DISCLAIMER: I do not own anything associated with The Pretender television series.

I thank the people who did come up with the fantastical captivating caractors.

A/N: This started out as a notebook of short stories, but with the help of my friend, lissybella,

this is what it turned into. I really hope you enjoy what is to come. Happy Reading.

A Hopeful Dream!

She had been walking, out in the darkness of the night. She didn't know why she was walking, she never did that sort of thing unless she was chasing and she hadn't done that for so long. But never the less the she was, her pace slow as she breathed the chilly night air. Her path was dark and it seemed as though it was never ending. She didn't care, at the moment she felt no worries and every care she'd ever has seemed to melt away from her. It felt so good havingthe weight of her world pulled from her shoulders. She was able to let her hair down, so to speak, as she smiled and turned about in a slow circle. Her eyes locked on the star filled sky, the lights twisted and swirled making her bubble with laughter. Settling her eye's back on the path before her she placed her arm's to her side as she continued her walk. She didn't know why she felt a strong need to continue but she wasn't going to go against her first instint, it always served her well. The path ahead of her seemed to be even darker then where she was. The complete darkness of her life had always held evil beings with in its depth. The darkness ahead seemed to pull her, to becon her with a feeling of rightness. Near the edge she paused, gazing into it. Her courage faltered ever so slightly just before she stepped into it's folds. Everything seemed to melt away as if no reality existed in the black dark. Her steps were shlow and cautious as she continued her journey forward. Reaching her hands out in front of her, she felt for any object that may block her way. Just when she believed she would never find anything in front of her her fingers collided with a solid object. Stopping she placed her hands flat against what was there. She expected it to be cold and hard, instead she found it to be warm and fleshy.

She jumped as two hands gripped her wrists, "who are you?"

Her words seemed to echo around her. Instead of speaking the person simply moved forward as a light errupted above them. Her eyes went wide as her jaw dropped. It was him. His brown hair was a bit longer, but the look on his face and the emotion in his eyes were the same.

"It's you." She whispered.

He smiled and nodded as he released her, placing a hand on her cheek. "I've always been here for you." he whispered, a sad smile playing across his lips.

Her eyes quickly filled and spilled over with tears. "I know", she whispered.

She had always known. He was the man she loved and though she had been taught to hate him she just couldn't stop the way her heart fluttered or skipped a beat when he was near. She needed answers, answers only the evil beings held.

"When can we be free?" she asked whistfully.

Locking eyes with her he carefully wiped her tears away. "Soon." he whispered just before he leaned down kissing her gently. Pulling back he frowned. "But I have to go now and you need to wake up!"

With his final words she jerked awake. She was in her home with him no where in the immediate vacinity. Pulling her fingers through her dark brown hair she sat upright and cursed gently. "Jarod." She finally breathed. Shaking her dream off she stood to get ready for work. If the Infamous Ice Queen, Miss Parker didn't show at The Center then the small scared child that lurked just beneath her fascade would never get the answers she had sought after for so long.

The deception had to continue,

Just for a short time more.

Just until she held the answers.

FIN