Okay, here's the next chapter. I think this chapter is kinda weird, but oh well. I'm still not positive on where I'm going with this story.

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Chapter 2: Compromise

Life went on. I hardly ever saw Christian because of my schooling and lessons and his frequent visits with Sarah. Not that he had a choice. Father forced him to dress up and constantly attend social events with his new fiancee.

"For God's sake, you're engaged to the woman! Act like it!" Father would command. Christian would bite his lower lip and hold back any complaints. I feared that he would eventually not be able to hold back any longer, which would surely end up a disaster.

Sarah would come over for dinner quite often, barely even uttering a word the whole time. After dinner, she, Christian, and I would go into the sitting room while our Fathers' discussed business matters in a different room We would ask her questions about herself, trying to start a conversation. She always looked like she wanted to be anywhere else but here. Needless to say, it was a terribly uncomfortable situation for Christian and me.

I could sense how stressed my brother was becoming as the weeks went by. I wanted to talk to him like we used to, but I decided against it. I didn't want to interfere. I only hoped that he would somehow learn to love Sarah and everything would turn out all right, even though I cringed when I thought of him spending the rest of his life with that dull woman. However, after about a month, Christian approached me in the library wanting to discuss just that.

"Hey, Rebecca." He came in and sat down beside me. "You know, we haven't had a nice, one on one chat in a while," he said, giving me a weak smile.

I smiled back. "I've missed our talks," I said softly.

"I've missed them, too. I just wish this was over." He put his head in his hands. "I can't do this. I can't marry her. It will destroy everything I've ever dreamed of, everything I've planned."

"How?" I asked.

"You know how. I don't want Father's company, I don't want to live in London for the rest of my life, I don't want to marry someone I don't love." He stood up and started pacing back and forth. "You see, I have this...philosophy," he continued. "Or you could call it...my motto." He paused.

"Yes?" I inquired.

"The greatest thing you'll ever learn is just to love and be loved in return," he stated proudly, staring off into the distance dreamily. I wasn't sure what to think. The words were so simple, yet beautiful at the same time. He looked for my reaction.

"Well...I-I don't..." I stuttered. "It's...nice." I looked away. That was pathetic, I thought.

"I know, it seems too simple," he went on. "But maybe that's really all there is to it. Maybe people just can't accept that life doesn't have to be one big, complicated rush."

"Maybe," I agreed slowly, still not quite sure what to say.

"What am I supposed to do?" he asked and resumed his pacing.

"I don't know, Christian. I'm probably not the best one to go to for advice on that," I replied.

"But you're the only one I have!" he cried. That was true. He didn't have any close friends who would be willing to help him with his problems.

"Please." He touched my arm gently. "Please, just tell me what you think I should do." I glanced at his face. Ugh, I thought, why does he have to have those beautiful, innocent eyes?

"Well..." I began uncertainly. "I really don't think you should make Father upset. There's no telling what he'd do if you completely went against all his wishes."

He looked down. "Yes, I know. I don't want to make him angry. I have a feeling that we haven't seen him at his worst yet."

"So...I think you should keep trying with Sarah. Maybe you can try to compromise with Father."

"Compromise?" He laughed somewhat bitterly. "That word isn't even in his vocabulary. I can't possibly imagine him agreeing to anything I want."

"There could be a way," I said. "You want to be a writer. You don't want Father's company."

"Of course I don't."

"Well then, marry Sarah and convince Father to let you stay here and write rather than work in the company," I suggested.

He sat down and pondered my idea for a while. "I don't know." He sighed. "He won't agree to it. Not right away, at least."

"Just try," I pleaded. "He has to give in...eventually."

He looked at me somewhat doubtfully. "I'll try," he said. "It would probably be best if I waited for a while; you know, just pretend to do everything he wants, and then try and negotiate with him."

I nodded happily. I tried not to pay attention to the remaining look of uncertainty on his face as he walked out of the library. Pleased with myself, I resumed my reading. Everything will be alright, I kept telling myself. Christian and Father will get along, and everyone will be happy.

If only I knew then how wrong I was.

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Okay, that's it. I know it was kinda short, but oh well. I hope you didn't think it was too bad!