True to her word, by the time I had gotten dressed Mina had at least half my car stuffed with the leftovers. I grabbed a bunch of rolls and took them outside. Winter had finally started to give up and the snow was melting away, making for mushy spots on the sidewalk. I was ecstatic! Spring was coming, no more of this cold wet stuff. I put the rolls in on top of some muffins and realized it was my last winter here, in the city I had come to love so well. I wouldn't miss the winter, but I'd miss the city. I had discovered many of her secrets and was loathed to give them up. Mina comes out of the apartments and sees me, wistful look in my eye. "Feeling nostalgic for winter? You?" she guffaws. "You hate snow! I always thought you were crazy to go to school in the North when you really don't like the white stuff. Course I am grateful because if you hadn't then we would never have met, and that would have been a crime. Huh?"

"You're right, Mina!" I say giving her a big hug. "I'd be sad if I never met you. Or Sam. Or Charlie and of course Dean. I feel there was a reason why I chose here out of all the places I could have gone. Is that everything?" I inquire, tearing myself away from my memories.

"Nope. One more load for you. I saw you left your purse and stuff, so I left you the last load. Oh, and I also left that small iron box, in case I'm not around when you thaw your spell. Have fun today okay? You know to call if you need anything or feel like you are in danger. I'm only one call away." She laughs pointing at her head and goes inside.

I go back upstairs and grab my purse, noticing the beautiful iron box. It has symbols carved into it with a couple of rubies on the lid. No discernable pattern in the symbols but pretty. 'Nice.' I think to myself and move it to the sideboard near the lilacs from Tyrion that are still as vibrant as ever. I take a whiff of their sweet scent, before grabbing the last bunch of cupcakes and locking up. I start to whistle as I skip down the stairs. Putting the cupcakes in, I make sure everything is fixed so it won't tip over. I give Lyle a wave as I head out of the parking lot. He's returning from his morning walk. Another sign of Spring for me. 'Yay!' Lyle takes a walk every morning if it's warm enough. I head down my road to the main street. I see more and more people outside cleaning off their yards of snow and I turn up the radio to get in the spirit. I head toward Sacks thrift shop downtown. The shelter is nearby.

I pull around to the alley behind the shelter, remembering how many times I've done this before. It really has been a while since I've been here, and a lot has happened. I'm suddenly nervous. I hope Valerie and everyone else will welcome me back with open arms. I maneuver my vehicle, so the back will open toward the door and grab some bags of chips and rolls. I try the shelter door and it opens into the kitchen. There's no one around. "Hello!" I call into the void. My voice reverberates on the tiles. "Val, you back here?"

"How many times do I have to tell you it's Valerie!" I hear her grumble as she comes through the revolving door. She stops short when she sees me. "Who are you? What are you doing in here?"

"Val!" I yammer, "It... it's me, Alyx." I explain, showing her the bags I've brought in. "You told me to come in remember? Can I get some help?"

"Alyx?! Sugah?" She stares at me like I have four heads and three arms.

"Yes, Valerie. It's me. Where's the help? I seriously have a ton of stuff out there that needs to go in the fridge." I scold her.

She shakes her head. "Of, of course." She turns around and hollers through the swinging doors. "Hey! You three come and help me with this stuff if ya want to eat today!" Three young strong gentlemen, they look about high school age, enter and immediately stop to stare at me too. "Do whatever she says," Val tells them and steps back through the doors while the guys awkwardly shuffle toward me.

I don't know what to feel about the exchange with Val, but I have help now so I lead them out to my car. "Okay guys, all the food in here needs to go in on the counter, if it's cold, stuff it in the fridges to keep it so. Val will organize things from there." They all nod, making sure to keep their eyes down. I grab a box of cupcakes and head in to find Val, see what her deal is. I find her in the storeroom. "Valerie. Is everything okay?"

"Oh Sugah, I'm sorry." She pulls me into a hug. "You look so different from when I saw you last. I honestly didn't recognize you. I just know you must have been through something fierce!"

"I haven't changed that much Val. It's still the same old me in here." I say muffled against her chest.

"What?! I can't hear you." She looks down and sees I'm squished against her. "Oh, sorry." She releases me from her hug. "Say that again, Sugah."

"I said I haven't changed that much have I? I'm the same old me in here. Though that bit about being through something fierce is entirely accurate." I tell her.

"You have changed a lot, Sugah. Have you seen yourself?" She stops herself horrified. "Not that you look bad. I mean you look amazing! Musta been one of those swans I was talking about, even though you never were an ugly duckling. Oh geesh! I'm rambling here. Help me out before I make more of a fool of myself." She pouts and fake cry laughs, her shoulders bobbing comically.

"Oh Val. I know what you mean. It's okay." I pat her on the arm. "I know I'm different on the outside, I guess I didn't realize how much. I really am the same me inside." I chuckle.

She hugs me again. "Well I'm glad you're still you inside, behind that beautiful exterior. No wonder you haven't been to see us. I'm sure your social calendar has filled right up with so many dates."

"Actually, not so much. I decided to finally double major in Pre-med like I've been talking about forever. I had most of the credits anyway. I just needed a few extra classes. Which I added because I'm going to be graduating in May." I smile shyly at her.

"What?! You did it?! I'm so proud!" I see shiny tears pooled in her hazel eyes as she pulls me in for another hug. "Beautiful and smart! You're gonna knock 'em dead out there in the real world! I know it!" She sighs.

"Thank you. So, you see I'm twice as busy as I usually am, and with everything else going on, I almost don't have time to sleep." I finish with an air of mystery, pulling away.

"Everything else going on?" She asks totally curious now.

"A few of the many reasons I haven't been to see everyone here." I chuckle again crossing my arms. "Remember how you told me you've heard about rumors, disappearances and even a death on campus. Yep. I'm one-hundred percent involved."

"YOU!" She gasps. "But how! You're such a nice girl, how'd you get all wrapped up in something like that?"

"Purely by chance, Valerie. Purely by chance. See it all started when Tyrion and I got in a huge fight last spring, right before school let out. Remember?" I urged her to.

"Yes, I remember. You were so devastated. He wasn't talking to you or even returning your texts and you were beside yourself. He's your best friend." She comments.

"Yep. He stayed mad at me all that summer. Got a job at that big pharmaceutical outside of town. He was working really hard on something, but he still wouldn't talk to me so I kind of did my own thing." I start by telling her. "Mina and I got really close; I took some classes on what I'd always wanted. It worked out alright in the end, I guess. Anyway, some bad people got ahold of what Tyrion was working on and made it into a designer drug. Started selling it around campus as soon as the fall semester started. One of the side effects, if you could call it that, was to make people attractive."

Valerie interrupts me, her eyes wide, "So you were doing drugs?!"

I give her a stern look. "Of course not! Let me finish my story. Okay?" She nods, a little miffed and I continue. "Someone began randomly dumping this drug into people's drinks from the coffee carts. No rhyme or reason. I was one of the lucky ones. Or unlucky as it would have it. The drug also made you lose intelligence. Tyrion started to notice when I became affected and came clean to me, but not before the FBI got involved. It was a whole big mess of a thing. Honestly, if I could wipe it all from my mind, I would. Especially because of what happened to Tyrion. The bad guys who stole the drug from Tyrion came after him and he was killed. He was the death you heard about on campus. Most people now know he died, but not any details, the FBI tried to keep it all hush-hush you know." Val nods her head, her eyes as big as saucers. I'm glad she was swallowing the lies I spun. I was surprised at how good I was getting at lying since I'd never been before. "So here I am trying to recover from the effects of the drug, the one person who knows how it works and could potentially fix everybody dies and he's my best friend. Tyrion was working on a potential cure when he discovered that someone stole his work. He hadn't tested it but left it to me before he died. I think he somehow knew he wouldn't survive." I sniff before continuing. "Well, it worked. The cure reversed the mental changes and a lot of my physical ones as well. Not all of them, as I'm figuring out due to your reaction, but a lot of them. And the good news is one of the FBI guys and I became close. As in really close. He made it his mission to protect me. This is all very quiet too, but I now have an FBI agent as a boyfriend. Sure, it's long-distance and I never know when I'm going to see him, but it doesn't matter. Oh, and damn is he sexy!" I finish with a flourish.

"Are. You. Serious?!" Val grunts out in shock.

"Unfortunately, or maybe, fortunately. But the answer is yes." I reply with a sly smile.

"That sounds like something out of one of my telenovelas, Alyx. I can hardly believe it," She comments in disbelief.

"Oh yeah, and since all that happened, I started taking martial arts, weaponry, and defensive lessons. You know I already had a decent handle on taking care of myself, but after everything; I felt the need to be able to really handle myself. With a gun, hand to hand, as an archer and using knives. Pretty much anything that I could think of, so that is taking up my free time when I'm not studying. I kind of let it go to my head. I've neglected you, the old folks' home and the animal shelter and now I'm sort of regretting it a little." I confess to her.

"Oh my!" Valerie exclaims. "You have been busy. I get it now. As you said, you will be graduating soon. You need to follow those pursuits and focus on that. I mean it will help you after you leave here."

"But this will help me too. I love volunteering and giving back." I clamor. "I guess I didn't realize how much until I was away from it for so long." As I said it, I realized how true it was. I wonder if it was something that I could continue to do when I joined up with the boys. I guess what they do is kind of like giving back. I don't know, it was something that I would have to add to my so very long list of things to discuss with Dean.

"Yeah? Well we sure have missed you here. Let's get in that kitchen and get organized for our lunch here okay?" Valerie says pulling me out of the storage room like everything I said hadn't fazed her and would stay a secret. "Do you have a picture of your man?" She questions. "I'd like to see the dashingly handsome fellow who stole your heart before you leave." I nod and head to my car to help haul in the last of the stuff. The guys had done a very thorough job. I grabbed a couple of liters of pop and heading back in, to Val directing the guys. "Now off with ya. Go find some more people in need of a good meal. It'll be ready at twelve-thirty, tell 'em."

"What do you need me to do?" I ask her standing off to the side.

She surveys the scene. "Nothing, Sugah. You got this all inside, I'ma take care of it from here on out. Go talk to people out there. I'm sure they'd love to see ya. I know Arlene, Robert and Kate are especially keen on it." She winks at me and busies herself with organizing the massive piles of food on the counter.

I head out to the cafeteria/dining room/lounge area where everyone hangs out around the fireplace. Robert and Kate are nowhere to be found but Arlene is there, gazing longingly at some guy playing the guitar. I can't see his face, but there is something familiar about him. His voice is clear and ripples with warmth and confidence. I take a few more steps toward the small crowd. I catch a glimpse of the guys' reflection in the window. It's Max! I had no idea he came here or that he played the guitar either! I dash into the hallway hoping he didn't see me emerge from the back. "Shit! Shit! Shit! He can't see me here! The spell! What am I going to do?!" I peer around the corner watching him as he crescendos into the chorus of Rufus Wainwrights', Halleluiah. I almost can't stop myself from walking out and joining the small crowd. Whom I kidding, he has a great voice. Everyone is swaying slightly as Max weaves a spell with his song. It seems a little magical to me. He finishes Halleluiah and clears his throat.

"All right ladies and gents. It's about time for me to leave. I have a study group coming up, but I want to thank you for letting me play for you again today. I've got a new song. I've been practicing this one for a bit. I had hoped to play it for someone special but it looks like that's not happening." He gives a little frown. "But enough about her. All I need is love from you." He clears his throat and strums a few chords. Then he starts singing, "If I had wings like Noah's dove, I'd fly up the river to the one I love. Fare thee well, my honey, fare thee well."

Was that? Fare the Well? I loved that song. I slip quietly back into the kitchen and linger just inside the swinging door to hear Max sing the song that my father often sang to me as a child and his father to him. He sounded amazing, his voice and the thrums of the guitar interweaved together so seamlessly. "So show us a bird flying high above, Life ain't worth living without the one you love. Fare thee well, my honey, fare thee well. Fare thee well, my honey, fare thee well." As the last chord faded out the entire audience started clapping profusely and I stepped back further into the kitchen, breathing a little hard. "Did he learn that song for me?"

"So, Valerie. Do we have enough for a good meal here?" I ask trying to distract myself from going out there to talk with Max.

"We have more than enough for several meals. How come you're not out there mingling with the crowd. That boy, Max is pretty talented, eh?" She comments.

"Yes. He is. I had no idea. How long has he been coming in here if I might ask?" Trying to sound uninterested, even though I was very much interested.

"Let me think." She rummages around in the fridge. "Oh, I remember, he showed up last year. Sometime in November... asking about you actually." She pops her head out. "How could I forget? Yes, he came specifically asking about you. Said he knew you sometimes volunteered there, when would you be back, could he have your number? I didn't know him so of course, I told him nothing. Then he just started appearing here more. Volunteering. Round Christmas, he brought in his guitar to play Christmas carols and has been coming round once a week or more since them. Do you know him?"

I give a little laugh. 'Really? I never even knew.' then to Val, "Yes. I do know him. He's my friend. A new friend but a friend none-the-less. I didn't know he played the guitar or that he volunteered here."

I hear the swinging doors open and I instinctually duck down and hide. "Hey, Val!" Max says entering. Val tries not to look at me hiding on the floor and knows not to say anything.

"It's Valerie, boy!" She scolds him. "You and Alyx! You both insist on calling me Val. Drives me bonkers!" She teases him.

"She does?" His voice rises higher and louder as he nears. "You never told me that. I'm sorry it drives you nuts; I'll try to remember. It's just that I automatically make up nicknames for people with long names. I mean I wouldn't want you to be calling me Maximillian all the time. It's such a mouthful." He laughs coming closer still. "You haven't mentioned Alyx in a while. Why now?"

"Yeah well. I know you do it out of love." She walks closer to him so he doesn't come behind the counter and see me, putting her arm around his shoulder and leading him back toward the doors. "You calling me Val reminded me I haven't heard from her. That's all. You headed out?" She abruptly changes the subject.

"Yep. You know I couldn't leave without saying goodbye to you!" He teases her. "So, what did you think of that last tune? I've been working on it." Max asks, sort of desperate for her approval, I can hear the inflection in his voice.

"I've heard that tune before. It's hauntingly beautiful." Val says connecting the dots.

"Yeah?! You have? My friend hums it when she gets nervous. I think her father sang it to her when she was younger? I'm not sure, I haven't gotten the chance to ask her yet. Do you think she'd be impressed that I learned it for her?" Max questions.

Val glances over her shoulder and catches my eye as I'm peering over the counter, the top of my head barely visible. "I think she will be very pleased." She pulls him through the swinging doors. "When will you be back to see us?" I hear her ask through the doors.

"Not sure. This week is busy, then it's Spring Break. Probably sometime after that. I'll call you?" He declares.

"Of course, Sugah! Of course! That sounds great. I know the folks here like it when you come to play for them." Val coos after him. I get up off the floor and sneak over to peek through the double doors. I watch Max walk away, pick up his guitar case and wave as he leaves.

Val turns on her heels and comes rushing through the doors almost knocking me over. "Alyxandria Harte! What the hell was that? You obviously know more about that boy then you let on. Don't you?!" She accuses me. "How did you even meet? You both haven't been here at the same time before? Was it at school?"

I shrug. "Where else? There was an incident at school with my favorite pair of heels. His uncle's a cobbler. I met him when I was under the influence of the drugs. I don't blame him for being interested. That drug was, shall we say, quite powerful. But when we met, I only had eyes for Dean. Still do in fact. We have gotten considerably close this semester..." I tell her. "As friends, just as friends! but I know he wants something more..."

"Considerably closer?! It's obvious Max has got a thing for you. You put him in the friend zone. No wonder he sings those mopey love songs so much!" She stares at the ceiling and throws up her hand. "Ay caramba! Why you gotta treat him like that?!" She scolds me.

"I know! I know! I don't mean to." putting my hands up in self-defense. "I don't want to! He's such a sweet guy! But I'm in love with Dean..." I sigh, dropping my hands heavily. "The big problem is everyone thinks we broke up when he left. It's our cover story, to keep him safe. Max thinks he has a chance now because of it." I face plant my hand into my palm shaking my head, sighing loudly and feeling crappy about it all.

"Well, now I have to see this Dean. He must be one hell of a man if you're not even interested in Max. Max is such a cutie patootie. Show me the picture, Sugah." I grab my purse and fumble through it to find my wallet. I pull out the picture of us together on the mountain.

"Here. This is us." I hand her the picture. "I took him on a hike to the M."

She looks at us together, scrutinizing it. "This is Dean?!" She manages to squeak out finally. I nod. She starts fanning herself with her free hand. "Good lord is that man attractive! WOW!"

I blush and out tumbles, "I know right?! I have no idea how I got so lucky!" Then I blush harder because well yeah, how did I get so lucky?

"You say he treats you good, right?" I nod again. She hugs the picture to her breast. "If only you could find me a man like that Alyx. Wow!" She gives it another glance before handing it back to me, still fanning herself. "You look so happy with him. I'm glad. But what are you going to do about poor Max? And why were you hiding from him?"

"It's not a good time right now Val, I didn't want him to know I was here. There was something that happened at my party, it was a little awkward. I'm hoping with some time it'll be, less so..." I explain.

"I got you, girl. I totally get it. Distance makes the awkwardness fizzle out." She laughs and pulls me in for a hug. "You better get out there though, I think Arlene saw you and is looking for you now. That girl adores you. She was upset when you stopped coming." Val points out.

"Yeah, I saw her too. I guess I should go apologize. You sure you don't need any help back here?" I say stalling for time.

"Nope. I got it covered. Go talk to Arlene." She smiles and gives me a little push.