A/N- I am glad that so many people responded. I know that it is hard to get a feel for the story so far, but I am still getting a feel for it.LOL. Well here is the next section...I hope you like it. Oh by the way I will go ahead and tell you that this is not all entirely historically correct, and I apologize to those who will catch the mistakes, but I just liked the time period so I decided to write a story for that time. On with the show!

Sarah took a deep breath of Virginian air. Oh how she had missed the smell of Magnolia, Pine, and Cherry trees. It was in the middle of spring, and everything was in bloom. She looked out of the carriage window, and surveyed the streets. As they drove down Gerard Avenue she looked at the new shops that had developed since she left, and found comfort in the fact that there were some things that had not changed. A hand slowly slipped into hers, and she turned to look at the face of the body it belonged to.

"Well Sarah dear, we are almost there. Are you ready?" he asked with concern.

She turned away and once more looked out the window. There not a mile away sat a large white house. Was she ready to go home? Was she ready to see everyone after all this time? She sat and thought for a second, then looked back at him. "Yes, I think I am."

She had made up her mind. She was ready, even though she knew it would be hard at first, she also knew that she could handle it. Her uncle gave her hand a gentle squeeze and smiled.

"That's my girl."

She gave him a genuine smile. She was truly going to miss her uncle. Over the past four years she had learned to respect him, which turned into liking, which eventually turned into love. She was pulled out of her thoughts as the carriage came to a stop. She took a deep breath, and sat patiently while the driver hopped down and opened the door for her uncle, who then turned around to help her out. Her uncle gave an encouraging smile as she bravely stepped out of her small box of protection. She looked up and there he was. Not the man she had left four years ago, but a wiser and older version of the father that she had loved so dearly. His hair was a salt and pepper color, along with his mustache. He gave her a big smile and slowly opened his arms to her. She could have, at that point, cared less about being ladylike, and gathering her skirts she ran into his awaiting arms. He picked her up and spun her around, just like he had when she was smaller. Once he sat her down she stepped back and looked into his eyes dancing with laughter, and listened intently to the deep rumble of his laugh. She gently placed her hand on the side of his well shaven face.

"You got your laugh back." she said in an almost surprised tone.

"That is because I got you back." he said in his deep Virginian accent. She blushed slightly at his sincere comment. He looked her over and sighed. "My how you've grown. You look so grown up Sarah, dear. You have to be the prettiest girl, excuse me, women that I have ever laid eyes upon."

"Oh father."

He just laughed as she tried to be serious, but could not. "Come inside Hannah has a huge meal prepared for us, and after dinner you can tell me all about Philadelphia." she nodded. "Plus if I don't bring you inside, so Hannah and Martha can see you, then I will most certainly be in trouble."

Sarah looked around the property as she walked arm in arm with her father. She saw the old porch swing, the tree house off in the woods that her "uncle Rabb" had made her and Harm so many years ago, she could even see the smoke rising form the small kitchen behind the house, where Hannah was no doubt cooking like crazy. The wind gently blew the smell of cherry trees in her direction. She smiled and realized how happy she was to be home.

Sarah walked cautiously into what seemed like a foreign place to her. She stood in the foyer surveying the house, when she heard a gasp come from the grand staircase. She looked up to see the surprised face of her beloved Martha. She released her father's and rushed to meet Martha at the bottom of the stairs. She embraced Martha and sighed as she slowly began to have dejá vu, except the last time she had given her a hug was the day she had left, four years ago. She pulled back and Martha just stared into her eyes.

"If I didn't know you were coming home today, then I doubt I would have recognized you." She stood there and looked at the face of a woman, not the little girl she had said goodbye to so long ago. "Well honey you must be exhausted from your train ride, so why don't we get your bags up to your room, then you can freshen up and come down for dinner." Sarah nodded her acceptance of the idea.

Her father leaned over and kissed her forehead. "See you at dinner Sarah."

"Okay." she replied. She then followed after Martha and Clint, their carriage driver, as they carried her luggage for her up to her room. She sat on her bed as she watched Martha busy herself with unpacking her trunk. "Martha why don't you leave that until later and I will help you." When she was younger she would have just let Martha do it, but being up North made her realize a few things, and now she felt like she should help.

Martha continued doing what she was doing as if she had not heard her. "Oh little missy don't you worry yourself with this." She stopped and looked up at her. "I am just so happy that you are home."

Sarah smiled, then crossed her room to her window, and looked down on the small kitchen and then to the stables. "Me too." she said in an almost inaudible tone.

Martha was going here and there placing things where they belonged. "Now missy you better go freshen up while I put the rest of your belongings away." she said in a motherly tone. Sarah smiled inwardly and obeyed. 'So not as much has changed.' she thought.

Dinner went smoothly, and after it was over Sarah sat with her father in the parlor and talked about the past four years. Around three he regretfully informed her that he had to go back to the office to finish up some of his work, but he would be home in time for supper. Sarah didn't mind, she had already planed on visiting someone, and now was the perfect time.

A/N- So what do you think so far? By the way for those of you who don't know sometimes in the South we call lunch "dinner". Sorry if I confused some of you.LOL. Please review.