Mark and Anna sat down and talked while Lucas sat in the kitchen floor and played with his building blocks. Mark noted that the house looked lived in, not like it had been abandoned for 14 years. He assumed that was from Abby having someone come in once a week to dust and air out the house. It was a very nice large and airy house, decorated by a woman; it had an old fashioned homey appeal. The kitchen was large with a breakfast nook over looking a large bay window with a breathtaking view of the mountains. The house had been fully stocked with food and Anna had made them sandwiches and coffee.

Mark had told Anna about Abby without going into exact details about her past, just that she had lost her family at a young age and that she was the agent assigned to protect him.

Anna was no fool; she knew her big brother and she watched his expressions when he talked about Abby. He had it bad for her, he was just in denial.

"Mark do you have feelings for this girl?" Anna asked.

"She is just doing a job, we don't even get along." Mark said avoiding the question.

Anna smiled. Mark would have to figure it out for himself.

"Get that shit eating grin off yer face sis." Mark said.

Anna got up and kissed her brothers cheek.

"Don't growl at me, remember I know you." Anna said laughing.

"Daddy play with my blocks with me." Lucas said.

"Okay." Mark said and got on the floor with his son.

"Mark, I'm taking the rental this afternoon and I'm going to meet Seth, it's been so long since I got to see him." Anna said.

Mark felt a twinge of guilt. Anna had put her life on hold because of his problems. Seth was her fiancé. She hadn't seen him since they went into hiding.

"You be careful." Mark said.

"I will, he's meeting me in Mt. Airy. We're going to spend a couple of days together at a little Inn up there. I will leave my number and I will be back day after tomorrow. That will give you and Lucas some time together, you need it." Anna said.

"Okay sis." Mark said as he played with Lucas. He wondered where Abby was and if she was okay.

Abby didn't wander far from the house. She wanted to be able to keep an eye on the house to make sure everything was safe. She found her self headed toward the back of the house. She took in the deck and the pool. Scenes from her childhood ran through her head. It was like the ghosts of her family still lived here. She could see them running around the back yard playing, yelling and laughing.

"Abby get your tail out of that tree before daddy sees ya." Pete called from the bottom of the tree.

"Go away Pete." Abby had said sticking out her tongue at him.

"Come on down sis, I'm afraid you'll fall." Pete said.

"If ya come down I'll crave your name on the tree, right beside mine." Pete said grinning.

"Really?" Abby asked.

"Yea really, brat, come on." Pete had said.

Abby had climbed down and jumped into Pete's arms. For all they had fought, she had worshipped her big brother.

"One day you're going to fall out of that tree and break your neck." Pete had said.

"You'll always be there to catch me." Abby had said giggling.

"Yea I guess I will." Pete had said.

"Pete." Abby whispered as she traced his name that was still there right beside hers.

"Your still here." Abby said quietly.

She wondered down further to the little graveyard about 200 yards from the house. She hadn't been back since the funeral. She started to go in but she couldn't, not yet. She headed back up toward the house and stopped at the tire swing. She closed her eyes and remembered.

"Robert, it's your turn." Abby said hopping off the swing.

They were twins but different as night and day. Abby was loud mischievous, always in trouble. Robert was quite, serious and shy. Robert hopped on the swing and Abby pushed him, but not to high, he didn't like that.

"Thanks Abby." Robert said smiling at her.

Abby smiled back.

Michael always tried to scare Robert by swinging him to high.  Abby more than once took a stick to Michael for scaring him. Abby was Robert's biggest protector.

The swing stopped and Robert climbed off.

"What you want to do?" Robert asked.

"Let's go put mud in Michael's shoes." Abby said laughing.

"We'll get in trouble." Robert said as Abby pulled him along.

"It will be worth it, besides I'll take the blame." Abby said.

"Nope we're twins we stick together." Robert said smiling.

Mark and Lucas walked out on the deck. He seen Abby pushing the tire swing with her eyes closed. She seemed in another world.

"Is she alright daddy?" Lucas asked.

"I think so, I think maybe she's just remembering, ya know?" Mark said.

Lucas nodded. He broke away from his daddy and ran down to stand in front of Abby.

"Hey." Lucas said.

Abby opened her eyes to find a miniature version of Mark standing in front of her.

"Well hey there. You must be Lucas." Abby said bending down to talk to him.

"Yea how did you know?" Lucas asked.

"Well your dad talks about you all the time and you look just like him." Abby said.

Lucas grinned.

"You're pretty." Lucas said.

"I see your going to be a sweet talker." Abby said smiling at him.

Mark had followed Lucas down and smiled at there conversation.

Lucas just grinned.

"Will you swing me?" Lucas asked.

"Sure." Abby said lifting him to the tire swing.

"Hang on tight." Abby said.

"I will, swing me high." Lucas said.

"Oh you're a brave one huh?" Abby asked.

Mark laughed as he watched Lucas squeal with delight as Abby pushed him higher.

"Well big brother, are you going to introduce me to your friend." Anna said standing there smiling at the scene they made. They looked like a family.

"Anna this is Abby Spencer, Abby this is my sister, Anna." Mark said.

Abby reached out and shook her hand.

"Abby I hope my brother isn't giving you too much trouble." Anna said laughing.

"Oh nothing I can't handle." Abby said.

"Well I'm taking a couple of days to spend with my fiancé so you two play nice." Anna said grinning.

"We'll be fine sis, you have fun and be careful and call me when you get there safely." Mark said.

Anna hugged her brother and stopped the swing long enough to give Lucas a kiss.

"Ill see you guys in a couple of days." Anna said.

They waved as she left.

"Hey Lucas, let's go watch TV. I know it's time for sponge Bob and then Rugrats. I'll make some popcorn." Abby said helping him off the swing.

"Yah! Do you like to watch too?" Lucas asked as he took her hand.

"Of course, who don't like cartoons?" Abby asked following him.

Mark followed behind them. Abby was so good with him. Lucas like her right off. He wondered if she was going to be okay going back in the house after all these years. He knew the den was locked up. Mark sighed. She had come here for him so he could see his son. He owed her a lot. He just hoped he could repay her someday.