Unfortunately, the kiss was over almost before it began.

"I thought that you said that you were taking her home," Riona called playfully, trotting down the dock.

Specs blushed and pulled away from me. "I was taking her home. We just took a little detour is all."

"Specs, that was four hours ago." She giggled slightly. "Come on Erin, it's time to get you back."

Sadly, I stood to join my sister, but Specs gently grabbed my hand. "If it's all the same to you, Queeny, I'd rather keep my word and do it myself."

Riona just flashed us a bright smile. "Alright, but no more detours, you hear me?"

Specs nodded, which seemed to satisfy my sister.

"Tell Ma and Da that I'll stop by tomorrow afternoon to sort through some things." With another bright smile, Riona headed back up the dock toward the lodging house.

"Well," Specs said, almost sadly. "I guess that we'd better get going."

I watched him start up the dock, not wanting to follow. Right before he stepped onto the land, he turned back, finding me still standing at the end of the dock. Another smile brushed across his lips and he retraced his steps until he was standing before me.

"Come on, Princess," he said, taking my hand.

I intertwined my fingers with his as we started up the dock together. "What did you call me?"

"Princess," he replied simply. "Your sister is the queen, so you can be a princess. Besides, it suits you."

"Is that a good thing?" I countered, only half teasing.

He casually stopped walking and wrapped his arms around my waist, gently pulling me toward him. When we were just inches apart, he whispered, "That's a very good thing."

Seconds later, he closed the distance between us, our lips meeting once again. This time, there was no interruption and the kiss became more intense. His arms tightened around my waist and my hands became tangled in the bit of dark hair just below the brim on his hat. Convinced that we were drawing a crowd, I gently pulled back.

"Sorry," he said softly, pulling back slightly.

I grabbed his shoulder, preventing him from moving any further away. "Don't be."

"Come on, I told Queeny that we wouldn't stop any more." He started walking once more, tugging at my hand gently.

"Urgh, you're no fun at all," I joked, skipping to match his stride.

He cracked a sideways smile. "I try."

I returned his grin, but it soon faded when I looked up to see my front door just before us. I sighed deeply, willing the street to stretch farther and prolong our walk. Unfortunately, the door came all too quickly.

"Well," he started, searching for something to say.

I grinned at his discomfort.

"Erin! Where have you been?" Donovan shouted from his bedroom window. "Get in here now!"

"Well, it looks as though you have been missed," Specs commented, pushing me lightly toward the door. "Mustn't keep him waiting."

I moved back to him. "You won't get away that easily."

Leaning my head up, I kissed him lightly.

"Erin O'Farrell, what in God's name do you think that you are doing?" Donavon's voice rang out once more, causing Specs to pull away.

"Will I see you again soon?" he asked quietly.

"I hope so." With another quick kiss, I darted for the front door. "Goodnight Specs."

He cocked a half-smile at me. "Night, Princess."

Five minutes later, I was (like any other teenage girl would be) rehashing all of the events of the day in my mind, when Donavon stormed into my room.

"What was that all about?" he asked, aggravation evident in his voice.

"Do you not know how to knock?"

His eyes flared. "Erin! What were you doing with that newsie?"

"If I have to tell you, then you are more naive than I thought," I replied calmly. "Where are Ma and Da?"

"Do you ever listen to anything that I tell you?" he asked in an exhausted voice.

"Aw, Donavon, you should know by now that I don't," I teased. "Now where are they?"

His jaw clenched and he narrowed his eyes at me.

"Children, where are you?"

I sighed; saved by the mother. I called down the stairs, "Up here!"

A few minutes later, my mother materialized in the open doorway of my bedroom, her curly red hair disheveled from a day of shopping in the market. "So what have you two been doing today?"

"Erin was-" Donavon started, the anger still very present in his voice.

"Just telling him about my day with Riona," I cut in before he could finish his sentence.

"Well good for you darling. I'm glad to see you spend time with your sister," my mother replied.

Donavon shot me an evil glare over her shoulder, but I shrugged it off and continued. "She said that she would be stopping by sometime tomorrow."

A bright smile flashed across her face. "Well, I guess that I'll go straighten up a bit, then."

"Ma, it's only Riona, not the governor," Donavon mumbled.

She simply shrugged and skipped down the stairs.

I returned to my daydreaming, completely oblivious to my brother's presence. That is until he commenced his raving. "Erin, I just don't understand you. Why can't you just socialize with the boys of your standing?"

Seeing that he left himself wide open, I had no choice but to call him on his bad judgment. "Like Whesley?"

"And why not?"

It was my turn to get angry. "Do you honestly not know?" Judging from the blank expression on his face, my assumption was correct. "Just get out."

"I-" he started as I pushed him out of the room.

"Goodnight, Donavon." I closed the door in his face and quickly locked it.