A Visitor

"Ann…Ann!!! Wake up!"

Now normally I'm not one for sleeping in, but yesterdays thoughts had me in a bit of a slump, and I was unnaturally depressed. I rolled over onto my side, trying to get away from the gruff, nagging voice of my father.

"I'm sick," I replied. "Go away."

"Don't lie to me Ann, you're never sick, and when you are I can tell. Plus this is important, I have something to tell you, so get up."

I just stayed on my side with my back turned to him rolling my eyes.

"Ok. Fine, stay in bed, I just thought you'd like to know that Kirk has passed away."

My eyes shot open. Kirk…died? But…no. I lay there for a second trying to comprehend what I was just told. Holding back tears I asked.

"How did he die?" My voice nothing more than a whisper.

"Peacefully in his sleep. There is going to be a funeral for him today at the town square. You should get up." With that my father left.

I stayed in bed for a little while longer trying to collect my thoughts. That poor man, why didn't I go visit him more often? The guilt started to crush me. He cared for me and I just up and abandoned him after Aden left. Now it's too late. Would Aden be there today? I felt a spark of excitement at the thought, but shook my head. No point in getting my hopes up, plus I shouldn't be thinking of him right now. I got up and got dressed deciding that I should wear something other than my work clothes for such an event. I grabbed some dark jeans and a black long sleeved shirt. I quickly brushed through my knotted hair and put it back into its braid. I took one last look at myself in the mirror, then went out the door.

* * * * *

"Its been so long since I've been here." He thought out loud.

He was deep in the forest next to the Goddess spring. The one place that always made him feel at peace. The lush greenery that surrounded the area was home to many of the forest creatures. Moon drop flowers that looked as if they were shining and dancing in the sunlight were everywhere and the little pond in the enclosure was ever so mysterious. The water was crystal clear, but the pool was so deep it seemed to be never ending. It was almost mesmerizing. The little river that ran from the pool, gave of a soft, rhythmic sound, the water gently bubbled away over the rocks. It soothed him.

"I need some comfort today," he thought as he sighed. "Dad is going to be so angry."

He bent over and picked up, one of the beautiful, little yellow flowers and spun the stem in between his thumb and finger. He stared down at the little flower that was spinning in circles, out of control, like his life had always been, but he was taking control now. He stopped spinning the flower and turned back towards the pool. He made a silent prayer then looked to the sky.

"Oh grandpa, why did you have to go? Just a little longer and I would've been able to see you again, and help you." He held back a tear, thinking to himself that if his grandfather was watching, he didn't want to been seen crying like a little boy.

"Here this is for you." He then gently threw the yellow flower into the sapphire water and closed his eyes, thinking of his grandfathers kind face and contagious laughter.

He was quickly pulled back to reality when he heard a twig snap. He whipped around and looked into the trees.

"Who's there?"

* * * * *

I made my way through town, it was totally deserted. There were fresh flowers outside of Lilia's flower shop and there was a smell of fresh bread wafting from the bakery. My stomach growled. I had forgotten to eat, something else that was very unlike me. Embarrassing as it is, when it comes to corn and potatoes, I eat so much I sometimes make myself sick. It's just so good! Breakfast is usually a number one on my things to do list.

I continued on past Rick's shop and the bar, I made a mental note to head there later, then made my way up the stairs into the town square.

Everyone in the village must have been there. Even the carpenters that lived in the mountains. I walked on over to Karen, she was my closet friend. Her parents ran the winery at the vineyard although it was kind of failing. We spent a lot of nights at the bar together, drinking and complaining about our fathers, hers was definitely worse than mine. I wasn't a heavy drinker, but she would usually end up having one too many and Kai would have to help her home. I stayed to talk to her for a while but once again she had used this as an occasion to drink and that annoyed me quite a bit. Her speech was starting to slur so I went off to look for a more intelligent conversation.

I made my way through the square and said my condolences to the villagers who were close friends with Kirk, mainly Lilia and Basil. Basil wasn't back from his winter excursion yet, and she knew he was going to be extremely upset to return home and find that Kirk had passed. She started to tear up and Popuri lead her away through the crowd back towards their house. This was too depressing, I had to get out, get away. Everyone just kept saying what a good man he was, how horrible it was that he had to die. It wasn't going to bring him back. I decided to go to the only place I could think of that would bring me some peace, the Goddess pond.

I took my time walking through the forest to the spring. I stopped to smell the flowers and to watch the little animals race by beneath my feet without a care in the world. I wished so much to be like them. As I got closer to the pond, I heard something. It sounded like…yes definitely somebody talking, but who? Everyone had been in the square. I took a step closer and watched as a yellow flower fell from the person's hand, it was a man. I was going to leave him alone, but when I tried to turn back, I stepped on a branch and it snapped. He must have heard it.

"Who's there?" He called out. He had a smooth, deep voice that made me melt. To late to run away now. I turned back and looked at him, then I gasped.

"Oh my gosh!" It looked like it could be him, but it had been so long. He was tall and handsome, his muscles toned, wearing blue jeans and a white shirt that complimented his torso. He had a strong jaw, and a perfect nose, and his eyes…his eyes, they were a beautiful dark brown with a noticeable spark of life to them. It had to be him! I'd know those eyes anywhere, and he was even wearing a baseball cap on his head, but now it was on backwards, with his brown bangs sticking through the hole.

"Aden?" I asked quietly.

"Yes, how did you-" and then he stopped. I felt a tug at my heart, of course I knew his name. Didn't he remember me? I felt a rush of relief as he said, "Ann? Is it really you? You look so different!"

I smiled as he rushed over, hesitated for a split second then gave me a huge hug. Too hard, he was crushing me, but I felt my face getting warm. It really was him. He was back, after ten years he had finally come back. All it took was for his grandfather to pass away. Why did I think that? My subconcious was sending me a message. I was so happy he was back that I was almost giddy, but he didn't come back for me, or because of me, his grandfather died, he had to come. Now he was hugging me like we were still the best of friends, like nothing had ever happened. He was a stranger to me now, people can change a lot in ten years. The anger quickly rose inside of me. I snapped back to reality and squirmed out of his hug, he quickly let go.

"Ann? What's-"

I angrily cut him off. "Where the heck were you! You promised me you were going to come back! I waited five years just hoping that someday you'd walk onto my ranch having some explanation for being gone so long, but I finally gave up. My life was miserable when you left!" I was getting to angry, too upset. I could feel the tears coming, and I felt like a fool letting him know how much he impacted my life. I wasn't the needy type. I didn't know what else to say, so I just turned and ran, I ran away from him as fast as I could. I heard him calling my name asking me to wait, but I couldn't, and wouldn't.

The tears were still falling when I arrived at my ranch. My father looked at me and was about to say something, but I ran into my room and locked the door. A thousand thoughts swirled through my head as I lay down, my attempts to stop crying were futile and eventually my salty tears were to heavy for my eyelids, they slowly closed and I went to sleep.

Sorry if there are mistakes, even when i reread I don't seem to catch them :p and thanks for the review :)