Hello everyone!

For those who were wondering where this story went, I was planning to rewrite it because there were several issues with the story. The major flaw for me was Kate's personality that everyone's familiar with by now. Her infamous attitude and ability to keep Thomas in line was completely absent. And since I want nothing but the best for my readers, I removed it and began rewriting it. So, with the release of season 6, I thought I could work it into this fic. However, season 6 was far more dramatic than intended, which has inspired another fic, which I will start once I finish 'Moments of Pleasure'.

As always, I own nothing except for Kate and her family. All the chapters are named after songs by Kate Bush, who is apparently going viral, thanks to Stranger Things. So, be sure to check out her music.


Chapter One: Moving


October 1st, 1929


Katherine Carter draws her scarf tighter around her neck. It was getting colder now as it drew towards the end of November. She kept a tight grip on her case of pencils and papers, ensuring that they wouldn't fall from already her numb fingers. She loved writing in weather like this. It gave her a very lovely feeling of being trapped inside 'Wuthering Heights,' she could see how the weather of England had inspired Emily Bronte. It was melancholic and one would almost feel that you were trapped in a feeling of loneliness.

Somewhere, in the distance, a man let out a loud cry. It was an agonizing cry, which was full of darkness and pain. The sound of it caused her to stop in place and listen. Unable to stop herself, she called out for him. "Hello?"

She held her breath, her hand resting on the knife she had tucked into her garter belt. She mentally cursed herself for forgetting her derringer today. But how was she to know that today she would be getting shot at by some stranger?

"Who's out here?" The voice repeated, drawing closer.

To the man's credit, he sounded genuinely concerned. She inhaled as the shadowy figure drew closer. She inhaled and spoke. "I'm over here!"

The man's pace quickened and she stood there, debating about drawing her gun or not. The shadowy figure broke through the mists, giving them each a clear view of each other.

He knelt beside her, his eyes scanning her. "Are you alright? I didn't know anyone was here."

She exhaled. "I'm alright, I heard something in the woods, so I called out to see if it was human or not." She said calmly as she studied his face.

He looked familiar to her, those cold, yet wild, blue eyes were particularly familiar to her. However, there was something in his countenance that suggested that there was a raging turmoil swirling deep inside this man's soul. Part of her wondered if her screaming had interrupted a suicide attempt.

"Are you alright?" She inquired. His attire, though the finest, was in a state of disarray and his hair hung across his eyes. "You appear to be shaken."

That question, only served to cause a spark of anger to flash in his eyes. "Who are you?" He demanded. "You're on my property."

"You must be Mr. Shelby." She held his gaze, not daring to look at the pistol in his hand. "I've got permission from your wife, Lizzie Shelby to be here."

"Liz," he spat the name as if it were a curse. Katherine frowned. Lizzie was a charming woman; at least, that's what her first impression had been of her yesterday morning. Maybe there was a darker side to her that this man was aware of. "I shoulda known."

"She's letting me rent the cottage over the hill for a few months." She pointed into the forest towards the nearly abandoned cottage. "I'm a writer and I spent a pleasant summer here as a child. It's also quiet this time of year, so, there wouldn't be any distractions."

"It's my property." He states, as if he's attempting to drive a point home to her. "No matter what my wife says. I make all the decisions."

"I'm sorry, but I wasn't to know that, was I? You were in London." She knelt and picked up the papers she'd dropped. "I only just made the agreement with her this morning and she said you wouldn't be back for a few days." She cleared her throat. "I've no wish to cause trouble between you and your wife. I haven't moved in yet, so, relocating is no trouble." He bends over and picked up a few papers and handed them to her, along with her book. He peers at the book closely. She hesitates before asking. "Have you read it?"

"I'm not familiar with the author." He says as he hands her back the book. "Unusual title. Plum Bun?"

"Yes." She doesn't take it right away. "Jessica Redmon Fauset, is an African American writer, this is her second novel. It's selling rather well in the states."

His brow arches. "That explains your accent. You're an American?"

"Yes, I'm from America, California, in particular." She takes the book back from him. "Is it obvious?"

"You're a little dark and you've a trace of an American accent, crossing with a bit of Londoner."

"How astute of you to notice." She crosses her arms, bites her lip and asks. "However, Mr. Shelby my main concern is should I now look for a new place to live?"

"Dunno, we'll see how much trouble you cause." She exhaled in relief. "Come by tomorrow and we'll discuss terms of your rent. Your first month will be a trial to see if it'll work."

She nods. "Thank you Mr. Shelby. My name is Katherine Carter, by the way."

His eyes narrow. "Katherine Carter? The American romance novelist?"

"Yes. I'm surprised you even know who I am." At the look he gives her, she instantly starts to explain herself. "I'd have figured a man like you would be strictly interested in current affair and didn't read much more than a newspaper. Or if you did pick up a book, it would be more historical or political."

"You'd be right." He stated dryly. "My wife and aunt read your novels. They enjoy them."

"I gathered that much from Lizzie's reaction. She's a nice woman."

"Till you get to know her." He muttered as he picked up his flat cap, slapping it against his knee. Again, she got the feeling that things weren't as perfect as they could be with Mr. Shelby and Mrs. Shelby. "Will today at noon suit you to come over for an interview?"

She nods. "Yes, it will."

"Right. Evening." He dips his head in acknowledgement before turning and walking back in the direction of the mansion.

Katherine kneels, pulls out her pencil and begins to scribble down frantically.

With that, he walked away from her, the mist swirling around them. It was as she'd feared, he was lost to her. The years had changed him, made him into a man whose heart had been locked behind a door for so long; it was as if he no longer had a heart. There was nothing she could have said to turn him back into the man she'd once known and loved. His heart was closed to her, to everyone who crossed his path. And no matter how desperately she may have wished it, she wasn't the one to open his heart.

The years had fused his heart shut, leaving him an empty man, whose shoulders now bore the weight of the world. The thought to shrug off that weight never occurred to him, nor would he allow anyone else to share that burden. She simply wasn't strong enough to help him bear that weight and she prayed that he'd find someone who could help him with that burden. God help that woman who did that did fall in love with this cursed man. Her days would be full of pain and torment, for that man would fight her, rail abuse upon her until she made him love again. Hopefully, when her love had softened his heart, her heart still had love to give him.

Katherine glanced towards Thomas Shelby's vanished figure. He was interesting man to be sure, probably dangerous, she could feel that. However, there was something inside her that insisted that she knew him. Somewhere in time, their paths had definitely crossed. If only she could remember where she had met him before!