It was almost Christmas and the children were all excited. They were all decorating the house happily and singing up and down the halls and stairs. Charlotte asked Thomas and Rebecca to ride a horse drawn cart out to get Christmas presents for everyone. Two lists were given, one to Thomas and the other to Rebecca. The list Thomas held on to had the gifts for Rebecca on it and the one Rebecca kept had Thomas's gifts on them. They rode to Charleston with one of the men who worked on Charlotte's plantation. The two shopped as he waited with the cart. The shopping took awhile and after dropping their purchases in the cart, they met up in the general store. Rebecca got there after Thomas and found him talking to an old friend of his. He had visited Charleston more than she ever had so he had made friends there during the visits. Rebecca recognized the boy as one she had been introduced to once by the name of Edward. She only waved at Thomas and, not wanting to disturb them, she looked through the rows of candy beside her, picking out special treats for the children. She did that until she heard her name.

"You're kidding, that girl over there is your fiancée? She's actually nice to look at!"

"Yeah, Rebecca Archer."

"You're kidding! Thomas, I could have sworn you said you couldn't stand a girl by that name."

Thomas looked over and his eyes met Rebecca's. She looked back at the candy, hurriedly.

"Edward, its more comp-"

"What was it you said about her? She was so boyish that no man in his right mind would marry her?"

"That was a long time a-"

"What else…let's see…she was so plain looking. She would climb trees like some sort of squirrel and she was like Gabriel's long lost twin or something with the way they got along. If I recall you were so jealous and hated her for it. You said she had no other talent than climbing trees and dirtying her clothes. You said you'd rather die than marry her. Still feel that way? Rather go off to war than-"

"Edward, stop!"

Thomas moved away from the boy and reached out to Rebecca, but she just moved away from his hand.

"Rebecca."

She turned and when to the cashier, paying for the candy that she had picked up. Afterwards, she rushed out the door. Edward watched Thomas turn to him with an angry look.

"Why would you say all that? You know she could hear you!"

Edward shrugged.

"Figured a pretty girl like that deserved to know how you used to feel. Thought you would hide those details from her? Besides, if she dumps you, I get a chance with her, right?"

Thomas wore a look of disbelief.

"This is why I could barely stand you back then. Goodbye, Edward."

Thomas stormed out of the store and went to the cart. He found Rebecca sitting in the back among the purchases that were in sacks. Her legs were pulled up to her chest, her skirt bunched up around her. Climbing into the cart, he told the man they had come with that they were ready to go back. As they began moving, Thomas tried to get close to her, but Rebecca just pressed herself into a corner.

"Rebecca, don't listen to what Edward said. He likes starting trouble."

"You thought all that about me? Really?"

Thomas gaped at her.

"I-well…you know you used to climb trees a lot. It was rather boyish."

"So, all those years you'd barely speak to me and just follow us around…you hated me? Even when you started talking to me…you thought no one would ever marry me?"

"Rebecca, it's not-"

"And when I thought you were one of my best friends you…"

She fell silent and wouldn't speak anymore. Thomas slid over to her, knowing she couldn't move anywhere else, and grabbed her arm. His other hand turned her face to him. His eyes were stern as he looked into her eyes. They were blank. Uncaring. Almost lifeless.

"Don't," he told her, getting upset," Don't do this again. We're going to talk about this, Rebecca. You can't solve your problems by not talking and refusing to do anything."

"Is that why you wanted to go to war? You would rather die than be with me? Would that mean you're in your right mind? Because you don't really want to marry me?"

She turned away, limp in his hands.

"REBECCA!"

She was hurt. It didn't matter that someone else had said them. The fact that Thomas had once felt that way and never talked to her about it hurt. She was confused. How could he have felt like that and then tried to keep her from ending up with someone much older than them? Thomas sighed and leaned his head back against the wood of the cart. He was glad that there was a cover on the cart so that Charlotte's helper couldn't see them. He could hear them, but that didn't matter much to him. He wished he could take back the things he'd told Edward. It was pure jealousy. And not just from Gabriel always wanting to spend time with her, but he had been so concerned that Rebecca had liked Gabriel. He had been jealous, wanting a girl to like him. But not just any girl. He had wanted the one girl that he had felt most threatened by, yet most attracted to. She had been different. She did her own thing. She hadn't been like other girls. And that was what he had liked the most. And he had turned that around so that people would never know that he had wanted her to see him, and not Gabriel, as a man. He couldn't say he had a crush on her, but he had wanted her attention more than anything. Without willing them to, tears began to fall down Thomas's face and he began to cry. He was quiet, but he cried. His head fell to his knees.

"I'm sorry, Rebecca…"he whispered, his voice wavering," I'm so…so sorry. I want to marry you. I wanted to go to the war only to protect my family and you. I was…bitter as a child. Rebecca, I wanted you to pay attention to me. Not Gabriel. It felt unfair. I felt…inadequate. I said the opposite of what I thought to try and make myself feel better. I'm sorry. I should have…said something to you…"

Thomas cried even more, feeling terrible. He did not expect it when he felt a hand on his head. He looked up, tears streaming from his eyes to find Rebecca sitting in front of him. He wiped tears away from his eyes so he could see her better. Rebecca looked to the ground beside her

"I had a feeling you didn't like me. It made me sad…and insecure. So I threw all my attention on Gabriel. I suppose it was because of your reaction to me when we first met. I wish you would have said something. But…I suppose I am to blame as well. I'm sorry, Thomas."

Pushing his legs down, she crawled onto his lap and hugged him, her head resting on his shoulder. Thomas sniffed and closed his eyes, letting his arms encircle her.

"I promised you I wouldn't go to war. And I won't. But if I did, it would have been so you would be safe. And honestly…Gabriel would say I am not in my right mind ever."

Rebecca smiled.

"Thomas…why did you ask my father if you could marry me?"

He leaned his head on top of hers.

"I never knew many girls. But I liked you best of all. I saw an opportunity and I took it. If there is anyone I would rather give myself to, it would be you."

Her hand found his and their fingers interlaced.

"I've never heard a guy put it that way. Usually they say the girl gives herself to someone."

Thomas grinned.

"That's because guys are too proud to say they lose something when they get married."

The two sat like that for the rest of the ride back. When they got home, they rushed the gifts to those who put them on the list for wrapping. The living room was soon full of presents. And soon it was Christmas Day. The youngest kids woke them all up, but Charlotte and Rebecca refused to go down until they were dressed. When everyone was dressed, they went down stairs and opened their gifts. It was a wonderful time, even though they were missing their father and eldest brother. After having breakfast, Rebecca helped the kids bring their gifts to their rooms. After she had finished with that, she found Thomas sitting in their room. She sat down beside him.

"Something wrong?" she asked.

He smiled at her and shook his head. He turned to her.

"Close your eyes."

She laughed, but did as he said. She felt him move her hair away from her neck and a soft thread touched her. His fingers brushed the back of her neck gently before moving away.

"Now, open them."

Opening her eyes, she looked down to see a blue rose pendent on a blue fabric thread. She picked it up in her hand, surprised.

"Thomas…"

Her hand let go of the rose and was instantly taken by Thomas's.

"Merry Christmas. I'm sorry that I've made things difficult between us for…years. I want…I want us to be able to put the bad things behind us and make newer…better memories. Ones where you know I care about you a lot. And maybe someday, we can look at each other and just…know that we are in love. I want that for you along with everything you want…anything that can make you happy. I will do anything."

Rebecca was not sure what to say, but she threw her arms around Thomas and hugged him.

"Thank you. It's really just enough knowing you care," she whispered.

As she pulled away from him, the two of them heard a disappointed sigh from outside the door. They turned to see Margaret watching them. When she noticed they had seen her, she yelped and ran off. Rebecca laughed and got up just as Nathan shouted from the hallway.

"Oh, no! Something happened to Aunt Charlotte!"

The two ran out of the room only to be stopped at the top of the stairs. It was a barricade. All the kids and Charlotte were there smiling at them. They looked at the group in confusion.

"What's going on?" Thomas asked.

Samuel seemed to be struggling from behind Nathan as Margaret and William had a hand over his mouth. His words were clearly heard though.

"I am not okay with this! I can't watch!"

Nathan wiggled his eyebrows at the two of them and pointed up at the ceiling. Looking up, the two spotted mistletoe. Their mouths fell open before they looked at each other. Rebecca looked at Charlotte.

"You are not-"

She shrugged with a bright smile on her face.

"They convinced me to join them in this small plan."

Thomas shook his head.

"No…we are not going to have our first kiss as a couple in front of all of you."

The kids and Charlotte looked so disappointed. They all moved off back to their rooms to put their stuff away and Rebecca and Thomas did the same. Back in the room, Rebecca was going over to her dresser when her wrist was grasped. She turned to see Thomas watching her nervously. He stepped closer to her, holding her hand tighter.

"I am not really sure how I should do this," he told her, quietly.

He started to lean in, but Rebecca put a hand to his lips. She smiled and stroked his cheek.

"Then don't. Kiss me when it feels right and when you are ready. And maybe…when you are in love with me."

She moved away from him and back to the dresser. Thomas felt relieved, but also a bit guilty. Now that she had stopped him, he really wanted to kiss her. But he ignored the feeling and just went to put his things away.