A/N- I told you I'd updated someday. I'm getting tired of getting reviews from certain people on other stories that are all "are you ever going to update End of Time" (you know who you are). So this is for you people. You better review.

Satine awoke smiling between the warm bed sheets. Rolling over, she groped for Christian but her arms hit air. Distressed, she sat up and looked around, remembering suddenly where she was. The room was filled with sunshine, pouring in through the large windows. She had forgotten she was in Christian's house and that Christian had to sleep in the room down the hall, an odd experience for Satine.

"Good morning," Christian had just entered carrying a large tray covered with food. Satine realized she was starving, having missed dinner the night before. Christian set the tray on the bedside table and sat beside Satine. He kissed her smiling lips and she leaned against him.

"Not right now Christian, I'm too hungry."

He laughed and grabbed a piece of buttered toast, kissing her neck between bites.

After breakfast, they went downstairs, Christian's arm laced around Satine's middle. Eliza was lying on the couch, her nose in a book and Mrs. James had returned to her embroidery. She looked up when Christian entered the room.

"Do you two have plans for today?" she asked kindly.

"I was going to show Satine the village after tea but nothing this morning, why?"

"I have a task for you."

"Yes?"

"Bunny's been acting a bit odd since you left, I'm sure you've noticed. I need you to find her and convince her to wash and brush her hair."

"Me?"

"If anyone can it would be you, I'm at my wits end with that girl."

Eliza followed the couple into the hall.

"You're glowing," she whispered to Satine, before continuing off the in the opposite direction.

Outside, the pale sunlight was still young and weak. The night's dew still lingered on the grass and Satine felt her feet growing wet. Bunny was not in any of the placed they had visited the night before, but Christian didn't seem concerned.

"She'll be in the fort no doubt."

"The fort?" Satine said uncertainly.

"It's an old shed near the woods. We used to hide in it when we were little. If Bunny's not there, I'll eat my typewriter."

The fort was really nothing more than decaying pieces of wood covered in creepers and ivy. You had to crawl through a hole in the side of it to get in. It was too small for either of them fit through so Christian leaned over to call through it. Satine squatted awkwardly beside him.

"Bunny?" he said softly.

"I'm not here," her voice came from under the creepers.

"Of course you're not. Now will you please come out?"

There was a heavy pause and Bunny said, "Alright, though it might be hard since I'm not here." Her head appeared at the hole a moment later. "Did mama send you?"

"Yes," said Christian. "She did." Bunny pulled her head back into the fort. "Well aren't you a little Bunny rabbit. Come out and get a carrot."

"Will you make me brush my hair?"

"No, though no one will want to be near you if you don't."

Bunny emerged looking concerned. "I don't smell."

Christian helped her up. "Of course not, it must be the flowers that reek." Bunny laughed but continued to look apprehensive. They headed up to the house together, Satine listening to Christian and Bunny's conversation more than joining it. Inside, Bunny's eyes seemed to grow rounder.

"We can't go in there," she said, indicating the parlor.

"Why not?"

Bunny didn't answer, but headed in the opposite direction. They entered her room, which was filled with dolls, many of which were broken and lying out. Her bed was unmade and her clothes and toys were everywhere. Satine wondered why the servants hadn't done something to clean here.

Bunny sat on the floor and pulled one doll onto her lap.

"This is Marigold. She's a princess. She's dead." Satine frowned slightly but Christian looked amused. "I don't really smell do I?" she asked conspiratorially Satine.

"Maybe just a bit."

"Alright, I'll take a bath then. If it will make you happy."

Satine laughed and Christian went to get the servants.

Two hours later found Bunny looking a new girl. She has been washed, brushed, dried and dressed. Her skin seems to be a tone lighter without the dust. Satine and Christian ate lunch with her in the servant's wing. Christian admit that he always felt more at home in this part of the house since as a child he had taken all his meals here.

The two took a carriage in to town. It had promise to be a romantic afternoon. However, before they could leave the drive way there were assaulted by a very clean girl in freshly muddied boots.

"Christian-" wheezed Bunny, pulling herself on to the side of the carriage. Christian let her in and she sat between him and Satine on the bench. She was wearing a bonnet that was too large for her and was carrying a heavily bandaged doll. "Please bring me? Anastasia needs medicine." She gestured to the bundle in her arms.

"Does mother know you're here?" said Christian severely. Bunny nodded.

When Christian looked unconvinced. She said quickly, "I told Lizzy, Lizzy told mama."

Satine gave Christian a little smile over the top of the Bunny's bonneted head. Christian laughed and finally agreed.

The village was small, picturesque and decidedly British. They stopped at the general store to buy paper for Christian and ribbon and sweets for Bunny. There was not a lot to do, though there was much to see. Everyone seemed to be starring at her. She blushed and hid beneath her gloveless hand.

"It's not you, they're not used to seeing us here, mostly the servants do the shopping," Christian said in her ear. "There are all kinds of stories about my family around here. They may be rich but money can't buy class, that's what they say anyway."

Satine still felt uneasy and was glad when they returned to Christian's house. It felt safe and secure here when compared to how she felt in the village. Christian's father, thankfully, still hadn't returned. Eliza muttered something about "gone on business."

There was a crackling fire in the hearth and Eliza was reading aloud from Dickens (what Christian called "The other Bible".) Satine had an odd feeling in her stomach, for a moment she thought she was sick again, her head was certainly spinning but at the same time it was a feeling of joy. For the first time, Satine was home.