy since three weeks ago before everything happened. She tried to block the horrid memories from her head so she could enjoy her stay in Scotland. Instead she thought about all the things she would do while she was there. Maybe she would actually get to see a real castle and go inside. She fell asleep and dreamt of going to a ball in castle until she was finally awoken by the announcer: she was finally here. She looked out her window in wonder. The land was emerald and lush, the sky a bright blue; it seemed to perfect to be real. It was a drastic change from her hometown, Chicago. Ally had never been out of the States before. She was excited to see something new and refreshing.

The plane jerked suddenly, snapping Ally out of her wonder. She exited the plane with her loui vitton luggage and searched the airport for her friend. She spotted her standing timidly amongst the crowd, and Ally screamed excitedly, causing curious glances their way, and embarrassing Breanna.

Ally hugged her and said, "I'm so happy to see you!"

Breanna laughed. "I can't breathe!"

Ally let go and looked at her. "You look good," she remarked. Breanna looked the same as she had when she moved to Scotland. She hadn't really changed since college Ally decided. She was still very thin, with the same wavy long ash brown hair. She had the same spark in her oval bright green eyes. Ally wondered how she had not had a boyfriend as beautiful as she was. Men chased her like a dog to a bone, but she was still waiting for that certain someone to sweep her off her feet, and she would settle for anything less then what she deserved. Ally admired her for that, for she had always been the boy crazy one.

"I'm glad you're excited," Breanna said.

"How could I not be? I am in need of a vacation!" Ally said fervently.

Breanna laughed. Ally had always been a passionate opinionated woman. She was the kind of girl that brought the party. She drew attention to her self with her air of confidence. She never cared what people thought about her. Always one to live impulsively, something Beanna wished she could have in herself. Ally's personality had brought a lot of drama for herself, but she never regretted any of it. Breanna never had enough drama. As a matter of fact she didn't have much of anything. She dedicated her life to her work so she never went out, and never meet anyone knew. As an archeologist she was lucky enough to spend most of her time outside. That was the only adventure she needed. The people she worked with never paid much attention to her. They assumed she wasn't a talker so they left her alone, and she was fine with that, wasn't she?

"So what are we up to first?" Ally remarked, forcing Breanna back to the present.

"I had hoped to take you to the site we're working on, but—" she looked Ally up in down. "I hope you brought better clothes."

Ally looked down at her stiletto pumps, dark skinny leg jeans, and sexy black top. "Bre, you know I didn't come expecting to be digging in the dirt. I came expecting to be sight seeing, and maybe going to the pubs or something."

"But I have something fun to show you. It'll be like an adventure."

"What is it?"

"You'll see," breanna countered.

"Fine," Ally conceded. "I have flats in my suitcase, but that's as far as I'll go to accommodate your dress code. Ally thought for a moment, "Is it a castle?"

"Maybe," was all breanna would be allowed.

Ally smiled. "Maybe I'll find a sexy Scot who owns his very own castle!"

Breanna snorted. "Good luck. I've been trying to find one for 8 months. If you find one in a day of being in Scotland I swear ill kill you."

Ally laughed. It felt so good to smile again.

Luckily Ally had arrived in Scotland in the early morning so Breanna would have the whole day to show her all of Scotland's beauty. She promised Ally that she would take her to Edinburgh tomorrow. For the time being Breanna had given her a tour of certain parts of Dalkeith. She spoke excitedly about Dalkeith's history, none of which Ally had really listened to, but she stared admirably at the architecture of the town. She took her to the northeast edge of town to show her Dalkeith palace. She continued to talk about the history, and Ally let her ramble. Breanna loved her history and nothing could stop her from talking about it, even if she knew the information was flying right over

Ally's head.

The day went by to fast for Ally's liking. She hadn't smiled so much or felt this alive in what seemed to long. She fell in love with just a small part of Scotland, and she didn't know if she could bring herself to go back to Chicago. Ever.

When the sun was just beginning to streak the sky with pink and yellow as it set, Ally asked what the surprise was that Breanna had been so excited about as they got in the car.

"Your about to find out. It's a long drive though because it's far out in the country. I hope you're up for a little adventure."

"As long as I don't have to get my hands dirty, I'm down!"

Breanna rolled her eyes heavenward. "It will be worth it, I promise."

Little did Ally know, that promise held more worth than what Breanna was willing to give.