Chapter 9: Time After Time

A/N: Sorry for the wait on a new chapter. My computer died. Even though it's not really alive. *Ponders* Anyway, enjoy.

Days turned into weeks, weeks into months, months into years.

Jack and Elli were an item now. Ann and Cliff were making wedding plans.

As for Kai and myself, I guess you could call us a couple. Just mentioning his name made me smile now.

Popuri had her claws in Gray, it would only be a matter of time before they were together.

Mom and Dad were separated now. I guess it's for the best. Mom seems happier now. I have no clue where Dad ran off too. Soon, the vineyard would belong to Kai and I. Things were different now. It was almost…peaceful. Breakfast was quiet without him. I couldn't tell if Mom missed Gotz or not.

I smiled at Kai over my glass of milk. He was talking to Mom about last week's profits. The sound of his voice was a welcome sound.

I finished eating before my companions, and cleaned up the dishes. It was time for work. Which was all the time.

Work was never ending in a town such as this. No matter how peaceful Flower Bud Village looked on the outside, the inside was a constant struggle for survival.

My hands were covered with dirt by the time Kai joined me.

"Working hard?" He asked as he ruffled my hair.

"What does it look like? I replied, holding up my hands.

He laughed and kneeled beside me, trying to help.

Ok, so sometimes I felt like I was running things myself. But I didn't say it. There was no need to start petty arguments. I bent down to plant another sapling as he opened his mouth. "Karen..." Kai started, his voice suddenly all business.

It wasn't like him. I sat the sapling down for a moment, focusing my attention on him. His eyes were dark. I couldn't read them.

"Umm…well…your mother is thinking about leaving." He said, studying his hands.

"Leaving what? The vineyard?" I questioned. Confusion was evident in my voice.

"Well, kinda. I mean, she's leaving Flower Bud. She told me that she's leaving on the next ferry. There are too many bad memories in this place for her." Kai continued, spilling everything.

'She wasn't going to tell me?!" I exclaimed, standing up. I thought that my mother of all people would tell me something like this.

"She didn't want to hurt you, Karen." He finished, standing up next to me.

"Like this doesn't hurt me." I mumbled, brushing some of the dirt from my hands.

"Miss Sasha thought it would be best. She makes up her own mind. I thought you should know. But don't let her know that I told you. She'd never forgive me." Kai said, trying to look at my face.

I avoided his gaze. I was 21 and I would be running a vineyard on my own, as well as working nights at the bar. And helping Jack with his farm. It seemed like there wasn't enough hours in the day for everything that needed to be done.

"Look, I know what's going through your mind. We can do this, Karen. We'll be able to maintain the vineyard and handle sales." He smiled, hoping to cheer me up.

It helped, a little.

"When is she leaving?" I sat back down, moving to place the disregarded sapling into the ground.

"Early tomorrow morning." He replied, digging another hole beside the planted sapling.

"That early…Wow." I commented, brushing the dirt off of my knees as I stood.

I tried not to let it get to me, but my mind was reeling from all the thoughts I had. How could I do this? Would I ever have some free time? What would become of Kai and myself?

We worked for the rest of the night in silence, planting saplings, checking the vines, moving products around the house and wine cellar. The sun dipped below the horizon as finally today's chores were done. I wearily rubbed my eyes, preparing for my night job.

Kai was curled up on the couch, looking over sales reports and such. I wrapped my arms around his neck, glancing at the figures as I did so.

"Leaving?" He questioned, resting his head on one of my arms.

"Afraid so." I replied.

It felt bad to leave, now that I had someone waiting for me to come home.

I kissed his cheek, and let go of his neck.

"Come back soon, my dear." He grinned as he talked.

I laughed as I walked out the door.

After arriving at work, time didn't seem to move fast enough for my liking.

Ann was blabbering on about her upcoming bachlorette party. I listened in a daze, more focused on the clock then the words coming out of the red head's mouth. I was pretty sure that I knew all I needed to know, seeing as how she'd been talking about it for weeks.

Well, weddings were a big thing around here. There wasn't much entertainment, except for horse races and other festivals. Everyone came to a wedding.

"So Karen, why do you think is gonna get married next? What about Kai and yourself?" Ann giggled as she spoke.

Her words were slurred slightly. She'd been drinking tonight.

"Oh, I dunno. Perhaps. What about Jack and Elli?" I replied, turning from the girl's gaze to mix a few drinks.

"Jack and Elli aren't as close as you and Kai. I can just tell these things." She tried to wink, but it ended up looking more like a nervous twitch.

Maybe she'd been drinking more than I had thought.

"Soon, you and Kai will be having pretty little babies, and our kids can play together, after.." She trailed off, her head hitting the counter with a thud.br

I winced, a little guilty for letting her drink so much.

Ann slid off of the bar stool a few minutes later. She was laying on the wooden floor, snoring loudly. I begged off work so I could walk her home.

"Ann…get up. I'm gonna take you home." I coaxed, shaking the drunken girl slightly.

"Home…" She mumbled, standing up.

Ann stumbled towards the door. I wrapped my arm around her waist and threw her arm around my neck, trying to steady her.

We were almost to the Green Ranch when something caught my eye. The "thing" got closer and closer, until finally it was right upon us. I could feel something in the air. Unfortunately, I wasn't able to identify whatever it was until it was too late.

My vision tunneled as I was struck by some unknown force. Ann and I fell to the ground.