The snow melted and the winter moved on. The nights seemed to grow colder and colder. Adam's determination grew as the love in his heart did also. There would be days that he would end up in town about the time that school would be dismissed for the day. When this would happen, he would always stop by and see Adrien, and then he'd stay long enough that he'd end up riding her home. It actually got to the point that Adrien missed him on the few days he was not there.

"You really didn't have to do this," Adrien said trying to hide her grin. Adam had stopped by during the noon hour again and brought her lunch. This too was becoming a habitual occurrence.

"I know, but I was in the area and just thought I'd stop by."

"And what's your excuse for being in town today?" Adrien asked.

"I needed to do some stuff at the bank for Pa."

"I thought you did that yesterday."

"I need to pick up an order of feed too."

"Really, after all that you picked up last week?" she said with a hint of sarcasm.

"Alright, alright...I was bored."

"So, you've been bored almost every day for the past month."

"Yeah, that's about it," he admitted.

"And your father has absolutely nothing for you to take care of?"

"Well, yes and no."

"You dump some of it on Hoss, don't you?"

"Not that much, but he'll get used to it. I think he realizes that it could be worse."

"Isn't he just so lucky to have a brother like you?"

"I'm sure he has no clue how good he has it." They both laughed.

"Adrien, what are you doing on the 14th?" Adam asked. Adrien froze. She knew what the fourteenth was, the Sweetheart's dance. She had not danced at all since she'd come west. From what she gathered, the whole town usually showed up, so she hoped they would not miss her.

"Adrien, are you going to the dance?" he asked, looking suddenly concerned.

"I was planning on it." She lied and looked away.

"What dress are you wearing?"

"I was thinking of getting one made for me," she lied again.

"What are you thinking about?"

"I'm going between red satin, or hunter green taffeta."

"Your second best colors."

"I don't want to wear my blue just yet. It's too fancy for something like this, and anyway, it's my first dance here, I need to keep a conservative impression. That dress is off the shoulders."

"Every party dress you've ever owned has been off the shoulders, why change now?" Adam argued.

"I probably won't, but I still want a red one."

"And you'll still be the belle of the ball."

"How do you know?"

"I don't. I'm just guessing, but I'm confident that I'll be guessing right."

"But why should I even go?" she asked, "I don't have a sweetheart to take me."

"You would if you looked." Adam reminded her, hoping she would see him.

"If they want my attention bad enough, they'll find me." Their faces were getting very close to each other.

"Well, why don't you make a few prospects jealous, and go with me?" Adam asked.

"How would that help me?"

"It'll say 'Man, she must be a catch if Adam Cartwright's dancing with her'"

"I don't think so, it'll be more like, 'and why would a girl like that lower her standards enough to dance with Adam Cartwright'," she kidded, but in Adam's mind she was right.

"I remember a time when you'd lower those standards enough every night to dance with me," he took another shot.

"I know, I remember too. Trust me. I'll never make that mistake again," she joked, then sighed remembering the days back in Boston. They would go dancing almost every night and when they didn't go out, they would sing and dance in the parlor of the boarding house. It didn't matter where. It never mattered if they were overdressed or underdressed. It was just wonderful to feel Adam's arms around her, and some night's it seemed as if his smile was as warm as the sun itself. She longed to feel that way again.

"But don't you make that mistake just one more time?" Adam pleaded.

"I might, if someone asks me properly," she kidded sitting back down at her desk.

"Well, then…" Adam answered, dramatically bending down on his knees in front of her. "Mademoiselle Cooper," he began, taking her hand and kissing it lightly, "would you do me the great honor of letting me escort you to the Sweetheart's dance on the night of the fourteenth of February?"

"Adam, you're absolutely horrible," she laughed.

"I guess I've lost my touch," he said as he stood up bearing a slight grin.

"No, you haven't. I'll go. You've talked me into it," she laughed, and her eyes twinkled in a way that Adam hadn't seen since she came to Virginia City.

"I thought you were going anyway?"

"Oh, that's right I was...see you were so charming you made me forget my previous plans."

"Alright, I'll buy it this time. We'll work out the details for the dance later. I'd better go."

"Will you be by before I leave?" Adrien asked.

"I don't know, why?" he asked.

"Don't be, I have things to do in town."

"Why can't I come?"

"I need to go to the dress shop and talk to Leita about that taffeta."

"Don't worry. It may have been a long time, but I haven't forgotten what it's like to be at a seamstress shop with you. I'll be there when you leave in about 3 days."

"I'm not that bad." Her defenses came up immediately.

"Alright...if you say so. And go with the satin, I like the way it looks on you better."

"If you insist. I'll see you later."

Adrien actually did see Leita after school, and luckily, she had enough satin to get started on what Adrien wanted. She would have to order more though. She decided she didn't want red or green. She went with a deep violet. Adam always loved her in blue, but she couldn't do another blue when she had the one from her birthday. But in blue, he said that her eyes stood out. He was always obsessed with her eyes.

Of course, she remembered the days when he was obsessed with her, everything about her from her eyes, to her hair, to the sound of her voice to the way she moved. She remembered looking up sometimes and finding him just staring at her. It was almost spooky, until he would lean over and kiss her. His kisses were so passionate. She still remembered those so vividly that she could still feel them, taste them on her lips. She had not felt her heart skip a beat like that until today when Adam asked her to the dance, and now thinking about him, it did it again.

Why are you doing this? Stop it, she thought, just stop it. You do not want to fall in love again. Remember what happened last time.

Her thoughts suddenly, out of nowhere went to Gabe. Everything had happened so suddenly, and it fell apart as suddenly as it began. It was strange. Now, the last year did not seem to hurt so badly, but still she did not want to fall in love. What would she do if she got hurt again? Could she live through this one? There was no Jessica to run to this time. Adam was all she had. But despite her inhibitions, Adrien went to bed that night full of excitement. She'd at least have one night to relive it all. She's be able to waltz back into a happier time, when the world was a song, and hope was high, and love was blind, and life...life was worth living.

She closed her eyes and dreamed her dreams. Meanwhile, Adam laid in bed also, wide awake, thinking, hoping, praying.

Oh, God, please let this be it. Let this be the key to her heart, let her look into my eyes and see what's in my heart. Let her look at me and let her see herself in my dreams. Let her look at me and know no one will ever hurt her again. Oh, God let her see ... let her see ... love

"I don't see why a woman as beautiful and intelligent as you should be denied a higher education," he said in disgust.

"But you said it right there. Woman…it's my curse. I'd give anything to be able to go to college and learn like you do."

The two of them walked along the tree-lined road. The leaves were glorious in reds and yellows as the New England breezes rustled them in the afternoon sun.

"It's not easy though."

"I doubt it's easy, but you get to learn to do something. You get to learn a trade, make something of yourself."

"But what about you, you already have your trade. You're already making something of yourself."

"Dancers come and go. They never make anything of themselves truly. They may great for a little while, but in this profession, you age quickly, retire quickly. We're never truly anything." she explained.

"Of course, you are. People remember who has a presence on stage. I will you. That's for sure."

"If you forget, I'll know that there's something wrong with you."

"And why is that?"

"I've never seen anyone with a right mind attend every performance of one dancer. If you forget any dancer in my company, then you've lost most memory of your time here." She laughed.

"Actually, it's you I remember, everyone else just fades."

"I swear. If I didn't know any better, I would say that you are trying to flirt with me."

"Maybe I am."

Adrien, it's me." Adam called from outside the front door. The night of the dance had come. Adrien had not slept a complete night since Adam invited her. She had picked up her dress, and it was even more beautiful than she originally imagined. Leita had added some velvet trim in just the right places, and they had ordered some shoes from San Francisco to match. Now, she was just adding the finishing touches to her hair, which was simply a twist and spiral curls, even with her hair put up and curled, it still ended at the middle of her back.

"Come on in, Adam," she called out the upstairs window in her room, seconds later, she heard her door open and shut.

"Adrien, are you ready yet?" he called from the bottom of the stairs.

"I'll be right there," she called as she stepped into her shoes.

"Oh my God," he gasped under his breath, as she appeared at the top of the stairs.

"So, what do you think?" she asked, as she slowly came down the stairs.

"Adrien, I'm … you're …oh my God! You look gorgeous."

"So I guess I look descent then?"

"Yes, oh, of course you do," he answered, still breathless.

"Well, let's go."

Adrien went for the door and grabbed a white lace wrap, but Adam did not move. He just stared at her, dumbstruck, "Adam, aren't you ready?"

"Wait, there's one thing missing."

"What is it?"

"Hold on, close your eyes and turn around." Adrien felt a cold light metal chain go around her neck.

"Alright, open them." He ordered. Adrien looked in the mirror to find a beautiful heart shaped ruby pendant, surrounded by the smallest diamonds.

"Adam, where did you get this?" She asked.

"It was my mother's. My father has kept it all this time."

"I couldn't ever wear this, Adam."

"You are, but I want it back at the end of the night."

"Oh, I couldn't ever take this, not something of hers, but it's gorgeous."

"And it's gorgeous on you. Let's go," he opened the door for her.

Upon arriving at the dance, it seemed as if all eyes were glued on her as they entered. Adrien became very self-conscious. It was a struggle to convince her to go out on the dance floor. But once they started dancing, her eyes lit up, her smile was back. She laughed and when she laughed, it was just like they really were waltzing into their memories and into their dreams.

Everyone commented on Adrien's dress. From what Adam could see, she was truly the belle of the ball. He had to admit that he liked seeing the jealousy in other men's faces when they saw him dancing with her. He wished that he'd always be the one receiving the jealousy than giving and feeling it.

After dropping her off that night, Adam rode up to the lake to clear his mind. Even in the darkness, the water shone like diamonds.

It seemed like tonight that there were diamonds in Adrien's eyes, he thought. She was the most beautiful I'd ever seen her, well, maybe once she's been more beautiful. That night was perfect. Tonight was perfect too. Adrien seemed like she was in love with me again.

For a few fleeting hours, Adam's dreams came true. He held the world in his arms for just a little while.

He spent the rest of the night lying there in the back of the surrey, reminiscing on the evening, and the nights a couple years before. For a little while, it seemed as if that year apart had never happened. They'd never been separated. He'd never had even met Abbie. Gabe had never interfered on the day he left. He wished the illusion could continue, and he could go home to that house, and fall asleep with his arms around his wife. Maybe he'd have to get up in the night, and rock their crying child to sleep, she'd wake him up a few hours later, because he's fallen asleep in the rocking chair.

In the back of his mind he knew, he could not go home to this dream. There were many more things to overcome before this happened. Then and there he decided that he wasn't going to give up. Time and time again, he'd cursed distance for keeping her away. He'd cursed time for passing, and he cursed hope for not letting him give up. In fact, there were times that he cursed hope for letting him continue to love her. He tried to curse love too, but he could not do it. For it was love that got him out of bed every morning. It was love that kept her on his mind. It was love that brought him to her nearly every day. How could he curse it? He could not especially since he knew that in the end, love would conquer all.