A few days had passed since Kristine last came back. The weather was getting colder by the day. Winter was coming.
Kristine walked along the porch and saw Margaret showing little William flashcards so she decided to sit down and help.
"How well does he know his letters?" She asked Margaret.
"Pretty well," answered Margaret. "I read to him and Susan a lot. They are both smart." She smiled at William and he smiled back.
Kristine couldn't help but smile by seeing this. The Martin family seemed so at peace, though she knew they were all very worried about Gabriel being in the war.

A big gush of wind then came, making everyone have chills go up their spin.
"I think it's time we head inside," said Margaret to William. "Will you come with us, Kristine?" she asked.
"In a minute. I'm going to wait for Thomas to come back from hunting." She rubbed her hands together to keep them warm.
"Alright then." Said Margaret as she ushered her younger brother into the house.

As Kristine waited near the steps for Thomas's return, she looked up at the sky. It was getting dark. How could Thomas stay out this late? Something must be wrong. Did he run into a bear? No. She shook the thought from her head and just as she did, Thomas came walking up from the distance. Kristine walked down the steps getting ready to run right to him but she stopped and looked around. If someone saw her just casually ruining up to him, things may get worse. Thomas had told you just the day before that no one else knew about the two of you besides Gabriel.
"Welcome back, Thomas," Kristine said with a smile as she stood just a few feet away from Thomas. "You need me to help you with that? It looks heavy." Thomas shook his head even though he was dragging along a deer behind him. "Sorry, It took me so long. It's just when I saw this deer I knew I had to get it. Winter will be coming soon as well. We need plenty of meat."
Since Gabriel had left, Thomas was left to do most the hunting by himself, besides when Benjamin made Nathan and Samuel go with him.

A few seconds later a few farm workers came to help him put the deer away. As they did this, Kristine went back inside.
Abigal was making a big dinner that night, and Kristine liked having homemade food. In a way, it was way better than fast food. It was more fulfilling.

When dinner finally did come around, everyone sat down together and ate as a family. Kristine loved this. Since she was the only child, Kristine couldn't experience the feeling of having other kids around like now. Also, her father usually worked late and it was just Kristine and her mother. At times she would cook at home but since she worked a lot as well she didn't always have time.
Margaret then picked her head from looking at her plate. "Kristine, When is your birthday?"
"December eighteenth."
"Really?" Thomas looked over to you from across his seat. "I have one in December also. December tenth."
"Well then when that time comes around that means double the surprise," said Benjamin.
"So that means we'll be having two cakes, right?" asked Nathan, getting his hopes up.
Benjamin laughed. "It's whatever Abigal decides to make."
All the little kids looked over at Abigal. "Well...why not have two cakes. I shall try my best."
The little kids cheered. It had seemed they didn't have sweets too often. They would probably kill over with joy if they were to go to the future.
Kristine smiled at the thought of them being so happy. She would love to see their little faces light up as they would see all the tall buildings, people, cars, and food. If only she could tell them where she really came from. She almost didn't get away when Benjamin had spoken to her last in private.

*earlier that week*

Kristine sat down with Benjamin in a small room. The door was closed and only a tiny window let a beam of sunlight in.
"You may know some of the questions I am about to ask you, don't you?"
Kristine nodded.
"Good. Now I only want the truth." Again, Kristine nodded. "Where are you really from, Kristine?"
"Here. I swear. I grew up around here."
"Then why are you not at home?"
Kristine looked to the floor. "Things...got complicated." In a way she wasn't really lying but what could she tell him? That she was from the future and that her great granny owned this house.?
"I see," said Benjamin. "And what of your family?"
"I am the only child, sir. I was adopted."
Benjamin looked at you surprised.
"My mother is unable to have children of her own and I do not know where my birth mother is. My father died some years back in an accident." She explained carefully.
"I am most sorry," said Benjamin. "I did not mean to bring up painful memories."
"No. It's alright. I'm glad I am telling you this. I no longer have to hide it from you."
Benjamin smiled. "Good. Then I guess that's all I have to ask you."
Just as Kristine was about to leave the room, Benjamin called out to her.
"Kristine, if you ever need anything. Just let me know." And she nodded her head.

*end*

When dinner was done and everyone had gone to bed, Kristine sat up in bed, awake. She had too many thoughts running through her mind to be able to sleep. The light from the moon and stars shined down through her window. It was pretty. A shooting star then went by and she made a wish, a wish to stay here with the Martins for as long as she could. Forever if it were possible and for the slightest second she swore she saw snow falling. Kristine sat up and stared out the window trying to spot more and sure enough more snow started to fall. The outside looked even prettier now as the moonlight made the snow sparkle. Kristine would have gotten up out of bed right away and went to go play in it but this was the seventeen hundreds. Going outside would be a bad idea. Besides, it was cold enough as it was with a heavy blanket over her.
She breathed on the window, making it foggy. She took her index finger and made a smiley face. Soon, it faded away, leaving only a smug mark of what she made.
After, she lay her head down and tried to sleep a second time.

Early the next morning, when Kristine awoke, snow was everywhere. It all looked so beautiful and this time she didn't have to worry about cars or other vehicles making it all dark and dirty. She got up and stretched and waited for Abigal to come in. She knew she would and sure enough, she did. She helped Kristine put on her corset and dress. The dress was soft and thick to keep warm. It was a dark blue with black laces on the ends of the dress with three quarter length sleeves.

Soon after dressing, Kristine ate her breakfast helped Abigail clean the dishes after.
"Thank you," she said.
Kristine smiled warmly. "You're welcome."
The kids were so excited about the snow they could hardly stand still put all their layers of clothing on.
"C'mon hurry it up, Samuel!" Called Nathan who was already fully dressed.
"Just a minute, Nathan." But Nathan was in too much of a hurry to wait and went on ahead. "Nathan!" Yelled Samuel. "Wait for me!" As he slipped on his last boot he as was already halfway out the door, calling out to his brother.
Kristine giggled at this.
"You sure seem to be enjoying yourself," said Thomas coming up from behind her.
"Oh! Thomas. Good morning. Where were you this morning?"
"My father and I got up extra early to skin the deer and get it ready to eat. He told me I can have the day off from hunting since it was a big enough deer to last us for the rest of the week."
"Well, that's good to hear. That means you can spend the day with me then." She smiled big.
Thomas blushed a little. "O-of course. We can play cards or something."
"That too, but why not go outside for a while and enjoy the snow?" She encouraged.
"We could but are you sure? I mean...I don't want you to get sick or anything."
Kristine gave him a playful nudge on the arm. "Don't worry. I'll be fine." Besides that, Kristine was in some way healthier than him. Having her shots from when you were younger. prevented her from getting certain illnesses.
"Well if you really want to go outside I'd be more than happy to accompany you."

Thomas and Kristine took their time in getting all their layers on. When the time came to head out, the snow was piling up even more now. Kristine, of course, started running around right away as Thomas just watched, not sure whether or not to join in.
"Thomas!" Kristine called out his name.
When he turned around, a snowball hit him on the shoulder. He seemed really shocked and it made Kristine laugh at how surprised he was.
"What on earth?!" He finally said.
"It's called a snowball, silly." She giggled.
"I know that!" His face flushed red. He then got a big grin on his face, picked up some snow and threw it at the front of Kristine's coat. She squealed a little and tried covering herself the best she could.
Thomas then ran off a few feet away from you, getting another snowball ready.
"I don't think so!" Kristine told him and she started to form a ball of snow in her hands as well. At the same time, they both threw it at each other. Since Kristine was bad at throwing, her snowball hardly hit him while his snowball nailed her right in the arm.

They threw snowballs at each other for a while until Kristine got hit close to the face. She pretended to be hurt and bent over covering her face. Thomas was instantly filled with regret and ran over to help her.
"Kristine, are you okay?" Kristine didn't say anything. "Kristine?" Still nothing. "Look...I'm really sorry."
She then picked up her head and grinned at him, wrapping her arms around him and pulling him down in the snow. She started to laugh. "HA! I fooled you!"
"That was a dirty trick!" He yelled, but as he said this he was smiling too. The two of them fussed for a while, just messing around and playing in the snow. Kristine couldn't remember the last time she laughed this much or this hard.

After a while, the two of them finally stopped and flopped on their backs. The now felt nice and fluffy as they both looked up at the white clear sky and watched the snowflakes fall down slowly onto the ground all around them.
"Thomas?" Kristine finally said, breaking the silence.
"Hmm?"
"Did you believe me when I told you about me...that I was from the future?" "Well...I'm still not really sure. I just like you being here. You make it so that it's not so boring."
Kristine was happy to hear it and smiled. "I'm glad but...I don't want you to think I'm crazy...or lying. Because I'm not. I really am telling you the truth." "When the war ends...if we win...I will be sure. As of now...let's just put it off to the side, okay?"
"...okay."
At least Thomas wasn't talking to her like she was crazy. Maybe he did believe her but was afraid to actually admit it. But why would he be? Is it because he had the same feelings as her? That someday she may have to go back to her own time...and never return?

Please leave a review! You would be the best person ever!
Have a great day!