"Dennis wasn't always there for me, but then again, he wasn't born at the time," Winnie said leaning on the support pole. "but I always was by his side, even before he was born."

"How?" The lady asked, eyes on the road.

"His parents never would have gotten married if I didn't help," Winnie said without even a hint of arrogance. "after his birth I would stand by the crib watching the cute little baby grow his adorable locks, he was quiet, very quiet, when he opened his eyes, they would shine blue, I was older than him, but . . . I didn't care, his parents were 100 years apart."

The fact put the driver into a small fit of chuckles.

"Age is but a number," She said shaking her head. "anyway, continue."

Winnie smiled at the lady before continuing.

"Well like I said, he was quiet and coming from a family of several hundred, peace isn't something a werewolf comes by easily," Winnie said shaking her head at the memory. "Dennis though, he was unusually quiet, even to the point I could only hear his breathing, and that was with my sensitive ears."

She looked at the driver for any comments, but she simply nodded for Winnie to continue.

"I saw him begin to smile, before I leaned down into the crib and pecked his forehead, then he giggled, and I knew, I would always be there to protect him, and he never stopped protecting me in turn." Winnie said a thoughtful look in her eyes.

A sniffle alerted Winnie to the driver who was wiping a tear from behind her glasses.

"Y'know sweetie, that is the sweetest story i ever heard!" She said smiling in the mirror to her.

"That's only the story of how I fell for him," Winnie said with crossed arms and her soft smile that soon turned to a frown. "you wouldn't believe it took the first stillborn I ever held, I had no idea the death of my sister, would bring me and Dennis together."

"I don't know if I can take much more of this." The driver said trying to hold back more tears.

"I remember falling to my knees holding the pup close, it was a pain I never hoped to feel again, I kept asking why she wouldn't wake up, but Dennis, he held me close crying tears with me, saying sorry, as if her death, was on him," Winnie said shaking her head. "then he kissed me on the head, telling me he loved me, I don't know why then, maybe it was pity, maybe he just wanted me to stop crying, or it was just the moment, but it could have been any other moment, then, couldn't it? To accept that he loves me?"

Winnie heard the driver sigh deeply also shaking her head.

"Darlin, let me tell you something," She said pushing her glasses up close. "these days you'd hear everyone say how life gives more than it takes, well you wanna hear the truth? That, is bull shit."

Winnie cocked an eyebrow, surprised that the sweet bus driver even knew how to curse.

"Don't get me wrong, it takes a lot, but in the end, it gives so much more, so much that we are willing to take advantage the first chance we get," She continued. "and when we take that chance, when we take that risk, that gamble not only breaks you, it breaks all those in your life."

Winnie simply stared at the winding, rainy trail.

"I guess he's afraid of the risk." Winnie muttered.

"Afraid of what?" The lady asked.

Winnie looked at her.

"What's your name?" Winnie asked.

"Donna." She replied.

"Well Donna," Winnie began. "Thanks."

The trail got steeper, giving Winnie the usual excitement of the hotel on the horizon.

"You and him gonna be okay?" Donna asked.

"Thanks to you." Winnie said again.

Things were going smooth, but so was the wet road.

"LOOK OUT!" Donna suddenly cried as the bus gave a great lurch on the edge.