The lovebirds' weekend getaway took place at a cozy little cottage at the base of a mountain. The mountain wasn't really all that huge but a beautiful waterfall cascaded not far from the cottage and a lovely singing stream ran about fifty feet from the front door. The owner of the cottage had driven them to this tiny piece of paradise and agreed to come and pick them up when the weekend was over.

Annie was completely ecstatic when she saw the adorable little house.

"This is for us!?" She had her hands to her mouth and a large childish smile.

"Yep." The Dawn put his hand around her shoulder. "The place is fully stocked with everything we might need, food, running water and we'll be completely alone until Mr. Carter picks us up Sunday afternoon."

Annie's eyes sparkled like a child who received their most wanted gift at Christmas. Mr. Carter helped them get their suitcases inside, wished them the best and drove away.

Immediately Annie was in love with the little house. Inside the decorations were so modest but its simplicity was what made it so adorable. The fireplace had only a small flicker of flame but the entire house seemed to be warmed by it.

"Oh Chanty! This is beautiful! I love it!" She hugged him tightly and he returned the affection.

"I thought you might."

Later that evening Annie was delighted to see that Chanty wasn't lying about the place being fully stocked. A wide variety of dry foods filled the cupboards and even though the pantry was small that was filled with several jars of canned food. So with complete control over the small kitchen Annie blissfully made a meal for two. It was to her great surprise and delight when she was finished and entered the dining room to find the table already set with a few candles flickering gently.

"Chanty you are too sweet." It touched her deeply to see her boyfriend doing such things, no matter how simple to make their weekend enjoyable and romantic.

After their meal they cuddled on the couch in front of the fire. They didn't speak of much but it hardly mattered to Annie. Just sitting with him made her feel warm and safe. Neither knew how long they sat there until Chanty adjusted himself on the couch and saw that the sun had clearly gone to bed a while ago.

"You ready to go to bed?"

"Why?" She cuddled deeper into the warmth of his body. "I'm fine just snuggling here."

He kissed her forehead. "It's time to get some sleep."

"But daddy," She said in a childish voice. "I'm not sleepy!" Annie sat up straighter, kissed him back and got up to get into her nightdress.

When Annie came out of the bedroom Chanty was fluffing up a pillow on the couch. She hardly noticed the pillow though since his shirt was off.

"I know you're staring at me." He looked up and grinned.

"Can you blame me?" She asked. "I don't imagine that a lot of girls have a boyfriend with the body of a Greek god."

The Dawn's hand went to his chest, fingertips touching the scar on his chest, the one Donavan's more violent chimeras gave him. "You think that?"

"Chanty, if you were any hotter the house would catch fire."

"I…I really do not know how to respond to that. Except that I wouldn't fancy many men have girlfriends who's faces would make Aphrodite cringe with jealousy."

Annie felt her face flush and a tingling warmth filled her chest. Chanty must have felt the same when I made that comment to him. She thought.

The Dawn walked over to her, kissed her forehead and wished her goodnight before going back to the couch.

The next morning Annie woke with a little shiver. She sat up with her blanket around her shoulders and looked around the room. Outside the sun was submitting it's first beams of light to the world. Thinking Chanticleer might already be up she put on her slippers and got out of bed.

Everything looks strangely white. She thought. Must be fog from the stream.

Annie quietly opened the door, to her surprise Chanty was still asleep. Smiling she tip-toed closer and kneeled next to him, wondering how long he would sleep with her there.

He had his back turned to the fire and the blanket had slipped to his waist, letting his feathers hang loose. Annie sat on the arm of the couch near his head and she smiled. He looked so handsome even asleep. Noting that the fire had all but died she relit it as quietly as she could. Upon turning around she saw something that before now she had only heard about.

Chanticleer's transmutation scar.

True, she'd seen him shirtless before but not from behind for any length of time to have noticed the generous gift of the night he became a chimera. Assaulted with a wave of curiosity Annie wanted to touch it. With her fingertips she caressed the markings of the scarred flesh.

"That tickles."

She recoiled her hand as though she'd been bitten.

"Chanty, I'm sorry, did I wake you?"

"I don't think so." He said with his voice full of sleep. He rolled over and looked her. "You know you're really beautiful in the morning?"

She stroked his face with the back of her hand. "My prince charming."

The Dawn propped himself up on his elbows. "I can get breakfast ready if you want."

"It's alright, you just take your time." Annie regretted volunteering herself the second the words left her mouth. If he did it then she'd get so see him in just his sweatpants all morning.

He arched his back and stretched as she got up to go to the kitchen. "You sleep well?" The Dawn asked before yawning.

"Yes I did." Annie answered. "It's clear that you did too." She turned, looking for a utensil and her gaze met the window. For a moment she did nothing, processing what she was seeing.

"It snowed!" Annie leapt to the window and pressed her hands to the glass.

"Figured it would." Chanty got up and put another piece of wood on the fire, acting as though nothing unusual was going on.

"You knew it would snow?" Annie asked, now standing behind the couch, getting more and more excited about the first snowfall.

"No. I just new it was likely. It is December after all."

"Wow. I hadn't even noticed that much time has gone by. I guess we'll have to stay inside until tomorrow."

"Why's that?"

"Well winter means cold."

"No worries." He told her. After putting on his usual black tank top he picked up a suitcase that had previously gone unnoticed. From inside he pulled two weather-appropriate coats and laid them over the back of the couch, along with mittens and scarves (just to be safe). "So," he said looking up. "Do you want to take a walk by the river after breakfast?"

The way he said it made Annie's heart melt. Chanticleer was being so sweet, had thought of all the variables and prepared for them just to make sure she enjoyed herself.

"I'd love to."

I'm not sure if you'd call that a lousy ending or not but I've had a bad cramp all day so even the slightest thing will pass for me. Sorry that I haven't updated in a while (for those who are faithful readers I fully appreciate you all) school has been crazy and when I get down time I find myself directing it somewhere else. So bear with me, support and a few extra hours sleep every day is what I really need.