Good morning, The story bellow, its the first of a collection of one shots around these great characters from The Waltons.

Different from my other collection of one shots (Once Upon A time In Waltons Mountain) this collection, wont be featuring only the seven siblings, but also all the characters on the show, like John and Olivia and Grandma and Grandpa.

Other than that, since it will be random shots, it will take place in and out the storylines i create for the show.

Hope you like

Please, enjoy.

DSCWIN, thanks fo much for the help! i loved it.

THE FIRST MEETING (Takes place a long way before the show start.)

Service had ended and 20 year old Esther Morgan rushed out of the church praying she make it home before the surprise storm hit. But as soon as she stepped outside, the heavens started to open and the first drops began to fall. Being a strong willed woman, Esther set her jaw and began to march quickly through the streets to reach her family's homestead before more rain fell. Unfortunately for her, as soon as she got no more then a yard away from the church it began to pour heavily soaking the woman down to her bones.

"Good Lord!" She muttered to herself as she hung her head down to block the rain from getting into her eyes. Without any umbrella or decent coat, Esther Morgan found herself soaked, trembling and very out of sorts. Her mind only began to think about the hot bath and sweet tea she would be having once she got out of this storm. She stopped briefly when she heard quick heavy footsteps coming after her and figured it was more service attendees that wanted to escape the cold. So Esther quickened her pace but the following footsteps were now moving quicker.

"Miss," the sound of a young man that Esther only knew by voice never by the man called from behind her. "Wait!" Esther was forced to stop when a truck drove past her splashing her. "I have an umbrella; I'm willing to share with ya." Esther looked up at the young man that stood in her way the umbrella he had stopped the rain from getting her more wet.

"Well, I'm honored." Esther said with a soft smile already feeling her cheeks burn with fever. But as she continued to keep eye contact with him she figured it was because of blushing. The young man's soft blue eyes seemed to look into hers and they were friendly and warm giving Esther the idea of not being at all wet. But she quickly shook her head snapping herself out of the warmth and back into the cold. "But I can't take company with a stranger as I'm away from my parents." She was hoping her serious tone will detour the young man who kept standing there with the umbrella and looking into her eyes.

The young man let out a hearty laugh and bowed respectfully at her. "I agree wholeheartedly, Miss," He laughed and smiling warmly at her. "My name is Zebulon Walton. My family and I live just down the road." He held out his hand for her to take, which she did timidly. "And what my I call you, Miss?"

Esther for a moment was lost in the young man's eyes again but shook her head once again. "You said your name was Walton?" She said changing the subject quickly. "As in Walton's Mountain, Walton?"

Zebulon humbly shrugged as if that wasn't important. But had a slight dip in his smile as she didn't give him her name.

"Oh...well, you're still a stranger and I'm still an unaccompanied woman. So, I believe it would be better if you were to leave."

"Well, as I believe it, in the eyes of God we aren't strangers. As I told you my name. So maybe you're a stranger to me." Zebulon's smile brightened again making Esther force her smile down. She admired his stubbornness. "That is if you'd like to please allow me the pleasure to know your name."

Esther was surprised when a roll of thunder gently sang off in the distance that she was standing in front of her family's home. She looked shocked and surprised at the young man, that despite being stubborn, he was a gentleman and made her usual long trip home short and pleasant. She took a moment longer standing underneath the umbrella and looked at her house. "Esther." She said turning back to look at Zebulon's warm blue eyes once again. "My name is Esther Morgan."

"Such a lovely name." Zebulon said smiling sweetly. "It's a pleasure to meet you, Esther. I'm glad we are no longer strangers."

The door opened and Esther's parents looked at their daughter standing next to a young man who was gently pressing his lips against the back of her hand. "It was a pleasure to have met you too, Zebulon."

"Please, call me Zeb." He said smiling. "And the pleasure was all mine. Have a rest of a beautiful Sunday."

"You too...Zeb." Esther said watching as she watched Zebulon walk away from the warmth and comfort of her home with her family. But even though it was her desired destination she felt that warmth had left when Zebulon Walton did. But of course when she stripped out of her wet cold clothes that she would never tell him that.

_/_

The next day the rain had gone and the sun was shining bright and warm. It was just after lunch that afternoon that Zebulon Walton stood at the front door of the Morgan's household holding a few wild flower he had picked on his trip down. He smiled as he knocked on the front door and waited in patients to see his new friend Esther once again.

At first Esther pretended his advances did not interest her. But his continued appearances made her rethink of how much she really should give him a chance to change her mind.

After two months of courting and getting to know him more, Zebulon did indeed change Esther's mind on him and happily accepted his proposal of marriage. Soon after the two had children and grandchildren living in the same house that Zebulon grew up with his family.

"That's the story my grandparents have told me, my brother's and sister's as we grew up. And that's what I'm writing in this book. As I knew if my Grandma Esther never had accepted my Grandpa Zeb's offer...this book as well as my many other adventures would never had happened."