"Adrien, are you there? Open up, darling." Adam called from her front door. No answer. This was very unusual; she was usually home by now.

"Adrien, it's Adam, I'm home. Are you there?" He decided to look inside the barn. Beauty was there. He went back to the front door.

"Adrien, I know you're in there. What's wrong? Are you all right? Open up."

There was still no answer. The door was unlocked, so he went in.

"Adrien, darling, where are you?" No answer. He found her in the sitting room, looking out the windowsill.

"Adrien," he asked, "Why didn't you answer the door?"

"I didn't feel like talking to anyone," she answered as her voice cracked.

"Adrien, didn't you miss me?"

"Yes, I did."

"Then why didn't you want to talk to me?"

"I don't want to hurt myself anymore."

"Why, what's going on, what happened?"

"I'm losing you," she began to cry.

"Adrien, what in the world made you think that? I wrote you twice while I was gone and mailed them on my way and in San Francisco."

"I got them, but you didn't even kiss me before you left. You didn't hug me or even really try to touch me. You acted like you wanted to get away from me as soon as you could."

"Adrien, I'm sorry, I should have said something before," he said realizing the mistake he had made.

"So I'm right, you don't want me anymore."

He took her in his arms as he watched the tears start to fill her eyes.

"No, Adrien, you aren't right. I love you and I want you more than anything else in this world."

"Then what do you need to explain? Is there someone you love more?" She started to cry harder and push him away, but he just held on tighter.

"Oh, no, Adrien, I couldn't love anyone more than you." He started to kiss the tears away.

"Then what do you need to explain?"

"Oh, darling, I should have said something before." He held her close, "This is all my fault."

"Adam, quit stalling, just please tell my whatever it is."

"Adrien, my father doesn't know about us."

"Why?" she asked, surprised.

"I just don't know how to tell him. Our entire history is so different. It's like it was another lifetime, and I…"

"You're ashamed of me."

"No, I'm not. My father adores you actually. I just know what he's going to say, and I don't want that look." He grimaced at the thought of his father's look. "Why do you think I was so worried about bringing you home with me from Boston?"

"So you've been lying to him all this time."

"Yes, I have."

"That's not right, Adam," she chastised.

"I know."

"You need to tell him, and soon."

"I will."

"Promise?"

"I promise." He kissed her on the forehead, and then again on the lips. "I love you, Adrien, don't you ever doubt that."

The days got cold, and some snow fell. Adam made sure Adrien wanted for nothing. The Nevada sunrise was beautiful against the snowy mountains. Adrien woke up to it every morning thinking of Adam, and every night she'd go to sleep thinking of him. Their bond together was getting stronger with every second they spent together. There was only one source of conflict between them. Adam was still holding off on telling his father about them. Adrien was growing nervous of the explosion that would happen if he found out on his own.

"Adrien, don't worry, I'm going to, but I've just got to find the right words," he would always say, but she did not feel right, knowing that they were hiding, "There's so much that I never told him and I know that there's part of this history that he won't be proud of."

"Adam, how can you hide something this wonderful?" she asked, as she returned another kiss.

"Trust me darling it's hard."

"Do you really think that he doesn't suspect a thing?"

"Do you think he does?"

"He's got too. You spend too much time with me just to be friends."

"That just makes this worse." Adam said, realizing that she was right.

"No, think of it differently, it's easier. He'll understand. It won't be a total surprise."

"Adrien…" he argued.

"Tell him tonight, Adam. I mean it," she kissed him again.

"And what will you do if I don't?"

"I'll refuse to see you, so there will be no more of this." She kissed him again.

"You're so cruel."

"I know, but remember you promised."

"I know I did."

"Tonight, Adam."

"I will." He untied Sport and mounted.

"Do you want me to go with you?" she offered.

"No, I can do this alone."

Adam walked into his house and took one look around the room, as if it was the last time he would ever see it again.

"Adam, you're home a little earlier than usual," his father stated from behind his desk.

"Yeah, I know."

"Hoss took care of your chores for you already."

"I'll have to thank him in the morning, I suspect he's already in bed."

"Yes, he and Joe have to so they can take care of the responsibilities you've been neglecting," his father reminded him.

"I'm sorry, Pa, I know that you deserve an explanation for my behavior lately."

"I've been looking for you to give me one."

"All right." Adam sat across from his father. Ben poured them both a brandy.

"Pa, I haven't been completely honest about my relationship with Adrie…I mean, Miss Cooper."

"I know that you spend any free time, and time that shouldn't be free with her."

"I know, Pa, as you know already, Miss Cooper and I were companions when I was attending college in Boston."

"Yes, if I remember correctly, you've told me she was a friend for most of the time that you were in school." he said, happy that he had gotten that much information out of his son.

"Yes, she and I were close, even closer than that actually." He paused for a moment. "She was the girl I wanted to bring home, Pa. The one I built the house for. We were supposed to be married."

"Then what happened there?"

"She was told shortly after I left that I was dead."

"So….What happened?" Ben asked. His confusion was showing on his face.

"She and I had a big argument the night before we were supposed to leave. She was getting involved in some new options with music and dancing, and she wanted to go to San Francisco instead. She'd been trying to talk me into it for months. My old roommate is a writer. He's her cousin. They had some great ideas that they wanted to try. She didn't really want to give all up to come here. Someone else was always lurking and trying split us up. He took the opportunity and it worked."

"I'm sorry, Adam, I'm rather confused."

"There was a man who hated me. He was a stage manager in the theater that the ballet performed out of. He hated me and orchestrated a plan to keep her from leaving and made me leave without her. He went so far as to tell her that I was dead. He had someone write a note to me that looked like it was from her that said she wasn't coming. I got it moments before the train was due to leave. He took advantage of her in her grieve, and conned her into marriage, and he invited me to their wedding, just to torment me."

"Then what happened to her marriage?"

"She found him with another woman. That woman was the one who wrote the note."

"The poor girl. She knows about your losses too, I presume." Ben's attitude toward her suddenly changed back, and suddenly he was compassionate towards her.

"Yes, she does."

"So, you two have been getting through your ordeals together."

"Yes, but in the process, something else has happened."

"And what would that be?" His father asked, knowing what the answer was.

"The love that we once had has, I guess you can say, has rekindled."

"Well, Adam. I'm happy for you. When did this happen?"

"In March, at the dance we had here."

"So, you two have been secretly courting for almost eight months."

"Well, she didn't know that you didn't know about us until I returned from the drive, and since then she's been urging me to tell you." Adam admitted.

"That's good of her."

"I'm sorry Pa, I never meant to lie to you."

"I forgive you, son, and I am happy for you."

"Thanks, Pa."

" Well, I can't say I'm surprised, and I can't say I didn't want it to happen. She's beautiful, smart, and apparently I was right in the fact that you two would be compatible. All the time you've been spending together, you could have built her another house with one hand tied behind your back by now." Ben joked.

"I know Pa, I didn't say anything because of the reaction I was expecting."

"I'm glad you're moving on with your life, Adam. You were so disheartened when you returned, and then losing Abbie. We were all scared for you then, Adam, but since she's arrived, you've been yourself again, especially since April. I'm happy for you. I hope you two are happy together."

"We are, Pa. She's amazing." Adam replied.

"Well, why don't we go to bed now? You have to get up early in the morning and make up some chores."

"Don't worry, Pa, I will."

Now free of inhibitions, Adam invited Adrien to the Ponderosa for Christmas. There was a light snow the morning of Christmas Eve, leaving just enough on the ground to get the sled out. Adrien decided to wear her green dress. It was a simple velvet and satin, the off the shoulder style that Adam loved. She still wore the comb that Adam gave her. It still looked perfect because of her eyes.

Adam arrived precisely on time as usual. He came in and waited for her to descend at the bottom of the stairs.

"How do I look?" she asked from the top.

"Adrien, you never fail to amaze me."

"Adam, are you ever going to run out of lines?"

"I hope I don't. You're so adorable when you blush."

"Adam!" she began to turn red again.

"You're beautiful Adrien, I just can't help it."

"Miss Cooper, how long do you plan on staying in Virginia City?" Ben asked at dinner.

"I'm not sure actually. My presence here depends on how a few situations turn out." She squeezed Adam's hand under the table.

"Well, I hope you stay for a while." Adam chimed in.

"And why would you want me to stay?" Adrien asked.

"Well, it's obvious isn't it?" Adam asked.

"Why don't you elaborate?" she continued.

"Yes, son, why don't you?" his father added.

"Well, Adrien, you're a great teacher. Look at what you've done with the school. Joe actually wants to do his homework now." Joe started to blush.

"Yes, I've noticed." Adrien answered smiling at Joe.

"Well, I've noticed too." Ben added, "And I'm sure the change is just as dramatic with many other students."

"I'm sure glad we didn't have no homework when I was in school." Hoss bravely stated.

"Hoss, you did have homework last year," Adam chastised, "you just didn't do it."

"But I passed!" Hoss reminded him.

"The only reason you passed is because she made you stay after and make it all up when she could have just held you back. Aren't you glad she did that?"

It was Hoss's turn to blush. Adrien, Adam, and Ben began to laugh.

After dinner, they all sat around the fireplace, and exchanged gifts. Adam surprised Adrien with a pair of sapphire and diamond earrings to match the comb that she received for her birthday.

"Oh, Adam, it's gorgeous!" she exclaimed. She leaned over to kiss him, but hesitated. Adam sensed her apprehension and leaned over to kiss her on the cheek and whisper, "It's alright, they know." He took her hand and held it tight.

After that, Adam got out his guitar out and sang. His warm, smooth, baritone voice seemed to almost melt her from inside out. She closed her eyes, and let the music carry her into her dreams of the future.

This was the first time since Adam left that she had been able to look into the future and smile. She was able to dream. She did not need memories to make her happy anymore. She wanted a future, that is, as long as it was a future with Adam in it.

She did not see Adam again until New Year's Eve, but they spent the night drinking champagne and dancing to their own silent music. Adam left that night just before sunrise. Adrien tried but could not go to sleep. The most horrible thought plagued her mind.

It's too wonderful, too perfect; something's bound to go wrong, terribly, terribly wrong.