Here is chapter three! Thank you to the loyal readers for following and reviewing my story. I am very happy there are people who like it. Thank you again for reading.

Disclaimer: I only own Shadow/Rina and Molly.


The rain fell over the city of New York. It came down so hard you would think that Niagara falls was coming down over the city. The streets were becoming rivers. Many a pedestrian ran inside the buildings or hid under the overhangs to take cover from the onslaught of water.

Meanwhile inside a small little cafe and bistro a pair of gray eyes stared out into the rain. The steely orbs watched each drop fall onto the pavement and ripple in the puddles. The woman attached to those eyes seemed to be staring off in a trance. She wore a simple loose white button down with the sleeves rolled up to her elbows. Her black jeans hugged her toned muscular legs. While the ties of the apron hugged her curved waist.

"Katarina." She heard someone call out a name to her. It sounded foreign to her even though it was her name. Well a name that had been given to her. "Katarina," They called out again to her but still she did not answer. The hypnotic pull of the rain still held its hold over her. "Rina!" The voice finally shouted and broke her from her deep trance.

"Huh?" She replied simply as she turned around. She saw a woman dressed in a white t-shirt with black pants and an apron just like hers. "Did you go off into Wonderland again?" She teased just as she often did when Rina went into that trance of hers.

"I guess I did." She said softly "I'm sorry Molly."

The other woman was a voluptuous red head by the name of Molly Evans. She, in Rina's mind, was the perfect image of a full figure coke bottle shaped woman. Tall with curvy hips and a small waist. The hazel eyed woman smiled at her with those red painted lips. "Don't worry Rina. Come on it's time to close so go put a nickle in the jukebox and lets have some fun."

Rina smiled and walked over to the old 40's Juke Box and chose a song. They had a mix of good Ol' Oldies from the 40's to the 70's and then they had some modern songs in there. She chose song number 43 and watched as the small disc was placed on the player. Almost instantly the sound of Bill Haley and the Comets came on with "Shake Rattle and Roll."

Molly came out with the mop and bucket, while Rina went to start washing the cup and wiping down the counters. Rina's lips muttered the song while she continued to clean. Molly had started to dance with her mop making her friend laugh. "I take it those swing lessons at the Big Band club have paid off?"

"Oh honey give me a man who can swing dance and I am theres." The two girls laughed and finished cleaning. Once they were finished the rain had let up a enough for them to leave without getting drenched.

"Okay so Hot Coco and a fire when we get back to the apartment!" Molly declared as they got into the car.

Molly had offered Rina a place to live after her adopted family had passed away. Joe and Claire Williams had taken Rina in three years ago. They found her wandering in the woods and had given her a home and a new name.

The apartment was one large warehouse converted into individual living quarters. Rina and Molly shared one of the conjoined loft apartments. It was a new style of apartments that a building company wanted to try.

Both Molly and Rina had their own master bedroom and bathroom, along with a large open space. This could fit a study, a small sitting area, and the set up for their own laundry room. They shared a kitchen and dining room and family room.

Molly's apartment held the same exposed brick walls and wood plank floors. But her style was a little more out there compared to Rina's.

Rina's apartment was far more simple than her friends. All she had was a desk with a bookshelf an old leather and wood arm chair and a simple and plane platform bed. A larger portion of the open space was for Rina's gymnastics and workout.

Molly's how ever had area rugs and photos everywhere of her and Rina and the coworkers of the Bistro and Cafe. She had lively colors and plush pillows and a cute white iron framed bed.

"Alright you go get changed I will put the Coco on and then we will watch some tv before bed."

"Sounds good." Rina said as she climbed the stairs to her bedroom. She opened her closet and threw her clothes into her hamper as she did she saw the black box on the floor of the closet.

'Shadow...'

She heard his voice as she went to touch the box. 'Shadow...' She jerked her hand away and closed the closet door. She took a deep breath trying to calm herself down as her hands gripped the knob of her door. Her forehead lay against the wood as a deep sigh left her body.

'Shadow...'

"Stop..." She begged silently

'Don't turn from me...'

"Winter...stop..."

'Shadow...' She could feel his touch on her skin. 'Shadow...' Her breathing increased, images began flashing through her mind as a warm feeling flowed through her veins.

She opened her eyes and saw him laying above her. His skin glistened with a layer of sweat that shined in the low light from the fire. Her hand gently caressed his face as her hand cupped his cheek. She remembered how soft his skin was. She relished in the feel of his hands. The chill of the cold metal left trails of goosebumps behind. "Shadow..." he whispered her name in a breathy tone. Their lips were barely an inch apart. She could hear her own heartbeat pounding in her ears.

Suddenly her lips parted in a heavy moan. She felt his hips moving against hers and her hands gripped his shoulders. "Shadow..." He moaned her name.

"Shadow..." Her moans increased, her hands dug into his back.

"Shadow..." His lips about to touch hers. She wanted to feel his lips. She wanted him to kiss her.

"Rina!"

Her grey eyes snapped open as she took a deep breath. She finished putting on her pajamas before she went to the sitting room. That night they watched some old Golden Girls episodes before bed. Molly and Rina laughed and talked about how much they loved a character, or how ever many lines they could repeat from memory.

Finally at 11 pm the two had gone their separate ways for bed. Molly was sound asleep while Rina was anything but. She tossed and turned for what seemed like hours. Finally she rolled over and hugged her pillow tight as her eyes glanced out of her window.

She stared at the moon for what seemed like hours. Watching the clouds pass over it before it reappeared. A few tears trickled out from behind her eyes as they closed. A deep heavy sigh escaped her. Her hands pulled the blankets tighter around her body. Why couldn't she stop thinking about him?

She didn't even know where he was.

Was he even still alive? What if they had killed him?

Many questions would remain unanswered. Many questions that she wish she had the answer too. With one final sigh she rolled over and decided it was time to try and sleep. Tomorrow would be a long day at the Bistro and Cafe.

Another long day in New York